Pesticide Effects on Orthopteroid Distribution in Southern Michigan Farmlands

The occulrence and abundance of 22 species of orthopteroids is compared for isolated farm yards surrounded by corn fields which were either treated or not treated with a pesticide combination consisting of the herbicides Sutan and AAtrex, and the insecticide Dyfonate. All 22 species were present in the untreated plots, whereas only 12 were recorded in the treated plots, a 45.5% reduction. Species characteristics determining the observed differences, in the order of decreasing importance, are: general abundance in non-treated areas, seasonal periodism, and vagility. More common species and fewer uncommon species were present in the treated areas, apparently because of the more diverse feeding habits of the former. Nearly all vernal species were absent from the treated areas, possibly because of direct mortality incurred at the time of pesticide application (spring). Those species with greater flight ability were better represented in the treated areas; evidently the corn fields to which the pesticides were applied formed an effective barrier that inhibited immigration of at least the short-winged or flightless species

Educating Nurses How to Critique Research Reports

When bedside acute care nurses support their clinical practice with current best evidence, patient outcomes improve. Most bedside acute care nurses base their clinical decision-making on tradition and not the application of evidence based practice (EBP). The ability to appraise research is a critical component in the application of EBP and best care practices. The purpose of the DNP project was to obtain 5 content experts\u27 evaluations of an education module for bedside nurses on how to analyze a research report, complete a literature review, and create a table of evidence (TOE). The theoretical framework guiding the project was the Advancing Research and Clinical Practice through Close Collaboration (ARCC) Model, which supports the integration of research in clinical practice. The content experts provided qualitative, summative evaluations to strengthen the content. Recommendations included adding information to the content of the module that would identify the differences in analyzing quantitative and qualitative research, providing more information related to the 51 criteria of the RAC used to guide nurses when analyzing a research article, and providing a script and talking points to assist other facilitators when implementing the module. A final suggestion by the experts included presenting the EBP module in two parts: part 1, how to analyze an article and part 2, how to pool the data. The project has the potential to improve nurses\u27 knowledge and the application of evidence based practice to enhance social change through improved clinical outcomes for patients

Can systemic administration of drag reducing agents reduce the risk of metastasizing after cancer surgery? A hydrodynamics based hypothesis

The human blood and lymphatic systems serve as transport media for circulating tumor cells. Hydrodynamic analysis suggests that the systemic administration of drag-reducing agents (DRA) in nanomolar concentrations may reduce the risk of metastasizing of circulating tumor cells. After testing this hypothesis on animal models, it could become a new complementary post-operative treatment for cancer patients or even replace classical cancer aftercare for patients with severe intolerance against chemo- or radio-therapy. Our approach is based on the following considerations:- Circulating tumor cells need for settling down a favorable environment in terms of nutrition and after settling also in its first stage of development an extra nutrient supply in order to survive and grow finally into the interstice.- The attachment of circulating tumor cells therefore tends to occur at sites in the human circulatory system characterized by localized turbulence, which enhances the mass transfer of nutrients, e.g., at sites of vessel branching and bending with plasma skimming.- Also restrictions to blood flow, such as plaques (atherosclerosis), red blood cell (RBC) rouleaux, and even tumor cells in its first stage of development attached to the inner vessel wall may produce local vortices that increase mass transfer, i.e., food supply.- DRA have the ability to smooth (laminarise) localized turbulence in the circulatory system and to reduce mass transfer. The systemic administration of DRA could therefore serve in a first step to defuse potential settling points, i.e., to make them harmless.- Depriving freshly settled down tumor cells of their required nutrient levels should therefore in a second step reduce the probability of creating metastatic tumors, and may even lead to its starvation-induced death before they grow into the interstice.In the first part of our essay we demonstrate how flow constrictions decrease the mean blood flow velocity, wall shear rates, and Reynolds numbers respectively, and increase the friction factor.Experimentally derived apparent viscosity data from literature will be used to determine the probability of RBC rouleaux formation. This is of importance since RBC rouleaux are typically associated with turbulent blood flow patterns. An increase in apparent viscosity at low flow rates will be attributed to the formation of RBC rouleaux.In part two we discuss the application of the Lockhart/Martinelli method to determine the pressure drop in blood vessels. The objective is to determine a mass transfer coefficient characterizing the mass transfer between the center and the wall of both healthy and constricted blood vessels. This coefficient indicates the nutrient supply available to tumor cells in its first stage of development under different flow conditions and shows the effect of administration of DRA.Our hydrodynamic approach contrasts with previous studies of the possible benefits of DRA administration, which were focused on improving blood supply. We emphasize the reduction of the mass transfer rate as a tool to withhold turbulence induced supplementary food supply to circulating tumor cells in the process of settling and in its first stage of development.Due to the hypothetical character of our approach and the possibility of unexpected side effects when administrating DRA (including their mechanical degradation products) animal models are indispensable before clinical trials

Landowner Cooperative Key to Success in the Bee Ridge Quail Focus Area

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) began establishing Quail Focus Areas (QFAs) on private lands in 2004. The goal of QFAs is to increase and expand quail habitat management efforts around a core area. Because most (93%) of the landscape of Missouri, USA is in private ownership, habitat improvement programs on private lands have greater potential to impact quail populations than on public lands alone. A motivated group of landowners led the charge to begin habitat improvement efforts in the Bee Ridge QFA. This group was instrumental in starting earlier monitoring efforts to determine whether habitat improvements were leading to increased northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) numbers. In fall 2017, MDC staff began monitoring bobwhite and songbirds in a portion of the Bee Ridge QFA in Knox County, Missouri and in a control area (without habitat management for bobwhite). This effort is part of the Coordinated Implementation Plan developed by the National Bobwhite Technical Committee as a part of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. The goal of the monitoring plan is to document whether quail habitat management can achieve sustainable bobwhite populations within 5–10 years. We selected a 2,225-ha portion of the Bee Ridge QFA where habitat management for quail has been conducted through efforts by landowners and MDC staff. Point transect surveys are conducted at 46 250-m radius points in spring for bobwhite and songbirds and at 12 500-m radius points in fall for bobwhite coveys. Bobwhite densities ranged from 0.23 bobwhite/ha (95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.14–0.35) to 0.27 bobwhite/ha (95% CrI = 0.15–0.43) in the focus area and 0.03 bobwhite/ha (95% CrI = 0.01–0.08) to 0.06 bobwhite/ha (95% CrI = 0.01–0.15) in the control area from 2013 through 2019. Landowners working together to implement recommended habitat management practices resulted in greater quail and songbird numbers in the focus area, compared to the control area

Integrating biomedical and herbal medicine in Ghana:experiences from the Kumasi South Hospital: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade there has been growing interest in the use of herbal medicine both in developed and developing countries. Given the high proportion of patients using herbal medicine in Ghana, some health facilities have initiated implementation of herbal medicine as a component of their healthcare delivery. However, the extent to which herbal medicine has been integrated in Ghanaian health facilities, how integration is implemented and perceived by different stakeholders has not been documented. The study sought to explore these critical issues at the Kumasi South Hospital (KSH) and outline the challenges and motivations of the integration process. METHODS: Qualitative phenomenological exploratory study design involving fieldwork observations, focus group discussion, in-depth interviews and key informants’ interviews was employed to collect data. RESULTS: Policies and protocols outlining the definition, process and goals of integration were lacking, with respondents sharing different views about the purpose and value of integration of herbal medicine within public health facilities. Key informants were supportive of the initiative. Whilst biomedical health workers perceived the system to be parallel than integrated, health personnel providing herbal medicine perceived the system as integrated. Most patients were not aware of the herbal clinic in the hospital but those who had utilized services of the herbal clinic viewed the clinic as part of the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of a regulatory policy and protocol for the integration seemed to have led to the different perception of the integration. Policy and protocol to guide the integration are key recommendations

‘Tiny Iceland’ preparing for Ebola in a globalized world

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)Background: The Ebola epidemic in West Africa caused global fear and stirred up worldwide preparedness activities in countries sharing borders with those affected, and in geographically far-away countries such as Iceland. Objective: To describe and analyse Ebola preparedness activities within the Icelandic healthcare system, and to explore the perspectives and experiences of managers and frontline health workers. Methods: A qualitative case study, based on semi-structured interviews with 21 staff members in the national Ebola Treatment Team, Emergency Room at Landspitali University Hospital, and managers of the response team. Results: Contextual factors such as culture and demography influenced preparedness, and contributed to the positive state of mind of participants, and ingenuity in using available resources for preparedness. While participants believed they were ready to take on the task of Ebola, they also had doubts about the chances of Ebola ever reaching Iceland. Yet, factors such as fear of Ebola and the perceived stigma associated with caring for a potentially infected Ebola patient, influenced the preparation process and resulted in plans for specific precautions by staff to secure the safety of their families. There were also concerns about the teamwork and lack of commitment by some during training. Being a ‘tiny’ nation was seen as both an asset and a weakness in the preparation process. Honest information sharing and scenario-based training contributed to increased confidence amongst participants in the response plans. Conclusions: Communication and training were important for preparedness of health staff in Iceland, in order to receive, admit, and treat a patient suspected of having Ebola, while doubts prevailed on staff capacity to properly do so. For optimal preparedness, likely scenarios for future global security health threats need to be repeatedly enacted, and areas plagued by poverty and fragile healthcare systems require global support.We are grateful to participating institutions for giving permission to conduct the study, but not the least, to the participants who contributed with their time and experience.Peer Reviewe

A retrospective audit of antibiotic prescriptions in primary health-care facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana

Resistance to antibiotics is increasing globally and is a threat to public health. Research has demonstrated a correlation between antibiotic use and resistance development. Developing countries are the most affected by resistance because of high infectious disease burden, limited access to quality assured antibiotics and more optimal drugs and poor antibiotic use practices. The appropriate use of antibiotics to slow the pace of resistance development is crucial. The study retrospectively assessed antibiotic prescription practices in four public and private primary health-care facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana using the WHO/International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs rational drug use indicators. Using a systematic sampling procedure, 400 prescriptions were selected per facility for the period April 2010 to March 2011. Rational drug use indicators were assessed in the descriptive analysis and logistic regression was used to explore for predictors of antibiotic prescription. Average number of medicines prescribed per encounter was 4.01, and 59.9% of prescriptions had antibiotics whilst 24.2% had injections. In total, 79.2% and 88.1% of prescribed medicines were generics and from the national essential medicine list, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, health facility type (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42, 2.95), patient age (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.98), number of medicines on a prescription (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.63, 2.10) and ‘no malaria drug’ on prescription (OR = 5.05; 95% CI: 2.08, 12.25) were associated with an antibiotic prescription. A diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection was positively associated with antibiotic use. The level of antibiotic use varied depending on the health facility type and was generally high compared with the national average estimated in 2008. Interventions that reduce diagnostic uncertainty in illness management should be considered. The National Health Insurance Scheme, as the main purchaser of health services in Ghana, offers an opportunity that should be exploited to introduce policies in support of rational drug use

Primary Health Care: a strategic framework for the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable disease

In 2014, chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the leading causes of global mortality and disability. Government-level concern, and resulting policy changes, are manifesting. However, there continues to be a paucity of guiding frameworks for legislative measures. The surge of NCDs will require strong and effective governance responses, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Simultaneously following the 2008 World Health Report, there has recently been renewed interest in Primary Health Care (PHC) and its core principles. With this, has come strengthened support for revitalizing this approach, which aims for equitable and cost-effective population-health attainment. In this light and reflecting recent major global reports, declarations and events, we propose and critique a PHC approach to NCDs, highlighting PHC, with its core themes, as a valuable guiding framework for health promotion and policy addressing this group of diseases