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Introduction: Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) make up 4% of the Canadian population. Due to existing barriers to care in the community, SGM patients may seek more help and be sicker at presentation to hospital. Paramedics occupy a unique role and can remove or decrease these barriers. There are no existing evaluations of training programs in SGM health for prehospital providers. A training program to develop better allyship in paramedics toward SGM populations was developed and assessed. Methods: A 70‐ to 90‐min mandatory, asynchronous, online training module in SGM health in the prehospital environment was developed and delivered via the emergency medical service (EMS) system's learning management system. A before‐and‐after study of cisgender, heterosexual, frontline paramedics was performed to measure the impact of the training module on the care of SGM patients. The validated Ally Identity Measure (AIM) tool was used to identify success of training and includes subscales of knowledge and skills, openness and support, and oppression awareness. Demographics and satisfaction scores were collected in the posttraining survey. Matched and unmatched pairs of surveys and demographic associations were analyzed using nonparametric statistics. Results: Of 609 paramedics, 571 completed the training, and 239 surveys were completed before and 105 (n = 344) surveys after the training; 60 surveys were paired. Overall AIM scores of matched pairs (n = 60) improved by 12% (p < 0.001), with knowledge and skills accounting for most of the increase (21%, p < 0.001). Unmatched pairs (n = 344) were similar in demographics and scores. Rural paramedics also had significantly lower pretraining oppression awareness scores and had lower posttraining AIM scores compared to suburban paramedics (6% difference). Satisfaction scores rated the training as relevant and applicable (87% and 82%, respectively). Conclusions: A novel prehospital training program in the care of SGM patients resulted in a statistically significant increase in allyship in cisgender, heterosexual‐identified frontline paramedics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation and nitrogen management are crucial for sustainable potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons at Farmington, New Mexico, to evaluate the performance of two chip potato varieties (Lamoka and Waneta) under three irrigation regimes (full irrigation (FI), 20% deficit irrigation (DI) and 40% DI) and seven nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 60, 115, 170, 220, 280, and 340 kg N/ha). The treatment combinations of irrigation regimes, nitrogen rates, and varieties were arranged in a split–split plot design with three replications as main plot, sub-plot, and sub-sub plot, respectively. The two-year results showed that irrigation regimes had the most significant effect on plant growth, physiology, and tuber yield of the potato varieties. For both Lamoka and Waneta, the plant height and canopy cover were lower under 40% DI than under 20% DI and FI treatments. The SPAD meter values were higher under 40% DI, followed by 20% DI and FI treatments, whereas the stomatal conductance was higher under FI, followed by 20% DI and 40% DI during both growing seasons. Regardless of nitrogen rates and variety, a 20% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced the total tuber yield by 4.5% and 22.1% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, while the 40% water-saving irrigation strategy reduced total tuber yield by 36.8% and 58.2% in the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, respectively, as compared to full irrigation. Shifting from full irrigation to 20% DI could save 711.2 to 1036.3 m3/ha of irrigation water. For Lamoka, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 220 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. For Waneta, the highest total tuber yield was obtained with 115 kg N/ha under 20% DI and 170 kg N/ha under FI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained at 60 kg N/ha with 20% DI for both Lamoka and Waneta in 2022, while maximum WUE was obtained at 220 kg N/ha under FI for Lamoka and at 170 kg N/ha for Waneta in the 2023 season. The maximum nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was achieved with 60 kg N/ha under 20% DI for both varieties during both growing seasons. Thus, for sustainable irrigation and nitrogen management, the application of a 20% deficit irrigation strategy with a lower nitrogen rate (60 to 170 kg N/ha) could be the best option to improve WUE and NUE with minimal tuber yield reduction. Our study suggested that 40% deficit irrigation would not be beneficial as compared to both full irrigation and 20% water-saving irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient dry matter intake (DMI) of pasture by dairy cattle is a major factor limiting growth and milk production; however, it has been hypothesized that some dairy breeds may be more efficient grazers than others. This study was conducted to determine whether dairy breed types differ in DMI and feed efficiency when grazing either grass monoculture or grass-legume mixed pastures. The experiment compared 4 different dairy breed types (Jersey, Holstein, Holstein-Jersey crossbreds, and Montbéliarde-Swedish Red-Holstein 3-breed crossbreds) and 2 levels of pasture type [grass monoculture (MONO) and grass-birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) mixture (MX)] for a total of 8 treatments. Pastures were rotationally stocked with groups of 4 prepubertal heifers for 105 d for 3 yr, and DMI was determined from herbage disappearance. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and residual feed intake (RFI) were then derived from DMI, and heifer body weights (BW) and normalized to animal units (AU) as 40% metabolic mature BW of the corresponding dairy breed type to account for inherent differences in size and growth rates. We observed differences in DMI and feed efficiency among breed types and between pasture types. On average, Holsteins had the greatest overall DMI (4.4 kg/AU), followed by intermediate DMI by the crossbreds (4.0 kg/AU), and Jerseys had the least DMI (3.6 kg/AU). Heifers grazing MX pastures had on average 22% greater DMI than those grazing MONO, but heifers on grass monocultures were more efficient in converting DMI to BW gain (i.e., RFI/AU of 0.27 and −0.27, respectively; more negative RFI numbers indicate less DMI to achieve the expected gains). Overall, Jerseys had the most favorable feed efficiency; however, ranking of Holsteins and crossbreds depended upon the feed efficiency metric. This study is one of the first to compare the interaction of dairy breed and pasture quality on grazing efficiency. However, the lack of a breed type × pasture type interaction for DMI, FCE, or RFI indicated that none of these dairy breed types were better adapted than another breed type to pastures with contrasting levels of nutritive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Need for Innovation: Advocacy is a key competency of Canadian residency education, yet physicians seldom engage with supraclinical advocacy efforts upon completion of training. Objective of innovation: The objective was to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to engage as physician‐advocates in their communities using opinion writing as a tool. Developmental process: We used Kern's six‐step framework to leverage a common medical training method, simulation, to teach journalistic skills related to advocacy in our novel "simulated newsroom." Two emergency physicians with journalism training and workplace experience developed simulated newsroom workshops. The simulated newsroom consisted of participants acting as journalists and the expert facilitator acting as a news editor over two workshops. The participants were encouraged to write and workshop an article with colleagues. Evaluation: Participants were invited to participate in a semistructured focus group and to submit their article for qualitative analysis. Focus group transcripts and written work were qualitatively analyzed to understand acceptability and feasibility and how participants might engage as future health advocates. Outcomes: Twelve participants registered for the workshops and six attended. All six participated in the focus group; four submitted written work. The innovation bolstered participants' confidence in advocacy through the popular press and provided demonstrable skills in opinion writing. Participants valued the workshop as a voluntary component of residency education led by physicians with journalism expertise. Discussion: The simulated newsroom may be an effective mechanism for increasing confidence and competence in advocacy writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy heifers developed in certified organic programs, especially those utilizing pasture-based management schemes, have lower rates of gain than heifers raised in nonorganic confinement production systems in temperate climates, such as in the Intermountain West region of the United States. This study investigates the effects that different forages in a rotational grazing system have on development of organically raised Jersey heifers. Over 3 years, 210 yearling Jersey heifers were randomly assigned to one of 9 treatments, including a conventional confinement control where animals were fed a total mixed ration or one of 8 pasture treatments: Cache Meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehmann), QuickDraw orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), Amazon perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), or Fawn tall fescue (Schendonorus arundinaceus [Schreb.] Dumort) and each individual grass interseeded with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L., BFT). Each treatment had 3 blocks/yr over the 3-yr period, with each block having a 0.4 ha pasture of each treatment. Every 35 d, over a 105-d period, heifers were weighed and measured for hip height, and blood samples were collected to determine serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Fecal egg counts were also assessed. Heifer body weight (BW), blood urea nitrogen, and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations were affected by treatment when analyzed over time. Heifers on grass-BFT pastures had increased BW compared with heifers on monoculture grass pastures. Heifers receiving a total mixed ration or perennial ryegrass+BFT had increased BW gain over the 105-d period compared with heifers grazing tall fescue+BFT, orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, meadow bromegrass, or tall fescue. Individually for all grass species, heifers grazing +BFT pastures had greater ending BW and weight gain than heifers grazing the respective grass monocultures. Furthermore, weight gain for heifers on perennial ryegrass+BFT, meadow bromegrass+BFT, and orchard grass+BFT were not different from those on a total mixed ration. Heifers grazing grass-BFT pastures had increased blood urea nitrogen compared with heifers grazing monoculture grass pastures. Heifer hip height and fecal egg counts were not affected by treatment. These results show that the addition of BFT to organic pasture improves growth of grazing replacement heifers. Economic analyses also demonstrate that interseeding grass pastures with BFT results in an increased economic return compared with grazing monoculture grass pastures. Grass pastures interseeded with BFT may be a sustainable option to achieve adequate growth of Jersey heifers raised in an organic pasture scenario in a temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low dietary energy and decreased intake of herbage have been attributed to the reduced performance of grazing dairy cattle. We hypothesized that grasses with inherently greater energy would interact in a complementary way with condensed tannins (CT) in birdsfoot trefoil to increase herbage intake by grazing dairy heifers. Eight pasture treatments comprising high-sugar perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehmann), and tall fescue [ Schendonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] were established in Lewiston, Utah as monocultures and binary mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.; BFT). Pasture treatments were rotationally stocked by Jersey heifers for 105 d in 2017 and 2018, and herbage samples were collected pre- and postgrazing for each 7-d grazing period and analyzed for herbage mass, nutritive value, and apparent herbage intake. We observed differences among pasture treatments in herbage quantity and nutritive value, as well as differences in herbage intake by grazing Jersey heifers. On average, grass-BFT mixtures had greater herbage intake than grass monocultures, and every grass-BFT treatment individually had greater herbage intake than their respective grass monocultures. Using multivariate analyses, we determined that approximately 50% of the variation in herbage intake was due to nutritive and physical herbage characteristics, with the most explanatory being characteristics related to fiber and energy, followed by those related to the percent of BFT in the herbage. Grass monocultures exhibited a range of inherent dietary energy, but there was indication that an imbalance of energy to crude protein (e.g., protein deficient) reduced intake of grass monocultures. Moreover, there was some evidence of a complementary effect between increased dietary energy and CT; however, low CT levels made it impossible to determine the effect of CT on herbage intake per se. This study confirmed that chemical and physical characteristics inherent to different pasture species have a large effect on herbage intake by grazing cattle. Pastures planted to binary mixtures of nutritious grasses and birdsfoot trefoil increase herbage intake of temperate pastures by grazing Jersey heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon Ag exposure, naive B cells expressing BCR able to bind Ag can undergo robust proliferation and differentiation that can result in the production of Ab-secreting and memory B cells. The factors determining whether an individual naive B cell will proliferate following Ag encounter remains unclear. In this study, we found that polyclonal naive murine B cell populations specific for a variety of foreign Ags express high levels of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77, which is known to be upregulated downstream of BCR signaling as a result of cross-reactivity with self-antigens in vivo. Similarly, a fraction of naive human B cells specific for clinically- relevant Ags derived from respiratory syncytial virus and HIV-1 also exhibited an IgMLOW IgD+ phenotype, which is associated with self-antigen cross-reactivity. Functionally, naive B cells expressing moderate levels of Nur77 are most likely to proliferate in vivo following Ag injection. Together, our data indicate that BCR cross-reactivity with self-antigen is a common feature of populations of naive B cells specific for foreign Ags and a moderate level of cross-reactivity primes individual cells for optimal proliferative responses following Ag exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative sepsis is a rare but serious complication following elective surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of postoperative sepsis following elective laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) and to identify patients' modifiable, preoperative risk factors.Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried from 2005 to 2013 for factors associated with the development of postoperative sepsis following elective LGBP. Patients who developed sepsis were compared to those who did not. Results were analyzed using the Chi-square test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon two-sample test for continuous variables. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to calculate adjusted odds ratios for factors contributing to sepsis.Results: During the study period, 66,838 patients underwent LGBP. Of those, 546 patients developed postoperative sepsis (0.82%). The development of sepsis was associated with increased operative time (161 ± 77.8 vs. 135.10 ± 56.5 min; p < 0.0001) and a greater number of preoperative comorbidities, including diabetes (39.6 vs. 30.6%; p < 0.0001), hypertension requiring medication (65.2 vs. 54%; p < 0.0001), current tobacco use (16.7 vs. 11.5%; p = 0.0002), and increased pack-year history of smoking (8.6 ± 18.3 vs. 5.6 ± 14.2; p = 0.0006), and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.51 ± 0.74 vs. 0.35 ± 0.57, p < 0.0001). Sepsis resulted in an increased length of stay (10.1 ± 14.4 vs. 2.4 ± 4.8 days; p < 0.0001) and a 30 times greater chance of 30-day mortality (4.03 vs. 0.11%, p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that current smokers had a 63% greater chance of developing sepsis compared to non-smokers, controlling for age, race, gender, BMI, and CCI score (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.23-2.14; p = 0.0006).Conclusions: Laparoscopic gastric bypass is uncommonly associated with postoperative sepsis. When it occurs, it portends a 30 times increased risk of death. A patient history of diabetes, hypertension, and increasing pack-years of smoking portend an increased risk of sepsis. Current smoking status, a preoperative modifiable risk factor, is independently associated with the chance of postoperative sepsis. Preoperative patient optimization and risk reduction should be a priority for elective surgery, and patients should be encouraged to stop smoking prior to gastric bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemogenomic approaches involving highly annotated compound sets and cell based high throughput screening are emerging as a means to identify novel drug targets. We have previously screened a collection of highly characterized kinase inhibitors (Khan et al., Journal of General Virology, 2016) to identify compounds that increase or decrease expression of a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) protein in infected cells. To identify potential novel anti-HCMV drug targets we used a machine learning approach to relate our phenotypic data from the aforementioned screen to kinase inhibition profiling of compounds used in this screen. Several of the potential targets had no previously reported role in HCMV replication. We focused on one potential anti-HCMV target, MAPK4K, and identified lead compounds inhibiting MAP4K4 that have anti-HCMV activity with little cellular cytotoxicity. We found that treatment of HCMV infected cells with inhibitors of MAP4K4, or an siRNA that inhibited MAP4K4 production, reduced HCMV replication and impaired detection of IE2-60, a viral protein necessary for efficient HCMV replication. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this machine learning approach to identify novel anti-viral drug targets, which can inform the discovery of novel anti-viral lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fifty years ago this summer, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association. The UAGA has provided a sound and stable legal platform on which to base an effective nationwide organ donation system. The cardinal principles of altruism, autonomy, and public trust are still important. At a time when confidence and trust in our government and many private institutions has declined, maintaining trust and confidence in our health care system and its commitment to “first, do no harm” has never been more important. Any policies that override these core ethical principles could cause irreparable damage to the public's faith in our transplant system. While progress has been made to increase organ registration and the number of organs transplanted, much more must be done to realize the potential of life‐saving therapy without jeopardizing ethical principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halogeton ( Halogeton glomeratus) is an invasive species that displaces Gardner's saltbush ( Atriplex gardneri) on saline rangelands, whereas, forage kochia ( Bassia prostrata) potentially can rehabilitate these ecosystems. Salinity tolerance has been hypothesized as the predominant factor affecting frequency of these species. This study compared relative salinity tolerance of these species, and tall wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum ponticum) and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa). Plants were evaluated in hydroponics, eliminating the confounding effects of drought, for 28 days at 0, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mmol/L NaCl. Survival, growth, and ion accumulation were determined. Alfalfa and tall wheatgrass shoot mass were reduced to 32% of the control at 150 mmol/L. Forage kochia survived to 600 mmol/L, but mass was reduced at all salinity levels. Halogeton and Gardner's saltbush increased or maintained shoot mass up to 400 mmol/L. Furthermore, both actively accumulated sodium in shoots, indicating that Na+ was the principle ion in osmotic adjustment, whereas, forage kochia exhibited passive (linear) Na+ accumulation as salinity increased. This study confirmed the halophytic nature of these three species, but, moreover, discovered that Gardner's saltbush was as saline tolerant as halogeton, whereas, forage kochia was less tolerant. Therefore, factors other than salinity tolerance drive these species' differential persistence in saline-desert ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission of human cytomegalovirus (CMV), from a pregnant woman to her fetus can cause congenital CMV infection, with life-long problems in some infected children. The presence of CMV in an infected individual's bodily fluid is known as shedding. An individual can become infected with CMV through contact with another individual who is shedding CMV in their bodily fluid, and the avoidance of contact with infected fluids may reduce the risk of infection. We explored the experiences of pregnant women taking part in a study investigating CMV shedding, to identify the potential facilitators and barriers towards engaging pregnant women with CMV risk-reduction measures. Twenty pregnant women participated in semi-structured, end-of-study, telephone interviews, analysed using thematic analysis. They participated in an observational study investigating CMV shedding in pregnant women previously infected with CMV living with young children. Participating women considered that CMV testing of themselves and their newborns was a benefit of participation, without raising additional concerns. They identified that their participation was contingent on a balance of convenience and inconvenience, and benefits and risks. Participation increased their awareness of their hygiene-based practices, leading to behavioural modifications that put them in contact with urine and saliva of their children without instructions to do so. These behavioural modifications might interfere with household routines. However, they recognised it to be a time-limited risk-reduction measure, and felt empowered by the knowledge they had gained through study participation and the support they had received from their partners. Participating women gained an increased awareness of their behaviour, resulting in behavioural modification without instructions to do this, in line with previous findings that trial participation can impact on participants' thinking about their behaviour with a possibility to influence change. Maternal research and risk-reduction measures should be centred around being informative, convenient, empowering, and supportive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public-private partnerships allow many previously unavailable compounds to be screened for antiviral activity. Here a screening method was used to identify an oxindole compound, RO0504985, from a Roche kinase inhibitor library that inhibited human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) protein production. RO0504985 was previously described as an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). However, using kinase selectivity assays it was found that RO0504985 was an inhibitor of several CMGC group kinase proteins, including CDK2. Using virus yield reduction assays it was observed that RO0504985 inhibited replication of different HCMV strains at low micromolar concentrations. Western blotting was used to investigate how RO0504985 inhibited HCMV replication. Treatment of HCMV infected cells with RO0504985 inhibited production of the immediate early viral IE2 proteins and the late viral protein pp28. Thus, RO0504985 inhibited HCMV replication by preventing production of specific HCMV proteins necessary for virus replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fertilizer prices and improved environmental stewardship have increased interest in grasslegume mixed pastures. It has been hypothesized, but not validated, that the ecological combining ability between grasses and legumes can be improved by breeding specifically for mixture performance. This experiment examined the predicted efficiency of selection in a grass monoculture environment to indirectly improve tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum(Schreb.) Darbysh.) forage mass in a grass-legume mixture. Heritability, genetic and rank correlations, and selection efficiencies were estimated for forage mass in a tall fescue half-sib population grown as spaced-plants over seeded with either turf-type tall fescue (monoculture) or alfalfa (mixture). Heritability for tall fescue forage mass in monoculture ranged from 0.32 to 0.70 and were always similar or greater than those in mixture (range 0.27- 0.55) for four successive harvests and annual total. Genetic correlations between monoculture and mixture tall fescue forage mass varied with values of 0.48, 0.92, -0.31, 0.70, and 0.25 in June, July, August, October, and annual total, respectively. Indirect selection efficiencies exceeded or approached direct selection for mixtures only in July and October (1.29, and 0.73, respectively). Whereas, indirect selection efficiencies were low in June, August, and annual forage mass (0.58, -0.31, and 0.28, respectively). Moreover, low Spearman’s rank correlations (-0.03 to 0.35) indicated differing half-sib family performance between the monoculture and mixture environments. Results indicate that direct selection should be used to improve tall fescue forage mass in a grass-legume mixture, and support the hypothesis of increasing ecological combining ability by breeding for mixtures per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive irrigation and nutrient management practices in agriculture have given rise to serious issues in aquifer water depletion and groundwater quality. This review discusses the effects of irrigation and nitrogen management practices on potato growth, yield, and quality, and their impacts on water and nitrogen use efficiencies. This review also highlights the economics and consequences of applying deficit irrigation strategies in potato production. Many researchers have demonstrated that excessive irrigation and nitrogen application rates negatively impact potato tuber yield and quality while also increasing nitrate leaching, energy consumption, and the overall costs of production. An application of light-to-moderate deficit irrigation (10–30% of full irrigation) together with reduced nitrogen rates (60–170 kg/ha) has a great potential to improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies while obtaining optimum yield and quality in potato production, depending on the climate, variety, soil type, and water availability. There is an opportunity to reduce N application rates in potato production through deficit irrigation practices by minimizing nitrate leaching beyond the crop root zone. The best irrigation and nitrogen management techniques for potato production, as discussed in this review, include using sprinkle and drip irrigation techniques, irrigation scheduling based on local crop coefficients, soil moisture content, and crop modeling techniques, applying slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers, split nitrogen application, and applying water and nitrogenous fertilizers in accordance with crop growth stage requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale Nutt. [Fabaceae]) is a perennial legume native to the Intermountain Region of the western US and Canada. 'Timp', the only cultivar of this species, has poor seed production. Here we report the release of 'Basin' Utah sweetvetch as a replacement for Timp for use in revegetation of rangelands in the Intermountain Region of the western US. Basin is derived from 3 cycles of recurrent selection for increased seed and forage mass production, and it traces to 16 germplasm sources originating from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah. In 3 y of testing, Basin exceeded Timp in seed yield, with 682 compared to 320 kg/ha (608 compared to 285 lb/ac), and in forage biomass at 1263 compared to 659 kg/ha (1126 compared to 588 lb/ac). Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber, measures of forage nutritive value, of Basin were comparable, if not better, than alfalfa. The release of Basin provides seed companies and public and private land managers an improved Utah sweetvetch with increased seed and forage production for revegetation projects in the Intermountain areas of the western US. Specifically, its increased seed production should increase seed availability and thus, reduce the price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to formulating pyrotechnic materials is presented whereby constituent ingredients are bound together in a solid-state lattice. This reduces the batch inconsistencies arising from the traditional approach of combining powders by ensuring the key ingredients are ‘mixed’ in appropriate quantities and are in intimate contact. Further benefits of these types of material are increased safety levels as well as simpler logistics, storage and manufacture. A systematic series of new frameworks comprising fuel and oxidiser agents (group 1 and 2 metal nodes & terephthalic acid derivatives as linkers) has been synthesised and structurally characterised. These new materials have been assessed for pyrotechnic effect by calorimetry and burn tests. Results indicate that these materials exhibit the desired pyrotechnic material properties and the effect can be correlated to the dimensionality of the structure. A new approach to formulating pyrotechnic materials is proposed whereby constituent ingredients are bound together in a solid-state lattice. A series of Metal–organic framework frameworks comprising fuel and oxidiser agents exhibits the desired properties of a pyrotechnic material and this effect is correlated to the dimensionality of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nipah virus is a zoonotic paramyxovirus that causes severe respiratory and/or encephalitic disease in humans, often resulting in death. It is transmitted from pteropus fruit bats, which serve as the natural reservoir of the virus, and outbreaks occur on an almost annual basis in Bangladesh or India. Outbreaks are small and sporadic, and several cases of human-to-human transmission have been documented as an important feature of the epidemiology of Nipah virus disease. There are no approved countermeasures to combat infection and medical intervention is supportive. We recently generated a recombinant replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine that encodes a Nipah virus glycoprotein as an antigen and is highly efficacious in the hamster model of Nipah virus disease. Herein, we show that this vaccine protects African green monkeys, a well-characterized model of Nipah virus disease, from disease one month after a single intramuscular administration of the vaccine. Vaccination resulted in a rapid and strong virus-specific immune response which inhibited virus shedding and replication. This vaccine platform provides a rapid means to afford protection from Nipah virus in an outbreak situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products represent a large sector of the meat snack category in the meat and poultry industry. Determining the physiochemical conditions that prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens, namely, Staphylococcus aureus postprocessing, is not entirely clear. Until recently, pH and water activity (aw) criteria for shelf stability has been supported from the U.S. Department of Agriculture training materials. However, concern about the source and scientific validity of these critical parameters has brought their use into question. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate different combinations of pH and aw that could be used for establishing scientifically supported shelf stability criteria defined as preventing S. aureus growth postprocessing. Snack sausages were manufactured with varying pH (5.6, 5.1, and 4.7) and aw (0.96, 0.92, and 0.88) to achieve a total of nine treatments. The treatments were inoculated with a three-strain mixture of S. aureus, with populations measured at days 0, 7, 14, and 28 during 21°C storage. Results revealed treatments with a pH ≤ 5.1 and aw ≤ 0.96 did not support the growth of S. aureus and thus could be considered shelf stable for this pathogen. The results provide validated shelf stability parameters to inhibit growth of S. aureus in meat and poultry products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Nipah virus is an emerging zoonosis causing severe illness in humans. [•] ‘Emergency vaccines’ are needed for a practical outbreak response. [•] Live-attenuated single-dose VSV vectors expressing Nipah antigens are efficacious in hamsters. [•] Antibodies are the mechanism of protection conferred by the VSV vectors. [•] New VSV Nipah vectors are potential vaccine candidates for ring vaccination approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andes virus (ANDV) is highly pathogenic in humans and is the primary etiologic agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in South America. Case-fatality rates are as high as 50% and there are no approved vaccines or specific therapies for infection. Our laboratory has recently developed a replication-competent recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based vaccine that expressed the glycoproteins of Andes virus in place of the native VSV glycoprotein (G). This vaccine is highly efficacious in the Syrian hamster model of HCPS when given 28 days before challenge with ANDV, or when given around the time of challenge (peri-exposure), and even protects when administered post-exposure. Herein, we sought to test the durability of the immune response to a single dose of this vaccine in Syrian hamsters. This vaccine was efficacious in hamsters challenged intranasally with ANDV 6 months after vaccination (p = 0.025), but animals were not significantly protected following 1 year of vaccination (p = 0.090). The decrease in protection correlated with a reduction of measurable neutralizing antibody responses, and suggests that a more robust vaccination schedule might be required to provide long-term immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is a drought and salt tolerant perennial, semi-shrub that has proven to be valuable forage in the western United States, but can be difficult to reliably establish. This study evaluated the effects that forage kochia entry (accession and seed lot combinations) and planting date have on forage kochia seed germination in the field. Evaluated were recently harvested and cold-stored, yearold seed from one accession each of Bassia prostrata subspecies virescens and grisea. Planting was simulated by placing seed packets at ground level, at two Utah locations, once each month mid-January through mid-April. Subsequently, seed packets were retrieved every 15 d until 75 d after planting (DAP) to determine the amount of seed that had germinated. Forage kochia germination was affected (P < 0.05) by the accession and seed lot combination and planting date. At 45 DAP, when germination was at or near maximum, recently harvested seed of subspecies grisea had field germination of 84, 96, 80, and 28% compared with virescens germination of 59, 55, 27, and 14% for planting dates in January, February, March, and April, respectively. Year-old seed of both subspecies had much lower field germination of 13, 14, 10, and 7% for grisea and 6, 9, 0, and 0% for virescens during the same planting dates of January through April. These results confirm that seeding in January or February using recently harvested seed of subspecies grisea promotes forage kochia germination and increases the likelihood of successful stand establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research is essential for the development of evidence-based emergency medical services (EMS) systems of care. When resources are scarce and gaps in evidence are large, a national agenda may inform the growth of EMS research in Canada. This mixed methods consensus study explores current barriers and existing strengths within Canadian EMS research, provides recommendations, and suggests EMS topics for future study. Methods: Purposeful sampling was employed to invite EMS research stakeholders from various roles across the country. Study phases consisted of 1) baseline interviews of a subsample, 2) roundtable discussion, and 3) an online Delphi survey, in which participants scored each statement for importance. Consensus was defined a priori and met if 80% scored a statement as "important" or "very important." Results: Fifty-three stakeholders participated, representing researchers (37.7%), EMS administrators (24.6%), clinicians/ providers (20.7%), and educators (17.0%). Participation rates were as follows: interviews, 13 of 13 (100%); roundtable, 47 of 53 (89%); survey round 1, 50 of 53 (94%); survey round 2, 47 of 53 (89%); and survey round 3, 40 of 53 (75%). A total of 141 statements were identified as important: 20 barriers, 54 strengths/opportunities, 31 recommendations, and 36 suggested topics for future research. Like statements were synthesized, resulting in barriers (n = 10), strengths/opportunities (n = 24), and recommendations (n = 19), which were categorized as time, opportunities, and funding; education and mentorship; culture of research and collaboration; structure, process, and outcome of research; EMS and paramedic practice; and the future of the EMS Research Agenda. Conclusion: Consensus-based key messages from this agenda should be considered when designing, funding, and publishing EMS research and will advance EMS research locally, regionally, and nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease in humans. The mechanisms of pathogenesis are not well described. The first Nipah virus outbreak occurred in Malaysia, where human disease had a strong neurological component. Subsequent outbreaks have occurred in Bangladesh and India and transmission and disease processes in these outbreaks appear to be different from those of the Malaysian outbreak. Until this point, virtually all Nipah virus studies in vitro and in vivo, including vaccine and pathogenesis studies, have utilized a virus isolate from the original Malaysian outbreak (NiV-M). To investigate potential differences between NiV-M and a Nipah virus isolate from Bangladesh (NiV-B), we compared NiV-M and NiV-B infection in vitro and in vivo. In hamster kidney cells, NiV-M-infection resulted in extensive syncytia formation and cytopathic effects, whereas NiV-B-infection resulted in little to no morphological changes. In vivo, NiV-M-infected Syrian hamsters had accelerated virus replication, pathology and death when compared to NiV-B-infected animals. NiV-M infection also resulted in the activation of host immune response genes at an earlier time point. Pathogenicity was not only a result of direct effects of virus replication, but likely also had an immunopathogenic component. The differences observed between NiV-M and NiV-B pathogeneis in hamsters may relate to differences observed in human cases. Characterization of the hamster model for NiV-B infection allows for further research of the strain of Nipah virus responsible for the more recent outbreaks in humans. This model can be used to study NiV-B pathogenesis, transmission, and countermeasures that could be used to control outbreaks. Author Summary: Nipah virus causes severe disease in humans and outbreaks have occurred in two geographic regions, Malaysia and Bangladesh, and viruses have been isolated during outbreaks from both of these regions (NiV-M and NiV-B, respectively). The original outbreak of Nipah virus occurred in Malaysia and caused severe encephalitis in humans. All subsequent outbreaks of Nipah virus have occurred in Bangladesh or India and disease has been characterized as having a strong respiratory component. Nipah virus is a public health concern that can cause up to 100% lethality in humans and there is no approved treatment or vaccine. Current research should focus on understanding disease progression and pathogenicity. We compared NiV-M and NiV-B infection and disease progression using the Syrian hamster model. We found that NiV-M is more destructive in cultured hamster cells and has faster onset of cytopathogenicity compared to NiV-B. This is also true in hamsters, where although both viruses are pathogenic and cause a similar disease, pathology caused by NiV-M infection is accelerated. These data show that there is a difference in disease progression between the two strains of Nipah virus and will allow for a more detailed understanding of the events leading to disease caused by these viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease in humans. The mechanisms of pathogenesis are not well described. The first Nipah virus outbreak occurred in Malaysia, where human disease had a strong neurological component. Subsequent outbreaks have occurred in Bangladesh and India and transmission and disease processes in these outbreaks appear to be different from those of the Malaysian outbreak. Until this point, virtually all Nipah virus studies in vitro and in vivo, including vaccine and pathogenesis studies, have utilized a virus isolate from the original Malaysian outbreak (NiV-M). To investigate potential differences between NiV-M and a Nipah virus isolate from Bangladesh (NiV-B), we compared NiV-M and NiV-B infection in vitro and in vivo. In hamster kidney cells, NiV-M-infection resulted in extensive syncytia formation and cytopathic effects, whereas NiV-B-infection resulted in little to no morphological changes. In vivo, NiV-M-infected Syrian hamsters had accelerated virus replication, pathology and death when compared to NiV-B-infected animals. NiV-M infection also resulted in the activation of host immune response genes at an earlier time point. Pathogenicity was not only a result of direct effects of virus replication, but likely also had an immunopathogenic component. The differences observed between NiV-M and NiV-B pathogeneis in hamsters may relate to differences observed in human cases. Characterization of the hamster model for NiV-B infection allows for further research of the strain of Nipah virus responsible for the more recent outbreaks in humans. This model can be used to study NiV-B pathogenesis, transmission, and countermeasures that could be used to control outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a widely used, high-quality, sod-producing turfgrass. To maintain an acceptable level of quality and function requires irrigation in the semiarid regions of the western United States. Landscape water use, however, is coming under increased scrutiny, and reducing water inputs is a goal of many municipalities. To identify Poa germplasm that maintains green color under deficit irrigation over summer seasons, this study was designed to evaluate the percent of green cover of 24 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, accessions (including core collections), and other Poa species. Cultivars generally had a higher percent green cover in spring and fall, while several accessions and old U.S. cultivars showed higher green cover during summer months. Other Poa species did not have percent green cover values above any cultivars and as a group consistently performed the lowest. Core collections of Kentucky bluegrass, aimed at representing overall variability of the species with fewer accessions, had variance estimates equal to or higher than the overall group of accessions. Seven cultivars and accessions consistently had higher percent green cover than the Midnight cultivar check during the August data collection dates, highlighting the potential to improve Kentucky bluegrass green cover over summer seasons under deficit irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of facing cybercriminals who prey on children.

Abstract: The human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase subunit UL44 is a phosphoprotein, but its sites and roles of phosphorylation have not been investigated. We compared sites of phosphorylation of UL44 in vitro by the viral protein kinase UL97 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 with those in infected cells. Transient treatment of infected cells with a UL97 inhibitor greatly reduced labeling of two minor UL44 phosphopeptides. Viruses containing alanine substitutions of most UL44 residues that are phosphorylated in infected cells exhibited at most modest effects on viral DNA synthesis and yield. However, substitution of highly phosphorylated sites adjacent to the nuclear localization signal abolished viral replication. The results taken together are consistent with UL44 being phosphorylated directly by UL97 during infection, and a crucial role for phosphorylation-mediated nuclear localization of UL44 for viral replication, but lend little support to the widely held hypothesis that UL97-mediated phosphorylation of UL44 is crucial for viral DNA synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: We examined the effect of the 2005 American Heart Association guidelines on survival in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) Cardiac Arrest Epistry. Methods: We surveyed 174 EMS agencies from 8 of 10 ROC sites to determine 2005 AHA guideline implementation, or crossover, date. Two sites with 2005 compatible treatment algorithms prior to guideline release, and agencies that did not adopt the new guidelines during the study period were excluded. Non-traumatic adult cardiac arrests that were not witnessed by EMS, and did not have do not resuscitate orders were included. A linear mixed effects model was applied for survival controlling for time and agency. The “crossover” date was added to the model to determine the effect of the 2005 guidelines. Results: Of 174 agencies, 85 contributed cases to both cohorts during the 18 month period between 2005/12/01 and 2007/05/31. Of 7779 cases, 5054 occurred during the 13 month (median) interval before crossover and 2725 occurred in the five month (median) interval after crossover. The overall survival rate was 6.1%; 5.8% in the old cohort vs. 6.5%, p =0.23. For VF/VT patients, survival was 14.6% vs. 18.0%, p =0.063. Our model estimated no increase in survival over time (monthly OR 1.014, 95% CI 0.988, 1.041, p =0.28). Conclusion: This study found no significant change in survival rate over time in the early months after implementation. Further longitudinal study is needed to determine the full impact of the guidelines on survival and methods to translate knowledge quickly and effectively in EMS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A system for staging sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale Nutt. [Fabaceae]) through vegetative and reproductive plant development was established that corresponds with a heat unit or growing degree day (GDD) model. This framework designates 14 finite stages, Vi through V6 (pre-flowering or vegetative), and R1 through R8 (reproductive stages). The arrangement provides meaningful designations for management of the plant for seed production. Of 5 base temperatures tested in the development of the GDD model, 40 °F (4.4 °C) most accurately predicted the growth of sweetvetch through the 6 vegetative and 8 reproductive developmental stages. The GDD model showed that on average, each growth stage above V2 (pre-bud, 2 visible nodes) requires 118 GDD. Critical stages in the development of sweetvetch for seed production are late bud, flowering, pod formation, and seed maturity, which require 605, 841, 1076, and 1547 GDD, respectively. The proper application of this staging system and model can be useful for seed producers and collectors by providing an estimate of when the plant will reach critical growth stages, particularly for management of irrigation, insect pest control, and harvest. Historical temperature data could be used to predict the average calendar date when sweetvetch will reach a given growth stage, or where real-time data are available, dates of stages may be accurately predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence shows that changes in the architecture, design, and decor of health care facilities can improve patient care and in the long run reduce expenses. These essays detail the state of the research, look inside two hospitals that put some of these innovations into practice, and consider how design fits into the moral mission ofhealth care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel care for patients in challenging and dynamic environments that may contribute to an increased risk for adverse events. However, little is known about the risks to patient safety in the EMS setting. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review of the literature, including nonrandomized, noncontrolled studies, conducted qualitative interviews of key informants, and, with the assistance of a pan-Canadian advisory board, hosted a 1-day summit of 52 experts in the field of EMS patient safety. The intent of the summit was to review available research, discuss the issues affecting prehospital patient safety, and discuss interventions that might improve the safety of the EMS industry. The primary objective was to define the strategic goals for improving patient safety in EMS. Participants represented all geographic regions of Canada and included administrators, educators, physicians, researchers, and patient safety experts. Data were collected through electronic voting and qualitative analysis of the discussions. The group reached consensus on nine recommendations to increase awareness, reduce adverse events, and suggest research and educational directions in EMS patient safety: increasing awareness of patient safety principles, improving adverse event reporting through creating nonpunitive reporting systems, supporting paramedic clinical decision making through improved research and education, policy changes, using flexible algorithms, adopting patient safety strategies from other disciplines, increasing funding for research in patient safety, salary support for paramedic researchers, and access to graduate training in prehospital research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A downstream controller is designed for an irrigation canal reach using a design technique called quantitative feedback control theory (QFT). The performance of this controller is compared to a proportional, integral, derivative (PID) controller and a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller. In this study, the QFT controller is designed for a single canal reach because it best demonstrates how a controller is designed. Previous research for this canal model provided data for comparison. For the operating conditions that are defined in this paper, the QFT controller is shown to have slightly better performance than the PID controller and better performance than the LQR controller. When the canal hydraulic roughness is increased, the QFT controller still performed better than the PID controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forage kochia [Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.] has been shown to be nutritious fall and winter forage on western U.S. rangelands; however, its utilization by livestock is not well understood. This study compared relative cattle preferences among forage kochia accessions, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia spp.), and how they related to nutritional and morphological characteristics. Relative preference was measured as biomass consumed on experimental plots near Promontory, UT, during September of 2002 and 2003. Preference differences (P < 0.01) were found among forage kochia accessions; however, all were consumed to some level, ranging from 71 to 35% of biomass consumed. Traits highly associated with biomass consumed included pregrazing biomass (r= 0.93), phenological maturity (r = -0.85), branch density (r = 0.80), and leafiness (r = 0.70) suggesting that productive, leafy, less mature plants are preferred by cattle. Crude protein, fiber, and digestibility were moderately associated with cattle preference but were not consistent predictors. Overall, we conclude that forage kochia is a palatable shrub for grazing during the fall, with preference and utilization of some entries being comparable to alfalfa and greater than winterfat. Grazing behavior also suggested that forage kochia growing in a mixture with adapted grasses would enhance livestock utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The American Heart Association (AHA) released guidelines to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2005. We sought to identify what barriers delayed the implementation of these guidelines in EMS agencies. Methods: We surveyed 178 EMS agencies as part of a larger quantitative survey regarding guideline implementation and conducted a single-question semi-structured interview using the Grounded Theory method. We asked “What barriers if any, delayed implementation of the (2005 AHA) guidelines in your EMS agency?” Data were coded and member validation was employed to verify our findings. Results: 176/178 agencies completed the quantitative survey. Qualitative data collection ceased after reaching theoretical saturation with 34 interviews. Ten unique barriers were identified. We categorized these 10 barriers into three themes. The theme instruction delays (reported by 41% of respondents) included three barriers: booking/training instructors (9%), receiving training materials (15%), and scheduling staff for training (18%). The second theme, defibrillator delays (38%), included two barriers; reprogramming defibrillators (24%) and receiving new defibrillators to replace non-upgradeable units (15%). The third theme was decision-making (38%) and included five barriers; coordinating with allied agencies (9%), government regulators such as state and provincial health authorities (9%), medical direction and base hospitals (9%), ROC participation (9%), and internal crises (3%). Conclusion: Many barriers contributed to delays in the implementation of the 2005 AHA guidelines in EMS agencies. These identified barriers should be proactively addressed prior to the 2010 Guidelines to facilitate rapid translation of science into clinical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Therapeutic hypothermia improves outcomes in resuscitated cardiac arrest patients, but prior application rates are less than 30%. We sought to evaluate self-reported physician adoption, predictors of adoption, and barriers to use among Canadian emergency and critical care physicians. A web-based modified Dillman questionnaire asked all physicians on the membership lists of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and the Canadian Critical Care Forum physicians to report their experience with therapeutic hypothermia using the Pathman framework of changing physician behaviour. We used logistic regression to explore the association between physician and practice variables and the adoption of therapeutic hypothermia. We surveyed 1264 physicians; 39% responded. Most (78%) were emergency physicians, 54% worked at tertiary care hospitals, 62% treated >10 arrests annually and 50% had standardized cooling protocols. Most respondents were aware of therapeutic hypothermia (99%) and agreed that it is beneficial (91%), but only two-thirds (68%) had used it in clinical practice. Predictors for adopting therapeutic hypothermia included critical care field of practice (OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.5–16.0), availability of a cooling protocol (OR 5.6, CI 3.1–10.0), being <10 years post-residency (OR 2.0, CI 1.2–3.3), and treating >10 cardiac arrests annually (OR 2.6, CI 1.6–4.1). Common barriers included: lack of awareness of recommended practice (31%), perceptions of poor prognosis (25%), too much work required to cool (20%) and staffing shortages (20%). Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest has not been universally adopted. Adoption might be improved through protocol implementation, education about benefits and prognosis, and strategies to make administration easier. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A swinging drag body flowmeter was designed and tested under laboratory conditions. The meter was designed to measure flowrate in an irrigation water pipe. The meter consisted of a paddle, a rotating mechanism, and a potentiometer to measure paddle position. The rotating mechanism was mounted in a head unit that was strapped to a water pipe. The paddle extended from the rotating mechanism at the pipe wall, down through the center of the pipe. Drag and lift formulas were used to analyze flowmeter behavior and determine if these equations could be used to develop other flowmeters of this design. The lab data showed a strong correlation to the theoretical equations but there were significant errors between the two sets of data. The meter behaved in a repeatable and stable manner over two months of lab testing. It is believed that this design is particularly suited for irrigation pipe flow applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor about the importance of healthcare physical environment is presented.

The central enzyme responsible for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA synthesis is a virally encoded DNA polymerase that includes a catalytic subunit, UL54, and a homodimeric accessory subunit, UL44, the presumptive HCMV DNA polymerase processivity factor. The structure of UL44 is similar to that of the eukaryotic processivity factor proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which interacts with numerous other proteins required for faithful DNA replication. We sought to determine whether, like PCNA, UL44 is capable of interacting with multiple DNA replication proteins and, if so, whether these proteins bind UL44 at the site corresponding to where multiple proteins bind to PCNA. Initially, several proteins, including the viral DNA replication factors UL84 and UL57, were identified by mass spectrometry in immunoprecipitates of UL44 from infected cell lysate. The association of UL44/UL84, but not UL44/UL57, was confirmed by reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation of these proteins from infected cell lysates and was resistant to nuclease treatment. Yeast two-hybrid analyses demonstrated that the substitution of residues in UL44 that prevent UL44 homodimerization or abrogate the binding of UL54 to UL44 do not abrogate the UL44/UL84 interaction. Reciprocal glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pulldown experiments using bacterially expressed UL44 and UL84 confirmed these results and, further, demonstrated that a UL54-derived peptide that competes with UL54 for UL44 binding does not prevent the association of UL84 with UL44. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that UL44 and UL84 interact directly using a region of UL44 different from the UL54 binding site. Thus, UL44 can bind interacting replication proteins using a mechanism different from that of PCNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small burnet (Sanguisorba minor Scop.) is an evergreen forb readily utilized by livestock and wildlife that lacks persistence under heavy grazing. Our objective was to characterize all available National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) small burnet germplasm for ploidy level and agronomic characteristics before initiating a breeding program. Ploidy level was determined by flow cytometry. Forage yield, flowering date, mortality, growth habit, and leafiness were determined at two locations in Utah. Of the materials tested 68% were tetraploids (2n = 4x = 28) and 32% octaploids (2n = 8x = 56). Significant variation was observed for all traits. Mean forage yield of the small burnet was 1.45 Mg ha-1, ranging from not measurable to 2.96 Mg ha-1 compared to Ladak alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at 2.28 mg ha-1. Flowering date varied among accessions by 12 d while mortality ranged from 0 to 100%. Variation was displayed in growth habit, including prostrate and upright forms, and leafiness. The range among accessions was similar within the two ploidy levels for all traits except flowering date which was 2 d earlier in the octaploids. It was shown that tetraploids and octaploids are present in roughly a 2:1 ratio in the NPGS small burnet germplasm. The forage production of some small burnet accessions can be comparable to alfalfa, and phenotypic variation is such that the germplasm has potential for improvement through recurrent selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Introduction: Prehospital termination of resuscitation rules are used to decide on one of two actions: to continue resuscitation and transport to hospital or to terminate resuscitation. The literature is confusing as some rules are derived with survival as the outcome of interest (predicting when to transport and reporting sensitivity and negative predictive value) and other rules use death (predicting when to terminate resuscitation and reporting specificity and positive predictive value). Very few publish the EMS transport rate when the rule is applied; the outcome of interest to EMS services. Methods: We propose to review the test characteristics and transport rates of the decision rules published between 1966 and 2007. Results: We identified 9 analyses of 6 termination of resuscitation rules; 1 inhospital, and 5 prehospital (2 advance and 3 basic life support providers). The inhospital and the basic life support rules were derived using survival whereas the advance life support rules were derived using death. The transport rate was published in two studies. When all the rules were reanalysed for death the specificity varied from 90.2% to 100%, the positive predictive value from 99.5% to 100% and the transport rate varied from 37% to 91%. Conclusion: We suggest that the diagnostic test characteristics of termination of resuscitation rules should be reported with death as the primary outcome which identifies for the paramedics futile resuscitations that should be terminated in the field. We also emphasize the need to report transport rates to provide the EMS services with an implementation benchmark. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Resilience is increasingly part of the discussion on climate change, yet there is a lack of breeding for resilience per se. This experiment examined the genetic parameters of a novel, direct measure of resilience to water deficit in tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.). Heritability, genetic correlations, and predicted gain from selection were estimated for average productivity, resilience, and stability based on forage mass of a tall fescue half-sib population grown under a line-source irrigation system with five different water levels (WL). Resilience was both measurable and moderately heritable (h2 = 0.43), with gains of 2.7 to 3.1% per cycle of selection predicted. Furthermore, resilience was not correlated with average response over environments and negatively correlated with stability, indicating that it was not a measure of responsiveness to more favorable environments. Genetic correlations among WL ranged from 0.87 to 0.56, however in contrast, resilience was either not or slightly negatively genetically correlated with WL except for moderate correlations with the 'crisis' WL. Thus, breeding for improved resilience was predicted to have little effect on forage mass at any given individual water deficit environment. Overall, results indicated that this novel metric could facilitate breeding for improved resilience per se to water deficit environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The validity of spaced-plant evaluation to deter- mine sward performance of forage grasses has been questioned. This experiment studied the efficiency of spaced-plant evaluation to indirectly improve sward yield and nutritional quality in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Narrow-sense heritabilities, genetic and rank correlations, and indirect selection efficiencies were estimated for a tall fescue population grown in spaced plant and seeded sward environments. Heritability for yield was similar between spaced plants and swards (0.43 and 0.44, respectively), but genetic correlation between the two was low (0.37 ± 0.38). Inconsistency (r = 0.30, P = 0.17) in family ranking further suggested that spaced plants were not predictive of sward yield. Heritability of crude protein from swards was low (0.27 ± 0.25) compared with 0.77 ± 0.08 from spaced plants, but there was no genetic relationship between the two (r = -0.13 ± 0.30). Moderate to high heritabilities and genetic correlations were observed for most fiber traits, but indirect selection efficiencies and rank correlations of <1.0 suggested that evaluation in a sward environment would be best to select for improved nutritional quality. Spaced-plant evaluation appears to be less effective, or ineffective, at improving sward yield and nutritional quality in tall fescue. New techniques are needed that maximize genetic expression but simulate actual sward production of forage grasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the exception of the undesirable characteristic of summer dormancy and the accompanying low aesthetic value, crested wheatgrass has many desirable characteristics in semiarid environments, making it a promising candidate for lower water use turf. Using a population of 27 half-sib families, this study characterized the underlying genetics of turf quality (based on a 1-9 rating scale) of crested wheatgrass and compared the performance of crested wheatgrass turf with traditional control cultivars ('Cody' buffalograss, 'Gazelle' tall fescue, 'Manhattan 3' perennial ryegrass, and 'Midnight' Kentucky bluegrass) over 2 years under space-planted conditions. Heritability estimates were generally high (h² = 0.44 to 0.84) and suggested a strong additive genetic component for crested wheatgrass turf quality throughout the summer months. Genotypic correlations among the monthly turf quality scores were very high (greater than 0.90) indicating a strong commonality for the genetics underlying turf quality during any point in the growing season. Thus, a breeding program aimed at improving turf quality in this population of crested wheatgrass would stand a good chance for success. However, primarily as a result of summer dormancy, the crested wheatgrass turf performed poorly compared with the control cultivars during late spring and early summer. Turf quality scores in early July were ~3 for the crested wheatgrass half-sib families compared with scores between 5 and 6 for the traditional turf species. Thus, crested wheatgrass, for the near future, will likely be a viable turf candidate only in situations in which turf aesthetics are secondary to a desire for low-input requiring species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar's experience with travel. Using the fragments of evidence available in his correspondence, published essays, short stories and poetry, Dunbar's approach in negotiating the difficulties of segregation is explored. His response to the growing presence of segregation during his brief career is also gauged. The author traces his daily struggle to be one of the best men of the race in the face of the worst social conditions. This will complicate people's understandings of Dunbar's life, art and politics.

The identification of best testing locations facilitates the allocation of resources in a breeding program, allowing emphasis to be placed at the sites best suited for identifying superior plant materials for the target environment. The objective of this study was the identification of best locations for the evaluation and testing of cool-season grass species within the Northern Great Plains and Intermountain regions of the USA. This study also sought to subdivide the locations into meaningful environmental groupings based on similar entry performance. The study characterized initial stand frequency and forage production (over a 3-yr period) of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.; A. desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schultes; A. fragile (Roth) Candargy], intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) at six locations within these regions. Results suggested the existence of best testing locations and environmental groupings for each of the species. For example, the Ithaca, NE, location was consistently a good location for testing forage production. Although there were some consistencies, generally, the best testing locations and environmental groupings were species and trait specific. Thus, the targeted use of locations appeared to be most useful on an individual species basis, rather than considered across the cool-season grass species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism changes the host environment and may influence resource allocation between reproductive effort and somatic maintenance. We characterized the impact of dose-dependent schistosome exposure and/or infection establishment on intermediate host survival and reproduction. Four matched groups of Biomphalaria glabrata snails were individually exposed to increasing doses of Schistosoma mansoni parasites, with a fifth control group remaining unexposed. Increased mortality was observed amongst both snails infected and also those snails exposed to the parasite but within which infection did not establish, although only exposed but uninfected snails showed a dose-dependent increase in mortality. Snails also facultatively altered their reproductive output in response to parasite exposure: egg mass production decreased with increasing parasite dose in patently infected snails, whilst, in contrast, exposed but uninfected snails demonstrated a positive association between egg mass production and parasite dose in the post-patent period. These results uniquely suggest an exposure-dose-dependent post-patent fecundity compensation occurring in relation to the risk of future parasite-associated mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]