Salt marsh fragmentation in a mesotidal estuary: Implications for medium to long-term management.

During the last decades many salt marshes worldwide have suffered important losses in their extent and associated ecosystem services. The salt marshes of San Vicente de la Barquera estuary (N Spain) are a clear example of this, with a drastic reduction in vegetation surface over the last 60 years. This paper provides insights into the main factors controlling salt marsh functioning in sheltered estuarine areas. Regional and local factors have been disaggregated to identify the main drivers controlling the functioning of the salt marsh to develop appropriate management measures according to the evolution of the system. These factors have been studied in their spatial context through detailed maps of change in vegetation cover combined with topographic data obtained from UAV and RTK-DGPS surveys. The results demonstrate that in this estuary the salt marsh area is declining following a fragmentation process. No clear pattern of vegetation loss/gain with elevation has been identified. However, the results point to increased hydrodynamic stress in the area, with stronger currents inside the estuary. This is probably the major factor responsible for the decline of the salt marshes in the San Vicente de la Barquera estuary. Furthermore, several human interventions during the 20th century (local drivers) have also probably contributed to a lower resilience against SLR (regional driver). This work demonstrates that both natural and human drivers of change need to be considered when characterizing the evolution of salt marshes, wherever efficient management strategies need to be designed.

Platelet apoptosis by cold-induced glycoprotein Ibα clustering.

BACKGROUND: Cold-storage of platelets followed by rewarming induces changes in Glycoprotein (GP) Ibα-distribution indicative of receptor clustering and initiates thromboxane A(2) -formation. GPIbα is associated with 14-3-3 proteins, which contribute to GPIbα-signaling and in nucleated cells take part in apoptosis regulation. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We investigated whether GPIbα-clustering induces platelet apoptosis through 14-3-3 proteins during cold (4 h 0 °C)-rewarming (1 h 37 °C). RESULTS: During cold-rewarming, 14-3-3 proteins associate with GPIbα and dissociate from Bad inducing Bad-dephosphorylation and activation. This initiates pro-apoptosis changes in Bax/Bcl-x(L) and Bax-translocation to the mitochondria, inducing cytochrome c release. The result is activation of caspase-9, which triggers phosphatidylserine exposure and platelet phagocytosis by macrophages. Responses are prevented by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GN), which blocks GPIbα-clustering, and by O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase, which removes extracellular GPIbα. CONCLUSIONS: Cold-rewarming triggers apoptosis through a GN-sensitive GPIbα-change indicative of receptor clustering. Attempts to improve platelet transfusion by cold-storage should focus on prevention of the GPIbα-change.

Nurses' Perceptions about Botswana Patients' Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence

Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) are supplied free of charge in Botswana. Lifelong adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is vital to improve the patient's state of well-being and to prevent the development of strains of the human immunodef ciency virus (HIV) that are resistant to ART. Persons with ART-resistant strains of HIV can spread these to other people; requiring more expensive ART with more severe side-effects and poorer health outcomes. The purpose of this exploratory; descriptive; qualitative study was to determine nurses' perspectives on Botswana patients' anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence; and to identify factors which could promote or hinder ART adherence. Four ART sites were randomly selected and all 16 nurses providing ART services at these sites participated in semi-structured interviews. These nurses indicated that patients' ART adherence was inf uenced by service-related and patient-related factors. Service-related factors included the inaccessibility of ART clinics; limited clinic hours; health workers' inability to communicate in patients' local languages; long waiting times at clinics and delays in being informed about their CD4 and viral load results. Nurses could not trace defaulters nor contact them by phone; and also had to work night shifts; disrupting nurse-patient relationships. Patient-related factors included patients' lack of education; inability to understand the significance of CD4 and viral load results; financial hardships; non-disclosure and non-acceptance of their HIV positive status; alcohol abuse; the utilisation of traditional medicines and side effects of ART. The challenges of lifelong ART adherence are multifaceted involving both patient-related and service-related factors. Supplying free ARVs does not ensure high levels of ART adherence

Myosin heavy chain fibre type composition in foals: analyses at the mRNA and protein level.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: An optimal developed musculoskeletal system is vital for the performance of the horse. Previously, we showed that in the m. gluteus medius from adult untrained horses, identical mRNA and protein expression patterns were found in the majority of fibres. However, co-expression of IIa and IId/x myosin heavy chain (MyHC) was substantially more common at the protein than at the mRNA level, suggesting a transcriptionally controlled fine-tuning of these 2 genes. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the MyHC transcripts and proteins (including the cardiac alpha isoform) in the same muscle during post natal development when the muscle is adapting to movement and load. METHODS: Biopsies were taken from the m. gluteus medius of 2 Dutch Warmblood foals at 0, 2, 4, 22 and 48 weeks of age. mRNA was compared to protein expression on a fibre-to-fibre basis using in situ hybridisation and immunofluorescence. The MyHC slow (I), alpha, IIa and IId/x isoforms were analysed. RESULTS: At all ages the expression of the mRNA and protein MyHC isoforms was almost identical. Surprisingly, coexpression of the IIad isoform was also detected at the mRNA level especially early in life. The transcript of the alpha isoform was only detectable at young age, indicating silencing of the gene around birth. CONCLUSION: During the first year of life, MyHCs are continuously adapting at the mRNA and protein level. Additionally, the regulation of hybrid fibres is different from that in adult fibres. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: We postulate that interfering in this process by e.g. early training will be levelled out by the maturation of the muscle.

Health beliefs of the urban Pare tribe living in Moshi, Tanzania.

This study aimed to explore and describe the health beliefs and practices of urban Pares, living in Moshi, Tanzania. No previously documented studies of the health beliefs of the Pare were identified. This transcultural qualitative study utilised semistructured interviews conducted with nine informants, followed by thematic analysis of the interview data. Unlike professional health care workers functioning within the scientific paradigm, urban Pare health beliefs arise from magico-religious, holistic and scientific paradigms. Beliefs and behaviour patterns are however changing. Nurses caring for urban Pares can use the findings and recommendations from this study to enhance culturally congruent care.

Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora.

Extracts of the rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) were investigated for their in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory properties. Diethyl ether extracts showed potent inhibitory activity towards the classical pathway of the complement system, the respiratory burst of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and mitogen-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes. Furthermore, such extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity towards carrageenan-induced paw edema. No effects were observed in experimentally induced arthritis in mice.

Caring attributes, professional self concept and technological influences in a sample of Registered Nurses in eleven countries.

Caring, the theoretical foundation of nursing, is identified as one of the core values by Hospital Authorities world-wide to be actualised in clinical practice. Exactly how caring attributes relate to nurses' professional self image and quality nursing service in the context of a contemporary technological environment have yet to be operationalised. In total, 1957 Registered Nurses from 11 different countries were involved in the study which aimed to: develop an understanding of and compare the responses to items relating to caring, professional self concept and technological influences. To collect data an instrument containing 104 Likert items was administered to RNs working in general hospitals. The instrument contained sections which examined professional self concept, technological influences and caring attributes. Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed that many of the Asian nurses in the sample were younger, had less experience yet were more qualified than their 'western' colleagues. The mean scores for the caring attributes for nurses from the Philippines, Sweden and South Africa were significantly higher than those from China (Beijing), Korea, China (Hong Kong) and Scotland. The Korean sample demonstrated the lowest mean score for professional self concept while the New Zealand sample the highest. The Australian, Canadian, NZ, Scotland and Swedish samples were strongly of the opinion that the increase in technology has not brought about the any more spare time in nursing and generally had a more negative opinion about the influence of technology when compared to those from China (Beijing), Philippines, China (Hong Kong) and Singapore. The results are discussed in the light of the cultural differences in the sample and recommendations for future research are considered.

Furthering caring through nursing education.

The nursing students' main quest is for self actualization by attributing meaning to life through caring. To assist student nurses in this quest, the nurse educator needs to plan educational interventions according to an anthropological model that posits care and caring as innate human attributes. Further, the structural essence of what professional nursing caring entails should also be posited as a point of departure for curriculum planning. The author proposes such models. The main implications include that the nursing curriculum must increasingly attend to the emotional needs of nursing students. Curricular content and teaching strategies toward this goal are suggested.

Codependency: a concomitant field of interest in research into the phenomenon caring.

The growing popularity of caring is evident throughout the nursing profession. Research into the phenomenon caring, however, necessitates that caring as an ethic be distinguished from pseudo caring actions and experiences. Codependence and codependency are proposed as being of a pseudo-caring nature. Research interest into this field of study needs to be kindled.

Putting Leininger's nursing theory "culture care diversity and universality" into operation in the curriculum--Part 1.

The culturally diverse South African society necessitates inclusion of transcultural nursing in the curriculum. This article focuses on research regarding the putting of Leininger's nursing theory into operation in the curriculum to provide a scientific base for the inclusion of such nursing. The research process and results are discussed.

Including transcultural nursing content in the curriculum--Part 2.

Transcultural nursing should be included in the curricula of the basic nursing courses. In this article, the transcultural nursing curriculum content that could be included, is discussed. To ensure a comprehensive approach to this field, a basic course in socio-cultural anthropology should be followed by transcultural nursing study units at strategic points in the curriculum.

Structure-activity relationship of isolated avenanthramide alkaloids and synthesized related compounds as oviposition deterrents for Pieris brassicae.

The structure-activity relationship was investigated of compounds isolated from the eggs of Pieris brassicae, the large white cabbage butterfly, and eight synthesized related compounds as oviposition deterrents for this insect. The activity of all compounds was tested in a dual-choice bioassay. The two most active oviposition deterrents for P. brassicae were trans-2- [3-(4-hydroxyphenylpropenoyl)amino]-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid [8] and trans-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropenoyl)amino]-3,5-dihydroxybenzo ic acid [2]. Among members of this compound class, alteration of the substituents of the cinnamic acid part of the molecule affected the oviposition deterrent activity more profoundly than other structural changes. Modification of the anthranilic acid part of the molecule resulted in lower activity.