Permanent Shift Research Articles

Shift work and colorectal cancer risk in the MCC-Spain case-control study.

Objectives Shift work that involves circadian disruption has been associated with a higher cancer risk. Most epidemiological studies to date have focused on breast cancer risk and evidence for other common tumors is limited. We evaluated the risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) in relation to shift work history in a population-based case-control study in Spain. Methods This analysis included 1626 incident CRC cases and 3378 randomly selected population controls of both sexes, enrolled in 11 regions of Spain. Sociodemographic and lifestyle information was assessed in face-to-face interviews. Shift work was assessed in detail throughout lifetime occupational history. We estimated the risk of colon and rectal cancer associated with rotating and permanent shift work (ever, cumulative duration, age of first exposure) using unconditional logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Results Having ever performed rotating shift work (morning, evening and/or night) was associated with an increased risk for CRC [odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04-1.43], as compared to day workers. Having ever worked permanent night shifts (≥3 nights/month) was not associated with CRC risk (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-1.00). OR increased with increasing lifetime cumulative duration of rotating shift work (P-value for trend 0.005) and were highest among subjects in the top quartiles of exposure (3 rdquartile, 20-34 years, OR 1.38, 95%CI 1.06-1.81; 4 thquartile, ≥35 years, OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.02-1.79). Conclusions These data suggest that rotating shift work may increase the risk of CRC especially after long-term exposures.

The Stretching Method for Vibration‐Based Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Structures

AbstractThis article newly proposes the application of the stretching method, that is used in geophysics for detecting variations in the velocity with which waves propagate in the earth's crust from seismic noise recordings, in the context of vibration‐based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of civil structures. The result is a computationally efficient long‐term vibration‐based SHM tool, that follows the current trend of using a very limited number of sensors permanently installed on site to measure operational structural responses for the purpose of damage detection. In the SHM setting, the proposed method aims at a direct identification of small permanent shifts in the natural frequencies of the structure in a changing environment, which is achieved by maximizing the correlation coefficient between a reference waveform, computed in a training reference period in which the structure is assumed to be undamaged, and a stretched version of the same waveform evaluated at the current time. The comparison is performed in the frequency domain and the waveform of interest is obtained from cross‐correlations of the ambient vibration measurements. More specifically, in the case of multiple sensors, the waveform can be either the cross‐power spectral density of the signals recorded by a pair of sensors, or the largest singular value of the spectral matrix of the measurements. It follows that the method can be regarded as an extension of the classic Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD). A key feature of the proposed stretching method is mitigating the effects of environmental fluctuations by time domain averaging of cross‐correlations over a proper period of time, before taking their Fourier transform to estimate the spectral densities. Such a time domain averaging is carried out in a relatively long period of time for estimating the reference waveform, whereas it is carried out in a shorter time for estimating the current waveform. The main features of the proposed methodology are its very low sensitivity to environmental fluctuations, resulting in a quite short training period length, and its low computational cost, which could be compatible with a direct integration within smart sensors with embedded electronics. The performance of the method is illustrated in the case study of an Italian historical monumental bell tower that has been monitored by the authors for more than 1 year.

Night Shift and its Impact upon the Quality of Life of Nurses Working at the Teaching Hospitals of the Medical City Complex in Baghdad City, Iraq

Background: Nurses are key players in health care delivery, with night shift nurses having a special role in the provision of this health care. Night shift nurses are responsible for patient care with little support in a difficult working environment; under conditions of fatigue and other hardships directly related to working at night. Objective: The present study aims to find out the impact of night shift on nurses quality of life; and to find out any relationship between the quality of life and some demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, level of education and duration of career. Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out to assess the nurses’ quality of life. The nurses who work at Teaching hospitals of Medical City Complex were recruited from the 21st of February to 15th of July 2015. A nonprobability sample of 70 night shift nurses was selected. The investigator constructed the questionnaire for purpose of the study. This questionnaire consisted of two parts; some demographic characteristics of those nurses and a scale which assess the levels of quality of night shift nurses. Data are analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and Pearson Chi-Square as an inferential statistical analysis. Results: The study results revealed that the majority of study participants were young and married. About quarter of the number of the nurses have duration of career of five years and less. More than half of nurses had very weak and weak quality of life. Mid-aged nurses had lower levels of quality of life. The results showed that the male nurses had higher levels of quality of life than female nurses did and the married nurses are more likely to have lower levels of quality of life than unmarried did. Finally, there was a significant relationship between levels of quality of life and gender and age. Recommendation: The study recommends that it should provide adequate off-duty hours to let an uninterrupted sleep cycle of at least 8 h a day, which may affect nurses’ daily life at home. It should use permanent shift assignments, which may diminish tiredness effects, instead of rotating shift duties.

Coseismic stress distribution along active structures and their influence on timedependent probability values.

Based on the fact that stress changes caused by the coseismic slip of strong events can be incorporated into quantitative earthquake probability estimates, the goal of this study is to estimate the probability of the next strong earthquake (M≥6.5) on a known fault segment in a future time interval (30 years). The probability depends on the calculation of ΔCFF and the estimate of the occurrence rate of a characteristic earthquake, conditioned to the elapsed time since the previous event. The Coulomb stress changes caused by previous earthquakes are computed and their influence are considered by the introduction of a permanent shift on the time elapsed since theprevious earthquake or by a modification of the expected mean recurrence time. The occurrence rate is calculated, taking into account both permanent and temporary perturbations. The estimated probability values correspond to the probabilities along each fault segment with discretization of 1km, illustrating the probability distribution across the specific fault. In order to check whether the estimated probability vary with depth, all the estimations were performed for each fault at depths of 8, 10, 12 and 15 km.

Abundance and composition of juvenile corals reveals divergent trajectories for coral assemblages across the United Arab Emirates

Marked shifts in the composition of coral assemblages are occurring at many locations, but it is unknown whether these are permanent shifts reinforced by patterns of population replenishment. This study examined the composition of juvenile coral assemblages across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Densities of juvenile corals varied significantly among locations, but were highest where coral cover was highest. Juvenile coral assemblages within the Persian Gulf were dominated by Porites, while no Acropora were recorded. We expect therefore, continued declines in Acropora abundance, while observed dominance of Porites is likely to persist. In the Oman Sea, Pocillopora was the dominant juvenile coral, with Acropora and Stylophora also recorded. This study shows that taxonomic differences in replenishment are reinforcing temporal shifts in coral composition within the southern Persian Gulf, but not in the Oman Sea. Differences in environmental conditions and disturbance regimes likely explain the divergent responses between regions.

The effects of shellfish harvesting by aboriginal inhabitants of Southwest Florida (USA) on productivity of the eastern oyster: Implications for estuarine management and restoration

Abstract Oyster reefs in Southwest Florida (USA) have been integral to estuarine ecology throughout the Holocene. Though Crassostrea virginica has never been commercially harvested, aboriginal people used the oyster substantially, accumulating middens between 5000 BC and AD 1700. A conservation paleobiological/historical ecological study of oysters from middens and modern reefs within Estero Bay (EB) and Pine Island Sound (PIS) determined if oyster productivity changed due to aboriginal overharvesting. Archaeological samples came from sites including the Late Archaic (LA, 2000–500 BC) of PIS and the Caloosahatchee (Cal, 500 BC–AD 1500) of EB and PIS. These samples were compared with natural oyster death assemblages from neighboring modern reefs. Methods comprised measuring oyster convex valve lengths and sectioning shells to count ligament pit growth lines that served as proxy for growth rate. The biologic taphonomic grade was also compared after scoring the interior valve surface; biologic grade is near pristine for oysters collected live for consumption. Archaeological samples exhibit significantly better taphonomic grades when compared to modern assemblages, confirming the hypothesis that oysters were harvested for food. Valve length decreased significantly from LA to Cal time, whereas modern assemblages were indistinguishable from LA collections. Because the Cal samples span 4 climatic intervals, the results suggest that climate change was not responsible for shifts in productivity. Results support the hypothesis of overharvesting during Cal times. They also suggest that modern oysters retain the capacity for growth, and indicate that aboriginal activity did not result in a permanent microevolutionary shift. The results are also relevant for the ongoing discussion surrounding the creation of an Anthropocene Epoch; the shell middens built throughout history greatly influenced both estuarine ecology and landscapes through fishing and engineering practices.

The Evolution and Popularity of Science Play with Specific Reference to Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus, Brecht’s Galileo and Frayn’s Copenhagen

This paper traces theatrically and statistically the evolution and popularity of science play from 1604, the publication of Marlowe’s Dr Faustus, to 2005 revealing reasons behind this popularity in particular within the last few decades. It also presents a brief classification of playwrights employed science in their works, and does analysis for major works that contributed much not only in the development and popularity of science drama, but also in the drastic change they have brought to this genre. Actually, from Marlowe to now, scientists and science have held a fascination for writers and audience on equal terms. In our genetic, atomic and tech-savvy climate, drama contains science of any kind will head directly to spotlight. The pivotal year of 1998, when Copenhagen was first premiered, has led to unprecedented wave of science plays. Science has become the vogue and science play has gone beyond using science as a sort of ornament to integrate it into the fabric of drama. Everything from Newton's Principia to Greene's books on String Theory has passed across the stage. Consequently, this wave of science plays has not only softened the earth for a permanent shift in our perception of science as a fundamental part of our culture and a legitimate and compelling subject for theatre, but also has brought the vision of ‘‘a third culture’’ into reality.

Effects of Quercus suber Decline on Woody Plant Regeneration: Potential Implications for Successional Dynamics in Mediterranean Forests

In the last two decades, widespread tree decline and mortality have been documented in forests worldwide. These mortality events usually show certain level of host-specificity, translating into rapid changes in the relative abundance of the adult community. Despite these short-term changes, it is poorly understood whether the decline and mortality of certain tree species are likely to result in long-term vegetation shifts. Trajectories of forest recovery and the probability of occurrence of permanent vegetation shifts are to a large extent determined by post-mortality regeneration dynamics. Using a spatially explicit neighborhood approach, we evaluated the spatial patterns of natural regeneration of the woody plant community in mixed Mediterranean forests affected by the decline of their dominant tree species, Quercus suber. We predicted the abundance, survival, and richness of the seedling and sapling bank as a function of the distribution and health status of the tree and shrub community. Results indicated that Q. suber decline had detectable effects on seedlings and saplings of coexistent woody species from very different functional groups (trees, shrubs, and lianas). The sign and magnitude of these effects varied substantially among coexistent species, which could imply shifts in the species ranking of seedling and sapling abundance, affecting successional trajectories and potentially leading to vegetation shifts. Because most of these changes pointed towards a loss of dominance of Q. suber, management strategies are urgently needed in order to attenuate adult mortality or promote its regeneration, counteracting the negative effects of global change drivers (exotic pathogens, climate change) on these valuable forests.

Sustainability: A Cross-industry Study

BUSINESS SCHOLARS AND INDUSTRIES HAVE advocated sustainability for over three decades, but best practices from the field have yet to be captured in a model or framework that informs practitioners of how to engage in sustainability. During the 1980s emphasis was on controlling environmental pollution, and during the 1990s the focus shifted to product stewardship and ethical consumerism (Elkington, 1994). Recently, the focus has been on developing technologies that offer positive influences on the environment (Demirel et al., 2015; Hansen et al., 2015; Toth, 2014; Wong, Nelles, Yong, and Kumar, 2014; Preston, 2001). Sustainability theory is easy to understand, but translating the concept into actionable steps and investments is challenging. This paper identifies firms that are at the forefront of sustainability, and examines common themes advocated, policies set, practices implemented, and outcomes measured for sustained performance and profitability.The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987) defines sustainable development as the ability of the current generation to meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. We use the Dow Jones definition of sustainability: A business approach that creates long-term shareholder value by embracing opportunities and managing risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments (Robecosam, 2013, p. 7). Sustainability is not a fad; it is about creating a permanent shift in the nature of business (Crews, 2010). Since the advent of the paradigm in the 1980s, during which the concern was pollution control, the private sector shifted from a narrow economic conceptualization of responsibility towards a comprehensive approach that balances economic objectives with environmental pressures and changing societal expectations (Robinson et al., 2006; Tanulku, 2014; Kirschke, 2014; Fong and Harris, 2015; Kostevsek et al., 2015). Based on the pioneer work of Stead and Stead (1992), who systematically treated the subject of sustainability with an urgent call for a new economic model, green stakeholders, and strategic positioning, we want to investigate the current landscape of sustainability in firms after more than 20 years and ask, are firms' motivations for wanting to engage in sustainability, and what elements identify, formulate, and measure sustainability?Theoretical underpinningsMajor sustainability frameworks cited commonly in the field include the ecological footprint (Rees, 1992), triple bottom line (Elkington, 1997), the Natural Step (Karl-Henrik, 2002), and Graedel and Klees' (2002) Sustainability and Resource Usage. All of these frameworks address sustainability from natural, economic, and social spheres. Stead and Stead (2014) even suggest a spiritual dimension as a basis for sustainable competitive advantage. Sustainability research into a variety of specific communities is emerging (US Fed News, 2015; Bouabid and Louis, 2015; Van Wesenbeeck et al., 2015). All sustainability frameworks provide broad guidelines for corporate policy formation, but actionable steps such as those Rowe and Bansal (2013) suggest are limited. In Rowe and Bansal's (2013) ten initiatives on helping companies become more sustainable, political agendas (e.g., national dialogue and reduced burden for sustainability reporting) are also advocated. However, several suggestions remain vague and challenging for corporate practitioners to execute (e.g., create an organizational culture that supports sustainability, prepare organizations and society to mitigate and adapt to climate change, etc.). Sustainability theories and sustainability-related studies are abundant. According to Stead and Stead (1992), several critical biophysical and socioeconomic factors for achieving sustainability include:* Creating total materials recycling* Transitioning to a sustainable worldwide energy system* Stabilizing or reducing human populations* Reconciling disparities between developed and developing nations* Creating community-based decision-making structures that allow widespread, coordinated involvement in decisions about the Earth's common resources* Changing relationships between economic and evolutionary time scalesAll of these factors are intimately connected to one another. …

Biogeochemical cycling in the Bering Sea over the onset of major Northern Hemisphere Glaciation

AbstractThe Bering Sea is one of the most biologically productive regions in the marine system and plays a key role in regulating the flow of waters to the Arctic Ocean and into the subarctic North Pacific Ocean. Cores from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 323 to the Bering Sea provide the first opportunity to obtain reconstructions from the region that extend back to the Pliocene. Previous research at Bowers Ridge, south Bering Sea, has revealed stable levels of siliceous productivity over the onset of major Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG) (circa 2.85–2.73 Ma). However, diatom silica isotope records of oxygen (δ18Odiatom) and silicon (δ30Sidiatom) presented here demonstrate that this interval was associated with a progressive increase in the supply of silicic acid to the region, superimposed on shift to a more dynamic environment characterized by colder temperatures and increased sea ice. This concluded at 2.58 Ma with a sharp increase in diatom productivity, further increases in photic zone nutrient availability and a permanent shift to colder sea surface conditions. These transitions are suggested to reflect a gradually more intense nutrient leakage from the subarctic northwest Pacific Ocean, with increases in productivity further aided by increased sea ice‐ and wind‐driven mixing in the Bering Sea. In suggesting a linkage in biogeochemical cycling between the south Bering Sea and subarctic Northwest Pacific Ocean, mainly via the Kamchatka Strait, this work highlights the need to consider the interconnectivity of these two systems when future reconstructions are carried out in the region.

Post‐fledging family space use in blue and great tit: similarities and species‐specific behaviours

In birds, parental escorting of dependent young to feeding areas outside the breeding territory is a commonly observed, yet poorly documented phenomenon. Using radio‐tracking, we provide a detailed description of the post‐fledging movements of 12 blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus families and compare these observations with a much larger dataset of the closely related great tit Parus major collected over several years in the same study area. The proportion of families making excursions outside woodlots was similar in both species (± 50%), but the spatial extent of these movements tended to be larger in blue tits (mean ± SE: 1100 m ± 265, range: 643–2374, n = 6) as compared to great tits (mean ± SE: 666 m ± 42, range: 245–1898, n = 64). Blue tit families foraged significantly more in oak habitat within woodlots, independently of excursion behaviour, whereas great tits undertaking excursions shifted their range use towards more variable habitat outside woodlots. The observed excursions of blue tits appeared multiple‐day or permanent shifts of the family range, and not daily excursions as most frequently observed in great tits. Although family movements in both species may be largely driven by common underlying factors, our results also points toward species‐specific difference in spatial behaviour which may be linked with foraging specializations and post‐fledging territory fidelity.

Night shift work and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the MCC-Spain case-control study.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has few known modifiable risk factors. Recently, circadian disruption has been proposed as a potential contributor to lymphoid neoplasms' etiology. Serum melatonin levels have been found to be significantly lower in CLL subjects compared with healthy controls, and also, CLL prognosis has been related to alterations in the circadian molecular signaling. We performed the first investigation of an association between night shift work and CLL in 321 incident CLL cases and 1728 population-based controls in five areas of Spain. Participants were interviewed face-to-face by trained interviewers to collect information on sociodemographic factors, familial, medical and occupational history, including work shifts and other lifestyle factors. We used logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seventy-nine cases (25%) and 339 controls (20%) had performed night work. Overall, working in night shifts was not associated with CLL (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.78-1.45, compared with day work). However, long-term night shift (>20 years) was positively associated with CLL (OR(tertile 3 vs . day-work) = 1.77; 95% = 1.14-2.74), although no linear trend was observed (P trend = 0.18). This association was observed among those with rotating (OR(tertile 3 vs . day-work) = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.33-3.92; P trend = 0.07), but not permanent night shifts (OR(tertile 3 vs . day-work) = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.60-2.25; P trend = 0.86). The association between CLL and long-term rotating night shift warrants further investigation.

Lessons from the Crisis. Did Central Banks Do Their Homework?

The outbreak of the global financial crisis triggered changes in thinking about the way monetary policy is conducted, in particular about the desired central banks’ reaction function. However, a change in thinking does not necessarily mean that central banks really implemented these modifications. Therefore, I investigate whether four selected European central banks in small open economies – Ceske Narodni Banka, Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Narodowy Bank Polski and Sveriges Riksbank, have adjusted their reaction function to the new paradigm of how monetary policy should be conducted. To address this problem I use a logit model to see first, how the relative importance of inflation and GDP forecasts in the process of setting interest rates evolved over time, second, how the forecast horizon which central banks take into consideration when setting the interest rate has changed, and finally whether they conduct more accommodative monetary policy. The outcomes indicate that all banks after the Lehman Brother’s collapse became more flexible in the way they conduct monetary policy. In order to maintain the stability of the whole economy they are ready to accept an extended period or greater deviations of inflation from the target, although each one in its own way – through extension of the forecasting horizon, the increase of the GDP’s importance, permanent shift of the monetary policy stance to more accommodative one or a mixture of these factors.

Night shift work and stomach cancer risk in the MCC-Spain study

ObjectivesNight shift work has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based on experimental studies and limited evidence on human breast cancer...

Why Does a Mature Volcano Need New Vents? The Case of the New Southeast Crater at Etna

Mature volcanoes usually erupt from a persistent summit crater. Permanent shifts in vent location are expected to occur after significant structural variations and are seldom documented. Here we provide such an example that recently occurred at Etna. Eruptive activity at Mount Etna during 2007 focused at the Southeast Crater (SEC), the youngest (formed in 1971) and most active of the four summit craters, and consisted of six paroxysmal episodes. The related erupted volumes, determined by field-based measurements and radiant heat flux curves measured by satellite, totalled 8.67 x 106 m3. The first four episodes occurred, between late-March and early-May, from the summit of the SEC and short fissures on its flanks. The last two episodes occurred, in September and November, from a new vent (“pit crater” or “proto-NSEC”) at the SE base of the SEC cone; this marked the definitive demise of the old SEC and the shift to the new vent. The latter, fed by NW-SE striking dikes propagating from the SEC conduit, formed since early 2011 an independent cone (the New Southeast Crater, or “NSEC”) at the base of the SEC. Detailed geodetic reconstruction and structural field observations allow defining the surface deformation pattern of Mount Etna in the last decade. These suggest that the NSEC developed under the NE-SW trending tensile stresses on the volcano summit promoted by accelerated instability of the NE flank of the volcano during inflation periods. The development of the NSEC is not only important from a structural point of view, as its formation may also lead to an increase in volcanic hazard. The case of the NSEC at Etna here reported shows how flank instability may control the distribution and impact of volcanism, including the prolonged shift of the summit vent activity in a mature volcano.

English

The impact of 9 months cultivation of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton on selected culturable bacterial and fungal populations in rhizosphere soil was investigated. The transgenic Bt cotton line (06Z604M), isoline (99M03) and a non-Bt cotton line (HART 89M) were planted in confined field site in Samuru-Thika where non-Bt cotton had been continuously cultivated for the past 2 years. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected at planting, maturity, flower and boll, and boll-opening stages and harvesting stages of cotton. Numbers of culturable soil microbial groups (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) involved in decomposition and nutrients recycling were measured at CFU and population levels. The proteins did not show effects on bacterial, actinomycetes and fungal counts and populations possibly as a result of adsorption of the proteins on soil particles, which could have rendered the proteins inaccessible for microbial utilization. Culturable microbial population and colony counts arranged in decreasing order were 06Z604D>99M03>HART89M, similar to the amounts of MBC and clay in the soils. Moreover, bacteria and fungi counts were higher at 110 DAS in 06Z604D than in 99M03 and HART89M plot soils. Our observations suggest that insecticidal proteins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2) produced by Bollgard II Bt cotton could persist in tropical soils as a result of adsorption on soil clays but that there were no observable effect on the studied culturable microbial groups.The data presented here showed no consistent statistically significant differences (p 0.001) with soil respiration and microbial biomass, which exhibited uneven trend with the treatments. Generally Soil from 06Z604D showed the slight higher microbial populations and CFU count, whilst HART 89M showed slight lower microbial count. This depicts the fact that slight variability in the treatments, quality and content of the root exudates might have a temporal or permanent shift in micro biota populations of a variety of crop studied.This study therefore suggests that a single-year cultivation of transgenic Bt cotton may not affect the functional bacterial and fungi populations in rhizosphere soil. Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, bacteria, population, colony forming units, fungi, Bt cotton.

Occupations after WWII: The legacy of Rosie the Riveter

WWII mobilization led to a permanent increase in female employment. Using Census micro data we study the effects of this increase on the occupations women held after the war. Almost three decades after its end, WWII had lasting effects on the occupational landscape. For women of working age in the early 1940s, the war caused a permanent shift towards blue-collar occupations – particularly in manufacturing and service jobs – and a decline in employment in white-collar jobs. A reduction in educational attainment due to the draft, accumulation of occupation-specific experience and relatively high wages in blue-collar sectors can largely account for these patterns. WWII mobilization also influenced the occupational outcomes of the next generation of women who were too young to be working at the time of the war. This cohort shifted away from lower-skill jobs and towards clerical occupations.

Estimating the Tourism Demand Impact of Public Infrastructure Investment: The Case of Malaga Airport Expansion

This paper shows how structural time series models can be used to estimate the tourism demand impact of an airport expansion. The impact is measured by interventions in the series. Such interventions can be related to one-off events, permanent shifts or permanent changes in the slope of the series. The study case is the Malaga airport expansion. The impact distinguishes two effects: the new terminal building and the new runway. The results show that the infrastructure made a difference in attracting additional international tourists, especially those flying with low-cost carriers. The estimations show that the traffic increased by 6% due to the new terminal building, and the growth rate increased by 18% due to the new runway.

Abstract P3-08-04: Improving sleep to reduce breast cancer risk in shift workers

Abstract BACKGROUND: Shiftwork that involves circadian disruption has been designated as a 2A (probable) breast cancer carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Night shift workers experience many lifestyle disturbances including disrupted sleep. While the specific biological mechanisms that confer increased breast cancer risk are not yet clear, sleep disruption is hypothesized to have both direct (lowering melatonin levels) and indirect (obesity status) impacts on risk status. However, few interventions of any type have been reported for shift workers to potentially reduce their risk for breast cancer. An effective intervention to improve sleep quality would be one way to potentially reduce breast cancer risks in these women. METHODS: 47 female shift workers aged 40-65 who had experienced high circadian disruption (rotating or permanent night shifts) at least 3 times per month for at least 2 years participated in a single arm study examining the impact of a sleep intervention on health behaviours and breast cancer risk. Over the course of 10 months, women received with a 10-session (plus 2 booster sessions), telephone-delivered sleep hygiene intervention. The program was adapted from a hospital-based sleep clinic protocol based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles and aimed to improve sleep quality and quantity. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were assessed at baseline and 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 47 years, 68% were partnered, and 78% had diploma level education or higher. Participants were nurses (49%), emergency communications personnel (17%) and paramedics (13%), and others. At baseline, 79% had "poor" sleep quality (score above 5 on the PSQI), decreasing to 54% at 6 months and 49% at 12 months (p<0.001 for both changes between baseline and 6 months, and between baseline and 12 months, based on McNemar's test). Significant correlates of better sleep included younger age, being married, and having more education, but not obesity (measured by body mass index). We also investigated chronotype, which characterizes sleep time preferences that reflect underlying circadian rhythms; individuals may be "morning types" or larks (preferring early awakenings and bedtimes), "evening types" or owls (preferring late nights and mornings), or intermediate. We found that our intervention was more significantly effective for larks (where 11% reported good sleep at baseline and 67% at 12 months) and intermediates (where 28% reported good sleep at baseline and 62% at 12 months) than for owls (where 15% reported good sleep at baseline and 18% at 12 months). DISCUSSION: Most female shift workers in this study report impaired sleep quality. Our CBT-based sleep intervention led to significant improvements in sleep quality in 6 months, and these improvements were maintained at one year. This approach was more effective for some chronotypes than others, and "night owls" may require a different intervention. Sleep is a modifiable risk factor that is increasingly linked with cancer-related outcomes, including cancer incidence. Interventions to improve sleep quality such as the program used here offer a novel approach with the potential to reduce breast cancer risk. Citation Format: Gotay C, Aronson K, Campbell K, Demers P, Fleming J, Gelmon K, Goodfellow E, Munoz C, Neil-Sztramko S, Pollak M, Shen H, Spinelli J. Improving sleep to reduce breast cancer risk in shift workers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-08-04.

Responses of Two Tall Buildings in Tokyo, Japan, before, during, and after the M9.0 Tohoku Earthquake of 11 March 2011

The 11 March 2011 M 9.0 Tohoku earthquake generated significant long duration shaking that propagated hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter and affected urban areas throughout much of Honshu. Recorded responses of tall buildings at several hundred km from the epicenter of the main shock and other events show tall buildings were affected by long-period motions of events at distant sources. This study presents behavioral aspects of 29-story and 30-story neighboring buildings in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, Japan, as inferred from records retrieved from a sparse array of accelerometers deployed in the superstructures, at ground and 100 m below the ground level over a time interval covering before, during, and after the main shock. Such long-period effects are common in several regions of Japan as well as in the United States and in other seismically active countries. Permanent shifts in fundamental frequencies are observed. Drift ratios indicate possible structural nonlinear behavior occurred during the main shock. The need to consider risks to built environments from distant sources, including those in neighboring countries, is emphasized.