Place characteristics that determine citizens’ nature experiences in urban open space

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Urban open spaces (UOS) as everyday accessible environments are important for citizens’ nature experiences. Rich perceptions of nature reflected in emotions may facilitate a positive human–nature interaction. However, current survey methods do not capture citizens’ emotional nature perceptions. Humans’ emotional perceptions can be captured through arts-based methods such as storytelling but that has not been empirically tested in UOS. In addition, the characteristics of UOS that contribute to such perceptions are unknown. The aim was to explore citizens’ place-inspired perceptions to identify the characteristics that build positive experiences of urban nature. Therefore, UOS characteristics contributing to nature experiences were identified through citizens’ place-inspired stories. We applied digitally enabled spontaneous self-articulated in situ storytelling (DESIS storytelling) at 100 benches located in places with diverse characteristics in Espoo city in the capital region of Finland. We sampled all the 2368 digital clips of stories reflecting perceptions of the100 places. We also performed field observations about the characteristics of 22 places representative of the physical diversity and half of the clips of stories to examine the extent to which citizens’ perceptions of the places depended on the physical characteristics. The results indicated that the arts-based method of DESIS storytelling enables the capture of emotional nature experiences that acknowledge place-based characteristics, contributing to a stronger human–nature connection. Physical characteristics such as scenic views and sheltered environments tended to enrich nature experiences. Mysterious nature elements, in particular, facilitated emotional and embodied perceptions, which playing activities tended to decrease. The findings help to successfully design and manage places that enhance citizens’ connection to nature and encourage a more sustainable urban future.Unfunde

Beyond text: Learning through arts-based research

This edited book is not available on ChesterRepThis original new book represents a variety of art forms across different professional contexts. Its focus is on the ways that educational practitioners and leaders from a range of cultures, disciplines, professions and organizations practice arts-based research, and it explores how these can enable innovative means of learning and enhance professional and organizational development. This vibrant project allowed for long term systematic conversations between a large and unusually diverse group of twenty-nine people from eight organisations in six countries. It was unusually diverse in many senses: for some the word 'data' meant little, for others it was central to their daily work; for some artistic practice was core, while for others the arts were a means to an end; while some were social entrepreneurs running their own companies others were researching in universities and a number were doing both; some were working within the STEM disciplines of business, management, engineering, science, technology, sustainability and the built environment, others were in the social sciences of social and health care, education and youth work while others were engaged in rapid or long term social and cultural action as a means of resisting state violence and military occupation; some worked in one of the safest countries on the planet, others in one of the most tear-gassed refugee camps in the world. Within these professional groups there were also ranges of experience, for example senior researchers, early career researchers, PhD students, seasoned professional artists and newcomers to arts forms. Whilst the main communication of this group was English, six other major languages were spoken, Estonian, Finish, Catalan, Spanish, Arabic and key stakeholders bought Swedish and Japanese into the space. This meant that while the conversations in and about arts-based practice were transnational, interdisciplinary and systematic, they had all the messy, troubled-ness that the intercultural on all of the above levels brings with it. This unique and exciting collection discusses how creative arts practices can have a significant impact on research across a range of international contexts, drawing on their own field of research and educational experience. For instance, drama, music, dance and visual arts can be used to understand how learners internalise concepts, reflect on how decisions are made in the midst of action in leadership education, or investigate the use of the intuitive alongside the rational and analytical in their educational experience. Non-textual arts-based forms of research can also provide modes of investigation into pedagogical and professional practices when applied to fields that normally lie outside of the arts. Its greatest strengths are its focus on arts-based research as a way of learning in a variety of contexts, and often in collaboration. Its consistent theoretical, artistic and professional engagements make it a very readable and engaging read. The representation of a variety of art forms across different professional contexts means that this book will have appeal to several readerships in higher education, including the following groups. Academics and practitioners using arts-based methods in organisation and business settings. Researchers in the arts and researchers generically in the social sciences, humanities and arts. University students of the arts, education and professional studies, especially those interested in the wider international and intercultural diversity of research methodologies. Those working in international research teams using any form of qualitative research will also find this collection very interesting. It also has potential interest for groups outside higher education with an interest in arts-based research - for example community groups looking to explore collaborative projects.Unfunde

Equality Analysis Framework

To access this resource click on the URL in Additional LinksThis Equality Analysis Framework is underpinned by a 6 month collaborative research project and forms part of an expanding dialogue across the HE sector in relation to EqIAs. The project has sought to understand and respond to criticisms and obstacles to the effective use of equality impact assessments (EqIAs) across the sector. It has also explored the link between the emerging focus on co-production and EqIA practice. This Equality Analysis Framework is a work in progress and the sector is encouraged to view this as a dynamic collaborative tool to support proportionate, context driven approaches as a means of ensuring more effective and inclusive decision-making processes. This Framework is intended for use by those with EDI expertise and suggests an approach to support decision makers to engage with EqIAs. A separate accessible EqIA Toolkit for decision makers on EqIAs is also available.Developing a Framework for Meaningful Equality Impact Assessments Underpinned by Co-Production Principles for Holistic Use Across the HE Sector | Funder: Advance H

The textile collection at St John’s Oxford

This chapter foregrounds the form and materiality of the St John’s textiles by exploring commercial networks across the period 1300 to 1500.Unfunde

Effect of the baseline Y93H resistance-associated substitution in HCV genotype 3 for direct-acting antiviral treatment: real-life experience from a multicenter study in Sweden and Norway

Background: The NS5A resistance-associated substitution (RAS) Y93H is found quite frequently (5-10%) at baseline in direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) treatment-naïve genotype (GT) 3a patients when studied by the population-sequencing method (cut-off 20%). This RAS may impair HCV DAA treatment response, since it possesses a high fold in vitro resistance to daclatasvir (DCV) and velpatasvir (VEL) in GT 3. We investigated the effect of baseline Y93H in patients with GT 3a infection on treatment outcome, with or without resistance-based DAA-treatment during 2014-2017. Patients/Methods: Treatment in the intervention group (n = 130) was tailored to baseline resistance-findings by population-sequencing method. Detection of baseline Y93H above 20% prompted a prolonged treatment duration of NS5A-inhibitor and sofosbuvir (SOF) and/or addition of ribavirin (RBV). Patients without baseline Y93H in the intervention group and all patients in the control group (n = 78) received recommended standard DAA-treatment. Results: A higher sustained virologic response rate (SVR) in the intervention group was shown compared to the control group at 95.4% (124/130) and 88.5% (69/78), respectively (p = .06). All five patients with baseline Y93H in the intervention group achieved SVR with personalised treatment based on results from resistance testing; either with the addition of RBV or prolonged treatment duration (24w). In the control group, 2/4 patients with Y93H at baseline treated with ledipasvir/SOF/RBV or DCV/SOF without RBV, failed treatment. Conclusion: The results from this real-life study are in accordance with the findings of the randomised controlled trials in 2015 and the EASL-guidelines of 2016, thus, baseline Y93H impacts on DCV and VEL treatment outcome.N/

Author Correction: Split intein-mediated selection of cells containing two plasmids using a single antibiotic

Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12911-1, published online 31 October 2019.N/

Identification and application of bacterial volatiles to attract a generalist aphid parasitoid: from laboratory to greenhouse assays

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Goelen, T., Vuts, J., Sobhy, I. S., Wäckers, F., Caulfield, J. C., Birkett, M. A., Rediers, H., Jacquemyn, H., & Lievens, B. (2021). Identification and application of bacterial volatiles to attract a generalist aphid parasitoid: from laboratory to greenhouse assays. Pest Management Science, 77(2), 930–938], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6102]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that microorganisms emit volatile compounds that affect insect behaviour. However, it remains largely unclear whether microbes can be exploited as a source of attractants to improve biological control of insect pests. In this study, we used a combination of coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (GC-EAG) and Y-tube olfactometer bioassays to identify attractive compounds in the volatile extracts of three bacterial strains that are associated with the habitat of the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani, and to create mixtures of synthetic compounds to find attractive blends for A. colemani. Subsequently, the most attractive blend was evaluated in two-choice cage experiments under greenhouse conditions. RESULTS: GC-EAG analysis revealed 20 compounds that were linked to behaviourally attractive bacterial strains. A mixture of two EAG-active compounds, styrene and benzaldehyde applied at a respective dose of 1 μg and 10 ng, was more attractive than the single compounds or the culture medium of the bacteria in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. Application of this synthetic mixture under greenhouse conditions resulted in significant attraction of the parasitoids, and outperformed application of the bacterial culture medium. CONCLUSION: Compounds isolated from bacterial blends were capable of attracting parasitoids both in laboratory and greenhouse assays, indicating that microbial cultures are an effective source of insect attractants. This opens new opportunities to attract and retain natural enemies of pest species and to enhance biological pest control.The authors would like to thank the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO; 1S15116316N) and Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO; HBC.2018/2022) for financial support. Further, the authors are grateful to Dries Belmans and Francine van Neerbos for help with the experiments, and Sofie Bossaert for help with the figures

Impact of endophytic colonization by entomopathogenic fungi on the behavior and life history of the tobacco peach aphid Myzus persicae var. nicotianae

© 2022 Wilberts et al.Entomopathogenic fungi can adopt an endophytic lifestyle and provide protection against insect herbivores and plant pathogens. So far, most studies have focused on Beauveria bassiana to increase plant resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses, while only little is known for other entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, we investigated whether root inoculation of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) by the entomopathogenic fungi Akanthomyces muscarius ARSEF 5128 and B. bassiana ARSEF 3097 can improve resistance against the tobacco peach aphid Myzus persicae var. nicotianae. First, dual-choice experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that the fungi deter aphids via modifying plant volatile profiles. Next, we tested the hypothesis that endophytic colonization negatively affects aphid life history traits, such as fecundity, development and mortality rate. Aphids were significantly attracted to the odor of plants inoculated with A. muscarius over non-inoculated plants. Plants inoculated with A. muscarius emitted significantly higher amounts of β-pinene than non-inoculated plants, and significantly higher amounts of indole than B. bassiana-inoculated and non-inoculated plants. Inoculation with the fungal strains also caused significantly higher emission of terpinolene. Further, both aphid longevity and fecundity were significantly reduced by 18% and 10%, respectively, when feeding on plants inoculated with A. muscarius, although intrinsic rate of population increase did not differ between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. Sweet pepper plants inoculated with B. bassiana ARSEF 3097 did not elicit a significant behavioral response nor affected the investigated life history traits. We conclude that endophytic colonization by entomopathogenic fungi has the potential to alter olfactory behavior and performance of M. persicae var. nicotianae, but effects are small and depend on the fungal strain used.This study was supported by Research Foundation Flanders (FWO; grant to L.W. (1S79919N); https://www.fwo.be/) and KU Leuven (grant to B.L. (C24E/19/052)

Wild potato ancestors as potential sources of resistance to the aphid Myzus persicae

© 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.BACKGROUND: Plant resistance to insects can be reduced by crop domestication which means their wild ancestors could provide novel sources of resistance. Thus, crossing wild ancestors with domesticated crops can potentially enhance their resistance against insects. However, a prerequisite for this is identification of sources of resistance. Here, we investigated the response of three wild potato (Solanum stoloniferum Schltdl.) accessions and cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) to aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) herbivory. RESULTS: Results revealed that there was a significant reduction in aphid survival and reproduction on wild potato accessions (CGN18333, CGN22718, CGN23072) compared to cultivated (Desiree) potato plants. A similar trend was observed in olfactometer bioassay; the wild accessions had a repellent effect on adult aphids. In contrast, among the tested wild potato accessions, the parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) was significantly attracted to volatiles from CGN18333. Volatile analysis showed that wild accessions emitted significantly more volatiles compared to cultivated potato. Principal component analysis (PCA) of volatile data revealed that the volatile profiles of wild and cultivated potato are dissimilar. β-Bisabolene, (E)-β-farnesene, trans-α-bergamotene, d-limonene, (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT), and p-cymen-7-ol were the main volatiles contributing to the emitted blends, suggesting possible involvement in the behavioural response of both M. persicae and D. rapae. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the tested wild accessions have the potential to be used to breed aphid-resistant potatoes. This opens new opportunities to reduce the aphid damage and to enhance the recruitment of natural enemies. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.Unfunde

Comparative analysis of sorghum (C4) and rice (C3) plant headspace volatiles induced by artificial herbivory

© 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Acute stress responses include release of defensive volatiles from herbivore-attacked plants. Here we used two closely related monocot species, rice as a representative C3 plant, and sorghum as a representative C4 plant, and compared their basal and stress-induced headspace volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Although both plants emitted similar types of constitutive and induced VOCs, in agreement with the close phylogenetic relationship of the species, several mono- and sesquiterpenes have been significantly less abundant in headspace of sorghum relative to rice. Furthermore, in spite of generally lower VOC levels, some compounds, such as the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and homoterpene DMNT, remained relatively high in the sorghum headspace, suggesting that a separate mechanism for dispersal of these compounds may have evolved in this plant. Finally, a variable amount of several VOCs among three sorghum cultivars of different geographical origins suggested that release of VOCs could be used as a valuable resource for the increase of sorghum resistance against herbivores.The work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [13F03379, 20F20103, 21H02196]; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [P20103]; MEXT Joint Research Program Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [P 13379]; Ohara Foundation in Japan