1,521 research outputs found
Variation in Ringed Seal Density and Abundance in Western Hudson Bay Estimated from Aerial Surveys, 1995 to 2013
We conducted systematic aerial surveys of ringed seals along strip transects in western Hudson Bay (WHB), Canada, in late May to early June of 1995â97, 1999, 2000, 2007â10, and 2013. The density of ringed seals hauled out on ice over the entire study area ranged from 1.22 seals/km2 in 1995, to 0.20 seals/km2 in 2013. Density estimates varied significantly over the study period and, with the exception of 2013, appeared to follow a cyclical pattern. Although density estimates also appear to follow a downward trend over time, results of multiple linear regression, weighted by survey effort, indicated no significant trend in ringed seal density as a function of year, survey date, or proportion of open water. In addition, no significant correlation was observed among any of the environmental variables and density estimates. As the proportion of seals hauled out at the time of the survey is unknown, the density estimates of WHB ringed seals presented in this study should be considered indices that might be useful to explore trends in abundance. Although our results do not indicate that a significant decline has occurred, the low density estimate in 2013 may indicate that population changes unrelated to a natural cycle are taking place. We were unable to test for direct effects of changes in food supply or predation, but polar bears, Arctic foxes, and Inuit communities in the Hudson Bay region all would be negatively affected should ringed seal populations undergo significant declines. Further monitoring and directed research are necessary to understand what mechanism may be responsible for the observed changes in ringed seal density.Nous avons fait les levĂ©s aĂ©riens systĂ©matiques de phoques annelĂ©s sur de longs transects en bandes dans lâouest de la baie dâHudson (OBH), au Canada, de la fin de mai au dĂ©but de juin des annĂ©es 1995 Ă 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007 Ă 2010 et 2013. Pendant toute la durĂ©e de lâĂ©tude, la densitĂ© de phoques annelĂ©s hissĂ©s sur la glace a variĂ© de 1,22 phoque/km2 en 1995 Ă 0,20 phoque/km2 en 2013. Les estimations de densitĂ© ont variĂ© considĂ©rablement au cours de la pĂ©riode visĂ©e par lâĂ©tude et, Ă lâexception de 2013, elles semblaient suivre un profil cyclique. Bien que les estimations de densitĂ© semblent Ă©galement suivre une tendance Ă la baisse au fil du temps, les rĂ©sultats de la rĂ©gression linĂ©aire multiple, pondĂ©rĂ©e par les levĂ©s, nâont indiquĂ© aucune tendance importante sur le plan de la densitĂ© de phoques annelĂ©s en fonction de lâannĂ©e, de la date des levĂ©s ou de la proportion dâeaux libres. Par ailleurs, aucune corrĂ©lation importante nâa Ă©tĂ© observĂ©e pour nâimporte quelle variable environnementale et nâimporte quelle estimation de densitĂ©. Puisque la proportion de phoques hissĂ©s au moment des levĂ©s est inconnue, les estimations de densitĂ© de phoques annelĂ©s dans lâOBH prĂ©sentĂ©es dans cette Ă©tude devraient ĂȘtre considĂ©rĂ©es comme des indices susceptibles dâaider Ă explorer les tendances en matiĂšre dâabondance. Bien que nos rĂ©sultats ne laissent pas entrevoir la prĂ©sence dâun dĂ©clin important, la faible estimation de densitĂ© enregistrĂ©e en 2013 pourrait indiquer quâil se produit des changements de population et que ceux-ci ne sont pas attribuables Ă un cycle naturel. Nous nâavons pu examiner les effets directs des changements en matiĂšre dâapprovisionnement alimentaire ou de prĂ©dation, mais les ours polaires, les renards arctiques et les communautĂ©s inuites de la rĂ©gion de la baie dâHudson subiraient tous des effets nĂ©gatifs si les populations de phoques annelĂ©s diminuaient considĂ©rablement. Il y a lieu de faire de la surveillance et des recherches dirigĂ©es pour comprendre Ă quel mĂ©canisme les changements observĂ©s sur le plan de la densitĂ© de phoques annelĂ©s pourrait ĂȘtre attribuable
Reply: Epidemiological and cohort study finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome
Distributed expertise: Qualitative study of a British network of multidisciplinary teams supporting parents of children with chronic kidney disease
© 2014 The Authors. Background: Long-term childhood conditions are often managed by hospital-based multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) of professionals with discipline specific expertise of a condition, in partnership with parents. However, little evidence exists on professional-parent interactions in this context. An exploration of professionals' accounts of the way they individually and collectively teach parents to manage their child's clinical care at home is, therefore, important for meeting parents' needs, informing policy and educating novice professionals. Using chronic kidney disease as an exemplar this paper reports on one aspect of a study of interactions between professionals and parents in a network of 12 children's kidney units in Britain. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with a convenience sample of 112 professionals (clinical-psychologists, dietitians, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, play-workers, therapists and social workers), exploring accounts of their parent-educative activity. We analysed data using framework and the concept of distributed expertise. Results: Four themes emerged that related to the way expertise was distributed within and across teams: (i) recognizing each other's' expertise, (ii) sharing expertise within the MDT, (iii) language interpretation, and (iv) acting as brokers. Two different professional identifications were also seen to co-exist within MDTs, with participants using the term 'we' both as the intra-professional 'we' (relating to the professional identity) when describing expertise within a disciplinary group (for example: 'As dietitians we aim to give tailored advice to optimize children's growth'), and the inter-professional 'we' (a 'team-identification'), when discussing expertise within the team (for example: 'We work as a team and make sure we're all happy with every aspect of their training before they go home'). Conclusions: This study highlights the dual identifications implicit in 'being professional' in this context (to the team and to one's profession) as well as the unique role that each member of a team contributes to children's care. Our methodology and results have the potential to be transferred to teams managing other conditions
Amyloid ÎČ peptides are differentially vulnerable to preanalytical surface exposure, an effect incompletely mitigated by the use of ratios
INTRODUCTION: We tested the hypothesis that the amyloid ÎČ (AÎČ) peptide ratios are more stable than AÎČ42 alone when biofluids are exposed to two preanalytical conditions known to modify measurable AÎČ concentration.
METHODS: Human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and culture media (CM) from human cortical neurons were exposed to a series of volumes and polypropylene surfaces. AÎČ42, AÎČ40, and AÎČ38 peptide concentrations were measured using a multiplexed electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Data were analyzed using mixed models in R.
RESULTS: Decrease of measurable AÎČ peptide concentrations was exaggerated in longer peptides, affecting the AÎČ42:AÎČ40 and AÎČ42:AÎČ38 ratios. However, the effect size of surface treatment was reduced in AÎČ peptide ratios versus AÎČ42 alone. For AÎČ42:AÎČ40, the effect was reduced by approximately 50% (volume) and 75% (transfer) as compared to AÎČ42 alone.
DISCUSSION: Use of AÎČ ratios, in conjunction with concentrations, may mitigate confounding factors and assist the clinical diagnostic process for Alzheimer's disease
An Investigation into Gender Disparities in the Field of Computing
This paper explains the reasons as to why there is under-representation of females computer science. Recent research undertaken at a British University focused on gender imbalance amongst academic staff in the Faculty of Technology and Environment, Liverpool John Moores University. The paper presents evidence that suggests the significance of identifying female role models in the field as a precursor to improving the current gender imbalance amongst academic faculty. In addition, the paper suggests the importance of addressing the negative stereotypical images related to the discipline and suggests the importance of identifying barriers to access and mobility females encounter in the field. The results of this initial investigation demonstrate the subjective belief amongst female academic faculty that in the School of Computing is dominated by male academics. Further, this belief pattern manifests itself in a perceived lack of motivation for promotion in the School. It can be concluded that the deeply entrenched belief system determines a lack of attempts to seek and secure promotion amongst all grades of female faculty. The paper proposes recommendations which the School could adopt to improve recruitment and retention of female academic staff and students
Secondary school pupils' preferences for different types of structured grouping practices
The aim of this paper is to explore pupilsâ preferences for particular types of grouping practices an area neglected in earlier research focusing on the personal and social outcomes of ability grouping. The sample comprised over 5,000 year 9 pupils (aged 13-14 years) in 45 mixed secondary comprehensive schools in England. The schools represented three levels of ability grouping in the lower school (years 7 to 9). Pupils responded to a questionnaire which explored the types of grouping that they preferred and the reasons for their choices. The majority of pupils preferred setting, although this was mediated by their set placement, type of school, socio-economic status and gender. The key reason given for this preference was that it enabled work to be matched to learning needs. The paper considers whether there are other ways of achieving this avoiding the negative social and personal outcomes of setting for some pupils
Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess cognitive function in infants in rural Africa
Cortical mapping of cognitive function during infancy is poorly understood in low-income countries due to the lack of transportable neuroimaging methods. We have successfully piloted functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a neuroimaging tool in rural Gambia. Four-to-eight month old infants watched videos of Gambian adults perform social movements, while haemodynamic responses were recorded using fNIRS. We found distinct regions of the posterior superior temporal and inferior frontal cortex that evidenced either visual-social activation or vocally selective activation (vocal > non-vocal). The patterns of selective cortical activation in Gambian infants replicated those observed within similar aged infants in the UK. These are the first reported data on the measurement of localized functional brain activity in young infants in Africa and demonstrate the potential that fNIRS offers for field-based neuroimaging research of cognitive function in resource-poor rural communities
Thromboembolic risk with IVIg: Incidence and risk factors in inflammatory neuropathy patients
Our objective was to evaluate whether IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) increases the risk of thromboembolic events in neurology outpatients with inflammatory neuropathies, as there is conflicting evidence supporting this hypothesis, mainly from non-neurologic cohorts. We investigated this question over 30 months in our cohort of patients with inflammatory neuropathies receiving regular IVIg anOur objective was to evaluate whether IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) increases the risk of thromboembolic events in neurology outpatients with inflammatory neuropathies, as there is conflicting evidence supporting this hypothesis, mainly from non-neurologic cohorts. We investigated this question over 30 months in our cohort of patients with inflammatory neuropathies receiving regular IVIg and found a greater incidence of arterial and venous thromboembolic events than population-based rates determined by hospital admissions data. Vascular risk factors were more common in the event group but there were no IVIg administration factors that contributed to the risk. This study suggests that IVIg may have a small but contributory role in determining thromboembolic risk in the inflammatory neuropathy cohort and more evidence is required before it is clear whether the current primary prevention guidelines are appropriate in this group of patients.d found a greater incidence of arterial and venous thromboembolic events than population-based rates determined by hospital admissions data. Vascular risk factors were more common in the event group but there were no IVIg administration factors that contributed to the risk. This study suggests that IVIg may have a small but contributory role in determining thromboembolic risk in the inflammatory neuropathy cohort and more evidence is required before it is clear whether the current primary prevention guidelines are appropriate in this group of patients
- âŠ