scholarly journals Do observer fatigue and taxon bias compromise visual encounter surveys for small vertebrates?

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Lardner ◽  
Amy A. Yackel Adams ◽  
Adam J. Knox ◽  
Julie A. Savidge ◽  
Robert N. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Visual Survey ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Visual Searches ◽  
Standard Animal

Context Visual encounter surveying is a standard animal inventory method, modifications of which (e.g. distance sampling and repeated count surveys) are used for modelling population density. However, a variety of factors may bias visual survey counts. Aims The aim of the present study was to evaluate three observer-related biases: (1) whether fatigue compromises detection rate as a survey occasion progresses; (2) whether long-term fatigue or boredom compromise detection rates over the course of a survey period; and (3) whether observers exhibit biases in detection rates of different animal taxa. Methods We analysed >2.3 × 104 observations of lizards and small mammals from nocturnal pedestrian visual encounter surveys, each 4 h in duration, conducted by a pool of 29 observers, each of whom surveyed for up to 31 nights. Key results Detections of sleeping (diurnal) emerald tree skinks (Lamprolepis smaragdina) exhibited a small but statistically verified decline as the evening progressed, whereas detections of sleeping (diurnal) green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) increased as the evening progressed. Detections of nocturnal geckos (several species pooled) showed a weak and non-significant declining trend. Small mammal sightings (rats, shrews and mice pooled) declined strongly over the course of an evening. The participants saw greater or equal numbers of animals the more nights they surveyed. Most participants exhibited statistically significant, and often strong, taxonomic detection bias compared with the pool of peer observers. The skills of some observers appeared to be consistently above average; others consistently below average. Conclusions Data on sleeping lizards suggest that neither short-term nor long-term observer fatigue is of much concern for 4-h visual searches. On the contrary, differences among observers in taxonomic bias and overall detection skills pose a problem for data interpretation. Implications By comparing temporal detection patterns of immobile (e.g. sleeping) with actively moving animal taxa, sampling biases attributable to searcher fatigue versus the animals’ circadian rhythm can be disentangled and, if need be, statistically corrected for. Observer skill differences and observer-specific taxonomic biases may hamper efforts to statistically evaluate survey results, unless explicitly included as covariates in population models.

scholarly journals Marine litter from beach-based sources: Case study of an Eastern Mediterranean coastal town

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle E. Portman ◽  
Ruth E Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Survey Results

Marine litter has been a serious and growing problem for some decades now. Yet, there is still much speculation among researchers, policy makers and planners about how to tackle marine litter from land-based sources. This paper provides insights into approaches for managing marine litter by reporting and analyzing survey results of litter dispersal and makeup from three areas along an Arab-Israeli coastal town in view of other recent studies conducted around the Mediterranean Sea. Based on our results and analysis, we posit that bathing beach activities should be a high priority for waste managers as a point of intervention and beach-goers must be encouraged to take a more active role in keeping beaches clean. Further, plastic fragments on the beach should be targeted as a first priority for prevention (and cleanup) of marine litter with plastic bottle caps being a high priority to be targeted among plastics. More survey research is needed on non-plastic litter composition for which amounts and geographic dispersal in the region vary greatly from place to place along Mediterranean shores. In general, findings of this study lead us to recommend exploring persuasive beach trash can design coupled with greater enforcement for short term waste management intervention while considering the local socio-economic and institutional context further for long-term efforts.

scholarly journals Sonographic Evaluation of Obstetric Anal Injuries

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-274
Author(s):  
Aris Antsaklis ◽  
Themos Grigoriadis ◽  
Sylvia-Christina Mylona ◽  
George Giannoulis ◽  
Stavros Athanasiou
Keyword(s):  
Anal Sphincter ◽  
Obstet Gynecol ◽  
Perineal Pain ◽  
Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Sonographic Evaluation ◽  
Endoanal Sonography ◽  
Vaginal Deliveries

ABSTRACT Intrapartum damage to the anal sphincter is an important factor in fecal incontinence. Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) vary from 1 to 18% of vaginal deliveries, including instrumental deliveries. The severity of anal sphincter injuries vary from superficial lacerations to deep injuries that can extend to the epithelium. Obstetric anal sphincter injuries are associated with both short-term complications (heavy bleeding, difficulties in recovery, increased incidence of infections, increased perineal pain) and long-term complications (rectovaginal fistulae or facal incontinence). A significant number of these anal sphincter injuries can be detected promptly after a good clinical examination, but still that does not exclude the possibility of these women suffering long-term complications. What is more when some of these so called ‘occult tears’ go undetected further increase the morbidity of the woman. Sonography of the perineum and the anal sphincter appears to offer a better diagnosis and detection of these injuries after vaginal delivery, which allows a timely and better treatment with less complications, with endoanal sonography offering the best detection rates so far. How to cite this article Grigoriadis T, Mylona SC, Giannoulis G, Athanasiou S, Antsaklis A. Sonographic Evaluation of Obstetric Anal Injuries. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015;9(3):266-274.

scholarly journals Off-Patent Biologicals and Biosimilars Tendering in Europe—A Proposal towards More Sustainable Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Liese Barbier ◽  
Steven Simoens ◽  
Caroline Soontjens ◽  
Barbara Claus ◽  
Arnold G. Vulto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Web Survey ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Hospital Pharmacists ◽  
Survey Results

Background: In Europe, off-patent biologicals and biosimilars are largely procured by means of tender procedures. The organization and design of tenders may play a key role in the evolving biosimilar market, and currently, it is not fully elucidated how tenders for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars are designed and if approaches are aligned with sustaining market competition and societal savings for healthcare systems over the long term. This study aims to (i) explore the design and implementation of tender procedures for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars in Europe, (ii) identify learnings for sustainable tender approaches from purchasers and suppliers, and (iii) formulate recommendations in support of competitive and sustainable tender practices in the off-patent biologicals market. Methods: A mixed methods design was applied. A quantitative web-survey was conducted with hospital pharmacists and purchasers (N = 60, of which 47 completed the survey in full), and qualitative expert-interviews with purchasers and suppliers (N = 28) were carried out. Results: The web survey results showed that the organization and design of tenders for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars, and the experience of hospital pharmacists and purchasers with this, considerably varies on several elements across European countries. From the qualitative interviews, signals emerged across the board that some of the current tender approaches might negatively affect market dynamics for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars. The focus on generating short-term savings and existence of originator favouring tender practices were identified as elements that may limit timely competition from and market opportunity for biosimilar suppliers. The need to optimize tender processes, considering a more long-term strategic and sustainable view, was expressed. In addition, challenges appear to exist with differentiating between products beyond price, showing the need and opportunity to guide stakeholders with the (appropriate) inclusion of award criteria beyond price. Due to the variety in tender organization in Europe, a ‘one size fits all’ tendering framework is not possible. However, on an overarching level, it was argued that tender procedures must aim to (i) ensure market plurality and (ii) include award criteria beyond price (warranted that criteria are objectively and transparently defined, scored and competitively rewarded). Depending on the market (maturity), additional actions may be needed. Conclusions: Findings suggest the need to adjust tender procedures for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars, considering a more long-term strategic and market sustainable view. Five main avenues for optimization were identified: (i) safeguarding a transparent, equal opportunity setting for all suppliers with an appropriate use of award criteria; (ii) fostering a timely opening of tender procedures, ensuring on-set competition; (iii) ensuring and stimulating adherence to laws on public procurement; (iv) securing an efficient process, improving plannability and ensuring timely product supply and (v) safeguarding long-term sustainable competition by stimulating market plurality.

A Comparison of Three Capstones: Survey Results from Sociology Alumni

2021 ◽  
pp. 0092055X2110336
Author(s):  
Hannah Beth Love ◽  
Kelsea MacIlroy
Keyword(s):  
Field Application ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Classroom Experience ◽  
Research Skills ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Capstone Courses ◽  
Survey Results

Undergraduate capstone courses in sociology are designed to integrate students’ knowledge in the discipline and to culminate the classroom experience with field application. Are capstones achieving these goals in a durable way? Although the short-term outcomes of capstone courses have been researched, fewer studies have documented the long-term outcomes of capstone courses. We conducted a survey of sociology capstone alumni to understand the long-term outcomes of the sociology capstone by asking sociology alumni about their capstone experience. Our research revealed that all capstones produced long-term outcomes as measured in the alumni survey. Second, alumni of the community-based research capstone experienced a more profound and longer reaching effect than those who participated in the internship or traditional capstone seminar format. Alumni reported the development of professional skills, application of sociological concepts and research skills, and a sense of being part of a community.

Conceptual short-term memory (CSTM) supports core claims of Christiansen and Chater

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. Potter
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation ◽  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

AbstractRapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of words or pictured scenes provides evidence for a large-capacity conceptual short-term memory (CSTM) that momentarily provides rich associated material from long-term memory, permitting rapid chunking (Potter 1993; 2009; 2012). In perception of scenes as well as language comprehension, we make use of knowledge that briefly exceeds the supposed limits of working memory.

Ultrastructural investigations of MDL 19,660-induced effects on the canine platelet and megakaryocyte

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-375
Author(s):  
D.E. Loudy ◽  
J. Sprinkle-Cavallo ◽  
J.T. Yarrington ◽  
F.Y. Thompson ◽  
J.P. Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Antidepressant Drug ◽  
Beagle Dogs ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Induced Aggregation ◽  
Internal Architecture

Previous short term toxicological studies of one to two weeks duration have demonstrated that MDL 19,660 (5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethyl-3Hl, 2,4-triazole-3-thione), an antidepressant drug, causes a dose-related thrombocytopenia in dogs. Platelet counts started to decline after two days of dosing with 30 mg/kg/day and continued to decrease to their lowest levels by 5-7 days. The loss in platelets was primarily of the small discoid subpopulation. In vitro studies have also indicated that MDL 19,660: does not spontaneously aggregate canine platelets and has moderate antiaggregating properties by inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation. The objectives of the present investigation of MDL 19,660 were to evaluate ultrastructurally long term effects on platelet internal architecture and changes in subpopulations of platelets and megakaryocytes.Nine male and nine female beagle dogs were divided equally into three groups and were administered orally 0, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day of MDL 19,660 for three months. Compared to a control platelet range of 353,000- 452,000/μl, a doserelated thrombocytopenia reached a maximum severity of an average of 135,000/μl for the 15 mg/kg/day dogs after two weeks and 81,000/μl for the 30 mg/kg/day dogs after one week.

Comparison of Auditory, Language, Memory, and Attention Abilities in Children With and Without Listening Difficulties

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 710-727
Author(s):  
Beula M. Magimairaj ◽  
Naveen K. Nagaraj ◽  
Alexander V. Sergeev ◽  
Natalie J. Benafield
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Speed And Accuracy

Objectives School-age children with and without parent-reported listening difficulties (LiD) were compared on auditory processing, language, memory, and attention abilities. The objective was to extend what is known so far in the literature about children with LiD by using multiple measures and selective novel measures across the above areas. Design Twenty-six children who were reported by their parents as having LiD and 26 age-matched typically developing children completed clinical tests of auditory processing and multiple measures of language, attention, and memory. All children had normal-range pure-tone hearing thresholds bilaterally. Group differences were examined. Results In addition to significantly poorer speech-perception-in-noise scores, children with LiD had reduced speed and accuracy of word retrieval from long-term memory, poorer short-term memory, sentence recall, and inferencing ability. Statistically significant group differences were of moderate effect size; however, standard test scores of children with LiD were not clinically poor. No statistically significant group differences were observed in attention, working memory capacity, vocabulary, and nonverbal IQ. Conclusions Mild signal-to-noise ratio loss, as reflected by the group mean of children with LiD, supported the children's functional listening problems. In addition, children's relative weakness in select areas of language performance, short-term memory, and long-term memory lexical retrieval speed and accuracy added to previous research on evidence-based areas that need to be evaluated in children with LiD who almost always have heterogenous profiles. Importantly, the functional difficulties faced by children with LiD in relation to their test results indicated, to some extent, that commonly used assessments may not be adequately capturing the children's listening challenges. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12808607

Contactless Semi-Implantable Electromagnetic Middle Ear Device for the Treatment of Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Short-Term and Long-Term Animal Experiments

1995 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Maniglia ◽  
Wen H. Ko ◽  
Mary Rosenbaum ◽  
Ted Falk ◽  
Wei-Lin Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Short Term

Abstract #283 Diabetes Increases Short-Term but not Long-Term Risk of Fracture: A Community-Based Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Alyssa Dufour ◽  
Setareh Williams ◽  
Richard Weiss ◽  
Elizabeth Samelson
Keyword(s):  
Short Term ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Risk Of Fracture

Abstract #238: Improved Short Term and Long Term Outcomes of Early Insulin Initiation in Type 2 Diabetes Over 10 Years

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Jothydev Kesavadev ◽  
Shashank Joshi ◽  
Banshi Saboo ◽  
Hemant Thacker ◽  
Arun Shankar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Insulin Initiation ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Short Term
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