Pulse industry extension : expanding pulse cropping by targeted extension of improved varieties and management packages : a final report prepared for the Grains Research and Development Corporation : GRDC project number DAW00100

The project aimed to overcome the barrier of harvesting field peas by promoting the role and value of semi-leafless varieties in combination with appropriate management in order to modify the attitude of growers and their advisers towards field pea [in Western Australia]. -- Project summary

Lupin agronomy for the south coast

Time of sowing x variety. Trials, 89E15, 89ES11, 89E42. Time of sowing x variety. Trials, 89E16, 89ES12. Seed rate x variety, trials 89ES8, 89ES9, 89ES10, 89JE2, 89JE3, 89AL7. Starter nitrogen, trials 89E20. Aphid control, trial 89E14. Deep placement of manganese and phosphorus, trials 89E43, 89E17

Between cohesion and division: reconciling the faultines of Europe’s past

Despite movement towards integration in the form of a shared currency and political institutions over the last 20 years, Europe shows signs of slipping back into populism and rancour. But do the faultlines of Europe’s past make full reconciliation impossible? Giacomo Lichtner, Mark Seymour, Maartja Abbenhuis explore this possibility, arguing that doing so is a necessity if the continent’s functional cohesion, anduniquely social-democratic vision, are to be sustained into the future

Differences in cardiac effects of venoms from tentacles and the bell of live Carukia barnesi: using non-invasive pulse wave doppler

Carukia barnesi was the first in an expanding list of cubozoan jellyfish whose sting was identified as causing Irukandji syndrome. Nematocysts present on both the bell and tentacles are known to produce localised stings, though their individual roles in Irukandji syndrome have remained speculative. This research examines differences through venom profiling and pulse wave Doppler in a murine model. The latter demonstrates marked measurable differences in cardiac parameters. The venom from tentacles (CBVt) resulted in cardiac decompensation and death in all mice at a mean of 40 min (95% CL: ± 11 min), whereas the venom from the bell (CBVb) did not produce any cardiac dysfunction nor death in mice at 60 min post-exposure. This difference is pronounced, and we propose that bell exposure is unlikely to be causative in severe Irukandji syndrome. To date, all previously published cubozoan venom research utilised parenterally administered venom in their animal models, with many acknowledging their questionable applicability to real-world envenomation. Our model used live cubozoans on anaesthetised mice to simulate normal envenomation mechanics and actual expressed venoms. Consequently, we provide validity to the parenteral methodology used by previous cubozoan venom research

Value Added Models and the Implementation of the National Standards of K-12 Physical Education

The implementation of value-added models of teacher evaluation continue to expand in public education, but the effects of using student test scores to evaluate K-12 physical educators necessitates further discussion. Using the five National Standards for K-12 Physical Education from the Society of Health and Physical Educators America (SHAPE), physical educators in New York State were polled about the most important goals of physical education and how value-added models may be affecting physical education practices. Participants were drawn using a proportionate stratified random sample (n=489). Standard 5 was selected as the most important by 36% of physical educators who responded, while standard 3 was chosen as most important by 33% of respondents. Thirty eight percent of physical educators reported that their performance reviews were based on student growth scores on written tests, 27% reported that their district selected fitness tests, standardized tests in English Language Arts or mathematics were reported being used by 18% of respondents, and performance-based assessments were reported being used by 17% of those completing the survey. The authors concluded that the affective domain (crucial to SHAPE standard 5) appears to be overlooked by policies that use student performance data to determine teacher effectiveness

Field pea in the great southern

Semi-leafless field pea like Kaspa have lifted the benchmark set by the previous conventional varieties such as Parafield and Dunwa. Semi-leafless field pea have the same traits as conventional field pea: adaptation to a range of soil types; wide selection of weed control options (including crop topping); nitrogen input; disease break; and reduction in root lesion nematodes. Semi-leafless pea is easier to harvest and is less prone to pod shatter