Welcome to Conference Participants

It is a pleasure for me to welcome participants of the First Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference and I bring you greetings and best wishes for a successful conference from Governor Mario Cuomo and commissioner of Environmental Conservation Henry Williams. It is appropriate that the first conference on this important subject in the East be heId in New York since we typify a variety of interactions between people and wildlife that are characteristic of the region

Factors influencing the relationship between the dose of amlodipine required for blood pressure control and change in blood pressure in hypertensive cats

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a common problem in elderly cats. In most cats, systolic blood pressure (SBP) of <160 mmHg is achieved in response to amlodipine besylate at either 0.625 or 1.25 mg q24h. The individual cat factors determining dose requirement dose have not been explored. AIMS: To determine whether individual cat factors influence the dose of amlodipine required to achieve adequate blood pressure control and to determine whether factors other than the prescribed dose of drug alter the achieved plasma amlodipine concentrations. METHODS: Fifty‐nine hypertensive cats that required 0.625 mg (A) and 41 cats that required 1.25 mg (B) amlodipine to reach a target SBP of <160 mmHg were identified, and plasma amlodipine concentrations were determined. Comparisons were made between groups, and multivariable linear regression models were performed to investigate predictors of antihypertensive response. RESULTS: Cats that required a greater dose of amlodipine had significantly higher SBP at diagnosis of hypertension (A: (median [25th, 75th percentile]) 182 [175,192] mmHg; B: 207 [194,217] mmHg, P < .001), but comparable blood pressure was achieved after treatment. Plasma amlodipine concentrations were directly related to the dose of amlodipine administered. At diagnosis, cats in group B had significantly lower plasma potassium concentration (A: 4.1 [3.8,4.5]; B: 3.8 [3.6,4.2] mEq/L, P < .01). Weight did not differ between groups. The decrease in SBP was directly and independently associated with the SBP at diagnosis and the plasma amlodipine concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cats with higher blood pressure at diagnosis might require a greater dose of amlodipine to control their blood pressure adequately. Differences in amlodipine pharmacokinetics between cats do not seem to play a role in the antihypertensive response

The Onset for Compressibility Effects for Aerofoils in Ground Effect

The influence of flow compressibility on a highly-cambered inverted aerofoil in ground effect is presented, based on two-dimensional computational studies. This type of problem has relevance to open-wheel racing cars, where local regions of high-speed subsonic flow form under favourable pressure gradients, even though the maximum freestream Mach number is typically considerably less than Mach 0.3. An important consideration for CFD users in the field is addressed in this paper, the freestream Mach number at which flow compressibility significantly affects aerodynamic performance. More broadly, for aerodynamicists, the consequences of this are also considered. Comparisons between incompressible and compressible CFD siulations are used to identify important changes to the flow characteristics caused by density changes, highlighting the inappropriateness of incompressible simulations of ground effect flows for freestream Mach numbers as low as 0.15

Resiliencia, ansiedad y hábitos alimentarios de la población amazónica sur-oriente antes y durante la pandemia: Resilience, anxiety and eating habits of the south-east amazon population before and during the pandemic

Objective:&nbsp;To determine the relationship between resilience, anxiety and eating habits of the south-eastern Amazonian population before and during the pandemic in 2020.&nbsp;Methods:&nbsp;Relational, quantitative and qualitative descriptive, the sample consisted of 150 inhabitants aged 30 to 45 years. The instrument used was the STAI: state-trait anxiety inventory, the data were processed with SPSS-25, analysis of significance and difference of means was performed, non-parametric test and post-test significant differences (Wilcoxon test for related samples ).&nbsp;Results:&nbsp;In adults, State-Trait Anxiety was greater than 65%, a bilateral significance of p = 0.01 was obtained, indicating that anxiety was related to resilience. Food consumption before the pandemic was classified: natural 60%, processed 40% and ultra-processed 0%; During confinement, the consumption of processed foods was 53.33% and ultra-processed 20%. The level of food consumption before and during the pandemic shows a difference, being significant of p &lt;5%. The level of anxiety before and during the pandemic, obtaining a significant of p &lt;5%. Conclusions: State-Trait Anxiety was greater than 65% in adults. Anxiety was related to resilience. There is a significant difference in the type of food consumed, in anxiety levels, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, in the inhabitants of the South-Eastern Amazon. The consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, before the pandemic, was 40% and during the pandemic this consumption has increased to 73%, therefore the consumption of food was high in fat and sugar content.Objetivo:&nbsp;Determinar la relación entre la resiliencia, la ansiedad y los hábitos alimentarios de la población amazónica sur-oriente antes y durante la pandemia en el año 2020.&nbsp;Métodos:&nbsp;Descriptivo relacional, cuantitativo y cualitativo, la muestra fue de 150 pobladores amazónicos adultos cuyas edades son de 30 a 45 años. El instrumento utilizado fue el STAI: Inventario de ansiedad estad-rasgo, los datos fueron procesados con SPSS- 25, se realizo análisis de significancia y diferencia de medias, prueba no paramétrica de test y post test diferencias significativas (Prueba de Wilcoxon para muestras relacionadas).&nbsp;Resultados:&nbsp;En los adultos la Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo fue mayor al 65%, se obtuvo una significancia bilateral de p=0,01, indicando que la ansiedad estuvo relacionada con la resiliencia. El consumo de alimentos antes de la pandemia, estuvo clasificado: natural 60%, procesado 40% y ultra procesado 0%; durante el confinamiento, el consumo de alimentos procesados fue 53,33% y ultraprocesados 20%.El nivel consumo de alimentos antes y durante la pandemia, muestra una diferencia, siendo significativa de p &lt;5%. El nivel de ansiedad antes y durante la pandemia, obteniendo una significativa de p &lt;5%.&nbsp;Conclusiones:&nbsp;La Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo fue mayor al 65% en adultos. La ansiedad estuvo relacionada con la capacidad resilente. Existe diferencia significativa en el tipo de alimentos consumidos, en los niveles de ansiedad, antes y durante la pandemia Covid-19, en los pobladores de la Amazonia Sur-Oriente. El consumo de alimentos procesados y ultra procesados, antes de la pandemia, fue del 40% y durante la pandemia este consumo se ha incrementado al 73%, por tanto, el consumo de alimentos se elevó en alto contenido de grasas y azucares

Investigation of new concepts of adaptive devices Quarterly technical report, 15 Dec. 1967 - 14 Mar. 1968

Fabrication, properties, and application of metal nitride semiconductor/variable threshold transistor memory devic

Adaptation of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) in Spanish

The impact of social networks on people's daily lives is worrisome, particularly in adolescents and young people, who seem to exceed the limits of normal use. Constant excessive use can lead to pathological behaviors linked to social media addiction (SMA). Our objectives were to 1) adapt the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) to Spanish and 2) evaluate its psychometric properties in a young population. The BSMAS was adapted to Spanish, involving experts on social media addiction and people from the target population during the adaptation process. For the psychometric evaluation, 650 Peruvian college students responded to the Spanish version (53.5 % women aged 18 to 40, M = 21.5 SD = 2.7). The one-dimensional measurement model proposed for the original BSMAS was confirmed for our version (X2(9) = 23.9315, CFI = 0.994, TLI = 0.990, SRMR = 0.032, RMSEA = 0.061). The reliability was good (α = 0.863; 95 % CI: 0.848–0.870; ω = 0.864; 95 % CI: 0.846–0.844), and the measurement invariance was confirmed for sex and age by fitting models. The concurrent validity with external social media addiction and mental health indicators was also confirmed. This study provides new and relevant information on the BSMAS validity and allows its application to Spanish-speaker college students from Peru and similar countries

Self-titration by experienced e-cigarette users: blood nicotine delivery and subjective effects

Rationale Self-titration is well documented in the tobacco literature. The extent to which ecigarette users (vapers) self-titrate is unknown. Objective This study explored the effects of high and low nicotine strength liquid on puffing topography, nicotine delivery and subjective effects in experienced vapers. Methods Eleven experienced male vapers completed 60 minutes of ad libitum vaping under low (6 mg/mL) and high (24 mg/mL) nicotine liquid conditions in two separate sessions. Measurements included: puffing topography (puff number, puff duration, volume of liquid consumed); and changes in: plasma nicotine levels, craving, withdrawal symptoms, selfreported hit, satisfaction and adverse effects. Results Liquid consumption and puff number were higher, and puff duration longer, in the low nicotine strength condition (all ps < 0.01). The mean difference in nicotine boost from baseline in the low condition was 8.59 (7.52) ng/mL, 16.99 (11.72) ng/mL and 22.03 (16.19) ng/mL at 10, 30 and 60 minutes respectively. Corresponding values for the high condition were 33.77 (34.88) ng/mL, 35.48 (28.31) ng/mL and 43.57 (34.78) ng/mL (ps < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between conditions in self-reported craving, withdrawal symptoms, satisfaction, hit or adverse effects. Conclusions Vapers engaged in compensatory puffing with lower nicotine strength liquid, doubling their consumption. Whilst compensatory puffing was sufficient to reduce craving and withdrawal discomfort, self-titration was incomplete with significantly higher plasma nicotine levels in the high condition

Linking Emergency Medical Services and Health System Data: Optimal Strategy and Bias Mitigation

Introduction Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems dispatch paramedics to emergencies in the community. For critically ill patients, paramedic interventions and transport destination decisions may impact outcomes. Research is needed to inform paramedic care, but linking EMS data to health system outcomes is a barrier. Limited research exists on EMS data linkage. Objectives and Approach To optimize linkage of EMS data (fiscal year 2016/17) to the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System/Sunrise Clinical Manager datasets and assess bias. A random sample of EMS records were deterministically linked on provincial health number (PHN), transport destination, and EMS/emergency department arrival/presentation times ≤2hrs. Linked data were manually verified using last name, sex, date of birth, and hospital file number. For patients that remained unlinked (based on the variables listed above), further linkage attempts were made using additional variables. The combination of variables that optimized sensitivity/positive predictive value/f-measure were used to link the fiscal year. Linked/unlinked groups were descriptively compared. Results While results are still pending (available April, 2018), we hypothesize that there may be inherent differences in the clinical and encounter characteristics of patients that were linked versus unlinked. Patient identifiers such as PHN and name are important for linkage, but are not always collected on EMS events that require immediate treatment and rapid transport, yet these patients may be the most critically ill. Conclusion/Implications As more EMS systems attempt to systematically link their data to health system outcome, these results will be important to mitigate potential bias