Soil networks become more connected and take up more carbon as nature restoration progresses

Soil organisms have an important role in aboveground community dynamics and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial ecosystems. However, most studies have considered soil biota as a black box or focussed on specific groups, whereas little is known about entire soil networks. Here we show that during the course of nature restoration on abandoned arable land a compositional shift in soil biota, preceded by tightening of the belowground networks, corresponds with enhanced efficiency of carbon uptake. In mid- and long-term abandoned field soil, carbon uptake by fungi increases without an increase in fungal biomass or shift in bacterial-to-fungal ratio. The implication of our findings is that during nature restoration the efficiency of nutrient cycling and carbon uptake can increase by a shift in fungal composition and/or fungal activity. Therefore, we propose that relationships between soil food web structure and carbon cycling in soils need to be reconsidered

A pilot study examining patient preference and satisfaction for ava®, a reusable electronic injection device to administer certolizumab pegol

Contains fulltext : 220630.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Background: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) adherence is suboptimal. ava®, a reusable electromechanical self-injection device (e-Device) developed for certolizumab pegol (CZP) administration, aims to overcome some barriers to increase adherence. This study evaluates patient experience of the e-Device and its training materials and determines patient device preference.Methods: CZP-treated patients were recruited from the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Patients completed a pre-injection Assessment of Self-Injection (ASI) questionnaire investigating self-injection perception. After training, patients administered 3 consecutive self-injections using the e-Device, patient experience of each was assessed using the post-injection ASI. An additional questionnaire evaluated training materials. After Injection 3, patients indicated their preference: the e-Device or their previous device.Results: 59 patients participated; most rated the e-Device highly for satisfaction, self-confidence and ease of use. The (negative) feelings and pain and skin reactions domains had low ratings. Post-injection ASI domain scores were similar following each of the 3 e-Device injections. Training materials were rated highly (video: 8.4/10; step-by-step guide: 8.4/10). 57.1% (32/56) patients preferred the e-Device over their previous self-injection device.Conclusions: Patients were satisfied with the e-Device and most preferred it over other self-injection devices. By improving patient experience, the e-Device may help increase medication adherence

A method of establishing a transect for biodiversity and ecosystem function monitoring across Europe

The establishment of the range of soil biodiversity found within European soils is needed to guide EU policy development regarding the protection of soil. Such a base-line should be collated from a wide-ranging sampling campaign to ensure that soil biodiversity from the majority of soil types, land-use or management systems, and European climatic (bio-geographical zones) were included. This paper reports the design and testing of a method to achieve the large scale sampling associated with the establishment of such a baseline, carried out within the remit of the EcoFINDERS project, and outlines points to consider when such a task is undertaken. Applying a GIS spatial selection process, a sampling campaign was undertaken by 13 EcoFINDERS partners across 11 countries providing data on the range of indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem functions including; micro and meso fauna biodiversity, extracellular enzyme activity, PLFA and community level physiological profiling (MicroResp™ and Biolog™). Physical, chemical and bio-geographical parameters of the 81 sites sampled were used to determine whether the model predicted a wide enough range of sites to allow assessment of the biodiversity indicators tested. Discrimination between the major bio-geographical zones of Atlantic and Continental was possible for all land-use types. Boreal and Alpine zones only allowed discrimination in the most common land-use type for that area e.g. forestry and grassland sites, respectively, while the Mediterranean zone did not have enough sites sampled to draw conclusions across all land-use types. The method used allowed the inclusion of a range of land-uses in both the model prediction stage and the final sites sampled. The establishment of the range of soil biodiversity across Europe is possible, though a larger targeted campaign is recommended. The techniques applied within the EcoFINDERS sampling would be applicable to a larger campaign