Big data from small animals: integrating multi-level environmental data into the Dog Aging Project.

Environmental exposures can have large impacts on health outcomes. While many resources have been dedicated to understanding how humans are influenced by the environment, few efforts have been made to study the role of built and natural environmental features on animal health. The Dog Aging Project (DAP) is a longitudinal community science study of aging in companion dogs. Using a combination of owner-reported surveys and secondary sources linked through geocoded coordinates, DAP has captured home, yard and neighbourhood variables for over 40,000 dogs. The DAP environmental data set spans four domains: the physical and built environment; chemical environment and exposures; diet and exercise; and social environment and interactions. By combining biometric data, measures of cognitive function and behaviour, and medical records, DAP is attempting to use a big-data approach to transform the understanding of how the surrounding world affects the health of companion dogs. In this paper, the authors describe the data infrastructure developed to integrate and analyse multi-level environmental data that can be used to improve the understanding of canine co-morbidity and aging.

L'impact des expositions environnementales sur la santé est parfois considérable. Si diverses ressources ont été consacrées à décrire l'influence de l'environnement sur les humains, les efforts visant à étudier l'effet des paramètres environnementaux, tant naturels qu'anthropiques, sur la santé animale sont plus rares. Le Dog Aging Project (DAP) est une étude scientifique longitudinale à base communautaire portant sur le vieillissement du chien de compagnie. À partir d'observations notifiées par les propriétaires de chiens et de sources secondaires reliées par des coordonnées de géocodage, le DAP a réuni des variables sur le foyer d'habitation, l'environnement extérieur immédiat et le voisinage de plus de 40 000 chiens. Les séries de données environnementales du DAP couvrent quatre domaines : l'environnement physique et bâti ; l'environnement chimique et les expositions ; le régime alimentaire et la dépense physique ; et les interactions et l'environnement social. En combinant les données biométriques, les mesures du fonctionnement cognitif et comportemental et les dossiers médicaux, le DAP cherche à utiliser l'approche des mégadonnées pour transformer notre perception de la manière dont le monde qui nous entoure affecte la santé des chiens de compagnie. Les auteurs décrivent l'infrastructure des données mise au point pour intégrer et analyser des données environnementales multi-niveaux, afin de mieux comprendre les phénomènes de comorbidité et de vieillissement chez le chien.

La exposición a factores ambientales puede tener muchas e importantes repercusiones en los resultados sanitarios. Si bien se han dedicado cuantiosos recursos a aprehender la influencia del entorno en las personas, poco se ha hecho para estudiar el modo en que las características del medio, tanto natural como artificial, repercuten en la salud de los animales. El proyecto sobre Envejecimiento canino [Dog Aging Project: DAP] es un estudio longitudinal de ciencia ciudadana centrado en el envejecimiento de los perros de compañía. Combinando la información de encuestas realizadas a propietarios y de fuentes secundarias y vinculando los datos a coordenadas geográficas codificadas, el DAP ha permitido reunir información de variables ligadas al hogar, el jardín y el barrio de más de 40 000 perros. El conjunto de datos ambientales del DAP cubre cuatro grandes ámbitos: medio físico y urbanizado; condiciones químicas del entorno y exposición a sustancias químicas; régimen alimentario y ejercicio; y medio e interacciones sociales. Pasando por el uso combinado de datos biométricos, historias clínicas y mediciones de la función cognitiva y el comportamiento, el DAP apunta ahora a emplear técnicas de trabajo con macrodatos para hacer evolucionar nuestras ideas sobre la influencia del mundo que nos rodea en la salud de los perros de compañía. Los autores describen la infraestructura de datos establecida para integrar y analizar datos ambientales multiestratificados que nos ayuden a conocer mejor los procesos de comorbilidad y envejecimiento en el perro.

Self-assembled monolayer films of phosphonates for bonding RGD to titanium.

Modification of the implant surface with the Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide (RGD) putatively facilitates osteoblast attachment for improved implant fixation in the laboratory. We compared the histomorphometric and mechanical performance of titanium implants coated with RGD using a novel interface of self-assembled monolayers of phosphonates (RGD/SAMP) and implants coated with RGD using the more conventional thiolate-gold interface (RGD/thiolate-gold). We hypothesized RGD/SAMP-coated implants would show greater bone ongrowth and implant fixation than RGD/thiolate-gold-coated ones. We implanted an RGD/SAMP-coated implant in one femur and an RGD/thiolate-gold-coated in the contralateral femur of 60 rats. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation, 10 rats were sacrificed for histologic evaluation and another 10 for biomechanical testing. Bone-implant ongrowth and implant force-to-failure of the two implants were similar at all times. Although RGD/SAMP-coated implants did not show superior bone ongrowth and implant fixation, RGD/SAMP-coated implants have at least equally good histomorphometric and mechanical in vivo performance as RGD/thiolate-gold-coated ones. Additional in vivo characterization of self-assembled monolayer films of phosphonates as interface to bond RGD to titanium is needed to explore its full potential and seems justified based on the results of this study.

Free fatty acid elevation impairs insulin-mediated vasodilation and nitric oxide production.

The effect and time course of free fatty acid (FFA) elevation on insulin-mediated vasodilation (IMV) and the relationship of FFA elevation to changes in insulin-mediated glucose uptake was studied. Two groups of lean insulin-sensitive subjects underwent euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (40 mU x m(-2) x min(-1)) clamp studies with and without superimposed FFA elevation on 2 occasions approximately 4 weeks apart. Groups differed only by duration of FFA elevation, either short (2-4 h, n = 12) or long (8 h, n = 7). On both occasions, rates of whole-body glucose uptake were measured, and changes in leg blood flow (LBF) and femoral vein nitric oxide nitrite plus nitrate (NOx) flux in response to the clamps were determined. Short FFA infusion did not have any significant effect on the parameters of interest. In contrast, long FFA infusion decreased rates of whole-body glucose uptake from 47.7 +/-2.8 to 32.2 +/- 0.6 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) (P < 0.01), insulin-mediated increases in LBF from 66 +/- 8 to 37 +/- 7% (P < 0.05), and insulin-induced increases in NOx flux from 25 +/- 9 to 5 +/- 9% (P < 0.05). Importantly, throughout all groups, FFA-induced changes in whole-body glucose uptake correlated significantly with FFA-induced changes in insulin-mediated increases in LBF (r = 0.706, P < 0.001), which indicates coupling of metabolic and vascular effects. In a different protocol, short FFA elevation blunted the LBF response to NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), which is an inhibitor of NO synthase. LBF in response to L-NMMA decreased by 17.3 +/- 2.4 and 9.0 +/- 1.4% in the groups without and with FFA elevation, respectively (P < 0.05), which indicates that FFA elevation interferes with shear stress-induced NO production. Thus, impairment of shear stress-induced vasodilation and IMV by FFA elevation occurs with different time courses, and impairment of IMV occurs only if glucose metabolism is concomitantly reduced. These findings suggest that NO production in response to the different stimuli may be mediated via different signaling pathways. FFA-induced reduction in NO production may contribute to the higher incidence of hypertension and macrovascular disease in insulin-resistant patients.

The development of competency standards for specialist critical care nurses.

In defining the contemporary role of the specialist nurse it is necessary to challenge the concept of nursing as merely a combination of skills and knowledge. Nursing must be demonstrated and defined in the context of client care and include the broader notions of professional development and competence. This qualitative study sought to identify the competency standards for nurse specialists in critical care and to articulate the differences between entry-to-practice standards and the advanced practice of specialist nurses. Over 800 hours of specialist critical care nursing practice were observed and grouped into 'domains' or major themes of specialist practice using a constant comparison qualitative technique. These domains were further refined to describe attributes of the registered nurses which resulted in effective and/or superior performance (competency standards) and to provide examples of performance (performance criteria) which met the defined standard. Constant comparison of the emerging domains, competency standards and performance criteria to observations of specialist critical care practice, ensured the results provided a true reflection of the specialist nursing role. Data analysis resulted in 20 competency standards grouped into six domains: professional practice, reflective practice, enabling, clinical problem solving, teamwork, and leadership. Each of these domains is comprised of between two and seven competency standards. Each standard is further divided into component parts or 'elements' and the elements are illustrated with performance criteria. The competency standards are currently being used in several Australian critical care educational programmes and are the foundation for an emerging critical care credentialling process. They have been viewed with interest by a variety of non-critical care specialty groups and may form a common precursor from which further specialist nursing practice assessment will evolve.

An algorithm for monitoring phenytoin therapy.

Nurse practitioners need an evidence-based framework for monitoring clients on phenytoin (Dilantin) therapy. A Med-line search of published literature and a synthesis of 10 years of research was performed. The effect of phenytoin within the body is dependent on the amount of serum albumin and the functional status of the major organs in the body. The basic principles of pharmacotherapeutics holds true for phenytoin. Closer investigation of total serum phenytoin and serum albumin ratio by primary care providers is necessary for monitoring therapeutic levels of phenytoin therapy. An algorithm was developed to provide a quick reference for monitoring therapeutic phenytoin levels.

Abnormal neurotransmission in mice lacking synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A).

Synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) is a membrane glycoprotein common to all synaptic and endocrine vesicles. Unlike many proteins involved in synaptic exocytosis, SV2 has no homolog in yeast, indicating that it performs a function unique to secretion in higher eukaryotes. Although the structure and protein interactions of SV2 suggest multiple possible functions, its role in synaptic events remains unknown. To explore the function of SV2 in an in vivo context, we generated mice that do not express the primary SV2 isoform, SV2A, by using targeted gene disruption. Animals homozygous for the SV2A gene disruption appear normal at birth. However, they fail to grow, experience severe seizures, and die within 3 weeks, suggesting multiple neural and endocrine deficits. Electrophysiological studies of spontaneous inhibitory neurotransmission in the CA3 region of the hippocampus revealed that loss of SV2A leads to a reduction in action potential-dependent gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission. In contrast, action potential-independent neurotransmission was normal. Analyses of synapse ultrastructure suggest that altered neurotransmission is not caused by changes in synapse density or morphology. These findings demonstrate that SV2A is an essential protein and implicate it in the control of exocytosis.

Residential segregation of West Indians in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area: the roles of race and ethnicity.

"To assess the relative roles of race and ethnicity in shaping patterns of residential segregation, this article utilizes indices of segregation and a geographic mapping strategy to examine the residential patterns of West Indian blacks in the greater New York City area. The socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods occupied by West Indian blacks are also examined and compared to those of areas occupied by African Americans. The results indicate that, on one hand, West Indians are largely denied access to residential areas occupied predominantly by whites and are confined to areas of large black concentrations. On the other hand, West Indians appear to have carved out somewhat separate residential enclaves within these largely black areas...."

Residential mobility between cities and suburbs: race, suburbanization, and back-to-the-city moves.

Information from the 1979 to 1986 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics is merged with data on respondents' tract and metropolitan area of residence to examine patterns and determinants of residential mobility between central cities and suburbs. Consistent with the life-cycle model of residential mobility, mobility in both directions declines with age, but on balance the presence of young children deters moving to the suburbs. Among blacks, education increases the probability of moving from cities to suburbs, while high income retains blacks and whites in suburbs. Consistent with the place stratification model, blacks are substantially less likely than whites to move from cities to suburbs, and substantially more likely to move from suburbs to cities, even after standardizing for racial differences in sociodemographic characteristics. High levels of violent crime and unemployment in cities relative to suburbs also tend to spur city-to-suburb mobility or inhibit suburb-to-city moves.