Characterizing Rearing Habitat of American White Pelicans Using PIT Tags from Consumed Fish

Avian predation on wild fish populations can create challenges for wildlife and fisheries managers. Frequently, managers locate and recover indigestible tags to estimate predation rates and inform decisions. We used a similar method to characterize rearing habitat for American white pelicans (Pelicanus erythrorhynchos). During summer 2017, we sought to discern the types of vegetation and substrate white pelicans use while nesting on breeding colonies in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana. First, we located passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags from marked wild fish that had been deposited on the islands and recorded the vegetation or substrate type (cobble, mud, nettle, willow, water) for each tag. Most tags were found in cobble and willow (34.3% and 36.6%, respectively) and very few were in water (0.8%) and nettle (5.3%). Second, we sought to estimate detection probability of PIT tags, as some may go undetected, and determine what factors influence whether tags are found. We hid 200 PIT tags, 40 in each of the 5 vegetation/substrate types, and found 78, resulting in an overall detection probability of 0.39 (95% CI = 0.36 – 0.42). After accounting for detection probability, we estimate that pelicans deposited the most tags, and thus were most likely to use willow vegetation (59%), with all other vegetation/substrate types containing ≤17% of deposited tags. Increasing the proportion of PIT tags found will influence estimates of predation and could affect inferences regarding habitat use

Creating Improved Communication Between Nursing and Physicians: Importance of Collaboration within a Hospital System

Background: Optimal communication between all members of the healthcare team is important to ensure safe and efficient patient care.Objective: To improve communication between nurses and resident physicians by developing and implementing a paging protocol.Methods: A resident-led workgroup was assembled to identify opportunities for improving communication. A survey was designed to assess current practices and perceptions related to resident and nurse communication. A facilitated focus group of residents and nurses met on two separate occasions to review the survey results and develop a set of mutually agreeable paging guidelines. The group chose to adopt the ISBARR communication tool and planned educational interventions accordingly. Residents and nurses were resurveyed roughly three months’ post-intervention.Results: The results indicated a 12.8% reduction (p=0.017) in the percentage of nurse respondents that “never” inquire whether or not another nurse on the unit needs to speak with the same physician prior to paging. A 10.3% increase (p=0.033) in resident respondents that “usually” receive grouped pages, and an 11% reduction (p=0.042) in the percentage of resident respondents that “never: receive grouped pages. However, only 53.3% (n=60) of nurse respondents and 44.1% (n=68) of resident respondents felt their ISBARR training was adequate. Moreover, only 38.4% and 30.9% of nurse and resident respondents, respectively felt the paging guidelines and ISBARR had improved overall communications between the two groups.Conclusions: While the follow-up survey results revealed some improvements in paging practices, the need for continued education was clear

No evidence of differential impact of sunflower and rapeseed oil on biomarkers of coronary artery disease or chronic kidney disease in healthy adults with overweight and obesity: result from a randomised control trial

Purpose: The perceived benefits and risks associated with seed oil intake remain controversial, with a limited number of studies investigating the impact of intake on a range of compounds used as cardiometabolic markers. This study aimed to explore the proteomic and cardiometabolic effects of commonly consumed seed oils in the UK, with different fatty acid profiles. Methods: In a parallel randomised control design, healthy adults (n = 84), aged 25–72 with overweight or obesity were randomised to one of three groups: control (habitual diet, CON); 20 mL rapeseed oil per day (RO), or 20 mL sunflower oil per day (SO). Blood, spot urine and anthropometric measures were obtained at 0, 6 and 12 weeks. Proteomic biomarkers analysis was conducted for coronary arterial disease (CAD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS). Blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, glycative/oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were also analysed. Results: No differences in change between time points were observed between groups for CAD or CKD peptide fingerprint scores. No change was detected within groups for CAD or CKD scores. No detectable differences were observed between groups at week 6 or 12 for the secondary outcomes, except median 8-isoprostane, ~ 50% higher in the SO group after 12-weeks compared to RO and CON groups (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The replacement of habitual fat with either RO or SO for 12 weeks does not lead to an improvement or worsening in cardiovascular health markers in people with overweight or obesity. Trial registration: Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT04867629, retrospectively registered 30/04/2021

Flooding Hazard in Howard County: Causes and Green Infrastructure Solutions

Final project for BSCI215: Global Sustainability (Fall 2015). University of Maryland, College Park.Howard Count

Comparison of clozapine doses and tolerability in patients with and without concurrent valproic acid

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) and its various formulations can be given in conjunction with clozapine for seizure prophylaxis or for augmentation in schizophrenia. There is conflicting literature on how VPA affects clozapine metabolism and the incidence of clozapine-related side effects. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of VPA when given concurrently with clozapine to patients on clozapine monotherapy. Methods A retrospective medical record review was completed to identify patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatry unit at an academic medical center with an order for clozapine with and without concurrent VPA from August 7, 2010 to August 7, 2020. The primary outcome was the difference in clozapine doses in patients on clozapine as monotherapy versus dual therapy with VPA. Secondary outcomes include the difference in incidence of adverse effects in monotherapy versus dual therapy, as well as clozapine and norclozapine concentrations in both treatment groups. Results: During the study period, 73 patients were included in the monotherapy group and 35 patients were included in the dual therapy group. The average clozapine dose in the dual therapy group was 250 mg (95% CI = 194.7, 305.4) which was significantly higher than the average monotherapy dose of 175.9 mg (95% CI = 134.0, 208.7; P = .016). However, there was no significant difference in the average clozapine concentration between the dual therapy group (392.5 ng/mL; 95% CI = 252.8, 532.2) and monotherapy group (365.9 ng/mL; 95% CI = 260.5, 471.3; P = .756). There were higher rates of tachycardia (45.7% vs 17.8%; P = .002), sedation (51.4% vs 8.2%; P<.001), and constipation (42.8% vs 9.5%; P<.001) in the dual therapy group compared to the monotherapy group, respectively. Discussion: Patients on concurrent clozapine and VPA received higher doses of clozapine and experienced a higher incidence of tachycardia, sedation, and constipation

Association of dietary flavan-3-ol intakes with plasma phenyl-γ-valerolactones: analysis from the TUDA cohort of healthy older adults

Background: Dietary polyphenols, including flavan-3-ols (F3O), are associated with better health outcomes. The relationship of plasma phenyl-γ-valerolactones (PVLs), the products of colonic bacterial metabolism of F3O, with dietary intakes is unclear. Objectives: To investigate whether plasma PVLs are associated with self-reported intakes of total F3O and procyanidins+(epi)catechins. Design: We measured 9 PVLs by uHPLC-MS-MS in plasma from adults (&gt;60y) in the Trinity-Ulster-Department of Agriculture (TUD study (2008 to 2012; n=5,186) and a follow-up subset (2014 to 2018) with corresponding dietary data (n=557). Dietary (poly)phenols collected by FFQ were analyzed using Phenol-Explorer. Results: Mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) intakes were estimated as 2283 (2213, 2352) mg/d for total (poly)phenols, 674 (648, 701) for total F3O, and 152 (146, 158) for procyanidins+(epi)catechins. Two PVL metabolites were detected in plasma from the majority of participants, 5-(hydroxyphenyl)-γ-VL-sulfate (PVL1) and 5-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-γ-VL-3'-glucuronide (PVL2). The 7 other PVLs were detectable only in 1-32% of samples. Self-reported intakes (mg/d) of F3O (r = 0.113, P = 0.017) and procyanidin+(epi)catechin (r = 0.122, P = 0.010) showed statistically significant correlations with the sum of PVL1 and PVL 2 (PVL1+2). With increasing intake quartiles (Q1-Q4), mean (95% CI) PVL1+2 increased; from 28.3 (20.8, 35.9) nmol/L in Q1 to 45.2 (37.2, 53.2) nmol/L in Q4; P = 0.025, for dietary F3O, and from 27.4 (19.1, 35.8) nmol/L in Q1 to 46.5 (38.2, 54.9) nmol/L in Q4; P = 0.020, for procyanidins+(epi)catechins. Conclusions: Of 9 PVL metabolites investigated, 2 were detected in most samples and were weakly associated with intakes of total F3O and procyanidins+(epi)catechins. Future controlled feeding studies are required to validate plasma PVLs as biomarkers of these dietary polyphenols

The Giant Accreting Protoplanet Survey (GAPlanetS) -- Results from a Six Year Campaign to Image Accreting Protoplanets

Accreting protoplanets represent a window into planet formation processes. We report H{\alpha} differential imaging results from the deepest and most comprehensive accreting protoplanet survey to date, acquired with the Magellan Adaptive Optics (MagAO) system's VisAO camera. The fourteen transitional disks targeted are ideal candidates for protoplanet discovery due to their wide, heavily depleted central cavities, wealth of non-axisymmetric circumstellar disk features evocative of ongoing planet formation, and ongoing stellar accretion. To address the twin challenges of morphological complexity in the target systems and PSF instability, we develop novel approaches for frame selection and optimization of the Karhounen-Loeve Image Processing algorithm pyKLIP. We detect one new candidate protoplanet, CS Cha "c", at a separation of 75mas and a {\Delta}mag of 5.1 and robustly recover the HD142527 B and HD100453 B low mass stellar companions across multiple epochs. Though we cannot rule out a substantial scattered light contribution to its emission, we also recover LkCa 15 b. Its presence inside of the cleared disk cavity and consistency with a forward-modeled point source suggest that it remains a viable protoplanet candidate. The protoplanet PDS 70 c was marginally recovered under our conservative general methodology. However, through targeted optimization in H{\alpha} imagery, we tentatively recover PDS 70 c in three epochs and PDS 70 b in one epoch. Of the many other previously-reported companions and companion candidates around objects in the sample, we do not recover any additional robust candidates. However, lack of recovery at moderate H{\alpha} contrast does not rule out the presence of protoplanets at these locations, and we report limiting H{\alpha} contrasts in such cases.Comment: Accepted for publication in A

Developing the principles of chair based exercise for older people: a modified Delphi study

Background Chair based exercise (CBE) is suggested to engage older people with compromised health and mobility in an accessible form of exercise. A systematic review looking at the benefits of CBE for older people identified a lack of clarity regarding a definition, delivery, purpose and benefits. This study aimed to utilise expert consensus to define CBE for older people and develop a core set of principles to guide practice and future research. Methods The framework for consensus was constructed through a team workshop identifying 42 statements within 7 domains. A four round electronic Delphi study with multi-disciplinary health care experts was undertaken. Statements were rated using a 5 point Likert scale of agreement and free text responses. A threshold of 70% agreement was used to determine consensus. Free text responses were analysed thematically. Between rounds a number of strategies (e.g., amended wording of statements, generation and removal of statements) were used to move towards consensus. Results 16 experts agreed on 46 statements over four rounds of consultation (Round 1: 22 accepted, 3 removed, 5 new and 17 modified; Round 2: 16 accepted, 0 removed, 4 new and 6 modified; Round 3: 4 accepted, 2 removed, 0 new and 4 modified; Round 4: 4 accepted, 0 removed, 0 new, 0 modified). Statements were accepted in all seven domains: the definition of CBE (5), intended users (3), potential benefits (8), structure (12), format (8), risk management (7) and evaluation (3). The agreed definition of CBE had five components: 1. CBE is primarily a seated exercise programme; 2. The purpose of using a chair is to promote stability in both sitting and standing; 3. CBE should be considered as part of a continuum of exercise for frail older people where progression is encouraged; 4. CBE should be used flexibly to respond to the changing needs of frail older people; and 5. Where possible CBE should be used as a starting point to progress to standing programmes. Conclusions Consensus has been reached on a definition and a set of principles governing CBE for older people; this provides clarity for implementation and future research about CBE