Countdown to 2010: Can we assess Ireland’s insect species diversity and loss?

peer-reviewedThe insects are the most diverse organisms on this planet and play an essential role in ecosystem functioning, yet we know very little about them. In light of the Convention on Biological Diversity, this paper summarises the known insect species numbers for Ireland and questions whether this is a true refl ection of our insect diversity. The total number of known species for Ireland is 11,422. Using species accumulation curves and a comparison with the British fauna, this study shows that the Irish list is incomplete and that the actual species number is much higher. However, even with a reasonable knowledge of the species in Ireland, insects are such speciose, small, and inconspicuous animals that it is diffi cult to assess species loss. It is impossible to know at one point in time the number of insect species in Ireland and, although it is useful to summarise the known number of species, it is essential that biodiversity indicators, such as the Red List Index, are developed

Career derailment: burnout and bullying at the executive level

Executive derailment refers to unexpected and unwanted changes in the trajectory of an executive career caused either by factors within the person or by organisational factors external to the person, or a combination of both, leading to loss of identity. This phenomenological study explored subjective experiences of four high functioning professionals who had experienced executive derailment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results showed four superordinate themes that encapsulated a trajectory from severe loss of identity, integrity, and livelihood, to newly defined authenticity following derailment: (1) Self-doubt and blame; (2) targeted bullying; (3) psychological vulnerability and distress; and (4) Meaning-making and personal growth. The first three themes highlight varying levels of psychological distress and burnout and the vicarious impact on family life. The fourth theme involved a redefined self-integrity where forgiveness and psychological recovery could emerge and allow for a reconsideration of career pathways. The recognition that personal and professional growth can arise following executive derailment is a novel finding with important implications for coaches. A positive psychological and growth-oriented mindset may be helpful in harnessing change with executives following derailment

Hyperpolarized (3)He magnetic resonance imaging-derived pulmonary pressure-volume curves

We aimed to evaluate the potential for the use of hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) surrogates of alveolar size, together with literature-based morphological parameters in a theoretical model of lung mechanics to simulate noninvasive transpulmonary pressure-volume curves. Fourteen ex-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 8 stage II, n = 6 stage III/IV COPD) and five age-matched never-smokers, provided written, informed consent and were evaluated at baseline and 26 + or - 2 mo later (n = 15 subjects) using plethysmography, spirometry, and (3)He MRI at 3.0 T. Total lung capacity, residual volume, and literature-based morphological parameters were used with alveolar volumes derived from (3)He ADC to simulate noninvasive pressure-volume curves. The resultant anterior-posterior transpulmonary pressure gradient was significantly decreased for stage II COPD (P \u3c 0.01) and stage III COPD subjects (P \u3c 0.001) compared with healthy volunteers. Both COPD subgroups showed increased alveolar radius compared with healthy subjects (P \u3c 0.01, stage II COPD; P \u3c 0.001, stage III COPD). In addition, surface area and surface tension were significantly increased in stage III COPD compared with healthy volunteers (P \u3c 0.01). These results suggest that (3)He MRI provides a potential noninvasive approach to evaluate lung mechanics regionally and further supports the use of ADC values as a regional noninvasive probe of pulmonary microstructure and compliance

The Relationship Between Diet and Lifestyle Behaviours in a Sample of Higher Education Students; A Cross-Sectional Study

Transitioning into higher education (HE) impacts health behaviours. Poor dietary and lifestyle behaviours may correlate and increase risk of co-morbidities. The introduction of the Okanagan Charter detailed the important role of health promotion within a HE setting. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary quality and lifestyle behaviours of students attending HE

The Haematopoietically-expressed homeobox transcription factor: roles in development, physiology and disease

The Haematopoietically expressed homeobox transcription factor (Hhex) is a transcriptional repressor that is of fundamental importance across species, as evident by its evolutionary conservation spanning fish, amphibians, birds, mice and humans. Indeed, Hhex maintains its vital functions throughout the lifespan of the organism, beginning in the oocyte, through fundamental stages of embryogenesis in the foregut endoderm. The endodermal development driven by Hhex gives rise to endocrine organs such as the pancreas in a process which is likely linked to its role as a risk factor in diabetes and pancreatic disorders. Hhex is also required for the normal development of the bile duct and liver, the latter also importantly being the initial site of haematopoiesis. These haematopoietic origins are governed by Hhex, leading to its crucial later roles in definitive haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal, lymphopoiesis and haematological malignancy. Hhex is also necessary for the developing forebrain and thyroid gland, with this reliance on Hhex evident in its role in endocrine disorders later in life including a potential role in Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, the roles of Hhex in embryological development throughout evolution appear to be linked to its later roles in a variety of disease processes

Postmission Altruistic Identity Disruption Questionnaire (PostAID/Q): identifying humanitarian-related distress during the reintegration period following international humanitarian aid work

Psychological care of humanitarian personnel exposed to high risk environments is not standardized across the sector. Particularly, returnees experiencing re-integration distress specific to prior aid deployment, is randomly addressed. The Postmission Altruistic Identity Disruption Questionnaire (PostAID/Q), an 18-item self-report screening tool, attempts to standardize assessment of re-integration/specific distress in returnees from humanitarian deployment. When individuals, high in altruistic identity (AI), perceive invalidation or lack of support from organization, family, or society following a difficult deployment, they may experience altruistic identity disruption (AID) manifest by interrelated feelings of isolation, doubt, and self-blame. Paradoxically, AID distress can precipitate attempts to redeploy prematurely leaving any prior adverse/traumatic responses unresolved. This study compared the discriminant validity of PostAID/Q with standardized measures of distress and social support (IES-R;GHQ-12;SPS). The construct demonstrated significant predictive value, high internal consistency and significant variance over and above the other constructs. Promisingly, PostAID/Q shows utility in predicting re-integration/specific distress postmission

Dietary patterns across the life course, mammographic density and implications for breast cancer: results from a British prospective cohort

Background : Previous epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between individual nutrients such as vitamin D and vitamin B12 and mammographic density, a strong marker of breast cancer risk [1], with varied results. There has been limited research on overall dietary patterns and most studies have focused on adult dietary patterns [2]. We examine prospective data to determine whether dietary patterns from childhood to adult life affect mammographic density.Methods : The Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development is a national representative sample of 2,815 men and 2,547 women followed since their birth in March 1946 [3]. A wealth of medical and social data has been collected in over 25 follow-ups by home visits, medical examinations and postal questionnaires. Dietary intakes at age 4 years were determined by 24-hour recalls and in adulthood (ages 36, 43 years) by 5-day food records. Copies of the mammograms (two views for each breast) taken when the women were closest to age 50 years were obtained from the relevant NHS centres. A total of 1,319 women were followed up since birth in 1946 for whom a mammogram at age 50 years was retrieved, and the percentage mammographic density was measured using the computer-assisted threshold method for all 1,161 women. Breast cancer incidence for the whole cohort is being ascertained through the National Health Service Central Register.Statistical analysis : Reduced rank regression analysis, a relatively new approach to dietary pattern analysis, is being used to identify dietary patterns associated with mammographic density [4]. This approach identifies patterns in food intake that are predictive of an intermediate outcome of the disease process, such as mammographic density, and subsequently examines the relationship between the identified dietary patterns and breast cancer risk.Results : Preliminary analyses so far suggest that variations in dietary patterns in adulthood might explain more than 10% of the variation in percentage mammographic density at age 50 years (age 36 years: 13%; age 43 years: 14%), with variations in patterns in childhood explaining slightly less. Further work is being carried out on the characteristics of these dietary patterns and their effects on percentage mammographic density and its two components (that is, absolute areas of dense and nondense tissues) and on breast cancer risk, after adjusting for socioeconomic status, anthropometric variables and reproductive factors.Conclusion : The present study will provide for the first time information on the relationship between dietary patterns across the life course and mammographic density, and will help to clarify the pathways through which diet may affect breast cancer risk.<br /

Longitudinal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of COPD: Thoracic imaging network of Canada (TINCan) study objectives

Although the human and societal burden and cost of COPD is staggering, there are few clinical tools that provide earlier diagnoses or a means to regionally monitor disease in a way that might lead to improved therapies and outcomes. In acknowledgement of the current gaps in COPD therapy, the objective of the Thoracic Imaging Network of Canada (TINCan) is to improve COPD patient phenotyping through imaging, to provide methods and imaging-based intermediate endpoints for the development of new treatments, and to evaluate disease progression and patient-based outcomes in COPD patients and those at risk of COPD. Here we summarize and outline the TINCan study protocol and describe our objectives. TINCan is a prospective study that aims to identify and quantify novel COPD phenotypes from thoracic computed tomography (CT) and thoracic hyperpolarized noble gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 200 ex-smokers, 50 years of age or greater, including asymptomatic ex-smokers with normal pulmonary function and Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Unclassified (U) , and GOLD stages I-IV patients. Baseline and 2-year follow-up measurements will be acquired using spirometry, plethysmography, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D