Quality of Life and Sustainability in Rural Switzerland

Most wealthy countries, such as the members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, offer an above-average quality of life. Switzerland is known for being one of the wealthiest countries in the world and one of those that offer the highest quality of life. However, like many other wealthy countries, Switzerland massively overuses natural resources. This threatens the quality of life of those humans living in less wealthy countries and those who will belong to future generations. Reducing the inequitable distribution of high quality of life in the present and future generations is one of humanity's greatest challenges. To contribute to this discussion, this thesis is dedicated to the topic of sustainable quality of life and investigates this topic in Swiss rural areas in general and three regional nature parks. Thus, all four articles focus on the quality of life and its connection to sustainability. Specifically, the thesis addresses the conceptualisation of sustainable quality of life (Article 1), assesses the opinions of Swiss rural inhabitants on how to combine the quality of life with sustainability in rural areas (Article 2), tests regional nature parks as a model region for social and ecological sustainability and the relationship between resource use and life satisfaction (Article 3), and provides recommendations to regional nature park managers on how to improve quality of life in a sustainable manner (Article 4). The research project in which the thesis is embedded took place in cooperation with the management of the regional nature parks. Two empirical studies were conducted. The first involved qualitative interviews analysed via a content analysis (n = 90). The second was a cross-sectional survey, analysed via inferential statistics (n = 3’358). The resulting sustainable quality of life concept is multidimensional and contains nine components that integrate quality of life and sustainability. In the opinion of the rural inhabitants, the most important components for quality of life are not necessarily in conflict with sustainability. On the other hand, challenges to reconciling quality of life with sustainability revealed within the rural regions concern mainly equality between specific social groups and the supply of sustainable infrastructure. Further results of this thesis suggest that the regional nature parks do not yet provide quality of life and ecological sustainability in a significantly different way than in other comparable rural regions. However, another result of this thesis rejects the common hypothesis that resource use leads to life satisfaction and indicates the opposite relation. It can be assumed that the individual’s quality of life can promote sustainable development. Therefore, the thesis presents several opportunities to promote the quality of life of the population in the future

Geochemistry of eclogites and metapelites from the Adula nappe, Central Alps, Switzerland

Exhumed “crustal” eclogites are important recorders of physical and chemical conditions in subduction zones and allow, under favorable circumstances, evaluation of processes such as dehydration reactions, migration of fluids, mobility of elements and metasomatism. Selected group- B/C eclogites and metapelites from Trescolmen, Adula nappe, Switzerland, have been chosen for a detailed study to explore the petrogenesis and the nature and extent of fluid-rock interaction in this polymetamorphic terrane. To accomplish this objective, besides careful petrographic characterization of samples, oxygenisotope fractionations in quartz, garnet, omphacite, kyanite, and rutile, and major— and trace-elements of the main rock-forming minerals are utilized to infer the type and magnitude of fluid-rock interaction at different scales at Trescolmen. Major-element zonation in selected garnet porphyroblasts indicates a pre-Alpine, medium pressure growth history that has been modified under eclogite— and amphibolitefacies conditions during the Alpine orogeny. Trace-element patterns in porphyroblastic garnets show a depletion of HREE’s in the rim region. Omphacites are relatively homogeneous in major elements and exhibit a LREE- and HREE-depletion. These REE-patterns can be explained by preferential partitioning of LREE into zoisite and HREE into garnet during recrystallization. In corroboration with 5130“,], data from eclogites (~5 .5 to ~9.5%), trace element patterns from whole rock analyses point to a MORE-type source as a possible protolith for the eclogites. Furthermore, the variation seen in the 5‘30WR values in eclogites are an indication of low temperature, hydrothermal alteration in the upper oceanic crust, experienced prior to the Alpine orogeny

Does Living in a Protected Area Reduce Resource Use and Promote Life Satisfaction? Survey Results from and Around Three Regional Nature Parks in Switzerland

Regional nature parks in Switzerland are, for the most part, protected areas that aim to promote sustainable development and residents’ well-being. In recent years, research on regional nature parks and comparable protected areas has focused on questions regarding local populations’ acceptance of such areas, their governance, and their economic effects. However, we know surprisingly little about the impact of protected areas on environmental resource use and life satisfaction, two essential ingredients of sustainable regional development. In this study, we survey people living in and around three regional nature parks in Switzerland on their resource use and life satisfaction (gross sample n = 3358). We propose a novel measurement of resource use based on vignettes describing different lifestyles, which we validate against the carbon footprint obtained for a subsample of our respondents. With these indicators, using multiple regression analyses, we test several hypotheses derived from the literature on the relationship between resource use and life satisfaction in and around protected areas. Contrary to our expectations, we do not find differences in resource use or life satisfaction, or the relationship between resource use and life satisfaction, across park and non-park regions. We discuss potential explanations for our findings and their implications for nature park authorities and future study designs

Improving quality of life for residents of biosphere reserves and nature parks: management recommendations from Switzerland

Biosphere reserves and nature parks are protected areas that aim to combine nature conservation with human-development goals. These areas provide ideal environments for promoting and testing sustainable ways of living. The goal of this study was to determine how park management can best contribute to the quality of life of residents. The article presents the results of a survey in Switzerland of 2,409 residents of a biosphere reserve and two regional nature parks on the provision of quality of life. The results indicate that the quality of life in the parks is generally high. The identified dimensions that constitute this quality of life, their perceived importance, and the needs expressed by residents suggest that park management can help to increase and safeguard extant conditions by offering activities that improve health, social relations, and sustainable mobility. Awareness of how park management can contribute to the quality of life of park residents sustainably enables the setting of new priorities that have joint outputs that can be positive for both nature and people

Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions

In most socioeconomically wealthy countries, a high quality of life is associated with a high consumption of natural resources. It is, therefore, essential to define what constitutes sustainable quality of life—that is, quality of life that is simultaneously high as well as ecologically and socially sustainable. This issue was addressed in a study on the promotion of sustainable quality of life in rural regions of Switzerland. We interviewed 90 people with the intention of developing a concept of sustainable quality of life. The concept that emerged from our research consists of nine components: social relations and equality; nature and landscape; education and knowledge; participation, identification, and collective emotions; living; mobility; health and safety; leisure and recreation; and income and employment. Each component is formulated in an integrated way, combining social, environmental, and personal aspects. The concept provides a basis for managing regional development and promoting sustainable quality of life in rural areas. In this regard, we propose starting points in the areas of social relations and equality, nature and landscape, and education and knowledge

Wound fluid ceftriaxone concentrations after local application with calcium sulphate as carrier material in the treatment of orthopaedic device-associated hip infections.

There is a considerable challenge in treating bone infections and orthopaedic device-associated infection (ODAI), partly due to impaired penetration of systemically administrated antibiotics at the site of infection. This may be circumvented by local drug administration. Knowledge of the release kinetics from any carrier material is essential for proper application. Ceftriaxone shows a particular constant release from calcium sulphate (CaSO <sub>4</sub> ) in vitro, and is particularly effective against streptococci and a large portion of Gram-negative bacteria. We present the clinical release kinetics of ceftriaxone-loaded CaSO <sub>4</sub> applied locally to treat ODAI. A total of 30 operations with ceftriaxone-loaded CaSO <sub>4</sub> had been performed in 28 patients. Ceftriaxone was applied as a single local antibiotic in 21 operations and combined with vancomycin in eight operations, and in an additional operation with vancomycin and amphotericin B. Sampling of wound fluid was performed from drains or aspirations. Ceftriaxone concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 37 wound fluid concentrations from 16 operations performed in 14 patients were collected. The ceftriaxone concentrations remained approximately within a range of 100 to 200 mg/l up to three weeks. The median concentration was 108.9 mg/l (interquartile range 98.8 to 142.5) within the first ten days. No systemic adverse reactions were observed. Our study highlights new clinical data of locally administered ceftriaxone with CaSO <sub>4</sub> as carrier material. The near-constant release of ceftriaxone from CaSO <sub>4</sub> observed in vitro could be confirmed in vivo. The concentrations remained below known local toxicity thresholds.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(11):835-842

Extensive spherical amyloid deposition presenting as a pituitary tumor

A 71-yr-old man was admitted for further evaluation and trans-sphenoidal surgery of a pituitary tumor. He complained of impotence and decreased libido over a period of about 40 yr. Thirty-eight yr ago he was treated for bilateral gynecomastia with galactorrhea. Endocrinological investigation at presentation revealed only mild hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tumor up to 2.5 cm in diameter with infiltration of the sphenoid sinus and right cavernous sinus. The tumor exhibited a heterogeneous hyperintense signal on T1-weighted images and hypointense signal on T2-weighted images. Standard trans-sphenoidal surgery was performed and a brownish mass was found inside the sella, which was removed. Histological examination of the mass revealed extensive spherical amyloid deposits with strongly positive immunohistochemical staining for prolactin. Therefore, a prolactinoma with extensive spherical amyloid deposition was diagnosed. Extensive spherical amyloid deposition is a rare finding in prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas. So far, characteristic radiological findings by MRI have been described only twice. Due to characteristic MRI findings, the diagnosis of extensive intrasellar amyloid deposition can be entertained pre-operatively. Trans-sphenoidal surgical resection is essential to confirm the diagnosis histologically and because of the potential lack of tumor shrinkage under dopaminagonist therapy in this type of prolactinom

Hypoglycemia in response to glucose and glucagon in insulinoma patients with a negative prolonged fast: Functional and morphological properties

A negative 72-h fast is usually considered to preclude the diagnosis of insulinoma. The aim of this study was to describe the functional and morphological properties of two exceptional patients with an insulinoma who had exhibited pre-operatively a negative 72-h fast. Despite the ability of tumor cells to turn off insulin secretion in response to low plasma glucose during 72 h of fasting, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia occurred in both patients in response to stimulation by classical secretagogues. Pre-operatively, both patients underwent oral and iv glucose challenge tests and iv glucagon stimulation test. Insulin secretion was rapidly stimulated by these secretagogues to an exaggerated extent and thereby caused hypoglycemia due to an insulin mass effect. In contrast to the common functional features during suppression and stimulation tests, the tumors differed widely with regard to insulin and proinsulin response to calcium during ASVS tests and morphological properties. In patient 1, the immunohistochemical proinsulin distribution pattern resembled that of normal γ-cells, i.e. the staining was restricted to the perinuclear area; insulin and proinsulin were not stimulated by calcium during the ASVS test. In patient 2, the proinsulin staining pattern was abnormal, i.e. proinsulin was also found in the periphery of tumor cells; insulin and proinsulin were stimulated by calcium. We conclude that normal or exaggerated rather than defective glucose sensing may explain hypoglycemia in these exceptional insulinoma patients. Different functional characteristics of these tumors can be correlated with distinct morphological propertie