Combined Effects of Topdressing, Cultivation, and Carfentrazone-ethyl on Silvery-Thread Moss Infestation

The greatest reduction in silvery-thread moss (STM; Bryum argenteum Hedw.) cover was achieved when cultivation treatments were used in conjunction with carfentrazone

Dose Responses of Silvery-thread Moss to Carfentrazone-ethyl

As compared with label recommendations, this research suggests that lower carfentrazone-ethyl rates and longer intervals may be effective for silvery- thread moss (STM; Bryum argenteum Hedw.) control in putting greens

Setting The Pace: Examining Cognitive Processing in MOOC Discussion Forums With Automatic Text Analysis

Learning analytics focuses on extracting meaning from large amounts of data. One of the largest datasets in education comes from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that typically feature enrollments in the tens of thousands. Analyzing MOOC discussion forums presents logistical issues, resulting chiefly from the size of the dataset, which can create challenges for understanding and adequately describing student behaviors. Utilizing automatic text analysis, this study built a hierarchical linear model that examines the influence of the pacing condition of a massive open online course (MOOC), whether it is self-paced or instructor-paced, on the demonstration of cognitive processing in a HarvardX MOOC. The analysis of 2,423 discussion posts generated by 671 students revealed the number of dictionary words used were positively associated with cognitive processing while analytical thinking and clout was negatively associated. We found that none of the student background information (gender, education), status of the course engagement (explored or completed), or the course pace (self-paced versus instructor paced) significantly influenced the cognitive processing of the postings

Complexity in the genetic architecture of leukoaraiosis in hypertensive sibships from the GENOA Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Subcortical white matter hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, referred to as leukoaraiosis, is associated with increased risk of stroke and dementia. Hypertension may contribute to leukoaraiosis by accelerating the process of arteriosclerosis involving penetrating small arteries and arterioles in the brain. Leukoaraiosis volume is highly heritable but shows significant inter-individual variability that is not predicted well by any clinical covariates (except for age) or by single SNPs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>As part of the Genetics of Microangiopathic Brain Injury (GMBI) Study, 777 individuals (74% hypertensive) underwent brain MRI and were genotyped for 1649 SNPs from genes known or hypothesized to be involved in arteriosclerosis and related pathways. We examined SNP main effects, epistatic (gene-gene) interactions, and context-dependent (gene-environment) interactions between these SNPs and covariates (including conventional and novel risk factors for arteriosclerosis) for association with leukoaraiosis volume. Three methods were used to reduce the chance of false positive associations: 1) false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment for multiple testing, 2) an internal replication design, and 3) a ten-iteration four-fold cross-validation scheme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four SNP main effects (in <it>F3</it>, <it>KITLG</it>, <it>CAPN10</it>, and <it>MMP2</it>), 12 SNP-covariate interactions (including interactions between <it>KITLG </it>and homocysteine, and between <it>TGFB3 </it>and both physical activity and C-reactive protein), and 173 SNP-SNP interactions were significant, replicated, and cross-validated. While a model containing the top single SNPs with main effects predicted only 3.72% of variation in leukoaraiosis in independent test samples, a multiple variable model that included the four most highly predictive SNP-SNP and SNP-covariate interactions predicted 11.83%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that the genetic architecture of leukoaraiosis is complex, yet predictive, when the contributions of SNP main effects are considered in combination with effects of SNP interactions with other genes and covariates.</p

Improving educational achievement and anaemia of school children: design of a cluster randomised trial of school-based malaria prevention and enhanced literacy instruction in Kenya

BACKGROUND: Improving the health of school-aged children can yield substantial benefits for cognitive development and educational achievement. However, there is limited experimental evidence on the benefits of school-based malaria prevention or how health interventions interact with other efforts to improve education quality. This study aims to evaluate the impact of school-based malaria prevention and enhanced literacy instruction on the health and educational achievement of school children in Kenya. DESIGN: A factorial, cluster randomised trial is being implemented in 101 government primary schools on the coast of Kenya. The interventions are (i) intermittent screening and treatment of malaria in schools by public health workers and (ii) training workshops and support for teachers to promote explicit and systematic literacy instruction. Schools are randomised to one of four groups: receiving either (i) the malaria intervention alone; (ii) the literacy intervention alone; (iii) both interventions combined; or (iv) control group where neither intervention is implemented. Children from classes 1 and 5 are randomly selected and followed up for 24 months. The primary outcomes are educational achievement and anaemia, the hypothesised mediating variables through which education is affected. Secondary outcomes include malaria parasitaemia, school attendance and school performance. A nested process evaluation, using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and a stakeholder analysis will investigate the community acceptability, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the interventions. DISCUSSION: Across Africa, governments are committed to improve health and education of school-aged children, but seek clear policy and technical guidance as to the optimal approach to address malaria and improved literacy. This evaluation will be one of the first to simultaneously evaluate the impact of health and education interventions in the improvement of educational achievement. Reflection is made on the practical issues encountered in conducting research in schools in Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: National Institutes of Health NCT00878007

The implementation of a translational study involving a primary care based behavioral program to improve blood pressure control: The HTN-IMPROVE study protocol (01295)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the impact of hypertension and widely accepted target values for blood pressure (BP), interventions to improve BP control have had limited success.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>We describe the design of a 'translational' study that examines the implementation, impact, sustainability, and cost of an evidence-based nurse-delivered tailored behavioral self-management intervention to improve BP control as it moves from a research context to healthcare delivery. The study addresses four specific aims: assess the implementation of an evidence-based behavioral self-management intervention to improve BP levels; evaluate the clinical impact of the intervention as it is implemented; assess organizational factors associated with the sustainability of the intervention; and assess the cost of implementing and sustaining the intervention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The project involves three geographically diverse VA intervention facilities and nine control sites. We first conduct an evaluation of barriers and facilitators for implementing the intervention at intervention sites. We examine the impact of the intervention by comparing 12-month pre/post changes in BP control between patients in intervention sites versus patients in the matched control sites. Next, we examine the sustainability of the intervention and organizational factors facilitating or hindering the sustained implementation. Finally, we examine the costs of intervention implementation. Key outcomes are acceptability and costs of the program, as well as changes in BP. Outcomes will be assessed using mixed methods (<it>e.g</it>., qualitative analyses--pattern matching; quantitative methods--linear mixed models).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The study results will provide information about the challenges and costs to implement and sustain the intervention, and what clinical impact can be expected.</p