High Level Of Specialization Research Articles

Variação terminológica denominativa no universo da cana-de-açúcar: um estudo de fatores condicionantes

Este artigo apresenta os resultados preliminares de um estudo sobre a variação terminológica no universo da cana-de-açúcar no Brasil. O estudo toma como pressuposto teórico-metodológico, sobretudo, a Teoria Comunicativa da Terminologia (CABRÉ, 1999, 2003) e o modelo teórico da variação terminológica de Freixa (2002, 2013), que apresenta seis causas para a variação terminológica. A partir desses pressupostos, o estudo utiliza-se de um corpus com características diversificadas: textos orais produzidos por especialistas com alto grau de especialização, atuando em diferentes contextos comunicativos, como entrevistas televisionadas, palestras e aulas; textos escritos de diferentes gêneros, também elaborados por especialistas, como artigos científicos, apostilas de curso de Agronomia, relatórios técnicos, sites do setor sucroalcooleiro, teses e dissertações. A pesquisa cruza diferentes fatores de variação e tenta apresentar os mais relevantes para a variação terminológica denominativa

Analysis of current trends in assessing the country’s potential in international trade (on example of Peru)

The article discusses issues of international trade theory and current global economic trends to assess the possibility of developing the foreign economic sector in Latin America as a whole, and in particular, Peru. Using development statistics from the foreign trade sector, and considering global trends in international trade over the past decade, an attempt is made to assess the ability of Latin American countries to meet growing differentiated demand and thus specialize in advantageous sectors, allowing them to integrate into global supply chains by providing resources, goods, and services at primary, secondary, and tertiary market levels. By examining the potential of Latin American countries, there is a real possibility of creating value chains around market niches that exist in global trade and applying them to ensure that Latin American products receive international recognition. In this context, the analysis of the dynamics of trade exchange is taken as a basis for comparing Peru with other countries, since according to the IMF, in recent years, Peru is one of the countries with the highest economic growth forecast in Latin America. Peru has great potential in mining (in Ankash, Arequipa and Junin, among other places), commercial fishing (Ankash, Liberty, Piura and others), agriculture (Piura, Liberty, Ica and others), camelid breeding (vicuña, alpaca, etc., in Puno, Junin, Cuzco) and other activities. In 2018, Peru managed to raise total exports up to $47.7 billion USD (+7.5% from 2017), thus achieving a historic record for Peruvian exports. This growth is explained by noticeable growth in the non-traditional sector, which reached $13.2 billion (+12.6% from 2017). The present study uses the theory of comparative advantage to quantify product competitiveness based on global comparison, which helps indicate how to move towards higher levels of specialization in the production and export structure. To analyze international trade data, we used indicators such as the Balance of Trade and the Balassa Index, which allowed us to determine a list of thirty products, of which twenty (traditional and non-traditional) showed a steady increase in exports, and the other ten, mainly non-traditional, despite being lower in ranking, have greater potential for further growth.

Proximity effects and labour specialization transitions in Mexico: a spatial Markov chain analysis

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the extent to which the manufacturing industries in Mexico exert positive proximity effects on neighbouring states when transitioning to higher levels of labour specialization. By using discrete and spatial Markov chains models, probability transitions of labour specialization and its associated proximate effect to leading states – in terms of either a higher level of specialization or technological intensity – are estimated. The results support the existence of states’ positive (negative) proximity effects on achieving a higher (lower) labour specialization as neighbour states increase (decrease) either their labour specialization or technology intensity level.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE UKRAINIAN BLACK SEA AREA: MACROENVIRONMENT AND INFLUENCE ON THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Topicality. International business increases GDP, but it is influenced by a lot of difficulties in its functioning; the share of Ukraine in global value chains remains low; the strategic prospects are undefined. The weakest aspects of the international business macroeconomic environment are determined in the paper. The influence of the international business macroeconomic environment on regional development is also studied in the paper. Aim and tasks. The aim of the paper is the investigation of the international business macroeconomic environment of the Ukrainian Black Sea area; the determination of its elements and interrelation among them, specific features, and deterrents of regional development based on the successful entrepreneurship. Research results. The results of the study show a wide range of problems in such components of the macroeconomic environment of international business as the world economy, regulatory policy, markets, capital, and human skills. The global economy influences the international with the global crisis. The period of the survival, adaptation, and crisis management comes for international business. The regulatory policy problems that worsen the conditions of international business in Ukraine remain unresolved (corruption, distrust of the judiciary, imperfect mechanisms for implementing legislation, violation of the property rights, lack of foreign economic strategy of the country, etc.). The market component of the entrepreneurial environment of the international business is faced by such problems: the narrowing of international and national markets, changes in the geographical and commodity structure of exports due to the military conflict in the Donbas region, the economic downturn and decline in the world commodity prices. Typical problems of the financial component are low access to foreign and other financial resources for the development of the international business. In terms of the human resources component, there is a loss of traditional benefits of Ukraine associated with a highly skilled workforce due to declining motivation to work productively and increased international migration flows from the region. The combined effect of these factors leads to the fact that the contribution of international business to regional development, calculated by the authors using a regression model, is insufficient. Conclusion. The attractiveness of the southern region of Ukraine for international business is based on a number of advantages: a high level of specialization in shipbuilding, agriculture, tourism, recreation, green energy, etc. The rational use of regional resources has the potential to outweigh the risks of international business. The efficiency of the international business depends not only on available resources but also on the macroeconomic environment and the management of the business itself. Solving these problems will further increase the efficiency of international business in the region and its contribution to regional development.

Litter-inhabiting fungi show high level of specialization towards biopolymers composing plant and fungal biomass

Fungi are recognized as efficient decomposers of biopolymers contained in soil or litter, but not all saprotrophic taxa are equally efficient in accessing various C sources. While many fungi may be considered generalists that are able to utilize complex biomass of plant, bacterial, and fungal origin, it is less clear which of the individual biopolymers that compose these substrates they utilize. Here we analysed fungal communities in forest topsoil enriched in bags with polymers composing plant (cellulose, xylan, glucomannan, pectin, lignin) and fungal (chitin, β-1,3-glucan, and β-1,3-1,6-glucan) biomass along with fungal abundance and the activity of enzymes. There was a high degree of specialization among saprotrophs, each biopolymer being preferred by distinct taxa. White-rot fungi and general saprotrophs were most common on cellulose and xylan, while pectin and lignin-associated communities were dominated by moulds, and animal pathogens were found almost exclusively on chitin. Although several enzymes were produced on all biopolymers, the composition of enzyme pools was significantly different among substrates and different from litter. Activity of endocellulase, β-galactosidase, β-mannosidase, and β-glucosidase significantly correlated with the fungal to bacterial biomass ratio indicating the important role of fungi in their production. The results indicate the high level of specialization among litter-inhabiting fungi and differences in the substrate preference across nutritional guilds of saprotrophic fungi. While most of the litter-inhabiting fungi utilize plant biopolymers, fungal biopolymers are also frequently targeted.

A king and vassals' tale: Molecular signatures of clonal integration in Posidonia oceanica under chronic light shortage

Abstract Under unfavourable conditions, clonal plants benefit from physiological integration among ramets, sharing resources and information. Clonal integration can buffer against environmental changes and lets the plant clone work as a ‘macro’ organism. Molecular signals that regulate this phenomenon are completely unknown in marine plants. Here we present a first comprehensive study providing insights into the metabolic role of different types of ramets (i.e. apical vs. vertical) in the foundation species Posidonia oceanica. Plants were exposed to 80% diminishing irradiance level (LL) in a controlled mesocosm system. Subsequent multiscale variations in whole transcriptome expression, global DNA methylation level, photo‐physiology, morphology and fitness‐related traits, were explored at different exposure times. We tested the hypothesis that vertical shoots (the ‘vassals’) can provide vital resources to apical shoots (the ‘kings’) under energy shortage, thus safeguarding the whole clone survival. Whole transcriptome analysis of leaves and shoot‐apical meristems (SAMs) emphasized signatures of molecular integration among ramets, which strongly correlated with higher organization‐level responses. In both shoots types, the exposure to LL resulted in a growth slowdown throughout the experiment, which started from immediate signals in SAMs. In apical shoots, this was linked to an acclimative response, where they were suffering a mild stress condition, while in vertical ones it fell in a more severe stress response. Yet, they suffered from sugar starvation and showed a clear cellular stress response in terms of protein refolding and DNA repair mechanisms. Several epigenetic mechanisms modulated the observed gene‐expression patterns and the cross‐talk between DNA methylation and the cellular energetic status appeared to regulate shoot metabolism under LL. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate a high level of specialization of integrated ramets within seagrass clones and a ‘division of labour’ under adverse conditions. Vertical shoots appear to do ‘most of the job’ especially in terms of resource providing, whereas activated functions in apical shoots were restricted to few important processes, according to an ‘energy‐saving’ strategy. The response of vertical shoots could be seen as a ‘sacrificing response’ allowing the survival of ‘the king’ that is key for ensuring propagation and population maintenance, and for the colonization of new environments.

Regionalna specjalizacja produkcji rolnej w Polsce = Regional specjalization of agricultural production in Poland

Agricultural production is subject to continuous economic and structural changes. Since the 1990s economic and organizational factors have exerted greater influence on agricultural production than environmental conditions. An important determinant affecting farming production was Poland’s accession to the EU, where agriculture was covered by Common Agricultural Policy. Proportion of plant products does not go directly to the market; it is processed on farms into animal products. At the same time, however, what has been developing for years are unfavorable relations between crop and animal products. The reasons for this state of affairs are complex. One of the ways to improve the results of agricultural production is specialization. This is quite a broad concept, embracing the research issue concerning agricultural production structure and directions of agricultural production, especially regarding commercial production which are defined in literature as directions of agricultural specialization (Kulikowski 2003). The aim of the study is to present changes in the regional specialization of crop and livestock production taking place in Poland in the years 2004‑2019. An attempt was made to answer the question in which agricultural production does a given region specialize and to what extent? The following research hypothesis was adopted: changes in the specialization of agricultural production in the regions are influenced by farmers benefiting from direct payments and other forms of financial aid under the Common Agricultural Policy. For the research on the regional specialization of agricultural production, the location quotient based on the share of crop and livestock commodity production in commodity production was used. The location quotient, apart from providing a static picture of the situation for comparative analyzes, allows for comparisons with regard to the dynamics of the specialization index, and to indicate differences in the dynamics of changes in individual agricultural production specializations. In the investigated period, crop production which is more dependent on climate conditions than animal breeding was much more diversified (changed over time). Western voivodships achieved a high level of specialization in plant production. It resulted from the agrarian structure of these regions, where large farms dominated. The lack of specialization in plant production was typical of the following voivodships: Podlaskie, Warmińsko-mazurskie and Wielkopolskie. With regard to animal production, the situation was different. The share of commercial animal production in the general commercial output was primarily affected by an apparent increase in the share of commercial milk production. This concerned north-eastern voivodships: Podlaskie and Warmińsko-mazurskie, which specialized in beef production as well. Wielkopolskie Voivodship also reached a high level of specialization not only in beef but mainly in pork production.

Phenological patterns and pollination network structure in a Venezuelan páramo: a community-scale perspective on plant-animal interactions

ABSTRACTBackground: Little information is available about life history of páramo plants such as phenology and plant-animal interactions.Aims: We analysed phenological patterns of flowering and characterised the structure of a plant-pollinator network in a Venezuelan páramo in order to identify key species in this ecosystem.Methods: We counted the number of individuals with flowers of 76 native plant species and recorded their pollinators in 16 permanent plots between 3000 and 4200 m monthly for three years. We used this dataset to develop a plant-pollinator network, on which nine different metrics related to structural properties were calculated.Results: The flowering of most species concentrated during the rainy season (between May and November), however some species have continuous flowering. The guild of floral visitors included hummingbirds, flower piercers, bumblebees, Diptera and Lepidoptera. The plant – flower visitor interaction network did not exhibit nestedness, but showed a significant specialization index (H2) and high values of functional complementarity.Conclusions: Páramo plants have the capacity of maintaining a resident nectarivorus fauna (bumblebees and hummingbirds) because of continuous flower offer during the year. However, the plant – pollinator network identified could be very sensitive to the loss component species, owing to high levels of specialisation and functional complementarity.

Evaluating a Commonly Used Tool for Measuring Sport Specialization in Young Athletes.

Sport specialization has been defined as year-round intensive training in a single sport to the exclusion of other sports. A commonly used survey tool created by Jayanthi et al, which classifies athletes as having a low, moderate, or high level of specialization, categorizes only athletes answering yes to "Have you quit other sports to focus on a main sport?" as highly specialized. We hypothesized that a measureable number of year-round, single-sport athletes have never played other sports and, therefore, may be inaccurately classified as moderately specialized when using this tool, even though most experts would agree they should be viewed as highly specialized. To determine the proportion of athletes misclassified as moderately rather than highly specialized because they never played a previous sport. Cross-sectional study. Hospital-based pediatric outpatient sports medicine clinic. Injured athletes aged 12 to 17 years who presented to the clinic between 2015 and 2017 and completed a sports-participation survey (n = 917). Sport-specialization level. Of 917 participants, 299 (32.6%) played a single sport more than 8 months per year, and 208/299 (69.6%) had previously quit other sports (highly specialized), whereas 91 (30.4%) had never played other sports (highly specialized and misclassified as moderate). Individual-sport athletes had a 2.03 times greater risk of being highly specialized and misclassified as moderate than team-sport athletes (relative risk = 2.03 [95% confidence interval = 1.37, 3.00]). Females had a 1.70 times greater risk of being misclassified as moderately specialized than males (relative risk 1.70 [95% confidence interval = 1.07, 2.70]). Of the 3 sports with the largest number of athletes, artistic gymnastics had the highest proportion (51.2%) who had never played other sports. The commonly used specialization survey misclassified a substantial number of highly specialized athletes as moderately specialized. Researchers should consider adding a fourth survey question, "Have you only ever played 1 sport?" to identify and better study this unique subset of misclassified athletes.

Leader cells in collective chemotaxis: Optimality and trade-offs.

Clusters of cells can work together in order to follow a signal gradient, chemotaxing even when single cells do not. Cells in different regions of collectively migrating neural crest streams show different gene expression profiles, suggesting that cells may specialize to leader and follower roles. We use a minimal mathematical model to understand when this specialization is advantageous. In our model, leader cells sense the gradient with an accuracy that depends on the kinetics of ligand-receptor binding, while follower cells follow the cluster's direction with a finite error. Intuitively, specialization into leaders and followers should be optimal when a few cells have more information than the rest of the cluster, such as in the presence of a sharp transition in chemoattractant concentration. We do find this-but also find that high levels of specialization can be optimal in the opposite limit of very shallow gradients. We also predict that the best location for leaders may not be at the front of the cluster. In following leaders, clusters may have to choose between speed and flexibility. Clusters with only a few leaders can take orders of magnitude more time to reorient than all-leader clusters.

Aglomeračné výhody a technologická náročnosť odvetví priemyselnej výroby na slovensku

This paper analyses the geographical concentration of the industry sector according to technology intensity of industries. The analysis of spatial distribution employs a database including information on the number of plants at the 2-digit level of sector aggregation in the period 1997-2016. We estimate parameters for a spatial panel data analysis with random and fixed effects in order to examine two related research questions: (1) to what extent are the effects of internal economies of scale present in the technology-intensive industries; and (2) which types of external economies of scale are used by different industries depending on technology intensity. Our results indicate that the regional industrial structure of Slovakia has become more diverse. As a consequence of the phase of economic integration, some of the regions have been integrated into global production networks and maintain high levels of specialisation.

The effects of increasing land use intensity on soil nematodes: A turn towards specialism

Abstract The ecosystem services that humans obtain from the soil are strongly linked to the soil's biota. There is ample evidence that intensive agriculture has a negative effect on the soil's biological diversity. While in other ecosystems, habitat specialists are at a higher risk of extinction due to human impacts than generalists, we have no evidence of whether this holds true for soil biota. We calculated the realized niche width for soil nematodes using co‐occurrence data. We compared these with ecological traits. We then calculated an index of community specialization and tested whether land use intensity leads to decreases in the index of community specialization, taxon richness, diversity and to changes in nematode abundance. The resulting realized niche widths did not correlate with ecological traits such as feeding group, body mass or c‐p class. While it is possible that there are no relationships between these traits and the realized niche width, it is likelier that food availability, pH tolerance, or host breadth are more important factors in explaining niche width. Contrary to our expectations, the lowest community specialization levels were found in soils with the lowest human intervention (shrubland–woodland ecosystems), while grasslands, dairy farms and arable farms had an overall higher level of specialization. Weather variables and land use intensity explained 66% of the variation in the index of community specialization in sandy soils. We found highest richness and diversity at intermediate levels of disturbance (grasslands and dairy farms). The lowest abundances were found on shrubland–woodland systems. Dairy farms on sand and clay had similar indices of community specialization, whereas peaty soils fostered a higher proportion of habitat specialists. We argue that farmland supposes a stable environment for organisms with shorter life spans. Agricultural management strives to lower disturbances, allowing shorter lived organisms to escape pressures otherwise present in nature, such as drought or nutrient deficiencies during the growing season. In very disturbed systems, however, specialists may also suffer from negative effects of land use intensity. This co‐occurrence method to assess niche width opens the door to estimating the soil community's niche breadth, for which resource‐based methods are difficult to implement. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Species diversification and phylogenetically constrained symbiont switching generated high modularity in the lichen genus Peltigera

Abstract Ecological interactions range from purely specialized to extremely generalized in nature. Recent research has showed very high levels of specialization in the cyanolichens involving Peltigera (mycobionts) and their Nostoc photosynthetic partners (cyanobionts). Yet, little is known about the mechanisms contributing to the establishment and maintenance of such high specialization levels. Here, we characterized interactions between Peltigera and Nostoc partners at a global scale, using more than one thousand thalli. We used tools from network theory, community phylogenetics and biogeographical history reconstruction to evaluate how these symbiotic interactions may have evolved. After splitting the interaction matrix into modules of preferentially interacting partners, we evaluated how module membership might have evolved along the mycobionts’ phylogeny. We also teased apart the contributions of geographical overlap vs phylogeny in driving interaction establishment between Peltigera and Nostoc taxa. Module affiliation rarely evolves through the splitting of large ancestral modules. Instead, new modules appear to emerge independently, which is often associated with a fungal speciation event. We also found strong phylogenetic signal in these interactions, which suggests that partner switching is constrained by conserved traits. Therefore, it seems that a high rate of fungal diversification following a switch to a new cyanobiont can lead to the formation of large modules, with cyanobionts associating with multiple closely retated Peltigera species. Finally, when restricting our analyses to Peltigera sister species, the latter differed more through partner acquisition/loss than replacement (i.e., switching). This pattern vanishes as we look at sister species that have diverged longer ago. This suggests that fungal speciation may be accompanied by a stepwise process of (a) novel partner acquisition and (b) loss of the ancestral partner. This could explain the maintenance of high specialization levels in this symbiotic system where the transmission of the cyanobiont to the next generation is assumed to be predominantly horizontal. Synthesis. Overall, our study suggests that oscillation between generalization and ancestral partner loss may maintain high specialization within the lichen genus Peltigera, and that partner selection is not only driven by partners’ geographical overlap, but also by their phylogenetically conserved traits.

Phyllosphere epiphytic and endophytic fungal community and network structures differ in a tropical mangrove ecosystem

BackgroundRevealing the relationship between plants and fungi is very important in understanding biodiversity maintenance, community stability, and ecosystem functioning. However, differences in the community and network structures of phyllosphere epiphytic and endophytic fungi are currently poorly documented. In this study, we examined epiphytic and endophytic fungal communities associated with the leaves of six mangrove species using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences.ResultsA total of 635 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of endophytic and epiphytic fungi were obtained at a 97% sequence similarity level; they were dominated by Dothideomycetes and Tremellomycetes. Plant identity had a significant effect on the OTU richness of endophytic fungi, but not on epiphytic fungi. The community composition of epiphytic and endophytic fungi was significantly different, and plant identity had a greater effect on endophytic fungi than on epiphytic fungi. Network analysis showed that both epiphytic and endophytic network structures were characterized by significantly highly specialized and modular but lowly connected and anti-nested properties. Furthermore, the endophytic network had higher levels of specialization and modularity but lower connectance and stronger anti-nestedness than the epiphytic network.ConclusionsThis study reveals that the phyllosphere epiphytic and endophytic fungal communities differ, and plant identity has a greater effect on the endophytic fungi than on epiphytic fungi. These findings demonstrate the role of host plant identity in driving phyllosphere epiphytic and endophytic community structure.

The Endogenous African Business: Why and How It Is Different, Why It Is Emerging Now and Why It Matters

ABSTRACTAfrica is currently undergoing a transition that is unprecedented in its history. For the first time, the demand of urban populations pulls business development, thus creating economies with higher levels of specialization than before. This essay highlights the phenomenon of the endogenous African businesses that are arising in this process. These businesses tap into the natural resources and the social, economic, and cultural systems that build upon them. These resources and systems make the African business environment different from business environments in other parts of the world. Furthermore, the endogenous businesses have access to knowledge on how to manage modern businesses in the formal sector of the economy. In combination with African resources and systems, such knowledge enables them to create and sustain and competitive advantage in modern dynamic marketplaces. Endogenous African businesses are important because they have the potential to fuel economic growth, to revitalize rural areas, to contribute to food security and healthy diets, and to provide role models of which Africans can be proud. Hence, these businesses deserve our attention in the next two decades of scholarly research and education on African business.

SPORT SPECIALIZATION IS A RISK FACTOR FOR OVERUSE, BUT NOT ACUTE, LOWER EXTREMITY INJURIES: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

BACKGROUND: Sport specialization is often associated with intense, high volume training, which may result in injury – especially overuse injuries. However, there is limited prospective research investigating these relationships. Additionally, previous research has focused on adolescents older than 12 years of age with no data available in younger cohorts, who may be more susceptible to repetitive stress. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if sport specialization is associated with increased risk of overuse and acute lower extremity injuries in middle school aged athletes. METHODS: A total of 281 children (113 females (40%), age=12.1±1.2years; range 10-14 years of age) completed an online survey with their parents for 39 weeks. The study was conducted during the 2017-2018 academic year with a baseline survey conducted the first week of September. Weekly surveys were sent to respondents via Qualtrics with the final weekly survey in June of 2018. The baseline survey consisted of 1) demographic information, 2) injury history in the previous 12 months, 3) a sport specialization scale which classified individuals in low, moderate, and high levels of specialization, and 4) sport participation volume (months per year in primary sport). The weekly surveys asked participants to report and musculoskeletal injury they sustained during sport participation. Participants were included in the analysis if they completed at least 80% of the total surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine associations between specialization category (reference category: low) and prospective injury categories, while adjusting for differences in age, sex, and previous injury history. RESULTS: Respondents reported 57 acute and 32 overuse lower extremity injuries during the observation period. Highly specialized athletes had significantly greater odds of reporting a prospective lower extremity overuse injury than subjects in the low specialization group (OR: 3.78, 1.02-12.90, p=0.03), even after adjusting for sex, age, and previous injury history. However, specialization was not a risk factor for acute lower extremity injuries (OR: 2.20, 0.72-6.77, p=0.17). CONCLUSION: Highly specialized middle school athletes are nearly 4 times greater risk of developing an overuse injury compared to low specialization athletes. Younger athletes may be more susceptible to injuries at younger ages. Thus, adolescent athletes should avoid specialization when possible.

An integrated curricular design for computer-assisted translation tools: developing technical expertise

ABSTRACTIncreasing project complexity and a high level of specialization in the language industry have resulted in a demand for translation professionals with sophisticated technical skills. This has made computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools indispensable for translators in order to meet project requirements. With a rapidly changing industry environment, the traditional translation curriculum needs to be refined so as to incorporate additional translator competences that bridge the gap between the classroom and emerging industry practices. This article presents an introductory graduate-level course with the following highlights: (a) a curricular design with modules on project setup, terminology management, translation memory systems, post-editing, and software localisation; (b) refined learning outcomes for the CAT classroom in order to accelerate the acquisition of technical skills; (c) implementation of virtual reality simulation (VRS) and task-based learning as teaching methodologies; and (d) a portfolio assessment that enhances critical thinking. The learning outcomes for the course have been assessed in a pilot graduate class that was taught at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, USA). The results from direct assessment of the outcomes are discussed in this article, and the overall rationale for the approach adopted for curriculum design is justified.

Opportunities and Challenges of Whole-Cell and -Tissue Simulations of the Outer Retina in Health and Disease

Visual processing starts in the outer retina, where photoreceptor cells sense photons that trigger electrical responses. Retinal pigment epithelial cells are located external to the photoreceptor layer and have critical functions in supporting cell and tissue homeostasis and thus sustaining a healthy retina. The high level of specialization makes the retina vulnerable to alterations that promote retinal degeneration. In this review, we discuss opportunities and challenges in proposing whole-cell and -tissue simulations of the human outer retina. An implicit position taken throughout this review is that mapping diverse data sets onto integrative computational models is likely to be a pivotal approach to understanding complex disease and developing novel interventions.

Descripción y consenso del rol del profesional de enfermería en la gestión integral del paciente hematológico: resultados de un estudio Delphi multicéntrico nacional

Background and objectiveThe Haematology Service has undergone significant advances in recent years. Given the vital part played by the nurse in the care of the haematology patient, ensuring optimal management by adapting their role to meet the current healthcare needs is a priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of agreement among professionals of the Haematology Service regarding the role of the nursing professional and their importance in the comprehensive management of these patients in a multidisciplinary work setting. Patients and methodA national multicentre Delphi study with haematology specialists and nursing professionals. A two-round questionnaire was used, and consensus was reached when > 75% of the panellists scored on the same tertile (1-3: disagreement, 7-9: agreement), and the interquartile range of the median of the responses was ≤4. ResultsA total of 33 professionals from the Haematology Department were invited to participate, of whom 19 were haematology specialists and 14 were nursing professionals. In the first round, 25 panellists responded (14 haematology specialists and 11 nursing professionals), and in the second round, 22 panellists responded (12 haematology specialists and 10 nursing professionals). The panel of experts agreed that haematology nurses should have specific training in haematology (96%) and on the definition of the role of nursing in the care process of the haematology patient, except in the possible participation in decision-making with regard to the most appropriate oncological treatment for a patient (58%). The role of the nursing professional as a reference for the patient throughout the healthcare process and their involvement in the process at the time of diagnosis were agreed upon in the second round (72.7% and 68.2%). Their role in the control of nutritional status (100%), visit compliance (96%), and health education for the patient and the family (96%) were included in the highly agreed upon aspects. The panel considered the improvement of adherence to treatment (96%), and the role as consultant for specific care of the haematology patient within the hospital (96%) as important aspects. Together with health education and patient follow-up, a total of 88% of the panellists considered that the haematology nurse reduces patient visits to the emergency department as well as physical visits to the outpatient clinics of the health centre. ConclusionsThe current profile of the haematology nursing professional implies a high level of specialisation. The competencies of the haematology nursing professional are aimed at guaranteeing an integral management of these patients; with important healthcare functions, as well as a key element in the flow of information, and are framed within a multidisciplinary work setting.

Improved rice seed use and drivers of source choice for rice farmers in Tanzania

ABSTRACT Returns on investment into development of new rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties are realized when the varieties are widely used by farmers to enhance crop productivity. This study was conducted to investigate the dynamics in the use of improved varieties/seeds and the sources preferred by farmers. The study employed formal survey and a multistage, random sampling to obtain data from 360 rice farmers from Kyela, Kahama and Kilombero districts of Tanzania. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model were used for data analysis. Results highlighted that nonavailability of improved seeds, lack of awareness about improved seeds and low specialization in rice production were the major factors responsible for little or no use of improved seeds by farmers. Perceived utility drivers in the choice of rice varieties to be used by farmers were yield, market appeal (marketability), taste, aroma and milling quality. Furthermore, 90% of rice seed used by farmers came from farmer-managed seed systems. The driving factors for the choice of source of rice seeds used by farmers were crop establishment method used, access to credit and high level of specialization of farmers (p < 0.05). The study suggests that extensive promotion of improved varieties by public and private sector actors can considerably enhance the use of improved rice seeds in the country. Regular monitoring of variety adoption and strengthening of the improved rice seed supply system to foster efficient and effective use of improved seeds should help ensure returns on investment into variety development.