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Balancing grazing and biodiversity : Arthropod responses to modern cattle farming practices
No full textRuminant production exerts severe pressure on ecosystems through land use change for pasture and fodder production, contributing to biodiversity loss, disruption of natural biogeochemical fluxes, and climate change. Whereas ruminant production can support biodiversity that has co-evolved with grasslands and grazing animals, the values of temporary grasslands are poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the effects of grazing regimes practised on modern cattle farms, including no grazing, on the abundance, biomass, and taxonomic richness of aerial and ground-dwelling arthropods. We assessed the potential value of organic management compared to grazing on conventional farms, and the role of vegetation structure on the pastures. We sampled arthropods in temporary pastures and silage grasslands, spring cereal fields, and in farmyards on 43 dairy and suckler cow farms in Finland. We show that grazing benefits the richness of ground-dwelling arthropods in fields, and the benefits were most evident at extensive levels of grazing at the farm scale. Grazing had no significant benefits for the biomass of ground-dwelling arthropods or relative abundance of aerial arthropods over field vegetation. Grazed rotational grasslands had similar levels of arthropods as mown grasslands or cereal crops, except for a higher richness of ground-dwelling arthropods. Taxonomic richness of ground-dwelling arthropods was higher on organic farms than conventional, but only at low grazing intensities. Although our study suggests several ways in which livestock farmers can maintain and increase arthropod populations on their farms, these may be associated with some reduction in production output on modern farms oriented towards high yields.Peer reviewe
Antibiosis and transcriptomic analysis of inhibitory effect of the endophytic fungus Simplicillium lamellicola against phytopathogenic fungi
No full textEndophytic fungus such as Simplicillium lamellicola exhibit pronounced antagonistic activity against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their fungal-fungal interactions remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic effects of S. lamellicola against two necrotrophic pathogens, Thielaviopsis paradoxa and Heterobasidion annosum, through dual-culture assays integrated with comparative transcriptomic analyses. S. lamellicola significantly inhibited by antibiosis the growth of both pathogens, inducing conspicuous morphological alterations including hyphal distortion, hyper-branching, and cellular lysis at the interaction interfaces. Transcriptomic profiling revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, identifying 1336 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in T. paradoxa (TpSl) and 441 in H. annosum (HaSl), with a predominance of downregulated genes (66.2 % and 56.2 %, respectively). Functional annotation indicated shared stress-adaptive responses encompassing oxidative stress defense, detoxification processes, and nutrient competition, accompanied by distinct species-specific strategies: T. paradoxa exhibited enhanced membrane restructuring, efflux-mediated transport, and structural reinforcement, whereas H. annosum activated chemically mediated defense pathways and oxidative stress mitigation mechanisms. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that S. lamellicola functions as a potent mycoparasitic biocontrol agent capable of eliciting complex defense responses in phytopathogenic fungi, thereby providing a molecular framework for its application in sustainable plant disease management.Peer reviewe
Short-term effects of harvesting alternatives on soil nitrous oxide fluxes in a boreal drained peatland forest
No full textExtensive areas of boreal peatland forests in the Nordic countries are approaching maturity and face harvesting, yet effects on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes remain unclear. This study examined short-term changes in soil N2O fluxes following two harvesting methods, clear-cutting (CC) and continuous-cover forestry via selection harvesting (CCF), compared to a non-harvested control (C) in a nutrient-rich, forestry-drained boreal peatland in southern Finland. Fluxes were measured using manual and automated chambers during pre-harvest (2020) and post-harvest (2021–2022) periods, alongside soil physical, chemical, and environmental properties to identify key controls of flux variability. N2O fluxes showed high temporal variation (−39 to 459 μg N2O m–2 h−1), primarily driven by temperature, precipitation, moisture, and water table dynamics, and pronounced spatial variation linked to soil nutrient concentrations (potassium, copper, phosphorus, and nitrogen), bulk density, and temperature. While emissions remained near neutral at the C site, harvesting increased emissions, although not significantly. In the first post-harvest year, annual emissions increased with harvesting intensity, yet no significant differences emerged between CCF and CC. Median [interquartile range] emissions were 0 [25], 163 [533], and 185 [194] mg N2O m−2 y–1 at the C, CCF and CC sites, respectively, with inherent spatial variability strongly influencing their spatial distribution. Limited water table rise at the CCF site and high spatial heterogeneity at the CC site likely constrained clearer treatment differences. Overall, our findings suggest that CCF may better mitigate emissions than CC in nutrient-rich, forestry-drained boreal peatlands, warranting further replicated and long-term research.Peer reviewe
Taxonomy, habitat and conservation status explain the diet composition of insectivorous birds in Europe
No full textPopulations of European birds and insects are declining, with consequences for trophic interactions. Insectivorous birds are particularly vulnerable to losses of arthropods, yet the factors shaping their diet composition remain insufficiently understood. We conducted a quantitative review of the arthropod diets of 94 European insectivorous bird species and assessed how diet richness and composition relate to taxonomy, developmental stage, climate, conservation status, habitat, migration status, sampling intensity, and methodological approach. Taxonomy, habitat and conservation status (both population trend over time and current status) were the primary predictors of diet richness and composition. Species of population concern in Europe relied more on Coleoptera and Orthoptera prey, while species with declining population trends and species in agricultural, artificial and semi-natural habitats showed strong dependence on Coleoptera prey. Species in forests and of global population concern had a higher percentage of Arachnida prey, while birds in inland water habitats relied on Diptera prey. Anthropogenic activities such as the use of insecticides and changes in land use in agricultural and forest habitats negatively impact the abundance and diversity of arthropods, including Coleoptera and Arachnida. These declines will cascade up the food chain, ultimately diminishing both common and threatened bird species by limiting their prey. Species of global conservation concern may be particularly at risk, as they exhibit the lowest prey taxonomic richness. It is therefore crucial that future legislation and policy interventions consider these indirect impacts on bird diets, as these vulnerable species are at high risk of further losses in arthropod prey.Peer reviewe
Molecular basis of variations in facial soft tissues : insights from cichlid fishes
No full textThe human face serves as a crucial component of attractiveness and identity, playing a pivotal role in social interactions. Teleost fish models, particularly zebrafish, have offered valuable insights into the developmental and molecular mechanisms governing craniofacial skeletogenesis, owing to the molecular conservation in these processes. However, knowledge regarding the morphogenic processes shaping facial soft tissues remains surprisingly sparse. On the human side, most causal evidence comes from gene-phenotype associations in clinical genetics; however, these studies rarely provide cellular-resolution analyses of facial soft tissues, leaving tissueand cell-type-specific mechanisms unresolved. The diverse family of Cichlidae constitute similar to 10 % of teleost fish species and represent an exceptional opportunity for evolutionary biology research due to their extensive ecological diversity and rapid speciation rates. Cichlid fishes also exhibit remarkable craniofacial morphological diversity, making them excellent models for studying both craniofacial skeletal and soft tissue morphogenesis. Utilizing the wealth of natural mutants within cichlid populations, this short review pitches cichlid fish models as valuable tools for investigating the genetic regulators and interactions underlying facial soft tissue formation. At present, most cichlid studies rely on comparative transcriptomics between closely related species with and without pronounced traits; these data are associative, and the regulatory hierarchy and primary drivers remain to be established through functional tests (e.g., genome editing). By synthesising developmental and regulatory mechanisms that influence morphological variations in facial soft tissues in cichlids and other model organisms, we create a blueprint for future molecular genetic investigations into facial diversity. Accordingly, we highlight the need for (i) causative functional studies in cichlids and (ii) cellular-resolution analyses of human facial soft tissues to bridge correlative and mechanistic evidence across systems.Peer reviewe
“Love is the Root of all Social Justice Work” : Radical Love, STEM Preservice Teacher Education and Negotiating Social Justice Understandings
No full textThis article investigates six Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) preservice teachers' beliefs about social justice enrolled in a Social Foundations course. The course examined schooling in the context of a capitalist society and the role teachers may play in challenging inequity. Each week, the preservice teachers wrote a reflection at the beginning and end of class in relation to the content covered for the day. At the end of the course, they analyzed the reflections and wrote a final paper on their emerging ideas about social justice. Through Qualitative Content Analysis of their course writings, we consider how the preservice teachers' descriptions of social justice teaching correspond with broader framings of social justice. Themes of love, high expectations, community relationships, resistance, and praxis are identified in the texts. Findings suggest the importance of affective and emotional commitments for STEM preservice teachers. Findings also indicate affirmations of a neoliberal ethos and individualistic understandings of social justice work. Based on the findings, we suggest developing love as grounding for STEM education.Peer reviewe
Kartoittava kirjallisuuskatsaus urheilijoiden päihteiden viihdekäytön motiiveista ja riskitekijöistä
No full textIntroduction: Over the past decade, rising recreational drug use rates in the general population have also affected the sports community. In 2021, these rising rates were addressed in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Code by introducing a "Substances of Abuse" category, which recognises substance use outside the context of sport. In this context, the motives for the use of doping and psychoactive drugs can be considered unrelated to performance enhancement and athletic performance, and may be associated with, e.g., physical and psychological stress during the athlete’s career, social pressure, or risk-taking/ addictive behaviours. In general, doping and the use of performance-enhancing drugs among athletes is a well-known issue, but less focus has been given to the recreational drug use of athletes. This scoping review aimed to explore recreational drug use among athletes, particularly by identifying the associated psychosocial motives and risk factors.
Material and methods: A scoping review with a systematic search strategy was conducted using the Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 that investigated recreational drug use among athletes of all ages involved in organised sports. The study followed the JBI guidelines on conducting a scoping review, including utilising PCC eligibility criteria and the PRISMA-ScR framework. The study utilised the Covidence software for data management, and screening was conducted by three independent reviewers. The Sport Drug Control Model was selected as a theoretical framework and applied in the thematic analysis of the included articles to identify motives and risk factors for recreational drug use among athletes.
Results: 37 studies were included in the final review, of which most were conducted in a North American context. The studies primarily focused on young athletes (54.1%), with cannabis being the most examined drug (67.6%). Factors associated with drug use were identified from six SDCM domains. Athletes' motives for recreational drug use were related to benefit appraisal, especially perceived benefits for mood enhancement, such as relaxation after a game or win, or to cope with injuries. Identified risk factors included young age, male gender, low ‘perceived competence’, mood disorders, and recreational drug use of peers. The increased risks for recreational drug use were associated with contact sports, sports injuries, and various career transition phases, including retirement.
Conclusions: Younger athletes and male athletes were at higher risk for use of recreational drugs, such as cannabis and opioids. Other key sports-specific risk factors included athletes’ life transitioning phases, involvement in high-contact sports, and related sports injury events. Social pressure from athletes’ peers and unstable support networks also influenced recreational drug use. The findings highlight the need to develop interventions aimed at competitive sports settings, especially targeting these vulnerable groups and factors. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the causal links affecting athletes’ drug use and the long-term impacts of use on athletes’ health and well-being.Johdanto: Viimeisen vuosikymmenen aikana päihteiden käytön yleistyminen väestössä on vaikuttanut myös urheiluyhteisöön. Ilmiön vuoksi Maailman antidopingtoimisto WADA on vuonna 2021 lisännyt säännöstöönsä "Substances of Abuse" -kategorian, joka käsittelee urheilussa kiellettyjen aineiden käyttöä muista kuin suorituskyvyn parantamiseen ja kilpaurheiluun liittyvistä syistä. Doping- ja päihdeaineiden viihdekäytön taustasyinä voivat olla esimerkiksi urheilijan uran aiheuttamat fyysisen ja psyykkisen stressin käsittelykeinot, sosiaalinen paine tai riski- ja riippuvuuskäyttäytyminen. Vaikka urheilijoiden dopingin ja suorituskykyä parantavien aineiden käyttö on tunnettu ongelma, urheilijoiden päihteiden viihdekäyttöön on kiinnitetty vähemmän huomiota. Tämän kartoittavan kirjallisuuskatsauksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia urheilijoiden huumeiden viihdekäyttöä ja erityisesti niihin liittyviä psykososiaalisia motiiveja ja riskitekijöitä.
Aineisto ja menetelmät: Kirjallisuuskatsausta varten tehtiin systemaattinen tiedonhaku järjestäytyneen urheilun parissa toimivien, kaikenikäisten urheilijoiden huumeiden viihdekäytöstä Scopus-, Web of Science- ja PsycINFO-tietokantoihin, keskittyen vertaisarvioituihin tutkimuksiin vuosilta 2014–2024. Katsaus noudatti Joanna Briggs Instituutin ohjeita, mukaan lukien PCC-sisäänottokriteerit ja PRISMA-ScR-raportointikäytännöt. Covidence-ohjelmistoa käytettiin apuna aineiston tiedonhallinnassa. Kolme tutkijaa suoritti tutkimusten seulonnan itsenäisesti. Teoreettisena viitekehyksenä toimi australialainen Sport Drug Control Model (SDCM), jota sovellettiin artikkeleiden temaattisessa analyysissä urheilijoiden huumeiden käytön motiivien ja riskitekijöiden tunnistamiseksi.
Tulokset: Lopulliseen katsaukseen sisällytettiin 37 tutkimusta, joista suurin osa oli tehty Pohjois-Amerikassa. Yleisimmin tutkimuksissa käsiteltiin nuoria urheilijoita (54.1 %), ja eniten huumeista tutkittiin kannabiksen käyttöä (67.7 %). Aineiden käyttöön vaikuttavia tekijöitä tunnistettiin SDCM:n kuudelta eri osa-alueelta. Urheilijoiden motiivit päihteiden käytölle liittyivät pääasiassa koettuihin hyötyihin, erityisesti mielialan muokkaamiseen, kuten rentoutumiseen pelin/ voiton jälkeen sekä urheiluvammojen käsittelyyn. Tunnistettuja riskitekijöitä olivat mm. nuori ikä, miessukupuoli, mielialaongelmat, alhainen 'koettu pystyvyys’, ja vertaisten huumeiden viihdekäyttö. Kohonnut riski viihdekäytölle oli yhteydessä myös kontaktilajeihin, urheiluvammoihin sekä uran siirtymävaiheisiin, kuten eläköitymiseen.
Johtopäätökset: Nuoret urheilijat ja miesurheilijat olivat suuremmassa riskissä käyttää huumeita, kuten kannabista ja opioideja. Muita tunnistettuja riskitekijöitä olivat urheilijan elämän siirtymävaiheet, kilpaurheilu kontaktilajeissa sekä urheiluvammat. Urheilijoiden vertaisten sosiaalinen paine ja epävakaat tukiverkostot vaikuttivat myös huumeiden käyttöön. Tulokset korostavat tarvetta kehittää urheiluyhteisöön suunnattuja interventioita, jotka huomioivat erityisesti nämä riskiryhmät ja -tekijät. Jatkotutkimusten tulisi keskittyä pitkittäistutkimuksiin, jotta voitaisiin paremmin ymmärtää urheilijoiden päihteiden käytön syy-seuraussuhteita ja sen pitkäaikaisia vaikutuksia urheilijoiden terveyteen ja hyvinvointiin
Global Reporting Patterns of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions and Their Relationship with a Country’s Socioeconomic Status- Insights from VigiBase Data
No full textIntroduction: Individual Case Safety Report (ICSR) reporting rates remain low in low- and middle-income countries, largely due to weak pharmacovigilance systems. While the influence of income on reporting rates has been previously studied, the roles of health and education, along with the combined effect of these key country-level indicators, have not been examined globally.
Aims: To compare global ICSR reporting patterns and quantify potential differences in their characteristics across pre-defined socioeconomic strata of countries.
Methods: This observational descriptive quantitative study analyzed ICSRs from VigiBase for members of the World Health Organization Programme for International Drug Monitoring, from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2022. Yearly population data and Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) values were sourced from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Yearly reporting rates for each full member country were calculated, and their medians were computed over the study period. The median IHDI and its components (Health, Education, and Income) were determined for each country and categorized into four human development groups: low, medium, high, and very high. To examine the relationship between IHDI, its components, and reporting rates, a linear regression model was used. vigiPoint was employed to compare the relative frequency of covariates in ICSRs from countries with low, medium, and high IHDI, with those from very high IHDI countries. Scatter plots were used to explore the relationship between ICSR reporting rates and IHDI.
Results: Regression analysis showed a significant positive relationship between case report rates and IHDI and its components (R² = 0.402–0.457). Low IHDI countries had more physician and pharmacist reports, while very high IHDI countries had more consumer submissions and clinical study reports but lower report completeness. Drug types and adverse events (AEs) varied by IHDI level, with lower IHDI countries focusing on infectious disease treatments and higher IHDI countries on immunosuppressants and opioids. Reported AEs also differed, with vomiting and pyrexia being more common in low IHDI regions, and drug ineffectiveness and fatigue more common in very high IHDI regions.
Conclusion: This study shows that human development, as measured by IHDI, plays a key role in ICSR reporting rates. Improving human development factors could help strengthen pharmacovigilance, especially in low and medium IHDI countries
Suusyövän ilmaantuvuuden kasvu 1978–2022
No full textTässä työssä tarkasteltiin suunsisäisten syöpien ilmaantuvuuden muutosta Suomessa aikavälillä 1953–2022 ja arvioitiin niihin vaikuttavia vanhoja ja uusia riskitekijöitä. Tilastolähteenä käytettiin Suomen syöpärekisterin tilastosovellusta ja tuloksia tarkasteltiin erikseen kielisyövän (ICD10 C02) ja muun ja määrittämättömän suusyövän (ICD10 C03-C06) suhteen sukupuolittain ja kymmenvuotisikäryhmittäin alkaen 20-29-vuotiaista. Kielisyöpä C02 käsitti sekä naisilla että miehillä 46 % suunsisäisistä syövistä ja muu ja määrittämätön suusyöpä 54 %. Aikavälillä 1953–1977 kaikkien suunsisäisten syöpien (ICD10 C02-C06) ilmaantuvuus laski lievästi sekä miehillä että naisilla, mutta aikavälillä 1978–2022 kielisyövän (ICD10 C02) ilmaantuvuus 4,3-kertaistui miehillä ja 2,4-kertaistui naisilla ja muun ja määrittämättömän suusyövän (ICD10 C03-06) ilmaantuvuus 3,2-kertaistui miehillä ja 2,4-kertaistui naisilla kaikissa ikäluokissa. Kaikkien syöpien ilmaantuvuus Suomessa aikavälillä 1978–2022 on kasvanut noin puolitoistakertaiseksi, joten sekä kielisyövän että muiden suunsisäisten syöpien ilmaantuvuus on kasvanut keskiarvoa enemmän. Suusyövän riskitekijöistä tupakointi on laskenut noin kolmasosaan aikavälillä 1960–2022, kun taas alkoholin kulutus on yli kolminkertaistunut aikavälillä 1960–2008, jonka jälkeen se on kääntynyt laskuun. Uudet mahdolliset riskitekijät, sähkötupakka ja nuuska, ovat yleistyneet vasta hiljattain, mutta käyttäjien määrä kasvaa nopeasti erityisesti nuorten keskuudessa. Sähkötupakan ja nuuskan käyttöä on alettu tilastoimaan vasta hiljattain ja niiden mahdolliset vaikutukset saattavat näkyvä vasta tulevaisuudessa
Indicators for assessing sustainability in healthcare
No full textKestävän kehityksen tavoitteet ja ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutukset väestön terveyteen ja terveydenhuoltojärjestelmiin ovat lisänneet kiinnostusta terveydenhuollon kestävyyden edistämiseen. Terveydenhuollon kestävyyttä tarkastellaan usein ekologisista, sosiaalisista ja taloudellisista näkökulmista. Kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa on kuitenkin tunnistettu, että terveydenhuollon kestävyyden arvioinnin mittarit ja viitekehykset ovat edelleen hajanaisia, eikä alalle ole vakiintunut yhtenäisiä arviointimenetelmiä.
Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvata terveydenhuollon kestävyyden arviointiin käytettäviä mittareita ja niiden sisältöjä. Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin, millaisilla mittareilla terveydenhuollon kestävyyttä arvioidaan, ja millaisia teemoja mittarit sisältävät. Tavoitteena oli tuottaa tietoa, jota voidaan hyödyntää terveydenhuollon kestävyyden edistämisessä osana terveydenhuollon johtamista ja kehittämistä.
Tutkimus toteutettiin kartoittavana kirjallisuuskatsauksena. Kirjallisuushaku tehtiin lokakuussa 2024 CINAHL-, Ovid MEDLINE- ja Scopus-tietokannoista. Hakulausekkeet sisälsivät seuraavat hakutermit: “sustainability”, “corporate social responsibility”, “health care” ja “assessment”, sekä termien synonyymit ja MeSH-termit. Sisäänottokriteerit täyttäviä tutkimuksia löytyi 18. Aineistoa analysoitiin kuvailevasti taulukoiden avulla sekä induktiivisella sisällönanalyysillä. Tutkimus raportoitiin PRISMA-ScR-tarkistuslistan standardien mukaisesti.
Katsauksessa tunnistettiin 18 erilaista mittaria terveydenhuollon kestävyyden arviointiin, jotka sisälsivät 297 indikaattoria. Suuri osa tutkimuksista keskittyi uusien kestävyyden arviointimenetelmien kehittämiseen. Mittareiden raportoitu validiteetti ja luotettavuus oli vaihtelevaa. Mittareista toteutetun sisällönanalyysin tuloksena mittarien teemat jakautuivat kahdeksaan pääluokkaan, joista yleisimmät olivat ekologisuus ja ympäristövaikutukset, hoidon prosessit ja laatu sekä taloudellisuus ja johtaminen. Tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että terveydenhuollon kestävyyttä arvioidaan monitasoisesti, ja mittarit kohdistuvat sekä ekologisiin, taloudellisiin että sosiaalisiin ulottuvuuksiin.
Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että terveydenhuollon kestävyyden arviointiin on kehitetty useita mittareita, mutta niiden hajanaisuus ja validoinnin puute vaikeuttavat vertailtavuutta ja käytännön sovellettavuutta. Kestävyyden arviointi vaatii moniulotteisia lähestymistapoja, jotka huomioivat ekologiset, sosiaaliset ja taloudelliset ulottuvuudet. Tarvitaan kansallisesti koordinoituja ja systemaattisesti validoituja mittareita, jotta kestävää terveydenhuoltoa voidaan kehittää vaikuttavasti.The global goals for sustainable development and the impacts of climate change on population health and healthcare systems have increased interest in promoting sustainability in healthcare. Sustainable healthcare is often examined from ecological, social, and economic perspectives. However, international research has identified that the indicators and frameworks used to assess sustainability in healthcare remain fragmented, and no standardized assessment methods have been established for the field.
The aim of this study was to describe the indicators used to assess sustainability in healthcare. The study explored which kinds of indicators are used for this purpose and what themes the indicators include. The objective was to produce knowledge that can support the promotion of sustainability as part of healthcare management and development.
This study was conducted as a scoping review. The literature search was carried out in October 2024 in the CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. The search terms included “sustainability,” “corporate social responsibility,” “health care,” and “assessment,” along with their synonyms and MeSH terms. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed descriptively using tables and inductive content analysis. The review was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist.
The review identified 18 different assessment tools used to assess sustainability in healthcare, containing a total of 297 individual indicators. Most of the included studies focused on developing new methods for sustainability assessment. The reported validity and reliability of the indicators varied. The content analysis of the indicators revealed eight main thematic categories, the most common being ecological and environmental impacts, care processes and quality, and economic and managerial aspects. The results show that healthcare sustainability is assessed across multiple levels and dimensions—ecological, economic, and social.
In conclusion, several assessment tools and indicators have been developed to assess sustainability in healthcare, but their fragmentation and lack of validation limit their comparability and practical applicability. Sustainability assessment requires multidimensional approaches that integrate ecological, social, and economic perspectives. There is a need for nationally coordinated and systematically validated indicators to effectively advance sustainable healthcare