Genetic diversity of PRRSV 1 in Central Eastern Europe in 1994-2014: origin and evolution of the virus in the region

More than 20 years after the first outbreaks, the phylogenetic picture of PRRSV is still incomplete and full of gaps, especially in regards of PRRSV 1. Due to the exceptional diversity observed at the eastern borders of Europe and the low number of available sequences from Central Eastern European countries, the authors collected and analyzed both recent as well as already submitted sequences comparing them to a large backbone set of available ORF5 sequences representing the full spectrum of PRRSV 1 Subtype 1 diversity to conduct a systematic phylogenetic analysis and reclassification elucidating the diversity of the virus in these countries. Moreover, further analyses of the EUROSTAT data regarding the live pig movement trends revealed their influence of virus diversity and evolution. The results indicate that besides the effect of local, isolated divergent evolution and the use of modified live vaccines, the most important factor influencing a given country’s virus diversity is the transboundary movement of live, infected animals

Approaches to Learning or Levels of Processing: What Did Marton and Säljö (1976a) Really Say? The Legacy of the Work of the Göteborg Group in the 1970s

Marton and Säljö (1976a) described deep-level and surface-level processing in experiments in which students read and recalled academic texts. They did not discuss whether levels of processing had any counterparts in students’ everyday studies. However, their article is often credited as the source of the distinction between deep and surface approaches to learning in students’ academic studies. It is also sometimes credited as the source of the research method known as “phenomenography.” These incorrect accounts are attributed to Marton and Säljö’s subsequent writings, which promoted the use of “approaches to learning” in order to characterize differences in the process of learning in both artificial experiments and academic studying and also promoted the use of “phenomenography” to refer to any form of rigorous qualitative analysis involving the identification of categories of description and the relationships between them. Even so, there is an important conceptual, theoretical, and methodological distinction between students’ levels of processing in specific tasks and their approaches to learning in their academic studies. Marton and Säljö’s article served to illuminate the former but did not discuss the latter. The only correct source of the notion of approaches to learning in students’ academic studies in higher education is a different paper by Marton (1976c). Citing Marton and Säljö’s article as the source is not only inaccurate but obscures important aspects of their methodology

General practitioners' and district nurses' conceptions of the encounter with obese patients in primary health care

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Primary health care specialists have a key role in the management of obesity. Through understanding how they conceive the encounter with patients with obesity, treatment may be improved. The aim of this study was thus to explore general practitioners' and district nurses' conceptions of encountering patients with obesity in primary health care.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analysed using a phenomenographic approach. The participants were 10 general practitioners (6 women, 4 men) and 10 district nurses (7 women, 3 men) from 19 primary health care centres within a well-defined area of Sweden.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five descriptive categories were identified: Adequate primary health care, Promoting lifestyle change, Need for competency, Adherence to new habits and Understanding patient attitudes. All participants, independent of gender and profession, were represented in the descriptive categories. Some profession and gender differences were, however, found in the underlying conceptions. The general staff view was that obesity had to be prioritised. However, there was also the contradictory view that obesity is not a disease and therefore not the responsibility of primary health care. Despite this, staff conceived it as important that patients were met with respect and that individual solutions were provided which could be adhered to step-by-step by the patient. Patient attitudes, such as motivation to change, evasive behaviour, too much trust in care and lack of self-confidence, were, however, conceived as major barriers to a fruitful encounter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Findings from this study indicate that there is a need for development and organisation of weight management in primary health care. Raising awareness of staff's negative views of patient attitudes is important since it is likely that it affects the patient-staff relationship and staff's treatment efforts. More research is also needed on gender and profession differences in this area.</p