Some responses of Eryngium vesiculosum Labill to light intensity, daylength and nitrogen : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science in Plant Science at Massey University

Eryngium vesiculosum Labill. is a plant commonly found in sandy coastal flat in New Zealand. Some preliminary observations (pers comm. Veale) had suggested that flowering in this species might be controlled by the external environment especially with respect to daylength. Normally the mature plant has oblong and dissected leaves but in the shade the leaves tend to have less dissection and this change in leaf form serves as a useful feature for morphological investigations. Another interesting feature of the plant is that it produces runners like the strawberry plant. The plant also produces daughter plants on the runners and lateral branches. The production of these organs, which enables a large family of homogenous plants to be raised rapidly by vegetative propagation is another feature which would make this plant useful experimental material. The object of this study is to obtain some information on the effects of light intensity, daylength and nitrogen on flowering, leaf morphology and anatomy and plant growth. Much work has been carried out on the effects of the three external factors used in this study on many plant species but none on E. vesiculosum. Because of the absence of such information on this plant, the review of literature includes other plant species thus making it more voluminous than otherwise would be. For obvious reasons the review has been limited to present only the salient responses of some plant species to light intensity, daylength and nitrogen. [FROM INTRODUCTION

"You Know You Are Sick, Why Do You Carry A Pregnancy Again?" Applying the Socio-Ecological Model to Understand Barriers to PMTCT Service Utilization in Western Kenya.

ObjectiveThroughout most of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services are readily available. However, PMTCT programs in SSA have had suboptimal performance compared to other regions of the world. The main objective of this study is to explore the socio-ecological and individual factors influencing the utilization of PMTCT services among HIV-positive pregnant women in western Kenya using a social ecological model as our analytical lens.MethodsData were collected using in-depth interviews with 33 HIV-infected women attending government health facilities in rural western Kenya. Women with HIV-infected infants aged between 6 weeks to 6 months with a definitive diagnosis of HIV in the infant, as well as those with an HIV-negative test result in the infant were interviewed between November 2012 and June 2013. Coding and analysis of the transcripts followed grounded theory tenets. Coding reports were discussed in a series of meetings held among the authors. We then employed constant comparative analysis to discover dominant individual, family, society and structural determinants of PMTCT use.ResultsBarriers to women's utilization of PMTCT services fell within the broad constructs of the socio-ecological model of individual, family, society and structural determinants. Several themes cut across the different steps of PMTCT cascade and relate to different constructs of the socio-ecological model. These themes include: self-motivation, confidence and resilience, family support, absence or reduced stigma, right provider attitude and quality of health services provided. We also found out that these factors ensured enhanced maternal health and HIV negative children.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that a woman's social environment is an important determinant of MTCT. PMTCT Interventions must comprehensively address multiple factors across the different ecological levels. More research is however required for the development of multi-component interventions that combine strategies at different ecological levels

Internet-based psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: a qualitative analysis of feasibility, acceptability and impact

<p>Background: In a recent exploratory randomised trial we found that a novel, internet-based psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder (Beating Bipolar) was relatively easy to deliver and had a modest effect on psychological quality of life. We sought to explore the experiences of participants with respect to feasibility, acceptability and impact of Beating Bipolar.</p> <p>Methods: Participants were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis techniques were employed; to explore and describe participants’ experiences, the data were analysed for emerging themes which were identified and coded.</p> <p>Results: The programme was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants where they felt comfortable using a computer. It was found to impact upon insight into illness, health behaviour, personal routines and positive attitudes towards medication. Many participants regarded the programme as likely to be most beneficial for those recently diagnosed.</p> <p>Conclusions: An online psychoeducation package for bipolar disorder, such as Beating Bipolar, is feasible and acceptable to patients, has a positive impact on self-management behaviours and may be particularly suited to early intervention. Alternative (non-internet) formats should also be made available to patients.</p&gt

Sweatshops and Consumer Choices

We consider a case where consumers are faced with a choice between sweatshop-produced clothing and identical clothing produced in high-income countries. We argue that it is morally better for consumers to purchase clothing produced in sweatshops and then to compensate sweatshop workers for the difference between their actual wage and a fair wage than it is for them either to purchase the sweatshop clothing without this compensatory transfer or to purchase clothing produced in high-income countries

Physical Activity and African American Women at High Risk for Coronary Heart Disease: A Worksite Wellness Program Perspective

Physical activity (PA) is a major indicator of health and a strong predictor of risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The high mortality and morbidity from CHD is associated with high prevalence of risk factors including sedentary lifestyle. As one of the most sedentary among ethnic groups, African American (AA) women are at high risk for CHD and interventions to improve health outcomes need to be identified. A crucial gap exists in understanding the impact of PA as it pertains to the experience of AA women in identifying the most effective interventions to address specific needs of this high-risk population. This dissertation focuses on PA as it pertains to AA women in the context of CHD. The dissertation encompasses the role of worksite wellness programs (WWP) in facilitating PA health promotion for this “hard to reach” group. Specifically, the following research questions are addressed in this dissertation: 1) what do AA employees at high risk for CHD perceive as barriers and motivators to PA, 2) in the context of CHD, what valid instruments are available to measure PA among AA women, and 3) is it feasible to examine telephone support approaches, delivered by a nurse versus a trained peer coach, to improve PA and evaluate health outcomes of two groups of AA female employees at high risk for CHD? The conclusions from this dissertation are that: 1) interventions to alleviate physical limitations as the number one reported barrier to PA and discussion about importance of family relationships as a motivating factor should be incorporated in health promotion programs to improve PA behaviors, 2) the integrative review found 14 self-report instruments with modest but inconsistent psychometric validity, none of the instruments were exclusively used to measure PA in AA women, thus, future research should focus on identification of valid and culturally competent instruments specifically for AA women, and lastly, 3) examination of two telephone support approaches - delivered by a nurse versus a trained peer coach - is feasible among AA female employees at high risk for CHD enrolled in a WWP, and differences in secondary health outcomes offer preliminary estimates of outcome measures to inform future large scale randomized controlled trials. This body of work provides deeper understanding about the PA experience of AA women at high-risk for CHD and highlights the need to identify valid and culturally competent instruments to measure PA to guide interventions specifically for AA women. Lastly, examination of telephone support delivered by a nurse versus a peer coach demonstrates limited feasibility. However, preliminary data shows significant differences in PA represented by pedometer step count and MET-time between groups and across time points irrespective of delivery personnel. Establishing feasibility and acquiring estimates of outcome variability provide preliminary evidence for large scale randomized controlled trials to examine the most effective intervention to promote PA to support health outcomes of AA women in the context of CHD. This dissertation is useful for administrators, researchers, and clinicians because it provides guidance in designing PA programs for high-risk minority populations, specifically, AA women and opportunities to highlight the value of PA in health promotion programs especially in worksite settings

Using Focus Groups in the Consumer Research Phase of a Social Marketing Program to Promote Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity and Walking Trail Use in Sumter County, South Carolina

INTRODUCTION: The use of social marketing approaches in public health practice is increasing. Using marketing concepts such as the "four Ps" (product, price, place, and promotion), social marketing borrows from the principles of commercial marketing but promotes beneficial health behaviors. Consumer research is used to segment the population and develop a strategy based on those marketing concepts. In a community-based participatory research study, 17 focus groups were used in consumer research to develop a social marketing program to promote walking and other moderate-intensity physical activities. METHODS: Two phases of focus groups were conducted. Phase 1 groups, which included both men and women, were asked to respond to questions that would guide the development of a social marketing program based on social marketing concepts. Phase 1 also determined the intervention's target audience, which was irregularly active women aged 35 to 54. Phase 2 groups, composed of members of the target audience, were asked to further define the product and discuss specific promotion strategies. RESULTS: Phase 1 participants determined that the program product, or target behavior, should be walking. In addition, they identified price, place, and promotion strategies. Phase 2 participants determined that moderate-intensity physical activity is best promoted using the term exercise and offered suggestions for marketing walking, or exercise, to the target audience. CONCLUSION: There have been few published studies of social marketing campaigns to promote physical activity. In this study, focus groups were key to understanding the target audience in a way that would not have been accomplished with quantitative data alone. The group discussions generated important insights into values and motivations that affect consumers' decisions to adopt a product or behavior. The focus group results guided the development of a social marketing program to promote physical activity in the target audience in Sumter County, South Carolina