The effects of season of fire on macroinvertebrates in a longleaf pine-wiregrass community

The effects of season of fire on macroinvertebrate abundance and biomass were studied in a relatively undisturbed longleaf pine-wiregrass (Pinus palustris-Aristida beyrichiana) community at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The objective was to determine how season of fire affected invertebrate abundance and biomass and to relate these effects to wild turkey (Meleagris gallopaw) and northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) brood habitat management. Invertebrates were collected using a terrestrial vacuum sampler (D-Vac ®) during the wild turkey and northern bobwhite brood season (April-September) during 1996-97. Treatment plots were burned in May, July, and December of 1996. Total invertebrate abundance (no. invertebrates/transect) and biomass (g invertebrates/transect) were greater in July and unburned plots during the first year. Abundance in May-burned plots attained or surpassed abundance in unburned plots within 2 months after burning. Invertebrate abundance in July-burned plots recovered to that of unburned plots 1 month after burning, while biomass required 2 months to reach levels of unburned plots. May-burned plots had greater overall abundance and biomass than all other treatments 1 year after burning. Plots burned in December of the previous year had the lowest overall abundance and biomass of all treatments 1 year after burning. Overall abundance and biomass of Orthopterans were greater in May-burned plots than all other treatments 1 year after burning. Overall abundance and biomass of Homopterans were greater in plots burned in May and July and unburned plots 1 year after burning. Overall abundance of Coleopterans was greater in July-burned plots and unburned plots 1 year after burning. However, no differences were detected for biomass among treatments. Overall Hymenopteran abundance was greater in May-burned plots than in all other treatments in the year burned and also 1 year after burning. Few relationships were detected between invertebrate abundance and biomass and vegetation composition. Treatment had the greatest impact on invertebrate abundance and biomass. Results indicated that growing-season fire had a short-term negative effect on invertebrate abundance and biomass, but recovered to levels of unburned plots within 2 months after burning. In terms of invertebrates, growing-season fire in longleaf pine-wiregrass stands appears to be compatible with wild turkey and northern bobwhite brood habitat when compared to dormant-season bums or no-burn treatments. The potential negative effects of growing-season fire on nesting and poult and chick production, however, must be considered when applying growing-season fire in wild turkey and northern bobwhite brood habitat

Gradient Photonic Materials Based on One‐Dimensional Polymer Photonic Crystals

In nature, animals such as chameleons are well‐known for the complex color patterns of their skin and the ability to adapt and change the color by manipulating sophisticated photonic crystal systems. Artificial gradient photonic materials are inspired by these color patterns. A concept for the preparation of such materials and their function as tunable mechanochromic materials is presented in this work. The system consists of a 1D polymer photonic crystal on a centimeter scale on top of an elastic poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrate with a gradient in stiffness. In the unstrained state, this system reveals a uniform red reflectance over the entire sample. Upon deformation, a gradient in local strain of the substrate is formed and transferred to the photonic crystal. Depending on the magnitude of this local strain, the thickness of the photonic crystal decreases continuously, resulting in a position‐dependent blue shift of the reflectance peak and hence the color in a rainbow‐like fashion. Using more sophisticated hard‐soft‐hard‐soft‐hard gradient elastomers enables the realization of stripe‐like reflectance patterns. Thus, this approach allows for the tunable formation of reflectance gradients and complex reflectance patterns. Envisioned applications are in the field of mechanochromic sensors, telemedicine, smart materials, and metamaterials

Impact of Prevnar (PCV13) vaccine recommendations in pediatric and immunocompetent adults 65 years and older: What are the benefits and risks?

Background: 2000: PCV7 becomes the first FDA approved pneumococcal vaccine for pediatrics2010: PCV13 recommended in pediatrics 2014: PCV13 recommended in immunocompetent adults 65+ 2018: CDC looked at data since 2014 recommendation 2019: PCV13 now shared clinical decision-makin

Evaluation of Guideline-Directed Medication Therapy for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients at Discharge on 30-Day Readmission Rates at Two Tertiary Healthcare Centers

Evaluation of Guideline-Directed Medication Therapy for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients at Discharge on 30-Day Readmission Rates at Two Tertiary Healthcare Centers Principal Investigator: Jacqueline Hesse, Pharm.D. Preceptors: Yan Xu, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP; Meri Slavica, Ph.D., BCPS Pharmacy Student: James Watkins, 2020 Pharm.D. Candidate Sub-Investigators: Alan Rankin, MD; Joshua Remick, MD Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a chronic, progressive disease leading to symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, edema, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. The use of anangiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi), angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in combination with an evidence-based beta blocker (BB) is guideline-supported Class I recommended therapy for HFrEF with an LVEF Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed using the Epic Electronic Medical Record of all patients admitted to one of our tertiary medical centers between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 with a primary diagnosis of HFrEF. Patients were included if they were at least 18 years of age and had an LVEF of Results A total of 1,999 patient admissions underwent chart review with 752 admissions not meeting inclusion criteria and 1,247 admissions being included in the final analysis. Of those included, 202 patients (16%) were readmitted within 30 days. Patients discharged with any GDMT had less readmissions within 30 days than those without any GDMT (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-1.0, p = 0.0369). However, patients discharged on an ACEi or ARB had more readmissions within 30 days than patients discharged on no GDMT (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-1.9, p = 0.0283). 49% of patients (N = 609) had an idiopathic cause of heart failure followed by 32% of patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (N = 394) and 20% of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (N = 244). No significant differences were found between the 30-day readmission rate and cause of heart failure. For highest K value on readmission, no significant differences were found between groups. For highest SCr on readmission, discharging on an ACEi or ARB or discharging on an ACEi or ARB in combination with a BB yielded a significantly lower SCr on readmission compared to no GDMT (1.6 vs. 2.6, p = Conclusion In conclusion, patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HFrEF that are discharged on any GDMT were found to have less readmissions for any reason within 30 days than those without any GDMT. However, subgroup analysis for individual GDMT may not have a lower rate of readmissions. Further research with prospective randomized controlled trials is needed to determine statistical significance of subgroups of GDMT on the rate of readmission within 30 days.https://digitalcommons.psjhealth.org/pharmacy_PGY1/1010/thumbnail.jp

EC03-1884 Wheat Disease Profiles I

This two-page, 4-color extension circular covers the disease and symptoms of wheat in Nebraska. The diseases listed are: barley yellow dwarf, soil-borne wheat mosaic, wheat streak mosaic, leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust, tan spot, septoria leaf blotch, common root rot, crown rot, Fusarium head blight (scab)

EC02-1883 Corn Disease Profiles

This two-page, four-color extension circular covers the many diseases of corn in Nebraska. It list and describes corn diseases such as: anthracnose, common smut, bacterial stalk rot and top rot, holcus spot, Stewart\u27s Wilt, Goss\u27s bacterial wilt and blight, common rust, southern rust, and gray leaf rust

EC03-1884 Wheat Disease Profiles I

This two-page, 4-color extension circular covers the disease and symptoms of wheat in Nebraska. The diseases listed are: barley yellow dwarf, soil-borne wheat mosaic, wheat streak mosaic, leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust, tan spot, septoria leaf blotch, common root rot, crown rot, Fusarium head blight (scab)

Data from: Germination fitness of two temperate epiphytic ferns shifts under increasing temperatures and forest fragmentation

Ferns are an important component of ecosystems around the world. Studies of the impacts that global changes may have on ferns are scarce, yet emerging studies indicate that some species may be particularly sensitive to climate change. The lack of research in this subject is much more aggravated in the case of epiphytes, and especially those that live under temperate climates. A mathematical model was developed for two temperate epiphytic ferns in order to predict potential impacts on spore germination kinetics, in response to different scenarios of global change, coming from increasing temperature and forest fragmentation. Our results show that an increasing temperature will have a negative impact over the populations of these temperate epiphytic ferns. Under unfragmented forests the germination percentage was comparatively less influenced than in fragmented patches. This study highlight that, in the long term, populations of the studied epiphytic temperate ferns may decline due to climate change. Overall, epiphytic fern communities will suffer changes in diversity, richness and dominance. Our study draws attention to the role of ferns in epiphytic communities of temperate forests, emphasizing the importance of considering these plants in any conservation strategy. Derived from our results, it seems that it would be more practical to focus attention to forest conservation. From a methodological point of view, the model we propose could be easily used to dynamically monitor the status of ecosystems, allowing the quick prediction of possible future scenarios, which is a crucial issue in biodiversity conservation decision-making