Competing climate cultures in Germany

Problem The question of how to deal with impending climate change is arguably the greatest societal challenge of today. However, fast, effective and wide-ranging climate action requires participation of different sections of society, including politicians, businesses, civil society groups and individual citizens. In other words, responsibility for climate action must be taken by everybody. Given this point of departure, the study investigates socially specific opportunities and hurdles for meaningful climate action in German society. Conceptual foundation Accepting responsibility is not enough to initiate effective climate action. Instead, responsibility is closely intertwined with the (perceived) level of efficacy (power over climate-related outcomes) an agent holds, which is partially determined by an agent’s level of climate knowledge. These links between responsibility attributions, efficacy expectations and climate-related knowing constitute the conceptual foundation of this study. Building on state-of-the-art research from across a range of social science disciplines (human geography, environmental sociology, psychology and the environmental humanities), it demonstrates how particular group-specific constellations of responsibility, efficacy and knowing shape their members’ (lack of) engagement in climate action. Research goal This study contributes to the scientific understanding of why climate action measures have so far remained largely ineffective. Through the identification of profound climate-cultural differences, it challenges conventional assumptions of an implicit consensus on the need to prioritise climate action in both political and private spheres. In considering not only the attitudes and opinions prominent in different segments of society, but also variations in everyday life realities, the study reveals both limitations and opportunities for climate action. In asking what matters to members of a particular climate culture and how this may (not) coincide or clash with the interests of other climate cultures, it is recognised that both meaning and behaviour are socially constructed and reflect prevailing power relations. By further uncovering climate-cultural variations in (implicit and explicit) denial of climate change, the study challenges existing approaches that treat the German public as a unified entity waiting to be informed and activated by the right kind of rationally convincing information. Methods The study gathers rich empirical evidence from Germany through a multi-method approach to social research. It draws on groups of participants selected through theoretical sampling. Eleven expert interviews are complemented with an in-depth media analysis of three political primetime talk shows, related social media threads, two videos posted by prominent influencers and, lastly, seven focus groups involving diverse professional groups. The expert interviews with politicians, government officials, NGO executives and academics captured ‘official’ views on climate-related responsibility, -efficacy and -knowing. The observed homogeneity of expert opinions initiated a second step involving an in-depth analysis of conventional- and social media content to explore how members of the public reacted to climate debates on television. Subsequently, a series of focus group discussions provided insight into how people from different occupational backgrounds actually thought and talked amongst themselves about these issues. The triangulation and integration of findings from all three empirical phases yielded a very comprehensive cross-sectional representation of current views and practices concerning climate change and -action. Results Evidence of divergences and tensions between different segments of society regarding how climate change is viewed and (not) responded to inspired the development of a typology of climate cultures. Climate cultures are defined as dynamic variants of social organisation that provide a framework for recognizing culturally relevant information regarding climate change and that are (re-)produced through climate-relevant everyday practices that reveal diverse forms of ‘lived’ responsibility and actual experiences of (in)efficacy. The latter includes responses to more abstract attributions of responsibility and efficacy in ‘official’ climate change discourses that may or may not clash with people’s everyday experiences. The analysis of media material revealed four distinct climate cultures: Two elite climate cultures (individualist and collectivist) contrast with two climate cultures ‘from below’ that endorse (more or less radical) climate action or inaction respectively. This picture was subsequently complemented by the focus group analysis that by and large confirmed previous findings: Notions of responsibility, efficacy and ways of knowing also carry different meanings in different occupational settings, highlighting the salience of organisational cultures in shaping the climate-related views and practices of their workforce. From this emerged three key areas of discrepancy concerning responsibility, efficacy and knowing: First, a major gap exists between official attributions of responsibility and efficacy (often reflected in elite discourses) and people’s everyday experiences of (ir)responsibility and (in)efficacy. Second, attributions of responsibility to different societal actors and related expectations regarding their efficacy can diverge significantly. In cases where these divergences are particularly pronounced, the resulting implementation deficit can sometimes even turn into active disengagement or resistance, fostering the emergence of climate-sceptical groups in Germany. Third, it is possible to identify different types of knowledge about climate change that extend well beyond cognition to include visceral and affective aspects. This encompasses not only what is being said to a person but crucially also what swings along with messages, often on an emotional level, and is then, often subconsciously, interpreted and kept. Different constellations of responsibility, efficacy and ways of knowing do not only help to distinguish between climate cultures, they also translate into different forms of socially negotiated denial of (the urgency of) climate action. Here, two points stand out as particularly unexpected: First, a host of voices exists that engage in explicit denial, ranging from moderate climate-scepticism to outright renunciation. These have hitherto not been well-researched. Second, it is possible to identify a more subtle form of implicit denial that manifests itself through a gap between climate concern and climate action. Implications for climate policy The relevance of this study for climate policy and action cannot be overestimated. Profound differences in how climate change is viewed and (not) acted upon are not yet reflected in research or policy. This is deeply problematic, as it renders climate action largely irrelevant to less privileged sections of society, perpetuating their sense of marginality and inefficacy. Therefore, both less privileged and elite groups must be considered and addressed differently for climate initiatives to be relevant and effective. At the same time, societal conflicts around climate (in)action present a real challenge for climate politics. This study’s findings suggest that successful climate action is unlikely when people experience profound divergences between responsibility attributions and efficacy expectations. Reflecting on these challenges, the study concludes with some concrete recommendations for designing climate policy and action programmes that address and involve the whole of society. These include: First, a culture- and context-sensitive social-scientific analysis is uniquely suited to present different options for addressing different climate cultures, by better grasping, analysing and presenting their idiosyncrasies. Further research on these topics is urgently needed. Second, the significant conflict potential that comes with the observed climate-cultural diversity also points to the limitations of conventional democratic and political processes and decision-making and helps explain why official assumptions about information provision have so far proven rather un- or even counterproductive. This strategy’s established inadequacy thus points to a clear need to develop new forms of participation. For instance, designing science communication as a dialogic process between the scientific community and the public(s) is likely to be more effective than a mere science-to-society transfer of information. Last, a strong case is made for engaging with climate cultures that question the need for climate action. Some of these are not only disproportionately visible in society, they also convey their messages in particularly affective and engaging ways, presenting one particularly dangerous risk: Namely, that they could eventually sway those sections of society that are not yet particularly invested in behaving in either climate-friendly or -unfriendly ways.Problemstellung Die Frage, wie mit der Klimawandelbedrohung umgegangen werden soll, ist eine der größten gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen der heutigen Zeit. Grundvoraussetzung für ihre Bewältigung in Form einer zügigen, effektiven und weitreichenden Umsetzung von Klimaschutzmaßnahmen ist eine breite Partizipation verschiedener Gesellschaftsgruppen (Politik, Wirtschaft, Zivilgesellschaft und Einzelpersonen). In anderen Worten, die Verantwortung für Klimaschutzmaßnahmen muss gesamtgesellschaftlich geschultert werden. Auf Basis dieser Ausgangslage untersucht diese Studie gruppenspezifische Chancen aber auch Hindernisse für sinnvolles Klimaschutzhandeln in der deutschen Gesellschaft. Konzeptionelle Grundlagen Die Übernahme von Verantwortung allein reicht nicht aus, um effektives Klimaschutzhandeln einzuleiten. Verantwortung ist stattdessen eng mit dem (erlebten) Ausmaß von Wirksamkeit (Einfluss auf klimabezogene Ergebnisse in der Gesellschaft) verflochten, über das ein/e Akteur*in verfügt. Dies ist wiederum zumindest zum Teil durch das (Nicht-)Vorhandensein von Klimawissen bestimmt. Diese Verkettung von Verantwortungszuschreibungen, Wirksamkeitserwartungen und klimabezogenem Wissen stellt die konzeptionelle Basis dieser Studie dar. Aufbauend auf neuesten Erkenntnissen verschiedener sozialwissenschaftlicher Disziplinen (Humangeographie, Umweltsoziologie, Psychologie und den Umwelt-relevanten Geisteswissenschaften) wird gezeigt, wie bestimmte gruppenspezifische Konstellationen von Verantwortung, Wirksamkeit und Wissen die (Nicht-)Teilnahme am Klimaschutzhandeln unterschiedlicher Gruppen prägen. Forschungsziel Die Studie trägt so maßgeblich zum wissenschaftlichen Verständnis bei, warum Klimaschutzmaßnahmen bisher weitestgehend unwirksam geblieben sind. Durch die Herausarbeitung signifikanter klimakultureller Unterschiede stellt die Autorin konventionelle Annahmen hinsichtlich einer impliziten und unangefochtenen Notwendigkeit für private und politische Klimaschutzmaßnahmen infrage. Indem nicht nur die in verschiedenen Gesellschaftsteilen vorherrschenden Einstellungen und Meinungen, sondern auch die Unterschiede in Alltagrealitäten betrachtet werden, deckt die Studie sowohl Grenzen als auch Chancen für Klimaschutzhandeln auf. Untersucht wird explizit, was in einer bestimmten Klimakultur Bedeutung trägt und auf welche Weise dies (nicht) mit Interessen anderer Klimakulturen in Einklang steht oder kollidiert. Dadurch wird der Tatsache Rechnung getragen, dass sowohl Bedeutungen als auch Verhaltensweisen sozial konstruiert sind und vorherrschende Machtstrukturen wiederspiegeln. Darüber hinaus deckt die Autorin klimakulturelle Variationen in (sowohl impliziten als auch expliziten) Verdrängungstendenzen auf. Dadurch stellt sie konventionelle Ansätze in Frage, die die deutsche Öffentlichkeit als übereinstimmende Einheit betrachten, die angeblich nur darauf wartet, durch die richtige Art rational überzeugender Informationen erleuchtet und aktiviert zu werden. Methoden Durch einen multimethodischen sozialwissenschaftlichen Ansatz erfasst die Studie aussagekräftige empirische Belege aus Deutschland. Die Auswahl der Gruppen geschah mittels theoretischer Stichprobe. Elf Expert*inneninterviews werden mit einer umfangreichen Medienanalyse sowie sieben Fokusgruppendiskussionen komplementiert. Die Expert*inneninterviews wurden mit Politikern, Regierungsvertretern, Entscheidungsträgern aus NGOs und Wissenschaftlern geführt, um ‚offizielle‘ Standpunkte zu klimabezogener Verantwortung und -Wirksamkeit sowie Klimawissen zu erfassen. Die in diesen Interviews beobachtete ausgeprägte Übereinkunft der verschiedenen Experten initiierte einen zweiten Empirieschritt, bestehend aus einer tiefgreifenden Analyse sowohl konventioneller- als auch sozialer Medieninhalte, um zu untersuchen, wie Teile der Bevölkerung auf Klimadebatten im Fernsehen reagieren. Daher basiert die Medienanalyse auf drei politischen Talkshows und damit verbundenen Social-Media-Debatten sowie zwei Youtube-Videos prominenter Influencer. Zuletzt untersuchen eine Reihe von Fokusgruppeninterviews den Berufskontext. Gespräche mit bestehenden Gruppen (Arbeitsteams und Kollegien) verschiedener Berufsfelder liefern Erkenntnisse darüber, wie Personen in verschiedenen Branchen tatsächlich über Klimafragen denken und miteinander sprechen. Die Triangulierung und Integration der Erkenntnisse dieser drei Empirieschritte ergab einen sehr umfangreichen Querschnitt gängiger klimawandelbezogener Meinungen und Praktiken in der deutschen Gesellschaft. Ergebnisse Beobachtbare Unterschiede und Spannungen zwischen verschiedenen Gesellschaftssegmenten in Bezug auf den Klimawandel führten zur Entwicklung einer Typologie der Klimakulturen. Klimakulturen sind hier definiert als dynamische kulturelle Gruppierungen, die den Rahmen für das Erkennen klimarelevanter Informationen bieten und durch klimabezogenes Alltagshandeln (re-)produziert werden, welches wiederum Formen gelebter Verantwortung und tatsächlicher Wirksamkeit an den Tag legt. Diese Praktiken beinhalten auch die Reaktionen auf abstraktere Verantwortungszuschreibungen und Wirksamkeitserwartungen in ‚offiziellen‘ Klimadiskursen, die potentiell wenig mit den tatsächlichen Lebensrealitäten der Leute zu tun haben. Die Analyse des Medienmaterials ergab vier unterscheidbare Klimakulturen. Zwei Klimakulturen der Elite (individualistisch und kollektiv-orientiert) stehen zwei weiteren Klimakulturen der breiten Gesellschaft gegenüber, die sich jeweils für (mehr oder weniger) radikale Aufnahme oder Verweigerung von Klimaschutzmaßnahmen aussprechen. Diese Erkenntnisse wurden dann durch die der Fokusgruppen ergänzt, die das bisherige Bild weitestgehend bestätigen: Ideen von Verantwortung, Wirksamkeit und Wissen tragen auch in verschiedenen Berufskontexten unterschiedliche Bedeutungen, was wiederum den Einfluss von Organisationskulturen für klimabezogene Sicht- und Verhaltensweisen der Erwerbsbevölkerung verdeutlicht. Auf Basis dieser bisher gewonnenen Erkenntnisse konnten drei Schlüsselbereiche identifiziert werden, in denen Diskrepanzen zwischen Verantwortung, Wirksamkeit und Wissen zu Tage traten: Erstens existiert eine substantielle Kluft zwischen offiziellen Zuschreibungen von Verantwortung und Wirksamkeit (häufig im Rahmen von Elitendiskursen) und (fehlender) erlebter Verantwortung und Wirksamkeit im Alltagsleben der breiten Bevölkerung. Zweitens können Verantwortungszuschreibungen gegenüber verschiedenen gesellschaftlichen Akteur*innen und damit verbundene Erwartungen hinsichtlich deren Wirksamkeit stark auseinandergehen. Dort, wo diese Diskrepanzen besonders ausgeprägt sind, kann das resultierende Implikationsdefizit bisweilen in aktivem Wegschauen oder Widerstand münden, was die Entstehung einer Reihe an klimaskeptischen Gruppen in Deutschland begünstigt hat. Drittens können verschiedene klimabezogene Wissensformen erkannt werden, die weit über das Kognitive hinausgehen und auch affektive, alternativ erfahrbare Elemente enthalten. Dies schließt nicht nur das von Person zu Person Gesagte mit ein, sondern insbesondere auch was, oft auf emotionaler Ebene, mit Botschaften mitschwingt und dann, in vielen Fällen unbewusst, interpretiert und gespeichert wird. Interessanterweise helfen verschiedene Konstellationen von Verantwortung, Wirksamkeit und Wissen nicht nur bei der Unterscheidung der Klimakulturen, sie können auch in unterschiedliche Formen sozial verhandelter Verdrängung (der Dringlichkeit) des Klimawandels übersetzt werden. Zwei Aspekte stechen hier als besonders unerwartet hervor: Erstens, es existieren zahlreiche Stimmen expliziter Verdrängung, die von moderaterem Klimaskeptizismus bis hin zu offener Leugnung reichen. Diese haben bisher in der Forschung zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit erfahren. Zweitens können subtilere Formen des impliziten Verdrängens identifiziert werden, die sich in einer Lücke zwischen Besorgnis über den Klimawandel und dem gleichzeitigen Ausbleiben von Klimaschutzmaßnahmen manifestieren. Klimapolitische Implikationen. Die Relevanz dieser Studie für die Klimapolitik und die Einführung erfolgreicher Klimamaßnahmen ist nicht zu unterschätzen. Weder Forschung noch Politik sind sich dieser beträchtlichen Unterschiede, wie Klimawandel aufgefasst und Klimamaßnahmen umgesetzt werden, bewusst. Das ist zutiefst problematisch, da so bisherige Klimamaßnahmen für breite weniger privilegierte Teile der Bevölkerung größtenteils irrelevant bleiben, was wiederum deren Erleben von Unbedeutsamkeit und Machtlosigkeit aufrechterhält. Deshalb müssen sowohl weniger privilegierte als auch zur Elite gehörende Gruppen in Betracht gezogen und differenziert angesprochen werden, damit Klimainitiativen an Relevanz und Effektivität gewinnen. Gleichzeitig stellen gesellschaftliche Konflikte in Bezug auf klimarelevantes (Nicht-)Handeln eine greifbare Herausforderung für die Klimapolitik dar. Die Erkenntnisse dieser Studie weisen darauf hin, dass der Erfolg von Klimaschutzmaßnahmen besonders dann gefährdet ist, wenn Personen signifikante Divergenzen zwischen Verantwortungszuschreibungen und Wirksamkeitserwartungen erleben. Diese Herausforderungen reflektierend schließt die Studie mit einigen konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen für Klimapolitik und Handlungsinitiativen, die die gesamte Gesellschaft einbeziehen und ansprechen. Erstens: Eine kultur- und kontextspezifische sozialwissenschaftliche Untersuchung ist besonders geeignet, verschiedene Möglichkeiten für die Ansprache unterschiedlicher Klimakulturen aufzuzeigen, denn sie ist besser in der Lage, deren Besonderheiten zu erfassen und diese dann zu analysieren und aufzubereiten. Weitere Forschung in diesem Bereich ist daher dringend notwendig. Zweitens: Das beträchtliche Konfliktpotential, das die hier herausgearbeitete klimakulturelle Diversität mit sich bringt, verdeutlicht die Grenzen konventioneller demokratischer und politischer Ansätze und Entscheidungsprozesse. Dies trägt zur Erklärung bei, warum offizielle Annahmen hinsichtlich der Bereitstellung von Informationen sich als vergleichsweise un- oder sogar kontra-produktiv erwiesen haben. Die nun etablierte Unzulänglichkeit dieser Strategien verdeutlicht die klare Notwendigkeit anderer Partizipationsformen. Beispielsweise ist eine Wissenschaftskommunikation, die als Dialog zwischen Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft(sgruppen) konzipiert ist, sicherlich effektiver als der bisherige reine Informationstransfer von Wissenschaft zu Gesellschaft. Zuletzt plädiert die Autorin deutlich für die explizite Ansprache auch der Klimakulturen, die Klimaschutzhandeln in Frage stellen. Manche dieser Gruppen genießen nicht nur eine disproportionale Sichtbarkeit in der Gesellschaft, sondern überbringen ihre Botschaften außerdem auf besonders affektive und ansprechende Weise, was ein besonderes Risiko verkörpert: Nämlich, dass sie irgendwann die (besonders große) schweigende Mehrheit der Gesellschaft, die bisher noch nicht besonders in die Aufnahme oder Ablehnung von Klimaschutzmaßnahmen investiert ist, auf ihre Seite bringen könnten

The Virtual Loophole: A Survey of Online Gun Sales

How easy is it to buy a firearm from a complete stranger without a background check? In an analysis of internet gun sales in 10 states from a single website during the months of June and July, Third Way found more than 15,000 guns -- onethirdof which were semi-automatics -- available for sale without background checks at any given moment. In 2,000 web ads in these states, buyers were intentionally seeking private sellers where background checks are specifically exempt from federal law. This report focuses on online sales in the 10 states where Senators were initially targeted but failed to support bipartisan legislation to close this virtual loophole

How do potential users perceive the adoption of new technologies within the field of Artificial Intelligence and Internet-of-Things? - A revision of the UTAUT 2 model using Voice Assistants

The following study investigates the perception potential users have when considering the adoption of voice assistants (VAs). VAs are considered to possess characteristics linkable to both, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet-of-Things (IoT). This thesis aims to provide a deeper understanding of the determinants influencing the adoption of the new VA technology using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model (UTAUT 2), a theoretical model explaining technology adoption and usage behaviour. The amount of gadgets being released to the market which possess characteristics of the AI and IoT technology increases constantly, while the 2012 version of the UTAUT 2 model was not constructed for these. In a qualitative approach conducting four focus groups, the aim of this study is to find out about the perceptions of potential future users on the VA technology and as a consequence amend the current UTAUT 2 model to fit newly upcoming technologies which possess similar characteristics as VAs within the AI and IoT field. The study found out that while hedonic motivation seems to be of inferior relevance, the determinants data security, compatibility and relationship with the device are essential influencing factors to take into consideration when trying to fully understand users’ technology adoption perceptions. However, the fact that these technologies are still in the early stage of adoption make it difficult for future users, to fully judge their own adoption behaviour if they are no members of the early innovation adoption curve stages. For further research, it is recommended to look into different sampling groups and apply the model resulting from this study to new upcoming technologies within the area of AI and IoT

A Geographically Targeted Approach for a Preceptor Tax Incentive Using Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)

Years before the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a health care shortage in Kentucky, its rural areas were already struggling to obtain and attract primary care medical practitioners. Even though the number of medical school graduates in the U.S. has steadily increased throughout the years, there is a general disinterest in rural or small-town practice, and legislators throughout the country have pondered ways to address this issue plaguing communities. Versions of Preceptor Tax Incentive legislation in Kentucky have been proposed in the General Assembly to address care shortages in the state, however, all have been unsuccessful at truly targeting rural areas where preceptors are needed the most. After interviews with Kentucky and Georgia policymakers, Kentucky AHEC officials, medical providers, and other stakeholders, we concluded that a more targeted approach to preceptor tax incentive legislation was needed using Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which are geographic areas, population groups, or health care facilities that have been designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration as having a shortage of primary care health professionals. This new structure creates a nonrefundable income tax credit to be claimed by any non-compensated, community-based, Kentucky-licensed primary care preceptor practicing in one of Kentucky’s HRSA-designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and supervising 3rd and 4th year medical/osteopathic students, physician assistant students, and advanced practice registered nurse students. Since research shows that where medical students do their clinical rotations influences where they ultimately decide to practice, it is vital that there are plenty of primary care preceptors in rural and underserved areas to expose students to this kind of unique work environment. Increasing the number of primary care preceptors in rural communities would curb primary care shortages in the long-term and lead more medical students to practice in these areas once they graduate. Published briefs in the Commonwealth Policy papers are intended to provide specific examples of novel policies which may be applicable in multiple states and provinces of the U.S., in addition to providing “trickle up” solutions to the Congressional level

Perspective taking:building a neurocognitive framework for integrating the "social" and the "spatial"

From carrying a table to pointing at the moon, interacting with other people involves spatial awareness of one’s own body and the other’s body and viewpoint. In the past, social cognition has often focused on tasks like belief reasoning, which is abstracted away from spatial and bodily representations. There is also a strong tra-dition of work on spatial and object representation which does not consider social interactions. The 24 papers in this research topic represent the growing body of work which links the spatial and the social. The diversity of methods and approaches used here reveal that this is a vibrant and growing research area which can tell us more than the study of either topic in isolation. Online mental transformations of spatial representations are often believed to rely on action simulation and other “embodied” processing and three papers in the current research topic pro-vide new evidence for this process. Surtees and colleagues revea

Identification of Plastoglobules as a Site of Carotenoid Cleavage

Carotenoids play an essential role in light harvesting and protection from excess light. During chloroplast senescence carotenoids are released from their binding proteins and are eventually metabolized. Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (CCD4) is involved in carotenoid breakdown in senescing leaf and desiccating seed, and is part of the proteome of plastoglobules (PG), which are thylakoid-associated lipid droplets. Here, we demonstrate that CCD4 is functionally active in PG. Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana ccd4 mutants constitutively expressing CCD4 fused to yellow fluorescent protein showed strong fluorescence in PG and reduced carotenoid levels upon dark- induced senescence. Lipidome-wide analysis indicated that ß-carotene, lutein, and violaxanthin were the principle substrates of CCD4 in vivo and were cleaved in senescing chloroplasts. Moreover, carotenoids were shown to accumulate in PG of ccd4 mutant plants during senescence, indicating translocation of carotenoids to PG prior to degradation

The making of a (dog) movie star: The effect of the portrayal of dogs in movies on breed registrations in the United States

The media is a powerful force that can affect the welfare of the domiciled dog population. Dogs have long been in human stories and their depictions can create demand for the breeds shown. While previous research has found that this effect can last for up to ten years after the release of a movie, how this phenomenon occurs is unknown. This paper examines if how a dog is portrayed in a movie is associated with a subsequent change in American Kennel Club breed registrations for that breed. Following a systematic literature review, four key themes were identified in how dogs are portrayed in the media; dogs portrayed as heroes, as anthropomorphised, as embodying the ideals of Western societies (Whiteness and heteronormativity) and as boundaries between wilderness and human society. Forty movies from between 1930 to 2004 were analysed, resulting in 95 dog characters scored, and hierarchical multiple linear regression was run. Movies with dogs portrayed as heroes were followed by significant increases in the number of American Kennel Club breed registrations for the breed shown, while anthropomorphised dogs were followed by significant decreases in the number of dogs registered for up to five years after a movie’s release. These results indicate that how dogs are portrayed may be an important driver of demand for breeds. Future work should investigate whether these portrayals may have negative welfare implications for real dogs by leading to owners having unrealistic expectations for dogs or increasing demand for dogs with in-breeding related disorders

Suscetibilidade de Candida spp. isolados da cavidade bucal de humanos a antifúngicos : uma revisão sistemática de estudos observacionais

O objetivo dessa dissertação foi avaliar o perfil de suscetibilidade de Candida spp. isolados da cavidade bucal de humanos frente a agentes antifúngicos. Para tal, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura e metanálise. Estudos observacionais que coletaram amostras da cavidade bucal de humanos, isolaram fungos do gênero Candida e da espécie albicans e realizaram testes de suscetibilidade a agentes antifúngicos foram incluídos. Foram excluídas revisões descritivas de literatura, cartas ao editor, estudos in situ, estudos em modelo animal, estudos realizados com dentes extraídos ou com amostras provenientes de próteses removíveis. Além disso, os autores de estudos que não puderam ser lidos na íntegra foram contactados e, na impossibilidade de obtenção do texto completo, foram excluídos. Não foi aplicado restrição de idioma. A busca de dados foi realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE (via motor de busca PUBMED), Embase, CINAHL, Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Central, Scopus e LILACS, e em fontes de literatura cinzenta. Foram empregados termos livres e termos indexados (MESH/TextWord), de acordo com cada base de dados. A seleção inicial dos artigos ocorreu pelo título, seguido da avaliação do resumo. Aqueles que se apresentaram em condições de inclusão foram lidos na íntegra e os dados, extraídos. As análises foram feitas por dois examinadores independentes, e em caso de dúvidas, um terceiro examinador avaliou os artigos. A análise descritiva de cada estudo foi realizada e os dados, compilados em tabelas. A metanálise foi conduzida para avaliação da resistência aos antifúngicos, desconsiderando as comorbidades sistêmicas. Adicionalmente, realizou-se a metanálise dos grupos com comorbidades sistêmica para desfecho da resistência aos mesmos antifúngicos. As menores taxas de resistência verificadas na análise dos antifúngicos testados, desconsiderando-se as condições sistêmicas, são para anfotericina B, seguido de nistatina, flucitosina e caspofungina. Em contraste, as maiores taxas de resistência foram de miconazol e econazol. Observou-se alto grau de heterogeneidade e baixa resistência, de maneira geral, para todas as avaliações, exceto para o grupo “várias comorbidades associadas”, que apresentou taxas de resistência altas. Conclui-se, portanto, que a maior parte dos fármacos já disponíveis são eficazes no tratamento de lesões bucais causadas por C. albicans.This study aimed to assess the susceptibility profile of human oral isolates Candida spp. against antifungal agents through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Observational studies in which Candida albicans strains were collected from humans' oral cavity and tested to their susceptibility tests to antifungal agents were included. Descriptive literature reviews, letters to the editor, in situ studies, animal model studies, studies performed with extracted teeth, or samples from removable dentures were excluded. In addition, the authors of studies that could not be thoroughly read were contacted. If it was impossible to obtain the full text, they were excluded. No language restriction was applied. The data search was performed in the MEDLINE (via the PubMed search engine), Embase, CINAHL, Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Central, Scopus, and LILACS databases. The gray literature was revised. Free terms and indexed terms (MESH/TextWord) were used, according to each database. The initial selection of articles took place by title, followed by the evaluation of the abstract. Those who presented themselves in conditions of inclusion were read in full and the data extracted. Two independent examiners performed analyzes, and in case of doubt, a third examiner evaluated the articles. Descriptive analysis of each study was performed, and data was compiled in tables. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess resistance to antifungal agents, disregarding systemic comorbidities. Additionally, a meta-analysis of groups with systemic comorbidities was performed for the outcome of resistance to the same antifungal agents. The lowest resistance rates verified in the analysis of tested antifungal agents, without considering the systemic conditions, were detected for amphotericin B, followed by nystatin, flucytosine, and caspofungin. The highest resistance rates were from miconazole and econazole. There was a high degree of heterogeneity and low resistance, in general, for all assessments, except for the group “several associated comorbidities”. Therefore, it is concluded that most of the available drugs are effective in treating oral lesions caused by C. albicans