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Stogiannis D, Siannis F, Androulakis E. Heterogeneity in meta-analysis: a comprehensive overview. Int J Biostat 2024; 20:169-199. [PMID: 36961993 DOI: 10.1515/ijb-2022-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, meta-analysis has evolved to a critically important field of Statistics, and has significant applications in Medicine and Health Sciences. In this work we briefly present existing methodologies to conduct meta-analysis along with any discussion and recent developments accompanying them. Undoubtedly, studies brought together in a systematic review will differ in one way or another. This yields a considerable amount of variability, any kind of which may be termed heterogeneity. To this end, reports of meta-analyses commonly present a statistical test of heterogeneity when attempting to establish whether the included studies are indeed similar in terms of the reported output or not. We intend to provide an overview of the topic, discuss the potential sources of heterogeneity commonly met in the literature and provide useful guidelines on how to address this issue and to detect heterogeneity. Moreover, we review the recent developments in the Bayesian approach along with the various graphical tools and statistical software that are currently available to the analyst. In addition, we discuss sensitivity analysis issues and other approaches of understanding the causes of heterogeneity. Finally, we explore heterogeneity in meta-analysis for time to event data in a nutshell, pointing out its unique characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fotios Siannis
- Department of Mathematics, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Androulakis
- Mathematical Modeling and Applications Laboratory, Section of Mathematics, Hellenic Naval Academy, Piraeus, Greece
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Gilman E, Evans T, Pollard I, Chaloupka M. Adjusting time-of-day and depth of fishing provides an economically viable solution to seabird bycatch in an albacore tuna longline fishery. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2621. [PMID: 36788342 PMCID: PMC9929080 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29616-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine megafauna exposed to fisheries bycatch belong to some of the most threatened taxonomic groups and include apex and mesopredators that contribute to ecosystem regulation. Fisheries bycatch is a major threat to the conservation of albatrosses, large petrels and other pelagic seabirds. Using data sourced from a fisheries electronic monitoring system, we assessed the effects of the time-of-day and relative depth of fishing on seabird and target species catch rates for a Pacific Ocean pelagic longline fishery that targets albacore tuna with an apparently high albatross bycatch rate. Using a Bayesian inference workflow with a spatially-explicit generalized additive mixed model for albacore tuna and generalized linear mixed regression models both for combined albatrosses and combined seabirds, we found that time-of-day and fishing depth did not significantly affect the target species catch rate while night-time deep setting had > 99% lower albatross and total seabird catch rates compared to both deep and shallow partial day-time sets. This provides the first evidence that night-time setting in combination with fishing deep reduces seabird catch risk and may be commercially viable in this and similar albacore tuna longline fisheries. Findings support evidence-informed interventions to reduce the mortality of threatened seabird bycatch species in pelagic longline fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Gilman
- Fisheries Research Group, The Safina Center, Honolulu, USA.
| | | | | | - Milani Chaloupka
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd and Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Gilman E, Chaloupka M, Benaka LR, Bowlby H, Fitchett M, Kaiser M, Musyl M. Phylogeny explains capture mortality of sharks and rays in pelagic longline fisheries: a global meta-analytic synthesis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18164. [PMID: 36307432 PMCID: PMC9616952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21976-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Apex and mesopredators such as elasmobranchs are important for maintaining ocean health and are the focus of conservation efforts to mitigate exposure to fishing and other anthropogenic hazards. Quantifying fishing mortality components such as at-vessel mortality (AVM) is necessary for effective bycatch management. We assembled a database for 61 elasmobranch species and conducted a global meta-synthesis to estimate pelagic longline AVM rates. Evolutionary history was a significant predictor of AVM, accounting for up to 13% of variance in Bayesian phylogenetic meta-regression models for Lamniformes and Carcharhiniformes clades. Phylogenetically related species may have a high degree of shared traits that explain AVM. Model-estimated posterior mean AVM rates ranged from 5% (95% HDI 0.1%-16%) for pelagic stingrays and 76% (95% HDI 49%-90%) for salmon sharks. Measures that reduce catch, and hence AVM levels, such as input controls, bycatch quotas and gear technology to increase selectivity are appropriate for species with higher AVM rates. In addition to reducing catchability, handling-and-release practices and interventions such as retention bans in shark sanctuaries and bans on shark finning and trade hold promise for species with lower AVM rates. Robust, and where applicable, phylogenetically-adjusted elasmobranch AVM rates are essential for evidence-informed bycatch policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Gilman
- The Safina Center, Honolulu, USA.
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Milani Chaloupka
- Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd and Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lee R Benaka
- Office of Science and Technology, U.S. NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, USA
| | - Heather Bowlby
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans, Dartmouth, Canada
| | - Mark Fitchett
- Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, USA
| | - Michel Kaiser
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
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Sadeghirad B, Foroutan F, Zoratti MJ, Busse JW, Brignardello-Petersen R, Guyatt G, Thabane L. Theory and practice of Bayesian and frequentist frameworks for network meta-analysis. BMJ Evid Based Med 2022; 28:204-209. [PMID: 35760451 DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2022-111928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is an increasingly popular statistical method of synthesising evidence to assess the comparative benefits and harms of multiple treatments in a single analysis. Several automated software packages facilitate conducting NMA using either of two alternative approaches, Bayesian or frequentist frameworks. Researchers must choose a framework for conducting NMA (Bayesian or frequentist) and select appropriate model(s), and those conducting NMA need to understand the assumptions and limitations of different approaches. Bayesian models are more frequently used and can be more flexible but require checking additional assumptions and greater statistical expertise that are often ignored. The present paper describes the important theoretical aspects of Bayesian and frequentist models for NMA and the applications and considerations of contrast-synthesis and arm-synthesis NMAs. In addition, we present evidence from a limited number of simulation and empirical studies that compared different frequentist and Bayesian models and provide an overview of available automated software packages to perform NMA. We will conclude that when analysts choose appropriate models, there are seldom important differences in the results of Bayesian and frequentist approaches and that network meta-analysts should therefore focus on model features rather than the statistical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Sadeghirad
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Farid Foroutan
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael J Zoratti
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason W Busse
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Gordon Guyatt
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lehana Thabane
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph's Healthcar - Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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