Body mass index and age affect Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in male subjects

This cross-sectional analysis evaluated the effect of age and body mass index (BMI) on Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in males. Subjects (n = 60) were recruited according to BMI status. Each completed the 51-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. The group was split at the median age to produce a "younger" and "older" group for statistical analysis. A 2-way between-groups analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of BMI on disinhibition (P = .003) and hunger (P = .041) with higher levels found in overweight males compared to healthy-weight counterparts. A significant main effect of age on hunger (P = .046) demonstrated older males were less susceptible to hunger than younger males. These insights provide a better understanding of eating behavior across the male life cycle and may assist health professionals to better guide men in weight management in the light of rising overweight/obesity. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Pesticide monitoring in inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef using both time-integrated and event monitoring techniques (2013-2014)

The report details pesticide monitoring activities carried out utilising a combination of passive sampling and grab sampling techniques in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as part of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). The MMP was implemented to evaluate changes in water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and the status of key ecosystems under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (RWQPP) 2003 (which was further updated in 2009)

Kinesiology taping reduces the pain of finger osteoarthritis: a pilot single-blinded two-group parallel randomized trial

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthropathy of the hand, and current treatments carry risks of adverse events. Supportive (kinesiology) tape may be analgesic and provide functional improvement, with a low risk of adverse outcomes. We experimented with supportive tape for OA of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of the finger in this pilot randomized trial. Methods: This two-group parallel randomized trial recruited adults with OA of the PIPJ of the finger. We excluded patients lacking capacity or the ability to safely apply the tape. Participants were randomized to receive kinesiology tape on the dorsum of the finger, blind to grouping. Pain was the primary outcome, which was recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were hand function and adverse reactions. Bootstrapped between-group analyses are reported. Results: Ten patients were included and randomized and provided complete data. There was no significant difference in pain between the groups (mean difference of 0.4 VAS units [95% confidence interval {CI} –1.6, 0.7], p=0.4). Overall, the application of kinesiology tape reduced reported pain by 6% (mean reduction of 0.6 VAS units [95% CI 0, 1.2], p=0.04). Taping did not affect hand function or digital range of motion. There were difficulties in recruiting individuals owing to the lack of dedicated research staff. Conclusion: Kinesiology taping may reduce the pain of OA in the finger; however, whether this is a true effect, placebo effect, Hawthorne phenomenon, or due to a statistical error (ie, type 1 error due to underpowering) is unclear. Hence, further trials are required

Pesticide monitoring in inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef using both time-integrated and event monitoring techniques (2012-2013)

The report details pesticide monitoring activities carried out utilising a combination of passive sampling and grab sampling techniques in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as part of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). The MMP was implemented to evaluate changes in water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and the status of key ecosystems under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (RWQPP) 2003 (which was further updated in 2009).Report prepared by monitoring provider contractor to GBRMPA. Contract with gives GBRMPA complete use and distribution rights to all contract outputs, including this report

Marine Monitoring Program: Annual report for inshore pesticide monitoring 2014-2015

[Extract] Declining water quality influenced by land-based activities and run-off has been identified as a significant threat to the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef). Sediment, nutrients and pesticides remain the key water quality issues and may have negative impacts on marine plants and animals (primarily corals and seagrass) that are exposed to run-off plumes in inshore marine areas. The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) is a collaborative program designed to improve the quality of water in the Reef though improved land management practises. In 2014-2015, Entox carried out water quality monitoring activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park) as part of the Marine Monitoring Program (MMP) under Reef Plan. The key objectives of the project are to monitor and assess trends in inshore water quality (i.e. concentrations of pesticides/ herbicides) against the Marine Park Water Quality Guidelines, and link inshore concentrations and their transport with end-of-catchment loads

Gladstone air study 2009-2010 : Monitoring for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) & furans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Gladstone Air Study was initiated as part of the Clean & Healthy Air for Gladstone (CHAG) project established by Queensland Health and the Department of Environment and Resource Management. This project arose in response to community concern regarding the perceived cumulative impact of industrial growth in the Gladstone region on air quality and the consequences for human health. The Gladstone Air Study, as a component of CHAG, aimed to provide data which will profile the levels and types of specific hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and allow for an assessment of the subsequent health risks they pose to humans living and working in the Gladstone region. The specific HAPs, which were targeted in the Gladstone Air Study, included polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs). These HAPs were monitored over a twelve month period between February 2009 and January 2010. Monitoring was conducted on a monthly basis at two sites (South Gladstone and Targinie) and in winter (June/July 2009) and summer (December 2009) at an additional four sites (Boyne Island, Clinton, Auckland Point, and Boat Creek) within the Gladstone Air Monitoring Network. Some additional monthly monitoring occurred at Boyne Island in October and November. Overall this monitoring for HAPs in the Gladstone region has found that the concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in air: „h are within available health based guidelines (National Environmental Protection Measure (Air Toxics) monitoring investigation levels) established for benzo[a]pyrene as a marker for PAH exposure; „h do not contribute significantly to nor exceed available international exposure standards for intake of ¡§dioxin-like¡¨ PCBs and PCDD/Fs recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council within Australia; and „h are consistent with, or lower than the concentrations measured in other parts of Australia. There was however considerable variation in the concentrations and profiles of specific HAPs within the Gladstone region. Overall the maximum concentrations of all PAH markers of exposure for the region occurred at the South Gladstone site and in summer. The maximum monthly and annual average concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene at this location were 0.14 ng.m-3 and 0.046 ¡Ó 0.045 ng.m-3 respectively, while the regional average concentration (all data) was 0.032 ¡Ó 0.034 ng.m-3. These average concentrations are approximately an order of magnitude lower than the annual average monitoring investigation level of 0.3 ng.m-3 established under the National Environmental Protection Measure (Air Toxics). The concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in the Gladstone region are similarly lower than the concentrations measured previously in ambient air in major cities in Australia. The maximum monthly concentrations of PCDD/Fs and ¡§dioxin-like¡¨ PCBs expressed as World Health Organization toxic equivalent air concentrations (WHO05 TEQDF and WHO05 TEQP respectively) occurred at South Gladstone in summer (12 fg.m-3) and Boyne Island in winter (0.40 fg.m-3). South Gladstone also had the highest annual average WHO05 TEQDF (4.5 fg.m-3) in the region while Auckland Point had the highest average WHO05TEQP (0.34 fg.m-3). The regional average WHO05 TEQDF and WHO05 TEQP were 2.3 fg.m-3 and 0.14 fg.m-3 respectively. The regional average and range of 2.3 ¡Ó 2.4 (0.24 ¡V 12) fg.m-3 for WHO05 TEQDF measured in the Gladstone region are very consistent with the finding of the National Dioxin Program Page 2 conducted in 2003 which indicated that the concentrations in ambient air in Australia are very low by world standards. For example WHO98 TEQDF average (and range) concentrations of 8.9 (0.73 ¡V 41), 1.5 (0.27 ¡V 4.04), 1.1 (0.11 -121), 2.8 (0.29 ¡V 13) fg.m-3 were reported for Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Mutdapilly south west of Brisbane, Cape Grim in Tasmania and Berrimah in Darwin, respectively. The dominant PCDD congener across the Gladstone region was octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) which is approximately 10 000 times less potent than the reference dioxin congener 2,3,7,8-tetrachnlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). Average OCDD concentrations ranged from 30 ¡Ó 24 fg.m-3 at Boyne Island to 78 ¡Ó 57 fg.m-3 at South Gladstone. 2,3,7,8-TCDD was only detected at the South Gladstone site in concentrations ranging from 0.50 fg.m-3 to 2.9 fg.m-3. The highest concentrations of PCDF congeners occurred at Targinie and Boat Creek in the north of the region. These elevated PCDF profiles, where maximum concentrations were observed in winter, may reflect some preservation of wood smoke source profiles within the ambient profiles at these locations. The dominant non-ortho PCB congener in the Gladstone region was PCB 77. The average concentrations for this congener ranged from 10 fg.m-3 at Boat Creek and Targinie in the north of the region to 55 fg.m-3 at Auckland Point. The most potent ¡§dioxin-like¡¨ PCB monitored was the non-ortho congener PCB 126 which has an WHO05 TEF of 0.1 (10 times less potent than 2,3,7,8-TCDD). This congener was present at relatively low concentrations across the region with average concentrations ranging from 0.75 ¡V 2.8 fg.m-3 at Clinton and Auckland Point respectively. The most dominant mono-ortho ¡§dioxin-like¡¨ PCB was PCB 118 which was present at maximum values ranging from 517 fg.m-3 at South Gladstone to 1321 fg.m-3 at Auckland Point. It should be noted that this congener was not detected in any of the monitoring periods at sites to the north of Gladstone (Targinie and Boat Creek). While PCB 118 was detected at relatively high concentrations compared to many of the other ¡§dioxin-like¡¨ PCBs, all of the mono-ortho PCBs exhibit a relatively low potency with respect to 2,3,7,8-TCDD

Pesticide monitoring in inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef using both time-integrated and event monitoring techniques (2010-2011)

The report details pesticide monitoring activities carried out utilising a combination of passive sampling and grab sampling techniques in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as part of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program (MMP). The MMP was implemented to evaluate changes in water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and the status of key ecosystems under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (RWQPP) 2003 (which was further updated in 2009).ENTOX: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicolog

Inference of the timescale-dependent apparent viscosity structure in the upper mantle beneath Greenland

Contemporary crustal uplift and relative sea level change in Greenland is caused by the response of the solid Earth to ongoing and historical ice mass change. Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) models, which seek to match patterns of land surface displacement and relative sea level change, typically employ a linear Maxwell viscoelastic model for the Earth’s mantle. In Greenland, however, upper mantle viscosities inferred from ice load changes and other geophysical phenomena occurring over a range of timescales vary by up to two orders of magnitude. Here, we use full-spectrum rheological models to examine the influence of transient deformation within the Greenland upper mantle, which may account for these differing viscosity estimates. We use observations of shear wave velocity combined with constitutive rheological models to self-consistently calculate mechanical properties including the apparent upper mantle viscosity and lithosphere thickness across a broad spectrum of frequencies. We find that the contribution of transient behaviour is most significant over loading timescales of 102–103 years, which corresponds to the timeframe of ice mass loss over recent centuries. Predicted apparent lithosphere thicknesses are also in good agreement with inferences made across seismic, GIA, and flexural timescales. Our results indicate that full-spectrum constitutive models that more fully capture broadband mantle relaxation provide a means of reconciling seemingly contradictory estimates of Greenland’s upper mantle viscosity and lithosphere thickness made from observations spanning a range of timescales