A meta-analysis of the effect of visiting zoos and aquariums on visitors' conservation knowledge, beliefs, and behavior.

Zoos and aquariums are well placed to connect visitors with the issues facing biodiversity globally and many deliver interventions that seek to influence visitors' beliefs and behaviors with respect to conservation. However, despite primary studies evaluating the effect of such interventions, the overall effect of engaging with zoos and the factors that influence this effect remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the effect of zoo-led interventions on knowledge, beliefs (attitudes, intentions, self-efficacy, and social norms), and behavior among zoo visitors. These outcomes were identified using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical lens. We identified and described the nature of zoo-led interventions in 56 studies and used the behavior change technique (BCT) taxonomy to identify 6 specific BCTs used in interventions to date. Multilevel meta-analyses revealed a small to medium positive effect of engaging with zoo-led interventions on outcomes (d+  = 0.40, 95% confidence interval = 0.28-0.51). Specifically, visitors were more knowledgeable about conservation issues, held more favorable attitudes toward conservation, and reported being more likely to act for the benefit of biodiversity. No evidence of publication bias was present. Effect sizes were, however, heterogeneous and subgroup analyses revealed that the nature of the intervention or type of outcome did not explain this variance. Larger effects were, however, found in studies conducted at a single institution relative to research at multiple institutions and studies that used within-participant designs relative to between-participant designs. Taken together, these findings demonstrate how behavior change frameworks can be used to describe zoo-led interventions and supports the assertion that zoos and aquariums can promote changes in beliefs and behaviors that may help protect biodiversity.

Metaanálisis del efecto de la visita a acuarios y zoológicos sobre el conocimiento, creencias y comportamientos de conservación de los visitantes © 2024 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Resumen Los zoológicos y los acuarios están bien posicionados para conectar a los visitantes con temas mundiales de biodiversidad y varios cuentan con intervenciones que buscan influir las creencias y el comportamiento de los visitantes con respecto a la conservación. Sin embargo, con todo y los estudios primarios que evalúan el efecto de dichas intervenciones, aún no está claro el efecto general de participar en los zoológicos y los factores que influyen sobre este efecto. Realizamos una revisión sistemática para investigar el efecto de las intervenciones en los zoológicos sobre el conocimiento, creencias (actitud, intención, autosuficiencia y normas sociales) y comportamiento de sus visitantes. Usamos la teoría del comportamiento planeado como lente teórico para identificar los resultados. Identificamos y describimos la naturaleza de las intervenciones en los zoológicos en 56 estudios y usamos la taxonomía de las técnicas de modificación de conducta (TMC) para identificar seis TMC específicas que se usan hoy en día en dichas intervenciones. Los metaanálisis multinivel revelaron un efecto positivo de pequeño a mediano sobre los resultados causado por la participación en las intervenciones de los zoológicos (d+ = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.28 - 0.51). En específico, los visitantes fueron más conocedores sobre los temas de conservación, tuvieron actitudes más favorables hacia la conservación y reportaron tener mayor probabilidad de actuar en beneficio de la biodiversidad. No hubo evidencias de sesgos en las publicaciones. Sin embargo, el tamaño de los efectos fue heterogéneo y el análisis de los subgrupos reveló que la naturaleza de la intervención o el tipo de resultados no explicaban esta varianza. A pesar de esto, encontramos efectos más grandes en los estudios realizados en una sola institución en relación con la investigación realizada en varias instituciones y los estudios que usaron diseños intraparticipantes en relación a los que usaron diseños interparticipantes. Nuestra revisión demuestra cómo los marcos de modificación conductual pueden usarse para describir las intervenciones en los zoológicos y acuarios y respalda la aseveración de que estas instituciones pueden promover cambios en las creencias y el comportamiento que pueden ayudar a proteger la biodiversidad.

Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health Second Opinion Clinic - first ten years of operation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim is to report the operation of the Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health (ADFCMH) Second Opinion Clinic (SOC) after its first 10 years of operation. METHOD: Demographic data and clinical data were recorded and analysed for all Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel (n=209) seen at the clinic from 2011 to 2021. RESULTS: Assessment at the clinic led to a change in diagnosis from that given at the time of referral in 40.7% (n=85) of members seen. Of the total members assessed at the SOC, 55.9% (n=117) had been on an at least one operational deployment. Mood disorders were the most common mental disorders seen among personnel at the SOC. CONCLUSIONS: The ADFCMH SOC is a valuable clinical resource supporting ADF health services nationally and provides an example of an effective mental health tertiary referral service.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Single-dose Perioperative Pregabalin in Ureteroscopy.

PURPOSE: Ureteroscopy is a commonly performed procedure, with postoperative pain that can lead to revisits and opioid prescribing. Perioperative gabapentinoids have shown promise in decreasing pain and opioid use. We hypothesized that single-dose perioperative pregabalin would be safe and efficacious for decreasing pain after ureteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved and registered blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a single institution. Patients undergoing ureteroscopy without histories that would limit use of opioids, gabapentinoids, and nonsteroidal medications were enrolled. Either 300 mg pregabalin or placebo was administered 1 hour before ureteroscopy. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale before administration and 1 hour after surgery. Clinical factors, pain scores, a proxy for cognition, patient satisfaction, and opioid prescribing were assessed in the first 30 postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were enrolled over a 2-year period. Patients who received pregabalin were younger than those who received placebo (median of 44 years vs 57). Postoperative pain scores were higher in those who received pregabalin (3.7 vs 2.0, P = .004), a finding that remained statistically significant when accounting for patient age and preoperative pain scores. There was no difference in the measure of cognition or in reports of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial evaluating the efficacy of single-dose perioperative pregabalin in ureteroscopy, pregabalin did not decrease postoperative pain when compared to placebo. Urologists should not routinely use this adjunctive medication in ureteroscopy, as it is unlikely to provide benefit.

Assessing the effect of interpretation design traits on zoo visitor engagement.

In the past few decades, zoos have undergone a transformation from places of entertainment to centers for conservation, with education becoming a particular focus. Interpretation in zoos is a near-universal method for delivering education in zoos and has been shown to prompt learning and pro-conservation behavior change. However, there is limited understanding on how interpretation design itself can influence visitor engagement. Using unobtrusive visitor observations (n = 3890), this study measures visitor engagement of multiple pieces of interpretation with various design "traits," to provide a comprehensive overview of the key traits related to increased visitor engagement. The proportion of visitors who stopped at the interpretation (attraction power), and how long they stopped for (holding power), were our two outcome variables. From our models, we found that attraction and holding power are most strongly influenced by the type of interpretation, with interactive interpretation seeing nearly four times as many visitors stop, and for more than six times longer, when compared to standard text and graphics interpretation. We also found that location was significantly related to attraction power, with visitors more likely to stop at interpretation in more immersive exhibits. Lastly, interpretation containing images of humans were related to a higher holding power. We hope our findings will be used as a guide for designing interpretation that is both attractive and interesting to zoo visitors, maximizing the conservation education value of zoo-based interpretation.

AMYLOIDOSIS IN CAPTIVE EUROPEAN EASTERN BONGO (TRAGELAPHUS EURYCERUS ISAACI): PREVALENCE, PREDICTIVE FACTORS, ORGAN PREDILECTION, AND SERUM AMYLOID A CONCENTRATIONS.

Amyloidosis is frequently identified during postmortem examination of captive eastern bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). However, its significance and etiopathogenesis are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of amyloidosis within this population and identify potential predictive factors for the presence of disease. Postmortem reports obtained from 24 EEP institutions were analyzed and assessed for evidence of amyloidosis. Seventy-two individuals had histopathological assessment performed after gross postmortem examination and were included in the study. Further histopathological analysis was performed on Congo red-stained slides from 26 individuals, and organ predilection sites were identified. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in six individuals to identify the type of amyloid present. Serum amyloid A (SAA) analysis was performed on blood samples from 34 individuals, and concentrations in affected and unaffected individuals were compared. Amyloidosis was reported in 26 animals (36%). The association between the presence of amyloidosis and sex, age, or body condition was not statistically significant. However, amyloidosis was not identified in any individuals under the age of 6 yr. The presence of chronic inflammatory conditions was the only statistically significant predictive factor for the presence of amyloidosis (P = 0.03). Chronic inflammatory conditions present included nephritis, enteritis, and pneumonia. The majority of affected animals presented with amyloid deposition in multiple organs, with the liver and kidneys being most commonly affected. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of AA amyloid. The association between the presence of amyloidosis and SAA values measured on a single occasion was not statistically significant. This study identified a high prevalence of amyloidosis within the captive European eastern bongo population associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. Antemortem diagnosis of amyloidosis remains challenging, and this study indicates that SAA protein concentrations are not a reliable indicator for the presence of amyloidosis.

Nutritional Modulation of Sleep Latency, Duration, and Efficiency: A Randomized, Repeated-Measures, Double-Blind Deception Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that a novel nutritional blend composed of tryptophan, glycine, magnesium, tart cherry powder, and l -theanine enhances subjective and objective measures of sleep during free living conditions. METHODS: In a randomized, repeated-measures crossover and double-blind deception design, participants ( n = 9 males and 7 females, age = 24 ± 3 yr, body mass = 69.8 ± 11.6 kg, stature = 170.8 ± 9.1 cm) completed a 3-d familiarization period, followed by 3-d intervention and placebo trials. Subjective Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index, Core Consensus Sleep Diary, and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale survey tools, alongside objective actigraphy measures of sleep, were assessed, with daily nutritional intake, activity, and light exposure standardized between trials. Participants provided daily urine samples for assessment of targeted and untargeted metabolomes. RESULTS: The intervention trial reduced sleep onset latency (-24 ± 25 min; P = 0.002), increased total sleep time (22 ± 32 min; P = 0.01), and increased sleep efficiency (2.4% ± 3.9%; P = 0.03), while also reducing morning sleepiness ( P = 0.02). Throughout the study, 75% of participants remained blinded to sleep assessment as a primary outcome measure, with 56% subjectively indicating improved sleep during the intervention trial. Metabolomic analysis highlighted several significantly altered metabolomes related to sleep regulation between trials, inclusive of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, d -serine, and l -glutamic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Data demonstrate that using the proposed blend of novel nutritional ingredients during free living conditions reduced sleep onset latency, increased total sleep duration, and increased sleep efficiency, leading to reduced perceptions of morning sleepiness. These effects may be mediated by the upregulation of key metabolites involved in the neurophysiological modulation of the sleep/wake cycle.

An orally available small molecule that targets soluble TNF to deliver anti-TNF biologic-like efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to a family of trimeric proteins with both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. TNF is a key mediator in autoimmune diseases and during the last couple of decades several biologic drugs have delivered new therapeutic options for patients suffering from chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Attempts to design small molecule therapies directed to this cytokine have not led to approved products yet. Here we report the discovery and development of a potent small molecule inhibitor of TNF that was recently moved into phase 1 clinical trials. The molecule, SAR441566, stabilizes an asymmetrical form of the soluble TNF trimer, compromises downstream signaling and inhibits the functions of TNF in vitro and in vivo. With SAR441566 being studied in healthy volunteers we hope to deliver a more convenient orally bioavailable and effective treatment option for patients suffering with chronic autoimmune diseases compared to established biologic drugs targeting TNF.

Sugammadex versus neostigmine for routine reversal of neuromuscular blockade and the effect on perioperative efficiency.

Sugammadex produces recovery from neuromuscular blockade more rapidly and reliably than neostigmine. We sought to determine if sugammadex is associated with improved perioperative efficiency when compared to traditional neuromuscular blockade reversal with neostigmine, potentially offsetting the higher medication cost. This retrospective analysis involved patients receiving either neostigmine or sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular blockade at a single academic tertiary care hospital. The final propensity-matched groups consisted of 4060 in each group (neostigmine or sugammadex). The primary outcome measured was total time in the operating room. Secondary outcomes included specific measures of perioperative efficiency as well as postoperative pulmonary failure. The average operating room time for patients was 169.59 [1.27] minutes for neostigmine and 157.06 [1.33] minutes for sugammadex (P < 0.001). The difference was primarily accounted for by shorter surgical times (121.45 [1.18] vs 109.62 [1.22] minutes, P < 0.011). Sugammadex was also associated with a shorter post-anesthesia care unit length of stay (102.47 [1.04] vs 98.67 [1.02] minutes, P < 0.001). For 8120 patients, sugammadex use was associated with shorter operating room and surgical durations as well as shorter post-anesthesia care unit stay. The favorable pharmacodynamic profile of sugammadex may improve surgical and perioperative efficiency and offset higher medication cost.

Developing resilience in first responders: Strategies for enhancing psychoeducational service delivery.

Large-scale potentially traumatic events (e.g., unprecedented fires and global pandemics) require the involvement of frontline staff critical to managing such crises. These personnel also carry the psychological burden associated with more direct exposure to potentially traumatic events. A critical role for resilience interventions is to support the psychological health of personnel during and after such events. However, there is a notable lack of a conceptual blueprint regarding how to approach the delivery of resilience interventions in the workplace. This article will draw from the current resilience training scholarship with the objective of providing a roadmap for both the enhancement and delivery of resilience training across sectors and future research into resilience interventions. Central to this article is the need for greater integration of organizational training theory into strategies for developing and implementing resilience training in the workplace. Following a brief review of the broad approaches to resilience training, we provide an account of how psychologists and other providers may maximize resilience training effectiveness, drawing on lessons learned from the military experience. Further, we give consideration to the intersection between resilience training and the organizational training scholarship and explore the factors that influence the effect of training on mental health outcomes, including pretraining conditions, training methods and instructional strategies, and posttraining conditions. An overarching challenge for this article is to support the development of a framework for best practice in resilience training that integrates organizational training theory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluating the contribution of a wildlife health capacity building program on orangutan conservation.

One Health is increasingly being used as a tool in ecosystem protection. The Orangutan Veterinary Advisory Group (OVAG) is working to address One Health concerns in Pongo spp. (orangutan) welfare and conservation. Orangutans are vital contributors to the ecosystem health of their range areas. Strengthening national capacity is crucial to make a lasting difference in the currently bleak outlook for orangutan species survival. OVAG is a capacity strengthening and expertise network that brings together all those working with orangutans, in- and ex-situ, to share knowledge, skills, and to collectively learn. Using the One Health paradigm embedded to enhance professional development, the OVAG network is successfully supporting conservation outcomes and impact. As part of our adaptive management approach, and to assess individual and organizational change attributable to the capacity strengthening work of OVAG, we evaluated technical skill test data, program satisfaction data, and asked participants to complete a self-reflective survey. This pilot study of our work demonstrates statistically significant improvements in conservation medicine (t = 5.481, p < 0.0001) and wildlife clinical skills knowledge (t = 3.923, p < 0.001) for those in the OVAG program. Most consider OVAG participation to be either critical or very useful in their conservation medicine decision-making process, with a perceived positive impact on their skills at handling multiple situations. Additionally, participant feedback shows a sense of being able to drive positive change locally and nationally (within their own countries) as a consequence of OVAG participation. The authors hope the OVAG model including its associated capacity support mechanisms and pedagogical approaches can be used as a template for other One Health efforts.

Combined resistance and aerobic exercise intervention improves fitness, insulin resistance and quality of life in survivors of childhood haemopoietic stem cell transplantation with total body irradiation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a supervised combined resistance and aerobic training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, insulin resistance and quality of life (QoL) in survivors of childhood haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with total body irradiation (TBI). PARTICIPANTS: HSCT/TBI survivors (n = 20; 8 females). Mean (range) for age at study and time since HSCT/TBI was 16.7 (10.9-24.5) and 8.4 (2.3-16.0) years, respectively. METHODS: After a 6-month run-in, participants undertook supervised 45- to 60-minute resistance and aerobic training twice weekly for 6 months, with a 6-month follow-up. The following assessments were made at 0, 6 (start of exercise programme), 12 (end of exercise programme) and 18 months: Body composition via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cardiorespiratory fitness (treadmill-based peak rate of oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) test), QoL questionnaires (36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument (MMQL). RESULTS: Results expressed as mean (standard deviation) or geometric mean (range). There were significant improvements in VO2 peak (35.7 (8.9) vs 41.7 (16.1) mL/min/kg, P = 0.05), fasted plasma insulin (16.56 (1.48-72.8) vs 12.62 (1.04-54.97) mIU/L, P = 0.03) and HOMA-IR (3.65 (0.30-17.26) vs 2.72 (0.22-12.89), P = 0.02) after the exercise intervention. There were also significant improvements in the SF-36 QoL general health domain (69.7 (14.3) vs 72.7 (16.0), P = 0.001) and the MMQL school domain (69.1 (25.2) vs (79.3 (21.6), P = 0.03) during the exercise intervention. No significant changes were observed in percentage body fat, fat mass or lean mass. CONCLUSION: The supervised 6-month combined resistance and aerobic exercise programme significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin resistance and QoL in childhood HSCT/TBI survivors, with no change in body composition, suggesting a metabolic training effect on muscle. These data support a role for targeted physical rehabilitation services in this group at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Sub-syndromal PTSD: what is important to know in military personnel and veterans?

OBJECTIVE: To assist healthcare professionals in their management of military personnel and veterans by providing information on the importance of sub-syndromal PTSD. CONCLUSION: Sub-syndromal PTSD occurs when persons experience many of the symptoms of PTSD, with some impairment, but do not meet full diagnostic criteria. Found to be associated with a range of mental health conditions including alcohol abuse, higher rates of suicidal ideas and delayed-onset PTSD, it should be seen as 'symptoms that are predictive of later disorder'. Patients with this condition need accurate assessment, trauma-focused therapy and follow-up to address the symptoms and, potentially, prevent development of PTSD.

Olfactory working memory: exploring the differences in n-back memory for high and low verbalisable odorants.

We describe four experiments each examining n-back performance for high and low verbalisable odorants. Participants were presented with a sequence of odorants and were required to state if the current odorant was the same or different to the odorant presented two items earlier. Experiment 1 reported superior performance for high, relative to low, verbalisable odorants and was evident despite above-chance memory performance for the low verbalisable odorants. Experiment 2 showed that such superiority persisted with a concurrent articulation condition, suggesting that the memory benefit was not a consequence of verbal recording and rehearsal. Experiment 3 employed metacognitive judgments and showed that correct 2-back responses for high verbalisable odorants received more recollection responses compared to low verbalisable odorants. Experiment 4 compared n-back performance across different stimulus types and showed that, for high verbalisable odorants, performance correlated with both letters and abstract shapes, but such correlations were absent for low verbalisable odorants. Taken together, these findings show differences in n-back performance between high and low verbalisable odorants, and show that high verbalisable odorants exhibit performance similarities with both verbal and visual stimuli. We further argue that n-back performance for low verbalisable odorants operates differently to that of high verbalisable odorants.

Development of an Orthogonal Tie2 Ligand Resistant to Inhibition by Ang2.

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is a vascular protective ligand that acts through the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 to enhance endothelial survival and quiescence. In sepsis, diabetic retinopathy, and a range of other diseases, Ang2, an antagonist of Tie2, increases markedly. This antagonist suppresses Ang1 protective effects leading to vascular destabilization, inflammation, and endothelial death. Administration of recombinant Ang1 can counter Ang2 antagonism and restore vascular function. However, recombinant Ang1 is needed at sufficiently high concentrations to block Ang2, and the protein is difficult to produce, requires mammalian expression systems, and is prone to aggregation. Here we present an engineered synthetic Tie2 ligand that is not antagonized by Ang2 but is easy to produce and more robust than Ang1. Using a peptide phage display, we isolated a heptameric sequence that binds Tie2-ectodomain and fused this to the coiled:coil domain of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. This pentameric protein is 60 kDa in size, expressed in E. coli, and facile to purify. The protein, designated TSL1, binds to Tie2-ectodomain in vitro and on the cell surface. TSL1 inhibits endothelial apoptosis. Crucially, TSL1 binds at a site on Tie2 distinct from the angiopoietin-binding site and is resistant to antagonism by Ang2. This engineered ligand has several advantages over recombinant Ang1 for potential therapeutic applications. The study also highlights the value of orthogonal ligands for regulating cellular receptors without being subject to antagonism or modulation by endogenous ligands.

A database of chlorophyll a in Australian waters.

Chlorophyll a is the most commonly used indicator of phytoplankton biomass in the marine environment. It is relatively simple and cost effective to measure when compared to phytoplankton abundance and is thus routinely included in many surveys. Here we collate 173, 333 records of chlorophyll a collected since 1965 from Australian waters gathered from researchers on regular coastal monitoring surveys and ocean voyages into a single repository. This dataset includes the chlorophyll a values as measured from samples analysed using spectrophotometry, fluorometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The Australian Chlorophyll a database is freely available through the Australian Ocean Data Network portal (https://portal.aodn.org.au/). These data can be used in isolation as an index of phytoplankton biomass or in combination with other data to provide insight into water quality, ecosystem state, and relationships with other trophic levels such as zooplankton or fish.

Item-specific proactive interference in olfactory working memory.

We examine item-specific olfactory proactive interference (PI) effects and undertake comparisons with verbal and non-verbal visual stimuli. Using a sequential recent-probes task, we show no evidence for PI with hard-to-name odours (Experiment 1). However, verbalisable odours do exhibit PI effects (Experiment 2). These findings occur despite above chance performance and similar serial position functions across both tasks. Experiments 3 and 4 apply words and faces, respectively, to our modified procedure, and show that methodological differences cannot explain the null finding in Experiment 1. The extent to which odours exhibit analogous PI effects to that of other modalities is, we argue, contingent on the characteristics of the odours employed.

Quantifying long-term impact of zoo and aquarium visits on biodiversity-related learning outcomes.

Zoos and aquariums aim to achieve lasting impact on their public audiences' awareness of biodiversity, its value, and the steps they can take to conserve it. Here, we evaluate the long-term educational impact of visits to zoos and aquariums on biodiversity understanding and knowledge of actions to help protect biodiversity. A minimum of two years after completing a repeated-measures survey before and after visiting a zoo or aquarium, the same participants were invited to take part in a follow-up online survey. Despite the small number of respondents (n = 161), our study may still represent the best available quantitative evidence pertaining to zoo and aquarium visits' long-term educational impact. We found that improvements in respondents' biodiversity understanding from pre- to post-visit leveled off, staying unchanged in the follow-up survey. In contrast, the improved knowledge of actions to help protect biodiversity from pre- to post-visit showed further improvement from post-visit to delayed post-visit follow-up survey. These results suggest that the immediate positive effects of a zoo or aquarium visit on biodiversity-related learning outcomes may be long lasting and even help lay the groundwork for further improvements over an extended period of time following the visit.

Aortic Valve Annular Sizing: Intraoperative Assessment Versus Preoperative Multidetector Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate valve sizing is critical in aortic valve replacement. We hypothesized that direct intraoperative valve sizing results in smaller aortic annular diameters compared with sizing based on systolic-phase multidetector computerized tomographic (MDCT) imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed 78 patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis between 2012 and 2014 at our institution. Preoperative MDCT measurements of the aortic annulus served as basis for assignment to a theoretical surgical valve size, which was then (1) compared to the implanted valve size and (2) to a theoretical transcatheter aortic valve replacement valve size. To quantify the resulting differences, geometric orifice areas (GOA) were calculated. MDCT-based sizing produced the same valve size for n=34 patients (group CT-same), a larger valve with a 25% increased GOA in n=32 patients (group CT-Lg) and a smaller GOA by 22% in n=12 patients (group CT-Sm). On the basis of MDCT measurements, 41% of valves implanted were undersized. The comparison of intraoperative implanted to a theoretical transcatheter aortic valve replacement valve size resulted in GOAs 25% larger for patients in group CT-same, 40.6% larger in group CT-Lg and 14.6% larger in group CT-Sm. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MDCT measurements differ substantially from direct intraoperative assessment of the aortic annulus. Implanted surgical aortic valve replacement valves were smaller relative to MDCT-based sizing in 41% of patients, and the potential GOA was between 25% and 40.6% larger if patients had undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Odorant Normative Data for Use in Olfactory Memory Experiments: Dimension Selection and Analysis of Individual Differences.

The present study reports normative ratings for 200 food and non-food odors. One hundred participants rated odors across measures of verbalisability, perceived descriptive ability, context availability, pleasantness, irritability, intensity, familiarity, frequency, age of acquisition, and complexity. Analysis of the agreement between raters revealed that four dimensions, those of familiarity, intensity, pleasantness, and irritability, have the strongest utility as normative data. The ratings for the remaining dimensions exhibited reduced discriminability across the odor set and should therefore be used with caution. Indeed, these dimensions showed a larger difference between individuals in the ratings of the odors. Familiarity was shown to be related to pleasantness, and a non-linear relationship between pleasantness and intensity was observed which reflects greater intensity for odors that elicit a strong hedonic response. The suitability of these data for use in future olfactory study is considered, and effective implementation of the data for controlling stimuli is discussed.