Explore the vast range of titles available.

Understanding growth rates and other basic life-history information of imperilled species is essential to assessing the extent of threats to a population, but often difficult due to limited access to study subjects. Here we used mark-recapture data to estimate growth rates of juvenile Critically Endangered green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) in a globally important nursery in the eastern Indian Ocean (Western Australia). Our results suggest that growth of juvenile sawfish in this part of the central Western Australian coast is significantly slower compared to populations on the north-eastern coast of Australia. Additionally, growth rates differed between nearby areas within the nursery region, potentially due to differential productivity or anthropogenic effects. Morphological relationships between total length, rostral length, mouth gape, and clasper length are presented, which will allow for greater accuracy in estimating biological parameters in this species, while updated information on size at maturity (> 3200 mm) and size at birth (approximately 750–900 mm) will help to clarify life-history parameters for this data-poor species. Furthermore, there were distinct differences in the number of rostral teeth of green sawfish between this eastern Indian Ocean population and other populations throughout their current distribution, indicating substantial genetic differentiation in this species globally. These results will help to accurately assess growth trajectories and potential impacts of fisheries and other threats to green sawfish. Additionally, results highlight the importance of assessing population-specific growth rates in threatened species and of considering potential long-term life-history impacts of anthropogenic developments and activities.

In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to investigate kinship, genetic diversity and inbreeding within a globally significant area for the Critically Endangered giant shovelnose ray, Glaucostegus typus (Anonymous [Bennett] 1830). Sampling for G . typus was conducted in the eastern Indian Ocean, along an expansive (~ 1000 km) stretch of the Western Australian coastline. Single-read sequencing was performed using a Glaucostegus DArTseq™ platform, with a high-density assay of 2.5 million sequence reads. Kinship, genetic diversity and inbreeding were investigated for G . typus using between 564 and 4126 SNPs. Four full and four half sibling dyads were detected amongst 90 genotyped G . typus , including one pair of half siblings separated by > 600 km of coastline, providing evidence of long-distance, likely parental, movement. Observed heterozygosity ( H O = 0.29–0.30) and gene diversity ( H S = 0.32–0.33) were relatively low compared to other rays, although a lack of previous studies using SNP data may reduce the effectiveness of comparisons. Moderate levels of inbreeding were detected at each site ( F IS = 0.07–0.13) and across all sites, combined ( F IS = 0.09). Long-distance movement of G . typus between sampled assemblages reduces the risk of localised extinctions across the study area; additional work is required to determine whether the sampled assemblages are genetically distinct from one another, as well as other G . typus populations throughout its Indo-West Pacific range.

Wedgefishes have recently been recognised as one of the most imperilled marine fish families worldwide. However, many knowledge gaps about their biology and ecology hinder conservation efforts. Here we used a combination of acoustic telemetry and acceleration datalogger technology to gain fundamental insights into the fine-scale behaviour, habitat use, size of activity spaces, and residency of adult female bottlenose wedgefish ( Rhynchobatus australiae ) in  the Ningaloo region of northwestern Australia. Acoustic tracking data over one year demonstrated that female bottlenose wedgefish continuously resided in a relatively small area of a productive coral reef lagoon. Acceleration data revealed that bottlenose wedgefish were nocturnal, with time of day having a greater influence on activity than tidal patterns. Bottlenose wedgefish also increased activity with seasonally increasing temperatures. We identified several discrete behavioural signatures in the acceleration data, inferred to correspond to chafing, settling/burying behaviour, foraging behaviour, and escape behaviour, based on their kinematics. Further observations are required to confirm these behaviours with certainty. Additionally, according to datalogger and acoustic data, tagged bottlenose wedgefish rarely inhabited areas greater than 2 m deep. Together, these first insights into behaviour and habitat use of adult female bottlenose wedgefish highlight the importance of nearshore habitats for this species and indicate that they may be highly resident to specific areas. Our findings provide important insight into the conservation of bottlenose wedgefish in northwestern Australia, including potential effectiveness of protected areas and interactions with specific anthropogenic threats such as shoreline development and recreational beach fishing.

Purpose This study examined the metazoan ectoparasites of the Critically Endangered giant shovelnose ray, Glaucostegus typus , in the eastern Indian Ocean. Methods We screened 186 G . typus for ectoparasites in four coastal regions of Western Australia between 2020 and 2022: the Pilbara Region, Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo Coast and Shark Bay. Results Five parasite taxa were encountered on 186 G . typus : Caligus furcisetifer (Copepoda: Caligidae), Dermopristis cairae (Monopisthocotyla: Microbothriidae), Branchellion plicobranchus and Stibarobdella macrothela (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae), and praniza larvae of unidentified gnathiid isopod/s (Isopoda: Gnathiidae). Two of these species, B. plicobranchus and S. macrothela , are reported for the first time on G. typus . Only C . furcisetifer and S . macrothela were relatively common, encountered on 31% and 40% of G . typus , respectively. Gnathiids were observed infrequently, encountered on 13% of G . typus , and D . cairae and B. plicobranchus were scarce, encountered on 1% and 2% of G . typus , respectively. Intensity of infection for C . furcisetifer and gnathiids increased with host length. Likelihood of infection varied seasonally for C. furcisetifer , being considerably lower in summer, and regionally for gnathiids, being greatest at Shark Bay. Intensity and likelihood of infection for S . macrothela increased with host length and varied regionally, being greatest at Shark Bay. Conclusion These findings improve our understanding of the downstream impacts for dependent parasites that might arise should populations of G . typus continue to decline.

The central challenge of the 21st century is to develop economic, social, and governance systems capable of ending poverty and achieving sustainable levels of population and consumption while securing the life-support systems underpinning current and future human well-being. Essential to meeting this challenge is the incorporation of natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides into decision-making. We explore progress and crucial gaps at this frontier, reflecting upon the 10 y since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. We focus on three key dimensions of progress and ongoing challenges: raising awareness of the interdependence of ecosystems and human well-being, advancing the fundamental interdisciplinary science of ecosystem services, and implementing this science in decisions to restore natural capital and use it sustainably. Awareness of human dependence on nature is at an all-time high, the science of ecosystem services is rapidly advancing, and talk of natural capital is now common from governments to corporate boardrooms. However, successful implementation is still in early stages. We explore why ecosystem service information has yet to fundamentally change decision-making and suggest a path forward that emphasizes: (i) developing solid evidence linking decisions to impacts on natural capital and ecosystem services, and then to human well-being; (ii) working closely with leaders in government, business, and civil society to develop the knowledge, tools, and practices necessary to integrate natural capital and ecosystem services into everyday decision-making; and (iii) reforming institutions to change policy and practices to better align private short-term goals with societal long-term goals.

Background Burnout is an occupational syndrome that leads to mental health problems, job turnover, and patient safety events. Those caring for critically ill patients are especially susceptible due to high patient mortality, long hours, and regular encounters with trauma and ethical issues. Interventions to prevent burnout in this population are needed. Preliminary studies suggest debriefing sessions may reduce burnout. This study aims to assess whether participation in regular debriefing can prevent burnout in intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. Methods A randomized controlled trial will be conducted in two large academic medical centers. Two hundred ICU clinicians will be recruited with target enrollment of 100 physicians and 100 non-physicians (nurses, pharmacists, therapists). Participants must have worked in the ICU for the equivalent of at least 1 full time work week in the preceding 4 weeks. Enrolled subjects will be randomized to virtually attend biweekly debriefing sessions facilitated by a psychotherapist for 3 months or to a control arm without sessions. Our debriefs are modeled after Death Cafés, which are informal discussions focusing on death, dying, loss, grief, and illness. These sessions allow for reflection on distressing events and offer community and collaboration among hospital employees outside of work. The primary outcome is clinician burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) Score. Secondary outcomes include depression and anxiety, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), respectively. Questionnaires will be administered prior to the intervention, at 1 month, at 3 months, and at 6 months after enrollment. These values will be compared between groups temporally. Qualitative feedback will also be collected and analyzed. Discussion With ICU clinician burnout rates exceeding 50%, Death Café debriefing sessions may prove to be an effective tool to avert this debilitating syndrome. With COVID-19 limiting social interactions and overloading ICUs worldwide, the virtual administration of the Death Café for ICU clinicians provides an innovative strategy to potentially mitigate burnout in this vulnerable population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04347811 . Registered on 15 April 2020

Background Hand hygiene is known to reduce healthcare-associated infections. However, it remains suboptimal among healthcare providers. In this study, we used the Behaviour-centered Design approach to explore the facilitators and deterrents to hand hygiene among healthcare providers in the Kampala Metropolitan area, Uganda. Methods We conducted a formative qualitative study as part of a cluster randomised trial in 19 healthcare facilities (HCFs). The study used 19 semi-structured and 18 key informant interviews to collect data on hand hygiene status and facilitators and deterrents of hand hygiene. Research assistants transcribed verbatim and used a thematic framework aided by Nvivo 14.0. to undertake analysis. We used thick descriptions and illustrative quotes to enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of our findings. Results About 47.4% of the HCFs had sufficient hand hygiene infrastructure, and 57.9% did not report total compliance with hand hygiene during patient care. The physical facilitator for hand hygiene was the presence of constant reminders such as nudges, while the biological included the frequency of patient contact and the nature of clinical work. The only biological deterrent was the heavy workload in HCFs. The executive brain facilitators included knowledge of workplace health risks, infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, and a positive attitude. A negative attitude was the executive brain deterrent to hand hygiene. Recognition, rewards, and fear of infections were the only motivated brain facilitators. Behavioural setting facilitators included proximity to functional hand hygiene infrastructure, the existence of active IPC committees, good leadership, and the availability of a budget for hand hygiene supplies. Behavioural setting deterrents included the non-functionality and non-proximity to hand hygiene infrastructure and inadequate supplies. Conclusions The study revealed low compliance with hand hygiene during the critical moments of patient care and inadequacy of hand hygiene infrastructure. The deterrents to hand hygiene included a heavy workload, negative attitude, inadequate supplies, non-functionality, and long distance to hand washing stations. Facilitators included constant reminders, fear of infections, frequency of patient contact and nature of clinical work, positive attitude, knowledge of IPC guidelines, recognition and reward, good leadership, availability of budgets for hand hygiene supplies, availability and proximity to hand hygiene supplies and infrastructure and active IPC committees. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry with number ISRCTN98148144. The trial was registered on 23/11/2020.

Insights gained from studying individuals with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease have broadly influenced mechanistic hypotheses, biomarker development, and clinical trials in both sporadic and dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. Although pathogenic variants causing autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease are highly penetrant, there is substantial heterogeneity in levels of amyloid β (Aβ) between individuals. We aimed to examine whether this heterogeneity is related to disease progression and to investigate the association with mutation location within PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP. We did cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network (DIAN) observational study, which enrols individuals from families affected by autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. 340 participants in the DIAN study who were aged 18 years or older, had a history of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease in their family, and who were enrolled between September, 2008, and June, 2019, were included in our analysis. 206 participants were carriers of pathogenic mutations in PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP, and 134 were non-carriers. 62 unique pathogenic variants were identified in the cohort and were grouped in two ways. First, we sorted variants in PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP by the affected protein domain. Second, we divided PSEN1 variants according to position before or after codon 200. We examined variant-dependent variability in Aβ biomarkers, specifically Pittsburgh-Compound-B PET (PiB-PET) signal, levels of CSF Aβ1-42 (Aβ42), and levels of Aβ1-40 (Aβ40). Cortical and striatal PiB-PET signal showed striking variant-dependent variability using both grouping approaches (p<0·0001), despite similar progression on the clinical dementia rating (p>0·7), and CSF Aβ42 levels (codon-based grouping: p=0·49; domain-based grouping: p=0·095). Longitudinal PiB-PET signal also varied across codon-based groups, mirroring cross-sectional analyses. Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease pathogenic variants showed highly differential temporal and regional patterns of PiB-PET signal, despite similar functional progression. These findings suggest that although increased PiB-PET signal is generally seen in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, higher levels of PiB-PET signal at an individual level might not reflect more severe or more advanced disease. Our results have high relevance for ongoing clinical trials in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, including those using Aβ PET as a surrogate marker of disease progression. Additionally, and pertinent to both sporadic and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, our results suggest that CSF and PET measures of Aβ levels are not interchangeable and might reflect different Aβ-driven pathobiological processes. National Institute on Aging, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development.

Immunocompromised individuals are at risk for developing lymphocryptovirus-associated lymphoproliferative diseases, such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell lymphomas and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). We previously reported development of cynomolgus lymphocryptovirus (CyLCV)-associated PTLD in Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCMs) undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which mirrored EBV-PTLD in transplant patients. Here, we sought to develop a MCM model of lymphocryptovirus-associated lymphoproliferative disease in immunosuppressed MCMs without HSCT. Five simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected, CD8α+ cell-depleted MCMs received an infusion of autologous B-lymphoblastoid cells transformed with CyLCV, followed by varying degrees of immunosuppression. Four of five infused macaques developed masses coincident with increasing CyLCV plasma viremia, and necropsies confirmed the presence of multicentric lymphomas, which most commonly manifested in lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands, and pancreas. Affected tissues harbored neoplastic lymphocytes double-positive for CD20 and CyLCV EBNA2 antigen, large frequencies of proliferating B cells, and high levels of cell-associated CyLCV DNA. In addition, longitudinal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) of one MCM successfully detected lymphoproliferative disease in the adrenal glands prior to clinical signs of disease. These data demonstrate successful induction of lymphocryptovirus-associated PTLD-like disease in 4 of 5 MCMs, and thus support the use of MCMs as a preclinical NHP model of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease that could be employed to test novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.