Gut microbiota and age shape susceptibility to clostridial enteritis in lorikeets under human care

Background Enteritis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in lorikeets that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. In this study, we examine gut microbiota in two lorikeet flocks with enteritis (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium—CZA; Denver Zoo—DZ). Since 2012, the CZA flock has experienced repeated outbreaks of enteritis despite extensive diet, husbandry, and clinical modifications. In 2018, both CZA and DZ observed a spike in enteritis. Recent research has revealed that the gut microbiota can influence susceptibility to enteropathogens. We hypothesized that a dysbiosis, or alteration in the gut microbial community, was making some lorikeets more susceptible to enteritis, and our goal was to characterize this dysbiosis and determine the features that predicted susceptibility. Results We employed 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the cloacal microbiota in lorikeets (CZA n = 67, DZ n = 24) over time. We compared the microbiota of healthy lorikeets, to lorikeets with enteritis, and lorikeets susceptible to enteritis, with “susceptible” being defined as healthy birds that subsequently developed enteritis. Based on sequencing data, culture, and toxin gene detection in intestinal contents, we identified Clostridium perfringens type A (CZA and DZ) and C. colinum (CZA only) at increased relative abundances in birds with enteritis. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry further identified the presence of gram-positive bacilli and C. perfringens, respectively, in the necrotizing intestinal lesions. Finally, using Random Forests and LASSO models, we identified several features (young age and the presence of Rhodococcus fascians and Pseudomonas umsongensis) associated with susceptibility to clostridial enteritis. Conclusions We identified C. perfringens type A and C. colinum associated with lorikeet necrohemorrhagic enteritis at CZA and DZ. Susceptibility testing of isolates lead to an updated clinical treatment plan which ultimately resolved the outbreaks at both institutions. This work provides a foundation for understanding gut microbiota features that are permissive to clostridial colonization and host factors (e.g. age, prior infection) that shape responses to infection.

An Analysis of the Development Path of Institutional Research Facing University Data Governance — Based on the Enlightenment from Institutional Research of University of California

In the context of university data governance, the orientation of institutional research in China is to provide data support and services based on decision-making scenarios. The content and process of work are closely related to data. The research fields specifically involve university students and other affairs in teaching, teacher management, resource management and planning, policy, management and so on. At present, with the continuous improvement of the level of data governance in colleges and universities, the development of institutional research in colleges and universities is mainly faced with problems such as insufficient data awareness, poor data quality and lack of data sharing platform. Therefore, universities should attach importance to top-level design and establish "data-driven decision-making" mechanism, create a data culture and develop data-related standards, build comprehensive database and build data sharing platform.

Are retailers leveraging in-store analytics? An exploratory study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyse the level of adoption of in-store analytics by brick-and-mortar retailers. Web analytics technology has been widely adopted by online retailers, and the technology to gather similar information in physical stores is already available. This study explores how such technology is valued and adopted by retailers.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on interviews and a focus group of 21 retail executives using a semi-structured interview methodology. An in-store analytics service was defined, along with specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and use cases to structure respondents' feedback.FindingsAlthough noteworthy differences have been found in the value of KPIs and use cases by type of business, the main finding is that none of the respondents reached the stage of a brick-and-mortar data-driven company. In-store analytics services are in the early stages of Rogers' (1983) model of diffusion of innovations. Three main reasons are presented: lack of technology knowledge, budget priority and a data culture inside the companies.Practical implicationsThe results should encourage scholars to further investigate the drivers accelerating the adoption of these technologies. Practitioners and solution providers should strive for improvement in the simplicity of their solutions.Originality/valueThis study is the first to analyse the level of adoption of in-store analytics from the perspective of retailers.

Gut microbiota and age shape susceptibility to clostridial enteritis in lorikeets under human care

BackgroundEnteritis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in lorikeets that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. In this study, we examine gut microbiota in two lorikeet flocks with enteritis (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – CZA; Denver Zoo - DZ). Since 2012, the CZA flock has experienced repeated outbreaks of enteritis despite extensive diet, husbandry, and clinical modifications. In 2018, both CZA and DZ observed a spike in enteritis. Recent research has revealed that the gut microbiota can influence susceptibility to enteropathogens. We hypothesized that a dysbiosis, or alteration in the gut microbial community, was making some lorikeets more susceptible to enteritis, and our goal was to characterize this dysbiosis and determine the features that predicted susceptibility.ResultsWe employed 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the cloacal microbiota in lorikeets (CZA n = 67, DZ n = 24) over time. We compared the microbiota of healthy lorikeets, to lorikeets with enteritis, and lorikeets susceptible to enteritis, with “susceptible” being defined as healthy birds that subsequently developed enteritis. Based on sequencing data, culture, and toxin gene detection in intestinal contents, we identified Clostridium perfringens type A (CZA and DZ) and C. colinum (CZA only) at increased relative abundances in birds with enteritis. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry further identified the presence of gram-positive bacilli and C. perfringens, respectively, in the necrotizing intestinal lesions. Finally, using Random Forests and LASSO models, we identified several features (young age and the presence of Rhodococcus fascians and Pseudomonas umsongensis) associated with susceptibility to clostridial enteritis.ConclusionsWe identified C. perfringens type A and C. colinum associated with lorikeet necrohemorrhagic enteritis at CZA and DZ. Susceptibility testing of isolates lead to an updated clinical treatment plan which ultimately resolved the outbreaks at both institutions. This work provides a foundation for understanding gut microbiota features that are permissive to clostridial colonization and host factors (e.g. age, prior infection) that shape responses to infection.

Data Analytics in Education and Management Decision Styles in the Evidence-based Development of Education

Introduction: The development of data culture is considered today as a social norm of the "information society". The leaders of education systems are faced with the task of consolidating the activities of "data evangelists", "it-evangelists" (technology evangelists) in education quality management systems. Data analyst competencies should dominate management decision-making. When examining the influence of relevant competencies on the style of management decision-making, we proceed from the existing technological data infrastructure in Russia, and also take into account the role of the public sector in quality control of education. Materials and methods: A review of foreign and domestic sources on the problems of evidence-based management in education has been undertaken. Various aspects of the problem are compared: intercountry and subnational contexts; revealed the role of international comparative research in the development of data analytics competencies. It was studied, using the Alan Rowe methodology, the influence of data analytics competencies on the style of making management decisions. The study sample consisted of 350 people. The author's case simulators were used for the built-in diagnostics of data analytics competencies. Results: The empirical facts of the change in the style of making management decisions under the influence of the competencies of data analytics have been obtained. The relevant competencies were the subject of training for the heads of regional education systems on the basis of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The connection between the competencies of data analytics of the conceptual and analytical style of making management decisions with the content and methodology of training managers has been substantiated. A list of competencies of data analytics for scaling in the practices of training subjects of management of educational systems has been formulated. Discussion and conclusions: The novelty of our proposed solutions lies in the substantiation of the influence of data analytics competencies on the style of management decision-making. We expand the boundaries of the data-driven paradigm of education quality management and consider such systems in the logic of the information-analytical paradigm, where the competence of data analytics is both a condition and a resource for evidence-based education development. Conclusions are formulated about the development of a new type of culture in public administration - data-culture. Data as a valuable asset in a state with a developed data culture changes the ontology of the information state and logically leads to the idea of a new social contract.

Analysis of the Introduction of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing into Businesses in Latvia

The market of global business intelligence technologies reached EUR 18.3 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach EUR 22.8 billion in the near future, as such technologies provide companies with a number of benefits: new information for business decision-making, real-time financial reporting and manual work automation. Nevertheless, many companies around the world do not achieve the desired results of applying business intelligence and data warehousing technologies. The research aims to develop scenarios for applying business intelligence and data warehousing tools in entrepreneurship in Latvia based on an examination of the tools. The research has found that the companies examined in the case study have introduced business intelligence along with data warehousing; however, there are differences in applying the business intelligence and the level of its advancement. Overall, a business intelligence system makes core and support operations and processes faster, as well as reduces costs and requires less human resources. However, problems were identified concerning a lack of motivation in employees to learn new technologies. The scenario analysis concluded that large companies should perform as many administrative and technological processes related to the mentioned technologies as possible themselves rather than outsource them, which allows them to save funds on the development of such technologies and improve the company’s data culture.

Biruk, C. (2018). Cooking data: Culture and politics in an African research world. Durham: Duke University Press. 277 p.

Resenha do livro Cooking data: Culture and politics in an African research world, de Crystal Biruk, publicado em 2018.