Rooting and vitality of poinsettia cuttings was increased by arbuscular mycorrhiza in the donor plants

In this paper, we provide evidence that the rooting performance of cuttings can be improved by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis of donor plants. Poinsettia stock plants were inoculated with the Glomus intraradices isolate H510 and grown in three different cultivation systems (two organic and one conventional). AM colonization was not related to P availability in the substrate. Decay of the excised cuttings in response to unfavorable postharvest storage conditions was significantly reduced by AM colonization of the stock plants. In most cases, AM significantly promoted the formation of adventitious roots in the stored cuttings. The strongest effect of AM was found when donor plants were grown in a modified organic substrate; then AM-conditioned cuttings showed higher leaf sugar levels and a changed kinetic of carbohydrates during storage. Analyses of N, P, and K in cuttings did not indicate a nutritional effect. The results support the idea that an altered carbohydrate metabolism and plant hormones can contribute to improved rooting performance of cuttings excised from mycorrhizal donor plants. Published in Mycorrhiza(2006)17:67–72, (c) Springer-Verlag, 200

This is Not at All Foreseeable from the Outset - Research Ethics in Qualitative Health Services Research: A Survey of Researchers

Background Health services research is multidisciplinary and involves the use of a plurality of research methods. Medicine as a discipline serves as an important reference, also in terms of addressing ethics issues in research. At the same time, however, the highly formalized ethical reviews common in medicine, are controversial within the social sciences, especially among qualitative researchers. So far, little is known about which research ethics issues arise in qualitative health services research. Methods In summer 2019, an online survey was conducted among health services researchers on two main topics: a) research ethics issues in qualitative health services research and b) experiences with the ethics review procedures. The questionnaire contained ten open questions; the responses were analyzed for content. The first topic (ethical issues) is addressed within this article. Results A total of 73 researchers with heterogeneous professional background and an average of more than seven years of work experience in health services research participated in the survey. The following were reported as central research ethics issues: a) legitimacy and anticipation of ethical challenges in the planning of research, b) field access, consent and burdens during data collection, c) anonymization and data protection in data processing, d) data analysis, e) publication of results and data and f) general topics such as central principles and goals of research as well as the role of researchers. The main formats for dealing with these issues were exchange and consultation as well as referring to texts and regulations. Conclusions On the one hand, the data documents typical central research ethics questions that researchers are confronted with in the context of qualitative health services research; on the other hand, they also point to gaps and less considered topics. A systematizing ethical reflection could take up these findings in order to develop health services research-specific principles and strategies for handling research ethics issues

Pathways to cancer counselling centres: How do people become aware of them? A qualitative study with people seeking advice and those referring them

Schranz M, Bayer O, Xylaender M, et al. Wege in Krebsberatungsstellen: Wie werden Menschen darauf aufmerksam? Eine qualitative Studie mit Ratsuchenden und Zuweisenden. Onkologe. 2022.Background Outpatient cancer counselling centres (OCCC; in German Krebsberatungsstellen [KBS]) offer psychological, social and sociolegal support for people with cancer and their relatives, who are confronted not only with physical but also with psychosocial stress as a result of the disease. Research question How do people become aware of outpatient cancer counselling centres? Methods In a nationwide study, guided qualitative interviews were conducted with people seeking advice (cancer patients and relatives) and referrers (health care providers who refer to OCCC). The interviews with those seeking advice were conducted face-to-face and those with referrers by telephone. The data were analysed using content analysis according to Mayring. Results In all, 43 people seeking advice and 30 referrers were interviewed. A total of 31 h of audio material was recorded. From the respondents' point of view, flyers, information brochures and internet platforms are important sources for making patients and their relatives aware of OCCC. In addition to public relations, the personal approach in the clinical and non-clinical care system and in the social setting is of central importance. Some referrers address OCCC routinely, while others only do so when patients or relatives explicitly express a need for counselling. Conclusions In the medical sector, more attention could and should be drawn to OCCC as a helpful outpatient counselling setting. Closer cooperation between OCCC and general practitioners, oncologists and psycho-oncology services should be sought. Targeted and needs-oriented information can draw attention to the support offered by OCCC and thus improve the care of cancer patients.Hintergrund Ambulante Krebsberatungsstellen (KBS) bieten psychologische, soziale und sozialrechtliche Unterstützung für an Krebs erkrankte Menschen und Angehörige an, die infolge der Erkrankung nicht nur mit körperlichen, sondern auch mit psychosozialen Belastungen konfrontiert werden. Fragestellung Wie werden Menschen auf ambulante Krebsberatungsstellen aufmerksam? Methoden In einer deutschlandweiten Studie wurden leitfadengestützte qualitative Interviews mit Ratsuchenden (Krebspatient/innen und Angehörige) und Zuweisenden (Gesundheitsversorger/innen, die an KBS verweisen) geführt. Die Befragungen der Ratsuchenden erfolgten im persönlichen Gespräch, die der Zuweisenden telefonisch. Ausgewertet wurde inhaltsanalytisch nach Mayring. Ergebnisse Es wurden 43 Ratsuchende und 30 Zuweisende befragt. Insgesamt entstanden 31 h Audiomaterial. Aus Sicht der Befragten sind Flyer, Infobroschüren und Internetplattformen wichtige Quellen, um Patient/innen und deren Angehörige auf KBS aufmerksam zu machen. Neben der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit ist die persönliche Ansprache im klinischen wie nicht-klinischen Versorgungssystem und im sozialen Umfeld von zentraler Bedeutung. Manche Zuweisenden sprechen KBS routinemäßig an, andere erst bei explizit von Patient/innen oder Angehörigen geäußertem Beratungsbedarf. Schlussfolgerungen Im medizinischen Sektor könnte und sollte noch mehr auf KBS als hilfreiches ambulantes Beratungssetting hingewiesen werden. Eine engere Zusammenarbeit der KBS mit Hausärzt/innen, Onkolog/innen und psychoonkologischen Diensten ist anzustreben. Gezielte und bedarfsgerechte Informationen können auf das Unterstützungsangebot durch eine KBS hinweisen und so die Versorgung von Krebspatient/innen verbessern

Group Discussions in Health Services Research - Part 2: Reflections on The Concept of Group, Moderation and Analysis of Group Discussions as well as Online Group Discussion

This article is the second of 2 articles on group discussions in health services research, written by the Qualitative Methods Working Group of the German Network for Health Care Research (DNVF). It starts with theoretical considerations on the concept of groups, and provides specific knowledge about groups in general and the behaviour of individual group members in particular, which is relevant for the design and interpretation of interaction processes in the group context. The following sections deal with the processuality of group discussions, moderation styles and techniques as well as reflections on possible subjects and methods of analysis. Presentation of results and text passages which unveil the interaction structure of several discussion participants are also discussed here. Finally, insights into the special features, potentials and challenges of group discussions via online platforms are provided. Together, the two articles provide an overview of the most important aspects of the application of group discussions in the field of health services research

Alterations in proteins and amino acids of the Nile cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena limnetica and Anabaena wisconsinense in response to industrial wastewater pollution

The effect of industrial wastewater on the Nile cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena limnetica and Anabaena wisconsinense was investigated. The data showed that P. limnetica was more sensitive to pollution than A. wisconsinense. The treatments with different levels of wastewater exerted pronounced reductions in protein and amino acids content. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the cyanobacteria grown in the industrial wastewater showed induction in the synthesis of certain polypeptides and repression of others. The treatments of P. limnetica with wastewater stimulated the appearance of six protein bands with molecular masses of 28, 30, 31, 32, 58 and 97 kDa. The same treatments caused the disappearance of 20, 38 and 56 kDa. The structural protein pattern of the treated A. wisconsinense showed appearance of 16, 30, 170 and 230 kDa and disappearance of 56 kDa. The treatment of the two investigated cyanobacteria with different levels of wastewater stimulated the biosyntheses of different amino acids and inhibited others