Environmental Context Research Articles

Unifying Coral Reef States Through Space and Time Reveals a Changing Ecosystem

ABSTRACTAimEcological state shifts that alter the structure and function of entire ecosystems are a concerning consequence of human impact. Yet, when, where and why discrete ecological states emerge remains difficult to predict and monitor, especially in high‐diversity systems. We sought to quantify state shifts and their drivers through space and time in the most ecologically complex marine ecosystem: tropical coral reefs.LocationWorldwide.Time Period1987–2019.Major Taxa StudiedCoral reef communities.MethodsUsing a global dataset of 3375 coral reef surveys, along with 13 time series datasets ranging between 1987 and 2019, we applied a novel double‐dichotomy approach to classify coral reefs into four simplified and discrete states based on the relative contributions of corals versus algae to benthic cover and small‐bodied versus large‐bodied fishes to fish standing stock. We then examined state shifts considering a range of spatial predictors and tested whether states have shifted directionally over time, and the nature of the most common transitions.ResultsWe show that geographic, environmental and anthropogenic context fundamentally shapes coral reef states at the local scale, which explains disparities among case studies, and stakes out critical baseline expectations for regional management efforts. We also reveal clear multi‐decadal state shifts on coral reefs: over time, systems dominated by reef‐building corals and small‐bodied, planktivorous fishes tend to have been replaced with reefs characterised by algae and larger‐bodied fishes.Main ConclusionsOur results suggest a previously unrecognised transition from systems that harness external subsidies through small‐bodied consumers associated with structurally complex live corals, to herbivore‐dominated systems with stronger bottom‐up dynamics. Overall, the partitioning of complex reef ecosystems into a small suite of discrete ecological states suggests that spatial context‐dependency, shifting baselines and changes in reef functioning are crucial considerations for coral reef management in the 21st century.

Computational Multiscale Study of the Interaction Between the PDMS Polymer and Sunscreen-Related Pollutant Molecules

Sunscreen molecules play a critical role in protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, yet their efficient detection and separation pose challenges in environmental and analytical contexts. In this work, we employ a multilevel modeling approach to investigate the molecular interactions between representative sunscreen molecules and the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer, a material widely recognized for its sorbent properties. Our goal is to explore how these interactions can be fine-tuned to facilitate the effective separation of sunscreen molecules in portable membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) systems, potentially leading to the development of new membrane materials. Using a combination of advanced computational techniques—force field molecular dynamics simulations, semiempirical GFN2-xTB, and density functional theory calculations—we assess the interaction strength and noncovalent interactions of sunscreen molecules, namely oxybenzone, naphthalene, benzo[a]anthracene, avobenzone, and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene, with PDMS. Additionally, the effect of temperature on the interaction dynamics is evaluated, with the aim of extending the sorbent capacities of PDMS beyond light polar molecules to larger, polar sunscreen compounds. This study provides critical insights into the molecular-level interactions that may guide the design of novel membrane materials for efficient molecular separation.

The heat shock response of plants: new insights into modes of perception and signaling and how hormones contribute.

Plants have evolved specific temperature preferences, and shifts above this range cause heat stress with detrimental effects such as physiological disruptions, metabolic imbalances, and growth arrest. To reduce damage, plants utilize the heat shock response (HSR), signaling cascades that activate the heat shock factors (HSFs), transcription factors that control the heat stress-responsive transcriptome for activation of protective measures. While the core HSR is well-studied, we still know relatively little about heat stress perception and signal integration or cross-talk with other pathways. In the last few years, however, significant progress has been made in this area, which is summarized here. It has emerged that the plant hormones brassinosteroids (BRs) and abscisic acid (ABA) contribute to heat stress tolerance by impacting HSF modes of activity. Also, we began to understand that heat stress is sensed in different cellular compartments and that events in the nucleus, such as nuclear condensate formation via liquid-liquid phase separation, play a key role. In the future, it will be important to explore how these multilayered perception and signaling modes are utilized to understand how environmental context and developmental stage determine the outcome of heat stress effects on plant growth and development.

Barriers and facilitators of adherence to clinical practice guidelines in Germany-A systematic review.

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) represent evidence-based tools designed to assist healthcare practitioners and patients in decisions in clinical practice. Evidence supports the clinical benefits of adhering to CPGs. However, their successful implementation and adherence in clinical settings often encounter challenges. This systematic review aimed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing adherence to CPGs in Germany. The protocol of this study was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF) registry (DOI: 10.17605/OSF. IO/GMFUB). In November 2022 we searched on PubMed and Embase for primary studies employing qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches that focus on barriers or facilitators to CPGs adherence in the Germany. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the studies. The collected data on barriers and facilitators of CPG adherence were systematically categorized and analyzed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). A total of 24 studies were included, mainly focusing on adherence to national CPGs. This review introduces a new domain, guideline characteristics, reflecting the need to address barriers and facilitators to CPG development, implementation, dissemination and format, which couldn't be encompassed within the existing 14 domains of TDF framework. Among healthcare professionals, the most frequently reported influencing factors were related to the environmental context and resources (encompassing aspects such as employer support for CPG utilization), the CPG development and dissemination process (including layout, wording, and interactive tools) and beliefs about consequences (such as contradictions with practical experience). Knowledge (knowledge about the content of CPGs, awareness about published CPGs), primarily as a barrier, and reinforcement facilitators (notably financial support), were also frequently reported. The findings revealed multilevel factors contributing to CPG adherence, with environmental context and resources emerging as the most frequently reported considerations. This systematic review offer holistic insights into the barriers and facilitators of CPG adherence in Germany. The results contribute to a better understanding of the topic and serve as a resource for developing targeted strategies to enhance CPG adherence and implementation within the German healthcare system.

On safety of swelled commercial lithium-ion batteries: A study on aging, swelling, and abuse tests

Lithium-ion battery technology has advanced significantly, making these power sources essential for portable electronic devices such as smartphones. In 2023, global smartphone shipments reached nearly 1.2 billion units, underscoring the widespread reliance on these batteries. However, as batteries age, they may swell and potentially pose explosion risks. To investigate the safety of swollen batteries, this study conducts accelerated aging and swelling tests on lithium-ion batteries from five leading brands, which together represent over half of the global smartphone market share. The research involves a series of comprehensive tests, including Accelerated Rate Calorimeters (ARC) test, mechanical, electrical, and thermal abuse tests in accordance with Chinese national standards, as well as gas composition and theoretical flammability analyses on both new and swollen batteries. The findings indicate that swollen batteries generally exhibit safer behavior under floating charging conditions, and both new and swollen batteries pass the abuse tests within the standard framework. This study suggests that the safety of swollen lithium-ion batteries cannot be categorically labeled as dangerous or safe and should be assessed within the context of specific environments.

Design and Art Tools Formation of Visual Context in Modern Anthropogenic Environment

The purpose of the article is to establish the design and artistic means of forming the cultural-artistic context of modern anthropogenic space. The research methodology involved the use of synthesis and analysis methods with the involvement of interdisciplinary connections (architecture, art history, cultural studies, psychology, design), which made it possible to develop the available theoretical and practical experience on the subject of the article; the method of theoretical generalisation was used to formulate conclusions regarding the outlined problem. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the fact that it actualises the issue of the role of the visual and plastic language of design in the formation of the communicative and cultural content of the anthropogenic environment. Conclusions. With the change of socio-cultural, political and economic conditions, people's requirements for their environment also change. Design and artistic techniques make it possible to dynamically adjust the visual context of the space, to modernise it. The visual plastic design language of the modern anthropogenic environment is presented in artistically decorated stationary and moving objects, their parts, which add character and individuality to it, cause certain emotions in people who interact with such a space. The presence of murals, graffiti, street stencils, sticker art, aerosol art, posters, photo wallpapers, knitted graffiti, mosaics, LED art, media facades, sculptures, video mapping contributes to the formation of a new visual context of the environment, 3D images. Unsystematic, chaotic formation of the visual context of the space can disrupt its artistic integrity. It is worth considering the location of the object, its role in the general structure of the environment, architectural, historical or ethnic context.

Principal Component Analysis for Aggregating Environmental Variables Affecting Electricity Distributors' Operations in Brazil

Theoretical Framework: The National Electric Energy Agency (NEEA) applies benchmarking, especially Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), to establish distribution tariffs and calculate efficient operational costs. The environmental context of the areas where distributors operate impacts their efficiency, indicating the need to integrate environmental factors into benchmarking models to correct methodological biases and consider unmanageable aspects, ensuring a more accurate analysis of distributor efficiency. Objective: The study applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to the environmental variables of electricity distributors in Brazil, facilitating the evaluation of companies under similar operational conditions. Method: The research utilized PCA to condense environmental information from the utilities into a reduced set of variables, simplifying the understanding of impacts on the companies' operational costs. Research Implications: The 21 environmental variables were synthesized into four main components: Territoriality, Climate Factor, Wildfires, and Accessibility/Infrastructure, allowing their use in advanced models that consider environmental factors. Originality/Value: The application of PCA to the environmental variables of electricity distributors in Brazil enables a more homogeneous evaluation based on similar environmental conditions. This approach, still underexplored by ANEEL, assists in analyzing the particularities of the distributors.

New England and Literary Tradition: Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost

This study explores how New England's cultural, historical, and environmental contexts have deeply influenced its literary tradition. By analyzing works from notable New England authors like Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, the research investigates how the region's unique characteristics impact American literature's themes and storytelling styles. The paper establishes a theoretical foundation based on regionalism and sense of place theory to guide the in-depth analysis of literary texts. The main focus is on themes such as nature, morality, and community life that define New England's literary identity. This examination reveals the significant influence of the region on its writers. It contributes to a broader understanding of how geographical settings shape literary creativity.

Fine‐scale variation in the medium and large‐sized mammal assemblage composition in northeastern Amazon: Drivers of β‐diversity and species interactions

AbstractUnderstanding fine‐scale assemblage composition patterns of mammals is important to increase ecological knowledge and support conservation actions. We investigated whether β‐diversity of medium and large‐sized mammals and its components (replacement and richness difference) are related to distance to major rivers, height above the nearest drainage (HAND), and vegetation height; and whether species interactions shape their spatiotemporal distribution. We used camera traps to monitor the mammal assemblage of the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park, Northeastern Amazon. The difference (Δ) in distance to major rivers and geographic distance between sites affected positively the total β‐diversity and both its components. ΔVegetation height affected total β‐diversity and species replacement, while ΔHAND affected richness differences, and to a lower extent, species replacement. We found evidence that spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) adjust their spatiotemporal dynamics to escape from predation and to overlap with abundant prey, respectively. However, we did not find evidence that competition affects the spatiotemporal distribution of any other species. Vegetation height, distance to rivers and HAND influenced mammal assemblages probably through shaping the quality and amount of resources. Predation risk seems to be important in shaping the use of time and space by prey, while the distribution of prey is important for the use of time and space for predators. Furthermore, other niche differentiation mechanisms may explain why competition did not affect the species' spatiotemporal dynamics. We highlight the need to include different environmental contexts within protected areas to promote mammal diversity and conservation.

MEXICAN INTEROCEANIC CORRIDOR: TOWARD A LIKELY SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE REGION IN SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO

Mexican Interoceanic Corridor or Tehuantepec's Transisthmian Corridor (along with the Mayan Train) represents one the two largest iconic and challenging Mega Projects implemented in Southwestern Mexico, funded by Mexican Government, in the same so-called “Macrosouth region” or just Macrosouth, here on, (integrated by three economic subregions, namely, South-Pacific, Southern and South-western regions). Despite both projects ultimately aim to foster economic growth in such a region, the former aims to stimulate growth through an increased tourism flow from the wealthy Mayan Riviera zone toward the Gulf of Mexico's long-lagged region by railroad through the Mayan Train recently inaugurated by President Lopez Obrador,vid AMLO(Dec 22, 2023).Although the main focus of our attention here, namely, the Interoceanic Corridor, given its geoeconomic and geo strategic relevance for the country since it is expected to skyrocket Mexican exports and commercial activity through this facility and thus fostering economic growth throughout the Corridor stripe and spread it out throughout its neighboring regions such as those above referred in the coming years given its previlegious geographic location under the global context in which Mexico is currently immersed. Accordingly, the article aims to assess and highlight the socio economic relevance of the Mexican Corridor megaproject and its likelihood to achieve by this means simultaneously economic growth and people's well-being in this region as an expected consequence of the intensive commercial thorugh its operation and industrial activity generated by the production of ten industrial parks to be implemented along the Corridor (backed by a host of full-fledged refurbished and renewed productive infrastructure around it) such as railway itself and road transport and port facilities along the end lines of the Corridor stripe (and the entire Macroregion) focused on supporting the expected massive commercial flow of merchandise and concomitant export boom back and forth through the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, shortly. Furthermore, all these significant public investments, unlike prior neoliberal investment priorities in the past, these new investments are nurtured upon a framework of a socially inclusive and sustainable strategy tailored by the Mexican government for the Corridor zone to promote simultaneously economic growth and people’s well-being in the Transismithian stripe in the years to come. However, the challenge for the Mexican state, through its policymakers, is to achieve such an equilibrium between economic growth and population well-being in this region under a sustainable environmental context. Accordingly, in short, the purpose of this article is to explore the likelihood of Mexico attaining the above-referred equilibrium and implementing a socially inclusive strategy within a long-time deprived and lagged region from the rest of the country such as the Transisthmian Corridor stripe and its neighboring regions, such as the South-Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, in the foreseeable future along with its likely perspectives and socioeconomic and environmental implications.

Exploration of barriers to treatment for patients with eating disorders in Chile

BackgroundEating disorders (EDs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, affecting predominantly young people and women. A delay in starting treatment is associated with chronic and more severe clinical courses; however, evidence on barriers and facilitators of access to care in Latin America is scarce. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of ED treatment in Chile from the perspective of patients, relatives, and health professionals.MethodsQualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with patients, their relatives, and health professionals. Participants were recruited from two ED centers in Santiago, Chile (one public and one private). Analysis was mainly based on Grounded Theory, using MAXQDA software.Results40 interviews were conducted (n = 22 patients, 10 relatives, and 8 health professionals). The mean age of patients was 21.8 years, while the mean duration of untreated ED was 91.4 months (median 70 months). Five categories emerged with intersections between them: patient (P), family and social environment (FSE), health professionals (HP), healthcare system (HCS), and social and cultural context (SCC). Relevant barriers appeared within these categories and their intersections, highlighting a lack of professional knowledge or expertise, cultural ignorance or misinformation regarding EDs, and patient’s ego-syntonic behaviors. The main facilitators were patients’ and relatives’ psychoeducation, recognition of symptoms by family members, and parents taking the initiative to seek treatment.ConclusionsThis study provides information regarding access to treatment for patients living with EDs in Chile. A practical public health approach should consider the multi-causality of delay in treatment and promoting early interventions.Plain English SummaryEating disorders (EDs) may severely affect the daily functioning of people enduring them. A delay in starting treatment is associated with a disease that is more difficult to treat. To our knowledge, there are no published studies carried out in Latin America exploring factors influencing treatment initiation in EDs patients. This study aimed to identify facilitators of and barriers to treating patients with EDs in Chile. We interviewed patients (n = 22), their relatives (n = 10), and health professionals (n = 8) from a private and a public center in Santiago, Chile. Our analysis showed that the main barriers to starting treatment were the lack of professional knowledge in ED, the monetary cost of illness, and cultural misinformation. Facilitators were related to the role of the family in recognizing and addressing the disease while being educated in EDs by professionals. This study helps to provide data about treatment access in developing countries. While facilitators and barriers were similar to others reported in the literature, the untreated ED’s duration was longer. It is essential to address these barriers to provide access to treatment more efficiently and prevent severe and enduring forms of disease.

Anthropometric indices growth references (length, Weight and Head Circumferences) of children aged 0–24 months in North-East of Iran by GAMLSS

BackgroundGrowth references play a crucial role in the screening, evaluation, and surveillance of children, aiding in the early identification of the requirement for diverse growth-promoting interventions. Variations in human growth across distinct ethnic cohorts arise from genetic disparities, lifestyle variances, nutritional diversity, and diverse social and environmental contexts. Consequently, the selection of growth references markedly influences the prevalence of developmental disorders and nutritional imbalances in children. The study aims to assess the growth percentile of children in the north-east of Iran and establish population-specific reference charts for length, weight, and head circumference spanning from birth to 24 months.MethodsThis cross-sectional population-based research conducted in the north-east of Iran, from 2016 to 2023. The Data extracted from the electronic health records of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All apparently healthy children aged from birth to 24 months who were measured at least once by health staff at the ages of birth,1,2,4,6,7,9,12,15,18,24 months were included. The target population of the study were 479,089 children (96.21%), encompassing 233,565 girls (48.75%) and 245,524 boys (51.25%). Gender-specific percentile curves for length, weight, and head circumference concerning age, as well as weight concerning length, were derived using the GAMLSS approach.ResultsFrom the anthropometric information of 479,089 children (245,524 boys and 233,565 girls), growth charts were constructed. In comparison to the standard WHO chart, Iranian neonates displayed lower weight across all percentiles during the first month after birth, exhibited decreased head circumference at the 3rd percentile, and boys showed reduced length across all percentiles. After this age, Iranian children demonstrated increased weight, length, and head circumference.ConclusionsThis research introduces the inaugural large-scale endeavor for indigenous reference charts. Through the noted distinctions from the international reference, the utilization of this novel resource offers the potential to enhance the surveillance of children’s growth within the area. Moreover, by accurately assessing growth anomalies such as underweight, stunting, and wasting, it expands the domain of impactful policies in this sphere. Simultaneously, it enables the exploration of the secular trend of children’s growth in the forthcoming years.

Co-creation as open innovation and its impact on environmental performance: Comparative insights from university and vocational students

This study addresses the urgent need for innovative solutions to environmental issues by focusing on youth development within educational institutions, which play a crucial role in fostering environmentally conscious behaviors. Despite increasing awareness, there is a gap in understanding how educational settings can effectively promote sustainability through collaborative approaches, such as co-creation as an open innovation model and user engagement strategies. This research investigates the mediating role of co-creation between environmental knowledge and environmental performance, comparing university and vocational students. Data were collected from 678 respondents in Thailand and analyzed using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The findings reveal that environmental knowledge positively influences environmental performance and co-creation activities for both groups, with a more significant mediating effect of co-creation among vocational students. This suggests that vocational students respond more effectively to practical, collaborative approaches to digital innovation in the environmental context. The study also highlights the relevance of the Information Deficit Model, which posits that individuals often do not engage in sustainable behaviors due to insufficient knowledge or information. These results demonstrate the critical role of educational institutions in enhancing sustainability practices by leveraging co-creation and environmental knowledge. The insights from this study are valuable for educators and policymakers seeking to develop user engagement strategies tailored to different student groups, ultimately improving environmental performance and fostering innovation in sustainability practices.

Factors affecting coaching in higher education: a meta-synthesis approach

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify and investigate which factors affect coaching in higher education.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a qualitative meta-synthesis method. Based on the seven-step method (Sandelowski and Barroso, 2006), articles related to coaching in higher education were searched in five databases between 2012 and 2022. After step-by-step reviews and implementation of the critical evaluation skills program, 34 articles were selected from 1,711 sources.FindingsFollowing the analysis of 58 obtained codes, seven sub-themes and three themes were extracted. The results showed that the key factors affecting coaching in higher education include individual (personal skills, personal attitudes, personal behaviors), structural (environmental contexts, organizational contexts), and managerial factors (planning actions, supporting actions).Practical implicationsThe present study provides a framework for policy-making, implementation, evaluation and development of coaching programs in universities and provides a great help and support for planners and administrators of higher education institutions who want to design and implement coaching for the first time.Originality/valueThe presented factors provide effective information to higher education institutions so that they can offer coaching intervention more efficiently and help them allocate resources in a more efficient and strategic manner.

MSDA-HLGCformer-based context-aware fusion network for underwater organism detection

Underwater organism detection is crucial for marine ecology research and resource management. However, underwater images often suffer from issues like blurring, noise, and color distortion, making it challenging to distinguish targets from complex backgrounds. Existing detection methods struggle to separate targets in such conditions. To address these problems, we propose a Cross-Context Fusion Transformer YOLO network (CCFT-YOLO) for underwater organism detection. Specifically, we propose an MSDA-HLGCformer backbone network that captures and integrates local features at different depths and distances through the Multi-Scale Dilated Attention (MSDA) block at the low level, while at the high level, a hierarchical local–global context former (HLGCformer) is developed to contextualize the information at each scale, allowing the model to focus on the global context of the underwater environment. A context-aware cross-level fusion module (CACLFM) is designed to balance the retention of salient target and background texture information by integrating local and global information. Quantitative and qualitative experimental results show that CCFT-YOLO is competitive and robust in underwater organism detection compared to other state-of-the-art detectors.

Designing Effective Hybrid Course Curriculum: A Design Science Approach to Gamification and Student Outcomes Validation.

In the modern educational landscape, the integration of gamification into hybrid learning environments has emerged as a promising approach to enhance student outcomes. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive frameworks for designing gamified hybrid courses and validating their impact on student outcomes. This paper proposes a design science-based approach to gamified course design in hybrid learning contexts. Drawing on the principles of design science research, we developed a framework for designing a gamified hybrid course curriculum that incorporates course content, activities, and assessments based on four elements of gamification (achievement elements, utilitarian value, hedonic benefits, and competition). To validate the effectiveness of our approach, we conducted a study with 294 students enrolled in a hybrid business course that implemented the proposed gamification framework. Our findings indicate that all gamification elements of our proposed gamified hybrid courses positively enhance student engagement, achievement, and satisfaction. Ultimately, this paper not only contributes to the 'gamification in education' literature by providing a comprehensive framework for designing engaging and effective hybrid courses but also proposes a roadmap for the application of design science to embed gamification in business course curriculum design within the context of modern hybrid learning environments.

What is needed to address psychosocial hazards in road transport? Using implementation science to understand the gaps

Work-related psychosocial hazards have a significant influence on the development of musculoskeletal and mental health disorders (MSDs and MHDs). This study used behavioural change theory to guide understanding of barriers and enablers for leaders working in the Heavy Vehicle Road Transport industry, to address workplace psychosocial hazards. The findings will be used to inform design of a future intervention to support leaders to more effectively address these hazards. Principal results and major conclusions: A higher number of barriers than enablers were identified. The most prevalent barriers were inadequate knowledge and interpersonal skills, and environmental context and inadequate resources, and the most prevalent enabler was risk management. The findings extend previous evidence by providing more specific detail regarding requirements for addressing psychosocial hazards. Further, the findings identified there is a need to improve the capability, opportunity and motivation of leaders to enable them to more effectively address psychosocial hazards.

A Bayesian network approach to assess the ecosystem integrity of mangroves in Tampamachoco, Veracruz, Mexico

Given the alarming rates of mangrove forest loss, resource managers must count on information regarding the condition of the mangrove forests. We propose a Bayesian network (BN) to assess mangrove forests' ecosystem integrity (EI) to support a mangrove monitoring system in Mexico. This approach allowed us to infer the system's condition based on variables on forest structure and function. We defined the BN structure based on informal interviews with specialists on vegetation and coastal geomorphology. We applied the expectation-maximization learning algorithm to train the model. Data from plots in two mangrove areas of an Avicennia germinans forest, defined based on their undisturbed and disturbed conditions, were used as training datasets. We applied sensitivity analysis to determine the degree of influence of each model variable. We evaluated the prediction capacity of the BN with a k-fold cross-validation (the process is repeated five times, starting from the database in 2 parts). The variables selected for the model were the Holdridge complexity index (HCI, Holdridge et al., 1971), Leaf area index (LAI), litter production (g/month/m2), leaf C, N and P concentration (%), and leaf N:P ratio. The most critical variable to infer mangrove condition was leaf N:P (Variance reduction = 11%), followed by forest structure variables HCI and LAI (Variance reduction > 5%). The cross-validation to test the model resulted in a minimum square error of 0.3, which indicates a reasonable capacity to predict the condition of mangrove integrity. The BN constructed can diagnose the integrity of a monospecific mangrove forest with acceptable precision, considering the environmental factors that define the forest structure and functioning locally. We then asked the experts to review and modify the model to apply to multispecies mangrove ecosystems and environmental contexts.

Viromes vs. mixed community metagenomes: choice of method dictates interpretation of viral community ecology

BackgroundViruses, the majority of which are uncultivated, are among the most abundant biological entities on Earth. From altering microbial physiology to driving community dynamics, viruses are fundamental members of microbiomes. While the number of studies leveraging viral metagenomics (viromics) for studying uncultivated viruses is growing, standards for viromics research are lacking. Viromics can utilize computational discovery of viruses from total metagenomes of all community members (hereafter metagenomes) or use physical separation of virus-specific fractions (hereafter viromes). However, differences in the recovery and interpretation of viruses from metagenomes and viromes obtained from the same samples remain understudied.ResultsHere, we compare viral communities from paired viromes and metagenomes obtained from 60 diverse samples across human gut, soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Overall, viral communities obtained from viromes had greater species richness and total viral genome abundances than those obtained from metagenomes, although there were some exceptions. Despite this, metagenomes still contained many viral genomes not detected in viromes. We also found notable differences in the predicted lytic state of viruses detected in viromes vs metagenomes at the time of sequencing. Other forms of variation observed include genome presence/absence, genome quality, and encoded protein content between viromes and metagenomes, but the magnitude of these differences varied by environment.ConclusionsOverall, our results show that the choice of method can lead to differing interpretations of viral community ecology. We suggest that the choice of whether to target a metagenome or virome to study viral communities should be dependent on the environmental context and ecological questions being asked. However, our overall recommendation to researchers investigating viral ecology and evolution is to pair both approaches to maximize their respective benefits.ADm-mTTAXM3aVZwCyoroCBVideo

Anthropofabrication and the redressing of memory: an embodied approach to comparative cognition.

On what basis do researchers posit that humans and other animals share cognitive capacities? We argue that such claims are not based on inherent, pre-existing similarities, but rather emerge through a two-step process, which we will call 'anthropofabrication'. In the initial stage, embodied action-based strategies and environmental context in human studies are ignored owing to the need for measurement and quantification. Consequently, cognitive terms become disconnected from the context to which we apply them, and human classificatory cognitive terms are transformed into broad explanatory terms, assumed to be 'species-neutral'. The second phase entails translating and applying these generalized explanatory terms to specific nonverbal animals in ways that serve to further cloak differences between animals and other species. Here, again, researchers selectively discard contextual information to facilitate the comparison with humans. To limit anthropofabrication, we should (re)acknowledge that cognitive abilities are not species-neutral and cannot be detached from embodied action, perception and their context of occurrence. We illustrate our points about anthropofabrication using the example of memory research. This article is part of the theme issue 'Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence'.