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In Absentia—Can a Lack of Behaviour Be a Useful Welfare Indicator? An Application to the Captive Management of Livingstone’s Fruit Bats, Pteropus livingstonii
Get PDFNon-invasive behavioural indicators of welfare can be particularly useful for managing captive breeding populations of endangered species; these allow individual welfare to be monitored and reproductive success maximised without the need for capture and restraint methods. However, most studies focus on the behaviours whose presence or frequency can predict welfare issues; the absence of a behaviour is less frequently considered an indicator of welfare. Here, we investigate potential behavioural correlates with welfare-related health states in captive Livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii), a critically endangered species that can become obese due to restricted space and reduced activity rates compared with wild populations. In this study, behavioural data were collected on males (which are particularly prone to obesity). Hurdle models were used to separately determine the factors predicting the presence or absence of behaviour and the frequency of observed behaviours. Whilst significantly lower levels of vigilance were observed in males with a larger body mass, those with diagnosed health issues were significantly more likely to show an absence of locomotion and foraging behaviour. Males with a lower body mass were also more likely to show an absence of foraging behaviour. Our study demonstrates how the absence of a behaviour can be informative as to an individual’s welfare state. This study has identified behavioural profiles that can be used to flag at-risk individuals, reducing the need for potentially stressful handling and improving our ability to safeguard the welfare of individuals within a large captive group.unfunde
Internationalization of liquor in the age of social media: Navigating the digital silk road through netnography
No full textWe presented Internationalization of baijiu in the age of social media: Navigating the digital silk road through netnographyN
An examination of interspecific competition using observations in behaviour and physiology: A case study of Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) in Chilean Patagonia
Get PDFThe introduction of a new species to ecosystems can result in competition between native species and the introduced, with adaptations that may allow coexistence, through resource facilitation or partitioning, unable to evolve, given the short co-evolutionary time period. Consequently, in cases where livestock species have been introduced to a new system, competitive interactions between native and domestic species have been directly instigated, with interspecific competition between sympatric, free living ungulates and domestic livestock becoming an increasing concern for conservationists. Understanding the specific ways and mechanisms in which this competition manifests is critical for informing conservation management, both of wild species, and domestic livestock. Throughout this thesis, I examine the case study of wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries), in the Patagonian Steppe ecosystem of Southern Chile, a system in which competition has been demonstrated as highly probable. Two key elements in guanaco-sheep competition were investigated, to determine whether competitive effects manifest in (1) foraging behaviour, by examining the effects of sheep presence on the behavioural changes in guanaco, and (2) physiology, by examining the effects of sheep presence on guanaco separately for cortisol and testosterone.
(1) Guanaco bite rates generally increased with vegetation biomass availability. However, when sheep were present in high densities, the pattern reversed, with guanaco bite rates decreasing with vegetation abundance. Additionally, the probability of guanaco feeding occurring at any one time was shown to be higher in areas shared with domestic sheep than in national parks, where sheep are absent. Both results suggest guanaco prioritise feeding behaviours at the expense of other behaviours, where sheep are present.
(2) Sheep presence did not predict either the cortisol or testosterone profiles of guanaco. Instead, cortisol concentrations were influenced by the group number and composition (number of adults and juveniles). Conversely, testosterone content was influenced mainly by the specific Age-Sex Class (social group) of the individual
Windows of Insight: A Review on Stained Glass Research Trends
Get PDFCopyright (c) 2024 Kelvin Leong, Anna SungThis study uses Scopus data from 1855 to 2023 to examine key trends and developments in stained glass research, showing a notable increase in academic work after 2000. This growth is linked to advances in digital technology and wider global access, allowing for interdisciplinary research combining materials science, engineering, and cultural studies. New technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging and laser cleaning, have significantly improved conservation methods. The study also shows an increasing contribution from the United States, alongside the continued leadership of Europe, with more diverse sources of funding reflecting global investment in stained glass research. By offering a comprehensive, long-term analysis, this review fills gaps in previous studies by addressing the lack of integrated research across different fields and regions. It provides useful insights for future research, policy-making, and conservation efforts, highlighting the global importance of stained glass. The findings emphasize its continuing relevance to art, technology, and cultural heritage preservation.Unfunde
Participation in child protection: A small-scale qualitative study
Get PDFThis document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a published work that appeared in final form in [Qualitative Social Work]. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1473325015578946This small-scale qualitative study explores how children participate in their own child protection/child in need planning within a statutory setting in England. Their experience of participation and the impact that voicing their wishes and feelings had on outcomes are highlighted and discussed against a background of conflicting discourses of statutory safeguarding and empowering participation, barriers to engagement and hearing the child’s voice.Unfunde
Comparative study of hypertension, diabetes, dementia and smoking in military veterans and non-veterans: a quantitative study using primary healthcare data
Get PDFIntroduction: Primary healthcare (PHC) patient medical records contain Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) that include information regarding diagnosis, demographics and veterans’ status. This study intended to identify, analyse and compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dementia and smoking tobacco in veterans and non-veterans, including stratification by age and gender. Methods: The authors partnered with 13 PHC practices with a population of 137 410 patients. Staff extracted matched veteran and non-veteran SNOMED-CT data from patient medical records; then sent the authors anonymised data in an amalgamated format between October 2023 and January 2024. Patients were from a local community and therefore social and environmental factors would be similar. Submitted information was inputted into an SPSS database 28 for analysis which included descriptive and inferential statistics to indicate statistical significance. Results: In total, 5458 PHC electronic records were examined comprising 2729 veterans and 2729 demographically matched for age and gender non-veterans. Each group contained 86.4% (N=2359) men and 13.6% (N=370) women. The mean age was 63.8 years (SD 17.7). Rates of hypertension were 20.9% in veterans compared with 17.6% in non-veterans (p=0.002). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was 8.3% in veterans compared with 6.4% in non-veterans (p=0.007). Dementia was 2.1% of veterans compared with 2.5% of non-veterans (p=0.32). Smoking was 11.8% of veterans compared with 10.6% of non-veterans (p=0.16). Conclusion: These results reveal that veterans were statistically more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. This study should assist in a better understanding of the healthcare needs of the veteran population to potentially inform better patient-centred care. However, the effectiveness of using PHC patient medical records requires increased efforts to improve data quality which needs improved PHC staff knowledge, consistency in SNOMED-CT coding, better veteran medical e-record registration and coding and better data transmission between the Defence Medical Services and PHC.Forces In Mind Trus
Knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer screening in resource-limited setting in women aged 18–45 years
Get PDF© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Breast cancer incidence is on the rise regardless of several interventions available for its management. This scenario may be worse in resource-limited countries. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of women towards Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano State, a typically resource-limited state in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study. The study population comprised female individuals aged 18–45 years attending the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. An adopted questionnaire instrument was used to extract vital information on the knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer screening in the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. Our findings showed that there is much awareness about BCS, even though most participants’ knowledge about the methods and timing of the scan is low. Much enlightenment is achieved through the availability of print and electronic media on BCS. A better attitude is shown when trained personnel conduct BCS. A good number of participants who have knowledge are yet to translate their knowledge and attitudes into practice. Based on our findings, coordinated and timely awareness campaigns should be organized by local health authorities to improve knowledge and attitude towards BCS.Unfunde
Protocol: Assessing the outcomes and impact of Professional doctorate programmes in health and social care on the individual, their profession, their employing organisation and wider society: A comprehensive systematic review
Get PDF© 2024 The Author(s). Campbell Systematic Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Campbell Collaboration.This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. This review's objectives are to find out (in relation to health and/or social care): (1) What is known about the outcomes and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the individual professional? (2) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the employing organisation? (3) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the profession? (4) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on service users and the wider society? (5) How do we use the findings from this review to inform educators, higher education institutions, professionals, investors in employing organisations and policymakers? (6) What further research will be needed to answer any knowledge gaps or recommendations? (7) Where possible, we will identify and report on any demographic data and discuss their relevance to the impact and outcomes from professional doctorates.University of Chester. Grant Number: HSC0008
COVID-19 Resilience Index in European Union Countries Based on Their Risk and Readiness Scale
Get PDF© 2023 Aboelnaga et al.Addressing risks and pandemics at a country level is a complex task that requires transdisciplinary approaches. The paper aims to identify groups of the European Union countries characterized by a similar COVID-19 Resilience Index (CRI). Developed in the paper CRI index reflects the countries’ COVID-19 risk and their readiness for a crisis situation, including a pandemic. Moreover, the study detects the factors that significantly differentiate the distinguished groups. According to our research, Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, and Poland have the lowest COVID-19 Resilience Index score, with Croatia, Greece, Czechia, and Slovakia following close. At the same time, Ireland and Scandinavian countries occupy the top of the leader board, followed by Luxemburg. The Kruskal-Wallis test results indicate four COVID-19 risk indicators that significantly differentiate the countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the significant factors are not only COVID-19-related factors, i.e., the changes in residential human mobility, the stringency of anti-COVID-19 policy, but also strictly environmental factors, namely pollution and material footprint. It indicates that the most critical global environmental issues might be crucial in the phase of a future pandemic. Moreover, we detect eight readiness factors that significantly differentiate the analysed country groups. Among the significant factors are the economic indicators such as GDP per capita and labour markets, the governance indicators such as Rule of Law, Access to Information, Implementation and Adaptability measures, and social indicators such as Tertiary Attainment and Research, Innovation, and Infrastructure.Unfunde
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