Origin identification of migratory pests (European Starling) using geochemical fingerprinting.

The European Starling (Sturnidae: L.) is an invasive bird in North America where it is an agricultural pest. In British Columbia (Canada), the starling population increases in orchards and vineyards in autumn, where they consume and damage ripening fruits.

The influence of sulfur and hair growth on stable isotope diet estimates for grizzly bears.

Stable isotope ratios of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) guard hair collected from bears on the lower Stikine River, British Columbia (BC) were analyzed to: 1) test whether measuring δ34S values improved the precision of the salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) diet fraction estimate relative to δ15N as is conventionally done, 2) investigate whether measuring δ34S values improves the separation of diet contributions of moose (Alces alces), marmot (Marmota caligata), and mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) and, 3) examine the relationship between collection date and length of hair and stable isotope values. Variation in isotope signatures among hair samples from the same bear and year were not trivial.

Validity of Ratings of Perceived Exertion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: To examine whether a subjective measure of moderate-intensity exercise (12-13 on Borg's ratings of perceived exertion scale; RPE) corresponds to the target heart rate for moderate-intensity exercise (40-59% heart rate reserve; %HRR) and to determine the characteristics of those for whom RPE does not appropriately estimate exercise intensity.

Methods: 3582 individuals with type 2 diabetes (age: 58.3±6.

Stable isotopes confirm a coastal diet for critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals.

Understanding the ecology and behaviour of endangered species is essential for developing effective management and conservation strategies. We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the foraging behaviour of critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) in Greece. We measured carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (expressed as δ(13)C and δ(15)N values, respectively) derived from the hair of deceased adult and juvenile seals and the muscle of their known prey to quantify their diets.

Integrating empirically dissolved organic matter quality for WHAM VI using the DOM optical properties: a case study of Cu-Al-DOM interactions.

Metal speciation is important for understanding the toxicity of metals in aquatic systems, and can be predicted for mixtures of metals in presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) with thermodynamic models such as WHAM VI. The influence of the DOM source (quality) has been demonstrated, but is presently neglected in predicting Cu activity (WHAM VI). Here we determined the effect of aluminum (Al) competition on copper (Cu) complexation for four different DOMs, from a high-colored DOM (more humic) to a low-colored DOM (less humic).

Malignancy validation in a United States registry of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Physician reporting is commonly used to ascertain adverse events or outcomes measured in epidemiologic studies. However, little is known on the accuracy of physician reported malignancies compared to pertinent medical record review in large cohort studies.

Methods: The Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America (CORRONA) registry gathers physician-completed questionnaires for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, including request for information on incident malignancies, approximately every three months.

Promoting adoption, usability, and research for personal health records in Canada: the MyChart experience.

Sunnybrook's MyChart Personal Health Record (PHR) represents a direct extension of the hospital's electronic health record and an innovative form of healthcare record that promises to change the way patients and providers access and manage the information required to participate in their care. Early attempts at the development of PHR features have evolved into a set of emergent best practices that should directly inform the ongoing development of the MyChart platform and should be complemented with a research agenda that supports evidence-based analysis and design considerations affecting clinical efficacy, administrative efficiency, and value generation for all PHR stakeholders.

Estimates of the proportion of older white men who would be recommended for pharmacologic treatment by the new US National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines.

The new US National Osteoporosis Foundation's (NOF's) Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis includes criteria for recommending pharmacologic treatment based on history of hip or vertebral fracture, femoral neck or spine bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores of -2.5 or less, and presence of low bone mass at the femoral neck or spine plus a 10-year risk of hip fracture of 3% or greater or of major osteoporotic fracture of 20% or greater. The proportion of men who would be recommended for treatment by these guidelines is not known.

Exercise capacity and cardiovascular/metabolic characteristics of overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes: the Look AHEAD clinical trial.

Objective: We examined associations of cardiovascular, metabolic, and body composition measures with exercise capacity using baseline data from 5,145 overweight and/or obese (BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m2) men and women with type 2 diabetes who were randomized participants for the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) clinical trial.

Research Design And Methods: Peak exercise capacity expressed as METs and estimated from treadmill speed and grade was measured during a graded exercise test designed to elicit a maximal effort.

Integrating disability management into strategic plans: creating healthy organizations.

The integration of disability management into the strategic planning of a corporation ensures a work environment is created that motivates employees to consistently meet customer expectations. Disability management strategies can achieve significant decreases to the human and financial cost of workers' compensation, sick leave or short term disability, and long-term disability. The business case for disability management including effective return to work programs clearly supports program implementation to enhance employee engagement, delivery of corporate priorities, and improvement to the company's bottom line.

Preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious, costly, and increasingly common disease. Several conditions commonly seen in family medicine settings confer increased risk of developing diabetes. Among these conditions are impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, obesity, gestational diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and menopause.

Influence of natural organic matter source on copper speciation as demonstrated by Cu binding to fish gills, by ion selective electrode, and by DGT gel sampler.

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, 2 g) were exposed to 0-5 microM total copper in ion-poor water for 3 h in the presence or absence of 10 mg C/L of qualitatively different natural organic matter (NOM) derived from water spanning a large gradient in hydrologic residence time. Accumulation of Cu by trout gills was compared to Cu speciation determined by ion selective electrode (ISE) and by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) gel sampler technology. The presence of NOM decreased Cu uptake by trout gills as well as Cu concentrations determined by ISE and DGT.