Painting the ideal home: using art to express visions of technologically supported independent living for older people in North East England

This paper describes the investigation of the development of future technological products to support older people in everyday living through the agency of a community art group. Recent research has identified a number of challenges facing designers seeking to use traditional participatory design approaches to gather technology requirements data from older people. Here, a project is described that sought to get a group of older people to think creatively about their needs and desires for technological support through the medium of paint. The artistic expression technique described in this article allowed the identification of issues that had also been found by previous research that used a range of different techniques. This indicates that the approach shows promise, as it allows information to be gathered in an environment that is comfortable and familiar using methods already known by the participants and which they find enjoyable. It provides a complement (or possible alternative) to standard protocols and has the potential benefit of extracting even richer information as the primary task for participants is enjoyable in its own right and is not associated with an interrogative process. Furthermore, it is argued that some of the key risks of traditional approaches are lessened or removed by the naturalistic setting of this approach

Beta vulgaris lines from USDA-ARS Kimberly evaluated for resistance to Cercospora beticola, 2016

In 2016, six sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) germplasm lines from the USDA-ARS Kimberly program and 2 check lines [EL50/2 (resistant) and F1042 (susceptible)] were screened for resistance to Cercospora beticola. The Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) evaluation was conducted at the Michigan State University Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (SVREC) near Frankenmuth, MI in a field that had been planted in wheat with clover underseeded in 2015. The germplasm was planted on 6 May and thinned by hand as necessary. Single-row plots 4.5 m long with 51 cm between row spacing were planted with the treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Quadris 2.08SC (azoxystrobin) was applied at 0.0091 kg/100 m row in a 14 cm band in-furrow at planting to control Rhizoctonia damping-off. Weeds were controlled by a preplant application of ethofumesate 9 May, four times with mixtures of phenmedipham, desmedipham, triflusulfuron methyl, and clopyralid (18 and 23 May, 10 Jun., and 21 Jun), and once with S-metolachlor (29 Jun). The herbicide spray treatments had to also be supplemented with hand weeding. The nursery was spray inoculated on 5 Jul. with a liquid spore suspension (1 x 103 spores/ml) of C. beticola. The inoculum was produced from a mixture of leaves collected from the 2015 CLS nursery at SVREC and from naturally infected sugar beets grown at SVREC and on the Michigan State University campus farms in East Lansing, MI. The plots were rated for foliar symptom development on 6 Sep. using a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = healthy and 10 = all leaves dead; J. Am. Soc. Sugar Technol. 16:284). Data were rank transformed prior to analysis in SAS (Ver. 9.4) with mixed linear models (Proc MIXED), but the non-transformed means have been presented in the table. Mean separation was based on a PDIFF comparison with a probability cutoff of 0.05. Cercospora leaf spot development was uniform and moderate and other disease and pest problems were evident in the plot area. The checks performed as expected for the visual rating. Statistically, five of the entries contain at least moderate resistance since their visual ratings were at least as good as the moderate and resistant checks. However, entry 3 was better than the resistant check and entries 4, 5, and 6 were equal to the resistant check. These data confirm what had been determined the previous year, so these lines will be incorporated into the USDA-ARS germplasm improvement program as a source of resistance to CLS

Beta vulgaris lines from USDA-ARS Kimberly evaluated for resistance to Cercospora beticola, 2015.

In 2015, six sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) germplasm lines from the USDA-ARS Kimberly program and 2 check lines [EL50/2 (resistant) and F1042 (susceptible)] were screened for resistance to Cercospora beticola. The Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) evaluation was conducted at the Michigan State University Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (SVREC) near Frankenmuth, MI in a field that had been planted in wheat with clover underseeded in 2014. The germplasm was planted on 30 Apr. and thinned by hand as necessary. Single-row plots 4.5 m long with 51 cm between row spacing were planted with the treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Quadris 2.08SC (azoxystrobin) was applied at 0.0091 kg/100 m row in a 14 cm band in-furrow at planting to control Rhizoctonia damping-off. Weeds were controlled by a preplant application of ethofumesate (7 May), three times with mixtures of phenmedipham, desmedipham, triflusulfuron methyl, and clopyralid (23 May, 11 Jun., and 24 Jun), and once with S-metolachlor (17 Jun.). The herbicide spray treatments had to also be supplemented with hand weeding. The nursery was spray inoculated on 2 Jul with a liquid spore suspension (1 x 103 spores/ml) of C. beticola. The inoculum was produced from a mixture of leaves collected from the 2014 CLS nursery at SVREC and from naturally infected sugar beets grown at SVREC and on the Michigan State University campus farms in East Lansing, MI. The plots were rated for foliar symptom development on 9 Sep. using a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = healthy and 10 = all leaves dead; J. Am. Soc. Sugar Technol. 16:284). Data were rank transformed prior to analysis in SAS (Ver. 9.4) with mixed linear models (Proc MIXED), but the non-transformed means have been presented in the table. Mean separation was based on a PDIFF comparison with a probability cutoff of 0.05. Cercospora leaf spot development was uniform and moderate and other disease and pest problems were evident in the plot area. The checks performed as expected for the visual rating. Statistically, five of the entries contain at least moderate resistance since their visual ratings were at least as good as the moderate and resistant checks. However, 3 entries (4, 5, and 6) were better than the resistant check and entry 3 was equal to the resistant check. If the resistance in these four entries can be confirmed, these lines will be considered for incorporation into the USDA-ARS germplasm improvement program as a source of resistance to CLS

Virulence, Distribution and Diversity of Rhizoctonia Solani from Sugar Beet in Idaho and Oregon

Rhizoctonia root rot causes serious losses on sugar beet worldwide. In order to help explain why Rhizoctonia root rot management practices have not performed well in some areas of the Intermountain West (IMW), a survey was conducted. In the IMW from 2004 to 2006, 94 Rhizoctonia solani field isolates were collected from sugar beet roots. These field isolates were compared with 19 reference strains and 46 accessions from GenBank for genetic diversity based on sequencing of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region. Greenhouse pathogenicity tests on sugar beet and silage corn were conducted and plant damage was assessed using a randomized complete block design with at least four replications. The majority (92%) of the isolates had identity with the AG-2-2 IIIB (48%) or AG-4 subgroups (44%). Isolates from AG-2-2 IIIB were the most virulent on sugar beet and had the most diversity in phylogenetic analysis. Seven (all AG-2-2 IIIB) of 18 isolates tested could attack both sugar beet and corn, with two of the isolates causing less root rot than the others. To reduce Rhizoctonia root rot on sugar beet and corn, crop rotations and the isolates utilized for selecting host resistance could be given further consideration

Chemoenzymatic Probes for Detecting and Imaging Fucose-α(1-2)-galactose Glycan Biomarkers

The disaccharide motif fucose-α(1-2)-galactose (Fucα(1-2)Gal) is involved in many important physiological processes, such as learning and memory, inflammation, asthma, and tumorigenesis. However, the size and structural complexity of Fucα(1-2)Gal-containing glycans have posed a significant challenge to their detection. We report a new chemoenzymatic strategy for the rapid, sensitive detection of Fucα(1-2)Gal glycans. We demonstrate that the approach is highly selective for the Fucα(1-2)Gal motif, detects a variety of complex glycans and glycoproteins, and can be used to profile the relative abundance of the motif on live cells, discriminating malignant from normal cells. This approach represents a new potential strategy for biomarker detection and expands the technologies available for understanding the roles of this important class of carbohydrates in physiology and disease

Influence of glyphosate on Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rot in sugar beet.

Abstract: This study tests the effect of glyphosate application on disease severity in glyphosate-resistant sugar beet, and examines whether the increase in disease is fungal or plant mediated. In greenhouse studies of glyphosateresistant sugar beet, increased disease severity was observed following glyphosate application and inoculation with certain isolates of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. betae Snyd. & Hans. Significant increases in disease severity were noted for R. solani AG-2-2 isolate R-9 and moderately virulent F. oxysporum isolate FOB13 on both cultivars tested, regardless of the duration between glyphosate application and pathogen challenge, but not with highly virulent F. oxysporum isolate F-19 or an isolate of R. solani AG-4. The increase in disease does not appear to be fungal mediated, since in vitro studies showed no positive impact of glyphosate on fungal growth or overwintering structure production or germination for either pathogen. Studies of glyphosate impact on sugar beet physiology showed that shikimic acid accumulation is tissue specific and the rate of accumulation is greatly reduced in resistant cultivars when compared with a susceptible cultivar. The results indicate that precautions need to be taken when certain soil-borne diseases are present if weed management for sugar beet is to include post-emergence glyphosate treatments

Workplace bullying and violence as risk factors for type 2 diabetes : a multicohort study and meta-analysis

The aim of this multicohort study was to examine whether employees exposed to social stressors at work, such as workplace bullying and violence, have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The study included 45,905 men and women (40-65 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline) from four studies in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Workplace bullying and violence were self-reported at baseline. Incident diabetes was ascertained through national health and medication records and death registers. Marginal structural Cox models adjusted for age, sex, country of birth, marital status and educational level were used for the analyses. Nine per cent of the population reported being bullied at work and 12% were exposed to workplace violence or threats of violence. Bullied participants had a 1.46 (95% CI 1.23, 1.74) times higher risk of developing diabetes compared with non-bullied participants. Exposure to violence or threats of violence was also associated with a higher risk of diabetes (HR 1.26 [95% CI 1.02, 1.56]). The risk estimates attenuated slightly when taking BMI into account, especially for bullying. The results were similar for men and women, and were consistent across cohorts. We found a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes among employees exposed to bullying or violence in the workplace. Further research is needed to determine whether policies to reduce bullying and violence at work may reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in working populations. Research on the mechanisms is also highly warranted.Peer reviewe

Work stress and loss of years lived without chronic disease : an 18-year follow-up of 1.5 million employees in Denmark

We aimed to examine the association between exposure to work stress and chronic disease incidence and loss of chronic disease-free life years in the Danish workforce. The study population included 1,592,491 employees, aged 30-59 in 2000 and without prevalent chronic diseases. We assessed work stress as the combination of job strain and effort-reward imbalance using job exposure matrices. We used Cox regressions to estimate risk of incident hospital-diagnoses or death of chronic diseases (i.e., type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and dementia) during 18 years of follow-up and calculated corresponding chronic disease-free life expectancy from age 30 to age 75. Individuals working in occupations with high prevalence of work stress had a higher risk of incident chronic disease compared to those in occupations with low prevalence of work stress (women: HR 1.04 (95% CI 1.02-1.05), men: HR 1.12 (95% CI 1.11-1.14)). The corresponding loss in chronic disease-free life expectancy was 0.25 (95% CI - 0.10 to 0.60) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.56-1.11) years in women and men, respectively. Additional adjustment for health behaviours attenuated these associations among men. We conclude that men working in high-stress occupations have a small loss of years lived without chronic disease compared to men working in low-stress occupations. This finding appeared to be partially attributable to harmful health behaviours. In women, high work stress indicated a very small and statistically non-significant loss of years lived without chronic disease.Peer reviewe

Escherichia coli O157 Infection and Secondary Spread, Scotland, 1999–2008

To determine the proportion of Escherichia coli O157 cases in Scotland attributable to secondary spread, we analyzed data obtained through entire-population enhanced surveillance. We identified 11% of cases as secondary. Secondary cases in single households were younger than secondary cases in outbreaks affecting >1 household and had similar risk for hemolytic uremic syndrome

Persistent and changing job strain and risk of coronary heart disease. A population-based cohort study of 1.6 million employees in Denmark

Objectives This study aimed to examine the association between job strain and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in Denmark, while accounting for changes of job strain. Methods We included all employees residing in Denmark in 2000, aged 30-59 years with no prevalent CHD (N=1660 150). We determined exposure to job strain from 1996-2009 using a job exposure matrix (JEM) with annual updates. Follow-up for incident CHD was from 2001-2010 via linkage to health records. We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between job strain and incident CHD. Results During 16.1 million person-years, we identified 24 159 incident CHD cases (15.0 per 10 000 person-years). After adjustment for covariates, job strain in 2000 predicted onset of CHD during a mean follow-up of 9.71 years (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.13). When analyzing changes in job strain from one year to the next and CHD in the subsequent year, persistent job strain (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10), onset of job strain (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.29) and removal of strain (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.28) were associated with higher CHD incidence compared to persistent no job strain. Associations were similar among men and women. Conclusions Job strain is associated with a higher risk of incident CHD in Denmark. As we used a JEM, we can rule out reporting bias. However, under- or overestimation of associations is possible due to non-differential misclassification of job strain and residual confounding by socioeconomic position.Peer reviewe