Potential for nitrogen fertilizer variable rate management: a case study

Nearly anyone who has spent at least a little time planting, nursing and harvesting a crop of corn has witnessed variability of its performance within a field. The existence and magnitude of yield variability has become much more obvious with the advent of precision farming technologies. Naturally, these observations then lead to thoughts such as: What factors are creating the varied growth and yield of my corn? Are there things I can do differently to increase production in the lower yielding areas? Are there areas I can reduce my inputs without reducing yield and increase net profit

Work Skills Programming Within Davidson County Residential Drug Court

This capstone project was completed through partnership with Davidson County Residential Drug Court (DC4). DC4 is a long-term residential facility that provides on-site treatment and recovery resources for non-violent offenders. The focus of this project was the development of intervention materials that provides resources and tools to help build work readiness skills to better prepare these individuals for long-term employment and becoming productive members of society upon graduation of the program. The handbook includes education and opportunities to apply learned skills in the areas of employment, communication, financial management, and community transportation. To be sustainable for the agency, counselors will be provided materials to have one on one sessions with participants prior to entering third phase

The impact of classroom scheduling on student in nutrition in full-day early learning kindergarten (ELK) versus traditional full-day junior/senior kindergarten classes

Background This thesis assessed the quality/quantity of student lunches amongst children using either the Early Learning Kindergarten (ELK) or full-day junior/senior kindergarten schedule; both of which differed in regards to school scheduling. ELK students were allotted two 40 minute nutrition breaks compared to the full day junior/senior kindergarten schedule who were allotted two 20 minute nutrition breaks.Master of Human Kinetics (MHK

Thinking territory historically.

BACKGROUND: While the randomised controlled trial (RCT) is generally regarded as the design of choice for assessing the effects of health care, within the social sciences there is considerable debate about the relative suitability of RCTs and non-randomised studies (NRSs) for evaluating public policy interventions. // OBJECTIVES: To determine whether RCTs lead to the same effect size and variance as NRSs of similar policy interventions; and whether these findings can be explained by other factors associated with the interventions or their evaluation. // METHODS: Analyses of methodological studies, empirical reviews, and individual health and social services studies investigated the relationship between randomisation and effect size of policy interventions by: 1) Comparing controlled trials that are identical in all respects other than the use of randomisation by 'breaking' the randomisation in a trial to create non-randomised trials (re-sampling studies). 2) Comparing randomised and non-randomised arms of controlled trials mounted simultaneously in the field (replication studies). 3) Comparing similar controlled trials drawn from systematic reviews that include both randomised and non-randomised studies (structured narrative reviews and sensitivity analyses within meta-analyses). 4) Investigating associations between randomisation and effect size using a pool of more diverse RCTs and NRSs within broadly similar areas (meta-epidemiology). // RESULTS: Prior methodological reviews and meta-analyses of existing reviews comparing effects from RCTs and nRCTs suggested that effect sizes from RCTs and nRCTs may indeed differ in some circumstances and that these differences may well be associated with factors confounded with design. Re-sampling studies offer no evidence that the absence of randomisation directly influences the effect size of policy interventions in a systematic way. No consistent explanations were found for randomisation being associated with changes in effect sizes of policy interventions in field trials

The Moses–Littenberg meta-analytical method generates systematic differences in test accuracy compared to hierarchical meta-analytical models

AbstractObjectiveTo compare meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy using the Moses–Littenberg summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) approach with those of the hierarchical SROC (HSROC) model.Study Design and SettingTwenty-six data sets from existing test accuracy systematic reviews were reanalyzed with the Moses–Littenberg model, using equal weighting (“E-ML”) and weighting by the inverse variance of the log DOR (“W-ML”), and with the HSROC model. The diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) were estimated and covariates added to both models to estimate relative DORs (RDORs) between subgroups. Models were compared by calculating the ratio of DORs, the ratio of RDORs, and P-values for detecting asymmetry and effects of covariates on DOR.ResultsCompared to the HSROC model, the Moses–Littenberg model DOR estimates were a median of 22% (“E-ML”) and 47% (“W-ML”) lower at Q*, and 7% and 42% lower at the central point in the data. Instances of the ML models giving estimates higher than the HSROC model also occurred. Investigations of heterogeneity also differed; the Moses–Littenberg models on average estimating smaller differences in RDOR.ConclusionsMoses–Littenberg meta-analyses can generate lower estimates of test accuracy, and smaller differences in accuracy, compared to mathematically superior hierarchical models. This has implications for the usefulness of meta-analyses using this approach. We recommend meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies to be conducted using available hierarchical model–based approaches

Assessment of accuracy of an artificial intelligence algorithm to detect melanoma in images of skin lesions

A high proportion of suspicious pigmented skin lesions referred for investigation are benign. Techniques to improve the accuracy of melanoma diagnoses throughout the patient pathway are needed to reduce the pressure on secondary care and pathology services

SMAF: A Soil Health Assessment Tool

The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to help quantify soil quality/health effects of tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management practices. Our objective was to determine if the SMAF could detect soil health differences after growing a single winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) crop. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 7.5- and 7.5 to 15- cm depth increments during the 2003 – 2004 and 2004 – 2005 growing seasons near Ames and Lewis, IA, and analyzed for several potential soil quality indicators. The SMAF analysis showed higher soil quality ratings for surface than subsurface samples. It also showed that a single winter grain crop can significantly improve soil quality after either corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Finally, in response to increasing interest in soil health assessments, a detailed appendix is attached to provide guidance for future soil health assessments

Staging(18)F-FDG PET/CT influences the treatment plan in melanoma patients with satellite or in-transit metastases

Whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used to stage patients with palpable lymph node metastases from melanoma, but their role in patients with satellite and/or in-transit metastasis (S&ITM) is unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic value of PET/CT and brain MRI in these patients, and to assess their influence on subsequent management decisions. In this prospective study, 25 melanoma patients with a first presentation of S&ITM who had no clinical evidence of palpable nodal or distant metastasis underwent whole-body(18)F-FDG PET/CT and brain MRI after a tentative pre-scan treatment plan had been made. Sensitivity and specificity of imaging were determined by pathological confirmation, clinical outcome and repeat PET/CT and MRI at 6 months. PET/CT led to a modification of the initial treatment plan in four patients (16%). All four were upstaged (AJCC stage eighth edition). PET/CT was false-positive in one patient, who had a Schwannoma in his trapezius muscle. A thyroid carcinoma was an incidental finding in another patient. The sensitivity of PET/CT was 58% and specificity 83%. In 6 months following the baseline PET/CT, further sites of in-transit or systemic disease were identified in 10 patients (40%). Brain MRI did not alter the treatment plan or change the disease stage in any patient. Whole-body PET/CT improved staging in melanoma patients with S&ITM and changed the originally-contemplated treatment plan in 16%. MRI of the brain appeared not to be useful