An evidence‐based medicine approach to small animal anaesthetic mortality in a referral practice: the influence of initiating three recommendations on subsequent anaesthetic deaths

ObjectiveTo evaluate anaesthetic death after implementation of recommendations and its risk factors in a small animal practice.Study designObservational cohort study.AnimalsAll cats and dogs anaesthetized at the Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire des Cordeliers during two periods, from April 15th, 2008 to April 15th, 2010 (period 1) and from June 15th, 2010 to August 24th, 2011 (period 2).MethodsDeath occurring during or before full recovery from anaesthesia was recorded. At the end of period 1, a logistic regression model was generated to describe anaesthetic death and identify risk factors. Potential risk factors in our practice setting were identified, and three recommendations, relating to improving physical status and anaesthetic/analgesic regimen implemented for period 2. The relationship between anaesthetic death and recorded variables were analyzed, and where relevant, compared between periods.ResultsSix thousand two hundred and thirty-one animals underwent general anaesthesia. The overall death rate during period 1 was 1.35% (48 in 3546, 95% CI [1.0–1.7%]) and during period 2 was 0.8% (21 in 2685, 95% CI [0.6–1.2%]). For sick animals (ASA status 3 and over), the overall death rate was 4.8% (45 of 944 95% [CI 3.5–6.4%]) during period 1 and 2.2% (18 of 834 95% CI [1.3–3.5%]) during period 2; this represented a significant decrease in death rate in period 2 (p = 0.002). In period 2, the main factors associated with an increased odds ratio of anaesthetic death were poor health status (ASA physical status classification) and old age. Species, gender, anaesthetic regimen, the nature and urgency of the procedure were not associated with risk.Conclusion and clinical relevanceFollowing evidence based recommendations, the death rate related to anaesthesia was significantly decreased during period 2 compared to period 1. Application of evidence-based medicine may contribute to an effective approach to decrease death rates. Other factors, not monitored in this study, may also have had an impact.     

Development of monitoring and fault diagnosing system for ship power plant

A digital monitoring and fault diagnosing system for ship power plant based on fuzzy neural network and dempster shafer(D S) evidence theory is developed. The system includes data acquisition part, software control part and analysis part, which can monitor the main propulsion device, diesel generator and auxiliaries. The main propulsion device can be real time dynamicly monitored by acquiring cylinder pressure and instantaneous angular speed. Using thermodynamic parameters and instantaneous angular speed, two sub fuzzy neural networks are parallel constructed. The fault of main propulsion device is judged by data fusing algorithm of D S evidence theory, and finally the result of fault diagnosis can be obtained. Test shows that the system’s real time performance and measurement accuracy can meet requirements, and the fusion method of fuzzy neural network according to D S evidence theory has relatively high reliability.     

基于D-S证据理论的智能温室环境控制决策融合方法

在无线传感器网络下的智能温室环境控制系统中,农作物的生长通常受多种环境因子共同作用。根据温室环境控制系统的实际需求建立基于Dempster-Shafer(D-S)证据理论的决策框架,并提出了一种数据预处理和决策融合方法。首先,使用箱线图检测量测数据中的异常值,考虑到现有直接剔除异常数据处理方法的弊端,提出了一种异常数据自适应修正方法;然后,利用加权平均距离聚类处理更新后的数据;最后,根据所提出的基于加权相似度的基本概率分配方法结合D-S证据理论进行融合,为温室环境控制做出正确决策。实验结果表明,箱线图检测异常数据更为准确,其检测率比狄克逊准则高近19.2%,对于不确定性融合结果,本文提出的基于加权相似度的基本概率分配方法相比现有方法降低了1~2个数量级,不仅可以提高温室环境参数融合精度,加快收敛速度,同时还能有效地降低决策风险。     

基于证据理论的农用车辆评价方法

基于证据理论,提出了用于处理不确定性农用车辆评价的证据推理方法．在该方法中,扩展了 ２ 种组合算法,以便集合多个不确定性主观判断． 这为购买农用车辆的决策者提供了重要依据,并且在工程和经济领域中有实际应用价值     

The effectiveness of management interventions for the control of Spartina species: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

• 1. Spartina species (cordgrasses) have been introduced to the estuaries around Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Asia as a coastal management tool to stabilise mud banks, and through accidental introductions. These mainly non‐native species are highly aggressive in their new environment, and frequently become the dominant plant species, displacing native flora and fauna.
• 2. The majority of organisations managing estuarine environments within the USA and UK have established integrated control programmes to eradicate Spartina spp. These plans can be expensive to deliver and take many years. For example, the Willapa Bay, WA control programme in 2003 had been implemented for over 3 years, but with an annual cost of approximate $2 m year^?1 (～£1.2 m year^?1).
• 3. Through the use of the systematic review process and meta‐analysis, the effectiveness of management interventions (chemical, mechanical and biological) used to control or eradicate invasive Spartina spp. were investigated.
• 4. The effectiveness of glyphosate and imazapyr herbicides at reducing S. alterniflora differ greatly depending upon application method and whether surfactant or wetting agents are used. Cutting combined with smothering is highly effective at reducing S. anglica densities, but its efficacy has not been established for other Spartina spp. Cutting alone increases densities of S. anglica and S. townsendii, while reducing S. alterniflora densities. Biological control, while in its infancy, has the potential to significantly reduce S. anglica densities, while against S. alterniflora it might be of benefit as part of an integrated programme.
• 5. The results highlight the need to establish targeted control programmes, dependent upon the Spartina spp., the underlying site characteristics and the available budget. Where the evidence base is limited or absent, recommendations of further experiments are presented, including a call for improved reporting of site characteristics and experimental methodology, allowing managers to establish whether trial results are applicable to their own sites and therefore limiting the implementation of ineffective management interventions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats

Immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. IMHA also occurs in cats, although less commonly. IMHA is considered secondary when it can be attributed to an underlying disease, and as primary (idiopathic) if no cause is found. Eliminating diseases that cause IMHA may attenuate or stop immune‐mediated erythrocyte destruction, and adverse consequences of long‐term immunosuppressive treatment can be avoided. Infections, cancer, drugs, vaccines, and inflammatory processes may be underlying causes of IMHA. Evidence for these comorbidities has not been systematically evaluated, rendering evidence‐based decisions difficult. We identified and extracted data from studies published in the veterinary literature and developed a novel tool for evaluation of evidence quality, using it to assess study design, diagnostic criteria for IMHA, comorbidities, and causality. Succinct evidence summary statements were written, along with screening recommendations. Statements were refined by conducting 3 iterations of Delphi review with panel and task force members. Commentary was solicited from several professional bodies to maximize clinical applicability before the recommendations were submitted. The resulting document is intended to provide clinical guidelines for diagnosis of, and underlying disease screening for, IMHA in dogs and cats. These should be implemented with consideration of animal, owner, and geographical factors.     

ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs

This report, issued by the ACVIM Specialty of Cardiology consensus panel, revises guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD, also known as endocardiosis and degenerative or chronic valvular heart disease) in dogs, originally published in 2009. Updates were made to diagnostic, as well as medical, surgical, and dietary treatment recommendations. The strength of these recommendations was based on both the quantity and quality of available evidence supporting diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Management of MMVD before the onset of clinical signs of heart failure has changed substantially compared with the 2009 guidelines, and new strategies to diagnose and treat advanced heart failure and pulmonary hypertension are reviewed.     

局部证据RBF人体行为高层特征自相似融合识别研究

针对传统人体动作识别算法,往往重点解决某一类行为识别,不具有通用性的问题,提出一种局部证据RBF人体行为高层特征自相似融合识别算法。首先,借用随时间变化的广义自相似性概念,利用时空兴趣点光流场局部特征提取方法,构建基于自相似矩阵的人体行为局部特征描述;其次,在使用SVM算法进行独立个体行为识别后,利用所提出的证据理论RBF（Radial Basis Function）高层特征融合,实现分类结构优化,从而提高分类准确度;仿真实验表明,所提方案能够明显提高人体行为识别算法效率和识别准确率。     

新疆气候变化的适应能力时空演化特征

当前气候变化及其对社会经济的深刻影响已成为全球不容忽视的客观问题,减缓与适应气候变化就成为两种不可或缺的应对方式。20世纪80年代以来,新疆气候变化十分明显,平均气温大幅上升,极端降水事件频率增加且强度增强,对区域水资源、农业与牧业等领域的持续平稳发展提出了重大挑战。鉴于新疆地区在整个欧亚大陆都处于非常重要的地位,分析其气候变化的适应能力及其演进状况,有利于决策者制定区域应对气候变化不利影响的策略。基于1991—2013年国民经济统计数据,将证据理论确定权重法与灰色综合分析法相结合,分析新疆各地州市社会经济层面气候变化适应能力的时空演进状况。结果表明:新疆整体的适应能力从"八五"时期(1991—1995年)至"十二五"时期(2011—2013年)呈不断上升态势,尤其从"九五"时期(1996—2000年)到"十五"时期(2001—2005年),从"十一五"时期到"十二五"时期增加幅度最大;新疆各地州市的适应能力,除了克拉玛依市,从2004—2013年变化幅度不大,且从2009年以后各地州市的适应能力高中低的相对分布格局更加分散和聚集。通过对比每一个地州市2009—2013年与2004—2008年的平均适应能力水平发展,发现新疆有6个地州市的适应能力为轻微下降的态势;在全部地州市中,适应能力最低的区域主要集中在新疆的西南部,适应能力最强的为乌鲁木齐市与克拉玛依市,其余的地州市为中等水平,并且不同适应能力等级间的差距比较大。