2007 Report of the ICES Study Group on Fisheries-Induced Adaptive Change (SGFIAC)

There is a growing body of scientific evidence indicating that fisheries can cause evolutionary responses over time periods as short as 1020 years, in particular in traits such as the onset of maturation. As these changes will most likely result in a reduction of the productivity of a fish stock, management objectives and (precautionary) reference points for sustainable exploitation need to be re-defined, and new objectives and reference points for managing fisheries-induced evolution need to be developed. Current knowledge allows for two generalisations. First, reducing harvest rates will almost always slow the rate and extent of fisheries-induced evolution in most life-history traits. Second, raising a stock's minimum size limit for exploitation well above the size range over which maturation occurs will slow down the rate of evolution in its maturation schedule. To go beyond these generic insights, "Evolutionary Impact Assessments" (EvoIAs) are proposed to quantify the effects of management measures, through the evolutionary response of specific stocks, on the utility functions defined by managers. The Study Group on Fisheries Induced Adaptive Change [SGFIAC] proposes to further develop this framework in dialogue with fisheries scientists and managers, with the aim of integrating the effects of fisheries-induced evolution into fisheries management advice. Developing EvoIAs in the context of suitable case studies is considered to be the most efficient way for making progress

Evolutionary impact assessment: accounting for evolutionary consequences of fishing in an ecosystem approach to fisheries management

Managing fisheries resources to maintain healthy ecosystems is one of the main goals of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). while the number of international treaties call for the implementation of EAF, there are still gaps in the underlying methodology. One aspect that has received substantial scientific attention recently in fisheries-induced evolution (FIE). Increasing evidence indicates that intensive fishing has the potential to exert strong directional selection on life-history traits, behavior, physiology, and morphology of exploited fish. Of particular concern is that reversing evolutionary responses to fishing can be much more difficult than reversing demographic or phenotypically plastic responses. Furthermore, like climate change, multiple agents cause fisheries-induced evolution with effects accumulating over time. Consequently, FIE may alter then utility derived from fish stocks, which in turn can modify the monetary value living aquatic resources provide to society. Quantifying and predicting the evolutionary effects of fishing is therefore important for both ecological and economic reasons, An important reason this is not happening is the lack of an appropriate assessment framework. We therefor describe the evolutionary impact assessment (EvoIA) as a structured approach for assessing the evolutionary outcomes of alternative management options. EvoIA can contribute to the ecosystem approach to fisheries management by clarifying how evolution may alter stock properties and ecological relations, support the precautionary approach to fisheries management by addressing a previously overlooked source of uncertainty and risk, and thus contribute to sustainable fisheries

Diagnostic accuracy of whole-body MRI versus standard imaging pathways for metastatic disease in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer: the prospective Streamline C trial

Background: Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging(WB-MRI) may be an alternative to multi-modality staging of colon cancer but its relative diagnostic accuracy, effect on staging times, test number, cost, and impact on treatment decisions are unknown. We undertook a prospective multicentre cohort study to address this (ISRCTN43958015). Methods: We recruited from 16 English hospitals. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, with newly diagnosed colon cancer. Patients underwent WB-MRI, the result of which was withheld until standard staging investigations were complete. The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) recorded its first treatment decision based on standard investigations, then the alternate WB-MRI staging pathway (WB-MRI plus any additional tests generated), and finally on all tests combined. The primary outcome was difference in per-patient sensitivity for metastases between standard and WB-MRI staging pathways against a consensus reference standard at 12-months. Differences in treatment decisions, staging time, test number, and costs were secondary outcomes. Findings: 299 patients completed the trial; 68 (23%) had metastasis at baseline. The WB-MRI pathway was 68% (95% CI 56 to 78) sensitive, not significantly different from standard pathways (63% [51 to 74]), a 4% (-5 to 13) difference, p=0.508. Specificity was not significantly different (95% [92 to 97], vs. 94% [90 to 96]). Agreement with the MDT final treatment decision was 96% and 95% for WB-MRI and standard pathways respectively. Time to complete staging was significantly shorter for WB-MRI (8 days [6 to 9] vs. 13 days [11 to 15]), a 5-day (3 to 7) difference. WB-MRI pathways required significantly fewer tests (median 1 [1 to 1] vs. 2 [2 to 2]), a difference of 1 (1 to 1). Mean per-patient staging costs were £216 and £285 for WB-MRI and standard pathways respectively. Interpretation: WB-MRI staging pathways are as accurate as standard pathways, but reduce tests, staging time, and cost

Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging, and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing, and data modelling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works

SPARC 2021 - Against all odds : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2021 SPARC conference. Our conference is called “Against All Odds” as we celebrate the achievements of our PGRs and their supervisors, who have continued to excel despite the most challenging circumstances. For this reason, we showcase the work of our PGRs alongside the outstanding supervision that they receive, with our Doctoral School Best Supervisor awards. We also focus on developing resilience and maintaining good mental health in the research environment, supported by exceptional keynote speakers, including our very own Dr Michelle Howarth and Ruby Wax OBE, which makes this year’s conference extra special