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The article offers information on public health research, specifically on the inequalities and regional differences in health. One study explored the differences in morbidity and mortality within various Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland. Another paper focused on the contribution of causes of death to inequalities in mortality in Scotland, taking into consideration the impact at different ages for men and women.

Knowledge of stock structure is a priority for effective assessment of commercially-fished cephalopods. Loligo forbesii squid are thought to migrate inshore for breeding and offshore for feeding and long-range movements are implied from past studies showing genetic homogeneity in the entire neritic population. Only offshore populations (Faroe and Rockall Bank) were considered distinct. The present study applied mitchondrial and microsatellite markers (nine loci) to samples from Rockall Bank, north Scotland, North Sea, various shelf locations in Ireland, English Channel, northern Bay of Biscay, north Spain, and Bay of Cadiz. No statistically significant genetic sub-structure was found, although some non-significant trends involving Rockall were seen using microsatellite markers. Differences in L. forbesii statolith shape were apparent at a subset of locations, with most locations showing pairwise differences and statoliths from north Ireland being highly distinct. This suggests that (i) statolith shape is highly sensitive to local conditions and (ii) L. forbesii forms distinguishable groups (based on shape statistics), maintaining these groups over sufficiently long periods for local conditions to affect the shape of the statolith. Overall evidence suggests that L. forbesii forms separable (ecological) groups over short timescales with a semi-isolated breeding group at Rockall whose distinctiveness varies over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Identifying ethnic inequalities in health requires data with sufficiently 'granular' (fine detailed) classifications of ethnicity to capture sub-group variation in healthcare use, risk factors and health behaviors. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), in the USA, commissioned us to explore granular approaches to ethnicity data collection outside of the USA, commencing with the European Union. Methods We examined official data sources (population censuses/registers) within the EU-28 to determine the granularity of their approach to ethnicity. When ethnic information was not available, related variables were sought (e.g. country of birth). Results Within the EU-28, we found 55% of countries collected data on ethnicity. However, only 26% of these countries (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) had a granular approach, with half of these being within the UK. Estonia, Lithuania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus and Slovenia collected one to six categories. A 'write-in' option only was found in Latvia, Romania and the Czech Republic. Forty-five percent of countries did not collect ethnicity data but collected other related variables. Conclusions (i) Although there is reasonable attention to the diversity of ethnic groups in data collection, a granular approach does not predominate within EU-28 classifications. (ii) Where ethnicity is collected, it is conceptualized in different ways and diverse terminology is used. (iii) A write-in option provides the most granular approach. (iv) Almost half of the countries did not collect data on ethnicity, but did collect related variables that could be used as a proxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brophy, D., and King, P. A. 2007. Larval otolith growth histories show evidence of stock structure in Northeast Atlantic blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1136–1144. Oceanographic modelling studies suggest that blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) larvae released on the Northeast Atlantic spawning grounds split into two branches, one following a northerly drift trajectory and the second drifting towards the south. This mechanism is proposed to restrict gene flow between northern and southern stock components. This study examined larval growth histories recorded in otoliths of adult blue whiting from three regions of the main spawning area and three feeding areas for evidence of divergent dispersal pathways. Increment measurements show that fish from the south of the spawning area on average grew significantly faster as larvae than those from the north of the spawning area, confirming that blue whiting spawning west of Ireland and Scotland do not form a randomly mixing unit, and that larval dispersal influences the subsequent distribution of spawning adults. Larval otolith growth rates in feeding blue whiting from the Bay of Biscay were significantly faster than those of fish from the Norwegian Sea feeding grounds, showing that mixing of fish from these areas is limited. Fish from the Bay of Biscay grew faster as larvae than fish from all regions of the main spawning area. The results support the proposed split in the blue whiting stock and signal caution for managing the fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveys were conducted in two shallow bays in the Orkney Islands, UK; Orphir Bay, an unexploited (control) site, and Bay of Ireland, a fished site, to investigate the effects of suction dredging on the resident razor clam, Ensis arcuatus, populations. A lower density and significantly smaller mean length of razor clams were present at the dredged site compared with the control site. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: In March 2004, Ireland implemented comprehensive smoke-free regulations. Some were concerned this would cause pub patrons to move their smoking and drinking from inside pubs to inside homes. This article aims to assess whether nationwide smoke-free policies are associated with more smoking or drinking inside the home. Methods: Participants were 1917 adult smokers (>18-years old) from Ireland (n = 582), Scotland (n = 507) and the rest of the United Kingdom (n = 828), which did not have smoke-free laws at the time of the interview, who completed a random digit-dialed telephone survey in February to March 2006. The percentage of alcoholic drinks consumed in the home versus pubs was compared by country as well as the percentage of daily cigarette consumption occurring in the home after work. Results: Irish respondents reported a significantly lower percentage of alcoholic drinks consumed in the home compared to Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, and cigarette consumption in the home was comparable in all three regions. Conclusions: Smoking and drinking in the home was not greater in smoke-free Ireland than in the United Kingdom, where there was not a smoke-free law at the time of the survey. These findings add further support to the enactment of comprehensive smoke-free laws, as called for in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]