Search

Objective: This case series explored the integration of smartwatches in a community mental health service to support severe mental illness (SMI) management and intervention. We examined whether biometric data provided by smartwatches could help to predict relapse and inform treatment decisions. Method: Four Australian SMI outpatients of mixed diagnoses (age range = 19–24) were selected from a prior study. Clinicians accessed patients' biometric data (activity, sleep, heart rate, and electrodermal activity) through smartwatches. Results: Changes in circadian rhythm and electrodermal activity preceded hospitalization in two cases. Additionally, smartwatch data was effectively used to guide targeted interventions, improving patient treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Integrating smartwatches in community mental health services offers promise as adjunct tools for SMI management. However, ethical considerations on data privacy and technology reliance require further evaluation. Additionally, as this is a small case series, randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required to provide evidence for generalisability of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After major adversity, some people rely on their religious faith and networks for comfort, support, and material goods and services. Consistent with this behavior are findings that adversity has a positive causal effect on the importance of religion in people's lives. Using a large high‐frequency US dataset, we estimate the causal effects of natural disasters on stated religious importance and attendance at religious services. Effects are identified by comparing changes in outcomes over time within counties affected by a natural disaster with changes over time in other counties from the same state. We find that most estimates are near‐zero in magnitude; for the full sample, for subgroups defined by religious affiliation, demographics, and income, and for different disaster types. However, significant negative effects are found immediately postdisaster, suggesting a short‐term crowding‐out effect in which recovery activities limit time for worship. This explanation is supported by a finding that people are less "well rested" in the first weeks postdisaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interplay of ocean physics and biology at the submesoscale and below (<30 km) is an ongoing challenge in oceanography. While poorly constrained, these scales may be of critical importance for understanding how changing ocean dynamics will impact marine ecosystems. Fronts in the ocean, regions where two disparate water masses meet and isopycnals become tilted toward vertical, are considered hotspots for biophysical interaction, but there is limited observational evidence at the appropriate scales to assess their importance. Fronts around western boundary currents like the Gulf Stream are of particular interest as these dynamic physical regions are thought to influence both productivity and composition of primary producers; however, how exactly this plays out is not well known. Using satellite data and 2 years of in situ observations across the Gulf Stream front near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, we investigate how submesoscale frontal dynamics could affect biological communities and generate hotspots of productivity and export. We assess the seasonality and phenology of the region, generalize the kilometer‐scale structure of the front, and analyze 69 transects to assess two physical processes of potential biogeochemical importance: cold shelf filament subduction and high salinity Sargasso Sea obduction. We link these processes observationally to meanders in the Gulf Stream and discuss how cold filament subduction could be exporting carbon and how obduction of high salinity water from depth is connected with high chlorophyll‐a. Finally, we report on phytoplankton community composition in each of these features and integrate these observations into our understanding of frontal submesoscale dynamics. Plain Language Summary: The interplay of physics and biology in determining the biomass and composition of phytoplankton communities is poorly understood and is key to understanding marine ecosystem resilience and structure in a changing ocean. In this work we investigated the impact of physics and biology on phytoplankton across scales focusing on the Gulf Stream front. Fronts in the ocean are where lines of equal density go from being horizontal to having a vertical tile, and because of this can enable nutrients and plankton to move from depth to the surface and vice versa. The objective of this work is to understand how physics might drive important changes in phytoplankton biomass and composition in the Gulf Stream front, which is amongst the sharpest gradients in temperature, density, and current speed in the global ocean. We find two frequent processes at the front, the apparent downward movement of cold filaments along the edge of the Gulf Stream, associated with meander troughs, and upward movement of high salinity Sargasso Sea water into the front linked to meander crests. While ephemeral, these processes are frequent and could have a large impact on local phytoplankton biomass, phytoplankton composition, and the export of organic matter to depth. Key Points: The frontal zone of the Gulf Stream has an interface water mass with different origins and a range of biogeochemical impactsMeanders appear to control the front interface: troughs lead to shelf filament subduction and crests lead to high salinity water obductionSubduction and obduction appear to be common at the front and could lead to ephemeral kilometer‐scale export and productivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinniped species undergo uniquely amphibious life histories that make them valuable subjects for many domains of research. Pinniped research has often progressed hand‐in‐hand with technological frontiers of wildlife biology, and drones represent a leap forward for methods of aerial remote sensing, enabling data collection, and integration at new scales of biological importance. Drone methods and data types provide four key opportunities for wildlife surveillance that are already advancing pinniped research and management: 1) repeat and on‐demand surveillance, 2) high‐resolution coverage at large extents, 3) morphometric photogrammetry, and 4) computer vision and deep learning applications. Drone methods for pinniped research represent early stages of technological adoption and can reshape the field as they scale towards the full potential of their techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of very high resolution (VHR) satellite remote sensing imagery and deep learning via convolutional neural networks provides opportunities to improve global whale population surveys through increasing efficiency and spatial coverage. Many whale species are recovering from commercial whaling and face multiple anthropogenic threats. Regular, accurate population surveys are therefore of high importance for conservation efforts. In this study, a state‐of‐the‐art object detection model (YOLOv5) was trained to detect gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in VHR satellite images, using training data derived from satellite images spanning different sea states in a key breeding habitat, as well as aerial imagery collected by unoccupied aircraft systems. Varying combinations of aerial and satellite imagery were incorporated into the training set. Mean average precision, whale precision, and recall ranged from 0.823 to 0.922, 0.800 to 0.939, and 0.843 to 0.889, respectively, across eight experiments. The results imply that including aerial imagery in the training data did not substantially impact model performance, and therefore, expansion of representative satellite datasets should be prioritized. The accuracy of the results on real‐world data, along with short training times, indicates the potential of using this method to automate whale detection for population surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical structures generated from ecosystem engineers can have a cascade of impacts on the ecological community and the surrounding landscape. The Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica can form extensive intertidal reefs, whose three‐dimensional structures provide ecosystem services like nursery and foraging habitat for fishes and invertebrates and shoreline stabilization. Measurements of the structural properties of these reefs provide opportunities to quantitatively assess associated services. There is a growing variety of tools available for measuring three‐dimensional (3D) properties of intertidal habitats, including two remote sensing methods that capture 3D structural metrics in a number of environments. We surveyed reefs using a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS, LiDAR) and imagery from unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS, or drones) processed through Structure from Motion photogrammetry. Comparisons of digital elevation models from repetitive flights over an oyster reef to checkpoints yielded mean horizontal and vertical root mean square errors (RMSE) of −0.54 ± 0.47 cm and 0.97 ± 1.0 cm (Mean ± SD), respectively, indicating high accuracy among UAS surveys. Compared to TLS products, point cloud densities from UAS‐derived products were more consistent across the reef elevation gradient and much denser overall except in the low reef zone, which was proximal to most of the TLS scan locations. Comparisons of structural metrics between UAS and TLS showed similarities in metrics like profile and planform curvatures, yet indicated UAS surveys produced higher values of surface complexity and slope. Results indicate that UAS photogrammetry can produce robust oyster reef structural metrics that can be highly useful in oyster conservation and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) disproportionately affect people in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), yet context‐specific evidence on policies that impact NCD risk factors is lacking. We estimate the impact of a massive Indonesian primary school expansion program in the 1970s on NCD risk factors in later life using data from two surveys with very large sample sizes. We find that in non‐Java regions of Indonesia, the program led to significant increases in the likelihood of overweight and high waist circumference among women, but not among men. The increase for women can be partly explained by increased consumption of high‐calorie packaged and take‐away meals. We find no meaningful impacts on high blood pressure for either sex. Despite the increase in body weight, the program had a negligible impact on diabetes and cardiovascular disease diagnosis. It led to an improvement in women's self‐reported health outcomes in their early‐40s, but these benefits largely disappeared once they reached their mid‐40s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia prevalence is projected to rise steeply in coming decades, producing tremendous burdens on families, and health and social services. Motivated by the need for further robust evidence on modifiable risk factors, we investigate the relationship between cognitive activity at work and later‐life dementia. Using data from the US Health and Retirement Study matched to the O*NET occupational database, we find that a one standard deviation increase in the cognitive activity associated with one's longest held occupation is associated with a 0.9 percentage point reduction in (predicted) dementia, or a 24% reduction relative to the mean. This relationship is consistently found across model specifications and robustness tests. When controlling for individual fixed‐effects we find that the association between dementia and work cognitive activity increases with age. Overall, our results provide some evidence in support of the inclusion of cognitive activity at work as a recognized modifiable risk factor for dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The krill surplus hypothesis of unlimited prey resources available for Antarctic predators due to commercial whaling in the 20th century has remained largely untested since the 1970s. Rapid warming of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) over the past 50 years has resulted in decreased seasonal ice cover and a reduction of krill. The latter is being exacerbated by a commercial krill fishery in the region. Despite this, humpback whale populations have increased but may be at a threshold for growth based on these human‐induced changes. Understanding how climate‐mediated variation in prey availability influences humpback whale population dynamics is critical for focused management and conservation actions. Using an 8‐year dataset (2013–2020), we show that inter‐annual humpback whale pregnancy rates, as determined from skin‐blubber biopsy samples (n = 616), are positively correlated with krill availability and fluctuations in ice cover in the previous year. Pregnancy rates showed significant inter‐annual variability, between 29% and 86%. Our results indicate that krill availability is in fact limiting and affecting reproductive rates, in contrast to the krill surplus hypothesis. This suggests that this population of humpback whales may be at a threshold for population growth due to prey limitations. As a result, continued warming and increased fishing along the WAP, which continue to reduce krill stocks, will likely impact this humpback whale population and other krill predators in the region. Humpback whales are sentinel species of ecosystem health, and changes in pregnancy rates can provide quantifiable signals of the impact of environmental change at the population level. Our findings must be considered paramount in developing new and more restrictive conservation and management plans for the Antarctic marine ecosystem and minimizing the negative impacts of human activities in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and robust retrieval of ocean color from remote sensing enables critical observations of aquatic natural systems, from open ocean biological oceanography, coastal biodiversity, and water quality for human health. In the last decade, studies have increasingly highlighted the important role of small‐scale processes in coastal and marine ecology and biogeochemistry, but observation and modeling at these scales remains technologically limited. Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS, aka drones) can rapidly sample large areas with high spatial and temporal resolution; but the challenge of accurately retrieving ocean color, particularly with common wide field‐of‐view multispectral imagers, has limited the adoption of this technology. As UAS endurance, autonomy, and sensor capabilities continue to increase, so does this technology's potential to observe the ocean at fine scales, but only if proper protocols are followed. The present study provides a guide for achieving (1) ideal viewing geometry of UAS‐borne ocean color sensors, (2) techniques for the removal of sun glint and reflected skylight to derive water‐leaving radiances, (3) characterization of uncertainty in these measurements, and (4) converting water‐leaving radiances to remote‐sensing reflectance for analytic end products such as chlorophyll a estimates. Documented open‐source code facilitates replication of this emerging technique. Using this methodology, we briefly describing fine‐scale variability of the Gulf Stream front off North Carolina alongside synoptic satellite data and in situ measurements for comparison. These results demonstrate how UAS‐based ocean color measurements complement and enhance conventional ocean observations and modeling to resolve fine‐scale variability and close the lacuna between satellite and in situ methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine biological communities are dynamic across many scales in both space and time. Such multi‐scale complexity complicates efforts to fully characterize these communities. Critical processes unfold on the order of 0.1–10 kilometers and 0.1–10 days, but conventional oceanographic techniques generally do not observe or model at this scale. Small aerial drones conveniently achieve scales of observation between satellite resolutions and in‐situ sampling, and effectively diminish the "blind spot" between these established measurement techniques. Despite this promise, drone‐based techniques face challenges inherent to optical oceanography, as well as logistical and regulatory barriers relating to both aerial and marine operations. Such obstacles have slowed adoption of drones for marine biological study, but best practices are emerging alongside new techniques that facilitate robust study designs and rigorous data collection. With such advancements, drones promise to complement conventional approaches in biological oceanography to more fully capture the spatiotemporal complexity of the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Billions of people live in urban poverty, with many forced to reside in disaster‐prone areas. Research suggests that such disasters harm child nutrition and increase adult morbidity. However, little is known about impacts on mental health, particularly of people living in slums. In this paper we estimate the effects of flood disasters on the mental and physical health of poor adults and children in urban Indonesia. Our data come from the Indonesia Family Life Survey and new surveys of informal settlement residents. We find that urban poor populations experience increases in acute morbidities and depressive symptoms following floods, that the negative mental health effects last longer, and that the urban wealthy show no health effects from flood exposure. Further analysis suggests that worse economic outcomes may be partly responsible. Overall, the results provide a more nuanced understanding of the morbidities experienced by populations most vulnerable to increased disaster occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of developmentally adapted criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has improved the identification of ≤6‐year‐old children with clinical needs. Across two studies, we assess predictors of the development of PTSD in young children (PTSD‐YC), including the adult‐led acute stress disorder (ASD) diagnosis, and provide proof of principle for cognitive‐focused therapy for this age range, with the aim of increasing treatment options for children diagnosed with PTSD‐YC. Method: Study 1 (N = 105) assessed ASD and PTSD‐YC diagnosis in 3‐ to 8‐year‐old children within one month and at around three months following attendance at an emergency room. Study 2 (N = 37) was a preregistered (www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN35018680) randomized controlled early‐phase trial comparing CBT‐3M, a cognitive‐focused intervention, to treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) delivered within the UK NHS to 3‐ to 8‐year‐olds diagnosed with PTSD‐YC. Results: In Study 1, the ASD diagnosis failed to identify any young children. In contrast, prevalence of acute PTSD‐YC (minus the duration requirement) was 8.6% in the first month post‐trauma and 10.1% at 3 months. Length of hospital stay, but no other demographic or trauma‐related characteristics, predicted development of later PTSD‐YC. Early (within one month) diagnosis of acute PTSD‐YC had a positive predictive value of 50% for later PTSD‐YC. In Study 2, most children lost their PTSD‐YC diagnosis following completion of CBT‐3M (84.6%) relative to TAU (6.7%) and CBT‐3M was acceptable to recipient families. Effect sizes were also in favor of CBT‐3M for secondary outcome measures. Conclusions: The ASD diagnosis is not fit for purpose in this age‐group. There was a strong and encouraging signal of putative efficacy for young children treated using a cognitive‐focused treatment for PTSD, and a larger trial of CBT‐3M is now warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research shows that economic downturns are associated with increases in mental illness. However, we know little about whose mental health is most negatively affected. Is it the young or old, men or women, employed or non‐employed, rich or poor? Using an 18‐year panel dataset of Australians, we contribute to this understanding by estimating the impact of changes in unemployment on mental health, separately by population subgroups. Our mental health measure captures psychological distress and emotional difficulties, which are often missed by infrequent event indicators such as suicides. We find that young women suffer most during economic downturns. Men and women of older ages are not significantly affected. The effects for young women are driven by those in insecure employment, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Our results suggest that public health programs should emphasize the mental health of young women during economic downturns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel application using unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS; drones) for structure‐from‐motion three‐dimensional (3‐D) photogrammetry of multiple, free‐living animals simultaneously. Pinnipeds reliably haul out on shore for pupping and breeding each year, accompanied by dramatic female‐to‐pup mass transfer over a short lactation period and males lose mass while defending mating territories. This provides a tractable study system for validating the use of UAS as a non‐invasive tool for tracking energy dynamics in wild populations.UAS imagery of grey seals Halichoerus grypus was collected at Saddle Island, Nova Scotia. A multirotor UAS was piloted in 360‐degree orbits around relatively dense animal aggregations and georeferenced images were used for construction of a 3‐D point cloud, orthomosaic and Digital Surface Model for animal volumetric measurements. Directly following UAS survey, a subset of adult females were hand‐measured (morphometrics, blubber depth, n = 21 handlings [15 were unique animals]) and female–pup pairs were weighed (adult females: n = 32 [24]; pups: n = 33 [23]) to validate that UAS 3‐D photogrammetric models provided accurate animal volume and mass estimates.UAS two‐dimensional body length measurements were sensitive to animal recumbency and posture. The new UAS 3‐D photogrammetric method overcame these constraints, and aerial‐derived body volume measurements were equivalent to those collected from the ground. UAS body volume measurements precisely predicted 'true' body mass (mean absolute error, adult female: 3.8 kg, 2.1% body mass; pup: 4.1 kg, 9.8%), and exhibited a stronger relationship with total body mass than with blubber volume.The method was applied to 673 free‐living animals to characterize volume and mass dynamics across lactation and breeding for a much larger sample size than would be possible using traditional ground methods. Indeed, 1–46 animals (M ± SE: 9.2 ± 1.2) were modelled concurrently within the focal area of a UAS flight. Application of the method also captured significant inter‐annual variation in body volume/mass dynamics, and female‐to‐pup energy transfer efficiencies were lower when there was low sea ice extent. The UAS 3‐D photogrammetric method presented in this study is likely to be broadly applicable to other species, and the ability to measure whole groups of free‐living animals at once makes strides towards 'weighing populations'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 18O/16O of precipitated silica in natural environments is posited to record the temperature of the ambient environment. Measurements of 17O/16O in silica (SiO2), when paired with 18O/16O, provide an opportunity to further constrain the environmental conditions at the time of mineral precipitation and ripening. On Cenozoic timescales, siliceous frustule precipitation by diatoms has served as the primary sink of silica from the ocean. Frustule precipitation is a biologically catalyzed process from an ocean undersaturated in SiO2. Here, we measure the 17O/16O and 18O/16O in diatom frustules from semicontinuous cultures with two different diatom species and across a range of growth rates and temperatures. To further enable these measurements, we developed a laser fluorination method to reproducibly measure the triple oxygen isotope composition of silica frustules. While the δ13C of the organic matter scaled predictably with growth rate, neither the δ18O or Δ′17O of the frustule silica varied significantly with respect to variations in growth rate or species. Temperature, however, does carry a control on the product δ18O composition. Conversely, the measured Δ′17O compositions were systematically negative with respect to the corresponding theoretical equilibrium isotope prediction, consistent with other empirical work on the SiO2 system and only weakly temperature‐dependent. This isotopic offset may be caused by the silica concentrating mechanisms diatoms use to precipitate their frustules. These results are consistent with literature arguments regarding the utility of diatom δ18O in reconstructing temperature, but suggest that Δ′17O may not be a suitable temperature proxy for diatomaceous sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large multidisciplinary literature has sought to explain how a person's wellbeing changes over time in response to individual life events (for example, unemployment), and to larger scale interventions and events (for example, natural disasters). The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey has been a key data source for such explorations because of its consistency, longevity and breadth of information. Through a review of past studies, we highlight some important features in the dynamics of subjective wellbeing; particularly focusing on the speed of adaptation to wellbeing shocks, and the presence of heterogeneity in adaptation profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing population resilience to adverse events is now a policy priority. Accordingly, there have been calls for more evidence on the determinants of resilience. We answer this call by identifying financial and non‐financial resources associated with psychological resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using longitudinal survey data, psychological resilience is measured by comparing distress reported pre‐COVID‐19 with distress reported during the outbreak and initial lockdown in April 2020. Methodologically, we compare differences in resilience and resources between people with identical gender, ethnicity, health, parenthood status, education, employment status, and region of residence (all measured pre‐2020). We also provide estimates from within‐household comparisons. Surprisingly, income, savings, and debt levels did not affect the likelihood of psychologically resilient outcomes. Cognitive ability, religiosity, and neighborhood social capital also had no protective effect. In contrast, we find robust evidence that non‐cognitive skills, measured by self‐efficacy, strongly protected against psychological distress. Self‐efficacy also dampened the increase in distress caused by large earnings shocks. These findings support investments in non‐cognitive skills that modify the damage‐function from adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northwest Atlantic subspecies of gray seal (Halicheorus grypus grypus) has been increasing for more than a half century and has reestablished breeding colonies in Canadian and US waters. In 2016, visual, oblique, and vertical large‐format digital photographic surveys were conducted at all known breeding colonies in the northwest Atlantic. Total pup production in the northwest Atlantic was estimated to be 109,000 (SE = 17,500) pups. At 87,500 (SE = 15,100) pups, Sable Island accounts for 80% of total pup production. Regional differences in pup production trends are evident. Pup production in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia has been relatively stable. Since 2004, the rate of increase in pup production at Sable Island has slowed to about 5%–7% per year, while the newer colonies in southwest Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States are increasing rapidly. In 2016, the Muskeget Island (MA) breeding colony produced 3,900 (SE = 200) pups, making it the third largest breeding colony in the northwest Atlantic. This southward shift in production may reflect climate‐mediated changes in population growth as well as reestablishment of colonies throughout the former range associated with increased protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distillers grains and solubles generated from the ethanol fermentation of grains contain acylglycerols (AG) that can be successfully converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), commonly known as biodiesel. However, when grain sorghum (milo) DDGS were used as a feedstock for in situ transesterification (IST) under the previously established optimal conditions for other AG‐bearing substrates, the yield plateaued at only 32.2% (corrected in this study to 24.2%). Several IST studies have reported significantly higher conversions of AG‐bearing substrates to FAME. Therefore, the goal of this IST study was to improve the conversion of the AG in milo DDGS to FAME and FAEE by varying the temperature of reaction, the concentrations of the base (sodium methylate, NaOMe), volume of methanol and ethanol, and the amount of moisture in DDGS. Methyl tert‐butyl ester was also evaluated as a co‐solvent intended to improve miscibility and reaction rate. Among these variables, the most effective change was an increase in temperature from 40 to 65 °C. The most successful reaction used a AG:NaOMe:MeOH molar ratio of 1.0:2.6:168.9. Those reaction conditions used 4.8 mmol NaOMe dissolved in 12.6 mL MeOH and resulted in a 79.8% conversion of AG to FAME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the link between health status and economic preferences using survey data from 22 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries. We hypothesize that there is a relationship between poor health and the preferences that people hold, and therefore their choices and decisions. We find that individuals with a limiting health condition are more risk averse and less patient, and that this is true for physical and mental health conditions. The magnitudes of the health gap are approximately 60% and 70% of the gender gap in risk and time preferences, respectively. Importantly, the health gaps are large for males, females, young, old, school dropouts, degree holders, employed, nonemployed, rich, and poor. They also hold for countries with different levels of gross domestic product (GDP), inequality, social expenditure, and disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune cell infiltration has been identified as a prognostic biomarker in several cancers. However, no immune based biomarker has yet been validated for use in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis of immune cell infiltration, measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC), as a prognostic biomarker in PDAC. All other IHC prognostic biomarkers in PDAC were also summarised. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched between 1998 and 2018. Studies investigating IHC biomarkers and prognosis in PDAC were included. REMARK score and Newcastle–Ottawa scale were used for qualitative analysis. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were used to pool results, where possible. Twenty‐six articles studied immune cell infiltration IHC biomarkers and PDAC prognosis. Meta‐analysis found high infiltration with CD4 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51–0.83.) and CD8 (HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.55–0.84.) T‐lymphocytes associated with better disease‐free survival. Reduced overall survival was associated with high CD163 (HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.03–2.56). Infiltration of CD3, CD20, FoxP3 and CD68 cells, and PD‐L1 expression was not prognostic. In total, 708 prognostic biomarkers were identified in 1101 studies. In summary, high CD4 and CD8 infiltration are associated with better disease‐free survival in PDAC. Increased CD163 is adversely prognostic. Despite the publication of 708 IHC prognostic biomarkers in PDAC, none has been validated for clinical use. Further research should focus on reproducibility of prognostic biomarkers in PDAC in order to achieve this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small population of approximately 68 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, resident in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand, is subject to physiologically challenging conditions, and is exposed to anthropogenic pressure from tourism.A voluntary Code of Management incorporating dolphin protection zones (DPZs), in which tour boat access is limited, was established in 2008.Kernel density estimation (KDE) was used to quantify dolphin habitat use over a 13‐year period in order to describe seasonal variation in habitat use and consistency of habitat use over a decadal period, and to provide quantitative estimates of the extent of overlap between DPZs and core areas (50% volume contour) of habitat use.Habitat use varied seasonally, with the inner fjord area used more frequently in warmer months, and with a shift in use to the outer fjord in colder months. Patterns in habitat use were highly consistent over the 13‐year duration of the study.The spatial overlap between the area of core dolphin habitat and DPZs was low (<18%) overall, and some DPZs were rarely used during colder periods.Consistency in habitat use through time vindicates spatial management, but low overlap between core habitat and current DPZs suggests that an expansion of the DPZ areas would confer greater protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is increasingly important to understand the extent and health of coastal natural resources in the face of anthropogenic and climate‐driven changes. Coastal ecosystems are difficult to efficiently monitor due to the inability of existing remotely sensed data to capture complex spatial habitat patterns. To help managers and researchers avoid inefficient traditional mapping efforts, we developed a deep learning tool (OysterNet) that uses unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) imagery to automatically detect and delineate oyster reefs, an ecosystem that has proven problematic to monitor remotely. OysterNet is a convolutional neural network (CNN) that assesses intertidal oyster reef extent, yielding a difference in total area between manual and automated delineations of just 8%, attributable in part to OysterNet's ability to detect oysters overlooked during manual demarcation. Further training of OysterNet could enable assessments of oyster reef heights and densities, and incorporation of more coastal habitat types. Future iterations will be applied to high‐resolution satellite data for effective management at larger scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Problem gambling can lead to a myriad of harmful consequences, including unmanageable amounts of debt and serious financial problems. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in the number of electronic gaming machine (EGM) venues within a local area (due to venue openings and closings) are associated with changes in the rates of serious financial problems. Design Area‐level longitudinal multivariate regressions controlling for possible confounders (fixed and time‐varying local area characteristics). Setting: Australia's three largest states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland), during the period 2011–18. Participants: A total of 225 local areas (Statistical Area 3 level) within the three states. Measurements Serious financial problems were measured by administrative data on total number of personal insolvencies (bankruptcies, debt agreements and insolvency agreements) in each local area per annum. The number of EGM venues in each local area was the regressor of primary interest. Area‐level covariates included the number of non‐gaming pubs and clubs, unemployment rate, population count, local area dummies, local area linear time trends and a separate set of state dummies for each year. Findings A one‐venue decrease over time within a local area decreased the number of personal insolvencies by 1.8 per year [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4–3.2]. The result is robust to alternative specifications, including allowing for geographical spillovers (β = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7–3.7), temporal lagged effects (β = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.6–2.8) and the spatial variability of venues within areas (β = 2.7, 95% CI = 0.9–4.5). Conclusions: There is a positive association between the number of gaming venues in a local geographic area and the number of personal insolvencies in that area. Reducing the number or accessibility of gaming venues could help to reduce financial harms associated with problem gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is described for deriving the genetic matrix G needed for breeders to select across breeds for any breeding objective. The matrix comprises partitions among selection criteria (G11), between selection criteria and the breeding objective traits (G12), and among the breeding objective traits (G22). A weighting procedure is used to combine the G matrix of individual breeds with known breed differences. Between‐breed variances are added to the diagonals of the matrix. Selection across many breeds can be quite different from that across a subset of the breeds. The particular breeds, and the numbers of each breed, that the breeder is prepared to consider in selection changes the genetic matrix and the selection index that should be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout most of the sedimentary record, the marine carbon cycle is interpreted as being in isotopic steady state. This is most commonly inferred via isotopic reconstructions, where two export fluxes (organic carbon and carbonate) are offset by a constant isotopic fractionation of ~25 (termed εorg-carb). Sedimentary deposits immediately overlying the Marinoan snowball Earth diamictites, however, stray from this prediction. In stratigraphic sections from the Ol Formation (Mongolia) and Sheepbed Formation (Canada), we observe a temporary excursion where the organic matter has anomalously heavy δ13C and is grossly decoupled from the carbonate δ13C. This signal may reflect the unique biogeochemical conditions that persisted in the aftermath of snowball Earth. For example, physical oceanographic modeling suggests that a strong density gradient caused the ocean to remain stratified for about 50,000 years after termination of the Marinoan snowball event, during which time the surface ocean and continental weathering consumed the large atmospheric CO2 reservoir. Further, we now better understand how δ13C records of carbonate can be post‐depostionally altered and thus be misleading. In an attempt to explain the observed carbon isotope record, we developed a model that tracks the fluxes and isotopic values of carbon between the surface ocean, deep ocean, and atmosphere. By comparing the model output to the sedimentary data, stratification alone cannot generate the anomalous observed isotopic signal. Reproducing the heavy δ13C in organic matter requires the progressively diminishing contribution of an additional anomalous source of organic matter. The exact source of this organic matter is unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flourishing application of drones within marine science provides more opportunity to conduct photogrammetric studies on large and varied populations of many different species. While these new platforms are increasing the size and availability of imagery datasets, established photogrammetry methods require considerable manual input, allowing individual bias in techniques to influence measurements, increasing error and magnifying the time required to apply these techniques.Here, we introduce the next generation of photogrammetry methods utilizing a convolutional neural network to demonstrate the potential of a deep learning‐based photogrammetry system for automatic species identification and measurement. We then present the same data analysed using conventional techniques to validate our automatic methods.Our results compare favorably across both techniques, correctly predicting whale species with 98% accuracy (57/58) for humpback whales, minke whales, and blue whales. Ninety percent of automated length measurements were within 5% of manual measurements, providing sufficient resolution to inform morphometric studies and establish size classes of whales automatically.The results of this study indicate that deep learning techniques applied to survey programs that collect large archives of imagery may help researchers and managers move quickly past analytical bottlenecks and provide more time for abundance estimation, distributional research, and ecological assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgery is a knowledge intensive, high‐risk professional service. Most hospitals give surgeons considerable autonomy in deciding which patients to operate on and when. In theory, this allows surgeons the operational flexibility to prioritize surgeries based on intimate knowledge of their patient's clinical needs. At odds with this strategy is the operations management literature, which favors the standardization and centralization of scheduling focused on achieving the efficient use of all resources, such as operating room capacity. Unfortunately, a little is known as to how surgeons customize their schedules and why they value such control. To this end, we conduct an exploratory qualitative study of the scheduling behavior of surgeons at a large Canadian teaching hospital. We identify significant differences between surgeons as to their priorities when scheduling. Two constructs are formative in surgeon decision‐making: the timeliness of treatment for their patients and idiosyncratic personal priorities. Our work has implications for achieving surgeon support for initiatives to standardize and centralize routines for patient scheduling. Accordingly, we formulate propositions that address the conditions under which such efforts will achieve the desired balance between flexibility and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine megafauna are difficult to observe and count because many species travel widely and spend large amounts of time submerged. As such, management programmes seeking to conserve these species are often hampered by limited information about population levels.Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS, aka drones) provide a potentially useful technique for assessing marine animal populations, but a central challenge lies in analysing the vast amounts of data generated in the images or video acquired during each flight. Neural networks are emerging as a powerful tool for automating object detection across data domains and can be applied to UAS imagery to generate new population‐level insights. To explore the utility of these emerging technologies in a challenging field setting, we used neural networks to enumerate olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea in drone images acquired during a mass‐nesting event on the coast of Ostional, Costa Rica.Results revealed substantial promise for this approach; specifically, our model detected 8% more turtles than manual counts while effectively reducing the manual validation burden from 2,971,554 to 44,822 image windows. Our detection pipeline was trained on a relatively small set of turtle examples (N = 944), implying that this method can be easily bootstrapped for other applications, and is practical with real‐world UAS datasets.Our findings highlight the feasibility of combining UAS and neural networks to estimate population levels of diverse marine animals and suggest that the automation inherent in these techniques will soon permit monitoring over spatial and temporal scales that would previously have been impractical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imitation and innovation are two primary R&D approaches that firms follow in technology development, especially in R&D‐intensive industries. That imitation and innovation share R&D resources and investments gives rise to what is coined in this article as the imitator's dilemma. The imitator's dilemma tells a story of why firms should break out of imitation‐oriented R&D and move toward innovation‐oriented R&D in order to sustain their innovation output and profit performance. This article contributes to the technology and innovation management literature by illuminating the imitator's dilemma both theoretically and empirically. To this end, this study develops and tests hypotheses to investigate the influence of a firm's imitation activity on its innovation output and profit performance, which represent a gap in the current literature. A longitudinal research design is followed on an unbalanced panel dataset between 1991 and 2010 from a sample of 227 firms in three R&D‐intensive manufacturing industries in the United States, including computer, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical. The results of this research reveal a dilemma for imitators. Imitation activity can generate positive returns in terms of a firm's innovation output and return on assets ROA (a measure of short‐term profits). However, these returns are unsustainable. Excessive levels of imitation activity within the firm results in negative returns in terms of its innovation output and ROA. Additionally, any level of imitation activity, low or high, negatively impacts a firm's Tobin's Q (a measure of long‐term corporate valuation). Accordingly, this article makes novel contributions to the technology and innovation management literature by explaining the imitator's dilemma and how firms may effectively manage it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The acylglycerols (AG) in sorghum bran and distiller's dried grains and solubles (DDGS) from sorghum postfermentation have been converted to fatty‐acid methyl esters (FAME) using an in situ transesterification method. The reactions were conducted at 25 or 40 °C by incubating 8 g of feedstock, containing 1.3–2.4 mmol AG, in a solution of 2.4 or 4.8 mmol of NaOMe dissolved in 6.4 or 12.8 mL MeOH. The experimental results confirmed that reducing the moisture to approximately 2% (w/w) within the feedstock was necessary for the reaction to proceed. All of the reactions were monitored using high‐performance liquid chromatography and all performed better at 40 °C than at 25 °C. The most successful reactions used a AG:NaOMe:MeOH molar ratio of 1.0:2.0:131.7. Those reactions used 4.8 mmol NaOMe dissolved in 12.8 mL MeOH producing up to 98.3% FAME when sorghum bran was used as the feedstock. When DDGS from sorghum were used as the feedstock, the yield averaged 32.2% under the previously established optimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although imitation is more abundant and prevalent than innovation in firms' product and process development activities, it has been understudied in research on innovation and R&D management. For example, a valid and reliable objective firm-level measure of the intensity of imitation activity is lacking in the extant literature. This measure is necessary to understand the antecedents and consequences of firms' imitation activity, which has implications for R&D management. In this paper, we present novel methods that employ patent infringement litigations data to improve on the validity and reliability of measuring firms' imitation activity. We validate our proposed measure by presenting a first model and test of R&D as a multiple-output production function with R&D expenditure as the primary input, and innovation and imitation as joint outputs. This is in contrast to current R&D models as a single-output production function of either innovation or imitation. This study uses a sample of 227 public firms from the computer, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries in the United States during 1991-2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A main weakness in the evaluation of disaster education programs for children is evaluators' propensity to judge program effectiveness based on changes in children's knowledge. Few studies have articulated an explicit program theory of how children's education would achieve desired outcomes and impacts related to disaster risk reduction in households and communities. This article describes the advantages of constructing program theory models for the purpose of evaluating disaster education programs for children. Following a review of some potential frameworks for program theory development, including the logic model, the program theory matrix, and the stage step model, the article provides working examples of these frameworks. The first example is the development of a program theory matrix used in an evaluation of ShakeOut, an earthquake drill practiced in two Washington State school districts. The model illustrates a theory of action; specifically, the effectiveness of school earthquake drills in preventing injuries and deaths during disasters. The second example is the development of a stage step model used for a process evaluation of What's the Plan Stan?, a voluntary teaching resource distributed to all New Zealand primary schools for curricular integration of disaster education. The model illustrates a theory of use; specifically, expanding the reach of disaster education for children through increased promotion of the resource. The process of developing the program theory models for the purpose of evaluation planning is discussed, as well as the advantages and shortcomings of the theory-based approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary supplements are increasingly marketed to and consumed by the American public for a variety of purported health benefits. On 9 September 2013, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) was notified of a cluster of acute hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure among individuals with exposure to the dietary supplement OxyELITE Pro™ (OEP). HDOH conducted an outbreak investigation in collaboration with federal partners. Physicians were asked to report cases, defined as individuals with acute onset hepatitis of unknown etiology on or after 1 April 2013, a history of weight-loss/muscle-building dietary supplement use during the 60 days before illness onset, and residence in Hawaii during the period of exposure. Reported cases' medical records were reviewed, questionnaires were administered, and a product investigation, including chemical analyses and traceback, was conducted. Of 76 reports, 44 (58%) met case definition; of these, 36 (82%) reported OEP exposure during the two months before illness. No other common supplements or exposures were observed. Within the OEP-exposed subset, two patients required liver transplantation, and a third patient died. Excessive product dosing was not reported. No unique lot numbers were identified; there were multiple mainland distribution points, and lot numbers common to cases in Hawaii were also identified in continental states. Product analysis found consumed products were consistent with labeled ingredients; the mechanism of hepatotoxicity was not identified. We report one of the largest statewide outbreaks of dietary supplement-associated hepatotoxicity. The implicated product was OEP. The increasing popularity of dietary supplements raises the potential for additional clusters of dietary supplement-related adverse events. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines people's immediate responses to earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Hitachi, Japan. Data collected from 257 respondents in Christchurch and 332 respondents in Hitachi revealed notable similarities between the two cities in people's emotional reactions, risk perceptions, and immediate protective actions during the events. Respondents' physical, household, and social contexts were quite similar, but Hitachi residents reported somewhat higher levels of emotional reaction and risk perception than did Christchurch residents. Contrary to the recommendations of emergency officials, the most frequent response of residents in both cities was to freeze. Christchurch residents were more likely than Hitachi residents to drop to the ground and take cover, whereas Hitachi residents were more likely than Christchurch residents to evacuate immediately the building in which they were situated. There were relatively small correlations between immediate behavioural responses and demographic characteristics, earthquake experience, and physical, social, or household context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analysed strong opinions, held by emergency management practitioners and researchers, about developing a regional framework of community resilience indicators. A group of practitioners and another group, of researchers, were planning an International Centre of Excellence, focused on community disaster resilience in Wellington, New Zealand. Five participants from each of the researcher and practitioner groups volunteered to better identify opinion factors among these groups, using Q-methodology. One perspective supporting complicated analysis to inform strategic decisions was particular to the researcher group. Practitioners shared an opposition to insular, top-down decision making. Both groups perceived a need to evaluate opportunities for improving post-disaster outcomes. These perspectives helped develop the International Centre of Excellence and inform comparable approaches to community disaster resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, like many health conditions, is more prevalent among the socioeconomically disadvantaged. In our data, very poor women are three times more likely to be obese and five times more likely to be severely obese than rich women. Despite this strong correlation, it remains unclear whether higher wealth causes lower obesity. In this paper, we use nationally representative panel data and exogenous wealth shocks (primarily inheritances and lottery wins) to shed light on this issue. Our estimates show that wealth improvements increase weight for women, but not men. This effect differs by initial wealth and weight-an average-sized wealth shock received by initially poor and obese women is estimated to increase weight by almost 10 lb. Importantly, for some females, the effects appear permanent. We also find that a change in diet is the most likely explanation for the weight gain. Overall, the results suggest that additional wealth may exacerbate rather than alleviate weight problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obese children tend to perform worse academically than normal-weight children. If poor cognitive achievement is truly a consequence of childhood obesity, this relationship has significant policy implications. Therefore, an important question is to what extent can this correlation be explained by other factors that jointly determine obesity and cognitive achievement in childhood? To answer this question, we exploit a rich longitudinal dataset of Australian children, which is linked to national assessments in math and literacy. Using a range of estimators, we find that obesity and body mass index are negatively related to cognitive achievement for boys but not girls. This effect cannot be explained by sociodemographic factors, past cognitive achievement or unobserved time-invariant characteristics and is robust to different measures of adiposity. Given the enormous importance of early human capital development for future well-being and prosperity, this negative effect for boys is concerning and warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linking key ecological characteristics with animal behaviour is essential for identifying and protecting important habitats that support life functions. Spinner dolphins display a predictable diurnal behavioural pattern where they forage offshore at night and return to sheltered bays during daytime to rest. These bays, which are also subject to considerable use by humans, have long been recognized as key habitats for this species although the extent to which dolphins rely on specific characteristics of these habitats for rest has not been quantified., An integration of boat-based and land-based group focal follow sampling regimes and three gradient boosting generalized additive models were developed to identify habitat features that contribute to the occurrence of resting spinner dolphins in coastal waters off Hawai'i Island. Two 'in-bay' models used data collected within bays, and a third 'coastal' model (near-shore, outside of bays) used data collected both inside and outside of bays., The coastal model identified that spinner dolphins were unlikely to rest outside sheltered bays. In-bay models showed that dolphins rested throughout daylight hours within bays with a peak resting period between 10.00 h to 14.00 h. The models also identified bottom-substrate-type as an important predictor of rest. Pseudo R2 values of 0·61 and 0·70 for the in-bay models and 0·66 for the coastal model showed that these models provided a good fit to the behavioural data for the occurrence of resting spinner dolphins., Synthesis and application. To date, studies evaluating spinner dolphin resting habitat have focussed on areas inside bays only. Here, we combined data collected inside and outside bays, and illustrate that should resting spinner dolphins be displaced from resting bays, they are unlikely to engage in resting behaviour elsewhere. Results provide further information on the importance of bays as important habitat for resting spinner dolphins. To mitigate the disturbance from human interactions during important rest periods, we recommend that management keep the spinner dolphin resting areas free from human activities. Our quantitative approach where models explicitly link behaviour with habitat characteristics is applicable to identify important habitats for protection of other taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between managing a production system to be safe and managing it to be operationally effective is often described in conflicting terms, creating confusion for research and practice. Some view improving safety as separate and distinct from increasing operational effectiveness; they are contradictory requirements. Others emphasize that safety and effectiveness are complementary, and combine to enhance competitiveness. Recent research proposes that this confusion can be explained by examining the operational and safety routines used in production. Specifically, when an organization chooses to manage safety and operations in a coordinated fashion using a joint management system, safety and operational effectiveness are complementary. Yet, the contradiction between safety and operations can occur when the functions are managed as separate and unequal silos. This research tests this supposition using the theory of relational coordination. The results, based on a combination of survey and archival safety data from 198 manufacturing firms, show that safety and operational outcomes are indirectly related via routines and that plants that manage safety and operations using a joint management system make these priorities complementary and do not create trade-offs between safety and operational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can Islamic thought provide a basis for a fully developed theory of human rights? This article begins with an examination of the tensions between religion in general and the secular framing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). From a historical perspective, it then delves into the history of the relationship between Muslim political and religious leaders and the UDHR. With that background in mind, the author analyzes the positions of three influential Muslim scholars on human rights: Khaled Abou El Fadl's emphasis on ethics and law; Abdulaziz Sachedina's recent book Islam and the Challenge of Human Rights (2009), in which he urges the traditionalists to develop a 'public theology'; and finally, Abdullahi An-Na'im's focus on shari'a and the secular state. He concludes that the majority of Muslims worldwide remain more conservative than these authors, and yet they overwhelmingly support the notion of human rights. This bodes well for the growing influence of such reformist thinking and, as a result, for the retooling of traditional Islamic jurisprudence in addressing human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY We examine the effect of survey measurement error on the empirical relationship between child mental health and personal and family characteristics, and between child mental health and educational progress. Our contribution is to use unique UK survey data that contain (potentially biased) assessments of each child's mental state from three observers (parent, teacher and child), together with expert (quasi-)diagnoses, using an assumption of optimal diagnostic behaviour to adjust for reporting bias. We use three alternative restrictions to identify the effect of mental disorders on educational progress. Maternal education and mental health, family income and major adverse life events are all significant in explaining child mental health, and child mental health is found to have a large influence on educational progress. Our preferred estimate is that a one-standard-deviation reduction in 'true' latent child mental health leads to a 2- to 5-month loss in educational progress. We also find a strong tendency for observers to understate the problems of older children and adolescents compared to expert diagnosis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To what extent does poor mental health affect employment outcomes? Answering this question involves multiple technical difficulties: two-way causality between health and work, unobservable confounding factors and measurement error in survey measures of mental health. We attempt to overcome these difficulties by combining 10 waves of high-quality panel data with an instrumental variable model that allows for individual-level fixed effects. We focus on the extensive margin of employment, and we find evidence that a one-standard-deviation decline in mental health reduces employment by 30 percentage points. Further investigations suggest that this effect is predominantly a supply rather than a demand-side response and is larger for older than young workers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]