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Damage from cracking, russeting, and sunscalds causes significant yield losses in pomegranate worldwide and may result from stressful environmental conditions. Although foliar sprays with minerals or growth regulators could be an important orchard management, little is known on the effectiveness of glycine betaine, silicon (Si)-based fertilizers or the response of cv. Wonderful to gibberellin A

(GA

).

During a 2-year study, foliar spraying with GA

at 75 or 150 mg L

applied in July substantially reduced cracking, russeting, and sunscald symptoms and increased fruit size, yield, and 100-aril weight, without affecting the % edible portion or % juice, suggesting that arils and skin increased similarly. Nevertheless, they reduced the skin red coloration, especially at the higher dose. GA

at 75 mg L

applied in September resulted in a low number of harvested fruit as a result of delayed maturation. Spraying with glycine betaine at seven repeated times at biweekly intervals starting in July, reduced sin coloration. The efficacy of nutrient-related fertilizers and glycine betaine were not constant, and this would be useful to evaluate at earlier application times and under stress conditions. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.The producer-scrounger game is a key element of foraging ecology in many systems. Producing and scrounging typically covary negatively, but partitioning this covariance into contributions of individual plasticity and consistent between individual differences is key to understanding population-level consequences of foraging strategies. Furthermore, little is known about the role cognition plays in the producer-scrounger game. We investigated the role of cognition in these alternative foraging tactics in wild mixed-species flocks of great tits and blue tits, using a production learning task in which we measured individuals’ speed of learning to visit the single feeder in an array that would provide them with a food reward. We also quantified the proportion of individuals’ feeds that were scrounges (‘proportion scrounged’); scrounging was possible if individuals visited immediately after a previous rewarded visitor. Three learning experiments-initial and two reversal learning-enabled us to estimate the repeatabirounging in the same wild system, highlighting the importance of cognition in the use of alternative resource acquisition tactics. The results of our covariance analyses suggest the potential for genetic differences in allocation to alternative foraging tactics, which are likely species- and system-dependent. They also point to the need to control for different foraging tactics when studying individual cognition in the wild.

To evaluate the methodological quality of recent systematic reviews of interventions for children with cerebral palsy in order to determine the level of confidence in the reviews’ conclusions.

A comprehensive search of 22 databases identified eligible systematic reviews with and without meta-analysis published worldwide from 2015 to 2019. We independently extracted data and used A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) to appraise methodological quality.

Eighty-three systematic reviews met strict eligibility criteria. Most were from Europe and Latin America and reported on rehabilitative interventions. AMSTAR-2 appraisal found critically low confidence in 88% (n=73) because of multiple and varied deficiencies. Only 7% (n=6) had no AMSTAR-2 critical domain deficiency. The number of systematic reviews increased fivefold from 2015 to 2019; however, quality did not improve over time.

Most of these systematic reviews are considered unreliable according to AMSTAR-2. Current recommendations for treating children with CP based on these flawed systematic reviews need re-evaluation. Findings are comparable to reports from other areas of medicine, despite the general perception that systematic reviews are high-level evidence. learn more The required use of current widely accepted guidance for conducting and reporting systematic reviews by authors, peer reviewers, and editors is critical to ensure reliable, unbiased, and transparent systematic reviews.

Most of these systematic reviews are considered unreliable according to AMSTAR-2. Current recommendations for treating children with CP based on these flawed systematic reviews need re-evaluation. Findings are comparable to reports from other areas of medicine, despite the general perception that systematic reviews are high-level evidence. The required use of current widely accepted guidance for conducting and reporting systematic reviews by authors, peer reviewers, and editors is critical to ensure reliable, unbiased, and transparent systematic reviews.

Prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is the focus in critical care units. Immunocompromised patients, older adults, and postoperative patients are at greater risk for VAP. With the dynamic changes in the empirical world, updated evidence must be used to guide the standard of practice. This literature review assimilates the recent evidence for VAP prevention.

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis framework guided the selection of the included research articles. Medline, EBSCO host, CINAHL, UpToDate and Google Scholar databases explored, for relevant publications between 2010 and 2020. The quality of evidence for the 14 studies selected were rated using the hierarchy of quantitative research designs.

Evidence-based VAP preventive strategies are prevention of aspiration, minimizing ventilator days, reducing the pathogen load, safe endotracheal suction practices, and pharmaceutical preventive measures. The mandates for VAP preventive measures among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is included.

Though some of these themes identify with the past, the nuances in their implementation are highlights of this review. The review reiterates the need to revisit ambiguous practices implemented for VAP prevention. Adherence to evidence-based practices, by education, training, and reduction of workload is the key to VAP prevention.

Though some of these themes identify with the past, the nuances in their implementation are highlights of this review. The review reiterates the need to revisit ambiguous practices implemented for VAP prevention. Adherence to evidence-based practices, by education, training, and reduction of workload is the key to VAP prevention.