Herbicides 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) effectively controlled live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) when applied in the spring and fall in south Texas. A mixture of picloram plus (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) also was effective. Higher rates of bromacil were required than for picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T for effective control. Bromacil was more injurious to herbaceous vegetation. The phenoxy herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-T were ineffective.

Early spring spray applications of the potassium salt of 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and certain formulations of 1:1 mixtures of picloram plus (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) controlled yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.). Ester formulations of picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T were ineffective. Combinations of surfactant and oil: water carriers usually did not improve herbicide performance over water carriers. Granular picloram was superior to sprays when applied as soil treatments at equal rates and controlled yaupon at most dates of application. Post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica Muenchh.) were controlled more effectively by picloram or picloram plus 2,4,5-T sprays on the foliage than by granular picloram as a soil treatment. Picloram granules usually killed winged elm (Ulmus alata Michx.) regardless of date of application.

We compared foliage sprays of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) for control of Macartney rose (Rosa bracteata Wendl.) applied with ground equipment and airplane. Picloram at 0.5 lb/A was more effective than 2,4-D at 2 lb/A at all dates of application on mowed roses; however, time of application was important. Picloram was most effective in late April and early May, but 2,4-D was most effective in late May and early June. Combinations of picloram and 2,4-D were effective from late April to late June. If mowing is followed by foliage treatment of 2,4-D, the interval between mowing and spraying should be at least 1 year if mowing is done in the spring. The interval between mowing and spraying was not critical when picloram was applied not later than early May. Mowing in the summer reduced the effectiveness of subsequent 2,4-D and picloram treatments applied the following year. Aerial applications of 2,4-D and picloram on undisturbed Macartney rose plants in the fall were not as effective as spring applications; however, two successive fall applications of picloram at 1 lb/A resulted in control equivalent to that obtained with a single 2 lb/A application in spring.

Granular 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) was effective in controlling live oak (Quercus virginiana (Mill.), huisache) (Acacia farnesiana (L.), Willd.), and yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.), but not honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell) in south Texas. Granular 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) controlled live oak and huisache. Herbicides applied to soil were usually most effective in spring and fall during periods of active brush growth. Picloram granules applied in May to a mixed stand of woody plants in Puerto Rico usually were effective. However, rates up to 30 lb/A were ineffective on some species.

The loss of 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (dicamba), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) in runoff water was determined with a gas chromatograph and bioassays. When determined 24 hr after application, losses of dicamba and picloram were greater from sod plots than from fallow plots while 2,4,5-T losses were about equal. Four months after application, losses of all herbicides averaged less than 1% of that lost 24 hr after application. The amount of picloram lost in a simulated rainfall of 0.5 inch varied with rate, but the percentage lost was the same. The slope of the plot and movement over untreated soil influenced the percentage of picloram lost. The maximum loss obtained for any herbicide was 5.5% and the average approximately 3%.

We applied (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D), (2, 4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T), 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram), and 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion (paraquat) alone and in various combinations by aircraft on arborescent species in Texas and Puerto Rico. Paraquat defoliated trees rapidly but did not give long-term control. Picloram defoliated a greater number of species than the other herbicides and defoliation extended over a longer period. No treatment killed all trees in the mixed forest or prevented regrowth and secondary succession for a period of more than 1 year. Higher herbicide rates were necessary to defoliate woody plants in tropical Puerto Rico than in subtropical Texas.

We modified a cereal huller to thresh seed of honey mesquite [Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell]. The device threshes seed of other mesquite varieties, huisache [Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.], and other leguminous species.

We studied 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) alone and in combination with 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) or 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium salt (paraquat) for control of several greenhouse, nursery, and natural-grown, woody plant species. Picloram:paraquat combinations improved the control of some species such as yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.) as compared to picloram alone at equal rates; but it had an antagonistic effect on huisache (Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.) and honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell). Evaluation of picloram: 2,4,5-T combinations suggested that 2,4,5-T sometimes could be added in equal amounts to picloram to increase control or reduce picloram rates proportionately on huisache, honey mesquite and live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.).

A knowledge based expert system for the design and analysis of composite laminated struts is described. This system is part of a Composite Design EXpert (CODEX) system that not only performs analysis and design of composite laminated plates and struts, but also incorporates the modelling of uncertainties of information, definition and decision when assessing competing designs. The analysis part of the system is based on a minimum weight optimisation that satisfies the failure criteria of local buckling, overall buckling and maximum strain or maximum stress. Available in the system for analysis and assessment are seven types of strut shapes, six composite materials and aluminium alloy. Examples of strut design are carried out and assessed using this system.

A life-course approach to reduction of risk of non-communicable diseases (NCD) suggests that early-life interventions may be more effective than lifestyle modifications in middle age. Knowledge translation to develop understanding of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) within the community offers the potential to encourage informed diet and lifestyle choices supporting reduction of NCD risk in current and future generations. Many women do not make sustained dietary change before or during pregnancy, therefore appropriate nutritional behaviours need to be established prior to adulthood. This makes adolescence an appropriate stage for interventions to establish suitable dietary and lifestyle behaviours. Therefore, we engaged adolescents in a school-based educational intervention, and assessed the value of this in development of understanding of DOHaD concepts to support behaviour change that could lead to NCD risk reduction in the next generation. Modules of course work were written for 11–14 year olds and trialled in nine schools. Matched pre- and post-intervention questionnaire responses from 238 students and 99 parents, and post-intervention interviews evaluated the intervention. Understanding of a link between maternal diet during pregnancy and the health of the foetus in adulthood increased from 46% to 76% following intervention. Post-intervention evidence suggests the programme facilitated discussion of diet, lifestyle and DOHaD concepts in most families. The intervention was effective in improving understanding of DOHaD concepts and in some cases led to appropriate behaviour change. However, the sustainability of these changes remains to be determined through on-going evaluation of attitudes and behaviour within this cohort.

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is widely used in the management of muscle spasticity in children. However, at present the dose of BTX-A for a given patient is selected empirically. The aim of this study is to provide dosage guidelines that are based on risk/benefit assessment. This was a multicentre retrospective study of the safety profile and efficacy of BTX-A in children with chronic muscle spasticity. Data in 758 patients who received a total of 1594 treatments were analysed (mean age 7.2 years; 429 males, 329 females). Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) was the most common diagnosis (94% of the study sample). Of all treatments 7% resulted in adverse events; incidence was related to the total dose rather than the dose calculated on the basis of body weight. The highest incidence of adverse events was observed in patients who received >1000 IU of BTX-A per treatment session. The odds of an adverse event was 5.1 times greater for this group of patients than for those who had 250 IU or less (p<0.001). A good overall response to treatment was reported in 82% and treatment goals were fully or partially achieved in 3% and 94% of participants respectively. More patients in the highest dose group reported functional deterioration. Interestingly, multilevel treatments resulted in a better response than single-level treatments (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.2, p=0.001).

Spring and fall applications of 10 soil sterilant herbicides were investigated for control of brush and herbaceous vegetation at five locations in Texas. A majority of the herbicides controlled most brush species. However, 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil), 2-methoxy-4,6-bis(isopropylamino)-5-triazine (prometone), and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) were most effective at all locations. A mixture of disodium tetraborates, 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (monuron) and trichlorobenzoic acid was very effective for at least 20 months at four of the five locations. Most herbicides controlled herbaceous vegetation for 1 year or less. Bromacil controlled herbaceous vegetation for approximately 2 years at most locations.

A laboratory assay method was developed for studying pricklypear (Opuntia sp.) responses to herbicides. Herbicidal translocation from one pad to another and lateral translocation across a pad appeared to be very slight. Pads were killed when a butoxy ethanol ester, a propylene glycol butyl ether ester, or a 2-ethylhexyl ester formulation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) was applied to only one side. Increasing temperatures from 21 to 43 C increased the rate of killing pads. Concentrations of 2,4,5-T at 8 lb aehg of solution usually killed the pad at temperatures above 21 C. Concentrations of 2,4,5-T at 4 lb aehg or less had little effect on the pads. Relative humidity level had little effect on 2,4,5-T activity, but the activity of a propylene glycol butyl ether ester of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was more effective at the 90 to 95% level than at levels ranging from 30 to 75%. Water, diesel oil, and three diesel oil:water mixtures had little effect on 2,4,5-T toxicity. More toxic effects were shown by 2,4,5-T than 2,4-D. The propylene glycol butyl ether ester, the butoxy ether ester, and the 2-ethylhexyl ester of 2,4,5-T were equally effective on pricklypear at the same concentrations.

A truck sprayer for applying herbicides to brush is described. It consists of a three-section, hydraulically controlled boom capable of spraying about a 22-ft swath on brush up to 12 ft tall. The spraying system is mounted on a ⅓-T truck equipped with additional lights for night spraying. Plots 22 ft wide by 50 to 200 ft long are sprayed.

Oxalic acid and oxalates occur in many plants. Consumption of plants containing high concentration of oxalates can be poisonous to animals. This has been reported by several investigators (5, 7, 9). However, in only a few plants are oxalates found in sufficient quantities to be lethal. Some species with a relatively high oxalate content are: sorrel (Rumex spp.), rhubarb (Rheum spp.), greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus Torr.), soursobs (Oxalis cernus Thunb.), and halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus C. A. Mey.).

Considerable concern and confusion exists regarding the problem presented by the present occurrence and potential spread of halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) (M. Beib) (C. A. May) in the United States. It is now 18 years since this weed was first found near Wells, Nevada. Since that time the plant has been reported from a broad region extending from Lassen county, California to the southern edge of Montana.