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Pollinator-Promoting Interventions in European Urban Habitats-A Synthesis
Get PDFPollinators receive considerable interest due to their fundamental role in ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Unlike farmlands, studies of urban pollinator-promoting interventions are scarce and have not been synthesised, hampering policy implementation. To fill this gap, we compared pollinator-promoting interventions (treatment) with conventionally managed (control) sites regarding vegetation, floral resources, and pollinators. Our synthesis investigated 1051 sampling sites with different interventions (abandonment, extensive mowing, flower sowing, and combined practices) and habitats (parks, grasslands, road verges, private and public gardens) from 28 European datasets at pooled- and study-levels. Urban pollinator-promoting interventions generally benefited plants and pollinators with taxon, intervention, habitat, and spatio-temporal specific differences. Pooled analyses showed mostly positive and never negative treatment effects, while study-level details described primarily positive and neutral but rarely negative effects. Bumblebees and butterflies benefited most from the interventions. Some effects were stronger for interventions involving flower sowing, interventions occurring in road verges, and interventions located in Northwestern Europe. Although regulations, guidelines, and monitoring are improving, knowledge gaps remain for some pollinator taxa (e.g., beetles), regions (e.g., Mediterranean), and novel interventions (e.g., for ground-nesting insects). Further collaborative studies from around the world could help cities bring people, plants, and pollinators together by creating resilient, multi-functional urban spaces
Fruit and Vegetable Loss in Markets in the North of Lebanon: Drivers, Challenges, and Prevention
Get PDFFood loss and waste are critical global issues, particularly in developing economies where they exacerbate food insecurity and environmental degradation. This study focuses on fruit and vegetable loss (FVL) in retail and wholesale markets in North Lebanon, a region marked by socio-economic challenges and infrastructural deficiencies. The research aims to identify the underlying drivers of FVL, assess current management practices, and identify aspects impacting it. Data was collected through surveys of seventy wholesalers and retailers employing descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression for analysis. The findings reveal that 85.7% of the sample generate little or no FVL. Being a retailer or wholesaler, operating on a small or large scale, or being open 24/7 or part-time does not affect FVL. Conversely, inadequate display and storage, hot weather, and pricing practices significantly impact FVL. The market faces challenges such as low consumer purchasing capacity, financial difficulties, legal constraints, and lack of knowledge. Various practices are used to prevent FVL, including strategic supply chain decisions, price reductions, and donations to charities. The study underscores the need for improved infrastructure, financial support, and regulatory frameworks to mitigate FVL, thereby enhancing food security and environmental sustainability in North Lebanon
Assessing the effects of passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) on the survival of Po brook lamprey (Lampetra zanandreai) ammocoetes
Get PDFSmall-sized freshwater species with little or no direct economic value, such as many endemics, are poorly known in terms of habitat requirements, foraging strategies, distribution and movement behaviour. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) telemetry has proven useful for studying the ecology of small-sized species in confined environments. To use this technology in the wild, it is necessary to verify that PIT tags do not affect the survival and natural performance of tagged individuals. Such studies have been carried out on some small fish, usually showing low mortality and no effect on behaviour, but few have been carried out on lampreys. We investigated the effects of PIT-tagging on ammocoetes of Lampetra zanandreai, a freshwater lamprey endemic to northern Italy for which very little ecological knowledge is available. In a 2-week experiment, the tagged lampreys showed a high mortality rate (74%), while untagged controls showed no mortality. This result demonstrates that PIT-tagging is not a safe technology for ammocoetes of this species, at least not with the standard 12 mm tags
The role of uncertain forest data in a hierarchical forest planning setting with misaligned objectives
Get PDFForest planning is vital for ensuring objective fulfilment for decision-makers. Forest-owning companies often organise their planning in a hierarchy of separate stages (i.e., strategic, tactical, and operational planning). The objectives for the strategic stage are generally to maximise net present value and long-term harvest levels without threatening the environmental integrity of the forests. However, in the subsequent stages of the planning hierarchy, with a shorter-term focus, the objective is often to minimise costs due to budgetary constraints. These misaligned objectives introduce a dilemma, especially when considering that decisions are typically made using uncertain data. We examined the suboptimality caused by using low-quality forest data in a long-term harvesting planning problem and how this suboptimality is affected by misaligned objectives between the strategic and tactical planning stages. The low-quality forest data were simulated in a Monte Carlo simulation that maintained a real-world structure of errors. The results show that uncertainty in forest data impacts objective fulfilment more than the level of alignment of objectives. However, a high degree of objective alignment performs better than the opposite, regardless of the level of quality of data
AI in higher education
Get PDFThe mainstreaming of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), exemplified by tools such as ChatGPT, has challenged conventional assumptions about authorship and academic integrity in Higher Education. This rapid advancement has highlighted the need for universities to integrate AI into their curricula while maintaining proactive critical oversight. While early discussions have primarily focused on concerns related to academic misconduct, less attention has been given to the pedagogical potential of GenAI.GenAI tools, particularly those based on Large Language Models (LLMs), have the potential to support students in text-based tasks, such as summarisation, proofreading, and text generation. However, these tools operate through statistical pattern recognition (predictive models) rather than genuine comprehension or reasoning, raising concerns about their implications for learning outcomes in higher education. The Environmental Communication and Management (ECM) programme has thus sought to balance the opportunities presented by AI with the risks, ensuring that AI use aligns with the programme’s core academic values.This report summarises the efforts in this direction through the implementation of a pedagogical project aimed at exploring and integrating generative AI as a learning tool within the ECM programme. The two main objectives involved: (1) developing a programme-wide approach to generative AI through a policy with clear guidelines that distinguishes between different levels of use of GenAI; and (2) designing teaching and course activities that enable students to critically engage with AI-generated text while enhancing their digital literacy and professional skills.The project’s implementation consisted of three distinct phases. The first phase involved a desk study (September–November 2023) to examine the use of AI in higher education, reviewing AI policies from Swedish universities and international universities, as well as existing research on the application of AI in education. This phase also included participation in webinars, contributing to a broader understanding of best practices and challenges.The second phase focused on developing AI usage guidelines tailored to the ECM programme. This process involved workshops with ECM teaching staff and discussions within the Department of Urban and Rural Development. The resulting ECM AI policy outlined clear expectations for the appropriate use of AI tools in coursework and assessments. The finalised policy was presented at a departmental seminar in October 2024, providing a platform for further dialogue and refinement.An essential outcome of the developed policy refers to the identification of three interrelated stages as crucial for fully integrating AI as a pedagogical tool: (1) mitigating potential risks, (2) building AI literacy, and (3) following professional changes. While the project has not addressed all three stages equally and ongoing work remains, this policy framework provides a solid foundation for structuring future efforts and expanding AI’s role in education.The third phase centered on designing Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) that integrate AI tools in a pedagogically meaningful manner. Three guiding principles emerged from prior stages: (1) AI use should be explicitly linked to course learning objectives; (2) students should be required to critically assess AI-generated content (»AI oversight«); and (3) clear instructions should specify when and how AI tools can be used in assignments. A dedicated workshop in December 2024 facilitated the development of TLAs for ECM courses, with some activities already being implemented in firstyear course work.The project has contributed to building the capacity of ECM teachers to engage with AI critically and productively. Thus, by proactively addressing AI’s role in education, the ECM programme has established a framework for responsible AI integration, ensuring that students develop both digital literacy and critical reflection skills essential for their future professional careers. We expect the findings from this project to offer valuable insights for other higher education institutions seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in academia
From policy to practice: progress towards data- and code-sharing in ecology and evolution
Get PDFData and code are essential for ensuring the credibility of scientific results and facilitating reproducibility, areas in which journal sharing policies play a crucial role. However, in ecology and evolution, we still do not know how widespread data- and code-sharing policies are, how accessible they are, and whether journals support data and code peer review. Here, we first assessed the clarity, strictness and timing of data- and code-sharing policies across 275 journals in ecology and evolution. Second, we assessed initial compliance to journal policies using submissions from two journals: Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Mar 2023–Feb 2024: n = 2340) and Ecology Letters (Jun 2021–Nov 2023: n = 571). Our results indicate the need for improvement: across 275 journals, 22.5% encouraged and 38.2% mandated data-sharing, while 26.6% encouraged and 26.9% mandated code-sharing. Journals that mandated data- or code-sharing typically required it for peer review (59.0% and 77.0%, respectively), which decreased when journals only encouraged sharing (40.3% and 24.7%, respectively). Our evaluation of policy compliance confirmed the important role of journals in increasing data- and code-sharing but also indicated the need for meaningful changes to enhance reproducibility. We provide seven recommendations to help improve data- and code-sharing, and policy compliance
Potential environmental benefits of enforcing best available technology in the Swedish dairy cattle systems
Get PDFAnimal-based food production places significant strain on environmental resources, yet much of its mitigation potential remains untapped. Sweden's Environmental Code (1999) mandates resource efficiency and waste minimization, but its application to reduce on-farm losses in agriculture has not been fully explored. This study examines the potential environmental impact of targeting animal losses through the enforcement of the Environmental Code on Swedish cattle farms.Using data from 4222 dairy cattle farms, we demonstrate that reducing losses on farms exceeding the median loss rate could lead to 2800 t of additional meat reaching the food supply chain annually (34 % reduction in losses), decrease the CO2e associated with meat losses by 52,000 t, and recover €15 million in revenue losses. While these reductions represent a small fraction of Sweden's total agricultural emissions, the study suggests the potential could be even greater if applied to all livestock farms nationwide.Importantly, Sweden's Environmental Code aligns with EU legislation, making these findings highly relevant not only for Sweden but also for other EU countries with similar regulatory frameworks
Integrating sensory evaluation into biofortification breeding: assessing consumer acceptance and market segmentation of porridge made from biofortified pearl millet cultivars
Get PDFIntroduction: Sensory evaluation is a crucial tool in biofortified pearl millet breeding, influencing consumer acceptance and market expansion. This study aimed to evaluate the sensory attributes and consumer acceptability of stiff porridge (Aceda) prepared from biofortified pearl millet and its blends with traditional Sudanese cultivars to inform breeding and market strategies. Methods: This study was conducted in 2023 at the Gadarif Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Sudan. It evaluated the sensory attributes of stiff porridge (Aceda) made from biofortified pearl millet (Aziz), two widely adopted Sudanese cultivars (Ashana and Bayoda), and their blended formulations. To analyze consumer segmentation and preference patterns, 28 semi-trained assessors conducted hedonic scoring and rapid descriptive profiling. The data were analyzed using internal preference mapping (IPM), panel analysis, product characterization, and partial least squares regression (PLSR) using XLSTAT. Results and discussion: The results revealed significant variation among the five Aceda products (analysis of variance (ANOVA), F = 11.84, p < 0.001), with the Bayoda + Aziz blend receiving the highest liking score (mean = 7.7) and Aziz alone the lowest (mean = 5.8). Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 71.47% of total variation in consumer preference, while PLSR identified taste, firmness, aroma, and texture as key drivers of acceptance. Panel analysis revealed that firmness (F = 13.22, p < 0.0001), color, and appearance exhibited the highest discriminative power among the descriptors. Short-term recommendations include blending biofortified cultivars with preferred local varieties to enhance adoption. Long-term strategies should integrate omics-enabled breeding with sensory and market-oriented selection. Conclusion: This study provides the first quantitative evidence of consumer sensory preferences for biofortified Aceda, emphasizing that blending strategies significantly enhance acceptability. Integrating sensory evaluation into early stage breeding, alongside artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid sensory tools, will accelerate the adoption of biofortification and support nutrition-sensitive breeding
Crystal Structure of Methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-d-(4-2H)-Glucopyranoside
Get PDFMethyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-alpha-d-(4-2H)-glucopyranoside, C21H25DO6, is an intermediate used in synthesis of oligosaccharides. The hexopyranose ring has the 4C1 chair conformation in the crystal structure. The exocyclic groups of the hexose sugar show for the glycosidic torsion angle phi =-52.8 degrees and for the hydroxymethyl group the gauche-gauche conformation with omega = -64.7 degrees, one of the two main orientations of the latter group in hexopyranose sugars that have the gluco-configuration, i.e., with an equatorial hydroxyl group at C4. The benzene rings of the benzyl groups are arranged with an angle of 56.9 degrees to each other within the molecule and show intramolecular as well as intermolecular C-Hpi interactions. A chain of intermolecular hydrogen bonds exists along the b-axis involving O4 and O6 atoms. The experimentally observed peak in the infrared spectrum at 2159 cm- 1 was ascribed to the stretching of the C4-D4 bond based on DFT calculations.Graphical AbstractIn the structure of the monosaccharide methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-alpha-d-(4-2H)-glucopyranoside, C21H25DO6, the two hydroxyl groups HO4 and HO6 act as both donors and acceptors resulting in an intermolecular hydrogen bond chain along the b-axis direction
In situ imaging and microbiome analysis of calculus-like deposits at the root apex: A case report of refractory apical periodontitis
Get PDFAimThis case report explored the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to visualize and characterize microbial populations in a refractory endodontic infection with apical calculus-like deposits, a rarely reported phenomenon.SummaryHistopathologic analysis revealed bacterial biofilms and calcifications on the root surface, with Gram-positive bacteria predominant in both hard and soft tissues. Microbial sequencing showed Pseudomonadota dominated hard tissues, whereas Bacillota were prevalent in soft tissues, with distinct genera like Lactibacterium and Streptococcus identified. FISH imaging confirmed spatially distributed bacterial taxa, including Actinomycetota and Chloroflexota, within the biofilm, aligning with NGS findings. Notably, Bacteroidota was exclusive to soft tissues, whereas Chloroflexota was detected only in hard tissues. The presence of extensive calculus-like deposits on the root surface provided new insights into the microbial complexity of persistent endodontic infections and their management.Key learning points The combination of NGS and FISH provided unprecedented insights into the microbial composition of refractory endodontic infections, revealing a diverse and spatially organized ecosystem. Distinct microbial compositions in hard and soft tissues emphasize the importance of targeted therapeutic strategies for endodontic infections. The presence of unique bacterial taxa and biofilms in calculus-like deposits offers new avenues for research into the pathogenesis and persistence of endodontic infections