Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis.

Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012-2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We (i) synthesised information from a literature review; (ii) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; (iii) hosted an in-person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and (iv) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources.

A novel technique for estimating age and demography of long-lived seabirds (genus Pterodroma) using an epigenetic clock for Gould's petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera).

Understanding the demography of wildlife populations is a key component for ecological research, and where necessary, supporting the conservation and management of long-lived animals. However, many animals lack phenological changes with which to determine individual age; therefore, gathering this fundamental information presents difficulties. More so for species that are rare, highly mobile, migratory and those that reside in inaccessible habitats.

The impact of COVID-19 on medication reviews in English primary care. An OpenSAFELY-TPP analysis of 20 million adult electronic health records.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to routine activity in primary care. Medication reviews are an important primary care activity ensuring safety and appropriateness of prescribing. A disruption could have significant negative implications for patient care.

Data-Driven Identification of Unusual Prescribing Behavior: Analysis and Use of an Interactive Data Tool Using 6 Months of Primary Care Data From 6500 Practices in England.

Background: Approaches to addressing unwarranted variation in health care service delivery have traditionally relied on the prospective identification of activities and outcomes, based on a hypothesis, with subsequent reporting against defined measures. Practice-level prescribing data in England are made publicly available by the National Health Service (NHS) Business Services Authority for all general practices. There is an opportunity to adopt a more data-driven approach to capture variability and identify outliers by applying hypothesis-free, data-driven algorithms to national data sets.

Influence of sediment quality and microbial community on the functioning capacity of a constructed wetland treating alkaline leachate after 5.5 years in operation.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been demonstrated as a cost-effective alternative to chemical treatment systems for mine waters, with the microbial communities attributed to promoting carbonation and aiding pH neutralization. However, few data are available for the long-term use of CWs treating alkaline leachates nor the activity of microbes within them. To investigate the feasibility of CW to buffer alkaline pH, a pilot-scale wetland was implemented in 2015 to treat alkaline bauxite residue leachate.

Incidence and management of inflammatory arthritis in England before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-level cohort study using OpenSAFELY.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and management of inflammatory arthritis is not understood. Routinely captured data in secure platforms, such as OpenSAFELY, offer unique opportunities to understand how care for patients with inflammatory arthritis was impacted upon by the pandemic. Our objective was to use OpenSAFELY to assess the effects of the pandemic on diagnostic incidence and care delivery for inflammatory arthritis in England and to replicate key metrics from the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit.

No evidence of metabolic costs following adaptive immune activation or reactivation in house sparrows.

The energy cost of adaptive immune activation in endotherms is typically quantified from changes in resting metabolic rate following exposure to a novel antigen. An implicit assumption of this technique is that all variation in energy costs following antigenic challenge is due solely to adaptive immunity, while ignoring potential changes in the energy demands of ongoing bodily functions. We critically assess this assumption by measuring both basal metabolic rate (BMR) and exercise-induced maximal metabolic rate (MMR) in house sparrows before and after the primary and two subsequent vaccinations with either saline (sham) or two novel antigens (keyhole limpet haemocyanin and sheep red blood cells; KLH and SRBC, respectively).

Differences in personal care product use by race/ethnicity among women in California: implications for chemical exposures.

Background: Personal care products may contain many chemicals, some of which are suspected endocrine disrupters. This is an important source of chemical exposure for women, but little is known about how chemical exposure differs among different races/ethnicities.

Objective: This study examines differences in personal care product use among Black, Latina, Vietnamese, Mixed Race, and White women in California.

Measuring Spinal Mobility Using an Inertial Measurement Unit System: A Reliability Study in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the reliability of wearable inertial motion unit (IMU) sensors in measuring spinal range of motion under supervised and unsupervised conditions in both laboratory and ambulatory settings. A secondary aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of composite IMU metrology scores (IMU-ASMI (Amb)). Forty people with axSpA participated in this clinical measurement study.

Transoral robotic surgery in Ireland: the beginning.

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has shown promising results in the treatment of myriad head and neck pathologies but is now most commonly used in the investigation and management of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: The aim of this study was to report our cases of the newly introduced TORS, particularly its role in identifying primary of unknown origin and the potential implications for patients. A literature review and our early experience should begin to debunk some of the criticisms of TORS including setup times and cost.

Sub-Clinical Effects of Outdoor Smoke in Affected Communities.

Many Australians are intermittently exposed to landscape fire smoke from wildfires or planned (prescribed) burns. This study aimed to investigate effects of outdoor smoke from planned burns, wildfires and a coal mine fire by assessing biomarkers of inflammation in an exposed and predominantly older population. Participants were recruited from three communities in south-eastern Australia.

Pregnancy in axial spondyloarthropathy: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: Axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) is an inflammatory arthritis which affects the sacroiliac joints and the spine. Many females affected are of childbearing age. Studies on effects of pregnancy on axSpA disease activity and medication use have been limited, with divergent conclusions.

Measuring Spinal Mobility Using an Inertial Measurement Unit System: A Validation Study in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Portable inertial measurement units (IMUs) are beginning to be used in human motion analysis. These devices can be useful for the evaluation of spinal mobility in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The objectives of this study were to assess (a) concurrent criterion validity in individuals with axSpA by comparing spinal mobility measured by an IMU sensor-based system vs.

Pharmacological treatment for managing bone health in axial spondyloarthropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) is associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis, but no recommendations exist to guide management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on bone mineral density (BMD) in axSpA. Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2019 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi (q)-RCTs with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Benefits of exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial of a patient-specific exercise programme.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tend to be more overweight, take less physical exercise, exhibit decreased cardiorespiratory fitness and demonstrate reduced muscle strength compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Impaired cognitive function in RA is an important associated factor, although it has been less well-recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a specifically designed exercise programme on body composition, aerobic capacity, muscle strength and cognition in RA.

Management strategies and future directions for systemic lupus erythematosus in adults.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the loss of self-tolerance and formation of nuclear autoantigens and immune complexes resulting in inflammation of multiple organs. The clinical presentation of SLE is heterogeneous, can involve one or more organs, including the skin, kidneys, joints, and nervous system, and take a chronic or relapsing and remitting disease course. SLE is most common in women and in those of non-white ethnicity.

Behaviour change interventions targeting physical activity in adults with fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

Physical activity (PA) and exercise programmes are recommended for the management of fibromyalgia. Despite positive effects on symptoms and function, PA promotion remains a significant clinical challenge. Behaviour change theories and techniques are recommended as part of complex health interventions; their integration into interventions aimed at PA behaviour in people with fibromyalgia is not known.

Effects of match play and training on circulating S100B concentration in professional rugby players.

Objectives: Examine the effects of match play and a season of training on serum S100B concentration in male professional rugby players. To assess the influence of contact play, values were compared with age- and fitness-matched athletes not involved in a contact sport.

Methods: Over a 2-year period, blood samples were collected from 38 players in pre-season, end of season, and post-matches (within 2 h).

Exercise, orthoses and splinting for treating Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of exercise, orthoses and splinting on function, pain and quality of life (QoL) for the management of mid-portion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy, and to compare different types, applications and modes of delivery within each intervention category.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, AMED, WHO ICTRP, Web of Science, PEDro and Cochrane Library from inception to October 2017.