Plants predict the mineral mines - A methodological approach to use indicator plant species for the discovery of mining sites.

INTRODUCTION: There has been limited research conducted on the identifications/methodological approaches of using plant species as indicators of the presence of economically, important mineral resources. OBJECTIVES: This study set out to answer the following questions (1) Do specific plant species and species assemblages indicate the presence of mineral deposits? and (2) if yes, then what sort of ecological, experimental, and statistical procedures could be employed to identify such indicators? METHODS: Keeping in mind these questions, the vegetation of subtropical mineral mines sites in northern Pakistan were evaluated using Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). RESULTS: A total of 105 plant species belonging to 95 genera and 43 families were recorded from the three mining regions. CA and TWCA classified all the stations and plants into three major mining zones, corresponding to the presence of marble, coal, and chromite, based on Jaccard distance and Ward's linkage methods. This comprehended the following indicator species: Ficuscarica, Isodonrugosus and Ajugaparviflora (marble indicators); Oleaferruginea, Gymnosporiaroyleana and Diclipterabupleuroides (coal indicators); and Acacianilotica, Rhazyastricta and Aristidaadscensionis (chromite indicators) based on calculated Indicator Values (IV). These indicators were reconfirmed by CCA and SEM analysis. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that ISA is one of the best techniques for the identification/selection of plant indicator species, followed by reconfirmation via CCA and SEM analysis. In addition to establishing a robust approach to identifying plant indicator species, our results could have application in mineral prospecting and detection.

Ethnobotanical profiling of the medicinal flora of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan: Empirical reflections on multinomial logit specifications.

OBJECTIVE: To report the indigenous people's uses of plants from a multidimensional perspective in a remote area where strong ethnobotanical cultural practices prevail. METHODS: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the field during 2014-2016. Ethnobotanical data were gathered from 182 informants through oral interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. The distribution of plants was explored using both descriptive and graphical methods. Further, a Multinomial Logit Specification was applied to find out the probability of the occurrence of diverse utilization of plants in multipurpose domains. RESULTS: The study identified 202 plant species distributed among 71 families and 156 genera. Ethnobotanical data indicate that there are more medicinal (36.96%) uses of plants as compared to all other use categories. The output from the Multinomial Logit Specifications (MLS) model reveals that perennial and non-woody plants are exploited more for medicinal and food uses than annual and woody plants. In the context of ethnomedicinal uses, aerial plant parts particularly leaves are more extensively used for the preparation of herbal recipes as compared to underground parts. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study emphasize the need to create awareness among the local communities about the conservation status of plant species in order to maintain a sustainable resource of plant-derived materials into the future. The novel econometric approach employed in this study adds a new insightful methodology to the existing body of literature in the field of ethnobotany. We strongly recommend conservation measures, alongside phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the useful plant species identified in this study in order to ensure their sustainable and effective utilization.

Sustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversity in montane ecosystems: the western Himalayas as a case study.

BACKGROUND: Conservation of the unique biodiversity of mountain ecosystems needs trans-disciplinary approaches to succeed in a crowded colloquial world. Geographers, conservationists, ecologists and social scientists have, in the past, had the same conservation goals but have tended to work independently. In this review, the need to integrate different conservation criteria and methodologies is discussed. New criteria are offered for prioritizing species and habitats for conservation in montane ecosystems that combine both ecological and social data. SCOPE: Ecological attributes of plant species, analysed through robust community statistical packages, provide unbiased classifications of species assemblages and environmental biodiversity gradients and yield importance value indices (IVIs). Surveys of local communities' utilization of the vegetation provides use values (UVs). This review suggests a new means of assessing anthropogenic pressure on plant biodiversity at both species and community levels by integrating IVI and UV data sets in a combined analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Mountain ecosystems are hot spots for plant conservation efforts because they hold a high overall plant diversity as communities replace each other along altitudinal and climatic gradients, including a high proportion of endemic species. This review contributes an enhanced understanding of (1) plant diversity in mountain ecosystems with special reference to the western Himalayas; (2) ethnobotanical and ecosystem service values of mountain vegetation within the context of anthropogenic impacts; and (3) local and regional plant conservation strategies and priorities.

Medicinal flora and ethnoecological knowledge in the Naran Valley, Western Himalaya, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Mountain ecosystems all over the world support a high biological diversity and provide home and services to some 12% of the global human population, who use their traditional ecological knowledge to utilise local natural resources. The Himalayas are the world's youngest, highest and largest mountain range and support a high plant biodiversity. In this remote mountainous region of the Himalaya, people depend upon local plant resources to supply a range of goods and services, including grazing for livestock and medicinal supplies for themselves. Due to their remote location, harsh climate, rough terrain and topography, many areas within this region still remain poorly known for its floristic diversity, plant species distribution and vegetation ecosystem service. METHODS: The Naran valley in the north-western Pakistan is among such valleys and occupies a distinctive geographical location on the edge of the Western Himalaya range, close to the Hindu Kush range to the west and the Karakorum Mountains to the north. It is also located on climatic and geological divides, which further add to its botanical interest. In the present project 120 informants were interviewed at 12 main localities along the 60 km long valley. This paper focuses on assessment of medicinal plant species valued by local communities using their traditional knowledge. RESULTS: Results revealed that 101 species belonging to 52 families (51.5% of the total plants) were used for 97 prominent therapeutic purposes. The largest number of ailments cured with medicinal plants were associated with the digestive system (32.76% responses) followed by those associated with the respiratory and urinary systems (13.72% and 9.13% respectively). The ailments associated with the blood circulatory and reproductive systems and the skin were 7.37%, 7.04% and 7.03%, respectively. The results also indicate that whole plants were used in 54% of recipes followed by rhizomes (21%), fruits (9.5%) and roots (5.5%). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the range of ecosystem services that are provided by the vegetation and assess how utilisation of plants will impact on future resource sustainability. The study not only contributes to an improved understanding of traditional ethno-ecological knowledge amongst the peoples of the Western Himalaya but also identifies priorities at species and habitat level for local and regional plant conservation strategies.

How well prepared are Australian dentists for retirement? A survey of practitioners aged 50 and above.

AIMS: To determine how financially prepared Australian dentists are for retirement. METHODS: Information was collected in the Dentist Retirement Intentions Study from members of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Dental Association, all of whom were aged over 50 years. One way ANOVAs were used to test for differences between groups of variables. A forward stepwise multivariate regression identified predictors of the expected value of savings at retirement. RESULTS: It was found that while there was variation in preferred retirement income, there was general agreement that this preferred retirement income would be achieved. Current assets mostly totalled between dollars 250,000 and dollars 2 million (Australian dollars), with 35% of assets held in the family home. However, 7% of dentists had no net savings or were in net debt. Half the surveyed dentists predicted their savings at retirement to be more than $2 million. Superannuation was the most commonly cited predicted source of retirement funding. CONCLUSIONS: Most, but not all, dentists are generally well prepared for retirement. They have a significant amount of wealth, which is above that generally recommended for a comfortable living standard in retirement in Australia, they have this wealth stored in easily accessed, high return assets, and they also intend to spend this wealth on financing their retirement rather than running down their capital.

Retirement intentions of dentists in New South Wales, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The Australian dental workforce is ageing and current shortages have been predicted to worsen with the retirement of the growing contingent of older dentists. However, these predictions have been based on retirement trends of previous generations and little is known about the retirement intentions of today's older dentists. METHODS: The Dentist Retirement Intentions Survey was mailed to 768 NSW Australian Dental Association members aged over 50 and achieved a response rate of 20%. T-tests, ANOVAs and multivariate regression were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: On average, participants intend to retire at the age of 66, although they would prefer to do so earlier (p<0.05). Those intending to leave the workforce within the next 5 years represent 43%. The most common reasons dentists expect to retire are to have more leisure time, to be able to afford to stop working, and job stress or pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The current generation of older dentists intends to retire later than their predecessors. Most wish to remain involved in dentistry in some capacity following retirement, and may assist in overcoming workforce shortages, either by practising part time or training dental students.

Where do students in the health professions want to work?

BACKGROUND: Rural and remote areas of Australia are facing serious health workforce shortages. While a number of schemes have been developed to improve recruitment to and retention of the rural health workforce, they will be effective only if appropriately targeted. This study examines the factors that most encourage students attending rural clinical placements to work in rural Australia, and the regions they prefer. METHODS: The Careers in Rural Health Tracking Survey was used to examine the factors that most influence medical, nursing and allied health students' preference for practice locations and the locations preferred. RESULTS: Students showed a preference for working in large urban centres within one year, but would consider moving to a more rural location later in life. Only 10% of students surveyed said they would never work in a rural community with a population of less than 10,000. Almost half the sample (45%) reported wanting to work overseas within five years. The type of work available in rural areas was found to be the factor most likely to encourage students to practice rurally, followed by career opportunities and challenge. CONCLUSION: The decision to practise rurally is the result of a complex interaction between a number of factors including ethnicity, discipline, age and sex, among others. Incentives that aim to entice all students to rural practice while considering only one of these variables are likely to be inadequate.

Doctors trading places: the Isolated Practitioner Peer Support Scheme.

We describe the outcomes of a practice exchange in which an isolated general practitioner from a remote region traded work and living arrangements with a rural group practice GP. An exchange can provide an opportunity for mid- and senior-career professionals to refresh their outlook on their careers. Involving the rural medical workforce in practice exchanges can enable the development of peer networks that can improve retention of isolated practitioners in Australia. A fresh experience in a new setting can provide opportunities for practitioners to improve practice management and sharpen their clinical skills. Uprooting families and preparing homes for unfamiliar visitors add stress to doctors and their families on exchange. Patients in isolated practices could feel concerned that they may lose their doctor as a result of an exchange. In this instance, the benefits far outweighed the difficulties.

Improving vaccination cold chain in the general practice setting.

BACKGROUND: This study compared temperature control in different types of vaccine storing refrigerators in general practice and tested knowledge of general practice staff in vaccine storage requirements. METHODS: Temperature data loggers were set to serially record the temperature within vaccine refrigerators in 28 general practices, recording at 12 minute intervals over a period of 10 days on each occasion. A survey of vaccine storage knowledge and records of divisions of general practice immunisation contacts were also obtained. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between type of refrigerator and optimal temperature, with the odds ratio for bar style refrigerator being 0.005 (95% CI: 0.001-0.044) compared to the purpose built vaccine refrigerators. Score on a survey of vaccine storage was also positively associated with optimal storage temperature. DISCUSSION: General practices that invest in purpose built vaccine refrigerators will achieve standards of vaccine cold chain maintenance significantly more reliably than can be achieved through regular cold chain monitoring and practice supports.

Twelve tips on rural medical placements: what has worked to make them successful.

Providing undergraduate and post-graduate rural training opportunities aids rural medical recruitment. Medical schools that provide rural educational placements, and the communities that host those placements, must give serious consideration to the structure and supports required to ensure both quality and enjoyment of rural placements. This paper presents tips for success gleaned from the results of experience in providing rural placement opportunities to medical students throughout their medical school experience.

Medical schools can cooperate: a new joint venture to provide medical education in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

The medical schools at the University of Western Sydney, University of Wollongong and University of Sydney have developed a joint program for training medical students through placements of up to 40 weeks on the New South Wales North Coast. The new partnership agency - the North Coast Medical Education Collaboration - builds on the experience of regional doctors and their academic partners. A steering committee has identified the availability and support requirements of local practitioners to provide training, and has undertaken a comparative mapping of learning objectives and assessments from the courses of the three universities. The goals of the program include preparing doctors who can perform effectively in rural settings and multidisciplinary health care teams, and to advance research in medical education.

21st century medical education.

Australian universities provide good examples of how to meet the growing challenges to the training of doctors that have resulted from information overload in traditional curricula, new models of care, including multidisciplinary team dynamics, and the rigours of evidence-based practice.

Decision criteria in health professionals choosing a rural practice setting: development of the Careers in Rural Health Tracking Survey (CIRHTS).

INTRODUCTION: Rural background and training have previously been found to increase the likelihood of rural practice. However, practitioners of many health professions remain in shortage in rural and remote Australia. This study builds on previous work in that it includes medical, nursing and allied health professions, considers the role of the health professional's family in employment decisions, and includes a broader array of factors influencing employment preference and the preferred location of practice. The survey also examines when students might work in a rural area. METHOD: The survey was designed after an extensive review of relevant literature and existing surveys, consultation with rural clinicians, and piloting with students. Approximately 500 students per year are anticipated to complete the survey while on placement at the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health, New South Wales, Australia, and will be contacted annually for at least 10 years. RESULTS: The Careers in Rural Health Tracking Survey questions both students and their spouses about employment preferences and related family factors. It contains questions about the size of towns respondents would be willing to work in, and when they would consider working there. It also asks in which regions of Australia students and partners would be prepared to work. CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to expand knowledge of the factors that encourage or discourage health professionals from practising in rural areas. Information about the time dimension in decision-making, areas most likely to face shortages, and about the types of clinicians most likely to work in certain regions, will be crucial when developing initiatives to attract new graduates to rural practice.

Workforce development: planning what you need starts with knowing what you have.

Health workforce planning and research occurs at both national and state/territory levels, but identifying current workforce availability and future workforce need is more problematic at a regional level. We report on the practical approach to workforce development taken by North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) in NSW, Australia. The NCAHS plan considers the impact of workforce ageing, changes in casemix and volume predicted by population demographics, staff level guidelines associated with service enhancements, and changes in service delivery models driven by the need for economic efficiencies, greater investment in disease prevention and medical technological advancements. Finally, the paper addresses how workforce development plans can assist sustainable service delivery through targeted strategies in recruitment, retention and retraining.

Teaching by videoconference: a commentary on best practice for rural education in health professions.

This article offers a primer on how to get started in videoconferencing, focusing on practical approaches to technical and protocol issues. The technical capabilities of videoconferencing systems, linked with initiatives supporting greater rural access to broadband, means videoconferencing is expanding rapidly as a health education tool. Forethought allows the purchase of the most appropriate equipment, reducing costs overall and increasing the functionality of the system. Adherence to simple matters, including etiquette, ensures the experience is enjoyable as well as educational. Consideration should be given to the role of videoconferencing in expanding the social as well as academic opportunities for rural clinicians and students. Videoconferencing is a useful adjunct to traditional educational delivery modes, and can enable quality education opportunities that would be prohibitive due to time, travel, and cost constraints.