Search

Microdochium patch is a turfgrass disease caused by the fungal pathogen Microdochium nivale. Iron sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4•7H2O) and phosphorous acid (H3PO3) applications have previously been shown to suppress Microdochium patch on annual bluegrass putting greens when applied alone, although disease suppression was not adequate or turfgrass quality was reduced from the applications. A field experiment was conducted in Corvallis, Oregon, USA to evaluate the combined effects of FeSO4•7H2O and H3PO¬¬¬¬3 on Microdochium patch suppression and annual bluegrass quality. The results of this work suggest that the addition of 3.7 kg H3PO3 ha-1 with 24 or 49 kg FeSO4•7H2O ha-1 applied every 2 wk improved the suppression of Microdochium patch without substantially compromising turf quality, which occurred when 98 kg FeSO4•7H2O ha-1 was applied with or without H3PO3. Spray suspensions reduced the pH of the water carrier, therefore two additional growth chamber experiments were conducted to better understand the effects of these treatments on leaf surface pH and Microdochium patch suppression. On the application date in the first growth chamber experiment, at least a 19% leaf surface pH reduction was observed compared to the well water control when FeSO4•7H2O was applied alone. When 3.7 kg H3PO3 ha-1 was combined with FeSO4•7H2O, regardless of the rate, the leaf surface pH was reduced by at least 34%. The second growth chamber experiment determined that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at a 0.5% spray solution rate was always in the group that produced the lowest annual bluegrass leaf surface pH, but did not suppress Microdochium patch. Together, these results suggest that while treatments decrease leaf surface pH, this decrease in pH is not responsible for the suppression of Microdochium patch.

INTRODUCTION The recent trend toward more extreme periods of drought has been a shock to the residents of the Pacific Northwest – many of whom have relied upon heavy wateruse in the summer months in order to make a living (i.e. producers of grass seed and sod, berries, or nursery crops), or to maintain their landscapes at high levels (i.e. certain homeowners, recreational facilities, or commercial properties). Furthermore, population growth has reached the point where even an average year of precipitation has proven insufficient for urbanities that had not previously experienced issues with water scarcity (McDonald et al., 2011). This modern climate scenario has forced people of the Pacific Northwest, and people from all around the world, to rethink their water-use strategies, as the global trend has shifted toward greater sustainability (Tilman, 2001; McDonald et al., 2011). One potential mitigation strategy for cool-humid regions, such as Oregon's Willamette Valley, is to utilize rainwater-harvesting systems to alleviate freshwater demand (Kinkade-Levario, 2007). Rainwater harvesting is a logical choice for this climate zone because the average annual precipitation (42.7-in for Corvallis, OR) is sufficient for the majority of its crop production, however, this precipitation occurs almost exclusively in a nine-month period spanning from fall to spring (US Climate Data, 1981–2010). Although annual precipitation is adequate, irrigation is still required for at least three months of every year. This study considered rainwater harvesting to be ideally suited for the cool-humid Willamette Valley; the excess rainfall in the wet season that could be stored for use in the summer months, thus decreasing demand for municipal water by an equivalent amount. It should be stated that rainwater harvesting is not a novel idea; there have been studies dating back to the 1980's and earlier that have shown significant watersavings when retrofitting homes with new features like rainwater-harvesting systems (Boers et al., 1982, Karpisack et al., 1990). Even before that, golf courses, sporting complexes, and industrial sites alike were making use of this strategy. However, their methods typically consisted of catching rainwater via surface runoff and storing it in retention ponds (Ferguson, 1998), which is a strategy that is less applicable to the small-acreage homeowner who wants to irrigate their property without having to turn half of their backyard into a pond. Fortunately, there are alternative methods of rainwater harvesting that make a lot more sense in a residential setting, where irrigated land is small in relation to the roof-area for which rain can be easily harvested. This study documents the construction of two distinct rainwater-harvesting systems (an aboveground cistern and a belowground AQUABLOX™ matrix storage system), and gives insight into their advantages and disadvantages.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has many systemic complications including vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), stroke and increased mortality. However, as a result of advances in the care of children with SCD, over 90% of those born with SCD in the US live until they are at least 20 years of age. As survival improves, more women with SCD are able to have children. Through improvements in the management of pregnancy, the majority of women with SCD can have an uncomplicated birth though they do have a high incidence of medical and pregnancy complications compared to those women with normal phenotype. While current literature regarding pregnancy in SCD often compares sickle cell patients to normal hemoglobin phenotype patients, more research is needed comparing individuals with SCD. This study seeks to examine the number of vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome (ACS) episodes and thromboembolic events in pregnant patients with SCD, comparing during pregnancy, the 12 months before and the 12 months after pregnancy. A 10-year retrospective study was conducted at University of Illinois Health System (UIH) and included women over the age of 18 with sickle cell disease and pregnancy. These patients followed primarily at UIH for both their sickle cell and obstetric care. The query included 208 pregnancies and 177 patients. The primary endpoint was to compare the number of VOC, ACS, and thromboembolic events in patients with sickle cell disease during 9 months of pregnancy, the 12 months prior to their pregnancy and the 12 months after their pregnancy. Secondary endpoints include prophylactic, simple, and exchange transfusions throughout the pregnancy, mode of delivery, obstetric complications (preeclampsia, eclampsia, mortality), and fetal complications (IUGR, Apgar scores, mortality). Of 208 pregnancies from the initial query, 121 met inclusion criteria for the study. 87 of the 208 pregnancies met exclusion criteria due to other hemoglobin genotypes, delivery outside the study timeframe, delivery at outside hospital, or encounters for ectopic pregnancies, spontaneous or elective abortions. Paired comparisons between pregnancy, 12 months before the pregnancy, and 12 months after the pregnancy were carried out using non-parametric method (Wilcoxon's test) or generalized mixed effects models. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in VOC and ACS during pregnancy, compared to the 12 months prior and 12 months after pregnancy, as demonstrated in Table 2. Thromboembolic events had a slight trend of increase during pregnancy compared to the period before or after. These results were adjusted for age at delivery and restricted to SS genotype. VOC and severe genotype were found to associate with maternal and fetal outcomes such as C-section (p=0.04), transfusion requirement at delivery (p=0.007), low birth weight (p=0.008), and preterm delivery (p=0.02). Our findings demonstrate a definitive and statistically significant increase in VOC and ACS during pregnancy compared to the 12 months before or after pregnancy among women with SCD. This unique study compares patients with SCD to themselves longitudinally through time, utilizing a superior control group. Although this increase in VOC and ACS has been observed previously, prior studies compared pregnant patients with SCD to other patients with SCD, or to controls with normal hemoglobin. As hypothesized, thromboembolic events had a slight trend towards increasing during pregnancy, however this comparison was not statistically significant. Although prior data has shown prophylactic transfusions to decrease VOC in pregnant women with SCD, prophylactic transfusions were rarely utilized in this study group. These results demonstrate a definitive increase in VOC in pregnant individuals with SCD, and additionally affecting maternal and neonatal outcomes. Based on this study, decreasing rates of VOC during pregnancy may improve maternal and fetal outcomes. This may be achieved with prophylactic transfusions; however additional studies must be conducted to improve care in this patient population. This study will also allow us to further investigate additional characteristics that change during this timeline during pregnancy. This offers new opportunities to institute individualized preventive strategies, expanding the role of personalized medicine in the care of sickle cell patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are often sedentary, despite the benefits of the regular physical activity. This has motivated the search for variables that act as determinants of physical activity. Such variables are derived from theory and presumably represent targets of behavioral interventions for increasing physical activity. This prospective, observational study examined variables from social cognitive theory as determinants of physical activity 6 weeks later in persons with RRMS. Persons (N = 68) with RRMS initially completed a questionnaire battery that included measures of self-efficacy, physical, social, and self-evaluative outcome expectations, functional limitations as an impediment, social support as a facilitator, and goal setting for physical activity. The participants wore an accelerometer and completed a self-reported physical activity measure 6 weeks later. Data were analyzed using path analysis in Mplus 3.0. Self-efficacy (path coefficient = 0.19, p