Population change of Common Buzzards Buteo buteo in central southern England between 2011 and 2016

Capsule: Distance sampling identified an increase in estimated population size of Common Buzzards Buteo buteo in central southern England between 2011 and 2016 of more than 50%. The rate of population growth slowed in later years. Aims: To assess the utility of a targeted distance sampling protocol to derive seasonal and annual population estimates for Common Buzzards across an area of southern England. Methods: We used a line transect survey methodology and multiple covariate distance sampling to assess population density and abundance of Common Buzzards in spring and autumn between 2011 and 2016 across a 2600 km2 area of central southern England. Results: Estimated population size increased by more than 50%, from approximately 2900 to 4500 individuals, across the period in a trend similar to that shown by Breeding Bird Survey data. Discussion: A slowing of the growth in population size of Common Buzzards in central southern England suggests that the species may be approaching carrying capacity in this area. These results also suggest that currently employed broad scale survey methodologies adequately reflect the general population trends for this species. Our data provide the first published estimates of the Common Buzzard population in central southern England derived from direct empirical assessment

Final report of an 11 months-HCM grant at the LRI: Knowledge Acquisition - PART-II: January 1995 - August 1995

This report describes the work performed by the author during an 11-months stay at the LRI (Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique) of the University of Paris-Sud. The work has been carried out under an institutional grant (no. ERB CHBG CT 930395) of the Commission of the European Communities in the framework of the "Human Capital & Mobility" program. The project was funded under the title "Knowledge Acquisition, Validation and Explanation for Knowledge Based Systems". The work carried out touches on several research issues in Knowledge Acquisition, among which are: reuse of problemsolving methods, formalization of problem-solving methods and their assumptions, reverse engineering (of planning systems), library organization for reuse, and types of control knowledge in knowledge-based systems. Part two of the report (this issue) presents the work performed in the period from January 1, 1995 to August 31, 1995. Contents 1 Introduction 4 1.1 Project funding : : : : : : : : : : : : : ..

Early Prediction of COVID-19 Patient Survival by Targeted Plasma Multi-Omics and Machine Learning br

The recent surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations severely challenges healthcare systems around the globe and has increased the demand for reli-able tests predictive of disease severity and mortality. Using multiplexed targeted mass spectrometry assays on a robust triple quadrupole MS setup which is available in many clinical laboratories, we determined the precise concentrations of hundreds of proteins and metabolites in plasma from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We observed a clear distinction between COVID-19 patients and con-trols and, strikingly, a significant difference between sur-vivors and nonsurvivors. With increasing length of hospitalization, the survivors' samples showed a trend toward normal concentrations, indicating a potential sensitive readout of treatment success. Building a ma-chine learning multi-omic model that considers the con-centrations of 10 proteins and five metabolites, we could predict patient survival with 92% accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.97) on the day of hospitalization. Hence, our standardized assays represent a unique opportunity for the early stratification of hospi-talized COVID-19 patients.Proteomic

Early Prediction of COVID-19 Patient Survival by Targeted Plasma Multi-Omics and Machine Learning br

The recent surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations severely challenges healthcare systems around the globe and has increased the demand for reli-able tests predictive of disease severity and mortality. Using multiplexed targeted mass spectrometry assays on a robust triple quadrupole MS setup which is available in many clinical laboratories, we determined the precise concentrations of hundreds of proteins and metabolites in plasma from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We observed a clear distinction between COVID-19 patients and con-trols and, strikingly, a significant difference between sur-vivors and nonsurvivors. With increasing length of hospitalization, the survivors' samples showed a trend toward normal concentrations, indicating a potential sensitive readout of treatment success. Building a ma-chine learning multi-omic model that considers the con-centrations of 10 proteins and five metabolites, we could predict patient survival with 92% accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.97) on the day of hospitalization. Hence, our standardized assays represent a unique opportunity for the early stratification of hospi-talized COVID-19 patients

Differential effects of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of Alentejana purebred and Large White ×â Landrace ×â Pietrain crossbred pigs

The present study assessed the effect of pig genotype (fatty v. lean) and dietary protein and lysine (Lys) levels (normal v. reduced) on intramuscular fat (IMF) content, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) deposition, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism. The experiment was conducted on sixty intact male pigs (thirty Alentejana purebred and thirty Large White × Landrace × Pietrain crossbred), from 60 to 93 kg of live weight. Animals were divided into three groups fed with the following diets: control diet equilibrated for Lys (17·5 % crude protein (CP) and 0·7 % Lys), reduced protein diet (RPD) equilibrated for Lys (13·2 % CP and 0·6 % Lys) and RPD not equilibrated for Lys (13·1 % CP and 0·4 % Lys). It was shown that the RPD increased fat deposition in the longissimus lumborum muscle in the lean but not in the fatty pig genotype. It is strongly suggested that the effect of RPD on the longissimus lumborum muscle of crossbred pigs is mediated via Lys restriction. The increase in IMF content under the RPD was accompanied by increased stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and PPARG mRNA levels. RPD did not alter backfat thickness, but increased the total fatty acid content in both lean and fatty pig genotype. The higher amount of SAT in fatty pigs, when compared with the lean ones, was associated with the higher expression levels of ACACA, CEBPA, FASN and SCD genes. Taken together, the data indicate that the mechanisms regulating fat deposition in pigs are genotype and tissue specific, and are associated with the expression regulation of the key lipogenic genes. © 2013 The Authors