Visual needs in different occupational settings

The occupational setting is quite diverse in its visual demands. Part of the duty of the practicing optometrist is to address the visual needs of the patient and thereby provide the appropriate treatment and information to the patient to satisfy those varying visual needs for optimum vision. We surveyed four occupations concerning vision in the workplace: travel agent, physical therapist, private investigator, and paramedic. From the collected data it is very apparent that each of these occupations has a variety of visual tasks that are often associated with visual problems and, hence, this is likely in other fields of work as well. This is where the optometrist has a special place as a problem-solver. Specifically we found that progressive lenses, safety eyewear, and gas permeable contact lenses are underutilized. Also there is plenty of room for improving lighting in the workplace and reducing the amount of headaches and other common near task complaints like dry eyes. Proper communication with the patient about their occupational tasks and hobbies will better enable the optometrist to meet the varying visual needs of patients

Active duty and ex-serving military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder treated with psychological therapies: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major cause of morbidity amongst active duty and ex-serving military personnel. In recent years increasing efforts have been made to develop more effective treatments. Objective: To determine which psychological therapies are efficacious in treating active duty and ex-serving military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: A systematic review was undertaken according to Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines. The primary outcome measure was reduction in PTSD symptoms and the secondary outcome dropout. Results: Twenty-four studies with 2386 participants were included. Evidence demonstrated that CBT with a trauma focus (CBT-TF) was associated with the largest evidence of effect when compared to waitlist/usual care in reducing PTSD symptoms post treatment (10 studies; n = 524; SMD −1.22, −1.78 to −0.66). Group CBT-TF was less effective when compared to individual CBT-TF at reducing PTSD symptoms post treatment (1 study; n = 268; SMD −0.35, −0.11 to −0.59). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was not effective when compared to waitlist/usual care at reducing PTSD symptoms post treatment (4 studies; n = 92; SMD −0.83, −1.75 to 0.10). There was evidence of greater dropout from CBT-TF therapies compared to waitlist and Present Centred Therapy. Conclusions: The evidence, albeit limited, supports individual CBT-TF as the first-line psychological treatment of PTSD in active duty and ex-serving personnel. There is evidence for Group CBT-TF, but this is not as strong as for individual CBT-TF. EMDR cannot be recommended as a first line therapy at present and urgently requires further evaluation. Lower effect sizes than for other populations with PTSD and high levels of drop-out suggest that CBT-TF in its current formats is not optimally acceptable and further research is required to develop and evaluate more effective treatments for PTSD and complex PTSD in active duty and ex-serving military personnel

Internet-based guided self-help for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): randomised controlled trial

Background: There are numerous barriers that limit access to evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Internet-based guided self-help is a treatment option that may help widen access to effective intervention, but the approach has not been sufficiently explored for the treatment of PTSD. Methods: 42 adults with DSM-5 PTSD of mild to moderate severity were randomly allocated to internet-based self-help with up to 3 hours of therapist assistance, or to a delayed treatment control group. The internet-based programme included 8 modules that focused on psycho-education; grounding; relaxation; behavioural activation; real-life and imaginal exposure; cognitive therapy and relapse prevention. The primary outcome measure was reduction in clinician-rated traumatic stress symptoms using the clinician administered PTSD scale for DSM-V (CAPS-5). Secondary outcomes were self-reported PTSD symptoms; depression; anxiety; alcohol use; perceived social support; and functional impairment. Results: Post-treatment, the internet-based guided self-help group had significantly lower clinician assessed PTSD symptoms than the delayed treatment control group (between-group effect size Cohen’s d=1.86). The difference was maintained at one-month follow-up and dissipated once both groups had received treatment. Similar patterns of difference between the two groups were found for depression, anxiety and functional impairment. The average contact with treating clinicians was 2½ hours. Conclusions: Internet-based trauma-focused guided self-help for PTSD is a promising treatment option that requires far less therapist time than current first line face-to-face psychological therapy

A high-resolution late Holocene lake isotope record from Turkey and links to North Atlantic and monsoon climate

A high resolution proxy record of precipitation and evaporation variability through the past 1700 yr from δ18O analysis of a varved lake sequence from central Turkey shows rapid shifts between dry periods (AD 300–500 and AD 1400–1950) and wetter intervals (AD 560–750 and AD 1000–1350). Changes are consistent with changes in instrumental and proxy records of the Indian monsoon, dry summers in the Eastern Mediterranean being associated with periods of enhanced monsoon rainfall. In addition major shifts in the record are coherent with changes in North Atlantic winter climate with cold, wet periods in the Alps occurring at times of dry Turkish climate

Traceability in the UK Seafood chain

Traceability in seafood supply chains is vital for ensuring food safety, proving legality and tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and verifying sustainability. UK seafood supply chains vary in complexity. As complexity across a supply chain increases, the importance of seafood transparency and traceability at each stage of the supply chain increases.The project sought examples of different supply chains of seafood landed in the UK to examine the current levels of traceability across the supply chain, examples of best practice, challenges to traceability and improvements that could be recommended for implementation in UK seafood supply chains. Case studies were sought from three UK seafood supply chains: i) Case study A: (Demersal) Dover (common) sole landed into ports in South West England; ii) Case Study B: (Pelagic) Mackerel from vessels landing into Peterhead, Scotland; and iii) Case Study C: (Shellfish) Brown crab / lobster from vessels landing into Bridlington, England. An initial seafood supply chain mapping exercise was undertaken for each case study through stakeholder structured interviews followed by in-depth semi structured interviews with actors across the supply chain.Key recommendations for improving traceability within the UK seafood supply chain include:• Focus on improving traceability up to the point of first sale.• Definitions of traceability need to more clearly stated to stakeholders.• Digitalise and integrate information systems.• Improve stakeholder engagement around data submission.• Minimise duplication of catch reporting by MMOs and IFCAs• Improvements to traceability systems are needed to allow for the distinction between sustainable versus non-sustainably caught seafood.• Increase transparency in how data submissions are used to increase data accuracy• Improve monitoring of wholesale markets.It should be acknowledged that the current approaches to improving traceability in seafood supply chains are already implementing some of the recommendations highlighted in this report. The recommendations from this report should serve to strengthen areas of traceability work that are already ongoing and to provide further impetus for development of best practice across UK seafood supply chains

Traceability in the UK Seafood chain

Traceability in seafood supply chains is vital for ensuring food safety, proving legality and tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and verifying sustainability. UK seafood supply chains vary in complexity. As complexity across a supply chain increases, the importance of seafood transparency and traceability at each stage of the supply chain increases.The project sought examples of different supply chains of seafood landed in the UK to examine the current levels of traceability across the supply chain, examples of best practice, challenges to traceability and improvements that could be recommended for implementation in UK seafood supply chains. Case studies were sought from three UK seafood supply chains: i) Case study A: (Demersal) Dover (common) sole landed into ports in South West England; ii) Case Study B: (Pelagic) Mackerel from vessels landing into Peterhead, Scotland; and iii) Case Study C: (Shellfish) Brown crab / lobster from vessels landing into Bridlington, England. An initial seafood supply chain mapping exercise was undertaken for each case study through stakeholder structured interviews followed by in-depth semi structured interviews with actors across the supply chain.Key recommendations for improving traceability within the UK seafood supply chain include:• Focus on improving traceability up to the point of first sale.• Definitions of traceability need to more clearly stated to stakeholders.• Digitalise and integrate information systems.• Improve stakeholder engagement around data submission.• Minimise duplication of catch reporting by MMOs and IFCAs• Improvements to traceability systems are needed to allow for the distinction between sustainable versus non-sustainably caught seafood.• Increase transparency in how data submissions are used to increase data accuracy• Improve monitoring of wholesale markets.It should be acknowledged that the current approaches to improving traceability in seafood supply chains are already implementing some of the recommendations highlighted in this report. The recommendations from this report should serve to strengthen areas of traceability work that are already ongoing and to provide further impetus for development of best practice across UK seafood supply chains

What Have We Learnt About CO2 Leakage in the Context of Commercial-Scale CCS?

The viability of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) depends on the reliable containment of injected CO2 in the subsurface. Robust and cost-effective approaches to measure monitor and verify CO2 containment are required to demonstrate that CO2 has not breached the reservoir, and to comply with CCS regulations. This includes capability to detect and quantify any potential leakage to surface. It is useful to consider the range of possible leak rates for potential CO2 leak pathways from an intended storage reservoir to surface to inform the design of effective monitoring approaches. However, in the absence of a portfolio of leakage from engineered CO2 stores we must instead learn from industrial and natural analogues, numerical models, and laboratory and field experiments that have intentionally released CO2 into the shallow subsurface to simulate a CO2 leak to surface. We collated a global dataset of measured or estimated CO2 flux (CO2 emission per unit area) and CO2 leak rate from industrial and natural analogues and field experiments. We then examined the dataset to compare emission and flux rates and seep style, and consider the measured emission rates in the context of commercial scale CCS operations. We find that natural and industrial analogues show very wide variation in the scale of CO2 emissions, and tend to be larger than leaks simulated by CO2 release experiments. For all analogue types (natural, industrial, or experiment) the emission rates show greater variation between sites than CO2 flux rates. Quantitation approaches are non-standardized, and that measuring and reporting both the CO2 flux and seep rate is rare as it remains challenging, particularly in marine environments. Finally, we observe that CO2 fluxes tend to be associated with particular emission characteristics (vent, diffuse, or water-associated). We propose that characteristics could inform the design and performance requirements for CO2 leak monitoring approaches tailored to detect specific emission styles

The effects of surface structure mutations in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> on the polarization of reflections from virus-infected leaves

<div><p>The way in which light is polarized when reflected from leaves can be affected by infection with plant viruses. This has the potential to influence viral transmission by insect vectors due to altered visual attractiveness of infected plants. The optical and topological properties of cuticular waxes and trichomes are important determinants of how light is polarized upon reflection. Changes in expression of genes involved in the formation of surface structures have also been reported following viral infection. This paper investigates the role of altered surface structures in virus-induced changes to polarization reflection from leaves. The percentage polarization of reflections from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana cer5</i>, <i>cer6</i> and <i>cer8</i> wax synthesis mutants, and the <i>gl1</i> leaf hair mutant, was compared to those from wild-type (WT) leaves. The <i>cer5</i> mutant leaves were less polarizing than WT on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces; <i>gl1</i> leaves were more polarizing than WT on the adaxial surfaces. The <i>cer6</i> and <i>cer8</i> mutations did not significantly affect polarization reflection. The impacts of <i>Turnip vein clearing virus</i> (TVCV) infection on the polarization of reflected light were significantly affected by <i>cer5</i> mutation, with the reflections from <i>cer5</i> mutants being higher than those from WT leaves, suggesting that changes in <i>CER5</i> expression following infection could influence the polarization of the reflections. There was, however, no significant effect of the <i>gl1</i> mutation on polarization following TVCV infection. The <i>cer5</i> and <i>gl1</i> mutations did not affect the changes in polarization following <i>Cucumber mosaic virus</i> (CMV) infection. The accumulation of TVCV and CMV did not differ significantly between mutant and WT leaves, suggesting that altered expression of surface structure genes does not significantly affect viral titres, raising the possibility that if such regulatory changes have any adaptive value it may possibly be through impacts on viral transmission.</p></div

Seasonality of Holocene hydroclimate in the Eastern Mediterranean reconstructed using the oxygen isotope composition of carbonates and diatoms from Lake Nar, central Turkey

A positive shift in the oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of lake carbonates in the Eastern Mediterranean from the early to late Holocene is usually interpreted as a change to drier (reduced P/E) conditions. However, it has also been suggested that changes in the seasonality of precipitation could explain these trends. Here, Holocene records of δ18O from both carbonates and diatom silica, from Lake Nar in central Turkey, provide insights into palaeoseasonality. We show how Δδ18Olakewater (the difference between spring and summer reconstructed δ18Olakewater) was minimal in the early Holocene and for most of the last millennium, but was greater at other times. For example, between ~4,100-1,600 years BP we suggest that increased Δδ18Olakewater could have been the result of relatively more spring/summer evaporation, amplified by a decline in lake level. In terms of change in annual mean δ18O, isotope mass balance modelling shows that this can be influenced by changes in seasonal P/E as well as inter-annual P/E, but lake level falls inferred from other proxies confirm there was a mid Holocene transition to drier climatic conditions in central Turkey