49 research outputs found
Brachio-cephalic ('Gracz') fistula use for continuous hemofiltration in a hemodynamically unstable hemodialysis patient without venous vascular access: a case report
Even in patients with chronic renal failure and chronic intermittent hemodialysis, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is the most often practiced renal replacement technique in the intensive care unit. Although patients show less hemodynamic instability during CVVH than during hemodialysis, it requires a blood flow exceeding 200 ml/min in the extracorporeal circuit necessitating the use of large bore catheters. Vascular access in critically ill septic and edematous patients is sometimes difficult, or even impossible
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Development of an explainable artificial intelligence model for Asian vascular wound images
Chronic wounds contribute to significant healthcare and economic burden worldwide. Wound assessment remains challenging given its complex and dynamic nature. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods in wound analysis is promising. Explainable modelling can help its integration and acceptance in healthcare systems. We aim to develop an explainable AI model for analysing vascular wound images among an Asian population. Two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven wound images from a vascular wound image registry from a tertiary institution in Singapore were utilized. The dataset was split into training, validation and test sets. Wound images were classified into four types (neuroischaemic ulcer [NIU], surgical site infections [SSI], venous leg ulcers [VLU], pressure ulcer [PU]), measured with automatic estimation of width, length and depth and segmented into 18 wound and peri-wound features. Data pre-processing was performed using oversampling and augmentation techniques. Convolutional and deep learning models were utilized for model development. The model was evaluated with accuracy, F1 score and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Explainability methods were used to interpret AI decision reasoning. A web browser application was developed to demonstrate results of the wound AI model with explainability. After development, the model was tested on additional 15â476 unlabelled images to evaluate effectiveness. After the development on the training and validation dataset, the model performance on unseen labelled images in the test set achieved an AUROC of 0.99 for wound classification with mean accuracy of 95.9%. For wound measurements, the model achieved AUROC of 0.97 with mean accuracy of 85.0% for depth classification, and AUROC of 0.92 with mean accuracy of 87.1% for width and length determination. For wound segmentation, an AUROC of 0.95 and mean accuracy of 87.8% was achieved. Testing on unlabelled images, the model confidence score for wound classification was 82.8% with an explainability score of 60.6%. Confidence score was 87.6% for depth classification with 68.0% explainability score, while width and length measurement obtained 93.0% accuracy score with 76.6% explainability. Confidence score for wound segmentation was 83.9%, while explainability was 72.1%. Using explainable AI models, we have developed an algorithm and application for analysis of vascular wound images from an Asian population with accuracy and explainability. With further development, it can be utilized as a clinical decision support system and integrated into existing healthcare electronic systems
Collaboration for conservation: assessing countrywide carnivore occupancy dynamics from sparse data
Aim:Â Assessing the distribution and persistence of species across their range is a crucial component of wildlife conservation. It demands data at adequate spatial scales and over extended periods of time, which may only be obtained through collaborative efforts, and the development of methods that integrate heterogeneous datasets. We aimed to combine existing data on large carnivores to evaluate population dynamics and improve knowledge on their distribution nationwide.
Location:Â Botswana.
Methods:Â Between 2010 and 2016, we collated data on African wild dog, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyaena and lion gathered with different survey methods by independent researchers across Botswana. We used a multi-species, multi-method dynamic occupancy model to analyse factors influencing occupancy, persistence and colonization, while accounting for imperfect detection. Lastly, we used the gained knowledge to predict the probability of occurrence of each species countrywide.
Results:Â Wildlife areas and communal rangelands had similar occupancy probabilities for most species. Large carnivore occupancy was low in commercial farming areas and where livestock density was high, except for brown hyaena. Lion occupancy was negatively associated with human density; lion and spotted hyaena occupancy was high where rainfall was high, while the opposite applied to brown hyaena. Lion and leopard occupancy remained constant countrywide over the study period. African wild dog and cheetah occupancy declined over time in the south and north, respectively, whereas both hyaena species expanded their ranges. Countrywide predictions identified the highest occupancy for leopards and lowest for the two hyaena species.
Main Conclusions:Â We highlight the necessity of data sharing and propose a generalizable analytical method that addresses the challenges of heterogeneous data common in ecology. Our approach, which enables a comprehensive multi-species assessment at large spatial and temporal scales, supports the development of data-driven conservation guidelines and the implementation of evidence-based management strategies nationally and internationally
Tradeoffs between resources and risks shape the responses of a large carnivore to human disturbance
DATA AVAILABILITY : All effect sizes and study information is available in the Supplementary Tables. Data
tables for meta-regression and statistical analyses, including effect sizes and extracted
spatial variables, are provided as Supplementary Data. All other data or information are
available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Wide-ranging carnivores experience tradeoffs between dynamic resource availabilities and
heterogeneous risks from humans, with consequences for their ecological function and
conservation outcomes. Yet, research investigating these tradeoffs across large carnivore
distributions is rare. We assessed how resource availability and anthropogenic risks influence
the strength of lion (Panthera leo) responses to disturbance using data from 31 sites across
lionsâ contemporary range. Lions avoided human disturbance at over two-thirds of sites,
though their responses varied depending on site-level characteristics. Lions were more likely
to exploit human-dominated landscapes where resources were limited, indicating that
resource limitation can outweigh anthropogenic risks and might exacerbate human-carnivore
conflict. Lions also avoided human impacts by increasing their nocturnal activity more often
at sites with higher production of cattle. The combined effects of expanding human impacts
and environmental change threaten to simultaneously downgrade the ecological function of
carnivores and intensify human-carnivore conflicts, escalating extinction risks for many
species.http://www.nature.com/commsbioam2024Centre for Wildlife ManagementSDG-15:Life on lan
Pangolins in global camera trap data: Implications for ecological monitoring
Despite being heavily exploited, pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae) have been subject to limited research, resulting in a lack of reliable population estimates and standardised survey methods for the eight extant species. Camera trapping represents a unique opportunity for broad-scale collaborative species monitoring due to its largely non-discriminatory nature, which creates considerable volumes of data on a relatively wide range of species. This has the potential to shed light on the ecology of rare, cryptic and understudied taxa, with implications for conservation decision-making. We undertook a global analysis of available pangolin data from camera trapping studies across their range in Africa and Asia. Our aims were (1) to assess the utility of existing camera trapping efforts as a method for monitoring pangolin populations, and (2) to gain insights into the distribution and ecology of pangolins. We analysed data collated from 103 camera trap surveys undertaken across 22 countries that fell within the range of seven of the eight pangolin species, which yielded more than half a million trap nights and 888 pangolin encounters. We ran occupancy analyses on three species (Sunda pangolin Manis javanica, white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis and giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea). Detection probabilities varied with forest cover and levels of human influence for P. tricuspis, but were low (<0.05) for all species. Occupancy was associated with distance from rivers for M. javanica and S. gigantea, elevation for P. tricuspis and S. gigantea, forest cover for P. tricuspis and protected area status for M. javanica and P. tricuspis. We conclude that camera traps are suitable for the detection of pangolins and large-scale assessment of their distributions. However, the trapping effort required to monitor populations at any given study site using existing methods appears prohibitively high. This may change in the future should anticipated technological and methodological advances in camera trapping facilitate greater sampling efforts and/or higher probabilities of detection. In particular, targeted camera placement for pangolins is likely to make pangolin monitoring more feasible with moderate sampling efforts
Pangolins in Global Camera Trap Data: Implications for Ecological Monitoring
Despite being heavily exploited, pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae) have been subject to limited research, resulting in a lack of reliable population estimates and standardised survey methods for the eight extant species. Camera trapping represents a unique opportunity for broad-scale collaborative species monitoring due to its largely non-discriminatory nature, which creates considerable volumes of data on a relatively wide range of species. This has the potential to shed light on the ecology of rare, cryptic and understudied taxa, with implications for conservation decision-making. We undertook a global analysis of available pangolin data from camera trapping studies across their range in Africa and Asia. Our aims were (1) to assess the utility of existing camera trapping efforts as a method for monitoring pangolin populations, and (2) to gain insights into the distribution and ecology of pangolins. We analysed data collated from 103 camera trap surveys undertaken across 22 countries that fell within the range of seven of the eight pangolin species, which yielded more than half a million trap nights and 888 pangolin encounters. We ran occupancy analyses on three species (Sunda pangolin Manis javanica, white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis and giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea). Detection probabilities varied with forest cover and levels of human influence for P. tricuspis, but were low (M. javanica and S. gigantea, elevation for P. tricuspis and S. gigantea, forest cover for P. tricuspis and protected area status for M. javanica and P. tricuspis. We conclude that camera traps are suitable for the detection of pangolins and large-scale assessment of their distributions. However, the trapping effort required to monitor populations at any given study site using existing methods appears prohibitively high. This may change in the future should anticipated technological and methodological advances in camera trapping facilitate greater sampling efforts and/or higher probabilities of detection. In particular, targeted camera placement for pangolins is likely to make pangolin monitoring more feasible with moderate sampling efforts
Road traffic noise and children's inattention
BACKGROUND: An increasing number of children are exposed to road
traffic noise levels that may lead to adverse effects on health
and daily functioning. Childhood is a period of intense growth
and brain maturation, and children may therefore be especially
vulnerable to road traffic noise. The objective of the present
study was to examine whether road traffic noise was associated
with reported inattention symptoms in children, and whether this
association was mediated by sleep duration. METHODS: This study
was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study
conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Parental
reports of children's inattention at age 8 were linked to
modelled levels of residential road traffic noise. We
investigated the association between inattention and noise
exposure during pregnancy (n = 1934), noise exposure averaged
over 5 years (age 3 to 8 years; n = 1384) and noise exposure at
age 8 years (n = 1384), using fractional logit response models.
The participants were children from Oslo, Norway. RESULTS: An
association with inattention at age 8 years was found for road
traffic noise exposure at age 8 years (coef = .0083, CI =
[.0012, .0154]; 1.2% point increase in inattention score per 10
dB increase in noise level), road traffic noise exposure average
for the last 5 years (coef = .0090, CI = [.0016, .0164]; 1.3%
point increase/10 dB), and for pregnancy road traffic noise
exposure for boys (coef = .0091, CI = [.0010, .0171]), but not
girls (coef = -.0021, CI = [-.0094, .0053]). Criteria for doing
mediation analyses were not fulfilled. CONCLUSION: Results
indicate that road traffic noise has a negative impact on
children's inattention. We found no mediation by sleep duration
The priests and the descendents of Levi in the book of Malachi
The article argues that the phrase âthe descendants of Leviâ in Mal 3:3 includes both priests and Levites and that the author of the book of Malachi was an inspired temple preacher, or writer, who probably belonged to the ranks of priests or Levites. He was a voice of the late 5th century, who with prophetic authority, like his predecessors, the earlier prophets, among others criticised the priestsâ misconduct of the sacrificial cult (Mal 1:6â2:9). For this reason, he rejected the offerings. The failure of the priests corrupted the whole sacrificial cult including those responsible for it, the descendants of Levi, who for this reason had to be purified. The message related in Mal 3:1?4 conveys that YHWHâs coming messenger will carry out this purification. Then the descendants of Levi will conduct the sacrificial cult in accordance with the regulations of the law, as in the days of old
ONCE AGAIN THE TERM MA???â IN ZECHARIAH 9:1; 12:1 AND IN MALACHI 1:1: WHAT IS ITS SIGNIFICANCE?
The article argues that ma???â in Zechariah 9:1; 12:1 and in Malachi 1:1 refers to written prophecy. The phrase d?bar yhwh, which follows this term, gives authority to this phenomenon, as do the frequent occurrences of formulas marking divine speech in the Book of Malachi, and to some degree in Zechariah 9-14. In addition, the lack of divine revelation in these materials indicates that prophecy in the old sense of the word changed some time after the prophets Haggai and Zechariah conveyed their message. However, some features of Malachi 1:1, Zechariah 11:4, and Malachi 1:2-5 provide continuity with these prophets and with pre-exilic prophecy (Hos. 12:11, 14; Zech. 7:7; Hag. 1:1, 3; 2:1), as well as with Moses and the law. Ma???â in Zechariah 9:1; 12:1 and in Malachi 1:1 covers these aspects of prophecy and connects to the oracles concerning the nations in Isaiah 13-23, which are introduced by the same term