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Did you learn what to eat from your parents? A test of the early learning of the foraging niche hypothesis in great tits Parus major
Get PDFA growing number of studies suggest that individuals can develop long-term foraging specializations independently of phenotypic or environmental variation, yet little is known about how the foraging niche is acquired. The early learning of the foraging niche hypothesis suggests a key role of vertical cultural transmission in shaping the foraging niche of vertebrates. In birds, direct evidence from natural conditions is limited to a single study that cross-fostered two related species. To date, no study has tested whether the diet received as an offspring determines the diet delivered as a parent within a single species. We tested the early learning of the foraging niche hypothesis using a Mediterranean population of great tits Parus major, which show great diet variability and moderate consistency in the diet they provide to their offspring across years. To do this, we recorded prey delivered to 9-14 day-old chicks over twelve years. Then we assessed vertical transmission of dietary specialization using data (percentage of caterpillars , spiders, and other prey types, as well as mean prey size) from individuals recorded as a chick and as an adult. We standardised the data to control for environmental factors and ran a Linear Model for each prey type to measure individuals' consistency within the group (relative consistency), correlating the diet they received as a chick and the one they provided to their own chicks at the adult stage. The correlations between the diet received as a chick and the diet provided as a parent were either not significant or negative. Hence, although individuals showed relatively consistent foraging niches across years regarding their parental provisioning behaviour, these diet preferences were not correlated to the diet they received in the nest. Further research is needed to determine whether the foraging niche is acquired during the post-fledgling stage
How do you become resilient? A critical realist explanation of the youth resilience process
Get PDFAdversities serve as risks, but also opportunities to acquire capacities to adjust positively in future stressors. There is now considerable agreement that resilience should be viewed as a process. However, a key question remains: Why do some individuals exhibit resilience while others do not? The present study aimed to provide a detailed description of the youth resilience process and theorized on the specific mechanisms that support positive adjustment following adversities in early life. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 34 young adults with adverse childhood experiences; analysis followed a paradigm of critical realism. Results were organized in three levels of realist ontology to provide hierarchical and substantive support of findings and theorizations. We propose the Youth Resilience Process Model (Y-RPM), which integrates and builds on existing theories and concepts to explain the mechanisms and different pathways of internal processes that foster resilience among youths
Predicting diverse QoS metrics in IoT: An adaptive deep learning cross-layer approach for performance balancing
No full textWireless sensor networks (WSNs) present dynamic challenges in various environments, often requiring careful balance between conflicting Quality of Service (QoS) metrics to optimize stack parameters and enhance network performance. This paper introduces a novel approach that incorporates proposed trade-off parameters at the application layer to model the interplay between multiple QoS metrics, including Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), Maximum Goodput (MGP), and Energy Consumption (EC). Our approach utilizes a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model optimized using a custom Bayesian algorithm. The model employs a dynamic loss function called Weighted Error Squared (WES). It adapts dynamically to QoS statistical distributions through a scaling hyperparameter, enabling it to uncover intricate patterns specific to IEEE 802.15.4 networks. Empirical results from testing our model against a public dataset are compelling; we significantly improved prediction accuracy compared to baseline models, with R-squared values of 97%, 99%, 98%, and 93% for SNR, PDR, MGP, and EC, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our model in predicting network behavior. Additionally, this paper presents a conceptual operational design for implementing the model in diverse real-world scenarios, suggesting avenues for future practical applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first design of such an integrated approach in WSNs, making our model an adaptable solution for network designers aiming to achieve optimal configurations
TrustShare: Secure and Trusted Blockchain Framework for Threat Intelligence Sharing
Get PDFWe introduce TrustShare, a novel blockchain-based framework designed to enable secure, privacy-preserving, and trust-aware cyber threat intelligence (CTI) sharing across organizational boundaries. Leveraging Hyperledger Fabric, the architecture supports fine-grained access control and immutability through smart contract-enforced trust policies. The system combines Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE) with temporal, spatial, and controlled revelation constraints to grant data owners precise control over shared intelligence. To ensure scalable decentralized storage, encrypted CTI is distributed via the IPFS, with blockchain-anchored references ensuring verifiability and traceability. Using STIX for structuring and TAXII for exchange, the framework complies with the GDPR requirements, embedding revocation and the right to be forgotten through certificate authorities. The experimental validation demonstrates that TrustShare achieves low-latency retrieval, efficient encryption performance, and robust scalability in containerized deployments. By unifying decentralized technologies with cryptographic enforcement and regulatory compliance, TrustShare sets a foundation for the next generation of sovereign and trustworthy threat intelligence collaboration
Usability Challenges in Electronic Health Records: Impact on Documentation Burden and Clinical Workflow: A Scoping Review
Get PDFBackgroundThe adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has become integral to today's healthcare by supporting preventive care; however, it often imposes significant documentation burdens that disrupt workflows. These challenges may stem from usability issues driven by system or interface design flaws that result in the misalignment of EHR with clinical workflows, increasing clinicians' cognitive load. This study aims to identify and analyze the usability issues contributing to documentation burdens and subsequently lead to workflow disruptions.MethodsThe scoping review employed the methodology developed by Levac. Three databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE, were searched to identify relevant studies published in English between 2007 and 2024. Handsearching of key journals was also conducted to ensure comprehensive coverage of the literature. All findings were reported according to PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews.ResultsOf 2387 identified records, only 28 studies met the inclusion criteria, employing qualitative, mixed methods as well as time-motion studies. The studies noted that clinicians frequently experienced significant workflow disruptions caused by poorly designed interfaces, which led to task-switching, excessive and prolonged screen navigation, and fragmented critical information across EHR. These challenges often necessitated workarounds, such as duplicating documentation and using external tools, further increasing the risk of data entry errors and prolonging documentation times.ConclusionOur study findings highlight the critical need for improved EHR design that minimises workflow disruptions associated with documentation burden. Addressing these challenges requires human factors approach that streamlines information retrieval, optimizes interface usability, and eliminates unnecessary task complexity
Overcoming the Smart City Governance Challenge: An Innovation Management Perspective
Get PDFThis commentary explores the potential of strengthening smart city development (SCD) governance theory through a more meaningful integration of innovation management studies. We highlight the limited theoretical framework in SCD governance and show how theoretical stimuli from innovation management can address key governance challenges affecting SCD. Our focus encompasses several governance challenges that we use as exemplary cases: conceptualizing SCD, strategizing citywide SCD efforts, introducing monitoring methods and indicators for SCD projects, intermediating among stakeholders, and managing multi-level governance dynamics. The primary goal of our commentary is to advocate for increased multidisciplinary research in the SCD field, emphasizing the accelerated knowledge accumulation achievable by linking it with the more established field of innovation management studies. We conclude that innovation management offers valuable insights for advancing SCD governance theories. This commentary initiates a dialogue on the necessity of cross-disciplinary research in the smart city domain, which is expected to benefit both academics and practitioners
Relative Performance and Practicality of Night Vision Aids and Naked Eye Counts for Emerging Bats
Get PDFThe Bat Conservation Trust’s Good Practice Guidelines now require the use of night vision aids for bat emergence surveys. In light of this, we compared the efficacy and efficiency of three bat emergence roost count methods: naked eye counts, infrared recording playback counts and thermal recording playback counts. Emergence surveys were performed at four soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) maternity colonies across Scotland during the breeding season. The use of either night vision aid (thermal or infrared) significantly improved the rate of bat detection relative to the naked eye. However, when it was darkest (60–90 minutes after sunset), thermal outperformed infrared
Factors influencing nesting tree selection by the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) in the forest areas of Bondla Zoological Park, Goa, India
Get PDFThe Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) is a large arboreal rodent endemic to the Indian subcontinent. The present study was conducted to assess the parameters contributing to the nesting tree selection by the species in the moist deciduous forests of Bondla Zoological Park, Goa, India. We achieved our objective by modelling the presence/absence of a squirrel nest on a tree against ten variables selected through field observations and literature review. The measured variables were tree height, tree species, vegetation type, tree girth at breast height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, canopy cover, presence of climbers, presence of parasitic plants, and canopy continuity. Our analysis indicated that all measured variables influenced the selection of a nesting tree by R. indica. The results of this study can aid in the development and implementation of conservation and management policies for this species in similar habitats within and outside the confinements of protected areas of the stat
The International Trauma Interview (ITI): development of a semi-structured diagnostic interview and evaluation in a UK sample
Get PDFBackground: The International Trauma Interview (ITI) is a structured clinician-administered measure developed to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as defined in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This study aimed to investigate a psychometric evaluation of the ITI and to finalise the English language version. Method: The latent structure, internal consistency, interrater agreement, and convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated with data from a convenience sample, drawn from an existing research cohort, of 131 trauma exposed participants from the United Kingdom reporting past diagnosis for PTSD or who had screened positively for traumatic stress symptoms. A range of self-report measures evaluating depression, panic, insomnia, dissociation, emotion dysregulation, negative cognitions about self, interpersonal functioning and general wellbeing were completed. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported an adjusted second-order two-factor model of PTSD and disturbances in self-organisation (DSO) symptoms, allowing affect dysregulation to also load onto the PTSD factor, over alternative models. The ITI scores showed acceptable internal consistency, and interrater reliability was strong. Findings for convergent and discriminant validity were mostly as predicted for PTSD and DSO domains. Correlations with the ITQ were good but coefficients for the level of agreement of PTSD diagnosis and CPTSD diagnosis between the ITI and the ITQ were weaker, and item level agreement was variable. Conclusion: Results provide support for the reliability and validity of the ITI as a measure of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Final revisions of the ITI are described
Prolonged Hospital Stay in Hypertensive Patients: Retrospective Analysis of Risk Factors and Interactions
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Arterial hypertension (HT) is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, often contributing to prolonged lengths of hospital stay (LOHS), which place significant strain on healthcare systems. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with prolonged lengths of hospital stay in patients with HT, focusing on key biochemical and clinical predictors. Methods: This retrospective study included 356 adult patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland, between January 2017 and June 2021. Data collected included demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and laboratory parameters. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of prolonged LOHS, defined as four or more days, and to evaluate interactions between variables. Results: Lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and elevated concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were identified as significant predictors of prolonged LOHS, with each 1 mg/dL decrease in LDL-c increasing the odds of prolonged LOHS by 1.21% (p < 0.001) and each 1 mg/L increase in hsCRP raising the odds by 3.80% (p = 0.004). An interaction between sex and heart failure (HF) was also observed. Female patients with HF had 3.995-fold higher odds of prolonged LOHS compared to females without HF (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was found among male patients with or without HF (p = 0.890). Conclusions: The predictors of prolonged LOHS in patients with HT include lower levels of LDL-c, elevated hsCRP, and the interaction between sex and heart failure (HF). Specifically, female patients with HF demonstrated significantly higher odds of prolonged LOHS compared to females without HF, while this relationship was not observed in male patient
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