Southern right whale vocalisations recorded in Walker Bay, South Africa, between June and November 1999, were analysed to investigate the acoustic repertoire, the relationship between calling behaviour and whale presence, the proportions of vocal and silent whales, and of recorded calls from unseen whales, and the evidence for vocal individuality. This marks the first study of right whale vocalisation in South African waters. A simple matrix system with the axes acoustic contour and onset frequency described twelve call types. Analysis of call use over time indicated that some calls, as well as broadband gunshots, clustered strongly in bouts of differing lengths, and that their relative use varied over the season; the repertoire and its classification was compared with other accounts of right whale vocalisation [chapter one]. A generalised linear model explained the variation in the overall call rate in terms of the numbers of whales present, month and wind direction. The overall call rate, for each month and in all wind conditions, rose with increasing whale numbers to a plateau at between ten and fifteen whales, and then declined as whale numbers rose further, suggesting that the social motivation for vocalising was progressively reversed. An inverse linear relationship between call rate per whale and whale abundance was clearly demonstrated over the whole season, indicating that call rates were unreliable as an indicator of whale numbers [chapter two]. A dual-axis, three-element hydrophone array suspended at 5m from floating buoys was designed to assign whale vocalisations to calling whales. The array was calibrated with an overall mean error of 3°. Bearings to calling whales were calculated using correlelograms, and compared with the observed positions of whales. On average 31% of low up (upwardly inflected) calls and 11% of medium and high down (downwardly inflected) calls came from whales not sighted from the boat; up to just under half of the whales sighted from the boat were silent. This indicates the importance of integrating visual and acoustic data when estimating whale numbers [chapter three]. In characterising individuality in vocalisations, we used cluster analysis of acoustic properties of whale calls to derive the Euclidean distances (a measure of similarity) between each possible pair of calls within a continuous recording session. Calls clearly from different whales (distant call pairs) were more dissimilar than calls possibly from one whale (‘close’ call pairs), lending support to the hypothesis of vocal individuality. The similarity between ‘close’ up calls was greatest when the calls were within 0.5 minutes of each other, and declined progressively, up to a separation of 6.5 minutes, as the likelihood of both calls being from one whale declined, indicating individual bout-calling. Medium and high down (downwardly inflected) calls, associated with surface active groups (SAGs), and thought by other researchers to be produced by the focal female, were more similar within any given SAG than when compared across SAGs. This evidence strongly suggests that southern right whales produce individually distinctive vocalisations [chapter four]. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

No description available.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

This paper explores trends in beverage preference in adolescents, identifies related regional differences, and examines cluster differences in key drinking measures. Data were obtained from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), covering 24 European countries between 1999 and 2019. Trends in the distribution of alcoholic beverages on the participants’ most recent drinking occasion were analysed by sex and country using fractional multinomial logit regression. Clusters of countries based on trends and predicted beverage proportions were compared regarding the prevalence of drinkers, mean alcohol volume and prevalence of heavy drinking. Four distinct clusters each among girls and boys emerged. Among girls, there was not one type of beverage that was preferred across clusters, but the proportion of cider/alcopops strongly increased over time in most clusters. Among boys, the proportion of beer decreased, but was dominant across time in all clusters. Only northern European countries formed a geographically defined region with the highest prevalence of heavy drinking and average alcohol volume in both genders. Adolescent beverage preferences are associated with mean alcohol volume and heavy drinking at a country-level. Future approaches to drinking cultures need to take subpopulations such as adolescents into account.

Humans, like all animal species, are subject to Bergmann's (1847) and Allen's (1877) environmental rules which summarize physical adaptations to the natural environment. However, humans are in addition cultural animals and other bio-cultural factors such as social, economic and political status, general health, and nutrition, have a noticeable influence on stature and body proportions. Importantly, socio-economic status has a powerful influence on stature, which has been used to elucidate status differences in past societies (Bogin and Loucky, 1997; Floud et al., 1990; Schutkowski, 2000a). Furthermore, bio-cultural factors influence all dimensions of the human body, including weight, relative limb length, and relative length of the different limb segments. Given minimal migration and shared natural environments, all populations in this study, coming as they do from the last 2000 years of English history, should demonstrate similar morphology (c. f Ruff, 1994) if climatic variables were the only influence on stature and body proportions. In order to assess such bio-cultural factors in individuals from archaeological populations, skeletal populations from sites such as known leprosaria and medieval hospitals, rural and urban parish cemeteries, victims from the battle of Towton in A. D. 1461, and individuals from monastic cemeteries were analysed. The osteometric data from these populations were assessedfo r within and between population variability and indicate effects of bio-cultural factors on attained body proportions and stature. The results indicate a strong relationship between bio-cultural factors and body proportions, body mass index, prevalence of pathologies, sexual dimorphism, secular trend, and general stature from Roman times to the post-medieval period. The usefulness of stature, weight, and physical indices as markers of the bio-cultural environment is demonstrated. The main findings include: a greater sensitivity to external stressors in the males rather than the females of the analysed populations, rendering male statures more susceptible to varying bio-cultural conditions; a potential for very tall stature has existed in the analysed populations but was only realised. in very high status individuals in medieval times, and from the beginning 20'h century with better socio-economic conditions for the population at large; a less stratified socio-political environment, as in the late Anglo-Saxon period resulted in taller average male statures that a more stratified one, such as the medieval Nation-States; and medieval monastic institutions could have high status, e.g., the Gilbertines, or lower status, such as the mendicant orders, while leprosaria had the lowest status of all.

Introdução: As infecções relacionadas à assistência a saúde (IRAS) são adquiridas durante o atendimento ao paciente para tratamento clínico ou cirúrgico e são o evento adverso mais frequente em serviços de saúde. Pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) apresentam maior risco de infecção e as infecções de corrente sanguínea ICS associadas a cateter venoso central (CVC) podem ser consideradas uma importante complicação em pacientes críticos e estão relacionadas com aumento na mortalidade, morbidade, tempo de internação e custos. A implantação de medidas de prevenção é capaz de prevenir mais de 50% das ICS associadas a CVC, resultando não apenas em redução de custos diretos, mas, também, em melhora da qualidade da assistência. Objetivos: Implantação de medidas de intervenção e avaliação do impacto destas medidas na redução das taxas de infecção de ICS laboratorialmente confirmadas associadas a CVC em hospitais com UTI adulto do estado de São Paulo de abril a dezembro de 2011 e até 6 meses após este período. Métodos: Uma amostra de 56 hospitais do Estado de São Paulo participou do estudo. Os hospitais foram orientados a formar grupos de trabalho e a aplicar um questionário de conhecimento aos seus profissionais de saúde. Além disso, os hospitais realizaram observação de práticas de inserção e cuidados com CVC. Os dados foram compilados e divulgados às equipes durante uma reunião na qual foram definidas quatro estratégias de intervenção. Após a implantação das medidas de intervenção, os hospitais realizaram um segundo período de observação e as equipes se reuniram em mais duas ocasiões para discutir as dificuldades e os resultados. As taxas de ICS associada a CVC foram acompanhadas durante todo o período. Os modelos lognormal de efeitos mistos e modelos baseados em equações de estimação generalizada foram utilizados para selecionar variáveis associadas à redução de ICS associada a CVC. Resultados: Houve melhora nas práticas de cuidados com CVC dos profissionais de saúde após a implantação das medidas de intervenção. A redução das taxas de ICS associada a CVC foi mais significativa em hospitais com taxas iniciais maiores que 7,4 / 1000 cateteres-dias (p < 0,001) e naqueles que introduziram o uso de cateter central de inserção periférica (PICC) (p = 0,01). No modelo final de análise de dados a variação nas taxas pós / pré-intervenção foi estimada. Para os hospitais com taxas iniciais altas, mesmo sem a implantação do PICC ou de novos dispensadores de produto alcoólico para higiene das mãos, espera-se que as taxas diminuam em 36% (95% IC: 9- 63%) ao longo do tempo. Conclusões: A redução das taxas de ICS associada a CVC foi mais significativa em hospitais com taxas inicialmente altas e naquelas que implantaram PICC. O processo de avaliar práticas e discutir problemas, no entanto, pode ter tido um efeito adicional na redução de taxas / Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are the most frequent adverse event in health services. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are at increased risk of infection and catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSIs) may be considered an important complication and are related to increased mortality, morbidity, time hospitalization, and costs. Several studies on the impact of interventions to reduce BSI have been published and show the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these measures. Objectives: Implantation of intervention measures and evaluation of the impact of these measures in reducing the rates of BSI rates in adult ICUs in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from April to December 2011 and up to 6 months after this period. Methods: 56 hospitals were requested to form work teams. Each hospital applied a questionnaire to their health care workers (HCW) and performed observation of practices. Data were compiled then fed back to the teams during a meeting in which 4 intervention strategies were defined. A 2nd observation period followed and teams met on 2 further occasions to discuss difficulties and results. BSI rates were registered. Log-normal mixed effects models and generalized estimating equation based models (GEE based models) were used to select variables significantly associated with the variation in BSI. Results: Interventions improved HCWs practices. Reduction of BSI rates was more significant in hospitals with initial BSI rates > 7.4/1000 catheter-days (p < 0.001) and those that introduced the use of peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICC) (p=0.01). A final model incorporing such findings was fitted and post/preintervention variation in rates were estimated. For hospitals with high BSI initial rates, without implementation of PICC or new alcohol hand rub dispensers, the rates are expected to decrease by 36% (95%CI: 9-63%) over time. Conclusions: Reduction of BSI rates was more significant in hospitals with initially high rates and in those implementing PICCs. The process of evaluating practices and discussing problems, however, may have had an additional effect

Einleitung: Wachstumsprozesse beim gesunden Menschen sind weitgehend untersucht und bekannt. Über die Auswirkungen von stark erniedrigtem bzw. fehlendem Wachstumshormon auf das Längen- und Breitenwachstum einzelner auxiologischer Parameter und die Folgen einer Wachstumshormonsubstitutionstherapie auf die Körperproportionen im Einzelnen weiß man außer den Kenntnissen über die Körperhöhenveränderungen wenig. Fragestellung: Ziel dieser Arbeit war die auxiologische Untersuchung von Kindern mit Wachstumshormonmangel vor und unter einer Substitutionstherapie mit Wachstumshormon. im Vordergrund stand die Erkennung bestimmter auxiologischer Muster vor und die Frage nach Veränderungen der Körperproportionen unter der Therapie. Methode: Grundlage der Daten sind 62 Kinder mit idiopathischem und 20 Kindern mit organischem Wachtumshormonmangel, bei denen über einen maximalen Zeitraum von fünf Jahren halbjährlich 22 verschiedene Parameter vermessen und drei weitere berechnet worden sind. Ergebnisse: Die phänotypischen Merkmale des hypophysären Kleinwuchses vor Substitutionsbeginn (Puppengesicht, Akromikrie, pyknomorpher Körperbau) sind Ausdruck bestimmter auxiologischer Konstellationen, die Längenparameter weichen signifikant stärker als die Breitenparameter vom Altersnormwert ab. In Abhängigkeit von der Therapiedauer kommt es durch unterschiedlich stark ausgeprägte Größenzuwachsraten im Verhältnis zum Längenwachstum insbesondere bei der Unterarmlänge, den Breiten- und Tiefenmaßen des Thorax und den Kopfmaßen zu Veränderungen der Körperproportionen. In der Regel verbessern sich die Ausgangsproportionen. Der relative Körperfettgehalt, sowie die Umfänge (Brust-, Taillen- und Hüftumfang) nehmen unter der Therapie in Relation zur Körperhöhe ab. Schlussfolgerung: Anhand der vorliegenden Daten wird gezeigt, dass die Substitutionstherapie mit Wachstumshormon beim hypophysären Kleinwuchs Auswirkungen auf das Längen- und Breitenwachstum einzelner auxiologischer Parameter hat und sich von physiologischem Wachstum unterscheidet. Für die Bestätigung unserer Beobachtungen sind weitere prospektive Untersuchungen in größeren Kollektiven notwendig. / Introduction: Processes of growth in healthy children are well established. However, little is known about the effects of strongly degraded or missing growth hormone on the lengths and breadths growth of single axiological parameters. In particular, changes of body proportions under hormone replacement therapy are not known. Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of growth hormone deficiency of single axiological parameters and changes in body proportions during replacement therapy with growth hormone. Patients/Material and Methods: Subjects studied include 62 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and 20 children with organic reason of growth hormone deficiency. 22 anthropometric measurements per person were taken by the same trained examiner prior to the start of GH-treatment and then every six months over a maximal period of 5 years. Results: Results give a distinct anthropometric picture before start of therapy. All linear parameters were significantly below average, while width measurements differed less. During treatment changes of the body proportions occur due to different growth rates of measured distances compared to height growth. The most positive changes were seen in the upper arm, hand and feet growth under GH-therapy. A comparable low growth was seen in forearm length, chest width and depth and head measures. The growth dynamics of the other parameters correspond to that of height itself. Conclusion: It is shown that the replacement therapy with growth hormone has different effects on the length and width growth of different bones. The growth is different from physiological growth processes in patient with growth hormone deficiency. Further prospective examinations are necessary to confirm our observations in larger collectives.

O problema de Inferência sobre uma proporção, amplamente divulgado na literatura estatística, ocupa papel central no desenvolvimento das várias teorias de Inferência Estatística e, invariavelmente, é objeto de investigação e discussão em estudos comparativos entre as diferentes escolas de Inferência. Ademais, a estimação de proporções, bem como teste de hipóteses para proporções, é de grande importância para as diversas áreas do conhecimento, constituindo um método quantitativo simples e universal. Nesse trabalho, é feito um estudo comparativo entre as abordagens clássica e bayesiana do problema de testar as hipóteses de ocorrência ou não de 2º turno em um cenário típico de eleição majoritária (maioria absoluta) em dois turnos no Brasil. / The problem of inference about a proportion, widely explored in the statistical literature, plays a key role in the development of several theories of statistical inference and, invariably, is the object of investigation and discussion in comparative studies among different schools of inference. In addition, the estimation of proportions, as well as test of hypothesis for proportions, is very important in many areas of knowledge as it constitutes a simple and universal quantitative method. In this work a comparative study between the Classical and Bayesian approaches to the problem of testing the hypothesis of occurrence of second round (or not) in a typical scenario of a majoritarian election (absolute majority) in two rounds in Brazil is developed.

O presente trabalho considera o problema de fazer inferência com acurácia para pequenas amostras, tomando por base a estatística da razão de verossimilhanças em modelos de regressão beta. Estes, por sua vez, são úteis para modelar proporções contínuas que são afetadas por variáveis independentes. Deduzem-se as estatísticas da razão de verossimilhanças ajustadas de Skovgaard (Scandinavian Journal of Statistics 28 (2001) 3-32) nesta classe de modelos. Os termos do ajuste, que têm uma forma simples e compacta, podem ser implementados em um software estatístico. São feitas simulações de Monte Carlo para mostrar que a inferência baseada nas estatísticas ajustadas propostas é mais confiável do que a inferência usual baseada na estatística da razão de verossimilhanças. Aplicam-se os resultados a um conjunto real de dados. / We consider the issue of performing accurate small-sample likelihood-based inference in beta regression models, which are useful for modeling continuous proportions that are affected by independent variables. We derive Skovgaards (Scandinavian Journal of Statistics 28 (2001) 3-32) adjusted likelihood ratio statistics in this class of models. We show that the adjustment terms have simple compact form that can be easily implemented from standard statistical software. We presentMonte Carlo simulations showing that inference based on the adjusted statistics we propose is more reliable than that based on the usual likelihood ratio statistic. A real data example is presented.

Introdução: As infecções relacionadas à assistência a saúde (IRAS) são adquiridas durante o atendimento ao paciente para tratamento clínico ou cirúrgico e são o evento adverso mais frequente em serviços de saúde. Pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) apresentam maior risco de infecção e as infecções de corrente sanguínea ICS associadas a cateter venoso central (CVC) podem ser consideradas uma importante complicação em pacientes críticos e estão relacionadas com aumento na mortalidade, morbidade, tempo de internação e custos. A implantação de medidas de prevenção é capaz de prevenir mais de 50% das ICS associadas a CVC, resultando não apenas em redução de custos diretos, mas, também, em melhora da qualidade da assistência. Objetivos: Implantação de medidas de intervenção e avaliação do impacto destas medidas na redução das taxas de infecção de ICS laboratorialmente confirmadas associadas a CVC em hospitais com UTI adulto do estado de São Paulo de abril a dezembro de 2011 e até 6 meses após este período. Métodos: Uma amostra de 56 hospitais do Estado de São Paulo participou do estudo. Os hospitais foram orientados a formar grupos de trabalho e a aplicar um questionário de conhecimento aos seus profissionais de saúde. Além disso, os hospitais realizaram observação de práticas de inserção e cuidados com CVC. Os dados foram compilados e divulgados às equipes durante uma reunião na qual foram definidas quatro estratégias de intervenção. Após a implantação das medidas de intervenção, os hospitais realizaram um segundo período de observação e as equipes se reuniram em mais duas ocasiões para discutir as dificuldades e os resultados. As taxas de ICS associada a CVC foram acompanhadas durante todo o período. Os modelos lognormal de efeitos mistos e modelos baseados em equações de estimação generalizada foram utilizados para selecionar variáveis associadas à redução de ICS associada a CVC. Resultados: Houve melhora nas práticas de cuidados com CVC dos profissionais de saúde após a implantação das medidas de intervenção. A redução das taxas de ICS associada a CVC foi mais significativa em hospitais com taxas iniciais maiores que 7,4 / 1000 cateteres-dias (p < 0,001) e naqueles que introduziram o uso de cateter central de inserção periférica (PICC) (p = 0,01). No modelo final de análise de dados a variação nas taxas pós / pré-intervenção foi estimada. Para os hospitais com taxas iniciais altas, mesmo sem a implantação do PICC ou de novos dispensadores de produto alcoólico para higiene das mãos, espera-se que as taxas diminuam em 36% (95% IC: 9- 63%) ao longo do tempo. Conclusões: A redução das taxas de ICS associada a CVC foi mais significativa em hospitais com taxas inicialmente altas e naquelas que implantaram PICC. O processo de avaliar práticas e discutir problemas, no entanto, pode ter tido um efeito adicional na redução de taxas / Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are the most frequent adverse event in health services. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are at increased risk of infection and catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSIs) may be considered an important complication and are related to increased mortality, morbidity, time hospitalization, and costs. Several studies on the impact of interventions to reduce BSI have been published and show the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these measures. Objectives: Implantation of intervention measures and evaluation of the impact of these measures in reducing the rates of BSI rates in adult ICUs in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from April to December 2011 and up to 6 months after this period. Methods: 56 hospitals were requested to form work teams. Each hospital applied a questionnaire to their health care workers (HCW) and performed observation of practices. Data were compiled then fed back to the teams during a meeting in which 4 intervention strategies were defined. A 2nd observation period followed and teams met on 2 further occasions to discuss difficulties and results. BSI rates were registered. Log-normal mixed effects models and generalized estimating equation based models (GEE based models) were used to select variables significantly associated with the variation in BSI. Results: Interventions improved HCWs practices. Reduction of BSI rates was more significant in hospitals with initial BSI rates > 7.4/1000 catheter-days (p < 0.001) and those that introduced the use of peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICC) (p=0.01). A final model incorporing such findings was fitted and post/preintervention variation in rates were estimated. For hospitals with high BSI initial rates, without implementation of PICC or new alcohol hand rub dispensers, the rates are expected to decrease by 36% (95%CI: 9-63%) over time. Conclusions: Reduction of BSI rates was more significant in hospitals with initially high rates and in those implementing PICCs. The process of evaluating practices and discussing problems, however, may have had an additional effect