scholarly journals Do We Need to Use Bats as Bioindicators?

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 693
Author(s):  
Danilo Russo ◽  
Valeria B. Salinas-Ramos ◽  
Luca Cistrone ◽  
Sonia Smeraldo ◽  
Luciano Bosso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Legal Obligation ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
River Quality ◽  
Surrogate Taxa ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Sampling Problems ◽  
The Eu

Bats show responses to anthropogenic stressors linked to changes in other ecosystem components such as insects, and as K-selected mammals, exhibit fast population declines. This speciose, widespread mammal group shows an impressive trophic diversity and provides key ecosystem services. For these and other reasons, bats might act as suitable bioindicators in many environmental contexts. However, few studies have explicitly tested this potential, and in some cases, stating that bats are useful bioindicators more closely resembles a slogan to support conservation than a well-grounded piece of scientific evidence. Here, we review the available information and highlight the limitations that arise in using bats as bioindicators. Based on the limited number of studies available, the use of bats as bioindicators is highly promising and warrants further investigation in specific contexts such as river quality, urbanisation, farming practices, forestry, bioaccumulation, and climate change. Whether bats may also serve as surrogate taxa remains a controversial yet highly interesting matter. Some limitations to using bats as bioindicators include taxonomical issues, sampling problems, difficulties in associating responses with specific stressors, and geographically biased or delayed responses. Overall, we urge the scientific community to test bat responses to specific stressors in selected ecosystem types and develop research networks to explore the geographic consistency of such responses. The high cost of sampling equipment (ultrasound detectors) is being greatly reduced by technological advances, and the legal obligation to monitor bat populations already existing in many countries such as those in the EU offers an important opportunity to accomplish two objectives (conservation and bioindication) with one action.

scholarly journals Will the imaginary active consumers please stand up? Case note to Walbusch Walter Busch: Case C-430/17 Walbusch Walter Busch GmbH & Co. KG v. Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main eV, EU:C:2019:47

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-719
Author(s):  
Joasia Luzak
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Case Note ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
Frankfurt Am Main ◽  
Limited Space ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Withdrawal ◽  
The Eu

The questions posed to the Court of Justice of the EU in the recent case of Walbusch Walter Busch asked what qualifies as the means of communication with a limited space or time to display the information and how detailed the disclosure on the right of withdrawal needs to be on such a medium. The judgment in this case had to strike a balance between not limiting traders’ opportunities to use technological advances to reach consumers and one of the main objectives of consumer protection: ensuring consumers have a chance to make fully informed transactional decisions.

scholarly journals The Legal Aspects of Artificial Intelligence based on the EU Experience

Law and World ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Clear Vision ◽  
Routine Tasks ◽  
The One ◽  
The Eu

In the digital era, technological advances have brought innovative opportunities. Artificial intelligence is a real instrument to provide automatic routine tasks in different fields (healthcare, education, the justice system, foreign and security policies, etc.). AI is evolving very fast. More precisely, robots as re-programmable multi-purpose devices designed for the handling of materials and tools for the processing of parts or specialized devices utilizing varying programmed movements to complete a variety of tasks.1 Regardless of opportunities, artificial intelligence may pose some risks and challenges for us. Because of the nature of AI ethical and legal questions can be pondered especially in terms of protecting human rights. The power of artificial intelligence means using it more effectively in the process of analyzing big data than a human being. On the one hand, it causes loss of traditional jobs and, on the other hand, it promotes the creation of digital equivalents of workers with automatic routine task capabilities. “Artificial intelligence must serve people, and therefore artificial intelligence must always comply with people’s rights,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.2 The EU has a clear vision of the development of the legal framework for AI. In the light of the above, the article aims to explore the legal aspects of artificial intelligence based on the European experience. Furthermore, it is essential in the context of Georgia’s European integration. Analyzing legal approaches of the EU will promote an approximation of the Georgian legislation to the EU standards in this field. Also, it will facilitate to define AI’s role in the effective digital transformation of public and private sectors in Georgia.

scholarly journals Effects of Curcumin on Vessel Formation Insight into the Pro- and Antiangiogenesis of Curcumin

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-ye Wang ◽  
Jia-xu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Curcuma Longa ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Dual Effect ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Insight Into

Curcumin is a compound extracted from the Curcuma longa L, which possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects. However, few studies have collected scientific evidence on its dual effect on angiogenesis. The present review gathered the fragmented information available in the literature to discuss the dual effect and possible mechanisms of curcumin on angiogenesis. Available information concerning the effect of curcumin on angiogenesis is compiled from scientific databases, including PubMed and Web of Science using the key term (curcumin and angiogenesis). The results were reviewed to identify relevant articles. Related literature demonstrated that curcumin has antiangiogenesis effect via regulating multiple factors, including proangiogenesis factor VEGF, MMPs, and FGF, both in vivo and in vitro, and could promote angiogenesis under certain circumstances via these factors. This paper provided a short review on bidirectional action of curcumin, which should be useful for further study and application of this compound that require further studies.

scholarly journals Prediction of delayed mortality using vitality scores and reflexes, as well as catch, processing, and post-release conditions: evidence from discarded flatfish in the Western Baltic trawl fishery

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 330-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
S B M Kraak ◽  
A Velasco ◽  
U Fröse ◽  
U Krumme
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Handling Time ◽  
Fishing Ground ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Trawl Fishery ◽  
Fishing Vessels ◽  
Reflex Action ◽  
Delayed Mortality ◽  
Catch Composition ◽  
The Eu

Abstract The EU discard ban and its high-survival exemption exposed our lack of scientific evidence on discard survival in the fisheries. Discard survival is known to be highly variable and influenced by numerous factors, including conditions during the catch, on-board the fishing vessels, and post-discard. Therefore, obtaining unambiguous results in discard survival experiments is challenging. We conducted the first systematic year-round discard survival study of flatfish in the Western Baltic Sea on-board a commercial stern trawler under realistic fishing conditions (13 monthly hauls from May 2015 to May 2016) to test whether delayed mortality can be predicted by vitality scores and reflex action mortality predictor (RAMP) scores in combination with variable conditions during catch, processing, and post-release. The factors vessel type, gear, haul duration, fishing ground, depth, handling time, and processing procedures were kept constant as much as possible. On-board, live individual flatfish were tested for vitality and the presence of reflexes for RAMP, then “discarded” and kept in cages on the bottom of the seafloor for about a week after which the delayed mortality was determined. The proportions of “discarded” plaice, flounder, and dab that were dead after being kept in the cages ranged from 5% to 100%, 0% to 96%, and 33% to 100%, respectively. Higher mortalities occurred in summer-autumn when air and water temperatures were higher, catches smaller, and catches contained smaller proportions of roundfish. Relationships between RAMP scores and mortality probabilities varied substantially across the monthly trials. Indeed, in addition to RAMP or vitality scores and individual reflexes, the factors air and water temperature and catch weight and catch composition were significant in logistic GLMs explaining delayed mortality. Cross-validations indicated that delayed mortality could be predicted by these models with a reasonable accuracy. Nevertheless, the presence of possible confounding effects calls for caution in inferring causality and extrapolating the conclusions on predictability.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Farmers' Willingness to Adopt Countryside Stewardship Schemes

2003 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Mathijs
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Logit Analysis ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Arable Field ◽  
Willingness To Adopt ◽  
Extension Agencies ◽  
The Village ◽  
General Regulation ◽  
The Eu

The EU provides farmers with incentives to adopt Countryside Stewardship Schemes (CSS) using subsidies in the framework of the agri-environmental regulation of the EU (2078/92), now included in the more general regulation on rural development. In this paper, a case study of 36 farmers in the village of Bierbeek was carried out to investigate the determinants of the willingness to adopt a scheme involving taking care of arable field margins in particular. Bivariate and multivariate logit analysis confirmed not only the importance of personal, structural and financial factors, but also showed the importance of social capital. Farmers who are more open to both professional and non-professional contacts are more likely to adopt a CSS. Hence, government and extension agencies should undertake more efforts to involve farmers as much as possible in activities of a professional and/or non-professional nature to stimulate them to adopt sustainable farming practices.

scholarly journals Activity of the chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine and mefloquine in front of the SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Elin Manrique Julio ◽  
Belkis Palacio Villalba ◽  
Elías Alberto Bedoya Marrugo ◽  
Marlene Duran Lengua
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Cardiac Toxicity ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Neurotoxic Effect ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Available Information

Introduction: Identifying the main advances in the pharmacological and clinical management of the pandemic COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, the most recent and currently taking lives worldwide, is to priority of the scientific community that to date have rehearsed and joined efforts in order to respond with effective treatments that stop the progression of the viral infection and manage to recover the patient. Objective: To document available information on the effects of the antimalarials chloroquine / hydroxychloroquine and mefloquine in severe acute respiratory syndrome, generated by SARS CoV-2, according to updates of the best scientific evidence, according to the evolution of the epidemic. Material and Methods: Descriptive documentary study consisting of the selection and review of scientific material whose subject is COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 based on published evidence from bibliographic sources seeking different therapeutic options to combat the disease at the same time ace necessary preventive measures plough implemented worldwide. The databases consulted were Scopus, Head office Pubmed and Scielo. Results: 132 articles related to the search were obtained in the first instance, of which they were filtered and prioritized by thematic relevance until 60 articles with to broad relationship were located. The largest number of articles was published between 2015 and 2020 (n = 26; 43.3%). It have been shown that the mechanism of today's SARS-CoV-2 is similar to that of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, in the same way; they share the symptoms shown by patients with COVID-19 such ace: fever, non-productive cough, dyspnea, myalgia, fatigue, normal or decreased white blood cell counts. Conclusions: The activity of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in viruses is the same since the mechanism of action of these two molecules is identical. Given the pandemic, the use of these drugs is suggested in the management of patients with SARS CoV-2 / COVID-19 infection that have no contraindication for their use and the cardiac toxicity derived from these ace to cause of mortality should not be forgotten, due to what therapy must be individualized. The mefloquine is not recommended due to its neurotoxic effect and association with neuropsychiatric adverse reactions.

scholarly journals THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs)

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Anisa ◽  
Chelsilya ◽  
Grace Yohana ◽  
Mucco Eva ◽  
Morry Zefanya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Eu

Current technological advances have been present in all aspects of human life, including technological advances in biotechnology. Biotechnology not only raises hope for science but also raises heated debates among scientists, especially between the European Union and the US. This debate arises because of differences in perspective between the EU and the US. The EU has stringent rules regarding the development efforts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At the same time, the US thinks that GMOs are part of agriculture, so there is no need for any special laws to regulate them. Various side effects also come hand in hand with the birth of GMOs. They are ranging from adverse effects on human health, the health of food products, and even environmental damage. The development of GMOs can damage the ecosystem of species that exist in the environment. Still, more complex problems arise due to GMOs like economic problems and monopolies.   Keywords: The  GMOs, The EU, The US.

scholarly journals Systematic review of meta-analyses to assess the impacts of farming practices - A methodological framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Makowski ◽  
Simona Bosco ◽  
Mathilde Chen ◽  
Ana Montero-Castaño ◽  
Marta Pérez-Soba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Scientific Experts ◽  
Meta Analyses

Identifying sustainable agricultural practices to support policy development requires a rigorous synthesis of scientific evidence based on experiments carried out around the world. In agricultural science, meta-analyses (MAs) are now commonly used to assess the impact of farming practices on a variety of outcomes, including crop and livestock productions, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrate leaching, soil organic carbon, based on a large number of experimental data. MA has become a gold standard method for quantitative research synthesis, and the growing number of MAs available can potentially be used to inform decisions of policy makers. However, published MAs are heterogeneous both in content and quality, and a framework is needed to help scientists to report the results and quality levels of MAs in a rigorous and transparent manner. Such a framework must be implementable quickly - within weeks - to be operational and compatible with the time constraints of modern policymaking processes. In this paper, we propose a methodological framework for assessing the impacts of farming practices based on a systematic review of published MAs. The framework includes four main steps: (1) literature search of existing MAs, (2) screening and selection of MAs, (3) data extraction and quality assessment, and (4) reporting. Three types of reports are generated from the extracted data: individual reports summarizing the contents of each MA (MA summary reports), reports summarizing each of the impacts of a given farming practice on a specific environmental, climate mitigation, or production outcome (single-impact reports), and report summarizing all the impacts of a given farming practice on all the outcomes considered (general report). All these reports present the quality levels of the MAs examined on the basis of 16 quality criteria. The proposed framework is semi-automatic in the sense that the skeletons of the reports are generated automatically from the spreadsheet used for the data extraction and quality assessment. This semi-automatic procedure allows scientific experts to reduce the time needed in the reporting step. Since 2020, the proposed framework was successfully applied by a group of scientific experts to support decisions of EU policy makers, and examine a large diversity of single farming practices (e.g. nitrification inhibitors, biochar, liming) and cropping systems (e.g. organic systems, agroforestry) in a relatively short period of time. It provides an operational tool for scientists who want to supply policymakers with scientific evidence based on large numbers of experiments, in a timely and reproducible manner.

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