Evaluation of a site-specific weed management strategy

Studies were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to compare conventional to site-specific weed management techniques. Field experiments were conducted in Knoxville, Tennessee. The study utilized a randomized complete block design with a split-plot treatment arrangement with nesting. Preliminary research was conducted in 1996 to establish selective weed densities. Monocot and dicot densities were generated by applying selective herbicides. Weeds present included trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), broadleaf signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla), and rhizome johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense). Field perimeters, plots, and weeds were mapped using global positioning systems (GPS). In 1997 and 1998, weed density maps were used to determine atrazine applications in site-specific areas of the experiment. Site-specific areas determined to contain a high population of common cocklebur in 1996 received a Ix rate of atrazine. Low atrazine rates (0 in 1997 or l/3x in 1998) were applied to remaining site-specific plots. Conventional plots received a 1x rate of atrazine. Broadleaf signalgrass was uniform throughout the field therefore both conventional and site-specific plots received the Ix rate of alachlor. Early postemergence (POST) herbicides included nicosulfliron and dicamba. Conventional and site-specific plots received a Ix rate of nicosulfuron to control broadleaf signalgrass. Conventional plots received a 1x rate of dicamba to control common cocklebur. Dicamba was applied at 0, l/3x, 2/3x, and Ix (0, 0.093, 0.19, and 0.28 kg ai/ha) to site-specific plots. These rates were determined by the density of common cocklebur at the time of POST applications. For the 1998 field season, weed densities were counted using a 1 m2area for each sub-plot and recorded. A combine equipped with a yield monitor (AgLeader Yield Monitor 2000) and DGPS receiver (Trimble Ag 132) was used to harvest the corn. Yields were recorded using an AgLeader Yield Monitor 2000. Data were imported into ArcView for storage and generating yield maps. Corn yields were similar between conventional and site-specific plots in 1997 and 1998 when averaged over treatments. Comparison of POST treatments within the field indicated a significant difference between conventional and site-specific plots. Corn yields were lowest when atrazine was not applied preemergence (PRE) and dicamba rates were 0 or 0.093 kg ai/ha. These data demonstrated that site-specific weed management techniques may replace conventional techniques while maintaining yields. Site-specific weed management may result in reduced herbicide use, therefore lowering cost of weed control. Data indicates that a PRE herbicide was important in these weed control systems

The development of peer coaching skills in primary school children in years 5 and 6

Can peer coaching skills be developed through ‘non academic’ tasks? The enquiry also aims to answer the following question: Can children give and receive feedback? The research methods reported are ethnographic combined with pre- and post- responses to the drawing task. The categorisation of the children’s drawings and their use of feedback were analysed and for the majority of children the quality of the feedback did not affect their choice of accepting the feedback or ignoring the suggestions made, which appeared counter to our initial hypothesis

Supporting breastfeeding: it takes a whole community

In collaboration with the Anglo-European Chiropractic College (AECC), the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University hosted a conference in July 2015 to raise awareness of the Joint Chiropractic and Midwifery Newborn Feeding Clinic. The interprofessional approach to facilitating a student-led, newborn infant feeding clinic is an innovative and unique opportunity to provide a positive learning environment for students as well as improve sustained breastfeeding rates for women; a current public health challenge. Learning from skilled, qualified practitioners in a real time practice environment has the ability to enrich the student educational experience. It was felt that a one day interprofessional conference to share good practice from the clinic and listen to the views of women and students would provide a springboard to ensure the clinic continued to meet the needs of those using the facilities

The reading world of Black primary school teachers in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1999.An investigation into the extent to which rural black primary school teachers of English in Kwazulu-Natal have been exposed to a culture of

Accommodating Students With Anxiety: A Personal Success Story

This Basic Course Forum highlights authors’ responses to the following topics: What curricular programs present the best opportunity for curricular connections to the basic course? Building upon conversations from the July 2018 Basic Course Institute (hosted by University of Dayton), what administrative successes and challenges do basic course directors face

Looking back and moving forward: A scoping review of research on preschool autism interventions in the field of speech-language pathology

Background & Aims: Speech-language pathology services are frequently accessed by families of children who have suspected or diagnosed autism. This is expected given that social communication differences are a core feature of autism. This review looked broadly at the state of research in the field of speech-language pathology and preschool autism interventions in order to identify the types of studies that could be used to inform the practices of speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and to identify gaps in the field so they can be addressed in future research. Specifically, we examined the extent of research conducted on interventions delivered (at least in part) by SLPs to preschool children with suspected or diagnosed autism, identified the range of skill development areas targeted within the studies, and explored the characteristics of the interventions (i.e., theoretical models underlying the programs, service delivery models, treatment dosage). Methods: A scoping review of articles published between 1980 and 2019 was conducted using the five phases outlined by the Arksey and O’Malley framework: (a) articulating the research question; (b) identifying relevant studies; (c) selecting studies; (d) charting the data; and (e) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. Main Contribution/Results: A total of 114 studies met inclusion criteria with most published since 2010 and conducted within North America. Case study or single-subject study designs were the most frequently used. Interventions delivered solely by SLPs and by multiprofessional teams that included SLPs were relatively equally represented. Across the included studies, nine skill development areas were targeted, but interventions targeting social communication, language, and augmentative communication skills made up the vast majority of studies. There was relatively even distribution of interventions informed by child-centered, clinician-directed, and hybrid models. Explicit information detailing intervention characteristics (e.g., treatment dosage, professional training of clinicians delivering the intervention) was poorly reported in many studies. For those studies providing details, there was a great deal of variability in the nature of interventions (e.g., service delivery models, SLPs’ role, dosage). Conclusions: This review revealed that research in the area of autism interventions delivered, at least in part, by SLPs has markedly increased over the past 10 years. Still, there remains a need for more research, and greater transparency detailing the nature of the interventions being investigated. The research conducted to date captures the versatility of the SLP’s role within preschool autism intervention. Improved reporting and studies with strong methodological rigor focused on capturing the complex and individualized nature of interventions are needed, as are intervention studies aligned with real-world community practice

Evaluation and implications of natural product use in preoperative patients: a retrospective review

Background: Medication Reconciliation and Medication Safety are two themes emphasized in a variety of healthcare organizations. As a result, health care facilities have established methods for obtaining a patient's medication history. However, these methods may vary among institutions or even among the health care professionals in a single institution, and studies have shown that patients are reluctant to disclose their complementary and alternative medicine use to any health care professional. This lack of disclosure is important in surgical patients because of potential herbal interactions with medications and drugs used during the surgical procedure; and the potential for adverse reactions including effects on coagulation, blood pressure, sedation, electrolytes or diuresis. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to identify patterns of natural product use, to identify potential complications among patients scheduled for surgery, to improve existing medication reconciliation efforts, and to develop discontinuation guidelines for the use of these products prior to surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of surgery patients presenting to the Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic (APEC) at the University of Kansas Hospital was conducted to identify the prevalence of natural product use. The following data was collected: patient age; gender; allergy information; date of medication history; number of days prior to surgery; source of medication history; credentials of person obtaining the history; number and name of prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and natural products; and natural product dosage. Following the collection of data and analysis of the most common natural products used, possible complications and interactions were identified, and a protocol regarding the pre-operative use of natural products was developed and implemented. Results: Approximately one-fourth of patients seen in the APEC indicated the use of natural products. Patients taking natural products were significantly older, were more likely to undergo cardiac or chest surgery, and were more likely to be taking more prescription and non-prescription medications (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that there is a need for established guidelines regarding discontinuation of selected natural products prior to surgery and further education is needed concerning the perioperative implications of natural products

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoints and First-Step parC Mutations in Streptococcus pneumoniae: Redefining Fluoroquinolone Resistance

Clinical antimicrobial susceptibility breakpoints are used to predict the clinical outcome of antimicrobial treatment. In contrast, microbiologic breakpoints are used to identify isolates that may be categorized as susceptible when applying clinical breakpoints but harbor resistance mechanisms that result in their reduced susceptibility to the agent being tested. Currently, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) guidelines utilize clinical breakpoints to characterize the activity of the fluoroquinolones against Streptococcus pneumoniae. To determine whether levofloxacin breakpoints can identify isolates that harbor recognized resistance mechanisms, we examined 115 S. pneumoniae isolates with a levofloxacin MIC of >2 μg/mL for first-step parC mutations. A total of 48 (59%) of 82 isolates with a levofloxacin MIC of 2 μg/mL, a level considered susceptible by NCCLS criteria, had a first-step mutation in parC. Whether surveillance programs that use levofloxacin data can effectively detect emerging resistance and whether fluoroquinolones can effectively treat infections caused by such isolates should be evaluated

A promising Start? The Local Network Fund for Children and Young People: Interim Findings from the National Evaluation

This is a summary of the interim evaluation report of the National Evaluation of the Local Network Fund (LNF) for Children and Young People. It is based on data gathered during the first phase of the evaluation (between October 2002 to December 2003). A final report of the National Evaluation will be available early in 2005. A consortium of research organisations, led by the University of Hull and including BMRB Social Research, The University of York and the University of Sheffield were commissioned in August 2002 by the-then Children and Young People’s Unit (CYPU) to carry out the evaluation