Farmers’ perceptual, emotional and behavioural responses to environmental policy changes

Environmental policies purposefully encourage environmental protection by redirecting human decision-making and activities. Achieving the right human responses to environmental policy is therefore critically important. This paper discusses the regulatory framework and pastoral farmers’ adaptation to a new regulation, consisting of rules, designed to protect the pristine waters of Lake Taupo from land based non-point source nitrogen emissions. The lake is an internationally recognised treasure and New Zealand icon, however, its water quality has been deteriorating over decades because of rising nitrogen levels, 37% of which comes from pastoral farming activities in the catchment. The paper discusses agricultural extension in the context of emotional, perceptual and behavioural change.Key words: farmer adaptation, policy impact, water quality, farming practices, extensio

Towards reconciliation of structure with function in plasmodesmata—who is the gatekeeper?

Whilst the structure of higher plant plasmodesmata was first described by Robards (1963. Desmotubule—a plasmodesmatal substructure. Nature 218, 784), and despite many subsequent intensive investigations, there is still much that remains unclear relating to their ultrastructure and functioning in higher plants. We have examined chemically fixed plant material, and suggest that the conformational changes seen in plasmodesmatal substructure, particularly the deposition of electron-dense extra-plasmodesmal material, is linked to either manipulation of the hormonal balance (as in Avocado fruit), or of osmotic potential in leaf blade material. These changes result in the deposition of β 1,3-glucan (callose) at the neck region of these plasmodesmata. This electron-dense material is deposited at the neck region of plasmodesmata, and forms a collar-like structure. The formation of a collar is shown to be coupled with loss of lucence within the cytoplasmic sleeve. The formation of a collar at the plasmodesmatal orifice thus results in encapsulation and closure of the plasmodesmatal orifice. Closure of the orifice coincides with a loss of electron-lucence and a lack of resolution of the desmotubule. These ultrastructural changes are potentially significant and could contribute to, result in, or assist in the down-regulation of cell to cell trafficking via plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmatal frequency in relation to short-distance transport and phloem loading in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Phloem is not loaded directly from the symplast

We investigated the phloem loading pathway in barley, by determining plasmodesmatal frequencies at the electron microscope level for both intermediate and small blade bundles of mature barley leaves. Lucifer yellow was injected intercellularly into bundle sheath, vascular parenchyma, and thin-walled sieve tubes. Passage of this symplastically transported dye was monitored with an epifluorescence microscope under blue light. Low plasmodesmatal frequencies endarch to the bundle sheath cells are relatively low for most interfaces terminating at the thin- and thick-walled sieve tubes within this C3 species. Lack of connections between vascular parenchyma and sieve tubes, and low frequencies (0.5% plasmodesmata per μm cell wall interface) of connections between vascular parenchyma and companion cells, as well as the very low frequency of pore-plasmodesmatal connections between companion cells and sieve tubes in small bundles (0.2% plasmodesmata per μm cell wall interface), suggest that the companion cell-sieve tube complex is symplastically isolated from other vascular parenchyma cells in small bundles. The degree of cellular connectivity and the potential isolation of the companion cell-sieve tube complex was determined electrophysiologically, using an electrometer coupled to microcapillary electrodes. The less negative cell potential {average -52 mV) from mesophyll to the vascular parenchyma cells contrasted sharply with the more negative potential (-122.5 mV) recorded for the companion cell-thin-walled sieve tube complex. Although intercellular injection of lucifer yellow clearly demonstrated rapid (0.75 μm s-1) longitudinal and radial transport in the bundle sheath-vascular parenchyma complex, as well as from the bundle sheath through transverse veins to adjacent longitudinal veins, we were neither able to detect nor present unequivocal evidence in support of the symplastic connectivity of the sieve tubes to the vascular parenchyma. Injection of the companion cell-sieve tube complex, did not demonstrate backward connectivity to the bundle sheath. We conclude that the low plasmodesmatal frequencies, coupled with a two-domain electropotential zonation configuration, and the negative transport experiments using lucifer yellow, precludes symplastic phloem loading in barley leaves

Relational experiences of community members participating in a rural health initiative with interprofessional students

Background. A South African faculty of health sciences created a forum for the community to voice their relational experiences with interprofessional students through visual projections. No other studies that explore such experiences using the Mmogo method could be located. Objective. To gain an understanding of the relational experiences of community members participating in Lifestyle-groups as part of a rural health initiative with interprofessional student groups. Methods. The Mmogo method is a qualitative, structured, observation technique. Participants constructed visual projections representing specific relationships. Thereafter, during a group discussion, participants explained the meaning of their projections. The visual data were analysed according to their literal presentation and subjective, symbolic meaning. A thematic analysis was used for the transcribed data. Results. Thirteen of the 24 visual projections were of a quality that allowed visual analysis; all 24 members participated in the discussions. Light was identified as an overarching theme to represent the community-student interaction. Sub-themes and categories associated with light were healthier lifestyles (knowledge sharing, lifestyle transformation, improved health outcomes), solidarity (reciprocity, collaboration, person centredness, multidimensional approach) and affirmation (gratitude and acceptance). Conclusion. Though some statements by participants related to health education as opposed to health dialogue highlighted areas requiring improvement, the findings correlated with the outcomes prescribed for students by this rural health initiative. Emotional connections in relational experiences could facilitate higher levels of self-efficacy in communities. The question is whether a stronger emphasis on health dialogue can be a catalyst for improved self-efficacy

The microstructure of plasmodesmata in internodal stem tissue of the Saccharum hybrid var. NCo376 : evidence for an apoplasmic loading pathway

The distribution, structure and functional state of plasmodesmata were investigated to gain a clearer understanding of the sucrose transport pathway to the storage parenchyma cells in stem tissue in Saccharum officinarum var. NCo376. Evidence from structural studies on sugarcane stems by electron microscopy indicated that there are numerous plasmodesmata from the vascular bundles through to the storage parenchyma cells in mature stem tissue. Our studies, supported by fluorescence microscopy and iontophoresis, indicate that there are functional plasmodesmata in the phloemunloading pathway from transport phloem tissue to the bundle sheath in Saccharum, which could support symplasmic transport; plasmodesmata outside of the sheath cells in the storage parenchyma appear to be constricted by sphincter-like structures within their neck regions. Staining with Aniline Blue revealed evidence of large callose deposits, which co-localized with plasmodesmatal aggregates in the walls of the storage parenchyma cells. This suggests that the sucrose transport into, and accumulation by, storage parenchyma of mature stem tissue is under apoplasmic control

Health professions students' interprofessional experiences on a rural learning platform

HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS’ LEARNING EXPERIENCES ON A RURAL COLLABORATIVE LEARNING PLATFORM ABSTRACTA Faculty of Health Sciences launched a rural collaborative learning platform to cultivate interprofessional key competencies and to improve health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to describe health sciences students’ experiences of an rural collaborative learning platform. Health professions students created digital stories reflecting on their collaborative learning experiences. Purposive sampling resulted in 23 submissions. Qualitative analysis of content identified themes and categories. Three themes, namely, metaphor, critical consciousness and professional socialisation, were identified. The metaphor categories, Journey, Setting world ablaze, Water, and Puzzle, represent students’ desire to use visual cues to describe their experiences. Transformation, Personal development and Empathy signified critical consciousness. Collaborative practice, Values, Reflective practice, and Key competencies relate to professional socialisation. The researchers gained understanding of students’ experiences on an rural collaborative learning platform. Through digital stories, students became aware of professional interdependency, which linked their experiences to key interprofessional competencies.

Desktop Analysis and Qualitative Investigation of Programmes and Initiatives for the Prevention of and Response to Gender Based Violence at South African Universities with Medical Campuses

Gender-based violence (GBV) is pervasive at South African higher education institutions (HEIs). Based on a media statement (dated 6 October 2016) by the Department of Higher Education and Training, GBV programmes at HEIs need to be evidence-informed, responsive, contextually relevant, inclusive and person-centred. The present article aims to explore the nature of GBV programmes currently implemented at HEIs in South Africa. A rapid review of the literature, supported by qualitative interviews with representatives of South African HEIs with medical campuses, was conducted. Findings indicate that there is an urgent need to clearly define GBV and to mention it explicitly in policy documents. In addition, research evidence on the effectiveness of prevention and response interventions at HEIs in South Africa is lacking. Challenges highlighted by the HEIs that were surveyed include the lack of trust by staff and students in the response and action plans of the response/task teams at HEIs, uncertainty with regards to the roles of relevant stakeholders and sectors when reporting incidents, as well as insufficient information about what GBV is. This study is intended to provide a baseline for further research evaluating current GBV programmes on medical campuses at HEIs, and highlights the need for an evidence-informed framework of the key ingredients for effective GBV response and prevention programmes

Vulvar cancer is not a disease of the elderly: Treatment and outcome at a tertiary referral centre in South Africa

Background. An increase in vulvar cancer in young women is attributed to infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV). South Africa (SA) has a high prevalence of HPV, and it was therefore hypothesised that women with vulvar cancer here would be younger than in high-income countries (HICs).Objective. To describe age, cancer stage, treatment and outcome of patients with vulvar cancer at a tertiary referral centre in SA.Methods. In a retrospective observational study, patient records of women diagnosed with vulvar cancer between 2001 and 2014 were reviewed and demographic and surgical details captured. Histology results of vulvar biopsies and resected specimens were checked for HPV changes, koilocytes and usual-type vulval intraepithelial neoplasia. Patients were restaged using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 staging system to allow for comparison of outcomes. Five-year disease-specific survival probability curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results. The mean age of the 180 patients in the study was 52.5 years. Those who had documented HPV changes on histological specimens had a mean age of 50.4 years. More than 50% of the patients had advanced-stage disease, and 62.7% were treated with primary surgery. Five-year disease-specific survival probabilities were similar to those reported in the literature.Conclusions. Vulvar cancer should not be regarded as a disease of the elderly in SA, as women with vulvar cancer are 10 - 15 years younger than in HICs. A large proportion of patients present with advanced-stage disease. Health professionals should be alert to vulvar lesions, especially in women with abnormal Pap smears, to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease.