Investigation of cerebral autoregulation in the newborn piglet during anaesthesia and surgery

The relationship between cerebral autoregulation (CA) and the neurotoxic effects of anaesthesia with and without surgery is investigated. Newborn piglets were randomly assigned to receive either 6 h of anaesthesia (isoflurane) or the same with an additional hour of minor surgery. The effect of the spontaneous changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) on the cerebral haemodynamics (oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin, HbO2 and Hb) was measured using transverse broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). A marker for impaired CA, concordance between MABP and intravascular oxygenation (HbD = HbO2 - Hb) in the ultra-low frequency domain (0.0018-0.0083 Hz), was assessed using coherence analysis. Presence of CA impairment was not significant but found to increase with surgical exacerbation. The impairment did not correlate with histological outcome (presence of cell death, apoptosis and microglial activation in the brain)

Drumming and mindfulness integrations into an evidence-based group intervention

Community mental health, to protect the integrity of service to a highly vulnerable population, has sought to increase the use of evidence-based practice. However, most evidence-based practices have a narrow scope challenging the breadth of effectiveness with consumers with higher levels of comorbidity. This article explores the use of mindfulness and drumming integrated into an evidence-based program: Seeking Safety. In response to the challenges of conducting a cognitive-focused intervention for members diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, addictions, and co-occurring severe/persistent mental illness, mindfulness principles and drumming are used to help manage the emotional needs of group members. This article outlines the foundational principles supporting the group program

Structured Decision-Making to Rank North American Wetlands Conservation Act Proposals Within Joint Venture Regions

Abstract The North American Wetlands Conservation Act provides funding and administration for wetland management and conservation projects. The North American Wetland Conservation Fund, enabled in 1989 with the Act, provides financial resources. Resource allocation decisions are based, in part, on regional experts, particularly migratory bird Joint Ventures (JV; partnerships established under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan to help conserve the continent's waterfowl populations and habitats). The JVs evaluate funding proposals submitted within their respective regions each year and make funding recommendations to decision makers. Proposal evaluation procedures differ among JVs; however, it could be helpful to consider a transparent, repeatable, and data-driven framework for prioritization within regions. We used structured decision-making and linear additive value models for ranking proposals within JV regions. We used two JVs as case studies and constructed two different value models using JV-specific objectives and weights. The framework was developed through a collaborative process with JV staff and stakeholders. Models were written in Microsoft Excel. To test these models, we used six North American Wetlands Conservation Act proposals submitted to the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV in 2016 and seven proposals submitted to the Gulf Coast JV in 2017. We compared proposal ranks assigned by the value model to ranks assigned by each JV's management board. Ranks assigned by the value model differed from ranks assigned by the board for the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, but not for the Gulf Coast JV. However, ranks from the value model could change markedly with different objective weights and value functions. The weighted linear value model was beneficial for ranking NAWCA proposals because it allows JVs to treat the ranking as a multiple objective problem and tailor the ranking to their specific regional concerns. We believe a structured decision-making approach could be adapted by JV staff to facilitate a systematic and transparent process for proposal ranking by their management boards.</jats:p