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An increasing input rate of rare earth elements in the environment is expected because of the intense extraction of such elements form their ores to face human technological needs. In this study Lemna minor L. plants were grown under laboratory conditions and treated with increasing concentrations of cerium (Ce) ions to investigate the effects on plant growth and antioxidant systems. The growth increased in plants treated with lower Ce concentrations and reduced in plants treated with higher concentrations, compared to control plants. In plants treated with higher Ce concentrations lower levels of chlorophyll and carotenoid and the appearance of chlorotic symptoms were also detected. Increased levels of hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant metabolites and antioxidant activity confirmed that higher Ce concentrations are toxic to L. minor. Ce concentration in plant tissues was also determined and detectable levels were found only in plants grown on Ce-supplemented media. The use of duckweed plants as a tool for biomonitoring of Ce in freshwater is discussed.
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Araceae/efectos de los fármacos , Cerio/toxicidad , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Araceae/crecimiento & desarrollo , Araceae/metabolismo , Cerio/metabolismo , Clorofila/metabolismo , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Agua Dulce/química , Peróxido de Hidrógeno/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a new tool to be used to assess the quality of care for mothers, newborns and children provided at healthcare facility level. This paper reports on the feasibility of using the tool, its limitations and strengths. METHODS: Across 5 districts in Malawi, 35 healthcare facilities were assessed. The WHO tool includes checklists, interviews and observation of case management by which care is assessed against agreed standards using a Likert scale (1 lowest: not meeting standard, 5 highest: compliant with standard). Descriptive statistics were used to provide summary scores for each standard. A 'dashboard' system was developed to display the results. RESULTS: For maternal care three areas met standards; 1) supportive care for admitted patients (71% of healthcare facilities scored 4 or 5); 2) prevention and management of infections during pregnancy (71% scored 4 or 5); and 3) management of unsatisfactory progress of labour (84% scored 4 or 5). Availability of essential equipment and supplies was noted to be a critical barrier to achieving satisfactory standards of paediatric care (mean score; standard deviation: 2.9; SD 0.95) and child care (2.7; SD 1.1). Infection control is inadequate across all districts for maternal, newborn and paediatric care. Quality of care varies across districts with a mean (SD) score for all standards combined of 3 (SD 0.19) for the worst performing district and 4 (SD 0.27) for the best. The best performing district has an average score of 4 (SD 0.27). Hospitals had good scores for overall infrastructure, essential drugs, organisation of care and management of preterm labour. However, health centres were better at case management of HIV/AIDS patients and follow-up of sick children. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop an expanded framework of standards which is inclusive of all areas of care. In addition, it is important to ensure structure, process and outcomes of health care are reflected.
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Instituciones de Salud/normas , Implementación de Plan de Salud/métodos , Servicios de Salud Materno-Infantil/normas , Garantía de la Calidad de Atención de Salud/organización & administración , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Malaui , Embarazo , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Organización Mundial de la Salud , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Indoor production of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is influenced by light spectrum, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and the photoperiod. To investigate the effects of different lighting on growth, chlorophyll content, and secondary metabolism, basil plants were grown from seedlings to fully expanded plants in microcosm devices under different light conditions: (a) white light at 250 and 380 µmol·m-2·s-1 under 16/8 h light/dark and (b) white light at 380 µmol·m-2·s-1 under 16/8 and 24/0 h light/dark. A higher yield was recorded under 380 µmol·m-2·s-1 compared to 250 µmol·m-2·s-1 (fresh and dry biomasses 260.6 ± 11.3 g vs. 144.9 ± 14.6 g and 34.1 ± 2.6 g vs. 13.2 ± 1.4 g, respectively), but not under longer photoperiods. No differences in plant height and chlorophyll content index were recorded, regardless of the PPFD level and photoperiod length. Almost the same volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected under the different lighting treatments, belonging to terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and ketones. Linalool, eucalyptol, and eugenol were the main VOCs regardless of the lighting conditions. The multivariate data analysis showed a sharp separation of non-volatile metabolites in apical and middle leaves, but this was not related to different PPFD levels. Higher levels of sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes were detected in plants grown under 250 µmol·m-2·s-1 and 380 µmol·m-2·s-1, respectively. A low separation of non-volatile metabolites based on the photoperiod length and VOC overexpression under longer photoperiods were also highlighted.
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Indoor farming of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under artificial lighting to support year-round produce demand is an area of increasing interest. Literature data indicate that diverse light regimes differently affect downstream metabolic pathways which influence basil growth, development and metabolism. In this study, basil was grown from seedlings to fully developed plants in a microcosm, an innovative device aimed at growing plants indoor as in natural conditions. Specifically, the effects of white (W) and blue-red (BR) light under a photosynthetic photon flux density of 255 µmol m-2 s-1 on plant growth, photochemistry, soluble nutrient concentration and secondary metabolism were investigated. Plants grew taller (41.8 ± 5.0 vs. 28.4 ± 2.5 cm) and produced greater biomass (150.3 ± 24.2/14.7 ± 2.0 g vs. 116.2 ± 28.3/12.3 ± 2.5 g fresh/dry biomass) under W light compared to BR light. The two lighting conditions differently influenced the soluble nutrient concentration and the translocation rate. No photosynthetic stress was observed under the two lighting regimes, but leaves grown under W light displayed higher levels of maximum quantum yield of PSII and electron transport rate. Sharp differences in metabolic patterns under the two lighting regimes were detected with higher concentrations of phenolic compounds under the BR light.
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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its prevention and control policies have impacted maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study documents the challenges faced by patients in accessing MCH services, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering those services during the COVID-19 outbreak, explicitly focusing on the lockdown period in India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study (rapid survey) was conducted in 18 districts from 6 states of India during March to June, 2020. The sample size included 540 MCH patients, 18 gynaecologists, 18 paediatricians, 18 district immunisation officers and 108 frontline health workers. Bivariate analysis and multivariable analysis were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics, and challenges faced by the patients. RESULTS: More than one-third of patients (n = 212; 39%) reported that accessing MCH services was a challenge during the lockdown period, with major challenges being transportation-related difficulties (n = 99; 46%) unavailability of hospital-based services (n = 54; 23%) and interrupted outreach health services (n = 39; 18.4%). The supply-side challenges mainly included lack of infrastructural preparedness for outbreak situations, and a shortage of human resources. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: A holistic approach is required that focuses on both preparedness and response to the outbreak, as well reassignment and reinforcement of health care professionals to continue catering to and maintaining essential MCH services during the pandemic.
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COVID-19 , Servicios de Salud del Niño , Servicios de Salud Materna , Niño , Humanos , Femenino , Embarazo , COVID-19/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Pandemias , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , India/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Aid effectiveness and improving its impact is a central policy matter for donors and international organisations. Pooled funding is a mechanism, whereby donors provide financial contributions towards a common set of broad objectives by channelling finance through one instrument. The results of pooled funds as an aid mechanism are mixed, and there is limited data on both methodology for, and results of, assessment of effectiveness of pooled funding. METHODS: This study adapted a conceptual framework incorporating the Paris Principles of Aid Effectiveness and qualitative methods to assess the performance of the Health Transition Fund (HTF) Zimbabwe. 30 key informant interviews, and 20 focus group discussions were conducted with informants drawn from village to national level. Descriptive secondary data analysis of Demographic Health Surveys, Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) and policy reports complemented the study. RESULTS: The HTF combined the most optimal option to channel external aid to the health sector in Zimbabwe during a period of socioeconomic and political crisis. It produced results quickly and at scale and enhanced coordination and ownership at the national and subnational level. Flexibility in using the funds was a strong feature of the HTF. However, the initiative compromised on the investment in local capacity and systems, since the primary focus was on restoring essential services within a nearly collapsed healthcare system, rather than building long-term capacity. Significant changes in maternal and newborn health outcomes were observed during the HTF implementation in Zimbabwe. CONCLUSION: A framework which can be used to assess pooled funds was adapted and applied. Future assessments could use this or another framework to provide new evidence regarding effectiveness of pool donor funds although the frameworks should be properly tested and adapted in different contexts.
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Administración Financiera/economía , Transición de la Salud , Política de Salud/economía , Humanos , Cooperación Internacional , Calidad de la Atención de Salud/economía , ZimbabweRESUMEN
Rare earth elements (REEs) enriched fertilizers have been commonly used in China since the 1980s, thus inducing a growing concern about their environmental impact in agriculture. In this work, the effect of some light REEs nitrate mixture and La(3+) nitrate on seed germination, seedling growth and antioxidant metabolism in Triticum durum was investigated with the aim of clarifying the potential benefits or damages of REEs on plants. Seed pre-soaking for 8 h with La(3+) and REEs nitrate inhibited seed germination at low concentrations (0.01 mM and 0.1 mM), while pre-soaking for 2 and 4 h already inhibited seed germination when higher concentrations (1 mM and 10 mM) of La(3+) and REEs nitrate were used. La(3+) and REEs nitrate treatment also affected seedling growth. Root growth was enhanced and inhibited at low and high concentrations, respectively. Shoot growth was inhibited by La(3+) and REEs nitrate at all tested concentrations after 12 d of treatments. Enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants were differently affected by La(3+) and REEs nitrate and their behaviour changed also depending on the plant organ. In roots La(3+) and REEs nitrate treatments induced an increase in ascorbate (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) contents. In shoots only La(3+) nitrate induced an increase in the ASC content whereas GSH decreased following both La(3+) and REEs nitrate treatments. An increase in ASC peroxidase activity was observed in shoots and roots, while catalase did not change in roots and slightly decreased in shoots. The possible role of the increase in some antioxidants as indicators of stress caused by lanthanide treatments is discussed.