Metabolic Resistance to Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase-Inhibitor Herbicides in a Palmer amaranth Population from Kansas.

Palmer amaranth has evolved target and nontarget site resistance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase-inhibitor herbicides in the United States. Recently, a population (KCTR) from a long-term conservation tillage study in Kansas was found to be resistant to herbicides from six sites of action, including to PPO-inhibitors, even with this herbicide group being minimally used in this field. This research investigated the level of resistance to postemergence PPO-inhibitors, target- and nontarget-site resistance mechanism(s), and efficacy of pre-emergence chemistries. The greenhouse experiments confirmed 6.1- to 78.9-fold resistance to lactofen in KCTR, with the level of resistance increasing when KCTR was purified for the resistance trait. PPO2 sequences alignment revealed the absence of known mutations conferring resistance to PPO-inhibitors in KCTR Palmer amaranth, and differential expression of the PPO2 gene did not occur. KCTR metabolized fomesafen faster than the susceptible population, indicating that herbicide detoxification is the mechanism conferring resistance in this population. Further, treatment with the cytochrome P450-inhibitor malathion followed by lactofen restored the sensitivity of KCTR to this herbicide. Despite being resistant to POST applied PPO-inhibitors, KCTR Palmer amaranth was completely controlled by the labeled rate of the PRE applied PPO-inhibitors fomesafen, flumioxazin, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, and oxadiazon. The overall results suggest that P450-mediated metabolism confers resistance to PPO-inhibitors in KCTR, rather than alterations in the PPO2, which were more commonly found in other Palmer amaranth populations. Future work will focus on identifying the fomesafen metabolites and on unravelling the genetic basis of metabolic resistance to PPO-inhibitor herbicides in KCTR Palmer amaranth.

Use of FreeStyle Libre Flash Monitor Register in the Netherlands (FLARE-NL1): Patient Experiences, Satisfaction, and Cost Analysis.

In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), adequate glucose control is of major importance. When treatment schemes become more complicated, proper self-management through intermittent self-measurement of blood glucose (SMBG), among others, becomes crucial in achieving this goal. In the last decade, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been on the rise, providing not only intermittent information but also information on continuous glucose trends. The FreeStyle Libre (FSL) Flash CGM system is a CGM system mainly used for patients with DM and is designed based on the same techniques as early CGMs. Compared with earlier CGMs, the FSL is factory calibrated, has no automated readings or direct alarms, and is cheaper to use. Although less accurate compared with the gold standard for SMBG, users report high satisfaction because it is easy to use and can help users monitor glucose trends. The Flash Monitor Register in the Netherlands (FLARE-NL) study aims to assess the effects of FSL Flash CGM use in daily practice. The study has a before-after design, with each participant being his or her own control. Users will be followed for at least 1 year. The endpoints include changes in HbA1c, frequency and severity of hypoglycemias, and quality of life. In addition, the effects of its use on work absenteeism rate, diabetes-related hospital admission rate, and daily functioning (including sports performance) will be studied. Furthermore, cost-benefit analysis based on the combination of registered information within the health insurance data will be investigated. Ultimately, the data gathered in this study will help increase the knowledge and skills of the use of the Flash CGM in daily practice and assess the financial impact on the use of the Flash CGM within the Dutch healthcare system.

Field Studies to Develop Weed Management Programs for Grain Sorghum.

Weed management programs to be used in grain sorghum production are best investigated in field studies with naturally occurring weed populations in their relevant growing environments. Weed control tactics to be evaluated include use of crop production practices such as row spacing and seeding rates, mechanical tools, and herbicide programs with soil- and foliar-applied products.

Record and around the world flights through Singapore by women.

Women's efforts to fly as military pilots during World War I were unsuccessful. However, their numbers and achievements increased and, in 1929, they formed the Ninety-Nines and held the first Women's Air Derby, where male pilots escorted them and mechanics were available. In May 1930, England's Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. She was flying for the Air Transport Auxiliary in England when she was killed in an aircraft accident in 1941. New Zealander Jean Batten set new records over the same course in May 1934, from England to New Zealand in Oct. 1936 and from Australia to England in Oct. 1937. Routes were typically via Singapore as were round-the-world efforts by Amelia Earhart (1937), Joan Merriam Smith (1964), Sheila Scott (1966), and Ann Pellegreno (1967). Accounts frequently mention severe weather including monsoon storms. Adequacy of flight planning has been questioned for some. Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly around the world alone, in 1964, was asked by Saigon Radio if she had a man aboard. Further successes and independence for women in aviation have been slow, but steady.

Worksite influenza immunization. Successful program.

The planning, implementation, and evaluation of worksite health promotion programs can benefit from adapting and using the steps in each phase of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The model provides a framework to build and sustain support from employers and employees, and a valuable tool to increase program efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. During the PRECEDE phases of planning, the model provides opportunities for continuous communication and feedback to all levels of management. The evaluation phases in PROCEED provide occupational health nurses with valuable information to share with corporate planners, influence management behavior, and contribute to evidence based decisions for future programming.

A worksite influenza immunization program. Impact on lost work days, health care utilization, and health care spending.

Using a randomized, retrospective case control survey approach, this study compared employees immunized (cases) to a group of non immunized employees (controls) between the months of October and December 1994. In May 1995, a self administered questionnaire was distributed to employees working at the Hanford nuclear reservation located in eastern Washington State. Bivariate analysis included chi-square tests to study the association between influenza vaccine and rates of influenza like illness and related complications, rates of employee absenteeism, rates of physician visits, use of prescribed medication, and rates of hospitalization. To assess the economic benefits associated with vaccination, analysis included estimating the direct and indirect costs associated with immunization and influenza like illnesses, and complications related to influenza like illnesses. Responses to the survey resulted in 789 employees in the vaccinated group and 931 employees in the nonvaccinated group. As compared to vaccinated employees, nonvaccinated employees reported significantly higher rates of episodes of influenza like illness (78 per 100 compared to 59 per 100, p < 0), influenza related complications (8.0 compared to 5.0, p < .01), lost work days (63 per 100 compared to 35 per 100, p < 0), use of prescription medication (18.6 per 100 compared to 8.7 per 100, p < 0), physician visits (18.6 per 100 compared to 8.7 per 100, p < 0), and inpatient hospital. Cost savings were estimated to be $83.84 per person vaccinated. The results of this study suggest this worksite influenza vaccination program produced significant health related and economic benefit to employee participants and their employers.

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of the early calcification site and of its mineralization organic matrix in Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea).

The ultrastructure and cytochemistry of skeleton formation sites prior to mineralization are described for the first time in echinoderms. These early sites are intracellular vacuoles located in syncytial pseudopodia of skeleton-forming cells. They contain a mineralization organic matrix, which shows a calcium-binding ability and is framed in a tridimensional structure made of concentric layers bridged by radial threads. This organic matrix presents repetitive structures which could be implicated in mineralization control. Both the tridimensional organization of the organic matrix and its framing, before mineralization starts, question the current theories which suggest that the echinoderm organic matrix is soluble at the onset of mineralization and adsorbs on the forming crystal.

The market made them do it. Participants in the Medicare Choices project say they're nudging out the insurance middleman--and insuring their own survival. Panel discussion.

Medicare is experimenting again. This time HCFA wants to figure out ways to expand managed care options for the elderly. Under the Medicare Choices Demonstration Project, hospitals and health systems are developing and testing alternatives to standard Medicare HMOs. Dick Davidson, president of the American Hospital Association, sees these pilot programs as the precursors to provider-sponsored organizations building up a base of knowledge about what it means to manage risk. The AHA recently convened a meeting of organizations involved in the demonstration project and asked Hospitals & Health Networks executive editor Alden Solovy to lead a panel discussion on the lessons being learned.

Chromosome location of Oryza sativa recombination linkage groups.

In situ hybridization, a powerful tool for the molecular cytogeneticist, can be used to physically map repetitive, low-copy, and unique DNA sequences in plant chromosomes. With the availability of a recombination map in Oryza sativa L. and an improved in situ hybridization technique, this study was designed to establish the relationship between the genetic and physical distances of the rice restriction fragment length polymorphism map. Analysis indicated that considerable variation can exist between genetic and physical maps. A 183-centimorgan linkage map for chromosome 2 covered less than 50% of the chromosome and did not include the centromere, whereas a 91-centimorgan linkage map for chromosome 1 covered approximately 80% of the chromosome. The results indicated that there are potential "hot" and "cold" spots of recombination and polymorphisms in rice, which involve both genes and restriction fragment length polymorphisms.