Sexes in sync: phenotypic plasticity, sexual selection and phenological synchrony between the sexes in a wild hibernator.

Desynchrony of phenological responses to climate change is a major concern for ecological communities. Potential uncoupling between one of the most fundamental divisions within populations, males and females, has not been well studied. To address this gap, we examined sex-specific plasticity in hibernation phenology in two populations of Columbian ground squirrels ().

Parental investment in the Columbian ground squirrel: empirical tests of sex allocation models.

Parental allocation of resources into male or female offspring and differences in the balance of offspring sexes in natural populations are central research topics in evolutionary ecology. Fisher (Fisher, R. A.

Preliminary codesign and testing of a feedback tool to improve the quality of peer appraiser documentation for medical revalidation.

Medical appraisal and associated revalidation are mandatory for doctors in the United Kingdom. However, the quality of appraisal documentation, which informs the revalidation process on a doctor's fitness-to-practise, is known to be variable. This preliminary study aimed to develop and test a formative educational tool that could be used, as part of routine appraiser training in the general practice setting, to review and provide evidence and feedback on the quality of documentation completion.

Testing the reproductive and somatic trade-off in female Columbian ground squirrels.

Energetic trade-offs in resource allocation form the basis of life-history theory, which predicts that reproductive allocation in a given season should negatively affect future reproduction or individual survival. We examined how allocation of resources differed between successful and unsuccessful breeding female Columbian ground squirrels to discern any effects of resource allocation on reproductive and somatic efforts. We compared the survival rates, subsequent reprodction, and mass gain of successful breeders (females that successfully weaned young) and unsuccessful breeders (females that failed to give birth or wean young) and investigated "carryover" effects to the next year.

Fitness implications of seasonal climate variation in Columbian ground squirrels.

The influence of climate change on the fitness of wild populations is often studied in the context of the spring onset of the reproductive season. This focus is relevant for climate influences on reproductive success, but neglects other fitness-relevant periods (e.g.

Kin effects on energy allocation in group-living ground squirrels.

The social environment has potent effects on individual phenotype and fitness in group-living species. We asked whether the presence of kin might act on energy allocation, a central aspect of life-history variation. Using a 22-year data set on reproductive and somatic allocations in Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus), we tested the effects of co-breeding and non-breeding kin on the fitness and energy allocation balance between reproduction and personal body condition of individual females.

Transarterial angioembolization versus surgery after failed endoscopic therapy for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background And Objective: To compare the outcome of transarterial angioembolization (TAE) and surgery with endoscopically unmanageable non-variceal hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Materials And Methods: A case note review of all patients treated for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding from January 2006 till January 2012 was performed.

Results: Fifty-four of 667 patients with non-variceal bleeding did not respond to endoscopic treatment.

Sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus following nitrofurantoin: causative or coincidental?

A 70-year-old woman presented with progressive skin lesions on the face, limbs and trunk in the absence of systemic illness. Three months earlier, she had been prescribed six months prophylactic nitrofurantoin for recurrent urinary tract infections, treated with nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim. Positive immunology and histological inflammatory changes in a skin biopsy were consistent with a diagnosis of sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Feasibility of screening for and treating vitamin D deficiency in forensic psychiatric inpatients.

Neuroleptic and anti-epileptic medication, inadequate vitamin D intake and limited solar exposure increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency in high security psychiatric environments. Of the 33 inpatients (40% selected; 21% of hospital population) completing this cross-sectional study, 36% had insufficient and 58% deficient vitamin D. Five patients with vitamin D deficiency had secondary hyperparathyroidism, two of whom had osteopenia on dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry.

Delayed phenology and reduced fitness associated with climate change in a wild hibernator.

The most commonly reported ecological effects of climate change are shifts in phenologies, in particular of warmer spring temperatures leading to earlier timing of key events. Among animals, however, these reports have been heavily biased towards avian phenologies, whereas we still know comparatively little about other seasonal adaptations, such as mammalian hibernation. Here we show a significant delay (0.

Glad you brought it up: a patient-centred programme to reduce proton-pump inhibitor prescribing in general medical practice.

Background: Many patients unnecessarily receive proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs long term with significant financial and safety implications. Educating, empowering and supporting patients to self-manage their symptoms can lead to significant and sustained reductions in PPI prescribing. We aimed to implement a programme to reduce inappropriate PPI prescribing.

Verification of 'learning credits' by GP appraisers.

Background: The RCGP CPD Learning Credits system aims to enable GPs to demonstrate knowledge and skills relevant to their daily practice. Credits are self-assessed and will form part of the 'evidence' necessary for successful revalidation. At an appraisal, GP appraisers verify the credits in terms of the time spent on the CPD activity and its impact on the GP's practice.

Philopatry and within-colony movements in Columbian ground squirrels.

Philopatry and dispersal result in selection of habitat locations that may differ in resources and social environment and thus should influence fitness components like survival and reproduction. We examined short-distance movements of young and adult females from natal or previous nesting sites within a colony of Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus) in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada, over a 17-year period. Females of all ages were strongly philopatric, yet a few (10-15%) exhibited movements that took them to new home ranges.

Kin selection in Columbian ground squirrels: direct and indirect fitness benefits.

Empirical and theoretical studies have supported kin selection by demonstrating nepotism or modelling its conditions and consequences. As an alternative, we previously found that female Columbian ground squirrels had greater direct fitness when more close kin were present. Extending those results, we used population matrix methods to calculate minimum estimates of individual fitness, estimated direct and indirect components of fitness, estimated inclusive fitness by adding the direct fitness (stripped of estimated influences of the social environment) and indirect fitness components together, and finally looked for inclusive fitness benefits of associations with close kin who seem to be 'genial neighbours'.

A quantitative genetic analysis of hibernation emergence date in a wild population of Columbian ground squirrels.

The life history schedules of wild organisms have long attracted scientific interest, and, in light of ongoing climate change, an understanding of their genetic and environmental underpinnings is increasingly becoming of applied concern. We used a multi-generation pedigree and detailed phenotypic records, spanning 18 years, to estimate the quantitative genetic influences on the timing of hibernation emergence in a wild population of Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus). Emergence date was significantly heritable [h(2) = 0.

Lamb pays lip service: two cases of ecthyma contagiosum (orf).

Ecthyma contagiosum (orf) is caused by a parapox virus, which results in ulcerative stomatitis of mainly sheep and goats. The disease may be transmitted to humans through direct contact. Complications are rare in healthy individuals, who rarely report the disease.

An unusual shoulder injury.

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the axillary artery is a rare sequel of shoulder injury. We report here a unique phenomenon of delayed presentation axillary pseudoaneurysm some time after an initial blunt injury, with no evidence of gross bony injury. The gentleman presented again some weeks later after a failure of rehabilitation and progressive neurological deficit in the affected arm.

Randomized controlled trial of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing surgery for critical limb ischemia.

Background And Objective: Patients with critical limb ischemia have a perioperative cardiovascular morbidity comparable to patients with acute coronary syndromes. We hypothesized that perioperative dual antiplatelet therapy would improve biomarkers of atherothrombosis without causing unacceptable bleeding in patients undergoing surgery for critical limb ischemia.

Methods: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 108 patients undergoing infrainguinal revascularization or amputation for critical limb ischemia were maintained on aspirin (75 mg daily) and randomized to clopidogrel (600 mg prior to surgery, and 75 mg daily for 3 days; n = 50) or matched placebo (n = 58).

Contemporary results for open repair of suprarenal and type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Endovascular and hybrid procedures are not yet widely established in the management of type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). Open surgery remains the treatment of choice until the long-term outcomes of these novel techniques are known.

Methods: This study reviewed a 10-year experience of open repair of non-ruptured type IV and suprarenal TAAA.

Kin selection in Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus): littermate kin provide individual fitness benefits.

Since W. D. Hamilton's seminal work on the evolution of sociality, a large body of research has accumulated on how kin selection might explain the evolution of cooperation in many group-living species.

Practice nurse appraisal: evaluation report.

Background: As general practice nurses (GPNs) now perform many activities formerly undertaken by general practitioners (GPs), the paperwork and process of the Scottish GP appraisal scheme may be usefully replicated for GPN appraisal.

Method: Eight GPNs adapted paperwork. Ten GP appraisers in NHS Lanarkshire were invited to interview their GPN(s) using the adapted paperwork.