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The primary objective of many longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) restoration programs is to enhance or restore habitat for wildlife dependent on herbaceous plant communities. Because herbaceous cover is inversely related to canopy cover, restoration programs often place restrictions on longleaf pine planting density. However, the influence of planting density on understory plant communities has been inadequately evaluated. Therefore, we initiated a study to examine the relative influences of planting density and other factors on overall understory composition and forage availability for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in nine longleaf pine stands throughout the Coastal Plain of Alabama during 2017–2018. We found that coverage of herbaceous plants decreased 3.5%, coverage of woody plants decreased 2.4%, and coverage of northern bobwhite forage plants decreased 1.9% for each 1 m2/ha increase in longleaf pine basal area. However, planting density was not a significant predictor of current basal area, nor coverage of any functional group of plants we examined, likely because current longleaf pine density averaged only 46% (range = 30–64%) of seedling planting density. We did not detect an effect of prescribed fire on stand condition or understory plant communities, likely due to variability in fire timing and frequency. Our findings related to planting density were likely a function of low longleaf pine survival, which is not uncommon. Because of this and the inherent variability in growth rates for young longleaf pine stands, restoration programs should consider placing greater emphasis on post‐planting monitoring and management than planting density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grilled meat consumption is associated with exposure to carcinogenic compounds and increased risk factors for cancers. We investigated the efficacy of novel formulations of unfiltered India session ale and Wheat ale based-marinades enhanced with antioxidant-rich herbs and spices to suppress formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) while protecting anticarcinogenic conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) from lipid oxidation in grilled ruminant meats. Both formulations significantly enhanced the polyphenolic content of grilled beef by 54–71% and moose meat by 178–314% compared to their unmarinated controls. The antioxidant activities increased by 57–96% and 58–139% with concomitant suppression of total conjugated linoleic acid oxidation by 30–37% and 432% in grilled beef and moose meats respectively compared to their unmarinated counterparts. Furthermore, 88–97% of HCA suppression and 61–71% of CLAs retention came from phenolics in the marinades. This system could be useful for reducing the risk factors associated with red meat consumption while promoting health. • Novel beer marinates retained high levels of meat anti-carcinogenic linoleic acids. • Marination significantly suppressed formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. • The novel beer marinades enhanced the antioxidant and phenolic content of meats. • Marination with beer marinades suppressed lipid oxidation in grilled meats. • Session beers are novel sources of dietary phenols and antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surveillance of the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing can identify targets for quality improvement in antimicrobial stewardship. Our objective was to measure antibiotic prescription prevalence, indication, and appropriateness at three rural community hospitals in a 1-day point prevalence study., Methods: Inpatient antibiotic prescriptions given at three community hospitals on April 24, 2019 were provided by the hospital pharmacies. These prescriptions were analyzed using the Australian National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) tool. Prescriptions were assessed by an infectious diseases physician and analyzed per prescription., Results: Eighty prescriptions given to 58 inpatients were included. Antibiotic treatment prevalence was 58/120 beds (48.3%), and overall appropriateness was 37/80 prescriptions (46.3%). The most prescribed antibiotics were ceftriaxone (17 [21.3%]; 47.1% appropriate), piperacillin-tazobactam (10 [12.5%]; 10.0% appropriate), and moxifloxacin (9 [11.3%]; 0% appropriate). The most common indications were respiratory tract infections (36 [45.0%]; 36.1% appropriate), skin and soft tissue infections (14 [17.5%]; 78.6% appropriate), and urinary tract infections (9 [11.3%]; 11.1% appropriate). Of the 80 prescriptions, 50 (62.5%) documented an indication, and 71 (88.8%) documented a stop or review date., Conclusions: We observed a high treatment prevalence and low appropriateness. Overall appropriateness was lower than in urban hospitals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021, Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada).)