The grain of spatially referenced economic cost and biodiversity benefit data and the effectiveness of a cost targeting strategy.

Facing tight resource constraints, conservation organizations must allocate funds available for habitat protection as effectively as possible. Often, they combine spatially referenced economic and biodiversity data to prioritize land for protection. We tested how sensitive these prioritizations could be to differences in the spatial grain of these data by demonstrating how the conclusion of a classic debate in conservation planning between cost and benefit targeting was altered based on the available information. As a case study, we determined parcel-level acquisition costs and biodiversity benefits of land transactions recently undertaken by a nonprofit conservation organization that seeks to protect forests in the eastern United States. Then, we used hypothetical conservation plans to simulate the types of ex ante priorities that an organization could use to prioritize areas for protection. We found the apparent effectiveness of cost and benefit targeting depended on the spatial grain of the data used when prioritizing parcels based on local species richness. However, when accounting for complementarity, benefit targeting consistently was more efficient than a cost targeting strategy regardless of the spatial grain of the data involved. More pertinently for other studies, we found that combining data collected over different spatial grains inflated the apparent effectiveness of a cost targeting strategy and led to overestimation of the efficiency gain offered by adopting a more integrative return-on-investment approach.

A comprehensive study of umbilical cord blood cell developmental changes and reference ranges by gestation, gender and mode of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal hematological values in cord blood during gestation, the impact of the type of delivery and differences in gender. STUDY DESIGN: The database included 10 287 live births of 30-44 weeks gestation from cesarean or vaginal deliveries. Cord blood was collected into bags containing lyophilized heparin. Specimens were stored for 24 h or less and analyzed using the SysmexXE-2100. Data from cesarean births were used to evaluate developmental hematopoietic changes. RESULT: Increases during maturation occurred in hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, and decreases in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The number of nucleated red blood cells per 100 white blood cells decreased but absolute counts remained constant. Quantitative counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, monocytes (MON), eosinophils and lymphocytes (LYMP) increased, but percentages of lymphocytes and monocytes decreased. Platelets increased from 30-35 weeks. CONCLUSION: Reference ranges were established for cord blood. Erythroid and myeloid cells show developmental changes. Mode of delivery has a significant effect on hematologic values. Only a rare parameter showed differences based on gender. The cord blood complete blood cell count has the potential for providing relevant clinical information for managing neonatal patients.

The maintenance, distribution and development of biomedical computer software: an exercise in software engineering.

The growing reliance of biomedical investigations on computer software in almost all facets of their work places considerable emphasis on the need for the integrated management of the software. In order to efficiently develop, distribute, and maintain the software, tools are required which not only automate these tasks but also, wherever possible, 'semi-intelligently', alert their user to irregular situation. We describe an assortment of such tools routinely used in the management of the SAAM/CONSAM biokinetic software and illustrate their application. Furthermore, using these techniques we have presented some comparative performances of numerical integrators and of computer processors.

Suspected metaldehyde slug bait poisoning in dogs: a retrospective analysis of cases reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.

A retrospective analysis of telephone enquiries to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service found 772 cases with follow-up concerning suspected metaldehyde slug bait ingestion in dogs between 1985 and 2010. Half the enquiries occurred in the summer months. The amount and strength of the slug bait ingested was rarely known. In 56, cases the quantity consumed was estimated and was on average 229.6 grams of bait. Clinical signs developed in 77.3 per cent of dogs; common signs were convulsions, hypersalivation, twitching, hyperaesthesia, tremor, vomiting, hyperthermia and ataxia. Only 4.6 per cent of dogs developed hepatic changes, and only one developed renal impairment. The average time to onset of signs was 2.9 hours post-ingestion, with 50.3 per cent of dogs developing effects within one hour. Increased muscle activity (twitching, convulsions) lasted on average 15.2 hours. Recovery time was reported in 61 cases and occurred on average at 39.3 hours. Common treatments were gut decontamination, anticonvulsants, anaesthetics and intravenous fluids. Of the dogs that were treated with sedatives, 45.8 per cent required more than one sedative or anaesthetic agent. Methocarbamol was rarely used, probably due to unavailability. The outcome was reported in 762 dogs; 21.7 per cent remained asymptomatic, 61.7 per cent recovered and 16 per cent of dogs died or were euthanased. Where known (only six cases), the fatal dose of bait ranged from 4.2 to 26.7 g/kg (average 11.8 g/kg).

Canine adder bites in the UK: a retrospective study of cases reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.

This retrospective study examined cases with follow-up reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) between September 1985 and December 2010. Most bites (69.2 per cent) occurred between April and July, particularly between 15:00 and 16:00 hours. Adder bites were more frequently reported in the south-east of England, particularly in Surrey. Swelling to the face and limbs was common, as was lethargy, depression, hyperthermia and tachycardia. About two-thirds of dogs developed both systemic and local effects, while a third developed local effects alone. Initial clinical effects usually occurred within two hours, with full recovery typically occurring five days after the bite. Antivenom was used in 55.9 per cent of cases and appeared to significantly reduce duration of oedema from an average of 94 to 47 hours. Adder bites can cause significant morbidity (97 per cent of dogs were symptomatic), but mortality is low (4.6 per cent died).

Opiate-dependent patients receiving methadone. How physicians should manage therapy.

Methadone treatment can reduce illicit drug use, needle sharing, and the social costs and health risks of heroin addiction. It is superior to no treatment, detoxification, or treatment programs lasting less than 3 months. For most patients, the optimal methadone dose is 50 to 120 mg daily. Supervised, random urine drug specimens should be collected at least twice weekly. Long-term counseling is essential and should include information on the risks of needle sharing and on screening for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

High temperature absorption in the 10.4-mum band of CO(2).

The absorption coefficient of pure CO(2) has been measured as a function of temperature in the 295-650 K range for the P(14)-P(24) and R(10)-R(24) laser transitions. Cubic curves fitted to the experimental results are given to allow interpolation at all temperatures within the range. The P(20) transition shows an anomolously high value of absorption. Variation of absorption coefficient with pressure was linear but small for all transitions in the 200-700-Torr pressure range at three temperatures. Calculations of the absorption coefficient are performed and compared with experimental data.

A comparison of conventional SEM techniques, low temperature SEM and the electroscan wet scanning electron microscope to study the structure of a biofilm of Streptococcus crista CR3.

Biofilms of Streptococcus crista CR3 were generated on hydroxyapatite (HA) discs for 20 h in a continuous flow system with brain heart infusion broth dripped over the disc at a rate of 6 ml h-1. This study compares the conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) preparation techniques, of critical point drying and freeze-drying, with low temperature SEM (LTSEM) and Electroscan generated images of hydrated biofilms, which preserve the integrity of hydrated polymers. Critical point drying and freeze-drying caused almost complete disappearance of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Critical point drying, however, showed evenly spaced single or paired cocci remaining on the HA disc whereas freeze-drying caused the biofilm to detach from the HA leaving only patchy clumps of cells visible. By comparison LTSEM preserved the EPS better than critical point drying and freeze-drying, but holes were seen in the top and side of the biofilm and the EPS did show some shrinkage artefacts. An untreated wet biofilm viewed in the Electroscan showed an intact, hydrated, smooth matrix of EPS with cell shapes only visible indistinctly in a canopy of moist EPS. No holes were visible and no shrinkage artefacts were evident. Therefore, Electroscan imaging of the biofilm was the only method that preserved the integrity of the matrix with no apparent shrinkage artefacts.

A novel instrument for studying the flow behaviour of erythrocytes through microchannels simulating human blood capillaries.

A novel instrument has been developed to study the microrheology of erythrocytes as they flow through channels of dimensions similar to human blood capillaries. The channels are produced in silicon substrates using microengineering technology. Accurately defined, physiological driving pressures and temperatures are employed whilst precise, real-time image processing allows individual cells to be monitored continuously during their transit. The instrument characterises each cell in a sample of ca. 1000 in terms of its volume and flow velocity profile during its transit through a channel. The unique representation of the data in volume/velocity space provides new insight into the microrheological behaviour of blood. The image processing and subsequent data analysis enable the system to reject anomalous events such as multiple cell transits, thereby ensuring integrity of the resulting data. By employing an array of microfluidic flow channels we can integrate a number of different but precise and highly reproducible channel sizes and geometries within one array, thereby allowing multiple, concurrent isobaric measurements on one sample. As an illustration of the performance of the system, volume/velocity data sets recorded in a microfluidic device incorporating multiple channels of 100 microns length and individual widths ranging between 3.0 and 4.0 microns are presented.