Recovering Dietary Information from Extant and Extinct Primates Using Plant Microremains

When reconstructing the diets of primates, researchers often rely on several well established methods, such as direct observation, studies of discarded plant parts, and analysis of macrobotanical remains in fecal matter. Most of these studies can be performed only on living primate groups, however, and the diets of extinct, subfossil, and fossil groups are known only from proxy methods. Plant microremains, tiny plant structures with distinctive morphologies, can record the exact plant foods that an individual consumed. They can be recovered from recently deceased and fossil primate samples, and can also be used to supplement traditional dietary analyses in living groups. Here I briefly introduce plant microremains, provide examples of how they have been successfully used to reconstruct the diets of humans and other species, and describe methods for their application in studies of primate dietary ecology

Communication and visiting policies in Italian intensive care units during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and lockdown: a nationwide survey

Background: During the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave, an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory failure due to a new, highly contagious virus needed hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The aim of the present study was to describe the communication and visiting policies of Italian intensive care units (ICUs) during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and national lockdown and compare these data with prepandemic conditions. Methods: A national web-based survey was conducted among 290 Italian hospitals. Each ICU (active between February 24 and May 31, 2020) was encouraged to complete an individual questionnaire inquiring the hospital/ICU structure/organization, communication/visiting habits and the role of clinical psychology prior to, and during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. Results: Two hundred and nine ICUs from 154 hospitals (53% of the contacted hospitals) completed the survey (202 adult and 7 pediatric ICUs). Among adult ICUs, 60% were dedicated to COVID-19 patients, 21% were dedicated to patients without COVID-19 and 19% were dedicated to both categories (Mixed). A total of 11,102 adult patients were admitted to the participating ICUs during the study period and only approximately 6% of patients received at least one visit. Communication with family members was guaranteed daily through an increased use of electronic devices and was preferentially addressed to the same family member. Compared to the prepandemic period, clinical psychologists supported physicians more often regarding communication with family members. Fewer patients received at least one visit from family members in COVID and mixed-ICUs than in non-COVID ICUs, l (0 [0–6]%, 0 [0–4]% and 11 [2–25]%, respectively, p < 0.001). Habits of pediatric ICUs were less affected by the pandemic. Conclusions: Visiting policies of Italian ICUs dedicated to adult patients were markedly altered during the first COVID-19 wave. Remote communication was widely adopted as a surrogate for family meetings. New strategies to favor a family-centered approach during the current and future pandemics are warranted

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

<title>Application of queuing models to electronic toll collection</title>

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) via Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology has significantly altered traffic operations during toll collection. In particular, the value of the average processing rate of a lane providing both ETC service as well as a traditional service, fluctuates over the rush hour between the average value of the processing rate of the traditional service and the capacity of the ETC service. This study develops a queuing model to address the changing processing rates for the different mixed lanes. The model is applied to the westbound 9-lane portion of the Holland East Plaza in Orlando, Florida. Data is evaluated for 6 different rush hours that include 3 different configuration patterns implemented over a period of 3 years. In the first configuration, only the traditional toll collection services are provided. In another configuration, all traditional lanes become mixed to include ETC except for the center lane, which becomes a lane dedicated solely to ETC service. In a final configuration, two lanes become dedicated to ETC service. A calibration factor between 1.15 and 1.19 corrects the predicted delay. A plaza delay sensitivity analysis is performed on each of the model\u27s input variables

Applications of queuing models to Electronic Toll Collection

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) via Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology has significantly altered traffic operations during toll collection. In particular, the value of the average processing rate of a lane providing both ETC service as well as a traditional service, fluctuates over the rush hour between the average value of the processing rate of the traditional service and the capacity of the ETC service. This study develops a queuing model to address the changing processing rates for the different mixed lanes. The model is applied to the westbound 9-lane portion of the Holland East Plaza in Orlando, Florida. Data is evaluated for 6 different rush hours that include 3 different configuration patterns implemented over a period of 3 years. In the first configuration, only the traditional toll collection services are provided. In another configuration, all traditional lanes become mixed to include ETC except for the center lane, which becomes a lane dedicated solely to ETC service. In a final configuration, two lanes become dedicated to ETC service. A calibration factor between 1.15 and 1.19 corrects the predicted delay. A plaza delay sensitivity analysis is performed on each of the model\u27s input variables

Modeling traffic operations at electronic toll collection and traffic management systems

Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology is one possible solution to traffic congestion at existing transportation facilities. This paper presents a mathematical model of traffic conditions for toll plaza facilities that includes AVI toll collection services among other conventional services. Three types of services are available: manual toll service, in which transactions are handled by a toll collector, automatic toll service, in which coin machines are utilized, and AVI toll collection service. In addition, mixed lanes, which provide more than one of the above services, are considered by the model. For a given rush hour, queue lengths and delays can be calculated for different toll plaza configurations. Comparison of their performance may aid operators in the management of the lane configurations until all users of the facility become AVI patrons. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Traffic operations during Electronic Toll Collection: Case study of the Holland East Plaza

The toll plaza model or TPModel is a macroscopic analytical queuing model, developed for estimating the rush hour delay at toll collection facilities. TPModel can be used to compare the performance of a plaza under different lane configurations. A delay sensitivity analysis was performed on each of the model\u27s variable. TPModel estimated increasing delay with increasing approach traffic rush hour volumes. TPModel also estimated smaller plaza delays as the service rate for the various services increased