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Detecting Threatened Ichthyofauna in a Mediterranean Intensive Agricultural Landscape: From DNA Traces to Electrofishing
No full textABSTRACTIntensive agriculture and farming activities, industry, as well as human settlement can seriously affect freshwater ecosystems and the species they host. These disturbances have been previously monitored using traditional catch surveys. New methods, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, can significantly improve biodiversity mapping by accessing rarely visited areas and by enhancing detection of rare and invasive species. We conducted an eDNA survey in a complex river and tributary system at Tenagi, Philippi that hosts approximately 12.5% of Greek freshwater ichthyofauna. A primer pair targeting the 12S rRNA was used to analyse eDNA samples from 30 sites. A reference sequence database was generated to improve regional diversity monitoring of endemic, native and invasive fishes. Results were compared with data collected using electrofishing from stations that allowed access. Two endemic, three invasive, two translocated and 10 native species were detected in their current known distribution using both methods. Overall, eDNA metabarcoding being more sensitive, consistently detected more freshwater species than traditional methods on a single fieldwork expedition. Co‐occurrence of species was also investigated for the first time, revealing minor variations in species composition within fish communities. Stations in intensive agricultural zones with potentially high accumulation of organic and inorganic pollutants (Tributary D), exhibited lower number of reads and species richness than other tributaries at Tenagi. Our results demonstrate the need for complementary use of both eDNA metabarcoding and electrofishing to assess fish assemblages in freshwater habitats, as a combined approach can address reliability issues and biases associated with each method
An exploration of advance care planning education delivered by hospice specialists to care home staff: a cross-sectional UK survey
Get PDFBackground: Uptake of advance care planning (planning future care) in care homes remains low. There is a sparsity of research exploring hospice-led advance care planning education delivered to care home staff. Aims: To explore and evaluate advance care planning education delivered by hospice specialists to care home staff in the United Kingdom. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey disseminated via national-organisations and social media from August 2023 to April 2024. Participants included staff working in care homes and hospices (registered nurses/healthcare-assistants/managers). Results: Eighty-eight valid responses were received. Most respondents working in care homes strongly agreed (56.6%) or agreed (35.8%) that education increased their knowledge and confidence when engaging in advance care planning. About 71.4% of hospice staff and 50.9% of care home staff noticed changes to advance care planning following the COVID-19 pandemic, which included earlier initiation of discussions, and more focus on resuscitation. Identified barriers included, short-staffing and high staff-turnover in care homes. Despite high commitment, a lack of funding and resource capacity hindered hospice staffs’ ability to provide education. Conclusion: Education delivered by hospice specialists is important in supporting care home staff to develop knowledge and confidence to engage in advance planning discussions. Future evaluative research is needed to measure the efficacy/sustainability of hospice-led advance care planning education
A systematic quality evaluation of public participation in Environmental Impact Statements (EIS): Reflecting on practice in Nigeria
Get PDFInfrastructure development is vital for economic growth but often leads to negative environmental, social, and public health impacts. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), produced during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, is critical in identifying and addressing these impacts. However, public participation in EIA remains limited globally and in Nigeria. This study evaluates how effectively public participation is addressed in 30 EISs from three Nigerian economic sectors between 2005 and 2020. Using a modified Lee and Colley review package with emphasis on participation quality, the study reveals generally low EIS quality across sectors. Major weaknesses were found in Review Area 3 (alternatives and mitigation measures) and Review Area 5 (stakeholder engagement and information disclosure). Road sector projects performed worst in terms of public involvement, and EIS quality has not improved over time, with newer documents reflecting similar deficiencies. Over two-thirds of the EISs failed to align with best practices informed by the EU EIA Directive. The study concludes that significant enhancements are needed, especially in stakeholder engagement, to improve EIA effectiveness. Recommendations are provided to guide improvements in public participation and adherence to international standards, contributing to more transparent and inclusive environmental decision-making
Investigating Aging and DNA Methylation: A Path to Improving HealthSpan?
Get PDFInvestigating aging has become a subject of intense biomedical focus. This has coincided with an unprecedented rise in epigenetic research. DNA methylation (DNAm) is the most comprehensively investigated epigenetic process. Epigenetic clocks are capable of statistically correlating DNAm changes with chronological age. DNAm changes are also proving to be a worthwhile biomarker of age-related disease, while emerging evidence suggests this epigenetic mechanism could be an effective diagnostic tool for disease detection. Such investigative progress has significant implications for health care. In this brief review we examine some recent findings in this area. The overarching aim and scope of the work is to address the relationship between aging, DNAm, and health. We commence by briefly introducing aging. Next, DNAm and age-related disease are discussed. Thirdly, we critically examine epigenetic clocks. We conclude by exploring recent advances in the use of biosensors for measuring DNAm and disease detection
When Does a Journal Stop Being a New Journal?
Get PDFIn my editorials, you may have often read my references to Parasitologia being a new journal—we only started in 2021—but at some point, we need to move on from this “honeymoon” description [...
Calibration of Building Performance Simulations for Zero Carbon Ready Homes: Two Open Access Case Studies Under Controlled Conditions
Get PDFThis study provides a detailed dataset from two modern homes constructed inside an environmentally controlled chamber. These data are used to carefully calibrate a dynamic thermal simulation model of these homes. The calibrated models show good agreement with measurements taken under controlled conditions. The two case study homes, “The Future Home” and “eHome2”, were constructed within the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0, and high-quality data were collected over eight days. The calibration process involved updating U-values, air permeability rates, and modelling refinements, such as roof ventilation, ground temperatures, and sub-floor void exchange rates, set as boundary conditions. Results demonstrated a high level of accuracy, with performance gaps in whole-house heat transfer coefficient reduced to 0.5% for “The Future Home” and 0.6% for “eHome2”, falling within aggregate heat loss test uncertainty ranges by a significant amount. The study highlights the improved accuracy of calibrated dynamic thermal simulation models, compared to results from the steady-state Standard Assessment Procedure model. By providing openly accessible calibrated models and a clearly defined methodology, this research presents valuable resources for future building performance modelling studies. The findings support the UK’s transition to dynamic modelling approaches proposed in the recently introduced Home Energy Model approach, contributing to improved prediction of energy efficiency and aligning with goals for zero carbon ready and sustainable housing development
Intangible Cultural Heritage and New Methodological Frameworks: Media, Performance and the Public Space
No full textThis book examines media, performance, and the public space as sites of intangible cultural heritage—a heritage that moves beyond physical museums and monuments to encompass film and media, performing arts, oral traditions, social practices, rituals, artifacts, and cultural spaces. Focusing on the current methodological challenges and new frameworks that surround the study of intangible cultural heritage in the public space, this volume explores the ways in which intangible cultural heritage is formed, represented, appropriated, and changed. The authors propose a broad understanding of cultural heritage emerging from the public sphere, encompassing museums, oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, artifacts, media and cultural spaces as the inclusive, collective cultural expressions of everyday culture. This unique and interdisciplinary volume will interest scholars and students of cultural studies, cultural heritage, media and film studies, performance studies, history, and sociology
A New Project Portfolio Strategic Objective Promoting Model Considering Existing Resource Synergies in the Enterprises
No full textMonitoring and optimizing the objectives of the Project Portfolio (PP) in an enterprise is a critical step toward to achieve the strategic goals. The implementation of PP objectives heavily relies on resources available in the enterprise and the synergies among resources that will further affect the realization of the strategic goals. However, the existing studies neglect the impact of resources on the achievement of strategic goals and the effects of synergies among resources are not considered effectively when implementing PP in the enterprise. This paper presents a new model to quantify and optimize the implementation of PP objectives by taking effects of the synergies among resources into account to promote the realization of the strategic goals. In this method, a goal-resource network is first developed to take strategic goals and resources into consideration. Then, PP objective achievement values are quantified by considering the synergies among resources through the analysis of such a goal-resource network. If the PP objective achievement values fail to meet the enterprise’s requirements, the realization of PP objectives will be promoted by optimizing the identified key resources. A case study is presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology. The results show that the proposed model can quantify the achievement value of strategic goals and identify key resources by clarifying the influence of resources on strategic goals, which provides a useful method and tool to analyze the synergies among resources and to promote strategic goals effectively and efficiently in the enterprise
Superspreaders have lower gut microbial alpha-diversity and distinct gut microbial composition in a natural rodent population
Get PDFThe microbiome is well known to drive variation in host states (e.g. behaviour, immunity) that would be expected to modulate the spread of infectious disease—but the role of microbiotal interactions in promoting superspreading is poorly understood. Superspreaders are individuals with a strongly disproportionate contribution to pathogen transmission, and come in two forms. Supershedders transmit infection to more individuals because they shed higher levels of pathogen. Supercontacters transmit infection to more individuals because they have larger numbers of social contacts. We explore associations between the gut microbiota and these two forms of superspreading in a wild rodent model—Bartonella spp. bacteraemia in the field vole (Microtus agrestis). We find evidence that individuals fall into distinct shedding and contacting clusters, and that higher-contacters have lower and more variable gut microbial alpha-diversity than lower-contacters. We also show evidence that both higher-shedders and higher-contacters have distinct gut microbial composition and identify OTUs that are differentially abundant in the gut microbiota of these two classes of individuals when compared to lower-shedders and lower-contacters respectively. We find that the Muribaculaceae are associated with differences in both shedding and contacting, and discuss potential mechanisms by which they may be acting on these host traits
“Queer AI?” with Daniella Gáti
No full textWhat does AI have to do with queerness? And how could the use of machine learning affect our lives and our rights as LGBTQIA+ people? Daniella Gáti shares the answers to these questions and more. Daniella is an expert in narrative, creative computing, and brings a unique transdisciplinary perspective to both. We touch on facial recognition, what is happening in Hungary, and speak about common misconceptions about AI.General link:https://lenamattheis.wordpress.com/queerlit/Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/queer-ai-with-daniella-g%C3%A1ti/id1562201493?i=100070262905
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