Recent bird observations from the Banggai Islands

Together with the neighbouring Sula Islands, the Banggai Island group is considered by BirdLife International as an important endemic bird area (ICBP 1992; Sujatnika et al. 1996), because it holds as many as nine restricted range species. Though the two island groups have been assigned a critical conservation priority (ICBP 1992), their fauna remains little known (White & Bruce 1986; Bishop 1992). Intensive coverage for the Sula Islands was completed only in 1991 (Davidson et al. 1994). During a contemporary expedition to study the status of Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bemsteinii from 9 October to 9 December 1991 in the Banggai Islands, we recorded incidental observations on other species. This report aims to contribute to the present knowledge of distribution and biology of the birds of the Banggai Islands with emphasis on restricted range and little known species and the provision of new island records Where pertinent, observations from Sidangori Batui in eastern Sulawesi, made by MID two days in September 1991, are referred to in the species accounts. Observations during an additional excursion to the Banggai Islands on 31 August 1996 (MID) are also incorporated

Model Sistem Informasi Biaya Kunjungan Wisata di Provinsi Sulawesi Utara

Cost is one of the important information needed by tourists and prospective tourists in planning and conducting tourist visits. This study aims to produce a system model that can record, process, and present information about the cost picture when tourists or potential tourists to travel in North Sulawesi province such as overview of accommodation costs, transportation, culinary and cost of tourist attraction. Using waterfall method in system development. Data collection by observation, interview and literature. Testing system using blackbox method. The result of this research is a system model that can present information about the cost picture starting from the description of minimum cost and others which make the information need of the cost can be fulfilled, so it is expected to help the tourist in traveling and support the tourism industry in North Sulawesi Province

Clinical review: Allocating ventilators during large-scale disasters – problems, planning, and process

Catastrophic disasters, particularly a pandemic of influenza, may force difficult allocation decisions when demand for mechanical ventilation greatly exceeds available resources. These situations demand integrated incident management responses on the part of the health care facility and community, including resource management, provider liability protection, community education and information, and health care facility decision-making processes designed to allocate resources as justly as possible. If inadequate resources are available despite optimal incident management, a process that is evidence-based and as objective as possible should be used to allocate ventilators. The process and decision tools should be codified pre-event by the local and regional healthcare entities, public health agencies, and the community. A proposed decision tool uses predictive scoring systems, disease-specific prognostic factors, response to current mechanical ventilation, duration of current and expected therapies, and underlying disease states to guide decisions about which patients will receive mechanical ventilation. Although research in the specifics of the decision tools remains nascent, critical care physicians are urged to work with their health care facilities, public health agencies, and communities to ensure that a just and clinically sound systematic approach to these situations is in place prior to their occurrence

Evaluation of a driver’s seat’s dynamic properties

The springing support in a driver’s seat is a very serious issue, such that manufacturers are increasing their efforts to optimize the dynamic properties of this kind of seat. The main optimization criterion is vibration insulation efficiency with regard to health research and associated health standards and regulations. This article deals with the definition of the optimal driver’s seat properties in relation to two examples of springing systems with different kinds of damping. The first case involves the springing support of a driver’s seat that uses a pneumatic spring and a telescopic hydraulic damper. In the second case, the damping effect is achieved by two pneumatic springs whose forces effect a phase shift due to a throttle valve located in the connecting piping system

Exportations of Symptomatic Cases of MERS-CoV Infection to Countries outside the Middle East

In 2012, an outbreak of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), was detected in the Arabian Peninsula. Modeling can produce estimates of the expected annual number of symptomatic cases of MERS-CoV infection exported and the likelihood of exportation from source countries in the Middle East to countries outside the region

Estimation of Severe Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Cases in the Middle East, 2012–2016

Using data from travelers to 4 countries in the Middle East, we estimated 3,250 (95% CI 1,300–6,600) severe cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome occurred in this region during September 2012–January 2016. This number is 2.3-fold higher than the number of laboratory-confirmed cases recorded in these countries

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Expert Panel Meetings on Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax in Adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened panels of anthrax experts to review and update guidelines for anthrax postexposure prophylaxis and treatment. The panels included civilian and military anthrax experts and clinicians with experience treating anthrax patients. Specialties represented included internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, infectious disease, emergency medicine, critical care, pulmonology, hematology, and nephrology. Panelists discussed recent patients with systemic anthrax; reviews of published, unpublished, and proprietary data regarding antimicrobial drugs and anthrax antitoxins; and critical care measures of potential benefit to patients with anthrax. This article updates antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis and antimicrobial and antitoxin treatment options and describes potentially beneficial critical care measures for persons with anthrax, including clinical procedures for infected nonpregnant adults. Changes from previous guidelines include an expanded discussion of critical care and clinical procedures and additional antimicrobial choices, including preferred antimicrobial drug treatment for possible anthrax meningitis