Did text-based news-media coverage about the COVID-19 pandemic increase vaccine uptake? A population-based study in Alaska.

COVID-19 vaccinations protect against severe infection, hospitalisation, and death. News media can be an important source of information for the public during a health crisis. This study explores the extent to which local or statewide text-based news coverage of the pandemic was related to the uptake of initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines among adults in Alaska. Multilevel modelling was employed to explore the association between news media intensity and vaccine uptake rates across boroughs and census areas, while controlling for relevant covariates. Results suggest that the intensity of news media did not significantly influence vaccine uptake during the majority of this time period and had a negative affect during the Delta-surge in the fall of 2021. However, the political lean and median age of boroughs or census areas were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Race, poverty, or education were not significant determinants of vaccine uptake suggesting there are unique differences in Alaska compared to the U.S., particularly amongst Alaska Native people. The political environment in Alaska surrounding the pandemic was polarized. Future research in communications and channels that can cut through this polarized and politicized environment, and reach younger adults is needed.

Value of environmental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a story from Indian Country.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged not only the healthcare industry, but also the public health infrastructure in new and wide-ranging ways. Environmental Health (EH) professionals have proven to be an essential component of the interdisciplinary public health solution required to prevent, respond, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian Health Service's Division of Environmental Health Services is a community-based program offering a broad scope of environmental health services and technical assistance. Significant COVID-19 workload activities were recorded from March 2020 through March 2021. 62.7% of the Division's federal staff completed a 24-question survey in February/March 2021. Primary roles relating to community-based EH, Institutional EH, and incident command system support/teams became apparent. Results indicated DEHS staff provided critical leadership and used their established, trusted, interdisciplinary partnerships to help ensure critical resources and services were available in Indian Country.

Effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines on preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations in Southwestern Alaska, January-December 2021.

The population in rural southwest Alaska has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. To assess the benefit of COVID-19 vaccines, we analyzed data from the regional health system. We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) during January 16-December 3, 2021, against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection after a primary series or booster dose, and overall VE against hospitalization. VE of a primary series against symptomatic infection among adult residents was 91.3% (95% CI: 85.7, 95.2) during January 16-May 7, 2021, 50.3% (95% CI, 41.1%-58.8%) during July 17-September 24, and 37.0% (95% CI, 27.8-45.0) during September 25-December 3, 2021; VE of a booster dose during September 25-December 3, 2021, was 92.1% (95% CI: 87.2-95.2). During the overall study period, VE against hospitalization was 91.9% (95% CI: 85.4-95.5). COVID-19 vaccination offered strong protection against hospitalization and a booster dose restored protection against symptomatic infection.

Telepsychiatry & Mental Health of American Indian & Alaska Native Youth: Program, Cultural, & Curricular Considerations for Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Introduction: COVID-19 has increased the use of telehealth in healthcare. The World Health Organization and the Health Resources and Services Administration have both acknowledged the value of telemedicine in improving access to care for vulnerable populations, including rural youth. Telepsychiatry may be especially beneficial for the three million Native American youth who live in isolated areas. However, due to geography, a scarcity of providers, and cultural stigma, they do not have easy access to primary and mental health care. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential benefits of telepsychiatry for Native American youth living in rural and isolated areas who have limited access to primary and mental health care due to geography, provider shortages, and cultural stigma. In particular, the role of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners is investigated. Results: Telepsychiatry via mobile devices is a viable intervention for geographically isolated Native youth with limited access to computers and stable Internet connectivity. Telepsychiatry research outcomes emphasize the potential for improved mental health outcomes among Native American youth and a clear role for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. Conclusion: By engaging in telepsychiatry with Native American populations, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners have the opportunity to fill a current void. For the successful implementation of telepsychiatry to address mental health disparities among Native American youth, these practitioners would require training and support.

Elder-led cultural identity program as counterspace at a public university: Narratives on sense of community, empowering settings, and empowerment.

Higher education institutions present unique settings in which identities and life paths are distinctively shaped. While at their best universities should serve as empowering settings that support their members to grow and develop, to raise awareness of injustice, and to catalyze change, too often systems of higher education in the United States serve to marginalize Indigenous cultures and promote assimilation to White, Euro-American cultures. Counterspaces offer an important response, spaces developed by and for people experiencing oppression that allow for solidarity-building, social support, healing, resource attainment, skill-building, resistance, counter-storytelling, and ideally, empowerment. The Alaska Native (AN) Cultural Identity Project (CIP) is based at an urban U.S.-based university and was rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed from the best available scientific and practice literature, local data from AN students, and traditional wisdom from Elders, CIP incorporated storytelling, experiential learning, connection, exploration, and sharing of identity and cultural strengths with the aim of helping AN students understand who they are and who they are becoming. In all, 44 students, 5 Elders, and 3 additional staff participated in the space. In this paper, we sought to understand how CIP was experienced by these unique members who co-created and engaged in this space through 10 focus groups with 36 of the CIP members. We found that the counterspace promoted a sense of community, served as an empowering setting, and set the stage for empowering actions and ripple effects beyond its impact on individuals.

Cultural, societal, and personal factors impacting COVID-19 vaccine intentions among American Indians and Alaska natives

SARS-CoV-2, better known as COVID-19, has impacted all people globally. In the United States, the impact of COVID-19 has been extremely devastating for American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Historically, this resilient population has been battling numerous epidemics since first contact with European colonizers. These epidemics, coupled with COVID-19, have led to a deadly syndemic for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Understanding what cultural, societal and individual factors are involved in health decisions can help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and better inform policies. This dissertation used a mixed-method approach to examine 1) what cultural, societal, and individual factors can predict COVID-19 vaccine intent (Chapter 2 & 3) and 2) to understand the phenomenology of tribal COVID-19 policies and tribal governmental actions implemented in response to the pandemic (Chapter 4). Results demonstrate that ethnic identity, age, education, smoking status, type of employment, handwashing behaviors and a belief that traditions can prevent COVID-19 infection were all predictive of COVID-19 vaccine intent. Furthermore, results show that tribes relied heavily on federal recommendations and traditional values when implementing strategies to keep their communities safe. Tribes with limited infrastructure had a more challenging time disseminating policy to their members, but others found that social media was an effective medium for policy dissemination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The future of sustainable polar ship-based tourism

Over the last couple of decades, polar tourism has significantly grown in the number of visitors and diversified in terms of the tourism activities offered. The COVID-19 pandemic brought polar tourism to a halt and has prompted researchers, operators and policy-makers alike to reflect on how Arctic and Antarctic tourism have developed, how they are being managed and governed and, importantly, how tourism operators influence polar socio-ecological systems. Given the dominance of ship-based tourism over other types of tourism in the Polar Regions, we discuss the cornerstones of how polar ship-based tourism has developed over the last 50 years and explore the relevant international and regional governance regimes in this article. We identify which positive and negative biophysical, socio-cultural and economic impacts arising from polar tourism have been identified by researchers. It is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle impacts caused by tourism alone from those that result from the interactions of multiple pressures at all levels (local, regional and global), and more research is needed to develop reliable and effective indicators to monitor tourism impacts. In addition, a better understanding is needed about the role tourist experiences might play in potentially encouraging long-term positive behavioural changes among visitors to the Polar Regions. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an important opportunity to review polar tourism development and management, and to ask whether an emphasis should be placed on ‘degrowth' of the sector in the future.

It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Wrong

Seventy-three-year-old diabetic male was a high-risk transfer from Alaska for respiratory decompensation in the setting of progressive bulbar and proximal weakness. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 two months prior and viral mononucleosis 1 month prior to presentation. While the patient had a fall 3 months prior to presentation, and decreased mobility at home, there was abrupt onset of progressive upper/lower extremity weakness, dysphagia, and difficulties managing secretions 2 weeks prior to presentation. Initial exam was notable for MRC 3-4/5 proximal upper/lower extremity weakness, areflexia, and negative inspiratory force of 224 to 230 cm H20. A subtle periorbital heliotrope rash was documented. Lumbar puncture demonstrated albumino-cytologic dissociation (protein 142 mg/dL, 6 WBCs) and CK remained elevated (1930 U/L) despite intravenous hydration. Outside electrodiagnostic testing demonstrated a sensorimotor axonal neuropathy with questionable myopathic features on needle electromyography. Given concern for an inflammatory neuropathy and concomitant inflammatory myopathy, intravenous immunoglobulin 2G/kg and IV methylprednisolone 1G/day over 5 days was started. He was transferred for further diagnostic workup and supportive care 6 days after presentation and required intubation within 24 hours of admission. Exam showed progressive proximal and distal weakness of the extremities and general areflexia/hyporeflexia. Repeat electromyography confirmed a severe sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy without acquired demyelinating features and normal repetitive nerve stimulation. While the patient could no longer activate muscles voluntarily, proximal muscles had increased spontaneous activity with predominant myotonia. Neuroaxis imaging was notable only for enhancement of the lumbar nerve roots. Combined vastus lateralis muscle biopsy and serologic testing confirmed a second pathologic process contributing to the patient's weakness. This case highlights the cooccurrence of 2 distinct neuropathological entities, with potential relation to a prior viral infection, and the importance of ancillary testing to guide treatment for acute causes of neuromuscular respiratory failure.

Low‐Altitude UAV Imaging Accurately Quantifies Eelgrass Wasting Disease From Alaska to California

Declines in eelgrass, an important and widespread coastal habitat, are associated with wasting disease in recent outbreaks on the Pacific coast of North America. This study presents a novel method for mapping and predicting wasting disease using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with low‐altitude autonomous imaging of visible bands. We conducted UAV mapping and sampling in intertidal eelgrass beds across multiple sites in Alaska, British Columbia, and California. We designed and implemented a UAV low‐altitude mapping protocol to detect disease prevalence and validated against in situ results. Our analysis revealed that green leaf area index derived from UAV imagery was a strong and significant (inverse) predictor of spatial distribution and severity of wasting disease measured on the ground, especially for regions with extensive disease infection. This study highlights a novel, efficient, and portable method to investigate seagrass disease at landscape scales across geographic regions and conditions.Alternate abstract:Plain Language SummaryDiseases of marine organisms are increasing in many regions worldwide, therefore, efficient time‐series monitoring is critical for understanding the dynamics of disease and examining its progression in time to implement management interventions. In the first study of its kind, we use high‐resolution Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery collected to detect disease at 12 sites across the North‐East Pacific coast of North America spanning 18 degrees of latitude. The low altitude UAV visible‐bands imagery achieved 1.5 cm spatial resolution, and analysis was performed at the seagrass leaf scale based on object‐oriented image analysis. Our findings suggest that drone mapping of coastal plants may substantially increase the scale of disease risk assessments in nearshore habitats and further our understanding of seagrass meadow spatial‐temporal dynamics. These can be scaled up by searching for environmental signals of the pathogen, for example, with surveillance of wastewater for signs of Covid in human populations. This application could easily apply to other areas to construct a high‐resolution monitoring network for seagrass conservation.

Collegiate student-athlete psychological distress and counseling utilization during COVID-19

The onset of COVID-19 and cancellation of collegiate sports may have exacerbated student-athletes' psychological distress. Within a national sample of collegiate athletes (N = 5,755;66.7% women), we determined how gender and race related to rates of depression, stress, and counseling use at the beginning of the pandemic (April/May 2020). Overall, 26.5% (n = 1,526) and 10.6% (n = 612) endorsed clinical levels of depression and stress, respectively;25.1% (n = 1,443) and 69.7% (n = 4,014) reported subclinical levels. Few athletes (2.3%-17.1%) reported counseling use before or after the onset of COVID-19;those who did reported higher levels of depression and stress than those who never sought services. The female athletes reported higher rates of depression, stress, and counseling use than the male athletes. There were no race effects. Athletic departments must address their student-athletes' psychological distress by facilitating a higher use of mental health services.

Factors Affecting SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Intent and Decision Making Among African American, Native American, and Hispanic Participants in a Qualitative Study.

Limited studies are available on how decisions and perceptions on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have changed since the start of vaccination availability. We performed a qualitative study to identify factors critical to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination decision making and how perspectives evolved among African American/Black, Native American, and Hispanic communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and social and economic disadvantage. We conducted 16 virtual meetings, with 232 participants in wave 1 meetings (December 2020) and with 206 returning participants in wave 2 meetings (January and February 2021). Wave 1 vaccine concerns in all communities included information needs, vaccine safety, and speed of vaccine development. Lack of trust in government and the pharmaceutical industry was influential, particularly among African American/Black and Native American participants. Participants showed more willingness to get vaccinated at wave 2 than at wave 1, indicating that many of their information needs had been addressed. Hesitancy remained greater among African American/Black and Native American participants than among Hispanic participants. Participants in all groups indicated that conversations tailored to their community and with those most trustworthy to them would be helpful. To overcome vaccine hesitancy, we propose a model of fully considered SARS-CoV-2 vaccine decision making, whereby public health departments supply information, align with community values and recognize lived experiences, offer support for decision making, and make vaccination easy and convenient.

COVID-19 Messaging on Social Media for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Thematic Analysis of Audience Reach and Web Behavior.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal and health organizations used social media to rapidly disseminate public health guidance highlighting protective behaviors such as masking and vaccination to mitigate the pandemic's disproportionate burden on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Objective: Seeking to provide guidance for future communication campaigns prioritizing AI/AN audiences, this study aimed to identify Twitter post characteristics associated with higher performance, measured by audience reach (impressions) and web behavior (engagement rate). Methods: We analyzed Twitter posts published by a campaign by the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health from July 2020 to June 2021. Qualitative analysis was informed by in-depth interviews with members of a Tribal Advisory Board and thematically organized according to the Health Belief Model. A general linearized model was used to analyze associations between Twitter post themes, impressions, and engagement rates. Results: The campaign published 162 Twitter messages, which organically generated 425,834 impressions and 6016 engagements. Iterative analysis of these Twitter posts identified 10 unique themes under theory- and culture-related categories of framing knowledge, cultural messaging, normalizing mitigation strategies, and interactive opportunities, which were corroborated by interviews with Tribal Advisory Board members. Statistical analysis of Twitter impressions and engagement rate by theme demonstrated that posts featuring culturally resonant community role models (P=.02), promoting web-based events (P=.002), and with messaging as part of Twitter Chats (P<.001) were likely to generate higher impressions. In the adjusted analysis controlling for the date of posting, only the promotion of web-based events (P=.003) and Twitter Chat messaging (P=.01) remained significant. Visual, explanatory posts promoting self-efficacy (P=.01; P=.01) and humorous posts (P=.02; P=.01) were the most likely to generate high-engagement rates in both the adjusted and unadjusted analysis. Conclusions: Results from the 1-year Twitter campaign provide lessons to inform organizations designing social media messages to reach and engage AI/AN social media audiences. The use of interactive events, instructional graphics, and Indigenous humor are promising practices to engage community members, potentially opening audiences to receiving important and time-sensitive guidance.

Facebook Intervention to Connect Alaska Native People with Resources and Support to Quit Smoking: CAN Quit Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: There is some evidence that social media interventions can promote smoking cessation. This randomized controlled pilot study is the first to evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a Facebook smoking cessation intervention among Alaska Native adults. METHODS: Recruitment and data collection occurred December 2019-March 2021. Participants were recruited statewide in Alaska using Facebook advertisements with a targeted sample of 60 enrolled. Participants were stratified by gender, age, and rural/urban residence and randomly assigned to receive referral resources on evidence-based cessation treatments (EBCTs) (control, n=30) or these resources plus a three-month, closed/private, culturally tailored, Facebook group (intervention, n=31) that connected participants to EBCT resources and was moderated by two Alaska Native Trained Tobacco Specialists. Assessments were conducted online post-randomization at one, three, and six months. Outcomes were feasibility (recruitment, retention, intervention engagement), self-reported use of EBCTs, and biochemically confirmed seven-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence. RESULTS: Of intervention participants, 90% engaged (e.g., posted, commented) more than once. Study retention was 57% at six months (no group differences). The proportion utilizing EBCTs was about double for intervention compared with the control group participants at three and six months. Smoking abstinence was higher for intervention than control participants at three months (6.5% vs. 0%, p=0.16) but comparable at six months (6.4% vs. 6.7%, p=0.97). CONCLUSIONS: While additional research is needed to promote long-term cessation, this pilot trial supports recruitment feasibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer uptake, and a signal for intervention efficacy on the uptake of cessation treatment and short-term smoking abstinence. IMPLICATIONS: This study is the first evaluation of a social media intervention for smoking cessation among Indigenous people. We learned that statewide Facebook recruitment of Alaska Native adults who smoke was feasible and there was a signal for the efficacy of a Facebook intervention on the uptake of evidence-based cessation treatment and short-term (three months) biochemically verified smoking abstinence. Clinically, social media platforms may complement current care models by connecting Alaska Native individuals and others living in hard-to-reach communities to cessation treatment resources.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a national sample of United States adults ages 18–45: A cross-sectional study

To assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected catch-up HPV vaccination among age-eligible adults (ages 18–45). The current study leverages a national, cross-sectional sample of US adults ages 18–45 years to assess the prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions to catch-up HPV vaccination in 2021. The sample was restricted to adults intending to receive the HPV vaccine. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the probability of 1) pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption and 2) uncertainty about pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption. Report of ‘no pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption' served as the reference category. Among adults intending to get the HPV vaccine (n = 1,683), 8.6 % reported pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption, 14.7 % reported uncertainty about vaccination disruption, and 76.7 % reported no disruption. Factors associated with higher odds of pandemic-related vaccination disruption included non-English language preference (OR: 3.20;95 % CI: 1.99–5.13), being a parent/guardian (OR: 1.77;95 % CI: 1.18–2.66), having at least one healthcare visit in the past year (OR: 1.97;95 % CI: 1.10–3.53), being up-to-date on the tetanus vaccine (OR: 1.81;95 % CI: 1.19–2.75), and being a cancer survivor (OR: 2.57;95 % CI: 1.52–4.34). Catch-up HPV vaccination for age-eligible adults is a critical public health strategy for reducing HPV-related cancers. While a small percentage of adults reported pandemic-related disruptions to HPV vaccination, certain adults (e.g., individuals with a non-English language preference and cancer survivors) were more likely to report a disruption. Interventions may be needed that increase accessibility of catch-up HPV vaccination among populations with reduced healthcare access during the pandemic. © 2022 The Authors

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults (≥ 18 Years Old) - New Mexico, March-September 2020.

To assess the presence of racial disparity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) sought to compare the case rate and risk of hospitalization between persons of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) race and persons of other races in New Mexico from March 1 through September 30, 2020. Using NMDOH COVID-19 surveillance data, age-standardized COVID-19 case and hospitalization risks were compared between adults (≥ 18 years old) of AI/AN and other races. We compared age, sex, and comorbidities between hospitalized adults of AI/AN and other races. Among AI/AN persons, age-standardized COVID-19 case and hospitalization risks were 3.7 (95% CI 3.6-3.8) and 10.5 (95% CI 9.8-11.2) times as high as persons of other races. Hospitalized AI/AN patients had higher proportions of diabetes mellitus (48% vs. 33%, P < 0.0001) and chronic liver disease (8% vs. 5%, P = 0.0004) compared to hospitalized patients of other races. AI/AN populations have disproportionately higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization compared to other races in New Mexico. By identifying etiologic factors that contribute to inequity, public health partners can implement culturally appropriate health interventions to mitigate disease severity within AI/AN communities.

A New Network for a Changed World

Among the things that will be remembered about the year 2020 are phrases like "You're still on mute" and "Can I share my screen?" They are emblematic of how educators have been challenged to navigate uncharted waters of remote learning and overnight technological adaptation. To quote another phrase that will be remembered as a cliché, "These are unprecedented times." Learning Forward's newest network, Design Professional Learning for a Virtual World (DPLV), is designed to meet educators' pressing needs in this unusual moment by supporting districts and states with proactive planning tools and processes. Learning Forward and DPLV's first cohort of nine district and state education agency members are collaborating on how to stay strategic through the compounding challenges of responding to COVID-19, a national reckoning with racial injustice, and growing fiscal uncertainty caused by a mix of public health and public policy developments. This article describes the work of the DPLV as they engage in a planning process with customized coaching tailored to their local contexts and needs during and beyond the pandemic.

Facilitating the Urgent Public Health Need to Improve Data Sharing With Tribal Epidemiology Centers.

Tribal epidemiology centers (TECs) are an essential and unique part of the public health system and an important part of federal efforts to improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people. Pursuant to federal statute, TECs serve the 574 federally recognized tribes (hereinafter, "tribes") and their members across the United States, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native people in general. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for timely, complete, and accurate public health data, particularly for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and others who may have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. This article reviews the history and importance of TECs and federal statutes governing TECs' ability to access and use protected health information for public health purposes. TECs and tribes often encounter difficulty receiving public health data from state and federal agencies despite their designation as "public health authorities" under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and associated regulations. Limited access to this information hinders the statutory mission of TECs as well as tribal monitoring of and response to public health threats such as SARS-CoV-2. Agency acknowledgment and compliance with current federal law regarding data sharing with TECs are essential to improve data access and the fragile public health of tribal communities.

Sociodemographic Differences in Patient Portal Research Recruitment of Older Adults With Heart Failure

Introduction: Innovative recruitment strategies such as patient portal messaging (PPM) hold promise for high yield, low-cost recruitment of heart failure (HF) patients for research studies but may impact the diversity of the sample. We aimed to examine strategies used to recruit older adults with advanced HF during COVID-19 in an ongoing prospective palliative care research study. Method(s): We used three recruitment strategies including the traditional in-person HF clinic screening or provider referral, and a more innovative direct-to-patient recruitment approach using EHR patient portal messaging (PPM) or email. We compared characteristics of participants recruited via PPM/email and traditional in-person recruitment strategies using chi-squared and t-tests. We used multiple logistic regression to examine associations between participant characteristics and recruitment type. Result(s): Most participants were recruited through PPM or email (86%, n=247) over 10 months and the remaining participants were recruited through provider referral or in-person recruitment at the heart failure clinic over 6 months (14%, n=40). Among our sample of 287 participants, 67% (n=201) were White, 28% (n=84) were Black, and the remaining 5% (n=13) were Asian, American Indian, or Alaska Native or identify with a non-listed race. The mean age was 68 years old. There was no significant difference in recruitment type by age, gender, or financial strain. There was a significant difference in recruitment type by race and education level. In a multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, and financial strain, Black participants had a lower odds of PPM recruitment than white participants (OR 0.15, p<0.001). Additionally, those with higher education showed higher odds of PPM/email recruitment (OR 4.2 p = 0.001). Conclusion(s): In this study, PPM was an efficient recruitment strategy with higher odds of recruiting participants of White race and higher education compared to traditional recruitment strategies. Use of both traditional and more innovative direct-to-patient recruitment strategies may promote a more diverse study sample.

The Aleutians and Beyond: Distribution, Size Composition, and Catch Dynamics of the Aleutian Skate Bathyraja aleutica across the North Pacific.

The results of long-term (1948-2021) studies on the spatial and vertical distribution, dynamics of abundance, and size composition of the Aleutian skate Bathyraja aleutica in the North Pacific Ocean are presented. Maximum densities of this species were characteristic of the eastern Bering Sea slope, off the central Aleutian Islands, consisting of the Pacific waters off southeastern Kamchatka and the northern Kurils, and northeastern Sakhalin. This species was most abundant at depths of 100-600 m; in the cold months, B. aleutica migrates to greater depths for over-wintering, and in warm months it feeds at shallower depths. Bathyraja aleutica was most common at the bottom, at temperatures around 3 °C. The total length of individuals ranged from 9.6-170 cm, with a predominance of skates with a length of 50-100 cm. Males did not differ significantly from females in body weight and length. The maximum values of the condition factor were typical for the autumn-winter period. Across years, there was an increase in Aleutian skate catch rates from the western Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, and a decrease in the Pacific waters off the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka, as well as in Alaskan waters.