Web-based Assessment of Visual and Visuospatial Symptoms in Parkinson\u27s Disease

Visual and visuospatial dysfunction is prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD). To promote assessment of these often overlooked symptoms, we adapted the PD Vision Questionnaire for Internet administration. The questionnaire evaluates visual and visuospatial symptoms, impairments in activities of daily living (ADLs), and motor symptoms. PD participants of mild to moderate motor severity (n = 24) and healthy control participants (HC, n = 23) completed the questionnaire in paper and web-based formats. Reliability was assessed by comparing responses across formats. Construct validity was evaluated by reference to performance on measures of vision, visuospatial cognition, ADLs, and motor symptoms. The web-based format showed excellent reliability with respect to the paper format for both groups (all P_s \u3c 0.001; HC completing the visual and visuospatial section only). Demonstrating the construct validity of the web-based questionnaire, self-rated ADL and visual and visuospatial functioning were significantly associated with performance on objective measures of these abilities (all P_s \u3c 0.01). The findings indicate that web-based administration may be a reliable and valid method of assessing visual and visuospatial and ADL functioning in PD

Web-Based Assessment of Visual and Visuospatial Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

Visual and visuospatial dysfunction is prevalent in Parkinson's disease (PD). To promote assessment of these often overlooked symptoms, we adapted the PD Vision Questionnaire for Internet administration. The questionnaire evaluates visual and visuospatial symptoms, impairments in activities of daily living (ADLs), and motor symptoms. PD participants of mild to moderate motor severity (n = 24) and healthy control participants (HC, n = 23) completed the questionnaire in paper and web-based formats. Reliability was assessed by comparing responses across formats. Construct validity was evaluated by reference to performance on measures of vision, visuospatial cognition, ADLs, and motor symptoms. The web-based format showed excellent reliability with respect to the paper format for both groups (all P′s < 0.001; HC completing the visual and visuospatial section only). Demonstrating the construct validity of the web-based questionnaire, self-rated ADL and visual and visuospatial functioning were significantly associated with performance on objective measures of these abilities (all P′s < 0.01). The findings indicate that web-based administration may be a reliable and valid method of assessing visual and visuospatial and ADL functioning in PD

Testing the effectiveness of interactive training on sexual harassment and assault in field science.

Fieldwork is a critical tool for scientific research, particularly in applied disciplines. Yet fieldwork is often unsafe, especially for members of historically marginalized groups and people whose presence in scientific spaces threatens traditional hierarchies of power, authority, and legitimacy. Research is needed to identify interventions that prevent sexual harassment and assault from occurring in the first place. We conducted a quasi-experiment assessing the impacts of a 90-min interactive training on field-based staff in a United States state government agency. We hypothesized that the knowledge-based interventions, social modeling, and mastery experiences included in the training would increase participants sexual harassment and assault prevention knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioural intention, and behaviour after the training compared to a control group of their peers. Treatment-control and pre-post training survey data indicate that the training increased participants sexual harassment and assault prevention knowledge and prevention self-efficacy, and, to a lesser extent, behavioural intention. These increases persisted several months after the training for knowledge and self-efficacy. While we did not detect differences in the effect of the training for different groups, interestingly, post-hoc tests indicated that women and members of underrepresented racial groups generally scored lower compared to male and white respondents, suggesting that these groups self-assess their own capabilities differently. Finally, participants likelihood to report incidents increased after the training but institutional reports remained low, emphasizing the importance of efforts to transform reporting systems and develop better methods to measure bystander actions. These results support the utility of a peer-led interactive intervention for improving workplace culture and safety in scientific fieldwork settings. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on August 24, 2022. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21770165

Get them off the deck: Straightforward interventions increase post-release survival rates of manta and devil rays in tuna purse seine fisheries

Bycatch remains a major challenge in commercial fisheries, with large numbers of threatened species impacted by incidental capture. One of the most vulnerable bycatch groups in global tuna fisheries are the manta and devil rays (mobulids), which have experienced significant population declines in response to both targeted and incidental capture. The retention of mobulids has been banned by many countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), but major knowledge gaps exist in the group\u27s survival rates following release after incidental capture. Mobulids are accidentally captured in purse seine fisheries, and in recent years, many RFMOs have mandated handling and release procedures for mobulids in an effort to maximize survivorship and reduce impacts of fishery bycatch. We synthesize data from four empirical studies using satellite tags (n = 89) to estimate survival rates of four species of mobulids (Mobula birostris, M. mobular, M. tarapacana and M. thurstoni) released from tuna purse seine vessels in three global regions. We directly estimate the effects of intrinsic, environmental, and operational factors, and handling and release methods on mobulid survival rates. We found a significant negative effect of time spent on deck; likely negative effects of the brailer number in which a ray was brought out of the sacked net, and remaining in the sacked purse seine net until after brailing was complete; and likely positive effects of being captured in a floating object set and body size on survival probability. The observed survival rates of mobulids with known fates were 50 % for M. birostris, 74.2 % for M. mobular, 33.3 % for M. tarapacana, and 20 % for. M thurstoni. The median predicted survival probability under optimal handling conditions was 83.7 % for M. birostris, 95.3 % for M. mobular, 82.2 % for M. tarapacana, and 53.7 % for M. thurstoni. These empirical estimates can improve handling methods and vulnerability assessments of these endangered species in global fisheries

Cosmopolitan Species As Models for Ecophysiological Responses to Global Change: The Common Reed \u3cem\u3ePhragmites australis\u3c/em\u3e

Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan grass and often the dominant species in the ecosystems it inhabits. Due to high intraspecific diversity and phenotypic plasticity, P. australis has an extensive ecological amplitude and a great capacity to acclimate to adverse environmental conditions; it can therefore offer valuable insights into plant responses to global change. Here we review the ecology and ecophysiology of prominent P. australis lineages and their responses to multiple forms of global change. Key findings of our review are that: (1) P. australis lineages are well-adapted to regions of their phylogeographic origin and therefore respond differently to changes in climatic conditions such as temperature or atmospheric CO2; (2) each lineage consists of populations that may occur in geographically different habitats and contain multiple genotypes; (3) the phenotypic plasticity of functional and fitness-related traits of a genotype determine the responses to global change factors; (4) genotypes with high plasticity to environmental drivers may acclimate or even vastly expand their ranges, genotypes of medium plasticity must acclimate or experience range-shifts, and those with low plasticity may face local extinction; (5) responses to ancillary types of global change, like shifting levels of soil salinity, flooding, and drought, are not consistent within lineages and depend on adaptation of individual genotypes. These patterns suggest that the diverse lineages of P. australis will undergo intense selective pressure in the face of global change such that the distributions and interactions of co-occurring lineages, as well as those of genotypes within-lineages, are very likely to be altered. We propose that the strong latitudinal clines within and between P. australis lineages can be a useful tool for predicting plant responses to climate change in general and present a conceptual framework for using P. australis lineages to predict plant responses to global change and its consequences

Posttreatment variables improve outcome prediction after intra-arterial therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple clinical and radiographic factors that influence outcomes after endovascular reperfusion therapy (ERT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We sought to derive and validate an outcome prediction score for AIS patients undergoing ERT based on readily available pretreatment and posttreatment factors. METHODS: The derivation cohort included 511 patients with anterior circulation AIS treated with ERT at 10 centers between September 2009 and July 2011. The prospective validation cohort included 223 patients with anterior circulation AIS treated in the North American Solitaire Acute Stroke registry. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of good outcome (modified Rankin score ≤2 at 3 months) in the derivation cohort; model β coefficients were used to assign points and calculate a risk score. Discrimination was tested using C statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the derivation and validation cohorts. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and plots of observed to expected outcomes. We assessed the net reclassification improvement for the derived score compared to the Totaled Health Risks in Vascular Events (THRIVE) score. Subgroup analysis in patients with pretreatment Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) and posttreatment final infarct volume measurements was also performed to identify whether these radiographic predictors improved the model compared to simpler models. RESULTS: Good outcome was noted in 186 (36.4%) and 100 patients (44.8%) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Combining readily available pretreatment and posttreatment variables, we created a score (acronym: SNARL) based on the following parameters: symptomatic hemorrhage [2 points: none, hemorrhagic infarction (HI)1-2 or parenchymal hematoma (PH) type 1; 0 points: PH2], baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (3 points: 0-10; 1 point: 11-20; 0 points: &gt;20), age (2 points: &lt;60 years; 1 point: 60-79 years; 0 points: &gt;79 years), reperfusion (3 points: Thrombolysis In Cerebral Ischemia score 2b or 3) and location of clot (1 point: M2; 0 points: M1 or internal carotid artery). The SNARL score demonstrated good discrimination in the derivation (C statistic 0.79, 95% CI 0.75-0.83) and validation cohorts (C statistic 0.74, 95% CI 0.68-0.81) and was superior to the THRIVE score (derivation cohort: C statistic 0.65, 95% CI 0.60-0.70; validation cohort: C-statistic 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-0.67; p &lt; 0.01 in both cohorts) but was inferior to a score that included age, ASPECTS, reperfusion status and final infarct volume (C statistic 0.86, 95% CI 0.82-0.91; p = 0.04). Compared with the THRIVE score, the SNARL score resulted in a net reclassification improvement of 34.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Among AIS patients treated with ERT, pretreatment scores such as the THRIVE score provide only fair prognostic information. Inclusion of posttreatment variables such as reperfusion and symptomatic hemorrhage greatly influences outcome and results in improved outcome prediction

Global manta and devil ray population declines: closing policy and management gaps to reduce fisheries mortality

Significant progress has been made in advancing priority actions to conserve manta and devil rays, yet implementation and enforcement of protective measures often fall short, leaving most mobulid populations at risk of overfishing. Drawing on a literature review, fisheries databases, agency reports, and expert interviews, we assess global trends in mobulid catch and mortality. We examine both targeted and incidental catch, in small (\u3c15 m, ‘SV’) and large (\u3e15 m, ‘LV’) vessel fisheries to identify hotspots with the highest risk of fisheries-related mortality and population decline. We estimate global fisheries catch at 264,520 (184,407–344,987) mobulids per year, with SV fisheries accounting for 87 % of global mortality. The highest-risk hotspots, based on mortality and declines, are located in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Peru, and Myanmar. Mobulid retention is driven by demand, with higher mortality rates observed in countries exporting gill plates, and to a lesser extent, in those trading meat domestically or internationally. We recommend urgent implementation and enforcement of mobulid listings under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and national protective measures, including (i) uplisting mobulids to CITES Appendix I, (ii) full legislative protection for all mobulid species in high-risk fishing nations to reduce demand, (iii) avoiding fishing in critical habitats through permanent or temporary targeted area closures, or management, (iv) limiting drift gillnet effort, and (v) involving fishers in management decisions and implementation

Get them off the deck: Straightforward interventions increase post-release survival rates of manta and devil rays in tuna purse seine fisheries

Bycatch remains a major challenge in commercial fisheries, with large numbers of threatened species impacted by incidental capture. One of the most vulnerable bycatch groups in global tuna fisheries are the manta and devil rays (mobulids), which have experienced significant population declines in response to both targeted and incidental capture. The retention of mobulids has been banned by many countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), but major knowledge gaps exist in the group's survival rates following release after incidental capture. Mobulids are accidentally captured in purse seine fisheries, and in recent years, many RFMOs have mandated handling and release procedures for mobulids in an effort to maximize survivorship and reduce impacts of fishery bycatch. We synthesize data from four empirical studies using satellite tags (n = 89) to estimate survival rates of four species of mobulids (Mobula birostris, M. mobular, M. tarapacana and M. thurstoni) released from tuna purse seine vessels in three global regions. We directly estimate the effects of intrinsic, environmental, and operational factors, and handling and release methods on mobulid survival rates. We found a significant negative effect of time spent on deck; likely negative effects of the brailer number in which a ray was brought out of the sacked net, and remaining in the sacked purse seine net until after brailing was complete; and likely positive effects of being captured in a floating object set and body size on survival probability. The observed survival rates of mobulids with known fates were 50 % for M. birostris, 74.2 % for M. mobular, 33.3 % for M. tarapacana, and 20 % for. M thurstoni. The median predicted survival probability under optimal handling conditions was 83.7 % for M. birostris, 95.3 % for M. mobular, 82.2 % for M. tarapacana, and 53.7 % for M. thurstoni. These empirical estimates can improve handling methods and vulnerability assessments of these endangered species in global fisheries.The Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Save Our Seas Foundation provided funding to support tag deployments from 2017 to 2023 in the ETP. The Save Our Seas Foundation provided support for open access publishing fees. The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation provided funding and support for six tags deployed in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean in 2018. We thank the captain and crew of the F/V Pacific Star and Albacora for supporting the scientific crew in the deployment of tags during fishing operations. The tagging program conducted in the Atlantic Ocean from 2019 to 2023 was funded by OPAGAC and the Basque Government. Tagging was conducted by observers of AZTI, IEO and Datafish and with the collaboration of the crew in OPAGAC and ANABAC purse seine fishing vessels. The Manta Trust helped in confirming the species identification of some of the tagged animals. The Department of Conservation funded the New Zealand tagging program and data analysis. We thank Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) fishery observers for documenting and tagging mobulid rays and are grateful for the cooperation of the crews of NZ purse seine vessels.Peer reviewe

Autonomous Seawater \u3ci\u3ep\u3c/i\u3eCO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e and pH Time Series From 40 Surface Buoys and the Emergence of Anthropogenic Trends

Ship-based time series, some now approaching over 3 decades long, are critical climate records that have dramatically improved our ability to characterize natural and anthropogenic drivers of ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and biogeochemical processes. Advancements in autonomous marine carbon sensors and technologies over the last 2 decades have led to the expansion of observations at fixed time series sites, thereby improving the capability of characterizing sub-seasonal variability in the ocean. Here , we present a data product of 40 individual autonomous moored surface ocean pCO2 (partial pressure of CO2) time series established between 2004 and 2013, 17 also include autonomous pH measurements. These time series characterie a wide range of surface ocean carbonate conditions in diffferent oceanic (17 sites), coastal (13 sites), and coral reef (10 sites) regimes. A time of trend emergence (ToE) methodology applied ot the time series that exhibit well-constrained daily to interannual variability and an estimate of decadal variability indicates that the length of sustained observations necessary to detect statistically significant anthropogenic trends varies by marine environment. The ToE estisites, and 9 to 22 years at the coral reef sites. Only two open ocean pCO2 and pH range from 8 to 15 years at the open ocean sites, 16 to 41 years at the coastal sites, and 9 to 22 years at the coral reef sites. Only two open ocean pCO2 time series, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Hawaii Ocean Time-series Station (WHOTS) in the subtropical North Pacific and Stratus n the South Pacific gyre, have been deployed longer than the estimated trend detection time and, for these, deseasoned monthly means show estimated anthropogenic trends of 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.6 ± 0.3 μatm yr-1, respectively. In the future, it is possible that updates to this product will allow for the estimation of anthropogenic trends at more sites; however, the product currently provides a valuable tool in an accessible format for evaluating climatology and natural variability of surface ocean carbonate chemistry in a variety of regions. Data are available at https://doi.org/10.7289/V5DB8043 and https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/ocads/oceans/Moorings/ndp097.html (Sutton et al., 2018)