Habitat preference of two sympatric coastal cetaceans in Langkawi, Malaysia, as determined by passive acoustic monitoring

Little is known about the ecology of the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides or the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis in Southeast Asia. The present study describes the distribution and habitat preferences of these species around the Langkawi Archipelago of Malaysia. Vessel-based passive acoustic monitoring surveys were conducted 5 times between 2012 and 2013. Both species mainly preferred relatively shallow waters, especially on the east sides of the islands at <15 m depth. However, the species differed in number of detections and spatial distribution, preferred distance from shore, chlorophyll a concentration in the water where they resided, and season in which they were detected, indicating that they have different habitat preferences. The best spatial habitat model for the prediction of finless porpoise distribution included bathymetric depth and longitude. The distribution of finless porpoises was relatively stable around the islands and especially in the eastern waters, whereas humpback dolphins may only seasonally visit specific regions of the waters around the islands. Their detection sites were too patchy to enable distribution modeling. The results of this study provide baseline information that can facilitate conservation planning for these species according to their habitat preferences and core areas

Multilingualism and strategic planning for HIV/AIDS-related health care and communication [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Many lower and middle income countries (LMICs) have high levels of linguistic diversity, meaning that health information and care is not available in the languages spoken by the majority of the population. This research investigates the extent to which language needs are taken into account in planning for HIV/AIDS-related health communication in development contexts. / Methods: We analysed all HIV/AIDS-related policy documents and reports available via the websites of the Department for International Development UK, The Global Fund, and the Ministries of Health and National AIDS commissions of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal. We used quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess the level of prominence given to language issues, ascertain the level at which mentions occur (donor/funder/national government or commission), and identify the concrete plans for interlingual communication cited in the documents. / Results: Of the 314 documents analysed, 35 mention language or translation, but the majority of the mentions are made in passing or in the context of providing background socio-cultural information, the implications of which are not explored. At donor level (DFID), no mentions of language issues were found. Only eight of the documents (2.5%) outline concrete actions for addressing multilingualism in HIV/AIDS-related health communication. These are limited to staff training for sign language, and the production of multilingual resources for large-scale sensitization campaigns. / Conclusions: The visibility of language needs in formal planning and reporting in the context of HIV/AIDS-related health care is extremely low. Whilst this low visibility should not be equated to a complete absence of translation or interpreting activity on the ground, it is likely to result in insufficient resources being dedicated to addressing language barriers. Further research is needed to fully understand the ramifications of the low prominence given to questions of language, not least in relation to its impact on gender equality

Accelerometers can measure total and activity-specific energy expenditures in free-ranging marine mammals only if linked to time-activity budgets

Peer reviewedPostprin

The Effect of Aerobic and Anaerobic Physical Training on the Absorptive Cells, Absorption of Carbohydrate and Protein in Small Intestine

The purpose of this study is to investigate the morphofunctional response of a total number of absorptive cells, and carbohydrate and protein absorption capability in the small intestine of Rattus norvegicus strain Wistar (RNSW) that has been subjected to aerobic and anaerobic physical training based on the morphofunctional physiological paradigm. This study was based on the separate sample pretest-posttest control group design, using a t-test, and multivariate SPSS ten program, with five percent level of significance. The sample consisted of one hundred and twenty, male RNSW, with average age of five months, and body weight of 246-278 grams. They were divided into twelve groups at random, i.e. four pretest groups, two control groups, and six treated groups where different diets were given thirty minutes before undergoing posttest. The experimental animals underwent four weeks physical training (twelve times), three groups were given aerobic physical training by swimming with a burden of three percent fasting body weight, the others three groups received anaerobic physical training by swimming with a burden of nine percent fasting body weight. The experiment was conducted at night, between 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM, in a water with a temperature of&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28°C to 30°C. Result of the study revealed: (1) Aerobic and anaerobic physical training, increased the number of absorptive cells (t = -73,281, p = 0,000), and increased the absorptive capacity of carbohydrate and protein (Hotelling's Trace = 0,244, p = 0,000). (2) There was a difference in the increased absorptive capacity of carbohydrate and protein among groups (Hotelling's Trace = 0,404a, p = 0,000). Aerobic physical training had less influence than anaerobic physical training on the increased number of absorptive cells, and the absorptive capacity of carbohydrate and protein in the small intestine. In conclusion: (1) Aerobic physical training of swimming with a burden of three percent fasting body weight, and anaerobic physical training of swimming with a burden nine percent fasting body weight correlate with the increase the number of absorptive cells, and carbohydrate and protein absorptive capacity of the small intestine. (2) Anaerobic physical training of swimming with a burden nine percent fasting body weight has better correlation than aerobic physical training of swimming with a burden of three percent fasting body weight with the increased number of absorptive cells, and the absorptive capacity of carbohydrate and protein in the small intestine

Biomechanical analysis of bone remodeling following mandibular reconstruction using fibula free flap

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Whilst the newly established biomechanical conditions following mandibular reconstruction using fibula free flap can be a critical determinant for achieving favorable bone union, little has been known about their association in a time-dependent fashion. This study evaluated the bone healing/remodeling activity in reconstructed mandible and its influence on jaw biomechanics using CT data, and further quantified their correlation with mechanobiological responses through an in-silico approach. A 66-year-old male pa- tient received mandibular reconstruction was studied. Post-operative CT scans were taken at 0, 4, 16 and 28 months. Longitudinal change of bone morphologies and mineral densities were measured at three bone union interfaces (two between the fibula and mandibular bones and one between the osteotomized fibulas) to investigate bone healing/remodeling events. Three-dimensional finite element models were created to quantify mechanobiological responses in the bone at these different time points. Bone mineral density increased rapidly along the bone interfaces over the first four months. Cortical bridging formed at the osteotomized interface earlier than the other two interfaces with larger shape discrepancy between fibula and mandibular bones. Bone morphology significantly affected mechanobiological responses in the osteotomized region ( R 2 > 0.77). The anatomic position and shape discrepancy at bone union affected the bone healing/remodeling process.This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) through the Discovery and Fellowship schemes ( DP160104602 and FT120100947 )

Social Interactions of Juvenile Brown Boobies at Sea as Observed with Animal-Borne Video Cameras

While social interactions play a crucial role on the development of young individuals, those of highly mobile juvenile birds in inaccessible environments are difficult to observe. In this study, we deployed miniaturised video recorders on juvenile brown boobies Sula leucogaster, which had been hand-fed beginning a few days after hatching, to examine how social interactions between tagged juveniles and other birds affected their flight and foraging behaviour. Juveniles flew longer with congeners, especially with adult birds, than solitarily. In addition, approximately 40% of foraging occurred close to aggregations of congeners and other species. Young seabirds voluntarily followed other birds, which may directly enhance their foraging success and improve foraging and flying skills during their developmental stage, or both