OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This study examined patient perceptions on the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of conventional and complementary/behavioral pain strategies that can be offered in the ED setting including physical therapy, mindfulness, acupuncture, and yoga. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We conducted and recorded semi-structured interviews with 30 patients who presented to the ED with musculoskeletal pain. Interviews focused on patients’ perceptions of NP pain treatments, barriers/facilitators to utilization, and recommendations that would promote engagement. A hierarchical coding system was developed and refined using the interview guide, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and preliminary review of the transcripts. The iterative process of developing the coding system allowed us to identify preliminary themes. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Patients believe education on pain and the mind-body connection would give a sense of pain control. Likely barriers to engaging at the ED include lights, noise, interruptions, and uncertainty of their medical status. Post-discharge NP treatment barriers are financial and logistical. Engagement can be facilitated by a desire to avoid opioids, familiarity with meditation practices, and consistent positive communication with the health care team. Patients desire evidence on effectiveness, including testimonials, and suggested NP techniques should be introduced early, with written materials used for post-discharge referral. Patients prefer in-person treatment but would appreciate a virtual option. The initial session should occur in-person to build trust and facilitate virtual session engagement. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Patients are willing to engage in nonpharmacological pain treatment, however the unpredictable ED environment, uncertainty of their medical status, and financial and time constraints are significant barriers.

Interest in cover crops is increasing but information is limited on integrating them into crop rotations especially in the relatively short growing season on the northern Great Plains. A 3-yr research project, initiated in 2009 near Mandan, North Dakota, USA, evaluated (1) what impact cover crops may have on subsequent cash crops yields and (2) whether cover crop mixtures are more productive and provide additional benefits compared to cover crop monocultures. The study evaluated 18 different cover crop monocultures and mixtures that were seeded in August following dry pea (Pisum sativum L.). The following year, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and field pea were seeded into the different cover crop treatments and a non-treated control. A lack of timely precipitation in 2009 resulted in a low cover crop yield of 17 g m2 compared to 100 and 77 g m2 in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Subsequent cash crop yield was not affected by late-seeded cover crops. Cool-season cover crop monocultures were more productive than warm-season monocultures and some mixtures in 2008 and 2010. Relative yield total did not differ from one in any cover crop mixture suggesting that overyielding did not occur. Species selection rather than species diversity was the most important contributor to cover crop yield. Cover crops can be grown following short-season cash crops in the northern Great Plains, but precipitation timing and species selection are critical.

Exercise has many health benefits for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), however it carries the risk of hypoglycaemia. Research has indicated that intermittent high intensity exercise reduces this risk compared to steady state exercise, potentially via a greater anaerobic component inducing increased lactate and catecholamine response.Six physically active males aged 23 ± 5 years, BMI 24.9 ± 1.8 kg•m-2, Vo2 max 47.9 ± 10.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes for 9 ± 3 years and a HbA1c concentration of 8.6 ± 0.3% participated in a randomised counterbalanced trial. Participants exercised for 60 min on a cycle ergometer on two occasions separated by 7 days, which consisted of a moderate continuous steady state exercise session at 40% o2 max (CONT), or the same exercise intensity interspersed with 7 s high intensity sprints at 100% Vo2 max every 2 min (INT). Blood glucose concentration was assessed via capillary blood sampling every 10 min during exercise and at regular intervals in the 60 min post exercise (Accu-Chek Aviva, Roche, UK). Additional metabolic measures such as blood lactate concentration and carbohydrate oxidation rates were assessed during exercise. Participants ingested small quantities of a carbohydrate drink, if required, to avoid hypoglycaemia during exercise. Magnitude based inferences were used to compare the two exercise trials and Effect Sizes (ES) calculated using Cohen's d and results presented as mean ± SD.Average blood glucose concentration was lower on the INT trial compared to CONT during both the exercise phase (8.9 ± 1.7 mmol•l-1 vs 7.1 ± 1.1 mmol•l-1; ES 0.55) and the 60 min post-exercise recovery phase (8.1 ± 1.9 mmol•l-1 vs 7.0 ± 1.8 mmol•l-1; ES 0.56). Carbohydrate oxidation was greater on the INT trial compared to CONT (1.9 ± 1.4 g•min-1 vs 1.5 ± 0.6 g•min-1; ES 0.35). Capillary blood lactate concentration was markedly elevated on INT when compared to CONT (5.0 ± 1.4 mmol•l-1 vs 2.4 ± 1.1 mmol•l-1; ES 2.48). Carbohydrate ingestion during exercise was 13 ± 11 g and differed little between trials (ES 0.18).Despite greater anaerobic metabolic response, the addition of intermittent high intensity sprints to 60 min steady-state cycle exercise resulted in greater declines in blood glucose concentration during the exercise and post-exercise period, potentially by inhibition of the counter regulatory hormone response expected on the INT trial. These results would indicate that additional exogenous carbohydrate ingestion may be required for individuals with T1D when intermittent sprints are added to prolonged continuous exercise.

Increasing crop diversity has been proposed to increase the sustainability of cropping systems. If producers are to adopt these systems, they should also be economically viable. In this study conducted near Mandan, North Dakota, four no-till cropping systems with varying levels of crop diversity were evaluated over a 12-yr period to quantify system effect on crop productivity, input use, production costs, and economic risks and returns. Cropping system treatments included a small grain–fallow rotation (SG–Fallow) and a continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation (Cont SW) as baseline low-diversity rotations, a small grain–winter wheat (T. aestivum L.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) rotation (SG–WW–Sun), a 5-yr rotation (Five Year) and a dynamic rotation (Dynamic). The SG–Fallow rotation was significantly less productive and less profitable on average than the other rotations, as measured by gross returns and net returns, respectively. However, SG–Fallow also used significantly less inputs than the other rotations. Production costs for the Cont SW and SG–WW–Sun rotations showed a significant increasing trend over time, while production costs for the Five Year rotation showed a significantly lower and slight decreasing trend over the period, with cost trends for the SG–Fallow and Dynamic rotations intermediate to these. Net returns tended to increase and relative economic risk tended to decrease as crop diversity increased from SG–Fallow and Cont SW to SG–WW–Sun, Five Year and the Dynamic system. Results from this study suggest that more diverse rotations can maintain or increase crop productivity and enhance economic viability.

Benefits of reduced tillage and diverse crop rotations include reversing soil C loss, and improving soil quality and function. However, adoption of these strategies is lagging, particularly in the Upper Midwest, due to a perception that reduced tillage lowers crop yields. Therefore, an 8-year comparison of these conservation systems with a conventional, tilled, 2-year rotation system was conducted to evaluate effects on yields, system productivity (measured with potential gross returns) and weed seed densities. This study compared conventional moldboard plow + chisel till (CT) to reduced strip-tillage + no-tillage (ST), each with a 2-year (2y) or 4-year (4y) crop rotation, abbreviated as CT-2y, CT-4y, ST-2y and ST-4y. The 2y rotation was corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.); the 4y rotation was corn, soybean, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) underseeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and alfalfa. Only corn grain was significantly influenced by tillage strategy; CT systems yielded more than ST systems, regardless of rotation. Soybean grain yields were similar among CT-2y, CT-4y, ST-4y and lowest in the ST-2y. Yields of wheat and alfalfa were the same under both tillage strategies. Weed seed densities were higher in wheat and alfalfa, followed by corn then soybean, but were not influenced by tillage or rotation, nor universally negatively correlated to yield. Due to greater corn yields, overall system productivity was highest in CT-2y, the same between CT-4y and ST-2y, and lowest in ST-4y. Within years, productivity of CT-2y was different from only one other system at a time in 3 of 8 years and had the same productivity as all systems in another 3 of 8 years. Additionally, the similarity of productivity among three of four systems in 6 of 8 years indicated reduced tillage and diverse rotations have potential for adoption. Results support the need for research on a rotational tillage strategy, i.e., moldboard plowing before corn, to improve overall productivity if using ST before soybean, wheat and alfalfa.

Tillage is decreasing globally due to recognized benefits of fuel savings and improved soil health in the absence of disturbance. However, a perceived inability to control weeds effectively and economically hinders no-till adoption in organic production systems in the Upper Midwest, USA. A strip-tillage (ST) strategy was explored as an intermediate approach to reducing fuel use and soil disturbance, and still controlling weeds. An 8-year comparison was made between two tillage approaches, one primarily using ST the other using a combination of conventional plow, disk and chisel tillage [conventional tillage (CT)]. Additionally, two rotation schemes were explored within each tillage system: a 2-year rotation (2y) of corn (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) with a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop; and a 4-year rotation (4y) of corn, soybean, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) underseeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and a second year of alfalfa. These treatments resulted in comparison of four main management systems CT-2y, CT-4y, ST-2y and ST-4y, which also were managed under fertilized and non-fertilized conditions. Yields, whole system productivity (evaluated with potential gross returns), and weed seed densities (first 4 years) were measured. Across years, yields of corn, soybean and wheat were greater by 34% or more under CT than ST but alfalfa yields were the same. Within tillage strategies, corn yields were the same in 2y and 4y rotations, but soybean yields, only under ST, were 29% lower in the fertilized 4y than 2 yr rotation. In the ST-4y system yields of corn and soybean were the same in fertilized and non-fertilized treatments. Over the entire rotation, system productivity was highest in the fertilized CT-2y system, but the same among fertilized ST-4y, and non-fertilized ST-2y, ST-4y, and CT-4y systems. Over the first 4 years, total weed seed density increased comparatively more under ST than CT, and was negatively correlated to corn yields in fertilized CT systems and soybean yields in the fertilized ST-2y system. These results indicated ST compromised productivity, in part due to insufficient weed control, but also due to reduced nutrient availability. ST and diverse rotations may yet be viable options given that overall productivity of fertilized ST-2y and CT-4y systems was within 70% of that in the fertilized CT-2y system. Closing the yield gap between ST and CT would benefit from future research focused on organic weed and nutrient management, particularly for corn.

Common groundsel is an important weed of strawberry and other horticultural crops. Few herbicides are registered for common groundsel control in such crops, and understanding and predicting the timing and extent of common groundsel emergence might facilitate its management. We developed simple emergence models on the basis of soil thermal time and soil hydrothermal time and validate them with the use of field-derived data from Minnesota and Ohio. Soil thermal time did not predict the timing and extent of seedling emergence as well as hydrothermal time. Soil hydrothermal time, adjusted for shading effects caused by straw mulch in strawberry, greatly improved the accuracy of seedling emergence predictions. Although common groundsel generally emerges from sites at or near the soil surface, the hydrothermal model better predicts emergence when using hydrothermal time at 5 cm rather than 0.005 cm, probably because of the volatility of soil temperature and water potential near the soil surface.

To minimize the chance of surface water contamination by herbicides, farmers need alternative ways to manage weeds in field crops, such as field corn, that reduce herbicide use. Zone herbicide application (ZHA) reduces herbicide use compared with conventional broadcast herbicide application by (1) banding low herbicide rates between corn rows (≤ 1× normal broadcast registered rate), (2) managing crops to favor crop competition, and (3) banding very low herbicide rates over crop rows (≪ 1× normal rate). The research goal was to compare the relative effectiveness of reduced-rate ZHA with broadcast herbicide application on in-row (IR) and between-row (BR) summer annual weed cover (chiefly giant foxtail and waterhemp species), grain yields, and net returns resulting from herbicide application in field corn. Preemergence ZHA of atrazine + metolachlor + clopyralid + flumesulam was made in zones (i.e., even width bands) at different rates between and over crop rows for three site-years in Missouri, and the 1× rate was 2.24 + 1.75 + 0.211 + 0.067 kg ai ha−1, respectively. Best ZHA treatments (0.29× to 0.30× IR herbicide rates + 0.74× to 0.80× BR herbicide rates) outperformed all reduced-rate broadcast herbicide treatments (0.25×, 0.5×, and 0.75×) based on net returns in partial budget analysis. Yields for highest yielding ZHA could not be distinguished from the 1× broadcast treatments in two of three site-years. Net returns due to herbicide application for the highest yielding ZHA were comparable with the 1× broadcast treatment in all three site-years. For the best ZHA, the 3-yr average for total herbicide applied per unit was 53% of the 1× broadcast rate. ZHA may provide row crop farmers with a new generic option for reducing herbicide rates and input costs while maintaining net returns and reducing the chance of surface water contamination by herbicides.

The timing of weed seedling emergence relative to the crop is important in planning and optimizing the time of weed control, but very little work has been done to predict seedling emergence of tropical weed species, especially in low-input and small-scale farms. We developed a simple model based on hydrothermal time to predict seedling emergence of tropic ageratum. Hydrothermal time at 2-cm soil depth was calculated from soil moisture and soil temperature simulated from several micrometeorological and soil physical variables. The model was developed using 5 yr of field emergence data from a continuous corn–cassava production system in southwestern Nigeria. Percentage of cumulative seedling emergence from the 5-yr data set was fitted to cumulative soil hydrothermal time using a Weibull function. The predicted cumulative emergence curve significantly matched observed field emergence (r 2 = 0.83). Model predictions were evaluated with root mean square error (RMSE) using four field emergence data sets from southeastern Nigeria (RMSE ≤ 10.1) and Los Banos, Philippines (RMSE = 8.9). RMSE values ≤ 10 indicated that predictions represented observations well. With such models, extension personnel working on tropical soils, especially in West Africa, may be able to provide additional advice to farmers on the appropriate time for the management of tropic ageratum.

Cogongrass is a noxious perennial grass that has invaded many countries in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its management has been a significant challenge because of large rhizome and bud reserves in the soil. The emergence pattern of this weed under field conditions has received little attention. Field trials were conducted in 2002 and 2003 in the humid forest zone of southeastern Nigeria to model shoot emergence. The experiment had four treatments: (1) count and tag crop-free cogongrass shoots, (2) count and suppress crop-free cogongrass shoots with paraquat, (3) count and cut crop-free cogongrass shoots, and (4) count and cut cogongrass shoots in cultivated corn. The rationale for these treatments was to determine the effect of different monitoring techniques on shoot emergence of cogongrass. The development of the model was based on hydrothermal time, which was calculated from soil moisture and soil temperature at a 2-cm depth. A Weibull function was fitted to cumulative percent shoot emergence values of Treatment 4 and hydrothermal time. The model closely fit the observed pattern of cogongrass shoot emergence (r 2 = 0.95, n = 36). It also predicted shoot emergence satisfactorily in six treatments (r 2 > 0.85, P < 0.001, n = 7 in each treatment) that simulated farmers' practices in southwestern Nigeria. This is the first model developed for cogongrass shoot emergence based on hydrothermal time under field observations. The model should facilitate further analyses of cogongrass emergence patterns and the timing of its management.

Wild oat is an economically important annual weed throughout small grain producing regions of the United States and Canada. Timely and more accurate control of wild oat may be developed if there is a better understanding of its emergence patterns. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the emergence pattern of wild oat and determine if emergence could be predicted using soil growing degree days (GDD) and/or hydrothermal time (HTT). Research plots were established at Crookston, MN, and Fargo, ND, in 2002 and 2003. On a weekly basis, naturally emerging seedlings were counted and removed from six 0.37-m2 permanent quadrats randomly distributed in a wild oat–infested area. This process was repeated until no additional emergence was observed. Wild oat emergence began between May 1 and May 15 at both locations and in both years and continued for 4 to 6 wk. Base soil temperature and soil water potential associated with wild oat emergence were determined to be 1 C and −0.6 MPa, respectively. Seedling emergence was correlated with GDD and HTT but not calendar days (P = 0.15). A Weibull function was fitted to cumulative wild oat emergence and GDD and HTT. The models for GDD (n = 22, r2 = 0.93, root mean square error [RMSE] = 10.7) and HTT (n = 22, r2 = 0.92, RMSE = 11.2) closely fit observed emergence patterns. The latter model is the first to use HTT to predict wild oat emergence under field conditions. Both models can aid in the future study of wild oat emergence and assist growers and agricultural professionals with planning timely and more accurate wild oat control.

Predicting weed emergence is useful for planning weed management programs. Unfortunately, our ability to anticipate initial emergence and subsequent levels of emergence from simple field observations or weather reports is often inadequate to achieve optimal control. Weed emergence models may provide predictive tools that help managers anticipate best management options and times and, thereby, improve weed control. In this study, the germination characteristics of four annual grass weeds (large crabgrass, goosegrass, green foxtail, and yellow foxtail) were investigated under different temperatures and water stresses to calculate base temperatures and base water potentials. These parameters were used to develop a mathematical model describing seedling emergence processes in terms of hydrothermal time. Hydrothermal time describes seed germination in a single equation by considering the interaction of soil water potential and soil temperature. The model, called WeedTurf, predicted emergence with some accuracy, especially for large crabgrass (lowest efficiency index [EF] value 0.95) and green foxtail (lowest EF value 0.91). These results suggest the possibility of developing interactive computer software to determine the critical timing of weed removal and provide improved recommendations for herbicide application timing.

The value of an innovative seed technology is estimated in a discrete stochastic programming framework for a representative farm in the northern Corn Belt. Temperature-activated polymer-coated seed has the potential to increase net returns by increasing yields due to early planting and use of longer season varieties, as well as reducing yield loss due to delayed planting. A biophysical simulation model was used to estimate die impact of polymer-coated seed on corn and soybean yields and on field day availability for five planting periods, three crop varieties, and two tillage systems on two different soils under varying weather conditions.

Key pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia includes compensatory erythropoiesis, vascular injury and chronic inflammation, which divert amino acids from tissue deposition for growth/weight gain and muscle formation. We hypothesised that sickle mice maintained on an isoenergetic diet with a high percentage of energy derived from protein (35 %), as opposed to a standard diet with 20 % of energy derived from protein, would improve body composition, bone mass and grip strength. Male Berkeley transgenic sickle mice (S; n 8–12) were fed either 20 % (S20) or 35 % (S35) diets for 3 months. Grip strength (BIOSEB meter) and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan) were measured. After 3 months, control mice had the highest bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) (P < 0·005). S35 mice had the largest increase in grip strength. A two-way ANOVA of change in grip strength (P = 0·043) attributed this difference to genotype (P = 0·025) and a trend in type of diet (P = 0·067). l-Arginine (l-Arg) supplementation of the 20 % diet was explored, as a possible mechanism for improvement obtained with the 35 % diet. Townes transgenic sickle mice (TS; n 6–9) received 0·8, 1·6, 3·2 or 6·4 % l-Arg based on the same protocol and outcome measures used for the S mice. TS mice fed 1·6 % l-Arg for 3 months (TS1.6) had the highest weight gain, BMD, BMC and lean body mass compared with other groups. TS3.2 mice showed significantly more improvement in grip strength than TS0·8 and TS1.6 mice (P < 0·05). In conclusion, the high-protein diet improved body composition and grip strength. Outcomes observed with TS1.6 and TS3.2 mice, respectively, confirm the hypothesis and reveal l-Arg as part of the mechanism.

The incident command system provides an organizational structure at the agency, discipline, or jurisdiction level for effectively coordinating response and recovery efforts during most conventional disasters. This structure does not have the capacity or capability to manage the complexities of a large-scale health-related disaster, especially a pandemic, in which unprecedented decisions at every level (eg, surveillance, triage protocols, surge capacity, isolation, quarantine, health care staffing, deployment) are necessary to investigate, control, and prevent transmission of disease. Emerging concepts supporting a unified decision-making, coordination, and resource management system through a health-specific emergency operations center are addressed and the potential structure, function, roles, and responsibilities are described, including comparisons across countries with similar incident command systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2007;1:135–141)

Conservation agricultural systems rely on three principles to enhance ecosystem services: (1) minimizing soil disturbance, (2) maximizing soil surface cover and (3) stimulating biological activity. In this paper, we explore the concept of diversity and its role in maximizing ecosystem services from managed grasslands and integrated agricultural systems (i.e., integrated crop–livestock–forage systems) at the field and farm level. We also examine trade-offs that may be involved in realizing greater ecosystem services. Previous research on livestock production systems, particularly in pastureland, has shown improvements in herbage productivity and reduced weed invasion with increased forage diversity but little response in terms of animal production. Managing forage diversity in pastureland requires new tools to guide the selection and placement of plant mixtures across a farm according to site suitability and the goals of the producer. Integrated agricultural systems embrace the concept of dynamic cropping systems, which incorporates a long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes crop and soil use options to attain production, economic and resource conservation goals by using sound ecological management principles. Integrating dynamic cropping systems with livestock production increases the complexity of management, but also creates synergies among system components that may improve resilience and sustainability while fulfilling multiple ecosystem functions. Diversified conservation agricultural systems can sustain crop and livestock production and provide additional ecosystem services such as soil C storage, efficient nutrient cycling and conservation of biodiversity.