Status of the tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in New York City and on Long Island, New York, USA

Coastal species are under considerable threat from recreational activities and climate change. The tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was recorded historically from 30 locations along the shores of New York City and Long Island, New York. We conducted surveys for extant populations of this species at 40 sites from 1989 to 2010. Adults of C. hirticollis were found at 13 beaches. Only four sites had 40 or more adults of C. hirticollis active at the time the beach was surveyed. No beetles were detected on the large coastal beaches that were formerly occupied by this species. Many coastal beaches of New York receive heavy human foot and vehicle traffic and are therefore unlikely to provide suitable habitat for C. hirticollis without a shift in beach management that recognizes the potential of some beaches as wilderness systems capable of supporting the full array of beach-dependent species

Status of the tiger beetle \u3ci\u3eCicindela hirticollis\u3c/i\u3e Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in New York City and on Long Island, New York, USA

Coastal species are under considerable threat from recreational activities and climate change. The tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was recorded historically from 30 locations along the shores of New York City and Long Island, New York. We conducted surveys for extant populations of this species at 40 sites from 1989 to 2010. Adults of C. hirticollis were found at 13 beaches. Only four sites had 40 or more adults of C. hirticollis active at the time the beach was surveyed. No beetles were detected on the large coastal beaches that were formerly occupied by this species. Many coastal beaches of New York receive heavy human foot and vehicle traffic and are therefore unlikely to provide suitable habitat for C. hirticollis without a shift in beach management that recognizes the potential of some beaches as wilderness systems capable of supporting the full array of beach-dependent species

Status of the tiger beetle \u3ci\u3eCicindela hirticollis\u3c/i\u3e Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in New York City and on Long Island, New York, USA

Coastal species are under considerable threat from recreational activities and climate change. The tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was recorded historically from 30 locations along the shores of New York City and Long Island, New York. We conducted surveys for extant populations of this species at 40 sites from 1989 to 2010. Adults of C. hirticollis were found at 13 beaches. Only four sites had 40 or more adults of C. hirticollis active at the time the beach was surveyed. No beetles were detected on the large coastal beaches that were formerly occupied by this species. Many coastal beaches of New York receive heavy human foot and vehicle traffic and are therefore unlikely to provide suitable habitat for C. hirticollis without a shift in beach management that recognizes the potential of some beaches as wilderness systems capable of supporting the full array of beach-dependent species

HLA-DQA1*05 carriage associated with development of anti-drug antibodies to infliximab and adalimumab in patients with Crohn's Disease

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are the most widely used biologic drugs for treating immune-mediated diseases, but repeated administration can induce the formation of anti-drug antibodies. The ability to identify patients at increased risk for development of anti-drug antibodies would facilitate selection of therapy and use of preventative strategies.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on Publisher URL to access the full-text

ACT and be READY: Evaluation of an ACT-Based Intervention for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis.

The present study evaluated an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group resilience training program that was delivered to people living with Multiple Sclerosis (PLwMS). The primary outcomes were resilience, quality of life (QoL), and mood. Secondary outcomes included the ACT processes of mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, and values. It was predicted that participants would significantly improve on the primary outcomes and on the ACT processes. The study used a pre-post group intervention design (N = 37) with three-month follow up. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via online questionnaires at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 12-week follow up. The study utilised a modified version of the READY (Resilience for Everyday) Program (Burton et al., 2010), a module-based adult resilience training program that utilises ACT principles to bolster resilience. The intervention was delivered over seven 2.5-hour weekly group sessions and targeted five key protective factors for resilience identified from empirical literature: positive emotions, cognitive flexibility, social connectedness, life meaning, and active coping strategies. Significant improvements were observed for resilience, QoL, depression, stress, and positive affect; whilst improvements for anxiety were non-significant. Significant change was also observed across the ACT processes. The overall quantitative results are supported by the qualitative feedback provided by participants who reported, on average, marked improvement in their understanding of what factors serve to increase or decrease resilience. These findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of an ACT-based group resilience program for improving resilience, QoL, and mood in an MS population

The effect of sleep on item recognition and source memory recollection among shift-workers and permanent day-workers

We studied the effect of sleep versus wakefulness on item recognition and source memory recollection in a sample of shift workers and permanent day-workers. Recognition of words that were previously viewed arrayed in quadrants of a page, and recollection of the original source location of the words on the page were assessed after a 12-h retention interval that was filled with wakefulness incorporating the subjects' work-shift, or an equal period that included sleep. Both shift-workers and permanent day-workers had poorer item recognition and source memory recollection when the retention interval was spent awake rather than including sleep. Shift-workers expressed larger deficits in performance than day-workers after wakefulness. This effect was not mediated by whether the shift-workers were on a day- or night-shift at the time of the study. These results indicate that sleep is an important contributor to successful item recognition and source recollection, and that mnemonic processing in shift-workers may be especially sensitive across their work-shift

Pilot evaluation of a resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis

To evaluate the feasibility and psychosocial outcomes of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Research Method/Design: The study used a pre-post group intervention design with 3-month follow-up. The intervention consisted of 8 group sessions of 2.5 hours each with 7 weekly sessions plus a booster Session 5 weeks later. Thirty-seven PwMS completed questionnaires. Primary psychosocial outcomes were resilience, quality of life (QoL), and distress. Secondary outcomes were the ACT processes: mindfulness, defusion, values and acceptance.Significant improvements were observed for resilience (p = .005; Hedge's g = .47), physical health QoL (p < .001; g = -.76), mental health QoL (p = .006; g = -.46), depression (p = .009; g = .38), stress (p = .025; g = .33), and 3 ACT processes: defusion (p = .013; g = -.54), values (p = .010; g = -.38), and acceptance (p = .006; g = -.39). Values and defusion emerged as mediators of physical health QoL and stress (90% CI), respectively. Program feasibility was supported by positive participant feedback; high rates of recruitment, attendance, retention, and homework engagement; and good intervention fidelity.Findings provide preliminary support for the utility and feasibility of a community organization delivered ACT-based group resilience training program for improving resilience, QoL, depression, stress, and protective factors (defusion, values, acceptance) in PwMS. (PsycINFO Database Recor

Enhanced neoplasia detection in chronic ulcerative colitis: the ENDCaP-C diagnostic accuracy study

BackgroundChronic ulcerative colitis is a large bowel inflammatory condition associated with increased colorectal cancer risk over time, resulting in 1000 colectomies per year in the UK. Despite intensive colonoscopic surveillance, 50% of cases progress to invasive cancer before detection. Detecting early (precancer) molecular changes by analysing biopsies from routine colonoscopy should increase neoplasia detection.ObjectivesTo establish a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) marker panel associated with early neoplastic changes in ulcerative colitis patients. To develop the DNA methylation test for high-throughput analysis within the NHS. To prospectively evaluate the test within the existing colonoscopy surveillance programme.DesignModule 1 analysed 569 stored biopsies from neoplastic and non-neoplastic sites/patients using pyrosequencing for 11 genes that were previously reported to have altered promoter methylation associated with colitis-associated neoplasia. Classifiers were constructed to predict neoplasia based on gene combinations. Module 2 translated analysis to a NHS laboratory, assessing next-generation sequencing to increase speed and reduce cost. Module 3 applied the molecular classifiers within a prospective diagnostic accuracy study, in the existing ulcerative colitis surveillance programme. Comparisons were made between baseline and reference colonoscopies undertaken in a stratified patient sample 6–12 months later.SettingThirty-one UK hospitals.ParticipantsPatients with chronic ulcerative colitis, either for at least 10 years and extensive disease, or with primary sclerosing cholangitis.InterventionsAn optimised DNA methylation classifier tested on routine mucosal biopsies taken during colonoscopy.Main outcomeIdentifying ulcerative colitis patients with neoplasia.ResultsModule 1 selected five genes with specificity for neoplasia. The optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for neoplasia was 0.83 (95% confidence interval 0.79 to 0.88). Precancerous neoplasia showed a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.84 to 0.92). Background mucosa had poorer discrimination (optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.62 to 0.73). Module 2 was unable to develop a robust next-generation sequencing assay because of the low amplification rates across all genes. In module 3, 818 patients underwent a baseline colonoscopy. The methylation assay (testing non-neoplastic mucosa) was compared with pathology assessments for neoplasia and showed a diagnostic odds ratio of 2.37 (95% confidence interval 1.46 to 3.82; p = 0.0002). The probability of dysplasia increased from 11.1% before testing to 17.7% after testing (95% confidence interval 13.0% to 23.2%), with a positive methylation result suggesting added value in neoplasia detection. To determine added value above colonoscopy alone, a second (reference) colonoscopy was performed in 193 patients without neoplasia. Although the test showed an increased number of patients with neoplasia associated with primary methylation changes, this failed to reach statistical significance (diagnostic odds ratio 3.93; 95% confidence interval 0.82 to 24.75; p = 0.09).LimitationsSince the inception of ENDCaP-C, technology has advanced to allow whole-genome or methylome testing to be performed.ConclusionsMethylation testing for chronic ulcerative colitis patients cannot be recommended based on this study. However, following up this cohort will reveal further neoplastic changes, indicating whether or not this test may be identifying a population at risk of future neoplasia and informing future surveillance programmes.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN81826545.FundingThis project was funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme, a Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership, and will be published in full in Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Vol. 8, No. 1. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information