Non-target by-catch in the Maltese bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) longline fishery (Central Mediterranean)

The Bluefin Tuna longline fishery is one of the most important pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean but recently there has been increasing concern about the catches of non-target species. This study presents an assessment of the non-target by-catch from the Maltese Bluefin Tuna longline fleet and examines the effect of various environmental and spatiotemporal factors on non-target species catch rates. Field observations were made during 85 fishing days. In terms of number, Bluefin Tuna comprised a relatively small portion of the total catch while the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) was the predominant by-catch species. Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) was calculated in terms of weight (kg/1000hooks/hr) and number (no/1000hooks/hr) for all the species caught. General Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were applied to examine the effect of environmental and spatiotemporal variables on non-target bycatch CPUE. The model for CPUE (number) was not found to be significant. Date, lunar cycle, species and longitude were found to be significantly correlated with CPUE (weight). The results of this study suggests the need for the continual implementation of mitigation measures to minimise the impacts of fishing activities on threatened non-target species in the Mediterranean.peer-reviewe

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Hero\u27s Journey and the Research Process

In Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the hero of the story embarks on an adventure and returns transformed, empowered, and enlightened. Two academic librarians and the research process itself were incorporated into the curriculum of an undergraduate composition course that was structured around the research and writing process as a hero’s journey. The experience, which was student/hero-centered, self-directed, self-defined, investigative, and exploratory, was transformative for the students and the librarians as well

A placeboâ controlled pilot study of a wearable morning bright light treatment for probable PTSD

BackgroundEvidenceâ based treatments for postâ traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have poor uptake and remission rates, suggesting that alternative treatments are needed. Morning bright light may be an effective treatment for PTSD given its established effects on mood and sleep, however, there are no published trials.MethodsWe conducted a placeboâ controlled pilot trial of a wearable light device, the Reâ timer®, for individuals with probable PTSD. Individuals were randomly assigned to the active Reâ timer® (n = 9) or a placebo Reâ timer® dimmed with neutral density filters (n = 6). Participants selfâ administered the treatment at home 1 hr each morning over 4 weeks. PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed at preâ and postâ treatment.ResultsThe Reâ timer® was well tolerated and the perceived benefit was high, though treatment adherence was only moderate. Those in the active group were more likely to achieve a minimal clinically important change in PTSD and depression symptoms and had larger symptom reductions than those in the placebo groupConclusionsA wearable morning light treatment was acceptable and feasible for patients with probable PTSD. This study provides initial proofâ ofâ concept that light treatment can improve PTSD. A larger trial is warranted to establish treatment efficacy. NCT#: 03513848Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149743/1/da22897_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149743/2/da22897.pd

Racial Differences in the Human Endogenous Circadian Period

The length of the endogenous period of the human circadian clock (tau) is slightly greater than 24 hours. There are individual differences in tau, which influence the phase angle of entrainment to the light/dark (LD) cycle, and in doing so contribute to morningness-eveningness. We have recently reported that tau measured in subjects living on an ultradian LD cycle averaged 24.2 hours, and is similar to tau measured using different experimental methods. Here we report racial differences in tau. Subjects lived on an ultradian LD cycle (1.5 hours sleep, 2.5 hours wake) for 3 days. Circadian phase assessments were conducted before and after the ultradian days to determine the change in circadian phase, which was attributed to tau. African American subjects had a significantly shorter tau than subjects of other races. We also tested for racial differences in our previous circadian phase advancing and phase delaying studies. In the phase advancing study, subjects underwent 4 days of a gradually advancing sleep schedule combined with a bright light pulse upon awakening each morning. In the phase delaying study, subjects underwent 4 days of a gradually delaying sleep schedule combined with evening light pulses before bedtime. African American subjects had larger phase advances and smaller phase delays, relative to Caucasian subjects. The racial differences in tau and circadian phase shifting have important implications for understanding normal phase differences between individuals, for developing solutions to the problems of jet lag and shift work, and for the diagnosis and treatment of circadian rhythm based sleep disorders such as advanced and delayed sleep phase disorder

Delayed Lactogenesis II is Associated With Lower Sleep Efficiency and Greater Variation in Nightly Sleep Duration in the Third Trimester

Background: Metabolic and hormonal disturbances are associated with sleep disturbances and delayed onset of lactogenesis II. Research aims: The aim of this study was to measure sleep using wrist actigraphy during gestation weeks 22 and 32 to determine if sleep characteristics were associated with blood glucose, body mass index, gestational related disease, delayed onset of lactogenesis II, or work schedule. Methods: Demographic data were collected at study intake from primiparous women who wore a wrist actigraph during gestation weeks 22 (n = 50) and 32 (n = 44). Start and end sleep time, total nighttime sleep, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep fragmentation were measured. Night to night variability was assessed with the root mean square of successive difference. Blood glucose levels, body mass index, and gestational disease data were abstracted from medical charts. Timing of lactogenesis II was determined by survey. Results: Between gestation week 22 and 32, sleep efficiency decreased and fragmentation increased (p < .05). During gestation week 32, blood glucose was negatively correlated with sleep duration, and positively related to fragmentation (p < .05). Women who experienced delayed lactogenesis II had lower sleep efficiency and greater fragmentation (p < .05), and greater night-to-night variability in sleep start and end time, efficiency, and duration during gestation week 32 (p < .05). Conclusion: Women with better sleep efficiency and more stable nightly sleep time are less likely to experience delayed onset of lactogenesis II. Interventions to improve sleep may improve maternal health and breastfeeding adequacy

Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in women with chronic migraines

Objective/Background: Insomnia commonly co-occurs with chronic migraines (CM). Non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia in CM patients remain understudied. This is a proof-of-concept study, which aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) for individuals with CM and insomnia (CM-I) in the United States. Methods: We recruited 42 females with CM-I symptoms from a U.S.-based observational cohort and from the general population via advertisements. Within a multiple baseline design, participants were randomized to receive dCBT-I after 2, 4, or 6 weeks of completing baseline sleep diaries. DCBT-I was scrutinized against benchmarks for completion rates (≥90% to complete dCBT-I), acceptability (≥80% to find dCBT-I acceptable), and posttreatment changes in insomnia symptoms (≥50% indicating a clinically relevant improvement in their insomnia symptoms). As a secondary measure, we also reported percentage of individuals reverting to episodic migraines. Results: Out of 42 randomized, 35 (83.3%) completed dCBT-I within the 12 weeks provided. Of these completers, 33 (94.3%) reported being satisfied (n = 16) or very satisfied (n = 17) with treatment. Additionally, 65.7% of completers responded to treatment as per universally accepted criteria for insomnia. Lastly, 34% of completers reverted from CM to episodic migraine. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of dCBT-I in patients with CM-I complaints. Effects of improving insomnia and migraines were suggested. These results indicate that a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the efficacy of dCBT-I in CM patients

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Women With Chronic Migraines

Objective/Background: Insomnia commonly co-occurs with chronic migraines (CM). Non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia in CM patients remain understudied. This is a proof-of-concept study, which aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) for individuals with CM and insomnia (CM-I) in the United States. Methods: We recruited 42 females with CM-I symptoms from a U.S.-based observational cohort and from the general population via advertisements. Within a multiple baseline design, participants were randomized to receive dCBT-I after 2, 4, or 6 weeks of completing baseline sleep diaries. DCBT-I was scrutinized against benchmarks for completion rates (≥90% to complete dCBT-I), acceptability (≥80% to find dCBT-I acceptable), and posttreatment changes in insomnia symptoms (≥50% indicating a clinically relevant improvement in their insomnia symptoms). As a secondary measure, we also reported percentage of individuals reverting to episodic migraines. Results: Out of 42 randomized, 35 (83.3%) completed dCBT-I within the 12 weeks provided. Of these completers, 33 (94.3%) reported being satisfied (n = 16) or very satisfied (n = 17) with treatment. Additionally, 65.7% of completers responded to treatment as per universally accepted criteria for insomnia. Lastly, 34% of completers reverted from CM to episodic migraine. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of dCBT-I in patients with CM-I complaints. Effects of improving insomnia and migraines were suggested. These results indicate that a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the efficacy of dCBT-I in CM patients

Development and preliminary validation of the 'Caring for Country' questionnaire: measurement of an Indigenous Australian health determinant

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>'Caring for Country' is defined as Indigenous participation in interrelated activities with the objective of promoting ecological and human health. Ecological services on Indigenous-owned lands are belatedly attracting some institutional investment. However, the health outcomes associated with Indigenous participation in 'caring for country' activities have never been investigated. The aims of this study were to pilot and validate a questionnaire measuring caring for country as an Indigenous health determinant and to relate it to an external reference, obesity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Purposively sampled participants were 301 Indigenous adults aged 15 to 54 years, recruited during a cross-sectional program of preventive health checks in a remote Australian community. Questionnaire validation was undertaken with psychometric tests of internal consistency, reliability, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory one-factor congeneric modelling. Accurate item weightings were derived from the model and used to create a single weighted composite score for caring for country. Multiple linear regression modelling was used to test associations between the caring for country score and body mass index adjusting for socio-demographic factors and health behaviours.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The questionnaire demonstrated adequate internal consistency, test-retest validity and proxy-respondent validity. Exploratory factor analysis of the 'caring for country' items produced a single factor solution that was confirmed via one-factor congeneric modelling. A significant and substantial association between greater participation in caring for country activities and lower body mass index was demonstrated. Adjusting for socio-demographic factors and health behaviours, an inter-quartile range rise in caring for country scores was associated with 6.1 Kg and 5.3 Kg less body weight for non-pregnant women and men respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study indicates preliminary support for the validity of the caring for country concept and a questionnaire designed to measure it. This study also highlights the importance of investigating Indigenous-asserted health promotion activities. Further studies in similar populations are merited to test the generalisability of this questionnaire and to explore associations with other important Indigenous health outcomes.</p

Bayesian approach to determining penetrance of pathogenic SDH variants.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, determining penetrance required large observational cohort studies. Data from the Exome Aggregate Consortium (ExAC) allows a Bayesian approach to calculate penetrance, in that population frequencies of pathogenic germline variants should be inversely proportional to their penetrance for disease. We tested this hypothesis using data from two cohorts for succinate dehydrogenase subunits A, B and C (SDHA-C) genetic variants associated with hereditary pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PC/PGL). METHODS: Two cohorts were 575 unrelated Australian subjects and 1240 unrelated UK subjects, respectively, with PC/PGL in whom genetic testing had been performed. Penetrance of pathogenic SDHA-C variants was calculated by comparing allelic frequencies in cases versus controls from ExAC (removing those variants contributed by The Cancer Genome Atlas). RESULTS: Pathogenic SDHA-C variants were identified in 106 subjects (18.4%) in cohort 1 and 317 subjects (25.6%) in cohort 2. Of 94 different pathogenic variants from both cohorts (seven in SDHA, 75 in SDHB and 12 in SDHC), 13 are reported in ExAC (two in SDHA, nine in SDHB and two in SDHC) accounting for 21% of subjects with SDHA-C variants. Combining data from both cohorts, estimated lifetime disease penetrance was 22.0% (95% CI 15.2% to 30.9%) for SDHB variants, 8.3% (95% CI 3.5% to 18.5%) for SDHC variants and 1.7% (95% CI 0.8% to 3.8%) for SDHA variants. CONCLUSION: Pathogenic variants in SDHB are more penetrant than those in SDHC and SDHA. Our findings have important implications for counselling and surveillance of subjects carrying these pathogenic variants