scholarly journals Year-round monitoring reveals prevalence of fatal bird-window collisions at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schneider ◽  
Christine M. Barton ◽  
Keith W. Zirkle ◽  
Caitlin F. Greene ◽  
Kara B. Newman
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Poisson Model ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
The United States ◽  
Virginia Tech ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Ornamental Trees

Collisions with glass are a serious threat to avian life and are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds per year in the United States. We monitored 22 buildings at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) in Blacksburg, Virginia, for collision fatalities from October 2013 through May 2015 and explored possible effects exerted by glass area and surrounding land cover on avian mortality. We documented 240 individuals representing 55 identifiable species that died due to collisions with windows at the VTCRC. The relative risk of fatal collisions at all buildings over the study period were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical zero-inflated Poisson model adjusting for percentage of tree and lawn cover within 50 m of buildings, as well as for glass area. We found significant relationships between fatalities and surrounding lawn area (relative risk: 0.96, 95% credible interval: 0.93, 0.98) as well as glass area on buildings (RR: 1.30, 95% CI [1.05–1.65]). The model also found a moderately significant relationship between fatal collisions and the percent land cover of ornamental trees surrounding buildings (RR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00–1.05]). Every building surveyed had at least one recorded collision death. Our findings indicate that birds collide with VTCRC windows during the summer breeding season in addition to spring and fall migration. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) was the most common window collision species and accounted for 10% of deaths. Though research has identified various correlates with fatal bird-window collisions, such studies rarely culminate in mitigation. We hope our study brings attention, and ultimately action, to address this significant threat to birds at the VTCRC and elsewhere.

scholarly journals How Timing of Stay-home Orders and Mobility Reductions Impacted First-Wave COVID-19 Deaths in US Counties

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Audirac ◽  
Mauricio Tec ◽  
Lauren Ancel Meyers ◽  
Spencer Fox ◽  
Cory Zigler
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Epidemic Dynamics ◽  
At Home

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 transmission continues to evolve in the United States following the large second wave in the Summer. Understanding how location-specific variations in non-pharmaceutical epidemic control policies and behaviors contributed to disease transmission will be key for designing effective strategies to avoid future resurgences. We offer a statistical analysis of the relative effectiveness of the timing of both official stay-at-home orders and population mobility reductions, offering a distinct (but complementary) dimension of evidence gleaned from more traditional mechanistic models of epidemic dynamics. Specifically, we use a Bayesian hierarchical model fit to county-level mortality data from the first wave of the pandemic from Jan 21 2020 through May 10 2020 to establish how timing of stay-at-home orders and population mobility changes impacted county-specific epidemic growth. We find that population mobility reductions generally preceded stay-at-home orders, and among 356 counties with a pronounced early local epidemic between January 21 and May 10 (representing 195 million people and 32,000 observed deaths), a 10 day delay in population mobility reduction would have added 16,149 (95% credible interval [CI] 9,517 24,381) deaths by Apr 20, whereas shifting mobility reductions 10 days earlier would have saved 13,571 (95% CI 8,449 16,930) lives. Analogous estimates attributable to the timing of explicit stay-at-home policies were less pronounced, suggesting that mobility changes were the clearer drivers of epidemic dynamics. Our results also suggest that the timing of mobility reductions and policies most impacted epidemic dynamics in larger, urban counties compared with smaller, rural ones. Overall, our results suggest that community behavioral changes had greater impact on curve flattening during the Spring wave compared with stay at home orders. Thus, community engagement and buy-in with precautionary policies may be more important for predicting transmission risk than explicit policies.

scholarly journals Association of Population Density and Distance to the City with the Risks of COVID-19: A Bayesian Spatial Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2123 (1) ◽  
pp. 012001
Author(s):  
M A Tiro ◽  
A Aswi ◽  
Z Rais
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Information Criteria ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Inverse Gamma ◽  
Hierarchical Spatial Models ◽  
The City

Abstract The outbreak of Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) poses a severe threat around the world. Although several studies of modelling Covid-19 cases have been done, there appears to have been limited research into modelling Covid-19 using Bayesian hierarchical spatial models. This study aims to examine the most suitable Bayesian spatial CAR Leroux models in modelling the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases without and with covariates namely distance to the capital city and population density. Data on the number of confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 (March 20, 2020 - August 30, 2021) in 15 sub-districts in Makassar City, the number of populations, population density, and distance to the city are used. The best model selection is based on several criteria, namely Deviance Information Criteria (DIC), Watanabe Akaike Information Criteria (WAIC), residuals from Moran’s I Modification (MMI), and the 95% credible interval does not contain zero. The results showed that the best model in modelling Covid-19 is spatial CAR Leroux with hyperprior Inverse-Gamma (0.5, 0.05) model with the incorporation of distance to the capital city. It is found that there was a negative correlation between the distance to the capital city and Covid-19 risk, but the association between population density and the relative risk of Covid-19 was not statistically significant. Ujung Pandang district and Sangkarrang Island have the highest and the lowest relative risk respectively.

scholarly journals Long-term air pollution and other risk factors associated with COVID-19 at the census-tract-level in Colorado

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Berg ◽  
Paul Romer Present ◽  
Kristy Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
Census Tract ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
American People ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Census Tract Level

AbstractAn effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires identification of the factors that affect the severity and mortality of the disease. Previous nationwide studies have reported links between long-term PM2.5 concentrations and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. In order to translate these results to the state level, we use Bayesian hierarchical models to explore potential links between long-term PM2.5 concentrations and census tract-level rates of COVID-19 outcomes (infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) in Colorado. We explicitly consider how the uncertainty in PM2.5 estimates affect our results by comparing four different PM2.5 surfaces from academic and governmental organizations. After controlling for 20 census tract level covariates including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social distancing, age demographics, comorbidity rates, meteorology, and testing rate, we find that our results depend heavily on the choice of PM2.5 surface. Using PM2.5 estimates from the United States EPA, we find that a 1 µg/m3 increase in long term PM2.5 is associated with a statistically significant 25% increase in the relative risk of hospitalizations and a 35% increase in mortality. Results for all other surfaces and outcomes were not statistically significant. At the same time, we find a clear association between communities of color and COVID-19 outcomes at the Colorado census-tract level that is minimally affected by the choice of PM2.5 surface. A per-interquartile range (IQR) increase in the percent of non-African American people of color was associated with a 31%, 44%, and 59% increase in the relative risk of infection, hospitalization, and mortality respectively, while a per-IQR increase in the proportion of non-Hispanic African Americans was associated with a 4% and 7% increase in the relative risk of infections and hospitalizations. These results have strong implications for the implementation of an equitable public health response during the crisis and suggest targeted areas for additional air monitoring in Colorado.

Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of Their Preparation and Confidence for Providing Dysphagia Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1666-1682
Author(s):  
Lena G. Caesar ◽  
Merertu Kitila
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Academic Preparation ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
Graduate School Preparation ◽  
Graduate Preparation ◽  
Significant Relationships

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding their academic preparation and current confidence levels for providing dysphagia services, and the relationship between their perceptions of graduate school preparation and their current levels of confidence. Method This study utilized an online survey to gather information from 374 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association–certified SLPs who currently provide dysphagia services in the United States. Surveys were primarily distributed through American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group forums and Facebook groups. The anonymous survey gathered information regarding SLPs' perceptions of academic preparation and current confidence levels for providing dysphagia services in 11 knowledge and skill areas. Results Findings indicated that more than half of respondents did not feel prepared following their graduate academic training in five of the 11 knowledge and skill areas related to dysphagia service delivery. However, about half of respondents indicated they were currently confident about their ability to provide services in eight of the 11 knowledge and skill areas. Findings also indicated that their current confidence levels to provide dysphagia services were significantly higher than their perceptions of preparation immediately following graduate school. However, no significant relationships were found between respondents' self-reported current confidence levels and their perceptions of the adequacy of their academic preparation. Conclusions Despite SLPs' low perceptions of the adequacy of their graduate preparation for providing dysphagia services in specific knowledge and skill areas immediately following graduation, they reported high confidence levels with respect to their actual service delivery. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Spirituality cuts in half the relative risk for depression: Findings from the United States, China, and India.

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Portnoff ◽  
Clayton McClintock ◽  
Elsa Lau ◽  
Simon Choi ◽  
Lisa Miller
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
China And India ◽  
Risk For Depression

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccine on Asymptomatic Infection Among Patients Undergoing Pre-Procedural COVID-19 Molecular Screening

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J Tande ◽  
Benjamin D Pollock ◽  
Nilay D Shah ◽  
Gianrico Farrugia ◽  
Abinash Virk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Several vaccines are now clinically available under emergency use authorization in the United States and have demonstrated efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19. The impact of vaccines on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is largely unknown. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive, asymptomatic adult patients (n = 39,156) within a large United States healthcare system who underwent 48,333 pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 molecular screening tests between December 17, 2020 and February 8, 2021. The primary exposure of interest was vaccination with at least one dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The primary outcome was relative risk of a positive SARS-CoV-2 molecular test among those asymptomatic persons who had received at least one dose of vaccine, as compared to persons who had not received vaccine during the same time period. Relative risk was adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, patient residence relative to the hospital (local vs. non-local), healthcare system regions, and repeated screenings among patients using mixed effects log-binomial regression. Results Positive molecular tests in asymptomatic individuals were reported in 42 (1.4%) of 3,006 tests performed on vaccinated patients and 1,436 (3.2%) of 45,327 tests performed on unvaccinated patients (RR=0.44 95% CI: 0.33-0.60; p<.0001). Compared to unvaccinated patients, the risk of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower among those >10 days after 1 st dose (RR=0.21; 95% CI: 0.12-0.37; p<.0001) and >0 days after 2 nd dose (RR=0.20; 95% CI: 0.09-0.44; p<.0001) in the adjusted analysis. Conclusions COVID-19 vaccination with an mRNA-based vaccine showed a significant association with a reduced risk of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as measured during pre-procedural molecular screening. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the vaccines on reduction in asymptomatic infections supplementing the randomized trial results on symptomatic patients.

scholarly journals Intra-urban differentials of congenital and acquired syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women in an urban area in northeastern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talita Araujo de Souza ◽  
Karen Kaline Teixeira ◽  
Reginaldo Lopes Santana ◽  
Cinthia Barros Penha ◽  
Arthur de Almeida Medeiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Congenital Syphilis ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
Poisson Model ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Smoothing Function ◽  
Density Estimator ◽  
Epidemic Disease ◽  
Peripheral Areas

Abstract Background Currently syphilis is considered an epidemic disease worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify intra-urban differentials in the occurrence of congenital and acquired syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women in the city of Natal, in northeast Brazil. Methods Cases of syphilis recorded by the municipal surveillance system from 1 January 2011 to 30 December 2018 were analysed. Spatial statistical analyses were performed using the kernel density estimator of the quadratic smoothing function (weighted). SaTScan software was applied for the calculation of risk based on a discrete Poisson model. Results There were 2163 cases of acquired syphilis, 738 cases of syphilis in pregnant women and 1279 cases of congenital syphilis. Kernel density maps showed that the occurrence of cases is more prevalent in peripheral areas and in areas with more precarious urban infrastructure. In 2011–2014 and 2015–2018, seven statistically significant clusters of acquired syphilis were identified. From 2011 to 2014, the most likely cluster had a relative risk of 3.54 (log likelihood ratio [LLR] 38 895; p<0.001) and from 2015 to 2018 the relative risk was 0.54 (LLR 69 955; p<0.001). Conclusions In the municipality of Natal, there was a clustered pattern of spatial distribution of syphilis, with some areas presenting greater risk for the occurrence of new cases.

scholarly journals Impact of Extreme Weather on Healthcare Utilization by People with HIV in Metropolitan Miami

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2442
Author(s):  
Daniel Samano ◽  
Shubhayu Saha ◽  
Taylor Corbin Kot ◽  
JoNell E. Potter ◽  
Lunthita M. Duthely
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Daily Weather Data ◽  
The Impact

Extreme weather events (EWE) are expected to increase as climate change intensifies, leaving coastal regions exposed to higher risks. South Florida has the highest HIV infection rate in the United States, and disruptions in clinic utilization due to extreme weather conditions could affect adherence to treatment and increase community transmission. The objective of this study was to identify the association between EWE and HIV-clinic attendance rates at a large academic medical system serving the Miami-Dade communities. The following methods were utilized: (1) Extreme heat index (EHI) and extreme precipitation (EP) were identified using daily observations from 1990–2019 that were collected at the Miami International Airport weather station located 3.6 miles from the studied HIV clinics. Data on hurricanes, coastal storms and flooding were collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storms Database (NOAA) for Miami-Dade County. (2) An all-HIV clinic registry identified scheduled daily visits during the study period (hurricane seasons from 2017–2019). (3) Daily weather data were linked to the all-HIV clinic registry, where patients’ ‘no-show’ status was the variable of interest. (4) A time-stratified, case crossover model was used to estimate the relative risk of no-show on days with a high heat index, precipitation, and/or an extreme natural event. A total of 26,444 scheduled visits were analyzed during the 383-day study period. A steady increase in the relative risk of ‘no-show’ was observed in successive categories, with a 14% increase observed on days when the heat index was extreme compared to days with a relatively low EHI, 13% on days with EP compared to days with no EP, and 10% higher on days with a reported extreme weather event compared to days without such incident. This study represents a novel approach to improving local understanding of the impacts of EWE on the HIV-population’s utilization of healthcare, particularly when the frequency and intensity of EWE is expected to increase and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. More studies are needed to understand the impact of EWE on routine outpatient settings.

Spatial features of land use/land cover change in the United States

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Gao ◽  
Jiyuan Liu ◽  
Xiangzheng Deng
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Cover Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Land Use Land Cover ◽  
Spatial Features
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document