Partial submergence: An undescribed behavioral adjustment for thermoregulation at high ambient temperature in Aeshnidae

Many insects including odonates thermoregulate using a combination of behavioral and physiological mechanisms. At high ambient temperature (Ta), these mechanisms include decreased heat production and increased heat loss. Heat production can be reduced by decreasing activity. Heat loss can be enhanced by perching in a shaded microhabitat where temperature is cooler than in the surrounding environment. Aeshnids, which are intermittent endotherms, increase heat loss at high Ta; also by increasing hemolymph circulation from the thorax, where most metabolic heat is produced, to the abdomen, where it dissipates to the environment by convection. While studying two aeshnid species (Anax junius and Rhionaeschna multicolor) at a Sonoran Desert (Arizona, USA) stream, I observed partially submerged mature individuals of both sexes of these species. This heretofore undescribed behavior was seen only at Ta; ≥ 43 °C and almost exclusively during the hottest part of the day (15:00–17:00 hr), when the daily difference between Ta; and water temperature (Tw) was, on average, largest. A cooling effect of partial submergence behavior on body temperature would, therefore, presumably be most effective also during this period. Several percher species of libellulids were present at the study site. These dragonflies are not known to use endothermy for thermoregulation or to increase hemolymph circulation to the abdomen to dissipate heat at high Ta;, and none was ever observed to partially submerge. It is suggested in aeshnids that partial submergence at high Ta; serves a thermoregulatory function by facilitating body heat dissipation from the abdomen.

A new approach to homogenize global sub-daily radiosonde temperature data from 1958 to 2018

This study develops an innovative approach to homogenize discontinuities in both mean and variance in global sub-daily radiosonde temperature data from 1958-2018. First, temperature natural variations and changes are estimated using reanalyses and removed from the radiosonde data to construct monthly and daily difference series. A Penalized Maximal F test and an improved Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are then applied to the monthly and daily difference series to detect spurious shifts in the mean and variance, respectively. About 60% (40%) of the changepoints appear in the mean (variance), and ∼56% of them are confirmed by available metadata. The changepoints display a country-dependent pattern likely due to changes in national radiosonde networks. Mean segment length is 7.2 (14.6) years for the mean (variance)-based detection. A mean (quantile)-matching method using up to 5-years of data from two adjacent mean (variance)-based segments is used to adjust the earlier segments relative to the latest segment. The homogenized series is obtained by adding the two homogenized difference series back to the subtracted reference series. The homogenized data exhibit more spatially coherent trends and temporally consistent variations than the raw data, and lack the spurious tropospheric cooling over North China and Mongolia seen in several reanalyses and raw datasets. The homogenized data clearly show a warming maximum around 300hPa over 30oS-30oN, consistent with model simulations, in contrast to the raw data. The results suggest that spurious changes are numerous and significant in the radiosonde records and our method can greatly improve their homogeneity.

Relationship between bloodinterstitial glucose variability in ambulatory glucose profile and standardized continuous glucose monitoring metrics; A pilot study

Background Treatment indexes using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) have become standardized internationally, and the use of ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) is currently recommended. However, the relationship between AGP indexes and standardized CGM metrics has not been investigated. Using flash glucose monitoring (FGM), this retrospective study served to evaluate the association of the inter-quartile range (IQR) of AGP with standardized CGM metrics. Methods The study subjects were 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 23 non-diabetic patients (control group). We evaluated average IQR (AIQR) and standardized CGM metrics. The primary endpoint was the relationship between AIQR and Time in range (TIR) in a 24-hour period. Results In the T2DM group, the AIQR was notably high and correlated negatively with TIR, and positively with Time above range, average interstitial glucose level, standard deviation of interstitial glucose , coefficient of variation of interstitial glucose , and mean of daily difference in blood glucose (MODD) . For the T2DM group, the AIQR was notably lower in patients who achieved TIR>70%, compared to those who did not. The AIQR cutoff value, as determined by ROC analysis, was 28.3 mg/dL for those who achieved TIR>70%. No association was detected between the presence of hypoglycemia and AIQR. Conclusions Our study is the first to provide the AIQR cutoff value for achieving the TIR target value. The range of interstitial glucose variability in AGP was associated with indexes of intra- and interday variations and hyperglycemia. Our results provide new perspectives in the yet-to-be established methods for evaluation of AGP in practical clinical settings.

Long-acting injectable vs oral antipsychotics: Adherence, persistence and switching over three years of real-life analysis

Background: Persistence and adherence to treatment are considered efficacy outcomes in psychiatric disorders. One of the best ways to improve these values in patients with psychiatric disorders is to prefer long-acting injectable (LAI) drugs to oral AP. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate adherence, persistence and switching of antipsychotics and compare in real life long-acting with oral formulations. Materials and methods: This pharmacological, observational, retrospective, non-interventional study involved all patients of the ASL of Pescara treated in the front-line with AP in the period between January 2011 and February 2019. Adherence was measured using the ratio between received daily dose and prescribed daily dose. Persistence to treatment with antipsychotics was calculated as the daily difference between start and end of treatment. Results: We examined 840 patients treated with Aripiprazole, 130 patients treated with Paliperidone and 925 patients treated with Risperidone. Adherence was significantly better in long-acting formulations with values of 0.89 (Aripiprazole) and 0.82 (Paliperidone and Risperidone) than in oral formulations with values of 0.78, 0.70 and 0.58, respectively. Persistence curves over three years of therapy have not shown a statistically significant difference (p = 0.3314). Persistence curves based on formulation have not shown a statistically significant difference. 7% of patients treated with Aripiprazole, 12% of patients treated with Risperidone and 28% of patients treated with Paliperidone switched therapy. Conclusions: In all drugs of the present study, adherence values were better in LAI than in OA, whereas no statistically significant difference was found in persistence values.

Oxygenation derangements after subarachnoid hemorrhage: incidence and impact on the outcome. Data from a large multicenter, retrospective study.

BackgroundHypoxemia and hyperoxemia are frequent after acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and are associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Among the pulmonary complications causing oxygen derangements, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) seems to be crucial, with a reported incidence ranging from 11 to 50%. MethodsWe designed a multicentric, retrospective cohort study in tree intensive care in Europe. We collected data between January 2009 and December 2017. We included adult patients (≥18 years) with a diagnosis of aSAH. Hypoxemia was defined as PaO2 <60mmHg, mild hyperoxemia as PaO2>120mmHg, and severe hyperoxemia as PaO2>200mmHg. The primary aim of this study was to assess the incidence of episodes of hypoxemia, hyperoxemia, and the oxygen variability values (calculated as the daily difference between the highest and the lowest arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)) during the first week after the intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Secondary aims included the evaluation of the incidence of ARDS according to the Berlin criteria, and the assessment of the effect of oxygen derangements on patients’ outcomes.Results855 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 6.4% of the patients presented at least one episode of hypoxemia (PaO2 <60mmHg), 56.6% of mild hyperoxemia (PaO2 >120mmHg), and 16.8% of severe hyperoxemia (PaO2 >200mmHg). The cumulative incidence of ARDS resulted in 2.2% on the first day since ICU admission, 3.2% by three days, and 3.6% by seven days. A lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) at admission, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, higher PaO2 variability, hypoxemia, and ARDS occurrence were independently associated with poor outcome.ConclusionsHypoxemia and hyperoxemia episodes are frequent in the first 7-days of ICU stay after aSAH, whereas ARDS has a low incidence. The severity of aSAH but also ARDS occurrence, oxygenation parameters, and duration of MV are associated with patients’ outcomes

Significance of fluctuations in serum sodium levels following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an exploratory analysis

OBJECTIVEFluctuations in patient serum sodium levels are common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but their effect on patient outcome is not well described in the literature. The goal of this work was to better characterize the relationship between fluctuations in serum sodium levels, outcome, and the development of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aSAH.METHODSThe authors performed a post hoc analysis of data from the Clazosentan to Overcome Neurological Ischemia and Infarction Occurring After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (CONSCIOUS-1) trial. Patients had their serum sodium values recorded daily for 14 days post-aSAH. Average and average absolute daily differences in sodium levels were calculated for each patient based on 3 reference points: admission sodium levels, a normal sodium level (defined as 140 mmol/L), and the previous day’s sodium level. These variables were also calculated for the classic “vasospasm window” (days 3–12) post-aSAH. A stepwise logistic regression model, locally weighted scatterplot smoothing curves, and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between alterations in serum sodium levels and clinical outcome or the development of DCI after aSAH. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of > 2 at 3 months.RESULTSThe average daily difference in sodium values from baseline (p < 0.001), average daily difference from a normal sodium level (p < 0.001), average absolute daily difference from a normal sodium level (p = 0.015), and average absolute daily difference from the previous day’s sodium level (p = 0.017) were significant predictors of poor outcome in a stepwise multivariate regression model. There was a trend toward significance for average absolute daily difference from admission sodium levels during the vasospasm window as an independent predictor of DCI (p = 0.052). There was no difference in the predictive capacity for DCI when sodium fluctuations from post-aSAH days 1–14 were compared with those from the classic vasospasm window (days 3–12).CONCLUSIONSFluctuations in serum sodium levels may play a role in clinical outcome and the development of DCI after aSAH. The timing of these fluctuations appears to have no significant effect on the development of DCI.

Testing the Correlation Between the Vertical Crustal Movements and Temperature Changes on the Example of Selected Vectors Permanent GNSS Stations

In the last years air temperature increasing gradual. It also changes depending on the area: metropolitan, rural. The temperature changes directly affects the expansion of materials of which are made geodetic control network and support infrastructure. This may be influenced on the daily change in the amount determined for permanent GNSS stations. The main aim of the article is to examine the relationship between height changes and temperature changes. Daily difference in height between the selected stations Polish ASG EUPOS and the temperature in the vicinity of the stabilization of these stations data were used. Three year period was taken to the analysis. The results give a view on the article thesis.

National Measurement Infrastructure for High-Pressure Natural Gas and Traceability Practices

Based on the policies of efficient energy utilization, environmental protection, particularly in reduction in CO2 emissions, and stable economical growth, Taiwan government adopted natural gas as a source of clean energy since 1980s. Each year, over 3 million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas is imported from Indonesia and Qatar for electrical power generation from nationally-owned and private industrially-owned companies. It is estimated by the year 2020, the appropriation of natural gas consists of 25% of national energy sources. To safeguard fair trade of energy transactions and validation of gas emission on the effects of global warming, accurate measurement of natural gas consumption and traceability to national primary standards is essential. Roughly, a 1% error in measurement causes 40 million USD unaccounted losses per year for NG supplier. Thus, a project to construct a national measurement infrastructure to serve this purpose was initiated since the 1990s. This paper describes the use of three different flow design principles to construct an unbroken chain of traceability hierarchy and demonstrates calibration with well-proven uncertainties. For each standard facility, ultrasonic meters are used in parallel to cascade up from Dia: 150 mm, 10 bar pressure, 1000 Actual m3/h; to Dia: 600 mm, 55 bar pressure, and 16000 Actual m3/h. For two years of successive on-site measurement for six meters, relative errors are within ±0.1%, with uncertainty less than 0.35%. The daily difference between custody transfer and check meters remains within ±0.2%.

Climatic control on river discharge simulations, Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland*

A lumped conceptual Rainfall–Runoff Model (the NAM model) was applied to quantify simulated intra- and inter-annual discharge from the Mittivakkat glacier catchment (18.4 km2, 78% glacier cover), Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Discharge simulations were performed for three periods: 1999–2004 (calibration period), 1993–1995 and 1998/1999 (validation period), and 2071–2100 (scenario period). In periods when observed winter discharges were lacking, visual observations from daily photographic time lapse were used for calibration. The timing and magnitude of simulated discharge were in general in good accordance with observed discharge (R2=0.77). However, discrepancies between simulated and observed discharge occur (maximum daily difference up to 3.4 m3 s−1, up to 11% difference between observed and simulated cumulative discharge, and model predicted river break-up 1–3 d before it actually occurs). For the period 2071–2100 future IPCC A2 and IPCC B2 climate scenarios were used as input for NAM based on HIRHAM RCM and HadCM3 AOGCM model simulations. The IPCC scenarios indicated mean maximum monthly runoff higher than 900 mm w.eq., and mean annual runoff around 3200 mm w.eq. yr−1, approximately one and a half times higher than the runoff in 1993–2004 of approximately 2000 mm w.eq. yr−1. The increasing runoff indicated an approximately three times higher negative glacier net mass balance ranging from about −750 mm w.eq. yr−1 (1961–1990) to approximately −2000 mm w.eq. yr−1 (2071–2100).

The indirect determination of energy retention in farm animals: II. Studies on the validity of the method

1. A series of simultaneous determinations of the Na, K, N, C, ash, H2O and energy retentions of calves have been made in order to test the validity of a method of estimating energy retention without recourse to respiration chamber technique. The experiments involved 72 days' calorimetric observation with six animals. A further series of fourteen experiments with sheep involving 58 days' calorimetric observation were made but are not reported in detail2. It was found that, with calves, water retention could be estimated by an indirect method from Na, K and ash metabolism without significant systematic error. The standard deviations attached to the indirect estimates appeared to be invariant with length of period. Thus, by increasing the length of the period the accuracy of the mean daily estimate of water retention could be considerably increased.3. With calves, energy retention measured indirectly from body-weight gain and the gain of ash, protein and water did not differ significantly from that determined calorimetrically by the C and N balance technique. The standard deviation of the mean daily difference fell with increasing length of period, being ± 407 Cal./24 hr. in an experiment lasting 8 days. It was calculated that experiments with four calves lasting 24 days would give results of the same precision as that obtained in a single calorimetric trial.4. The use of the ratio calorie retention/protein retention could permit the calculation of energy retention from the N metabolism of the animal. It is suggested that this method, if developed to take into account the effect of nutritional plane on the ratio, could have considerable practical value.5. It was found that cutaneous losses of K by the sheep in its skin secretions (suint) make it impossible to interpret the difference between the intake and faecal and urinary losses of K as a body gain of K and express it in terms of water. The method is not therefore suitable for the sheep.6. The difficulties involved in the application of the method to adult cattle are pointed out, particularly those that stem from the high K content of most of the foods they eat. A very high analytical accuracy is necessary if the estimates of Na and K retention are to have the necessary precision.