Neurovascular variations in the proximal plantar metatarsal region of the horse.

BACKGROUND: Neurovascular variation may be relevant when performing surgical techniques to the proximal plantar metatarsal region. OBJECTIVES: To document variations in the neurovascular anatomy of the proximal plantar metatarsal region and study the relationship of the neurovascular components to each other and other structures located in this area. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive anatomical study. METHODS: Paired cadaver hind limbs from 15 horses were dissected from the distal tibia to the metatarsophalangeal joint. Deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve (DBLPN) length, location of its origin from the lateral plantar nerve (LPN), individual DBLPN ramifications into the suspensory ligament (SL) and relationship of the DBLPN to the plantar arch and accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (ALDDFT) were recorded. RESULTS: Mean DBLPN length was 5.8 ± 1.7 cm with the nerve arising 3.7 ± 1.5 cm proximal to the head of the fourth metatarsal bone (MTIV). There was a median of three individual DBLPN ramifications (range 2-6) entering the SL. There were no significant left/right differences. In 57% (CI 39%-74%; n = 17) limbs, the deep plantar arch was superficial to the DBLPN, whereas in 33% (CI 16%-50%; n = 10) limbs, the DBLPN passed between the venous and arterial components of the arch. In 10% (CI 1%-20%; n = 3) limbs, the deep plantar arch was deep to the DBLPN. In 67% (CI 50%-84%; n = 20) limbs, the DBLPN was superficial to the ALDDFT, whereas in 33% (CI 16%-50%; n = 10) limbs, the nerve ran deep to the ALDDFT. An additional branch from the LPN was noted in one limb. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Limbs were used from horses with unknown clinical history. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical variation, in particular the relationship of the DBLPN and deep metatarsal fascia to the deep plantar arch and the ALDDFT is an important consideration when undertaking surgical approaches to the proximal plantar metatarsal region.

Dank or not? Analyzing and predicting the popularity of memes on Reddit.

Internet memes have become an increasingly pervasive form of contemporary social communication that attracted a lot of research interest recently. In this paper, we analyze the data of 129,326 memes collected from Reddit in the middle of March, 2020, when the most serious coronavirus restrictions were being introduced around the world. This article not only provides a looking glass into the thoughts of Internet users during the COVID-19 pandemic but we also perform a content-based predictive analysis of what makes a meme go viral. Using machine learning methods, we also study what incremental predictive power image related attributes have over textual attributes on meme popularity. We find that the success of a meme can be predicted based on its content alone moderately well, our best performing machine learning model predicts viral memes with AUC=0.68. We also find that both image related and textual attributes have significant incremental predictive power over each other.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves short-term limb use after canine tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of postoperative extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on hind limb use after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: Sixteen client-owned dogs, 2 to 10 years old weighing 18 to 75 kg. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment cohorts, TPLO with ESWT (ESWT, n = 9) or TPLO without ESWT (control, n = 7). Treatment consisted of 1000 pulses at 0.15 mJ/mm2 immediately and 2 weeks after surgery. Subjective pain, stifle goniometry, stifle circumference, peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) were measured before surgery, prior to ESWT, and 2 and 8 weeks after surgery. Measures were compared between treatments at each time point and among time points for each treatment (P < .05). RESULTS: The PVF (5.5 ± 1.0 N/kg, mean ± SD) and VI (0.67 ± 0.14 N-s/kg) of surgically treated limbs in the ESWT cohort were higher 8 weeks after surgery compared with preoperative (3.8 ± 1.1 N/kg, P < .0001 and 0.47 ± 0.21 N-s/kg, P = .0012, respectively) values. In the control cohort, PVF (2.9 ± 1.3 N/kg, P = .0001) and VI (0.33 ± 0.20 N-s/kg, P = .0003) 2 weeks after surgery and VI (0.42 ± 0.2 N-s/kg, P = .0012) 8 weeks after surgery were lower (4.59 ± 2.33 N/kg and 0.592 ± 0.35 N-s/kg, respectively) than before surgery. Other parameters did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Weight bearing increased faster after TPLO in dogs treated with postoperative ESWT. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides evidence to consider adjunct ESWT after TPLO.

Traumatic hyphaema in children: a retrospective and prospective study of outcomes at an Australian paediatric centre.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the presenting characteristics, management, outcomes and complications for paediatric traumatic hyphaema in Western Australia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for consecutive patients ≤16 years of age admitted for traumatic hyphaema to Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (Perth, Australia) between January 2002 and December 2013 (n=82). From this sample, a cohort whose injury occurred ≥5 years prior attended a prospective ocular examination (n=16). Hospital records were reviewed for patient demographics, injury details, management, visual outcomes and complications. The prospective cohort underwent examination for visual and structural outcomes. RESULTS: Most injuries (72%) resulted from projectile objects. Angle recession was present in 53% and was associated with projectiles (p=0.002). Most eyes (81%) achieved a final visual acuity of 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (20/40) or better. Age ≤5 years and posterior segment injury were significant predictors of final visual acuity poorer than 0.3 logMAR. At ≥5 years post-trauma, injured eyes had greater intraocular pressure (IOP) (p=0.024) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) (p=0.022) compared with sound eyes. IOP asymmetry was associated with angle recession (p=0.008) and ACD asymmetry (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Poorer visual outcomes are associated with younger age at injury and posterior segment injury. Angle recession and ACD asymmetry are associated with IOP asymmetry 5-12 years after injury.

Effects of environmental temperature on oviposition behavior in three blow fly species of forensic importance.

A number of factors are known to affect blow fly behavior with respect to oviposition. Current research indicates that temperature is the most significant factor. However temperature thresholds for oviposition in forensically important blow flies have not been well studied. Here, the oviposition behavior of three species of forensically important blow fly species (Calliphora vicina, Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia sericata,) was studied under controlled laboratory conditions over a range of temperatures (10-40°C). Lower temperature thresholds for oviposition of 16°C and 17.5°C were established for C. vomitoria and L. sericata respectively, whilst C. vicina continued to lay eggs at 10°C. C. vomitoria and L. sericata both continued to lay eggs at 40°C, whilst the highest temperature at which oviposition occurred in C. vicina was 35°C. Within these thresholds there was considerable variation in the number of surviving pupae, with a general pattern of a single peak within the range of temperatures at which eggs were laid, but with the pattern being much less distinct for L. sericata.

Microbial effects on the development of forensically important blow fly species.

Colonisation times and development rates of specific blow fly species are used to estimate the minimum Post Mortem Interval (mPMI). The presence or absence of bacteria on a corpse can potentially affect the development and survival of blow fly larvae. Therefore an understanding of microbial-insect interactions is important for improving the interpretation of mPMI estimations. In this study, the effect of two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) on the growth rate and survival of three forensically important blow fly species (Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria) was investigated. Sterile larvae were raised in a controlled environment (16:8h day: night light cycle, 23:21°C day: night temperature cycle and a constant 35% relative humidity) on four artificial diets prepared with 100µl of 10(5) CFU bacterial solutions as follows: (1) E. coli, (2) S. aureus, (3) a 50:50 E. coli:S. aureus mix and (4) a sterile bacteria-free control diet. Daily measurements (length, width and weight) were taken from first instar larvae through to the emergence of adult flies. Survival rates were also determined at pupation and adult emergence. Results indicate that bacteria were not essential for the development of any of the blow fly species. However, larval growth rates were affected by bacterial diet, with effects differing between blow fly species. Peak larval weights also varied according to species-diet combination; C. vomitoria had the largest weight on E. coli and mixed diets, C. vicina had the largest weight on S. aureus diets, and treatment had no significant effect on the peak larval weight of L. sericata. These results indicate the potential for the bacteria that larvae are exposed to during development on a corpse to alter both developmental rates and larval weight in some blow fly species.

Nocturnal Oviposition Behavior of Forensically Important Diptera in Central England.

Timing of oviposition on a corpse is a key factor in entomologically based minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) calculations. However, there is considerable variation in nocturnal oviposition behavior of blow flies reported in the research literature. This study investigated nocturnal oviposition in central England for the first time, over 25 trials from 2011 to 2013. Liver-baited traps were placed in an urban location during control (diurnal), and nocturnal periods and environmental conditions were recorded during each 5-h trial. No nocturnal activity or oviposition was observed during the course of the study indicating that nocturnal oviposition is highly unlikely in central England.