Full Exclusion Research Articles

Between Placelessness and Place-Giving: Migration as a Social Space of Gap and the Threshold Politics of Identity

This study examines the phenomenon of migration and refugeedom within the context of Turkey, not solely through the lens of migrants' integration processes, but also by critically focusing on how the host society actively constructs and conditions these processes. In the current literature, migration is often conceptualized through one-dimensional frameworks that position the migrant as a passive subject expected to adapt. However, contemporary migration dynamics entail not merely individual adaptation, but multilayered processes of cultural, political, and symbolic negotiation and mutual transformation. In this regard, the study introduces the concept of the "Societal Void Zone" (SVZ) to describe the uncertain, negotiated, and often resistant space that emerges between migrants and host communities. The theoretical framework of the study is grounded in social identity theory, acculturation models, and the concept of liminality. The newly developed notions of displacement and place-giving are employed to conceptualize the two poles of this relational field. Displacement denotes the migrant's struggle to reconstruct spatial and identity-based belonging; place-giving refers to the host society's conditional and regulated forms of inclusion. The threshold space that arises between these poles embodies neither full exclusion nor full acceptance, and constitutes a critical terrain for rethinking migration sociology. The study is based on a mixed-method survey conducted with both migrant individuals and host community members. Data were collected using quantitative (Likert scale) and qualitative (open-ended) instruments and analyzed through the lenses of social exclusion, identity tension, and symbolic boundary production. Findings indicate that integration is not merely a matter of individual effort or institutional policy, but a complex and symbolic process of negotiation, recognition, and spatialized belonging. Taking the case of Turkey as a focal point, this article aims to offer a new conceptual vocabulary for migration studies, challenge linear discourses of integration, and reconceptualize migration as a site of encounter, friction, and transformation rather than as mere movement from one place to another.

Stronger Drought Response of CO2 Fluxes in Tundra Heath Compared to Sphagnum Peatland in the Sub-Arctic.

Drought events are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change, causing lasting impacts on plant communities and ecosystem functioning. In the sub-arctic, climate is changing at a rate above the global average with amplifying effects on the carbon cycle. Drought-induced shifts in the balance between productivity and respiration might have important implications for climate change feedbacks in these regions. However, little is known about how carbon fluxes in sub-arctic ecosystems respond to drought, hampering predictions. Here, we test how two important but contrasting sub-arctic ecosystem types, Sphagnum peatland and tundra heath, respond to experimental drought. Mesocosms were exposed to a full precipitation exclusion for 7 weeks, decreasing gravimetric water content by 66% and 53% for Sphagnum peatland and tundra heath, respectively. Drought suppressed all CO2 flux components. Gross primary productivity was on average reduced by 47% and 64%, and ecosystem respiration by 40% and 53% in Sphagnum peatland and tundra heath, respectively. Concomitantly with the ecosystem fluxes, leaf photosynthesis of the three most abundant vascular plant species per ecosystem type was on average suppressed by 40% (peatland) and 77% (tundra heath). Drought resulted in high plant mortality, with up to 54% (peatland) and 73% (tundra heath) dead shoots, which might represent a significant legacy effect suppressing CO2 uptake in subsequent growing seasons. In summary, tundra heath was overall more responsive to drought than peatland. This differential sensitivity, previously unaccounted for, might be important in the future under intensifying drought events. Considering that tundra heath covers more than half of the sub-arctic land area, its drought responsiveness might induce significant reductions in total arctic net CO2 uptake. This would move the arctic carbon balance further toward a net CO2 source.

FRED-UK: Multicentre UK experience of FRED and FRED Jr flow re-direction endoluminal device for intracranial aneurysms: 6 months and 1 year clinical and anatomical results.

Flow diverting stents (FDS) are an established endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms but are reported to have varying rates of adequate occlusion and thromboembolic complications. This study reports clinical safety and efficacy results of the FRED and FRED Jr FDS in clinical practice in the UK at 6 months and 1 year. The FRED-UK study is a single arm, multicentre, prospective, observational study conducted in the UK. Safety was reviewed by evaluating morbidity (modified Rankin Score ≤2) and mortality. Efficacy was assessed as adequate occlusion of the treated aneurysm. A clinical event committee and core laboratory independently assessed clinical and anatomical results. Seven neurointerventional centers treated 61 patients, 57 of which met the full inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, 75.4% were treated with FRED and 24.6% with FRED Jr. The aneurysms were located on the cavernous or supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) in 75.4%, on the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) or anterior communicating artery (Acom) in 21.1%, and on the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 3.5%. 57.9% of aneurysms were small (<10 mm), 40.4% were large (10-24 mm) and 1.8% were giant (≥25 mm). All-cause morbidity and mortality were 0% at 6 and 12 months, and adequate occlusion was 86.7% at 12 months in the per protocol population. The FRED and FRED Jr devices are safe and efficacious in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

The possibilities of using of captive and domestic broodstocks for saving of natural populations. 2. Salmonidae. Atlantic salmon (Part 2)

In first review we considered the problems of creation of sturgeon broodstocks in freshwater with full exclusion of marine phase. Several species of salmonids (trouts) which easily change their life stategy (sea trout/brown trout Salmo trutta, steelhead/rainbow trout, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and other chars) also could be grown in fresh water up to definitive sizes and maturation. Atlantic salmon differs from above species. In present article the intraspecific structure of Atlantic salmon and its life strategies (anadromous, potamodromos and riverine/residential), development of methods of artificial propagation of salmonids and possibilities of Atlantic salmon growing in conditions of freshwater farm are considered. Three types of broodstocks could be created — sea-run (wild), captive (grown from wild smolts) and domestic (grown from eggs) ones. The creation of domestic freshwater broodstock of Atlantic salmon is more complicated in comparison with “trouts” because of precocious maturation of great percent of males and low quality of mature germinal cells in males and females. The other negative features of domestic breeders are decreased genetic variability, increased straying and reduced reproductive success. So commercial aquaculture uses traditional scheme of transfer of large smolts (near 100 g) to sea cages. Conservation aquaculture prefers wild non-resident breeders. Atlantic salmon is characterized by riverspecific broodstocks, so each river should have its own broodstock. As a result, domestic broodstock of Atlantic salmon in conservation aquaculture could be used only as last measure when all other possibilities are already exhaused.

The possibilities of using of captive and domestic broodstocks for saving of natural populations. 2. Salmonidae. Atlantic salmon (Part 1)

In first review we considered the problems of creation of sturgeon broodstocks in freshwater with full exclusion of marine phase. Several species of salmonids (trouts) which easily change their life stategy (sea trout/brown trout Salmo trutta, steelhead/rainbow trout, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and other chars) also could be grown in fresh water up to definitive sizes and maturation. Atlantic salmon differs from above species. In present article the intraspecific structure of Atlantic salmon and its life strategies (anadromous, potamodromos and riverine/residential), development of methods of artificial propagation of salmonids and possibilities of Atlantic salmon growing in conditions of freshwater farm are considered. Three types of broodstocks could be created — sea-run (wild), captive (grown from wild smolts) and domestic (grown from eggs) ones. The creation of domestic freshwater broodstock of Atlantic salmon is more complicated in comparison with trouts because of precocious maturation of great percent of males and low quality of mature germinal cells in males and females. The other negative features of domestic breeders are decreased genetic variability, increased straying and reduced reproductive success. So commercial aquaculture uses traditional scheme of transfer of large smolts (near 100 g) to sea cages. Conservation aquaculture prefers wild non-resident breeders. Atlantic salmon is characterized by riverspecific broodstocks, so each river should have its own broodstock. As a result domestic broodstock of Atlantic salmon in conservation aquaculture could be used only as last measure when all other possibilities are already exhausted.

A review of predator exclusion fencing to create mainland islands in Hawai'i.

Invasive species are the primary threat to island ecosystems globally and are responsible for approximately two-thirds of all island species extinctions in the past 400 years. Non-native mammals-primarily rats, cats, mongooses, goats, sheep, and pigs-have had devastating impacts on at-risk species and are major factors in population declines and extinctions in Hawai'i. With the development of fencing technology that can exclude all mammalian predators, the focus for some locations in Hawai'i shifted from predator control to local eradication. This article describes all existing and planned full predator exclusion fences in Hawai'i by documenting the size and design of each fence, the outcomes the predator eradications, maintenance issues at each fence, and the resulting native species responses. Twelve predator exclusion fences were constructed in the Hawaiian Islands from 2011-2023 and six more were planned or under construction; all were for the protection of native seabirds and waterbirds. Fences ranged in length from 304-4,877m and enclosed 1.2-640 ha. One-third of the 18 fences were peninsula-style with open ends; the remaining two-thirds of the fences were complete enclosures. The purpose of twelve of the fences (67%) was to protect existing bird populations, and six (33%) were initiated for mitigation required under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Of the six mitigation fences, 83% were for the social attraction of seabirds and one fence was for translocation of seabirds; none of the mitigation fences protected existing bird populations. Rats and mice were present in every predator exclusion fence site; mice were eradicated from five of six sites (83%) where they were targeted and rats (three species) were eradicated from eight of 11 sites (72%). Mongoose, cats, pigs, and deer were eradicated from every site where they were targeted. Predator incursions occurred in every fence. Rat and mouse incursions were in many cases chronic or complete reinvasions, but cat and mongoose incursions were occasional and depended on fence type (i.e., enclosed vs. peninsula). The advent of predator exclusion fencing has resulted in great gains for protecting existing seabirds and waterbirds, which demonstrated dramatic increases in reproductive success and colony growth. With threats from invasive species expected to increase in the future, predator exclusion fencing will become an increasingly important tool in protecting island species.

ИМПЛЕМЕНТИРАНЕТО НА ГЛОБАЛНИЯ МИНИМАЛЕН ДАНЪК В БЪЛГАРСКОТО ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛСТВО

The globalization and the digitalization of the economy turned out to be an enormous challenge when taxation multinational companies. Significant part of these companies found an alternative way for reducing their tax bases in their jurisdictions and shifting their profits to jurisdictions with no or low tax rates. From the end of 20thcentury, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is searching ways to reduce the negative effects from these actions for the revenues from corporate taxation and finally developed the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy – Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (Pillar Two) (‘OECD Model Rules’) approved on 14December 2021 by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS. This agreement was accepted by 139 jurisdictions around the world. The countries within the European Union committed to be amongst the first countries to accept and implement the global tax reform till 31stof December 2023. The objective of this extensive reform is to limit the competition amongst the corporate tax rates by establishing a global minimum corporate tax rate. That framework creates a system of two interlocked rules, together referred to also as the ‘GloBE rules’, through which an additional amount of tax (a ‘top-up tax’) should be collected eachtime that the effective tax rate of an MNE in a given jurisdiction is below 15%. Bulgaria, being a member of the European union transposed in the national legislation the rules and principles of the DIRECTIVE (EU)2022/2523 of 14December 2022 on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational enterprise groups and large-scale domestic groups in the Union, by accepting the changes in the Corporate Income Tax Act in effect from 1stJanuary 2024. Unlike the rest of the European countries, the Bulgarian legislators adopted the rules for determining the national additional tax without taking full advantage of the substance -based income exclusion in full and de minimis exclusion provided for in the Directive. These issues are the subject of consideration in this article.

BPM challenges, limitations and future development directions – a systematic literature review

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to identify the main challenges and limitations of current business process management (BPM) development directions noticed by researchers, as well as to define the areas of the main BPM paradigm shifts necessary for the BPM of tomorrow to meet the challenges posed by Industry 4.0 and the emerging Industry 5.0. This is extremely important from the perspective of eliminating the existing broadening gap between the considerations of academic researchers and the needs of business itself.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted on the basis of the resources of two digital databases: Web of Science (WoS) and SCOPUS. Based on the PRISMA protocol, the authors selected 29 papers published in the last decade that diagnosed the challenges and limitations of modern BPM and contained recommendations for its future development. The content of the articles was analyzed within four BPM core areas.FindingsThe authors of the selected articles most commonly point to the areas of organization (21 articles) and methods and information technology (IT) (22 articles) in the context of the challenges and limitations of current BPM and the directions of recommended future BPM development. This points to the prevalence among researchers of the perspective of Industry 4.0 – or focus on technological solutions and raising process efficiency, with the full exclusion or only the partial signalization of the influence of implementing new technologies on the stakeholders and in particular – employees, their roles and competencies – the key aspects of Industry 5.0.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposal of BPM future development directions requires the extension of the BPM paradigm, taking into account its holistic nature, especially unpredictable, knowledge-intensive business processes requiring dynamic management, the need to integrate BPM with knowledge management (KM) and the requirements of Industry 5.0 in terms of organizational culture. The limitation is that the study is based on only two databases: WoS and SCOPUS and that the search has been narrowed down to publications in English only.Practical implicationsThe proposal of BPM future development directions also requires the extension of the BPM paradigm, taking into account the specific challenges and limitations that managers encounter on a daily basis. The presented summaries of the challenges and limitations resulting from the literature review are accompanied by recommendations that are primarily dedicated to practitioners.Social implicationsThe article indicates the area people and culture as one of the four core areas of BPM. It emphasizes the necessity to account to a greater degree for the influence of people, their knowledge, experience and engagement, as well as formal and informal communication, without which it is impossible to use the creativity, innovativeness and dynamism of the individual and the communities to create value in the course of business process execution.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review of the literature on the limitations of modern BPM and its future in the context of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0.

Determinants of circulating calcitonin value: analysis of thyroid features, demographic data, anthropometric characteristics, comorbidities, medications, and smoking habits in a population with histological full exclusion of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Calcitonin (Ctn) measurement is crucial for the early diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). However, Ctn levels can be skewed/elevated due to other reasons, and the Ctn upper reference value remains controversial. In this field, studies have heterogeneous settings, published data are controversial, and no evidence has been achieved. The study's aim was to evaluate all previously investigated Ctn determinants in a population with histological exclusion of MTC. The institutional records from 2010 to 2022 were reviewed to select patients with thyroid nodules who had undergone total thyroidectomy with histological exclusion of MTC and who had tested for Ctn just before surgery. Thyroid features, demographic and anthropometric data, comorbidities, medications, and lifestyle information were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. A total of 127 cases were included. The median age for thyroidectomy was 51 years. Median Ctn was 1.04 pg/mL (interquartile range (IQR) 1.04-2.77), with two cases having values above 10 pg/mL. In univariate analysis, Ctn was correlated with gender (p < 0.001), body weight (p = 0.016), height (p = 0.031), body surface area (p = 0.016), thyroid size (p = 0.03), thyroglobulin (p < 0.001), and chronic kidney disease (p< 0.001). After multivariate analysis, the model with the highest accuracy included gender, chronic kidney disease, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with an adjusted R-squared of 0.4. This study demonstrates, in a population histologically proven as MTC-free, that the Ctn value is mainly influenced by gender, anthropometric/thyroid features, and chronic kidney disease, with the further impact of TSH.

The Impact of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor on Sinus Disease, Olfaction, and the Sinonasal Microbiome in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Background: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) is a highly effective triple modulator therapy that has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. Beyond pulmonary improvements, ETI’s impact on sinus disease, olfactory function, and the sinonasal microbiome is just beginning to be understood. We present a contemporary review of sinonasal changes in patients with cystic fibrosis after ETI initiation. Methods: We conducted a literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles about ETI’s impact on sinonasal disease and symptoms in patients with cystic fibrosis published in English from 2019 to August 2024 were eligible for inclusion. Studies were selected based on their contribution to understanding changes in sinus disease severity, sinonasal quality of life, olfactory function, and the sinonasal microbiome in patients with cystic fibrosis after starting ETI. Results: An initial query yielded 41 articles. After screening abstracts, 23 articles were chosen for further review. A total of 19 articles met full inclusion and exclusion criteria. Evidence suggests ETI significantly improves sinus disease in patients with cystic fibrosis, with clinical, radiographical, and quality of life improvements observed within days to months and persisting for up to two years. Studies on olfactory changes showed mixed results, with persistent dysfunction demonstrated on psychophysical tests despite subjective improvements. ETI also alters the sinonasal microbiota, by reducing pathogenic bacteria and total bacterial load, though the clinical implications remain under investigation. Conclusions: ETI therapy markedly improves both objective evidence of sinus disease and sinonasal quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis. Despite some improvements in olfactory dysfunction, objective tests consistently report refractory impairment post-ETI. Changes in the sinonasal microbiome are evident, but dysbiosis remains a concern. Further research is needed to clarify the long-term effects of ETI on olfactory dysfunction and the sinonasal microbiome, especially in younger populations.

Этические императивы в историцистской перспективе: был ли Иисус Навин аморальным?

The present article is dedicated to the problem of moral evaluation of historical figures and events as illustrated by an example of one of the most prominent figures of biblical stories Jesus Navis. He is one of those figures who commits something obviously morally wrong, if seen from the point of view of the dominant modern morality, but still is a moral authority for many people due to his commitment to God, place in Sacred history and some other features. The author considers in the article the following question: may such persons and acts be ever evaluated in modern historical narratives? He presumes that to this question positive answer may be given without sticking to some kind of prejudice, and proposes an argument which combines a semantic thesis that from the truth of the proposition “x committed an immoral action a” does not necessarily follow the proposition “x acted immorally by doing a”, with the justification of the claim that only the first one is applicable to historical figures, given we don’t know the historical context well. It is also shown that this approach allows to resolve yet another old problem: that of an accurate representation of the past without full exclusion of evaluative statements.The present article is dedicated to the problem of moral evaluation of historical figures and events as illustrated by an example of one of the most prominent figures of biblical stories Jesus Navis. He is one of those figures who commits something obviously morally wrong, if seen from the point of view of the dominant modern morality, but still is a moral authority for many people due to his commitment to God, place in Sacred history and some other features. The author considers in the article the following question: may such persons and acts be ever evaluated in modern historical narratives? He presumes that to this question positive answer may be given without sticking to some kind of prejudice, and proposes an argument which combines a semantic thesis that from the truth of the proposition “x committed an immoral action a” does not necessarily follow the proposition “x acted immorally by doing a”, with the justification of the claim that only the first one is applicable to historical figures, given we don’t know the historical context well. It is also shown that this approach allows to resolve yet another old problem: that of an accurate representation of the past without full exclusion of evaluative statements.

Browsing by non-native invasive sambar deer dramatically impacts forest structure

Browsing by non-native invasive sambar deer dramatically impacts forest structure

Full Exclusion of Branched Hexanes from Their Linear Isomer by a Robust Aluminum Metal–Organic Framework with Tailored Pore Structure

Full Exclusion of Branched Hexanes from Their Linear Isomer by a Robust Aluminum Metal–Organic Framework with Tailored Pore Structure

459 Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenetic Tests When Prescribing Antidepressant Therapy for Depression, A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Abstract Introduction Pharmacogenetic testing when prescribing medicines has the potential to reduce harmful side effects, optimise treatment, and improve clinical outcomes. Depression is a major global disease burden with high economic costs and it’s becoming more prevalent (1). There is a growing number of clinical trials and reviews that support the use of pharmacogenetic testing for depression and more results are available from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that were completed recently to warrant a new systematic review (2). Aim The aim was to evaluate the clinical utility of pharmacogenetic tests when prescribing antidepressant therapy for depression (including mild, moderate, and major depression) by comparing the remission rate, antidepressant response and adverse events from RCTs for the pharmacogenetic guided therapy group and the treatment as usual group (TAU) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods The PICO inclusion criteria are adults with depression requiring antidepressant therapy for depression. The intervention is a pharmacogenetic gene test(s) and the comparator is usual treatment. The outcomes are depression remission, antidepressant response and adverse events. This research was undertaken between April and September 2022 by the main author (SJ). The second author (HA) peer reviewed the title/abstract screening, full text review, and the third author (PD) provided supervisory support. A systematic literature search was completed using Embase, Medline, Cochrane, and PubMed databases according to a published PROSPERO protocol. Articles published between 2000 - 2022 were eligible. Only RCTs that had TAU as the comparator were included. Bias and quality assessments were carried out using the RoB 2 tool. Studies with a high risk of bias were excluded. Heterogeneity was calculated using I2. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan. Results In total, 520 articles were retrieved at first search (excluding duplicates) and seven double-blinded (rater and patient blinded) RCTs were identified that met the full inclusion and exclusion criteria. The RCTs were based in North America (5), Australia (1) and Europe (1). The meta-analysis revealed the remission rate was greater for pharmacogenetic guided groups compared to the TAU groups, pooled risk ratio (RR) = 1.54 (95% CI 1.07-2.21, p = 0.02). For the response rate, results from 6 double blinded RCTs which measured this had a pooled RR= 1.23 (95% CI 0.95-1.59, p = 0.11) which indicates a greater (but not statistically significant) response rate in the pharmacogenetic guided group. Conclusion A limitation of this study is that it showed improvement in remission but not response rate, which is potentially due to response data missing from one of the seven pooled studies. Pharmacogenetic tests might have the potential to improve remission and response rates for antidepressant therapy compared to treatment as usual. However, further studies in the UK are warranted to help determine whether pharmacogenetic tests should be used in an NHS setting.

A116 OPTIMIZING CROHN’S DISEASE ENDOSCOPIC SCORING OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS TO ASSIST WITH THE ADVENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

BackgroundTo date, no studies have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce standard endoscopic scores for Crohn’s Disease (CD). These scores are essential to clinical practice and have a major cost in clinical trials.PurposeWe aimed to re-examine the components of the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD) and Modified Multiplier (MM-SES-CD) to see if scoring of individual colonic segments could be combined while maintaining predictive value accuracy, thus simplifying scoring for AI.MethodData from 279 participants in the UNITI and EXTEND trials as well as an infliximab biosimilar trial (NCT02096861) were used in this retrospective study. The primary outcome was endoscopic remission (ER-1) of the colon, defined as absence of ulcers. Secondary outcomes included alternative definitions of colonic endoscopic remission including SES-CD score of 0 (ER-2), SES-CD <3 (ER-3), and SES-CD reduction by 50% or greater from baseline (colonic endoscopic response).Result(s)The mean baseline SES-CD score was 13.7 (SD 7.7) and the mean MM-SES-CD score was 22.8 (SD 12.4). Among all possible colonic segment combinations, the combination of Right + Rectum + worst of Left or Transverse performed best for prediction of one-year ER-1, with fair accuracy (AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.78, p < 0.0001). Accuracy of prediction of one-year ER-2 was poor (AUC 0.68, 95% CI 0.62-0.75, p < 0.0001), ER-3 was fair (AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.77, p < 0.0001), and prediction of endoscopic response was poor (AUC 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.72, p > 0.01). These results were very similar to conventional scoring (without combining any “worst of” segments) with all of the colonic MM-SES-CD scores, with AUCs of 0.70, 0.69, 0.71, and 0.61 for the respective outcomes. Assessing only for the presence of ulcers was as accurate as the full assessment and exclusion of scoring stenosis had minimal impact on scores.ImageConclusion(s)By combining assessment of colonic segments accuracy was maintained compared with currently used endoscopic scoring. Assessing for features other than ulceration had no significant impact on overall scores. By combining colonic segments and limiting assessment to ulceration, it may be simpler to develop AI algorithms reliably scoring endoscopic severity of CD for clinical practice and trials.Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes belowNoneDisclosure of InterestNone Declared

“Fathers Are Very Important, but They Aren’t Our Contact Persons”: The Primary Contact Person Assumption and the Absence of Fathers in Social Work Interventions

Research on the engagement of fathers in family- and child-oriented social work interventions has focused on individual factors relating to the father, to the mother, or the social worker. Much less attention has been paid to the impact of organizational aspects of the social services themselves. This article uses the methodology of institutional ethnography to examine this impact on the engagement of fathers in those services provided by municipal Departments of Social Services in Israel. We found that service delivery was structured by the primary contact person assumption—that one person should be designated as the primary contact in the routine course of an intervention. Together with gendered, political, and cultural factors that support preference for the mother, this structuring assumption results in a full or partial exclusion of fathers from family- and child-oriented interventions.

Adjacent forest moderates insect pollination of oil palm

Natural habitat plays a role in many agroecosystems as a source of pollination services and other ecological spillover, but these effects are largely unquantified in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), a globally important crop linked to deforestation. In a field experiment in Sumatra, Indonesia, we manipulated floral visitor access to female oil palm inflorescences over a 100 m distance gradient from forest into oil palm and sampled insects with sticky traps placed above male and female inflorescences. Full exclusion of floral visitors decreased mean oil palm fruit set to 12%, demonstrating that insect pollination was necessary to maintain favorable fruit set and yield. Treatment group means of fruit set under open pollination (62%) and when excluding large (>1.4 mm diameter) organisms (72%), did not differ significantly from open pollination augmented with hand pollination (61%), suggesting no difference in pollen limitation. In contrast, when we examined change in fruit set with distance from forest, we found a significant trend of higher fruit set in oil palms closer to the forest when large organisms were excluded, which increased estimated fruit set at the forest edge to 87%, compared to open-pollinated palms (70%). This trend with distance from forest was absent when we fully excluded floral visitors, showing that the effect of forest was not likely due to an abiotic gradient (e.g., changing soil nutrients). Of the arthropod taxa collected from sticky traps, Drosophilidae (Diptera) and Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) decreased and increased with distance from forest, respectively. The taxa Elaeidobius kamerunicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Gelechiidae, and the families Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera) were abundant on both male and female inflorescence sticky traps. Elaeidobius kamerunicus, an introduced oil palm pollinator, had the only significant relationship with fruit set. Our results confirm pollination by insects as a key ecosystem service for oil palm production. Although further work is needed to clarify the relationship between fruit set, biodiversity, and distance from forest, we speculate that excluding large organisms could have increased fruit set closer to forest by mediating interactions between pollinators, forest predators, and farm mesopredators. Understanding the relationships between nearby forest and pollination services could better connect oil palm production to its landscape context and associated biodiversity. This would be important for landscape-scale conservation planning that considers both the ecosystem service needs and ecological impacts of oil palm agriculture.

Through the eyes of a hunter: assessing perception and exclusion performance in ground-hornbills.

Logical inference, once strictly associated with spoken language, is now reported in some non-human animals. One aspect of logical inference, reasoning by exclusion, has been traditionally explored through the use of the cups task (cup A and cup B, if not cup A, then exclude cup A and select cup B). However, to fully understand the factors that drove the evolution of logical processes in animals, this latter paradigm needs to cover a taxonomically broader spectrum of species. In this study, we aimed to test the capacity of Southern ground-hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri) to show exclusion performance in a two-way object-choice task. First, we determined whether subjects could perceive and choose correctly between two containers (one rewarded, one unrewarded) using visual or acoustic cues (sensory phase). If successful, individuals were then presented with three experimental conditions (test phase): Full information (content of both cups revealed), Exclusion (content of the empty cup revealed), and Control (no content revealed). During the sensory phase, ground-hornbills succeeded in choosing the rewarded container only in the visual modality. Birds were able to select the rewarded container more than would be expected by chance in the Full information condition, but their performances were equal to chance in the Control condition. The without-learning performance of two individuals within the Exclusion condition indicates that this task is not trivial, which invites further investigation on this species' capacity to represent the dependent relationship between the cups (true logical inference).

LIVE Procedure - A Bespoke Technique for Ischemic Heart Failure

LIVE Procedure - A Bespoke Technique for Ischemic Heart Failure

Efficacy and Safety of Dapagliflozin in Children With Inherited Proteinuric Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study

Efficacy and Safety of Dapagliflozin in Children With Inherited Proteinuric Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study