Simple Guidelines Research Articles

How to Take Care of Your Diabetes in This COVID-19 Era?: Simple Guidelines for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

How to Take Care of Your Diabetes in This COVID-19 Era?: Simple Guidelines for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Measuring Piezoelectric Output-Fact or Friction?

Piezoelectric polymers are emerging as exceptionally promising materials for energy harvesting. While the theoretical figures of merit for piezoelectric polymers are comparable to ceramics, the measurement techniques need to be retrofitted to account for the different mechanical properties of the softer polymeric materials. Here, how contact electrification, including friction and contact separation, is often mistaken for piezoelectric charge is examined, and a perspective for how to separate these effects is provided. The state of the literature is assessed, and recommendations are made for clear and simple guidelines in reporting, for both sample geometry and testing methods, to enable accurate determination of piezoelectric figures of merit in polymers. Such improvements will allow an understanding of what types of material manipulation are required in order to enhance the piezoelectric output from polymers and enable the next generation of polymer energy harvester design.

Compensate for or Minimize Matrix Effects? Strategies for Overcoming Matrix Effects in Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Technique: A Tutorial Review.

In recent decades, mass spectrometry techniques, particularly when combined with separation methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography, have become increasingly important in pharmaceutical, bio-analytical, environmental, and food science applications because they afford high selectivity and sensitivity. However, mass spectrometry has limitations due to the matrix effects (ME), which can be particularly marked in complex mixes, when the analyte co-elutes together with other molecules, altering analysis results quantitatively. This may be detrimental during method validation, negatively affecting reproducibility, linearity, selectivity, accuracy, and sensitivity. Starting from literature and own experience, this review intends to provide a simple guideline for selecting the best operative conditions to overcome matrix effects in LC-MS techniques, to obtain the best result in the shortest time. The proposed methodology can be of benefit in different sectors, such as pharmaceutical, bio-analytical, environmental, and food sciences. Depending on the required sensitivity, analysts may minimize or compensate for ME. When sensitivity is crucial, analysis must try to minimize ME by adjusting MS parameters, chromatographic conditions, or optimizing clean-up. On the contrary, to compensate for ME analysts should have recourse to calibration approaches depending on the availability of blank matrix. When blank matrices are available, calibration can occur through isotope labeled internal standards and matrix matched calibration standards; conversely, when blank matrices are not available, calibration can be performed through isotope labeled internal standards, background subtraction, or surrogate matrices. In any case, an adjusting of MS parameters, chromatographic conditions, or a clean-up are necessary.

Using reinforcement learning models in social neuroscience: frameworks, pitfalls and suggestions of best practices.

The recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of reinforcement learning (RL) models in social, cognitive and affective neuroscience. This approach, in combination with neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, enables quantitative investigations into latent mechanistic processes. However, increased use of relatively complex computational approaches has led to potential misconceptions and imprecise interpretations. Here, we present a comprehensive framework for the examination of (social) decision-making with the simple Rescorla–Wagner RL model. We discuss common pitfalls in its application and provide practical suggestions. First, with simulation, we unpack the functional role of the learning rate and pinpoint what could easily go wrong when interpreting differences in the learning rate. Then, we discuss the inevitable collinearity between outcome and prediction error in RL models and provide suggestions of how to justify whether the observed neural activation is related to the prediction error rather than outcome valence. Finally, we suggest posterior predictive check is a crucial step after model comparison, and we articulate employing hierarchical modeling for parameter estimation. We aim to provide simple and scalable explanations and practical guidelines for employing RL models to assist both beginners and advanced users in better implementing and interpreting their model-based analyses.

Characterizing supply-side drivers of structural change in the construction of economic baseline projections

A recent review of common modelling practices conducted during the Workshop “Shaping long-term baselines with Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models” held at OECD in January 2018 showed that models include different assumptions on changes to the production function along their dynamic baselines. These changes imply shifts in sectoral compositions for the projected economies (i.e. structural change). This paper reviews the assumptions made by 24 modeling teams about supply-side drivers of structural change: primary factor efficiency and changes in input-output structures of the production function over time. We critically review various methodologies, identifying state-of-the-art practices, and we propose simple guidelines, particularly focusing on consistency between data sources and models. The review highlights that most models take into account structural change to some extent. However, more effort is needed in modelling projected changes in input-output structures. Furthermore, this review is helpful for understanding the functioning of dynamic CGE models and in assisting dynamic CGE modelers in building their own baselines

Macroeconomic drivers of baseline scenarios in dynamic CGE models: review and guidelines proposal

For dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling, long-term baseline construction is key and depends on the applied methods and the sources of projections considered. For dynamic CGE models, baseline assumptions and base data are both important determinants of results. This paper reviews the assumptions made by 24 modeling teams on baseline macroeconomic drivers, understood as factor accumulation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. We critically review the various methods, identifying state-of-the-art practices and propose simple guidelines, particularly focusing on consistency between data sources and models, which is intended to help dynamic CGE modelers build their own baselines.

PENYUSUNAN PEMBUKUAN DAN LAPORAN KEUANGAN UNTUK USAHA MIKRO DAN KECIL DI WILAYAH KAMPUNG PULO GEULIS BOGOR

Micro and small businesses are growing rapidly in the community but have weaknesses in the process of recording, accounting and compiling financial reports in accordance with applicable standards. The purpose of this activity is to provide training and mentoring on bookkeeping and compilation of simple financial reports to the micro and small business in the Kampung Pulo Geulis area, Babakan Pasar, Bogor as the activity partner. Community service activities seek to improve the ability of micro and small business managers and expected to improve the economic quality of the community in the area which has processed of developing into a tourism area in Central Bogor. The method of implementing activities are training and assisting of the activity of the participants which can provide optimal results to improve the community's economy, especially for those who need additional funds for their business. The selected samples are 25 micro and small businesses as the participants. The training was in the form of lectures and practicums accompanied by consulting and assisting in preparing a simple of financial report. The results of this activity will be in the form of simple bookkeeping guidelines and preparation of financial statements for micro and small businesses that can be understood by the participants.

Malnutrition in an Academic Health Sciences Centre: Applying results from nutritionDay 2011 to the proposed Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition approach to diagnosing malnutrition

BackgroundMalnutrition remains a significant ongoing issue in hospitalized patients, with cancer patients having one of the highest rates of malnutrition. Early identification with appropriate intervention is vitally important. nutritionDay is an international nutrition research study that was launched in 2006 to improve malnutrition awareness, education and research. The Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool [CNST] is validated to screen and identify patients at risk of malnutrition. In 2016, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition [GLIM] was convened to address the urgent need for simple and relevant clinical care guidelines for screening and diagnosing malnutrition.AimThe primary aim was to determine malnutrition prevalence at the three sites of an Academic Health Sciences Centre [AHSC] by applying data gathered from nutritionDay 2011 to the GLIM two-step approach to diagnosing malnutrition. The secondary aim was to compare malnutrition prevalence between the three sites, with a specific interest in the results from AHSC-a, the cancer center, since cancer patients are known to have one of the highest rates of malnutrition The tertiary aim was to explore possible reasons for poor intake in AHSC overall.MethodsA one-day cross-sectional audit involving 264 patients at three AHSC sites was conducted in 2011 as part of the international nutritionDay research study. The unintentional weight loss and food consumption data were applied to CNST. Malnutrition diagnosis was determined using data for body mass index [BMI] and the fraction of study meal consumed. The nutritionDay adaptation of GLIM criteria to fit the nutritionDay survey was used.Statistical analysisCategorical data are presented as actual numbers or percentages, with the groups compared by the Chi square test. Continuous variables expressed as mean ± SEM were used. One-way analysis of variance and Student t-tests were used to compare variables of interest. Significance p < 0.05, SPSS v.26 was used for analysis.Results44% (264/600) of patients at the AHSC participated in the nutritionDay 2011 study. 59% of patients at AHSC-a screened positive for risk of malnutrition compared to the other two sites (AHSC-b and AHSC-c),p = 0.002 and 0.014 respectively. Overall, 23% of patients would have been diagnosed as malnourished with AHSC-b at 56% compared to 17% AHSC-c [p = 0.041).ConclusionUsing the GLIM two-step approach, we report 38% of patients were at risk for malnutrition using the CNST and 1 in 4 of those identified at risk would be diagnosed as malnourished. As well, more patients at the cancer site were found to be at risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition remains a significant ongoing issue in hospitalized patients, with cancer patients having one of the highest rates of malnutrition. Early identification with appropriate intervention is vitally important. nutritionDay is an international nutrition research study that was launched in 2006 to improve malnutrition awareness, education and research. The Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool [CNST] is validated to screen and identify patients at risk of malnutrition. In 2016, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition [GLIM] was convened to address the urgent need for simple and relevant clinical care guidelines for screening and diagnosing malnutrition. The primary aim was to determine malnutrition prevalence at the three sites of an Academic Health Sciences Centre [AHSC] by applying data gathered from nutritionDay 2011 to the GLIM two-step approach to diagnosing malnutrition. The secondary aim was to compare malnutrition prevalence between the three sites, with a specific interest in the results from AHSC-a, the cancer center, since cancer patients are known to have one of the highest rates of malnutrition The tertiary aim was to explore possible reasons for poor intake in AHSC overall. A one-day cross-sectional audit involving 264 patients at three AHSC sites was conducted in 2011 as part of the international nutritionDay research study. The unintentional weight loss and food consumption data were applied to CNST. Malnutrition diagnosis was determined using data for body mass index [BMI] and the fraction of study meal consumed. The nutritionDay adaptation of GLIM criteria to fit the nutritionDay survey was used. Categorical data are presented as actual numbers or percentages, with the groups compared by the Chi square test. Continuous variables expressed as mean ± SEM were used. One-way analysis of variance and Student t-tests were used to compare variables of interest. Significance p < 0.05, SPSS v.26 was used for analysis. 44% (264/600) of patients at the AHSC participated in the nutritionDay 2011 study. 59% of patients at AHSC-a screened positive for risk of malnutrition compared to the other two sites (AHSC-b and AHSC-c),p = 0.002 and 0.014 respectively. Overall, 23% of patients would have been diagnosed as malnourished with AHSC-b at 56% compared to 17% AHSC-c [p = 0.041). Using the GLIM two-step approach, we report 38% of patients were at risk for malnutrition using the CNST and 1 in 4 of those identified at risk would be diagnosed as malnourished. As well, more patients at the cancer site were found to be at risk for malnutrition.

DEVELOPING GREEN OPERATIONS TO MINIMIZE ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY PDCA CYCLE OF ISO 50001. A CASE STUDY WITH DELPHI METHOD APPROACH

The purpose of this research is to explore the green operations activities, especially in energy consumption, and to develop a PDCA cycle framework that can be used to minimize energy consumption, by using Delphi Method approach. Research design and methodology: The PDCA cycle ISO 50001 framework is developed through (1) Identifying risks using Delphi method and mean score ranking from the activities found in existing empirical case study in beauty clinic. (2) Analyse the most crucial risks founded in the field. (3) Developing the the PDCA cycle to minimize the energy consumption. Finding: The research found eleven (12) risks, and find the crucial risk. PDCA cycle ISO 50001 developed, and found that the most crucial risk is in the act of PDCA cycle, which indicate that there was no follow through in order to solve the problem of energy usage in the business process. Practical implication: This research provide a simple practical guideline PDCA cycle ISO 50001 template as a critical thinking to make a continuous improvement process.

Performance evaluation and tuning of an IEEE 802.11 audio video multicast collision prevention mechanism

Since the introduction of the original IEEE 802.11 medium access mechanism, the definition of the multicast access mechanism has been the subject of numerous amendments and standardization efforts. Over the past few years, the need for a reliable multicast mechanism has been spurred due to the increasing demand for audio/video services. It is widely accepted that the success of any new multicast mechanism will mainly depend on its ability on meeting the stringent Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements of the audio/video services. Due to the fact that the multicast service will have to be integrated into the IEEE 802.11 protocol architecture, it is essential to evaluate its performance in a scenario comprising unicast and multicast services. In this paper, we undertake the performance evaluation of a Multicast Collision Prevention (MCP) mechanism recently introduced in the literature. Our main goal is twofold: (1) to show that the MCP mechanism properly responds to the needs of multicast audio/video services in the presence of multicast/unicast traffic: a must for any new mechanism to be considered by the standards bodies; and (2) to provide simple guidelines on tuning-up the main system parameters of the MCP mechanism. Our numerical and simulation results also evaluate the impact of the MCP mechanism over the performance of the unicast service. Our findings show the overall benefits of the MCP in terms of the QoS metrics reported for the multicast service and the key performance indicators of the unicast traffic.

Towards More Sustainable Diets-Attitudes, Opportunities and Barriers to Fostering Pulse Consumption in Polish Cities.

Despite the evidence-based health benefits of pulses and their significant role in sustainable diets, consumption remains at a very low level in highly developed countries. In an attempt to fill in the knowledge gaps on factors influencing this phenomenon, a study aimed at identifying attitudes, incentives and barriers to pulse consumption was carried out in a sample of 1027 Polish urban employees aged 25–40 years. The sample (quota type) was representative in terms of age and gender. Exploratory classifications using Kohonen neural networks were performed to define profiles of participants for each analysed issue. Pearson’s chi-square analysis was used to check whether the profiles depended on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. The results suggest that very low pulse consumption is a result of lack of habits, discomfort after eating and long preparation time. Pulses were recognized as a good source of protein (72% of the sample), especially among women (81%). Only 43% of the sample saw pulses as a substitute for meat. The majority of consumers pictured pulses as a tasty and healthy food, although they were not sure if this is true for small children. Women recognised pulses as a more environmentally friendly food but this knowledge would not impact their intake. Profiles of respondents with positive attitudes towards increased pulse consumption were identified, constituting 39% of the sample. These consumers could eat more if they were encouraged to do so. This shows that programmes aimed at fostering greater pulse consumption are crucial to activate a change towards more sustainable diets. At the same time, simple and clear guidelines should be developed to overcome the unjustified stereotypes about pulses. These would support consumers to make healthier and more sustainable choices and help professionals carry out effective promotion and education activities.

Millimeter-sized piezoelectric flextensional actuators with improved mechanical efficiency

A millimeter-sized piezoelectric actuator with a flexible displacement-amplification frame incorporates design enhancements to achieve an increase in mechanical efficiency from 33 to 70% relative to existing designs. The basic insight enabling this improvement is a familiar one: to maximize the force transfer through a flexible transmission, the serial compliance of the transmission should be minimized. The execution is more complex, particularly due to the small size of the actuators, requiring careful material selection, design, and fabrication. We provide simple guidelines based on lumped parameter modeling and scaling analysis to assist designers in this challenging task and in customizing to specific size and output requirements. These actuators can be used as building blocks in millimeter-sized devices in which precise, linear motion is needed, and the method of analysis employed should be broadly useful to designers of similar devices looking to distill a complex mechanics problem down to a set of simple design guidelines.

Guidelines for the management of diabetes services and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK National Diabetes Inpatient COVID Response Group was formed at the end of March 2020 to support the provision of diabetes inpatient care during the COVID pandemic. It was formed in response to two emerging needs. First to ensure that basic diabetes services are secured and maintained at a time when there was a call for re-deployment to support the need for general medical expertise across secondary care services. The second was to provide simple safe diabetes guidelines for use by specialists and non-specialists treating inpatients with or suspected of COVID-19 infection. To date the group, comprising UK-based specialists in diabetes, pharmacy and psychology, have produced two sets of guidelines which will be continually revised as new evidence emerges. It is supported by Diabetes UK, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and NHS England.

The feasibility, validity and reliability of a child friendly vestibular assessment in infants and children candidates to cochlear implant

ObjectivesThe pediatric vestibular assessment has developed significantly in the past two decades, especially in terms of assessment of cochlear implant (CI) candidates. Different methods and test protocols have been applied, however without a general consensus. We present here the feasibility, validity and reliability of a child friendly vestibular testing in use at our department for the assessment of pediatric CI candidates. MethodsThe test battery consisted of head impulse test (HIT), video head impulse test (vHIT), cervical evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) and mini ice water caloric test (mIWC), all adapted from previous methods, mentioned in literature. We defined specific criteria for test feasibility, for test validity and test positivity (i.e. indicating vestibular insufficiency). The reliability of the whole protocol was assessed with test agreement analysis. ResultsComplete data from 35 children, all CI candidates, age ranging 4–79 months (67% under 2 years) and recruited over two years, were obtained. All but one child could complete at least one test with valid responses bilaterally, with the best compliance for HIT (97,1%) and least for cVEMP (68,6%). Feasibility did not appear to be affected by age or hearing loss etiology. Among the valid responses there was a substantial test agreement between HIT and vHIT, moderate agreement between vHIT/HIT and mIWC and no apparent agreement between the canal tests and cVEMP. Simple clinical guidelines were introduced to solve the tests’ disagreement and to improve the protocol reliability: a) a pathological response had to be confirmed in at least two different canal tests and in at least three cVEMP trials; b) a canal/otolith disagreement was interpreted as a partial vestibular loss to be opposed to a complete vestibular insufficiency. ConclusionsThe search for vestibular insufficiency in infants and young children can be attained with an opportunely adapted vestibular assessment, such the test battery proposed here. That assessment resulted easy to conduct and to interpret in a representative sample of CI candidates in preschool age, the most of whom were younger than 2 years. This method appears to particularly suit the demands of a vestibular assessment in young children CI candidates.

SafetyGuidelines for Sterilityof Face Shields During COVID 19 Pandemic.

Face shields are personal protective equipment devices that are to be used by many health care workers during COVID 19 pandemic for protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) from droplet spread of infection. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment like cap, mask, goggle, and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. In the wake of scarcity of face shields during the COVID 19 Pandemic, consideration of innovating newer methods of manufacturing must be considered to overcome the present day scarcity without jeopardising the safety of front line Heath care workers. All initial fast innovations comes with advantages and disadvantages, hence we thought of putting down simple guidelines for new emerged face shield use.

A Rapid Technique for Plant Peptides Isolation Based on their Polarity by Using BIOTAGE Isolera One Flash Chromatography

Several years of experience performing columns chromatography have been condensed into simple guidelines useful for translating thin layer chromatography (TLC) results into either isocratic- or gradient-flash chromatography. The present study describes the use of such protocol with a silica Biotage SNAP KP-Sil 10 g cartridge (21 mm �? 55 mm, 50 μm particle size), to purify, in a single step, four (4) peptides from crude proteins extract of germinated Amaranthus hybridus seeds. The best solvent system used was a combination of n-hexane (non-polar solvent B from 5% to 0% final concentration) and a mixture of polar solvents (solvent A) composed of acetonitrile, n-butanol, glacial acetic acid and water in 0.9:2:1:1 ratio, respectively. The elution was done in normal-phase with a linear gradient. All the flash chromatography procedure took at most twenty-five minutes (25 min), and less than a liter (750 mL) of total solvents was used. The purified peptides named AhPA, AhPB, AhPC and AhPE showed apparent homogeneity on TLC plates, and purification yields of about 11.15%, 10.38%, 14.50% and 17.25%, respectively. This innovative technique provides an efficient alternative to researchers�?? in peptides purification and participates in reducing the waste of solvents, gels, time and thus, money.

To Identify and Support Youths Who Struggle with Living—Nurses’ Suicide Prevention in Psychiatric Outpatient Care

Nurses working in psychiatric care daily encounter youths who are struggling with living. Despite this, nurses’ suicide-prevention work is seldom addressed in research or in recommendations for care. The overall aim of this paper is to discuss how nurses, with their caring science perspective, may contribute to suicide prevention. The paper presents how nurses in psychiatric outpatient care may identify and support suicidal youths, according to experts in suicide prevention. The interviews with six experts in suicide prevention resulted in three themes: Engagement necessary but demanding, Acknowledgement of warnings signs and Supportive relationship. The respondents elaborated on how suicide-risk can be assessed. A good rapport with the youths was stressed and the recommended act of care included: to listen openheartedly without interrupting as well as to listen after risk- and protective factors to emphasize or to penetrate. To ask about suicidality as well as to let the person elaborate on what’s important for him or her. To endure in the patients’ suffering as well as steering the conversations toward hope. The paper also presents warning signs that need to be noticed according to the experts and the literature consensus. Our findings suggest that communication in suicide-prevention is an “art and act” that cannot be reduced to a method or simple guidelines. We argue that the recommended acts of care demand sensitivity and skills and that nurses as well as the domain of caring science may contribute to this competence.

Enhanced thermal stability and photocatalytic property of highly ordered anodized TiO2 nanotube arrays with interstitial nitrogen as dominant point defect

Highly regular TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) with interstitial nitrogen as the dominant point defect have been successfully prepared by annealing the as-anodized TNTs in N2 in a temperature range of 400–650 °C. Using analysis methods that include field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, and Raman spectroscopy, the thermal stability of TNTs annealed in N2 was found to be higher than that of TNTs annealed in O2. The interstitial nitrogen is considered as the dominant point defect in TNTs annealed in N2, which results in the notably improved thermal stability of the highly ordered TNTs. However, the content of hydroxyl oxygen on the surface of TNTs is significantly influenced by annealing temperature, which is closely related to photocatalytic activity. Optimized photocatalytic property of photodegradation of MO with a pseudo-first-order reaction constant k value of (5.065 ± 0.139) × 10–2 h−1 is achieved for TNTs annealed in N2 at 600 °C. These findings serve to provide simple and versatile guidelines to fabricate highly ordered TNTs with controllable point defects, enhanced thermal stability, and a high level of photocatalytic activity.

Guidelines for the experimental design of pharmacokinetic studies with nanomaterials in preclinical animal models

A shared feature in the value proposition of every nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems is the desirable improvement in the disposition (or ADME) and pharmacokinetic profiles of the encapsulated drug being delivered. Remarkable progress has been made towards understanding the complex and multifactorial relationships between pharmacokinetic profiles and nanomaterial physicochemical properties, biological interactions, species physiology, etc. These advances have fuelled the rational design of numerous nanomaterials with long-circulation times and improved tissue accumulation (e.g., in tumours). Unfortunately, a central weakness in many of these research efforts has been the inconsistent and insufficient characterisation of the pharmacokinetic profiles of nanomaterials in scientific reporting—a problem affecting the majoirty of of contemporary nanomaterials literature and innovative nanomaterials in early stages of preclinical development especially. Given the significant role of pharmacokinetic assessments to serve as guideposts for deciding whether to continue with the preclinical development and clinical translation of drug delivery systems, the prevalence of poor pharmacokinetic characterisations in nanomaterials research is particularly alarming. A conspicuous problem in many reports is the inappropriate selection of experimental designs and methodologies for studying nanomaterial pharmacokinetics, the consequences of which are increased uncertainty over the accurate interpretation of reported pharmacokinetic data and diminished experimental reproducibility throughout the field. Thus, there is renewed interest in the establishment of consistent and comprehensive strategies for designing preclinical experiments to assess the pharmacokinetics of nanomaterials with diverse physicochemical properties. Towards this end, herein are proposed simple guidelines for the experimental design of pharmacokinetic studies with nanomaterials drawn from the best research practices, principle strategies, and important considerations used in industry for collecting pharmacokinetic data in preclinical animal models. Specifically, key experimental design factors in these studies are identified and examined in the context of nanomaterials for optimality, including blood sampling strategy and technique, sample allocation and sampling time window, test species selection, experimental sources of pharmacokinetic variability, etc. Methods for noninvasive imaging-derived pharmacokinetic assessments of theranostic nanomaterials are also explored with particular focus on emission tomography imaging modalities. Taken together, this review will provide nanomaterial researchers with practical knowledge and pragmatic recommendations for selecting the best designs and methodologies for assessing the pharmacokinetic profiles of their nanomaterials, and hopefully maximise the chances of translational success of these innovative products into humans.

Applying economic and ecological criteria to design cost-effective monitoring for elusive species

Monitoring programs of long-lived and elusive species often incur high costs in terms of field effort and economical budget, but both components are often considered separately. Also, there is scant information on the use of reliable detectability estimates under imperfect detection conditions based on environmental factors, which is key to accurately estimate financial costs and define optimum monitoring strategies. In this study, we use an intensive survey program (2017–2018) of the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus population in Bizkaia (northern Spain) to model detectability at nests taking into account imperfect detection. Our main goal is to estimate both the number and timing of surveys, and the allocation of survey effort/costs, in order to design cost-effective monitoring programs. Firstly, throughout the breeding seasons, we used focal sampling methods on 19 nesting territories historically occupied by the study species. Then, we employed single-season occupancy models to assess detectability considering different levels of effort (from 1 to 5 h) at each nest, including both species breeding phenology and environmental covariates that could modify detection probabilities. Our results showed that the species was more likely to be detected in dry years and when the nest was visible during the nestling period, investing five hours of the survey. The optimal number of monitoring days required to account for 95% of false negatives for a single nest was eight days, investing one hour per breeding stage. The optimal monitoring cost was reached in dry years when the nest was visible, investing one hour per breeding stage (ca. 242 €/nest). The cost of monitoring was highest in rainy years when the nest was not visible (ca. 1954 €/nest). The cost of monitoring entire occupied nesting territories without accounting for covariates was of 23,294 € (n = 19). In order to offer reliable species assessments, design rigorous surveys and accurately estimate monitoring costs, studies should account for imperfect detection, particularly for long-lived vertebrates. Here, we show that monitoring programs ought to (a) consider the effort necessary to detect the species while accounting for species-specific breeding ecology and, (b) adjust field effort based on lower costs and environmental conditions. Our results provide simple and practical guidelines for the efficient allocation of human and economic resources, which could be of interest to those practitioners involved in the regular monitoring of elusive species.