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Background and Aims: COVID-19 has impacted everyone's life and livelihood in one way or the other. Individual response to measures taken to control the rapid spread of this disease depend on their knowledge and perceptions. Hence, we proposed to evaluate responses about COVID-19 among the health care workers (HCWs) as well as general public participants (GPPs). Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational survey conducted during the peak of the pandemic. The 35-items questionnaire was prepared using Google forms and distributed through e-mails and social media. Results: The 1,026 responses comprised of 558 HCWs (54.4%) and 468 GPPs (45.6%). The most reliable source of information was TV news for 43% GPPs, whereas it was HCWs/Local health authorities for 36.8% HCWs. HCWs had sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19, while it was relatively low among GPPs (average correct response 65% and 53%, respectively). Intra-group analysis with respect to age, sex, qualification, and socioeconomic status showed that knowledge about mode of transmission by airborne aerosols was significantly low with respect to qualification among GPPs while younger age group (

Current limitations in the understanding and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Canada are described through a comprehensive review focusing on: (1) treatment optimization; (2) surveillance of antimicrobial use and AMR; and (3) prevention of transmission of AMR. Without addressing gaps in identified areas, sustained progress in AMR mitigation is unlikely. Expert opinions and perspectives contributed to prioritizing identified gaps. Using Canada as an example, this review emphasizes the importance and necessity of a One Health approach for understanding and mitigating AMR. Specifically, antimicrobial use in human, animal, crop, and environmental sectors cannot be regarded as independent; therefore, a One Health approach is needed in AMR research and understanding, current surveillance efforts, and policy. Discussions regarding addressing described knowledge gaps are separated into four categories: (1) further research; (2) increased capacity/resources; (3) increased prescriber/end-user knowledge; and (4) policy development/enforcement. This review highlights the research and increased capacity and resources to generate new knowledge and implement recommendations needed to address all identified gaps, including economic, social, and environmental considerations. More prescriber/end-user knowledge and policy development/enforcement are needed, but must be informed by realistic recommendations, with input from all relevant stakeholders. For most knowledge gaps, important next steps are uncertain. In conclusion, identified knowledge gaps underlined the need for AMR policy decisions to be considered in a One Health framework, while highlighting critical needs to achieve realistic and meaningful progress.

Pastoral systems are the dominant livestock production system in arid and semiarid regions of sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). They are often the only form of agriculture that can be practised due to unfavourable climate and soil fertility levels that prevent crop cultivation. Pastoralism can have negative impacts on the environment, including land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions and other gases to the atmosphere, soil erosion, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Here, we review the current knowledge on nitrogen (N) cycling, storage and loss pathways, with an emphasis on identification of N emission hotspots. Our review reports a large uncertainty in the amount of N lost as ammonia from excreta and manure storage, as well as N losses via nitrate and DON leaching. We also found that another major N loss pathway (18%) ‐ soil N2 emissions ‐ has not yet been measured. In order to summarize the available information, we use a virtual pastoral farm, with characteristics and management practices obtained from a real farm, Kapiti Research Station in Kenya. For outlining N flows at this virtual farm, we used published data, data from global studies, satellite imagery and geographic information system (GIS) tools. Our results show that N inputs in pastoral systems are dominated by atmospheric N deposition (approx. 80 %), while inputs due to biological nitrogen fixation seems to play a smaller role. A major N loss pathway is nitrogen leaching (nitrate > DON) from pastures (33%). Cattle enclosures (bomas), where animals are kept during night, represent N emissions hotspots, representing 16 % of the total N losses from the system. N losses via ammonia volatilization and N2O were four and three orders of magnitude higher from bomas than from the pasture, respectively. Based on our results, we further identify future research requirements and highlight the urgent need for experimental data collection to quantify nitrogen losses from manure in animal congregation areas. Such information is needed to improve our understanding on N cycling in pastoral systems in semi‐arid regions and to provide practical recommendations for managers that can help with decision‐making on management strategies in pastoral systems in semi‐arid savannas., Ecological Applications, 31 (6), ISSN:1051-0761, ISSN:1939-5582

This study aimed to identify knowledge gaps regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and develop an integrated educational program for healthcare workers. First, we designed and validated ten multiple-choice questions to identify knowledge gaps among healthcare workers. Within one month of the online test and curriculum offering, 5533 staff had completed the test, with a completion rate of 84.97%. There were 2618 healthcare workers who answered the pre-test 100% correctly. Those who did not answer the pre-test 100% correctly took multiple tests after learning through the online teaching materials. Eventually, 5214 staff passed the test (pre-test or post-test with 100% correct answers). The result showed that all staff had a low correct rate for personal protective equipment (PPE) use recommendations. The Infection Control Center conducted training sessions for hospital staff on how to wear protective clothing. Information on the selection and use of PPE for infection prevention was provided, and participants were allowed time to practice and familiarize themselves with the correct way to wear PPE. Moreover, the Department of Education and Research continued updating the online learning materials based on the most important updated peer-reviewed published articles. The attending teaching physicians helped to search, translate, and take notes on articles in the local language (traditional Chinese) for other colleagues to read easily. We expect to increase learning opportunities for healthcare workers, even during uncertain times such as the current coronavirus pandemic through (1) the hospital-wide course announcements, (2) the continuous placement of test questions and learning files on the digital learning platform, (3) the placement of journal highlights in cloud folders, and (4) the use of the digital learning platform on mobile phones accessible outside the hospital.

International audience; Pedometrics, the application of mathematical and statistical methods to the study of the distribution and genesis of soils, has broadened its scope over the past two decades. The primary focus of pedometricians has traditionally been on spatial and spatio-temporal soil inventories with numerical soil classification, geostatistical modelling of spatial variation and mapping. The rapid development of remote and proximal soil sensing as well as data-driven statistical modelling techniques have had a major impact on pedometrics over the past decades. During this time, a general demand for quantitative digital soil information for environmental modelling and management has compelled pedometricians to address other soil-related questions from a quantitative point of view: soil genesis and utility and quality of soil. While scientific progress is largely an autonomous process that is difficult to steer, research efforts could benefit from an agenda with pressing pedometric research topics. This paper defines and discusses ten recent or longstanding pedometrics challenges, with the attempt to identify knowledge gaps and suggest new concepts and methods to overcome them. The ten challenges were selected through a collaborative effort and may serve as a guidance for future pedometrics research and to foster collaboration among soil scientists. The challenges discussed in this paper are also indicators of the current understanding and state of knowledge from which progress can be measured in the future.

Understanding the geographic distributions of primates is necessary to ensure effective conservation strategies. Nonetheless, many gaps persist in information regarding the range limits of platyrrhines. Leontocebus lagonotus is no exception; it is one of the least studied primates in Ecuador and its geographic limits are poorly known. We obtained 296 records of its presence in Ecuador from field studies (between 1996 and 2020), museums, the literature, and databases. Of these, we validated 211 records and used 106 (excluding grouped points) to determine the potential distribution of this species using an ecological niche model (MaxEnt). The model suggested that the species’ distribution in Ecuador covers 64,028 km2. Based on confirmed data, the extent of occurrence was 38,226 km2, but after updating it with layers of remaining vegetation (2018), we determined that the current distribution is 32,643 km2 (a 15% reduction). Our findings reduce the range proposed for the species in Ecuador, suggesting that areas north of the Napo River, the north-central area of Yasuni National Park, and the far eastern part of Waorani Ethnic Reserve were never part of the species’ range. We also identified the southern boundaries of its distribution, where the Paute-Upano and Cangaime-Morona rivers form a natural barrier. Its distribution in Peru possibly reaches the south of the Morona and Santiago rivers. We recommend a similar approach for other platyrrhines, particularly those under threat, for better implementation of conservation efforts.

Objective The European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN), operational since 2017, consists of 71 health care providers (HCPs) in 19 EU member states. Our objective was to assess education and knowledge on rare endocrine conditions. Design and methods A survey was developed and sent through the DIGIT-EUROSURVEY system to all Endo-ERN HCPs. Results Response rate was 55% (n = 146), 95% physicians, 58% >20 years of experience, 96% academics. Largest knowledge gaps were reported for the transition and neonatal ages, and for the GPs. Less than 50% of HCPs had structured educational rare diseases (RD) plans, while 86% used RD specific guidelines. HCPs would share educational materials within Endo-ERN (74%), and participate in an accreditation model (85%). E-learning portals of the endocrine scientific societies used 58% (ESPE) and 64% (ESE). Most participants (90%) regarded Endo-ERN coordinated educational activities (annual meetings slots, webinars, etc.) as highly important and supported a common educational platform. Social media was perceived as important for educating patients (86%) but not for physicians (36%). Seventy-five % had developed patient education materials; only 31% had specific children’s materials, and by-country availability varied from 0 to 100%. Respondents provided newly diagnosed patients with their own material in the national language (81%); referred to advocacy groups (68%), and relevant online sources (50%). Respondents believed the European Commission should fund education through Endo-ERN. Conclusion Identified knowledge gaps in rare endocrine disorders set the basis for fast catch-up through collaboration, alignment with patients’ needs, and further development of existing and newly developed educational resources.

Terebelliformia comprises a large group of sedentary polychaetes which live from the intertidal to the deep sea. The majority live in tubes and are selective deposit feeders. This study synthesises the current knowledge of this group, including their distribution, in the different biogeographic regions. We highlight the new methodologies being used to describe them and the resolution of species complexes occurring in the group. The main aim of this review is to highlight the knowledge gaps and to stimulate research in those directions, which will allow for knowledge of their distribution and abundances to be used by ecologists and managers.

Effective management of aquatic resources, wild and farmed, has implications for the livelihoods of dependent communities, food security, and ecosystem health. Good management requires information on the status of harvested species, yet many gaps remain in our understanding of these species and systems, in particular the lack of taxonomic resolution of harvested species. To assess these gaps we compared the occurrence of landed species (freshwater and marine) from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) global fisheries production database to those in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and the RAM Legacy Stock Assessment Database, some of the largest and most comprehensive global datasets of consumed aquatic species. We also quantified the level of resolution and trends in taxonomic reporting for all landed taxa in the FAO database. Of the 1,695 consumed aquatic species or groups in the FAO database considered in this analysis, a large portion (35%) are missing from both of the other two global datasets, either IUCN or RAM, used to monitor, manage, and protect aquatic resources. Only a small number of all fished taxa reported in FAO data (150 out of 1,695; 9%) have both a stock assessment in RAM and a conservation assessment in IUCN. Furthermore, 40% of wild caught landings are not reported to the species level, limiting our ability to effectively account for the environmental impacts of wild harvest. Landings of invertebrates (44%) and landings in Asia (>75%) accounted for the majority of harvest without species specific information in 2018. Assessing the overlap of species which are both farmed and fished to broadly map possible interactions – which can help or hinder wild populations - we found 296 species, accounting for 12% of total wild landings globally, and 103 countries and territories that have overlap in the species caught in the wild and produced through aquaculture. In all, our work highlights that while fisheries management is improving in many areas there remain key gaps in data resolution that are critical for fisheries assessments and conservation of aquatic systems into the future.

BACKGROUND: Hemophilia gene therapy is a rapidly evolving therapeutic approach in which a number of programs are approaching clinical development completion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and perceptions of a variety of health care practitioners and scientists about gene therapy for hemophilia. METHODS: This survey study was conducted February 1 to 18, 2019. Survey participants were members of the ISTH, European Hemophilia Consortium, European Hematology Association, or European Association for Hemophilia and Allied Disorders with valid email contacts. The online survey consisted of 36 questions covering demographic information, perceptions and knowledge of gene therapy for hemophilia, and educational preferences. Survey results were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 5117 survey recipients, 201 responded from 55 countries (4% response rate). Most respondents (66%) were physicians, and 59% were physicians directly involved in the care of people with hemophilia. Among physician respondents directly involved in hemophilia care, 35% lacked the ability to explain the science of adeno-associated viral gene therapy for hemophilia, and 40% indicated limited ability or lack of comfort answering patient questions about gene therapy for hemophilia based on clinical trial results to date. Overall, 75% of survey respondents answered 10 single-answer knowledge questions correctly, 13% incorrectly, and 12% were unsure of the correct answers. CONCLUSIONS: This survey highlighted knowledge gaps and educational needs related to gene therapy for hemophilia and, along with other inputs, has informed the development of "Gene Therapy in Hemophilia: An ISTH Education Initiative." ispartof: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE IN THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS vol:4 issue:4 pages:644-651 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Foodborne diseases are important everywhere in the world, but the level of attention they receive varies by region. We surveyed the current opinions and knowledge regarding the globally most important foodborne parasites (FBP) among healthcare professionals in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, by conducting a questionnaire survey among healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital. We focused on the FBP ranked as the top five globally: Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Cryptosporidium spp., and gathered local expert opinions regarding their importance in Nigeria. Moreover, we surveyed the extent of healthcare community knowledge on transmission, manifestations and pathologies, and prevention of infections with these five FBP. Among the 205 healthcare professionals completing the survey, T. solium was selected as important in Nigeria by 143 (70%), E. granulosus by 91 (44%), E. multilocularis by 62 (30%), T. gondii by 132 (64%), and Cryptosporidium spp. by 123 (60%). Only 44 (21%) of the participants selected at least 15 of the 25 answers to knowledge questions that we considered as correct to select. The proportion selecting at least 15 of the correct answers was not statistically significantly associated with gender nor with experience level. Our results suggest that further education about FBP should target healthcare professionals at all levels., Highlights • Knowledge on global top-5 foodborne parasites was evaluated at a Nigerian hospital. • 21% of the respondents selected ≥15 of 25 correct answers to knowledge questions. • Further education on foodborne parasites for healthcare professionals is needed. • 70% of the respondents considered Taenia solium to be important in Nigeria.

Context: Knowledge level and productivity of the software engineering (SE) workforce are the subject of regular discussions among practitioners, educators, and researchers. There have been many efforts to measure and improve the knowledge gap between SE education and industrial needs. Objective: Although the existing efforts for aligning SE education and industrial needs have provided valuable insights, there is a need for analyzing the SE topics in a more “fine-grained” manner; i.e., knowing that SE university graduates should know more about requirements engineering is important, but it is more valuable to know the exact topics of requirements engineering that are most important in the industry. Method: We achieve the above objective by assessing the knowledge gaps of software engineers by designing and executing an opinion survey on levels of knowledge learned in universities versus skills needed in industry. We designed the survey by using the SE knowledge areas (KAs) from the latest version of the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK v3), which classifies the SE knowledge into 12 KAs, which are themselves broken down into 67 subareas (sub-KAs) in total. Our analysis is based on (opinion) data gathered from 129 practitioners, who are mostly based in Turkey. Results: Based on our findings, we recommend that educators should include more materials on software maintenance, software configuration management, and testing in their SE curriculum. Based on the literature as well as the current trends in industry, we provide actionable suggestions to improve SE curriculum to decrease the knowledge gap.

Cities all over the world are confronting intertwined environmental, social and economic problems and aim to become resilient to climate change and promote wellbeing for all their citizens. Nature-based solutions have been proposed as a promising policy approach to addressing urban problems for the potential they have to deliver multiple benefits and foster wellbeing for individuals and communities. However, the evidence for their multiple benefits is rather scarce and highly fragmented, and more robust frameworks for the monitoring and assessment of their impacts are needed to guide urban policy-making. This paper focuses on the current state of impact assessment of nature-based solutions in Europe and through a systematic review of the literature identifies four conceptual problems and three empirical gaps that impede the accumulation of solid evidence regarding of the impacts of different types of nature-based solutions for different social groups; as well as of the contextual conditions that contribute to their performance and delivery of multiple outcomes. Based on the identified mis-conceptualizations and gaps, we derive a series of principles that should guide the development of robust impact assessment frameworks for nature-based solutions. We discuss the policy implications of these gaps and principles. We conclude by making a series of recommendations that should inform the design of impact monitoring and evaluation frameworks in cities, in order to develop the comparative evidence base on the effectiveness of nature-based solutions. This, in turn, can inform urban decision-making on the appropriate design, implementation, and long-term regeneration of nature-based solutions, to ensure long-term delivery of important ecosystem services for different social groups. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Marine recreational fisheries (MRF) have important social and economic benefits, but can impact fish stocks and the environment. The diverse and dispersed nature of these fisheries makes them challenging to study; a lack of data has made it more difficult to include them in fisheries management and the varied motivations of fishers makes their response to management measures hard to predict. Research into MRF is growing rapidly, so this themed article set aims to bring together MRF research to highlight the current evidence base and identify future opportunities. New survey methods were presented alongside analyses of existing data, which highlighted issues with methods, reconstruction of missing data, and factors influencing catch and effort. The manuscripts demonstrated the biological and economic impacts of MRF, and its self-subsidizing nature was recognized. Novel approaches for management, including improving compliance, were identified. Finally, the lack of funding for MRF was highlighted. Key research gaps are: governance that embeds MRF in fisheries management; integration of novel approaches and traditional surveys; risk-based approaches to identify impacts; understanding fish welfare; management that balances economic, social, and biological impacts and allows allocation between sectors; and understanding social benefits and their impacts on management and compliance.

AIM: Lack of biological information is a silent but strong impediment for planning how to rescue amphibians from extinction. Currently, 24% of all amphibian species are assigned to the Data Deficient (DD) category of IUCN. Here, we aim to identify priority areas for amphibian research that could help gather information on these species and overcome such knowledge gap. LOCATION: Global. TAXON: Amphibians. METHODS: We mapped the distribution of 1578 DD amphibian species and then defined priority research areas as those areas with high and complementary concentration of amphibian DD species that could be considered important areas for studying (and therefore conserving) such species. To evaluate the performance of the proposed priority research areas, we calculated the percentage of species overlapping these areas, considering all amphibian DD species; recently described species and geographically restricted DD species. We also determined the proportion of priority research areas falling inside each continent and country of the world. Finally, we estimated the level protection of these species and of human pressure on natural ecosystems found within our priority research areas. RESULTS: We showed that gathering biological information of species from just 0.4% of the world area could clarify the conservation status of more than 80% of DD amphibians. Most identified priority research areas overlap with regions under high human pressure and only a small percentage of DD amphibian species might cope with those altered conditions. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge shortfalls represent a major issue for amphibian conservation globally, however, the picture could radically change if research efforts and investments are geographically strategically distributed. This study brings the first application of a complementary‐based tool, which has been originally designed and implemented in conservation planning, aimed at generating information that help researchers to fill knowledge gaps as efficiently as possible.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify knowledge gaps on insinuations of possible directions of European Union (EU) and international climate policies. Design/methodology/approach This study has used participatory approach of highly experienced stakeholders’ engagement, involved directly or indirectly in the process of policymaking. A range of priority issues has been initially identified through desk analysis and key stakeholders have been selected and invited to partake in the process. Preliminary results have been validated through interaction with stakeholders during a series of workshops. Findings The results show the identification of a series of sectors, where climate policy is expected to focus in the future and the definition of 11 specific topics upon which knowledge gaps are expected to appear. Results on the identified knowledge needs are analysed and categorized by each prioritized main topic and compared with literature findings. Emphasis is identified to be placed on the topics of renewable energy, EU climate policy and international climate negotiations, which are the most popular ones, followed by energy policy and energy efficiency. Originality/value A key element of the approach is the consideration of key experts’ feedback on their specific area of expertise, instead of general public engagement, therefore leading to accurate results. Despite the fact that our approach was applied to a specific problem, the overall analysis could provide a framework for supporting applications in various problems in the field of priorities’ identification and even expanding to decision-making problems.

The post-communist countries of Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) when implementing agricultural and conservation policies, face other challenges than Western European countries: (1) specific institutional design for each, developed on the remnants of totalitarian system causing difficulties for transposing directives; (2) different integration of Natura 2000 network into national protected area governance resulting in slow elaboration of the management plans; (3) farming landscapes were better preserved than in Western Europe, but lacking the continuity of extensive farming so large areas of conservation; and (4) formal protection of sites, lacking in many cases financial support. This paper summarizes: the historical background of the last century that changed the farming landscapes of the CEE countries and the challenges in the management of protected areas in an unsteady socio-economic and political context. The results are focusing on the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Two main conclusions are proposed. First, socialism and capitalism slowly abolished family farming, causing people to become disconnected from the landscape - a key element in conservation oriented grassland management. Second, the gaps of knowledge on different aspects of policy implementation sabotage the results of conservation initiatives.

Higher education institutions are investing increasing resources in order to achieve favourable perceptions among their stakeholders. However, image and reputation management is a complex issue and how stakeholders perceive universities does not always coincide with the image the latter wish to project. For this reason, in this article we address a review of the literature on higher education image and reputation to identify the main knowledge gaps and establish the research lines that merit deeper examination in the future. The gaps identified highlight the need to improve knowledge about the way perceptions (image and reputation) of university institutions are shaped, pinpointing the dimensions or essential aspects that influence their formation and determining whether their degree of influence differs when considering the perspectives of different stakeholders or individuals from different geographical areas. Theoretical propositions related to the identified gaps have been set out.

The International Society of Nephrology has adopted a proactive approach to defining the current state of kidney care and unmet needs through a multifaceted Closing the Gaps initiative. As part of this initiative, the International Society of Nephrology convened a meeting of experts to develop an approach to tackle acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This manuscript expands on the recently published International Society of Nephrology CKD Roadmap and reports on the discussions of the working group assigned to the task of reviewing the global impact of complication of CKD. The working group defined the following goals: Goal 1: Optimize the management of anemia and endocrine and metabolic abnormalities associated with CKD. The impact of these conditions at a global level is not well understood, particularly in regions where renal replacement therapy is not readily available. Some treatment regimens may be affordable in low- and middle-income countries and if implemented, could have an impact on the burden of suffering associated with CKD. Goal 2: Improve the prevention and management of cardiovascular complications linked to CKD. Most research on cardiovascular complications of CKD has focused on atherosclerotic diseases (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and peripheral gangrene). There has been growing recognition that other forms of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, valvular disease and arrhythmias, have a major impact on patient outcomes. Much less is known about the mechanisms and treatment of these non-atherosclerotic complications. Goal 3: Improve the diagnosis and management of symptoms associated with CKD. Symptom management is one of the greatest challenges in the management of CKD, with limited knowledge about the mechanisms associated with the development of these common problems and how best to characterize them into usable clinical phenotypes. Improved understanding of the complications of CKD may alleviate suffering and prolong life among millions of people worldwide both in developed countries and in regions where renal replacement therapy is not widely available.

The Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (MNM) currently extends policy-based protection to deep-sea ecosystems contained within it, but managers require better understanding of the current knowledge and knowledge gaps about these ecosystems to guide decision-making. To address this need, we present a case study of the Marianas Trench MNM using in-depth interviews to determine scientists’ (1) current understanding of anthropogenic drivers of change and system vulnerability in deep-sea ecosystems; and (2) perceptions of the least understood deep-sea ecosystems and processes in the Marianas Trench MNM, and which of these, if any, should be research priorities to fill knowledge gaps about these systems and the impacts from anthropogenic drivers of change. Interview respondents shared similar views on the current knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems and potential anthropogenic drivers of change in the Marianas Trench MNM. Respondents also identified trench and deep pelagic (bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones) ecosystems as the least understood, and highlighted climate change, litter and waste, mining and fishing, and interactions between these drivers of change as critical knowledge gaps. To fill key knowledge gaps and inform conservation decision-making, respondents identified the need for monitoring networks and time-series data. Our approach demonstrates how in-depth interviews can be used to elicit knowledge to inform decision-making in data-limited situations.

Rationale for review: The global yellow fever vaccine supply is insufficient to provide full-dose vaccination to millions threatened by outbreaks. Given the excess of live-attenuated 17D yellow fever virus in the current single dose vials, dose sparing would increase available vaccine doses manifold. Fractional-dose yellow fever vaccination is now accepted as an emergency solution, as short-term protection has been confirmed in an outbreak situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but broader application of this dose-sparing strategy is still not recommended. In this review, important knowledge gaps that hamper this application such as long-term protection after fractional-dose vaccination, safety, comparability across different genetic backgrounds and different World Health Organization-licensed yellow fever vaccines and immunogenicity in infants are addressed. Main findings: Recently, published results on long-term protection after fractional-dose vaccination in healthy young volunteers indicate that if a person mounts a protective response shortly after vaccination, the protective response will persist for 10 years and possibly longer. It also appears that fractional-dose vaccination does not elicit more serious adverse events than standard dose vaccination. Short-term immunogenicity studies are currently underway in specific populations (infants, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons and healthy adults living in Uganda and Kenya), of which the results will become available in 2021–22. Conclusions: Available results on long-lasting immunogenicity of fractional-dose yellow fever vaccination are encouraging, although confirmation is required in larger populations including young children living in yellow fever endemic areas.

Publisher's version (útgefin grein), This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through online media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focused on the process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales. Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come., We would like to thank the members of the IAHS, EGU, AGU and IAH for supporting this initiative. The LinkedIn group and overall secretariat was hosted by the IAHS, the Splinter meeting by EGU and the Vienna Catchment Science Symposium by the Vienna Doctoral Programme on Water Resource Systems (DK W1219-N28) funded by the Austrian Science Funds (FWF)., "Peer Reviewed"

Biodiversity promotion activities, such as ecological restoration, are recognized as instruments to arrest and mitigate the diminishing health of ecosystems. The restoration of fauna is a fundamental component of this process but, despite this, there are few studies that compile and discuss the knowledge produced on this topic. Hence, by seeking a general understanding of what we currently know about terrestrial invertebrates as bioindicators in restored ecosystems, the present work sought to organize knowledge in such a way as to indicate gaps and opportunities for both researchers and restorers. To this end, we searched for topics associated with restoration ecology in the Web of Science database, identifying which invertebrate groups have been studied in relation to intrinsic characteristics of ecological intervention, including type of biome, type of disturbance, restoration technique, age, project size, and indices used. We found 154 studies published between 1995 and 2018: 93.5% of which were from 2002 onwards. We detected a growing number of studies and a tendency to evaluate functional groups. Moreover, there was a high concentration of studies within a few taxonomic groups, notably Hymenoptera (Formicidae), Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. Many of the restoration scenarios are poorly studied, for example, in temperate coniferous forests or taiga biomes, previous disturbances caused by pollution or urbanization, under certain restoration techniques such as brushwood transposition, and investigations in large or old areas. There was also a paucity of information concerning community or population-level measures of restoration success, such as the structure of communities, biomass, and dominance. We discuss some consequences of these knowledge gaps. Finally, we indicate which taxonomic groups have been evaluated in relation to each restoration characteristic considered, resulting in guidance for those wishing to engage in research and monitoring of such organisms during the restoration process.

Post-harvest losses (PHL) have been identified as a crucial challenge to achieving food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. Access to reliable data and standardized methods of estimating PHL are a twin barrier to developing long term mitigation options and policies to reduce PHL. This study assessed PHL in 6 districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana to facilitate planning and dissemination of mitigating strategies. The second part involved participatory evaluation of improved storage technologies to reduce PHL in two vulnerable crops (maize and cowpea). Overall, farmers’ declared PHL were higher across the crops compared to laboratory measurement. Crops recording higher PHL were in order of cowpea (17.3%), Bambara nut (11.5%), groundnut (8.9%) and maize (8.2%). By disseminating appropriate technologies to farmers, PHL were reduced to 3.1% from 36.7% in maize and 6.4% from 77.8% in cowpea during 12 months of storage. In spite of the high PHL, the respondents showed low technical and resource capabilities to minimize losses. Other factors contributing to PHL were the small-scale nature of production, and high cost of improved techniques tailored for same smallholders. Although the improved storage methods were associated with high variable costs, all the treatments showed positive stream of discounted net benefits .

La investigación que dio origen al presente artículo tuvo como propósito el diseñar de una estrategia de gestión de conocimiento científico (las actividades investigativas) para una universidad pública. Para las instituciones universitarias con énfasis en investigación, es necesario incluir la gestión del conocimiento científico como un enfoque estratégico a fin de marcar la diferencia, generar ventajas competitivas, mejorar la posición en su campo de acción y en el entorno en que se desenvuelve. Para poder definir una estrategia se requieren ciertas condiciones previas que faciliten el proceso. Se presenta la integración de tres herramientas de gestión del conocimiento dirigidas a proveer la información necesaria e incentivar la creación de una cultura al interior de los grupos de investigación, que permita definir una estrategia. Estas herramientas comprenden la medición del nivel de madurez, la identificación de brechas de conocimiento y la construcción de Mapas Topográficos de Conocimiento. Las herramientas fueron aplicadas a una muestra representativa de los grupos de investigación de la Universidad de Antioquia, a través de una metodología cuali-cuantitativa y un análisis interpretativo, utilizando una encuesta electrónica. Los resultados permitieron demostrar la aplicabilidad y pertinencia al contexto universitario de las herramientas, además de proveer información valiosa acerca de la situación del caso particular, que servirá de insumo para formular la estrategia. The research for the construction of this article had the purpose of designing a strategy for scientific knowledge management (research activities) in a public university. For university institutions with an emphasis on research it is necessary to include scientific knowledge management as a strategic approach for making a difference, generating competitive advantages, and improving their position in their field of expertise and within the environment where they operate. Certain preconditions are required in order to make the process of defining a strategy easier. The integration of three knowledge management tools aimed at providing the necessary information and encourage the creation of a culture within the research groups is presented for this purpose. These tools include the measuring of the maturity level, the identification of knowledge gaps and the construction of Topographic Knowledge Maps. Tools were applied to a representative sample of research groups at the University of Antioquia through a qualitative-quantitative methodology and an interpretative analysis, by means of an electronic survey. The results allowed demonstrating the applicability and relevance of these tools in the university context, as well as providing valuable information on the situation of that particular case, which will serve as an input to formulate the required strategy. A pesquisa que deu origem a este estudo teve como propósito elaborar uma estratégia de gestão de conhecimento científico (atividades de pesquisa) numa universidade pública. Para as instituições universitárias com ênfase em pesquisa, é necessário incluir a gestão do conhecimento científico com uma abordagem estratégica a fim de marcar a diferença, gerar vantagens competitivas, melhorar o posicionamento em seu campo de ação e no contexto no qual se desenvolve. Para poder definir uma estratégia, requerem-se condições prévias que facilitem o processo. Apresentase a integração de três ferramentas de gestão do conhecimento dirigidas a fornecer a informação necessária e incentivar a criação de uma cultura no interior dos grupos de pesquisa para definir uma estratégia. Essas ferramentas compreendem a medição do nível de maturidade, a identificação de brechas de conhecimento e a construção de mapas topográficos de conhecimento. As ferramentas foram aplicadas a uma amostra representativa dos grupos de pesquisa da Universidad de Antioquia (Colômbia) por meio de uma metodologia quali-quantitativa e uma análise interpretativa, utilizando um questionário eletrônico. Os resultados permitiram demonstrar a aplicabilidade e a pertinência ao contexto universitário das ferramentas, além de fornecer informação valiosa sobre a situação do caso particular, o que servirá de insumo para formular a estratégia.

UnlabelledIn this age of personalized medicine, genetic and genomic testing is expected to become instrumental in health care delivery, but little is known about its actual implementation in clinical practice.MethodsWe surveyed Duke faculty and healthcare providers to examine the extent of genetic and genomic testing adoption. We assessed providers' use of genetic and genomic testing options and indications in clinical practice, providers' awareness of pharmacogenetic applications, and providers' opinions on returning research-generated genetic test results to participants. Most clinician respondents currently use family history routinely in their clinical practice, but only 18 percent of clinicians use pharmacogenetics. Only two respondents correctly identified the number of drug package inserts with pharmacogenetic indications. We also found strong support for the return of genetic research results to participants. Our results demonstrate that while Duke healthcare providers are enthusiastic about genomic technologies, use of genomic tools outside of research has been limited. Respondents favor return of research-based genetic results to participants, but clinicians lack knowledge about pharmacogenetic applications. We identified challenges faced by this institution when implementing genetic and genomic testing into patient care that should inform a policy and education agenda to improve provider support and clinician-researcher partnerships.

‘Mind the gap’ in Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessment procedures was a workshop held at The University of Manchester in June 2015. The goal of the workshop was firstly to identify ‘knowledge gaps’ or areas for improvement in FFS assessment procedures and, secondly, to present methodologies that have been developed to narrow these gaps. It was intended that identification of these ‘gaps’ would allow an understanding of the current development needs for defect tolerance arguments in the FFS assessment procedures. The following questions were addressed: 1) What are the main ‘knowledge gaps’ in current FFS assessment procedures and methodologies? 2) What are the main barriers that need to be overcome in order to narrow these ‘gaps’? 3) What are the current procedures (if any) and why are these not useful, over- or under-conservative and what needs to be improved? 4) What research is currently ongoing in order to narrow the gaps? This paper summarises the presentations and discussions at the workshop on subjects such as environmentally assisted cracking mechanisms, creep, welding residual stresses and fracture mechanics.

Timely access and ongoing delivery of care and therapeutic interventions is needed to maximize recovery and function after traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). To ensure these decisions are evidence-based, access to consistent, reliable, and valid sources of clinical data is required. The Access to Care and Timing Model used data from the Rick Hansen SCI Registry (RHSCIR) to generate a simulation of healthcare delivery for persons after tSCI and to test scenarios aimed at improving outcomes and reducing the economic burden of SCI. Through model development, we identified knowledge gaps and challenges in the literature and current health outcomes data collection throughout the continuum of SCI care. The objectives of this article were to describe these gaps and to provide recommendations for bridging them. Accurate information on injury severity after tSCI was hindered by difficulties in conducting neurological assessments and classifications of SCI (e.g., timing), variations in reporting, and the lack of a validated SCI-specific measure of associated injuries. There was also limited availability of reliable data on patient factors such as multi-morbidity and patient-reported measures. Knowledge gaps related to structures (e.g., protocols) and processes (e.g., costs) at each phase of care have prevented comprehensive evaluation of system performance. Addressing these knowledge gaps will enhance comparative and cost-effectiveness evaluations to inform decision-making and standards of care. Recommendations to do so were: standardize data element collection and facilitate database linkages, validate and adopt more outcome measures for SCI, and increase opportunities for collaborations with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

We identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps of chemical risk assessment related to unconventional drillings and propose adaptations. We discuss how chemical risk assessment in the context of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) activities differs from conventional chemical risk assessment and the implications for existing legislation. A UO&G suspect list of 1,386 chemicals that might be expected in the UO&G water samples was prepared which can be used for LC-HRMS suspect screening. We actualize information on reported concentrations in UO&G-related water. Most information relates to shale gas operations, followed by coal-bed methane, while only little is available for tight gas and conventional gas. The limited research on conventional oil and gas recovery hampers comparison whether risks related to unconventional activities are in fact higher than those related to conventional activities. No study analyzed the whole cycle from fracturing fluid, flowback and produced water, and surface water and groundwater. Generally target screening has been used, probably missing contaminants of concern. Almost half of the organic compounds analyzed in surface water and groundwater exceed TTC values, so further risk assessment is needed, and risks cannot be waived. No specific exposure scenarios toward groundwater aquifers exist for UO&G-related activities. Human errors in various stages of the life cycle of UO&G production play an important role in the exposure. Neither at the international level nor at the US federal and the EU levels, specific regulations for UO&G-related activities are in place to protect environmental and human health. UO&G activities are mostly regulated through general environmental, spatial planning, and mining legislation.

Source at https://doi.org/10.3390/v9110318 . Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is the vector of choice for human and veterinary applications due to its strong safety profile and immunogenicity in vivo. The use of MVA and MVA-vectored vaccines against human and animal diseases must comply with regulatory requirements as they pertain to environmental risk assessment, particularly the characterization of potential adverse effects to humans, animals and the environment. MVA and recombinant MVA are widely believed to pose low or negligible risk to ecosystem health. However, key aspects of MVA biology require further research in order to provide data needed to evaluate the potential risks that may occur due to the use of MVA and MVA-vectored vaccines. The purpose of this paper is to identify knowledge gaps in the biology of MVA and recombinant MVA that are of relevance to its hazard characterization and discuss ongoing and future experiments aimed at providing data necessary to fill in the knowledge gaps. In addition, we presented arguments for the inclusion of uncertainty analysis and experimental investigation of verifiable worst-case scenarios in the environmental risk assessment of MVA and recombinant MVA. These will contribute to improved risk assessment of MVA and recombinant MVA vaccines.

This final contribution highlights the main findings resulting from past studies on the characteristics, management, treatment and environmental implications of hospital effluents. Milestone investigations have been international projects (among which Poseidon, Pills, Nopills, Neptune, Knappe, ENDETECH, and PharmDegrade) as well as specific studies suggesting adequate treatments for the effluents of new hospital facilities or the upgrade of existing treatment plants with the aim of removing targeted pollutants occurring at extremely low concentrations (ng/L to μg/L). The different strategies in managing (a separate or a combined treatment) have been discussed and the debate on the current best technologies (conventional technologies + end-of-pipe treatments or advanced biological and chemical processes) is outlined through the presentation of specific full scale treatment plants. The new frontiers in the treatment of hospital effluents are shown by presenting ongoing lab and pilot scale investigations in different countries.

We have been examining the issue of healthcare workers' exposure to antineoplastic drugs for nearly a decade and have observed that there appears to be more publications on the subject matter originating from Europe than from North America. The concern is that findings from Europe may not be generalizable to North America because of differences in handling practices, regulatory requirements, and training. Our objective was to perform a literature review to confirm our observation and, in turn, identify gaps in knowledge that warrants addressing in North America. Using select keywords, we searched for publications in PubMed and Web of Science. All papers were initially classified according to the originating continent and then categorized into one or more subject categories (analytical methods, biological monitoring, occupational exposure, surface contamination, and probability of risk/exposure). Our review identified 16 papers originating from North America and 55 papers from Europe with surface contamination being the subject matter most often studied overall. Based on our results, we are of the opinion that North American researchers need to further conduct dermal and/or urinary drug contamination studies as well as assess the exposure risk faced by healthcare workers who handle antineoplastic drugs. Trends in exposure levels should also be explored.

Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem and its impact on health related quality of life for patients is substantial, and the economic impact often underestimated. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Oman is unknown. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of AR and associated co-morbidities among adults in Oman. Its secondary objective was to identify knowledge gaps in the literature with the aim of directing future research. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study of patients who presented to the outpatient otolaryngology clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital with nasal symptoms between June 2010 and June 2011 was conducted. Results: A total of 887 patients were seen with nasal complaints. Among them 127 patients were diagnosed with non-infective rhinitis, the mean age of presentation was 27 years. AR was noted in 48% of patients, and non-allergic rhinitis in 52%. The prevalence of AR was 7%, with females being more affected than males, and age ranging from 18 to 51 years. Prevalence of perennial AR was 84% compared to seasonal AR which was 16%. The most common perennial antigens were house dust mites (80%) followed by cockroaches (67%). All patients diagnosed with seasonal AR were found to be sensitive to Russian thistle. The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with AR was 34%. Conclusion: The prevalence of AR in the adult population presenting with nasal symptoms was found to be 7%, with associated chronic rhinosinusitis present in a third of these patients. However, there appears to be substantial knowledge gaps regarding the association of other comorbidities, like otitis media, bronchitis and bronchial asthma, the long-term outcomes of medical management, and indication of surgical intervention in patients with AR. Future research in AR among Omani patients should aim to address these issues.

As the United States population continues to age, the number of orthopedic procedures continues to grow.1 Not infrequently, many of these patients who are admitted for orthopedic surgical procedures are already on complex pain regimens preoperatively. This is due not only to the increasing comorbid state of our aging population but also the wide variety of analgesic management strategies employed throughout the nation amid chronic opioid use.2 Expanding surgical volumes, particularly when involving increasingly complex and opioid-tolerant chronic pain patients, pose significant challenges for perioperative management. Inpatient hospital pain services3,4 can be of tangible benefit for these complex pain patients.5 Miaskowski and colleagues found that patients cared for by an acute pain service were discharged sooner, had lower pain intensity scores, lower incidences of pruritis, sedation and nausea compared to those without the anesthesia service involvement.5 With a growing number of surgical cases, pain management consultations have increased to a number that is not always sustainable, leading some hospitals to adopt a nurse care model.6 There is minimal medical literature assessing the types of pain management consultations.4 A local and unpublished study on resource utilization at Mayo Clinic Rochester demonstrated that orthopedic surgeons place roughly 40% of all surgical specialty consultation requests for acute postoperative pain management. The majority of these consultations are requests for pharmacologic analgesia management, such as titrating oral narcotic medications. A smaller number of these requests are focused on interventional pain procedures, such as joint injections. Since not all hospitals have dedicated inpatient pain services, this places additional pressure on surgeons in the perioperative period, making pain education for these specialties even more important. To improve postoperative pain management, the inpatient pain medicine service at Mayo Clinic, a subspecialized physician practice with credentials specifically in Pain Medicine, founded an educational seminar for the incoming orthopedic surgery residents. The purpose of this program was to optimize their understanding of the role that the inpatient pain service plays in managing postoperative pain, as well as to educate them in the founding principles of pharmacologically-directed pain management. Educational Seminar In 2011, the Orthopedic Staff Leadership Committee (OSLC) at the Mayo Clinic, which consists of a core group of staff nurses and nursing leadership, participated in an educational seminar with new orthopedic residents to help guide them through the dynamic perioperative hospital course to ensure safe, satisfactory patient care. These residents received clinical education from various hospital groups, including physical and occupational therapy, social services and pharmacy. The seminars guided them through clinical techniques, such as surgical wound management, pressure ulcer prevention, and proper application of splints and casts. As an extension of this training, the OSLC, in conjunction with the Anesthesiology Division of Pain Medicine, developed a seminar to orient the resident trainees to common strategies of postoperative pain management. The training seminar consists primarily of a one-day, three-hour discussion and didactic lecture. This lecture is presented by a core faculty member of the division of Pain Medicine. The core principles it addresses are the nuances of the functions of the Anesthesia Acute Pain Management Hospital Service, as well as the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles of a number of common medications used in the postoperative setting. These include medications such as oral and IV narcotics, NSAIDs, Tylenol, topical local anesthetics, and Tramadol. Specific information on opioid titration, parenteral to oral opioid conversion, and postoperative opioid weaning strategies (once healed from surgery) was also provided. The content consisted of defining the concept of multimodal analgesia, reviewing opioid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, demonstrating how to calculate oral morphine equivalents, understanding the utility of regional anesthesia, and reviewing methadone and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A pre and post-assessment, audience response system test was given to improve attention and retention.

International audience; The English Channe lhosts a high density of human activities,which result in strong pressures and impacts on its marine ecosystem.The European Union's INTERREG programme funds projects to promote sustainable development through ecosystem-based management and the development of socio-economic services in the Channel region. Ananalysis of the themes studied during INTERREGIVA projects to date reveals bothgaps thats hould be addressed in the future, as wellas good practices thats hould be maintained and promoted.This analysis was used to provide advice and recommendations on knowledge gaps which may form the foundation of future projects fo rEuropean programmes suchas those in thenext INTERREG project call(2015–2020).

Multiple reports from the Government Accounting Office (GAO) from 2009 and 2011, and a recent April 2013 report from the HHS Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), identified significant problems across health surveillance systems, limiting their effective use across health agencies. Findings indicate that duplication in biosurveillance activities leads to similar or identical analyses and consequently inefficient use of limited resources. To address this problem, we inventoried surveillance systems, programs, and initiatives to identify key analytics, data source, statistical, and system architecture gaps and commonalities. Published surveillance review articles and independent analysis enabled a preliminary inventory of 236 systems; we provide pilot analysis of 30 systems for an initial understanding of gaps and commonalities.

18 páginas, 3 tablas; 1 figura.--Special Issue 11 (ApiCOWplexa 2013 – 2nd International Meeting on Apicomplexan Parasites in Farm Animals), At present, bovine neosporosis is an important worldwide concern because of its wide geographic distribution and economic impact. Abortion is the main clinical sign of bovine neosporosis in both dairy and beef cattle. Ruminant challenge models are critical to evaluate potential vaccine candidates to help tackle bovine neosporosis and to study pathogenesis and host responses to infection. Several research groups have developed ruminant models of Neospora caninum infection independently of others, resulting in a high degree of variability due to the use of different species of animals, breeds, strains/isolates of N. caninum, doses, routes and times of inoculation. Standardization is greatly needed to advance research in a more collaborative, timely and efficient manner. In the absence of widely accepted international guidelines, this manuscript serves to summarize and discuss the different models and parameters currently in use. Parameters essential for the development of non-pregnant and pregnant ruminant models are outlined and the main knowledge gaps are identified. This information could act as the basis to develop a consensus for international standard guidelines for ruminant models of neosporosis that would be helpful for researchers in this field worldwide., This work was partially supported by research grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL 2010-22191), Junta de Castilla y Leon (LE253U13), Brazilian CNPq (no. 400405/2012-1) and CYTED (Thematic Network 113RT0469-Protozoovac).

Study of the mayfly order Ephemeroptera (Insecta) in Brazil: a scienciometric review. Despite an increase in the number of studies in recent years of the aquatic insect order Ephemeroptera (the mayflies) much still remains to be learnt. In order to identify the current state of knowledge of this group in Brazil, we performed a scienciometric analysis with the purpose of identifying the strong and weak points of Brazilian research into the group. Our research used the "Institute for Scientific Information - ISI" database and was based on the abstracts, titles and keywords of manuscripts published between 1992 and 2011. We selected the papers with the combination of the words "Ephemeroptera" and "Brazil*" based on a search in February 2012. We analyzed 92 articles, and noted a lack of studies in some Brazilian states, no specific studies about some families, and an absence of phylogenetic studies. To improve ecological studies, it is necessary to fine-tune taxonomic resolution. Moreover, there is a lack of studies investigating the environmental variables which influence the distribution of mayflies. Despite these gaps, if the rate of publication with mayflies proceeds at the same pace, we anticipate that many of these knowledge gaps will be closed.

Increasing concerns about global environmental change and food security have focused attention on the need for environmentally sustainable agriculture. This is agriculture that makes efficient use of natural resources and does not degrade the environmental systems that underpin it, or deplete natural capital stocks. We convened a group of 29 ‘practitioners' and 17 environmental scientists with direct involvement or expertise in the environmental sustainability of agriculture. The practitioners included representatives from UK industry, non-government organizations and government agencies. We collaboratively developed a long list of 264 knowledge needs to help enhance the environmental sustainability of agriculture within the UK or for the UK market. We refined and selected the most important knowledge needs through a three-stage process of voting, discussion and scoring. Scientists and practitioners identified similar priorities. We present the 26 highest priority knowledge needs. Many of them demand integration of knowledge from different disciplines to inform policy and practice. The top five are about sustainability of livestock feed, trade-offs between ecosystem services at farm or landscape scale, phosphorus recycling and metrics to measure sustainability. The outcomes will be used to guide ongoing knowledge exchange work, future science policy and funding.

International audience; The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires that European Union Member States achieve "Good Environmental Status" (GES) in respect of 11 Descriptors of the marine environment by 2020. Of those, Descriptor 4, which focuses on marine food webs, is perhaps the most challenging to implement since the identification of simple indicators able to assess the health of highly dynamic and complex interactions is difficult. Here, we present the proposed food web criteria/indicators and analyse their theoretical background and applicability in order to highlight both the current knowledge gaps and the difficulties associated with the assessment of GES. We conclude that the existing suite of indicators gives variable focus to the three important food web properties: structure, functioning and dynamics, and more emphasis should be given to the latter two and the general principles that relate these three properties. The development of food web indicators should be directed towards more integrative and process-based indicators with an emphasis on their responsiveness to multiple anthropogenic pressures. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Media availability and fragmentation and the resulting possibilities of content selection have risen dramatically with the expansion of new digital media. Previous research has found that this may increase knowledge gaps among citizens with different resources and motivations. This article analyses how Internet use affects political knowledge gaps due to education and to political interest in Spain. As expected, frequent Internet users are more knowledgeable about politics than non-users. Furthermore, Internet use increases knowledge more for the highly educated than for citizens with lower levels of education. Thus, the political knowledge gap related to education seems to be growing with the introduction of new media. However, the knowledge gap between citizens with high and low levels of political interest is smaller for frequent Internet users than for non-users. These findings provide a complex picture and partially contradict the pessimistic theory about the impact of increasing media choice on political knowledge.La disponibilidad y fragmentación de medios de comunicación y las posibilidades de elegir contenidos han aumentado en gran medida a raíz de la expansión de los medios digitales. Éstos pueden, según investigaciones anteriores, incrementar las diferencias en los niveles de conocimiento entre ciudadanos con distintas características. En este artículo se analiza cómo el uso de Internet afecta a las diferencias en el conocimiento político según el nivel educativo y el interés por la política en España. Los usuarios frecuentes de Internet saben más sobre política que los no usuarios, como era de esperar. Además, el uso de Internet incrementa el conocimiento político de manera más intensa para los usuarios con niveles educativos más elevados. Por tanto, parece que las diferencias en los niveles de conocimiento pueden estar creciendo con la expansión de los medios digitales. Sin embargo, las diferencias en el nivel de conocimiento de los más y menos interesados en política son menos pronunciadas entre los que usan Internet frecuentemente. Los resultados ofrecen una imagen compleja y matizan las teorías pesimistas sobre el impacto de la creciente posibilidad de elección de contenidos en los medios sobre el conocimiento político.

Background: Although asbestos in general is well known to cause a range of neoplastic and non-neoplastic human health effects, not all asbestos fiber types have the same disease-causing potential, and the mode of action (MOA) of specific types of asbestos and related fibers for various health outcomes are not well understood. Objectives: A workshop was held to discuss the state of the science of the MOA for asbestos-related disease. The objective was to review the range of asbestos-induced health effects (including those at sites remote to the respiratory tract). We sought to identify existing knowledge gaps and define what research is needed to address these gaps and advance asbestos research. Discussion: Discussions centered on areas of uncertainty in the field, including the ways asbestos is defined and characterized, the role of different fiber characteristics (e.g., length and mineralogy) in disease, and the impact of low-dose exposures on human health. Studying the dosimetry and mode of action of multiple fiber types would enhance our understanding of asbestos-related disease. To better elucidate the MOA of specific asbestos fibers, the risk assessor requires data as to specific characteristics of asbestos in determining fiber toxicity (e.g., surface area, mineral type), which may inform efforts to assess and control exposures and prevent adverse human health outcomes for the diverse range of fiber types. Specific research aims were defined for these topics and for overarching issues to be addressed, including the use of standardized terminology, test materials, and better experimental models to aid in data extrapolation to humans. Conclusion: To resolve these and other issues, participants agreed that diverse scientific disciplines must coordinate to better understand the MOA leading to the various asbestos-related disease end points.

Knowledge and learning are ascribed pivotal roles in firms' internationalization processes: perceived market uncertainties, namely knowledge gaps related to business environments in foreign markets, may curb firms' inclinations to commit resources to these markets. This study explores whether knowledge gaps tend to increase or decrease with time when operating in the foreign market, and it discusses which learning components narrow – or widen – the perceived knowledge gap. A theoretical model is developed based on the internationalization process view and the more recent organizational learning perspective, including such concepts as overconfidence and absorptive capacity. The theoretical model is tested on a set of primary data covering Danish and Swedish firms and their foreign market operations. The results suggest a more subtle relationship between experience and perceived knowledge gaps than the “mechanical” relationship portrayed by the internationalization process view – a relationship in which absorptive capacity and, in particular, overconfidence play important roles. Journal of International Business Studies (2008) 39, 1097–1113. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400409

As a step to further develop the share of renewable energies, the first German offshore test site alpha ventus has been installed in the North Sea in 2009 in water depths of 30 m, where experience shall be gained and made available for future offshore wind farms. Regarding converter foundations in deep water, it is well known that in most cases scour phenomena occur around the structures. Due to the complexity of the tripod foundations, significant knowledge gaps in scour progression in general and especially in detail as well as its probable effects on the stability and durability are given. Therefore, investigations on scouring phenomena around complex foundation structures like the tripod are carried out within the research project. The investigation method consists of a unique combination of local scour monitoring as well as physical and numerical modeling, whereas the physical modeling part was carried by means of 1:40 laboratory tests and 1:12 large-scale physical model tests in wave flumes. The results show that scours around the tripod foundation do not only occur directly around the foundation piles, but also in the near-field of the structure. Compared to first in-situ measured scours in the test site, at least a good qualitative agreement of the modeled scour depths and evolutions could be shown. German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU)/GIGAWIND alpha ventus - LUH

The Kangchenjunga landscape, a transboundary complex shared by Bhutan, India, and Nepal, is one of the biologically richest regions in the Eastern Himalayas. Owing to the remarkable biodiversity, the three countries came together to enhance regional cooperation in conservation and development in 2012. To start a strategic conservation intervention, the status of our knowledge base on biodiversity of the landscape is the most important stepping stone. In this paper, we traced the history of biodiversity research in the Kangchenjunga landscape, and present the research trends over time and subject interests. Meanwhile, we also identified key research and knowledge gaps and future priorities. For this, we analyzed 500 peer-reviewed journal articles (until 2014) relating to biodiversity, which were retrieved from the web platform ‘Google Scholar’ and other peer-reviewed journals. The review showed that the landscape received attention from the scientific community as early as the 1840s, and grew progressively after the 1980s. Research on fauna (especially mammals) and flora (especially angiosperms) is most notable, but with major gaps in systematic research of their ecology, whereas invertebrates other than butterflies appear to be neglected. There is a need for systematic research with long-term monitoring that would allow us to understand changes occurring within the landscape.

Many of the world’s species are unknown to the public, which potentially hampers support for conservation. Conservation ecologists often identify the need for better educational tools to train students to recognize these knowledge gaps. Here, I describe the optional Biodiversity Challenge that I use in my Conservation Biology course. It asks students to submit slides on taxa they find interesting; I incorporate slides into lectures and students are rewarded with chocolate and possible extra credit. Students reported that the Biodiversity Challenge increased their participation in the course, increased the value they had for conserving poorly known taxa, and enhanced their knowledge of conservation biology as well as making them deeply aware of the knowledge gaps we face in the discipline. This simple but versatile optional assignment could easily be adapted to other courses, such as evolution, animal behaviour, ecosystem-based courses, or restoration ecology.

Small agricultural firms have to cope with increasing economic, legal and environmental difficulties. The purpose of the paper is to identify whether there are available research outputs to these challenges, focusing on the Swiss traditional fruit sector. Identification of firms’ needs using face-to-face interviews and a focus group allowed us to prioritize innovations. Knowledge and innovation transfer gaps were identified thanks to bibliometric analysis, providing hints for research program orientations. The main sectoral needs were related to varieties like increasing pest and disease resistance, weather sensitivity, and ripening behavior. Knowledge produced by research institutions was partly related to the firms’ needs. The study demonstrated a need for better coordination between agricultural stakeholders and researchers. Knowledge must be transferred and shared in the network with greater efficiency by extending interactions and involving stakeholders earlier in the innovation process. However, the search for scientific outputs should include more specificities of the local environment.JEL Codes: O31, O32

In a recent study published in BMC Medicine, Singh Ospina and colleagues outlined the important gaps between ongoing research and research needs in the field of endocrinology. Many recommendations from clinical practice guidelines are based on a low level of evidence, thereby resulting in research gaps. Despite the publication of around 25,000 randomized controlled trials each year, ongoing research does not cover most of these gaps. In contrast, trials are planned when sufficient data are already available for decision making, which results in redundant research and exposes patients to unnecessary risks. This lack of prioritization contributes to the enormous problem of waste in research. A systematic approach to accumulate the available body of evidence is necessary to determine when we have sufficient evidence and when we have knowledge gaps, defined as research questions with no or a low level of evidence available. Systematic registration of research gaps and their prioritization may help to organize future research. Some initiatives exist, but they need to be generalized.Please see related research: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/13/187.