Caring for quality of care: symbolic violence and the bureaucracies of audit.

BACKGROUND: This article considers the moral notion of care in the context of Quality of Care discourses. Whilst care has clear normative implications for the delivery of health care it is less clear how Quality of Care, something that is centrally involved in the governance of UK health care, relates to practice. DISCUSSION: This paper presents a social and ethical analysis of Quality of Care in the light of the moral notion of care and Bourdieu's conception of symbolic violence. We argue that Quality of Care bureaucracies show significant potential for symbolic violence or the domination of practice and health care professionals. This generates problematic, and unintended, consequences that can displace the goals of practice. SUMMARY: Quality of Care bureaucracies may have unintended consequences for the practice of health care. Consistent with feminist conceptions of care, Quality of Care 'audits' should be reconfigured so as to offer a more nuanced and responsive form of evaluation

Turning the volume down on heavy metals using tuned diatomite. A review of diatomite and modified diatomite for the extraction of heavy metals from water.

Contamination of water by heavy metals is a global problem, to which an inexpensive and simple solution is required. Within this context the unique properties of diatomite and its abundance in many regions of the world have led to the current widespread interest in this material for water purification purposes. Defined sections on articles published on the use of raw and modified diatomite for the removal of heavy metal pollutants from water are critically reviewed. The capability of the materials as extracting agents for individual species and mixtures of heavy metals are considered in terms of the kinetics, the thermodynamics and the recyclability for both, the pollutant and the extracting material. The concept of 'selectivity' for the enrichment of naturally occurring materials such as diatomite through the introduction of suitable functionalities in their structure to target a given pollutant is emphasised. Suggestions for further research in this area are given

Turning the volume down on heavy metals using tuned diatomite. A review of diatomite and modified diatomite for the extraction of heavy metals from water.

Contamination of water by heavy metals is a global problem, to which an inexpensive and simple solution is required. Within this context the unique properties of diatomite and its abundance in many regions of the world have led to the current widespread interest in this material for water purification purposes. Defined sections on articles published on the use of raw and modified diatomite for the removal of heavy metal pollutants from water are critically reviewed. The capability of the materials as extracting agents for individual species and mixtures of heavy metals are considered in terms of the kinetics, the thermodynamics and the recyclability for both, the pollutant and the extracting material. The concept of 'selectivity' for the enrichment of naturally occurring materials such as diatomite through the introduction of suitable functionalities in their structure to target a given pollutant is emphasised. Suggestions for further research in this area are given

An estrogen receptor repressor induces cataract formation in transgenic mice

Despite the high prevalence of age-related cataracts, there are currently no known therapies to delay or prevent their occurrence. Studies in humans and rodent models suggest that estrogen may provide protection against age-related cataracts. The discovery of ocular estrogen receptors (ERs) indicates that estrogen protection may result from direct interactions with its receptors in the eye, instead an indirect consequence from effects on another tissue. Studies in our transgenic mouse model validate the concept that estrogen is beneficial for the eye. These mice express ERΔ3, a dominant-negative form of ERα that inhibits ERα function. In the ERΔ3 transgenic mice, cortical cataracts spontaneously form in ERΔ3 females after puberty and progress with age. The cataracts initiate in the equatorial region of the lens where the epithelial cells differentiate into elongating fiber cells. Cataract formation can be prevented if the females are ovariectomized before, but not after, sexual maturity. Both male and female ERΔ3 mice develop cataracts after neonatal treatment with the potent estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). The incidence of spontaneous and DES-induced cataracts in ERΔ3 mice is 100%, yet these cataracts are absent from the wild-type mice. These data suggest that repression of estrogen action induces cortical cataract formation because estrogen is required to activate the ERΔ3 repressor. Evidence of DES-induced cataracts in the ERΔ3 males as well as the females suggests that estrogen is important in lens physiology in both sexes. The ERΔ3 mice provide a powerful model for assessing the role of estrogen in maintaining the transparency of the lens

Arsenic in Argentina: Occurrence, human health, legislation and determination

An overview about the presence of arsenic (As) in groundwaters of Argentina, made by a transdisciplinary group of experts is presented. Aspects on As occurrence, effects of As on human health, regulations regarding the maximum allowable amount of As in drinking water as well as bottled water, and analytical techniques for As determination are presented. The most affected region in Argentina is the Chaco-Pampean plain, covering around 10 million km 2 , where approximately 88% of 86 groundwater samples collected in 2007 exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value. In the Salí river basin, As concentrations ranged from 11.4 to 1660 μg/L, with 100% of the samples above the WHO guideline value. In the Argentine Altiplano (Puna) and Subandean valleys, 61% of 62 samples collected from surface and groundwaters exceeded the WHO limit. Thus, it can be estimated that, at present, the population at risk in Argentina reaches around four million people. Pathologies derived from the chronic consumption of As, the metabolism of As in the human body and the effects of the different As chemical forms, gathered under the name HACRE (hidroarsenicismo crónico regional endémico in Spanish, for chronic regional endemic hydroarsenicism) are described. Regarding the regulations, the 10 μg/L limit recommended by the WHO and the United States Environmental Protection Agency has been incorporated in the Argentine Food Code, but the application is still on hold. In addition, there is disparity regarding the maximal admitted values in several provinces. Considerations about the As concentrations in bottled water are also presented. A survey indicates that there are several Argentine laboratories with the suitable equipment for As determination at 10 μg/L, although 66% of them are concentrated in Buenos Aires City, and in the Santa Fe, Córdoba and Buenos Aires provinces. Conclusions and recommendations of this first part are provided.Fil: Litter, Marta Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; ArgentinaFil: Ingallinella, Ana María. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Olmos, Valentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Savio, Marianela. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de la Pampa. Grupo Vinculado Fundacion Centro de Salud E Investigaciones Medicas | Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de la Pampa. Grupo Vinculado Fundacion Centro de Salud E Investigaciones Medicas.; ArgentinaFil: Difeo, Gonzalo. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Botto, Lía. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Farfán Torres, Elsa Mónica. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Taylor, Sergio. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; Argentina. Autoridad del Agua. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Infraestructura y Servicos Publicos. Autoridad del Agua.; ArgentinaFil: Frangie, Sofía. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Herkovits, Jorge. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Schalamuk, Isidoro. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Recursos Minerales. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Recursos Minerales; ArgentinaFil: González, María José. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Recursos Minerales. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Recursos Minerales; ArgentinaFil: Berardozzi, Eliana. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: García Einschlag, Fernando S.. Red de Seguridad Alimentaria de Conicet; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Bhattacharya, Prosun. University of Southern Queensland; Australia. Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm; SueciaFil: Ahmad, Arslan. Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm; Suecia. KWR Water Cycle Research Institute; Países Bajos. University of Agriculture Wageningen; Países Bajo