Effects of Captivity on the Morphology of the Insertion Sites of the Palmar Radiocarpal Ligaments in Hominoid Primates

The environmental conditions of captive hominoid primates can lead to modifications in several aspects of their behavior, including locomotion, which can then alter the morphological characteristics of certain anatomical regions, such as the knee or wrist. We have performed tridimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GM) analyses of the distal radial epiphysis in wild and captive gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans. Our objective was to study the morphology of the insertion sites of the palmar radiocarpal ligaments, since the anatomical characteristics of these insertion sites are closely related to the different types of locomotion of these hominoid primates. We have identified significant differences between the wild and captive specimens that are likely related to their different types of locomotion. Our results indicate that the habitat conditions of captive hominoid primates may cause them to modify their locomotor behavior, leading to a greater use of certain movements in captivity than in the wild and resulting in the anatomical changes we have observed. We suggest that creating more natural environments in zoological facilities could reduce the impact of these differences and also increase the well-being of primates raised in captive environments.

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When I am old I shall wear purple: a qualitative study of the effect of group poetry sessions on the well-being of older adults

Working with Older People ◽

10.1108/wwop-08-2016-0018 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 195-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Richard Seymour ◽

Michael Murray

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Well Being ◽

Content Type ◽

Short Period ◽

Different Types ◽

Poetry Reading ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose There is increasing evidence that participation in various art forms can be beneficial for health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of participating in a poetry reading group on a group of older residents of an assisted living facility. Design/methodology/approach Six poetry sessions, each on a different theme, were conducted with a group of volunteer participants. These sessions, those of pre- and post-study focus groups and interviews with the group facilitator and staff contact were audio-recorded. The transcripts of the recordings were then subjected to a thematic analysis. Findings Overall the participants were enthused by the opportunity to participate in the project and the benefits were confirmed by the support staff. In addition, reading poetry on particular themes promoted different types of discussion. Research limitations/implications The number of participants in this study was small and the study was conducted over a short period of time. Practical implications This paper confirms the impact of poetry reading for older people. The challenge is to explore this impact in more detail and over community as well as residential settings. Originality/value This paper is the first empirical report on the value of poetry reading for older people.

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Interactions between human behaviour and the built environment in terms of facility management

Facilities ◽

10.1108/f-03-2017-0040 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (1/2) ◽

pp. 2-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Darja Kobal Grum

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Behaviour ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

Purpose In comparison with the relations between the human and natural environments that have been the central focus of environmental psychology for many years, the interactions between the psychological processes underlying human behaviour and the built environment have only recently regained the interest of researchers. In this paper, the author first discusses the reasons for the slower development of human – built environment relations. Afterwards, the author systematically examines the impact that the research of environmental stress, namely, poor housing and poor neighbourhood quality, had on the contemporary understanding of human – built environment relations. Design/methodology/approach The author focuses on social, biophilic and evidence-based design. The author proposes deeper psychological engagement in correlation with human behaviour, psychological well-being and society. The author highlights the inclusion of psychologists in interdisciplinary research teams addressing the development of sustainable solutions to the issues of residential environments. Findings It has been shown that substandard house quality, high noise, lack of natural light in houses, poorer physical quality of urban neighbourhoods, living in a low-income neighbourhood, etc. are linked to elevated physiological and psychological stress. Despite this evidence, there is still a gap between building designers and building users in modern industrialised societies, which could deepen tenants’ dissatisfaction due to specific behavioural needs and consequently lower their psychological well-being and health risk behaviour. Research limitations/implications These are potential risks of error arising from the use of assumptions, limited samples size and data from the secondary resources. Originality/value The major contributions of this paper are as follows. If the environment is understood as a dynamic, constantly changing and complex system of a wide range of players, the author can discern in this environment a dynamic that is otherwise characteristic of emotional dynamics. Expressed participants’ high satisfaction with residential status does not necessarily generate high expectations regarding real estate factors.

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Can Zoos Ever Be Big Enough for Large Wild Animals? A Review Using an Expert Panel Assessment of the Psychological Priorities of the Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) as a Model Species

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091536 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1536

Author(s):

Jake Stuart Veasey

Keyword(s):

Expert Panel ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Amur Tiger ◽

Habitat Size ◽

Model Species ◽

Panthera Tigris Altaica ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild ◽

Management Paradigms ◽

The Impact

The ecology of large, wide-ranging carnivores appears to make them vulnerable to conservation challenges in the wild and welfare challenges in captivity. This poses an ethical dilemma for the zoo community and supports the case that there is a need to reconsider prevailing management paradigms for these species in captivity. Whilst the welfare challenges wide ranging carnivores face have been attributed to reduced ranging opportunities associated with the decreased size of captive habitats, attempts to augment wild carnivore welfare in captivity typically focus on behaviours linked to hunting. Thus far, this has yet to result in the systematic elimination of signs of compromised welfare amongst captive carnivores. Here an assessment is carried out to identify the likely welfare priorities for Amur tigers, which, as one of the widest ranging terrestrial carnivores, serves as an excellent exemplar for species experiencing extreme compression of their ranging opportunities in captivity. These priorities are then used to consider novel strategies to address the welfare challenges associated with existing management paradigms, and in particular, attempt to overcome the issue of restricted space. The insights generated here have wider implications for other species experiencing substantive habitat compression in captivity. It is proposed here that the impact of habitat compression on captive carnivore welfare may not be a consequence of the reduction in habitat size per se, but rather the reduction in cognitive opportunities that likely covary with size, and that this should inform strategies to augment welfare.

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The impact of employees’ well-being on performance in the workplace

Strategic HR Review ◽

10.1108/shr-01-2018-0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 72-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Janice Haddon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Personal Experience ◽

Well Being ◽

Content Type ◽

Different Types ◽

The Individual ◽

Hr Managers ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Made In

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look at the link between employee well-being in the workplace and its effect on productivity. Specifically, it looks at the different types of well-being (physical, nutritional and mental) and how organisations should be putting the welfare of staff at the heart of their workplace culture, to ensure their well-being and productivity. Design/methodology/approach Written as a viewpoint, the paper outlines the ways in which organisations traditionally offer employees incentives to look after their physical and nutritional well-being, such as gym memberships and healthy food options. It goes on to look at the impact of mental health on productivity and the symptoms employees may display if they are suffering with mental illness. Findings Mental health is one of the key contributors to productivity, and employers should do more to ensure the mental well-being of their staff. In addition, it outlines the impact a person’s mental well-being can have not only on themselves, but also on those around them, affecting, therefore, the productivity of a team/organisation as a whole, not just the individual. Originality/value The findings in the paper are based on personal experience, as well as recent statistics which are used to highlight the importance of the arguments made in the paper about the effect of mental health on and individual’s well-being and productivity. It is designed to advise HR managers and employers of the steps they can take to ensure the well-being of their employees and the benefits to themselves in doing so.

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New estimates of eco-intensity considering the hazardous industrial pollution accumulation

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202125808003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 258 ◽

pp. 08003

Author(s):

Irina Glazyrina ◽

Andrey Chavkin

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Environmental Cost ◽

Green Economy ◽

Added Value ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Accumulation Of Pollutants ◽

The Impact

The paper proposes a new approach to environmental and economic assessments based on the author’s economic and mathematical model that takes into account the accumulation of hazardous pollutants in natural environments. It also presents the results of calculations showing the dynamics of the increase in the negative impact depending on the natural assimilation of pollutants. This data can be considered as a quantitative assessment of the “environmental cost” that society pays by consuming goods the production of which is accompanied by the accumulation of long-lived pollutants. It is shown that this “price” can very significantly exceed the eco-intensity calculated without taking into account the accumulation of pollutants. Thus, the accumulation of pollutants as a result of economic activity is an important factor in the context of the impact on the ecological and economic balance. The implementation of the results obtained in the adjustment of the calculations of payments for negative environmental impact is proposed: to set payments per unit of production which are not proportional to emissions, but proportional to the eco-intensity calculated according to the proposed methodology. In this case, the accumulation of harmful substances in natural environments, the added value of production and the timing of project implementation will be taken into account. This corresponds to the concept of “green” economy, which provides the growth of well-being and quality of life with the maximum possible reduction of the negative anthropogenic pressure and improvement of the quality of the environment.

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The Impact of Virtual Nature Therapy on Stress Responses: A Systematic Qualitative Review

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12121776 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1776

Author(s):

Sharifah Shuthairah Syed Abdullah ◽

Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli ◽

Suziah Sulaiman ◽

Emad Alyan ◽

Frederic Merienne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Reduction ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Well Being ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Original Research ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Stress Therapy ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

This study aims to review the key findings of past studies that assessed the impact of virtual environments, such as nature and forests for stress therapy. Previous research has found that virtual reality (VR) experiences affect socio-affective behavior, indicating the potential of using VR for cognitive and psychological stress therapy. However, evidence for the impacts of virtual forest therapy as a stress-reduction technique is lacking, and the usefulness of these techniques has yet to be determined. This review was carried out following the preferred reporting items for meta-analyses and systematic reviews. It summarized the literature and provided evidence on virtual forest therapy (VFT) effectiveness in stress relief. We conducted a literature search considering VR-related studies published from 2013 until June 2021 for different databases, including Embase, Medline/PubMed, Hindawi, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, and the Cochrane Library, to see how effective VFT reduces stress levels and improves mental well-being. According to the set inclusion criteria, eighteen relevant papers detailing original research were eligible for inclusion. This overview suggests that VR provides benefits for assessing and reducing stress levels. While real natural environments effectively promote recovery from stress, virtual exposure to nature also positively affects stress. Thus, VR could be an effective technique for promoting relaxation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where stress levels rise globally. However, more in-depth studies are required to substantiate this potential field of VR relaxation.

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Im Test: Wald als Ressource für psychisches Wohlbefinden | In Test: Forest serving as a resource for psychological well-being

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2010.0090 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 161 (3) ◽

pp. 90-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dörte Martens ◽

Nicole Bauer

Keyword(s):

Visual Stimulation ◽

Well Being ◽

Presentation Mode ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Exposure Condition ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Presentation Modes ◽

Treatment Conditions ◽

In The Wild

Physical environment influences human health and well-being. In comparison with urban environments, natural environments contribute towards psychological well-being, which has been shown in several studies. However, a comparison of the effects caused by different natural conditions has not been focused on much. Furthermore, experiments on this topic are dominated by visual stimulation modes. Our work addresses these shortcomings. First, the dichotomy of natural and urban environments is opened up by comparing different natural environments – wild and tended forest – analyzing their impact on well-being. Second, the presentation mode, possibly influencing well-being itself, is systematically varied. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, participants from Zurich, Switzerland (N = 196), were randomly assigned to one of the treatment conditions: a walk in a wild or a tended forest area, presented by real exposure or in the laboratory by video. Self-reported well-being was assessed by standardized multidimensional scales in a pre-post design. The results demonstrate that the maintenance elicits different degrees of intensity in the influence on psychological well-being. The tended forest affected well-being more positively in some aspects, possibly due to a higher amount of dead wood arousing sadness in the wild forest. For designing urban natural areas, an appropriate degree of care should be visible for the visitor to increase the overall positive effect on well-being. Concerning the comparison of presentation modes, results show a stronger effect in the real exposure condition. However, the effect was unidirectional under both conditions, indicating the possibility to generalize laboratory results. This is important for conceptualizing further research on restoration and well-being elicited in laboratory settings.

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Captivity causes taxonomic and functional convergence of gut microbial communities in bats

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6844 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6844 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yanhong Xiao ◽

Guohong Xiao ◽

Heng Liu ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Congnan Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Animal Species ◽

Rhinolophus Ferrumequinum ◽

Kegg Pathways ◽

Functional Convergence ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Impact ◽

Rule Out

Background Diet plays a crucial role in sculpting microbial communities. Similar diets appear to drive convergence of gut microbial communities between host species. Captivity usually provides an identical diet and environment to different animal species that normally have similar diets. Whether different species’ microbial gut communities can be homogenized by a uniform diet in captivity remains unclear. Methods In this study, we compared gut microbial communities of three insectivorous bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Vespertilio sinensis, and Hipposideros armiger) in captivity and in the wild using 16S rDNA sequencing. In captivity, R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis were fed yellow mealworms, while H. armiger was fed giant mealworms to rule out the impact of an identical environment on the species’ gut microbial communities. Results We found that the microbial communities of the bat species we studied clustered by species in the wild, while the microbial communities of R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis in captivity clustered together. All microbial functions found in captive V. sinensis were shared by R. ferrumequinum. Moreover, the relative abundances of all metabolism related KEGG pathways did not significantly differ between captive R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis; however, the relative abundance of “Glycan Biosynthesis and Metabolism” differed significantly between wild R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis. Conclusion Our results suggest that consuming identical diets while in captivity tends to homogenize the gut microbial communities among bat species. This study further highlights the importance of diet in shaping animal gut microbiotas.

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Assessment of Climatic Conditions for Siberian Reindeer Herding on the Basis of Heat Balance Modelling

ARCTIC ◽

10.14430/arctic67916 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 28-42

Author(s):

Konstantin B. Klokov ◽

Vladimir V. Mikhailov

Keyword(s):

Heat Balance ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Well Being ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Reindeer Herding ◽

Vertical Temperature ◽

Comfort Index ◽

Reindeer Breeding ◽

Different Types ◽

The Impact

The purpose of the research is to assess suitable climatic conditions for traditional herding of reindeer by Indigenous people in different areas of Siberia. A сomputer simulation model allowed us to calculate reindeer’s heat balance according to a number of meteorological indices; it was used to assess climatic conditions in 70 localities. To show the impact of climatic conditions on reindeer’s well-being, we introduce the notion of the thermal comfort index (Kt). The best environmental conditions for reindeer are in the areas where Kt takes the highest values in winter and the lowest ones in summer. We showed the results of the reindeer heat balance computer simulation on two maps visualising the average Kt values in summer and in winter. Finally, using official statistics, we calculated the number of reindeer per 100 km2 in areas with different types of traditional reindeer herding. The territories with the largest domesticated reindeer populations per 100 km2 in the two major tundra reindeer breeding areas (Samoed and Chukchi-Koriak types of reindeer herding) are located in the regions with the relatively low value of Kt in summer and high in winter. In the taiga, Kt is relatively high in summer, and reindeer herding (Tungus and Saian types) is developed mostly in highlands, where the summer Kt is lower than in flatlands because of the vertical temperature gradient. The results obtained prove that thermal conditions are extremely important for traditional reindeer herding.

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How a Big City Reduced the Genetic Diversity of Coyotes

Frontiers for Young Minds ◽

10.3389/frym.2021.563171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Anthony Adducci ◽

Javier Monzón

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Fast Rate ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Low Genetic Diversity ◽

Natural Land ◽

Big City ◽

The Impact

The world’s cities are expanding at a very fast rate, taking over natural land inhabited by many different animals. It is very important that we monitor the impact this expansion is having on animals in and around our cities. Coyotes are the perfect species to study the effects of urbanization on wildlife, because they are found in both urban and natural environments. We examined how urbanization affects coyotes throughout the Los Angeles area in the United States. We discovered that urbanization influences where different groups of coyotes choose to live and that it also reduces the genetic diversity of coyotes. We should be concerned for the well-being of coyotes because low genetic diversity decreases the ability of any species to fight diseases and deal with other threats. We conclude that the coyote, a species formerly thought to be resistant to human disturbance, is in fact impacted by urbanization.

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