Studies on the premature bolting of the chicory cultivar \u27Daliva\u27

The flower Initiation and bolting responses of the extra-early F-1 hybrid chicory cultivar \u27Daliva\u27 (Cichorium intybus L. var witloof) were investigated under controlled daylength and field conditions at Knoxville, TN (35°, 53\u27N and 83°, 57\u27W). Histological sectioning and biochemical screenings from apical shoot tips for soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) and total free amino acids prior to and after floral transition, in addition to various plant size measurements, were conducted. Under controlled daylength (10 hours light) for 143 days, pot grown plants did not exceed 22 leaves and no plants initiated a floral transition. After 143 days similar plants were subjected to long photoperiods (\u3e14 hours) for up to 15 days. Over the 15 days of long photoperiods six harvests were made but no floral initiation was found. Total amino acids from all shoot tips ranged from 15 to 30 mg / g dry weight (DW). Soluble sugars leached from apical shoot tips followed no apparent trends. Glucose and fructose each ranged from 25 to 120 umol / g DW while sucrose ranged from 30 to 130 umol / g DW. Immediately after the imposition of the long day photoperiods the total free amino acid level in the shoot tips appeared to rise. In a field experiment, some field grown \u27Daliva\u27 chicory sown on 29 May had signs of bolting within 90 days. Vegetative meristems appeared flattened, even sunken beneath the overarching leaf primordia while induced meristems were domed and hemispherical in shape; this is consistent with other reports from the Cichorieae. In vegetative shoot tips, total free amino acids from shoot tips ranged between 23 and 40 mg / g DW with the maximum value at the middle harvest. Glucose and fructose each were less than 100 umol / g DW and remained steady through three harvests. Sucrose from the same tissue dropped linearly from 450 to near 50 umol / g DW over a 27 day harvest period. Shoot tips identified as transitional had levels of free amino acids which rose steadily from 15 to 25 to 35 mg / g DW over three harvests within 13 days. From the same shoot tips all sugars also rose steadily; glucose from 90 to 700, fructose from 60 to 260, and sucrose from 10 to 400 umol per g DW. Transitional plants exceeded 33 leaves and had root diameters greater than 20 mm. A separate field experiment investigating \u27Daliva\u27 plant growth and bolting response was begun on 19 June when seeds were planted into an Etowah clay loam. Five weeks later half the plants were mulched with 10 cm of straw mulch. Harvests began 14 days after planting and continued for 14 weeks. Bolting plants were observed after 8 weeks. Measurements of bolting plants showed that although the mulched plants grew faster and larger they did not bolt with any more frequency than plants in the bare soil. However, a comparison of various plant parameters (leaf number, area, DW, root diameter, root DW and crown diameter) between bolting and non-bolting plants showed that the leaf number differed (PIn summary, these experiments investigated the bolting responses of \u27Daliva\u27 chicory and found that the juvenile stage of this cultivar is passed at approximately 30 leaves and thereafter the plant may proceed directly into flowering. Once induced to flower the apical shoot meristem appeared distinctly domed, in contrast to the vegetative meristem which was flattened at the top

OT Employment Program Addressing Homelessness for Women Experiencing Homelessness

Women experiencing homelessness face many barriers to employment participation. Occupational therapy (OT) is a well-suited profession to address employment barriers; however, there is a lack of OT programs that address the unique barriers to employment participation for women experiencing homelessness. The purpose of the capstone project was to develop a program focused on employment obtainment and maintenance for women experiencing homelessness. The employment program was developed based upon the findings from an in-depth literature review and needs assessment.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2023/1038/thumbnail.jp

Regulating pacific seasonal labour in Australia

In 2008 the Australian government announced a new labour mobility scheme for Pacific workers, with the objectives of meeting seasonal demand for low-skilled labour in the horticulture industry and promoting economic development in Pacific Island countries. Modelled on New Zealand's Recognized Seasonal Employer scheme, it is a significant departure from Australia's long-standing preference for permanent migration that is non-discriminatory with respect to the country of origin. Any temporary migration program that draws a workforce from developing countries has the potential to exploit vulnerable foreign workers, but if Australia's pilot program is to be a success in the long term, it is imperative that seasonal workers from the Pacific are not exposed to that danger. This article examines the many layers of regulation that have been introduced to protect Pacific workers from exploitation, including bilateral intergovernmental agreements, supervision by government departments and use of external advisory bodies. In addition, Australia's regulatory framework governing workplace relations imposes a range of worker protections through equality laws, occupational health and safety principles, dispute settlement procedures and trade union involvement. To date, the Australian scheme has provided very limited opportunities for Pacific workers. This raises concerns about the long-term viability of this highly regulated scheme and the capacity to move beyond a pilot program to provide sustained opportunities for both Pacific workers and the horticulture industry.23 page(s

How Occupational Therapists Address Chronic Pain and Sex/Intimacy

Sexual activity is 1 out of the 9 activities of daily living (ADLs) and is considered to be fundamental for a person\u27s life, yet it is one of the least discussed topics that occupational therapists address in client care settings, academia, and/or professional development. The aim for this project was to explore how occupational therapists addressed sex/intimacy with the chronic pain population in order to provide more insight and encouragement for other occupational therapists to incorporate discussion of sex/intimacy in their practice.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstones-spring2022/1034/thumbnail.jp

OT’s Role in a Social Enterprise Jobs Training Program for Homeless Youth

This capstone outlines a jobs training program for transition-aged youth (TAY), ages 18 – 25, currently residing at Urban Street Angels, a transitional housing facility for youth experiencing homelessness located in San Diego, California. The purpose of this project was to incorporate occupational therapy services into the site’s dormant social enterprise program, 8West. 8West produces a line of artisanal hand soaps created in-house by the youth living at Urban Street Angels. Through experiential and didactic learning, youth developed integral skills in customer service, communication, sales, marketing, professionalism, and production. The project addressed an unmet need for job skills training and development for TAY youth experiencing homelessness.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2021/1012/thumbnail.jp

Sexual Activity and Intimacy within Occupational Therapy Practice

Sexual activity is often the forgotten ADL, that is underdressed in practice, and not spoken about in academia. This presentation aims to explore the role of occupational therapy addressing sexuality and intimacy following the onset of long term physical or neurological disabilities. This project outlines the role of OT in emerging practice in advocating for the development of a referral pathway specific for sexual activity and intimacy, and OT within an emerging setting.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2023/1032/thumbnail.jp