Infections from prolonged use of axillary intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) have not been well studied. Bloodstream infection (BSI) occurred in 13% of our patients; however, no difference in outcome was noted between those with BSI and those without. Further studies regarding protocol developments that minimize BSI risk are needed.

Eggs contain important compounds related to enhanced cognition, but it is not clear if egg consumption, as a whole, has a direct impact on memory decline in older adults. This study aimed to determine whether egg intake levels predict the rate of memory decline in healthy older adults after sociodemographic and dietary controls. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 470 participants, age 50 and over, from the Biospsychosocial Religion and Health Study. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire, which was used to calculate egg intake and divide participants into Low (<23 g/week, about half an egg), Intermediate (24–63 g/week, half to 1½ eggs) and High (≥63 g/week, about two or more eggs) tertiles. Participants were administered the California Verbal Learning Test – 2nd Edition (CVLT-II) Short Form in 2006–2007, and 294 of them were again tested in 2010–2011. Using linear mixed model analysis, no significant cross-sectional differences were observed in CVLT-II performance between egg intake levels after controlling for age, sex, race, education, body mass index, cardiovascular risk, depression and intake of meat, fish, dairy and fruits/vegetables. Longitudinally, the Intermediate egg group exhibited significantly slower rates of decline on the CVLT-II compared to the Low egg group. The High egg group also exhibited slower rates of decline, but not statistically significant. Thus, limited consumption of eggs (about 1 egg/week) was associated with slower memory decline in late life compared to consuming little to no eggs, but a dose-response effect was not clearly evident. This study may help explain discrepancies in previous research that did not control for other dietary intakes and risk factors.

Using data from a nationally generalisable birth cohort, we aimed to: (i) describe the cohort’s adherence to national evidence-based dietary guidelines using an Infant Feeding Index (IFI) and (ii) assess the IFI’s convergent construct validity, by exploring associations with antenatal maternal socio-demographic and health behaviours and with child overweight/obesity and central adiposity at age 54 months. Data were from the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort (n 6343). The IFI scores ranged from zero to twelve points, with twelve representing full adherence to the guidelines. Overweight/obesity was defined by BMI-for-age (based on the WHO Growth Standards). Central adiposity was defined as waist-to-height ratio > 90th percentile. Associations were tested using multiple linear regression and Poisson regression with robust variance (risk ratios, 95 % CI). Mean IFI score was 8·2 (sd 2·1). Maternal characteristics explained 29·1 % of variation in the IFI score. Maternal age, education and smoking had the strongest independent relationships with IFI scores. Compared with children in the highest IFI tertile, girls in the lowest and middle tertiles were more likely to be overweight/obese (1·46, 1·03, 2·06 and 1·56, 1·09, 2·23, respectively) and boys in the lowest tertile were more likely to have central adiposity (1·53, 1·02, 2·30) at age 54 months. Most infants fell short of meeting national Infant Feeding Guidelines. The associations between IFI score and maternal characteristics, and children’s overweight/obesity/central adiposity, were in the expected directions and confirm the IFI’s convergent construct validity.

Significant ethnic and socio-economic disparities exist in infectious diseases (IDs) rates in New Zealand, so accurate measures of these characteristics are required. This study compared methods of ascribing ethnicity and socio-economic status. Children in the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal cohort were ascribed to self-prioritised, total response and single-combined ethnic groups. Socio-economic status was measured using household income, and both census-derived and survey-derived deprivation indices. Rates of ID hospitalisation were compared using linked administrative data. Self-prioritised ethnicity was simplest to use. Total response accounted for mixed ethnicity and allowed overlap between groups. Single-combined ethnicity required aggregation of small groups to maintain power but offered greater detail. Regardless of the method used, Māori and Pacific children, and children in the most socio-economically deprived households had a greater risk of ID hospitalisation. Risk differences between self-prioritised and total response methods were not significant for Māori and Pacific children but single-combined ethnicity revealed a diversity of risk within these groups. Household income was affected by non-random missing data. The census-derived deprivation index offered a high level of completeness with some risk of multicollinearity and concerns regarding the ecological fallacy. The survey-derived index required extra questions but was acceptable to participants and provided individualised data. Based on these results, the use of single-combined ethnicity and an individualised survey-derived index of deprivation are recommended where sample size and data structure allow it.

Recent archaeological investigations at Tipan Chen Uitz, Belize, yielded two remarkable Classic Maya ballplayer panels. Iconographic and glyphic analysis of these panels within a regional context provides new insights into large-scale socio-political relationships, demonstrating that the ballgame was an important means and mechanism for macro-political affiliation in the Maya Lowlands. The panels suggest that Tipan was part of a wider system of vassalage that tied it to other Maya centres, including Naranjo, a regional capital under the dominion of Calakmul where the Snake-Head dynasty held sway. The data presented here underpin a more general discussion of archaeological approaches to ancient interaction spheres.

Herbicides 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) effectively controlled live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) when applied in the spring and fall in south Texas. A mixture of picloram plus (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) also was effective. Higher rates of bromacil were required than for picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T for effective control. Bromacil was more injurious to herbaceous vegetation. The phenoxy herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-T were ineffective.

Field studies were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to explore interactions among DPX-V9360 herbicide applied postemergence, terbufos insecticide applied as an in-furrow treatment, and the environment. Field corn (‘Pioneer 3751’) and sweet corn (‘Jubilee’) were planted with and without an in-furrow application of terbufos. DPX-V9360 was applied postemergence when the corn was in the 4- to 6-leaf stage at 0, 35, 70, 140, and 280 g ai ha-1 with nonionic surfactant and 28% N fertilizer solution. Crop response to DPX-V9360 was similar at all three locations, varying only in magnitude of injury. Crop injury was greater with Jubilee sweet corn than with Pioneer 3751 field corn. Injury to both hybrids increased as DPX-V9360 application rate increased. Application of terbufos increased injury from DPX-V9360 to both hybrids. Significant yield reduction did not occur with either hybrid when DPX-V9360 was applied at rates of 140 g ha-1 or less and no terbufos was applied.

Early spring spray applications of the potassium salt of 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and certain formulations of 1:1 mixtures of picloram plus (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) controlled yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.). Ester formulations of picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T were ineffective. Combinations of surfactant and oil: water carriers usually did not improve herbicide performance over water carriers. Granular picloram was superior to sprays when applied as soil treatments at equal rates and controlled yaupon at most dates of application. Post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica Muenchh.) were controlled more effectively by picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T sprays on the foliage than by granular picloram as a soil treatment. Picloram granules usually killed winged elm (Ulmus alata Michx.) regardless of date of application.

Field experiments were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in 1990 to explore interactions between nicosulfuron applied POST and terbufos insecticide at 0.06 or 0.11 g ai/m of row applied in-furrow on ‘Pioneer 3751’ field corn and ‘Jubilee’ sweet corn. Nicosulfuron at 0, 70, and 140 g ai/ha plus nonionic surfactant and 28% nitrogen fertilizer was applied to both corn types. Field corn response to nicosulfuron and terbufos was similar at all locations, whereas sweet corn injury varied with location. Nicosulfuron injured field corn more when applied at the four-leaf than the three-leaf stage. Injury to both corn types increased as nicosulfuron rate increased or when applied following terbufos. Nicosulfuron at 140 g/ha without terbufos did not reduce yield of either corn type; however, corn previously treated in-furrow with terbufos reduced yield.

We compared foliage sprays of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) for control of Macartney rose (Rosa bracteata Wendl.) applied with ground equipment and airplane. Picloram at 0.5 lb/A was more effective than 2,4-D at 2 lb/A at all dates of application on mowed roses; however, time of application was important. Picloram was most effective in late April and early May, but 2,4-D was most effective in late May and early June. Combinations of picloram and 2,4-D were effective from late April to late June. If mowing is followed by foliage treatment of 2,4-D, the interval between mowing and spraying should be at least 1 year if mowing is done in the spring. The interval between mowing and spraying was not critical when picloram was applied not later than early May. Mowing in the summer reduced the effectiveness of subsequent 2,4-D and picloram treatments applied the following year. Aerial applications of 2,4-D and picloram on undisturbed Macartney rose plants in the fall were not as effective as spring applications; however, two successive fall applications of picloram at 1 lb/A resulted in control equivalent to that obtained with a single 2 lb/A application in spring.