Phytotherapy in zoo animals

Phytotherapy is one of the oldest medical disciplines and was traditionally based on empiricism (Reichling et al., 2008). Nowadays, its use as an additional integral component of evidence based medicine is well accepted in human medicine (Finkelmann, 2009). Herbal remedies are generally characterised by a broad therapeutic index. They consist of multicomponent mixtures and act as multi-target drugs with pleiotropic effects. In Switzerland, veterinary phytotherapy has been relaunched in 2006 as a subunit of the Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy (SMGP-vet). Since 2012, the certificate of qualification in veterinary phytotherapy has been approved by the Swiss Veterinary Association (GST/SVS). Historically, one of the common approaches to gain insight into the medical effects of plants was self-medication. In non-human animals, self medication remains a controversial subject, because evidence is mostly anecdotal. A few experimentally verified cases of self-medication support the theoretical expectation that animals can and do make specific foraging decisions that function specifically to remediate illness (Huffman and Caton, 2001; Villalba et al., 2006; Singer et al., 2009). In zoological medicine, this concept has first been implemented by primate keeping institutions. Permanent access to selected medicinal plants suggested self medication and helped maintain the health of certain primate species (Cousins, 2006)

Retail Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), Disintermediation and Financial Privacy: The Case of the Bahamian Sand Dollar

The fast-growing, market-driven demand for cryptocurrencies worries central banks, as their monetary policy could be completely undermined. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could offer a solution, yet our understanding of their design and consequences is in its infancy. This non-technical paper examines how The Bahamas has designed the Sand Dollar, the first real-world instance of a retail CBDC. It contrasts the Sand Dollar with definition-based specifications. I then develop a scenario analysis to illustrate commercial bank risks. In this process, the central bank becomes a deposit monopolist, leading to high funding risks, disintermediation risks, and solvency risks for the com-mercial banking sector. I argue that restrictions and caps will be the new specifications of a regulatory framework for CBDCs if disintermediation in the banking sector is to be prevented. I identify the anonymity of CBDCs as a comparative disadvantage that will affect their adoption. These findings provide insight into governance problems facing central banks, and coherently lead to the design of the Sand Dollar. I conclude by suggesting that combating cryptocurrencies is a task that cannot be solved by a CBDC.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

Physical exercise at the workplace: How do employees perceive such an offer and how is it related with their well-being?

Many recent studies show that most adults do not exercise enough which causes massive health problems in society. Since most people spend a large part of their day at work, it seems applicable to offer physical activities there. Previous studies prove that there is a positive effect on the well-being, health, and fitness of employees when companies offer physical activity sessions at the workplace. However, it has not yet sufficiently been investigated whether such an offer also brings negative effects, for example participation pressure. The present qualitative study will close this gap in the literature. Furthermore, the relation to well-being will be investigated as well as the effect of a sports offer on the employer brand. For this purpose, 20 employees of a German software company, (in which professional stretching sessions, yoga and fitness sessions are offered) were interviewed. The results were examined with the help of a template analysis. The results show that sports in the workplace brings many positive effects. As exemplary effects can be mentioned: Likelihood of being able to concentrate better on work after an athletic break, health effects (for example, interruption of sitting behavior), and promotion of a sense of community through sports with colleagues. No negative effects, such as reduced self-esteem among less athletic employees or pressure to participate among employees, were identified. However, this is probably due to the very good working atmosphere and togetherness within the team in this particular company, which was emphasized several times by interviewees. A sports program benefits a positive employer brand and shows employer care but would never be the sole reason for an application. These results nevertheless show that every employer should invest in physical activity offers.Muitos estudos recentes mostram que a maioria dos adultos não fazem exercício físico suficiente, o que causa enormes problemas de saúde na sociedade. Uma vez que a maioria das pessoas passa uma grande parte do seu dia de trabalho, parece aplicável oferecer actividades físicas nesse local. Estudos anteriores provam que existe um efeito positivo no bem-estar, saúde e aptidão física dos trabalhadores quando as empresas oferecem sessões de actividade física no local de trabalho. No entanto, ainda não foi investigado se tal oferta também traz efeitos negativos, por exemplo, pressão de participação. O presente estudo qualitativo irá colmatar esta lacuna na literatura. Além disso, a relação com o bem-estar será investigada, bem como o efeito de uma oferta desportiva sobre a marca do empregador. Para este efeito, foram entrevistados 20 empregados de uma empresa de software alemã, (na qual são oferecidas sessões de alongamento profissional, sessões de yoga e fitness). Os resultados foram examinados com a ajuda de uma análise de modelos. Os resultados mostram que o desporto no local de trabalho traz muitos efefeitos positivos. Como efeitos exemplares, podem ser mencionados: Probabilidade de se poder concentrar melhor no trabalho após uma pausa atlética, efeitos na saúde (por exemplo, interrupção do comportamento sentado), e promoção de um sentido de comunidade através do desporto com os colegas. Não foram identificados efeitos negativos, tais como a redução da auto-estima entre os empregados menos atléticos ou a pressão para participar entre os empregados. No entanto, isto deve-se provavelmente ao óptimo ambiente de trabalho e de união dentro da equipa desta empresa em particular, que foi enfatizado várias vezes pelos entrevistados. Um programa desportivo beneficia uma marca positiva de empregados e mostra o cuidado do empregador, mas nunca seria a única razão para uma candidatura. Estes resultados mostram, no entanto, que cada empregador deve investir em ofertas de actividade física

Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Presenting to a University Emergency Department

Objective: To establish point and one-year prevalence data regarding partner violence (PV) for women presenting to a university teaching hospital, University of California, Irvine Medical Center (UCIMC), one of 15 emergency departments in Orange County, and to determine differences in partner violence rates when comparing descriptive variables such as race, income and education. Methods: An anonymous, written survey was administered to a convenience sample of 370 women presenting to University of California Irvine Emergency Department over a 12 month period. Results: Partner violence has a point prevalence of 6.7% and a one-year prevalence of 37.0%. Women who have experienced previous abuse are more likely to present with complaints related to PV acutely. Lower income levels correlate with a higher incidence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. We found no correlation between race and likelihood of PV. Conclusion: PV in Orange County, California occurs quite frequently. The oneyear prevalence compares to that of the entire state of California, but is at the higher limit when other areas are compared. Detection rates among EPs should be improved, and services to women who have suffered PV will need to be enhanced within Orange County

Concentration of 17 trace elements in serum and whole blood of plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) by ICP-MS, their reference ranges, and their relation to cataract

The reference ranges of the trace elements Al, As, Be, B, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Li, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in sera of a group of free-ranging plains viscachas of the pampa grasslands of Argentina. The values were compared with those of a small group of captive plains viscachas of the Zurich Zoo with diabetes and bilateral cataracts. In addition, a method for digestion of whole-blood samples is described for the trace element determination. Significant differences in the concentration of trace elements in the two groups of animals are discussed. No correlation was found between the levels of selenium and of other trace elements compared to the formation of cataract

Revolution 2.0: the political impact of Internet and social media proliferation in authoritarian countries

Within recent years, Web 2.0 Social Media tools such as social networking websites, video-sharing platforms, and micro-blogs have proliferated across the world at an exponential rate. While the spread and effects of such technologies have been well-documented in democratic societies, there has been a comparative poverty of insight as to Social Media's implications for authoritarian countries. This void requires urgent redress, as it is within such countries that these new tools may have their greatest impact on the affairs of the 21st century. Civil societies and social movements have used Social Media to challenge authoritarian governments on an unprecedented scale even as these same technologies have provided repressive regimes with new opportunities for consolidating power. This thesis draws on the preliminary scholarship and a rich spectrum of recent empirical developments in order to argue that Social Media proliferation will likely prove more advantageous for civil societies than for authoritarian governments

Biomimetic redox reactions of the Cu(II) μ-thiolate complex

The research described in this thesis is focused on the modeling of different aspects of biomimetic redox reactions between copper ions and sulfur-containing compounds.National Graduate School Combination NRSC-CatalysisUBL - phd migration 201

Avian haemosporidian parasites in captive and free-ranging, wild birds from zoological institutions in Switzerland: Molecular characterization and clinical importance.

Avian haemosporidian parasites are widespread and infect birds from a broad variety of avian families with diverse consequences ranging from subclinical infections to severe and fatal disease. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and diversity of avian haemosporidia including associated clinical signs and pathomorphological lesions in captive and free-ranging, wild birds from two zoos and the near environment in Switzerland. Blood samples from 475 birds, including 230 captive and 245 free-ranging, wild individuals belonging to 42 different avian species from 15 orders were examined for the presence of avian haemosporidian DNA by a one-step multiplex PCR designed to simultaneously detect and discriminate the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon by targeting mitochondrial genome sequences. Positive samples were additionally tested using a nested PCR targeting the cytochrome b gene of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. The obtained amplicons were bidirectionally sequenced. This study revealed haemosporidian DNA in 42 samples, belonging to ten host species. The most commonly detected lineage was Plasmodium relictum SGS1, which was identified in 29 birds (Phoenicopterus roseus: n = 24, Alectoris graeca: n = 1, Lamprotornis superbus: n = 1, Somateria mollissima: n = 1, Spheniscus demersus: n = 1, Tetrao urogallus crassirostris: n = 1), followed by Haemoproteus sp. STRURA03 in six avian hosts (Bubo bubo: n = 5, Bubo scandiacus = 1), Plasmodium relictum GRW11 in four individuals (Phoenicopterus roseus: n = 3, Spheniscus demersus: n = 1) and Plasmodium elongatum GRW06 in one Alectura lathami lathami. A Phalacrocorax carbo was infected with Plasmodium relictum, but the exact lineage could not be determined. One mixed infection with P. relictum and Haemoproteus sp. was detected in a Bubo scandiacus. Only five individuals (Spheniscus demersus: n = 2, Somateria mollissima: n = 1, Bubo scandiacus: n = 1, Alectoris graeca: n = 1) showed clinical and pathomorphological evidence of a haemosporidian infection