Gaining Knowledge Research Articles

Importance and satisfaction of motivation and setting factors among elk and deer hunters

AbstractHunting has important social, cultural, economic, and conservation benefits. Information on hunters’ motivations and expectations for a hunting experience can help support decision‐making by state and federal wildlife managers. We surveyed deer (Odocoileus spp.) and elk (Cervus canadensis) hunters participating in controlled hunts in eastern Oregon to describe hunter characteristics and experiences, including the importance of hunting motivational factors and specific setting attributes (2017–2019; n = 501). We compared differences between hunters’ ratings of importance and satisfaction and identified factors of particular importance for hunters with different characteristics. Survey response rates were high, ranging from 97% in 2017 to 81% in 2019. We found that the intangible benefits of hunting were most important to hunters, with enjoyment and spending time with friends and family emerging as the top‐ranked hunting motivations by importance. Motivations differed by gender, age and hunting avidity. Women rated getting meat for themselves and family higher than did men ( = 4.67 vs. 4.26). Frequent hunters ranked many experiential elements of a hunt higher in importance than less frequent hunters (e.g., Seeing animals in the wild, = 4.52 vs. 4.19; Fun and enjoyment, = 4.50 vs. 4.21; Thrill of the chase, = 4.34 vs. 3.97). Older hunters considered learning experiences less important than younger hunters (New experience, developing new skills, = 2.72 vs. 3.52; Gaining knowledge about the outdoors, = 3.14 vs. 3.83). We also found that the attributes of the specific hunt setting were less important than the broad factors that motivate hunting participation. Our results provide context for hunting retention and reactivation efforts and can be used to identify opportunities to recruit new hunters whose diversity reflects that of background populations in the U.S.

Context-based Derivation of Holistic Sustainability Requirements in the Early Phase of Product Development

Gaining knowledge about the sustainable context is fundamental for the success of a product development, as a lack of knowledge limits the possibilities of innovation. The contextual boundaries of a system often do not adequately describe the influence on sustainability, so that product developers are unaware of problem shifts within and between the areas of impact on sustainability. For reasons of complexity, a therefore needed holistic captured system context is insufficiently taken into account in existing approaches. Within the scope of this article, a framework for Sustainable Context Engineering is developed, that provides a formalization of a holistic sustainable system context for the analysis and synthesis of relations in product development. Furthermore, a requirements methodology based on SPES 2020 is proposed, which supports the decomposition of requirements by model-based templates via a subtractive structure. This promotes communication and situational awareness among developers in order to influence the sustainability goals in the early phase of the product development process. Further research will be made in order to implement the approach in a model-based manner and to define a finite number of measurement parameters based on interdisciplinary sustainability models.

Disease-Modifying Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease: Decisional Needs and Supports Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with sickle cell disease (SCD) often experience significant challenges in disease management. Hydroxyurea and several newer disease-modifying therapies have demonstrated health benefits; however, uptake of these therapies remains suboptimal. Shared decision-making is one promising solution to addressing barriers in uptake and to improve health outcomes for AYAs with SCD. A thorough understanding of AYA's decisional needs can guide the development of tailored decisional supports and promote shared decision-making. Informed by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, this study aimed to examine decisional needs and supports reported by AYAs with SCD, their caregivers, and SCD healthcare providers. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with AYAs ages 15-25 years with SCD ( n=14) and caregivers of AYAs with SCD ( n=11) receiving care at two hospitals in the mid-Atlantic region of the US. Qualitative data were also obtained through online crowdsourcing with SCD providers across the US ( n=40). Most AYAs (93%) identified as non-Hispanic Black ( M age=21 years, 57% male) and had SS genotype (79%). Most caregivers were female (80%) and all identified as non-Hispanic Black (100%). About two-thirds of healthcare providers were female (65%) and non-Hispanic White (65.0%), with an average of 14.8 years in practice ( range=2-57 years). Thematic and descriptive content analyses were used to summarize perspectives on decisional needs and supports regarding disease-modifying therapies. Adequate inter-rater reliability (Cohen's Kappas > .80) and thematic saturation were achieved. Results: AYAs and caregivers reported needing six areas of support when deciding on disease-modifying therapies: resolving decisional conflicts, gaining knowledge, clarifying expectations, garnering supports and resources, navigating complexities in the decision, and addressing other personal concerns. Families reported receiving supports from providers that facilitated their decision-making by helping them: gain knowledge, clarify expectations, address other personal concerns, build rapport with providers, and resolve unreceptiveness or ambivalence to making a decision. Providers reported offering additional supports targeting: inadequate experience in implementing therapies (e.g., pill swallowing), inadequate health and social services and financial assistance, and inadequate instrumental support (e.g., transportation). Conclusions: This research highlights the needs AYAs and caregivers identify when making decisions about disease-modifying therapies for SCD and the decision supports offered by healthcare providers. Decisional needs reported by families generally corresponded to supports offered by providers. Providers also highlighted additional supports that may be helpful for families (e.g., instrumental supports, such as financial, emotional, and skillset assistance). Findings will inform the development of a shared decision-making intervention for AYAs with SCD, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. Future research is needed to examine which decision supports may be most impactful to promote shared decision-making for disease-modifying therapies.

STRATEGI TAHFIDZUL QUR’AN MELALUI KAIDAH TURKI UTSMANI DI UICCI (UNITED ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER OF INDONESIA) SULAIMANIYAH KERTOSONO NGANJUK

The method is definitely needed in memorizing the Qur'an, the method itself is a tool to achieve success. There are lots of methods of memorizing the Al-Qur'an, namely memorizing the Al-Qur'an from chapters 1 to 30, basically what we encounter in many Islamic boarding schools uses the same method as the wahdah method, Talaqqi and many other methods. However, at UICCI (United Islamic Cultural Center Of Indonesia) Sulaimaniyah Kertosono Nganjuk is different from other methods which of course have the same goal, namely to instill faith and piety in the younger generation who memorize the Al-Qur'an. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: 1) To acquire knowledge of Al-Qur'an memorization strategies at UICCI (United Islamic Cultural Center Of Indonesia) Sulaimaniyah Kertosono Nganjuk. 2) Knowing the strategy of memorizing the Qur'an using the Ottoman Turkish method at UICCI (United Islamic Cultural Center Of Indonesia) Sulaimaniyah Kertosono Nganjuk. 3) Gaining knowledge about the factors that influence the memorization of the Qur'an with the Ottoman Turkish method. This study uses a qualitative method with an interactive type and information approach. From the results of the study it can be concluded that the strategy of using the Ottoman Turkish method is a round system and consists of 20 rounds, before memorizing students are also required to master the makharijul letters until they reach the desired criteria. Because of the uniqueness of this method, students feel bored because basically every day they will change chapters.

A survey on utilization and barriers of digital removable prostheses in the US dental education.

Gaining knowledge on the extent of digital technology implementation in dental education and the barriers to it will help inform future directions to promote the use of such technology and will enhance dental education. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of digitally fabricated removable prostheses and the potential obstacles to implementing such technology in US dental schools. A survey was developed and distributed to the restorative dentistry department chairs and postdoctoral prosthodontic program directors. The survey delivery protocol included follow-up emails 1 week, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after the initial email. The collected data were analyzed descriptively. The response rate was 85% and 45% for predoctoral and postdoctoral prosthodontic programs, respectively. The results showed that 88.06% of the predoctoral programs and 95.65% of the postdoctoral prosthodontic programs implement digital complete dentures in the curriculum; however, the digital removable partial dentures implementation rate was recorded at 70.77% in predoctoral programs and 61.9% in postdoctoral prosthodontic programs. Dental schools are challenged by cost, design software limitations, IT and laboratory support, and faculty training. Multifaceted support is instrumental in further implementing digital removable prosthodontics into dental education.

A qualitative evaluation of a telehealth healthy lifestyle intervention for people with serious mental illness.

There are high levels of nutritional and metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory tract diseases among people diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). Consequently, we developed a pragmatic, affordable nutritional and exercise intervention: Choices4Health. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we modified this intervention so it could be delivered online. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of participating in online Choices4Health, in a real-world clinical setting, from the perspectives of service users with SMI. The study aim was addressed using thematic analysis. Service users who had attended online Choices4Health, received a SMI diagnosis (defined as a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or an affective disorder), and resided in a South Dublin catchment were invited to participate. Nine participants were purposefully sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone. Data analysis was guided by thematic analysis procedures. Six themes were generated: Being ready and not overburdened (Engagement); Gaining knowledge and implementing it (Learning and doing); Viewing the intervention as appropriate and effective (Targeted impact); Being at home with others online (Belonging); Having a positive affective attitude towards the intervention (Feeling); and Perceiving problems with intervention delivery (Recommended change). Findings suggest that online Choices4Health is, broadly speaking, acceptable from a service user perspective, but that further refinement is required to address specific issues participants identified. These relate to follow-up or programme extension, technology access, in-person contact preference, and participant inclusion criteria. Further research is required into online Choices4Health efficacy, innovations to reduce digital exclusion, and managing group dynamics in telehealth interventions.

Spatiotemporal Variations in the Sensitivity of Vegetation Growth to Typical Climate Factors on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Gaining knowledge about vegetation sensitivity in response to climate change is a current research priority in the context of accelerated shifts generated by global warming, especially for the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), where vegetation is known to be highly sensitive to ongoing climate change. However, the temporal variability of vegetation sensitivity in response to climate change is still poorly understood on the QTP. Here, we articulate the interannual variability of the vegetation sensitivity in response to typical climate factors, including temperature, solar radiation, and water availability, on the QTP during 2000–2021, using a variety of indicators characterizing vegetation dynamics, including the Leaf Area Index (LAI), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data. The results indicate that temperature exerted positive impacts on forests, grasslands, and barren or sparsely vegetated areas (BSVs). However, all the land-cover types showed decreasing sensitivity to temperature variability. Solar radiation had a positive impact on forests, while it had a negative impact on grasslands and BSVs. An increasing trend was observed for forests, while a decreasing trend was found for grasslands and BSVs regarding their sensitivity to solar radiation. Water availability exerted a positive impact on grasslands and BSVs, and no obvious impact direction could be determined for forests. Over the last two decades, forests and BSVs exhibited increasing sensitivity to water availability, and no obvious trend was observed for grasslands. Overall, temperature was the most important climate factor, followed by solar radiation and water availability, regarding the regulation of vegetation sensitivity on the QTP. Spatially, temperature and solar radiation jointly dominated the vegetation sensitivity in the central to eastern QTP. Conversely, water availability dominated the sensitivity of forests in the southeastern QTP and grasslands in the northeastern and southwestern QTP. This study provides theoretical support for the ecological conservation and management of the QTP in the context of ongoing climate change.

The Whole Genome of Colletes collaris (Hymenoptera: Colletidae): An Important Step in Comparative Genomics of Cellophane Bees.

Gaining knowledge on bees is of the utmost importance due to the paramount role that they play in angiosperm pollination. Herein, we provide the first genome assembly of Colletes collaris, a pan-Eurasian cellophane bee. We sequenced 50.53 Gbp of long-read data plus 57.36 Gbp of short-read data in Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina platforms, respectively. The genome assembly consisted of 374.75 Mbp distributed across 374 contigs, with L50 and N50 of 9 and 8.96 Mbp, respectively. We predicted the genome to comprise 20,399 protein-coding genes, 467,947 repeats, and 4,315 non-coding RNA genes. The transcriptome and mitochondrial genome of the species were also assembled. Gene family analysis with 15 insect species identified 14,417 families, 9,517 of them found in C. collaris. A dated phylogenomic analysis revealed high numbers of orthogroups experiencing rapid evolution within Colletes.

Redzamās skaņas – mākslinieciski pētījumi fotoakustikā

Since 2015, the author of the article has been researching the photoacoustic effect in her artistic work, experimenting, and developing various prototypes and artworks that allow visitors to experience the effect and understand some of its principles. The photoacoustic effect is a process where sound is generated, recorded, or transmitted using photosensitive material. The article describes the author’s creative process, methods, and practical research and draws conclusions about the role of the artistic experience in producing knowledge and informing audiences about the working principles of immaterial energies and invisible processes. The research was inspired by the discovery of the photoacoustic effect by Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922). In 1880, he invented the photophone, also known as the sun telephone. The invention was met with public criticism, but the nature of the phenomenon inspired Bell, so he continued his research, believing in its potential and possible artistic use. The first experiments by the author on recording sound using light were done using simple and available materials and technology. A simple microphone was built with a mirror and a solar cell to record sounds with the sunlight. The mirror picks up voice and environmental sounds, and the reflected light is modulated accordingly. The research continued with building an interface that enables us to record voice and other sounds on paper visually. The next steps in the practical research concentrated on finding objects or phenomena that can be heard directly rather than using a mirror to pick up environmental sounds. The author discovered that it’s possible to hear the sound of insects moving their wings if their shadow is cast over the solar panel. This discovery was the basis for further research into finding methods of generating and amplifying sounds visually using vibrating strings, various rotating mechanisms, and flickering lights. The author developed instruments, created artworks, and did demonstrations, workshops, and performances that allowed visitors to participate in the process. Instruments were easy to use and allowed participants to understand their working principles in a way that allowed them to experiment and discover new sounds. The instruments and experiments demonstrate peculiarities of our perception – the flickering lights and the shadows of moving objects create the stroboscopic effect. The stroboscopic effect creates the illusion of the light being continuously on by visually slowing down the motion of the objects by dividing them into separate ‘frames’. The photoacoustic effect allows us to hear the connection between the flickering light and the slowed motion. Media art researchers such as Armin Medosch (1962–2017) and Douglas Kahn (b. 1951) and others have analysed artworks that use electricity, electromagnetic waves, and other forms of energy that allow visitors to experience their presence and working principles. Khan refers to this type of artwork as ‘experiential physics’, believing that institutionalised science operates in ways that are too disconnected from people’s everyday experiences and realities. Philosophers Kšištof Pomian (b. 1934) and Edward Pols (1919–2005) emphasise the role of experience and perception in gaining knowledge. Public workshops, performances, and demonstrations of the instruments and prototypes allow participants to experience the working principles of various immaterial phenomena (light, sound, electricity) and gain knowledge without using abstract models and theoretical explanations.

Физическая культура в E-learning

Forming the need for a healthy lifestyle, the transfer of knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of physical culture and sports are an urgent pedagogical problem in the transition from the “classical” forms of organization of the educational process to E-learning. The solution of this problem by means of well-known programming languages is impossible due to the insufficient descriptive potential of the latter, in particular, the lack of the possibility of representing human knowledge, probable or possible future events, actions, results. The purpose of our research is to develop theoretical provisions and to verify in practice the possibilities of formalizing the presentation of the individual educational goal of the student and the conscious need for a healthy lifestyle as its basic component in declarative languages, as well as its implementation by means of the educational platform of the university. The researcher considers the possibility of describing the individual educational goal of a student, including a conscious need for a healthy lifestyle as its basic component, gaining knowledge, forming and developing skills in the field of physical culture and sports, as well as the possibility of building an individual educational trajectory of its achievements in the organization of E-learning at the university in the language of first-order predicate logic. A number of features of the predicate logic language that are essential for the problem under consideration are singled out. A pedagogical experiment was conducted on the basis of the educational platform of Voronezh State Pedagogical University. The study involved 158 students and undergraduates. The descriptions of individual educational goals of the student, formalized by the language of logic of predicates, suitable for implementation by means of computer technology are obtained, on the basis of which the optimal trajectory for achieving this goal is calculated for each participant. The practical implementation of the educational process was carried out, data on a conscious need for a healthy lifestyle, gaining knowledge, forming and developing skills in the field of physical culture and sports were obtained. The obtained results were compared with similar studies and a conclusion was made about the ways to improve the suggested approach to the formation of a conscious need for students to lead a healthy lifestyle, gain knowledge, form and develop their skills in the field of physical culture and sports in the context of the transition from “classical” forms of organization of the educational process to E-learning.

Trend analyses of TIMSS 2015 and 2019: school factors related to declining performance in mathematics

Gaining knowledge of what contextual factors may contribute to changes in student achievement across cycles of international large-scale assessments (ILSA), is important for educational policy and practice. Addressing this necessitates advanced methodology that utilizes the trend design of the ILSAs. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data is suitable for such analyses as it measures students’ competence based on the participating countries curricula. In Norway, students’ performance in mathematics decreased from 2015 to 2019 as evidenced by TIMSS. During this time-period, there are indications that also school climate, student motivation and self-concept decreased. This study investigates whether school climate (including bullying, a safe environment, school emphasis on academic success, and students’ sense of school belonging and well-being), student motivation (including interest-enjoyment and utility value), and self-concept declined from 2015 to 2019, and whether this possible decline is related to the decline in mathematics performance in Norway. The present study utilized a trend approach with mediation structural equation modelling. The results showed that school climate, the utility value of the subject and students’ self-concept declined during this period, and that a safe environment and student self-concept mediated the changes in achievement from TIMSS 2015 to 2019. Hence, declines in a safe school climate and student self-concept were associated with declining achievements. While the study cannot prove a causal relation, it is discussed whether this could indicate that the decline in these predictors may explain the decline in mathematics achievement. The usefulness of the methodological approach for other countries, as well as the implications of the results for policy, practice, and research are discussed.

Real Versus Ideal: Understanding How Coaches Gain Knowledge

In an ever-evolving society, sport coaches are presented with a number of avenues through which they can acquire and refine their coaching knowledge. The purpose of this research was to replicate and extend past research to gain an up-to-date understanding of how coaches are presently gaining knowledge. This was done through a constructive replication using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design. Study 1 included 798 coaches who completed an online questionnaire detailing their use of 16 sources of coaching knowledge. Coaches’ top three most used sources were interacting with coaches, learning by doing, and observing others. In contrast, the top three most preferred sources were observing others, interacting with coaches, and having a mentor. To contextualize these findings, Study 2 used a qualitative design in which 14 coaches were interviewed to understand their experiences with different knowledge sources. Five distinct narrative types were identified: recent elite athletes, parent coaches, coach developers, teacher coaches, and experienced coaches. Coaches reported engaging in more social and unstructured learning experiences, and the reasons for their preferences appeared to differ based on lifestyle and perceived barriers. Collectively, these findings highlight how coaches gain knowledge and why they prefer certain sources over others.

Awareness about Early Menarche and Its Associated Problems among Female Medical Students of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Background: In many developing countries, the age of menarche is declining due to various factors. Early pubertal development or early menarche among girls could be associated with higher risks of poor health, so it is important to bring awareness and gain knowledge about early menarche and it's associated problems.
 Aim: To assess the awareness and knowledge about early menarche and its associated problems among female medical students.
 Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study was done among the 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year girls studying in a medical college in Chennai.
 Methods: This study was conducted among 232 participants. A convenient sampling method was used. A pretested semi-stricter questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and awareness about early menarche and its associated problems.
 Statistical Analysis Used: Data was entered in an excel spreadsheet and analysed using SPSS software version 16, statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test.
 Results: Out of 232 participants 33.7% had good knowledge about early menarche and its associated problems. There was a significant association between the year of study and the level of knowledge of the participants. 42.35% were aware that “early menarche can lead to breast cancer and ischemic heart disease”.
 Conclusion: Thus, this study helps us to bring more awareness about early menarche and its associated problems and to prevent it by gaining knowledge about the factors resulting in early menarche.

Strategies of grain number determination differentiate barley row types.

Gaining knowledge on fundamental interactions of various yield components is crucial to improve yield potential in small grain cereals. It is well known in barley that increasing grain number greatly improves yield potential; however, the yield components determining grain number and their association in barley row types are less explored. In this study, we assessed different yield components such as potential spikelet number (PSN), spikelet survival (SSL), spikelet number (SN), grain set (GS), and grain survival (GSL), as well as their interactions with grain number by using a selected panel of two- and six-rowed barley types. Also, to analyze the stability of these interactions, we performed the study in the greenhouse and the field. From this study, we found that in two-rowed barley, grain number determination is strongly influenced by PSN rather than SSL and/or GS in both growth conditions. Conversely, in six-rowed barley, grain number is associated with SSL instead of PSN and/or GS. Thus, our study showed that increasing grain number might be possible by augmenting PSN in two-rowed genotypes, while for six-rowed genotypes SSL needs to be improved. We speculate that this disparity of grain number determination in barley row types might be due to the fertility of lateral spikelets. Collectively, this study revealed that grain number in two-rowed barley largely depends on the developmental trait, PSN, while in six-rowed barley, it mainly follows the ability for SSL.

Resource Sustainability, Cooperation Risk Management Capacity and NPO Social Entrepreneurship Activity: A Conceptual Model

Gaining knowledge about social entrepreneurship is important for nonprofit organizations to support their development process. Despite the different studies that treat social entrepreneurship, the role of the Cooperation Risk Management capacity in implementing a social entrepreneurial activity remains an unexplored research field. Scholars have paid particular attention to the capabilities that enable nonprofits to innovate and create social entrepreneurial activities. This paper aims to bridge resources' sustainability and social entrepreneurial activity. For so, social resource-based view theory is mobilized to present a conceptual model that highlights the indirect effect of nonprofit organization's resources sustainability through the mediation of cooperation risk management capacity. This paper sums up with potential implications for future empirical studies.

Revisiting False-Positive and Imitated Dissociative Identity Disorder

ICD-10 and DSM-5 do not provide clear diagnosing guidelines for DID, making it difficult to distinguish ‘genuine’ DID from imitated or false-positive cases. This study explores meaning which patients with false-positive or imitated DID attributed to their diagnosis. 85 people who reported elevated levels of dissociative symptoms in SDQ-20 participated in clinical assessment using the Trauma and Dissociation Symptoms Interview, followed by a psychiatric interview. The recordings of six women, whose earlier DID diagnosis was disconfirmed, were transcribed and subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five main themes were identified: (1) endorsement and identification with the diagnosis. (2) The notion of dissociative parts justifies identity confusion and conflicting ego-states. (3) Gaining knowledge about DID affects the clinical presentation. (4) Fragmented personality becomes an important discussion topic with others. (5) Ruling out DID leads to disappointment or anger. To avoid misdiagnoses, clinicians should receive more systematic training in the assessment of dissociative disorders, enabling them to better understand subtle differences in the quality of symptoms and how dissociative and non-dissociative patients report them. This would lead to a better understanding of how patients with and without a dissociative disorder report core dissociative symptoms. Some guidelines for a differential diagnosis are provided.

Germinal Center Cells Turning to the Dark Side: Neoplasms of B Cells, Follicular Helper T Cells, and Follicular Dendritic Cells.

Gaining knowledge of the neoplastic side of the three main cells—B cells, Follicular Helper T (Tfh) cells, and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) —involved in the germinal center (GC) reaction can shed light toward further understanding the microuniverse that is the GC, opening the possibility of better treatments. This paper gives a review of the more complex underlying mechanisms involved in the malignant transformations that take place in the GC. Whilst our understanding of the biology of the GC-related B cell lymphomas has increased—this is not reviewed in detail here—the dark side involving neoplasms of Tfh cells and FDCs are poorly studied, in great part, due to their low incidence. The aggressive behavior of Tfh lymphomas and the metastatic potential of FDCs sarcomas make them clinically relevant, merit further attention and are the main focus of this review. Tfh cells and FDCs malignancies can often be misdiagnosed. The better understanding of these entities linked to their molecular and genetic characterization will lead to prediction of high-risk patients, better diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments based on molecular profiles.

One isoform for one task? The second hydrogenase of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii prefers hydrogen uptake

Gaining knowledge about the algal hydrogen metabolism is prerequisite for the biotechnological exploitation of photosynthetic H2 production. Model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encodes two [FeFe]-hydrogenases, which are individually capable of catalysing the reversible reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. While physiological results indicated that HYDA1, connected to the photosynthetic electron transfer pathway via plant-type ferredoxin PETF, is accountable for a major part of algal H2 evolution, the role of HYDA2 in the algal metabolism is not understood yet. Herein, a comprehensive screening of enzymatic attributes was conducted, revealing that the two enzymes differ in their affinity to oxidised PETF. Notably, utilising protein film voltammetry, a higher catalytic preference of HYDA2 to consume H2 was observed. Site directed exchange mutagenesis revealed the contribution of a hydroxyl group in place of threonine 226, present in HYDA1, but not in HYDA2, potentially influencing the electronic properties of the active site, thereby fine-tuning catalytic function.

Making Sense of the Human-Nature Relationship

Gaining knowledge about laypeople’s representations of nature is crucial to meeting the sustainability challenges ahead. However, the ways laypeople discursively construct nature in digital settings have received scant attention. Guided by Stuart Hall’s theory of encoding/decoding and multimodal critical discourse analysis, this study aims to contribute knowledge about the ways laypeople construct the human-nature relationship on social media. This is accomplished through a reception study of YouTube users’ discussions about two of the films in the campaign “Nature Is Speaking.” The results show that the human-nature dichotomy largely prevails notwithstanding the pluralist nature of YouTube users’ interpretations, but also indicate the (embryonic) potential of social media to open up for a politics revolving around new visions of the socio-environmental future.

The Prevalence of Underlying Diseases and Comorbidities in COVID-19 Patients; an Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Gaining knowledge about underlying diseases and associated comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 can be beneficial in developing a proper understanding of the disease prognosis as well as comprehensive management, and treatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of underlying diseases and associated comorbidities in COVID-19 patients using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Major biomedical electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and EMBASE were searched for all relevant literature published in English from January to July 2020. Cross-sectional and retrospective studies reporting the prevalence of comorbid conditions such as acute cardiac injury, acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, shock, acute respiratory disease, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. After selecting eligible studies, two authors extracted data of each study, independently, and any inconsistency was resolved through discussion with the third reviewer until reaching a consensus. The risk of bias was assessed by two independent research experts using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The variance in the meta-analyses on prevalence was stabilized by double arcsine transformations. The pooled prevalence of acute respiratory injury in patients with COVID-19 was estimated as 34% (95% Cl: 10 - 57%). Also, the prevalence of acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock were estimated as 10% (95% Cl: 6 - 14%), 19% (95% Cl: 10 - 27%), 23 % (95% Cl: 19 - 27%), and 12 % (95% Cl: 5 - 19 %). According to this meta-analysis, comorbidities such as hypertension, acute liver and kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, diabetes, and coronary heart disease seem to be a predisposing factor for symptomatic and severe COVID-19 infection.