Temporal concentration trends of BPA in soils were investigated following sewage sludge application to pasture (study 1: short term sludge application; study 2: long term multiple applications over 13 years). The background levels of BPA in control soils were similar, ranging between 0.67-10.57 ng g(-1) (mean: 3.02 ng g(-1)) and 0.51-6.58 ng g(-1) (mean: 3.22 ng g(-1)) for studies 1 and 2, respectively. Concentrations in both treated and control plots increased over the earlier sampling times of the study to a maximum and then decreased over later sampling times, suggesting other sources of BPA to both the treated and control soils over the study period. In study 1 there was a significant treatment effect of sludge application in the autumn (p=0.002) although no significant difference was observed between treatment and control soils in the spring. In study 2 treated soils contained considerably higher BPA concentrations than controls ranging between 12.89-167.9 ng g(-1) (mean: 63.15 ng g(-1)). This and earlier studies indicate the long-term accumulation of multiple contaminants by multiple sewage sludge applications over a prolonged period although the effects of the presence of such contaminant mixtures have not yet been elucidated. Fugacity modelling was undertaken to estimate partitioning of Bisphenol A (soil plus sewage: pore water: soil air partitioning) and potential uptake into a range of food crops. While Bisphenol A sorbs strongly to the sewage-amended soil, 4% by mass was predicted to enter soil pore water resulting in significant uptake by crops particularly leafy vegetables (3.12-75.5 ng g(-1)), but also for root crops (1.28-31.0 ng g(-1)) with much lower uptake into cereal grains (0.62-15.0 ng g(-1)). This work forms part of a larger programme of research aimed at assessing the risks associated with the long-term application of sewage sludge to agricultural soils.

Contact with green space in the environment has been associated with mental health benefits, but the mechanism underpinning this association is not clear. This study extends an earlier exploratory study showing that more green space in deprived urban neighbourhoods in Scotland is linked to lower levels of perceived stress and improved physiological stress as measured by diurnal patterns of cortisol secretion. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured at 3, 6 and 9 h post awakening over two consecutive weekdays, together with measures of perceived stress. Participants (n = 106) were men and women not in work aged between 35–55 years, resident in socially disadvantaged districts from the same Scottish, UK, urban context as the earlier study. Results from linear regression analyses showed a significant and negative relationship between higher green space levels and stress levels, indicating living in areas with a higher percentage of green space is associated with lower stress, confirming the earlier study findings. This study further extends the findings by showing significant gender differences in stress patterns by levels of green space, with women in lower green space areas showing higher levels of stress. A significant interaction effect between gender and percentage green space on mean cortisol concentrations showed a positive effect of higher green space in relation to cortisol measures in women, but not in men. Higher levels of neighbourhood green space were associated with healthier mean cortisol levels in women whilst also attenuating higher cortisol levels in men. We conclude that higher levels of green space in residential neighbourhoods, for this deprived urban population of middle-aged men and women not in work, are linked with lower perceived stress and a steeper (healthier) diurnal cortisol decline. However, overall patterns and levels of cortisol secretion in men and women were differentially related to neighbourhood green space and warrant further investigation.

A transgenic strain of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in which bioluminescence reports on relative, whole-organism ATP levels was used to test an environmentally-relevant mixture of pollutants extracted from processed sewage sludge. Changes in bioluminescence, following exposure to sewage sludge extract, were used to assess relative ATP levels and overall metabolic health. Reproductive function and longevity were also monitored. A short (up to 8 h) sublethal exposure of L4 larval stage worms to sewage sludge extract had a concentration-dependent, detrimental effect on energy status, with bioluminescence decreasing to 50-60% of the solvent control (1% DMSO). Following longer exposure (22-24 h), the energy status of the nematodes showed recovery as assessed by bioluminescence. Continuous exposure to sewage sludge extract from the L4 stage resulted in a shorter median lifespan relative to that of solvent or medium control animals, but only in the presence of 400-600 µM 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR), which was incorporated to inhibit reproduction. This indicated that FUdR increased lifespan, and that the effect was counteracted by SSE. Exposure to sewage sludge extract from the L1 stage led to slower growth and a delayed onset of egg laying. When L1 exposed nematodes reached the reproductive stage, no effect on egg laying rate or egg number in the uterus was observed. DMSO itself (1%) had a significant inhibitory effect on growth and development of C. elegans exposed from the L1 stage and on reproduction when exposed from the L4 stage. Results demonstrate subtle adverse effects on C. elegans of a complex mixture of environmental pollutants that are present, individually, in very low concentrations and indicate that our biosensor of energy status is a novel, sensitive, rapid, quantitative, whole-organism test system which is suitable for high throughput risk assessment of complex pollutant mixtures.

Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to differ in their pattern of nitrogen (N) use in pure culture. Here, we investigate whether this functional variation is maintained in symbiosis using three ascomycetes from a clade not previously shown to include ericoid mycorrhizal taxa. Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium vitis-idaea were inoculated with three fungal strains known to form coils in Vaccinium roots, which differed in their patterns of N use in liquid culture. (15)N was used to trace the uptake of -N, -N and glutamine-N into shoots. (15)N transfer differed among the three fungal strains, including two that had identical internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, and was quantitatively related to fungal growth in liquid culture at low carbon availability. These results demonstrate that functional differences among closely related ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are maintained in symbiosis with their hosts, and suggest that N transfer to plant shoots in ericoid mycorrhizas is under fungal control.

Journal of Midwifery & Women's HealthVolume 51, Issue 4 p. 310-310 From The American College Of Nurse-Midwives Elizabeth Duff, Elizabeth Duff Communications Manager International Confederation of Midwives www.internationalmidwife.orgSearch for more papers by this author Elizabeth Duff, Elizabeth Duff Communications Manager International Confederation of Midwives www.internationalmidwife.orgSearch for more papers by this author First published: 24 December 2010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2006.02.006Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume51, Issue4July‐August 2006Pages 310-310 ACNM Members ACNM Members: Click here to log in RelatedInformation

For 86 years—since its founding in 1919—the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has been representing, advocating for, and advancing the profession of midwifery worldwide. Today, 86 autonomous midwifery associations from more than 70 countries are members of ICM. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) was admitted into ICM membership in 1956, just 1 year after the founding of ACNM! Since that time, ACNM has been one of the leading members of the ICM—both in sharing key documents for developing global initiatives and in taking on many leadership roles within the global arena. On the 50th anniversary of ACNM, the leadership of the ICM is pleased to offer a brief commentary on the ICM's important role in promoting the global agenda for women's health with midwives as key partners. The mission of the ICM is to “To advance worldwide the aims and aspirations of midwives in the attainment of improved outcomes for women, their newborns, and families during the childbearing cycle, using the ICM midwifery philosophy and model of care.”1 These words are worth a moment's thought because they enshrine a concept that forms the basis of the unique midwifery ethos: the aspirations of midwives are inextricably connected with the health and well-being of the women and babies who come to them for care. The vision of the ICM (updated1999) also supports this principle in proposing a future in which both midwives and women are educated, autonomous, self-determining, confident people, respected in their communities and societies. In addition, of course, midwives are qualified health professionals with a particular expertise in the skilled support of women during their reproductive years, with an emphasis globally on care during childbearing. The ideals described in the overarching mission and vision are, in turn, supported by more detailed documents, which have been debated and agreed upon by members of the ICM over the years. They include the following: 1) The Definition of the Midwife (updated 1990), 2) The International Code of Ethics for Midwives (updated 1999), 3) The Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice (2002), 4) Global Strategy Goals (updated 2005), and 5) more than 30 position statements on topics from promotion of vaginal birth to debt cancellation in developing countries. Each of these core documents and position statements are guidelines or tools that are used as needed by member associations working with governments and civil society to strengthen the profession of midwifery and the use of the midwifery model of care by all who provide health services for childbearing women. The first 3 core documents, in particular, do exactly what their titles say they do. As such, they are in frequent use by midwifery associations and individual midwives to establish and maintain the status of midwifery in their country. The fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) have endorsed the “Definition of the Midwife” since 1972 gives the international definition even greater force as a policy tool in country-level consultations. The knowledge that these statements have been adopted in an international forum is a powerful tool, which has been used time and again to lay down and cement together the blocks that build the structure of midwifery as a profession. The fact that Patricia Riley et al.2 in the editorial of this issue suggest that the ICM has not gone far enough in moving the midwifery agenda in some position statements is clearly a reflection of the difficulty in negotiating global statements with more than 150 delegates using a minimum of 5 different languages. This reality underscores the need for ACNM and all member associations to make sure they submit needed agenda items at the Brisbane Council in July 2005 for discussion and action. The Global Strategy of the ICM is a framework that supports the work program of the Confederation and is, therefore, primarily an internal document. However, its structure demonstrates clearly the 3 parts of the work that ICM sets out to do. The Strategy is made up of 16 goals that fall into the categories of 1) addressing women's health globally, 2) strengthening the midwifery profession, and 3) promoting the organization internationally. Each goal is associated with a number of objectives, activities, and expected outcomes, so that evaluation can easily be carried out, and progress toward the goals can be charted.3 Midwives, while retaining their autonomy, are familiar with collaboration in practice with doctors, nurses, managers, and policy makers, and most importantly, with women. At the global level, the pattern remains the same. It will be no surprise to ACNM midwives that some of the ICM's most successful and effective projects have been carried out in partnership with other organizations. At its best, partnership halves the workload and doubles the value, because the results are disseminated throughout both groups. As the only international organization with formal recognition by United Nations agencies, the ICM is afforded increasing opportunities to partner in key policies, events, and activities that promote the shared goals of healthy women and healthy newborns/families, wherever they live. By far, the most significant partnership to date in the global arena has been with WHO. When the global Safe Motherhood Initiative was launched in Nairobi in 1987, the ICM was there.4 Since that time, the ICM has held collaborative triennial workshops focusing on the midwife's role in Safe Motherhood activities, capitalizing on Barbara Kwast's well-known mantra that the midwife is the “lynchpin” in all Safe Motherhood activities. Partnerships with other United Nations agencies are crucial for technical support, funding of selected activities, and worldwide contacts and influence. In 1999, the ICM was added, along with FIGO, to the InterAgency Group (IAG) on Safe Motherhood (the founding group for the Safe Motherhood Initiative). In recognition of its leadership role in childbearing care globally, the ICM was named co-Chair of IAG in 2000, and now co-Chairs with the World Bank the Steering Committee of the Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health.5 In the last 2 years, the ICM has forged a hugely successful alliance with FIGO to promote the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, which has resulted in media events, external funding, and professional workshops being held on 3 continents. Another key partnership is with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in campaigning for more widespread and accurate birth registration. Both midwives and nurses are well aware of the devastating consequences of a baby going unregistered, especially if that baby is separated from close relatives during war, natural disaster, or epidemic disease. Current collaborative work with the ICN focuses on regulation of the professions of nursing and midwifery, which will be carried forward globally, emphasizing the importance of professionals controlling regulatory matters. A new position statement setting forth the characteristics of midwifery as an autonomous profession will be considered by the ICM Council in July 2005 and will be useful, along with the current Framework for Midwifery Legislation, adopted by the ICM Council in 2002, to move the regulatory agenda. Although interdisciplinary work is often the most effective in addressing health issues for women and newborns, the task of strengthening midwifery cannot be so easily shared. An example of a project ICM is taking forward is the “Young Midwifery Leaders” program, begun in the America's Regional Meeting in Trinidad in April 2004. Five young midwives and their chosen mentors are following a pioneering course, climbing the steep learning curve of leadership and advocacy skills. The meetings are run on something of a shoestring budget, but the commitment of both mentees and mentors is inspiring. Five years ago, the United Nations chose the significant moment of the dawning of the third millennium (by the Western world's counting) to announce the Millennium Development Goals.6 These 8 ambitious goals are visions of a world in which the division between the developed and the developing nations will disappear. The first is “Eradicate poverty and hunger.” This gives you a sense of the type of obstacles that are in the path to obtaining these goals. But the fourth is “Reduce child mortality by two-thirds,” and the fifth is “Reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters.” Midwives are crucial figures in the work toward both of these targets. Women need the care of a skilled attendant to ensure good outcomes following pregnancy and childbirth. True public recognition of this fact is very recent. In November 2004, a landmark statement on the importance of skilled attendance at birth was jointly issued by ICM, WHO, and FIGO, endorsed by ICN. The focus of the statement is the importance of a person with midwifery skills being present during a woman's labor and delivery. The statement represents official recognition at the global level that this presence is the highest priority in the drive to achieve safe motherhood, and in particular, the fifth Millennium Development Goal. It will be no surprise to the readers of this journal that the prototype skilled attendant is the midwife! The joint statement, “Making Pregnancy Safer: The Critical Role of the Skilled Attendant,”7 clarifies the long-debated issues of who and what a skilled attendant is and provides evidence-based guidance, so that work in countries to build the level of human resources needed can continue on an assured basis. World Health Day on April 7, 2005, had the theme “Make every mother and child count.” The accompanying publicity highlighted the “invisible crisis” of maternal deaths and child deaths and their impact on family and community. The Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health, the Healthy Newborn Partnership, and the Child Survival Partnership worked together on a common agenda for maternal and child health at a meeting in New Delhi following release of this report. These partnerships are a model of the importance to maternal and child health of UN agencies, donor and bilateral agencies, and professional associations of mid-wives, physicians, and nurses working together at country level. As noted in the 2005 World Health Report, we must take action together to implement the knowledge that will avert the many avoidable deaths of mothers and young babies and for “all families [to] have access to a continuum of care that extends from pregnancy (and even before), through childbirth and on into childhood, instead of the often fragmented services available at present.”8 Thus, the global spotlight is on partnership, collaboration, and continuity of care to achieve safe motherhood and newborn health. And midwives, indeed, are at center stage. This year, when so much is already happening to make midwives the focus of world attention, the ICM is holding the major series of meetings, which regularly renew its 3-year cycle of governance, work planning, and professional interchange. Delegates from many of the member associations will meet in Brisbane, Australia, at the International Council meeting to debate new position statements, elect new officers, endorse changes to the ICM constitution, and deal with other essential components of organizational business. After this meeting, the midwives of the world gather for the Triennial Congress, a 4-day presentation of all that is innovative, exciting, perceptive, creative, and groundbreaking in the science and art of midwifery. For those involved with the planning and carrying out of these events, reaching that time seems like the scaling of a lofty peak—an achievement—a time to stop, drive a stake in the ground, and fly the flag in celebration. Indeed it is; but there will then be the need to turn and look upward again, not back down the path we have climbed. Far off are other peaks, higher still. It is daunting, but we have the tools we need. As midwives, we have the most essential equipment: our hands, our heads, and our hearts. We have climbed so far. What is to stop us now? With strong member associations, the ICM will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, and women will reap the benefits of this force for health. Congratulations, ACNM, on reaching the 50-year milestone! Keep up the good work in the United States as well as in the world!

Soil concentrations of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and the alkyl phenols, octyl phenol (OP) and nonyl phenol (NP), after repeated surface applications of sewage sludge to pastures, were investigated. Liquid sludge was applied at a rate of 2.25 tonnes dry matter (DM) per hectare to each of three treated (T) plots on three occasions during the summer and two occasions in the early spring over a period of 2.5 years. Control (C) plots were treated with inorganic fertiliser containing amounts of nitrogen equivalent to those applied to the treated plots. At between 69 and 81 days after the application of sludge, 15 separate soil samples were collected from one half of each of the plots (Experiment 1). Concentrations (microg g(-1)) of DOP were higher (P < 0.001) than those of NP, while those of OP were generally below detectable levels. Mean soil concentrations of DOP were not significantly different in T and C plots [0.233 vs. 0.155 microg g(-1); standard error of the difference (SED) = 0.046; not significant (NS)], partly because there was already a relatively large amount of DOP present. NP concentrations were, however, significantly higher in T than in C plots (0.021 vs. 0.013 microg g(-1) SED = 0.002; P < 0.05). There was no consistent change over time in the mean soil concentrations of these compounds when sampled at intervals of 3-6 months. Concentrations in soil samples collected at monthly intervals following sludge application indicated that the variation in concentrations of these endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) was unrelated to time since sludge application. Rates of soil ingestion, expressed as the percentage of DM intake represented by soil, were higher during the winter than the summer (5.40 vs. 1.17; SED = 0.360; P < 0.001) and estimated daily intakes of DOP and NP were up to 150 microg and 8 microg, respectively. It is concluded that the application of sewage sludge to pasture does not increase soil concentrations of phthalate (as DOP) or alkyl phenols. Thus, the risk of increased exposure to these EDC as a result of sludge application is small. However, the small effect of sludge application on soil concentrations may be largely a reflection of the relatively high concentrations of DOP already present in the soil, which may be biologically significant.

CV studies rarely ask willingness to accept (WTA)questions, yet there are a range of environmentalprojects where there are likely to be potential losersas well as gainers. This paper presents evidence fromsix biodiversity projects that the inclusion ofcontingent compensation payments from thoserespondents who preferred the status quo cansubstantially reduce net project benefits, even whenthe proportion of losers is relatively small. Astatistical model for estimating the mean welfaremeasure from dichotomous choice data which allows forboth positive WTP, zero WTP, and WTA is described. Asmany environmental projects are likely to create bothgainers and losers, we recommend that CV analysts giveserious consideration to the collection and analysisof WTA data otherwise they risk generating biasedestimates of project benefits.

Blest, DC Choice and order: an extension to Kendall's ô 227 BollobaÂs, B. Obituary: Paul Erdo!! s 271 Brien, CJ and Payne, RW Tiers, structure formulae and the analysis of complicated experiments 41 Buckland, ST, Macmillan, DC, Duff, EI and Hanley, N. Estimating mean willingness to pay from dichotomous choice contingent valuation studies 109 Canty, AJ and Davison, AC Resampling-based variance estimation for labour force surveys 379 Chastang, C. See under Giraudeau, B.

Sodium selenite, sodium selenate, and sodium selenate in a prill formulation were applied to three soils known to produce Se-deficient herbage (< 100-mu-g Se kg-1 dry matter (DM)). The ability of the salts, applied in spring 1985, to ameliorate Se deficiency was followed over 3 years by taking four harvests each year. Selenate treatment at 10 g Se ha-1 and selenate prill treatment at 20 g Se ha-1 produced herbage with Se levels (geometric means) of between 0.57-0.86 and 1-79 1.92 mg kg-1 DM respectively in the first spring harvest after treatment. Selenite was less potent and selenite at 100 g Se ha-1 produced a response in herbage closely similar to that of selenate at 10 g Se ha-1. Even at 300 g Se ha-1 the selenite treatment produced herbage with only 1.00-1.36 mg Se kg-1 DM at the first harvest. Application of selenate in the prill form at 60 g Se ha-1 produced herbage potentially toxic to grazing animals with 4.81-4.94 mg Se kg-1 DM. The addition of fertiliser N to Se-treated plots increased total Se uptake at the first harvest by a factor of 4 and had a small effect on Se concentration. The Se concentration levels in herbage from Se-treated plots declined exponentially (t1/2 = 21-43 days). On one soil derived from Lower Old Red Sandstone and lava, selenite at 300 g Se ha-1 gave herbage with Se contents significantly above background (P < 0.05) in all harvests over 3 years.

Improvements in both care and technology have led to the survival of more low birthweight infants. Initially, these infants are not fed orally and are placed on parenteral nutrition. In an attempt to evaluate sequential time-wise changes in gastric pH and occult blood loss, evaluation of gastric pH and tests for the presence of blood in the gastric aspirate were carried out in two groups of infants. Group 1 consisted of seven cases, three males and four females, with a mean +/- SE gestation of 29.9 +/- 0.8 weeks and a birthweight of 1410 +/- 190 g. Group 2 consisted of nine cases, three males and six females, with a mean +/- gestation of 28.6 +/- 0.84 weeks and a birthweight of 940 +/- 120 g. Gastric contents were sampled through indwelling orogastric tubes every 4-6 h daily for the first seven days in Group 1 and 14 days in Group 2. Infants in Group 1 were spontaneously breathing with mild hyaline membrane disease (HMD) whereas Group 2 infants had severe HMD requiring ventilation. Results indicate that critically ill preterm infants (Group 2) had significantly lower pH when compared to Group 1 (p less than 0.015). Progressive decrease in pH was observed in both groups (P less than 0.001). The association of occult gastric blood loss with decreasing pH was examined using pooled data from both groups of neonates. During the times when bleeding occurred, the mean +/- SE gastric pH level was 2 +/- 0.1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Summary: Occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC), using tape, and calibrated scale and cranial volumes, using styrofoam plastic cast, were measured in nine preterm and 13 term infants. Term infants had a mean ± S.E. gestation of 40 ± 0.2 wk and a mean ± S.E. birth weight of 3461 ± 108 g. Preterm infants had a mean ± S.E. gestation of 30.5 ± 1.4 wk and a mean ± S.E. birth weight of 1596 ± 211 g. Five sequential measurements were made on term infants and nine such measurements were done on preterm infants at specified time intervals. The values of cranial volume were compared with previously published results in term infants. Brain weight and cranial volumes were also compared in 10 preterm infants and seven term infants who died of non-intracranial pathology. To determine if this method is reproducible, it was tested using 50 paired measurements and was found to be within 3%. There was a significant decrease in cranial volume in term and preterm infants with time. Term infants reached the control value at 64 h of age and preterm infants reached the control value at 160 h of age. Preterm infants showed a significant decrease in OFC but term infants did not. The rate of change was not significantly different in either group. We conclude, (1) cranial volume can be measured accurately and are reproducible in term and preterm infants by non-invasive means; (2) OFC decreases about 2% in preterm infants by 1 wk and cranial volume decreases by 5% in term infants and 7% in preterm infants in the first week of life; and (3) OFC is not a reliable method of measurement of brain growth in term neonates in the first week of life.