Reduction of Soil-Borne Plant Pathogens Using Lime and Ammonia Evolved from Broiler Litter

In laboratory and micro-plots simulations and in a commercial greenhouse, soil ammonia (NH3) and pH were manipulated as means to control soil-borne fungal pathogens and nematodes. Soil ammonification capacity was increased by applying low C/N ratio broiler litter at 1–8% (w/w). Soil pH was increased using lime at 0.5–1% (w/w). This reduced fungi (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi and Sclerotium rolfsii) and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) in lab tests below detection. In a commercial greenhouse, broiler litter (25 Mg ha−1) and lime (12.5 Mg ha−1) addition to soil in combination with solarization significantly reduced M. javanica induced root galling of tomato test plants from 47% in the control plots (solarization only) to 7% in treated plots. Root galling index of pepper plants, measured 178 days after planting in the treated and control plots, were 0.8 and 1.5, respectively, which was statistically significantly different. However, the numbers of nematode juveniles in the root zone soil counted 83 and 127 days after pepper planting were not significantly different between treatments. Pepper fruit yield was not different between treatments. Soil disinfection and curing was completed within one month, and by the time of bell-pepper planting the pH and ammonia values were normal

Safety and efficacy of an intra-oral electrostimulator for the relief of dry mouth in patients with chronic graft versus host disease: case Series

Objectives: Patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) often suffer from dry mouth and oral mu - cosal lesions. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the safety of an intra-oral electrostimulator (GenNarino) in symptomatic cGVHD patients. The secondary objective was to study the impact on the salivary gland involvement of cGVHD patients. Study Design: This paper presents a case series. The study included patients treated for 4 weeks, randomly as - signed to the active device and then crossed-over to a sham-device or vice versa. The patients and clinicians were blind to the treatment delivered. Data regarding oral mucosal and salivary gland involvement were collected. Results: Six patients were included in this series. Most of the intraoral areas with manifestations of cGVHD were not in contact with the GenNarino device. Two patients developed mild mucosal lesions in areas in contact with the GenNarino during the study. However, only one of them had a change in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) score for oral cGVHD. The unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate increased in 4 out of the 5 pa - tients included in this analysis. Symptoms of dry mouth and general oral comfort improved. Conclusion: This study suggests that GenNarino is safe in cGVHD patients with respect to oral tissues. Furthermore the use of GenNarino resulted in subjective and objective improvements in dry mouth symptoms. A large scale study is needed to confirm the impact and safety of GenNarino on systemic cGVHD

Loss of Communal Sustainability: The Kibbutz Shift from High-Trust to Low-Trust Culture

What is the connection between leaders' morality and the output performance of organizations? Can their morality explain, through trust, continuity and change of organizational cultures? These questions are fraught with so many complexities that· they can be untied only by Simon's (1992) proposal that organizational research should be analogous to zoology where an attempt is made to understand animals by a profound investigation of their immense variation. However, in the case of humans such investigation depends also on the finding of the right vantage point for proper interpretation of the criss-cross tapestry of cultures (Geertz, 1973), which makes a very complex organization. By studying this tapestry in the case of the kibbutz system a new picture is exposed than that portrayed by customary kibbutz research approach. It enables the explanation of both how most kibbutzim remained adaptive and creative for some six decades, and why have they lost creativity almost of a sudden, recently. A preliminary idea for preventing that process, based on leaders' continuation in office being conditional on growing trust, is herein presented

Loss of Communal Sustainability: The Kibbutz Shift from High-Trust to Low-Trust Culture

What is the connection between leaders' morality and the output performance of organizations? Can their morality explain, through trust, continuity and change of organizational cultures? These questions are fraught with so many complexities that· they can be untied only by Simon's (1992) proposal that organizational research should be analogous to zoology where an attempt is made to understand animals by a profound investigation of their immense variation. However, in the case of humans such investigation depends also on the finding of the right vantage point for proper interpretation of the criss-cross tapestry of cultures (Geertz, 1973), which makes a very complex organization. By studying this tapestry in the case of the kibbutz system a new picture is exposed than that portrayed by customary kibbutz research approach. It enables the explanation of both how most kibbutzim remained adaptive and creative for some six decades, and why have they lost creativity almost of a sudden, recently. A preliminary idea for preventing that process, based on leaders' continuation in office being conditional on growing trust, is herein presented.Agribusiness,