The Solodamu Surveys: determining fossil fuel use and sea transport need in a coastal village in Fiji

Domestic sea transport is critical to all aspects of life in the Pacific, providing access to markets and health and education services, as well as enabling cultural and social connectivity. Current sea transport services are entirely dependent upon use of increasingly expensive fossil fuels. Whilst there has been increasing research on international shipping, very little focus has been given to date to domestic shipping in the Pacific, and in particular at the local, village level. Recent studies have highlighted lack of data, particularly at a village level, as being a major impediment to progressing a shift to more sustainable transport. The importance of transport in achieving sustainable development and “green growth” is being increasingly highlighted by Pacific Leaders as a key priority, and particularly the need to find alternatives to reduce the region’s crippling dependency on imported fossil fuels. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in other regions also face similar challenges. This paper provides a summary of the findings of a village-based assessment of transport and fossil fuel use in Solodamu village, Kadavu, Fiji carried out in 2009 and 2011. The objectives of the surveys were to gauge the overall sea, land and air transport use by the village and the fossil fuel footprint of the village by collecting data on a household by household basis. We then go on to outline how this assessment methodology has been expanded for an island group and highlight the potential of using this in other SIDS, so building the data sets available for more accurate analysis of both transport need and fossil fuel use to better address the issues of fossil fuel dependency and sustainable transport for the Pacific

Use Of The Task-Oriented Approach For Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Report

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired neurological disorder similar to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) with rare a prevalence of 2-7.7/100,000.7. Etiology and pathogenesis are largely unknown but are thought to be immunological, targeting the myelin of peripheral nerves. Extensive literature exists regarding medical management of CIDP, but limited research exists regarding physical therapy (PT) management for patients with CIDP. Task-Oriented Approach (TOA) is based upon systems theory with influence from motor learning and motor control theories. Systems theory states abnormal movements are related to deficits in one or more system(s) and are comprised of the body’s existing systems’ attempts to compensate. Compensations are not always ideal; interventions can be designed to optimize strategies and complete functional tasks more effectively and efficiently. Using evidence-based resources on CIDP and GBS, this case report poster describes the PT management of a patient with CIDP using the TOA as a framework for clinical decision-making.https://dune.une.edu/pt_studcrposter/1083/thumbnail.jp

Health Practitioners’ Perspective On Caring For Older Adults In Rural Maine – A Pilot Study

Research poster stemming from IPEC mini-grant funded student project Health Practioners’ Perspective on Caring for Older Adults in Rural Maine. This pilot study was designed to identify challenges and determine potential solutions for Maine practitioners delivering health care to rural Maine’s aging population. UNE students from several healthcare professions partnered to interview physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists caring for community-dwelling older adults in Rural Maine. The student researchers then analyzed the interviews and identified themes.https://dune.une.edu/minigrant_hppoa/1001/thumbnail.jp

Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme ERAMMP - Technical Annex 2: Sward management. Sustainable Farming Scheme Evidence Review

The Brief: Establish the intervention logic for supporting the diversification of swards in improved grassland. Establish the Greenhouse Gas (GHG), water quality, air quality and economic benefits. Establish the environmental outcomes including GHG emissions reduction, biodiversity, water quality and air quality, which will be secured through diversification of sward management. Identify the contribution that sward diversification will make to the economic resilience and sustainability of Welsh agriculture

Maternal HIV infection and other factors associated with growth outcomes of HIV-uninfected infants in Entebbe, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between maternal HIV infection and growth outcomes of HIV-exposed but uninfected infants and to identify other predictors for poor growth among this population. DESIGN: Within a trial of de-worming during pregnancy, the cohort of offspring was followed from birth. HIV status of the mothers and their children was investigated and growth data for children were obtained at age 1 year. Length-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length Z-scores were calculated for each child; Z-scores ,22 were defined as stunting, underweight and wasting, respectively. SETTING: The study was conducted in Entebbe municipality and Katabi subcounty, Uganda. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 1502 children aged 1 year: HIV-unexposed (n 1380) and HIV-exposed not infected (n 122). RESULTS: Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 14.2%, 8.0% and 3.9%, respectively. There was evidence for an association between maternal HIV infection and odds of being underweight (adjusted OR52.32; 95% CI 1.32, 4.09; P=0.006) but no evidence for an association with stunting or with wasting. Young maternal age, low maternal education, low birth weight, early weaning and experiencing a higher number of episodes of malaria during infancy were independent predictors for stunting and underweight. A higher number of living children in the family was associated with wasting. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal HIV infection was associated with being underweight in HIV-exposed uninfected infants. The success of programmes for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission means that an increasing number of infants will be born to HIV-infected women without acquiring HIV. Therefore, viable nutritional interventions need to be identified for this population

Mutations in succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) enhance neutrophil survival independent of HIF-1α expression.

status: publishe