Suchergebnisse

SummaryWith increasing student mobility to and from western host-universities, newly qualified social workers are more likely to enter the field in an unfamiliar context. To examine whether current knowledge appropriately informs education and support for a diversifying cohort of newly qualified social workers in the Australian context, a scoping review was conducted on 53 articles investigating the transition to social work practice. Research conducted over a 45-year period from a broad range of international contexts was included in the review.FindingsFindings suggest that current understandings do not reflect the needs or experiences of the present cohort of newly qualified social workers as they transition to social work practice. Rather, study samples, mostly derived from western contexts, are notably homogenous, with most participants described by researchers, as 'white'. Additionally, there is an assumption that students transition to practice within the same context as their education. Current knowledge therefore does not capture the various ways internationally mobile, newly graduated social workers may transition to practice, or how it is experienced.ApplicationsFindings suggest that further examination is urgently needed on the pathways navigated to practice by diverse and mobile early career social workers. Further consideration of the influences of diversity and mobility on experience is needed, using more inclusive research methods, to capture the variability and complexity of the transition to practice as the profession diversifies and mobilises.

Background: Taxation of tobacco, food, alcohol and other beverages has gained renewed attention in responding to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While largely built on evidence from high-income countries (HICs), the projected economic and health benefits of these measures have increased calls for their use in price-sensitive low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, uptake has been sporadic and there remains little research on why and how LMICs utilise fiscal measures in response to NCDs. Methods: This scoping review analyses factors influencing the design and implementation of health-related fiscal measures in LMICs. Utilising Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology and Walt and Gilson's policy triangle, we considered the contextual, procedural, content and stakeholder-related factors that influenced measures. Results: We identified 75 papers focussing on health-related fiscal measures, with 47 (63%) focused on tobacco, 5 on alcohol, 6 on soft drink and 4 studies on food-related fiscal regulation. Thirteen papers analysed multiple measures and most papers (n = 66, 88%) were less than a decade old. Key factors enabling the design and implementation of measures included localised health and economic evidence, policy championing, inter-ministerial support, and global or regional momentum. Impeding factors encompassed negative framing and retaliation by industry, vested interests and governmental policy disjuncture. Aligning with theoretic insights from the policy triangle, findings consistently demonstrated that the interplay between factors – rather than the presence or absence of particular factors – has the most profound impact on policy implementation. Conclusion: Given the growing urgency to address NCDs in LMICs, this review highlights the need for recognition and rigorous exploration of political economy factors influencing the design and implementation of fiscal measures. Broader LMIC-specific empirical research is needed to overcome an implication noted in much of the literature: that mechanisms used to enact tobacco taxation are universally applicable to measures targeting foods, alcohol and other beverages.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of preconception care among women of reproductive age in Jordan. A cross-sectional study that included a random sample of 1,368 women of reproductive age (18–44 years) was conducted using an online self-reported questionnaire. Of the total respondents, 48.6% had good knowledge, 48.1% had a positive attitude, and 47.0% had good practice. Participants with poor knowledge were more prevalent in the 35 to 44 age group (37.3%). Participants with good knowledge had a more positive attitude (57.2%) and good practice (63.5%). Married participants had a higher negative attitude (82.9%). Participants with university education had a good practice (44.5%), knowledge (58.5%), and a positive attitude (52.9%). There were positive correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice. Good preconception care knowledge was higher among participants in the youngest age, while positive attitude was higher in the age group 25 to 29 years.

Il riconoscimento delle Digital Humanities (DH) quale Area Scientifica autonoma è uno dei temi di maggiore attualità nel dibattito sui nuovi orientamenti della ricerca scientifica in Italia. Anche in seno all'AIUCD, la questione di riconoscere alle DH la dignità di settore specifico di ricerca è tra i più ricorrenti. A riguardo, nel corso del Convegno 2019 dell'Associazione, è emersa la necessità di avviare attività orientate ad attirare l'attenzione dei decisori politici sul tema. Si è dunque optato per un'azione "dal basso": produrre un catalogo digitale on line delle pubblicazioni nazionali di settore, di modo da fornire elementi concreti a sostegno della consapevolezza che le DH non sono più una nebulosa costellata di entità scientifiche indistinte e ancipiti, ma sono ormai una realtà molto ben consolidata e diffusa nel panorama della ricerca italiana.

The objective of this study was to investigate the stability, across well-differentiated environments, of genetic control of maize resistance to Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides ear rots and mycotoxin contamination, found in genotypes of diverse origin and adapted to different environments. This knowledge will help to design the most appropriate breeding programme to reduce mycotoxin content across a wide range of environments. Although maize genetics involved in resistance to ear rots and mycotoxin contamination greatly depended on the environment, additive and dominance effects were the predominant genetic effects in most environments. The stability across environments for resistance to ear rots and deoxynivalenol and fumonisin contamination was low, and recommended target areas of breeding programmes for either Fusarium species are different based on the different nature of genetic effect × environment interactions for each species. In general, the classification of inbreds and hybrids according to their resistance levels was similar across environments, suggesting that the same sources of resistance could be suitable for different environments, and breeding for resistance to one species would affect resistance to the other one. ; This research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770). R.S. acknowledges postdoctoral contracts 'Isidro Parga Pondal' supported by the Autonomous Government of Galicia and the European Social Fund and 'Ramón y Cajal' supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain. Funding for the Canadian part of this project was in part by an AAFC partnership with the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) though AAFC's Developing Innovative Agri-Products Initiative of the Growing Canadian Agri-Innovations Program. ; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España ; Xunta de Galicia ; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ; Peer reviewed

Background. In public health, interpersonal influence has been identified as an important factor in the spread of health information, and in understanding and changing health behaviors. However, little is known about influence in public health leadership. Influence is important in leadership settings, where public health professionals contribute to national policy and practice agendas. Drawing on social theory and recent advances in statistical network modeling, we examined influence in a network of tobacco control leaders at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Design and Methods. Fifty-four tobacco control leaders across all 11 agencies in the DHHS were identified; 49 (91%) responded to a web-based survey. Participants were asked about communication with other tobacco control leaders, who influenced their work, and general job characteristics. Exponential random graph modeling was used to develop a network model of influence accounting for characteristics of individuals, their relationships, and global network structures. Results. Higher job ranks, more experience in tobacco control, and more time devoted to tobacco control each week increased the likelihood of influence nomination, as did more frequent communication between network members. Being in the same agency and working the same number of hours per week were positively associated with mutual influence nominations. Controlling for these characteristics, the network also exhibited patterns associated with influential clusters of network members. Conclusions. Findings from this unique study provide a perspective on influence within a government agency that both helps to understand decision-making and also can serve to inform organizational efforts that allow for more effective structuring of leadership.

In Southern Europe where whole maize kernels are ground and used for making bread and other food products, infection of the kernels by Fusarium verticillioides and subsequent fumonisin contamination pose a serious safety issue. The influence of environmental factors on this fungal infection and mycotoxin accumulation as the kernel develops has not been fully determined, especially in such food grade maize. The objectives of the present study were to determine which environmental factors may contribute to kernel invasion by F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation as kernels develop and dry in naturally infected white maize. Three maize hybrids were planted at two different sowing dates and kernel samples were collected 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days after silking. The percentage of kernels infected, and ergosterol and fumonisin contents were recorded for each sampling. F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species identified as the kernels developed. Temperature and moisture conditions during the first 80 days after silking favored natural kernel infection by F. verticillioides rather than by Aspergillus or Penicillium species. Fumonisin was found in kernels as early as 20 days after silking however significant fumonisin accumulation above levels acceptable in the EU did not occur until after physiological maturity of the kernel indicating that kernel drying in the field poses a high risk. Our results suggest that this could be due to increasing kernel damage by insects that favor fungal development, such as the damage by the moth Sitotroga cerealella, and to the occurrence of stress conditions for F. verticillioides growth that could trigger fumonisin biosynthesis, such as exposure to suboptimal temperatures for growth simultaneously with low water activity. ; This research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770). A. Cao acknowledges funding from the JAE Program of the Spanish Council of Research. R. Santiago acknowledges postdoctoral contract "Isidro Parga Pondal" supported by the Autonomous Government of Galicia and the European Social Fund.

Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is one of the predominant fungal species responsible for stalk rot of maize in Canada and many other countries. Adapted sources of resistance to this disease are scarce but recently a few have been identified. To evaluate the usefulness of these sources in a breeding programme to improve stalk rot resistance, a complete diallel cross of five inbreds of varying susceptibility to stalk rot was conducted. Artificial inoculations of stalks were accomplished by injecting a conidial suspension into the first internode above the uppermost aerial root node. Stalk rot ratings, yield and lodging in the parents, crosses and reciprocals were evaluated over two field seasons. There were significant differences between inbred lines and hybrids for stalk rot ratings. Inbreds CM174 and CO325 were highly susceptible, whereas inbreds 73405 and 73353 were classified as resistant and both had good general combining ability. Those inbreds could be used as donors of favourable alleles in breeding programmes for Gibberella stalk rot resistance. © 2009 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC). ; Autonomous Government of Galicia (Spain) ; Peer Reviewed

Genetic improvement is an effective and environmentally safe method to reduce the levels of fumonisin mycotoxins in corn kernels infected with Fusarium verticillioides. In order to find new sources of resistance, a wide collection of corn inbred lines were evaluated for Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin accumulation after inoculation of the kernels with Fusarium verticillioides. Augmented designs were used for testing 240 un-replicated inbreds and 6 inbred checks in 2010 and 2011. Sixty-one inbreds were found to have the highest levels of resistance to Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin accumulation across years. Inbreds differing in kernel color, use, kernel type and heterotic group were all represented in this group of 61 inbreds. White corn inbreds had higher levels of fumonisin than yellow corn inbreds, but it was still possible to find white inbreds with comparable resistance to fumonisin accumulation to that of the most resistant yellow inbreds. Similarly, although the sweet corn inbreds evaluated in this study were less resistant to infection by F. verticillioides than the field corn inbreds, there were some which were grouped in the most resistant 61 inbreds. Many of these inbreds can be used to improve resistance to F. verticillioides infection and fumonisin accumulation by crossing the most resistant inbreds of each subgroup. ; MICINN ; Spanish Council of Research. ; Autonomous Government of Galicia ; European Social Fund ; This research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770). A. Cao acknowledges funding from the JAE Program of the Spanish Council of Research. R. Santiago acknowledges postdoctoral contract "Isidro Parga Pondal" supported by the Autonomous Government of Galicia and the European Social Fund. ; Peer reviewed

Cereal crop production in sub-Saharan Africa has not achieved the much-needed increase in yields to foster economic development and food security. Maize yields in the region's semi-arid agroecosystems are constrained by highly variable rainfall, which may be worsened by climate change. Thus, the Tanzanian government has prioritised agriculture as an adaptation sector in its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, and crop management adjustments as a key investment area in its Agricultural Sector Development Programme. In this study, we investigated how future changes in maize yields under different climate scenarios can be countered by regional adjusted crop management and cultivar adaptation strategies. A crop model was used to simulate maize yields in the Singida Region of Tanzania for the baseline period 1980-2012 and under three future climate projections for 2020- 2060 and 2061-2099. Adaptation strategies to improve yields were full irrigation, deficit irrigation, mulch and nitrogen addition and another cultivar. According to our model results, increase in temperature is the main driver of future maize yield decline. Increased respiration and phenological development were associated with lower maize yields of 16% in 2020-2060 and 20% in 2061-2099 compared to the 1980-2012 baseline. Surprisingly, none of the management strategies significantly improved yields; however, a different maize variety that was tested as an alternative coping strategy performed better. This study suggests that investment in accessibility of improved varieties and investigation of maize traits that have the potential to perform well in a warmer future are better suited for sustaining maize production in the semi-arid region than adjustments in crop management.

In Southern Europe where whole maize kernels are ground and used for making bread and other food products, infection of the kernels by Fusarium verticillioides and subsequent fumonisin contamination pose a serious safety issue. The influence of environmental factors on this fungal infection and mycotoxin accumulation as the kernel develops has not been fully determined, especially in such food grade maize. The objectives of the present study were to determine which environmental factors may contribute to kernel invasion by F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation as kernels develop and dry in naturally infected white maize. Three maize hybrids were planted at two different sowing dates and kernel samples were collected 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100. days after silking. The percentage of kernels infected, and ergosterol and fumonisin contents were recorded for each sampling. F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species identified as the kernels developed. Temperature and moisture conditions during the first 80. days after silking favored natural kernel infection by F. verticillioides rather than by Aspergillus or Penicillium species. Fumonisin was found in kernels as early as 20. days after silking however significant fumonisin accumulation above levels acceptable in the EU did not occur until after physiological maturity of the kernel indicating that kernel drying in the field poses a high risk. Our results suggest that this could be due to increasing kernel damage by insects that favor fungal development, such as the damage by the moth Sitotroga cerealella, and to the occurrence of stress conditions for F. verticillioides growth that could trigger fumonisin biosynthesis, such as exposure to suboptimal temperatures for growth simultaneously with low water activity. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. ; MICINN ; Spanish Council of Research ; Autonomous Government of Galicia ; European Social Fund ; This research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770). A. Cao acknowledges funding from the JAE Program of the Spanish Council of Research. R. Santiago acknowledges postdoctoral contract "Isidro Parga Pondal" supported by the Autonomous Government of Galicia and the European Social Fund. ; Peer Reviewed

In the current study, the hydroxycinnamic acids in silks of diverse maize inbred lines differing in Fusarium resistance were determined at several times after inoculation with Fusarium graminearum or sterile water as control. The main objective was to determine the possible relationship between the hydroxycinnamic acid changes in silks and ear rot resistance. Several changes in the cell-wall-bound hydroxycinnamic acid concentrations were observed after inoculation with F. graminearum, although these changes were not directly correlated with genotypic resistance to this fungus. Ester-bound ferulic acid decreased, probably due to degradation of hemicellulose by hydrolytic enzymes produced by Fusarium spp., while p-coumaric acid and diferulates showed slight increases that, in conjunction, did not result in delayed F. graminearum progression through the silks. It is important to note that the decrease of ferulic acid in the F. graminearum treatment was faster in susceptible than in resistant genotypes, suggesting a differential hemicellulose degradation in silk tissues. Therefore, the ability of the maize genotypes to slow down that process through hemicellulose structural features or xylanase inhibitors needs to be addressed in future studies. © 2011 The American Phytopathological Society. ; This research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770/AGR) and the Autonomous Government of Galicia (PGIDIT06TAL40301PR). ; Peer Reviewed