Biological Earth observation with animal sensors

Space-based tracking technology using low-cost miniature tags is now delivering data on fine-scale animal movement at near-global scale. Linked with remotely sensed environmental data, this offers a biological lens on habitat integrity and connectivity for conservation and human health; a global network of animal sentinels of environmen-tal change

Retaining traditionally hard to reach participants: Lessons learned from three childhood obesity studies

Retaining underserved populations, particularly low-income and/or minority participants in research trials, presents a unique set of challenges. In this paper, we describe the initial retention strategies and enhanced the retention strategies over time across three childhood obesity prevention trials. Hip-Hop to Health Jr. (HH) was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing a preschool-based obesity prevention intervention among predominately African-American children. Retention was 89% at 14-weeks, 71% at 1-year, and 73% at 2-year follow-up. Primary retention strategies for HH included: 1) collaboration with a community-based organization to enhance program credibility; 2) continuity of data collection locations; 3) collecting detailed contact information and provision of monetary compensation; and 4) developing a detailed tracking/search protocol. In a follow-up trial, Hip-Hop to Health Jr. Obesity Prevention Effectiveness Trial (HH Effectiveness), 95% of participants completed assessment at 14 weeks and 88% completed assessment at 1 year. For this trial, we emphasized staffing continuity in order to enhance participant relationship building and required data collection staff to have relevant community service experience. In a third study, we assessed dietary quality among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programfor Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) across three time points following the WIC food package shift instituted nationally in 2009. Retention rates were 91% at 12 months and 89% at 18 months. For our WIC\ study, we augmented retention by developing a home data collection protocol and increased focus on staff diversity training. We conclude with a summary of key strategies and suggestions for future research

Energy expenditure in the critically ill performing early physical therapy

Purpose: Resting energy expenditure (REE) determination is of high relevance to avoid both overfeeding and underfeeding. We conducted an observational study to determine the impact of early exercise on energy requirements to adjust caloric intake accordingly in critically ill patients. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in an intensive care unit in 49 hemodynamically stable critically ill patients and 15 healthy volunteers. Indirect calorimetry (IC) was performed for 15 min at baseline during resting conditions, and then continuously recorded during 30 min of cycling at 0, 3, or 6 watts (W), followed by a 15-min resting period. REE determined by IC was compared with predictive formulas and correlated with several biomarkers. The energy cost of early exercise was compared between critically ill patients and healthy volunteers. Results: In patients, REE determined by IC was higher than predicted by Harris-Benedict (29 ± 31 %, p < 0.001) and Fleisch equations (23 ± 31 %, p < 0.001) but lower than predicted by the Faisy-Fagon equation for ventilated patients (16 ± 19 %, p < 0.05). Differences between Harris-Benedict predictions and IC determination were positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with sepsis (r = 0.51, p = 0.003). During a similar exercise, VO 2 increase in patients was higher when compared with healthy volunteers at 3 W, close to significant at 6 W, and not present in the passive group. Conclusions: The critically ill have increased REE according to inflammation defined by CRP. Increased energy requirement for physical activity was only present for active exercise and seems to differ from that in the healthy population. For the exercise duration and intensity tested, nutritional adjustment is not indicated. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and ESICM

Risk of COVID-19 after natural infection or vaccinationResearch in context

Background: While vaccines have established utility against COVID-19, phase 3 efficacy studies have generally not comprehensively evaluated protection provided by previous infection or hybrid immunity (previous infection plus vaccination). Individual patient data from US government-supported harmonized vaccine trials provide an unprecedented sample population to address this issue. We characterized the protective efficacy of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against COVID-19 early in the pandemic over three-to six-month follow-up and compared with vaccine-associated protection. Methods: In this post-hoc cross-protocol analysis of the Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, we allocated participants into four groups based on previous-infection status at enrolment and treatment: no previous infection/placebo; previous infection/placebo; no previous infection/vaccine; and previous infection/vaccine. The main outcome was RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 >7–15 days (per original protocols) after final study injection. We calculated crude and adjusted efficacy measures. Findings: Previous infection/placebo participants had a 92% decreased risk of future COVID-19 compared to no previous infection/placebo participants (overall hazard ratio [HR] ratio: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05–0.13). Among single-dose Janssen participants, hybrid immunity conferred greater protection than vaccine alone (HR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.10). Too few infections were observed to draw statistical inferences comparing hybrid immunity to vaccine alone for other trials. Vaccination, previous infection, and hybrid immunity all provided near-complete protection against severe disease. Interpretation: Previous infection, any hybrid immunity, and two-dose vaccination all provided substantial protection against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 through the early Delta period. Thus, as a surrogate for natural infection, vaccination remains the safest approach to protection. Funding: National Institutes of Health