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The use of airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) as a direct method to evaluate forest canopy parameters is vital in addressing both forest management and ecological concerns. The overall goal of this study was to develop the use of airborne LiDAR in evaluating canopy parameters such as percent canopy cover (PCC) and leaf area index (LAI) for mixed pine and hardwood forests (primarily loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, forests) of the southeastern United States. More specific objectives were to: (1) Develop scanning LiDAR and multispectral imagery methods to estimate PCC and LAI over both hardwood and coniferous forests; (2) investigate whether a LiDAR and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data fusion through linear regression improve estimates of these forest canopy characteristics; (3) generate maps of PCC and LAI for the study region, and (4) compare local scale LiDAR-derived PCC and regional scale MODIS-based PCC and investigate the relationship. Scanning LiDAR data was used to derive local scale PCC estimates, and TreeVaW, a LiDAR software application, was used to locate individual trees to derive an estimate of plot-level PCC. A canopy height model (CHM) was created from the LiDAR dataset and used to determine tree heights per plot. QuickBird multispectral imagery was used to calculate the NDVI for the study area. LiDAR- and NDVI-derived estimates of plot-level PCC and LAI were compared to field observations for 53 plots over 47 square kilometers. Linear regression analysis resulted in models explaining 84% and 78% of the variability associated with PCC and LAI, respectively. For these models to be of use in future studies, LiDAR point density must be 2.5 m. The relationship between regional scale PCC and local scale PCC was investigated by resizing the local scale LiDAR-derived PCC map to lower resolution levels, then determining a regression model relating MODIS data to the local values of PCC. The results from this comparison showed that MODIS PCC data is not very accurate at local scales. The methods discussed in this paper show great potential for improving the speed and accuracy of ecological studies and forest management.

Background: Over the past decade obesity has doubled in children aged 6-11 and tripled among adolescents aged 12-19. One trend that has coincided with this increased obesity prevalence is decreased meal frequency, which may impact blood sugar, meal size, cortisol release, insulin release, and appetite controls that include the release of leptin and ghrelin. Ultimately, these changes may result in a simultaneous lowering of the metabolic (i.e., fat-free) mass and a rising of the fat mass. Purpose: To assess food/beverage intake in a way that would determine if large deviations in energy balance (EB) during the day were related to body fat percent (BF%). Methods: Using an IRB-approved protocol, male and female children were assessed using NutriTiming® (NutriTiming LLC, 2011) software, which simultaneously assesses energy intake from consumed foods and beverages and energy expenditure from activities with different intensities. A 24-hour recall questionnaire and interview, with at least one parent present, was used to obtain data, which represented a typical school day. BF% was assessed using an 8-mode bioelectrical impedance segmental body composition analyzer (Tanita, Model BC-418). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (ver. 18). Results: A total of 16 children ranging in age from 8-14 years were interviewed. Due to incomplete data on 4 subjects, 12 subjects (6 boys; 6 girls ranging in age from 9-14 years; mean=11.41 ± 1.5) were included in the data analysis. Energy intakes averaged 1,984 ± 510 kcal; and energy expenditure averaged 1,689 ± 351 kcal. Average BF% was 24.3 ± 4.9. Using Spearman correlation and independent group t-test (with the mean energy balance as the cut-point) traditional end-of-day energy balance (24-hr energy in vs. 24-hr energy out) was not statistically associated with body fat %, and there was no difference in BF% between those above and below the end-of-day EB mean. However, more hours spent in an energy surplus (EB > 0) was significantly associated with lower body fat % (r=-0.914; PP

The Staphylococci are gram-positive bacteria that cause infections in humans and can produce severe morbidity and mortality. Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates are resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics, such as methicillin, and cephalosporins making treatment of these infections more difficult. MRSA has become prevalent throughout the United States, spreading in the health care setting and the community.The purpose of this study is to examine methicillin resistance among S. aureus isolates in an outpatient population in the state of Florida and asses possible associations between methicillin resistance and age group, gender, and geographic area. It is important to define methicillin resistance in a population so that clinical practice can adjust to the prevalence of resistance.The dataset used for this analysis is a record of all the S. aureus isolates tested by a large lab company in the state of Florida from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005. This is the first study to asses methicillin resistance with a population based dataset and not patients from hospitals. The percent of isolates that were methicillin resistant increased as year increased. This increase in the number of methicillin resistant isolates was significant for both the crude and adjusted analysis. When treated as a continuous variable and adjusted for age category, gender, and county of residence the odds ratio for year is 1.446, 95% CI: 1.410- 1.484. In 2005, 49.7% of the isolates were methicillin resistant. Methicillin resistance also varied by age category, gender, county, and region. For age group and gender the differences were not large and may not be clinically significant. However, there was substantial variation in methicillin resistance by region and county of residence.With nearly half of the S. aureus isolates being methicillin resistant, the beta-lactam antibiotics may no longer be an ideal choice for treating S. aureus infections in Florida. The percentage of MRSA isolates that were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, gentamycin, and rifampin was low. These antibiotics may be feasible alternatives to treat outpatient S. aureus infections in Florida.

The severely obese patient has varying degrees of intrinsic reduction of expiratory flow rates and lung volumes. Thus, the severely obese patient is predisposed to postoperative atelectasis, ineffective clearing of respiratory secretions, and other pulmonary complications. This study evaluated the effect of bi-level positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP) on pulmonary function in obese patients following open gastric bypass surgery. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m2 who were undergoing elective gastric bypass were eligible to be randomized to receive either BiPAP during the first 24 h postoperatively or conventional postoperative care. Patients with significant cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases were excluded from the study. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and percent hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured preoperatively, and on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. Twenty-seven patients were entered in the study, 14 received BiPAP and 13 received conventional postoperative care. There was no significant difference preoperatively between the study and control groups in regards to age, BMI, FVC, FEV1.0, PEFR or SpO2. Postoperatively, expiratory flow was decreased in both groups. However, the FVC and FEV1.0 were significantly higher on each of the three consecutive postoperative days in the patients who received BiPAP therapy. The SpO2 was significantly decreased in the control group over the same time period. Prophylactic BiPAP during the first 12--24 h postoperatively resulted in significantly higher measures of pulmonary function in severely obese patients who had undergone elective gastric bypass surgery. These improved measures of pulmonary function, however, did not translate into fewer hospital days or a lower complication rate in our study population of other wise healthy obese patients. Further study is necessary to determine if BiPAP therapy in the first 24 postoperative hours would be of benefit in severely obese patients with comorbid illnesses who have undergone elective gastric bypass.

This study examined the severity of wind damage created by Hurricane Katrina in southeast Mississippi to determine how the disturbance was influenced by fragmentation based on different forest ownership groups (Non-corporate private forest, corporate private forest and public forest). MODIS-NDVI percent change products were coupled with ownership, rainfall, and Landsat based thematic maps depicting forest age and forest types using GIS techniques to examine potential contributing factors to possible damage for the study area. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression methods were used to explain the relationship between severity of damage and forest age, forest type, ownership, and rainfall. Results indicate that the NDVI percent change had a negative relationship with forest age diversity and a positive relationship with forest type diversity and rainfall. There was no clear and direct consistent relationship between NDVI percent change and forest ownership.

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The objective of the study was to identify the relationship between percent body fat (%BF) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in children ages 7 to 9 years. The sample (n=171) was divided into four groups. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to estimate %BF. Significant positive correlations were observed between WHR and %BF for black females (r = 0.48), white females (r = 0.66), black males (r = 0.34), and white males (r = 0.55). Although the correlations differed between groups, the amount of variation between the two variables was not significantly different between groups other than black females. Least squares means was used to estimate %BF using an average WHR (.85). Black females had higher %BF than other groups. Percent body fat cannot be fully explained by WHR (r2 = 0.32). Results show a relationship between %BF and WHR, yet predicting %BF from a given WHR may be difficult.

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