Abstract We observed Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus), King Vultures (Sarcoramphus papa), Black (Coragyps atratus), Turkey (Cathartes aura), and Crested Caracaras (Polyborus plancus) interacting at 217 animal carcasses two sites in northern Peru. At 53 for which we knew order of arrival, usually arrived first, second, condors third. On the basis our observations 8,066 aggressive encounters between birds, constructed dominance hierarchies by calculating proportion won an individual one...

Explore compliance with occlusion treatment of amblyopia in the Monitored and Randomized Occlusion Treatment Amblyopia Studies (MOTAS ROTAS), using objective monitoring.Both studies had a three-phase protocol: initial assessment, refractive adaptation, occlusion. In phase, participants were instructed to dose for 6 hours/day (MOTAS) or randomized 12 hour/day (ROTAS). Dose was monitored continuously an monitor (ODM).One hundred fifty-two patients (71 male, 81 female; 122 Caucasian, 30...

Summary Personalized medicine is a rapidly expanding area of health research wherein patient level information used to inform their treatment. Dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs) are means formalizing the sequence decisions that characterize personalized management plans. Identifying DTR which optimizes expected outcome obvious interest and numerous methods have been proposed for this purpose. We present new approach builds on two established methods: Q‐learning G‐estimation, offering doubly...

We continue our review of issues related to measurement error and misclassification in epidemiology. further describe methods adjusting for biased estimation caused by continuous covariates, covering likelihood methods, Bayesian moment reconstruction, moment‐adjusted imputation, multiple imputation. then which can also be used with categorical covariates. Methods distributions variables are reviewed. Illustrative examples provided throughout these sections. provide lists available software...

Abstract Ingestion of foreign anthropogenic material, here called junk, has been documented in many avian taxa but become especially problematic some Old World Gyps vulture populations within the last 30 years. Here, we document effects ingested junk on a reintroduced population Critically Endangered California Condor Gymnogyps californianus southern California, U.S.A. Of 13 breeding attempts to date (2001–2005), only one resulted successful fledging. nests where either nest substrate was...

A dynamic treatment regime (DTR) is an approach to delivering precision medicine that uses patient characteristics guide decisions for optimal health outcomes. Numerous methods have been proposed DTR estimation, including weighted ordinary least squares (dWOLS), a regression-based affords double robustness model misspecification within easy implement analytical framework. Initially, the dWOLS was developed under assumptions of continuous outcomes and binary decisions. Motivated by clinical...

ABSTRACT Dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) are sequences of functions that formalize the process precision medicine. DTRs take as input patient information and output recommendations. A major focus DTR literature has been on estimation optimal DTRs, decision rules result in best outcome expectation, across complete population if they were to be applied. While there is a rich estimation, date, minimal consideration impacts nonadherence these procedures. Nonadherence refers any through which an...

Many observational studies feature irregular longitudinal data, where the observation times are not common across individuals in study. Furthermore, may be related to outcome. In this setting, failing account for informative process result biased causal estimates. This can coupled with other sources of bias, including nonrandomized treatment assignments and censoring. paper provides an overview a flexible weighting method used adjust processes assignments. We investigate sensitivity...

We studied how the environmental perturbations associated with 1982-1983 El Niiio phenomenon affected population dynamics of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) in three areas Peru. For at least four years prior to Niiio, nearly all adult a coastal and an foothill refrained from breeding; whereas high-elevation appeared be breeding once every other year. The severe disruptions caused food supply for decrease, while increased 17 fold. was little by because climatic changes area were...

To develop techniques for future releases of captive-reared California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) to the wild, we used Andean (Vultur gryphus) as surrogates. Hatched at facilities in United States, 11 young were transported an isolated study site on coast northern Peru and released under experimental conditions. Six these raised by their parents then held with other juveniles large aviaries before being shipped Peru. They between 1 3 years old when released. The 5 hand reared aid...

Personalized medicine, whereby treatments are tailored to a specific patient rather than general disease or condition, is an area of growing interest in the fields biostatistics, epidemiology, and beyond. Dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs) integral part this framework, allowing for personalized patients with long-term conditions while accounting both their present circumstances medical history. The identification optimal DTR any given context, however, non-trivial problem, so specialized...

Dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs) recommend treatments based on evolving subject-level data. The optimal DTR is that which maximizes expected patient outcome and as such its identification of primary interest in the personalized medicine setting. When analyzing data from observational studies using semi-parametric approaches, there are two components can be modeled: level for a given their other covariates. In an effort to offer greater flexibility, so-called doubly robust methods have been...

Military training, soil texture, and ground cover influence ant communities at Fort Benning, a military installation in west-central Georgia. We sampled 81,237 ground-dwelling ants (47 species 20 genera) with pitfall traps 40 sites on continuum from nearly pristine forest to highly disturbed training areas. also measured 15 environmental variables related vegetation soil. Sites by had fewer trees, less canopy cover, more bare ground, compact soils shallower A-horizons than comparable...

Dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) aim to formalize personalized medicine by tailoring decisions individual patient characteristics. G-estimation for DTR identification targets the parameters of a structural nested mean model, known as blip function, from which optimal is derived. Despite its potential, has not seen widespread use in literature, owing part often complex presentation and implementation, but also due necessity correct specification blip. Using quadratic approximation approach...

Nutrient enrichment from tile-drained agricultural lands to the Mississippi River is a leading cause of hypoxia in Gulf Mexico. Small edge-of-field wetlands can effectively treat nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 -N) export tiles, although less research exists on their capacity phosphorus (P). Additionally, long-term data are needed incorporate variability weather and farming practices into assessments wetland performance longevity. Research conducted over 12 yr quantified size-effectiveness reduce NO3...