Beaked whales are hypothesized to be particularly sensitive to anthropogenic noise, based on previous strandings and limited experimental and observational data. However, few species have been ...studied in detail. We describe the underwater behavior of a Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) from the first deployment of a multi-sensor acoustic tag on this species. The animal exhibited shallow (23 ± 15 m max depth), intermediate (324 ± 49 m), and deep (1138 ± 243 m) dives. Echolocation clicks were produced with a mean inter-click interval of approximately 300 ms and peak frequency of 25 kHz. Two deep dives included presumed foraging behavior, with echolocation pulsed sounds (presumed prey capture attempts) associated with increased maneuvering, and sustained inverted swimming during the bottom phase of the dive. A controlled exposure to simulated mid-frequency active sonar (3.5-4 kHz) was conducted 4 hours after tag deployment, and within 3 minutes of exposure onset, the tagged whale increased swim speed and body movement, and continued to show unusual dive behavior for each of its next three dives, one of each type. These are the first data on the acoustic foraging behavior in this largest beaked whale species, and the first experimental demonstration of a response to simulated sonar.
Background CPAP is the gold standard treatment for OSA and was conceived to be applied through a nasal interface. This study was designed to determine the acute effects of changing the nasal CPAP ...route to oronasal and oral in upper airway patency during sleep in patients with OSA. We hypothesized that the oronasal route may compromise CPAP’s effectiveness in treating OSA. Methods Eighteen patients (mean ± SD age, 44 ± 9 years; BMI, 33.8 ± 4.7 kg/m2 ; apnea-hypopnea index, 49.0 ± 39.1 events/hour) slept with a customized oronasal mask with nasal and oral sealed compartments connected to a multidirectional valve. Sleep was monitored by using full polysomnography and induced by low doses of midazolam. Nasal CPAP was titrated up to holding pressure. Flow route was acutely changed to the oronasal (n = 18) and oral route (n = 16) during sleep. Retroglossal area was continuously observed by using nasoendoscopy. Results Nasal CPAP (14.8 ± 4.1 cm H2 O) was able to stabilize breathing in all patients. In contrast, CPAP delivered by the oronasal and oral routes promoted obstructive events in 12 (66.7%) and 14 (87.5%) patients, respectively. Compared with stable breathing during the nasal route, there was a significant and progressive reduction in the distance between the epiglottis and tongue base and the retroglossal area when CPAP was delivered by the oronasal and oral routes. Conclusions CPAP delivered through the oronasal route may compromise CPAP’s effectiveness in treating OSA.
Low-frequency acoustic signals generated by baleen whales can propagate over vast distances, making the assignment of calls to specific individuals problematic. Here, we report the novel use of ...acoustic recording tags equipped with high-resolution accelerometers to detect vibrations from the surface of two tagged fin whales that directly match the timing of recorded acoustic signals. A tag deployed on a buoy in the vicinity of calling fin whales and a recording from a tag that had just fallen off a whale were able to detect calls acoustically but did not record corresponding accelerometer signals that were measured on calling individuals. Across the hundreds of calls measured on two tagged fin whales, the accelerometer response was generally anisotropic across all three axes, appeared to depend on tag placement and increased with the level of received sound. These data demonstrate that high-sample rate accelerometry can provide important insights into the acoustic behavior of baleen whales that communicate at low frequencies. This method helps identify vocalizing whales, which in turn enables the quantification of call rates, a fundamental component of models used to estimate baleen whale abundance and distribution from passive acoustic monitoring.
Abstract Cross-sectional studies showed a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia.This study aimed to identify the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its reversal in a ...non-preselected cohort of chronic psychotic patients in routine practice in one year follow-up and to find variables to describe development and reversal of metabolic syndrome. This cohort study was conducted as part of a disease management program and patients were included if they had two complete assessments in a one year follow-up. We conducted two logistic regressions to find variables to describe the development of metabolic syndrome and the reversal of metabolic syndrome. At the time of the first assessment 35% ( n = 92) of the 260 included patients had metabolic syndrome. Within one year 21 patients developed metabolic syndrome and 30 patients had it reversed. This was an incidence of 13% (21/168) and a reversal of 33% (30/92). Smoking, family history of cardiovascular diseases, and duration of disease >6 years was associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome as well as abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. Patients with abdominal obesity had a smaller chance of reversing metabolic syndrome. Other variables included in the logistic regression such as receiving cardiovascular/antidiabetic drug treatment or duration of disease >6 years did not alter the risk of reversing the metabolic syndrome. Our study showed that the natural course of metabolic syndrome is dynamic. A considerable number of patients developed or reversed the metabolic syndrome in one year follow-up.
Satellite tags were attached to 10 sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus (1 whale was tagged in 2 different years) to determine the movements of sperm whales involved in removal of sablefish from ...longline fishing gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Tags transmitted from 3 to 34 d (median = 22) in 2007 and 7 to 158 d (median = 45) in 2009. Seven whales stayed in the GOA; all were associating with fishing vessels along the slope. Two whales headed south in June shortly after being tagged; one reached the inner third of the Sea of Cortez; the other's last location was offshore Mexico at 14 degree N. A third whale stayed in the GOA until October and then headed south, reaching central Baja, Mexico, 158 d after tagging. The whales that travelled to lower latitudes followed no pattern in timing of departure, and at least 2 had different destinations. All whales passed through the California Current without stopping and did not travel to Hawaii; both are areas with known concentrations of sperm whales. Whales travelled faster when south of 56 degree N than when foraging in the GOA (median rate of median horizontal movement = 5.4 range:4.1 to 5.5 and 1.3 range:0.6 to 2.5 km h super(-1), respectively). Tagged sperm whales primarily travelled over the slope, but one spent considerable time over the ocean basin. Information on the timing and movement patterns of sperm whales may provide a means for fishermen to avoid fishing at whale hot spots, potentially reducing interactions between whales and fishermen.
Depth distributions were analyzed from a study of 19 Cuvier’s beaked whales Ziphius cavirostris that were tagged with satellite transmitting instruments off southern California, USA. Over 113 000 ...depth measurements were made over the equivalent of ∼200 sampling days. The mean foraging depth was 1182 m (SD = 305 m), and the mean of the maximum depth of all foraging dives was 1427 m (SD = 298 m). Mean foraging depths increased with seafloor depths up to a maximum of ∼1300 m at a seafloor depth of 1900 m, but decreased slightly to a mean of ∼1200 m at seafloor depths of 2000–4000 m. Near-bottom habitat appears to be important for foraging; whales spent ∼30% of their foraging time within 200 m of the bottom at seafloor depths of 1000–2000 m. However, little foraging time was spent near the bottom at seafloor depths greater than 2000 m. The percentage of time spent at near-surface depths (< 50 m) was more than twice as high at night (25%) than during the day (12%). Lunar light also appears to affect diving, with 28% of dark nights and only 17% of brightly moonlit nights spent at these near-surface depths. The apparent avoidance of surface waters during daytime and on brightly moonlit nights is consistent with avoidance of visual predators. A considerably greater fraction of time was spent foraging at night (24.8%) than during the day (15.7%), possibly due to energetic constraints imposed by predator avoidance during the day.
Recovery plans for endangered southern resident killer whales Orcinus orca have identified reduced prey availability as a risk to the population. In order to better assess this risk, we studied prey ...selection from 2004 to 2008 in 2 regions of the whales' summer range: San Juan Islands, Washington and the western Strait of Juan de Fuca, British Columbia. Following the whales in a small boat, we collected fish scales and tissue remains from predation events, and feces, using a fine mesh net. Visual fish scale analysis and molecular genetic methods were used to identify the species consumed. Chinook salmon, a relatively rare species, was by far the most frequent prey item, confirming previous studies. For Chinook salmon prey, we used genetic identification methods to estimate the spawning region of origin. Of the Chinook salmon sampled, 80 to 90% were inferred to have originated from the Fraser River, and only 6 to 14% were inferred to have originated from Puget Sound area rivers. Within the Fraser River, the Upper Fraser, Middle Fraser, South Thompson River and Lower Fraser stocks were inferred to currently be sequentially important sources of Chinook salmon prey through the summer. This information will be of significant value in guiding management actions to recover the southern resident killer whale population.
Background
There is a lack of non-invasive methods for monitoring the upper airway patency during sleep. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive, radiation-free tool that has been ...validated to monitor lung ventilation. We hypothesized that electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can be used for monitoring upper airway patency during sleep.
Methods
Sleep was induced in 21 subjects (14 males, age 43 ± 13 years, body mass index 32.0 ± 5.3 kg/m
2
) with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index: 44 ± 37 events/h, range: 1–122 events/h) using low doses of midazolam. Patients wore a nasal mask attached to a modified CPAP device, allowing variable and controlled degrees of upper airway obstruction. Confirmation of upper airway patency was obtained with direct visualization of the upper airway using nasofibroscopy (
n
= 6). The changes in total neck impedance and in impedance in four cranio-caudal regions of interest (ROIs) were analyzed.
Results
Total neck impedance varied in concert with breathing cycles and peaked during expiration in all patients. Group data showed a high cross-correlation between flow and impedance curves (
r
= −0.817,
p
< 0.001). Inspiratory peak flow correlated with simultaneous neck impedance (
r
= 0.866,
p
< 0.001). There was a high correlation between total neck impedance and velopharynx area (
r
= 0.884,
p
< 0.001), and total neck impedance and oropharynx area (
r
= 0.891,
p
< 0.001).
Conclusions
Neck EIT is sensitive and captures pharyngeal obstruction under various conditions. Neck EIT is a promising method for real-time monitoring of the pharynx during sleep.
The availability of light, both solar and lunar, is likely to influence the behavior of vertically migrating aquatic animals and their predators. However, the influence of light level on the diving ...behavior and habitat use of deep-diving cetaceans is not well understood. We used data from 28 depth-transmitting satellite tags deployed on short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus around the main Hawaiian Islands to examine movements and diving behavior in relation to lunar cycles and oceanographic season. During a full moon, dives were deeper (48.1%) and longer (16.7%) than during a new moon. This change appeared to be driven primarily by an increase (25.2%) in the depth of deep dives (>200 m) completed at night and an increase in the proportion of deeper daytime and twilight dives during a full moon. Dives occurred a mean of 18.3 km farther offshore (more than twice as far from shore) during a full moon compared to a new moon. During the oceanographic season with the shortest day length (fall), dives were shallower (25.4%) and shorter (14.2%) than seasons with longer days (summer). This suggests that changes in light level, both solar and lunar, affect the depth of prey targeted by pilot whales, which in turn influences pilot whale diving behavior and distribution. Future research should determine how these changes influence the feeding success and energetics of pilot whales.
Clinical pharmacists play an important role in improving drug safety on hospital wards. However, little is known about the impact of pharmacy interns. The objective of our study was, therefore, to ...investigate the impact of hospital ward-based pharmacy interns on drug safety. This study
was conducted as part of the project "P-STAT 2: Pharmacy interns on the ward" on 14 surgical wards in seven hospitals in Germany and a total of 27 pharmacy interns participated. All patients admitted to the participating wards from 1st June 2008 until 31st October 2008 and from
1st December 2008 till 30th April 2009 were included. The pharmacy interns were involved in medication reconciliation, and identifying, resolving, and preventing drug-related problems (DRPs) using the classification system APS-Doc. A total of 6,551 patients were included. Patients received
on average (±SD) 4.4 ± 3.9 drugs. The pharmacy interns detected a total of 4,085 DRPs and on average 0.6 ± 1.2 DRPs per patient. Most frequently detected DRPs were potential drug-drug interactions (n = 591, 14%), missing drug strength, when different strengths were available
(n = 373, 9%), and incomplete medication record (n = 296, 7%). The pharmacy interns conducted an intervention for 98% (n = 4,011) of all DRPs. According to their documentation, 74% of the DRPs (n = 3,038) were solved. Drugs which were most often related with DRPs were simvastatin, diclofenac,
and ibuprofen. This is the very first study exploring the potential impact of pharmacy interns on drug safety on surgical wards in Europe. Pharmacy interns can play an important role to improve drug safety on hospital wards.
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