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Encounters with difference: mental health nurses and Indigenous Australian users of mental health services
No full textThis article presents findings from the multi-sited ethnography of mental health nursing practice as it relates to the care of Indigenous users of public mental health services in Australia. It provides an analysis of mental health nurses beliefs and ideas about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people encountered over the course of this research. The Indigenous service user was positioned as Other to the non-Indigenous mental health nurse, and to non-Indigenous service users. Cultural difference and the legacy of colonization, including its impact on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, contributed to these beliefs of alterity. Despite emphasizing the differences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in mental health services, nurses did not clearly relate this to Indigenous ways of understanding ill health. While cultural differences were recognized, what they meant for the nurses or their nursing practice was interpreted in different ways. In these circumstances, approaches towards care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people varied between nurses
Ready to harvest? Spine colour predicts gonad index and gonad colour rating of a commercially important sea urchin
No full textObjectives Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) have been linked to survival of commensal bacteria at mucosal sites, but their presence and role in chronic otitis media (COM) and their response to otopathogens has not been evaluated previously. We investigated the association between Treg lymphocytes and otopathogens in COM prone and non-COM prone children. Methods Forty children, 2–7 years of age, scheduled for adenoidectomy were enrolled into COM (n = 20) or non-COM (n = 20) groups. Adenoid biopsy and nasopharyngeal aspirate bacteriology were assessed by conventional culture techniques. Peripheral blood and adenoid lymphocytes were stained with viability stain, monoclonal anti-CD19, anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD25 and anti-CD127. Cells were stained intracellularly with monoclonal anti-FoxP3 and then quantified by flow cytometry. Results Children with nasopharyngeal otopathogen-positive culture had significantly more circulating CD3+CD4+FoxP3+CD25hi+CD127lo+ lymphocytes (M = 4.4%) compared to culture-negative children (M = 3.1%, p = 0.005). Circulating CD19+ lymphocytes were significantly increased in children with positive Moraxella catarrhalis nasopharyngeal culture (M = 12.4%) compared to culture-negative children (M = 8.6%, p = 0.006). Adenoid-derived lymphocytes were not significantly different in children with any positive nasopharyngeal culture compared to negative culture. Lymphocyte subsetswere not significantly different between COM and non-COM prone children. Conclusion Clinically-detectable otopathogen nasopharyngeal culture is positively associated with Treg lymphocytes, potentially inducing suppressive effector responses to promote colonization and infection chronicity. This finding supports further investigation of Treg lymphocyte activity and influence on upper airway colonization of young children
Investigating passive heating as a heat acclimation strategy for endurance athletes
No full textThe research explored passive heating by hot-water immersion (HWI) as a heat acclimation (HA) strategy for endurance athletes residing in cool environments. Heat acclimation involves repeated heat exposure to induce beneficial adaptations for subsequent exercise in the heat. Different time delays between exercise and HWI were explored, as well as the effects of daily HWI in a training scenario. The results of the research indicated that HWI should be conducted immediately after exercise to maximise the heat load. Additionally, a 2-week pilot training study with 39°C HWI of increasing duration did not induce significant adaptations in 12 recreational male runners
Good practice in supporting young people leaving care
No full textThe move to independent living is challenging for any young person, requiring the exercise of many new skills and navigation of a range of social institutions with which they may be unfamiliar. A successful transition to independence relies on a young person’s possession of considerable personal, financial and social resources. Young people leaving out-of-home care often lack the economic advantages and social connectedness of their peers. They may also compare poorly to their peers in terms of their emotional or general development (Cashmore and Paxman 2007). Young people leaving residential care, need not only excellent preparation for the range of responsibilities that post-care life will bestow on them, but also a range of supports that will extend into their post-care life. This research summary provides an overview of what young people leaving residential care need and how those working in residential care can best help young people prepare for independence
Biomass production and potential fixed nitrogen inputs from leguminous cover crops in subtropical avocado plantations
No full textNitrogen (N) fertiliser is applied to perennial horticultural crops to increase yields, but subsequent N losses in subtropical plantations may be high due to intense rainfall and warmer temperatures. While legume cover crops could potentially contribute N to the tree crops and reduce fertiliser-N requirements, few studies have quantified potential fixed-N inputs from cover crops legumes in tropical or subtropical tree crop systems. To address this, we investigated growth and N fixation of summer-growing Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W. C. Greg cv. Amarillo) and winter/spring dominant white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Haifa) grown as a mixed species cover crop in two commercial subtropical avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. Hass) plantations. Legume biomass was assessed prior to mowing of the inter-row (fortnightly in summer and every 6–8 weeks over winter) and N fixation was estimated using the 15N natural abundance technique. Biomass production was 7377 kg ha−1 (930 kg ha−1 for white clover and 6447 kg ha−1 for Pinto peanut) at the first site over the 14-month period from December 2014 to January 2016, and 4467 kg ha−1 (1114 kg ha−1 for white clover and 3353 kg ha−1 for Pinto peanut) at the second site over the same period. Estimation of N fixation was not possible at the first site, due to a lack of difference in isotopic discrimination between the legume shoots and the reference plant (kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Chiov.)) material. While legume shoots accumulated 157 kg N ha−1 (38 kg ha−1 for white clover and 119 kg ha−1 for Pinto peanut) across the season at site 1, the % N derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa) in legumes was relatively low (50–60% in Pinto peanut during the warmer months and around 30% in autumn and early spring, and from 13 % in April to 69% in September for white clover). The low %Ndfa in the legumes may have been due to low rainfall or molybdenum (Mo) deficiency. Ultimately the legume cover crops contributed an estimated 50 kg fixed N ha−1, which could partially offset fertiliser N requirements of the tree crop. Our results demonstrate the need to quantify N fixation in legume cover crops to assess potential N benefits as opposed to relying on typical measurements of legume biomass and N accumulation
Emergency nurse\u27s knowledge and understanding of their role in recognising and responding to patients with sepsis: a qualitative study
No full textAim
Sepsis is a significant and time-sensitive clinical concern for patients who present to Emergency Departments (EDs). Existing guidelines do not define nurses’ roles in managing sepsis. This study explored ED nurses’ experiences and perceptions around recognising and responding to patients with sepsis, and their awareness of sepsis screening and prognostic tools. The knowledge and insights gained from this study may be used to inform local and international ED policies, and enrich nursing educational packages that may be used to improve quality of patient care and patient outcomes.
Methods
Qualitative design incorporating semi-structured interviews with 14 ED nurses was undertaken. Thematic and consensus-based content analyses were used to explore transcripts.
Findings
Six key themes were identified; (1) contribution of the organisation, (2) appreciation of knowledge, (3) appreciation of clinical urgency, (4) appreciation of importance of staff supervision, (5) awareness of the importance of staff experience, and (6) awareness of the need to seek advice.
Conclusion
ED nurses’ identified deficits in their capacity to recognise and respond to patients with sepsis, despite their vital role within the multidisciplinary team that cares for patients with sepsis. The knowledge and insights gained from this study can be used to inform ED policies, to enrich context-specific educational packages that aim to improve quality of patient care and outcomes and identify areas for further research. Development and implementation of a nurse-inclusive sepsis pathway may address many deficits identified in this study
Evaluation of a social gaming programme for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textBackground Computer and video console gaming has been discussed as having great potential in engaging people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and providing a relatively safe platform for social contact. There is a paucity of research in this domain. Aim This paper reports on the evaluation of a site based social gaming programme for young adults with ASD. Methods Semi structured interviews were conducted with six participants and eight parents of seven separate participants approximately 12 months from the commencement of the group. Findings It was identified that the shared interest in gaming provided a motivating platform on which to base social interaction. Participants identified the benefits of the group as getting them out of the house and being a site where they have had meaningful social contact based on something about which they are confident. Parents identified that they had observed similar benefits. They discussed a wish for closer contact with the service provider and an individualized plan for their family member including a plan for transition to other leisure activity work or study. Discussion It became clear that a group and process structure needs to be consciously developed and made explicit to participants and their family/carers to allow realisation of the group aims
The role of livelihoods in collective engagement in sustainable integrated coastal management: Oslob Whale Sharks
No full textLivelihoods are a crucial factor in sustainable integrated coastal management and can bring big payoffs for people and coral reef resources but their role in encouraging collective engagement in management is not well understood. Dive tourism is often cited for its capacity to provide livelihoods to reduce reliance on coral reef resources, however, there is little evidence of its ability to achieve this goal. We use key stakeholder interviews with artisanal fishers, their community, local government and politicians and the sustainable livelihoods framework to study Oslob Whale Sharks, the most financially successful and controversial community based dive tourism site in the world. Oslob Whale Sharks has generated income from ticket sales of approximately US$18.4 m over five years. We found that Oslob Whale Sharks has created alternate livelihoods for 177 fishers, and diversified livelihoods throughout the community, reducing fishing effort and changing livelihood strategies away from reliance on coral reef resources. Livelihoods from Oslob Whale Sharks increase food security for fishers and their families and improve the wellbeing of their community. Livelihoods have galvanised fishers and their community to change behaviourand collectively engage in management. Our findings indicate connection between livelihoods and the provision of finance to protect whale sharks and manage five marine reserves, indicating that fishers and local government are protecting the whale sharks and coral ref resources their livelihoods depend on
Pinto peanut cover crop nitrogen contributions and potential to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions in subtropical coffee plantations
No full textMany coffee (Coffea arabica L) production systems are characterised by high use of nitrogen (N) fertilisers, which can result in N leaching and emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). We investigated the potential for legume cover crops grown inter-row to provide N for coffee trees and lower seasonal N2O emissions compared to poultry litter amendment at two subtropical field sites over 12 months, with unfertilised traditional grass groundcover used as a control treatment. Groundcovers (legume and grass treatments) were slashed from the inter-row into the tree line every 2–6 weeks as per normal farming operations. The prostrate ground cover legume Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi) produced 4–5 t ha−1 biomass at both sites over the 12 month period, and fixed 146 kg N ha−1 year−1 at one site as estimated using the 15N natural abundance method. Background emissions from soil were lower at site 1 (0.38 kg N2O-N ha−1 year−1) than site 2 (2.26 kg N2O-N ha−1 year−1) reflecting differences in soil N and C levels at the sites. The use of Pinto peanut residues as an N amendment didn\u27t result in any N2O flux events beyond those observed in the traditional groundcover control treatment across the season at either site, while the application of poultry litter to match farmer practice at these sites led to a major emission event. Ultimately, the Pinto peanut cover crop treatment led to a lower emission factor than for poultry litter at both sites, and resulted in significantly lower cumulative seasonal emissions for the legume cover crop (0.34 kg N2O-N ha−1 season−1) than poultry litter amendment (0.68 kg N2O-N ha−1 season−1) at site 1 despite similar inputs of N into the system. These findings suggest cover crop legumes could be integrated into coffee plantations to offset a portion of external N inputs, while lowering N2O emissions
Contrasting effects of phosphate on the rapid transformation of schwertmannite to Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxides at near-neutral pH
No full textSchwertmannite is a metastable Fe(III)-bearing mineral that can rapidly transform to more stable Fe(III) oxides upon Fe(II) sorption, via a dissolution-reprecipitation pathway. Phosphate (PO43−) is a nutrient found in varying quantities in natural systems, but the influence of PO43− on the Fe(II) induced transformation of schwertmannite is not well characterized. Here, we aim to quantify the aqueous and mineralogical effects of varied PO43− loading, and subsequent Fe(II) loading, to schwertmannite at circumneutral pH. Phosphate was presorbed to schwertmannite at loadings of 0, 80, 400 and 800 μmoles g−1 in anoxic artificial groundwater. Fe(II) was then added at a final concentration of 12.5 mM and aqueous and mineralogical products were observed over 10 days. No transformation occurred before Fe(II) addition in the zero PO43− treatment. In contrast, the three highest PO43− treatments partially transformed to a microcrystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide before Fe(II) addition, possibly due to exchange of sulfate with the added PO43−. Within 1 h of subsequent Fe(II) addition in the zero PO43−treatment, all schwertmannite had transformed to goethite via the Fe(II)-induced transformation pathway. Increases in the level of PO43− loading attenuated goethite precipitation via Fe(II)-induced transformation of the precursor schwertmannite and microcrystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide, with 65%, 34%, and 21% solid phase Fe as goethite at day 10 in the low (80 μmoles g−1), medium (400 μmoles g−1) and high (800 μmoles g−1) PO43− treatments. Under low PO43− loading, the addition of Fe(II) induced the transformation of the microcrystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide and schwertmannite to a mixture of lepidocrocite and goethite. In the medium and high PO43− treatments, schwertmannite and the microcrystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide were instead stabilized by surface-complexation of PO43− and did not extensively transform to more crystalline phases. Overall, the results show that PO43− loadings can both drive rapid schwertmannite transformation to a new microcrystalline Fe(III) oxyhydroxide phase, and subsequently inhibit the Fe(II)-induced formation of lepidocrocite and goethite