Allocation of body reserves during winter in eider Somateria mollissima as preparation for spring migration and reproduction

Capital breeders, such as the eider duck Somateria mollissima, accumulate resources before the start of breeding. Eiders preferentially feed on blue mussels Mytilus edulis to build up body condition during winter. We explored how body condition and gizzard mass of wintering eiders relate to mussel quality and quantity, winter climate and body condition of females at the breeding grounds. Body condition during winter (defined as scaled body mass index) of eiders increased during winter and the magnitude of the effect depended on age and mussel quality. Gizzard mass of eiders increased during winter with effects of mussel quality, mussel stocks and sex. Body condition in winter of adult females increased from the first half of January to the second half of February on average by 1.5%, equal to c. 96 g. During the same period gizzard mass of adult females increased by 12.2%, i.e., a nearly ten-fold increase compared to that observed in body condition in winter. Body condition of females at the breeding grounds in Finland (defined as body condition at hatching) was significantly positively correlated with gizzard mass in winter, but not significantly correlated with body condition in winter. Thus, eiders allocate body reserves to increase gizzard mass but less so to increase body condition in winter. This can be considered an adaptive migratory strategy of these eiders, whereby large winter (pre-migratory) gizzards increase food processing capacity, making it possible for eiders to arrive at the breeding grounds with superior body condition and a high reproductive potential.Peer reviewe

Jäätalvet 1991-1995 Suomen merialueilla

Sisältää myös toisen artikkeliln: Ari Seinä & Erkki Palosuo: The classification of the maximum annual extent of ice cover in the Baltic Sea 1720-199

Ice seasons 1996-2000 in Finnish sea areas. Jäätalvet 1996-2000 Suomen merialueilla

Sisältää myös toisen artikkelin: Ari Seinä, Hannu Grönvall, Simo Kalliosaari, Jouni Vainio, Patrick Eriksson, Jan-Eric Lundqvist: WMO Sea Ice Nomenclature: terminology for the Baltic Sea in English, Finnish and Swedish. WMOn merijääsanasto: Itämeren termistö englanniksi, suomeksi ja ruotsiksi. WMO havsis terminologi för Östersjön på engelska, finska ja svensk

Thermographic Imaging of the Superficial Temperature in Racing Greyhounds before and after the Race

Peer reviewe

Acceptability of flavoured pharmaceutically non-active mini-tablets in pet cats tested with a rapid 3-portal acceptance test with and without food

Palatable oral pharmaceuticals are crucial for feline medication. The pharmaceutical industry prefers synthetic flavours over organic ones because of hygiene and regulatory issues. The aim of this study was to find a palatable synthetic flavour for future taste-masking of feline pharmaceuticals. The hypothesis was that synthetic meat aromas and free amino acids would be palatable to cats. The palatability of 18 synthetically flavoured mini-tablets was screened with 10–19 pet cats using a rapid 3-portal acceptance test with and without food. The tested flavours were synthetic amino acids (L-carnitine, l-glutamic acid monosodium salt hydrate, l-leucine, l-methionine, l-phenylalanine, l-proline, and taurine), d-(+)-Maltose monohydrate and thiamine hydrochloride. Furthermore, thiamine hydrochloride was combined with amino acids (l-cysteine, l-leucine, l-methionine and l-proline) and synthetic meat flavours (2-acetylpyridine, 2-acetylthiazole, 2-pentylpyridine and 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone). The negative control was a non-flavoured placebo mini-tablet, while positive controls were an organic yeast-flavoured mini-tablet and a yeast- and fish-based commercial vitamin tablet in mini-tablet form. No significant differences were detected between palatable synthetic flavours and the placebo, nor between the synthetic flavours and the yeast flavour. In general, the mini-tablet seemed to be small enough to be accepted inside a food item. These results differ from the earlier literature about the taste preferences of cats for amino acids, and hence free amino acids should not be considered palatable to cats based purely on previous findings.Peer reviewe

Hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of adult patients with Covid-19 infection in a primary care setting (LIBERTY): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo. The study hypothesis is that treatment with HCQ will reduce the risk of hospitalization because of Covid-19 infection, and the sample size estimate of the study is based on the need to test this hypothesis.The secondary objectives of the study are:to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HCQ in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo;to collect experience of the use of HCQ in the treatment of Covid-19 infection in outpatients, in order to be able to identify patient characteristics that predict specific treatment responses (favourable or unfavourable); this objective will also be addressed by post-hoc subgroup analysis of the study results and by meta-analysis of pooled patient data from other clinical trials of HCQ in outpatients; andto evaluate the impact of Covid-19 infection and its treatment on the mental health and well-being of the study participants.In addition, if the data allow, the study has the following exploratory objectives:to evaluate the extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding by PCR testing of nasopharyngeal swab samples in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to evaluate the extent and time course of SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific antibody responses in serum of study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to evaluate other possible biomarker changes in blood in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to explore the possible effects of genetic variation in drug metabolizing enzymes on HCQ-related outcomes in the study population;to explore the associations of HCQ-related outcome variables with other patient characteristics, e.g. HLA haplotypes, HCQ concentrations, demographic variables, disease history and concomitant medications.Trial design: This is a phase 2, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group treatment trial comparing HCQ with placebo in outpatients with Covid-19 infection. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the two treatment arms.Participants:Main inclusion criteria: 1. Males and females >40 years of age, or 18-40 years of age with one or both of the following: i. diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2); ii. BMI > 35 kg/m(2);2. Valid independent informed consent obtained;3. Symptoms typical of Covid-19 infection, according to criteria specified in the study protocol. The onset of symptoms must be within 5 days of enrolment;4. Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result of a nasopharyngeal swab sample.Main exclusion criteria:1. Suspected severe or moderately severe pneumonia, presenting with any of the following: respiratory rate > 26 breaths/min; significant respiratory distress; or SpO(2) <= 94% on room air;2. Requiring treatment in the hospital, according to the treating physician's judgement;3. Any contraindication to treatment with HCQ;4. Pregnancy or lactation.The trial will be conducted at seven study sites in a primary public health care setting in the region of Satakunta, Finland.Intervention and comparator: Participants will be randomized to receive either HCQ capsules at 300 mg twice a day for one day and then 200 mg twice a day for 6 days, or placebo capsules for 7 days.Main outcomes: The primary endpoint of the study is the number of hospitalizations due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study.The secondary endpoints of the study include the following:duration and severity of Covid-19-related symptoms, as reported by daily self-assessments;number of Intensive Care Unit treatment episodes due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;number of treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs);all-cause hospitalizations and mortality within six months of entry into the study; andself-assessed symptoms of anxiety, as assessed with repeated administration of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7).The exploratory endpoints of the study include the following:extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and virus-specific antibody responses in serum; andpossible other blood biomarker changes.Randomisation: Eligible study participants are randomly allocated into two treatment arms (1:1 ratio). The randomization list has been generated using Viedoc (TM) (Viedoc Technologies AB, Uppsala, Sweden) that is used as an electronic data capture system for this study.Blinding (masking): The participants and all study personnel remain blinded to the treatment allocation by having both IMPs packed in identical containers. Masking of the treatments was performed by re-formulation of the IMPs so that the HCQ capsules and the placebo capsules have identical appearance.Numbers to be randomised (sample size): 600 participants are to be randomised with 300 in each arm.Trial Status: Protocol version 2, dated 14 July 2020; recruitment is expected to start in December, 2020, and to be completed in June, 2021.Trial registration: EudraCT 2020-002038-33, registered 26 June 2020Full protocol: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). The protocol has been redacted to conform with privacy regulations by deleting the names and contact information of individuals mentioned in the protocol but not listed as authors in this communication. In the interest of expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol