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Abstract Background Rotavirus is one of important pathogens which require infection control in nurseries and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Method We retrospectively reviewed 1,135 out-born newborns who were transferred to a regional tertiary NICU of Chungbuk National University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016. We assessed the clinical characteristics of newborns based on the results of rotavirus surveillance tests. The prevalence of rotavirus was evaluated according to the year, month, and season. Results Among the 1,135 infants, 213 (18.8%) had positive results in the rotavirus surveillance test. The rotavirus positive group had a significantly higher gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score. They also had a significantly higher rate of postpartum care centers when compared to the rotavirus negative group (45.5% vs. 12.6%, P

Abstract The core‐microbiome hypothesis postulates that key fish gut microbiota develop independently from the environment they exist in. Fish nursery habitats serve as critical environments early in ontogeny that support fish growth and development, but their relationship to the development of gut microbiota is poorly understood. We compared gut microbiota of first growing season northern pike (Esox lucius) and source water from two spatially distinct nursery wetlands to examine their potential association and as a field test of the core‐microbiome hypothesis. Microbial communities within the pike hindguts and associated water column samples were characterized through metabarcoding and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. As expected, community level non‐metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed significant separation in microbial community composition between fish and water samples. Unifrac distances indicated no significant dissimilarity among fish gut and source water combinations compared to fish gut samples pairwise tested with non‐source water samples, suggesting similar patterns of in vivo selection of the gut microbiome. This was consistent among habitats for three of four dominant hindgut bacterial genera (Aeromonas spp., Clostridium sensu stricto, and Plesiomonas spp.). Cetobacterium spp. was an exception, where they dominated fish guts in one wetland system. Because these four‐core gut microbiota were only minor components of the source water environment, it is possible that environmental exposure is a selective process in the developing fish gut. Further experimental and field research with examination of the influence of diet is needed to isolate mechanisms involved in gut microbiome development in freshwater fishes.

During the period 2017 – 2020, a study was carried out on the weed – vine competitive relations in the nursery and the opportunities for control through herbicide treatment. Grafted cuttings of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety to Berlandieri X Riparia SO4 rootstock, rooted without mulching the beds with polyethylene foil, were used. The soil type was leached chernozem formed on clay loess. The treatment with Gardoprim plus Gold (312.5 g/l s-metolachlor + 187.5 g/l terbuthylazine) at a dose of 0.4 l/da was performed by micro-spraying immediately after the cuttings were planted in the nursery. The content of N (%), P (%), K (%), Ca (%), Mg (%) and Fe (mg/kg) in the vine leaves and the weeds’ vegetative mass was recorded at the end of the vine growth. The weed species C. arvensis, A. blitoides and P. oleraceae appeared to be highly aggressive competitors of young Cabernet Sauvignon vines in nutrient uptake in the area of the nursery. C. arvensis plants from the herbicide-free plots accumulated larger amounts of P, K and Fe; A. blitoides – K, Ca, Mg and Fe; P. oleraceae – K, Mg and Fe. Despite the insufficient sensitivity of the three weed species to the herbicide; their response included statistically significant changes in nutrients export. The minimal changes found in the amounts of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe in the leaves of Cabernet Sauvignon young vines after treatment with Gardoprim plus Gold did not affect their growth and development and did not create preconditions for latent or overt phytotoxic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes, for the first time, the occurrence of an epidemic of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) O111:H21 in a Belgian nursery and describes a practical approach concerning its management. Few data exist in the literature on this type of outbreak. Clinical and microbiological investigations were needed to find a link between the cases and identify the causative agent. The microbiological procedure followed was first based on conventional analyses: isolation using selective cultures, identification by MALDI‐TOF MS, antibiogram, determination of the serogroup by agglutination, then whole genome sequencing. A total of 7/21 children were infected with this pathogen. Four cases could be confirmed by a molecular technique, wgMLST, as belonging to the same bacterial clone. The action plan put in place focused on symptomatic case eviction, strict general hygiene precaution as well as specific cleaning and disinfection measures. The epidemic did last only a few days. It appears important, in the context of an epidemic, that clinical laboratories standardize their practice by equipping themselves with molecular techniques such as a multiplex which does not focus only on the serotype O157:H7 and which make it possible to distinguish the different pathotypes of E. coli by targeting several virulence genes (stx, aggR...). However, cost/effectiveness studies are awaited to confirm the interest of a systematic search by molecular method for the pathogen involved in a suspected outbreak occurring in a nursery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the academic scientific production in theses and dissertations concerning the Primary Education, nursery, space and pedagogic practices, published in the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, between 2018 and 2022. It is a bibliographical research, of qualitative and quantitative type, that uses bibliometric analysis. The results show 22 researches, which reveal the diversity of themes in the investigated object, related to the childhood, pedagogic practices, infantile protagonism, space and teacher training. They indicate that it is necessary to deepen in the teacher training for new pedagogic practices to be executed. which reveal children as subject and protagonist of their learning. The study concludes that new studies can be undertaken, contemplating the pedagogic practice and the importance of the space as learning promoter in Primary Education, in the perspective of countersigned, innovative and inclusive practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues involved in ensuring the safety of juvenile fish evacuated from a fish protection facility to safe areas of their settled habitat remote from a hydroelectric power plant (HPP) are considered: the creation of such self-sufficient habitats at key points of the reservoir, regardless of the fish protection facility and its fish bypass; the development of technologies that prevent purposeful extended independent or forced movement of fish downstream to the HPP; how to help nature protect itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Health & Society is the property of Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa Periodicojs and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Santalum album is a commercially important tree for its aromatic heart wood and oil. Establishing S. album seedlings in field is difficult due to its semi parasitic nature. It requires a host to thrive and survive. In this study the C. equisetifolia was selected as host along with nitrogen fixing actinobacteria Frankia for S. album in nursery to understand their relationship. Both S. album and C. equisetifolia seedlings were propagated in nursery and the cultured Frankia in P agar medium was inoculated in C. equisetifolia seedlings. The S. album seedlings were grown in soil along with C. equisetifolia (+/- Frankia). After 120 days, the seedling of S. album was harvested and found improvement in growth and nutrient uptake. S. album seedlings with the host of C. equisetifolia along with Frankia showed significantly improved root length (38.3 cm seedling-1), shoot length (45.2 cm seedling-1), root collar diameter (3.2 cm seedling-1), 14.2 haustorial attachment seedling-1, shoot biomass (1.96 g seedling-1), root biomass (0.72 g seedling-1) and showed lowest root/shoot ratio (0.36). The nutrient contents particularly N was significantly found in S. album seedlings associated with C. equisetifolia + Frankia. The result showed that essential nutrient nitrogen transfer was mediated through the nitrogen fixing bacteria to C. equisetifolia and absorbed by S. album. In conclusion, the combination of C. equisetifolia + Frankia provided suitable host for the growth and biomass improvement in S. album seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Italian Journal of Health Education, Sport & Inclusive Didactics is the property of Edizioni Universitarie Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In many Westernised countries, children do not consume a sufficient amount of vegetables for optimal health and development. Child-feeding guidelines have been produced to address this, but often only promote offering vegetables at midday/evening meals and snack times. With guidance having limited success in increasing children's vegetable intake at a population level, novel approaches to address this must be developed. Offering vegetables to children at breakfast time in nursery/kindergarten settings has the potential to increase children's overall daily vegetable consumption as children typically attend nursery/kindergarten and many routinely eat breakfast there. However, the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention (Veggie Brek) to children and nursery staff has not been investigated. Methods: A feasibility and acceptability cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) was undertaken in eight UK nurseries. All nurseries engaged in one-week baseline and follow-up phases before and after an intervention/control period. Staff in intervention nurseries offered three raw carrot batons and three cucumber sticks alongside children's main breakfast food each day for three weeks. Control nurseries offered children their usual breakfast. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment data and nursery staff's ability to follow the trial protocol. Acceptability was assessed by children's willingness to eat the vegetables at breakfast time. All primary outcomes were assessed against traffic-light progression criteria. Staff preference for collecting data via photographs versus using paper was also assessed. Further views about the intervention were obtained through semi-structured interviews with nursery staff. Results: The recruitment of parents/caregivers willing to provide consent for eligible children was acceptable at 67.8% (within the amber stop–go criterion) with 351 children taking part across eight nurseries. Both the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention to nursery staff and the willingness of children to consume the vegetables met the green stop–go criteria, with children eating some part of the vegetables in 62.4% (745/1194) of instances where vegetables were offered. Additionally, staff preferred reporting data using paper compared to taking photographs. Conclusions: Offering vegetables to children at breakfast time in nursery/kindergarten settings is feasible and acceptable to children and nursery staff. A full intervention evaluation should be explored via a definitive RCT. Trial registration: NCT05217550. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves and seagrasses are important nurseries for many marine species, and this function is linked to the complexity and context of these habitats in coastal seascapes. It is also connected to bathymetric features that influence habitat availability, and the accessibility of refuge habitats, but the significance of terrain variation for nursery function is unknown. To test whether seafloor terrain influences nursery function, we surveyed fish assemblages from mangrove and seagrass habitats in 29 estuaries in eastern Australia with unbaited underwater cameras and quantified the surrounding three-dimensional terrain with a set of complementary surface metrics (that is, depth, aspect, curvature, slope, roughness) applied to sonar-derived bathymetric maps. Terrain metrics explained variability in assemblages in both mangroves and seagrasses, with differing effects for the entire fish assemblage and nursery species composition, and between habitats. Higher depth, plan curvature (concavity or convexity) and roughness (backscatter) were negatively correlated with abundance and diversity in mangroves and positively linked to abundance and diversity in seagrass. Mangrove nursery species (6 species) were most abundant in forests adjacent to flats with concave holes, rough substrates and low-moderate depths, whereas seagrass nursery species (3 species) were most abundant in meadows adjacent to deep channels with soft mounds and ledges. These findings indicate that seafloor terrain influences nursery function and demonstrate contrasting effects of terrain variation in mangroves and seagrass. We suggest that incorporating three-dimensional terrain into coastal conservation and restoration plans could help to improve outcomes for fisheries management, but contrasting strategies might be needed for different nursery habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Current breastfeeding guidelines promote initiating breastfeeding ≤1 h after birth to establish long-term breastfeeding. Previous studies dichotomized initiation to ≤1 h versus subsequent hours combined. There are limited data evaluating the effect of initiation in each subsequent hour on breastfeeding duration. Our objective was to evaluate the association between breastfeeding initiated at ≤1 h versus the subsequent 23 hours after birth and outpatient breastfeeding duration. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed real-time, discretely documented electronic health record (EHR) breastfeeding data for 3315 infants born at a university center and followed to age ≥12 mo at 27 university primary care clinics. The primary outcome was breastfeeding duration. The exposure variable was hour of breastfeeding initiation within 24 h postnatally. Data were analyzed by univariable and multivariable linear regression separately for infants born by vaginal versus cesarean delivery. RESULTS: In adjusted models, initiating breastfeeding during each hour from age >1 to ≤6 h and during ages >6 to ≤24 h was not associated with decreased breastfeeding duration versus initiating breastfeeding at ≤1 h after birth for infants born via vaginal or cesarean delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying breastfeeding initiation to >1 to ≤24 h after birth is not associated with decreased breastfeeding duration compared with initiating breastfeeding at ≤1 h after birth. Integration of breastfeeding measures into inpatient and outpatient EHR discrete data fields may clarify best practices that support long-term breastfeeding as a public health imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the growth of two woody ornamental plants when subjected to different levels of weed competition in four different container sizes, representing different stages of production. Ligustrum (Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton) and Japanese holly (Ilex crenata Thunb.) liners were potted individually into 3.8 L, 11.4 L, 24.7 L, and 56.8 L containers, respectively. Weed coverage of 0%, 50%, and 100% in each container size was maintained by surface sowing seeds of six common nursery weed species by volume, based on media surface area in each pot. Results showed that the shoot dry weight of ligustrum at 50% and 100% weed levels was reduced by 28% and 35%, 55% and 56%, 41% and 43%, and 12% and 14% in 3.8 L, 11.4 L, 24.7 L, and 56.8 L containers, respectively. The shoot dry weight of Japanese holly at 50% and 100% weed levels was reduced by 18% and 22%, 51% and 52%, 51% and 53%, and 40% and 53% in 3.8 L, 11.4 L, 24.7 L, and 56.8 L containers, respectively. Results indicate that weed competition at 50% and 100% weed level was similar across all four container sizes, and weeds remained competitive even in the larger container sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substrate composition and seed origin influence the morphological characteristics of future trees. This study aimed to quantify growth of sweet algarrobo plants, Neltuma flexuosa, obtained from seeds collected from two sites in Argentina and grown on substrates with varying vermicompost percentages. A completely randomized factorial design was used with four levels of vermicompost percentage (0; 20; 30; 70) and two levels of seed origin (Monte Comán, Mendoza and; Bolsón de Fiambalá, Catamarca) (n= 360). Height growth rate (from root neck to apex) (Delta height), root neck diameter growth rate (Delta diameter), and Slenderness index were measured for each plant. Results showed that northern sweet algarrobo specimens growing on vermicompost-enriched substrates had a significantly higher Delta height (p

Biotic homogenization is a global phenomenon, mainly in urban areas where exotic species are dominant, contributing to the loss of native biodiversity. Gardening native flora to promote local biodiversity is becoming a conservation practice in urban settings. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the representation of the Chilean native flora in the Chilean and international ornamental flower seed market to know which native plant seeds are sold. We found that native seed are absent in the local market and that the totality of seed supply in the market corresponds to species of exotic origin, mainly from the Palearctic region (43%). However, surprisingly, many Chilean flower seeds are traded in the international market (approximately 6% of the total Chilean flora). This lack of availability of native seeds for local consumers constitutes a bottleneck for ecological restoration initiatives. It is consistent with the greater abundance of exotic species in urban green areas and supports the hypothesis of biocultural homogenization.

Weaning is one of the most important stress events in the life of pigs, increasing the risk for health problems and reduced performance. The release of pheromones in pig stables can be considered an environmental enrichment and alleviate the negative effects of weaning stress in nursery pigs. The present study investigated the effect of synthetic pheromones on the performance of nursery pigs. The effect of positive handling of sows in the farrowing house on the performance of the offspring in the nursery was also investigated. The study was performed in a commercial pig farm and included 24 batches of weaned piglets (216 piglets per batch). Half of the batches originated from sows exposed to positive handling. This implied that music was played from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. from the moment the sows entered the farrowing house until weaning and that they were subjected to backscratching from the day they entered the farrowing unit the day of farrowing. During the nursery period, half of the batches were treated, and half served as controls. Piglets of treated groups were exposed to a synthetic analog of the maternal pig appeasing pheromone (PAP) (SecurePig®, Signs, Avignon, France). The product consisted of a gel block from which the pheromones were slowly released into the room. Different performance parameters were measured during the nursery period. Neither the sow treatment nor the treatment with pheromones significantly influenced the performance of the piglets during the nursery period (p > 0.05). The median values (95% confidence interval) of average daily gain, namely 318 (282–338) vs. 305 (272–322) g/day, feed conversion ratio, namely 1.64 (1.51–1.71) vs. 1.70 (1.57–1.75), and number of antimicrobial treatment days, namely 16.9 (9.6–25.0) vs. 17.3 (9.5–25.0) days, were numerically better in the nursery pigs exposed to the pheromones compared to the control groups. Mortality however was numerically higher in the treated groups, namely 4.4 (2.8–6.8) vs. 3.2 (0.9–4.2)%. Under the conditions of the present production system, pigs exposed to the pheromone treatment during the nursery did not show a significant performance increase.

Ecologists are pressed to understand how climate constrains the timings of annual biological events (phenology). Climate influences on phenology are likely significant in estuarine watersheds because many watersheds provide seasonal fish nurseries where juvenile presence is synched with favorable conditions. While ecologists have long recognized that estuaries are generally important to juvenile fish, we incompletely understand the specific ecosystem dynamics that contribute to their nursery habitat value, limiting our ability to identify and protect vital habitat components. Here we examined the annual timing of juvenile coldwater fish migrating through a seasonally warm, hydrologically managed watershed. Our goal was to (1) understand how climate constrained the seasonal timing of water conditions necessary for juvenile fish to use nursery habitats and (2) inform management decisions about (a) mitigating climate-mediated stress on nursery habitat function and (b) conserving heat-constrained species in warming environments. Cool, wet winters deposited snow and cold water into mountains and reservoirs, which kept the lower watershed adequately cool for juveniles through the spring despite the region approaching its hot, dry summers. For every 1°C waters in April were colder, the juvenile fish population (1) inhabited the watershed 4-7 d longer and (2) entered marine waters, where survival is size selective, at maximum sizes 2.1 mm larger. Climate therefore appeared to constrain the nursery functions of this system by determining seasonal windows of tolerable rearing conditions, and cold water appeared to be a vital ecosystem component that promoted juvenile rearing. Fish in this system inhabit the southernmost extent of their range and already rear during the coolest part of the year, suggesting that a warming climate will truncate rather than shift their annual presence. Our findings are concerning for coldwater diadromous species in general because warming climates may constrain watershed use and diminish viability of life histories (e.g., late springtime rearing) and associated portfolio benefits over the long term. Lower watershed nurseries for coldwater fish in warming climates may be enhanced through allocating coldwater reservoir releases to prolong juvenile rearing periods downstream or restorations that facilitate colder conditions.

In Morocco, Tetraclinis articulata is one of the species of great socio-economic value. Improving the resistance and survival of thuya to sometimes extreme environmental conditions is a concern of managers. For this, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can promote the good growth of this species. We aim to study the effect of a native endomycorrhizal inoculum on the growth of T. articulata plants under nursery conditions. Our results showed that after eighteen months of inoculation, there was a significant effect on the growth of the mycorrhizal plants as compared to the non-mycorrhizal plants. Concerning the root fresh weight (8.58 g), the root system length (34 cm), the collar diameter (5.44 mm), and the number of branches (27) of the mycorrhizal plants are higher than those observed in the non-mycorrhizal plants, 7.67 g, 30 cm, 4.13 mm, and 24, respectively. However, the results of the height and the fresh weight of the shoot part of the non-mycorrhizal plant are superior to those observed in the mycorrhizal plants. The number of spores formed in the rhizosphere of plants inoculated was 135/100 g of soil. And they were represented by 29 endomycorrhizal species belonging to ten different genera: Glomus (6 species), Acaulospora (8 species), Rhizophagus (3 species), Diversispora (1 species), Funneliformis (3 species), Septoglomus (2 species), Scutellospora (2 species), Claroideoglomus (1 species), Entrophospora (1 species) and Gigaspora (2 species). Diversispora versiformis is the most abundant species; its frequency of occurrence reached 30%. The results of this inoculation study highlight the importance of native endomycorrhizal fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of Aderj in increasing the root system and improving the growth of T. articulata plants.

Background. The current demographic situation in Russia requires the urgent implementation of diverse measures to support families with children. Among them, ensur-ing a sufficient number of places in kindergartens, nurseries and medical institutions is of particular importance. The need to solve this problem determines the relevance of under-standing the historical experience of the formation and implementation of the policy of the Soviet state in the field of maternal and child health, including the activities of preschool institutions in the extreme conditions of the Great Patriotic War. The purpose of this work is to consider the features of the deployment and nature of the activities of the rural nursery network of Penza region in 1941–1945. Materials and methods. The research was carried out on the basis of the involvement of documentary materials of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Russian State Archive of Economics, the State Archive of the Pen-za region and materials of the periodical press of the war years. The realization of research tasks was achieved through the use of a systematic and integrated approach to the consider-ation of the organization of the system of protection of motherhood and infancy during the Great Patriotic War. Results. The analysis revealed the need to organize the life support of infants in rural settlements of Penza region during the war years through nursery escort. The dynamics of the deployment of rural pre-school institutions of nursery type is consid-ered. Diverse difficulties in the organization of life, nutrition and medical care for nursery contingents are identified, practices for overcoming them are described. Quantitative indi-cators of nursery care coverage of the child population have been determined. The favora-ble impact of nursery construction on reducing the acuteness of economic, medical and de-mographic problems in the region has been established. Conclusions. In the period 1941–1945 a sharp decline in the number of male able-bodied population determined the need for the total inclusion of female labor in agricultural production. The main tool for solving this problem was the development of a network of nurseries, which also made it possible to es-tablish regular medical monitoring of the health of a significant part of children in the first three years of life. The leading place in the work of the nursery in this direction was occu-pied by measures to prevent childhood morbidity and infant mortality, the implementation of which was entrusted to assigned medical workers. The deployment and functioning of the nursery was carried out by the efforts of a number of different departments, institutions and business entities and was accompanied by problems associated with insufficient fund-ing, personnel, material and economic support, indifferent attitude and lack of initiative of local leaders. However, despite the significant costs, in the most difficult wartime condi-tions in Penza region, it was possible to organize and maintain a fairly developed network of rural nurseries, the vast majority of which were seasonal in nature and made it possible to cover from 23,000 to 70,000 children with nursery care in some war years. In our opin-ion, the activity of nurseries has become an important circumstance, which, together with other factors, contributed to the stabilization of agricultural production and the reduction of infant mortality in the region by more than 2 times compared to the pre-war level.

The European mole cricket, Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, feeds on a wide range of crops and can also damage plants with its burrowing activities. In suitable habitats (like those with damp, rich soils in flood plains), G. gryllotalpa numbers can increase to high levels. On the other hand, the abundance of G. gryllotalpa has dramatically decreased in north-western Europe partly due to direct eradication and excessive pest control. Using habitat suitability modelling, we identified areas suitable for G. gryllotalpa occurrence based on previous reports of its occurrence and based on environmental data. We limited our study area to regions where G. gryllotalpa is the only known Gryllotalpa species. The most important variables in our models were found to be relative air humidity and minimum soil temperature of the coldest month. We suggest that soil temperature is a limiting factor for European mole cricket occurrence in the Czech Republic because most areas in the country experience soil temperatures just below 0 °C, while most reports of G. gryllotalpa occurrence in Europe are from areas where the soil temperature does not drop below 0 °C. The models we have developed can provide information on possible occurrences of the mole cricket and thus improve the decision-making process both in the field of pest control and the conservation of this species.

The cultivation of kelp typically involves two stages, where an indoor hatchery phase preceedes the grow-out phase at-sea. The in situ adhesion of microscopic propagules onto specifically designed substrates using binders has been proposed as an alternative to conventional hatchery methods where juvenile seaweeds are cultured on seeded twine, aimed at saving resources while increasing productivity as it obviates the hatchery phase. Here we tested how well kelp (Saccharina latissima) gametophytes adhere to cultivation ropes using two binder types (agar and κ-carrageenan) and application treatment (separate or mixed application) under two ecologically relevant flow regimes (5 and 15 cm s−1), and a control condition (0 cm s−1) in a laboratory flume. Our findings indicate that the effectiveness of a binder to retain S. latissima gametophytes onto cultivation rope, measured by the sporophyte density, was comparable for all binder types in the high flow velocity (15 cm s−1) treatments, including the non-binder control treatment. Sporophyte densities were highest in the low flow velocities (0 and 5 cm s−1) in the absence of a binder compared to all other treatment combinations. In conclusion, our results highlight that the effectiveness of binder assisted seeding of kelp propagules did not differ between the binder and non-binder treatments and was unaffected by flow velocities for the binder treatments. These findings are important in the development of novel methods and further optimisation of existing binder-based methods aimed at retaining seaweed propagules onto cultivation rope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saltmarsh provides essential fish feeding and nursery habitat but has globally declined by 50%. We used a statistical block design to compare fish feeding activity within human‐engineered or "re‐aligned" saltmarsh to established saltmarsh. Linear and multivariate modelling highlighted that Thinlip Mullet (Chelon ramada) and European Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) feeding rates were 16% and 31% lower within re‐aligned than established saltmarshes, whereas Gobies (Pomatoschistus spp.) fed at the same rate as in both habitats. Analysis of European bass and Goby gut contents highlighted that important detritivorous prey species were up to 85.6% lower in re‐aligned sites. Lower vegetation density may have negatively affected the feeding ecologies of fishes within re‐aligned sites. However, due to the ecological value and potential for further improvement or habitat development, continued assessment of the beneficial effects of re‐aligned sites for fisheries and net gain perspectives is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Providing more light in the first days after weaning is a common practice in pig husbandry. This supposedly stimulates feed intake and performance of (smaller) piglets after weaning. Currently, the literature does not agree on whether this is beneficial. Therefore, the effects of extending the lighting schedule on nursery pig performance, health, and behaviour during the entire nursery period were studied. No beneficial effects were seen on performance and behaviour of the pigs. Furthermore, piglets that were exposed to more light showed worse fecal consistency scores on days 7 (LONG: 21 vs. SHORT: 10; p = 0.039), 11 (LONG: 40 vs. SHORT: 14; p = 0.002), 21 (LONG: 21 vs. SHORT: 8; p = 0.008), and 25 (LONG: 26 vs. SHORT: 11; p = 0.015). It could not be excluded that this difference was due to infection, but there was no significant increase in mortality. This study provides evidence that leaving the lights on for the first days after weaning is not beneficial but should be repeated on more farms to get definitive answers. Lighting influences the circadian rhythm and physiology of animals. Yet, the influence of light on nursery pigs is not fully understood and results remain controversial. The present study investigated the effects of a prolonged photoperiod on the performance, health, and behaviour of nursery pigs. This study was conducted in one farm and included 288 hybrid nursery pigs. Long (LONG) and short (SHORT) photoperiod animals were exposed to either 16 or 8 h of light per day, respectively. Performance, health, welfare, and behavioural parameters were monitored during a nursery period of five weeks. Short photoperiod piglets tended to have higher weights at the end of the nursery (LONG: 21.59 vs. SHORT: 22.19 kg; p = 0.064) and higher average daily gain (LONG: 385 vs. SHORT: 403 g/day; p = 0.063) compared to the long photoperiod piglets. The LONG piglets had significantly higher fecal consistency scores (0–100) than the SHORT piglets on days 7 (LONG: 21 vs. SHORT: 10; p = 0.039), 11 (LONG: 40 vs. SHORT: 14; p = 0.002), 21 (LONG: 21 vs. SHORT: 8; p = 0.008), and 25 (LONG: 26 vs. SHORT: 11; p = 0.015). The LONG piglets tended to have a slightly higher incidence of aggressive behaviour (LONG: 2.49% vs. SHORT: 2.36%; p = 0.071). No significant differences were found for the remaining parameters (p > 0.1). Under the present conditions, lengthening the photoperiod during the nursery period did not significantly improve the performance, health, and welfare of the pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranunculus glacialis (L.) A. Löve & D. Löve is a rare species that is included in the Red Data Book of the Murmansk region. It belongs to a group of northern species that, under climate change conditions, will be exposed to a reduction of range and loss of genetic diversity. The objective of this study was to estimate the adaptive potential of this species in the Khibiny Mountains, which is the edge of the eastern limit of its range. Plants growing in natural conditions of the Khibiny Mountains and in the nurseries of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute (PABGI) were compared in terms of leaf mesostructure and pigment content. Under nursery conditions, at higher temperature than in the field, R. glacialis plants showed quantitative rearrangement of leaf mesostructure. Changes associated with increases in internal leaf volume and disturbance of ontogeny, changes in morphometric indicators of assimilating organs (mass and leaf area), reduced productivity and, consequently, reduced resistance to growing conditions were also found in the PABGI-cultivated plants. In this study, we show that this species has a low level of genetic diversity and a limited adaptive potential in the extreme eastern edge of its range in Russia (Kola Peninsula), as evidenced by numerous experiments on acclimatization of R. glacialis under nursery conditions in the Khibiny Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crèche is the most extreme outgrowth of civilizational misdevelopments. Contrary to all knowledge about child care, the child is forced into exactly the Procrustean bed that our working world makes available to them. Just as children in the first year of life need physical contact with their mother instead of a pram and in the second year as little restriction of their movement instinct as possible, they also need unrestricted growing up in their family during the first three years of life. Because we, as adults, are unable to uphold the value of the family, we take away from our children exactly the living space that actually belongs and should belong to them. The problem can be solved in the short term if the father does at least as much childcare and household chores as the mother. In the long term we have to get away from the construct of the nuclear family (father – mother – child), it is nothing more than a stunted family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a school-wide training for Japanese preschool teachers based on the behavioral and functional approach to children with problem behaviors. Twenty-five Japanese teachers at a kindergarten and nursery school participated in the program, attending six training sessions and four case-study meetings. The training sessions consisted of (a) lectures on behavioral and functional approaches and (b) group work to develop individual support plans. Following training, improvement was seen in both teachers' knowledge of applied behavior analysis as well as children's behaviors targeted in the training plans. In addition, the overall behavior of the children improved, and the postprogram questionnaire showed that participants' satisfaction and acceptance were high. A case-study meeting had been maintained weekly at both schools for 1 year. Although these results are promising, the current investigation has limitations, and the results should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jibacoa region is a rice producing region generating high amounts of husk, used as an alternative for fertilizer. The convenience of tube technology for seedling production using rice husk combined with soil, as a substrate, is an option to produce coffee seedlings in the region. The experiment was carried out in the nursery of the Jibacoa Agroforestry Experimental Station, Villa Clara province, Cuba, located at 22°.01'N and 79°.58'W, in the period between November 2019 and June 2020. The effect of different proportions of burned rice husks (BRH)., soil and different Multicote® doses on the development of coffee seedlings established in tubes as containers was evaluated. A factorial completely randomized experimental design was used with 26 treatments. Seven months after the establishment, the variables height, stem diameter, number of paired leaves, leaf area and total dry mass were evaluated in 20 plants per treatment: The treatment consisting of 25% BRH + 75% soil + 3 g of Multicote® reported the highest mean values of height, stem diameter and number of leaves of seedlings of Coffea arabica L. Variety "Island 6_14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and quality of arabica coffee seedlings produced in tubes under different sources of phosphorus (P). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized block design with ten treatments (control, Osmocote®, three doses of pelleted organomineral, three doses of mashed organomineral, MAP, coated MAP) and four replications, three plants per plot. The dose of organomineral, MAP, and MAP coated was based on the recommendation of P2O5 for the formation of coffee seedlings. For Osmocote®, the manufacturer's recommendation was used depending on the amount, in dm³, of substrate. After 180 days of transplanting, the growth characteristics of the plants (leaf dry matter, stem, and roots) were evaluated, and the aerial part and root system ratio and Dickson's quality index were calculated, as well as regression equations were adjusted for the evaluated parameters. For the growth and quality of seedlings, it was observed that in fertilizations with pelleted and branched organomineral, coated MAP and Osmocote®, the highest averages were obtained for the contents of dry matter, height, diameter of the collection and quality indexes, when compared to the other sources of P2O5. The dose that provides the maximum growth and quality of coffee seedlings for the treatments with organomineral was calculated, this being equal to 6 g/dm³ of P2O5 for bran and pelleted organomineral. According to the results, the sources that promoted the formation of a vigorous seedling, with an adequate supply of nutrients and a good quality standard are pelleted organonineral fertilization and MAP, reducing the risk of losses and consequently the need to discard the seedlings in the nursery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Healthy seedling is the best component of the transplant rice, which depends on its growing environment and appropriate nursery management techniques. To assess the effectiveness of various seeding densities and nutrient management in nurseries on seedling growth and yield of Boro rice, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University from November 2019 to May 2020. The experiment comprised two factors, viz., seeding density (3): medium density (80 g m-2) (control), high density (100 g m-2), very high density (120 g m-2); and nursery nutrient management (6): no nutrient applied, 10 g N m-2, 15 g P m-2, 15 g K m-2, 10 g N m-2 + 15 g P m-2 + 15 g K m-2, compost 2 kg m-2. The experiment was replicated three times following randomized complete block design. With 80 g m-2 seed rate, the highest seedling dry weight, effective tillers hill-1, grains panicle-1 and grain yield were achieved. Regarding nutrient management, seedlings fertilized with N+P+K produced the highest shoot length, seedling dry weight, effective tillers hill-1, grains panicle-1 and grain yield. In case of interaction, the highest number of effective tillers hill-1 was obtained from 80 g m-2 seeding density with N+P+K application, which eventually resulted in the highest grain yield. Therefore, medium seeding density of 80 g m-2 and application of 10 g N+15 g P+15 g Km-2 in nursery may be practiced for better seedling growth and higher yield of Boro rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Olhar de Professor is the property of Olhar de Professor and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One hundred and fifty-two nursery pigs (PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were randomly assigned to mix sex pens and one of six dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial. Diets included no added fat, 3% added choice white grease, or 3% added soy oil with either a supplemented vitamin A (for a total of 11,640 IU vitamin A/kg, Rovimix A 1000, DSM, Parsippany, NJ, US) or beta-carotene (for a total of 8,708 IU vitamin A/kg equivalent, Rovimix β-Carotene 10%, DSM). Pigs were given a 3-d adaptation period upon arrival. Pigs were weighed at the start of the study and at the end of each phase. A blood sample was taken from one pig per pen at the start and end of the study. Tissues were collected from eight pigs at the start of the study and six pigs per treatment at the end of the study. Data were analyzed via the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Cary, NC). Pen was the experimental unit, and repeated measures were used for growth performance and blood parameters. There was no fat by supplement interaction (P  > 0.05) on body weight (BW), but there was a tendency (P  = 0.054) for heavier BWs when soy oil was added to diets. There was no difference (P  > 0.05) in average daily feed intake or average daily gain (ADG). There was an improved gain:feed (P  = 0.02) when pigs were fed choice white grease over no added fat. There were time differences (P  < 0.05) for plasma vitamins A (retinol), D (25 hydroxy vitamin D3), and E (alpha-tocopherol). Vitamin A and D values were higher at the end of the study, whereas vitamin E values were lower at the end of the study. The choice white grease diets had the highest (P  < 0.05) plasma vitamins D and E (6.74 ng/mL and 2.87 ppm, respectively). Pigs supplemented with vitamin A had higher (P  < 0.05) hepatic vitamin A than pigs supplemented with beta-carotene (19.9 vs. 15.6 ppm, respectively). There were no differences (P  < 0.05) between immunoglobulins G and M or mRNA abundance of select genes (retinol binding protein 2, alcohol dehydrogenase class 1, lecithin retinol acyltransferase phosphatidylcholine-retinol O-acyltransferase, and beta-carotene oxygenase 1). In conclusion, fat inclusion level and type, with either vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation, did not affect the overall nursery pig growth performance. The addition of fat resulted in an increase in ADG and BW. Diets with choice white grease had the highest plasma vitamins D and E, and supplemental vitamin A increased hepatic vitamin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred and forty newly weaned pigs (PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were used to determine if supplementing additional arginine (Arg) either in the water or in the feed, and the combinations thereof, improved intestinal integrity and growth performance in nursery pigs. Each of the 80 pens contained three pigs (21 ± 2 d of age) which were randomly allotted to treatments in 4 × 3 factorial arrangement consisting of four water treatments (0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% Arg stock delivered through a 1:128 medication delivery system) in combination with three dietary Arg treatments (1.35%, 1.55%, and 1.75% standardized ileal digestible Arg; SID). Pigs and feeders were weighed at the d0, d6 (water and diet change), d20 (diet change), and d41 for the calculation of average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (G:F). Eighty pigs, 1 pig/pen, were euthanized at d6 for ileum evaluation of villus height and crypt depth. The remaining pigs were taken off the Arg-water treatment and fed phase-2 diets formulated to contain 1.35%, 1.55%, and 1.75% SID Arg. All pigs received a common diet from d20 to d41. Data were analyzed by pen as repeated measures (SAS 9.4). No interaction between water- and dietary-Arg was detected on nursery pig growth performance. There was a significant quadratic effect of SID Arg in the feed on pig final body weight (BW), ADG, ADFI, and G:F (P ≤ 0.037), where feeding 1.55% dietary Arg tended to improve growth performance compared to the 1.35% level for the 41 d of the trial (P ≤ 0.088). The use of the stock 8% Arg in the water resulted in a reduction in crypt depth (0:132.5, 4:140.7, 8:117.3, 12:132.0; P ≤ 0.01) and an improvement in intestinal permeability. The 4% oral Arg significantly reduced villous height:crypt depth ratio (0:2.50, 4:2.09, 8:2.56, 12:2.43; P ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, the feeding of 1.55% Arg resulted in an improvement in nursery pig ADG, ADFI, G:F, and final BW but did not alter intestinal villi morphology; however, the use of Arg in the water resulted in an improvement in intestinal villi, but no phenotypical change in piglet growth in the nursery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the species with the greatest increase in production worldwide. However, the continuous increase in the price of ingredients, and consequently in the diet costs may limit the expansion of the sector. Several alternatives to reduce feed costs are currently under study, as the use of practical press-pellet semi-moist diet that can be manufactured on farm. This study evaluates five levels of replacement (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of a commercial diet by a practical (press-pellet semimoist) diet and its effect on zootechnical performance, carcass proximate composition, as well as somatic and economic indexes in tilapia juveniles (9.48 g). After 56 days, survival and condition factor did not differ significantly between treatments. Final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion, and specific growth rate had a negative linear effect as the practical diet increased, while carcass yield had a positive linear effect. Carcass crude protein content was higher in fish fed with 100% practical diet, while crude lipid had the lowest content in this same treatment. As for economic indexes, the estimated cost of feeding decreased as a function of the practical diet inclusion, with a final saving of US$ 8.68 per thousand of juveniles produced (100% replacement). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons are known to host numerous resident and migrant fish species. Spatio-temporal variation in abiotic and biotic conditions in these ecosystems results, however, in a mosaic of microhabitats that could differently affect juvenile growth and survival. To deepen our understanding of juvenile fish habitat requirements and their spatio-temporal use of lagoons, microhabitat characteristics and fish assemblages were monitored jointly in a small temperate lagoon (the Prévost lagoon), from March to October 2019. A total of 2206 juvenile fishes belonging to 22 species were collected. Resident lagoon species, especially Atherina boyeri, dominated the assemblage (74%), while, among migrant species, Sparus aurata (8%) and Liza aurata (5%) were the most represented. Changes in overall juvenile abundance were mainly temporal, following the seasonal shifts in water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a concentration (44.9% of the co-inertia). However, our results revealed that distinct types of microhabitats exist in small lagoons and that juvenile fish distribution among them is non-random. Indeed, fish species richness mainly differed among sampling sites in relation to their distance from the inlet and the complexity of the three-dimensional habitat structure (36.5% of the co-inertia). Juveniles preferentially selected microhabitats with medium to high structural complexity, which were essentially created by macroalgae. However, microhabitat preferences were both species and ontogenetic stage dependent, with more contrasting microhabitat requirements in young juveniles. These results underline the need for conservation measures to consider each lagoon as a dynamic mosaic of microhabitats with radically different importance for the juveniles of the various fish species that colonize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals jointly with three aspects of environmental, agricultural and energy sustainability: (a) Biogas is a booming energy source worldwide, resulting in an increasing production of digestate, its main by-product; (b) The extraction of peat, mainly used for nursery substrates, is being banned due to the destruction of natural habitats and release of GHGs; (c) Compost can represent a replacement of peat and contributes to the containment of GHGs. This study has verified how a compost obtained from digestate can be used as a substitute for peat in the nursery sector. While previous studies have evaluated compost use on just one species at a time, this study compared the same compost on two very different species: olive tree and hazelnut tree, both with growing interest for new tree plantings. Two concentrations of compost in the potting substrate of nursery seedlings were evaluated: 30% and 45% by weight, measuring the effect on some growth parameters during the growing season. The trials showed responses positive for olive and substantially negative for hazelnut: olive trees manifested better growth parameters with 45% compost, as opposed to hazelnut, where the addition of 45% compost worsened all growth parameters. A general conclusion can be drawn: in the nursery sector, compost can be used to replace peat, but this replacement can almost never be 100 percent, having instead to calibrate the percentage of replacement according to the characteristics of the compost and the individual edaphic needs of the plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of fundamental motor skills (FMS) in the early years can lead to lower engagement with physical activity (PA), and track into adulthood. This study aimed to test the feasibility of an existing intervention for Early Years Educators ("Educators") designed to increase knowledge, confidence and the ability to increase PA and FMS of children in a deprived area of England. Non-randomised design with wait-list control. Sixty-seven settings in Middlesbrough, North East England were invited. Recruitment target: 10 settings, 2 Educators per setting, four children per Educator. Intervention: one-day training course "Physical Literacy in the Early Years", an age-appropriate theoretical and practical training course to support the development of physical literacy. Primary outcomes: recruitment, retention, acceptability of intervention and outcome measures. Secondary outcomes: change in Educators' knowledge, intentions and behaviour, and change in children's BMI z-score, PA and FMS. Eight settings were recruited; all Intervention Educators completed the training. Six settings participated at follow-up (four Intervention, two Control). The target for Educator recruitment was met (two per setting, total n = 16). Questionnaires were completed by 80% of Intervention Educators at baseline, 20% at follow-up. Control Educators completed zero questionnaires. No Educators took part in a process evaluation interview. Forty-eight children participated at baseline, 28 at follow-up. The intervention was deemed acceptable. The recruitment, retention and acceptability of measurements were insufficient to recommend proceeding. Additional qualitative work is needed to understand and surmount the challenges posed by the implementation of the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant trade coupled with climate change has led to the increased spread of well-known and new Phytophthora species, a group of fungus-like organisms placed in the Kingdom Chromista. Their presence in plant nurseries is of particular concern because they are responsible for many plant diseases, with high environmental, economic and social impacts. This paper offers a brief overview of the current status of Phytophthora species in European plant nurseries. Focus was placed on Italian sites. Despite the increasing awareness of the risk of Phytophthora spread and the management strategies applied for controlling it, the complexity of the Phytophthora community in the horticulture industry is increasing over time. Since the survey carried out by Jung et al. (2016), new Phytophthora taxa and Phytophthora-host associations were identified. Phytophthorahydropathica, P. crassamura, P. pseudocryptogea and P. meadii were reported for the first time in European plant nurseries, while P. pistaciae, P. mediterranea and P. heterospora were isolated from Italian ornamental nurseries. Knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in plant nurseries and the potential damage caused by them will help to contribute to the development of early detection methods and sustainable management strategies to control Phytophthora spread in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Family Upbringing / Wychowanie w Rodzinie is the property of Family Upbringing Editorial Board / Redakcja czasopisma Wychowanie w Rodzinie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Phosphorus deficiency is a major limiting factor in horticultural production. One potential solution can be restoring soil phosphorus from mineral resources, such as solid phosphate sludge (SPS) generated from phosphate treatment processes at mining sites in agriculture. This study explores the possibility of using this sludge in nurseries to produce fruit and forest plants. We tested six mixtures of SPS with the sandy soil of the Maamora forest on ten plant species. In the second experiment, we tested the same mixtures with sea sand. In addition, one concentration of four composts based on phosphate sludge was also tested on two citrus rootstocks and carob. The first experiment's results showed significantly higher growth with the control mixture for pomegranate, acacia, and C. volkameriana plants. The relative growth was higher at SPS concentrations of 20% to 30% for the other plant species, although there was no significant difference between treatments. The estimations of AUGPC (area under the growth progress curve) showed no significant difference in most species. In the second experiment, the relative growth in the M4 (30% of SPS + 70% of sand) mixture was higher, and the AUGCP showed a significant difference compared to the M1 control mixture. The application of solid phosphate sludge positively affects and improves the growth of fruit and forest trees in the nurseries, especially when the concentration is between 20 and 30%. For this purpose, the phosphate sludge could have great potential to be used in nurseries and create a favourable soil condition as a cultivation substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 14‐day study was carried out to investigate the nursery of the nauplius (N5) Penaeus vannamei in biofloc technology (BFT) system. The whole experiment was divided into three groups: the control group (GC) without bioflocs, T300 and T600 with bioflocs in which total suspended solid (TSS) levels were maintained at 300 and 600 mg/L, respectively. The results revealed that the average total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) levels in GC were significantly higher than those in T300 and T600 (p < 0.05). By contrast, the nitrite of T300 was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Nitrate and total nitrogen (TN) were increased with the increasing TSS, whereas alkalinity and pH decreased. The higher dry weight was detected in T300, and the survival rate under salinity stress was also significantly higher than the T600 (p < 0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference in the total Vibrio bacteria (TVB) and body length of the shrimp among all groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, BFT with the TSS level <300 mg/L can achieve better performance in P. vannamei of nauplius nursery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Early Childhood is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)