Placement of fertilizer in the seed furrow to increase nutrient availability is a common practice in row-crop production. While in-furrow application of fertilizer is widely utilized in the production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), there is a lack of work evaluating new formulations and nutrient combinations that are available. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of in-furrow fertilizer products and combinations of products on winter wheat grain yield, nitrogen and mineral concentrations. Trials were conducted across five site-years in central Oklahoma using 11 fertilizer formulations placed in-furrow at the time of planting. In locations that soil test phosphorus (STP) levels or potassium were above sufficiency, the use of in-furrow fertilizers did not improve yield over the control. Inconsistency of response was noted at locations where STP levels were below the critical threshold. While one location showed no response to the addition of P regardless of source, two other locations had significant yield responses from three or more P-containing fertilizers. The addition of both sulphur and zinc resulted in increased yield over the base product at one low STP location. Nutrient concentrations were also influenced in nutrient-limited soils; however, no trends in response were present. Based upon the results of this study, the application of in-furrow fertilizer has the potential to increase winter wheat grain yield and nutrient concentration, when soil nutrients are limiting. As expected the addition of fertilizer when soil test levels are at or above a sufficiency did not increase grain yield.

COVID-19 has caused a major global pandemic and necessitated unprecedented public health restrictions in almost every country. Understanding risk factors for severe disease in hospitalised patients is critical as the pandemic progresses. This observational cohort study aimed to characterise the independent associations between the clinical outcomes of hospitalised patients and their demographics, comorbidities, blood tests and bedside observations. All patients admitted to Northwick Park Hospital, London, UK between 12 March and 15 April 2020 with COVID-19 were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome was death. Associations were explored using Cox proportional hazards modelling. The study included 981 patients. The mortality rate was 36.0%. Age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.53), respiratory disease (aHR 1.37), immunosuppression (aHR 2.23), respiratory rate (aHR 1.28), hypoxia (aHR 1.36), Glasgow Coma Scale <15 (aHR 1.92), urea (aHR 2.67), alkaline phosphatase (aHR 2.53), C-reactive protein (aHR 1.15), lactate (aHR 2.67), platelet count (aHR 0.77) and infiltrates on chest radiograph (aHR 1.89) were all associated with mortality. These important data will aid clinical risk stratification and provide direction for further research.

Trifludimoxazin, a new protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicide, is being evaluated for possible use as a soil-residual active herbicide treatment in cotton for control of small-seeded annual broadleaf weeds. Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to compare vertical mobility and cotton tolerance of trifludimoxazin to flumioxazin and saflufenacil, which are two currently registered protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicides for use in cotton, in three West Texas soils. Vertical soil mobility of trifludimoxazin was similar to flumioxazin in Acuff loam and Olton loam soils, but was more mobile than flumioxazin in the Amarillo loamy sand soil. The depth of trifludimoxazin movement after a 2.5-cm irrigation event ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 cm in all soils, which would not allow for crop selectivity based on herbicide placement, because ideal cotton seeding depth is from 0.6 to 2.54 cm deep. Greenhouse studies indicated that PRE treatments were more injurious than the 14 d preplant treatment when summarized across soils for the three herbicides (43% and 14% injury, respectively). No differences in visual cotton response or dry weight was observed after trifludimoxazin preplant as compared with the nontreated control within each of the three West Texas soils and was similar to the flumioxazin preplant across soils. On the basis of these results, a use pattern for trifludimoxazin in cotton may be established with the use of a more than 14-d preplant restriction before cotton planting.

A survey of hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs was performed to validate core element achievement data from the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) Patient Safety Component Annual Survey. In total, 89% of hospitals met all 7 core elements, compared to only 68% according to the NHSN survey.

Olivines from igneous rocks generally have low calcium contents. However, olivines crystallized from strongly silica-undersaturated magmas occasionally contain large amounts of kirschsteinite (Ki" CaFeSiO4) and monticellite (Mo: CaMgSiO4) components. The purpose of this note is to report the first natural occurrence of kirschsteinite crystals that have lamite (La: CazSiO4) in the mineralogical norm.

US Africa Command’s Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP), implemented by the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, partnered with US Government agencies and international organizations to promote stability and security on the African continent by engaging with African Partner Nations’ (PN) civil and military authorities to improve disaster management capabilities. From 2008 to 2015, DPP conducted disaster preparedness and response programming with 17 PNs. DPP held a series of engagements with each, including workshops, strategic planning, developing preparedness and response plans, tabletop exercises, and prioritizing disaster management capability gaps identified through the engagements. DPP partners collected data for each PN to further capacity building efforts. Thus far, 9 countries have completed military pandemic plans, 10 have developed national pandemic influenza plans, 9 have developed military support to civil authorities plans, and 11 have developed disaster management strategic work plans. There have been 20 national exercises conducted since 2009. DPP was cited as key in implementation of Ebola response plans in PNs, facilitated development of disaster management agencies in DPP PNs, and trained nearly 800 individuals. DPP enhanced PNs’ ability to prepare and respond to crises, fostering relationships between international agencies, and improving civil-military coordination through both national and regional capacity building. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:319–329)

Low-spatial resolution satellite imagery from the NOAA-10 polar-orbiting meteorological satellite was analyzed to determine if central New Mexico grasslands infested by broom snakeweed could be discriminated from unaffected areas. Distinctive phenological characteristics of broom snakeweed, including an early season growth flush and late season flowering, enable moderate to heavily infested areas to be separated from grasslands having few or no weeds present. The procedure used shows promise as a tool for locating and monitoring brown snakeweed and other weeds growing on shortgrass prairie.

Field studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 near Lubbock and Lamesa, TX, to determine the effects of propazine alone and in combination with glyphosate applied PRE and POST on cotton growth, yield, and lint value (fiber quality). Propazine at 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg ai ha−1 and in combination with glyphosate at 0.86 kg ae ha−1 was applied PRE, early POST, and mid-POST. Up to 11% injury was observed after propazine applied early POST and mid-POST at Lubbock in 1 of 2 yr, and up to 13% at all three application timings was observed at Lamesa in 1 of 2 yr. The greatest injury was observed 58 d after application following propazine at 1.12 kg ai ha−1 applied PRE; however, no injury was apparent 80 d after application. Cotton yield, lint values, and gross revenues were not affected by any treatment.

Field trials were conducted in Lubbock, TX in 2010 and 2011 to evaluate tank-mix combinations of glyphosate and glufosinate in GlyTol® LibertyLink® cotton for control of Palmer amaranth. Herbicide treatments included glyphosate and glufosinate applied at various tank-mix rate combinations (1X:1X, 1X:0.75X, 1X:0.5X, 1X:0.25X and 1X:0X of glyphosate plus glufosinate), proportional tank-mix rate combinations (1X:0X, 0.75X:0.25X, 0.5X:0.5X, 0.25X:0.75X, and 0X:1X of glyphosate plus glufosinate, where X is 0.84 kg ae ha−1 of glyphosate or 0.58 kg ai ha−1 of glufosinate ammonium), and in sequential (1X followed by 1X) applications of both herbicides in an overall weed management system. Greenhouse studies were conducted to quantify antagonistic or synergistic effects. Treatments included a nontreated control; glyphosate at 0.84, 0.63, 0.42, and 0.21 kg ha−1; glufosinate at 0.58, 0.44, 0.29, and 0.15 kg ha−1; and all tank-mix combinations of each herbicide rate. Dry weights were converted to percent growth values for each rate of the two herbicides alone, and these values were used to calculate expected responses of tank-mix combinations with the use of Colby's method. Expected values were compared to observed percent growth values using an augmented mixed-model method. Results of field studies indicated that tank mixes of glyphosate and glufosinate were less effective at controlling Palmer amaranth than glyphosate applied alone. The addition of any rate of glufosinate to a 1X rate of glyphosate reduced Palmer amaranth control compared to glyphosate alone. Greenhouse studies confirmed antagonism seen in the field. These results indicate that sequential applications of these two herbicides are a better option for Palmer amaranth weed management.