Search

Intensive fishing is altering the functioning of aquatic ecosystems worldwide, threatening both biodiversity and food security. No‐fishing reserves have proven effective at restoring food‐web structure and enhancing fisheries in marine ecosystems, but remain virtually untested in freshwater systems. Using experiments inside and outside of community‐created riverine reserves in Thailand, we describe a trophic cascade across six trophic levels, from humans to algal responses to nutrient availability. Protection from fishing profoundly reconfigures fish communities – greatly increasing biodiversity, biomass, and body size – yet mean trophic position was unaffected. Cascade dynamics from fish to algae were observed regardless of protection status, although fishing intensified trophic interactions through strong effects on grazing insect behavior. The marked effectiveness of these small, grassroots reserves offers an important conservation‐planning model for protecting food webs and augmenting fishery yields in biodiverse tropical rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban streams are often severely impaired due to channelization, high loads of nutrients and contaminants, and altered land cover in the watershed. Physical restoration of stream channels is widely used to offset the effects of urbanization on streams, with the goal of improving ecosystem structure and function. However, these efforts are rarely guided by strategic analysis of the factors that mediate the responsiveness of stream ecosystems to restoration. Given that ecological gradients from headwater streams to mainstem rivers are ubiquitous, we posited that location within a river network could mediate the benefits of channel restoration. We studied existing stream restorations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to determine (1) whether restorations improve ecosystem function (e.g., nutrient uptake, whole‐stream metabolism) and (2) how ecosystem responses vary by position in the urban river network. We quantified a suite of physicochemical and biological metrics in six pairs of contiguous restored and concrete channel reaches, spanning gradients in baseflow discharge (19–196 L/s) and river network position (i.e., headwater to mainstem). Hydrology differed dramatically between the restored and concrete reaches; water velocity was reduced 2‐ to 13‐fold while water residence time was 50–5,000% greater in adjacent restored reaches. Restored reaches had shorter nutrient uptake lengths for ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate, as well as higher whole‐stream metabolism. Furthermore, the majority of reaches were autotrophic (i.e., gross primary production > ecosystem respiration), which is not common in stream ecosystems. The difference in ecosystem functioning between restored and unrestored reaches was generally largest in headwaters and declined to equivalence in mainstem restorations. Our results suggest that headwater sites offer higher return on investment compared to larger downstream channels, where ecosystem responsiveness is low. If this pattern proves to be general, the scaling of ecosystem responses with river size could be integrated into planning guidelines for urban stream restorations to enhance the societal and ecological benefits of these expensive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing community-based fisheries management to enhance both food resource and biodiversity conservation in large lakes requires detailed knowledge of benthic habitats, which determines suitability for fish breeding sites. This information is unavailable for much of Lake Tanganyika, whose fisheries are threatened by a warming climate, destructive harvesting practices, and sediment pollution. Lake Tanganyika possesses a remarkably diverse fish population. Much of this is concentrated in areas with water depths less than 30 m and on rocky substrate. Here, geophysical tools were used to map benthic habitats in a 21 km2 co-management area of the lake in western Tanzania. Echosounding defined the position of the 30-m isobath, which varies with proximity to deltas and rift-related faults. Side-scan sonar discriminated among four unique substrates: crystalline bedrock, calcite-cemented sandstones, mixed siliciclastic sediments, and shell-rich sediments. Unlithified mixed silts and sands constitute over 91% of the study area. Rocky substrate composed of crystalline basement and calcite-cemented sandstone make up the less than 9% of the substrate in the study area. Crystalline bedrock was present from 0 to 30 m water depth, whereas the calcite-cemented sandstones were encountered in water less than 5 m deep. The spatial organization of rocky substrates is interpreted to be controlled by basin structure and lake level history; these habitats make ideal targets for establishing new small-scale protected areas. The techniques illustrated in this study are broadly applicable elsewhere in Lake Tanganyika, and to other large lakes where data needs for placing conservation reserves are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the impact of Australia's single dose infant varicella vaccination program, we assessed single dose varicella vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing hospitalised disease using two methods.Methods: Clinically confirmed varicella cases from the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) sentinel network were age-matched to 20 controls obtained from the Australian Immunisation Register. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate VE and compared with estimates obtained using our second approach.Results: There were 78 hospitalised varicella cases during the post vaccine introduction period from January 2008 to December 2015, who were eligible for funded varicella vaccination. Median age at onset was 4.5 years and more than half (59%) were vaccinated. The majority of children received one vaccine brand (Varilrix, GSK). The estimated case-control VE for one dose of vaccine against hospitalised varicella was 64.7% (95% CI: 43.3-78.0%); estimates using the screening method were not significantly different. Exclusion of children who were immunocompromised did not significantly alter VE estimates.Conclusions: Although Australia's program has impacted on the burden of varicella disease, single dose VE against varicella hospitalisation is only moderate. Greater reductions in varicella disease could potentially be achieved by incorporation of a second vaccine dose into the program to minimise breakthrough disease and interrupt virus circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A hallmark of industrialization is the construction of dams for water management and roads for transportation, leading to fragmentation of aquatic ecosystems. Many nations are striving to address both maintenance backlogs and mitigation of environmental impacts as their infrastructure ages. Here, we test whether accounting for road repair needs could offer opportunities to boost conservation efficiency by piggybacking connectivity restoration projects on infrastructure maintenance. Using optimization models to align fish passage restoration sites with likely road repair priorities, we find potential increases in conservation return‐on‐investment ranging from 17% to 25%. Importantly, these gains occur without compromising infrastructure or conservation priorities; simply communicating openly about objectives and candidate sites enables greater accomplishment at current funding levels. Society embraces both reliable roads and thriving fisheries, so overcoming this coordination challenge should be feasible. Given deferred maintenance crises for many types of infrastructure, there could be widespread opportunities to enhance the cost effectiveness of conservation investments by coordinating with infrastructure renewal efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the degree of agreement of diagnoses by audiologists and otolaryngologists of otitis media (OM) in Aboriginal children. Design: Cross-sectional study of agreement between diagnoses. Setting: Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH), a prospective cohort study of Aboriginal children attending four Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in New South Wales (three metropolitan, one regional) during 2008-2012. Participants: 1310 of 1669 SEARCH participants (78.5%; mean age, 7.0 years; SD, 4.4 years) were assessed and received a diagnosis from one of five experienced audiologists. Test results (but not case histories) were forwarded to one of three otolaryngologists for blinded independent assessment. Main outcome measures: Agreement of OM diagnoses by audiologists and otolaryngologists at ear and child levels; correctness of audiologist diagnoses (otolaryngologist diagnosis as reference). Results: Paired diagnoses by audiologists and otolaryngologists were available for 863 children at the child level and 1775 ears (989 children) at the ear level. Otolaryngologists diagnosed OM in 251 children (29.1%), including 11 (1.3%) with tympanic membrane perforation, and in 396 ears (22.3%), including 12 (0.7%) with perforation. Agreement between audiologists and otolaryngologists for OM at the ear level was 92.2% (k = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.74-0.82), and at the child level 91.7% (k = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.85). No otolaryngologist-diagnosed perforation was missed by audiologists. Among 1000 children triaged by an audiologist, there would be 45 false positives and 30 false negatives when compared with assessments by an otolaryngologist, with no missed perforations. Conclusions: There was substantial agreement between audiologists' and otolaryngologists' diagnoses of OM in a high prevalence population of Aboriginal children. In settings with limited access to otolaryngologists, audiologists may appropriately triage children and select those requiring specialist review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving understanding of how biodiversity and ecosystems respond to environmental change is necessary to guide policy and management. To this end, the bioDISCOVERY project of the international programme on global change, Future Earth, initiates and supports international networks of scientists to advance research on monitoring and observations, scenarios and models, and assessments of biodiversity and ecosystems. bioDISCOVERY activities seek collective solutions to key research challenges, and provide support for the international science community by participating in the development of global databases. This global working-group approach is essential for directing cutting-edge science toward supporting international policies, addressing urgent environmental issues, and closing research gaps through transdisciplinary integration and mobilisation of the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe trends in the age-specific incidence of serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Australia, 1999-2015.Design, Setting, Participants: Analysis in February 2017 of de-identified notification data from the Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System of all notifications of IMD in Australia with a recorded diagnosis date during 1999-2015.Major outcomes: IMD notification rates in Australia, 1999-2015, by age, serogroup, Indigenous status, and region.Results: The incidence of meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) disease declined progressively from 1.52 cases per 100 000 population in 2001 to 0.47 per 100 000 in 2015. During 2006-2015, MenB accounted for 81% of IMD cases with a known serogroup; its highest incidence was among infants under 12 months of age (11.1 [95% CI, 9.81-12.2] per 100 000), children aged 1-4 years (2.82 [95% CI, 2.52-3.15] per 100 000), and adolescents aged 15-19 years (2.40 [95% CI, 2.16-2.67] per 100 000). Among the 473 infants under 2 years of age with MenB, 43% were under 7 months and 69% under 12 months of age. The incidence of meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) disease prior to the introduction of the MenC vaccine in 2003 was much lower in infants than for MenB (2.60 cases per 100 000), the rate peaking in people aged 15-19 years (3.32 per 100 000); the overall case fatality rate was also higher (MenC, 8%; MenB, 4%). The incidence of MenB disease was significantly higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians during 2006-2015 (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 3.8; 95% CI, 3.3-4.5).Conclusions: Based on disease incidence at its current low endemic levels, priority at risk age/population groups for MenB vaccination include all children between 2 months and 5 years of age, Indigenous children under 10 years of age, and all adolescents aged 15-19 years. Given marked variation in meningococcal disease trends over time, close scrutiny of current epidemiologic data is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate trends in the proportion and severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in Australians aged 18 years and over. Study design: Systematic review with unpublished data from the largest study. Data sources: Multiple key bibliographic databases to June 2016. Study selection: Australian studies on the aetiology of CAP in adults. Data synthesis: In the 12 studies identified, pneumococcus was the most common cause of CAP. Four studies were assessed as being of good quality. Participants in two studies were predominantly non-Indigenous (n = 991); the proportion of pneumococcal CAP cases declined from 26.4% in 1987e88 to 13.9% in 2004e06, and the proportion with bacteraemia decreased from 7.8%to 3.8%. In two studies with predominantly Indigenous participants (n = 252), the proportion with pneumococcal bacteraemia declined from 6.8% in 1999e2000 to 4.2% in 2006e07. In the largest study (n = 885; 2004e06), 50.8% (60/118) of pneumococcal CAP occurred in people who were ≥ 65 years old. Among patients aged ≥ 65 years, intensive care unit admission and death were more common in patients who were ≥ 85 years old compared with younger patients (12.5% v 6.8%; 18.8% v 6.8% respectively), and also more common in the 19 patients with bacteraemia than in those without it (15.8% v 2.6%; 10.5% v 7.9% respectively). Of 17 cases of bacteraemia serotyped, 12 were due to 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV) serotypes and three to additional serotypes in 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV). Conclusions: Available data suggest that the proportion of CAP attributable to pneumococcus (both bacteraemic and nonbacteraemic) has been declining in Australian adults. Should 13vPCV replace the 23vPPV currently funded by the National Immunisation Program for persons aged ≥ 65 years, surveillance to track non-bacteraemic pneumococcal CAP will be essential to evaluate the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining heuristics suggests recalling more stereotypic behavior might be as effective as recalling counter-stereotypic behavior for reducing prejudice. This research had participants recall African-Americans behaving in stereotypic or counter-stereotypic ways under easy or difficult recall constraints. Results demonstrated that participants recalling more stereotyped behaviors were less prejudiced toward African-Americans compared to participants recalling fewer stereotypes. Moreover, participants who recalled counter-stereotyped behaviors were less prejudiced than participants who recalled stereotyped behaviors, but only under easy recall constraints. The results suggest it is the ease of stereotypic recall that informs prejudice rather than the content or amount of stereotypes recalled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining heuristics suggests recalling more stereotypic behavior might be as effective as recalling counter-stereotypic behavior for reducing prejudice. This research had participants recall African-Americans behaving in stereotypic or counter-stereotypic ways under easy or difficult recall constraints. Results demonstrated that participants recalling more stereotyped behaviors were less prejudiced toward African-Americans compared to participants recalling fewer stereotypes. Moreover, participants who recalled counter-stereotyped behaviors were less prejudiced than participants who recalled stereotyped behaviors, but only under easy recall constraints. The results suggest it is the ease of stereotypic recall that informs prejudice rather than the content or amount of stereotypes recalled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most ecosystems are impacted by multiple local and long-distance stressors, many of which interact in complex ways. We present a framework for prioritizing ecological restoration efforts among sites in multi-stressor landscapes. Using a simple model, we show that both the economic and sociopolitical costs of restoration will typically be lower at sites with a relatively small number of severe problems than at sites with numerous lesser problems. Based on these results, we propose using cumulative stress and evenness of stressor impact as complementary indices that together reflect key challenges of restoring a site to improved condition. To illustrate this approach, we analyze stressor evenness across the world's rivers and the Laurentian Great Lakes. This exploration reveals that evenness and cumulative stress are decoupled, enabling selection of sites where remediating a modest number of high-intensity stressors could substantially reduce cumulative stress. Just as species richness and species evenness are fundamental axes of biological diversity, we argue that cumulative stress and stressor evenness constitute fundamental axes for identifying restoration opportunities in multi-stressor landscapes. Our results highlight opportunities to boost restoration efficiency through strategic use of multi-stressor datasets to identify sites that maximize ecological response per stressor remediated. This prioritization framework can also be expanded to account for the feasibility of remediation and the expected societal benefits of restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual surveys are conducted to rapidly estimate population densities of stream fishes, often without calibration against more established or more widely used methods to determine precision and accuracy or to correct for potential biases. We compared population density estimates from a visual survey (VS) point quadrat method widely used in Hawaii with estimates from “in hand” individual and batch mark–recapture (BMR) methods. Visual survey sampling and individual mark–recapture (IMR) sampling were conducted in three watersheds that represent gradients of land use and prevalence of nonnative poeciliid fishes on the Island of Hawaii. Focusing on adult O‘opu NākeaAwaous stamineus, VSs were conducted prior to IMR events to allow direct comparisons of results independent of location and time. Density estimates of O‘opu Nākea from VS and IMR samplings were strongly correlated, although VS estimates were generally higher and underrepresented exceptionally large fish. Batch mark–recapture estimates of O‘opu Nākea densities were conducted for comparison with VSs at 13 sites across the archipelago. Estimates of VSs were not significantly different from BMR estimates. Estimates of VSs also exhibited less variance than did BMR estimates across sites. General linear models showed that the relationship between VS and IMR estimates varied significantly among watersheds but not seasons and that land use was associated with a greater mismatch between VS and BMR estimates of population density. These findings indicate that visual surveys using a point quadrat method are an efficient and accurate approach for estimating the abundance of small benthic fishes, such as O‘opu Nākea, in wadeable streams and that obtaining absolute densities or size distributions from VS methods would benefit from a calibration with IMR not BMR estimates. Received July 15, 2015; accepted February 23, 2016 Published online June 29, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine geographic and demographic trends in objection to vaccination in Australia. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) data (2002–2013) for children aged 1–6 years. Main outcome measures: Immunisation status according to whether an objection had been registered, and remoteness and socio-economic status of area of residence. Registration of children with Medicare after 12 months of age was used as a proxy indicator of being overseas-born. Results: The proportion of children affected by a registered vaccination objection increased from 1.1% in 2002 to 2.0% in 2013. Children with a registered objection were clustered in regional areas. The proportion was lower among children living in areas in the lowest decile of socio-economic status (1.1%) than in areas in the highest socio-economic decile (1.9%). The proportion not affected by a recorded objection but who were only partly vaccinated for vaccines due at 2, 4 and 6 months of age was higher among those in the lowest decile (5.0% v 3.4%), suggesting problems of access to health services, missed opportunities, and logistic difficulties. The proportion of proxy overseas-born for whom neither vaccinations nor an objection were recorded was 14 times higher than for other children (17.1% v 1.2%). These children, who are likely to be vaccinated although this is not recorded on the ACIR, resided predominantly in major cities. Conclusions: There was a small increase in registered objection rates since 2002. We estimate that 3.3% of children are affected by registered or presumptive (unregistered) vaccination objection, which suggests that the overall impact of vaccination objection on vaccination rates has remained largely unchanged since 2001. Incomplete records, barriers to access, and missed opportunities are likely to be responsible for most other deficiencies in vaccination coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Changes in circulating Bordetella pertussis genotypes, including a novel pertussis toxin promoter ptxP3 allele and absence of pertactin (Prn) antigen, have been reported from several countries but limited data on relative severity are available. We compared markers of disease severity in children with B. pertussis infection due to strains of differing genotype.Methods: Culture confirmed cases presenting to tertiary paediatric hospitals in three Australian states between 2008 and 2012 were classified as severe if they required a hospital stay greater than seven days, were admitted to intensive care, or if death occurred. Associations between age, vaccination, genotype and severity were assessed.Results: Of 199 pertussis cases, 81 (41%) were <3 months, including 32/39 (82%) of severe cases. The proportion of isolates from these cases that were Prn deficient increased markedly between 2008 and 2012. Of B. pertussis isolates, the proportion considered severe was similar for Prn positive (27/128, 21%) and Prn deficient (12/71, 17%) cases but only 1/22 (4.5%) of non ptxP3 cases were severe versus 38/177 (21.4%) ptxP3 positive. Adjusting for ptxP type, vaccination status and age, disease severity was not significantly associated with Prn status (RRA: 0.95, [0.57-1.56]; p = 0.83).Conclusions: In children, we found no relationship between Prn status and markers of severe pertussis. An increased proportion of severe disease in isolates with the ptxP3 allele was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimates based on calcified structures are central to the analysis and management of fish populations. A variety of structures have been used in studies of Northern Pike Esox lucius despite limited data on whether the structures provide comparable results. We quantified precision and bias of ages estimated from cleithra, otoliths, anal fin rays, and scales of Northern Pike sampled in tributaries of Green Bay, Lake Michigan. For three independent readers, the precision (CV) of age estimates did not significantly differ among otoliths, cleithra, and anal fin rays but was significantly lower for scales than for the other structures. Similarly, partial agreement among readers was greater than 90% for ages estimated from otoliths, cleithra, and anal fin rays, whereas partial agreement was 76% for scale‐based ages. We discuss the tradeoffs associated with precision and bias for each structure in the context of reader experience, fish age, and management goals. We recommend that when fish mortality is not a concern, otoliths or cleithra should be used to achieve high‐precision aging of Northern Pike. For strictly nonlethal sampling scenarios, the anal fin rays of Northern Pike will yield more precise age estimates than scales. Received January 20, 2015; accepted September 17, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess potential effects of climate change on Great Lakes fish populations, we evaluated trends in the reproductive phenology of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens (spring spawner) and Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush (autumn spawner). For Yellow Perch in Lake Michigan, the estimated reproductive midpoint date (50% of mature females ripe or spent, 50% not yet spawned) took place 6.2 d/decade earlier in the spring near Milwaukee from 1988 to 2012 and 1.8 d/decade earlier in Green Bay from 1980 to 2012. At both locations water temperatures at the spawning sites on the midpoint date showed no trends, but mean water temperatures during the spring at the spawning site and midlake increased over the study period. This suggests that Yellow Perch spawning areas were warming sooner in the spring and that Yellow Perch were spawning earlier to maintain a consistent spawning temperature. Lake Trout phenological patterns were more complex. For Lake Trout in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee, there was a marginally significant trend for spawning to take place 2.1 d/decade later in the autumn from 1983 to 2006. However, water temperatures at the spawning site at the midpoint date did not change and autumn temperatures at the site and at midlake did not show a warming trend. For Lake Trout in Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands, the midpoint date did not change from 1988 to 2012. Water temperatures at the spawning site on the midpoint date and during the autumn also showed no trends, but midlake summer and autumn water temperatures increased significantly. Overall, Yellow Perch in Lake Michigan have shifted reproductive timing in a manner consistent with a warming climate, but the relationship of climate change to reproductive phenology remains unclear for Lake Trout in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration programs often attempt to maintain or enhance ecosystem services (ES), but fine-scale maps of multiple ES are rarely available to support prioritization among potential projects. Here we use agency reports, citizen science, and social media as data sources to quantify the spatial distribution of five recreational elements of cultural ES (CES) - sport fishing, recreational boating, birding, beach use, and park visitation - across North America's Laurentian Great Lakes, where current restoration investments exceed US$1.5 billion. These recreational CES are widely yet unevenly distributed, and spatial correlations among all except park visitation indicate that many locations support multiple CES benefits. Collectively, these five service metrics correlate with tourism gross domestic product, indicating that local economies benefit from ecosystem conditions that support CES. However, locations of high recreational CES delivery are often severely affected by environmental stressors, suggesting that either ecosystem condition or human enjoyment of these recreational CES is resilient even to substantial levels of stress. Our analyses show that spatial assessments of recreational CES are an informative complement to ecosystem stress assessments for guiding large-scale restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape alterations can obstruct movement corridors and degrade spawning habitats for migratory fishes, requiring expensive restoration efforts. To assess use of natural and artificial waterways for spawning migrations, we monitored adult migrations and young-of-year production of northern pike ( Esox lucius ) for two years in six adjacent tributaries of southern Green Bay on Lake Michigan, USA. Field observations were compared with natal origins of young-of-year and adults inferred from otolith microchemistry. Individual tributaries varied widely in their production of young-of-year pike. Microchemical differences were apparent only among tributaries whose watersheds differ in land use, and adult pike showed no evidence of homing even to the same tributary land use class where they were born. Though otolith microchemistry suggests a lack of fidelity to natal streams, carbon stable isotope ratios of adult pike showed a latitudinal gradient across tributaries, suggesting that adult pike do not mix freely outside of the breeding season. Both field observations and microchemical tracing suggest that pike can potentially recolonize historical or newly-created breeding habitats after restoration efforts make them accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Background The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) at the cervix varies with age, peaking following sexual debut and declining thereafter in most populations. In some populations, a second peak is observed. Here we describe the prevalence of HPV at the cervix among Australian women before the commencement of the HPV vaccination program.Methods: Women aged 15 to 60 years attending health services for cervical screening between 2005 and 2008 were invited to participate. Liquid based cervical specimens were tested for 37 types of HPV using linear array. The percentage and 95% confidence interval of women with any type of HPV, any of 13 high risk HPV types, and with vaccine-preventable HPV types (types 6, 11, 16 and 18) were estimated in 5-year age bands.Results: Among 1929 women aged 15-60 years, HPV prevalence peaked at 64% at age 15-20 years, then declined gradually to 12% at age 41-45 years, whereafter it rose to 19% in women 51-55 years then returned to 14% in 56-60 year olds. Prevalence curves were similar for high-risk HPV types and vaccine-targeted HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and when results were restricted to women with only normal cytology.Conclusions: The shape of the prevalence curve we observed is similar to those from other Western populations. Variation in prevalence curves is likely due to differences in sexual behaviour between populations and over time, reactivation of HPV during perimenopause, and possibly the presence of cervical screening programs. These data are the first such data from the Oceania region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems often experience multiple environmental stressors simultaneously that can differ widely in their pathways and strengths of impact. Differences in the relative impact of environmental stressors can guide restoration and management prioritization, but few studies have empirically assessed a comprehensive suite of stressors acting on a given ecosystem. To fill this gap in the Laurentian Great Lakes, where considerable restoration investments are currently underway, we used expert elicitation via a detailed online survey to develop ratings of the relative impacts of 50 potential stressors. Highlighting the multiplicity of stressors in this system, experts assessed all 50 stressors as having some impact on ecosystem condition, but ratings differed greatly among stressors. Individual stressors related to invasive and nuisance species (e.g., dreissenid mussels and ballast invasion risk) and climate change were assessed as having the greatest potential impacts. These results mark a shift away from the longstanding emphasis on nonpoint phosphorus and persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances in the Great Lakes. Differences in impact ratings among lakes and ecosystem zones were weak, and experts exhibited surprisingly high levels of agreement on the relative impacts of most stressors. Our results provide a basin-wide, quantitative summary of expert opinion on the present-day influence of all major Great Lakes stressors. The resulting ratings can facilitate prioritizing stressors to achieve management objectives in a given location, as well as providing a baseline for future stressor impact assessments in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]