scholarly journals Changes in Habitat Conditions of Invaded Forest Communities in Podunajská Nížina and the Impact of Non-Native Species on Biodiversity (SW Slovakia)

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-378
Author(s):  
Monika Lukovičová ◽  
Zuzana Balanac ◽  
Stanislav David
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Permutation Test ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Wiener Index ◽  
Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Dominance Index ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Impact

Abstract With the phytocenological research of riparian mixed forests and pannonic woods in the Podunajská nížina in 2018 and 2019, we obtained 113 phytocenological relevés of invaded and non-invaded stands. Using the Modified Permutation Test, we derived modified Ellenberg indication values (EIVs) in order to determine statistically significant differences and correlation relationships between diversity indices and EIVs. We recorded 15 invasive species in the stands, for example, Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asclepias syriaca, Aster lanceolatus, Helianthus tuberosus, Impatiens parviflora, Negundo aceroides, Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea and Robinia pseudoacacia. We also confirmed the occurrence of species important for conservation: Epipactis helleborine agg., E. voethii, Cephalanthera longifolia, Clematis integrifolia and the like. We tested the statistical significance of EIVs as explanatory variables by redundancy analysis and Monte Carlo permutation test (stepwise selection, number of permutations 499, p < 0.05). In addition to the EIV continentality, the contribution of light, moisture, nutrients, soil reaction and temperature was higher than random. The model explains 20.21% of the variability pursuant to the coefficient of determination (R 2), with its adjusted (more accurate) variant (R 2 adj) capturing 15.70% of the variability of the model. Using the Kruskal–Wallis test, we confirmed the statistically significant differences (p*) in mean values between count of species, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson dominance index and taxonomic diversity of invaded and non-invaded vegetation. For EIVs, we found significant differences in the mean values for moisture and soil reaction factors. In our model, count of species, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson dominance index and taxonomic diversity index were positively correlated with invaded stands. Non-invaded stands showed statistically significant negative correlation with the EIVs moisture, soil reaction and nutrients. Biotic indices are appropriate and sensitive metrics for assessing the rate of community invasion. Lowland riparian forests are dynamic ecosystems through the structure of their stands and the dynamics of the nutrient and energy cycle of the river landscape. After disturbance (fire, wind, logging), the high degree of invasibility makes them vulnerable to the infiltration and spread of non-native species, which is a problem, especially in protected areas.

scholarly journals Impact of satellite viewing swath width on global and regional aerosol optical thickness statistics and trends

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 10117-10163 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Colarco ◽  
R. A. Kahn ◽  
L. A. Remer ◽  
R. C. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Aerosol Optical Thickness ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Sampling Artifacts ◽  
Aerosol Loading ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Along Track ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. We use the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite aerosol optical thickness (AOT) product to assess the impact of reduced swath width on global and regional AOT statistics and trends. Ten different sampling strategies are employed, in which the full MODIS dataset is sub-sampled with various narrow-swath (~400–800 km) and curtain-like (~10 km) along-track configurations. Although view-angle artifacts in the MODIS AOT retrieval confound direct comparisons between averages derived from different sub-samples, careful analysis shows that with many portions of the Earth essentially unobserved, the AOT statistics of these sub-samples exhibit significant regional and seasonal biases. These AOT spatial sampling artifacts comprise up to 60% of the full-swath AOT value under moderate aerosol loading, and can be as large as 0.1 in some regions under high aerosol loading. Compared to full-swath observations, narrower swaths exhibit a reduced ability to detect AOT trends with statistical significance, and for curtain-like sampling we do not find any statistically significant decadal-scale trends at all. An across-track sampling strategy obviates the MODIS view angle artifact, and its mean AOT converges to the full-swath mean values for sufficiently coarse spatial and temporal aggregation. Nevertheless, across-track sampling has significant seasonal-regional sampling artifacts, leading to biases comparable to the curtain-like along-track sampling, lacks sufficient coverage to assign statistical significance to aerosol trends, and is not achievable with an actual narrow-swath or curtain-like instrument. These results suggest that future aerosol satellite missions having significantly less than full-swath viewing are unlikely to sample the true AOT distribution well enough to determine decadal-scale trends or to obtain the statistics needed to reduce uncertainty in aerosol direct forcing of climate.

scholarly journals Obesity is associated with heavy menstruation that may be due to delayed endometrial repair

2021 ◽  
Vol 249 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-82
Author(s):  
Jane J Reavey ◽  
Catherine Walker ◽  
Alison A Murray ◽  
Savita Brito-Mutunayagam ◽  
Sheona Sweeney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Menstrual Blood ◽  
Menstrual Blood Loss ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
The Impact

Heavy menstrual bleeding is common and debilitating but the causes remain ill defined. Rates of obesity in women are increasing and its impact on menstrual blood loss (MBL) is unknown. Therefore, we quantified BMI and MBL in women not taking hormones and with regular menstrual cycles and revealed a positive correlation. In a mouse model of simulated menstruation, diet-induced obesity also resulted in delayed endometrial repair, a surrogate marker for MBL. BrdU staining of mouse uterine tissue revealed decreased proliferation during menstruation in the luminal epithelium of mice on a high-fat diet. Menstruation is known to initiate local endometrial inflammation and endometrial hypoxia; hence, the impact of body weight on these processes was investigated. A panel of hypoxia-regulated genes (VEGF, ADM, LDHA, SLC2A1) showed consistently higher mean values in the endometrium of women with obesity and in uteri of mice with increased weight vs normal controls, although statistical significance was not reached. The inflammatory mediators, Tnf and Il6 were significantly increased in the uterus of mice on a high-fat diet, consistent with a pro-inflammatory local endometrial environment in these mice. In conclusion, obesity was associated with increased MBL in women. Mice given a high-fat diet had delayed endometrial repair at menstruation and provided a model in which to study the influence of obesity on menstrual physiology. Our results indicate that obesity results in a more pro-inflammatory local endometrial environment at menstruation, which may delay endometrial repair and increase menstrual blood loss.

scholarly journals Impact of crossing of Svrljig pramenka with East Friesian sheep on change in milk protein content

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5-6-2) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
D. Miocinovic ◽  
Anka Kasalica ◽  
J. Miocinovic-Djerovski
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Sheep Breed ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

This research paper presents the results obtained based on a study on the impact of crossing the Svrljig pramenika and East Friesian sheep breed on the milk protein content and yield in the F1 generation of crossbreeds in the course of lactation. In all the three sheep breeds, while the difference between the first and last lactation months was of exceptionally high significance. The average protein content in the milk yielded by the East Friesian sheep and crossbreeds is very similar and amounts to 5.32% and 5.37%, while in the Svrljig Pramenka it was 5.53%. Based on the statistical significance appraisal of the differences in mean values of protein content in each stated breeds for the whole lactation period a highly significant difference between the Svrljig Pramenka and East Friesian sheep (p<0.01) can be observed, as well as a significant difference between the Svrljig Pramenka and crossbreeds (p<0.05), and an insignificant difference between the East Friesian breed and crossbreeds(p>0.05). The crossing of the stated breeds had an impact on the increase in the total yield of milk protein in the half-breeds (5948.72g), which is an increase of 1755.36g compared with that in the Svrljig Pramenka, and a decrease of only 237.36g in relation to that in the East Friesian sheep breed.

Active Mental Illnesses Adversely Affect Surgical Outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 1238-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Lee ◽  
Laura Marsh ◽  
Mauro A. Garcia-Altieri ◽  
Louisa W. Chiu ◽  
Samir S. Awad
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Impact

Depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse are linked to higher rates of morbidity and mortality after various surgical procedures. Comparable data in general surgery are lacking. Records from 183 consecutive patients undergoing elective general surgery procedures at a single tertiary hospital were reviewed. Patients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse or any combination of these at the time of surgery were classified as having “active mental illness” (AMI). Thirty-day complications, readmissions, and emergency room (ER) visits were identified. Univariate analysis was performed followed by creation of multivariate regression models. 41.5 per cent (n = 76) met criteria for the AMI group and 58.5 per cent (n = 107) were without a mental illness (WAMI). The two groups had similar incidence of medical comorbidities and similar mean values of serum albumin and creatinine. The AMI group had higher rates of readmissions (14.5 vs 3.7 %, P = 0.009) and ER (19.7 vs 8.4 %, P = 0.025) visits compared with the WAMI group. Differences in length of stay and 30-day complications did not reach statistical significance. In patients undergoing elective general surgery, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse are associated with higher rates of readmission and ER visits. These results suggest a need for further research on the impact of specific mental illnesses on postoperative complications.

scholarly journals Removable Dentures Treatment Satisfaction of Patients with Type-2 Diabetes

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-282
Author(s):  
Luciana Goguţă ◽  
Diana Lungeanu ◽  
Anca Jivănescu
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic Patients ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Removable Denture ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background and aims: The aim of this study was to find out which was the impact of the treatment with removable dentures on the satisfaction of the type 2 diabetes patients. Material and method: 50 patients, 27 females (54%) and 23 males (46%) were included in the study. 37 were treated by using a partial removable denture and 13 were receiving a complete denture. Each patient included in the study had answered to a questionnaire after the first year of wearing the dentures and the blood glycemic level and the salivary flux were assessed. Chi-square test was applied to investigate the statistical significance of observed differences in proportions. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare distributions across the groups. Results The age of the enrolled patients was between 40 and 85 years, with a mean of 64.3 years (standard deviation = 9.77). The mean values of the glucose levels were decreasing proportional with the age of the patients until 85 years and were inconstant for the group 81-90 years. The saliva at 5min was significantly decreasing with the age (p<0.001). The most satisfied patients with the removable dentures were in the group 61-70 years. Conclusions: The prosthodontic treatment of the type -2 diabetic patients with removable denture should be started after stabilizing the blood glycemic levels and treating the xerostomia, when present.

Can Correct Closed-Chest Compressions Be Performed During Prehospital Transport?

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Keith Stone ◽  
Stephen H. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Emergency Medical Technician ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chest Compressions ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Closed Chest ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
Cpr Training ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroduction:The resuscitation rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is low. There are many factors to be considered as contributing to this phenomenon. One factor not previously considered is the impact of a moving ambulance environment on the ability to perform closed-chest compressions.Hypothesis:Proper closed-chest compressions can be performed in a moving ambulance.Methods:A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training mannequin with an attached skill meter (Skillmeter ResusciAnnie®, Laerdal, Armonk, N. Y., USA) that measures each chest compression for proper depth and hand placement was used. Ten emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B) certified prehospital providers were assigned into one of five teams. Each team performed a total of four sessions of five minutes of continuous closed-chest compressions on the mannequin. Two sessions were done by each team: one in the control environment with the mannequin placed on the floor, and the other in the experimental environment with the mannequin placed in the back of a moving ambulance. The ambulance was operated without warning lights and siren, and all traffic rules were obeyed. The percentage of correct closed-chest compressions was recorded for each session, and the mean values were compared using Student's t-test with alpha set at 0.01 for statistical significance.Results:Ten sessions of compressions were done in both environments. The mean percentage of correct compressions was 77.6 ±15.6 for the control group and 45.6 ±18.3 for the ambulance group (p = 0.0005).Conclusion:A moving ambulance environment appears to impair the ability to perform closed-chest compressions.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Diabetes and Multivessel or Left Main Disease – a Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Donald E Cutlip ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Bare Metal Stents ◽  
Coronary Intervention ◽  
Metal Stents ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
The Impact

Coronary artery disease in patients with diabetes is frequently a diffuse process with multivessel involvement and is associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction and death. The role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with diabetes and multivessel disease who require revascularisation has been debated and remains uncertain. The debate has been continued mainly because of the question to what degree an increased risk for in-stent restenosis among patients with diabetes contributes to other late adverse outcomes. This article reviews outcomes from early trials of balloon angioplasty versus CABG through later trials of bare-metal stents versus CABG and more recent data with drug-eluting stents as the comparator. Although not all studies have been powered to show statistical significance, the results have been generally consistent with a mortality benefit for CABG versus PCI, despite differential risks for restenosis with the various PCI approaches. The review also considers the impact of mammary artery grafting of the left anterior descending artery and individual case selection on these results, and proposes an algorithm for selection of patients in whom PCI remains a reasonable strategy.

Dietary Patterns: A New Therapeutic Approach for Depression?

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Jesus ◽  
Tânia Silva ◽  
César Cagigal ◽  
Vera Martins ◽  
Carla Silva
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: The field of nutritional psychiatry is a fast-growing one. Although initially, it focused on the effects of vitamins and micronutrients in mental health, in the last decade, its focus also extended to the dietary patterns. The possibility of a dietary cost-effective intervention in the most common mental disorder, depression, cannot be overlooked due to its potential large-scale impact. Method: A classic review of the literature was conducted, and studies published between 2010 and 2018 focusing on the impact of dietary patterns in depression and depressive symptoms were included. Results: We found 10 studies that matched our criteria. Most studies showed an inverse association between healthy dietary patterns, rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and whole grains, and with low intake of processed and sugary foods, and depression and depressive symptoms throughout an array of age groups, although some authors reported statistical significance only in women. While most studies were of cross-sectional design, making it difficult to infer causality, a randomized controlled trial presented similar results. Discussion: he association between dietary patterns and depression is now well-established, although the exact etiological pathways are still unknown. Dietary intervention, with the implementation of healthier dietary patterns, closer to the traditional ones, can play an important role in the prevention and adjunctive therapy of depression and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: More large-scale randomized clinical trials need to be conducted, in order to confirm the association between high-quality dietary patterns and lower risk of depression and depressive symptoms.

Do we Need Maintenance Chemotherapy in Advanced NSCLC in the Era of Immune and Targeted Therapy?

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-55
Author(s):  
Ahmed Nagy ◽  
Omar Abdel Rahman ◽  
Heba Abdullah ◽  
Ahmed Negida
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Maintenance Chemotherapy ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
The Impact

Background: Although well established for the effective management of hematologic cancers, maintenance chemotherapy has only been recently incorportated as a treatment paradigm for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. Maintenance chemotherapy aims to prolong a clinically favorable response state achieved after finishing induction therapy which is usually predefined in number before startng treatment. There are 2 modalities for maintenance therapy; continuation maintenance (involving a non-platinum component which was a part of the induction protocol or a targeted agent) and switch maintenance therapy (utilizing a new agent which was not a part of the induction regimen). Methods: The purpose of this article is to review the role of maintenance therapy in the treatment of advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and provide a brief overview about induction chemotherapy in NSCLC to address the basis of maintenance therapy as a treatment option. We will also compare the impact of maintenance chemotherapy with the now evolving role of immunotherapy in NSCLC. Results: There have been 4 maintenance studies to date showing prolonged PFS and OS with statistical significance. However, Three out of the four studies (ECOG4599, JMEN, and PARAMOUNT) did not report tumor molecular analysis. As regard Immunotherapy, current data is in favour of strongly an increasing role for immunotherapy in NSCLC. Conclusion: Maintenance therapy in NSCLC continues to be an important therapeutic line to improve outcome in patients with metastatic and recurrent disease.

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