Exploring newly qualified doctors' workplace stressors:an interview study from Australia

Purpose Postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) doctors suffer from high levels of psychological distress, yet the contributory factors are poorly understood. This study used an existing model of workplace stress to explore the elements most pertinent to PGY1 doctors. In turn, the data were used to amend and refine the conceptual model to better reflect the unique experiences of PGY1 doctors. Method Focus groups were undertaken with PGY1 doctors working at four different health services in Victoria, Australia. Transcripts were coded using Michie's model of workplace stress as the initial coding template. Remaining text was coded inductively and the supplementary codes were used to modify and amplify Michie's framework. Results There were 37 participants in total. Key themes included stressors intrinsic to the job, such as work overload and long hours, as well as those related to the context of work such as lack of role clarity and relationships with colleagues. The main modification to Michie's framework was the addition of the theme of uncertainty. This concept related to most of the pre-existing themes in complex ways, culminating in an overall sense of anxiety. Conclusions Michie's model of workplace stress can be effectively used to explore the stressors experienced by PGY1 doctors. Pervasive uncertainty may help to explain the high levels of psychological morbidity in this group. While some uncertainty will always remain, the medical education community must seek ways to improve role clarity and promote mutual respect.</p

A genome guided evaluation of the Lab4 probiotic consortium

In this study, we present the draft genome sequences of the Lab4 probiotic consortium using whole genome sequencing. Draft genome sequences were retrieved and deposited for each of the organisms; PRJNA559984 for B. bifidum CUL20, PRJNA482335 for Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60, PRJNA482434 for Lactobacillus acid. Probiogenomic in silico analyses confirmed existing taxonomies and identified the presence putative gene sequences that were functionally related to the performance of each organism during in vitro assessments of bile and acid tolerability, adherence to enterocytes and susceptibility to antibiotics. Predictions of genomic stability identified no significant risk of horizontal gene transfer in any of the Lab4 strains and the absence of both antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. These observations were supported by the outcomes of acute phase and repeat dose tolerability studies in Wistar rats where challenge with high doses of Lab4 did not result in any mortalities, clinical/histopathological abnormalities nor indications of systemic toxicity. Detection of increased numbers of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the faeces of supplemented rats implied an ability to survive transit through the gastrointestinal tract and/or impact upon the intestinal microbiota composition. In summary, this study provides in silico, in vitro and in vivo support for probiotic functionality and the safety of the Lab4 consortium

Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) microbial community and its involvement in non-prey feeding tolerance.

[SPA] La capacidad de Orius laevigatus para sobrevivir en situaciones de escasez de presas es clave para su establecimiento en el cultivo. Sin embargo, existen especies con una tolerancia más alta a la alimentación a base de polen, como O. majusculus y sobre todo O. pallidicornis. Además, al constituir la microbiota de un insecto un aspecto fundamental de su ecología, se decidió aislar en medio rico las bacterias cultivables del microbioma de diez poblaciones mediterráneas de O. laevigatus, así como las de estas otras especies de Orius, secuenciando a continuación su genoma. Prácticamente en todas las poblaciones de O. laevigatus se observaron dos tipos de colonias: unas de pequeño tamaño, identificadas in silico como una Microbacteriaceae; y otras más grandes, próximas a Serratia. En cambio, las bacterias aisladas para las otras dos especies de Orius fueron muy diferentes. Cabe destacar la presencia en O. pallidicornis de dos colonias identificadas como dos bacterias implicadas en el metabolismo de carbohidratos: Acinetobacter y Corynebacterium. Este estudio servirá de base para optimizar la capacidad de O. laevigatus para establecerse en el cultivo a largo plazo, incrementando su eficacia como agente de control biológico. [ENG] Orius laevigatus ability to survive under prey-scarce conditions is a key for its long-term settlement in the crop. However, other Orius species show a greater tolerance when they are fed on pollen, such as O. majusculus and O. pallidicornis. Considering an insect microbiome as a crucial aspect of its ecology, some culturable bacteria from various O. laevigatus Mediterranean populations and other Orius species were isolated on a nutrientrich medium and sequenced. Two different types of colony were isolated in almost every O. laevigatus sample: a small pale colony, identified in silico as a Microbacteriaceae; and a large one, white-coloured, related to Serratia. Instead, the isolates for other Orius species were totally different. A high presence of carbohydrate metabolism-related bacteria in O. pallidicornis, as is the case of Acinetobacter or Corynebacterium, should also be noted. This study will serve to optimize O. laevigatus capability to settle in the agrosystem and so improving its efficiency as a biological control agent.Los autores desean agradecer a la UPCT la concesión de una beca de movilidad al autor principal de esta investigación, sin la cual ésta no habría sido posible; a E. Martínez-Díaz, por su inestimable ayuda técnica; y al IRTA, por su generosidad en la cesión de poblaciones de insectos

Experimental evidence for optimal hedgerow cutting regimes for brown hairstreak butterflies

1. The Brown hairstreak butterfly has declined in range and abundance over the past 50 years, leading to designated conservation status in several European countries including England and Wales. The Brown hairstreak's decline has been linked to changes in hedgerow management, based on mortality of eggs over winter and female oviposition preferences. 2. We assessed Brown hairstreak egg abundance in late winter over 4 years in response to hedgerow management treatments to manipulate the frequency, timing, and the intensity of trimming (reduced intensity resulting in an annual increase of approximately 10 cm in hedge height and width), using a field experiment with a randomised block design. 3. Hedgerow plots cut every year to a standard height and width had the lowest Brown hairstreak egg abundance; this is the most common hedgerow management outside agri-environment schemes (AES). Cutting hedgerow plots at a reduced intensity nearly doubled the number of surviving eggs in late winter. Plots cut at a reduced frequency in autumn (once every 3 years), which forms part of current English AES, had 1.3 times more eggs than those cut annually. 4. Current AES management prescriptions are likely to benefit the Brown hairstreak, but its requirements need to be balanced with those of other taxa in relation to the timing of hedgerow cutting. Cutting hedges at a reduced intensity has previously been shown to benefit the wider Lepidoptera community as well as Brown hairstreak butterflies. Reduced intensity cutting does not currently form part of AES hedgerow prescriptions, but could be considered for inclusion in future schemes