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Garden-based lessons are gaining popularity as a means of increasing fruit and vegetable intake among children. The study objective was to pilot test a garden-based preschool curriculum for feasibility and acceptability in Harris County Department of Education Head Start using qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 103, 3- to 5-year-old children at two Head Start centers in Harris County, Texas participated. PLANT Gardens (Preschoolers Learn About Nutrition Through Gardens), a theoretically grounded, teacher-led, garden-based nutrition education program for preschoolers was implemented over 8 weeks in spring 2008. Heights and weights were measured on participating children. Data regarding program feasibility and acceptability were obtained through post-intervention focus groups with teachers and parents, weekly lesson plan evaluation forms completed by project staff, and post intervention teacher surveys. Pre-post self-reported parent surveys were used to evaluate the effects of the program on their preschooler's fruit and vegetable preferences and willingness. The results showed that, overall, 28.4 percent of the Head Start preschooler's population were overweight or obese, yet only 3 percent of parents perceived their preschooler as overweight. This pilot test revealed strong acceptability and feasibility of the PLANT Gardens program in this Head Start population. Results of the parent surveys (n= 25) indicated a significant increase in their preschooler's willingness to try new fruits and vegetables (67% at baseline vs 84% post-intervention; p = 0.026). Data were used to further refine the program components. In conclusion, the PLANT Gardens program showed good initial feasibility and acceptability and is a promising program to increase preference and intake of fruits and vegetables in a preschool population. Further evaluation of behavioral outcomes using a larger sample size and a prospective design is needed.

Nest cavities are a limited resource, given the extensive land clearance that has occurred in Australia. Some obligate cavity-nesting birds are vulnerable to extinction and experience risk from heterospecific species that compete for limited nest cavities. The aim of this study was to identify intruder bird species at nest cavities of a threatened eastern subspecies of Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides), and to measure the impact of intruder birds on parental care (parental time budgets) and nesting outcome (nest usurpation). We observed 25 eastern Regent Parrot nests using a combination of 608 h of video recording and 67 h of binocular observation. In total, we observed 16 heterospecific bird species at the nest entrance of the eastern Regent Parrot. Two of these species were examined for their impact on parental care behaviour. The presence of Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) near the nest cavity increased the time that Regent Parrots spent at the nest cavity entrance. The number of Yellow Rosella (Platycercus elegans flaveolus) visits to the nest cavity predicted nest usurpation. Nest usurpation of a Regent Parrot nest occurred in 6/25 cases (24%), of which 5/6 nests were usurped by Yellow Rosellas. Understanding heterospecific competition for nest cavities in eastern Regent Parrots should inform targeted conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between nest site characteristics and nest success is likely to be important in the conservation management of threatened cavity-nesting birds. The vulnerable eastern Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides) is declining in South Australia, but there is little information on the behavioural ecology of its cavity-nesting habits. The aim of this study was to quantify parental nest visitation behaviour and measure nest site attributes in relation to nesting outcome. We collected data from 25 nests along the Murray River in South Australia, and analysed 608 h of video recording and 67 h of binocular observations. This study provides the first quantitative data on parental care behaviour of the eastern Regent Parrot. The results show (1) parent birds had ~0.5 visits per hour during incubation and ~2 visits per hour during feeding; (2) 16% of nesting cavities were abandoned, 24% usurped, 4% depredated (by lace monitor, Varanus varius), 4% unknown outcome; and (3) canopy cover was 58% at successful nests versus 34% at failed nests. Behavioural monitoring in the field should span at least two hours to capture parental activity at the nest, nesting success was correlated with canopy cover, and nesting failure was mostly explained by usurpation and abandonment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature has pointed to the importance of localizing fundamental rights in order to further strengthen their effective protection. In this context attention has been paid mainly to civil society organizations, but not as much to local and regional authorities. What role can local and regional authorities play in enforcing fundamental rights in the European Union (EU)? To answer this question the paper starts with an inductive approach. It identifies and describes some interesting examples of how local and regional authorities (LRAs) within the EU may contribute to the protection of fundamental rights. The article presents seven examples, from different countries within the EU, of how local and regional authorities can strengthen the enforcement of fundamental rights. Next, the article aims to develop a more general typology of the different roles LRAs can play in the protection of fundamental rights. It identifies four distinctive roles local and regional authorities can play. First they can contribute to the enforcement of fundamental rights through monitoring as a rule intermediary. Second, through budget allocation and service provision they can encourage initiatives from other actors to reinforce the protection of fundamental rights. Third, they can support higher level governance policies through awareness-raising. Finally, they can play a coordinating role, bringing together several actors to enforce fundamental rights. In a third part, the article turns to the question of how the impact of these roles can be strengthened, and several proposals are presented. We end with a short conclusion and outlook for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a pentavalent combination vaccine on childhood immunization coverage rates and timeliness within a managed care organization., Study Design: Retrospective matched-cohort analysis of encounter data from administrative claims and a state immunization registry., Methods: Children were stratified into 2 demographically matched cohorts (combination and reference), based on receipt of the DTaP/HepB/IPV combination vaccine. Children were followed until 24 months of age, and coverage rates and on-time rates were assessed. Outcomes were measured for the HEDIS Combination 2 vaccine series (4 doses of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, 3 doses of polio, 1 dose of measles/mumps/rubella, 3 doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b, 3 doses of hepatitis B, and 1 dose of varicella) and each vaccine series individually., Results: Children in the combination cohort were significantly more likely to be fully vaccinated for the HEDIS Combination 2 series by 2 years of age and to be vaccinated within the recommended age ranges. In the combination cohort 86.9% (752/865) of patients were fully covered compared with only 74.1% (641/865) of the reference cohort (P <.001). In the combination cohort 45.2% (391/865) of patients received vaccinations on time versus 37.5% (324/865) of the reference cohort, P = .001., Conclusions: Receipt of DTaP/HepB/IPV was associated with improved coverage and age-appropriate immunization in a managed care population.