Effect of carrier volume and spray quality on glyphosate-resistant soybean response to sublethal dicamba exposure.

BACKGROUND: Field experiments were conducted across three sites in Mississippi in 2018 to evaluate carrier volume and spray quality effects on glyphosate-resistant soybean response to dicamba. Treatments consisted of dicamba (5.6 g a.e. ha-1 ) plus glyphosate (8.7 g a.e. ha-1 ) applied to soybean at R1 using 140, 105, 70, 35, 14, or 7 L ha-1 . Each carrier volume was applied with TT11002 and XR110015 nozzles which resulted in Fine and Coarse spray qualities, respectively. A colorimetric dye was included in spray solutions to quantify spray coverage of each treatment. RESULTS: Spray coverage decreased with carrier volume and ranged from 21% to 3%. Conversely, soybean injury increased as carrier volume decreased. Soybean height 14 days after treatment (DAT) was reduced 34% to 37% from carrier volumes of 70 to 140 L ha-1 ; however, carrier volumes of 14 and 7 L ha-1 resulted in 45% height reductions. By 28 DAT soybean height was similar among volumes of 35 to 140 L ha-1 (39% to 42% reduction); however, volumes of 14 and 7 L ha-1 resulted in 46% and 51% reductions, respectively. Grain yield was reduced 14% from treatment at 140 L ha-1 and reductions increased with decreased carrier volume to 41% loss at 7 L ha-1 . Averaged across carrier volumes, Fine and Coarse sprays caused 30% and 26% yield loss, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that carrier volume profoundly affects soybean response to dicamba. Therefore, soybean response to sublethal dicamba doses applied at a constant carrier volume may not reflect physical drift exposure. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Droplet size and physicochemical property effects on herbicide efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr).

BACKGROUND: Unlike post-emergence herbicides (POSTs), little is known about droplet size effect on pre-emergence herbicide (PRE) efficacy. Four nozzle types were used to apply different PRE herbicides on eight soybean fields in Missouri and Mississippi in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Pendimethalin, metribuzin, clomazone, imazethapyr and pyroxasulfone were selected based on their physicochemical characteristics (adsorption, volatility and solubility) and were sprayed using XR11002, ULD12002, TTI6011002, and TTI11002 nozzles. RESULTS: The XR nozzle produced the smallest droplet size (DV0.5 ), 204 µm, followed by the ULD, TTI60 and TTI with DV0.5 of 468, 646, and 794 µm, respectively. Droplet size, spray coverage, nozzle type or physicochemical characteristics showed no effect on PRE herbicide efficacy, except in the Monroe County, MS, field, with pendimethalin. The TTI60 twin fan nozzle enhanced pendimethalin weed control (up to 91%) in comparison with pendimethalin sprayed with the TTI nozzle (64%), in a high organic matter (OM) soil composed of large soil clods and high weed pressure. It was hypothesized that improved herbicide penetration assisted by the TTI60 dual fan pattern increased herbicide-moisture contact and clod coverage by the herbicide. Under soils with higher OM content (>2%) pendimethalin weed control was reduced. In soils with low OM (<0.7%), low cation exchange capacity (CEC) (<13.1%) and rainfall of 12.2 mm within 3 days after application, metribuzin also resulted in reduced weed control. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that droplet size does not affect PRE herbicide efficacy regardless of physicochemical herbicide properties including adsorption, volatility and solubility. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bone Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Principles.

Primary bone cancers include osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. They account for less than 1% of diagnosed cancers each year and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis is challenging because of late patient presentation, nonspecific symptoms that mimic common musculoskeletal injuries, and low suspicion by physicians. Plain radiography is the preferred diagnostic test. Radiographic suspicion of a bone malignancy should prompt quick referral to a cancer center for multidisciplinary care. Osteosarcoma, the most common bone cancer, most often occurs in children and adolescents. It typically develops in the metaphysis of long bones, specifically the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. Metastasis to the lungs is common. Use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, in combination with surgery, has improved survival rates to nearly 80% for patients with localized disease, and 90% to 95% of patients do not require limb amputation. Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone cancer and is similar to osteosarcoma in terms of presenting symptoms, age at occurrence, and treatment. Prognosis for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma depends on the presence of metastasis, which lowers the five-year survival rate to 20% to 30%. Chondrosarcoma is the rarest bone cancer, primarily affecting adults older than 40 years. Survival rates are higher because most of these tumors are low-grade lesions.

Spinal Cord Injuries in Wave-Riding Sports: The Influence of Environmental and Sport-Specific Factors.

Spinal cord injury is a nonfatal, catastrophic consequence of wave-riding sports. With surfing at the core, a multitude of activities have evolved that attempt to harness the power of ocean waves. The unique qualities of each wave-riding sport, in combination with the environmental factors of the ocean, define the risk for potential injuries. As wave-riding sports have become more advanced, athletes continue to push physical barriers. Taller waves are attempted while incorporating aerial maneuvers, all without protective equipment.

NATO Special Operations Forces Medical Engagements and Partnering Course: Initial Curriculum Recommendations from the NSHQ SOFMEP Committee.

Military partnering operations and military engagements with host nation civil infrastructure are fundamental missions for NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) conducting military assistance operations. Unit medical advisors are frequently called upon to support partnering operations and execute medical engagements with host nation health systems. As a primary point of NATO SOF medical capability development and coordination, the NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) sought to create a practical training opportunity in which medical advisors are taught how to prepare for, plan, and execute these complex military assistance operations. An international committee of SOF medical advisors, planners and teachers was assembled to research and develop the curriculum for the first NSHQ SOF Medical Engagement and Partnering (SOFMEP) course. The committee found no other venues offering the necessary training. Furthermore, a lack of a common operating language and inadequate outcome metrics were identified as sources of knowledge deficits that create confusion and inhibit process improvement. These findings provided the foundation of this committee?s curricular recommendations. The committee constructed operational definitions to improve understanding and promote dialogue between medical advisors and commanders. Active learning principles were used to construct a curriculum that engages learners and enhances retention of new material. This article presents the initial curriculum recommendations for the SOFMEP course, which is currently scheduled for October 2012.

Portal vein thrombosis: an unexpected finding in a 28-year-old male with abdominal pain.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is a common primary care complaint. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare cause of abdominal pain, typically associated with cirrhosis or thrombophilia. The following describes the presentation of PVT in a young male, the search for risk factors and underlying etiology, and the debate of anticoagulation therapy. CASE: A 28-year-old male presented with periumbilical pain, post-prandial nausea, and sporadic hematemesis for 3 weeks. The diagnosis was confirmed with a triphasic liver computerized tomography after obtaining an abnormal right upper quadrant ultrasound. This unexpected finding prompted investigation for intrinsic hepatic disease and potential hypercoagulable disorders. Laboratory analysis revealed a heterozygous genotype for the prothrombin 20210G/A mutation, an identified risk factor for venous thrombosis. DISCUSSION: Recommendations concerning anticoagulation for PVT in the absence of cirrhosis are not clearly defined. Current literature describes the following factors as indications for anticoagulation: acute thrombus, lack of cavernous transformation, absence of esophageal varices, and mesenteric venous thrombosis. This patient had clinical indications both for and against anticoagulation. Weighing this individual's clinical circumstances, we concluded the risk of thrombus in the setting of a hypercoagulable disorder outweighed the risk of variceal bleeding. A minimum of 6 months of anticoagulation was initiated. CONCLUSION: PVT is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain, and the absence of hepatic disease should raise the index of suspicion for an underlying thrombophilia. Specific recommendations for anticoagulation are not well defined, demonstrating the importance of weighing the individual risks and benefits in treatment with anticoagulation for young persons with thrombophilia.