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A state-space approach reveals that competition drives variation in fish body weight, with influences from environmental conditions and fishing pressure
No full textFish body size is a crucial biological trait that has implications for ecology, economics, and food security. In recent years, widespread reports of large-scale fish size reduction have been variously attributed to warming temperatures, shifts in density-dependent growth, changes in prey availability, and fishing pressure. Disentangling the relative importance of these factors is vital for understanding fluctuations in fish size in complex marine ecosystems. This study used a state-space approach to explore weight deviation dynamics of 16 stocks spanning over 35 years (1982–2018, six stocks) and over 20 years (∼1995–2018, 10 stocks) in the western North Pacific (WNP). Weight anomalies were calculated separately for the youngest age (age 0 for most stocks) and for the older ages (age ≥ 1 for most stocks). We explored combinations of covariates that tested whether weight anomalies were related to species competition, environmental factors and fishing mortality. We found that intra- and interspecies competition was particularly influential, affecting 75 % of stocks. The importance of intraspecific competition became more pronounced as fish aged. Though generally less influential than competition, stratification strength, which was primarily driven by surface water temperatures, affected weight deviations for approximately 50 % of stocks at older life stages. Fishing pressure exerted a negative impact for 25 % of stocks. Our findings highlight the critical role of species competition in shaping fish size anomalies in the wild, along with the influence of environmental conditions and fishing mortality, and emphasize the need to integrate these size-driving mechanisms into traditional stock assessments to improve fisheries management
‘Little Helping Things’: 5‐ to 8‐Year‐Olds Imagine How Elementary Schools Could Support Student Mental Health
No full textBackground: Children's mental health is a global issue of concern, and schools are a key site for identifying and supporting children's mental health needs. Children are active agents in their mental health. Their unique perspectives offer valuable insights that can inform how their schools can support the mental health of their students. There is a lack of research exploring the views of young children.
This study sought to explore the views of elementary school‐aged children (aged 5–8 years) regarding how they imagine elementary schools could support student mental health.
This study was conducted in Victoria, Australia. We undertook 17 semi‐structured interviews with children aged between 5 and 8 years employing developmentally appropriate techniques that supported children's assent and choice. We employed reflexive thematic analysis to identify and report themes.
Analysis generated four themes from the data: the benefits of enabling play through school design and routines; fostering a culture of kindness and belonging; promoting mental health literacy; and cultivating teaching practices that prioritize children's mental health.
Conclusions: Our findings provide children's views on how elementary schools can better support student mental health. They suggest we explore how children's views could be better integrated into school and policy initiatives and review existing priorities that may have unintended negative effects. Promoting play‐based learning could support children's social–emotional learning and foster participation in learning. Considering the design of school environments that support children's physicality and sense of belonging could support student mental health
Exploring the rehabilitative potential of familiar song for a child with acute DoC: A single case analysis of EEG and time-locked video
No full textA disorder of consciousness is a common sequela of severe acquired brain injury in children. Current evidence indicates that music-based interventions are an effective non-pharmacological strategy to maximise consciousness recovery in the adult DoC population. This study seeks to extend knowledge to the paediatric population. A single-site multiple baseline case study was undertaken to empirically investigate the behavioural and neurophysiological responses to song, speech and noise auditory conditions in a child with an acute DoC. EEG and time-locked video data were recorded during three experimental sessions in which the child was presented with the comparative auditory conditions in random order. An 11-year-old child with an acute DoC following a severe hypoxic ABI was recruited to the study. Analysis of the video data indicated the child had a greater number of behavioural responses during the song condition, compared to the speech and noise conditions. Further, greater overall energy was present in the EEG signal during the song condition compared to the speech or noise conditions. This study may provide foundational evidence supporting the use of familiar songs as a non-pharmacological intervention to optimise arousal and awareness in the acute phase of DoC following severe paediatric ABI
Six principles to guide climate action in built environments
No full textClimate change is a global problem, requiring collective action. Cities are central to human habitation and activity, and are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Despite global climate change goals such as The Paris Agreement, barriers exist to taking adequate action in cities to address climate change. Decision making processes and policy in cities must be transformed to meet global climate change mitigation goals and reduce the risk associated with climate change impacts in a just way. We argue six decision and action principles are fundamental to effective climate change transformation in the built environment across global contexts: 1) Justice in decision making; 2) limit climate change to 1.5 °C; 3) adapt to beyond 1.5 °C of warming; 4) integrate all life stages; 5) collaborate across sectors; 6) coordinate with all actors
Association of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and aspirin with colorectal cancer incidence in older adults
No full textBACKGROUND: The relationship between aspirin, and/or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in older adults is uncertain. This study investigated the association between non-aspirin NSAIDs (NA-NSAIDs) use, alone or combined with aspirin, on CRC incidence in older adults. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomized controlled trial data and its observational continuation, ASPREE-XT (median follow-up, 8.4 years [IQR: 7.2-9.6]). NA-NSAID exposure was ascertained by self-report and medical record review at baseline, for all ASPREE participants, and for Australian participants, via linkage to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). CRC was an adjudicated secondary endpoint of ASPREE. We investigated the association between NA-NSAID use alone, and in combination with randomized aspirin use, on the incidence of CRC in time-to-event analyses. RESULTS: Of 19 114 ASPREE participants, 2713 (14%) reported NA-NSAID use at baseline. NA-NSAID use was associated with a reduced incidence of CRC (HRNA-NSAID use: Yes vs No = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.98). This association between NA-NSAIDs and CRC was not modified by aspirin (P-value for interaction term of 0.81). When assessing NA-NSAID use over 2 years post-randomization in Australian participants who consented to the use of PBS data (n = 13 725), a similar reduction in CRC risk was observed (HRHigh NA-NSAID use vs None = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: NA-NSAID use in Australian and American adults over the age of 70 years was associated with a reduced CRC incidence, which increased with increasing exposure. Aspirin did not modify the effect of NA-NSAIDs on CRC incidence
High-density lipoprotein is inversely associated with psychiatric symptoms across diagnoses in patients with general psychiatric disorders
No full textBACKGROUND: Lipids are essential in cell structure and function in all parts of the body including the brain. Thus, lipids are of obvious relevance in psychiatric disorders. While the role of lipids in pathophysiological processes in cardiovascular disorders are widely known, the role of lipids in function and pathophysiology of mental processes are far less established. This study aimed to explore serum lipid levels and their association in a clinical cohort with general psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: A transdiagnostic sample of 132 patients was recruited from a general open psychiatric ward to this cross-sectional naturalistic study. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to investigate associations with symptom clusters from SCL-90-R. RESULTS: After correcting for the most common confounding factors, HDL was negatively associated with intensity of phobic anxiety (p=0.021), paranoid ideation (p=0.041), anger hostility (p=0.033) and interpersonal sensitivity (p=0.003) symptom clusters. No relations were found between TG, LDL and symptom clusters. CONCLUSION: HDL was significant inversely associated with several general psychiatric symptoms. This result indicates a role for lipids in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and suggests a mechanism for the increased cardiovascular risk across psychiatric diagnoses
Bone marrow neutrophil progenitors suppress osteoclast formation in murine cortical and trabecular bone
No full textIn inflammation, circulating neutrophils indirectly damage the skeleton by inducing formation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. However, neutrophil progenitors in marrow have no known physiological function. A bone-protective role for the neutrophil lineage was recently suggested when a profound defect in bone structure was observed in mice with neutropenia due to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor deletion coupled with STAT3 hyperactivation in bone cells. Here, we tested the existence of this protective effect by manipulating neutrophil progenitors in bone marrow using anti-Ly6G (αLy6G) treatment. Two protocols revealed an inverse relationship between marrow neutrophil progenitors and osteoclasts. Two weeks of αLy6G treatment increased marrow immature neutrophils by 25%, and halved osteoclast markers in cortical bone. In contrast, 6 weeks of αLy6G, combined with anti-rat immunoglobulin G2a to maintain antigenicity, reduced marrow preneutrophils by 50%. This latter treatment doubled trabecular osteoclast surface, halved trabecular bone mass, and significantly reduced high-density bone mass, both in control mice and in mice with bone-specific STAT3 hyperactivation. In culture, isolated preneutrophils dose-dependently inhibited osteoclastogenesis, independent of direct contact. We conclude that neutrophil progenitors directly inhibit osteoclast formation by releasing soluble factors. This identifies a novel action of hematopoietic cells in marrow to protect bone structure
Understanding the Factors Influencing the Work of Middle Years iSTEM Teacher Leaders
No full textAbstract
Financial, educational and political imperatives have driven the uptake of integrated science, technology, engineering, mathematics (iSTEM) education by many schools. Aiming to increase student interest and achievement, iSTEM education is seen as a vehicle for engaging students in STEM subjects, courses, and careers. However, like many novel educational approaches, its success in schools would likely benefit from leadership support. Research has begun to explore the characteristics of iSTEM teacher leaders, yet there is limited understanding of what factors influence their success/ effectiveness. To provide further insight, the research question explored in this study is: What factors influence the role of middle years iSTEM teacher leaders? This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of five iSTEM teacher leaders through the thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Findings identified a range of enablers and inhibitors influence the role of iSTEM teacher leaders, including individual, school and community factors. From these findings, this paper discusses the importance of several key supports for iSTEM teacher leaders including: (1) senior leadership, (2) assorted dispositions, and (3) varied STEM relationships. These insights provide valuable suggestions for school principals and those designing leadership programs for iSTEM teachers as well as propose ideas for further research
“Volcanic Time Is About the Birth of Life, And From Its Destruction Comes Birth Again”: In Conversation with Malena Szlam
No full textWhat happens when artists abandon the reflex to control – when they trade meticulous planning for an openness to chance, or when they prioritise direct experience in the living world over rational deductions? As Vincent Deville argues, many theorists today call for a return to sensuousness in knowledge-making, lamenting the disconnection of the humanities and scientific practices from direct engagement with the earth. They highlight not only the role our sense-ability plays in shaping understanding but also advocate for an artistic approach to science that re-enchants – literally re-animates – nature through exposure and tactful contact. To this end, artist Malena Szlam, who was born and grew up in Chile and now lives in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, approaches the contemporary ecological condition as a crisis of our sensuousness and imagination. In her practice, there is an ongoing demand to reorient our capacity to attend and listen to the earth as a communicative entity, with analogue films that call for a reawakening of the senses and where the materiality of the medium itself becomes a conduit for encounters of an elemental kind