Use of a Fungicide to Reduce Stomatal Conductance in Sweet Corn Planted at Different Populations with Limited Irrigation

In 2015, increasing seeding rates increased the number of harvested sweet corn ears; however, total fresh weight did not increase above 22,500 seeds/acre. Sweet corn was little affected by limited irrigation or a fungicide applied for stomatal control

The Importance Of Managing Arthritis In Patients With Both Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

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Interscalene brachial plexus block for surgical repair of clavicle fracture: a matched case-controlled study.

Innervation of the clavicle is complex and debated, with scarce data on the analgesic and clinical impact of regional anaesthesia after surgical repair of clavicle fracture. In order to assess the analgesic efficiency of an interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) for surgical repair of clavicle fracture, 50 consecutive patients scheduled for surgical fixation of middle/lateral clavicle fracture under general anaesthesia with ISB were prospectively enrolled. This cohort was compared to a historical control of 76 retrospective patients without regional block. The primary outcome was total intravenous morphine equivalent consumption at 2 postoperative hours. To assess the ISB impact, both an overall cohort analysis and a case-matched analysis with each ISB-treated patient matched to a Non-ISB-treated patient was performed. Matching employed a 1-to-1, nearest-neighbour approach using the Mahalanobis metric. In the overall cohort, patients with ISB had significantly lower i.v. morphine equivalent consumption at 2 postoperative hours (0.7 mg (95% CI 0.1 to 1.2) versus controls 8.8 mg (95% CI 7.1 to 10.4); P < 0.0001). These results persisted after case-matching the cohorts (mean difference for the primary outcome: 8.3 mg (95% CI 6.5 to 10.0); P < 0.001). ISB provides effective analgesia after surgical fixation of middle and lateral clavicle fracture. These results should help physicians in establishing an analgesic strategy for this type of surgery. Further research is needed to identify the optimal regional technique for medial third clavicle fractures and the clinically relevant contributions of the cervical and brachial plexus. Clinicaltrials.gov - NCT02565342, October 1st 2015

Use of a Fungicide to Reduce Stomatal Conductance for Production of Sweet Corn Planted at Different Populations with Limited Irrigation

Sweet corn in 2018 was affected by irrigation, plant population, and a fungicide applied for stomatal control. Even though measured stomatal conductance was unaffected and no disease pressure was noted, applying fungicide at V6 more than doubled the number of harvested ears per acre and per plant, but an additional application at R1 did not increase harvested ears. Applying 1 inch of irrigation at the VT growth stage resulted in approximately 20% greater number of harvested ears per acre and ears per plant, but did not increase fresh weight. Under these dry conditions, increasing plant population tended to decrease harvested ears per acre and ears per plant, especially when no fungi­cide was applied or with no irrigation

Use of a Fungicide to Reduce Stomatal Conductance for Production of Sweet Corn Planted at Different Populations with Limited Irrigation

Sweet corn is a potential value-added, alternative crop for producers in southeastern Kansas. Corn responds to irrigation, and timing of water deficits can affect yield components. Even though large irrigation sources, such as aquifers, are lacking in southeastern Kansas, supplemental irrigation could be supplied from the substantial number of small lakes and ponds in the area. However, this may not be enough to improve the water use of the plant. Reducing stomatal conductance and adjusting seeding rate may also help reduce water stress and/or improve water use efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of limited irrigation, seeding rate, and fungicide applied for stomatal control on sweet corn yield

Extended methodology for determining wetting properties of porous media

[1] Because most methods for assessing the wettability of porous materials are restricted in their applicability, we developed two new methods for measuring contact angles and particle surface energy. The proposed methods (the Wilhelmy plate method (WPM) and the modified capillary rise method (MCRM)) were tested on 24 soils. For comparison, the water drop penetration time test (WDPTT) and the sessile drop method (SDM) were also applied. It was found that advancing contact angles, measured either with WPM or MCRM, agreed well in the range of 0° to 142°. Sessile drop contact angles were within the domain enclosed by the range of advancing and receding contact angles as determined with WPM. WDPTT, however, was only sensitive in the narrow range of 85° to 115°. We conclude that both WPM and MCRM are reliable methods for determining contact angles and particle surface energy over a wide range of porous material wettabilities

Cerebral Infarcts and Vasculopathy in Tanzanian Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

BACKGROUND: Cerebral infarcts and vasculopathy in neurologically asymptomatic children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have received little attention in African settings. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of silent cerebral infarcts (SCI) and vasculopathy and determine associations with exposure to chronic hemolysis, anemia, and hypoxia. METHODS: We prospectively studied 224 children with SCA with transcranial Doppler (TCD), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Regressions were undertaken with contemporaneous hemoglobin, reticulocyte count, mean prior hemoglobin, oxygen content, reticulocyte count, and indirect bilirubin. RESULTS: Prevalence of SCI was 27% (61 of 224); cerebral blood flow velocity was abnormal (>200 cm/s) in three and conditional (>170<200 cm/s) in one. Vasculopathy grades 2 (stenosis) and 3 (occlusion) occurred in 16 (7%) and two (1%), respectively; none had grade 4 (moyamoya). SCI was associated with vasculopathy on MRA (odds ratio 2.68; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] 1.32 to 5.46; P = 0.007) and mean prior indirect bilirubin (odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03, P = 0.024; n = 83) but not age, sex, non-normal TCD, or contemporaneous hemoglobin. Vasculopathy was associated with mean prior values for hemoglobin (odds ratio 0.33, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.69, P = 0.003; n = 87), oxygen content (odds ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.74, P = 0.003), reticulocytes (odds ratio 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.42, P = 0.041; n = 77), and indirect bilirubin (odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: SCI and vasculopathy on MRA are common in neurologically asymptomatic children with SCA living in Africa, even when TCD is normal. Children with vasculopathy on MRA are at increased risk of SCI. Longitudinal exposure to anemia, hypoxia, and hemolysis appear to be risk factors for vasculopathy