MECHANISMS OF DISEASE SUPPRESSION BY A HAIRY VETCH (VICIA VILLOSA) COVER CROP ON FUSARIUM WILT OF WATERMELON AND THE EFFICACY OF THE BIOCONTROL ACTINOVATE.

The cover crop Vicia villosa suppresses Fusarium wilt of watermelon but the mechanisms of disease suppression are unknown. Possible mechanisms were examined in field, greenhouse, and in vitro experiments. The effects of cover crop treatments (V. villosa, Trifolium incarnatum, Secale cereale, Brassica juncea) and the biocontrol treatment Actinovate (Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108) on Fusarium wilt of watermelon and its causal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) were evaluated. In four of five field experiments there were significant elevations in soil microbial respiration. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of watermelon roots following cover crop amendments of V. villosa and T. incarnatum, were significantly higher compared to bare ground. The elevation in respiration was significantly positively correlated with disease suppression of Fusarium wilt induced by V. villosa and T. incarnatum (both cover crops reduced Fusarium wilt as much as 21%). In greenhouse experiments using infested field soil, Fusarium wilt suppression was observed in pots amended with V. villosa and T. incarnatum. However, there was an increase in Fusarium wilt of watermelon in pots that were amended with V. villosa and T. incarnatum which were also inoculated with FON when compared to plants in nonamended, inoculated pots. These leguminous cover crops may have served as a nutrient source for the pathogen. In addition, in vitro growth experiments showed that media amended with V. villosa leachate significantly stimulated the in vitro growth rates of FON and Trichoderma harzianum compared to nonamended plates. It was hypothesized that V. villosa stimulation of nonpathogenic F. oxysporum spp., which provides cross protection against FON, may have contributed to the wilt suppression. Cover crop leachate amendments did not significantly influence colony forming units of S. lydicus. In both field and greenhouse trials Actinovate applications either had little or no effect on Fusarium wilt of watermelon. However, S. lydicus significantly inhibited in vitro growth of FON. These studies demonstrate that both general and specific disease suppression play a role in V. villosa suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon and that T. incarnatum is a viable alternative biocontrol

Lyme Disease Prevention

This project focused on Lyme Disease prevention, specifically for cub scouts from 5-10 years of age and their families.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1452/thumbnail.jp

Resolving Conflict Together: The Understanding-Based Model of Mediation

The following excerpt is from a book in progress-tentatively titled, Resolving Conflict Together: The Understanding-Based Model of Mediation-that is planned to be published in 2007 by the American Bar Association. In this book, we seek to set out the approach to mediation that we have been developing through our work with the Center for Mediation in Law (the Center). We have termed this approach the Understanding-Based Model of mediation. The book develops twelve mediation cases, in which Gary served as mediator and which, with commentary, serve to transmit our approach to mediation. Each case focuses on a different aspect of the mediation process. The excerpt here, which we call The Publishing Case, focuses on the role of law in mediation

Learning in Game Jams: A Case Study of the GLASS Summer School

Game jams provide exciting opportunities for education and research. In this session we describe the GLASS Summer School, sharing videos where students talk about their experiences, and sharing results from our learning survey. We discuss questions such as what are optimal conditions for game jams? How can we measure learning

American Conservatism and Government Funding of the Social Sciences and the Arts

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51038/1/266.pd

The Mechanisms of Pond Expansion in the Marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland

Many saltmarshes throughout the world are converting to open water through the development and expansion of ponds. High rates of relative sea level rise are leading to widespread marsh submergence and ponding in the 28,000-acre microtidal Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Maryland, USA), but knowledge of the mechanisms involved is limited. Here, we use historic aerial imagery and field-based measurements to quantify pond development and identify the processes involved. Historical photograph analyses indicates that many small ponds emerge on the marsh platform and quickly merge with other nearby ponds, slowing their growth rates with size. A consistent rate of marsh loss in each study area suggests biogeochemical mechanisms such as organic matter decomposition drive pond expansion. Biomass, porewater chemistry, and soil strength measurements from marshes adjacent to stable and unstable ponds suggest pond growth rates are related to surrounding marsh health. Finally, this study finds that the merging of small, unstable ponds rather than the continued singular expansion of large ponds is the primary driver of pond expansion in the Blackwater marshes.

The New England States Collaborative For Insurance Exchange Systems: Supporting Massachusetts and National Health Reform Through Technology Innovation

Project Goal: To create Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Information Technology components in Massachusetts that are consumer-focused, cost-effective, reusable, and sustainable and that can be leveraged by New England and other states to operate Health Insurance Exchanges. The NESCIES project approach will be to create and build a flexible HIX Information Technology framework in Massachusetts designed to connect consumers, small businesses, and health plans that can be tailored to the needs of the New England states and beyond.Achieving this goal will require the creation of solutions that are component based, adaptable, and based on the standards required by the ACA

Impact of insurance status on migraine care in the United States

Objective To determine whether insurance status is associated with differential outpatient treatment of migraine in the United States. Methods We analyzed 11 years of data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1997–2007), which survey patient visits to doctors’ offices, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. We used logistic regression to determine whether insurance status was associated with the prescription of standard migraine therapy, defined as 1) a triptan or dihydroergotamine and 2) a prophylactic agent. Results We identified 6,814 individual patient visits for migraine, representing 68.6 million visits nationally. After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, geographic location, and year, migraineurs with no insurance or Medicaid were less likely than the privately insured to receive abortive therapy (odds ratio [OR] for failure to receive medication 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 3.0] and 1.6 [95% CI 1.1, 2.3]) and prophylactic therapy (OR 2.0 [95% CI 1.3, 2.9] and 1.5 [95% CI 1.0, 2.1]). Adding site of care to the regression model suggested that one mechanism for this discrepancy was the reliance of the uninsured on EDs for migraine care, a site where standard migraine care is often omitted (OR for failure to receive abortive and prophylactic medication in the ED relative to physicians’ offices 4.8 [95% CI 3.6, 6.3] and 8.7 [95% CI 6.4, 11.7]). Conclusions The uninsured, and those with Medicaid, receive substandard therapy for migraine, at least in part because they receive more care in emergency departments and less in physicians’ offices

Coordinating Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking has gained increased attention from the medical community. One study reported that 87.8% of those trafficked for sexual exploitation had contact with a health care provider , representing an opportunity for health care providers to intervene (Lederer and Wetzel 2014) Recent research has emphasized increased awareness and screening by health care providers as key to identifying victims of human trafficking (Simich et at 2014) However once identified, survivors require comprehensive care to address short-term and long-term needs that ensure an individual’s safety, privacy and dignity. This study aims to understand how health care providers can improve utilization of resources that community advocates say survivors of human trafficking most need. This study performed a systematic review of the literature along with four key stakeholder interviews to understand 1) the needed resources to aid survivors of human trafficking and 2) how medical providers can better understand and utilize these resources in referring an identified victim. One interview from a community advocates addressed resources most needed by survivors. Three interviews of medical providers addressed knowledge and utilization of resources by providers in referring patients. Results exposed gaps in health care provider identification of victims and referrals to needed community resources. Difficulty with identification resulted from lack of provider training and time constraints. Having an established interdisciplinary referral system seemed to provide the best coordination of aftercare services. These finding suggest the need to have adequate referral protocols and partnerships with community stakeholders when identifying victims of human trafficking.Master of Public Healt