Far-field effects of impulsive noise on coastal bottlenose dolphins

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank Bill Ruck, Moray First Marine and colleagues from the University of Aberdeen for assistance with the data collection. We are also grateful to Drs. Nathan Merchant and Adrian Farcas (CEFAS) for the provision of the data on the noise modeling and their valuable comments during the development of this work. The project benefited at all stages from input provided by the scientific steering groups and stakeholder groups established by UK and Scottish Governments to support the work conducted around these regional oil and gas and renewables projects. FUNDING Financial support for this study was provided through a series of consortia funded projects that involved the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Scottish Government, Oil and Gas UK Ltd., COWRIE, NatureScot, The Crown Estate, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd., and Moray Offshore Wind Farm (East) Ltd. OFB was funded by the Fundación “la Caixa” (Becas Posgrado, 2015) and their support was greatly appreciated. The authors declare that this study received funding from three commercial developers: Oil and Gas UK Ltd., Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd., and Moray Offshore Wind Farm (East) Ltd. However, these funding bodies had no input into the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Using a validated instrument to assess pregnancy planning and preconception care at antenatal booking visits: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: To determine the completion rate for the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), a psychometrically validated measure of a woman's intention with regard to a current or recent pregnancy, during booking visits at two metropolitan antenatal care clinics; to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with unplanned pregnancy. // Design, setting, participants: Retrospective cohort study; analysis of LMUP data for women attending antenatal care booking consultations as public patients in the Sydney Local Health District, 31 December 2019 – 30 November 2020. // Main outcome measures: Proportions of women with LMUP scores indicating unplanned (0–9) or planned pregnancies (10–12); associations between planned pregnancy and socio-demographic characteristics, crude and adjusted for age, parity, and socio-economic status (Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage). // Results: Of 4993 women with antenatal care bookings, the LMUP was completed by 2385 (47.8%; 1142 of 3564 women at the tertiary referral hospital [32.0%], 1118 of 1160 at the secondary hospital [96.3%]). Planned pregnancies were indicated by the total LMUP scores of 1684 women (70.6%); 1290 women (59.1%) reported no health actions in preparation for pregnancy. In multivariable analyses, planned pregnancies were more likely in all age groups than for women aged 24 years or younger (30–34 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76–3.66; 35–39 years: aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.95–4.33). The likelihood of planned pregnancy declined with increasing parity (v no previous births: three previous births: aOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.16–0.40; four or more previous births: aOR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.05–0.19). // Conclusion: Seven in ten women who completed the LMUP had planned their pregnancies, but fewer than half had undertaken health-related actions prior to conceiving. Higher parity was associated with unplanned pregnancy, indicating the importance of postpartum contraception advice. Overcoming barriers to implementing the LMUP more widely would enhance preconception health monitoring

The Evolution of Fangs, Venom, and Mimicry Systems in Blenny Fishes

Venom systems have evolved on multiple occasions across the animal kingdom, and they can act as key adaptations to protect animals from predators. Consequently, venomous animals serve as models for a rich source of mimicry types, as non-venomous species benefit from reductions in predation risk by mimicking the coloration, body shape, and/or movement of toxic counterparts. The frequent evolution of such deceitful imitations provides notable examples of phenotypic convergence and are often invoked as classic exemplars of evolution by natural selection. Here, we investigate the evolution of fangs, venom, and mimetic relationships in reef fishes from the tribe Nemophini (fangblennies). Comparative morphological analyses reveal that enlarged canine teeth (fangs) originated at the base of the Nemophini radiation and have enabled a micropredatory feeding strategy in non-venomous Plagiotremus spp. Subsequently, the evolution of deep anterior grooves and their coupling to venom secretory tissue provide Meiacanthus spp. with toxic venom that they effectively employ for defense. We find that fangblenny venom contains a number of toxic components that have been independently recruited into other animal venoms, some of which cause toxicity via interactions with opioid receptors, and result in a multifunctional biochemical phenotype that exerts potent hypotensive effects. The evolution of fangblenny venom has seemingly led to phenotypic convergence via the formation of a diverse array of mimetic relationships that provide protective (Batesian mimicry) and predatory (aggressive mimicry) benefits to other fishes. Our results further our understanding of how novel morphological and biochemical adaptations stimulate ecological interactions in the natural world

Midwives and registered nurses' role and scope of practice in acute early pregnancy care services in Australia: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to review and synthesize what is documented on the role and scope of practice of midwives and registered nurses working in acute early pregnancy care settings in Australia. INTRODUCTION: Women experiencing complications before 20 weeks of pregnancy may need to attend an acute care service, often a hospital emergency department. Both midwives and registered nurses provide care for women with early pregnancy complications, and it is important that their role and scope of practice is documented. This review will explore the literature relating to acute early pregnancy care in Australia to better understand how midwives' and registered nurses' roles and scope are currently described in this setting. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Any literature that explores the role and scope of practice of midwives and registered nurses who care for women who present to acute care services in Australia with early pregnancy complications will be considered for inclusion in the review. METHODS: A 3-step review process will involve a preliminary search of MEDLINE and ProQuest, followed by a more detailed search of a larger selection of databases, using identified keywords and phrases from the initial search. Reference lists of retrieved literature will then be examined for relevant citations. Literature in English will be considered, including relevant gray literature. Search results will be imported into reference and review support software. Data that align with the inclusion criteria will be organized into tabulated and narrative formats for presentation. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: Open Science Framework osf.io/5bnqz

A cross-sectional study of women’s autonomy and modern contraception use in Zambia

Abstract Background Modern contraceptive use effectively prevents unwanted pregnancies, promoting maternal and child health and improving the socio-economic well-being of women and their families. Women’s autonomy has been shown to increase the uptake of modern contraception use. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between measures of women’s autonomy and modern contraception use among partnered women in Zambia. Methods This cross-sectional survey study used data from the health census, the 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey. We measured women’s autonomy using three indices: women’s participation in decision-making, women’s attitude towards wife-beating and women’s household status. Information from 6727 women in a relationship, not pregnant, not planning pregnancy and aged between 15 and 49 years old were analyzed using descriptive statistics and adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Results The mean age of respondents was 32 years. Most women lived in rural areas (65%), and 81% were protestant. Current modern contraception use among partnered women was 8.8%. Women’s autonomy was significantly associated with modern contraception use. Women with moderate autonomy (AOR = 1.054, P value = 0.004, 95% CI 1.048–1.312) and high autonomy (AOR = 1.031, P value = 0.001, 95% CI 1.013–1.562) had higher odds of using modern contraception compared to those with low autonomy. Other factors related to modern contraception use included a higher level of education (AOR = 1.181, P value = 0.012, 95% CI 1.091–1.783), increased wealth index (AOR = 1.230, P value = 0.006, 95% CI 1.105–1.766) and age, 15–24 (AOR = 1.266, P value = 0.007, 95% CI 1.182–2.113,) and 25–34 (AOR = 1.163, P value = 0.002, 95% CI 1.052–1.273). Conclusion This study argues that increasing women’s assertiveness to make independent decisions within the household is cardinal to enhancing the uptake of modern contraception in Zambia and other low-and-middle-income countries. Governments and other stakeholders must therefore consider rolling out programs to boost women’s autonomy, which in turn would support gender equality and reproductive health

Ellen H. Richards Club scrapbook page 70

This page contains clippings on Ellen H. Richards Club events from Fall 1936.https://dc.ewu.edu/erichards/1173/thumbnail.jp

Ellen H. Richards Club scrapbook page 67

This page contains a clipping about a home economics conference sponsored by the Ellen H. Richards Club on April 25, 1936. The clipping is dated April 29.https://dc.ewu.edu/erichards/1170/thumbnail.jp

Ellen H. Richards Club scrapbook page 45

This page contains clippings about Ellen H. Richards Club events and officers from Winter 1935.https://dc.ewu.edu/erichards/1147/thumbnail.jp

Epidemiologisches Bulletin 05 / 2005

This page contains clippings about Ellen H. Richards Club officers and events.https://dc.ewu.edu/erichards/1154/thumbnail.jp