A Comparison of Focal and Opportunistic Sampling Methods when Studying Chimpanzee Facial and Gestural Communication

Researchers frequently use focal individual sampling to study primate communication. Recent studies of primate gestures have shown that opportunistic sampling offers benefits not found in focal individual sampling, such as the collection of larger sample sizes. What is not known is whether the opportunistic method is biased towards certain signal types or signalers. Our goal was to assess the validity of the opportunistic method by comparing focal individual sampling to opportunistic sampling of facial and gestural communication in a group of captive chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>). We compared: (1) the number of observed facial and gestural signals per signal type and (2) the number of observed facial and gestural signals produced by each signaler. Both methods identified facial signals, gesture signals, and gesture signalers at similar relative rates, but the opportunistic sampling method yielded a more even distribution of signalers and signal types than the focal individual sampling method. In addition, the opportunistic sampling method resulted in larger sample sizes for both facial and gestural communication. However, the opportunistic method did not allow us to calculate the signals per time for each individual, which is easily done with the focal individual method. These results suggest that the opportunistic sampling method is (1) comparable to the focal individual sampling method in multiple important measures, (2) associated with additional sampling benefits, and (3) limited in measuring some variables. Thus, we recommend that future studies use a mixed-methods approach, as focal individual and opportunistic sampling have distinct strengths that complement each other’s limitations.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Australia

May Measurement Month (MMM) is an annual global blood pressure (BP) screening campaign aimed at obtaining standardized BP measurements and other relevant health information from members of the community to increase awareness of elevated BP and the associated risks. Adults (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling across the various Australian states during May 2019. Three BP readings were recorded in a standardized manner for each participant, and data on lifestyle factors and comorbidities were collected. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg, or a diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg (according to the MMM protocol) or taking antihypertensive medication. Multiple imputation was used to estimate participants’ mean BP where three readings were not available. Of the 2877 participants, 901 (31.3%) had hypertension of whom 455 (50.5%) were aware of their condition, and 366 (40.6%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those taking antihypertensive medication, 54.3% were controlled to &lt;140/90 mmHg with the remaining 45.7% of participants inadequately treated. Approximately 74% of treated patients were on a single antihypertensive medication. The MMM campaign provides an important platform for standardized compilation of BP data and creation of BP awareness in Australia and other nations worldwide. Data from the 2019 MMM campaign highlight that BP control rates in Australia remain unacceptably low.

Catatan Beberapa Jamur Liar yang Tumbuh di Sekitar Pemukiman Penduduk

Abstrak: Jamur merupakan organisme yang memiliki sebaran luas dengan rentang ekologi beragam. Keragaman dan potensi jamur liar yang tumbuh di sekitar pemukiman penduduk jarang dilaporkan sebelumnya di Indonesia. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menambah koleksi informasi keragaman jamur liar di tempat-tempat yang bersinggungan dengan kegiatan antropogenik. Eksplorasi jamur dilakukan dengan opportunistic sampling method. Identifikasi jamur dilakukan dengan menggunakan beberapa kunci identifikasi. Sejumlah 10 jamur berhasil diidentifikasi dan dideskripsikan pada penelitian ini. Seluruh jamur tersebut merupakan bagian dari filum Basidiomycota yang terbagi ke dalam 5 ordo dan 8 famili. Jamur-jamur tersebut adalah: Leucoagaricus sp., Marasmiellus sp., Coprinellus sp., Psathyrell asp., Schizophyllum sp., Auricularia sp., Phallusi ndusiatus, Phallus cf. multicolor, Pycnoporus cf. sanguineus, dan Dacryopinax spathularia. Beberapa jamur diketahui memiliki potensi sebagai bahan pangan, obat, dan pewarna alami.Kata kunci : Jamur, Ragam, Potensi, Pemukiman, Indonesia�Abstract: Fungi are knownto have bothbroad distribution and ecological range. The diversity of wild mushrooms which distributed around the residence area are rarely been reported previously in Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to increase the collection data of the diversity of wild macrofungi in places that intersect with the anthropogenic activities. Observations were conducted usingopportunistic sampling method. The identification of mushrooms was carried out using several identification keys. A total of 10 mushrooms were identified and described in this study. All these fungi are members of the phylum of Basidiomycota which is divided into 5 orders and 8 families. These fungi are: Leucoagaricus sp., Marasmiellus sp., Coprinellus sp., Psathyrella sp., Schizophyllum sp., Auricularia sp., Phallus indusiatus, Phallus cf. multicolor, Pycnoporus cf. sanguineus, and Dacryopinaxspathularia. Some mushrooms are known to have potential as food, medicinal, and natural dyes.Keywords: Mushrooms, Variety, Potency, Residence, Indonesia

DIVERSITY AND POTENTIAL UTILIZATION OF SOME WILD MACROSCOPIC FUNGI AROUND IPB UNIVERSITY CAMPUS BUILDING

Mushroom are cosmopolitan organisms which can emerge in a variety of environment, and around the university building is no exception.The goal of this study was to collect information on macrofungi diversity around IPB Unversity Campus Building in order to be used as a reference for its potential in the future. Macrofungi collection was done by opportunistic sampling method. All mushrooms found were Basidiomycota, which dominated by order of Agaricales. A total of 13 mushrooms were identified and described in this study, namely: Armillariella sp., Marasmiellus sp., Mycena sp., Agrocybe sp., Polyporus sp., Entoloma sp., Xeromphalina sp., Paxillus sp., Lentinus sp. 1, Lentinus sp. 2, Collybia sp., Pluteus sp., and Parasola sp. Some macroscopic fungi found to be potentially used as a bioactive compound sources, medicine and also played an important role as a decomposer in the sampling site.AbstrakJamur makroskopis merupakan organisme kosmopolitan yang mampu tumbuh pada berbagai macam kondisi lingkungan, tidak terkecuali di sekitar bangunan universitas. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menyediakan informasi mengenai keragaman jamur makroskopis di sekitar kampus Institut Pertanian Bogor untuk pemanfaatannya di masa mendatang. Eksplorasi jamur dilakukan dengan metode pengambilan sampel oportunistik. Semua jamur yang ditemukan merupakan filum Basidiomycota dan didominasi oleh ordo Agaricales. Sebanyak 13 jenis jamur makro berhasil diidentifikasi dan dideskripsikan pada penelitian ini, yaitu: Armillariella sp., Marasmiellus sp., Mycena sp., Agrocybe sp., Polyporus sp., Entoloma sp., Xeromphalina sp., Paxillus sp., Lentinus sp. 1, Lentinus sp. 2, Collybia sp., Pluteus sp., dan Parasola sp. Beberapa Jamur diketahui berpotensi sebagai sumber bahan bioaktif, obat-obatan, dan dekomposer penting pada ekosistem.Kata Kunci: Gedung kampus, Jamur, Ragam, Potensi, IPB

Annotated list of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) in Calanasan, Apayao Province, Luzon, Philippines

The forests of Apayao Province are one of the remaining and relatively unexplored areas in the Philippines. With the aim to make Calanasan in Apayao province a UNESCO biosphere reserve as a mechanism in protecting its species, an expedition to document the biodiversity was conducted. This paper presents an annotated list of the 12 species of tiger beetles found in Calanasan. The beetles were mostly collected through opportunistic sampling. In Calanasan, 75% of the tiger beetle species collected are endemic, which shows the high value in preserving this area. Thus, the nomination of Calanasan as a UNESCO biosphere reserve is highly recommended.

Pilot Study of Model-Based Dosage Individualization of Ganciclovir in Neonates and Young Infants with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

ABSTRACT Newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are at high risk for developing permanent sequelae. Intravenous ganciclovir therapy is frequently used for the treatment of congenital CMV infection. A target area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC 0–24 ) of 40 to 50 μg · h/ml is recommended. The standard dose has resulted in a large variability in ganciclovir exposure in newborns, indicating the unmet need of dosage individualization for this vulnerable population, but the implementation of this strategy remains challenging in clinical practice. We aim to evaluate the clinical utility of model-based dosage individualization of ganciclovir in newborns using an opportunistic sampling approach. The predictive performance of a published ganciclovir population pharmacokinetic model was evaluated using an independent patient cohort. The individual dose was adjusted based on the target AUC 0–24 to ensure its efficacy. A total of 26 newborns with congenital CMV infection were included in the present study. Only 11 (42.3%) patients achieved the target AUC 0–24 after being given the standard dose. For all the subtherapeutic patients (achieving <80% of the target AUC) ( n = 5), a model-based dosage adjustment was performed using the Bayesian estimation method combined with the opportunistic sampling strategy. The adjusted doses were increased by 28.6% to 60.0% in these five patients, and all adapted AUC 0–24 values achieved the target (range, 48.6 to 66.1 μg · h/ml). The clinical utility of model-based dosing individualization of ganciclovir was demonstrated in newborns with congenital CMV infection. The population pharmacokinetic model combined with the opportunistic sampling strategy provides a clinically feasible method to adapt the ganciclovir dose in neonatal clinical practice. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT03113344.)