Rabies control in wildlife: the golden jackal (Canis aureus) requests for attention – a case study

In Hungary, the rabies control programme with oral bait immunisation of wild carnivores dates back to 1992. Since than, the rules of vaccine placement on bait density has not changed, in spite of drastic expansion of both the carnivore community and the wild boar population in Europe. Though, all these elements of the concerned ecosystem compete for the baits. This case study was based on the accidental finding of vaccine blisters in jackal stomachs during a large-scale investigation on jackals’ feeding ecology. The results showed 3.17% (0.57-10.87%) frequency of bait occurrence in jackal specimens harvested during the vaccination term. This finding contradicted previous reports on high bait uptake rate and rabies seroconversion in golden jackals. These results called the attention the need for paradigm shift in management of diseases maintained in a natural reservoir. In the authors’ opinion, for reassuring result, multidisciplinary research groups should re-evaluate disease control strategies time and again.

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A review of current bracken control and associated vegetation strategies in Great Britain

Web Ecology ◽

10.5194/we-3-6-2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 6-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

R. J. Pakeman ◽

M. G. Le Duc ◽

R. Marrs

Keyword(s):

Great Britain ◽

Large Scale ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Calluna Vulgaris ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Control Programme ◽

Vegetation Restoration ◽

The Cost ◽

Set Of Points

Abstract. Bracken is a major problem for livestock-based, extensive agriculture in many parts of the world. It also causes problems for conservation, recreation, game management and forestry and is hence subject to management in order to control it. This paper reviews current bracken control strategies in Great Britain to assess whether they can be improved, and reviews recent work on combining bracken control with vegetation restoration to derive guidelines for maximising the cost-effectiveness of these measures to increase biodiversity. Bracken control in Great Britain is currently, mainly undertaken by aerial spraying of herbicide. A large-scale survey showed that only a small proportion (25%) of sites were likely to show long-term control, the developing vegetation was not that desired by the instigator of control, and there was a large geographic variation in success. The major conclusion was that large-scale treatment often exceeded the area that could be adequately treated by follow-up measures. Experimental studies demonstrate that to obtain &#147;desirable&#148; vegetation (usually Calluna vulgaris-dominated heath in Great Britain) a number of steps usually have to be followed. However, the steps that have to be taken may differ between sites. Deep litter sites, where stock numbers are low, need the litter disturbed in some way and seed of suitable species added. On sites with higher stock numbers, litter disturbance has in effect already been carried out, so that management must involve seed addition and the exclusion/reduction of stock. It is not yet known how long or to what level stock must be removed before the vegetation is able to withstand grazing. It should be noted that management to reverse succession could prove less cost-effective than management that accelerates succession to woodland or forestry. A set of points which highlight the considerations necessary at the commencement of an &#147;integrated&#148; bracken control programme are outlined. Targeting sites in western Britain or sites with residual vegetation present would provide the greatest gains for biodiversity in the short term. However, in many situations management for vegetation restoration must be seen as a key part of this strategy, not as something that will proceed unaided after bracken control has taken place.

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Modular Feedback Control of Networked Systems by Clustering: A Drinking Water Network Case Study

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9020389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 389 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José María Maestre ◽

Francisco Lopez-Rodriguez ◽

Francisco Javier Muros ◽

Carlos Ocampo-Martinez

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Feedback Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Control Strategies ◽

System Stability ◽

Linear Matrix ◽

Water Network ◽

Common Lyapunov Function ◽

Network Topologies

This article presents a method based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for designing a modular feedback control law, whose synthesis guarantees the system stability, while switching to different network topologies. Such stability is achieved by means of a common Lyapunov function to all network admissible configurations. Several mechanisms to relieve the computational burden of this methodology in large-scale systems are also presented. To assess its applicability, the modular controller is tested on a real case study, namely the Barcelona drinking water network (DWN), and its performance is compared with that of other control strategies, showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

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The story of two historical textile fragments: Technical analysis and reconstruction of the lost textile pattern

Textile Research Journal ◽

10.1177/00405175211017403 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 004051752110174

Author(s):

Mateo M Kodrič Kesovia ◽

Željko Penava ◽

Danijela Jemo

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Large Scale ◽

18Th Century ◽

Technical Documentation ◽

Multidisciplinary Research ◽

Textile Materials ◽

Manufacturing Techniques ◽

Non Destructive ◽

Complex Matter

Cultural heritage textile artifacts that have been preserved only in their smaller fragmented remains represent a very interesting and complex matter, very rarely analyzed and studied individually as a separate entity. This case study covers multidisciplinary research conducted on two 18th century silk fragments with a seemingly identical pattern. Demonstrating the possibilities and challenges which arise when analyzing and interpreting incomplete cultural heritage textile materials, this study can serve as a stimulus for creating a large-scale database of historical fabrics which would allow comparison based on their differences or common characteristics. By applying only non-destructive and micro-analytical methods it has been determined that the fragments were made of the same material and using the same manufacturing techniques. It has been proven that fragments were not part of the same historical fabric, but most likely originated from different parts of the same liturgical vestment. The reverse engineering process applied to preserved fragments has resulted in a detailed technical documentation and a complete reconstruction of the lost original pattern.

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The use of immunocontraception to improve rabies eradication in urban dog populations

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr10027 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (8) ◽

pp. 676 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Matthew J. Carroll ◽

Alexander Singer ◽

Graham C. Smith ◽

Dave P. Cowan ◽

Giovanna Massei

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Fertility Control ◽

City Size ◽

Control Methods ◽

Canine Rabies ◽

Population Extinction ◽

Rabies Control ◽

Population Turnover ◽

Management Plans

ContextRabies causes ~55 000 human deaths each year, primarily as a result of bites from dogs, which are the major rabies reservoir in the developing world. Current rabies control strategies include vaccination, culling and surgical sterilisation of dogs. However, recently developed immunocontraceptives could be used alongside vaccination to apply fertility control to more animals. AimsWe used a modelling approach to explore (1) whether adding single-dose contraceptives to rabies vaccination would improve effectiveness of rabies eradication, (2) how sensitive control methods are to variation in population parameters and (3) the effects of applying control continuously or in pulses on rabies eradication. MethodsA continuous time, compartmental model was created to describe canine rabies epidemiology. Parameters were derived from the literature. The following three control methods were applied at varying rates and durations: vaccination, vaccination plus fertility control (v + fc) and culling. Outcomes were classified into the following three categories: rabies persistence, rabies eradication and population extinction. Key resultsWhen control was applied continuously for up to 24 months, vaccination was least effective; the effort required to eradicate rabies was about twice that required with culling or v + fc. At realistic control rates, only v + fc consistently resulted in rabies eradication. Increasing population growth rate and city size made rabies eradication harder; for vaccination, considerably greater control rates and durations were required, whereas culling and v + fc showed only minor decreases in effectiveness. When control was applied for 1 or 2 months (for one month every 12 months or every 6 months) per year for up to 20 years, vaccination became less effective because of population turnover between control periods; v + fc lost little effectiveness, as decreased birth rates reduced the input of susceptible animals. ConclusionsUsing immunocontraception alongside vaccination could improve rabies control campaigns by reducing the proportion of the population that must be treated, or reducing the necessary duration of the campaign. It could also make control effective under larger population growths, in larger cities and when control is pulsed. ImplicationsImmunocontraceptives could become a useful tool in canine rabies control by allowing fertility control to be applied on a large scale. Further work is required to improve understanding of dog ecology and parameterise location-specific models, which could be used to inform management plans.

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Efficient integration of IoT-based micro storages to improve urban drainage performance through advanced control strategies

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2021.159 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Oberascher ◽

Wolfgang Rauch ◽

Robert Sitzenfrei

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Control Strategies ◽

First Flush ◽

Weather Forecasts ◽

Advanced Control ◽

Combined Sewer ◽

Discharge Valve ◽

Efficient Integration ◽

Precipitation Events

Abstract The smart rain barrel (SRB) consists of a conventional rain barrel with storage volumes between 200 and 500 L, which is extended by a remotely (and centrally) controllable discharge valve. The SRB is capable to release stormwater prior precipitation events by using high-resolution weather forecasts to increase detention capacity. However, as shown in the previous work, a large-scale implementation combined with a simultaneously opening of discharge valves clearly reduce effectiveness. The aim of this work is to systematically investigate different control strategies for wet weather by evaluating their impact on sewer performance. For case study, an Alpine municipality is hypothetically retrofitted with SRBs (total additional storage volume of 181 m3). The results show that combined sewer overflow (CSO) volume and subsequently pollution mass can be reduced between 7 and 67% depending on rain characteristics (e.g., rain pattern, amount of precipitation) and applied control strategy. Effectiveness of the SRBs increases with lower CSO volume, whereas more advanced control strategies based on sewer conditions can clearly improve system's performance compared to simpler control strategies. For higher CSO volume, the SRBs can postpone start of an CSO event which is important for first-flush phenomenon.

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Improving water management efficiency by using optimization-based control strategies: the Barcelona case study

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2009.524 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 565-575 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

C. Ocampo-Martinez ◽

V. Puig ◽

G. Cembrano ◽

R. Creus ◽

M. Minoves

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Flow Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Economic Cost ◽

Performance Indexes ◽

Future Demands ◽

Control Stability

This paper describes the application of model-based predictive control (MPC) techniques to the flow management in large-scale drinking water networks including a telemetry/telecontrol system. MPC technique is used to generate flow control strategies from the sources to the consumer areas to meet future demands, optimizing performance indexes associated to operational goals such as economic cost, network safety volumes and flow control stability. The designed management strategies are applied to a real case study based on a representative model of the drinking water network of Barcelona (Spain).

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A Family With Autosomal-Dominant Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/1059-0889.0501.23 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 23-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chris Halpin ◽

Barbara Herrmann ◽

Margaret Whearty

Keyword(s):

Speech Production ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

Role Models ◽

Speech Intelligibility ◽

Large Scale ◽

Speech Language Pathology ◽

The Family ◽

Patient Will ◽

Language Pathology

The family described in this article provides an unusual opportunity to relate findings from genetic, histological, electrophysiological, psychophysical, and rehabilitative investigation. Although the total number evaluated is large (49), the known, living affected population is smaller (14), and these are spread from age 20 to age 59. As a result, the findings described above are those of a large-scale case study. Clearly, more data will be available through longitudinal study of the individuals documented in the course of this investigation but, given the slow nature of the progression in this disease, such studies will be undertaken after an interval of several years. The general picture presented to the audiologist who must rehabilitate these cases is that of a progressive cochlear degeneration that affects only thresholds at first, and then rapidly diminishes speech intelligibility. The expected result is that, after normal language development, the patient may accept hearing aids well, encouraged by the support of the family. Performance and satisfaction with the hearing aids is good, until the onset of the speech intelligibility loss, at which time the patient will encounter serious difficulties and may reject hearing aids as unhelpful. As the histological and electrophysiological results indicate, however, the eighth nerve remains viable, especially in the younger affected members, and success with cochlear implantation may be expected. Audiologic counseling efforts are aided by the presence of role models and support from the other affected members of the family. Speech-language pathology services were not considered important by the members of this family since their speech production developed normally and has remained very good. Self-correction of speech was supported by hearing aids and cochlear implants (Case 5’s speech production was documented in Perkell, Lane, Svirsky, & Webster, 1992). These patients received genetic counseling and, due to the high penetrance of the disease, exhibited serious concerns regarding future generations and the hope of a cure.

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