Fencing Alleviates Nuisance Molting Goose Problems in an Urban Park in Tennessee

Canada geese (Branta canadensis; geese) often congregate in high public use areas while molting during summer, resulting in increased nuisance complaints. We censused geese that inhabited a Cookeville city park in Tennessee, USA on a weekly basis from 2013-2014 to determine the magnitude, trends, and seasonal nature of problems caused by urban goose flocks. Fewer than 50 geese were counted in most months except during the molt, when numbers increased to over 200. Most geese dispersed from the park shortly after completion of the molt. Molt site fidelity to the park was estimated to be 51.5%, indicating that permanent relocation or euthanasia would not provide long-term nuisance relief and may impact local hunting opportunities. To mitigate the nuisance aspect of high densities of molting urban geese in the park, we herded molting and flightless geese to a closed portion of the park and fenced them out of the public use area. Our temporary fencing, coupled with reduced human disturbance in the area where geese were relocated, alleviated the nuisance problems typically associated with large concentrations of geese. We recommend that other municipalities that are experiencing similar seasonal nuisance goose problems consider using non-lethal fencing options

Movements, Habitat Selection, Associations, and Survival of Giant Canada Goose Broods in Central Tennessee

The brood-rearing period in giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) is one of the least-studied areas of goose ecology. We monitored 32 broods in Putnam County, Tennessee, from the time of hatching through fledging (i.e., when the goslings gained the ability to fly) and from fledging until broods left the brood-rearing areas during the spring and summer of 2003. We conducted a fixed-kernel, home-range analysis for each brood using the Animal Movement Extension in ArcView® 3.3 GIS (ESRI, Redlands, Calif.) software and calculated 95% and 50% utilization distributions (UD) for each brood. We classified 25 broods as sedentary (8 ha 95% UD), three as shifters (84 ha 95% UD), two as wanderers (110 ha 95%UD); two were unclassified because of low sample size. We measured 5 habitat variables (i.e., percentage of water, percentage of pasture, percentage of development, number of ponds, and distance to nearest unused pond) within a 14.5-ha buffer at nesting locations. We used linear regression, using multi-model selection, information theoretic analysis, to determine which, if any, habitat variables influenced home-range size at a landscape level. The null model was the best information-theoretic model, and the global model was not significant, indicating that landscape level habitat variables selected in this study cannot be used to predict homerange size in the Upper Cumberland region goose flock. We analyzed associations among broods, using a coefficient of association of at least 0.50, and determined association areas by overlaying individual home ranges. Overall gosling survival (Ŝ) during the brood-rearing period was 0.84 (95% CL = 0.78, 0.92), using a staggered-entry Kaplan-Meier survival curve. We believe that abundance of quality forage and pond habitat, high survivorship, and a lack of movement corridors (i.e., rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) were responsible for the relatively small home ranges of geese in the Upper Cumberland region. Associations formed during brood rearing may reduce predation risks and serve as a template for lifelong social bonds with family members and unrelated geese that are reared in the same locations

Nest-Site Selection and Nesting Ecology of Giant Canada Geese in Central Tennessee

Little information is available on giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) nest-site selection on isolated nesting ponds. We monitored 46 island and 72 shoreline nests in the Upper Cumberland (UC) region of central Tennessee during 2002 and 2003. We measured 6 habitat variables at nesting ponds and randomly-selected non-nesting ponds. We used logistic regression to determine which habitat variables were important in nest-site selection. Presence of an island was the most important variable, but it was excluded from the final analysis because of quasi-separation (i.e., geese nested on all known islands in the study area). Geese that nested on shorelines generally selected larger ponds that may have offered a larger foraging base and more escape options from predators. Nest success rates were similar for island and shoreline nests. Management actions in the UC region and similar areas should be concentrated on ponds with islands because of higher goose nesting densities and ease in finding nests

Assessment of the cardiac safety and pharmacokinetics of a short course, twice daily dose of orally-administered mifepristone in healthy male subjects

Background: Mifepristone is approved to control hyperglycemia in adults with endogenousCushing’s syndrome and is described as a mildly QTc prolonging drug, based on a TQT study.The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of mifepristone on the QTc interval at plasmamifepristone concentrations exceeding those observed in the TQT study.Methods: Twenty healthy, male volunteers were given three doses of 1200 mg mifepristoneevery 12 h with a high-fat meal in a randomized, placebo-controlled 2-period crossover study.Holter ECG recordings were made on Day 1 and 2.Results: Eighteen subjects completed the study. Mean peak plasma mifepristone concentrationswere 4.01 μg/mL (CV: 31%) on the fi rst dose and 5.77 μg/mL (CV: 29%) on the thirddose. Mifepristone did not have a meaningful QTc effect. The placebo-corrected, change-from--baseline QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) was between –1.6 and 0.7 ms on the fi rst dose (upper bound of 90%CI 3.8 ms) and the largest ΔΔQTcF on the third dose was 4.9 ms (upper bound of 90% CI: 8.4 ms).Concentration effect modeling showed a slightly negative slope of –0.01 ms/ng/mL.Conclusions: Mifepristone did not cause a clinically meaningful QTc prolongation in healthyvolunteers at plasma concent rations of mifepristone and its main metabolites that clearlyexceeded those seen in a previous TQT study

Treatment of patients with atypical meningiomas Simpson grade 4 and 5 with a carbon ion boost in combination with postoperative photon radiotherapy: The MARCIE Trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Treatment standard for patients with atypical or anaplastic meningioma is neurosurgical resection. With this approach, local control ranges between 50% and 70%, depending on resection status. A series or smaller studies has shown that postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population can increase progression-free survival, which translates into increased overall survival. However, meningiomas are known to be radioresistant tumors, and radiation doses of 60 Gy or higher have been shown to be necessary for tumor control.</p> <p>Carbon ions offer physical and biological characteristics. Due to their inverted dose profile and the high local dose deposition within the Bragg peak precise dose application and sparing of normal tissue is possible. Moreover, in comparison to photons, carbon ions offer an increased relative biological effectiveness (RBE), which can be calculated between 2 and 5 depending on the cell line as well as the endpoint analyzed.</p> <p>First data obtained within the Phase I/II trial performed at GSI in Darmstadt on carbon ion radiotherapy for patients with high-risk meningiomas has shown safety, and treatment results are promising.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>The Phase II-MARCIE-Study will evaluate a carbon ion boost applied to the macroscopic tumor in conjunction with photon radiotherapy in patients with atypical menigiomas after incomplete resection or biopsy.</p> <p>Primary endpoint is progression-free survival, secondary endpoints are overall survival, safety and toxicity.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Based on published data on the treatment of atypical meningiomas with carbon ions at GSI, the present study will evaluate this treatment concept in a larger patient population and will compare outcome to current standard photon treatment.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT01166321</p

Global prevalence and disease burden of vitamin D deficiency: a roadmap for action in low- and middle-income countries.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone health and may influence the risks of respiratory illness, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and chronic diseases of adulthood. Because many countries have a relatively low supply of foods rich in vitamin D and inadequate exposure to natural ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight, an important proportion of the global population is at risk of vitamin D deficiency. There is general agreement that the minimum serum/plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25(OH)D) that protects against vitamin D deficiency-related bone disease is approximately 30 nmol/L; therefore, this threshold is suitable to define vitamin D deficiency in population surveys. However, efforts to assess the vitamin D status of populations in low- and middle-income countries have been hampered by limited availability of population-representative 25(OH)D data, particularly among population subgroups most vulnerable to the skeletal and potential extraskeletal consequences of low vitamin D status, namely exclusively breastfed infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly. In the absence of 25(OH)D data, identification of communities that would benefit from public health interventions to improve vitamin D status may require proxy indicators of the population risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as the prevalence of rickets or metrics of usual UVB exposure. If a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is identified (>20% prevalence of 25(OH)D 1%), food fortification and/or targeted vitamin D supplementation policies can be implemented to reduce the burden of vitamin D deficiency-related conditions in vulnerable populations

Circulating adiponectin levels are lower in Latino versus non-Latino white patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, independent of adiposity measures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Latinos in the United States have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than non-Latino whites, even after controlling for adiposity. Decreased adiponectin is associated with insulin resistance and predicts T2DM, and therefore may mediate this ethnic difference. We compared total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin in Latino versus white individuals, identified factors associated with adiponectin in each ethnic group, and measured the contribution of adiponectin to ethnic differences in insulin resistance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We utilized cross-sectional data from subjects in the Latinos Using Cardio Health Actions to reduce Risk study. Participants were Latino (n = 119) and non-Latino white (n = 60) men and women with hypertension and at least one other risk factor for CVD (age 61 ± 10 yrs, 49% with T2DM), seen at an integrated community health and hospital system in Denver, Colorado. Total and HMW adiponectin was measured by RIA and ELISA respectively. Fasting glucose and insulin were used to calculate the homeostasis model insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Variables independently associated with adiponectin levels were identified by linear regression analyses. Adiponectin's contribution to ethnic differences in insulin resistance was assessed in multivariate linear regression models of Latino ethnicity, with logHOMA-IR as a dependent variable, adjusting for possible confounders including age, gender, adiposity, and renal function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean adiponectin levels were lower in Latino than white patients (beta estimates: -4.5 (-6.4, -2.5), p < 0.001 and -1.6 (-2.7, -0.5), p < 0.005 for total and HMW adiponectin), independent of age, gender, BMI/waist circumference, thiazolidinedione use, diabetes status, and renal function. An expected negative association between adiponectin and waist circumference was seen among women and non-Latino white men, but no relationship between these two variables was observed among Latino men. Ethnic differences in logHOMA-IR were no longer observed after controlling for adiponectin levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among patients with CVD risk, total and HMW adiponectin is lower in Latinos, independent of adiposity and other known regulators of adiponectin. Ethnic differences in adiponectin regulation may exist and future research in this area is warranted. Adiponectin levels accounted for the observed variability in insulin resistance, suggesting a contribution of decreased adiponectin to insulin resistance in Latino populations.</p

Identifying core MRI sequences for reliable automatic brain metastasis segmentation

BACKGROUND Many automatic approaches to brain tumor segmentation employ multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. The goal of this project was to compare different combinations of input sequences to determine which MRI sequences are needed for effective automated brain metastasis (BM) segmentation. METHODS We analyzed preoperative imaging (T1-weighted sequence ± contrast-enhancement (T1/T1-CE), T2-weighted sequence (T2), and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) sequence) from 339 patients with BMs from seven centers. A baseline 3D U-Net with all four sequences and six U-Nets with plausible sequence combinations (T1-CE, T1, T2-FLAIR, T1-CE + T2-FLAIR, T1-CE + T1 + T2-FLAIR, T1-CE + T1) were trained on 239 patients from two centers and subsequently tested on an external cohort of 100 patients from five centers. RESULTS The model based on T1-CE alone achieved the best segmentation performance for BM segmentation with a median Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.96. Models trained without T1-CE performed worse (T1-only: DSC = 0.70 and T2-FLAIR-only: DSC = 0.73). For edema segmentation, models that included both T1-CE and T2-FLAIR performed best (DSC = 0.93), while the remaining four models without simultaneous inclusion of these both sequences reached a median DSC of 0.81-0.89. CONCLUSIONS A T1-CE-only protocol suffices for the segmentation of BMs. The combination of T1-CE and T2-FLAIR is important for edema segmentation. Missing either T1-CE or T2-FLAIR decreases performance. These findings may improve imaging routines by omitting unnecessary sequences, thus allowing for faster procedures in daily clinical practice while enabling optimal neural network-based target definitions