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This study investigated the use of fall cover crops and spring buckwheat monoculture to suppress weeds and improve yields in sweet potato cultivation. Buckwheat emerged as a highly effective summer cover crop, providing robust weed suppression throughout the growing season. Its ability to shade weeds, compete for resources, and release allelopathic compounds contributed to its effectiveness. The selection of fall cover crops influenced weed suppression, with rye mixed with clover showing limited differences in weed densities, while rye mixed with hairy vetch reduced Palmer amaranth coverage. Sweet potato cultivars demonstrated varying levels of weed competition, with Beauregard exhibiting higher weed coverage compared to Heart-O-Gold and 529. These findings highlight the importance of selecting suitable cover crops and cultivars based on their competitive abilities and weed tolerance for effective weed management. Overall, incorporating appropriate cover crops and cultivars holds promise for suppressing weeds and improving sweet potato yields. KEY WORDS: crop cover, monoculture, weed density, sweet potato, INTRODUCTION Mississippi ranks second in terms of acreage and third in total sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) production in the United States. In 2019, approximately 11 thousand hectares of sweet potatoes [...]

Research suggests exposure to misinformation continues to impact belief and reasoning, even if that misinformation has been corrected (referred to as the Continued Influence Effect, CIE). The present experiment explores two potentially important factors that may impact the effect: (1) learner age; and (2) length of delay between retraction and final test. During initial learning, participants (both young and older adults) read six scenarios in which a critical piece of misinformation was either retracted or not retracted. Following no delay, a short (10 min) delay, or a long (2 days) delay, participants then answered inferential reasoning questions about the previously studied scenarios to evaluate how (if at all) the prior retraction impacts reliance on misinformation. Outcomes help us to understand the ways in which misinformation (even following retraction) impacts reasoning, an issue of exceeding importance as the proliferation of fake news shows no signs of slowing.

The goal of the study is to describe variables contributing to body image concerns among breast cancer survivors to foster positive body image. Participants for this qualitative study were recruited through convenience sampling (N = 10). The participants' ages ranged from 48 to 80, with an average of 64 years old. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes concerned with body image were age at diagnosis, intimate partnership, preparedness for physical changes, and mental fluidity. Results from this study were used to develop strategies that can be adopted to improve the body image of cancer patients and survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests exposure to misinformation continues to impact belief and reasoning, even if that misinformation has been corrected (referred to as the "Continued Influence Effect, CIE"). The proposed experiment explores two potentially important factors that may impact the effect: (a) learner age and (b) length of delay between retraction and final test. During initial learning, participants (both young and older adults) will read six scenarios in which a critical piece of misinformation is either retracted or not retracted. Following no delay, a short (10 min) delay, or a long (2 days) delay, participants will then answer inferential reasoning questions about the previously-studied scenarios to evaluate how (if at all) the prior retraction impacts reliance on misinformation. Outcomes will better help us to understand the ways in which misinformation (even following retraction) impacts reasoning, an issue of exceeding importance as the proliferation of fake news shows no signs of slowing.

INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss is identified as one of the largest modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. Studies evaluating this relationship have yielded mixed results. METHODS: We investigated the longitudinal relationship between self‐reported hearing loss and cognitive/functional performance in 695 cognitively normal (CN) and 941 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. RESULTS: Within CN participants with hearing loss, there was a significantly greater rate of cognitive decline per modified preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite. Within both CN and MCI participants with hearing loss, there was a significantly greater rate of functional decline per the functional activities questionnaire (FAQ). In CN and MCI participants, hearing loss did not significantly contribute to the risk of progression to a more impaired diagnosis. DISCUSSION: These results confirm previous studies demonstrating a significant longitudinal association between self‐reported hearing loss and cognition/function but do not demonstrate an increased risk of conversion to a more impaired diagnosis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: NCT00106899 (ADNI: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, clinicaltrials.gov), NCT01078636 (ADNI‐GO: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Grand Opportunity, clinicaltrials.gov), NCT01231971 (ADNI2: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2, clinicaltrials.gov), NCT02854033 (ADNI3: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3, clinicaltrials.gov). Highlights: Hearing loss is a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia.We assessed the effect of self‐reported hearing loss on cognition and function in the ADNI cohort.Hearing loss contributes to significantly faster cognitive and functional decline.Hearing loss was not associated with conversion to a more impaired diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To systematically review vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) studies to present data on the safety and efficacy on motor recovery following stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Data sources: PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane. Study selection: Clinical trials of VNS in animal models and humans with TBI and SCI were included to evaluate the effects of pairing VNS with rehabilitation therapy on motor recovery. Data extraction: Two reviewers independently assessed articles according to the evaluation criteria and extracted relevant data electronically. Data synthesis: Twenty-nine studies were included; 11 were animal models of stroke, TBI, and SCI, and eight involved humans with stroke. While there was heterogeneity in methods of delivering VNS with respect to rehabilitation therapy in animal studies and human non-invasive studies, a similar methodology was used in all human-invasive VNS studies. In animal studies, pairing VNS with rehabilitation therapy consistently improved motor outcomes compared to controls. Except for one study, all human invasive and non-invasive studies with controls demonstrated a trend toward improvement in motor outcomes compared to sham controls post-intervention. However, compared to noninvasive, invasive VNS, studies reported severe adverse events such as vocal cord palsy, dysphagia, surgical site infection, and hoarseness of voice, which were found to be related to surgery. Conclusion: Our review suggests that VNS (non-invasive or invasive) paired with rehabilitation can improve motor outcomes after stroke in humans. Hence, VNS human studies are needed in people with TBI and SCI. There are risks related to device implantation to deliver invasive VNS compared to non-invasive VNS. Future human comparison studies are required to study and quantify the efficacy vs. risks of paired VNS delivered via different methods with rehabilitation, which would allow patients to make an informed decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Climate change is projected to induce increased frequency and intensity of precipitation in many regions throughout the United States under both low and high emissions scenarios. (1,2) The southeastern [...], Background: Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge untreated sewage into surface and recreational water, often following heavy precipitation. Given projected increases in frequency and intensity of precipitation due to climate change, it is important to understand the health impacts of CSOs and mediating effects of sewerage systems. Objectives: In this study we estimate associations of CSO events and emergency department (ED) visits for gastrointestinal (GI) illness among City of Atlanta, Georgia, residents and explore how these associations vary with sewerage improvements. Methods: We estimate associations using Poisson generalized linear models, controlling for time trends. We categorized CSOs by overflow volume and assessed effects of CSO events prior to ED visits with 1-, 2- and 3-wk lags. Similarly, we evaluated effects of weekly cumulative precipitation greater than the 90th percentile at the same lags. We also evaluated effect modification by ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level poverty and infrastructure improvement period using interaction terms. Results: Occurrence of a large volume CSO in the previous week was associated with a 9% increase in daily ED visits for GI illness. We identified significant interaction by ZCTA-level poverty, with stronger CSO-GI illness associations in low than high poverty areas. Among areas with low poverty, we observed associations at 1-wk and longer lags, following both large and lower volume CSO events. We did not observe significant interaction by infrastructure improvement period for CSO- nor precipitation-GI illness associations; however, the number of CSO events decreased from 2.31 per week before improvements to 0.49 after improvements. Discussion: Our findings suggest that CSOs contribute to acute GI illness burden in Atlanta and that the magnitude of this risk may be higher among populations living in areas of low poverty. We did not find a protective effect of sewerage system improvements. Nonetheless, observed reductions in CSO frequency may lower the absolute burden of GI illness attributable to these events. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10399

Ten breast cancer survivors, aged between 48-80, were interviewed about how their breast cancer diagnosis affected their evaluation of their body and appearance. The data collection involved individual Zoom meetings, where the survivors shared their experiences relating to their appearance, lifestyle changes, and specific activities. The interviews revealed that cancer diagnosis and treatment led to alterations in the physical appearance and lifestyle of the survivors. Participants expressed that exercising, such as walking, was beneficial to them. They also commonly mentioned that they were not prepared for the changes in their appearance, which came as a shock to them when they observed actual body changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]