Bellwethers of change: population modelling of North Pacific humpback whales from 2002 through 2021 reveals shift from recovery to climate response.

For the 40 years after the end of commercial whaling in 1976, humpback whale populations in the North Pacific Ocean exhibited a prolonged period of recovery. Using mark-recapture methods on the largest individual photo-identification dataset ever assembled for a cetacean, we estimated annual ocean-basin-wide abundance for the species from 2002 through 2021. Trends in annual estimates describe strong post-whaling era population recovery from 16 875 (± 5955) in 2002 to a peak abundance estimate of 33 488 (± 4455) in 2012. An apparent 20% decline from 2012 to 2021, 33 488 (± 4455) to 26 662 (± 4192), suggests the population abruptly reached carrying capacity due to loss of prey resources. This was particularly evident for humpback whales wintering in Hawai'i, where, by 2021, estimated abundance had declined by 34% from a peak in 2013, down to abundance levels previously seen in 2006, and contrasted to an absence of decline in Mainland Mexico breeding humpbacks. The strongest marine heatwave recorded globally to date during the 2014-2016 period appeared to have altered the course of species recovery, with enduring effects. Extending this time series will allow humpback whales to serve as an indicator species for the ecosystem in the face of a changing climate.

A collaborative and near-comprehensive North Pacific humpback whale photo-ID dataset.

We present an ocean-basin-scale dataset that includes tail fluke photographic identification (photo-ID) and encounter data for most living individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the North Pacific Ocean. The dataset was built through a broad collaboration combining 39 separate curated photo-ID catalogs, supplemented with community science data. Data from throughout the North Pacific were aggregated into 13 regions, including six breeding regions, six feeding regions, and one migratory corridor. All images were compared with minimal pre-processing using a recently developed image recognition algorithm based on machine learning through artificial intelligence; this system is capable of rapidly detecting matches between individuals with an estimated 97-99% accuracy. For the 2001-2021 study period, a total of 27,956 unique individuals were documented in 157,350 encounters. Each individual was encountered, on average, in 5.6 sampling periods (i.e., breeding and feeding seasons), with an annual average of 87% of whales encountered in more than one season. The combined dataset and image recognition tool represents a living and accessible resource for collaborative, basin-wide studies of a keystone marine mammal in a time of rapid ecological change.

Translating Clinical Research to Clinical Care in Nephrology: A Qualitative Study of Nephrology Clinicians.

Rationale & Objective: The translation of clinical research to practice has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the efforts to identify ways to improve the uptake of findings that can enhance patient care. Study Design: This study evaluated the experience of nephrology health care providers who manage patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) to identify promoters and barriers to the translation of research results into clinical practice. We used inductive thematic analysis to evaluate the experience, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians in the evaluation and translation of research findings into clinical practice for the care of patients with ADPKD. Setting & Participants: Participants in a continuing education activity on ADPKD volunteered for semistructured interviews exploring their experience translating new knowledge into care for patients with ADPKD. An independent institutional review board (Solutions IRB) found the study to be exempt as an educational survey. Analytical Approach: Transcripts were coded and excerpted, and emergent themes and relationships were identified through an analysis performed using Dedoose software. Particular attention was paid to characterizing the facilitators and barriers to research translation at different levels of the health care environment. Results: Textual interpretation of data from 13 interviews showed that while well-established barriers to research translation are prevalent among health care providers managing patients with ADPKD, these clinicians also face unique challenges. Principal among these is the burden of interpreting the clinical research literature given the lack of official guidelines. Limitations: This study did not explore the translation of all levels of research, such as basic science and animal studies, and it was limited to the translation of knowledge from clinical studies. The number of participants was limited but was found to be sufficient for saturation. Conclusions: We identified factors that may either enhance or impede research translation for nephrology health care providers. These observations may help in the design of continuing education interventions to promote innovation.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) attend both Mexico and Hawaii breeding grounds in the same winter: mixing in the northeast Pacific.

Humpback whales that assemble on winter breeding grounds in Mexico and Hawaii have been presumed to be, at least, seasonally isolated. Recently, these assemblies were declared Distinct Population Segments under the US Endangered Species Act. We report two humpback whales attending both breeding grounds in the same season-one moving from Hawaii to Mexico and the other from Mexico to Hawaii. The first was photo-identified in Maui, Hawaii on 23 February 2006 and again, after 53 days and 4545 km, on 17 April 2006 in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico. The second was photo-identified off Guerrero, Mexico on 16 February 2018 and again, 49 days and 5944 km later, on 6 April 2018 off Maui. The 2006 whale was identified in summer off Kodiak Island, Alaska; the 2018 whale off British Columbia. These Mexico-Hawaii identifications provide definitive evidence that whales in these two winter assemblies may mix during one winter season. This, combined with other lines of evidence on Mexico-Hawaii mixing, including interchange of individuals year to year, long-term similarity of everchanging songs, one earlier same-season travel record, and detection of humpback whales mid-ocean between these locations in winter, suggests reassessment of the 'distinctiveness' of these populations may be warranted.

Humpback whale calls detected in tropical ocean basin between known Mexico and Hawaii breeding assemblies.

Humpback whales migrate in winter from northern feeding grounds to geographically separate breeding assemblies in near-shore waters of Mexico and Hawaii. Currently assessed as distinct populations warranting separate management, their shared song composition and interchange of photo-identified whales question this paradigm. To investigate a potential connection an autonomous Wave Glider performed a 6965.5 km, 100-day (round trip) acoustic survey from Hawaii toward Mexico circa 20° N, from January 15 to April 25, 2018. The 2272 h of recordings included humpback whale calls to approximately midway from Hawaii to Mexico. Explanations include an undocumented migration route, offshore assembly, or mid-season travel between assemblies.

Continuous learning in multiple sclerosis care: a qualitative study of the expanded learning model for systems.

OBJECTIVES: This study characterized how an online continuing education activity affected knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals who care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and whether those changes reflected theorized translational mechanisms proposed in The Expanded Learning Model for Systems (TELMS). METHODS: This preliminary study used semi-structured interviews (thematic analysis) to assess whether and how translational mechanisms underpinning the TELMS theory might be revealed in learners' attitudes and practice behavior. Eighteen participants (primarily neurologists and nurses) were interviewed by telephone or online. Thematic analysis identified relevant themes according to sensitizing concepts derived from TELMS and the recognition of emergent themes. RESULTS: Textual interpretation of interview data revealed that MS providers act in various scenarios that validate the principles of TELMS model of learning engagement. Further, elements of translational mechanisms proposed by TELMS were consistently observed in the narrative reflections. Emergent themes included the importance of practices such as goal setting, coordination of care, systems-level MS care, and economic considerations. Practitioners particularly drew on ideas from TELMS when facing challenges in diverse cultural and sociocultural settings. CONCLUSIONS: We identified mechanisms of change reflected in the TELMS model that is useful for the design and evaluation of future educational activities. These include attitudes and beliefs about the application of evidence-aligned MS care, as well as the commitment to multidisciplinary strategies, enhanced coordination of care, and promotion of systems-based changes. Future studies are needed to further validate the TELMS model.