Effects of Crown (carbathiin and thiabendazole), Allegiance FL (metalaxyl), Vitaflo 280 (carbathiin and thiram), and Apron Maxx (fluodioxonil and metalaxyl) on N2 fixation of chickpea, dry bean, lentil, and pea

Non-Peer Reviewe

Efficacy of Vitaflo 280 to control soil- and seed-borne diseases of pea and lentil, and compatibility with rhizobium inoculants

Non-Peer ReviewedLentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) have the ability to fix dinitrogen (N2) from the atmosphere. Rhizobium inoculants are applied to the seed to ensure effective N2 fixation. In addition, fungicidal seed treatments are recommended to control extremely aggressive diseases such as Ascochyta, Botrytis, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia seedling blight. To determine the efficacy of Vitaflo 280 to control seedling blight of pea and lentil caused by Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella pinodes (Ascochyta blight), Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium spp. experiments were established at several locations and years in western Canada. To determine the effect of Crown, Allegiance FL, Vitaflo 280, and Apron Maxx on the ability of Rhizobium inoculants to nodulate and fix N2 from the atmosphere experiments were established at two locations in Saskatchewan in 2002. Vitaflo 280 at the recommended rates effectively controls seedling blight of lentil caused by seed-borne Botrytis cinerea and soil-borne Fusarium spp and Rhizoctonia solani. Vitaflo 280 at the recommended rates effectively controls seedling blight of pea caused by seed-borne Mycosphaerella pinodes and soil-borne Fusarium spp and Rhizoctonia solani. In addition, Allegiance FL, Crown, Vitaflo 280, and Apron Maxx at the recommended rates have no effect on visual nodulation or the ability of the Rhizobium to fix N2 from the atmosphere

Biomechanical Effects of Prefabricated Foot Orthoses and Rocker-Sole Footwear in Individuals with First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of prefabricated foot orthoses and rocker-sole footwear on spatiotemporal parameters, hip and knee kinematics, and plantar pressures in people with first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A total of 102 people with first MTP joint OA were randomly allocated to receive prefabricated foot orthoses or rocker-sole footwear. The immediate biomechanical effects of the interventions (compared to usual footwear) were examined using a wearable sensor motion analysis system and an in-shoe plantar pressure measurement system. RESULTS: Spatiotemporal/kinematic and plantar pressure data were available from 88 and 87 participants, respectively. The orthoses had minimal effect on spatiotemporal or kinematic parameters, while the rocker-sole footwear resulted in reduced cadence, percentage of the gait cycle spent in stance phase, and sagittal plane hip range of motion. The orthoses increased peak pressure under the midfoot and lesser toes. Both interventions significantly reduced peak pressure under the first MTP joint, and the rocker-sole shoes also reduced peak pressure under the second through fifth MTP joints and heel. When the effects of the orthoses and rocker-sole shoes were directly compared, there was no difference in peak pressure under the hallux, first MTP joint, or heel; however, the rocker-sole shoes exhibited lower peak pressure under the lesser toes, second through fifth MTP joints, and midfoot. CONCLUSION: Prefabricated foot orthoses and rocker-sole footwear are effective at reducing peak pressure under the first MTP joint in people with first MTP joint OA, but achieve this through different mechanisms. Further research is required to determine whether these biomechanical changes result in improvements in symptoms

An anatomically-based masking protocol for the assessment of in-shoe plantar pressure measurement of the forefoot

Background The area beneath the metatarsal heads is a common location of foot pain, which is often associated with high plantar pressures. Current plantar pressure assessment protocols focus mainly on the gross area of the forefoot with minimal attention paid to specific areas such as the metatarsal heads. The aim of this study was to develop and assess a new anatomically-based masking protocol that is clinically relevant to measure forefoot plantar pressure during shod conditions based on the anatomical positions of the metatarsal heads. Methods Initially, we developed a masking protocol to measure forefoot plantar pressure during shod conditions based on the anatomical positions of the metatarsal heads. This new masking protocol divided the forefoot into three sub-areas (proximal, beneath, and distal to the metatarsal heads) as determined by the position of each metatarsal head. Following development of the new masking protocol, we compared the new protocol against a traditional protocol, which defines the forefoot as between 51 and 81% of the foot length. To compare the two masking protocols, we tested two experimental conditions: (i) a control condition (i.e. no metatarsal pad), and (ii) a metatarsal pad condition. We then compared plantar pressure differences between the two experimental conditions for the two masking protocols. Participants for this component of the study included 36 community dwelling older adults (mean age 75.6 years ±5.4) with a history of forefoot pain. Forefoot plantar pressure data were measured while walking using the pedar®-X in-shoe system. Peak pressure, maximum force and contact area at the time of peak pressure were determined and results were compared between the two masking protocols. Results The traditional masking protocol showed that the metatarsal pad significantly decreased peak pressure and increased contact area in the forefoot area (i.e. within the entire mask area), but maximum force was not significantly different between the two conditions. In contrast, the newly developed anatomically-based masking protocol indicated that the metatarsal pad decreased peak plantar pressures distal to and beneath the metatarsal heads by increasing force and contact area proximal to the metatarsal heads. Conclusions An anatomically-based masking protocol that is clinically relevant was developed to assess forefoot plantar pressure during shod conditions based on the anatomical positions of metatarsal heads. We propose that the new forefoot masking protocol will provide greater interpretability of forefoot plantar pressure data, which will aid clinicians and researchers for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes

Integrating Sedimentology, Sequence Stratigraphy and Mineralogy to Evaluate Controls on Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Production in the Bakken Formation of Southeast Saskatchewan

The Bakken Formation is a prolific oil reservoir within the Williston Basin and has been the focus of extensive horizontal drilling in recent years. The study area encompasses the Viewfield Pool in SE Saskatchewan, host to over 1.3 billion barrels of original oil in place. The stratigraphy and depositional settings of the Bakken Formation in this area are poorly understood, despite a growing body of literature and the relatively high resolution geological dataset. Additionally, the Viewfield Pool serves as an excellent case study for examining a conventional hydrocarbon trap in an unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir. The Bakken Formation was deposited on a low gradient shallow marine ramp within a shallow epi-continental sea. The Middle Bakken Member consists mainly of bioturbated and dolomitized siltstones, while the Upper and Lower Bakken member consist of organic rich mudstones. A reinterpretation of the sequence stratigraphy shows five distinct systems tracts are represented in the Bakken Formation, and a total of seven unique lithofacies are present. These lithofacies present evidence of a wave dominated shoreline during regressive phases and a tidally influenced shoreline during transgressive phases. A comprehensive mineralogical model is derived from X-Ray fluorescence, X-Ray diffraction, and point counting. High resolution mineralogical data reveals subtle sedimentary heterogeneity not previously documented, strengthening the sequence stratigraphic interpretation. An inverse correlation is present between porosity and dolomite + calcite content. A positive correlation is present between both porosity and permeability, and quartz content. Detailed reservoir characterization reveals higher rates of hydrocarbon production is associated with increased net pay, low initial water cuts, high quartz content and reduced intensity of calcite cementation