Publications by authors named "Michelle O'Brien"

We present a genome assembly from an individual male (the Long-tailed duck; Chordata; Aves; Anseriformes; Anatidae). The genome sequence spans 1,206.10 megabases.

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Contraceptive intention is an important woman-centered indicator for family planning. Yet, few studies have examined the determinants of women or couples actualizing their contraceptive intentions. We leverage panel data from the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) survey in Ethiopia to examine these dynamics among a pregnancy cohort, over the first year postpartum.

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We present a genome assembly from a female specimen of (the red-crested pochard; Chordata; Aves; Anseriformes; Anatidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 1,167.00 megabases.

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We present a genome assembly from an individual female (the European harvest mouse; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Muridae). The genome sequence spans 2,651.80 megabases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lead shotgun ammunition for wildfowl hunting has been restricted in England since 1999, but compliance with these regulations is low, as found in recent studies.
  • A study collected and analyzed 176 harvested mallards during the 2021/22 season, revealing that 69% of the birds were illegally shot with lead, particularly those associated with driven game shooters.
  • The findings indicate a mixed effectiveness of legislation and voluntary measures in reducing the use of lead shot, with regional variations showing some progress in certain areas but overall persistence of lead shot usage.
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Objective: To systematically explore the barriers and facilitators experienced by patients with heart failure when using the most popular commercially-accessible digital exergaming platforms for self-management.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in: , , , and . Qualitative/mixed methods studies published in English between 2000 and 2024, including adults >18 years with heart failure using digital gaming platforms for exercise as self-management (i.

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Importance: Neonatal hypoglycemia is common, occurring in up to 50% of infants at risk for hypoglycemia (infant of diabetic mother [IDM], small for gestational age [SGA], large for gestational age [LGA], and preterm) and is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Guidelines recommend screening infants at risk of hypoglycemia. The proportion of infants who require screening for neonatal hypoglycemia is unknown.

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Wide variation in visual field configuration across avian species is hypothesized to be driven primarily by foraging ecology and predator detection. While some studies of selected taxa have identified relationships between foraging ecology and binocular field characteristics in particular species, few have accounted for the relevance of shared ancestry. We conducted a large-scale, comparative analysis across 39 Anatidae species to investigate the relationship between the foraging ecology traits of diet or behaviour and binocular field parameters, while controlling for phylogeny.

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Women's empowerment and contraceptive use are critical to achieving gender equality. The positive association between more empowered women and higher rates of contraceptive use has been well-established by cross-sectional research. However, there remains a gap in understanding the longitudinal relationship between contraceptive adoption and changes to women's empowerment.

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Gastropods (class Gastropoda) form the largest of the classes in the phylum Mollusca and inhabit terrestrial, fresh water and marine environments. A large number of these species are of major conservation importance and are an essential component of ecosystems. Gastropods may be deemed as pests, having a negative impact in horticulture and agriculture, whereas others may be used as a food source for human consumption and therefore are beneficial.

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Serum samples were collected pre- and post-booster vaccination with Comirnaty in 626 participants (aged ≥ 50 years) who had received two Comirnaty doses < 30 days apart, two Comirnaty doses ≥ 30 days apart or two Vaxzevria doses ≥ 30 days apart. Irrespective of primary vaccine type or schedule, spike antibody GMTs peaked 2-4 weeks after second dose, fell significantly ≤ 38 weeks later and rose above primary immunisation GMTs 2-4 weeks post-booster. Higher post-booster responses were observed with a longer interval between primary immunisation and boosting.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The UK prioritized the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines by extending the interval between doses up to 12 weeks, specifically for BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) and AZD1222 (AstraZeneca) vaccines.
  • - A study of 750 participants aged 50-89 found that those who received the BNT162b2 vaccine with an extended interval had significantly higher antibody levels (6-fold) post second dose compared to those who received it on a standard schedule, and also compared to AZD1222 recipients.
  • - The study indicated that vaccine effectiveness was greater for both vaccines with longer intervals between doses, suggesting extending the dose schedule could be beneficial, especially in the context of limited
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Although a great deal of attention is paid to reproductive health during violent conflicts, the literature is sparse on the consequences of conflict for abortion and miscarriage. This research provides an analysis of a recent historical case: the 1992-1997 civil war in Tajikistan, using the female questionnaire of the 2007 Tajik Living Standards Survey to examine a subsample of 1,445 women surveyed who had reached menarche during or after the war and had been pregnant at least once by the time of the survey. The analysis leverages the uneven geographical scope of conflict events during the civil war to pinpoint women's exposure to violence, measured by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program.

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Amphibians are an understudied group in the zoo-focussed literature. Whilst commonly housed in specialist exhibits and of real conservation value due to the global extinction crisis, amphibian welfare is not often investigated empirically in zoo settings. The limited research that is available suggests that enclosure design (structure, planting and naturalistic theming) has a positive impact on the time that amphibians will be on show to visitors.

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Formal assessments of cognition that rely on language may conceal the non-linguistic cognitive function of people with aphasia. This may have detrimental consequences for how people with aphasia are supported to reveal communicative and decision-making competence. This case report demonstrates a multidisciplinary team approach to supporting the health and social care decision-making of people with aphasia.

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Background: The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 in Ireland is designed to support and maximise a person's capacity to make decisions, although it has not yet commenced. Amendments to the legislation propose to deal with deprivation of liberty of persons lacking capacity. Health care professionals such as geriatricians will need to focus on enabling patient autonomy in response to legislative changes.

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Sera were collected from 185 adults aged ≥ 70 years in London to evaluate the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. A single dose of Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine resulted in > 94% seropositivity after 3 weeks in naïve individuals using the Roche Spike antibody assay, while two doses produced very high spike antibody levels, significantly higher than convalescent sera from mild-to-moderate PCR-confirmed adult cases. Our findings support the United Kingdom's approach of prioritising the first dose and delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

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Article Synopsis
  • *The research looks at how this war impacted education for boys and girls, showing that boys faced challenges in areas affected by conflict, while girls had more widespread issues.
  • *The study helps us understand how major political events can change people's education and opportunities for a long time.
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Geriatric Invertebrates.

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract

September 2020

Article Synopsis
  • Invertebrates are gaining popularity as pets, leading to increased veterinary needs as these animals age.
  • The article discusses aging in various invertebrate species, emphasizing those commonly encountered in general veterinary practice.
  • While supportive care can help extend the life of aging invertebrates, euthanasia might be necessary for those with severe age-related health issues.
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Welfare assessment is a tool to both identify welfare challenges and to evidence where current husbandry practices support positive welfare outcomes. Such tools are becoming more available and can be amended based on the nature of the facility and needs of taxonomic groups. Currently, welfare assessment has a strong mammalian theme, and some behavioural measures of welfare commonly applied to mammals do not translate well for other taxa.

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Article Synopsis
  • The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms the legal right to decision-making support for individuals with disabilities, which is ratified in Ireland by the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act (2015), although its main provisions are not yet in effect.
  • A Rapid Realist Review was conducted to identify the mechanisms facilitating the incorporation of Assisted Decision Making (ADM) by healthcare professionals, involving collaboration with stakeholders and iterative refinement of Programme Theory through discussions and literature analysis.
  • The study identified four key domains essential for successful ADM implementation: Personalisation of Health & ADM Service Provision, Culture & Leadership, Environmental & Social Re-structuring, and Education, Training & Enablement.
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