Adaptive Content Tuning of Social Network Digital Health Interventions Using Control Systems Engineering for Precision Public Health: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Social media has emerged as an effective tool to mitigate preventable and costly health issues with social network interventions (SNIs), but a precision public health approach is still lacking to improve health equity and account for population disparities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) develop an SNI framework for precision public health using control systems engineering to improve the delivery of digital educational interventions for health behavior change and (2) validate the SNI framework to increase organ donation awareness in California, taking into account underlying population disparities. METHODS: This study developed and tested an SNI framework that uses publicly available data at the ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) level to uncover demographic environments using clustering analysis, which is then used to guide digital health interventions using the Meta business platform. The SNI delivered 5 tailored organ donation-related educational contents through Facebook to 4 distinct demographic environments uncovered in California with and without an Adaptive Content Tuning (ACT) mechanism, a novel application of the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) method, in a cluster randomized trial (CRT) over a 3-month period. The daily number of impressions (ie, exposure to educational content) and clicks (ie, engagement) were measured as a surrogate marker of awareness. A stratified analysis per demographic environment was conducted. RESULTS: Four main clusters with distinctive sociodemographic characteristics were identified for the state of California. The ACT mechanism significantly increased the overall click rate per 1000 impressions (ß=.2187; P<.001), with the highest effect on cluster 1 (ß=.3683; P<.001) and the lowest effect on cluster 4 (ß=.0936; P=.053). Cluster 1 is mainly composed of a population that is more likely to be rural, White, and have a higher rate of Medicare beneficiaries, while cluster 4 is more likely to be urban, Hispanic, and African American, with a high employment rate without high income and a higher proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed SNI framework, with its ACT mechanism, learns and delivers, in real time, for each distinct subpopulation, the most tailored educational content and establishes a new standard for precision public health to design novel health interventions with the use of social media, automation, and machine learning in a form that is efficient and equitable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NTC04850287; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04850287.

Using Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and High Isolation of Asymptomatic Carriers to Contain the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Nursing Homes.

More than 40% of the deaths recorded in the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were linked to nursing homes. Not only are the residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) typically older and more susceptible to endemic infections, the facilities' high degree of connection to wider communities makes them especially vulnerable to local COVID-19 outbreaks. In 2008, in the wake of the SARS-CoV-1 and MERS epidemics and anticipating an influenza pandemic, we created a stochastic compartmental model to evaluate the deployment of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in LTCFs during influenza epidemics. In that model, the most effective NPI by far was a staff schedule consisting of 5-day duty periods with onsite residence, followed by an 4-to-5 day off-duty period with a 3-day quarantine period just prior to the return to work. Unlike influenza, COVID-19 appears to have significant rates of pre-symptomatic transmission. In this study, we modified our prior modeling framework to include new parameters and a set of NPIs to identify and control the degree of pre-symptomatic transmission. We found that infections, deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU utilization were projected to be high and largely irreducible, even with rigorous application of all defined NPIs, unless pre-symptomatic carriers can be identified and isolated at high rates. We found that increasingly rigorous application of NPIs is likely to significantly decrease the peak of infections; but even with complete isolation of symptomatic persons, and a 50% reduction in silent transmission, the attack rate is projected to be nearly 95%.

The Association of Shared Care Networks With 30-Day Heart Failure Excessive Hospital Readmissions: Longitudinal Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Higher-than-expected heart failure (HF) readmissions affect half of US hospitals every year. The Hospital Reduction Readmission Program has reduced risk-adjusted readmissions, but it has also produced unintended consequences. Shared care models have been advocated for HF care, but the association of shared care networks with HF readmissions has never been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the association of shared care networks with 30-day HF excessive readmission rates using a longitudinal observational study. METHODS: We curated publicly available data on hospital discharges and HF excessive readmission ratios from hospitals in California between 2012 and 2017. Shared care areas were delineated as data-driven units of care coordination emerging from discharge networks. The localization index, the proportion of patients who reside in the same shared care area in which they are admitted, was calculated by year. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between the localization index and the excessive readmission ratio of hospitals controlling for race/ethnicity and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: A total of 300 hospitals in California in a 6-year period were included. The HF excessive readmission ratio was negatively associated with the adjusted localization index (ß=-.0474, 95% CI -0.082 to -0.013). The percentage of Black residents within the shared care areas was the only statistically significant covariate (ß=.4128, 95% CI 0.302 to 0.524). CONCLUSIONS: Higher-than-expected HF readmissions were associated with shared care networks. Control mechanisms such as the Hospital Reduction Readmission Program may need to characterize and reward shared care to guide hospitals toward a more organized HF care system.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in five California hospitals: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus pandemic has had a differential impact on communities of color across the US. The University of California hospital system serves a large population of people who are often underrepresented elsewhere. Data from hospital stays can provide much-needed localized information on risk factors for severe cases and/or death. METHODS: Patient-level retrospective case series of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions at five UC hospitals (N = 4730). Odds ratios of ICU admission, death, and a composite of both outcomes were calculated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression based on patient characteristics, including sex, race/ethnicity, and select comorbidities. Associations between comorbidities were quantified and visualized with a correlation network. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 7.0% (329/4,730). ICU mortality rate was 18.8% (225/1,194). The rate of the composite outcome (ICU admission and/or death) was 27.4% (1298/4730). Comorbidity-controlled odds of a composite outcome were increased for age 75-84 (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11-1.93) and 85-59 (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04-1.87) compared to 18-34 year-olds, males (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.21-1.59) vs. females, and patients identifying as Hispanic/Latino (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.14-1.61) or Asian (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.23-1.82) compared to White. Patients with 5 or more comorbidities were exceedingly likely to experience a composite outcome (OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.32-3.25). CONCLUSIONS: Males, older patients, those with multiple pre-existing comorbidities, and those identifying as Hispanic/Latino or Asian experienced an increased risk of ICU admission and/or death. These results are consistent with reported risks among the Hispanic/Latino population elsewhere in the United States, and confirm multiple concerns about heightened risk among the Asian population in California.

Emergency Percutaneous Treatment of Saphenous Vein Graft Perforation After Cardiac Surgery.

Immediately post coronary artery bypass graft surgery, a 58-year-old woman developed excessive bleeding through the chest drains and hemodynamic instability, followed by total atrioventricular block requiring use of temporary pacemaker, which precluded electrocardiographic interpretation. She was referred for urgent diagnostic coronary angiography, which demonstrated important contrast leakage from the distal body of the saphenous vein graft to the first marginal branch. Acute saphenous vein graft perforation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery is rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of acute saphenous vein graft perforation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery treated with a stent-graft.

Rejection-associated Mitochondrial Impairment After Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with poor allograft prognosis. Mitochondrial-related gene expression (GE) in endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) could be useful as a nonimmune functional marker of rejection. We hypothesize that acute cardiac allograft rejection is associated with decreased mitochondrial-related GE in EMBs. METHODS: We collected 64 routines or clinically indicated EMB from 47 patients after heart transplant. The EMBs were subjected to mRNA sequencing. We conducted weighted gene coexpression network analysis to construct module-derived eigengenes. The modules were assessed by gene ontology enrichment and hub gene analysis. Modules were correlated with the EMBs following the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation histology-based criteria and a classification based on GE alone; we also correlated with clinical parameters. RESULTS: The modules enriched with mitochondria-related and immune-response genes showed the strongest correlation to the clinical traits. Compared with the no-rejection samples, rejection samples had a decreased activity of mitochondrial-related genes and an increased activity of immune-response genes. Biologic processes and hub genes in the mitochondria-related modules were primarily involved with energy generation, substrate metabolism, and regulation of oxidative stress. Compared with International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria, GE-based classification had stronger correlation to the weighted gene coexpression network analysis-derived functional modules. The brain natriuretic peptide level, ImmuKnow, and Allomap scores had negative relationships with the expression of mitochondria-related modules and positive relationships with immune-response modules. CONCLUSIONS: During acute cardiac allograft rejection, there was a decreased activity of mitochondrial-related genes, related to an increased activity of immune-response genes, and depressed allograft function manifested by brain natriuretic peptide elevation. This suggests a rejection-associated mitochondrial impairment.

A Data-Driven Social Network Intervention for Improving Organ Donation Awareness Among Minorities: Analysis and Optimization of a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing the number of organ donors may enhance organ transplantation, and past health interventions have shown the potential to generate both large-scale and sustainable changes, particularly among minorities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to propose a conceptual data-driven framework that tracks digital markers of public organ donation awareness using Twitter and delivers an optimized social network intervention (SNI) to targeted audiences using Facebook. METHODS: We monitored digital markers of organ donation awareness across the United States over a 1-year period using Twitter and examined their association with organ donation registration. We delivered this SNI on Facebook with and without optimized awareness content (ie, educational content with a weblink to an online donor registration website) to low-income Hispanics in Los Angeles over a 1-month period and measured the daily number of impressions (ie, exposure to information) and clicks (ie, engagement) among the target audience. RESULTS: Digital markers of organ donation awareness on Twitter are associated with donation registration (beta=.0032; P<.001) such that 10 additional organ-related tweets are associated with a 3.20% (33,933/1,060,403) increase in the number of organ donor registrations at the city level. In addition, our SNI on Facebook effectively reached 1 million users, and the use of optimization significantly increased the rate of clicks per impression (beta=.0213; P<.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our framework can provide a real-time characterization of organ donation awareness while effectively delivering tailored interventions to minority communities. It can complement past approaches to create large-scale, sustainable interventions that are capable of raising awareness and effectively mitigate disparities in organ donation.

Parada cardiorrespiratória: vigilância, prevenção e cuidados após PCR / Paro cardíaco: vigilância, prevención y cuidados después de la PCR / Cardiorespiratory arrest: surveillance, prevention and care after PCR

Objective: to gather scientific productions about actions of surveillance, prevention and nursing care in cardiorespiratory arrest. Methods: Bibliographic search in the selected databases LILACS and MEDLINE. Results: The results of the bibliographic research according to research indicators were obtained 22 articles. Conclusions: Nursing is paramount in patient surveillance and prevention, recognizing predisposing factors that would lead to PCR. During PCR, in general, it is the first team to identify, trigger the rest of the professionals and initiate RCP. They assist the medical staff and make the nursing record in the patient’s chart. The nurse is a fundamental part in the distribution of the functions of the other members of the team and in the care after RCP.

Objetivo: reunir produções científicas acerca de ações de vigilância, prevenção e os cuidados de enfermagem na parada cardiorrespiratória. Métodos: Pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados selecionadas LILACS e MEDLINE. Resultados: O resultado da pesquisa bibliográfica conforme indicadores de pesquisa obtiveram-se 22 artigos. Conclusões: A enfermagem é primordial na vigilância e prevenção do paciente, reconhecendo fatores predisponentes que levariam a uma PCR. Durante a PCR, em geral, é a primeira equipe a identificar, acionar o restante dos profissionais e iniciar a RCP. Auxiliam a equipe médica e fazem o registro de enfermagem no prontuário do paciente. O enfermeiro é peça fundamental na distribuição das funções dos demais membros da equipe e nos cuidados após RCP.

Objetivo: reunir producciones científicas sobre vigilancia, prevención y cuidados de enfermería en el paro cardíaco. Métodos: Una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos LILACS y MEDLINE seleccionados. Resultados: El resultado de la literatura de investigación como indicadores produjeron 22 artículos. Conclusiones: La enfermería es esencial para la vigilancia y la prevención de la paciente, reconociendo factores predisponentes que conducirían a una PCR. Durante la PCR, en general, es el primer equipo para identificar, involucrar al resto de los profesionales y comenzar la RCP. Ellos ayudan al personal médico y de enfermería hacen que el registro en el expediente del paciente. La enfermera es uma parte clave en la distribución de las funciones de los otros miembros Del equipo y el cuidado después de la RCP.

A data science approach for quantifying spatio-temporal effects to graft failures in organ transplantation.

The transplantation of solid organs is one of the most important accomplishments of modern medicine. Yet, organ shortage is a major public health issue; 8,000 people died while waiting for an organ in 2014. Meanwhile, the allocation system currently implemented can lead to organs being discarded and the medical community still investigates factors that affects early graft failure such as distance and ischemic time. In this paper, we investigate early graft failure under a spatio-temporal perspective using a data science unified approach for all six organs that is based on complementary cumulative analysis of both distance and ischemic time. Interestingly, although distance seems to highly affect some organs (e.g. liver), it appears to have no effect on others (e.g. kidney). Similarly, the results on ischemic time confirm it affects early graft failure with higher influence for some organs such as (e.g. heart) and lower influence for others such as (e.g. kidney). This poses the question whether the allocation policies should be individually designed for each organ in order to account for their particularities as shown in this work.

Síndrome de Barraquer Simons: relato de caso e revisão bibliográfica

Introdução: a Síndrome de Barraquer Simons é uma síndrome rara e de origem obscura. Caracteriza-se por perda progressiva do tecido celular subcutâneo, em direção crânio-caudal, de modo simétrico, iniciando na face com posterior acometimento de pescoço, tórax e membros superiores. Métodos: relato de caso e revisão da literatura. Relato de caso: paciente de 21 anos, sexo feminino, início da manifestação da doença aos 7 anos de idade. Apresentava extensa perda de tecido subcutâneo em face, região malar proeminente, bochechas encovadas e rítides acentuadas em face determinando um aspecto consumido e senil à paciente. Submetida à lipoenxertia de face com resultado satisfatório até o momento. Conclusão: a Síndrome de Barraquer Simons é uma doença rara e de origem desconhecida, cursa com lipodistrofia céfalo-caudal promovendo alterações do contorno facial que levam os pacientes a procurar tratamento especializado. Existe uma ampla variedade e opções terapêuticas incluindo-se a lipoenxertia, uso de implantes de biomateriais ou aloplásticos, retalhos locais, livres e microcirúrgicos. Acreditamos que o uso de lipoenxertia tem o seu valor, tendo em vista que não impossibilita outros tratamentos em tempos subseqüentes e, principalmente, são melhores aceitos como tratamento inicial por pacientes que não aceitam procedimentos mais invasivos, como é o caso relatado neste trabalho

Síndrome de Barraquer Simons: relato de caso e revisão bibliográfica / Barraquer Simons syndrome: case report and literature review

Introdução: a Síndrome de Barraquer Simons é uma síndrome rara e de origem obscura. Caracteriza-se por perda progressiva do tecido celular subcutâneo, em direção crânio-caudal, de modo simétrico, iniciando na face com posterior acometimento de pescoço, tórax e membros superiores. Métodos: relato de caso e revisão da literatura. Relato de caso: paciente de 21 anos, sexo feminino, início da manifestação da doença aos 7 anos de idade. Apresentava extensa perda de tecido subcutâneo em face, região malar proeminente, bochechas encovadas e rítides acentuadas em face determinando um aspecto consumido e senil à paciente. Submetida à lipoenxertia de face com resultado satisfatório até o momento. Conclusão: a Síndrome de Barraquer Simons é uma doença rara e de origem desconhecida, cursa com lipodistrofia céfalo-caudal promovendo alterações do contorno facial que levam os pacientes a procurar tratamento especializado. Existe uma ampla variedade e opções terapêuticas incluindo-se a lipoenxertia, uso de implantes de biomateriais ou aloplásticos, retalhos locais, livres e microcirúrgicos. Acreditamos que o uso de lipoenxertia tem o seu valor, tendo em vista que não impossibilita outros tratamentos em tempos subseqüentes e, principalmente, são melhores aceitos como tratamento inicial por pacientes que não aceitam procedimentos mais invasivos, como é o caso relatado neste trabalho

Psicologia do estilo: nas bordas da atividade / Psychology of style: on the borders of activity

O artigo faz uma discussão acerca dos modos de intervenção nos mundos do trabalho a partir das propostas formuladas pela Clínica da Atividade, tendo como principal interlocutor o psicólogo Yves Clot, que se põe na empreitada de construção de uma psicologia do estilo, em intercessão com o pensamento de Gilles Deleuze configurando-se como uma Filosofia da Diferença. Considera a atividade laboral resultado transitório de uma luta que nunca cessa na ação e da tarefa sempre redefinida no trabalho em situação. Experimenta as implicações de uma clínica aliada aos processos de estilização em jogo na atividade industriosa. Traça, portanto, conexões entre o pensamento de Gilles Deleuze e Yves Clot, através das noções de gênero e estilo. Nesse passeio entre propostas clínicas, afirma a atividade em sua relação com a invenção de modos de viver e expandir a vida.(AU)

This article is a discussion about the modes of intervention in the worlds of work from the proposals made by the Clinic of Activity, which has the psychologist Yves Clot as its main interlocutor, who is building a psychology of style, in intercession with the thought of Gilles Deleuze configuring itself as a Philosophy of Difference. It considers labor activity as a transitional result of a conflict that never ends in an action and of the task which is always reset at work in situation. It tries the implications of a clinic allied to the processes of styling involved in the industrious activity. It presents some connections between the ideas of Gilles Deleuze and the concepts of gender and style from Yves Clot. In this transit between clinics proposals, this article assures the activity in its relationship with the invention of modes of living and expanding life.(AU)

Psicologia do estilo: nas bordas da atividade / Psychology of style: on the borders of activity

O artigo faz uma discussão acerca dos modos de intervenção nos mundos do trabalho a partir das propostas formuladas pela Clínica da Atividade, tendo como principal interlocutor o psicólogo Yves Clot, que se põe na empreitada de construção de uma psicologia do estilo, em intercessão com o pensamento de Gilles Deleuze configurando-se como uma Filosofia da Diferença. Considera a atividade laboral resultado transitório de uma luta que nunca cessa na ação e da tarefa sempre redefinida no trabalho em situação. Experimenta as implicações de uma clínica aliada aos processos de estilização em jogo na atividade industriosa. Traça, portanto, conexões entre o pensamento de Gilles Deleuze e Yves Clot, através das noções de gênero e estilo. Nesse passeio entre propostas clínicas, afirma a atividade em sua relação com a invenção de modos de viver e expandir a vida.

This article is a discussion about the modes of intervention in the worlds of work from the proposals made by the Clinic of Activity, which has the psychologist Yves Clot as its main interlocutor, who is building a psychology of style, in intercession with the thought of Gilles Deleuze configuring itself as a Philosophy of Difference. It considers labor activity as a transitional result of a conflict that never ends in an action and of the task which is always reset at work in situation. It tries the implications of a clinic allied to the processes of styling involved in the industrious activity. It presents some connections between the ideas of Gilles Deleuze and the concepts of gender and style from Yves Clot. In this transit between clinics proposals, this article assures the activity in its relationship with the invention of modes of living and expanding life.

Enredando lutas cotidianas: dispositivos de saúde pela cidade / Entangling daily struggle: health devices through the city

A partir das experiências de intervenções em serviços públicos de saúde e em outros setores da cidade, este trabalho afirma uma prática oficineira descentralizada capaz de compor na construção de redes sociais, servindo de instrumento de análise e possibilitando a invenção de modos de vida e afirmação de singularidades. As intervenções na cidade abrem caminhos para mudanças nos processos em curso e contribuem para a produção de saúde/cidadania por meio da potência conectiva das lutas. O enlace dessas temáticas visa ampliar o campo problemático da atenção psicossocial e fortalecer a luta antimanicomial no Espírito Santo, apostando em novas formas de atuação.(AU)

From the experiences of interventions in health public services and another sectors from the city, is our intention to assert a oficine practice decentralized able to compose in the construction of social networks in configure themselves as artifice for the analysis, opening to possibilities of alternatives ways of living and affirmations of singularities. The city interventions produce changes in the already started process to expand the production of citizenship/health trough the connective power of the collective battle. The link of these thematic may contribute to expand the problematic field of the psychosocial attention and the appliance to the strengthening of the struggle against mental intitutions in Espírito Santo, producing new ways of acting in the already mentioned sectors.(AU)

Enredando lutas cotidianas: dispositivos de saúde pela cidade / Entangling daily struggle: health devices through the city

A partir das experiências de intervenções em serviços públicos de saúde e em outros setores da cidade, este trabalho afirma uma prática oficineira descentralizada capaz de compor na construção de redes sociais, servindo de instrumento de análise e possibilitando a invenção de modos de vida e afirmação de singularidades. As intervenções na cidade abrem caminhos para mudanças nos processos em curso e contribuem para a produção de saúde/cidadania por meio da potência conectiva das lutas. O enlace dessas temáticas visa ampliar o campo problemático da atenção psicossocial e fortalecer a luta antimanicomial no Espírito Santo, apostando em novas formas de atuação.

From the experiences of interventions in health public services and another sectors from the city, is our intention to assert a oficine practice decentralized able to compose in the construction of social networks in configure themselves as artifice for the analysis, opening to possibilities of alternatives ways of living and affirmations of singularities. The city interventions produce changes in the already started process to expand the production of citizenship/health trough the connective power of the collective battle. The link of these thematic may contribute to expand the problematic field of the psychosocial attention and the appliance to the strengthening of the struggle against mental intitutions in Espírito Santo, producing new ways of acting in the already mentioned sectors.

Emissão de folhas e início de acumulação de amido em raízes de uma variedade de mandioca em função da época de plantio / Leaf emergence and beginning of starch accumulation in roots of a cassava variety as a function of planting date

O número de folhas acumulado (NF) na haste principal está associado com o aparecimento de vários estádios de desenvolvimento da cultura da mandioca. O início de acumulação de amido (IAA) nas raízes tuberosas da mandioca marca o início da translocação dos fotoassimilados para o principal órgão de reserva nessa espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o filocrono e identificar um indicador morfológico baseado no NF para o IAA em mandioca plantada em diferentes épocas. Um experimento a campo foi conduzido em Santa Maria, RS, Brasil, com quatro épocas de plantio (28/09; 11/10; 16/11 e 27/12/2005). A variedade de mandioca usada foi a "RS 13", plantada em baldes de 12 litros, enterrados no espaçamento com 2,0 x 0,8m. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com 11 repetições. A soma térmica diária (STd, °C dia) foi calculada a partir da emergência e acumulada por: STa = sigmaSTd. O IAA foi determinado nas plantas de cada balde quando uma raiz atingia um diâmetro de 1cm. O NF na data do IAA e o número final de folhas (NFF) até o primeiro simpódio também foram determinados. O filocrono variou de 20,3 a 29,5°C dia folha-1 e seus valores foram maiores quanto mais tardio foi o plantio. O NFF variou entre as épocas de plantio, aumentando com o atraso do plantio. O NF no IAA foi similar nas quatro épocas de plantio e ocorreu quando, em média, o NF corresponde a 20,9 (±1,0) folhas.

The accumulated number of leaves (NF) on the main stem is related to the appearance of several developmental stages in cassava. The beginning of starch accumulation (IAA) in the fibrous roots of cassava switches the source/sink ratio because of the translocation of photoassimilates to the major storage organ in this species. This study was aimed at estimating the phyllochron and identifing a morphological indicator based on NF for IAA in cassava grown in several planting dates. A field experiment was carried out in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, with four planting dates (28/09, 11/10, 16/11 and 27/12/2005). The variety RS 13 was used and planted in 12 l pots, buried in the soil in a 2.0 x 0.8m spacing. The experimental desing was a completely randomized with 11 replications. Daily degree-days (STd, °C day) were calculated starting at emergency and accumulated by STa = sigmaSTd. IAA was determined on the plants when one root reached a diameter of 0.01m. NF on the date of IAA and the main sterm final leaf number (NFF) up to the first sympodial branches were determined. The plyllochron varied from 20.3 to 29.5°C day leaf -1, with larger values in the two latest planting dates. The NFF varied among planting dates, increasing as planting was delayed. The NF at IAA was similar for the four planting dates and occurred when NF was on average 20.9 (± 1.0) leaves.