EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION IN GREAT NORTHERN AND PINTO BEAN PRODUCTION IN WESTERN NEBRASKA

INTRODUCTION In this project we explored the effect of plant population and row spacing on the yield and quality of great northern and pinto beans grown in Nebraska. This project builds on the findings from a preliminary non-replicated great northern variety trial conducted at Morrill, NE in 2014. That trial included four great northern cultivars with different plant architecture. In general, yields were reduced 18.8% (795 kg ha-1) when plant population increased from 251,152 to 300,715 plants ha-1. Yield reduction was greatest in ‘6107’ (24.7%) followed by ‘Marquis’ (20.1%), ‘Beryl-R’ (15.5%) and ‘Coyne’ (14.0%). In the current project we used replicated trials to evaluate the impact of plant population on two great northern and two pinto bean cultivars. Within each market class, one cultivar had a prostrate (III) and the other had an upright (II) growth habit. Our goal was to identify the optimal plant population and row spacing for each cultivar. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted during 2015 at the PREC-Scottsbluff, NE. Two great northern, ‘Marquis’ (III) and ‘Draco’ (II), and two pinto cultivars, Montrose (III) and Sinaloa (II) were planted in separate experiments at two row spacing (15 and 30 inches) and four plant populations. Target populations for the 30-inch row spacing were 45,000, 80,000, 100,000, and 120,000 plants/acre. Target populations for the 15-inch row spacing were 80,000, 100,000, 120,000, and 150,000 plants/acre. Four and seven rows were planted for the 30- and 15-inch row spacing experiments, respectively

EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION IN GREAT NORTHERN AND PINTO BEAN PRODUCTION IN WESTERN NEBRASKA

INTRODUCTION In this project we explored the effect of plant population and row spacing on the yield and quality of great northern and pinto beans grown in Nebraska. This project builds on the findings from a preliminary non-replicated great northern variety trial conducted at Morrill, NE in 2014. That trial included four great northern cultivars with different plant architecture. In general, yields were reduced 18.8% (795 kg ha-1) when plant population increased from 251,152 to 300,715 plants ha-1. Yield reduction was greatest in ‘6107’ (24.7%) followed by ‘Marquis’ (20.1%), ‘Beryl-R’ (15.5%) and ‘Coyne’ (14.0%). In the current project we used replicated trials to evaluate the impact of plant population on two great northern and two pinto bean cultivars. Within each market class, one cultivar had a prostrate (III) and the other had an upright (II) growth habit. Our goal was to identify the optimal plant population and row spacing for each cultivar. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted during 2015 at the PREC-Scottsbluff, NE. Two great northern, ‘Marquis’ (III) and ‘Draco’ (II), and two pinto cultivars, Montrose (III) and Sinaloa (II) were planted in separate experiments at two row spacing (15 and 30 inches) and four plant populations. Target populations for the 30-inch row spacing were 45,000, 80,000, 100,000, and 120,000 plants/acre. Target populations for the 15-inch row spacing were 80,000, 100,000, 120,000, and 150,000 plants/acre. Four and seven rows were planted for the 30- and 15-inch row spacing experiments, respectively

Diversity and ethics in trauma and acute care surgery teams: results from an international survey

Background Investigating the context of trauma and acute care surgery, the article aims at understanding the factors that can enhance some ethical aspects, namely the importance of patient consent, the perceptiveness of the ethical role of the trauma leader, and the perceived importance of ethics as an educational subject. Methods The article employs an international questionnaire promoted by the World Society of Emergency Surgery. Results Through the analysis of 402 fully filled questionnaires by surgeons from 72 different countries, the three main ethical topics are investigated through the lens of gender, membership of an academic or non-academic institution, an official trauma team, and a diverse group. In general terms, results highlight greater attention paid by surgeons belonging to academic institutions, official trauma teams, and diverse groups. Conclusions Our results underline that some organizational factors (e.g., the fact that the team belongs to a university context or is more diverse) might lead to the development of a higher sensibility on ethical matters. Embracing cultural diversity forces trauma teams to deal with different mindsets. Organizations should, therefore, consider those elements in defining their organizational procedures. Level of evidence Trauma and acute care teams work under tremendous pressure and complex circumstances, with their members needing to make ethical decisions quickly. The international survey allowed to shed light on how team assembly decisions might represent an opportunity to coordinate team member actions and increase performance

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Surgeons' perspectives on artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making in trauma and emergency contexts: results from an international survey

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in medicine and surgery. AI-based applications can offer tools to examine high-volume data to inform predictive analytics that supports complex decision-making processes. Time-sensitive trauma and emergency contexts are often challenging. The study aims to investigate trauma and emergency surgeons' knowledge and perception of using AI-based tools in clinical decision-making processes. Methods: An online survey grounded on literature regarding AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was advertised to 917 WSES members through the society's website and Twitter profile. Results: 650 surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the survey. Results depict the presence of technology enthusiasts and skeptics and surgeons' preference toward more classical decision-making aids like clinical guidelines, traditional training, and the support of their multidisciplinary colleagues. A lack of knowledge about several AI-related aspects emerges and is associated with mistrust. Discussion: The trauma and emergency surgical community is divided into those who firmly believe in the potential of AI and those who do not understand or trust AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids. Academic societies and surgical training programs should promote a foundational, working knowledge of clinical AI

Time for a paradigm shift in shared decision-making in trauma and emergency surgery? Results from an international survey

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) between clinicians and patients is one of the pillars of the modern patient-centric philosophy of care. This study aims to explore SDM in the discipline of trauma and emergency surgery, investigating its interpretation as well as the barriers and facilitators for its implementation among surgeons. Methods Grounding on the literature on the topics of the understanding, barriers, and facilitators of SDM in trauma and emergency surgery, a survey was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was sent to all 917 WSES members, advertised through the society’s website, and shared on the society’s Twitter profile. Results A total of 650 trauma and emergency surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the initiative. Less than half of the surgeons understood SDM, and 30% still saw the value in exclusively engaging multidisciplinary provider teams without involving the patient. Several barriers to effectively partnering with the patient in the decision-making process were identified, such as the lack of time and the need to concentrate on making medical teams work smoothly. Discussion Our investigation underlines how only a minority of trauma and emergency surgeons understand SDM, and perhaps, the value of SDM is not fully accepted in trauma and emergency situations. The inclusion of SDM practices in clinical guidelines may represent the most feasible and advocated solutions