Registration of ‘Haymaker’ Intermediate Wheatgrass

‘NU-ARS AC2’ crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.–A. cristatum var. pectinatum (M. Bieb.) Tzvelev] (Reg. no. CV-28, PI 634507) is a broadly adapted, complex composite population produced by allowing selected plants from fairway-type germplasm accessions to randomly intermate. It originates from collections made by Douglas Dewey, USDA-ARS Plant Geneticist, in the former USSR in 1977. It was released in September 2002 by USDA-ARS; Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and the USDA-NRCS. NU-ARS AC2 was tested under the experimental designation NE AC2

Registration of ‘NU-ARS AC2’ Crested Wheatgrass

‘NU-ARS AC2’ crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.–A. cristatum var. pectinatum (M. Bieb.) Tzvelev] (Reg. no. CV-28, PI 634507) is a broadly adapted, complex composite population produced by allowing selected plants from fairway-type germplasm accessions to randomly intermate. It originates from collections made by Douglas Dewey, USDA-ARS Plant Geneticist, in the former USSR in 1977. It was released in September 2002 by USDA-ARS; Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and the USDA-NRCS. NU-ARS AC2 was tested under the experimental designation NE AC2

First principles calculation of structural and magnetic properties for Fe monolayers and bilayers on W(110)

Structure optimizations were performed for 1 and 2 monolayers (ML) of Fe on a 5 ML W(110) substrate employing the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method. The magnetic moments were also obtained for the converged and optimized structures. We find significant contractions ($\sim$ 10 %) for both the Fe-W and the neighboring Fe-Fe interlayer spacings compared to the corresponding bulk W-W and Fe-Fe interlayer spacings. Compared to the Fe bcc bulk moment of 2.2 $\mu_B$, the magnetic moment for the surface layer of Fe is enhanced (i) by 15% to 2.54 $\mu_B$ for 1 ML Fe/5 ML W(110), and (ii) by 29% to 2.84 $\mu_B$ for 2 ML Fe/5 ML W(110). The inner Fe layer for 2 ML Fe/5 ML W(110) has a bulk-like moment of 2.3 $\mu_B$. These results agree well with previous experimental data

Electron correlation effects and magnetic ordering at the Gd(0001) surface

Effects of electron correlation on the electronic structure and magnetic properties of the Gd(0001) surface are investigated using of the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave implementation of correlated band theory ("LDA+U"). The use of LDA+U instead of LDA (local density approximation) total energy calculations produces the correct ferromagnetic ground state for both bulk Gd and the Gd surface. Surface strain relaxation leads to an 90 % enhancement of the interlayer surface-to-bulk effective exchange coupling. Application of a Landau-Ginzburg type theory yields a 30 % enhancement of the Curie temperature at the surface, in very good agreement with the experiment.Comment: revised version: minor typos correcte

Registration of \u27Manska\u27 Pubescent Intermediate Wheatgrass

\u27MANSKA\u27 pubescent intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium subsp. barbulatum (Schur) Barkw. & Dewey] (Reg. no. CV-21, PI 562527) was tested as Mandan 12781 and released 16 April 1992 by the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the USDA-SCS; the Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska; and the North Agricultural Experiment Station

AESOPS: a randomised controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of opportunistic screening and stepped care interventions for older hazardous alcohol users in primary care

BACKGROUND: There is clear evidence of the detrimental impact of hazardous alcohol consumption on the physical and mental health of the population. Estimates suggest that hazardous alcohol consumption annually accounts for 150,000 hospital admissions and between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths in the UK. In the older population, hazardous alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of physical, psychological and social problems. There is evidence of an association between increased alcohol consumption and increased risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension and haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke, increased rates of alcohol-related liver disease and increased risk of a range of cancers. Alcohol is identified as one of the three main risk factors for falls. Excessive alcohol consumption in older age can also contribute to the onset of dementia and other age-related cognitive deficits and is implicated in one-third of all suicides in the older population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a stepped care intervention against a minimal intervention in the treatment of older hazardous alcohol users in primary care. DESIGN: A multicentre, pragmatic, two-armed randomised controlled trial with an economic evaluation. SETTING: General practices in primary care in England and Scotland between April 2008 and October 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged ≥ 55 years scoring ≥ 8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (10-item) (AUDIT) were eligible. In total, 529 patients were randomised in the study. INTERVENTIONS: The minimal intervention group received a 5-minute brief advice intervention with the practice or research nurse involving feedback of the screening results and discussion regarding the health consequences of continued hazardous alcohol consumption. Those in the stepped care arm initially received a 20-minute session of behavioural change counselling, with referral to step 2 (motivational enhancement therapy) and step 3 (local specialist alcohol services) if indicated. Sessions were recorded and rated to ensure treatment fidelity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was average drinks per day (ADD) derived from extended AUDIT--Consumption (3-item) (AUDIT-C) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were AUDIT-C score at 6 and 12 months; alcohol-related problems assessed using the Drinking Problems Index (DPI) at 6 and 12 months; health-related quality of life assessed using the Short Form Questionnaire-12 items (SF-12) at 6 and 12 months; ADD at 6 months; quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (for cost-utility analysis derived from European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions); and health and social care resource use associated with the two groups. RESULTS: Both groups reduced alcohol consumption between baseline and 12 months. The difference between groups in log-transformed ADD at 12 months was very small, at 0.025 [95% confidence interval (CI)--0.060 to 0.119], and not statistically significant. At month 6 the stepped care group had a lower ADD, but again the difference was not statistically significant. At months 6 and 12, the stepped care group had a lower DPI score, but this difference was not statistically significant at the 5% level. The stepped care group had a lower SF-12 mental component score and lower physical component score at month 6 and month 12, but these differences were not statistically significant at the 5% level. The overall average cost per patient, taking into account health and social care resource use, was £488 [standard deviation (SD) £826] in the stepped care group and £482 (SD £826) in the minimal intervention group at month 6. The mean QALY gains were slightly greater in the stepped care group than in the minimal intervention group, with a mean difference of 0.0058 (95% CI -0.0018 to 0.0133), generating an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £1100 per QALY gained. At month 12, participants in the stepped care group incurred fewer costs, with a mean difference of -£194 (95% CI -£585 to £198), and had gained 0.0117 more QALYs (95% CI -0.0084 to 0.0318) than the control group. Therefore, from an economic perspective the minimal intervention was dominated by stepped care but, as would be expected given the effectiveness results, the difference was small and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Stepped care does not confer an advantage over minimal intervention in terms of reduction in alcohol consumption at 12 months post intervention when compared with a 5-minute brief (minimal) intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered as ISRCTN52557360. FUNDING: This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 17, No. 25. See the HTA programme website for further project information

Further studies on the iodine concentration of conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk at retail in the UK

Milk is the largest source of iodine in UK diets and earlier studies showed organic summer and winter milk to be significantly lower in iodine than conventional milk. One study also showed UHT milk to have lower iodine concentration. The study on winter and UHT milk was small and accordingly a new study is reported here involving conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk from four supermarkets over a six-month period in summer and winter in two regions of the UK. The results showed organic milk to be 44% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 241 mg/L, P < 0.001) and UHT milk was 27% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 314 mg/L, P < 0.001) although the differences tended to be less in the summer. The results indicate that replacement of conventional milk by organic or UHT milk will increase the risk of sub-optimal iodine status especially for pregnant/lactating women

Further studies on the iodine concentration of conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk at retail in the UK

Milk is the largest source of iodine in UK diets and earlier studies showed organic summer and winter milk to be significantly lower in iodine than conventional milk. One study also showed UHT milk to have lower iodine concentration. The study on winter and UHT milk was small and accordingly a new study is reported here involving conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk from four supermarkets over a six-month period in summer and winter in two regions of the UK. The results showed organic milk to be 44% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 241 mg/L, P < 0.001) and UHT milk was 27% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 314 mg/L, P < 0.001) although the differences tended to be less in the summer. The results indicate that replacement of conventional milk by organic or UHT milk will increase the risk of sub-optimal iodine status especially for pregnant/lactating women