Time-variant left ventricle models for intracardiac impedance analysis.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Thus, critically ill patients require continuous monitoring of cardiovascular indicators, such as the left ventricular volume (LVV). Although continuous hemodynamic monitoring of patients is desirable, due to technical limitations, current measurement technologies either require manual intervention of the physician or only provide inaccurate results.

The environmental history of Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in Myanmar (Burma).

We reconstructed the history of Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) to understand how social and economic events, and policy changes affected the sanctuary's condition. We surveyed 25 villages surrounding CWS to evaluate past and present ecological conditions, compare the results with historical accounts and identify causal relationships. During the first half of the 20th century, the primary threat was the government's reduction of old growth forest to supply fuel wood for the British-built railway.

Phylogeography of the asian elephant (Elephas maximus) based on mitochondrial DNA.

Populations of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) have been reduced in size and become highly fragmented during the past 3,000 to 4,000 years. Historical records reveal elephant dispersal by humans via trade and war. How have these anthropogenic impacts affected genetic variation and structure of Asian elephant populations? We sequenced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to assay genetic variation and phylogeography across much of the Asian elephant's range.

Comparative reproductive function in cervids: implications for management of farm and zoo populations.

The cervids represent a complex assemblage of taxa characterized by extreme diversity in morphology, physiology, ecology and geographical distribution. Farmed species (for example red deer and fallow deer) are usually the common larger-bodied, gregarious and monotocous species that express marked reproductive seasonality in their temperate environment. Their commercial importance has facilitated considerable research into reproductive physiology and the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Plasma vitamin E and other analyte levels in Nepalese camp elephants (Elephas maximus).

Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and other analytes in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Nepal were determined during typical work camp management of the elephants. Elephants foraged for food for 4-6 hr each day under the control of mahouts and were also provided daily with cut forage and supplements of unhusked rice, cane molasses, and salt. Blood samples were taken monthly for 1 yr without chemical restraint from 26 female elephants in four camps.

Seasonal patterns of basal and GnRH-induced LH, FSH and testosterone secretion in Eld's deer stags (Cervus eldi thamin).

Plasma LH, FSH and testosterone were measured in blood samples collected via remote catheterization from six adult Eld's deer stags every 10 min for 8 h before and 2 h after GnRH (1 microgram kg-1, i.v.) administration.

Circannual inter-relationships among reproductive hormones, gross morphometry, behaviour, ejaculate characteristics and testicular histology in Eld's deer stags (Cervus eldi thamin).

Blood samples, morphometric measurements and behavioural data were collected weekly for 52 weeks from six adult Eld's deer stags exposed to natural fluctuations in photoperiod (38 degrees N latitude). Mean (+/- SEM) serum LH concentrations reached peak values in the autumn (October), three months before FSH and testosterone concentrations reached peak values in early winter (January). Prolactin concentrations were inversely related (r = -0.

Monitoring ovarian function and pregnancy in Eld's deer (Cervus eldi thamin) by evaluating urinary steroid metabolite excretion.

Direct radioimmunoassays (RIA) for urinary oestrone conjugates and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (PdG) were used to study ovarian activity patterns and pregnancy in Eld's deer. In 2 does, urinary metabolite patterns were compared to temporal patterns of plasma LH, oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone. Preovulatory LH peaks occurred coincident with behavioural oestrus, and plasma progesterone secretion paralleled PdG excretion.

Use of urinary hormone assays for evaluating endocrine patterns associated with the long-day breeding season in Eld's deer (Cervus eldi).

Reproductive seasonality and pregnancy in the endangered brow-antlered or Eld's deer (Cervus eldi) were studied by measuring urinary estrone conjugates (EC) and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (PdG) profiles in voided urine. Based on the excretion of PdG, female Eld's deer were seasonally polyestrous, spontaneous ovulators with regular cyclic activity beginning in January to March and ending in August to October. The overall estrous cycle averaged 21.

Volatile components of the occipital gland secretion of the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus).

The male Bactrian camel's occipital scent gland produces a series of steroids including 5α-androst-16-en-3-one in addition to a series of fatty acids and γ-dodecalactone. 3-Methylbutanoic acid is the most volatile of the acids which include hexanoic, a decenoic, and the saturated acids from C15 to C25 with the exception of C24. The constitution of this secretion changes appreciably with the season.

Communication in the tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus barrisii) and a survey of auditory communication in the marsupialia.

The female-male interaction system of the Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus barrisii, was analyzed in captivity. A description of visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory signals was prepared based on an encounter series. The vocalizations of the Tasmanian devil were classified and described with respect to their probable function.