Hop Pest Scouting Report

During the 2016 growing season, the major pest challenges we encountered at the hop yard at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont were two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae), and hop downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora humuli)

Hop Crowning Trial Final Report

Downy mildew has been identified as the primary pathogen plaguing our northeastern hop yards. This disease causes reduced yield, poor hop quality, and can cause the plant to die in severe cases. Control measures that reduce disease infection and spread while minimizing the impact on the environment, are desperately needed for the region. Mechanical control is one means to reduce downy mildew pressure in hop yards. Scratching, pruning, or crowning is a practice initiated in the early spring either before or at the time that new growth has just emerged from the soil

Hop Harvest Timing

In the Northeast, hop harvest generally begins in mid-August and continues through mid-September. Harvest date is primarily dependent on the hop variety but weather can delay or hasten maturation and impact when harvest will occur. In addition to weather, various pests, such as spider mites and downy mildew, can similarly impact harvest timing. The time at which you harvest hops can affect the various qualities of your finished product. Alpha and beta acid content peaks before many essential oils have fully developed. Delaying harvest can provide time for these oils to develop but increases the amount of time the hops are left vulnerable to disease and fall rains which can result in degradation of resins

Sunflower Insect Monitoring Projects

During the 2013 growing season, UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops & Soils Program conducted studies to document the prevalence and impact of sunflower insect pests. Understanding the pest pressures unique to this region is crucial in producing a viable crop. Surveys of sunflower fields in the Northeast have shown that though plant populations are similar to the national averages, estimated yields are lower, primarily due to pest issues. Entire sunflower fields have been lost to pest pressures such as birds, weeds, insects, and disease, but Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies can help sunflower growers mitigate these problems

‘How open are our doors? A comparison of academic staff transformation at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand’.

Student Number : 0314897V - MA research report - School of Social Science - Faculty of HumantiesThis research report asks ‘how effective has academic staff transformation been at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)?’ This question was examined from four angles: i) the historical engagement of UCT and Wits, as employers, with race, class and gender, ii) the impact of government directive and the legislative context on the transformation of higher education workplaces, iii) the institutional role and response of UCT and Wits to the race, class and gender of their academic staff and iv) academics’ experience of UCT and Wits as workplaces. The findings are based on in-depth interviews with 50 academic and senior executive staff at UCT and Wits. The results illustrate both continuity and change in the way in which academic staff experience institutions. Whilst there are progressive elements identified, there are also disconcerting expressions of prejudice, discrimination and harassment which undermine the transformation process

The Novel Tumor Supressive Role of Epithelial-Derived Matrix Metalloproteintase 9 In Colitis Associated Cancer

Colitis associated cancer (CAC) is a chronic inflammation driven colon cancer among individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Its development is associated with the inflammation-dysplasia-carcinoma pathway which differs from the adenoma-carcinoma pathway of sporadic colon cancer (CRC). Matrix Metalloproteinases are zinc-dependent endopeptidases against extracellular matrix proteins expressed in the gastrointestinal tract during inflammation. We have shown that Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) plays a protective role in CAC contrary to its inflammatory role in acute-colitis. I hypothesize that epithelial-derived MMP9 mediates tumor suppression in CAC by regulating genomic stability via Notch1 activation. This study identifies the role of epithelial derived-MMP9 in CAC via “MMP9-Notch1-ARF-p53 axis” pathway which regulates apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest and DNA damage. This study also identifies the role of epithelial-derived MMP9 in maintaining genomic stability by reducing reactive oxygen species and activating mismatch repair mechanisms. Thus, MMP9 expression could potentially be a natural way to suppress inflammation induced colon cancer

Cruise ship operators, their passengers, Australian consumer law and state civil liability acts - Part One

This paper canvasses the provisions of the Consumer Laws and State Civil Liability Acts as applicable to claims by passengers for personal injuries. The paper is in two parts. Part One outlines the common law position, and an overview of the provisions at state and federal levels. it then focuses on the statutory guarantee that services will be rendered with due care and skill. Part Two considers the interaction between the two sets of provisions with particular reference to passenger claims for personal injury. It concludes by suggesting that the Athens Convention might provide both parties with a clearer regime

Enabling learning through technology: Some institutional imperatives

This paper considers the importance of the institution as the dynamic interpretative element on which will depend the successful integration of the learning technology developed through our national initiatives into the academic curricula of Higher‐Education institutions. Based on our experience of working on teaching technology programmes, within the framework of national and institutional initiatives, it is evident that the establishment of an institutional strategy, and its implementation in a supporting university‐wide programme of staff development and training, together with strong commitment at the senior managerial level, are imperatives which determine the successful integration of learning technology within academic institutions

Hop Crowning Trial

Downy mildew has been identified as the primary pathogen plaguing our northeastern hop yards. This disease causes reduced yield, poor hop quality, and can cause the plant to die in severe cases. Control measures that reduce disease infection and spread while minimizing the impact on the environment, are desperately needed for the region. Mechanical control is one means to reduce downy mildew pressure in hop yards. Scratching, pruning, or crowning is a practice initiated in the early spring when new growth has just emerged from the soil

Hop Biofungicide Trial

Downy mildew has been identified as the primary pathogen plaguing northeastern hop yards. This disease causes reduced yield, poor hop quality, and, in severe cases, plant death. Control measures that reduce disease incidence and have a low environmental impact are desperately needed for the region. Regular application of protectant fungicide sprays is an effective method for managing downy mildew pressure in hop yards. However, regular chemical applications can lead to residual toxicity in the soil and have a negative effect on beneficial organisms. Extended use of protectant and curative fungicides can also lead to pathogen resistance. The goal of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of organic approved biofungicides with a variety of active ingredients for control of downy mildew in hops