15 research outputs found

    Predation risk triggers copepod small-scale behavior in the Baltic Sea

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    Predators not only have direct impact on biomass but also indirect, non-consumptive effects on the behavior their prey organisms. A characteristic response of zooplankton in aquatic ecosystems is predator avoidance by diel vertical migration (DVM), a behavior which is well studied on the population level. A wide range of behavioral diversity and plasticity has been observed both between- as well as within-species and, hence, investigating predator–prey interactions at the individual level seems therefore essential for a better understanding of zooplankton dynamics. Here we applied an underwater imaging instrument, the video plankton recorder (VPR), which allows the non-invasive investigation of individual, diel adaptive behavior of zooplankton in response to predators in the natural oceanic environment, providing a finely resolved and continuous documentation of the organisms’ vertical distribution. Combing observations of copepod individuals observed with the VPR and hydroacoustic estimates of predatory fish biomass, we here show (i) a small-scale DVM of ovigerous Pseudocalanus acuspes females in response to its main predators, (ii) in-situ observations of a direct short-term reaction of the prey to the arrival of the predator and (iii) in-situ evidence of pronounced individual variation in this adaptive behavior with potentially strong effects on individual performance and ecosystem functioning

    Sektoralisierung als Planungsherausforderung im inklusiven Gemeinwesen

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    2. Hrsg.: Martin F. Reichstein Förderung durch: Forschungsinstitut fĂŒr gesellschaftliche Weiterentwicklung (FGW)Seit September 2016 fĂŒhrt das Zentrum fĂŒr Planung und Evaluation Sozialer Dienste (ZPE) der UniversitĂ€t Siegen das Forschungsprojekt „Koordinationspotenziale kommunaler Teilhabepolitik in der Pflege, Behindertenhilfe und Sozialpsychiatrie (KoKoP)“ durch. Das Projekt wird im Rahmen des Programms „Vorbeugende Sozialpolitik“ des nordrheinwestfĂ€- lischen Forschungsinstituts fĂŒr Gesellschaftliche Weiterentwicklung (FGW) finanziell gefördert. Ziel des Projektes ist es, anhand empirischer Untersuchungen Erkenntnisse darĂŒber zu gewinnen, welche Möglichkeiten fĂŒr Kommunen bestehen, durch Planung und Koordination die Wirkungen von Teilhabeleistungen in den Leistungsbereichen der Pflege, Behindertenhilfe und Sozialpsychiatrie zu optimieren. Zudem soll der Frage nachgegangen werden, wie professionelle Hilfen stĂ€rker mit informellen Ressourcen im Vor- und Umfeld des Leistungsgeschehens verknĂŒpft werden können. Mögliche Problemquellen werden u.a. in einer ausgeprĂ€gten Sektoralisierung des Leistungsgeschehens, mangelnder Kooperation sowie in einer geringen Sozialraumorientierung vermutet. Im Rahmen eines eintĂ€gigen Expertenworkshops am 14. November 2017 wurden zum einen Zwischenergebnisse bisheriger Untersuchungen vorgestellt und diskutiert. Zum anderen wurden in drei Arbeitsgruppen zentrale Fragestellungen des Projekts erörtert. Der vorliegende Band ist eine Zusammenschau von BeitrĂ€gen einzelner Teilnehmer*innen dieses Workshops

    Evaluation of the Predictive Potential of 18F-FDG PET and DWI Data Sets for Relevant Prognostic Parameters of Primary Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

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    Background: To evaluate the potential of simultaneously acquired 18F-FDG PET- and MR-derived quantitative imaging data sets of primary soft-tissue sarcomas for the prediction of neoadjuvant treatment response, the metastatic status and tumor grade. Methods: A total of 52 patients with a high-risk soft-tissue sarcoma underwent a 18F-FDG PET/MR examination within one week before the start of neoadjuvant treatment. For each patient, the maximum tumor size, metabolic activity (SUVs), and diffusion-restriction (ADC values) of the tumor manifestations were determined. A Mann–Whitney-U test was used, and ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the potential to predict histopathological treatment response, the metastatic status or tumor grade. The results from the histopathological analysis served as reference standard. Results: Soft-tissue sarcomas with a histopathological treatment response revealed a significantly higher metabolic activity than tumors in the non-responder group. In addition, grade 3 tumors showed a significant higher 18F-FDG uptake than grade 2 tumors. Furthermore, no significant correlation between the different outcome variables and tumor size or calculated ADC-values could be identified. Conclusion: Measurements of the metabolic activity of primary and untreated soft-tissue sarcomas could non-invasively deliver relevant information that may be used for treatment planning and risk-stratification of high-risk sarcoma patients in a pretherapeutic setting

    Lung Nodules Missed in Initial Staging of Breast Cancer Patients in PET/MRI—Clinically Relevant?

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    Purpose: The evaluation of the clinical relevance of missed lung nodules at initial staging of breast cancer patients in [18F]FDG-PET/MRI compared with CT. Methods: A total of 152 patients underwent an initial whole-body [18F]FDG-PET/MRI and a thoracoabdominal CT for staging. Presence, size, shape and location for each lung nodule in [18F]FDG-PET/MRI was noted. The reference standard was established by taking initial CT and follow-up imaging into account (a two-step approach) to identify clinically-relevant lung nodules. Patient-based and lesion-based data analysis was performed. Results: No patient with clinically-relevant lung nodules was missed on a patient-based analysis with MRI VIBE, while 1/84 females was missed with MRI HASTE (1%). Lesion-based analysis revealed 4/96 (4%, VIBE) and 8/138 (6%, HASTE) missed clinically-relevant lung nodules. The average size of missed lung nodules was 3.2 mm ± 1.2 mm (VIBE) and 3.6 mm ± 1.4 mm (HASTE) and the predominant location was in the left lower quadrant and close to the hilum. Conclusion: All patients with newly-diagnosed breast cancer and clinically-relevant lung nodules were detected at initial [18F]FDG-PET/MRI staging. However, due to the lower sensitivity in detecting lung nodules, a small proportion of clinically-relevant lung nodules were missed. Thus, supplemental low-dose chest CT after neoadjuvant therapy should be considered for backup

    Comparison of nodal staging between CT, MRI, and [18F]-FDG PET/MRI in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer

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    Purpose!#!To compare CT, MRI, and [!##!Materials and methods!#!One hundred eighty-two patients (mean age 52.7 ± 11.9 years) were included in this prospective double-center study. Patients underwent dedicated contrast-enhanced chest/abdomen/pelvis computed tomography (CT) and whole-body ([!##!Results!#!On a patient-based analysis, PET/MRI correctly detected significantly more nodal positive patients than MRI (p < 0.0001) and CT (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was seen between CT and MRI. PET/MRI detected 193 lesions in 75 patients (41.2%), while MRI detected 123 lesions in 56 patients (30.8%) and CT detected 104 lesions in 50 patients, respectively. Differences were statistically significant on a lesion-based analysis (PET/MRI vs. MRI, p < 0.0001; PET/MRI vs. CT, p < 0.0001; MRI vs. CT, p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis for different lymph node stations showed that PET/MRI detected significantly more lymph node metastases than MRI and CT in each location (axillary levels I-III, supraclavicular, mammary internal chain). MRI was superior to CT only in axillary level I (p = 0.0291).!##!Conclusion!#!

    Data_Sheet_1_Remote data collection speech analysis in people at risk for Alzheimer's disease dementia: usability and acceptability results.docx

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    IntroductionDigital cognitive assessments are gathering importance for the decentralized remote clinical trials of the future. Before including such assessments in clinical trials, they must be tested to confirm feasibility and acceptability with the intended participant group. This study presents usability and acceptability data from the Speech on the Phone Assessment (SPeAk) study.MethodsParticipants (N = 68, mean age 70.43 years, 52.9% male) provided demographic data and completed baseline and 3-month follow-up phone based assessments. The baseline visit was administered by a trained researcher and included a spontaneous speech assessment and a brief cognitive battery (immediate and delayed recall, digit span, and verbal fluency). The follow-up visit repeated the cognitive battery which was administered by an automatic phone bot. Participants were randomized to receive their cognitive test results acer the final or acer each study visit. Participants completed acceptability questionnaires electronically acer each study visit.ResultsThere was excellent retention (98.5%), few technical issues (n = 5), and good interrater reliability. Participants rated the assessment as acceptable, confirming the ease of use of the technology and their comfort in completing cognitive tasks on the phone. Participants generally reported feeling happy to receive the results of their cognitive tests, and this disclosure did not cause participants to feel worried.DiscussionThe results from this usability and acceptability analysis suggest that completing this brief battery of cognitive tests via a telephone call is both acceptable and feasible in a midlife-to-older adult population in the United Kingdom, living at risk for Alzheimer's disease.</p
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