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Copyright of PM & R: Journal of Injury, Function & Rehabilitation is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the Pacific Northwest United States, cereal crops (barley, oats, wheat) are the foundation of most dryland crop rotations. Nearly 100% of cereal producers use neonicotinoid seed treatments to manage wireworms, regardless of crop and pest density. However, wireworms cause variable damage to different crops, and whether neonicotinoids boost yield and economic returns across crops remains largely unknown. In a field experiment conducted on one commercial farm over two years, we examined effects of imidacloprid seed treatments on wireworm density, yield, and economic returns for barley, oat, and wheat crops. Wheat plots with imidacloprid seed treatments produced greater yields and economic returns over costs than untreated plots, even though wireworm densities were largely unaffected by treatments. However, no differences in yield and economic returns were observed between treatments in barley or oats. Wireworm densities were markedly lower in oats compared to barley and wheat, indicating not all crops provided a permissive environment for wireworms. Our results support the hypothesis that growers may benefit from moving away from applying seed treatments in all cereal crops, but rather targeting management to specific crops, although research at more commercial farm sites remains needed to test the generality of this conclusion. Our results also support the hypothesis that incorporating more tolerant cereal crops (barley and oats) into rotations to replace spring wheat may be a promising option for growers in areas with high wireworm pressure. • Imidacloprid increased yields and economic returns of wheat crops. • No yield differences in the control or treated plots in barley and oats were observed. • Wireworm densities were not affected by imidacloprid treatments. • Wireworm densities were lower in oats compared to barley and wheat. • Neonicotinoid seed treatments should only be targeted to susceptible crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual food handlers’ motivations to comply with established guidelines in restaurant organizations were explored in this national study of 755 restaurant managers and employees in the United States. Using expectancy theory, workers’ motivations to comply with stated food safety regulations were measured. Overall, the results indicated support for expectancy theory and the proposed extension of this framework to restaurant employees’ perceptions of food safety and sanitation. However, there was no support in the model for restaurant workers to follow food sanitation regulations in the relationship between extrinsic valence and motivation. It was determined that this relationship is moderated by the length of time the employee has worked in the restaurant industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the proposition that cultural differences between ethnic-operated restaurants in high tourism areas of the United States (US) compared to non-ethnic operated restaurants explains the differences in food safety and sanitation inspection scores in five US cities considered popular tourism destinations. It was hypothesized that ethnic-operated restaurants, composed of people from different cultural norms than that of the indigenous US population, would result in significantly higher rates of critical regulatory violations than non-ethnic-operated restaurants. Food safety inspection data was obtained from five cities in the west, mid-west, east and two from the south for the years 2009 and 2010. Results confirmed the hypotheses that ethnic-operated restaurants have significantly higher rates of inspection and critical violations. Implications for regulators, trainers, ethnic restaurants and organizations seeking to manage diversity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past asthma surveys have shown suboptimal management and control of asthma in the United States. No major survey of asthma management has been conducted since the Third Expert Panel Report for the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of asthma (August 2007). This study was designed to report asthma management and control results from the Asthma Insight and Management survey of U.S. patients and physicians. A telephone-based survey was conducted during 2009 in 2500 patients with asthma, aged ≥12 years, and 309 physicians (104 allergists, 54 pulmonologists, 101 family practitioners, and 50 internists). Patients' asthma control perceptions (71% 'completely controlled' or 'well controlled') were inconsistent with their NAEPP control level as determined by self-reported symptoms (29% well controlled). Patients and physicians had low expectations for effective asthma management; patients considered asthma well managed if rescue medication was used three times per week (46%), urgent care visits occurred twice per year (67%), or emergency department visits occurred once per year (60%). Asthma-related syncope, seizure, intensive care unit admission, and intubation were associated with uncontrolled asthma based on NAEPP guidelines. Respiratory specialists (allergists/pulmonologists) implemented asthma management recommendations more than other physicians surveyed. However, only 22% of patients visited a specialist for usual asthma care and 48% had never visited a specialist. Despite detailed NAEPP guidance, asthma management and control in U.S. patients is unsatisfactory. Improved asthma control assessment (impairment and risk) and implementation of NAEPP management recommendations are needed to improve asthma control and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Updated guidelines and new treatments for asthma have become available since the last major survey of asthma management in the United States was completed ∼11 years ago. The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey was conducted to assess the current status of asthma burden in the United States. A geographically stratified screening of 60,682 households provided a national sample of 2500 patients with current asthma (2186 adults aged ≥18 years; 314 adolescents aged 12-17 years). A national sample of 1004 adults without current asthma was interviewed for comparison with the adult asthma population, and 309 asthma health care providers were surveyed for their opinions about the burden of asthma. Asthma prevalence in the United States was estimated at 8%. Twice as many adult asthma patients rated their health as 'only fair,' 'poor,' or 'very poor,' or experienced limitations in activity because of health problems, compared with the general population. Asthma also frequently caused negative emotional symptoms in patients. Most patients experienced asthma throughout the year (63%) and symptoms within the 4 weeks before the summer survey (68%). Overall, 41% of patients responded that asthma interfered with their/their child's life 'some' or 'a lot.' During the year before the survey, 69% of patients experienced at least one severe asthma episode. Asthma burden in the United States remains high despite the availability of updated treatment guidelines and new therapies. Asthma care in the United States remains suboptimal, indicating the need for continued improvements in patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term achievement of asthma control is dependent in part on the use of mutually understandable asthma terminology in all verbal and written patient-physician communications. Using data from the Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey, the objective of this analysis is to provide a contemporary depiction of asthma deterioration terminology as used by current asthma patients and physicians in the United States. As part of the 2009 AIM survey, current asthma patients (≥12 years of age; weighted n = 2499) and physicians (n = 309) were queried about their recognition, understanding, and/or use of the terms 'asthma attack,' 'asthma flare-up,' and 'asthma exacerbation' in telephone interviews. Nearly all patients had heard the term 'asthma attack' (97%), but relatively few had heard the term 'asthma exacerbation' (24%); 71% had heard 'asthma flare-up.' In contrast, physicians reported using the term 'asthma attack' least (65%) and the term 'asthma exacerbation' most (77%) when discussing asthma with their patients; 70% reported using 'asthma flare-up.' Among patients familiar with 'asthma flare-up' and 'asthma exacerbation' (n = 502), only 38% said that the terms mean the same thing; nearly all physicians (94%) said that the terms mean the same thing. Collectively, data from the AIM survey suggest that patients and physicians use different asthma deterioration terminology and, more importantly, that they do not necessarily understand each other's terms. Standardizing asthma deterioration terminology may help optimize asthma patient-physician communication to improve patient understanding of written asthma action plans and therefore, enhance patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant changes in asthma treatment guidelines and therapies occurred between the period of time in which the Asthma in America (AIA) and Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) surveys were conducted: 1998 and 2009, respectively. This study compares asthma burden and management in 1998 and 2009. Both surveys were telephone based and conducted across the United States. The AIA survey included 2509 patients with asthma (aged <1 year to 89 years old), 512 physicians, and 1000 adults from the general population. The AIM survey included 2500 patients (aged ≥12 years), 309 physicians, and 1090 adults from the general population. Patient responses were weighted to match the entire population of U.S. patients with asthma. The impact of asthma burden and care on the general population and on asthma patients was slightly lower or unchanged in the AIM survey versus the AIA survey. Acute care use (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, or other urgent care visits) was common in AIA (36%) and AIM (34%) surveys. Most physicians were aware of guidelines in AIA (90%) and AIM (96%), but fewer 'always' followed them (AIA, 36%; AIM, 28%). Spirometry was often used to aid in diagnosis by asthma care specialists (AIA, 73%; AIM, 76%) but infrequently by nonsubspecialists (AIA, 27%; AIM, 38%). Most physicians prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) for mild (AIA, 70%; AIM, 83%) or moderate (AIA, 89%; AIM, 83%) persistent asthma. In the AIM survey, 38% of specialists prescribed ICSs combined with a long-acting β2-agonist for moderate asthma. The state of U.S. asthma care and clinical outcomes changed little from 1998 to 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest that when organizations place a higher value on their employees, through the implementation of high performance management systems (HPMSs), their business performance improves. Those that have conceptualized the HPMS construct in the service sector have limited validity for the restaurant industry. To fill this gap this paper presents the research methods used to develop a construct for a HPMS within the casual restaurant sector of the US hospitality industry. The exploratory qualitative methodology that combines a variety of data collection techniques including interviews for the pilot study, the Delphi method and secondary data collection to establish the most salient dimensions of a HPMS in the casual restaurant industry, are discussed. Thirteen key HPMS dimensions are identified; training and skill development, employer of choice, information sharing, selectivity in recruiting, measurement of HR practices, promotion from within, quality of work/life, diversity, incentive pay based on performance appraisal, participation and empowerment, employee ownership, self-managed teams and high wages. In addition, an overarching HPMS construct is developed as a first step in identifying the link between HR practices and restaurant performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the collegiate gothic plan for the Connecticut College made by Raymond Duchamp-Villon which is considered as a Cubist architecture. It mentions that the design for the Connecticut College in London along with the Maison Cubiste had provided insight into the involvement in the field of architecture as well as into the relationship between historicism and modernism of the works of Duchamp-Villon. After the difficulties on the presentation of plans by different artist, Duchamp-Villon presented his plans to George Chapell with the help of Walter Pach in 1914. Figures showing the facade of the Maison Cubiste provided by the National Art Gallery, the sketch as well as the model of the Connecticut College dormitory made by Duchamp-Villon are also provided.