Reproduction and Mortality of Finnish Semi-Domesticated Reindeer in Relation to Density and Management Strategies

We assessed the effects of management strategies during 1960-73 relative to strategies used during 1974-87 on the reproduction and mortality of 56 semi-domesticated herds of Finnish reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). During 1960-73, reindeer fed exclusively on natural forage growing on their range, and reindeer were harvested mostly as adults. These strategies were modified starting in 1974 to include supplemental feeding in the southern part of the Finnish reindeer range and calf harvesting throughout the range. We found significantly higher calf/female ratios, lower mortality, and less variation in both calf/female ratios and mortality during 1974-87 than during 1960-73. These changes occurred in spite of increased animal density. Coefficients of variation in calf/female ratio and mortality were negatively correlated with the prevalence of mature spruce forests, which are rich in arboreal lichens. Mean calf/female ratio and mortality rate depended on reindeer density only in the southern region during 1960-73. During 1974-87 these did not depend on density in any region. Within herds, calf/female ratio did not depend on density in most cases (98%), while in the later period the relationship between calf production and density was positive in some cases (25%). Mortality depended more often on density during the earlier (46% of herds) than the later (23% of herds) period. Calf harvesting influenced mortality more than supplemental feeding and virtually freed reindeer from density-dependent limitations. Supplemental feeding was used to compensate for deterioration of range resulting from overgrazing and logging of mature forests rich in arboreal lichens.Key words: reproduction, mortality, density dependence, reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, management, FinlandOn a évalué les retombées des stratégies d'aménagement utilisées entre 1960 et 1973 par rapport à celles utilisées de 1974 à 1987 sur la reproduction et la mortalité de 56 troupeaux semi-domestiques de caribous finlandais (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Au cours de la période allant de 1960 à 1973, les caribous se nourrissaient uniquement de fourrage naturel provenant de leur territoire, et le prélèvement des caribous s'effectuait en majorité sur des animaux adultes. À partir de 1974, ces stratégies ont été modifiées pour inclure un supplément à l'alimentation du caribou finlandais dans la partie sud de son territoire ainsi que le prélèvement de jeunes animaux sur la totalité du territoire. On a trouvé qu'au cours de la période allant de 1974 à 1987, le taux veaux/femelles était considérablement plus élevé, la mortalité était bien moindre et les fluctuations dans le taux veaux/femelles comme dans la mortalité était moindres qu'au cours de la période allant de 1960 à 1973. Ces changements se sont produits en dépit d'une augmentation de la densité des animaux. Les coefficients de variation dans le taux veaux/femelles et la mortalité avaient une corrélation négative avec la prédominance de forêts d'épinettes matures, où abondent les lichens corticicoles. La moyenne du taux veaux/femelles et du taux de mortalité ne dépendait de la densité du caribou que dans la partie méridionale entre 1960 et 1973. Entre 1974 et 1987, ces paramètres n'étaient fonction de la densité dans aucune région. Au sein des troupeaux, le taux veaux/femelles n'était pas fonction de la densité dans la plupart des cas (98 p. cent), alors que dans la deuxième période de l'étude, le rapport entre la production de veaux et la densité était positif dans quelques cas (25 p. cent). La mortalité dépendait plus souvent de la densité au cours de la première période de l'étude (45 p. cent) qu'au cours de la seconde (23 p. cent). Le prélèvement des veaux avait une influence sur la mortalité plus que ne l'avait le supplément à l'alimentation et libérait pratiquement le caribou des restrictions dues à la dépendance de la densité. Le supplément à l'alimentation était utilisé comme compensation à la détérioration du territoire due au surpâturage et à l'exploitation forestière de forêts matures riches en lichens corticicoles.Mots clés: reproduction, mortalité, fonction de la densité, renne, Rangifer tarandus, aménagement, Finland

On-chip TIRF nanoscopy by applying Haar wavelet kernel analysis on intensity fluctuations induced by chip illumination

Photonic-chip based TIRF illumination has been used to demonstrate several on-chip optical nanoscopy methods. The sample is illuminated by the evanescent field generated by the electromagnetic wave modes guided inside the optical waveguide. In addition to the photokinetics of the fluorophores, the waveguide modes can be further exploited for introducing controlled intensity fluctuations for exploitation by techniques such as super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI). However, the problem of non-uniform illumination pattern generated by the modes contribute to artifacts in the reconstructed image. To alleviate this problem, we propose to perform Haar wavelet kernel (HAWK) analysis on the original image stack prior to the application of (SOFI). HAWK produces a computational image stack with higher spatio-temporal sparsity than the original stack. In the case of multimoded non-uniform illumination patterns, HAWK processing bre aks the mode pattern while introducing spatio-temporal sparsity, thereby differentially affecting the non-uniformity of the illumination. Consequently, this assists nanoscopy methods such as SOFI to better support super-resolution, which is otherwise compromised due to spatial correlation of the mode patterns in the raw image. Furthermore, applying HAWK prior to SOFI alleviates the problem of artifacts due to non-uniform illumination without degrading temporal resolution. Our experimental results demonstrate resolution enhancement as well as reduction in artifacts through the combination of HAWK and SOFI

EU-wide Enviromental and Exposure Monitoring of Dioxins, PCBS and Other Persistent Organic Pullutants (POPs) in Butter and Correlations to Published Air Data

The project is a pilot and is aimed at evaluating whether a robust relationship can be established between POPs in commercially available milk products when compared to analytical data on POPs in ambient air. The experimental approach is based on 2 sets of diary product samples: 1. The 2001 milk survey with 88 milk samples from 68 locations in Europe 2. The 2007 organic diary product survey with 85 samples collected directly from farms in Europe. Dioxins, PCB and pesticides are analyzed in all samples and compared to regional air data collected from literature.JRC.DDG.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Quantum cryptography with 3-state systems

We consider quantum cryptographic schemes where the carriers of information are 3-state particles. One protocol uses four mutually unbiased bases and appears to provide better security than obtainable with 2-state carriers. Another possible method allows quantum states to belong to more than one basis. The security is not better, but many curious features arise.Comment: 11 pages Revte

Effect of exenatide on the pharmacokinetics of a combination oral contraceptive in healthy women: an open-label, randomised, crossover trial

BACKGROUND: Consistent with its effect on gastric emptying, exenatide, an injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes, may slow the absorption rate of concomitantly administered oral drugs resulting in a decrease in maximum concentration (C(max)). This study evaluated the drug interaction potential of exenatide when administered adjunctively with oral contraceptives, given their potential concomitant use. METHODS: This trial evaluated the effect of exenatide co-administration on single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of a combination oral contraceptive (ethinyl estradiol [EE] 30 μg, levonorgestrel [LV] 150 μg [Microgynon 30(®)]). Thirty-two healthy female subjects participated in an open-label, randomised, crossover trial with 3 treatment periods (oral contraceptive alone, 1 hour before exenatide, 30 minutes after exenatide). Subjects received a single dose of oral contraceptive on Day 8 of each period and QD doses on Days 10 through 28. During treatment periods of concomitant usage, exenatide was administered subcutaneously prior to morning and evening meals at 5 μg BID from Days 1 through 4 and at 10 μg BID from Days 5 through 22. Single- (Day 8) and multiple-dose (Day 22) pharmacokinetic profiles were assessed for each treatment period. RESULTS: Exenatide did not alter the bioavailability nor decrease daily trough concentrations for either oral contraceptive component. No substantive changes in oral contraceptive pharmacokinetics occurred when oral contraceptive was administered 1 hour before exenatide. Single-dose oral contraceptive administration 30 minutes after exenatide resulted in mean (90% CI) C(max )reductions of 46% (42-51%) and 41% (35-47%) for EE and LV, respectively. Repeated daily oral contraceptive administration 30 minutes after exenatide resulted in C(max )reductions of 45% (40-50%) and 27% (21-33%) for EE and LV, respectively. Peak oral contraceptive concentrations were delayed approximately 3 to 4 hours. Mild-to-moderate nausea and vomiting were the most common adverse events observed during the trial. CONCLUSIONS: The observed reduction in C(max )is likely of limited importance given the unaltered oral contraceptive bioavailability and trough concentrations; however, for oral medications that are dependent on threshold concentrations for efficacy, such as contraceptives and antibiotics, patients should be advised to take those drugs at least 1 hour before exenatide injection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00254800

Heart Transplantation for Early-Onset Anthracycline-Induced Cardiomyopathy Within 5 Months of Chemotherapy Completion

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The AuthorsA 9-year-old boy developed progressive anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy three months after completion of chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. Five months after completion of chemotherapy, at the age of 10 years, heart transplantation was performed. At 29 months since transplantation, the patient remains free of rejection and recurrence of osteosarcoma. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)Peer reviewe