Bat Mortality at Ontario Wind Farms Quantified and Compared Using Four Candidate Estimator Equations

Wind farm development is expanding globally. While wind energy is a low-cost option for new electricity supply, the impacts to wildlife populations, including bats (Chiroptera), are of ecological concern. To quantify these impacts, scientists have developed estimator equations to estimate bat mortality, which vary in assumptions related to correction factors. We compared the results of 4 estimators applied to post-construction monitoring data from Ontario, Canada, wind farms to evaluate the effects of field methods and correction factors on estimator consistency. To conduct our study, we obtained data from 21 wind farms between 2011 and 2017 for a total of 26 wind farm survey years, because some wind farms supplied fatality monitoring data in \u3e1 year, to estimate mortality. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry estimator (OMNRF) tended to be highest, while the Huso, Schoenfeld-Erickson, and GenEst estimators produced similar results. Huso and Schoenfeld-Erickson estimates tended to fall within 95% confidence intervals for GenEst, while OMNRF estimates tended to be higher than the upper confidence interval for GenEst. The results from the OMNRF estimator were consistent with the other candidates when carcass persistence times were \u3e6.5 days but inconsistent when carcass persistence times were shorter. Our results demonstrated the degree to which mortality estimates can vary among estimators and highlight the need for a consistent estimator in comparative studies. We recommend GenEst for such studies, as this estimator can incorporate more inputs with flexibility to reflect site-specific field conditions and produces highly consistent results. Conversely, the OMNRF estimator produced consistently higher estimates than the other candidate estimators, and assumptions related to carcass persistence were regularly violated. We recommend that these limitations be acknowledged when interpreting results from this estimator and that its use be reconsidered when assumptions related to carcass persistence are not met

Chronic kidney disease and valvular heart disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies conference

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for valvular heart disease (VHD). Mitral annular and aortic valve calcifications are highly prevalent in CKD patients and commonly lead to valvular stenosis and regurgitation, as well as complications including conduction system abnormalities and endocarditis. VHD, especially mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis, is associated with significantly reduced survival among CKD patients. Knowledge related to VHD in the general population is not always applicable to CKD patients because the pathophysiology may be different, and CKD patients have a high prevalence of comorbid conditions and elevated risk for periprocedural complications and mortality. This Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) review of CKD and VHD seeks to improve understanding of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of VHD in CKD by summarizing knowledge gaps, areas of controversy, and priorities for research

Chronic kidney disease and arrhythmias: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are predisposed to heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). While treatment options, including drug, device, and procedural therapies, are available, their use in the setting of CKD is complex and limited. Patients with CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have historically been under-represented or excluded from randomized trials of arrhythmia treatment strategies,1 although this situation is changing.2 Cardiovascular society consensus documents have recently identified evidence gaps for treating patients with CKD and heart rhythm disorders [...

Long- and short-term outcomes in renal allografts with deceased donors: A large recipient and donor genome-wide association study.

Improvements in immunosuppression have modified short-term survival of deceased-donor allografts, but not their rate of long-term failure. Mismatches between donor and recipient HLA play an important role in the acute and chronic allogeneic immune response against the graft. Perfect matching at clinically relevant HLA loci does not obviate the need for immunosuppression, suggesting that additional genetic variation plays a critical role in both short- and long-term graft outcomes. By combining patient data and samples from supranational cohorts across the United Kingdom and European Union, we performed the first large-scale genome-wide association study analyzing both donor and recipient DNA in 2094 complete renal transplant-pairs with replication in 5866 complete pairs. We studied deceased-donor grafts allocated on the basis of preferential HLA matching, which provided some control for HLA genetic effects. No strong donor or recipient genetic effects contributing to long- or short-term allograft survival were found outside the HLA region. We discuss the implications for future research and clinical application

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Proportion of large polychaetes, small invertebrates and surface sediment (biofilm) in Western Sandpiper diet based on dropping and prey samples collected during spring migration (23 April–7 May 2012).

<p>A three source mixing model of <i>δ</i>¹³C and <i>δ</i>¹⁵N was used for eight study sites within the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location: 1:a Mud Bay, 1:b Boundary Bay East, 2:c Roberts Ban: Inter-causeway, 2:d Roberts Bank Brunswick Point, 2:e Roberts Bank Westham Island, 3:f Sturgeon Bank South, 3:g Sturgeon Bank North, and 3:h Sturgeon Bank Iona.</p

Distribution of sampling locations across the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April–7 May 2012.

<p>Distribution of sampling locations across the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April–7 May 2012.</p

Average total counts, and average estimated proportions of Western Sandpiper (WESA) and Dunlin (DUNL) from ratios in sample flocks within study sites in the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April–1 May 2012.

<p>Counts where species ratios were not taken are reported as undifferentiated Western Sandpiper and Dunlin (UNDI) not identified to species (optical equipment, flocking behaviour or distance from observer precluded making species-specific estimate)</p><p>Average total counts, and average estimated proportions of Western Sandpiper (WESA) and Dunlin (DUNL) from ratios in sample flocks within study sites in the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April–1 May 2012.</p

Estimated contributions of surface sediments (biofilm), small invertebrates and large polychaetes in Western Sandpiper droppings across the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April—1 May 2012.

<p>Data are presented as the median of 130,000 posterior draws and 95% credibility intervals (Cr.I.), the Bayesian equivalent of confidence intervals</p><p>Estimated contributions of surface sediments (biofilm), small invertebrates and large polychaetes in Western Sandpiper droppings across the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April—1 May 2012.</p

Mean isotope values of <i>δ</i>¹³C and <i>δ</i>¹⁵N (± standard deviation) for microphytobenthos, small invertebrates, large polychaetes, surface sediments (biofilm) and Western Sandpiper droppings.

<p>Samples were collected at eight study sites within the Fraser Estuary—Boundary Bay migratory stopover location, 23 April–7 May 2012. 1:a Mud Bay, 1:b Boundary Bay East, 2:c Roberts Bank Inter-causeway, 2:d Roberts Bank Brunswick Point, 2:e Roberts Bank Westham Island, 3:f Sturgeon Bank South, 3:g Sturgeon Bank North, and 3:h Sturgeon Bank Iona.</p