Ecology of Laridae under conditions of unstable hydrological regime: colony sizes and synchronization of reproduction

The problem of criteria for distinguishing colonies from similar socio-demographic structures (mainly in terms of nesting density) is highly relevant and has remained in the focus of attention of ornithologists for a long time. The synchronization of reproduction in a colony is one of the criteria which require special development. Based on particular works (1972–2005), I present synchronization of the reproduction of gulls in colonies of different sizes. In contrast to previous studies, this paper uses a specially developed Index of Synchronization of Bird Breeding (Isr) to study this phenomenon, making it relatively easy to determine its level. The index distinguishes between different species of birds of this group: 75.7% (white-winged black tern) and 97.6% (black-headed gull) of the total variability of synchronization of breeding birds in colonies. Frequent failure of nesting attempts often causes repeated (compensatory) reproduction, which in the case of a mass manifestation significantly reduces the synchronization of the nesting period in colonies and thus significantly reduces this indicator. It is proved that a higher synchronization of reproduction characterizes small colonies (up to 50 nests). In all species of gulls, the beginning of reproduction in different colonies differs in terms of the appearance of the first eggs by 1–10 days and at the beginning of mass egg-laying – by 1–18 days. To the same extent, they differ in the timing of the hatching of eggs. In small colonies, the total egg-laying period is shorter by 34.9–49.7% compared to larger colonies. My observations show that large colonies are formed by the nesting of several small colonies on one plot. This phenomenon is noticeable during periods of mass re-nesting of birds after a high loss of nests (up to 69.5% or more) because of severe flooding. Differences in the breeding periods of colonies that differ in size appear when several small colonies with different breeding periods of birds are combined into one larger colony. This phenomenon is well detected in the formation of several sub-colonies and in the differences in the timing of reproduction of different parts of a large colony.

More Is Not Always Better—the Double-Headed Role of Fibronectin in Staphylococcus aureus Host Cell Invasion

Traditionally, Staphylococcus aureus has been considered an extracellular pathogen. However, among other factors, the frequent failure of antimicrobial therapy and the ability of the pathogen to cause recurrent disease have established the concept of eukaryotic invasion of the pathogen, thereby evading the host’s immune system.

A Comprehensive Review on Power Efficient Fault Tolerance Models in High Performance Computation Systems

For the purpose of high performance computation, several machines are developed at an exascale level. These machines can perform at least one exaflop calculations per second, which corresponds to a billion billon or 108. The universe and nature can be understood in a better manner while addressing certain challenging computational issues by using these machines. However, certain obstacles are faced by these machines. As huge quantity of components is encompassed in the exascale machines, frequent failure may be experienced and also the resilience may be challenging. High progress rate must be maintained for the applications by incorporating certain form of fault tolerance in the system. Power management has to be performed by incorporating the system in a parallel manner. All layers inclusive of fault tolerance layer must adhere to the power limitation in the system. Huge energy bills may be expected on installation of exascale machines due to the high power consumption. For various fault tolerance models, the energy profile must be analyzed. Parallel recovery, message-logging, and restart or checkpoint fault tolerance models for rollback recovery are evaluated in this paper. For execution with failure, the most energy efficient solution is provided by parallel recovery when programs with various programming models are used. The execution is performed faster with parallel recovery when compared to the other techniques. An analytical model is used for exploring these models and their behavior at extreme scales.

A Note on Estimating Unreported Sample Statistics for Meta-Analysis

A major challenge confronting meta-analysts seeking to synthesize existing empirical research on a given topic is the frequent failure of primary studies to fully report their sample statistics. Because such research cannot be included in a meta-analysis unless the unreported statistics can somehow be recovered, a number of methods have been devised to estimate the sample mean and standard deviation from other quantities. This note compares several recently proposed sets of estimators that rely on extrema and/or quartiles to estimate unreported statistics for any given sample. The simplest method relies on an underlying model of normality, while the more complex methods are explicitly designed to accommodate non-normality. Our empirical comparison uses a previously developed data set containing 58 samples, ranging in size from 48 to 2,528 observations, from a standard depression screening instrument, the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). When only the median and extrema are known, we find that the estimation method based on normality yields the most accurate estimates of both the mean and standard deviation, despite the existence of asymmetry throughout the data set; and when other information is given, the normality-based estimators have accuracy comparable to that of the other estimators reviewed here. Additionally, if the sample size is unknown, the method based on normality is the only feasible approach. The simplicity of the normality-based approach provides an added convenience for practitioners.

Patient-Centered Medicine: A Necessary Condition for the Management of Functional Somatic Syndromes and Bodily Distress

This paper argues that “functional,” “medically unexplained,” or “somatoform” symptoms and disorders necessarily require a patient-centered approach from the clinicians. In the first part, I address the multiple causes of the patients' suffering and I analyze the unease of the doctors faced with these disorders. I emphasize the iatrogenic role of medical investigations and the frequent failure in attempting to reassure the patients. I stress the difficulties in finding the right terms and concepts, despite overabundant nosological categories, to give a full account of psychosomatic complexity. Finally, I discuss the moral dimension attached to assigning a symptom, at times arbitrarily, to a psychogenic origin. The following part presents a brief reminder of the patient-centered approach (PCA) in medicine. In the last part, I aim to explain why and how patient-centered medicine should be applied in the context of functional disorders. First, because PCA focuses on the patients' experience of illness rather than the disease from the medical point of view, which is, indeed, absent. Second, because PCA is the only way to avoid sterile attribution conflicts. Last, because PCA allows doctors and patients to collaboratively create plausible and non-stigmatizing explanations for the symptoms, which paves the way toward effective management.

Modular megaprostheses in the treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the femur

Summary Background Periprosthetic fractures (PPF) of the femur remain challenging, especially in patients with previous multiple revisions. Modular megaprostheses (mMPs) are rarely used in this indication; however, in some cases mMPs seem to be the last chance for limb salvage. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of PPFs of the femur treated by modular mMPs at our institution. Patients and methods In this study 33 patients (27 female; mean age 79 years) with a PPF after total hip or total knee arthroplasty (no tumor indications) were treated using modular proximal (mPFR; n = 12), distal (mDFR; n = 14) or total (mTFR; n = 7) femur replacement. A retrospective evaluation regarding mortality and revision rates was performed. Failures with need for revision were classified. Results At a mean follow up of 60 months (range 0–178 months), the total mortality rate as well as total revision rate were both found to be 39%. At 1 year follow-up the mortality rate was highest within the mDFR group, and less revisions were necessary in the mPFR group, however both findings were not significantly. Those patients, who had revision surgery before PPF, were found to have higher revision rate after implantation of mMP. In the mPFR group, dislocation was the most frequent failure, within the mDFR and the mTFR group infection. In one case amputation of the lower limb was necessary. Conclusion mMPs represent a valuable option in PPFs of the femur. Infection and dislocation remain the most frequent complications. Prospective clinical studies are required to further define the outcome of mMPs in PPFs of the femur.

Primary aldosteronism subtyping in the setting of partially successful adrenal vein sampling

Background and aims: Frequent failure of adrenal vein (AV) cannulation is a major obstacle to the universal use of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) for subtyping primary aldosteronism (PA). This study aimed to confirm and modify the value of a previously reported AVS parameter for PA subtyping in the case of cannulation failure on one side. Methods: Successfully catheterized AVS studies in 157 patients (121 patients as a derivation cohort and 36 patients as a validation cohort) from two tertiary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The AV/inferior vena cava (IVC) index was defined by dividing the aldosterone/cortisol ratio (ACR) of AV by the ACR of the IVC. Cutoff values for lateralized PA were obtained from two methods: scatterplots and the values corresponding to Youden’s index in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, on the assumption of catheterization failure on one side. Results: Due to multiple samplings in a single AVS procedure, 252 left AV/IVC ratios (LIRs) and 272 right AV/IVC ratios (RIRs) were calculated. Scatterplot cutoffs of LIR >5.4 or <0.5 predicted unilateral PA with a sensitivity of 42.1% and a specificity of 98.6%. Scatterplot cutoffs of RIR <0.5 or >7.0 showed a sensitivity of 55.1% and a specificity of 98.6%. ROC curve cutoffs of LIR ⩽0.8 or >3.1 predicted unilateral PA with a sensitivity of 82.5% and a specificity of 69.6%. ROC curve cutoffs of RIR ⩽0.8 or >3.9 resulted in 87.4% sensitivity and 80.7% specificity. Conclusion: In the case of unilateral AVS failure, the AV/IVC index may help in diagnosing PA subtype.

Sexual violence and COVID-19: all silent on the home front

In this article, we reflect on the framing of violence against women in mainstream media in the UK, and some policy documents and guidance, in the first four weeks of the COVID-19 induced lockdown. In so doing, we consider the implications associated with the frequent failure to acknowledge sexual violence as a unique, and discrete, element of violence against women. Amid a context of overshadowing and absence, we also raise for debate (and recognition) the likely challenges associated with moving specialist voluntary sector sexual violence organisations into workers’ homes, to enable service provision to continue. In developing our arguments, we draw on conversations with voluntary sector sexual violence practitioners in England and existing literature that highlights the importance of the boundary between home and the job, when working with the ‘taint’ of sexual offences. Such a boundary rapidly recedes when sexual violence services, and their functions, are moved into workers’ living spaces. We set out some of the likely impacts of this changed work context and argue that projections for the resources required to manage COVID-19 in the longer term, must not forget about the needs of frontline voluntary sector workers.

Surgical treatment of large vesicovaginal fistulas

In view of the frequent failure of the Simon's method in the treatment of large vesicovaginal fistulas, recently some have proposed to achieve healing with the help of gluttony.