Search

This review was conducted to synthesize current knowledge, learn producer and Extension specialist perspectives, and identify gaps in understanding of the role of soil health in sustaining production in high tunnel (HT) systems. This synthesis includes findings from scholarly resources related to soil health in HTs, including research and Extension-based literature, perspectives from experienced HT producers and technical assistance providers, and the direct observations of a broad network of university research and Extension personnel working with HTs. Findings are intended to identify knowledge gaps and additional research and Extension resource needs of greatest priority to the HT producer community and technical assistance providers that support them at the time of publication. A review of 68 research articles and 58 Extension resources was conducted. Focus group interviews were conducted with small groups of experienced HT farmers in four regions of the eastern half of the United States, with in-depth farm case studies conducted in individual farmers in three of these regions. Growers across regions identified soil fertility management, soil borne diseases, soil compaction, and lack of consistency of soil analyses specific to HTs as the greatest soil-related challenges to HT production. Research and resources for technical assistance providers on mitigation strategies to remediate yield- limiting HT soil conditions, such as excessive soil salinity and high pathogen populations, were also lacking. As such, process-based research on techniques such as leaching, soil steaming, solarization, and anaerobic soil disinfestation in tunnels that consider short- and long-term costs, benefits, and effects on soil and plant productivity should be prioritized in the future when considering the impact of HT production on soil health. Interviews also indicated a need for networking opportunities for technical assistance providers across agencies (e.g., Natural Resources Conservation Service, Extension, nongovernmental organizations). Despite a high and increasing rate of adoption, there is currently a lack of information about maintaining HT systems. Given that HTs play a critical and growing economic role for specialty crop growers throughout the eastern United States, comprehensive intervention across the research--Extension spectrum to sustain productivity in HT systems is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growers use cover crops to provide nutrients for crops and build soil organic matter (SOM). Termination methods may alter the effects of cover crops on soil labile C and N. We examined how two cover crops and three termination methods affected soil microbes, soil aggregates, and C and N pools in an organic grain system. We compared crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatumL.) (CC), hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth) (HV), and a control together with disking, mowing, or a roller‐crimper for effects on hot‐water‐extractable carbohydrates, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), potentially mineralizable C and N, and aggregation (quantified by mean weight diameter [MWD]). Disking comprised flail mowing plots and then cultivating. Roller‐crimping occurred via a roller with blades. Vetch soil contained 14% higher MBC than no cover crop pretermination, possibly because of enhanced rhizodeposition. Planting CC resulted in 44% higher MBC than no cover crop a week after termination, likely due to its higher biomass C/N ratio. Disking decreased MWD relative to flail mowing in no cover crop soils at 4 wk after termination across both years at 0‐to‐5‐cm depth. In addition, MWD was lower under CC than under no cover crop for both the flail mowed and roller‐crimped treatments at 4 wk after termination across both years from 0 to 5 cm. This is possibly due to enhanced desiccation of the soil in bare plots after termination. Our results indicate that quantity and quality of biomass of different legume species, rather than termination methods, dominated effects on labile C. Disking lowered aggregation in no cover crop control plots vs. flail‐mowing.Hairy vetch raised mineralizable N vs. crimson clover or no cover crop, even before termination.Mowing cover crops did not increase soil microbial activity compared with rolling.

In light of persistent workforce shortages, school psychologists must support the professional growth and well-being of graduate students and early career professionals (ECPs) in their field. This exploratory study examined the self-reported needs, interests, and challenges of doctoral-level ECPs and graduate students in school psychology. Participants were 87 ECP members (n= 55) and student affiliates (SAs; n= 32) of Division 16 of the American Psychological Association (APA D16). A brief online survey assessed their interest in a variety of professional development topics, conference programming formats, and other resources (e.g., webinars and Internet articles). Participants also responded to open-ended items assessing professional challenges as well as organizations accessed outside of APA D16. Whereas ECPs in faculty positions expressed the most interest in research-related professional development, ECPs in practice and SAs expressed the greatest interest in practice-oriented programming. Both ECPs and SAs valued symposia, informal sessions, brief Internet articles, and webinars as forums for professional support. Finally, ECPs and SAs noted challenges related to interpersonal relations in the workplace, diversity and multiculturalism, and pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training. The results of this study suggest that school psychology professional organizations have a significant role in supporting ECPs and SAs with a range of developmental tasks and professional challenges. Moreover, these organizations can support ECPs and graduate students by providing concise and time-efficient conferencing programming (< 3-h trainings) as well as a variety of accessible digital resources (e.g., webinars and Internet articles).

Reduced tillage of legume cover crops releases significant amount of N coupled with corn N uptake.Roller crimper termination of legumes releases nitrogen at similar total amounts to disking.Increased experimentation needed to improve corn population and yields in roller crimped stands. Cover cropping and reduced tillage are two management practices that increase ecosystem services in agroecosystems. However, their interactive effects on N dynamics and cash crop yield are underexplored. In this study, four different termination approaches, employing no‐till and tillage, and organic and conventional techniques were used with four winter annual leguminous cover crop species to investigate the combined effect on plant‐available nitrogen (PAN) and subsequent organic corn (Zea maysL.) yield. Termination treatments included roller‐crimping, flail‐mowing, disking, and herbicide application with cover crops of Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativumL. subs. arvense,AWP), hairy vetch (Vicia villosavar. AU Early Cover, HV), balansa clover [Trifolium michelianumSavi ssp. balansae(Boiss.) Ponert, BC] and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatumvar. Dixie, CC). Plant‐available N (NO3−and NH4+) was determined using biweekly soil inorganic N extractions and resin probes. Cover crop biomass, cover crop C/N ratio, and cover crop total N were measured prior to termination. Nitrogen was most available from AWP and HV across termination methods at 6 to 10 wk after termination. Disked HV contributed highest levels of N across all 16 cropping by termination combinations. Highest biomass N was found in HV (226 kg ha−1), followed by AWP (189 kg ha−1) and CC (181 kg ha−1). Corn yield ranged widely, from 0.23 Mg ha−1in 0 N control to >9 Mg ha−1in HV and AWP treatments. Cover crop species plays an important role in N dynamics, frequently influencing soil processes to a more significant degree than termination approach.

Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) can be effective at downstaging patients with estrogen receptor–positive tumors and identifying those tumors that are endocrine sensitive and resistant. The optimal prognostic markers for stratification are under investigation. Use of NET will allow the identification of patients with estrogen receptor–positive tumors who might benefit from additional treatment and allow better understanding of endocrine resistance.

Biomass yield is similar between sole‐crop grain corn forage–silage corn double‐crop systems.Nitrogen fertilizer does not increase net economic return from forage–silage corn double‐crop systems.Double‐cro pea–barley forage–silage corn is not a profitable alternative to sole‐crop corn in the upper Midwest. Double cropping with forages can increase dry matter (DM) yield and N‐use efficiency over sole‐crop (SC) systems, but reductions in primary crop yield can limit economic return. This study assessed whether a double‐crop (DC) system coupling a legume–cereal biculture forage with early maturing corn can reduce fertilizer N input and compete economically with SC corn. Biomass yield, N uptake, residual soil NO3–N, and economic net return were measured in two DC and one SC systems in four experiments conducted in Minnesota between 2014 and 2016. In DC systems, a field pea (Pisum sativumL.)–barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) forage biculture was double cropped with a dual‐purpose hybrid (DP) or semidwarf (SD) corn (Zea maysL.) variety. In SC systems, full‐season hybrid corn (HC) was planted without preceding forage. Six fertilizer N rates (0–224 kg N ha−1) were applied to corn. Averaged across N rates, DP and SD corn yielded less (8.2 and 1.8 Mg DM ha−1, respectively) compared to SC (16.4 Mg DM ha−1). Total system DM yield was similar for the DC–DP and SC–HC systems, averaging 16.6 Mg ha−1. Economic return for the SC system was greater than that for the DC–DP system, and was maximized with 134 to 224 kg N ha−1, while return for the DC–DP system was unaffected by N rate. Due to low corn yield and greater production cost, double cropping spring forage with short‐season corn is not a profitable alternative to SC corn.

Summer cover crop rotations, compost, and vermicompost additions can be important strategies for transition to organic production diat can provide various benefits to crop yields, nitrogen (N) availability, and overall soil health, yet are underused in strawberry (F r agaria xananassa) production in North Carolina. This study was aimed at evaluating six summer cover crop treatments including pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna. unjjuiculata), pearl millet/soybean combination, pearl millet/cowpea combination, and a no cover crop control, with and without vermicompost additions for their effects on strawberry growth, yields, nutrient uptake, weeds, and soil inorganic nitratenitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen in a 2-year field experiment. Compost was additionally applied before seeding cover crops and preplant N fertilizer was reduced by 67% to account for organic N additions. Although all cover crops (with compost) increased soil N levels during strawberry growth compared with die no cover crop treatment, cover crops did not impact strawberry yields in the first year of die study. In the 2nd year, pearl millet cover crop treatments reduced total and marketable strawberry yields, and soybean treatments reduced marketable strawberry yields when compared with the no cover crop treatment, whereas vermicompost additions increased strawberry biomass and yields. Results from this study suggest that vermicompost additions can be important sustainable soil management strategies for transitional and certified organic strawberry production. Summer cover crops integrated with composts can provide considerable soil N, reducing fertilizer needs, but have variable responses on strawberry depending on the specific cover crop species or combination. Moreover, these practices are suitable for both organic and conventional strawberry growers and will benefit from longer-term studies that assess these practices individually and in combination and other benefits in addition to yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teledermatology is a term to describe the provision of dermatologic medical services through telecommunication technology. This is a teledermatology case of seven nonhealing lesions located on the right arm and left leg.

The author reflects on the advocacy efforts of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). She quotes Bill Shore, a nonprofit analyst, writer and chief executive officer, who stated that advocacy is not advocacy when aimed at those who share one's views. The author offers an overview of her conversation with their city mayor about the relationship between federal government and nonprofit organizations.

An interview with Julie A. Grossman, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) at Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland is presented. It mentions about children's mental health, psychological assessment, and increasing parent engagement and involvement. It also mentions that school communities build trust among school staff, students, and families, and to support them outside of the school.

ABSTRACTThe tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a significant barrier to creating effective therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In several malignancies, bone marrow derived CCR2+inflammatory monocytes (IM) are recruited to the TME by neoplastic cells, where they become immunosuppressive tumor associated macrophages (TAM). Here we report that mCRC expression of the chemokine CCL2 facilitates recruitment of CCR2+IM from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood. Immune monitoring of circulating monocytes in patients with mCRC found this influx was a prognostic biomarker and correlated with worse clinical outcomes. At the metastatic site, mCRC liver tumors were heavily infiltrated by TAM, which displayed a robust ability to dampen endogenous anti-tumor lymphocyte activity. Using a murine model of mCRC that recapitulates these findings from human disease, we show that targeting CCR2 reduces TAM accumulation in liver metastasis and restores anti-tumor immunity. Additional quantitative analysis of hepatic metastatic tumor burden and treatment efficacy found that administration of a small molecule CCR2 inhibitor (CCR2i) improves chemotherapeutic responses and increases overall survival in mice with mCRC liver tumors. Our study suggests that targeting the CCL2/CCR2 chemokine axis decreases TAM at the metastatic site, disrupting the immunosuppressive TME and rendering mCRC susceptible to anti-tumor T-cell responses.

The article focuses on requirement of group counseling and management of school-based mental health services for social development of psychic children. Topics discussed include training of school counselors and school psychologists for delivering counseling services, key steps for creating school-based counseling groups and proper assessment of children with varied cognitive abilities by counselors.