Inferring condition in wild mammals: body condition indices confer no benefit over measuring body mass across ecological contexts.

Many studies assume that it is beneficial for individuals of a species to be heavier, or have a higher body condition index (BCI), without accounting for the physiological relevance of variation in the composition of different body tissues. We hypothesized that the relationship between BCI and masses of physiologically important tissues (fat and lean) would be conditional on annual patterns of energy acquisition and expenditure. We studied three species with contrasting ecologies in their respective natural ranges: an obligate hibernator (Columbian ground squirrel, Urocitellus columbianus), a facultative hibernator (black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus), and a food-caching non-hibernator (North American red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). We measured fat and lean mass in adults of both sexes using quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR). We measured body mass and two measures of skeletal structure (zygomatic width and right hind foot length) to develop sex- and species-specific BCIs, and tested the utility of BCI to predict body composition in each species. Body condition indices were more consistently, and more strongly correlated, with lean mass than fat mass. The indices were most positively correlated with fat when fat was expected to be very high (pre-hibernation prairie dogs). In all cases, however, BCI was never better than body mass alone in predicting fat or lean mass. While the accuracy of BCI in estimating fat varied across the natural histories and annual energetic patterns of the species considered, measuring body mass alone was as effective, or superior in capturing sufficient variation in fat and lean in most cases.

Factores asociados al cumplimiento de la terapia preventiva con isoniacida en niños en Quito, Ecuador (2014-2016 y 2018)

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Conocer el porcentaje de cumplimiento de la terapia preventiva con isoniacida (TPI) en los establecimientos de salud de Quito, Ecuador y sus factores asociados en los niños menores de 5 años. Métodos. Investigación operativa con diseño de cohorte, en la que se obtuvo datos de informes y tarjetas de administración de tratamiento de los niños en TPI de los años 2014 al 2016 y de encuestas ad hoc aplicadas a cuidadores de los niños que recibieron TPI durante el año 2018. Resultados. Los niños menores de 5 años correspondieron a 29,3% del total de los contactos de los casos índices; 73% cumplieron TPI y 88,9% completaron al menos 6 meses de terapia. Se encontró asociación con la carga bacilar del caso índice, con la condición de pertenecer a un determinado distrito y su año de inicio. Se realizaron encuestas a 9 personas, funcionarios de los establecimientos salud y a 9 tutores de los niños; se registraron respuestas diversas sobre el agente causal de la tuberculosis, su transmisión y las características de la terapia preventiva. Conclusiones. La mayoría de los niños menores de 5 años que iniciaron TPI cumplieron con al menos 80% de las dosis prescritas, con determinadas asociaciones y percepciones en los cuidadores. En este contexto, surge la necesidad de realizar nuevas investigaciones operativas, para indagar más ampliamente sobre la adherencia y sobre los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de los profesionales de salud, los afectados por tuberculosis y su entorno.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. Determine the percentage of children under 5 years of age who completed isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) in health facilities in Quito, Ecuador, and assess related factors. Methods. Operations research with cohort design. Data were obtained from treatment reports on children in IPT between 2014 and 2016, and from ad hoc surveys of caregivers of children who received IPT in 2018. Results. Children under 5 represented 29.3% of all contacts of index cases; 73% completed IPT and 88.9% had at least six months of therapy. Associations were found with the bacterial load of the index case, with living in a given district, and with the year in which treatment was initiated. Surveys were conducted with nine staff members of health facilities and nine caregivers of children; diverse responses were given regarding the causative agent of tuberculosis, its transmission, and the characteristics of preventive therapy. Conclusions. The majority of children under 5 years of age who initiated IPT completed at least 80% of the prescribed doses, with varying associations and knowledge on the part of their caregivers. In this context, there is a need for further operations research in order to learn more about adherence and about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health professionals and those affected by tuberculosis, and their environment.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Conhecer a porcentagem de adesão à terapia preventiva com isoniazida (TPI) nas unidades de saúde de Quito, Equador, e os fatores associados à adesão em crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade. Métodos. Pesquisa operacional com desenho de coorte, na qual foram obtidos dados de relatórios e dos cartões de administração de TPI em crianças entre 2014 e 2016, bem como de questionários ad hoc aplicados aos cuidadores das crianças que receberam TPI durante o ano de 2018. Resultados. As crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade representaram 29,3% do total dos contatos dos casos índices; 73% aderiram à TPI e 88,9% completaram pelo menos 6 meses de tratamento. Identificamos associações com a carga bacilar do caso índice, com o distrito de residência do paciente e com o ano de início. Realizamos inquéritos com 9 funcionários das unidades de saúde e com 9 responsáveis pelas crianças, registrando respostas variadas sobre o agente causal da tuberculose, sua transmissão e as características da terapia preventiva. Conclusões. Em sua maioria, as crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade que iniciaram a TPI aderiram a pelo menos 80% das doses prescritas, havendo associações com certos fatores e com os conhecimentos dos cuidadores. Neste contexto, fica clara a necessidade de realizar novos estudos operacionais para compreender melhor a adesão ao tratamento e os conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas dos profissionais da saúde, dos afetados pela tuberculose e das pessoas em seu entorno.

[Factors associated with completion of isoniazid preventive therapy in children in Quito, Ecuador (2014-2016 and 2018)Fatores associados à adesão à terapia preventiva com isoniazida em crianças de Quito, Equador (2014-2016 e 2018)]. / Factores asociados al cumplimiento de la terapia preventiva con isoniacida en niños en Quito, Ecuador (2014-2016 y 2018).

OBJECTIVE: Determine the percentage of children under 5 years of age who completed isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) in health facilities in Quito, Ecuador, and assess related factors. METHODS: Operations research with cohort design. Data were obtained from treatment reports on children in IPT between 2014 and 2016, and from ad hoc surveys of caregivers of children who received IPT in 2018. RESULTS: Children under 5 represented 29.3% of all contacts of index cases; 73% completed IPT and 88.9% had at least six months of therapy. Associations were found with the bacterial load of the index case, with living in a given district, and with the year in which treatment was initiated. Surveys were conducted with nine staff members of health facilities and nine caregivers of children; diverse responses were given regarding the causative agent of tuberculosis, its transmission, and the characteristics of preventive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children under 5 years of age who initiated IPT completed at least 80% of the prescribed doses, with varying associations and knowledge on the part of their caregivers. In this context, there is a need for further operations research in order to learn more about adherence and about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health professionals and those affected by tuberculosis, and their environment.

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a porcentagem de adesão à terapia preventiva com isoniazida (TPI) nas unidades de saúde de Quito, Equador, e os fatores associados à adesão em crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa operacional com desenho de coorte, na qual foram obtidos dados de relatórios e dos cartões de administração de TPI em crianças entre 2014 e 2016, bem como de questionários ad hoc aplicados aos cuidadores das crianças que receberam TPI durante o ano de 2018. RESULTADOS: As crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade representaram 29,3% do total dos contatos dos casos índices; 73% aderiram à TPI e 88,9% completaram pelo menos 6 meses de tratamento. Identificamos associações com a carga bacilar do caso índice, com o distrito de residência do paciente e com o ano de início. Realizamos inquéritos com 9 funcionários das unidades de saúde e com 9 responsáveis pelas crianças, registrando respostas variadas sobre o agente causal da tuberculose, sua transmissão e as características da terapia preventiva. CONCLUSÕES: Em sua maioria, as crianças com menos de 5 anos de idade que iniciaram a TPI aderiram a pelo menos 80% das doses prescritas, havendo associações com certos fatores e com os conhecimentos dos cuidadores. Neste contexto, fica clara a necessidade de realizar novos estudos operacionais para compreender melhor a adesão ao tratamento e os conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas dos profissionais da saúde, dos afetados pela tuberculose e das pessoas em seu entorno.

Evaluating interactions of forest conservation policies on avoided deforestation.

We estimate the effects on deforestation that have resulted from policy interactions between parks and payments and between park buffers and payments in Costa Rica between 2000 and 2005. We show that the characteristics of the areas where protected and unprotected lands are located differ significantly. Additionally, we find that land characteristics of each of the policies and of the places where they interact also differ significantly. To adequately estimate the effects of the policies and their interactions, we use matching methods. Matching is implemented not only to define adequate control groups, as in previous research, but also to define those groups of locations under the influence of policies that are comparable to each other. We find that it is more effective to locate parks and payments away from each other, rather than in the same location or near each other. The high levels of enforcement inside both parks and lands with payments, and the presence of conservation spillovers that reduce deforestation near parks, significantly reduce the potential impact of combining these two policies.