Scientific culture and structure organize biological sciences in many ways. We make choices concerning the systems and questions we study. Our research then amplifies these choices into factors that influence the directions of future research by shaping our hypotheses, data analyses, interpretation, publication venues, and dissemination via other methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCollisions with buildings cause up to 1 billion bird fatalities annually in the United States and Canada. However, efforts to reduce collisions would benefit from studies conducted at large spatial scales across multiple study sites with standardized methods and consideration of species- and life-history-related variation and correlates of collisions. We addressed these research needs through coordinated collection of data on bird collisions with buildings at sites in the United States (35), Canada (3), and Mexico (2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeaver reintroductions and beaver dam structures are an increasingly utilized ecological tool for rehabilitating degraded streams, yet beaver dams can potentially impact upstream fish migrations. We collected two years of data on Arctic grayling movement through a series of beaver dams in a low gradient mountain stream, utilizing radio-telemetry techniques, to determine how hydrology, dam characteristics, and fish attributes impeded passage and movement rates of spawning grayling. We compared fish movement between a "normal" flow year and a "low" flow year, determined grayling passage probabilities over dams in relation to a suite of factors, and predicted daily movement rates in relation to the number of dams each fish passed and distance between dams during upstream migration to spawning areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction of non-native species is a leading threat to global aquatic biodiversity. Competition between native and non-native species is often influenced by changes in suitable habitat or food availability. We investigated diet breadth and degree of trophic niche overlap for a fish assemblage of native and non-native species inhabiting a shallow, high elevation lake system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Free or outreach clinics offer students the opportunity to work with diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of a sample of chiropractic patients at a free community-based clinic to assess clinical and educational opportunities for students to work with diverse populations, collaborate with other professions and practice health promotion through patient education.
Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over 2 months.
A 94-year-old man presented with painful leg ulcers that were affecting his mobility. No clear history of these ulcers was obtained on admission or during his initial 7 days of admission and there was no examination made of the ulcer by medical staff during this time. On day 8, a clear history was obtained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 19-year-old man presented 4 weeks after an electrical shock injury with gradual onset limb weakness, altered sensation in the peripheries and respiratory difficulty. There was immediate tingling of the fingers following the electrical injury that persisted. He subsequently had transient facial weakness responsive to oral steroids before the development of further limb symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Toxocara canis is a parasite that can infect the eye and create a significant inflammatory response that can be detrimental to the patient's vision. Its clinical presentation can mimic other causes of uveitis, and its diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis is essential to prevent permanent visual loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis case depicts an unusual presentation of septo-optic dysplasia. A four-year-old female presented with monocular nystagmus and temporal optic disc pallor in her left eye. Despite a normal sized optic nerve head, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hypoplastic intraorbital and intracranial left optic nerve in the absence of a septum pellucidum.
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