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Control of introduced predators is part of the management strategy for many conservation programs. However, when such programs are designed to protect a single species, the benefits to sympatric native species are usually not assessed. We used site occupancy modelling to investigate whether predator control implemented to protect a native bird species (North Island kōkako) in the Hūnua Ranges, New Zealand also benefits the sympatric native Hochstetter's frog population. We hypothesised this benefit is possible because both native species are vulnerable to introduced mammalian predators that are targeted by control measures. Model results indicate that the predator control history of sites was the only factor to exhibit a strong and consistent relationship with occupancy by frogs. Under a range of realistic model scenarios, the probability of occupancy by juvenile, subadult, and adult frogs was consistently higher at sites that receive intensive predator management. Relationships between occupancy probability and other site factors (number of refugia, air temperature) existed but were inconsistent among frog age classes and either occurred independent of predator control history or appear less biologically relevant than predator control. The results support the notion that predator control designed to protect North Island kōkako in the Hūnua Ranges also benefits the Hochstetter's frog population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to establish whether Exposure, a specialized tailored treatment for chronic low back pain, has any advantages over cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) among individuals with high fear-avoidance levels. Second, we planned to compare short and long versions of Exposure. Third, we aimed to investigate whether Exposure can be delivered in an outpatient psychological setting. Method: A total of 88 Caucasian participants (55% women) were randomized to three different psychological treatment conditions, Exposure-long, Exposure-short, and CBT. All participants were suffering from chronic pain and elevated levels of pain-related anxiety and disability. The primary outcomes were disability (assessed using two different questionnaires, QBPDS and PD1) and average pain intensity; secondary outcomes included pain-related anxiety, psychological flexibility, coping strategies, and depression. Assessments took place at pretreatment, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 6-month followup. Results: Exposure was more effective than CBT at reducing movement-related disability assessed with the QBPDS. Exposure and CBT did not differ in reduction of pain intensity or disability assessed using the PDI. Exposure-short outperformed Exposure-long after 10 sessions, meaning that individuals improved faster when they were offered fewer sessions. Exposure could be safely delivered in the psychological setting. Concerning secondary outcomes, Exposure led to greater improvements in psychological flexibility relative to CBT. CBT was more effective than Exposure at enhancing coping strategies. In Exposure, significantly more participants dropped out. Conclusions: Although being more challenging to patients, Exposure is an effective treatment, which can be delivered in a psychological treatment setting and should be offered as a short-term treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design: Cross-cultural translation and psychometric testing. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine reliability and validity of a cross-cultural adaption of the German Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) in a context of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of graded in vivo exposure in chronic low back pain patients. Background: The QBPDS is one of the most widely used disease-specific disability questionnaires. In particular, for cognitive behavioral treatments with a clear focus on behavioral aspects such as graded in vivo exposure, the QBPDS provides an ascertained strategy with a sound conceptual basis and excellent quality criteria. Nevertheless, there is conflicting evidence concerning factor structure and a German adaption is missing. Methods: The cross-cultural adaption followed international guidelines. Psychometric testing was performed using data from 180 participants with chronic low back pain. The psychometric analyses included internal consistency, convergent, and divergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the underlying factor structure. Results: The QBPDS showed strong psychometric properties, with high internal consistency for the full scale (α =0.94) and good convergent and divergent validity. The factor analysis revealed a four-factor solution (bending, ambulation, brief effortful movements, and long-lasting postures). Conclusion: The translation and cross-cultural adaption of the QBPDS into German was successful. The German version proved to be a valid and reliable instrument and is well suited for use in the context of an exposure-based psychological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the present study is to introduce an adapted protocol of in vivo exposure for fear avoidant back pain patients and its implementation in the German health care system without multidisciplinary teams. Case studies demonstrated promising effects but three preceding randomized controlled trials (RCTs) could not support the former results. More empirical support is necessary to further substantiate the effectiveness of in vivo exposure. Methods: A total of 108 chronic low back pain patients are randomly assigned to one out of three conditions (A: exposure_long (15 sessions), B: exposure_short (10 sessions) or C: control condition cognitive behavioral therapy (15 sessions)). The inclusion criteria are: back pain ⩾3 months and a sufficient level of fear-avoidance. An effect evaluation, a process evaluation and an economic evaluation are conducted. Primary outcomes are pain-related disability and pain intensity. Secondary outcomes are: emotional distress, fear avoidance, catastrophizing and costs. Data are collected at baseline, upon completion of the intervention, after 10 sessions, and at six months following completion of treatment. Besides the comparison of exposure in vivo and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), we additionally compare a short and a long version of exposure to analyze dose response effects. Discussion: This is, to our knowledge, the first RCT comparing in vivo exposure to psychological treatment as usual in terms of cognitive behavioral therapy. Results will help to find out whether a tailored treatment for fear avoidant back pain patients is more effective than a general pain management treatment. Trial registration: The trial has been registered to ClinicalTrial.gov. The trial registration number is NCT01484418. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally occurring nitrate pollution in groundwater is harming the environment and human health. In situ hydrogen addition to stimulate denitrification has been proposed as a remediation strategy. However, observed nitrite accumulation and incomplete denitrification are severe drawbacks that possibly stem from the specific microbial community composition. We set up a microcosm experiment comprising sediment and groundwater from a nitrate polluted oxic oligotrophic aquifer. After the microcosms were sparged with hydrogen gas, samples were taken regularly within 122 h for nitrate and nitrite measurements, community composition analysis via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and gene and transcript quantification via qPCR of reductase genes essential for complete denitrification. The highest nitrate reduction rates and greatest increase in bacterial abundance coincided with a 15.3-fold increase in relative abundance of Rhodocyclaceae, specifically six ASVs that are closely related to the genus Dechloromonas. The denitrification reductase genes napA, nirS and clade I nosZ also increased significantly over the observation period. We conclude that taxa of the genus Dechloromonas are the prevailing hydrogenotrophic denitrifiers in this nitrate polluted aquifer and the ability of hydrogenotrophic denitrification under the given conditions is species-specific., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)