Bryophyte-Dominated Snow-Beds in the Scottish Highlands

This study presents a report on the flora of the most extreme of the areas of late snow lie in the Scottish Highlands where bryophytes tend to dominate the vegetation. 58 snow-bed sites were surveyed throughout the Highlands and all phanerogams and bryophytes recorded along with their relative abundance; examples of these surveys are given in an appendix. In addition, the vegetation on 141 samples was recorded along with various environmental factors. The sample and site data were then analysed using TWINSPAN and DECORANA to produce a classification and ordination of both snow-bed sites and snow-bed plant communities

Recrafting Work: A Model for Workplace Engagement and Meaning

The global knowledge based economy, technological and information advances, and expanding complexity, are transforming the work place. Worldwide, less than a third of employees are actively engaged, the majority unengaged, and a significant portion actively disengaged. Work represents nearly half of waking life for most adults and has been identified as an important domain for authentic happiness. A model is provided to guide employees through the process of recrafting work to align with signature strengths with the goal of moving along the job, career, calling continuum. A description of the model, the empirical basis for the process and tools embedded in the model and results of a pilot implementation in a Fortune 250 global information services company are reviewed

Climate change increases risk of fusarium ear blight on wheat in central China

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: X. Zhang, et al, 'Climate change increases risk of fusarium ear blight on wheat in central China', Annals of Applied Biology, Vol. 164 (3): 384-395, May 2014, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12107. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.To estimate potential impact of climate change on wheat fusarium ear blight, simulated weather for the A1B climate change scenario was imported into a model for estimating fusarium ear blight in central China. In this work, a logistic weather-based regression model for estimating incidence of wheat fusarium ear blight in central China was developed, using up to 10 years (2001-2010) of disease, anthesis date and weather data available for 10 locations in Anhui and Hubei provinces. In the model, the weather variables were defined with respect to the anthesis date for each location in each year. The model suggested that incidence of fusarium ear blight is related to number of days of rainfall in a 30-day period after anthesis and that high temperatures before anthesis increase the incidence of disease. Validation was done to test whether this relationship was satisfied for another five locations in Anhui province with fusarium ear blight data for 4 to 5 years but no nearby weather data, using weather data generated by the regional climate modelling system PRECIS. How climate change may affect wheat anthesis date and fusarium ear blight in central China was investigated for period 2020-2050 using wheat growth model Sirius and climate data generated by PRECIS. The projection suggested that wheat anthesis dates will generally be earlier and fusarium ear blight incidence will increase substantially for most locations.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Children, Malawi, 2004–2006

Of 176 invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from children in Malawi, common serotypes were 1 (23%), 6A/B (18%), 14 (6%), and 23F (6%). Coverage with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was 39%; PCV10 and PCV13 increased coverage to 66% and 88%, respectively. We found chloramphenicol resistance in 27% of isolates and penicillin nonsusceptibility in 10% (by using meningitis breakpoints); all were ceftriaxone susceptible

Use of thermo‐coagulation as an alternative treatment modality in a ‘screen‐and‐treat’ programme of cervical screening in rural Malawi

The incidence of cervical cancer in Malawi is the highest in the world and projected to increase in the absence of interventions. Although government policy supports screening using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), screening provision is limited due to lack of infrastructure, trained personnel, and the cost and availability of gas for cryotherapy. Recently, thermo‐coagulation has been acknowledged as a safe and acceptable procedure suitable for low‐resource settings. We introduced thermo‐coagulation for treatment of VIA‐positive lesions as an alternative to cryotherapy within a cervical screening service based on VIA, coupled with appropriate, sustainable pathways of care for women with high‐grade lesions and cancers. Detailed planning was undertaken for VIA clinics, and approvals were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Regional and Village Chiefs. Educational resources were developed. Thermo‐coagulators were introduced into hospital and health centre settings, with theoretical and practical training in safe use and maintenance of equipment. A total of 7,088 previously unscreened women attended VIA clinics between October 2013 and March 2015. Screening clinics were held daily in the hospital and weekly in the health centres. Overall, VIA positivity was 6.1%. Almost 90% received same day treatment in the hospital setting, and 3‐ to 6‐month cure rates of more than 90% are observed. Thermo‐coagulation proved feasible and acceptable in this setting. Effective implementation requires comprehensive training and provider support, ongoing competency assessment, quality assurance and improvement audit. Thermo‐coagulation offers an effective alternative to cryotherapy and encouraged VIA screening of many more women

The Alcohol Environment Protocol: A new tool for alcohol policy

Introduction and Aim  To report data on the implementation of alcohol policies regarding availability and marketing, and drink driving, along with ratings of enforcement from two small high-income to three high-middle income countries, and one low-middle income country.  Method  This study uses the Alcohol Environment Protocol, an International Alcohol Control study research tool, which documents the alcohol policy environment by standardised collection of data from administrative sources, observational studies and interviews with key informants to allow for cross-country comparison and change over time.  Results  All countries showed adoption to varying extents of key effective policy approaches outlined in the World Health Organization Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (2010). High-income countries were more likely to allocate resources to enforcement. However, where enforcement and implementation were high, policy on availability was fairly liberal. Key Informants judged alcohol to be very available in both high- and middle-income countries, reflecting liberal policy in the former and less implementation and enforcement and informal (unlicensed) sale of alcohol in the latter. Marketing was largely unrestricted in all countries and while drink-driving legislation was in place, it was less well enforced in middle-income countries.  Conclusion  In countries with fewer resources, alcohol policies are less effective because of lack of implementation and enforcement and, in the case of marketing, lack of regulation. This has implications for the increase in consumption taking place as a result of the expanding distribution and marketing of commercial alcohol and consequent increases in alcohol-related harm

The Reality of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Usage Data in Asia: The CAPTURA Experience.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is threatening to undermine advances in health and development. Scarce technical and human resources in these countries limit the collection of quality AMR data for evidence-based decision-making. The CAPTURA consortium, funded by the Fleming Fund, was implemented across 7 countries in the South and Southeast Asian region. The program focused on collating historical bacteriological data for qualitative and quantitative analyses. The team gathered standard data on the quality of laboratories and clinics and the quality and quantity of retrospective historical AMR data. In addition, retrospective data on antimicrobial use and consumption were analyzed. While standard protocols guided the project, a tailored approach for stakeholder engagement was implemented to work with countries and secure data-sharing agreements. The program also had to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, making some innovative adaptations to overcome logistical barriers. From 2018 through 2022, a large body of data was collected that was used to base a series of recommended key measures for strengthening the development of standardized national surveillance programs and to support alignment with international efforts