58 research outputs found
Clinical effects and treatment of envenoming by Hoplocephalus spp. snakes in Australia: Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-12)
No full textThere is limited information on envenoming by snakes of the genus Hoplocephalus from Eastern Australia. We investigated the clinical and laboratory features of patients with definite Hoplocephalus spp. bites including antivenom treatment, recruited to the Australian Snakebite Project. There were 15 definite Hoplocephalus spp. bites based on expert identification including eight by Hoplocephalus stephensi (Stephen's banded snakes), four by Hoplocephalus bungaroides (broad-headed snake) and three by H. bitorquatus (pale-headed snake). Envenoming occurred in 13 patients and was similar for the three species with venom induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) in all envenomings. Seven patients had an INR >12 and partial VICC, with only incomplete fibrinogen consumption, occurred in three patients. Systemic symptoms occurred in eight patients. Myotoxicity and neurotoxicity did not occur. H. stephensi venom was detected in all three H. stephensi envenomings (1.1, 44 and 81 ng/mL) for whom pre-antivenom blood samples were available, and not detected in one without envenoming. In two cases with post-antivenom blood samples, venom was not detected after tiger snake antivenom (TSAV) was given. In vitro binding studies demonstrated that TSAV concentrations of 50mU/mL are sufficient to bind the majority of free H. stephensi venom components at concentrations above those detected in envenomed patients (100 ng/mL). Eleven patients received antivenom, median dose 2 vials (Range: 1 to 5 vials), which was TSAV in all but one case, where polyvalent antivenom was used. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions occurred in six cases including one case of anaphylaxis. Envenoming by Hoplocephalus spp. causes VICC and systemic symptoms, making it clinically similar to brown snake (Pseudonaja spp.) envenoming. Based on in vitro studies reported here, patients may be treated with one vial of TSAV, although one vial of brown snake antivenom may also be sufficient.G.K. Isbister, J. White, B.J. Currie, M.A. O’Leary and S.G.A. Brow
Do different types of VR influence pedestrian route choice behaviour? A comparison study of Desktop VR and HMD VR
No full textVirtual Reality (VR) is a valuable tool for studying pedestrian behaviour in complex and realistic scenarios. However, it has remained unknown how different VR technology would influence pedestrian behaviour. This paper presents VR experiments that were conducted with 70 participants using a desktop VR or a HMD VR to perform four different wayfinding tasks in a multi-story building. Quantitative analysis of pedestrian behaviour data and user experience data were performed in order to investigate the impact of the technological differences between the two VR techniques. It was found that participants had better wayfinding task performance in the desktop group. However, the route and exit choice and user experience were overall similar between the two groups. The findings suggest that one could adopt more ‘simple’ VR technologies for studies featuring ‘simple’ wayfinding tasks.Accepted Author ManuscriptTransport and Plannin
Economic analysis of site-specific wheat management with respect to grain quality and separation of the different quality fractions
No full textThe paper analyzes site-specific and uniform management options for wheat production with respect to grain quality. Besides site-specific fertilization the economic potential of segregation of different grain qualities is the subject of this paper. Yield and quality response to fertilizer were taken from field experiments in Germany to calculate site-specific response functions. The economic optima were calculated for uniform management (UM), complete separate management of the subfields (SM), site-specific fertilization (SSF) and grain segregation (GS) for different price structures according to different grain qualities. The results show that over all price structures, highest economic potential was found with SM or SSF compared to UM. However, these management practices require the possibility to separately manage subfields (SM) or specific fertilization equipment and fertilizer algorithms (SSM). GS did not have a higher economic potential than UM. However, if required grain qualities are not met for the whole field, GS can substantially reduce profit losses by separating part of the grains and selling them at higher prices. This may save the farmer more than 50 € ha–1. In situations where higher grain qualities could only be obtained at the expense of yield penalties, premiums for higher grain qualities can create incentives for fertilizer rates beyond the yield maximizing rate. GS technologies may even boost this effect.site-specific nitrogen management, wheat quality, grain segregation., Crop Production/Industries,
Scorpian stings in Australia: five definite stings and a review
No full textDespite scorpions being locally abundant in many parts of Australia, scorpion sting is a poorly defined clinical condition in Australia. Many health-care workers are unaware of the effects of their stings and scorpions are often feared based on their international reputation. Five scorpion stings that occurred in different parts of Australia where the scorpion was caught at the time of the sting and identified by a professional arachnologist are reported in the present paper. The spectrum of clinical effects of scorpion stings in Australia and the potential for significant effects are discussed. These cases and recent prospective case series demonstrate that in Australia scorpion stings cause only minor effects. The main effect is localized pain lasting for several hours, associated less commonly with systemic effects, local numbness and paraesthesia. Most stings are from smaller scorpions from the family Buthidae and often occur indoors at night. The stings from Australian buthid scorpions cause more severe effects than from the larger species in the families Urodacidae (genus Urodacus) and Liochelidae (genus Liocheles)
Coagulant effects of black snake (Pseudechis spp.) venoms and in vitro efficacy of commercial antivenom
No full textInvestigating toxin diversity and abundance in snake venom proteomes
No full textUnderstanding snake venom proteomes is becoming increasingly important to understand snake venom biology, evolution and especially clinical effects of venoms and approaches to antivenom development. To explore the current state of snake venom proteomics and transcriptomics we investigated venom proteomic methods, associations between methodological and biological variability and the diversity and abundance of protein families. We reviewed available studies on snake venom proteomes from September 2017 to April 2021. This included 81 studies characterising venom proteomes of 79 snake species, providing data on relative toxin abundance for 70 species and toxin diversity (number of different toxins) for 37 species. Methodologies utilised in these studies were summarised and compared. Several comparative studies showed that preliminary decomplexation of crude venom by chromatography leads to increased protein identification, as does the use of transcriptomics. Combining different methodological strategies in venomic approaches appears to maximize proteome coverage. 48% of studies used the RP-HPLC →1D SDS-PAGE →in-gel trypsin digestion → ESI -LC-MS/MS pathway. Protein quantification by MS1-based spectral intensity was used twice as commonly as MS2-based spectral counting (33–15 studies). Total toxin diversity was 25–225 toxins/species, with a median of 48. The relative mean abundance of the four dominant protein families was for elapids; 3FTx–52%, PLA₂–27%, SVMP–2.8%, and SVSP–0.1%, and for vipers: 3FTx–0.5%, PLA₂–24%, SVMP–27%, and SVSP–12%. Viper venoms were compositionally more complex than elapid venoms in terms of number of protein families making up most of the venom, in contrast, elapid venoms were made up of fewer, but more toxin diverse, protein families. No relationship was observed between relative toxin diversity and abundance. For equivalent comparisons to be made between studies, there is a need to clarify the differences between methodological approaches and for acceptance of a standardised protein classification, nomenclature and reporting procedure. Correctly measuring and comparing toxin diversity and abundance is essential for understanding biological, clinical and evolutionary implications of snake venom composition.Theo Tasoulis, Tara L. Pukala and Geoffrey K. Isbiste
Comments on proteomic investigations of two Pakistani Naja snake venoms species unravel the venom complexity, posttranslational modifications, and presence of extracellular vesicles. toxins 2020, 12, 669
No full textAbstract not availableTheo Tasoulis, Tara L. Pukala and Geoffrey K. Isbiste
Failure, Play Conditioning, and Accomplishment: Learning Sekiro with Dark Souls Habits
No full textabstract: In my creative project I created a video essay examining the mechanical differences found in the games, Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadow's Die Twice from developer, FromSoftware. I analyze these mechanical changes and their potential impact on players mindsets and playstyles. I pull from my own experience as well as Katherine Isbister, and the wider internet discourse on game design. (abstract
Release: University of Regina Publication Wins Prestigious Book Award
No full textJim Shilliday, an author published through the Canadian Plains Research Center at the University of Regina, was recently recognized at the 20th Annual Manitoba Book Awards. His University of Regina publication, Canada's Wheat King: The Life and Times of Seager Wheeler, was awarded the Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-fiction. Shilliday, who is a retired journalist living outside of Winnipeg was presented with the award on April 26 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.Staffn
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