Herbicide-resistant annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) has become a problem in non-arable land areas. In arable fields, P. annua is frequently of lower priority in weed control program due to the variety of control options available and the relatively modest impact on crop yield compared with other species. In Ireland, postemergence herbicides are not primarily intended for P. annua control, but some herbicides, including the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl, exhibit P. annua activity. In this study, a suspected P. annua population (POAAN-R) that survived mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl at 0.75 of the field recommended rate was sampled from a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) field in County Dublin, Ireland. Single-dose testing confirmed that the suspected POAAN-R had evolved resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl and, additionally, to pyroxsulam (not registered in Ireland for P. annua control), but was sensitive to clethodim, glyphosate, pendimethalin, and flufenacet. Dose–response experiments indicated that POAAN-R was more resistant (GR50 resistance index) to both mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl (47.8 times) and pyroxsulam (38.0 times) than sensitive POAAN-S, and this was associated with the mutation at Trp-574 in the ALS protein. Malathion (a cytochrome P450 [P450] inhibitor) pretreatment did not reverse POAAN-R resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl or pyroxsulam at the field rate or above. The natural inherent mutation at Ile-1781 in acetyl-CoA carboxylase protein had no effect on both POAAN-R and POAAN-S sensitivity to clethodim. The glyphosate sensitivity of POAAN-R also corresponded with no known mutation in 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase protein. Based on field histories, poor early-season weed control coupled with intensive use of mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl (often at reduced rates) has unintentionally selected for ALS inhibitor–resistant POAAN-R. This is the first report to characterize resistance in P. annua to ALS-inhibiting herbicides mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl and pyroxsulam in an arable setting. There is an opportunity to effectively control POAAN-R using herbicides, but this needs a wide-ranging and varied approach, coupled with cultural/nonchemical practices.

Mathematical models of polyelectrolyte gels are often simplified by assuming the gel is electrically neutral. The rationale behind this assumption is that the thickness of the electric double layer (EDL) at the free surface of the gel is small compared to the size of the gel. Hence, the thin-EDL limit is taken, in which the thickness of the EDL is set to zero. Despite the widespread use of the thin-EDL limit, the solutions in the EDL are rarely computed and shown to match to the solutions for the electrically neutral bulk. The aims of this paper are to study the structure of the EDL and establish the validity of the thin-EDL limit. The model for the gel accounts for phase separation, which gives rise to diffuse interfaces with a thickness described by the Kuhn length. We show that the solutions in the EDL can only be asymptotically matched to the solutions for an electrically neutral bulk, in general, when the Debye length is much smaller than the Kuhn length. If the Debye length is similar to or larger than the Kuhn length, then phase separation can be initiated in the EDL. This phase separation spreads into the bulk of the gel and gives rise to electrically charged layers with different degrees of swelling. Thus, the thin-EDL limit and the assumption of electroneutrality only generally apply when the Debye length is much smaller than the Kuhn length.

The issue of music teacher training for primary generalist teachers is shared by many countries in the world. We know from a range of studies which factors contribute to teachers’ abilities and confidence, but there are fewer studies that document the possible training approaches and interventions that might improve the outcomes. This article describes an international educational experience addressed to 23 trainee primary teachers coming from Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovenia. The Intensive Programme1 called ‘International Summer School in Educating Music Teachers’ (ISSEMT) was offered at Padova University, Italy with the purpose of fostering confidence and competences among trainee generalist teachers for teaching music in the primary school. In planning the didactic approach of the ISSEMT, methods designed to enhance participants’ understandings of teaching creatively and teaching for creativity were adopted. The entire educational activity was evaluated by students using questionnaires and discussion. In addition, a follow-up interview was conducted with students after two years and five months, at the end of the ISSEMT. Students refer to the improvement of confidence in teaching music and the application of a creative approach. They appreciated the approach, the practical teaching ideas and the way the course closely related to their educational needs. These results are discussed in the framework of confidence development of the generalist teacher in the primary school for teaching music. The key factors that contributed to the effectiveness of the ISSEMT are also discussed.

Objective: Effective communication is recognized as an essential process to providing quality care, including palliative and end-of-life care. Discussion of prognosis and support needs of patients with heart failure is particularly challenging given the nature of the condition and care across several settings. The objective was to design, implement, and evaluate an interdisciplinary workshop aimed at improving attitudes and skills related to communication with patients and family, health team communication and documentation, and assessment of physical and emotional symptoms.

Methods: A pretest, delayed posttest evaluation design was used to evaluate two 4-h workshops offered to nurses, social workers, and other nonphysician clinicians.

Results: Although baseline reports of skills were high for the participants, significant improvement was noted for objectives emphasized in the workshop.

Significance of results: This project demonstrated the feasibility of designing, marketing a brief workshop, and positively impacting communication and documentation skills.

The music curriculum, along with the other arts in primary education in England, is under pressure from an increasing governmental focus on ‘core’ subjects. Recruits to the profession are particularly important to the long-term health of music in schools. As part of a longitudinal study to evaluate the efficacy of the university-based arts courses in preparing student teachers, the author looked at the factors affecting music. In so doing it emerged that feelings of confidence were a significant feature in the profile of successful students. The findings from this longitudinal study contribute to our understanding of how students perceive their development as teachers of music and the other arts in primary schools. The subjects of this study were students following a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Education BA(Ed.) course that prepared them to teach the full range of school curriculum subjects as generalists. The analysis of a series of semi-structured interviews reveals a complex interaction between prior experience and beliefs, and the quality of school experience.

Clozapine has become a widely used drug in therapyresistant schizophrenia and, increasingly, in the levodopa-induced dyskinesias and the psychoses of chronic Parkinson's disease. We report the case of a 43 year old male patient who developed a reversible encephalopathy associated with clozapine therapy.