scholarly journals Listening forward: approaching marine biodiversity assessments using acoustic methods

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 201287 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Aran Mooney ◽  
Lucia Di Iorio ◽  
Marc Lammers ◽  
Tzu-Hao Lin ◽  
Sophie L. Nedelec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Supervised Machine Learning ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Passive Acoustics ◽  
Diversity Assessment ◽  
Acoustic Methods ◽  
Acoustic Diversity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
Analytical Tools

Ecosystems and the communities they support are changing at alarmingly rapid rates. Tracking species diversity is vital to managing these stressed habitats. Yet, quantifying and monitoring biodiversity is often challenging, especially in ocean habitats. Given that many animals make sounds, these cues travel efficiently under water, and emerging technologies are increasingly cost-effective, passive acoustics (a long-standing ocean observation method) is now a potential means of quantifying and monitoring marine biodiversity. Properly applying acoustics for biodiversity assessments is vital. Our goal here is to provide a timely consideration of emerging methods using passive acoustics to measure marine biodiversity. We provide a summary of the brief history of using passive acoustics to assess marine biodiversity and community structure, a critical assessment of the challenges faced, and outline recommended practices and considerations for acoustic biodiversity measurements. We focused on temperate and tropical seas, where much of the acoustic biodiversity work has been conducted. Overall, we suggest a cautious approach to applying current acoustic indices to assess marine biodiversity. Key needs are preliminary data and sampling sufficiently to capture the patterns and variability of a habitat. Yet with new analytical tools including source separation and supervised machine learning, there is substantial promise in marine acoustic diversity assessment methods.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of a Cohort of 275 Patients with Hyper-IgE Syndromes and/or Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Frede ◽  
Jessica Rojas-Restrepo ◽  
Andrés Caballero Garcia de Oteyza ◽  
Mary Buchta ◽  
Katrin Hübscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Screening Method ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Genetic Defects ◽  
Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis ◽  
Mucocutaneous Candidiasis ◽  
Serious Infections ◽  
History Of ◽  
Panel Sequencing

AbstractHyper-IgE syndromes and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis constitute rare primary immunodeficiency syndromes with an overlapping clinical phenotype. In recent years, a growing number of underlying genetic defects have been identified. To characterize the underlying genetic defects in a large international cohort of 275 patients, of whom 211 had been clinically diagnosed with hyper-IgE syndrome and 64 with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, targeted panel sequencing was performed, relying on Agilent HaloPlex and Illumina MiSeq technologies. The targeted panel sequencing approach allowed us to identify 87 (32 novel and 55 previously described) mutations in 78 patients, which generated a diagnostic success rate of 28.4%. Specifically, mutations in DOCK8 (26 patients), STAT3 (21), STAT1 (15), CARD9 (6), AIRE (3), IL17RA (2), SPINK5 (3), ZNF341 (2), CARMIL2/RLTPR (1), IL12RB1 (1), and WAS (1) have been detected. The most common clinical findings in this cohort were elevated IgE (81.5%), eczema (71.7%), and eosinophilia (62.9%). Regarding infections, 54.7% of patients had a history of radiologically proven pneumonia, and 28.3% have had other serious infections. History of fungal infection was noted in 53% of cases and skin abscesses in 52.9%. Skeletal or dental abnormalities were observed in 46.2% of patients with a characteristic face being the most commonly reported feature (23.1%), followed by retained primary teeth in 18.9% of patients. Targeted panel sequencing provides a cost-effective first-line genetic screening method which allows for the identification of mutations also in patients with atypical clinical presentations and should be routinely implemented in referral centers.

scholarly journals Serum neurofilament levels reflect outer retinal layer changes in multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110034
Author(s):  
Caspar B. Seitz ◽  
Falk Steffen ◽  
Muthuraman Muthuraman ◽  
Timo Uphaus ◽  
Julia Krämer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Optic Neuritis ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Supervised Machine Learning ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Retinal Layer ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
Retinal Layers ◽  
History Of

Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and distinct intra-retinal layers are both promising biomarkers of neuro-axonal injury in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to unravel the association of both markers in early MS, having identified that neurofilament has a distinct immunohistochemical expression pattern among intra-retinal layers. Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) spectral domain macular optical coherence tomography scans and sNfL levels were investigated in 156 early MS patients (female/male: 109/47, mean age: 33.3 ± 9.5 years, mean disease duration: 2.0 ± 3.3 years). Out of the whole cohort, 110 patients had no history of optic neuritis (NHON) and 46 patients had a previous history of optic neuritis (HON). In addition, a subgroup of patients ( n = 38) was studied longitudinally over 2 years. Support vector machine analysis was applied to test a regression model for significant changes. Results: In our cohort, HON patients had a thinner outer plexiform layer (OPL) volume compared to NHON patients ( B = −0.016, SE = 0.006, p = 0.013). Higher sNfL levels were significantly associated with thinner OPL volumes in HON patients ( B = −6.734, SE = 2.514, p = 0.011). This finding was corroborated in the longitudinal subanalysis by the association of higher sNfL levels with OPL atrophy ( B = 5.974, SE = 2.420, p = 0.019). sNfL levels were 75.7% accurate at predicting OPL volume in the supervised machine learning. Conclusions: In summary, sNfL levels were a good predictor of future outer retinal thinning in MS. Changes within the neurofilament-rich OPL could be considered as an additional retinal marker linked to MS neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals Coronary risk of patients with valvular heart disease: prospective validation of CT-Valve Score

Open Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e001380
Author(s):  
Rasmus Bo Hasselbalch ◽  
Mia Marie Pries-Heje ◽  
Sarah Louise Kjølhede Holle ◽  
Thomas Engstrøm ◽  
Merete Heitmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Valvular Heart Disease ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Multislice Ct ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
Artery Disease

ObjectiveTo prospectively validate the CT-Valve score, a new risk score designed to identify patients with valvular heart disease at a low risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) who could benefit from multislice CT (MSCT) first instead of coronary angiography (CAG).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of patients referred for valve surgery in the Capital Region of Denmark and Odense University Hospital from the 1 February 2015 to the 1 February 2017. MSCT was implemented for patients with a CT-Valve score ≤7 at the referring physician’s discretion. Patients with a history of CAD or chronic kidney disease were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients needing reevaluation with CAG after MSCT and risk of CAD among the patients determined to be low to intermediate risk.ResultsIn total, 1149 patients were included. The median score was 9 (IQR 3) and 339 (30%) had a score ≤7. MSCT was used for 117 patients. Of these 29 (25%) were reevaluated and 9 (7.7%) had CAD. Of the 222 patients with a score ≤7 that did not receive an MSCT, 14 (6%) had significant CAD. The estimated total cost of evaluation among patients with a score ≤7 before implementation was €132 093 compared with €79 073 after, a 40% reduction. Similarly, estimated total radiation before and after was 608 mSv and 362 mSv, a 41% reduction. Follow-up at a median of 32 months (18–48) showed no ischaemic events for patients receiving only MSCT.ConclusionThe CT-Valve score is a valid method for determining risk of CAD among patients with valvular heart disease. Using a score ≤7 as a cut-off for the use of MSCT is safe and cost-effective.

The Mae on Project: Using Acupuncture for Symptom Relief and Improved Quality of Life for People Living with Hiv and Aids in Rural Thailand

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Louie ◽  
Nopporn Pathanapornpandh ◽  
Unchalee Pultajuk ◽  
Robert Kaplan ◽  
Ian Hodgson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Related Symptom ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living With Hiv

Acupuncture in combination with antiretroviral therapies is a potentially useful treatment for HIV-related symptom relief in resource-poor settings. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being used to enhance immune function. In the setting of HIV, Chinese traditional medicine allows for symptom treatment without adding extra medications to a complex drug regime. This paper provides details of a project at Mae On Hospital in rural northern Thailand where allopathic/conventional treatments are used in tandem with acupuncture. A preliminary evaluation of the project suggests that an integrated approach to symptom relief is viewed positively by respondents receiving acupuncture, though further studies are required to confirm the association between acupuncture and symptom relief. The project also demonstrates the feasibility of developing a cost-effective acupuncture programme using local healthcare staff.

Phanerozoic trends in the global geographic disparity of marine biotas

Paleobiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold I. Miller ◽  
Devin P. Buick ◽  
Katherine V. Bulinski ◽  
Chad A. Ferguson ◽  
Austin J. W. Hendy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
Animal Life ◽  
Data Repositories ◽  
Geographic Disparity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
History Of

Previous analyses of the history of Phanerozoic marine biodiversity suggested that the post-Paleozoic increase observed at the family level and below was caused, in part, by an increase in global provinciality associated with the breakup of Pangea. Efforts to characterize the Phanerozoic history of provinciality, however, have been compromised by interval-to-interval variations in the methods and standards used by researchers to calibrate the number of provinces. With the development of comprehensive, occurrence-based data repositories such as the Paleobiology Database (PaleoDB), it is now possible to analyze directly the degree of global compositional disparity as a function of geographic distance (geo-disparity) and changes thereof throughout the history of marine animal life. Here, we present a protocol for assessing the Phanerozoic history of geo-disparity, and we apply it to stratigraphic bins arrayed throughout the Phanerozoic for which data were accessed from the PaleoDB. Our analyses provide no indication of a secular Phanerozoic increase in geo-disparity. Furthermore, fundamental characteristics of geo-disparity may have changed from era to era in concert with changes to marine venues, although these patterns will require further scrutiny in future investigations.

scholarly journals International agricultural trade forecasting using machine learning

Data & Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munisamy Gopinath ◽  
Feras A. Batarseh ◽  
Jayson Beckman ◽  
Ajay Kulkarni ◽  
Sei Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Agricultural Trade ◽  
Supervised Machine Learning ◽  
Trade Patterns ◽  
Subjective Assessments ◽  
History Of ◽  
Network Approaches ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Abstract Focusing on seven major agricultural commodities with a long history of trade, this study employs data-driven analytics to decipher patterns of trade, namely using supervised machine learning (ML), as well as neural networks. The supervised ML and neural network techniques are trained on data until 2010 and 2014, respectively. Results show the high relevance of ML models to forecasting trade patterns in near- and long-term relative to traditional approaches, which are often subjective assessments or time-series projections. While supervised ML techniques quantified key economic factors underlying agricultural trade flows, neural network approaches provide better fits over the long term.

A New Approach to the Modeling of Magnetorheological Dampers and Application to Resonance Control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis A. Siginer ◽  
Mario Letelier ◽  
Juan Sebastián Stockle Henríquez
Keyword(s):  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Yield Stress ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Time History ◽  
Magnetorheological Damper ◽  
Mr Fluid ◽  
Variable Resistance ◽  
History Of ◽  
Displacement Pattern ◽  
Analytical Tools

Abstract A predetermined flow pattern in a magnetorheological damper providing continuously variable resistance to flow is required for efficient damping of a given load. The required predetermined flow pattern rests on the a priori determination of the constitutive properties of the magnetorheological (MR) fluid determined to generate variable resistance to flow. The inverse problem of constructing the predetermined response of the damper with a specific displacement pattern of the piston in the damper for efficient damping of a given load is solved. The magnetorheological (MR) fluid in the damper is modeled as a Bingham phase change material with time dependent yield stress offering continuously variable resistance to the flow in the piston to achieve the required specific displacement pattern. The governing equations are solved for any time history of the dimensionless yield stress of the fluid which in turn is determined from the imposed response of the damper. Analytical tools developed can be used in optimizing damper performance. The application of the method to resonance mitigation is illustrated.

Using Parametric Simulation to Optimize Suspension Design

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Walter Rosenberger ◽  
Peter E. Klauser ◽  
George P. Binns ◽  
Gary P. Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Control Unit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Parameter Analysis ◽  
Ride Quality ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Suspension Parameters ◽  
History Of ◽  
Vehicle Response ◽  
Stiffness And Damping ◽  
Test Result

A project to design and implement suspension improvements to Amtrak’s F-40 Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU) cars is described. The cars, built from former F-40 locomotives, had a history of poor ride quality. Rail Sciences Inc. (RSI) inspected one of the cab cars and measured its ride quality. Peter Klauser modeled the vehicle in NUCARS™ and validated the model against the test data. The vehicle response was primarily in pitch and bounce modes. To optimize the suspension, Klauser simulated vehicle response for a range of four suspension parameters: primary stiffness and damping, and secondary stiffness and damping. Nearly 2600 suspension combinations were considered. Simulation file setup and data analysis were performed automatically using parameter analysis software interacting with NUCARS™. The result was a five-dimensional response contour for each output variable, such as the engineer’s seat vertical and lateral accelerations, and car body acceleration. The most cost effective stiffness and damping parameters were selected from the response contour and translated into component specifications. RSI then provided Amtrak with new axle box springs and dampers, and re-tested the vehicle. The test result closely followed the predicted results from the simulation. Engineer’s seat vertical and cab lateral accelerations improved by 42% and 32% respectively for the worst-case conditions in the test territory.

Marine Metazoan Modern Mass Extinction: Improving Predictions by Integrating Fossil, Modern, and Physiological Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 369-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piero Calosi ◽  
Hollie M. Putnam ◽  
Richard J. Twitchett ◽  
Fanny Vermandele
Keyword(s):  
Global Change ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Extinction Events ◽  
Modern Mass

Evolution, extinction, and dispersion are fundamental processes affecting marine biodiversity. Until recently, studies of extant marine systems focused mainly on evolution and dispersion, with extinction receiving less attention. Past extinction events have, however, helped shape the evolutionary history of marine ecosystems, with ecological and evolutionary legacies still evident in modern seas. Current anthropogenic global changes increase extinction risk and pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, which are critical for human use and sustenance. The evaluation of these threats and the likely responses of marine ecosystems requires a better understanding of evolutionary processes that affect marine ecosystems under global change. Here, we discuss how knowledge of ( a) changes in biodiversity of ancient marine ecosystems to past extinctions events, ( b) the patterns of sensitivity and biodiversity loss in modern marine taxa, and ( c) the physiological mechanisms underpinning species’ sensitivity to global change can be exploited and integrated to advance our critical thinking in this area.

scholarly journals Routine screening for hepatitis C viral infection in patients undergoing elective cranial neurosurgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-948
Author(s):  
Eric S. Nussbaum ◽  
Kevin Kallmes ◽  
Jodi Lowary ◽  
Leslie A. Nussbaum
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Positive Result ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Iv Drug Abuse ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Cost

OBJECTIVEUndiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV in patients present risks of transmission of bloodborne infections to surgeons intraoperatively. Presurgical screening has been suggested as a protocol to protect surgical staff from these pathogens. The authors sought to determine the incidence of HCV and HIV infection in elective craniotomy patients and analyze the cost-effectiveness of universal and risk factor–specific screening for protection of the surgical staff.METHODSAll patients undergoing elective craniotomy between July 2009 and July 2016 at the National Brain Aneurysm Center who did not refuse screening were included in this study. The authors utilized rapid HCV and HIV tests to screen patients prior to elective surgery, and for each patient who tested positive using the rapid HCV or HIV test, qualitative nucleic acid testing was used to confirm active viral load, and risk factor information was collected. Patients scheduled for nonurgent surgery who were found to be HCV positive were referred to a hepatologist for preoperative treatment. The authors compared risk factors between patients who tested positive on rapid tests, patients with active viral loads, and a random sample of patients who tested negative. The authors also tracked the clinical and material costs of HCV and HIV rapid test screening per patient for cost-effectiveness analysis and calculated the cost per positive result of screening all patients and of screening based on all patient risk factors that differed significantly between patients with and those without positive HCV test results.RESULTSThe study population of patients scheduled for elective craniotomy included 1461 patients, of whom 22 (1.5%) refused the screening. Of the 1439 patients screened, 15 (1.0%) tested positive for HCV using rapid HCV screening; 9 (60%) of these patients had active viral loads. No patient (0%) tested positive for HIV. Seven (77.8%) of the 9 patients with active viral loads underwent treatment with a hepatologist and were referred back for surgery 3–6 months after sustained virologic response to treatment, but the remaining 2 patients (22.2%) required urgent surgery. Of the 9 patients with active viral loads, 1 patient (11%) had a history of both intravenous drug abuse and tattoos. Two of the 9 patients (22%) had tattoos, and 3 (33%) were born within the age-screening bracket (born 1945–1965) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of smoking differed significantly (p < 0.001) between patients who had active viral loads of HCV and patients who were HCV negative, and rates of smoking (p < 0.001) and IV drug abuse (p < 0.01) differed significantly between patients who were HCV rapid-test positive and those who were HCV negative. Total screening costs (95% CI) per positive result were $3,877.33 ($2,348.05–$11,119.28) for all patients undergoing HCV rapid screening, $226.29 ($93.54–$312.68) for patients with a history of smoking, and $72.00 ($29.15–$619.39) for patients with a history of IV drug abuse.CONCLUSIONSThe rate of undiagnosed HCV infection in this patient population was commensurate with national levels. While the cost of universal screening was considerable, screening patients based on a history of smoking or IV drug abuse would likely reduce costs per positive result greatly and potentially provide cost-effective identification and treatment of HCV patients and surgical staff protection. HIV screening found no infected patients and was not cost-effective.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document