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Remembering individual identities is part of our own everyday social life. Surprisingly, this ability has recently been shown in two social insects. While paper wasps recognize each other individually through their facial markings, the ant, Pachycondyla villosa, uses chemical cues. In both species, individual recognition is adaptive since it facilitates the maintenance of stable dominance hierarchies among individuals, and thus reduces the cost of conflict within these small societies. Here, we investigated individual recognition in Pachycondyla ants by quantifying the level of aggression between pairs of familiar or unfamiliar queens over time. We show that unrelated founding queens of P. villosa and Pachycondyla inversa store information on the individual identity of other queens and can retrieve it from memory after 24h of separation. Thus, we have documented for the first time that long-term memory of individual identity is present and functional in ants. This novel finding represents an advance in our understanding of the mechanism determining the evolution of cooperation among unrelated individuals.

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. According to the OIE classification of diseases it is classified as a notifiable (previously List A) disease, thus having the potential for causing severe socio-economic problems and affecting severely the international trade of pigs and pig products. Effective control measures are compulsory, and to expose weaknesses a reliable tracing of the spread of the virus is necessary. Genetic typing has proved to be the method of choice. However, genotyping involves the use of multiple software applications, which is laborious and complex. The implementation of a sequence database, which is accessible by the World Wide Web with the option to type automatically new CSF virus isolates once the sequence is available is described. The sequence to be typed is tested for correct orientation and, if necessary, adjusted to the right length. The alignment and the neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis with a standard set of sequences can then be calculated. The results are displayed as a graph. As an example, the determination is shown of the genetic subgroup of the isolate obtained from the outbreaks registered in Russia, in 2005. After registration (Irene.greiser-wilke@tiho-hannover.de) the database including the module for genotyping are accessible under http://viro08.tiho-hannover.de/eg/eurl_virus_db.htm.

Although much research has been devoted to how political interest is related to different political outcomes, little is known about its influence on attitudes toward immigration. In line with deliberative theory, political interest should facilitate greater exposure to various perspectives via political discussions and other forms of political engagement that, in turn, should contribute to more positive attitude toward those with differing views or backgrounds. Using data from the European Social Survey, including 39 countries across 10 survey rounds 2002–2021, this study shows that political interest is positively related to immigrant acceptance. However, there is moderation effect of conservative values. Being politically interested is associated with a higher probability of holding pro-immigrant attitudes among weak conservatives, while there is no significant association among strong conservatives. This finding can be explained by the motivated cognition theory, which states that individuals tend to seek out and pay more attention to information that supports their strong pre-existing ideologies. For individuals with ideologies that predispose them to adopt very negative attitudes toward immigration (strong conservatives), being politically interested might entail a greater exposure and attention to ideology-congruent perspectives and, as a result, confirmation of initial predispositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stands as the prevailing chronic airway ailment, characterized by chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Current medications fall short in treatment of these diseases, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapy. Prior research indicated immunoproteasome inhibition alleviated various inflammatory diseases by modulating immune cell functions. However, its therapeutic potential in COPD remains largely unexplored. Here, an elevated expression of immunoproteasome subunits LMP2 and LMP7 in the macrophages isolated from mouse with LPS/Elastase‐induced emphysema and polarized macrophages in vitro is observed. Subsequently, intranasal administration of the immunoproteasome‐specific inhibitor ONX‐0914 significantly mitigated COPD‐associated airway inflammation and improved lung function in mice by suppressing macrophage polarization. Additionally, ONX‐0914 capsulated in PLGA nanoparticles exhibited more pronounced therapeutic effect on COPD than naked ONX‐0914 by targeting immunoproteasome in polarized macrophages. Mechanistically, ONX‐0914 activated autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are not attribute to the ONX‐0914 mediated suppression of macrophage polarization. Intriguingly, ONX‐0914 inhibited M1 polarization through the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor‐1 (NRF1) and NRF2‐P62 axis, while the suppression of M2 polarization is regulated by inhibiting the transcription of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). In summary, the findings suggest that targeting immunoproteasome in macrophages holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both mothers and infants, particularly preterm infants, where it serves as a therapeutic strategy to reduce mortality and morbidities. However, breastfeeding practices are threatened globally by societal norms and systemic barriers at both micro and macro levels. This paper explores the complex interplay of these barriers and facilitators, focusing on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting. Preterm infants face specific feeding challenges due to immature physiological functions, yet evidence supports that strategies like cue-based feeding and individualized care can enhance feeding success and health outcomes. For mothers, initiating and maintaining lactation after preterm birth is critical but challenging, with early lactation support and achieving sufficient milk volume being key predictors of success. Partner support significantly influences lactation outcomes, although more inclusive research is needed for diverse family structures. In the NICU, a multidisciplinary approach to lactation care is vital, emphasizing the need for experienced staff and family-centered practices. NICU design, policies promoting parental presence, and adherence to Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative guidelines further support breastfeeding. This paper aims to provide directives for local breastfeeding policies through an integrated approach, considering societal attitudes and healthcare practices. The findings advocate for improved lactation support in NICUs, inclusive language and policies, and further research into diverse familial and gender roles in breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ant evolutionary success depends mainly on the coordination of colony members, who recognize nestmates based on the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile of their epicuticle. While several studies have examined variations in this crucial factor for colony identity, few have investigated the anthropic impact on CHC profiles, and none have focused on Lasius paralienus. Here, we surveyed the changes in L. paralienus CHC assemblages across agroecosystems and assessed whether different vineyard management influences these profiles. Soil sampling within ant nests and in close surroundings was performed to measure microhabitat variations. Our results show that the cuticular chemical composition of Lasius paralienus is mainly affected by the differences between areas, with an existing but unclear anthropic influence on them. Normalized soil respiration partially explains these interarea variations. Irrespective of the conventional or organic management, human activities in agroecosystems mostly impacted L. paralienus linear alkanes, a specific class of CHCs known to play a major role against dehydration, but also affected the abundance of compounds that can be pivotal for maintaining the colony identity. Our findings suggest that vineyard practices primarily affect features of the ant cuticle, potentially enhancing microclimate adaptations. Still, the potential effects as disruptive factors need further investigation through the implementation of behavioral bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting floral resources is a common strategy for increasing the abundance and diversity of beneficial flower-visiting insects in human-modified systems. However, the context of the local area and surrounding landscape may affect the attractiveness of these floral resource provisioning plots. We compared the relative effects of local floral resources and surrounding urban land-use on the abundance of bees on flowering plants in common gardens in eastern Tennessee, USA. We planted four types of common garden plots at each of five different landscapes representing a variety of surrounding land use: 1) Urban Garden, 2) Forage Grassland, 3) Mixed Agriculture, 4) Forest, and 5) Organic Farm. Each common garden plot type had a fixed plant community representing one of three plant families (Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae) or a mix of all three, and all four common gardens were replicated at all the sites. We concurrently sampled bees in the garden plots and in a 50 m radius (local area) around the garden plots. We found that the size of the floral display (i.e. the visual display size of flowers) and diversity of flowers in the local area did not affect bee abundance or species richness in the garden plots. Although there was a significant positive association between developed land use in a 2 km radius and bee abundance in the gardens, the effect was small, and there was no relationship between land use and bee abundance or species richness in the local area. There were significant differences in the composition of the bee community between the local area and garden plots, but the largest determinants of bee community composition and species richness in the gardens were floral display size and variation in the garden plant species in bloom. This finding is promising for anyone wishing to promote pollinator populations by providing more floral resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the sexual function and mental health of healthcare workers worldwide. However, the extent to which sexual health, including its relational dimension, was affected among different healthcare services and the protective coping strategies employed at that time is currently unclear. The present study aimed to investigate these two issues, exploring for the first time the role of meaning-centered coping on sexual health. Method: The sample consisted of 109 healthcare workers divided into two groups: a high-exposure group (Intensive Care Unit service, 63 participants) and a low-exposure group (gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics services, 46 participants). One year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants completed an online survey comprised of sociodemographic and COVID-19 exposure variables, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Short Form, and the Meaning-Centered Coping Scale. Results: (1) High-exposure participants reported more anxiety and depressive symptoms, (2) anxiety, depression and stress were associated with decreased sexual health after the pandemic, (3) High-exposure participants reported a higher decrease in their sexual health, (4) High-exposure workers reported higher levels of meaning-centered coping, and (5) higher levels of meaning-centered coping predicted higher sexual health in both groups. Policy Implications: Various healthcare services pose distinct risks regarding the detrimental effects of collective health crises on mental and sexual health, and therefore they should be differently treated. The promotion of meaning-centered coping is a sensible policy to improve preparedness in healthcare contexts, especially in vulnerable services and subpopulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement performance of insects is an important measure of physiological fitness and is likely affected by novel stressors associated with global change. Reduced fitness can lead to smaller foraging areas and thus to decreasing abundance, diversity and nutritional quality, which could weaken insect populations and contribute to global insect decline. Here, we combined two different methods: An experimental semi‐field design applying treatments in outdoor flight cages and a follow‐up experiment conducted in the laboratory, in which different parameters of movement performance, such as (a) velocity, (b) duration and (c) distance of an insect's flight can be quantified. We kept colonies of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris under contrasting nutritional conditions and measured treatment effects on the movement performance of individuals. Monophagously fed bumblebees showed reduced movement performance than polyphagously fed bumblebees. In particular, they stopped more frequently during flight, flew shorter distances and showed less often flight duration of 20 min. Our results suggest that nutritional deficiency due to a monophagic diet leads to reduced flight performance, which can have dramatic negative consequences for bees. Reduced flight performance may result in decreased availability of host plants, which may negatively affect stress resistance of bees and brood provisioning, facilitating extinction of insects. Although food of great nutritional value is an important compensator for the negative effects of different novel stressor, such as pesticides, it is not much known how to compensate for the effects of nutritional stress, especially in landscapes dominated by monocultures. However, our experimental approach with semi‐field and laboratory components has high potential for further studies investigating the impact of different stressors on the physiological fitness of insects but also body mass, or reproductive success and to find factors that may mitigate or even overcome the negative effect of stressors on insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a notifiable disease of domestic pigs and wild boar. It is caused by the highly contagious CSF virus and in its acute form the disease generally results in high morbidity and mortality. Due to the great economical impact an outbreak can cause to the pig industry it is one of the most important swine diseases worldwide. To limit the damage in the case of a new outbreak it is necessary to identify the virus as fast as possible. This information helps epidemiologists to trace the origin of the virus and to follow the virus spread. Genetic typing revealed that CSF virus genotypes, subgroups and types show a regional distribution making it an important tool for epidemiologists. Meanwhile, besides epidemiological data and nucleotide sequences from European isolates, information from isolates from South- and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia and recently from South Africa have become available. The data are stored in a database in the EU Reference Laboratory for CSF, accessible by the WWW (http://viro08.tiho-hanno ver.de). A new module was implemented that allows efficient automated genotyping.

Purpose: This study determined hydrogen peroxide release into the oral cavity during use of different home bleaching products and compared them with accepted safe levels., Methods: Determination of peroxide in saliva was performed with peroxidase, phenol and 4-aminoantipyrin in a photometric method. Upper jaw incisors were bleached with individual trays charged with 350 mg Opalescence 10%, Opalescence 15% (OP) and Vivastyle (V). Additionally, Whitestrips (WS) designed for upper or lower jaw were used. All systems were adopted by five subjects for 30 minutes on different days. Whole saliva was collected at 2-minute intervals during the first 10 minutes of bleaching and every 5 minutes thereafter., Results: Highest release of peroxide was found for all products in the saliva sample collected initially after application of the bleaching agent. Total amount of peroxide released into saliva during 30-minute bleaching period was 0.78+/-0.45 for Opalescence 10% and 1.52+/-0.44 mg for Opalescence 15%. Significantly more peroxide was released from Vivastyle (2.67+/-1.03 mg) and from Whitestrips (upper: 3.25+/-5,65, lower: 2.09+/-0.34 mg). A significantly smaller fraction of the charged peroxides was released into saliva from individual trays than from Whitestrips during the 30-minute use time. From the peroxide loaded in the trays or strips the following fractions were released during the application period: Opalescence 10% (6.4+/-3.7%), Opalescence 15% (8+/-2.4%), Vivastyle (18.6+/-8.5%), upper Whitestrips (30.4+/-4.9), lower Whitestrips (27.4+/-4.4%). In terms of amount/kg body weight the bleaching systems led to a single exposure of 0.013-0.056 mg/kg which is distinctly less than the maximum safe daily dose of 0.26 mg/kg/day if calculated for a small person (58 kg/128 lbs).

A questionnaire was sent to 53 home health care agencies in San Diego to assess their state of disaster readiness. Thirty agencies returned completed questionnaires. Of these, 90% have written disaster plans, but only 33% conduct regular drills to practice their written plans. A 24-h telephone number is available to patients at 96% of the agencies. One-fourth of the agencies serving ventilator-dependent patients do not make utility companies aware of their special needs. Of 11 hospital-sponsored agencies, 18% include backup agreements with other agencies, while 79% of non-hospital-sponsored agencies have planned such backup. The majority (92%) of "private-for-profit" agencies have backup arrangements, but only 38% of the public or nonprofit agencies have such arrangements. Additionally, 31% of the home health care agencies do not feel they would be able to meet the needs of their clients in the event of a disaster. Specific recommendations for such agencies in developing disaster plans, and exercising them, are made.

Flight plays a crucial role in the fitness of insect pollinators, such as bumblebees. Despite their relatively large body size compared with their wings, bumblebees can fly under difficult ambient conditions, such as cooler temperatures. While their body size is often positively linked to their foraging range and flight ability, the influence of age remains less explored. Here, we studied the flight performance (distance, duration and speed) of ageing bumblebee workers using tethered flight mills. Additionally, we measured their intertegular distance and dry mass as proxies for their body size. We found that the flight distance and duration were predominantly influenced by age, challenging assumptions that age does not play a key role in foraging and task allocation. From the age of 7 to 14 days, flight distance and duration increased sixfold and fivefold, respectively. Conversely, the body size primarily impacted the maximum and average flight speed of workers. Our findings indicate that age substantially influences the flight distance and duration in bumblebee workers, affecting foraging performance and potentially altering task allocation strategies. This underscores the importance of considering individual age and physiological changes alongside body size/mass in experiments involving bumblebee workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially isolated plant populations in agricultural landscapes exhibit genetic responses not only to habitat fragmentation per se but also to the composition of the landscape matrix between habitat patches. These responses can only be understood by examining how the landscape matrix influences among‐habitat movements of pollinators and seed vectors, which act as genetic linkers among populations. We studied the forest herb Polygonatum multiflorum and its associated pollinator and genetic linker, the bumblebee Bombus pascuorum, in three European agricultural landscapes. We aimed to identify which landscape features affect the movement activity of B. pascuorum between forest patches and to assess the relative importance of these features in explaining the forest herb's population genetic structure. We applied microsatellite markers to estimate the movement activity of the bumblebee as well as the population genetic structure of the forest herb. We modelled the movement activity as a function of various landscape metrics. Those metrics found to explain the movement activity best were then used to explain the population genetic structure of the forest herb. The bumblebee movement activity was affected by the cover of maize fields and semi‐natural grasslands on a larger spatial scale and by landscape heterogeneity on a smaller spatial scale. For some measures of the forest herb's population genetic structure, that is, allelic richness, observed heterozygosity and the F‐value, the combinations of landscape metrics, which explained the linker movement activity best, yielded lower AICc values than 95% of the models including all possible combinations of landscape metrics. Synthesis: The genetic linker, B. pascuorum, mediates landscape effects on the population genetic structure of the forest herb P. multiflorum. Our study indicates, that the movement of the genetic linker among forest patches, and thus the pollen driven gene flow of the herb, depends on the relative value of floral resources in the specific landscape setting. Noteworthy, the population genetic structure of the long‐lived, clonal forest herb species correlated with recent land‐use types such as maize, which have been existing for not more than a few decades within these landscapes. This underscores the short time in which land‐use changes can influence the evolutionary potential of long‐lived wild plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to daily life in Poland, with restrictions affecting various sectors, including entertainment, education, and travel. The pandemic's impact extended to intimate aspects of life. This study aimed to compare the sexual functioning of young adults in Poland before and during the pandemic, using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). Methods: The research involved an online survey with demographic questions, the CSFQ-14 for pre-pandemic sexual functioning, and modified CSFQ-14 questions for the pandemic period. Sexual dysfunction was determined using predefined cutoff scores. Results: Overall, the study found no significant difference in the sexual functioning of young Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. However, there were gender-specific trends. Women reported enhanced pleasure, satisfaction, and orgasm during lockdown, while men faced challenges with erection and ejaculation. A higher proportion of women experienced overall sexual dysfunction compared to men, both before and during the pandemic. This research provides insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual lives of young Poles. While overall sexual functioning remained relatively stable, specific aspects varied by gender. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need to consider demographic factors, such as age and gender, when assessing the effects of external stressors like a pandemic on sexual health. Further research is essential to fully grasp these complexities and their potential long-term consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the resurgence of oppressive child labor in the context of migrant children in the United States' new economy of exploitation. Topics include the historical evolution of child labor laws and their inadequacies in protecting migrant children, the harsh realities faced by these children as they navigate dangerous and illegal work environments, and the necessity for a new legal framework that considers the unique challenges faced by migrant child workers.

This work explores the advantages and disadvantages of a methodology using high-energy X-ray diffraction to determine residual stresses in multilayer structures produced by atmospheric plasma spraying. These structures comprise a titanium alloy substrate (Ti64), a bonding layer (Ni-Al), and an abrasive coating (Al2O3). This study focuses on analyzing the residual stress gradients within these layers. The presented method is used to determine stresses across the entire thickness of multilayer structures. Experiments were carried out using a high-energy rectangular beam, operating in transmission mode, on the cross-section of the sample. The results indicate variable stresses throughout the depth of the sample, particularly near the layer interfaces. The semi-automatic methodology presented here enables us to follow stress evolution within the different layers, providing indications of the load transfer between them and at their interfaces. The sin2ψ method was used to analyze the diffraction data and to determine the stresses in each phase along the sample depth. However, interpreting results near the interfaces is complex due to the geometric and chemical effects. We present a discussion of the main advantages and disadvantages of the methodology for this kind of industrial sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite growing interest in leveraging motivational techniques to address restrictive eating, it is not yet clear how to most effectively promote motivation to reduce this behavior. Drawing from a behavioral economic framework, the present study evaluates a novel approach for increasing motivation to address disordered eating by amplifying the potential benefits of reducing dietary restriction and the consequences of maintaining disordered behaviors., Method: A sample of 126 undergraduate students engaging in restrictive eating participated in a 7-day online experiment. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: Amplified Benefits and Consequences, Amplified Benefits, Amplified Consequences, or a control condition. Growth curve models were estimated to examine the extent to which experimental conditions led to changes in eating pathology and motivation over the study period., Results: Initial reductions in dietary restraint were observed in conditions where the benefits of reducing restriction were amplified; however, these reductions were not sustained over the 7-day study period. The greatest increases in motivation were observed when both the benefits of reducing restriction and the consequences of maintenance were amplified., Discussion: Interventions designed to enhance motivation alone are unlikely to yield sustained reductions in eating disorder symptoms and therefore should be accompanied or followed by targeted interventions which directly address restrictive eating behaviors and maladaptive cognitions about shape and weight., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Mental health and substance use emerged as critical factors associated with health risk behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its importance has only grown in the post-pandemic period, particularly among priority groups like higher education students. To enhance our understanding of how mental health and substance use factors interact with preventive measures like mask-wearing to affect risky sexual behaviors (RSBs), our study examined the associations between depressive symptoms, substance use, and RSBs among college and university students in the United States. We specifically aimed to assess the impact of mask-wearing on the association between depressive symptoms, binge drinking and marijuana use, and RSBs during the pandemic. Data were collected through nonprobability sampling from 835 students at five universities via an online survey conducted between July and August 2020. Using the PROCESS macro, we analyzed the mediating effects of binge drinking and marijuana use on the association between depressive symptoms and RSBs (Model 4), as well as the moderating effect of mask-wearing on the association between depressive symptoms, binge drinking and marijuana use, and RSBs. Our findings revealed that mask-wearing significantly moderated the combined association between depressive symptoms, marijuana use, binge drinking, and RSBs. As we navigate the post-pandemic period, it is crucial for existing programs addressing health risk behaviors to consider the direct and indirect associations between mental health and substance use. Understanding these protective and health risk behaviors is essential for informing targeted prevention and intervention efforts in the post-pandemic landscape., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB), two proximal risk factors for suicide, may rise during residential eating disorder (ED) treatment when patients are separated from support and face exorbitant costs of care. In this setting, fostering motivation for treatment is challenging, and low motivation for treatment may exacerbate feelings of PB and TB. Simultaneously, PB and TB could reduce motivation for treatment, though no studies have explored this relationship longitudinally. Accordingly, this study examined associations between interpersonal needs (TB, PB) and motivation for treatment across the first 6 weeks of residential ED treatment., Methods: Participants (n = 98) completed the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and rated treatment motivation weekly. Pearson bivariate correlations examined the relationship between motivation and interpersonal needs at each timepoint. Two autoregressive cross-lagged panel models (AR-CLPMs) tested reciprocal relationships between these constructs longitudinally across the first 6 weeks of treatment., Results: Motivation was significantly negatively correlated with PB and TB at all timepoints. In AR-CLPM 1, Week 2 Motivation predicted Weeks 3 PB, then Week 3 PB predicted Week 4 Motivation. In AR-CLPM 2, Week 2 TB predicted Week 3 Motivation, but Motivation did not predict TB at any timepoint., Discussion: This study is the first to examine longitudinal relations between interpersonal needs and treatment motivation in residential ED care. PB and TB may influence one's motivation for treatment, although motivation and PB had a stronger reciprocal relationship than motivation and TB. Interpersonal needs should be addressed early in residential treatment to mitigate negative cycling., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Under what conditions do states protect minority rights in a context of domestic resistance? Recent decades have seen rapid divergence on LGBT rights worldwide, with Africa presented as "norms antipreneur" in the face of international pressure. Yet, in 1996, South Africa was the first country in the world to provide constitutional protection on grounds of sexual orientation. This article develops an original theory on LGBT rights protection using a conflict-to-rights framework. Employing process tracing, elite interviews and archival sources, I show how a situation of insurgency allows LGBT activists to build networks and increase egalitarian attitudes to attain in-group status. Continued violence also works to block public participation in policy-making while dividing opposition forces, allowing a tiny group of activists to effectively lobby for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing recognition of the importance of the multiple dimensions of biodiversity, including functional or genetic diversity as well as species diversity, most conservation studies on ecosystem service‐providing insects focus on simple diversity measures such as species richness and abundance. In contrast, relatively little is known about the genetic diversity and resilience of pollinators or natural enemies of crop pests to population fragmentation and local extinction. The genetic diversity and demographic dynamics of remnant populations of beneficial insects in agricultural areas can be a useful indicator proving additional insights into their conservation status, but this is rarely evaluated. Although gene flow between agricultural and seminatural areas is key to maintaining genetic diversity, its extent and directionality remain largely unexplored. Here, we apply a pan‐European sampling protocol to quantify genetic diversity and structure and assess gene flow between agricultural and nearby seminatural landscapes in populations of two key ecosystem service‐providing insect species, the lady beetle Coccinella septempunctata, an important predator of aphids and other crop pests, and the bee pollinator Andrena flavipes. We show that A. flavipes populations are genetically structured at the European level, whereas populations of C. septempunctata experience widespread gene flow across the continent and lack any defined genetic structure. In both species, we found that there is high genetic connectivity between populations established in croplands and nearby seminatural areas and, as a consequence, they harbor similar levels of genetic diversity. Interestingly, demographic models for some regions support asymmetric gene flow from seminatural areas to nearby agricultural landscapes. Collectively, our study demonstrates how seminatural areas can serve as genetic reservoirs of both pollinators and natural enemies for nearby agricultural landscapes, acting as sources for recurrent recolonization and, potentially, contributing to enhancing ecosystem service and crop production resilience in the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: There is a lack of direct evidence on whether SARS-CoV-2 affects women's sexual function through a biological-organic mechanism. Existing studies on the topic are few and have produced contradictory results. This study aims to explore the possible relationship between sex hormones and sexual function in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether these changes are related to the clinical course of COVID-19 and whether they are temporary or long-lasting. (2) Methods: A study was conducted on 104 women, including 64 women infected with COVID-19 and a control group of 40 healthy women, between January 2021 and August 2022. Blood samples were collected to measure prolactin and oxytocin levels, and a clinical assessment was performed 3 and 6 months later. Sexual function self-assessment was captured based on the FSFI scale. (3) Results: Our study found that patients with severe COVID-19 had better sexual satisfaction scores one month after recovery but no discernible difference after six months. High levels of serum prolactin were observed in patients with active COVID-19 but became similar to a control group after one month and remained stable over time. Higher prolactin levels were significantly associated with increased arousal and hydration. Individuals with severe COVID-19 had notably low levels of plasma oxytocin, but there was no correlation between oxytocin levels and sexual satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: The gynecologic symptoms, as well as disturbances in oxytocin and prolactin levels, might be observed in a short time after infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection has no lasting effect on sexual function, oxytocin, and prolactin levels among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While COVID-19 impacted all aspects of health care and patient treatment, particularly for patients with mental health/substance use (MH/SU) concerns, research has suggested a concerning increase in the use of restraint and seclusion (R/S) interventions, although results vary depending on facility type and patient population. Thus, the present study sought to explore COVID-related changes in the use of R/S interventions among patients presenting to Ontario emergency departments (EDs) with MH/SU complaints. To determine whether temporal and clinical factors were associated with changes in R/S use during COVID, binary logistic regression models were computed using data from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database. We then compared both prevalence rates and probability of an R/S event occurring during an ED visit in Ontario before and after the onset of COVID. The number of ED visits during which an R/S event occurred for patients presenting with MH/SU concerns increased by 9.5%, while their odds of an R/S event occurring during an ED visit increased by 23% in Ontario after COVID onset. Similarly, R/S event probability increased for patients presenting with MH/SU concerns after COVID onset (0.7% - 21.3% increase), particularly during the first wave, with the greatest increases observed for concerns associated with increased restraint risk pre-COVID. R/S intervention use increased substantially for patients presenting to Ontario EDs with MH/SU concerns during the first wave of COVID when the strain on healthcare system and uncertainty about the virus was arguably greatest. Patients with concerns already associated with increased R/S risk also showed the largest increases in R/S probability, suggesting increased behavioural issues during treatment among this population after COVID onset. These results have the potential to inform existing policies to mitigate risks associated with R/S intervention use during future public health emergencies and in general practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphine ligands play a crucial role in homogeneous catalysis, allowing fine-tuning of the catalytic activity of various metals by modifying their structure. An ultimate challenge in this field is to reach controlled modulation of catalysis in situ, for which the development of phosphines capable of photoswitching between states with differential electronic properties has been proposed. To magnify this lightinduced behavior, in this work we describe a novel phosphine ligand incorporating two dithienylethene photoswitchable moieties tethered to the same phosphorus atom. Double photoisomerization was observed for this ligand, which remains unhindered upon gold(I) complexation. As a result, the preparation of a fully ring-closed phosphine isomer was accomplished, for which amplified variation of phosphorus electron density was verified both experimentally and by computational calculations. Accordingly, the presented molecular design based on multiphotochromic phosphines could open new ways for preparing enhanced photoswitchable catalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning from the experiences of other countries can support efforts to improve agricultural policies. Switzerland provides an interesting case because its policy is exceptionally targeted towards the establishment of sustainable production systems. We describe the history and the current state of Swiss agricultural policy, review evaluations of policy reforms, summarise their impact and outline the lessons learned for policy developments in other countries. We discuss four implications: i) some goals have been met, albeit at a high cost, and so, increasing efficiency of policies is key; ii) there is a need for more coherence and coordination regarding the different policy programmes (i.e. in the sense of a 'food system policy'); iii) cross-compliance measures (i.e. minimum standards for receiving support) have an important leverage effect; and iv) policy differentiation (e.g. by spatial targeting) and increasing farmers' discretion over how to achieve goals (e.g. by implementing results-based payments) are key for future policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this study aims to identify the mediating effects of depersonalization and resilience on the relationship between customer incivility and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). It further posits that these indirect effects vary depending on the caring climate and achievement orientation. Design/methodology/approach: A field survey among 622 service employees (Study 1) and a three-wave field survey of 315 service employees and their managers (Study 2) from various service organizations were conducted. Findings: This study confirms that depersonalization operates as a negative mediator in the relationship between customer incivility and OCB. Simultaneously, resilience emerges as a positive mediator, underscoring the contrasting pathways through which customer incivility affects OCB. Furthermore, a caring climate plays a pivotal role in mitigating the detrimental impact of depersonalization on OCB and weakening the positive impact of resilience on OCB. Additionally, this study identifies achievement orientation as a significant moderator between customer incivility and resilience. Originality/value: This study advances theoretical foundations by investigating depersonalization and resilience as critical mediators in the intricate relationship between customer incivility and OCB. It goes beyond the conventional understanding of customer incivility's impact by shedding light on the dual roles of a caring climate, demonstrating its potential to alleviate both positive and negative consequences of customer incivility. Moreover, its identification of achievement orientation as a moderator adds a novel dimension to the discourse, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to harness employee resilience in the face of customer incivility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hoverflies (Syrphidae) are essential pollinators, and their severe decline jeopardizes their invaluable contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production. However, we know little about the dispersal abilities of hoverflies in urbanized landscapes, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant–pollinator systems and reducing our ability to preserve biodiversity in the context of global change. Previous work has not addressed how urbanization affects the functional connectivity of hoverflies and whether dispersal is a limiting factor in their population dynamics. In this study, we investigated the spatial genetic structure of two nonmigratory species of hoverflies in two urban areas. We collected more than a thousand specimens of each Syritta pipiens and Myathropa florea, each, by hand netting in two western European urbanized study areas of 490 and 460 km2 in 2021, and we genotyped them at 14 and 24 microsatellite loci, respectively. Based on spatial and nonspatial Bayesian clustering methods, we failed to reject the null hypothesis of panmixia, suggesting that both species exhibited high genetic connectivity despite urbanization. The distribution of allele frequencies was not correlated with geographic distance, implying that isolation‐by‐distance was negligible at the investigated spatial scale in both species. Although anthropogenic land cover changes generally have dramatic consequences on biodiversity, these hoverfly species retain high connectivity, which suggests that dispersal is not a strong limiting factor in their metapopulational dynamics. However, high effective population size and its confounding effect on signals of genetic drift may limit our ability to conclude confidently about landscape effects on gene flow in those two species. Provided we maintain or restore habitat, recolonization may be prompt even in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In intensive care units, patients are often restrained to ensure their safety, with physical restraints being the most commonly used method. However, physical restraints compromises the patient's freedom, health and comfort, and nurses often face moral dilemmas when deciding whether to use physical restraints. This article examines physical restraints through the four universal principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Through these principles, the authors will critically explore whether the physical restraints of patients by nurses is ethical in practice and what moral issues exist. This paper also explores conflicts and moral dilemmas for nurses in this context. Finally, suggestions are made on changes to education and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bumblebees are well-suited pollinators of economic crops. This study evaluated the foraging behavior and pollination effects of Bombus terrestris on cherry tomatoes and pears in northern China. B. terrestris pollination can improve cultivation efficiency, increase yield, and produce more economic benefits, which indicates that it has great potential in pollination applications for cherry tomatoes and pears in northern China. Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) have strong environmental adaptability and high pollen transfer efficiency, making them well-suited pollinators of economic crops. However, bumblebee pollination is still not widely applied in northern China due to the lack of data on foraging behavior and pollination effects. We conducted a three-year experiment involving cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pears (Pyrus spp.) treated with bumblebee pollination to evaluate the foraging behavior and pollination effects on these two crops. Results showed that B. terrestris had enhanced foraging activities as daytime temperatures rose from 18 °C to 26 °C, as indicated by the increased number of bees leaving the hive and returning bees carrying pollen in greenhouses in winter. There were two peaks in the foraging activity of bumblebees in pear orchards in early spring, which was closely related to the temperature change in the daytime. Undoubtedly, cherry tomatoes treated with B. terrestris had higher fruit setting rate, weight, seed number, and fruit yields compared to those with hormone 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatments, as well as a lower rate of deformed fruits. B. terrestris pollination can significantly increase the fruit setting rate and fruit yield of pears, compared with open pollination, and can fully achieve the effect of hand pollination. B. terrestris pollination can improve cultivation efficiency, increase yield, and produce more economic benefits. Moreover, it can also contribute to reducing hormone residues and ensure the safety of agricultural products. We recommend its application to cherry tomatoes in greenhouses in winter and potential application to pears in orchards in early spring in northern China. However, the risk to local bumblebee species of introducing commercially available bumblebees into orchards should be considered and evaluated in future research. This study provides both empirical support and a theoretical basis for the selection of bumblebees as pollinators in the production of economically important crops and the improvement of crop cultivation management in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state small-molecule fluorescent photoswitches are characterised by their unique luminescence properties in solid form, making them highly suitable for practical applications involving surfaces and interfaces. However, a common challenge is that most such photoswitches with thiophene units exhibit subdued fluorescence due to the heavy atom effect of sulfur. To overcome this, we present a molecular design strategy that significantly enhances the solid-state fluorescence efficiency of these photoswitches. Our approach involves the substitution of thiophene units with thiophene dioxide, thereby mitigating the heavy atom effect. We have synthesized four tetraphenylethene-based molecules containing thiophene units to demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy. Comparative analysis of their photochromic and fluorescence switching performances revealed that those containing thiophene dioxide units outperformed others in terms of photochromic properties and solid-state luminescence efficiency. Theoretical analysis suggests that this enhancement is due to the minimal involvement of the sulfur atom in the S0 to S1 transition in the photoswitchable molecule containing a thiophene dioxide unit, making its fluorescence properties largely unaffected by the heavy atom effect of sulfur. Furthermore, we found that the incorporation of 2,5-dimethylthiophene units improved the anti-fatigue performance, probably because the methyl groups hinder the oxidative dehydrogenation side reactions in the closed-ring isomer. The addition of a 2,5-dimethylthiophene dioxide unit not only improved the photochromic and fluorescence emission efficiency, but also significantly improved the anti-fatigue performance. As a result, these photoswitchable molecules exhibit outstanding dual-mode photoswitching capabilities and sustainable recyclability, positioning them as excellent photosensitive materials for photoprinting of digital, textual and patterned content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in bumble bee species range and abundances are documented across multiple continents and have prompted the need for research to aid species recovery and conservation. The rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is the first federally listed bumble bee species in North America. We conducted a range-wide population genetics study of B. affinis from across all extant conservation units to inform conservation efforts. To understand the species' vulnerability and help establish recovery targets, we examined population structure, patterns of genetic diversity, and population differentiation. Additionally, we conducted a site-level analysis of colony abundance to inform prioritizing areas for conservation, translocation, and other recovery actions. We find substantial evidence of population structuring along an east-to-west gradient. Putative populations show evidence of isolation by distance, high inbreeding coefficients, and a range-wide male diploidy rate of ~15%. Our results suggest the Appalachians represent a genetically distinct cluster with high levels of private alleles and substantial differentiation from the rest of the extant range. Site-level analyses suggest low colony abundance estimates for B. affinis compared to similar datasets of stable, co-occurring species. These results lend genetic support to trends from observational studies, suggesting that B. affinis has undergone a recent decline and exhibit substantial spatial structure. The low colony abundances observed here suggest caution in overinterpreting the stability of populations even where B. affinis is reliably detected interannually. These results help delineate informed management units, provide context for the potential risks of translocation programs, and help set clear recovery targets for this and other threatened bumble bee species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recent studies on search-as-learning (SAL) have recognized the significance of identifying users' learning needs as they evolve for acquiring knowledge during the search process. In this study, the authors clarify the extent to which search behaviors reflect the learning outcome and foster the users' knowledge of Chinese art. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted an exploratory-sequential mixed-methods approach using simulated work task situations to collect empirical data. The authors used two types of simulated learning tasks for topics related to painting and antique knowledge. A lot of 25 users participated in this evaluation of digital archives (DAs) at the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taiwan. For each set of topics, a close-ended task related to lower-level learning goals and an open-ended task related to higher-level learning goals. Findings: The learning criteria reflect changes in the users' knowledge structure, revealing the SAL process. Furthermore, users achieved better task performance on the higher-level creative-learning task, which suggests that they met more learning criteria, exhibited a greater variety of search patterns when exploring the topics via interaction with various sources. Finally, there is a close relationship between creative-learning tasks, prior knowledge, keyword search actions and learning outcomes. Originality/value: The authors discuss implications with respect to the design of DAs in practice and contributions to the body of SAL knowledge in DAs of online museums. For future reference, the authors provide implications for the development of learning measures from the perspective of user search behavior with associated learning outcomes in the context of DAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Physical restraints and hand restraints are used in medical settings to provide protection and control. However, few studies have investigated their use among community-dwelling older adults. The study explored variables associated with the use of physical restraints and hand restraints among older adults receiving home care services and the reasons behind their use., Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 128 older adults receiving home care services and with catheters. Data were collected regarding demographic characteristics; activities of daily living (ADLs); muscle strength; family function; the use of nasogastric tubes, urinary catheters, and tracheal tubes; and the type and duration of restraint use and the reasons behind such use., Results: Among the participants, 76% experienced the use of physical restraints, and 34% experienced the use of hand restraints. The variables related to physical restraints were ADLs (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.95, p = .02) and the presence of a paid caregiver (AOR = 3.33, p = .02). The variables related to hand restraints were ADLs (AOR = 0.93, p = .03), use of a nasogastric tube (AOR = 13.46, p = .03) and the presence of a paid caregiver (AOR = 6.38, p = .02). The primary reasons behind restraint use were to prevent fall and extubation events., Conclusions: The use of physical restraints among older adults with catheters may be affected by their functioning in ADLs and the presence of paid caregivers to ensure their safety. Thus, implementing interventions that target functional capabilities and caregiving skills may help reduce the use of restraints., (© 2024 AJA Inc’.)

Manufacturing structural monolithic components for the aerospace market often involves machining distortion, which entails high costs and material and energy waste in industry. Despite the development of distortion calculation and avoidance tools, this issue remains unsolved due to the difficulties in accurately and economically measuring the residual stresses of the machining blanks. In the last years, the on-machine layer removal method has shown its potential for industrial implementation, offering the possibility to obtain final components from blanks with measured residual stresses. However, this measuring method requires too long an implementation time to be used in-process as part of the manufacturing chains. In this sense, the objective of this paper is to provide a machining distortion prediction method based on bulk residual stress estimation and hybrid modelling. The bulk residual stresses estimation is performed using reduced layer removal measurements. Considering bulk residual stress data and machining-induced residual stress data, as well as geometry and material data, real-part distortion calculations can be performed. For this, a hybrid model based on the combination of an analytical formulation and finite element modelling is employed, which enables us to perform fast and accurate calculations. With the developments here presented, the machining distortion can be predicted, and its uncertainty range can be calculated, in a simple and fast way. The accuracy and practicality of these developments are evaluated by comparison with the experimental results, showing the capability of the proposed solution in providing distortion predictions with errors lower than 10% in comparison with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nascent field within the academy, the contours, attributes, and bounties of data science are still indeterminate and contested. We studied how participants in an initiative to establish data science at a large American research university defined data science and articulated their relationships to the field. We discuss two contrasting visions for data science among our research participants. One vision is a transdisciplinary view portraying data science as a phenomenon with transcendent, appropriative, and impositional qualities that sits apart from academic domains. Another view of data science—one that was far more prevalent among our research subjects—casts data science as grounded, relational, and adaptive, emerging from crosspollination of numerous academic domains. We argue that this latter formulation represents a more quotidian reality of data science and positions the field as an extradiscipline, defined as a field that exists to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, tools, and methods from an indeterminate and fluctuating set of disciplinary perspectives while conserving the boundaries of those disciplines. We argue that the dueling transdisciplinary and extradisciplinary visions for data science have important implications for how the field will mature, and that the extradiscipline concept opens novel directions for studying academic knowledge production in STS, contributing additional precision to the literature on disciplinarity and its permutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]