50716 research outputs found
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Troubled waters in the land down under:Pervasive threats and high extinction risks demand urgent conservation actions to protect Australia's native freshwater fishes
No full textWe conducted the first comprehensive global assessment of the extinction risk of Australia's native freshwater fishes. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, 37 % (88 species) of the 241 assessed species were threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable), with one being Extinct. Lepidogalaxiidae and Neoceratodontidae had the highest level of threat (100 %, both single species families), followed by Galaxiidae (78 % of 40 species), Percichthyidae (62 % of 22 species) and Melanotaeniidae (53 % of 19 species). Northern Australia supported greater species richness, while a concentration of threatened species occurred in the more human-populated areas across southern and eastern drainage divisions, including South West Coast (55 % of species assessed as threatened), Tasmania (54 %) and South East Coast (Victoria) (45 %). Most threatened freshwater fishes qualified for listing based on their restricted geographic ranges (Criterion B: 70 % of all assessments; Criterion D2: 7 %) although population size reduction (Criterion A) was identified in 21 % of species assessments. Key threats to species included invasive and other problematic native species, genes and diseases (92 % of threatened, Near Threatened or Data Deficient species), natural system modifications (82 %), and climate change and severe weather (54 %). Despite the high level of extinction risk, implemented conservation measures for threatened species are presently very limited. A further 17 species were assessed as Near Threatened. This study highlights the imperilled nature of Australian native freshwater fishes and emphasises that targeted conservation measures are urgently needed to avoid imminent extinctions.</p
A mathematical, classical stratification modeling approach to disentangling the impact of weather on infectious diseases:A case study using spatio-temporally disaggregated Campylobacter surveillance data for England and Wales
No full textDisentangling the impact of the weather on transmission of infectious diseases is crucial for health protection, preparedness and prevention. Because weather factors are co-incidental and partly correlated, we have used geography to separate out the impact of individual weather parameters on other seasonal variables using campylobacteriosis as a case study. Campylobacter infections are found worldwide and are the most common bacterial food-borne disease in developed countries, where they exhibit consistent but country specific seasonality. We developed a novel conditional incidence method, based on classical stratification, exploiting the long term, high-resolution, linkage of approximately one-million campylobacteriosis cases over 20 years in England and Wales with local meteorological datasets from diagnostic laboratory locations. The predicted incidence of campylobacteriosis increased by 1 case per million people for every 5° (Celsius) increase in temperature within the range of 8°-15°. Limited association was observed outside that range. There were strong associations with day-length. Cases tended to increase with relative humidity in the region of 75-80%, while the associations with rainfall and wind-speed were weaker. The approach is able to examine multiple factors and model how complex trends arise, e.g. the consistent steep increase in campylobacteriosis in England and Wales in May-June and its spatial variability. This transparent and straightforward approach leads to accurate predictions without relying on regression models and/or postulating specific parameterisations. A key output of the analysis is a thoroughly phenomenological description of the incidence of the disease conditional on specific local weather factors. The study can be crucially important to infer the elusive mechanism of transmission of campylobacteriosis; for instance, by simulating the conditional incidence for a postulated mechanism and compare it with the phenomenological patterns as benchmark. The findings challenge the assumption, commonly made in statistical models, that the transformed mean rate of infection for diseases like campylobacteriosis is a mere additive and combination of the environmental variables.</p
Protocol for spatial prediction of soil transmitted helminth prevalence in the Western Pacific region using a meta-analytical approach
No full textBACKGROUND: Soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections are estimated to impact 24% of the world's population and are responsible for chronic and debilitating morbidity. Disadvantaged communities are among the worst affected and are further marginalized as infection prevalence fuels the poverty cycle. Ambitious targets have been set to eliminate STH infections, but accurate epidemiological data will be required to inform appropriate interventions. This paper details the protocol for an analysis that aims to produce spatial prediction mapping of STH prevalence in the Western Pacific Region (WPR).METHODS: The protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The study design will combine the principles of systematic review, meta-analysis, and geospatial analysis. Systematic searches will be undertaken in PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Embase, and Web of Science for studies undertaken post 2000, to identify surveys that enable the prevalence of human STH infection within the WPR to be calculated. Covariate data for multivariable analysis will be obtained from publicly accessible sources. Survey data will be geolocated, and STH prevalence and covariates will be linked to produce a spatially referenced dataset for analysis. Bayesian model-based geostatistics will be used to generate spatially continuous estimates of STH prevalence mapped to a resolution of 1 km2. A separate geospatial model will be constructed for each STH species. Predictions of prevalence will be made for unsampled locations and maps will be overlaid for each STH species to obtain co-endemicity maps.DISCUSSION: This protocol facilitates study replication and may be applied to other infectious diseases or alternate geographies. Results of the subsequent analysis will identify geographies with high STH prevalence's and can be used to inform resource allocation in combating this neglected tropical disease.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework: osf.io/qmxcj.</p
For Example:How to Use Examples in Political Science
No full textThere is a large literature on the use of cases, hardly anything on examples. They are different: cases get analyzed, examples get deployed. Examples can perform clarifying, didactic, persuasive, universalizing, critical, and cogitative functions. These six functions all have their own logic, and a set of guidelines for how to perform each of them well is developed. However, compelling and persuasive examples can also mislead. Following Kahneman's distinction between system 1 (fast) and system 2 (slow) thinking, good examples both resonate in system 1 terms and invite system 2 scrutiny. The best examples are good in some aspect, flawed in interesting ways in others. A perfect example is a logical impossibility. The author's interest in convincing the reader and the discipline's interest in effective inquiry can diverge, a problem overcome if reason in inquiry is seen as essentially dialogical.</p
Parental Perspectives on Principals’ Responses to Homophobic, Biphobic, and Transphobic Bullying in Australian High Schools:An Exploratory Study
No full textSchool principals may be well-placed to establish safe and affirming school climates for gender and sexuality diverse students by upholding zero-tolerance policies for homophobic, biphobic, and/or transphobic (HBT) bullying. Few qualitative investigations have examined how leaders are perceived, by those with vested interest, to be exercising their powers in this regard. Parents and caregivers (N = 16) completed a qualitative online questionnaire about their experiences navigating school responses to the HBT bullying of their child. Responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings indicate that principals were often either a first point of contact or an option for escalation. Intervention efforts were favourably appraised where empathy for the targeted student was accompanied by quick and decisive action. When this did not occur, participants described the injurious effects of inaction, prejudiced attitudes, and minimisation of the impact of non-physical bullying on both them and their child. We discuss implications for principals and schools with respect to the significant consequences of non-intervention.</p
AI Adoption in Jordanian SMEs: The Influence of Technological and Organizational Orientations
No full textThis study examines the factors influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan, a key player in the growing Middle Eastern economy. Rooted in the Technology–Organization–Environment framework, we specifically focus on the role of technological capabilities and organizational dynamics in shaping AI adoption within Jordanian SMEs. A comprehensive survey involving 364 SME owner-managers in Jordan serves as the empirical foundation. Findings reveal the significant impact of employee IT knowledge, IT infrastructure, managerial commitment, training initiatives and well-designed reward systems in shaping SME owners’ or managers’ attitudes to AI. These findings provide valuable insights for SME leaders and stakeholders, guiding them in developing strategies to smoothly integrate AI technologies in line with Jordan’s societal needs. The article concludes by emphasizing the study’s contributions, implications and limitations while suggesting potential directions for future research in this field
Associations between childhood malnutrition, socioeconomic inequalities and sanitation in the coastal regions of Bangladesh
No full textThis study aimed to identify critical risk factors for childhood malnutrition and inform targeted interventions. Childhood malnutrition remains a pressing concern in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Data were extracted from the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–2018 and children aged 0–59 months and their mothers aged 15–49 years from 17 coastal districts were included as study population in this study. We performed multivariable logistic regression model to determine the risk factors and a total 2153 children were eligible for the analysis. Stunting, wasting and underweight prevalence was 31.4%, 8.5% and 21.1% respectively. Stunting was more common in children aged 24–35 months with compared to their younger counterparts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.35–4.67]. Children to mothers with higher education exhibited 69% (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18–0.52) lower risk of stunting compared to those with no education. Similarly, children in poorest and poorer households had 2.2 and 1.83 times higher odds of stunting respectively than those in the richest households. Children born to obese mothers (compared to normal) were 34% less likely to be stunted (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51–0.85). Children who had fever and underweight mothers reported wasting. Increasing child age, low maternal education, poorest wealth index, unimproved toilet facilities and childhood morbidity were identified as significant risk factors for underweight. Results support the requirement of effective and appropriate interventions for this particular region considering the identified risk factors to reduce childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh
The implications of farmer-to-farmer learning and local knowledge networks for food security in Solomon Islands and beyond
No full textAcross the Paci!c, socio-cultural networks are a key way to share knowledge and skills. However, as peer-to-peer learning is contextually and culturally located, it is important to understand the place-based spe- ci!cs of such learning. This article draws on the evaluation of a series of household-based workshops on agricul- tural development and food security in a remote area of Solomon Islands. It outlines this community’s kinship ecology for farmer learning pathways and demonstrates the interdependence of gender and kinship-based social networks, showing how topics related to ethics of living were shared within clans, while food and agriculture topics were shared within households. The article concludes that understanding local knowledge networks can contribute to the design of more effective peer learning for food security and rural development
Researching effective practices to reduce youth homelessness and disadvantage from a young person's perspective:A systematic review
No full textPathways into and the impact of homelessness on young people have been extensively explored. There is less emphasis on young people's perspectives of the interventions designed to assist them to avoid or exit homelessness. This study undertook a systematic review of the youth homelessness interventions literature that included the perspectives of young people experiencing these interventions. Our review identified five key approaches as useful in assisting young people to exit or avoid homelessness, namely (1) the centrality of relationships, (2) a youth-centred approach, (3) integrated and multi-disciplinary service provision, (4) a beyond housing approach and (5) strength-based therapeutic models/interventions. The review enhances the capacity of practitioners to provide supportive and contextually situated services to young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. However, further research is required to understand the bundles of interconnected practices within these approaches that are performed by workers and young people to address homelessness and risk.x</p