Aran, Galway Bay and Slyne Head Nephrops Grounds (FU17) 2022 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2023

This report provides the main results and findings of the 21st annual underwater television survey on the Aran, Galway Bay and Slyne head Nephrops grounds, ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 17. In 2022, due to disruption to the survey schedule caused by weather downtime, the UWTV survey could not complete the Aran Grounds and Slyne Head stations, and was only able to complete successfully the 5 Galway Bay stations. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV, CTD and other ecosystem data. The mean burrow density observed in Galway Bay, adjusted for edge effect, was 0.19 burrows/m2; and the final abundance estimate for this ground was 15 million burrows with a CV (Coefficient of Variance; relative standard error) of 3%. There were no sea-pen species nor trawl marks observed in the footage from Galway Bay. The 2022 UWTV survey was not deemed robust enough to derive fishing advice for 2023 owing to the reduced number of stations. As such, the stock size is considered unknown for 2022. Therefore, the assessment and catch advice for 2023 is based on the 2021 UWTV survey. The 2021 combined abundance estimate (331 million burrows) was below the MSY Btrigger reference (540 million burrows). Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data imply that catches in 2023 should be no more than 363 tonnes, according to the EU MAP and ICES MSY approach and assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2019–2021

Porcupine Bank Nephrops Grounds (FU16) 2023 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2024

This report provides the results of the eleventh underwater television on the ‘Porcupine Bank Nephrops grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 16. The survey was multi disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In total 71 UWTV stations were successfully completed (100% of the planned stations) in a randomised 6 nautical mile isometric grid covering the full spatial extent of the stock. The mean burrow density observed in 2023, adjusted for edge effect, was 0.27 burrows/m². The final krigged abundance estimate was 2002 million burrows with a CV of 3% and an estimated stock area of 7,130 km2 . The 2023 abundance estimate was 47% higher than in 2022. Using the 2023 estimate of abundance and updated stock data imply that catches in 2024 should be between 3677 and 4560 tonnes, according to the EU MAP and ICES MSY approach (assuming that all catch is landed). Four species of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis, Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula phosphorea and the deepwater sea-pen Kophobelemnon stelliferum) were observed during the survey. Trawl marks were also observed on 20% of the stations surveyed.Marine Institut

The “Smalls” Nephrops Grounds (FU22) 2023 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2024

This report provides the main results and findings of the eighteenth annual underwater television survey on the ‘Smalls grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 22. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. A total of 41 UWTV stations were surveyed successfully (high quality image data), carried out over an isometric grid at 4.5nmi or 8.3km intervals. The precision, with a CV of < 7%, was well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS (ICES, 2012). The 2023 abundance estimate was 13% lower than in 2022 and at 776 million is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (990 million). Using the 2023 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2024 that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 1912 tonnes, assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2020 - 2022. One species of sea pen was recorded as present at the stations surveyed: Virgularia mirabilis. Trawl marks were observed at 37% of the stations surveyed.Marine Institut

FU19 Nephrops Grounds 2023 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2024

This report provides the main results of the fourteenth underwater television survey of the various Nephrops patches in Functional Unit 19. The survey was multi disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In 2023 a total 42 UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied considerably across the different patches. The 2023 raised abundance estimate showed a 15% decrease from the 2022 estimate and at 220 million burrows is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2023 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2024 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 224 and 248 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2020–2022). One species of sea pen was observed; Virgularia mirabilis which has been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed at 10% of the stations surveyed.Marine Institut

Evaluation of the effect of insulin sensitivity-enhancing lifestyle- and dietary-related adjuncts on antidepressant treatment response: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is known to be associated with insulin resistance (IR). Insulin resistance worsens the symptoms of depression and reduces the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in some depressed patients. Many studies have assessed the effect of adjunctive exercise, vitamin D supplementation, zinc supplementation, magnesium, probiotics, unsaturated fatty acids, and hygienic-dietary recommendations (sleep hygiene, healthy diet, physical activity, and sunlight exposure, combined or singly used), individually, on antidepressant treatment response. However, despite the reported insulin sensitivity-enhancing potential of these adjuncts, no systematic review has collectively analysed their antidepressant effect with regards to insulin sensitivity. Methods/design In this systematic review, we will analyse the effect of the above-stated adjuncts on antidepressant treatment response (primary outcome) in comparison with treatment as usual with or without adjunctive placebo after identifying the relevant trials from a systematic literature search. Randomised controlled trials involving clinically depressed patients with diagnosis of major depressive, dysthymic or bipolar disorder will be considered. Changes in insulin sensitivity parameters, following treatment, will also be analysed as the secondary outcome. Effect estimates of the included trials will be combined using random-effects meta-analysis, while addressing risk of bias issues. Any significant heterogeneity between studies will be explored using sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Discussion The findings of this review will contribute to the evidence base regarding the utility of non-pharmacological insulin-sensitising treatments in enhancing conventional antidepressant treatment response

Human in the loop fuzzy pattern tree evolution

Fuzzy pattern trees evolved using grammatical evolution, a system we call Fuzzy Grammatical Evolution, are shown to be a robust Explainable Artificial Intelligence technique. Experimental results show Fuzzy Grammatical Evolution achieves competitive results when compared against SVM, Random Forest and Logistic Regression on a set of real world benchmark problems. Fuzzy Grammatical Evolution allows for human input throughout the evolutionary process. Regularization methods and double tournament selection were investigated to determine what method was most successful at finding smaller, more interpretable models. A domain expert was recruited to investigate the interpretability of the models found and to give a confidence score for each model. This expert successfully identified overfit models, validating that Fuzzy Grammatical Evolution can be regarded a powerful Explainable Artificial Intelligence technique

Do interruptions to the continuity of methadone maintenance treatment in specialist addiction settings increase the risk of drug-related poisoning deaths? A retrospective-cohort study.

AIMS: To examine the risk of mortality associated with interruptions to the continuity of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), including transfers between services, in opioid dependent individuals attending specialist addiction services. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using addiction services and primary care dispensing records, the national methadone register and national drug related death index (NDRDI). SETTING: Geographically defined population in Dublin, Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,899 people prescribed and dispensed methadone in specialist addiction services between January 2010 and December 2015. There were 5 exposure groups: weeks 1-4 following transfer between treatment providers; weeks 1-4 out of treatment; weeks 5-52 out of treatment; weeks 1-4 of treatment initiation; and weeks 5+ of continuous treatment (reference category). MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome: drug related poisoning (DRP) deaths. Secondary outcome: all-cause mortality (ACM). Mortality rates calculated by dividing number of deaths (DRP; ACM) in exposure groups by person-years exposure. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression (covariates age, sex, incarceration, methadone dose and co-morbidities) estimated differences in mortality rates. FINDINGS: There were 154 ACM deaths, 55 (35.7%) identified as DRP deaths. No deaths were observed in the first month following transfer between treatment providers. The risk of DRP mortality was highest in weeks 1-4 out of treatment (ARR 4.04, 95% CI 1.43-11.43, p=0.009) and weeks 1-4 of treatment initiation (ARR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-9.64, p =0.02). Similarly, risk of ACM was highest in weeks 1-4 out of treatment (ARR 11.78, 95% CI 7.73-17.94, p<0.001), weeks 1-4 of treatment initiation (ARR 5.11, 95% CI 2.95-8.83, p<0.001) and weeks 5-52 off treatment (ARR 2.04, 95% CI 1.2-3.47, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Interruptions to the continuity of methadone maintenance treatment by treatment provider do not appear to be periods of risk for drug related poisoning or all-cause mortality deaths. Risk of drug related poisoning and all-cause mortality deaths appears to be greatest during the first four weeks of treatment initiation/re-initiation and after treatment cessation

Prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions in Irish adults: findings from the Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

PURPOSE: We sought to estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) using a subset of the STOPP/START criteria in a population based sample of Irish adults aged ≥ 65 years using data from The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). METHODS: A subset of 26 PIP indicators and 10 PPO indicators from the STOPP/START criteria were applied to the TILDA dataset. PIP/PPO prevalence according to individual STOPP/START criteria and the overall prevalence of PIP/PPO were estimated. The relationship between PIP and PPOs and polypharmacy, age, gender and multimorbidity was examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of PIP in the study population (n=3,454) was 14.6 %. The most common examples of PIP identified were NSAID with moderate-severe hypertension (200 participants; 5.8 %) and aspirin with no history of coronary, cerebral, or peripheral vascular symptoms or occlusive event (112 participants; 3.2 %). The overall prevalence of PPOs was 30 % (n=1,035). The most frequent PPO was antihypertensive therapy where systolic blood pressure consistently >160 mmHg (n=341, 9.9 %), There was a significant association between PIP and PPO and polypharmacy when adjusting for age, sex and multimorbidity (adjusted OR 2.62, 95 % CI 2.05-3.33 for PIP and adjusted OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.23-1.75 for prescribing omissions). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate prescribing omissions are twice as prevalent as PIP in the elderly using a subset of the STOPP/START criteria as an explicit process measure of potentially inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions. Polypharmacy was independently associated with both PPO and PIP. Application of such screening tools to prescribing decisions may reduce unnecessary medication, related adverse events, healthcare utilisation and cost

Additional file 3 of Acipimox in Mitochondrial Myopathy (AIMM): study protocol for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, adaptive design trial of the efficacy of acipimox in adult patients with mitochondrial myopathy

Additional file 3. PIS Summary