1,691 research outputs found
Endotracheal temperature and humidity measurements in laryngectomized patients: intra- and inter-patient variability
This study assesses intra- and inter-patient variability in endotracheal climate (temperature and humidity) and effects of heat and moister exchangers (HME) in 16 laryngectomized individuals, measured repeatedly (N = 47). Inhalation Breath Length (IBL) was 1.35 s without HME and 1.05 s with HME (P < 0.0001). With HME, end-inspiratory (minimum) humidity values increased 5.8 mg H2O/L (P < 0.0001) and minimum temperature values decreased 1.6°C (P < 0.0001). For the temperature and humidity minimums, the inter-patient variability was much smaller than the short- and long-term intra-patient variability. For exhalation breath length and full breath length, the opposite was the case. Conclusions: (1) Because inter-patient variability is smaller than intra-patient variability, investigating endotracheal climate in a limited number of laryngectomized subjects is justified, provided repeated measurements per patient are accomplished; (2) main contributor to intra-patient variability is the positioning of the catheter tip in the trachea; (3) an HME leads to a shortened IBL which enhances the HME effect
Predicting Mortality in COPD with Validated and Sensitive Biomarkers; Fibrinogen and Mid-Range-Proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM)
Although fibrinogen is a FDA qualified prognostic biomarker in COPD, it still lacks sufficient resolution to be clinically useful. Next to replication of findings in different cohorts also the combination with other validated biomarkers should be investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm in a large well-defined population of COPD patients whether fibrinogen can predict mortality and whether a combination with the biomarker MR-proADM can increase prognostic accuracy. From the COMIC cohort study we included COPD patients with a blood sample obtained in stable state (nâ=â640) and/or at hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of COPD (nâ=â262). Risk of death during 3âyears of follow up for the separate and combined biomarker models was analyzed with Cox regression. Furthermore, logistic regression models for death after one year were constructed. When both fibrinogen and MR-proADM were included in the survival model, a doubling in fibrinogen and MR-proADM levels gave a 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.7) and 2.1 (95% CI 1.5-3.0) fold increased risk of dying, respectively. The prediction model for death after 1âyear improved significantly when MR-proADM was added to the model with fibrinogen (AUC increased from 0.78 to 0.83; pâ=â0.02). However, the combined model was not significantly more adequate than the model with solely MR-proADM (AUC 0.83 vs 0.82; pâ=â0.34). The study suggests that MR-proADM is more promising than fibrinogen in prediciting mortality. Adding fibrinogen to a model containing MR-proADM does not significantly increase the predictive capacity of the model
Endotracheal temperature and humidity measurements in laryngectomized patients: intra- and inter-patient variability
Behavioural thermoregulation via microhabitat selection of winter sleeping areas in an endangered primate: implications for habitat conservation
Strategic microhabitat selection allows animals in seasonally cold environments to reduce homeostatic energy costs, particularly overnight when thermoregulatory demands are greatest. Suitable sleeping areas may therefore represent important resources for winter survival. Knowledge of microhabitat use and potential impacts of anthropogenic habitat modification can aid species conservation through development of targeted habitat management plans. Wild, endangered Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in logged cedar-oak forest were studied to investigate 1) the hypothesis that macaques select winter sleeping areas with microhabitat characteristics that may reduce thermoregulatory costs, and, if so, 2) how to minimize damage to sleeping areas from logging. Macaques slept only in Atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica). Consistent with predictions, macaques preferred sleeping in sheltered topography and dense vegetation, which may reduce exposure to wind, precipitation and cold, and preferred large trees that facilitate social huddling. This suggests Barbary macaques employ strategic nocturnal microhabitat selection to reduce thermoregulatory costs; thus, suitable sleeping areas may influence winter survival. To minimize negative impacts of logging on macaque sleeping areas, results suggest avoiding logging in topographical depressions and maintaining cedar densities >250 ha-1 with average DBH >60 cm. This study demonstrates how animal behaviour can be used to guide species-specific habitat management plans
Analysing forensic entomology data using additive mixed effects modelling
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010. Forensic pathologists and entomologists estimate the minimum post-mortem interval since a long time by describing the stage of succession and development of the necrophagous fauna (Amendt et al. 2004). From very simple calculations at the beginning, (Bergeret, see also Smith 1986) the discipline has evolved into a more mathematical one (e.g. Marchenko 2001; Grassberger and Reiter 2001, 2002) and tries to implement concepts like probabilities and confidence intervals (Lamotte and Wells 2000; Donovan et al. 2006; Tarone and Foran 2008, see also Villet et al. this book Chapter7). As pointed out by Tarone and Foran (2008) and Van Laerhoven (2008), the latter is one of the major tenets of the Daubert Standard (Daubert et al. v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (509 U.S. 579 (1993))
Lower bumblebee colony reproductive success in agricultural compared with urban environments
Urbanization represents a rapidly growing driver of land-use change. While it is clear that urbanization impacts species abundance and diversity, direct effects of urban land use on animal reproductive success are rarely documented. Here, we show that urban land use is linked to long-term colony reproductive output in a key pollinator. We reared colonies from wild-caught bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queens, placed them at sites characterized by varying degrees of urbanization from inner city to rural farmland and monitored the production of sexual offspring across the entire colony cycle. Our land-use cluster analysis identified three site categories, and this categorization was a strong predictor of colony performance. Crucially, colonies in the two clusters characterized by urban development produced more sexual offspring than those in the cluster dominated by agricultural land. These colonies also reached higher peak size, had more food stores, encountered fewer parasite invasions and survived for longer. Our results show a link between urbanization and bumblebee colony reproductive success, supporting the theory that urban areas provide a refuge for pollinator populations in an otherwise barren agricultural landscape
Modelling of essential fish habitat based on remote sensing, spatial analysis and GIS
We review the variety of existing modelling approaches applied to species habitat mapping and we discuss issues arising from the availability and nature of sampled biological data and corresponding ecological and environmental habitat descriptors, as well as the different spatial analysis approaches that are selected according to specific hypotheses. We focus on marine species habitat mapping, presenting an overview of work on modelling fish habitat carried out through a European Communities Policy-Support Action, EnviEFH 'Environmental Approach to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Designation' (2005-2008). The selection of the appropriate habitat model is dataset-specific and the resulting EFH maps are often similar in spite of using different models. Derived EFH maps are based on either environmental ranges (used as minimum and maximum environmental habitat descriptors) or probability of occurrence values. We apply model outputs to regions larger than sampled areas making use of the capacity of satellite data to cover wide areas. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V
Current status and opportunities for therapeutic drug monitoring in the treatment of tuberculosis
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Dried blood spots can help decrease the burden on patients dually infected with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV
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The spatio-temporal pattern of Argentine shortfin squid Illex argentinus abundance in the southwest Atlantic
The Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) is a common neritic species occurring in waters off Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in the southwest Atlantic. Illex argentinus is the most important
fished cephalopod species in the area and plays a significant role in the ecosystem. It is object of major fisheries using both trawlers (mostly from European countries) and jigging vessels (mainly from Asian countries) and estimated total annual average catch for the last 15 years (1988-2003) is about 700 000 tons. The present paper aims to develop predictive models of squid abundance in relation to physical and environmental conditions, models that could ultimately be
applied to fishery forecasting. Fishery and biological data collected by scientific observers aboard commercial trawlers
between 1988 and 2003 were analysed in relation to physical and environmental factors to establish the spatio-temporal pattern of the speciesâ distribution and quantify the influence of environmental variables (e.g. SST, depth) on local abundance. The data included 26 168 fishing haul records, of which 11 103 were positive for Illex. CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort, kg hâ1) was used as abundance index. The analyses were based on time-series maps created using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). GIS maps showed that highest CPUE values were recorded during the first four months of the year (the Austral summer-autumn), with peak values higher than 5000 kg hâ1 mainly located within 42⊠S, 46⊠S and MN (North part of Malvinas/Falkland) areas. Generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to describe variation in Illex argentinus abundance in relation to geographical and environmental variables. The presence/absence (PA) of Illex and its abundance (CPUE) in areas of presence were modelled separately. Predictors retained in the optimal models included SST, latitude, longitude, month, average fishing depth and year. Both models suggest a clear seasonal effect: maximum catchability was found during March (PA model) and the maximum abundances were found during the first
quarter of the year (CPUE model). GAM models also demonstrated that higher catches and maturity of squid were related, in general terms, to warmer and deeper water.Abondance spatio-temporelle du calmar Illex argentinus dans lâAtlantique Sud. Lâencornet rouge argentin (Illex argentinus) est une espĂšce nĂ©ritique commune de lâAtlantique Sud-Ouest prĂ©sente dans les eaux du BrĂ©sil,
de lâUruguay de lâArgentine et des Ăźles Malouines (Falklands). Illex argentinus est la principale espĂšce de cĂ©phalopode exploitĂ©e dans cette rĂ©gion oĂč elle joue un rĂŽle majeur dans lâĂ©cosystĂšme. LâespĂšce est pĂȘchĂ©e par dâimportantes flottilles de chalutiers (principalement de pays europĂ©ens) et aux turluttes industrielles (de pays asiatiques) pour une production annuelle de 700 000 t en moyenne sur les 15 derniĂšres annĂ©es (1988-2003). Cet article prĂ©sente des modĂšles prĂ©dictifs de lâabondance en fonction des facteurs physiques et environnementaux ; modĂšles qui pourraient Ă terme ĂȘtre appliquĂ©s Ă la gestion des pĂȘches. Les donnĂ©es de capture et les paramĂštres biologiques rĂ©coltĂ©s, grĂące Ă des observateurs embarquĂ©s, de 1988 Ă 2003, ont Ă©tĂ© analysĂ©es en relation avec les facteurs physiques pour prĂ©ciser les variations spatio-temporelles de rĂ©partition et quantifier lâeffet de la tempĂ©rature et de la profondeur sur lâabondance. Le jeu de donnĂ©es porte sur 26 168 traits de pĂȘche dont 11 103 comportant des captures dâIllex. Les captures par unitĂ© dâeffort (CPUE en kg hâ1) sont utilisĂ©es comme indice dâabondance et les analyses utilisent des sĂ©ries de cartes, crĂ©Ă©es avec un systĂšme dâinformation gĂ©ographique (SIG). Les valeurs les plus Ă©levĂ©es de CPUE sont enregistrĂ©es durant les quatre premiers mois de lâannĂ©e (lâĂ©tĂ© et lâautomne austral) avec un pic dĂ©passant 5000 kg hâ1 localisĂ© entre 42⊠S et 46⊠S dans la partie Nord desMalouines. Les modĂšles additifs gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©s (GAM) ont servi Ă dĂ©crire les variations dâabondance en
fonction des variables gĂ©ographiques et environnementales. La prĂ©sence ou lâabsence de la ressource est modĂ©lisĂ©e sĂ©parĂ©ment de lâabondance. Les modĂšles optimaux retiennent comme variables explicatives la tempĂ©rature, la latitude, la longitude, le mois, la profondeur et lâannĂ©e. Les deux modĂšles indiquent un effet saisonnier net: la capturabilitĂ© est maximale en mars (prĂ©sence/absence) et lâabondance (CPUE) est la plus Ă©levĂ©e durant le premier trimestre. Les modĂšles additifs gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©s montrent Ă©galement que les captures les plus Ă©levĂ©es dâanimaux Ă maturitĂ© sont associĂ©es Ă des eaux plus tiĂšdes et des secteurs plus profonds
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