Aim
Macroecological studies that require habitat suitability data for many species often derive this information from expert opinion. However, expert‐based information is inherently subjective and ...thus prone to errors. The increasing availability of GPS tracking data offers opportunities to evaluate and supplement expert‐based information with detailed empirical evidence. Here, we compared expert‐based habitat suitability information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with habitat suitability information derived from GPS‐tracking data of 1,498 individuals from 49 mammal species.
Location
Worldwide.
Time period
1998–2021.
Major taxa studied
Forty‐nine terrestrial mammal species.
Methods
Using GPS data, we estimated two measures of habitat suitability for each individual animal: proportional habitat use (proportion of GPS locations within a habitat type), and selection ratio (habitat use relative to its availability). For each individual we then evaluated whether the GPS‐based habitat suitability measures were in agreement with the IUCN data. To that end, we calculated the probability that the ranking of empirical habitat suitability measures was in agreement with IUCN's classification into suitable, marginal and unsuitable habitat types.
Results
IUCN habitat suitability data were in accordance with the GPS data (> 95% probability of agreement) for 33 out of 49 species based on proportional habitat use estimates and for 25 out of 49 species based on selection ratios. In addition, 37 and 34 species had a > 50% probability of agreement based on proportional habitat use and selection ratios, respectively.
Main conclusions
We show how GPS‐tracking data can be used to evaluate IUCN habitat suitability data. Our findings indicate that for the majority of species included in this study, it is appropriate to use IUCN habitat suitability data in macroecological studies. Furthermore, we show that GPS‐tracking data can be used to identify and prioritize species and habitat types for re‐evaluation of IUCN habitat suitability data.
Four series of new 1benzothieno3,2- b1benzothiophene derivatives have been synthesized. In the non-chiral series a SmA phase occurs, while the chiral series exhibits a rather wide antiferroelectric ...SmC
A
* phase just below the SmA phase. The SmA-SmC
A
* phase transition has been studied using DSC and dielectric spectroscopy. In the SmC
A
* phase the spontaneous quantities have been measured. The tilt angle shows a typical temperature dependence and the values of spontaneous polarization are rather moderate. The length of the helical pitch increases on increasing the length of the non-chiral alkyl chain.
Intercalates of calcium phenylphosphonate dihydrate with 1-alkylamines (C
2
–C
10
), 1-alkanols (C
3
–C
10
), 1,ω-amino alcohols (C
2
–C
5
), pyridine, morpholine, piperazine, aniline and ...1-naphthylamine were prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The intercalates of alkanols and alkylamines are unstable at ambient conditions and the guest molecules are tilted to the host layers at an angle of 40°. The amino alcohol intercalates are stable and their basal spacings are very similar for all amino alcohols used and, in the case of ethanolamine and propanolamine, they contain co-intercalated water. Also arylamines and nitrogenous heterocycles form stable compounds. The general formula of these intercalates is CaC
6
H
5
PO
3
·
x
H
2
O·
y
(guest) and their basal spacings are from 15.39 to 15.78 Å.
Carbon nanospecies (CNPs) are of high interest in current research due to their many unique properties. They may be created by common processes, such as burning. Therefore, they can become potential ...contaminants and may have a negative impact on human health and the biosphere. Moreover, they may also catalyze protein misfolding and subsequent amyloid formation, which is extremely hard to treat. We investigated the influence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), fullerene (C
60
), carbon quantum dots (CDs) and nanodiamonds (NDs) on amyloid formation. This research utilized the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) as a model system. Fibrils were detected by fluorescence of thioflavin-T (ThT) or Nile red (NR) and the results were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We have found that NDs promoted amyloid fibril formation at all concentrations. The highest concentration of C
60
(250 μg ml
−1
) accelerated the process of fibrillation, while smaller concentrations (16 and 80 μg ml
−1
) prolonged the lag phase and were comparable to the control. SWNTs prolonged the lag phase of amyloid formation at all concentrations. CDs efficiently terminated the growth of amyloid fibrils. When we compared the amyloidogenicity of all four types of CNPs, the following trend was apparent: NDs > control > C
60
> CDs > SWNTs.
Carbon nanospecies (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds, carbon quantum dots) were tested for amyloidogenicity to estimate their potential as health hazards.
The Multicenter Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Revision Study (MARS) group was formed to study a large cohort of revision ACL reconstruction patients. The purpose of this subset analysis study of ...the MARS database is to describe specific details of femoral tunnel malposition and subsequent management strategies that surgeons chose in the revision setting. The design of this study is a case series. The multicenter MARS database is compiled from a questionnaire regarding 460 ACL reconstruction revision cases returned by 87 surgeons. This subset analysis described technical aspects and operative findings in specifically those cases in which femoral tunnel malposition was cited as the cause of primary ACL reconstruction failure. Of the 460 revisions included for study, 276 (60%) cases cited a specific "technical cause of failure." Femoral tunnel malposition was cited in 219 (47.6%) of 460 cases. Femoral tunnel malposition was cited as the only cause of failure in 117 cases (25.4%). Surgeons judged the femoral tunnel too vertical in 42 cases (35.9%), too anterior in 35 cases (29.9%), and too vertical and anterior in 31 cases (26.5%). Revision reconstruction involved the drilling of an entirely new femoral tunnel in 91 cases (82.1%). For primary reconstruction, autograft tissue was used in 82 cases (70.1%). For revision reconstruction, autograft tissue was used in 61 cases (52.1%) and allograft tissue in 56 cases (47.9%). Femoral tunnel malposition in primary ACL reconstruction was the most commonly cited reason for graft failure in this cohort. Graft selection is widely variable among surgeons.
Computer-based neurocognitive tests are widely used in sport-related concussion management, but the performance of these tests is not well understood in the participant population with ...attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or learning disorder (LD). This research estimates the sensitivity and specificity performance of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) computer-based neurocognitive test in identifying concussion in this population.
Study participants consisted of collegiate university athletes and military service academy cadets from the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense CARE Consortium who completed the ImPACT test between 2014 and 2021. Participants who self-identified as belonging to one of the subgroups of interest (ADHD with or without LD ADHD:LD+/-, LD with or without ADHD LD:ADHD+/-, ADHD and/or LD ADHD a/o LD) and completed a baseline (1874 ADHD:LD+/-, 779 LD:ADHD+/-, 2338 ADHD a/o LD) or 24-48 h post-concussion (175 ADHD:LD+/-, 77 LD:ADHD+/-, 216 ADHD a/o LD) ImPACT assessment were included. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using a normative data method and three machine learning classification methods: logistic regression, classification and regression tree, and random forest.
Using the four methods, participants with ADHD:LD+/- had sensitivities that ranged from 0.474 to 0.697, and specificities that ranged from 0.538 to 0.686. Participants with LD:ADHD+/- had sensitivities that ranged from 0.455 to 0.688, and specificities that ranged from 0.456 to 0.588. For participants with ADHD a/o LD, sensitivities ranged from 0.542 to 0.755, and specificities ranged from 0.451 to 0.724.
For all subgroups and analytical methods, the results illustrate sensitivity and specificity values below typically accepted levels indicative of clinical utility. These findings support that using ImPACT alone may be insufficient to inform concussion diagnoses and encourages the use of a multi-dimensional concussion assessment.
BACKGROUND:Revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been documented to have worse outcomes than primary ACL reconstruction. The reasons remain varied and not completely ...understood.
METHODS:Patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction were prospectively enrolled. Data collected included baseline demographics, surgical technique and pathological condition, prescribed rehabilitation instructions, and a series of validated patient-reported outcome instruments. Patients were followed for 2 years and asked to complete a set of outcome instruments identical to those completed at baseline. Subsequent surgical procedures on the ipsilateral knee were recorded. Regression analysis was used to control for age, sex, activity level, baseline outcome scores, and the above-mentioned rehabilitation-related variables in order to assess the factors affecting clinical outcomes 2 years after revision ACL reconstruction.
RESULTS:A total of 843 patients met the inclusion criteria and were successfully enrolled, and 82% (695) were followed for 2 years. Two rehabilitation-related factors were found to influence outcome. First, patients who were prescribed an ACL brace for their return to sports had a significantly better Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for sports and recreational activities at 2 years (odds ratio OR =1.50, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.07 to 2.11; p = 0.019). Second, patients prescribed an ACL brace for the postoperative rehabilitation period were 2.3 times more likely to have subsequent surgery by 2 years (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.11 to 4.60; p = 0.024). The odds of a graft rerupture were not affected by any type of brace wear.
CONCLUSIONS:Rehabilitation-related factors that the physician can control at the time of an ACL reconstruction have the ability to influence clinical outcomes at 2 years. Weight-bearing and motion can be initiated immediately postoperatively. Bracing during the early postoperative period is not helpful. Use of a functional brace early in the postoperative period was associated with an increased risk of a reoperation. Use of a functional brace for a return to sports improved the KOOS on the sports/recreation subscale.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Prognostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Regional differences in extracellular pH (pHe) were found in unstimulated rat spinal cord using double-barrel pH-sensitive microelectrodes. The pHe in the lower dorsal horn (laminae III-VII) was ...about 7.15, i.e. by about 0.2 pH units lower than that measured in the cerebrospinal fluid. Transient acid shifts in pHe by 0.01-0.05 pH units were found when acute nociceptive stimuli (pinch, press, heat) were applied to the hind paw. Chemical or thermal injury evoked by subcutaneous injection of turpentine or by application of 1-3 ml of hot oil onto the hindpaw produced a long-term decrease in pHe base line in the lower dorsal horn by about 0.05-0.1 pH units. The decrease in pHe began 2-10 min after injury and persisted for more than 2 h. Electrical nerve stimulation (10-100 Hz, 20-60 s) elicited biphasic (acid-alkaline) or triphasic (alkaline-acid-alkaline) changes in pHe which have a similar depth profile as the concomitantly recorded increase in K+e. An initial alkaline shift by about 0.005 pH units was found to be significantly decreased by La3+, an H+ channel blocker. The dominating acid shift by about 0.1-0.2 pH units was accelerated and increased by acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) showing that the high buffering capacity of the extracellular fluid may hamper the resolution of acid perturbations. Stimulation-evoked acid shifts were blocked by amiloride, SITS, DIDS and La3+ and therefore have a complex mechanism which includes Na+/H+ exchange, Cl-/HCO3- cotransport and/or Na+/Cl-/H+/HCO3- antiport and H+ efflux through voltage-sensitive H+ channels. The poststimulation alkaline shift (alkaline undershoot) was blocked by ouabain and reflects coupled clearance of K+ and H+ by active transport processes.
North American crayfish species as hosts for the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci contribute to the decline of native European crayfish populations. At least six American crayfish species ...have been reported in the Netherlands but the presence of this pathogenic oomycete with substantial conservational impact has not yet been confirmed in the country. We evaluated A. astaci prevalence in Dutch populations of six alien crustaceans using species-specific quantitative PCR. These included three confirmed crayfish carriers (Orconectes limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Procambarus clarkii), two recently introduced but yet unstudied crayfish (Orconectes cf. virilis, Procambarus cf. acutus), and a catadromous crab Eriocheir sinensis. Moderate levels of infection were observed in some populations of O. limosus and P. leniusculus. Positive results were also obtained for E. sinensis and two Dutch populations of O. cf. virilis. English population of the latter species was also found infected, confirming this taxon as another A. astaci carrier in European waters. In contrast, Dutch P. clarkii seem only sporadically infected, and the pathogen was not yet detected in P. cf. acutus. Our study is the first confirmation of crayfish plague infections in the Netherlands and demonstrates substantial variation in A. astaci prevalence among potential hosts within a single region, a pattern possibly linked to their introduction history and coexistence.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) is an adaptable predatory bird that commonly captures live prey, but regularly scavenges. Large mammalian prey (e.g., Odocoileus virginianus White-tailed Deer) ...have been observed in Bald Eagle diets, but were considered scavenged. To our knowledge, Bald Eagle predation of a live ungulate has only been reported once, and occurred in Menominee County, MI. In June 2009, we captured and radiocollared a female White-tailed Deer fawn (2.7 kg) in the south-central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The fawn was last radiolocated alive 8 h after release in a short-height (20–30 cm) grassland field along a river approximately 570 m from an eagle nest. Estimated time of mortality of the fawn was 10 h post release. Approximately 27 h post release, 2 legs, >50% fawn hide, and the radiocollar were present in the nest along with 2 eagle nestlings (estimated age 9–10 wks). We believe this was a possible predation event based on the 8-h period between fawn relocations, fawn movement, foraging behavior of the nesting eagles, and presence of the carcass remains and radiocollar in the nest.
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