When mycologists describe new species, not all relevant information is provided (clearly enough)

Taxonomic mycology struggles with what seems to be a perpetual shortage of resources. Logically, fungal taxonomists should therefore leverage every opportunity to highlight and visualize the importance of taxonomic work, the usefulness of taxonomic data far beyond taxonomy, and the integrative and collaborative nature of modern taxonomy at large. Is mycology really doing that, though? In this study, we went through ten years' worth (2009-2018) of species descriptions of extant fungal taxa - 1,097 studies describing at most ten new species - in five major mycological journals plus one plant journal. We estimated the frequency at which a range of key words, illustrations, and concepts related to ecology, geography, taxonomy, molecular data, and data availability were provided with the descriptions. We also considered a range of science-demographical aspects such as gender bias and the rejuvenation of taxonomy and taxonomists as well as public availability of the results. Our results show that the target audience of fungal specks descriptions appears to be other fungal taxonomists, because many aspects of the new species were presented only implicitly, if at all. Although many of the parameters we estimated show a gradual, and in some cases marked, change for the better over time, they still paint a somewhat bleak picture of mycological taxonomy as a male-dominated field where the wants and needs of an extended target audience are often not understood or even considered. This study hopes to leave a mark on the way fungal species are described by putting the focus on ways in which fungal taxonomy can better anticipate the end users of species descriptions - be they mycologists, other researchers, the public at large, or even algorithms. In the end, fungal taxonomy, too, is likely to benefit from such measures

Are second-hand shell jackets better than users think? A comparison of perceived, assessed and measured functionality throughout lifespans

Using the case of outdoor shell jackets, this research studies obsolescence and potential lifespan extension by re-examining how product functionality, objectively and subjectively, develops over the course of product lifespans. In particular, the study focuses on second-hand stores for outdoor products. Functionality is indicated by user perceptions, visual assessments, laboratory measurements and price data, collected at first use, second-hand resale and end-of-life. Perceived functionality and price decline more rapidly (5–6 % per year) than assessed and measured functionality (around 3 % per year). This could be explained by properties related to appearance, which are not assessed nor measured but influence user perceptions and price. Discontentment regarding such properties appears more relevant for obsolescence than inadequate performance, suggesting the potential for design for attachment and timeless design. The relative stability of measured functionality over time suggests that a barrier for second-hand sales, concern about performance, could be ameliorated by a potential functionality-label.Mistra Sport & Outdoor

Myten om den lyckliga horan : En kvalitativ studie om människohandel för sexuella ändamål av kvinnor

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur människohandel för sexuella ändamål av kvinnor förstås av yrkesverksamma som professionellt arbetar med utsatta kvinnor och frågor som berör människohandel. Studien genomfördes med sex stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med yrkesverksamma som på något sätt arbetar med människohandel eller utsatta kvinnor. Respondenterna är verksamma i olika delar av landet och från olika verksamheter. Empirin tolkas utifrån den postkoloniala feministiska teorin. Resultatet i denna studie visar att yrkesverksamma i Sverige är överens om vad begreppet människohandel betyder men att förståelsen av fenomenet är ojämn. Resultatet visar också att det inte finns en fördjupad förståelse kring de bakomliggande orsakerna för människohandel för sexuella ändamål. Dock nämner respondenterna att de tror efterfrågan är en stor del av orsakerna bakom fenomenet. Sammanfattningsvis går det att dra slutsatsen utifrån resultatet att det behövs mer forskning kring efterfrågan och hur det samspelar med globaliseringen, men även att se över de strukturer som lever kvar i dagens samhällen efter koloniseringen.2019-06-04</p

Job satisfaction among healthcare staff : A quantitative study of whether social support, autonomy and monthly salary are related to job satisfaction

Att undersöka arbetstrivsel är betydelsefullt för att bättre förstå det personliga välbefinnandet och för att hjälpa organisationer att fungera på bästa möjliga sätt. Syftet med vår studie var att undersöka om socialt stöd, autonomi samt månadslön predicerar arbetstrivsel hos vårdpersonal. Hypoteserna var att både socialt stöd samt autonomi predicerar arbetstrivsel. Vi genomförde en kvantitativ studie genom att samla in data via en digital enkät. Totalt var det 139 deltagare som svarade på en enkät om arbetstrivsel (Short Index of Job Satisfaction), socialt stöd (General Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) samt autonomi (The Index of Autonomous Functioning). Resultatet av den multipla regressionsanalysen visade att autonomi, socialt stöd från chef och socialt stöd från arbetskamrater signifikant predicerade arbetstrivsel hos vårdpersonalen, medan månadslön eller socialt stöd från vänner/familj inte predicerade arbetstrivsel. Autonomi var den prediktor som starkast predicerade arbetstrivsel. Vid ytterligare analys visade även subskalan självkongruens ett signifikant samband med arbetstrivsel. Examining job satisfaction is important for understanding personal well-being and helping organizations to function in the best possible way. The aim of our study was to investigate whether social support, autonomy and monthly salary predict job satisfaction among healthcare staff. The hypotheses were that social support and autonomy predict job satisfaction. We conducted a quantitative study by collecting data through a digital survey. In total there were 139 participants who answered a survey which examined job satisfaction (Short Index of Job Satisfaction), social support (General Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and autonomy (The Index of Autonomous Functioning). The results of a multiple regression analysis showed that autonomy, social support from the manager and social support from co-workers significantly predicted job satisfaction among healthcare staff, whereas monthly salary and social support from friends/family did not predict job satisfaction. Autonomy was the strongest predictor of job satisfaction. Further analyses indicated that the subscale authorship/self-congruence also showed a significant association with job satisfaction.

Job satisfaction among healthcare staff : A quantitative study of whether social support, autonomy and monthly salary are related to job satisfaction

Att undersöka arbetstrivsel är betydelsefullt för att bättre förstå det personliga välbefinnandet och för att hjälpa organisationer att fungera på bästa möjliga sätt. Syftet med vår studie var att undersöka om socialt stöd, autonomi samt månadslön predicerar arbetstrivsel hos vårdpersonal. Hypoteserna var att både socialt stöd samt autonomi predicerar arbetstrivsel. Vi genomförde en kvantitativ studie genom att samla in data via en digital enkät. Totalt var det 139 deltagare som svarade på en enkät om arbetstrivsel (Short Index of Job Satisfaction), socialt stöd (General Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) samt autonomi (The Index of Autonomous Functioning). Resultatet av den multipla regressionsanalysen visade att autonomi, socialt stöd från chef och socialt stöd från arbetskamrater signifikant predicerade arbetstrivsel hos vårdpersonalen, medan månadslön eller socialt stöd från vänner/familj inte predicerade arbetstrivsel. Autonomi var den prediktor som starkast predicerade arbetstrivsel. Vid ytterligare analys visade även subskalan självkongruens ett signifikant samband med arbetstrivsel. Examining job satisfaction is important for understanding personal well-being and helping organizations to function in the best possible way. The aim of our study was to investigate whether social support, autonomy and monthly salary predict job satisfaction among healthcare staff. The hypotheses were that social support and autonomy predict job satisfaction. We conducted a quantitative study by collecting data through a digital survey. In total there were 139 participants who answered a survey which examined job satisfaction (Short Index of Job Satisfaction), social support (General Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and autonomy (The Index of Autonomous Functioning). The results of a multiple regression analysis showed that autonomy, social support from the manager and social support from co-workers significantly predicted job satisfaction among healthcare staff, whereas monthly salary and social support from friends/family did not predict job satisfaction. Autonomy was the strongest predictor of job satisfaction. Further analyses indicated that the subscale authorship/self-congruence also showed a significant association with job satisfaction.

Is It Worth Buying a Second-Hand Shell Jacket? An Evaluation of Shell Jackets’ Functionality and Price over Time

Global textile production and consumption has increased steadily over the past 15 years, which has caused significant impacts on the climate and the environment. In 2022, the EU launched a strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, stating that extending the life of textile products is the most efficient way to reduce their impact on the climate and the environment. Shell jackets for outdoor use are textile products that are frequently discarded by their first users and re-sold on the second-hand market. This study evaluates the performance of 16 second-hand shell jackets from three second-hand stores in Sweden via material testing of four key functional aspects. Comparing the results with the jackets’ original performance, this study describes the change in functionality over time. The results indicate that air permeability does not change significantly, whereas water repellency, water penetration resistance, and breathability decrease over time, although they do so at different rates. With the aim of promoting circularity and encouraging longer product use, this study also compares the price evolution of jackets with their functionality over time. The results reveal that the resale price of the jackets is lower than could be expected based on the level of remaining functionality in the jackets.Mistra Sport & Outdoor

DNA methylation and gene expression of HIF3A:cross-tissue validation and associations with BMI and insulin resistance

Background: Associations between BMI and DNA methylation of hypoxia-inducible factor 3-alpha (HIF3A) in both blood cells and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) have been reported. In this study, we investigated associations between BMI and HIF3A DNA methylation in the blood and SAT from the same individuals, and whether HIF3A gene expression in SAT and skeletal muscle biopsies showed associations with BMI and insulin resistance. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate gender specificity and heritability of these traits. Methods: We studied 137 first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients from 48 families, from whom we had SAT and muscle biopsies. DNA methylation of four CpG sites in the HIF3A promoter was analyzed in the blood and SAT by pyrosequencing, and HIF3A gene expression was analyzed in SAT and muscle by qPCR. An index of whole-body insulin sensitivity was estimated from oral glucose tolerance tests. Results: BMI was associated with HIF3A methylation at one CpG site in the blood, and there was a positive association between the blood and SAT methylation levels at a different CpG site within the individuals. The SAT methylation level did not correlate with HIF3A gene expression. Interestingly, HIF3A expression in SAT, but not in muscle, associated negatively with BMI and whole-body insulin resistance. We found a significant effect of familiality on HIF3A methylation levels in the blood and HIF3A expression levels in skeletal muscle. Conclusions: Our findings are in line with the previously reported link between BMI and DNA methylation of HIF3A in the blood. The tissue-specific results of HIF3A gene expression indicate that SAT is the more functional tissue in which a low expression may adversely affect whole-body insulin sensitivity

Impact of age, BMI and HbA1c levels on the genome-wide DNA methylation and mRNA expression patterns in human adipose tissue and identification of epigenetic biomarkers in blood

Increased age, BMI and HbA1c levels are risk factors for several non-communicable diseases. However, the impact of these factors on the genome-wide DNA methylation pattern in human adipose tissue remains unknown. We analyzed DNA methylation of ∼480,000 sites in human adipose tissue from 96 males and 94 females, and related methylation to age, BMI and HbA1c. We also compared epigenetic signatures in adipose tissue and blood. Age was significantly associated with both altered DNA methylation and expression of 1,050 genes (e.g. FHL2, NOX4 and PLG). Interestingly, many reported epigenetic biomarkers of ageing in blood, including ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14 and GLRA1, also showed significant correlations between adipose tissue DNA methylation and age in our study. The most significant association between age and adipose tissue DNA methylation was found upstream of ELOVL2. We identified 2,825 genes (e.g. FTO, ITIH5, CCL18, MTCH2, IRS1 and SPP1) where both DNA methylation and expression correlated with BMI. Methylation at previously reported HIF3A sites correlated significantly with BMI in females only. HbA1c (range 28-46 mmol/mol) correlated significantly with methylation of 711 sites, annotated to e.g. RAB37, TICAM1 and HLA-DPB1. Pathway analyses demonstrated that methylation levels associated with age and BMI are overrepresented among genes involved in cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our results highlight the impact of age, BMI and HbA1c on epigenetic variation of candidate genes for metabolic diseases and cancer in human adipose tissue. Importantly, we demonstrate that epigenetic biomarkers in blood can mirror age-related epigenetic signatures in target tissues for metabolic diseases such as adipose tissue