Facilitation between species mitigates nutrient constraints in grassland

Background: Experimental work using pot trials and mesocosm studies has indicated that species combinations are more effective in mitigating the soil nutrient constraints that limit pasture productivity in New Zealand’s hill country, but there is little field evidence to support this. Aim: We question whether coexistence of species provides an opportunity to facilitate enhanced uptake and improved procurement of key soil nutrients by assemblages of plants in these mid-altitude grasslands. Methods: Native and exotic legumes and co-occurring plant species were sampled according to whether they were growing together in close proximity or in single species patches. Foliar concentrations of nutrients were compared. Results: Uptake of nutrients by a native broom, Carmichaelia petriei, was enhanced when it was growing in combination with native tussock grasses. Enhanced uptake of eight nutrients was recorded in foliage of an exotic legume, Lotus pedunculatus, when it was growing with native grasses or within the acuminate foliage of Aciphylla aurea (golden spaniard). Foliar concentrations of only P and Mn were elevated in white clover (Trifolium repens) foliage when it was growing in combination with grasses. Overall, mutual facilitation of nutrient uptake by combinations of species growing together was in evidence. Conclusions: Some species that are less desirable from an agricultural perspective may improve acquisition of soil nutrients by the plant community. Novel native species assemblages represent an opportunity to refine pasture management. Exploiting combinations of plant species that facilitate optimal exploitation of nutrients could reduce fertiliser requirements, enhancing and protecting biodiversity in pastoral grasslands

A qualitative evaluation of a student midwife placement teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESOL)

INTRODUCTION A shortage of UK midwives has put pressure on clinical placements and supervision of student midwives. Alternative placement solutions are needed to provide students with meaningful learning experiences. One such learning experience was a placement undertaken by student midwives who attended a program teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESOL). This study evaluated the impact of the placement on student midwife learning and experiences of the ESOL participants.METHODS The 2022 study employed a qualitative design using Kolb’s model of experiential learning as a framework. Ten student midwives placed with the ESOL program and three women enrolled in the program participated. Data were collected via online focus groups with the student midwives and a face-to-face focus group with the women. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and Kolb’s model of experiential learning.RESULTS Four themes were constructed: ‘Putting the scripts aside: expectations versus the reality of being an educator’, ‘Adapting and personalizing teaching’, ‘We are learning too: an environment for mutual learning’, and ‘Taking our learning forwards’. Students faced barriers during their placement and had to adapt their teaching accordingly. They gained crucial knowledge of the challenges faced by women who speak other languages. The women valued the students’ input and together they forged a reciprocal learning environment.CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates how placing student midwives in a unique non-maternity setting has benefits for student learning which are transferrable to future practice. Importantly, it confirms that quality of learning during a novel placement is not compromised for students or participant

The relationship between the development of general offending and intimate partner violence perpetration in young adulthood

This study examined how patterns in general offending relate to the occurrence of and likelihood of persistence in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in young adulthood. The study used longitudinal data from the cohort of 18 year olds from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods study. Self-reported offending was measured in all three waves, and data on IPV were collected in Waves 1 and 3. Group-based trajectory modeling identified three distinct general offending trajectory groups: non-offenders, low-rate offenders, and high-rate offenders. The majority of respondents engaged in psychological IPV perpetration, and half of all young adults reported physical IPV, but prevalence rates decreased over the waves. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that those involved in offending, especially those who showed a diverse offending pattern, were at increased risk of perpetrating psychological and (severe) physical IPV, as well as to show persistence in the different forms of IPV perpetration. The findings highlight an important overlap between general crime and IPV perpetration. In recognition that IPV is often part of a broader pattern of antisocial behavior, interventions should focus on interrupting the criminal careers of all young offenders to reduce the prevalence and harms of IPV

Hypothesis awareness as a demand characteristic in laboratory-based eating behaviour research: An experimental study

Demand characteristics are thought to undermine the validity of psychological research, but the extent to which participant awareness of study hypotheses affects laboratory-measured eating behaviour studies has received limited attention. Participants (N = 84) attended two laboratory sessions in which food intake was measured. In session 1 baseline food intake was measured. In session 2 participants were allocated to either a ‘hypothesis aware’ or ‘hypothesis unaware’ condition. Participants were led to believe in the ‘hypothesis aware’ condition that they were expected to increase their food intake in session 2 relative to session 1. Participants in the ‘hypothesis unaware’ condition were not provided with hypothesis information. Contrary to our pre-registered predictions, the experimental manipulation of hypothesis awareness did not affect session 2 food intake. However, the manipulation was less effective than anticipated as some participants did not appear to believe the hypothesis information provided. Post-hoc exploratory analyses revealed that participants who believed the study hypothesis was that their food intake would increase in session 2 ate more in session 2 than participants who did not believe this was the study hypothesis. Further confirmatory research is required to understand the causal effect that participant awareness of study hypotheses has on laboratory measured eating behaviour

Modeling early haematologic adverse events in conformal and intensity-modulated pelvic radiotherapy in anal cancer

AbstractBackground and purposeTo determine if there are differences between dose to pelvic bone marrow (PBM) using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) under UK guidance versus conformal radiotherapy (CRT) per ACT II protocol and if differences translate to rates of early haematological adverse events grade 3 or greater (HT3+).Methods and materialsTwo groups of 20+ patients, treated under IMRT and CRT regimes respectively, were identified. All patients underwent weekly blood cell count: haemoglobin (HgB), white cell count (WCC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and platelets (plats).Percent volume of PBM and sub structures receiving 5–25Gy were tested for statistical significance. Regression models were used to test for correlation to blood counts. NTCP modeling was also performed.ResultsPMB dose metrics showed a significant increase in the IMRT group. Regression analysis showed iliac and lumbosacral PBM dose metrics to associate with reduced nadir ANC and WCC. NTCP at HT3+ was 0.13 using IMRT relative to 0.07 using CRT (p<0.05).ConclusionWhilst this is a relatively small retrospective study and lacks information on the distribution of active PBM, IMRT treatment has been shown to significantly increase PMB irradiation. PBM dose metrics have been shown to be predictive of WCC and ANC suppression. NTCP modeling predicts much high risk of HT3+. Paradoxically, actual rates of HT3+ were comparable suggesting that differences in the distributions of dose metrics maybe a significant factor and/or that there are insufficiency in the NTCP modeling

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy re-irradiation for locally recurrent rectal cancer: outcomes and toxicity

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) but contemporaneous clinical data is limited. We aimed to evaluate the local control, toxicity and survival outcomes in a cohort of patients previously treated with neoadjuvant pelvic radiotherapy for non-metastatic LRRC, now treated with SBRT. Methods: Inoperable rectal cancer patients with ≤ 3 sites of pelvic recurrence and &gt; 6 months since prior pelvic radiotherapy were identified from a prospective registry over 4 years. SBRT dose was 30Gy in 5 fractions, daily or alternate days, using cumulative organ at risk dose constraints. Primary outcome was local control (LC). Secondary outcomes were progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity and patient reported Quality of Life scores (QoL) using EQ-VAS tool. Results: 30 patients (35 targets) were included. Median GTV size was 14.3cm3. 27/30 (90%) previously received 45-50.4Gy in 25/28 fractions, with 10% receiving an alternative prescription. All patients received the planned re-irradiation SBRT dose. The median FU was 24.5 months (IQR 17.8 – 28.8). The 1-year LC was 84.9% (95% CI 70.6 – 99) and a 2-year LC was 69% (95% CI 51.8 – 91.9). The median PFS was 12.1 months (95% 8.6 – 17.66) and median OS was 28.3 months (95% CI 17.88 – 39.5 months). No patient experienced &gt;G2 acute toxicity and only 1 patient experienced late G3 toxicity. Patient reported QoL outcomes were improved at 3 months following SBRT (Δ EQ-VAS, +10 points, Wilcoxon signed rank, p=0.009). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that, for small volume pelvic disease relapses from rectal cancer, re-irradiation with 30Gy in 5 fractions is well tolerated and achieves an excellent balance between high local control rates with limited toxicity