Sedum survival and ramification patterns under different pedoclimatic conditions

This article explores the use of Sedum species in landscape design, focusing on their adaptability to different pedoclimatic conditions and their ability to thrive in conditions of neglect. The article discusses the importance of understanding a plant's place of origin and natural habitat when considering its cultivation in a different area and the benefits and drawbacks associated with different types of substrates. Sedums are identified as an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy the aesthetic value of plants without the hassle of regular upkeep. The study investigates the growth and survival patterns of three Sedum cultivars in different growth media without additional watering or fertilization. The findings have the potential to provide insights into landscaping solutions and the evolution of these succulent species in arduous conditions. The study also explores Romanian identity and tradition by incorporating traditional motifs and patterns as mosaics into the landscape, creating a new style of landscaping. In addition to our main objective, we were interested in displaying an intricate landscape design to further illustrate the negative visual impact an un-cared-for outdoor environment can have

What influences nurses to undertake accurate assessment of the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Aim- To identify influencing factors that have an impact on nurses’ performance of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Objectives- To appraise contemporary primary research investigating nurses’ performance of the GCS, to identify concerning factors that have an impact on nurses’ performance of the GCS, to facilitate a more accurate and consistent use of the tool, and to formulate recommendations for optimising its reliability. Background- The GCS has been routinely used for over 40 years as an objective neurological tool to assess patient’s level of consciousness following head injury, however, users have found certain aspects of the GCS confusing despite the accuracy of performance being of utmost importance for patient’s safety. Method- Six databases were searched (2006-2016) to review studies that addressed factors influencing nurses’ performance of the GCS. Findings- Seven studies were identified and critically reviewed. Knowledge and experience were found to be the main factors, issues with accuracy and application of painful stimuli have been highlighted. Scores between healthcare providers were inaccurate. Recommendations- Educational interventions should be implemented and the Neuroscience Nurse Benchmarking Group (NNBG) guidelines more widely available. To ensure consistency, nurses’ taking handover should observe how the GCS was obtained and documented. Conclusion- This review has found that knowledge and experience are the most significant factors influencing nurses’ performance of the GCS. Inconsistencies were found regarding the application of painful stimuli and accuracy of documentation

Positioning pharmacists’ roles in primary health care: a discourse analysis of the compensation plan in Alberta, Canada

Abstract Background A comprehensive Compensation Plan for pharmacy services delivered by community pharmacists was implemented in Alberta, Canada in July 2012. Services covered by the Compensation Plan include care planning services, prescribing services such as adapting prescriptions, and administering a drug or publicly-funded vaccine by injection. Understanding how the Compensation Plan was framed and communicated provides insight into the roles of pharmacists and the potential influence of language on the implementation of services covered by the Compensation Plan by Albertan pharmacists. The objective of this study is to examine the positioning of pharmacists’ roles in documents used to communicate the Compensation Plan to Albertan pharmacists and other audiences. Methods Publicly available documents related to the Compensation Plan, such as news releases or reports, published between January 2012 and December 2015 were obtained from websites such as the Government of Alberta, Alberta Blue Cross, the Alberta College of Pharmacists, the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, and the Blueprint for Pharmacy. Searches of the Canadian Newsstand database and Google identified additional documents. Discourse analysis was performed using social positioning theory to explore how pharmacists’ roles were constructed in communications about the Compensation Plan. Results In total, 65 publicly available documents were included in the analysis. The Compensation Plan was put forward as a framework for payment for professional services and formal legitimization of pharmacists’ changing professional roles. The discourse associated with the Compensation Plan positioned pharmacists’ roles as: (1) expanding to include services such as medication management for chronic diseases, (2) contributing to primary health care by providing access to services such as prescription renewals and immunizations, and (3) collaborating with other health care team members. Pharmacists’ changing roles were positioned in alignment with the aims of primary health care. Conclusions Social positioning theory provides a useful lens to examine the dynamic and evolving roles of pharmacists. This study provides insight into how communications regarding the Compensation Plan in Alberta, Canada positioned pharmacists’ changing roles in the broader context of changes to primary health care delivery. Our findings may be useful for other jurisdictions considering implementation of remunerated clinical services provided by pharmacists

Role of stationary phase and eluent composition on the determination of log P values of N-hydroxyethylamide of aryloxyalkylen and pyridine carboxylic acids by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The partition coefficients, P, between n-octanol and water of a number of growth stimulating substances, N-hydroxyethylamide of aryloxyalkylen- and pyridine carboxylic acids were obtained from Pomona College (C log P), and Rekker's (log PRekker) revised fragmental constant system was used to calculate log P data sets. Both of these data sets were correlated with two different substance lipophilicity parameters, log kw and 0. Log kw was obtained by extrapolation of log retention factor (k) to 0% organic modifier measured in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) systems. 0 values were obtained from the slopes and intercepts of these relationships. The RPLC experiments were performed on four commercially available reversed-phase columns. Binary mixtures of methanol–water, methanol–phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), methanol–tricine buffer (pH 7.0) and acetonitrile–water were used as mobile phases for the determination of log kw values. For the methanolic eluents linear regression provided satisfactory correlations (r>0.99) for the relationships log k vs. organic modifier content in the eluent, while for the acetonitrile-containing eluents a second-degree polynominal regression was necessary. For all four RPLC columns, by linear regression satisfactory correlations (r>0.99) were obtained between log kw and log P data using methanolic eluents. In such eluents 0 values were shown to be the second-best lipophilicity parameters. For acetonitrile-containing eluents the use of second-degree polynominal regression was necessary and, in contrast to methanol, significant influence of the applied column on regression results was observed. For acetonitrile-containing eluents the 0-index does not provide satisfactory results for our substances. No difference in regression results between the use of buffered and non-buffered eluents was observed