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Collection of Germplasm of Desmodium and Related Genera in Indonesia
Get PDF17 species of Desmodium and 5 species of the related genera were collected from the islands of Sulawesi, Java, Timor and Sumba. The collection sites differed in rainfall, altitude, soil pH, vegetation and other eco-geographic characteristics. Several samples with good agronomic potential were collected from acid infertile soils. The collections differed in growth habit, biomass production, leafiness, seed setting and adaptation to problem soils. Promising collections for use in crop improvement programme were identified
Preliminary Evaluation of Panicum maximum Germplasm in Brazil: An International Agronomy Research Program
Get PDFFollowing former recommendations to leave traditional schemes of simultaneous evaluation of several species, and extensive program has been initiated as a result of an international agreement between French and Brazilian research organizations, to evaluate one single tropical forage grass species with wide genetic diversity. A field experiment was designed for preliminary evaluation of 400 accessions of Panicum maximum at two levels of soil fertility. Emphasis is placed on a fixed-interval cutting regime, seed production, and detailed morphological characterization of promising accessions. A list of the morphological descriptors is presented. Selected accessions will enter further phases of evaluation under grazing and be tested in several locations, both at the farm level and in other regional research institutions
Scope for Breeding Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. as Forage Crop
Get PDFMiscanthus sinensis Anderss., an indigenous summer growing tussock grass species, has been utilized traditionally in Japan for many centuries as bulk herbage to feed livestock, material for thatching roof and snowshed etc, but this species does not survive well under frequent cutting. Experiments were conducted to select more vigorous strains among fifty clones collected from various meadows throughout Niigata Prefecture in 1967. Several clones were detected for better regrowth performance and their dry matter productions were compared for four years under three cuttings a year with fertilizer application scheme. Dry matter productions of the selected clones were comparable to those of Zea mays L. and Sorghum nitidum (Vahl) Pers. even in the fourth year. It is suggested that an intensive research on breeding and utilization of this species should be undertaken as it is good for improving soil fertility if managed well, while very few research work has been done on improving its regrowth vigor which might lead to a quick domestication
Effects of Incorporation of Organic Material and/or Limestone on Grasses Grown on Acid Coal Refuse
Get PDFDisposal of coal preparation wastes is a serious environmental problem. Waste materials whose particle size is less than 2 mm are classified as slurry. About 67 000 hectares in the U.S.A. are affected by surface disposal of coal mining wastes. These materials tend to be acid, draughty and possess high surface temperatures thus retarding natural succession on affected sites. Regulations require that slurry impoundments be covered with 120 cm of non-toxic material and revegetated. The cost of such treatment can exceed $ 24,000 per hectare (Kosowski, 1973). Brundage (1974) and Sukthumrong (1975) concluded that alternate, less expensive methods could be used in slurry reclamation. Medvick and Grant (1976) and Sukthumrong (1975) found that high rates of limestone application would allow direct revegetation of coal refuse surfaces. However, Sutton (1983) reported that without further treatment plant cover and productivity declined with time. The use of sewage sludge as an organic amendment to improve the chemical and physical properties of coal refuse sites has been examined. Sapper and Kerr (1982) reported a fourfold increase in biomass production five years after sludge application. However, use of the sewage sludge can result in accumulations of heavy metals in soils and plants tissues (Stucky and Newman, 1977). This study was conducted to determine what combinations of limestone, composted municipal waste and grass species would successfully revegetate an acid coal refuse site
Multiple of the Intermountain Region, Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Get PDFInitial custodians of the National Forests of the United States were primarily concerned about protecting what were perceived as deteriorating timber stands and watersheds. Considerable progress was made in correcting these problems in the first half of this Century. As the population of the United States grew, more people became interested in management of all resources on these public lands. Forest Officers gradually became stewards managing a broad array of lands and resources for which there were often conflicting interests and uses. A primary use of National Forests in the Western United States has been livestock grazing. Here, animals are permitted to grazed on a fee basis. Until recently, grazing was geared toward animal products and economic return. While this remains an emphasis on privately owned lands, management of public lands must fit into the total multiple-use scene. Grazing must be managed to maintain other values derived from these lands. New concepts and studies from the rapidly expanding profession of range science and management have aided us in this change of emphasis. Intensive grazing systems and various management options have allowed us to permit livestock graz ing, yet still have minimal impact on other uses. It is the intent of this paper to present how, under proper management, livestock grazing can be designed to be compatible with other uses and, in fact, may be an important tool in the management of other resources
Grass Plan Density for Adequate Conservation Reserve Program Stands
Get PDFThe Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program with the objective to reduce surplus feed grain production in the United States by idling marginal cropland, has already idled nearly 12 million hectares with a target of 32 million hectares. Idled land must be seeded to perennial grasses to help prevent soil erosion. The required grass seeding has caused the cost of grass seed to increase several fold ; therefore, establishment cost could be reduced considerably if seeding rates could be reduced from the present recommended 215 to 323 seeds/m2 (Dodds, 1981). Recommended seeding rates were developed from research on establishment of forage crops (Metcalfe, 1973), which required productivity as soon as possible after seeding for economic reasons. Land in CRP does not need to have maximum productivity in the first year, only a grass stand that will protect against erosion and compete with weeds. Therefore, our objective was to determine what plant density provides near maximum cover when first-year productivity was not required
The Effects of Heavy Metals Applied in Digested Sewage Sludge to Grassland
Get PDFThe application of potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge to grassland has implications to environmental pollution and the health of grazing rumiµants. In Scotland, moderately acid grassland receives most of the sewage sludge applied to agricultural land and there is therefore a risk of heavy metal mobilisation and uptake by herbage. In addition, soil ingestion (Fleming, 1986) and intake of herbage contaminated with sludge adhering to leaf surfaces may present an important means by which potentially toxic elements are absorbed by ruminants. In this paper, two aspects of sewage sludge use on grassland are studied, namely : 1. Factors affecting the contamination of herbage by sludge adherence. 2. Effects of liming, ploughing and fertilizer N use on heavy metal uptake by herbage
Dissecting the biophysical mechanisms of oleate hydratase association with membranes
Get PDFThis study investigates the dynamics of oleate hydratase (OhyA), a bacterial flavoenzyme from Staphylococcus aureus, and its interactions with lipid membranes, focusing on the factors influencing membrane binding and oligomerization. OhyA catalyzes the hydration of unsaturated fatty acids, playing a key role in bacterial pathogenesis by neutralizing host antimicrobial fatty acids. OhyA binds the membrane bilayer to access membrane-embedded substrates for catalysis, and structural studies have revealed that OhyA forms oligomers on membrane surfaces, stabilized by both protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), we examined the effects of membrane curvature and lipid availability on OhyA binding to phosphatidylglycerol unilamellar vesicles. Our results reveal that OhyA preferentially binds to vesicles with moderate curvature, while the presence of substrate fatty acids slightly enhanced the overall interaction despite reducing the binding affinity by 3- to 4-fold. Complementary phosphorus-31 (31P) NMR spectroscopy further demonstrated two distinct binding modes: a fast-exchange interaction at lower protein concentrations and a longer lasting interaction at higher protein concentrations, likely reflecting cooperative oligomerization. These findings highlight the reversible, non- stoichiometric nature of OhyA•membrane interactions, with dynamic binding behaviors influenced by protein concentration and lipid environment. This research provides new insights into the dynamic behavior of OhyA on bacterial membranes, highlighting that initial interactions are driven by lipid-mediated protein binding, while sustained interactions are primarily governed by the protein:lipid molar ratio rather than the formation of new, specific lipid-protein interactions. These findings advance our understanding of the biophysical principles underlying OhyA’s role in bacterial membrane function and virulence
Evaluating Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Suicide Hotline Referrals in APRNs Screening Children for Depression and Suicide in Primary Care
Get PDFBackground: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in adolescents across the United States (US). Primary care providers (PCPs) are often the first people an adolescent sees for depression or suicide symptoms; however, evidence shows PCPs may not be comprehensively screening for suicide in the primary care setting by using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) alone. Screening tool usage for depression and suicide among PCPs is currently at rates as low as 26% due to lack of knowledge and insufficient resources. Evidence-based education on American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations can improve PCPs’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes when assessing for depression and suicide in primary care. Comprehensive screening for suicide and depression, as well as providing up-to-date mental health resources, can fill the gap of those adolescents being under-screened for suicide risk with depression screening alone.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to increase referrals to the newly implemented 3-digit suicide hotline, and improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of APRNs across the state of Kentucky towards screening children for depression and suicide in primary care.
Methods: A quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design with an educational intervention was used. The educational module and surveys were sent via email to the Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives (KANPNM) listserv. The educational intervention was a 42-minute Prezi presentation with a recorded voiceover that focused on current evidence-based suicide screening recommendations that align with the AAP. This included the Ask Suicide Screening Questions (ASQ), the ASQ plus PHQ, the ASQ toolkit, clinical pathway, suicide resources, and information on the newest crisis lifeline, 988. Pre- and post-Qualtrics surveys were used to assess provider knowledge, skills, and attitudes when screening for suicide in primary care. Survey results were analyzed using IBM SPSS and descriptive statistics/frequencies. Results: A total of six providers participated in the study. Six providers participated pre-intervention and one provider post-intervention. The study noted a slight improvement in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of APRNs across the state of Kentucky when screening children for depression and suicide in primary care, and an increase in referrals to the 3-digit suicide hotline.
Discussion: Understanding current screening and referral practices for children during this national mental health crisis is crucial to identify more children with a suicide risk and reduce suicide rates. The impact of an educational module for providers with updated screening tools, recommendations, and resources provided by the AAP can be beneficial to provider knowledge and skills when screening for suicide. Future studies should focus on larger sample sizes and various specialties nationwide to determine if an educational module significantly identifies more children with a suicide risk
Utilitzing a Nurse Triage Model to Decrease the Administrative Burden of EMR Messaging
Get PDFAbstract
Background: The volume of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) messages from patients to providers continues to rise, yet clinic workflows have not been adequately restructured to accommodate. Increased EMR, especially the inbasket, is associated with provider burnout and decreased job satisfaction, contributing to provider turnover.
Purpose: To improve the triage and distribution of the EMR messaging workload
Method: A Nurse Triage Flowchart was implemented in the Gastroenterology Clinic at the University of Kentucky to help RNs/MAs triage patient messages for improved workflow. Surveys were completed by RNs/MAs and providers before and three months post-implementation. Data from EPIC over six months (three months pre- and post-implementation) was analyzed for message routing, provider workload, and response time.
Results: The GI clinic included 14 RNs/MAs and 29 providers. Among RNs/MAs, perceived adequacy of triage direction improved (7.0 to 8.1, p = 0.37), satisfaction increased (7.3 to 8.6, p = 0.21), and feelings of being overwhelmed slightly decreased (5.4 to 5.0, p = 0.78). All RNs/MAs found the flowchart helpful. Among providers, feelings of being overwhelmed decreased (7.7 to 6.8, p = 0.26). However, time spent on messages outside work and proportion of messages deemed answerable by other staff remained unchanged. (5.9 to 6.0, p = 0.94; 6.3 to 6.3, p = 1.0). Message forwarding to providers decreased in the final month (August–October: 28.72%, 23.62%, 25.54%; November–January: 25.82%, 25.61%, 21.7%). Forty-seven percent of providers perceived reduced message volume. Message distribution was uneven, with APPs and female providers receiving higher volumes. Response time to patients was unchanged.
Conclusion: The flowchart improved direction and satisfaction for RNs/MAs, enhancing autonomy. Overall workload impact for providers was minimal. Disparities in message distribution highlight need for further evaluation of workflow efficiency and equity