Bringing People with Common Interests Together at a Trade Show

The International Sugarbeet Institute was developed as a one-stop meeting place for growers and providers of goods and services required for sugarbeet production. Growers are provided with the opportunity to discuss their needs and requirements with providers. For 2 days, individuals and companies make available all the machinery, equipment, technology, and services required by the sugarbeet industry. Popular national figures inform growers of issues that affect the industry. Participants share and discuss ideas on how to improve sugarbeet production and maintain a viable sugarbeet industry. Trade shows like the International Sugarbeet Institute are a great tool for Extension educators

Using a Contest to Attract and Disseminate Innovative Production Practices

Sugarbeet growers have always been innovative. The Grower Idea Contest was initiated to attract and disseminate ideas that led to innovations resulting in improved production efficiency. Ideas were willingly shared and adopted by many growers. Adoption of ideas generally resulted in higher yields, economic savings, improved safety, and better quality of life for the growers and their communities. Extension educators in many fields can use such contests to encourage development and dissemination of innovative practices

Staying Connected and Proactive Statewide

Extension educators nationwide are integrally involved in using research-based information to help adults and youths improve their lives and communities. Extension programs are channeled to clients through a network of Extension specialists and county agents or technical advisors. In large, agriculturally diverse states, Extension professionals need to stay connected and proactive to successfully serve their clients. This article describes how Extension educators at different locations use conference calls to facilitate proactive provision of relevant information in a timely manner to clients

Evaluation of gingival biotype and recession following non-surgical periodontal treatment using 3-dimensional scan methods

The study evaluated the position of gingival margins in anterior teeth using clinical and 3-dimensional (3D) optical scanning method among patients subjected to nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). A single arm, longitudinal study was undertaken at the Archway Dental Center, University of Manchester, UK. History and clinical examination were done. Gingival recession, attachment loss (AL), and periodontal probing depth (PD) were recorded at baseline and 12-weeks follow-up. NSPT was done using hand and ultrasonic instruments. Impressions were made, the resultant gypsum models were scanned to generate 3D images. The change in the gingival level and thickness of facial gingiva were assessed. Out of eight patients recruited, three were lost to follow up. The 3D scan showed a poor correlation with the clinical assessment of gingival recession in anterior teeth following NSPT (r=-0.0089). Recession did not improve after NSPT (p≤ 0.20)

Uptake, distribution and elimination of palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following dietary exposure.

The ingestion of nanoplastics (NPs) by fish has led to concerns regarding fish health and food chain transfer, but analytical constraints have hindered quantitative data collection on their uptake and depuration. We used palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-Pd NPs, ~200 nm) to track particle fate in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during a week-long dietary exposure and subsequent 7-day depuration period on a control diet (no added PS-Pd NPs). At Day 3 and 7 of the exposure, and after depuration, the mid intestine, hind intestine, liver, gallbladder, kidney, gill and carcass were sampled. All organs and the carcass were analysed for total Pd content by inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry. After 3 days of exposure, the mid (32.5 ± 8.3 ng g-1) and hind (42.3 ± 8.2 ng g-1) intestine had significantly higher total Pd concentrations compared to the liver and carcass (1.3 ± 0.4 and 3.4 ± 1.1 ng g-1, respectively). At Day 7, there was no time-related difference in any organ (or the carcass) total Pd concentrations compared to Day 3. When the total Pd content was expressed as a body distribution based on mass of tissue, the carcass contained the highest fraction with 72.5 ± 5.2 % at Day 7, which could raise concerns over transfer to higher trophic levels. The total number of particles that entered the fish over the 7 days was 94.5 ± 13.5 × 106 particles, representing 0.07 ± 0.01 % of the Pd the fish had been fed. Following depuration, there was no detectable Pd in any organ or the carcass, indicating clearance from the fish. These data indicate that these NPs are taken into the internal organs and carcass of fish, yet removal of the exposure results in substantial excretion to below the limit of detection

Prevalence of Self-Medication of Psychoactive Stimulants and Antidepressants among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students in Twelve Pakistani Cities

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of self-medication of psychoactive stimulants and antidepressants among pharmacy students of Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional survey on self-medication of psychoactive stimulants and antidepressants among pharmacy students was conducted with a structured and validated questionnaire distributed to a total of 2981 final year undergraduate pharmacy students in 12 major Pakistani cities (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Dera Ismail Khan, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar) of Pakistan. Out of this, 2516 (718 male and 1798 female) students completed and returned the questionnaire.Results: Prevalence of self-medication of psychoactive stimulants was 1.31 (1.13 – 1.75 for 95% CI) and antidepressants was 8.34 (8.03 – 8.85 for 95% CI). A majority of the students (63 %) identified academic competition as a driving force for indulging in self-medication of psychoactive stimulants while nearly all the students (96 %)admitted using antidepressants to obtain relief from the pressure of studies (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Pakistani pharmacy students, despite being aware of the hazards of psychoactive stimulants, indulge in self-medication. Prevalence of self-medication with antidepressants is very high among the students due to the pressure of studies. Primarily, academic competition is the major driving force for the use of psychoactive stimulants.Keywords: Self-medication, Psychoactive stimulants, Antidepressants, Pharmacy students, Academicpressur

The order of the quantum chromodynamics transition predicted by the standard model of particle physics

We determine the nature of the QCD transition using lattice calculations for physical quark masses. Susceptibilities are extrapolated to vanishing lattice spacing for three physical volumes, the smallest and largest of which differ by a factor of five. This ensures that a true transition should result in a dramatic increase of the susceptibilities.No such behaviour is observed: our finite-size scaling analysis shows that the finite-temperature QCD transition in the hot early Universe was not a real phase transition, but an analytic crossover (involving a rapid change, as opposed to a jump, as the temperature varied). As such, it will be difficult to find experimental evidence of this transition from astronomical observations.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Demonstrating the translocation of nanoplastics across the fish intestine using palladium-doped polystyrene in a salmon gut-sac

Fish are widely reported to ingest microplastics with low levels accumulating in the tissues, but owing to analytical constraints, much less is known about the potential accumulation of nanoplastics via the gut. Recently, the labelling of plastics with inorganic metals (e.g., palladium) has allowed measurements of nanoplastic uptake. The aim of the current study was to quantitatively assess the uptake of nanoplastics by the fish gut using palladium-doped nanoplastics (with a mean hydrodynamic radius of 202 ± 7 nm). By using an ex vivo gut sac exposure system, we show that in 4 h between 200 and 700 million nanoplastics (representing 2.5–9.4% of the administered nanoplastics dose) can enter the mucosa and muscularis layers of the intestine of salmon. Of the particles taken up, up to 700,000 (representing 0.6% of that taken into the tissue) of the nanoplastics passed across the gut epithelium of the anterior intestine and exit into the serosal saline. These data, generated in highly controlled conditions provide a proof-of-concept study, suggesting the potential for nanoplastics to distribute throughout the body, indicating the potential for systemic exposure in fish.Demonstrating the translocation of nanoplastics across the fish intestine using palladium-doped polystyrene in a salmon gut-sacpublishedVersio

Beyond the food on your plate: Investigating sources of microplastic contamination in home kitchens

Given that a substantial amount of time is spent in kitchens preparing food, the kitchen equipment used may be relevant in determining the composition and amount of microplastics ending up on our dinner plate. While previous research has predominantly focused on foodstuffs as a source of microplastics, we emphasise that micro- and nanoplastics are ubiquitous and likely originate from diverse sources. To address the existing knowledge gap regarding additional sources contributing to microplastics on our dinner plates, this review investigates various kitchen processes, utensils and equipment (excluding single-use items and foodstuffs) to get a better understanding of potential microplastic sources within a home kitchen. Conducting a narrative literature review using terms related to kitchenware and kitchen-affiliated equipment and processes, this study underscores that the selection of preparation tools, storage, serving, cooking, and cleaning procedures in our kitchens may have a significant impact on microplastic exposure. Mechanical, physical, and chemical processes occurring during food preparation contribute to the release of microplastic particles, challenging the assumption that exposure to microplastics in food is solely tied to food products or packaging. This review highlights diverse sources of microplastics in home kitchens, posing concerns for food safety and human health

A rare case of arterial avulsion presenting with occult blood loss following total hip arthroplasty: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic arterial damage during total hip replacement is a rare but potentially life- or limb-threatening complication. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an avulsion injury to a posterior branch of the profunda femoral artery during primary hip arthroplasty. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who underwent a total hip replacement. The patient's hemoglobin levels dropped postoperatively, but there was no obvious bleeding, hemodynamic instability, pulsatile mass, or limb ischemia. The patient's hemoglobin levels continued to drop despite nine units of transfused blood. Three days after surgery, the patient underwent an angiography that showed an avulsion injury to a posterior branch of the profunda femoral artery. The avulsion was ligated and the hematoma was evacuated. CONCLUSION: Vascular damage may present in many ways including obvious bleeding, haemodynamic instability, a pulsatile mass, limb ischemia, and occult blood loss. Any of these signs in isolation or in combination could represent a vascular injury and an urgent angiogram should be considered