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Ants in the clouds: A preliminary checklist of the ant (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) fauna of a Honduran cloud forest ecosystem, featuring a key to country genera
Get PDFAnt diversity in tropical montane rainforests is globally understudied. This is true for Cusuco National Park (CNP), a cloud forest ecosystem in northwestern Honduras that supports geographically isolated and threatened habitats. The current study presents the first comprehensive ant species checklist for CNP, which is also the first ant checklist for Honduras in over a century. Species records from several projects are also combined and presented. Sampling occurred along an elevational range (mainly between 1170 and 2030 m a.s.l.), with methodologies and intensities varying among projects and dates. Overall, 162 ant species belonging to nine subfamilies and 60 genera are reported from the CNP. Five species are recorded for the first time in Honduras (Pheidole natalie Longino, 2019; Strumigenys cf. calamita; Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972; Solenopsis texana/carolinensis; Pseudomyrmex pallens Mayr, 1870). For the first time, male individuals are reported in Pheidole balatro Longino, 2019. For each species, we provide information on observed habitat preference, elevational range, and sampling technique. Species accumulation curves are provided for each sample technique, representing sampling intensity and community sample coverage. We also provide a key to the ant genera of Honduras to aid future taxonomic efforts in the country. Our research demonstrates that CNP harbours a surprisingly rich diversity of ant species, despite its small area, similar to many other taxa in the park. The information provided here represents baseline information for future work on ants in CNP and other Honduran cloud forests and will help guide research in these otherwise poorly explored yet highly threatened ecosystems
Translation of empirical findings from the social timing of interactions, to assess and therapeutically address Social Reciprocity Difficulties in Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to help delineate its diagnostic boundary
Get PDFAssociations between adverse childhood experiences and trust in health and other information from public services, professionals and wider sources: national cross sectional survey
Get PDFIntroduction Trust in health and other systems can affect uptake of public health advice and engagement with health services. Individuals who had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to experience ill health at earlier ages. Ensuring their engagement with health and other services is important in improving their life course prospects, but little is known about how ACEs affect trust in such services and the information they provide.Methods Data were collected via a national household survey of residents in Wales (aged ≥18 years, n=1880, November 2022–March 2023). Questions measured ACE exposure and trust in health, social, police, charities and government, and health and general information provided by a variety of professionals and sources.Results Individuals with ACEs were more likely to report low trust in health advice from hospital doctors, general practitioners (GPs), nurses, pharmacists, and NHS 111, an online and telephone urgent care service (eg, adjusted low trust prevalence: GPs, 0 ACEs 5.3%, ≥4 ACEs 10.4%; NHS 111, 0 ACEs 11.9%, ≥4 ACEs 24.1%). Low trust in services also increased with ACEs, with low trust in police being 3.8 times more likely with ≥4 ACEs (vs 0 ACEs). The highest adjusted prevalence of low trust in a service was for government, rising from 48.4% (0 ACEs) to 73.7% (≥4 ACEs). Low trust in general advice and information from TV/radio programmes rose from 17.6% (0 ACEs) to 30.1% (≥4 ACEs); low trust in social media was higher with an equivalent rise from 61.6% to 75.6%.Conclusion Breaking intergenerational cycles of ill health and inequity requires engaging and influencing those with ACEs. However, a history of ACEs was associated with lower trust in supporting institutions, systems and professionals. Empirical data on which resources are most trusted by those with ACEs should be used to facilitate better communications with this vulnerable group
Barriers and enablers to care-leavers engagement with multi-agency support: A scoping review
Get PDFAbstractBackgroundMany care-leavers experience poor individual and social outcomes. Care-leavers involvement with decision making and consistent supportive relationships with professionals can facilitate a more successful transition to independent living, including better well-being and social outcomes.PurposeNot all care-leavers engage with or participate in after-care services. There has been little systematic or structured modelling of what effective enablement through multi-agency support looks like, and the enablers and barriers to care-leaver engagement have not been identified.Design/methodologyA scoping review of the international literature was conducted. Eighteen papers were identified, and a thematic synthesis used to derive themes associated with barriers and enablers to care-leavers engagement with services, and subsequent outcomes. The findings were used to populate a logic model illustrating the relationship between the mechanisms contributing to better outcomes for care-leavers: including inputs, activities, and outputs.FindingsBarriers to engagement included: identity, independence, trust in services and inadequate support. Enablers included persistent and consistent support, time and turning points, and having an authentic trusted professional within the service. The key findings focused on the need for flexible and accessible services, a gradual introduction to the after-care concept and a proactive approach by professionals, especially immediately after leaving care.OriginalityThis research co-produced with care-leavers contributes to a better understanding of the nature of enablers and barriers to engagement with multi- agency support services. The initial logic model derived from the literature will inform the development and measurement of a practice model and toolkit for professionals
A framework for understanding the human experience of nature through cognitive mapping
Get PDFHuman behavior is a key driver of the biodiversity crisis, and addressing it requires changing individual choices and actions. Yet, the same processes that imperil biodiversity (e.g., urbanization) also alienate people from the experience of nature, eroding care for the natural world. Although averting this extinction of experience is increasingly recognized as a major contemporary conservation challenge, understanding of what constitutes nature experience remains elusive and few empirical studies have explored it directly. Most researchers have used nature interactions as a stand-in for experience, even though experience extends beyond interactions. We aimed to determine what constitutes the experience of nature and to propose a holistic, empirically derived framework that incorporates the multiple dimensions and components of the experience of nature. Using a mixed-method approach across 3 countries (the United States, Switzerland, and Israel), we conducted a multistage, conceptual content, cognitive mapping (3CM) exercise with 106 participants. This methodology included developing a prompt to capture participants' perceptions of nature experiences and subsequently refining and organizing their input into distinct components and underlying dimensions through an iterative engagement process. Beyond multisensory interactions with nature, experience of nature consisted of 2 dimensions: the circumstances in which interactions occur and the internal responses that encompass various cognitive, affective, and restorative benefits associated with nature interactions. These 3 dimensions had 33 components that occurred consistently across participants in the 3 countries. Frequently mentioned components included seeing animals, landscapes, or scenery; lack of human influence; weather conditions; relaxing, recharging; feeling good; and awe for nature. Fear and nature experienced at home were the least mentioned components. Together, our results showed that nature experience is a combination of nature interactions, circumstances, and internal responses. The emphasized components underscore the significance of offering access to extensive, less human-influenced natural spaces. This in turn can foster a profound nature experience, cultivating feelings of connectedness and care for nature. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.
Scalable parallel ultrafast optical random bit generation based on a single chaotic microcomb
Get PDFRandom bit generators are critical for information security, cryptography, stochastic modeling, and simulations. Speed and scalability are key challenges faced by current physical random bit generation. Herein, we propose a massively parallel scheme for ultrafast random bit generation towards rates of order 100 terabit per second based on a single micro-ring resonator. A modulation-instability-driven chaotic comb in a micro-ring resonator enables the simultaneous generation of hundreds of independent and unbiased random bit streams. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates that using our method, random bit streams beyond 2 terabit per second can be successfully generated with only 7 comb lines. This bit rate can be easily enhanced by further increasing the number of comb lines used. Our approach provides a chip-scale solution to random bit generation for secure communication and high-performance computation, and offers superhigh speed and large scalability
“It was classed as a nonemergency”: Women's experiences of kidney disease and preconception decision‐making, family planning, and parenting in the United Kingdom during COVID ‐19
Get PDFObjectives: To investigate the experiences of women with kidney disease, residing in the United Kingdom (UK), living through the first 18 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic with specific focus on preconception decision‐making, family planning, and parenting. Methods: We conducted a mixed‐methods study, comprising an online survey and follow‐up interviews, with UK‐resident women aged 18–50. Results: We received 431 surveys and conducted 30 interviews. Half (n = 221, 51%) of the survey respondents considered that COVID‐19 influenced the quality of communication with healthcare professionals and 68% (n = 295) felt that the pandemic disrupted their support networks. Interview participants indicated that delayed and canceled appointments caused anxiety, grief, and loss of pregnancy options. Women's perception of themselves as (good) mothers as well as their capacity to have and raise a child, meet partners, and sustain healthy relationships was negatively affected by the “clinically extremely vulnerable” label. Women's trust in their healthcare was dismantled by miscommunication and variation in lockdown rules that caused confusion and increased worry. Women reported that COVID‐19 contributed to postnatal depression, excessive concern over infant mortality, preoccupation over others following rules, and catastrophising. Conclusion: Some women in the UK with chronic kidney disease lost or missed their opportunity to have children during the pandemic. Future pandemic planners need to look more holistically and longer term at what is and is not classed as an emergency, both in how services are reconfigured and how people with chronic conditions are identified, communicated with, and treated
Expert Insight Into the Use of eHealth Interventions to Aid Medication Adherence During COVID-19
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way healthcare is delivered by the increased utilisation of eHealth tools to deliver remote patient consultations. These eHealth tools served various functions during COVID-19 including monitoring and surveillance of patients. Therefore, assessment of digital health interventions for monitoring medication adherence is crucial to maximise the potential benefits of eHealth. The aim of this study is to understand the perspectives of experts in medication adherence around eHealth interventions used to aid adherence during COVID-19. The study was exploratory and utilized a mixed-method approach. Data was gathered from a survey distributed by the International society for Medication Adherence, and from arranging subsequent structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from individuals who were rich in knowledge about the field of medication adherence. Template analysis was used to analyse the collected data. Twenty-one participants responded to the survey and 6 completed the interviews. Results showed that eHealth tools reduced barriers to medication adherence by improving health literacy of patients. The main strengths of eHealth technology used in COVID-19 highlighted by participants were convenience and user empowerment. Moreover, weaknesses and barriers included lack of cooperation between technology providers, lack of awareness of doctors about eHealth and patient's digital health literacy. The increased utility of eHealth tools during COVID-19 highlighted their vital role in aiding medication adherence of patients. These technologies have both decreased and increased barriers to medication adherence through numerous ways. Future directions should focus on gaining the perspectives of patients on the use of eHealth interventions and its role in aiding medication adherence. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 Hassan and Davies.
Needles in haystacks: monitoring the potential escape of bioaerosolised antibacterial resistance genes from wastewater treatment plants with air and phyllosphere sampling
Get PDFWastewater treatment plants are well-known point sources of emissions of antibacterial resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment. Although most work to date has focused on ARG dispersal via effluent, aerial dispersal in bioaerosols is a poorly understood, but likely important vector for ARG dispersal. Recent evidence suggests that ARG profiles of the conifer needle phyllosphere could be used to measure bioaerosol dispersal from anthropogenic sources. Here, we assessed airborne dispersal of ARGs from wastewater treatment plants in Wales, UK and Quebec, Canada, using conifer needles as passive bioaerosol monitors. ARG profiles of wastewater were compared to those of conifer phyllosphere using high-throughput qPCR. ARG richness was significantly lower in conifer phyllosphere samples than wastewater samples, though no differences were observed across the dispersal gradients. Mean copy number of ARGs followed a similar trend. ARG profiles showed limited, but consistent patterns with increasing distance from wastewater treatment plants, but these did not align with those of wastewater samples. For example, proportional abundance of aminoglycosides decreased over the dispersal gradient in Wales, whereas mobile genetic elements showed the inverse relationship. In summary, while distinct ARG profiles exist along dispersal gradients, links to those of wastewater were not apparent
Supporting people with type 2 diabetes in effective use of their medicine through mobile health technology integrated with clinical care (SuMMiT-D pilot): results of a feasibility randomised trial
Get PDFBACKGROUND: The purpose of this 6-month intervention pilot feasibility randomised trial was to test sending brief messages using mobile phones to promote self-management through taking medication as prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes. This was to inform the design and conduct of a future large-scale United Kingdom-based clinical trial and establish the feasibility of recruitment, the technology used, follow-up, and data collection.METHODS: A multicentre individually randomised, controlled parallel group trial in primary care, recruiting adults (≥ 35 years) with type 2 diabetes in England. Consenting participants were randomly allocated to receive short message system text messages up to four times a week, or usual care, for a period of 6 months; messages contained behavioural change techniques targeting medication use. The primary outcome was the rate of recruitment to randomisation of participants to the trial with a planned rate of 22 participants randomised per month. The study also aimed to establish the feasibility of follow-up at 6 months, with an aim of retaining more than 80% of participants. Data, including patient-reported measures, were collected at baseline and the end of the 6-month follow-up period, and a notes review was completed at 24 months.RESULTS: The trial took place between 26 November 2018 and 30 September 2019. In total 209 participants were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 103) or usual care (n = 106). The maximum rate of monthly recruitment to the trial was 60-80 participants per month. In total, 12,734 messages were sent to participants. Of these messages, 47 were identified as having failed to be sent by the service provider. Participants sent 2,864 messages to the automated messaging system. Baseline data from medical records were available for > 90% of participants with the exception of cholesterol (78.9%). At 6 months, a further HbA1c measurement was reported for 67% of participants. In total medical record data were available at 6 months for 207 (99.0%) of participants and completed self-report data were available for 177 (84.7%) of participants.CONCLUSION: The feasibility of a large-scale randomised evaluation of brief message intervention for people with type 2 diabetes appears to be high using this efficient design. Failure rate of sending messages is low, rapid recruitment was achieved among people with type 2 diabetes, clinical data is available on participants from routine medical records and self-report of economic measures was acceptable.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISCTRN ISRCTN13404264. Registered on 10 October 2018.</p