Effects Of Physical Treatments Research Articles

The effects of physical treatment on physicochemical and biological properties of water and aqueous solutions

Objectives. Changes to the properties of water caused by factors such as pressure or temperature, can only be explained by its structural changes. Scientists study changes to the properties of water due to various physical stimuli only without the addition of any substances. Examples of stimuli are acoustic exposure, thermal exposure, pressure variation, shaking, intensive vibration treatment followed by dilutions, vortexing, bubble generation, inter alia.The aim of the present review article is to summarize the available data on how the above processes affect the physicochemical and biological properties of water and aqueous solutions.Results. It has been shown that heating makes water less compressible and decreases air solubility in water, while cooling enhances its viscosity. Acoustic exposure makes the structure of water become coarse-grained, followed by an increase the number of large clusters, pH and temperature inside a cavitation bubble. High pressure enhances the viscosity, self-diffusion, and compressibility of water. For bubble processed water, there are changes in the spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times. Reactive oxygen species are formed, as well as increased solubility of gases in liquids and reduced friction. Vortex process technology causes an increase of electrical conductivity of water and reduced viscosity. Intensive vibration treatment and dilution processes result in changes in electrical conductivity of water, dissolved gas concentration, ultrasonic wave velocity, рН, surface tension, dielectric constant, and spectral response. There is also data to support the biological effects of different types of physical treatment of solutions.Conclusions. This review shows that physical treatment of water can induce changes both in physicochemical and biological properties of water and aqueous solutions.

Effect of physical treatments on the functional and structural features of soluble dietary fiber from soybean dregs.

In this research, the effects caused by ultrafine grinding (U), high-temperature cooking (HTC), microwave (M) and combined treatment (U-HTC, U-M) were evaluated on the functional properties and structural characteristics of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) obtained from soybean dregs. Physical treatments could increase the extraction yield of SDF and improve the functional properties of SDF. The highest extraction yield (277.15 ± 5.87 g kg-1 based on the weight of soybean dregs) and purity (863.37 ± 5.15 g kg-1 based on the extract weight) of SDF was found in the sample by U-M treatment. U-HTC and U-M combined treatments significantly improved the water solubility and oil holding capacity of SDF. U-M treatment significantly increased the ability of SDF to adsorb cholesterol and perform cationic exchange; compared to the control, these abilities were increased by 138.46% and 10.38%, respectively. At pH 2.0, the nitrite ion adsorption capacity (NIAC) of SDF obtained by U-M combined treatment was 184.55 μg g-1 , which was significantly higher by 32.10% compared with that of the control. The results obtained by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed that the structure of SDF generated from soybean dregs became coarser and more porous, and the crystallinity decreased after physical treatments. Combined physical treatment is an effective way to improve the extracted yield and functional properties of SDF from soybean dregs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of physical treatments on phenolics and tannins in Ficus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora leaves

Inadequate availability of straws and conventional concentrates is one of the major constraints for rearing large and small ruminants. Alternative or unconventional fodder resources play a supplementary role in meeting the demand of livestock owners; but these tree leaves contain some antinutritional factors. Tremal (Ficus roxburghii) and Oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) are among the traditional tree fodder sources available in the North Western Himalayan region. Their use a feed stuff for livestock is limited due to presence of tannis. So, the study was undertaken to assess the effect of different physical treatments on total phenol and tannin fractions of Tremal and Oak leaves. Fresh leaves lopped from Tremal and Oak trees of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh were subjected to physical treatments like chopping and sun drying after chopping. The phenol and tannin fractions of these leaves were estimated before and after treatment. Total phenols, total tannin and hydrolysable tannin contents of the F. roxburghii and Q. leucotrichophora leaves were reduced significantly (P<0.0001) by both the physical treatments. However, both the treatments increased (P ≤ 0.0001) the condensed tannin content of F. roxburghii leaves, whereas chopping followed by sun drying also increased the non-tannin phenol contents. Both the treatments were effective in reducing tannin contents (both hydrolysable and condensed) of Q. leucotrichophora leaves. It may be concluded that physical treatments, chopping, chopping and sun drying, were though effective in reducing hydrolysable tannins, but were not effective in reducing condensed tannin contents of F. roxburghii leaves; whereas chopping, chopping and sun drying were effective in reducing tannin contents in case of Q. leucotrichophora leaves.

Effects of physical treatments on size particle and nutritional properties of bone powder from Pangasius sp

Fishbone (FB) is a nutritionally dense by-product of fisheries processing, which is a good source of Ca and other elements. This study aimed to determine the effect of sonication and water bath treatments on the size and nutritional value of Pangasius bone powder. Pulverized FB was soaked in 40% lime solution (pH 2) under different conditions in a sonicator and water bath for 30 min. and 60 min. at 60 C, and then powdered. The whiteness index (WI), pH, particle and distribution size, proximate and mineral contents of FB powder were investigated. This study showed that sonication treatments were 89.09-89.17 for WI, 6.99-7.14 for pH, 860.15-1029.3 nm for particle size, 3.66-3.95 % for fat, 14.62-16.10 % for protein, 50.48-50.91% for Ca, 14.77-15.08 % for P and water bath treatments were 88.91-88.93 for WI, 7.36-7.43 for pH, 734.5-959 nm for particle size, 3.22-3325 % for fat, 14.78-15.23 % for protein, 50.97-50.95 % for Ca, and 14.97-14.99 % for P. Both showed a mono-modal size distribution and trace amounts of other minerals in all treatments. In conclusion, a 60-minute water bath treatment is a promising method for reducing the particle size of FB powder without significantly altering its nutritional composition.

Abstract PO-033: Qualitative analysis of the lifestyle programming preferences of Mexican-origin breast cancer survivors and cancer caregivers living on the U.S./Mexico border

Abstract Introduction: Hispanics face unique challenges after cancer treatment, including less cancer survivorship knowledge, lower quality of life, higher comorbid conditions, and socioeconomic disadvantages. Using a community-based participatory approach, we engaged in a qualitative exploration of lifestyle-related behaviors and behavior modifiers of Mexican-origin breast cancer survivors and their caregivers living in a border community to inform the development and implementation of an evidence-based lifestyle intervention to reduce cancer burden and metabolic co-morbidities. Methods: The study was conducted through a community-academic partnership (La Vida Plena) between the University of Arizona and Mariposa Community Health Center located on the Arizona/Mexico border. Eligibility criteria for cancer survivors included 1) self-identification as Hispanic and 2) cancer diagnosis in the previous 15 years. For cancer caregivers, eligibility criteria included 1) self-identification as a caregiver for an individual with cancer. Participants completed a questionnaire querying diet and physical activity behaviors pre- and post-cancer diagnosis. Semi-structured interviews included ten open-ended questions related to the impact of cancer on lifestyle, perceptions of lifestyle and health after cancer, and intervention content/delivery. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a deductive thematic approach grounded by the Cancer Survivorship Care Quality Framework. Results: A total of 23 participants were recruited with 19 (n=12 cancer survivors, n=7 caregivers) completing the study. Mean age was 55.6 ± 12.5 years and 41.1 ± 15.3 years for cancer survivors and caregivers, respectively. All survivors experience at least one comorbid condition with 58% experiencing 4 or more comorbid conditions. Key themes identified among cancer survivors included: 1) family as an influence on lifestyle behaviors; 2) perception of the Mexican diet as unhealthy; 3) financial barriers for a healthy lifestyle; 4) the role and challenges of physical activity after cancer treatment; 5) impact of physical effects of treatment on lifestyle behaviors; and 6) challenges to obtaining accurate health-related information. Key themes among caregivers included: 1) effects of the cancer experience on caregiver's lifestyle behaviors and 2) providing support to the survivor. Important considerations in adapting and developing lifestyle programming for border-dwelling cancer survivors include 1) access to content experts, 2) support with the management of physical symptoms, 3) inclusion of written materials, 4) incorporation of family in the program, and 5) inclusion of cancer survivor support groups. Conclusion: This study identified key concepts and themes important for the adaptation, development, and implementation of an evidence-based intervention supporting lifestyle behavior change to reduce the burden of cancer and comorbidities among cancer survivors and their caregivers living along the U.S./Mexico border. Citation Format: Samantha J. Werts, Melissa Lopez-Pentecost, Meghan Skiba, Rosi Vogel, Maia Ingram, Tatiana Enriquez, Lizzie Garcia, Cynthia Thomson. Qualitative analysis of the lifestyle programming preferences of Mexican-origin breast cancer survivors and cancer caregivers living on the U.S./Mexico border [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-033.

Exploring Evidence of Fatigue in Survivors of Pediatric Brain Tumors

Background: As the number of survivors of childhood brain tumor increase, fatigue is increasingly recognized as a long-term correlate of survivorship. Objective: To systematically evaluate the evidence for fatigue in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Method: A systematic search using EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO identified 20 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Result: Nineteen of the 20 studies reviewed showed conclusive evidence of fatigue in survivors of pediatric brain tumor. This review found that the construct of fatigue was poorly defined throughout, with early onset fatigue associated with the physical effects of treatment and later emergent fatigue associated with long-term cognitive impairment not distinguished. Conclusion: Poor construct validity reduces the generalizability of the data and its utility in developing effective interventions. Current research does not provide a sound basis for developing effective management and rehabilitation plans and fails to support children who have survived brain tumor. Implications for Practice: The nebulous definition and imprecise measurement of posttumor fatigue leaves survivors without a clear diagnosis of impairment, and, in the case of some regions, access to treatment. Further research built on a well-defined construct offers the potential to improve the quality of life of pediatric brain tumor survivors. What is Foundational: Despite the significant impact of “fatigue” on cancer survivorship, much of the research available is based upon a poorly defined construct. This paper is the first to question the utility of this all-encompassing construct and to call for further research that identifies the fatigue experience in different subgroups of brain tumor survivors.

Exploring evidence of fatigue in survivors of paediatric brain tumours: a systematic review

AimsAs the number of survivors of childhood brain tumor grows, fatigue is being increasingly recorded as a long-term consequence of both the cancer itself and the treatment received. Survivors of childhood brain tumour report more significant fatigue than children with other cancers, often impacting all aspects of life, including academic attainment, self-concept and social relationships with peers, leading to reduced health-related quality of life.This study aimed to systematically evaluate the evidence for fatigue in paediatric brain tumour survivors.MethodA systematic search using EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO identified 20 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Scientific rigor was used throughout by following Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2015) guidance for systematic reviews. Quality Assessment of Evidence Rating tool - Fatigue (QAERT) was developed with substantial inter-rater agreement found.Result19 of the 20 studies reviewed showed conclusive evidence of fatigue in survivors of paediatric brain tumour. One study offered adequate evidence that there was no difference in levels of fatigue in paediatric cancer survivors, including survivors of paediatric brain tumour, when compared to healthy controls. Three studies found that fatigue was worse in survivors of paediatric brain tumour when compared to survivors of other paediatric cancersConclusionThis review provides evidence for the presence of fatigue in survivors of paediatric brain tumour. However, the construct of fatigue was poorly defined throughout, with fatigue associated with physical effects of treatment and fatigue associated with long-term cognitive impairment not distinguished. This poor construct validity, coupled with a lack of comparison groups in 12 of the 20 studies, reduces the generalizability of the data and its usefulness for developing effective psychological interventions. Further research is needed, built on a clear fatigue construct definition, and including well defined exclusion criteria, to provide a sound basis for improving the quality of life of these children.

Physical Treatments Reduce Pain in Children with Tension-Type Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To assess the effectiveness of a variety of physical treatments in the management of tension-type headache (TTH) in children. This review is reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42014015290). Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that examined the effects of all treatments with a physical component in the management of TTH in children and compared these treatments to a placebo intervention, no intervention, or a controlled comparison intervention were included. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) criteria for bias assessment and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group criteria were used to assess the quality of the body of evidence. The outcome measures were pain, functioning, and quality of life. Only RCTs were included in the meta-analyses. An initial search produced 10,464 published articles. Of these, 17 were relevant trials, including 1,815 participants. The overall GRADE rating of the included studies was moderate, and 11 of the 17 studies could be used in the meta-analyses. The effectiveness of physical treatments in terms of a reduction of pain of 50% or more showed a risk ratio (RR) of 2.37 (95% CI: 1.69 to 3.33). Relaxation training was the most evaluated intervention and proved to be significantly effective (RR: 3.00 [95% CI: 1.94 to 4.63]). In children having TTH combined with temporomandibular disorders, occlusal appliances were effective (RR: 2.58 [95% CI: 1.37 to 4.85]). This review supports the use of physical treatments to reduce pain in children with TTH.

Pulsed electric energy and ultrasonication assisted green solvent extraction of bio-molecules from different microalgal species

The effects of physical treatments (pulsed electrical fields (PEF), high voltage electrical discharges (HVED) and ultrasonication (US)) on aqueous extraction of carbohydrates and proteins, and ethanolic extraction of chlorophyll a from three microalgal species (Nannochloropsis sp., P. tricornutum and P. kessleri) have been studied. The total energy consumption of 530 kJ/kg suspension was applied for each treatment. For studied species, HVED was the most effective for extraction of carbohydrates, while US was the most effective for extraction of proteins and chlorophyll a. The observed differences for studied species can reflect the more fragile cell wall structure for P. tricornutum as compared with Nannochloropsis sp. or P. kessleri. The applied PEF, HVED and US treatments along with combinations of aqueous extraction of carbohydrates and proteins, and ethanolic extraction of pigments can be used in future implementations of selective extraction of valuable bio-molecules from microalgae.

Effect of Physical Treatments on the Promotion of Seed Germination in Green and Giant Foxtails

The difficulty of breaking seed dormancy in Setaria (foxtail) species presents a problem in using them as model plants. In the present study, we observed the structure of the seed coat surface of two Setaria species, the green foxtail (Setaria viridis) and the giant foxtail (Setaria faberi), using an electron microscope. In addition, we tested the effects of physical treatment on Setaria seeds using four treatments: (1) Removing the outer seed coat, (2) removing the outer seed coat + mechanical scarification of the inner seed coat (the seeds were scarified using sand-paper with grit 350-2000), (3) removing the outer and inner seed coat and (4) No treatment (control). During the observation using electron microscope, we found a structure that was supposed to repel water (which is called the ‘lotus effect’). We found that seed germination in Setaria species can be induced by removing the outer seed coat along with mechanical scarification of the inner seed coat (second treatment) as well as by removing the outer and inner seed coat (third treatment), whereas seed germination was not observed after removing only the outer seed coat and no treatment.

Effect of physical treatment on the physicochemical, rheological and functional properties of yam meal of the cultivar "ngumvu" from dioscorea alata l. of congo

Effect of physical treatment on the physicochemical, rheological and functional properties of yam meal of the cultivar "ngumvu" from dioscorea alata l. of congo

QIM19-136: Developing an Ideal CAR-T Cell Therapy Patient Experience Through Human-Centered Design and Innovation

Background: The patient/caregiver experience during CAR-T therapy is stressful, overwhelming, terrifying, and often a patient’s last treatment option. The Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery Innovation and Design team has worked with the CAR-T therapy clinical team to develop a patient experience that provides patients with a sense of caring, supportive environment, timely knowledge, and realistic expectations. Using a human-centered design approach, the Innovation and Design team worked with patients and caregivers to understand latent and unspoken needs in order to develop an ideal CAR-T therapy patient journey. Methods: With qualitative interviewing techniques, patient observation, and low fidelity experimentation, 21 patients/caregiver pairs were interviewed throughout their CAR-T therapy experience in 2018. Patients were interviewed at several touch points as well as encouraged to reach out to the Innovation and Design team at any point with reflections on their experiences. Patients were recruited as they began their evaluation phase for CAR-T therapy. The interviews were unscripted to allow for a breadth of discovery by not constraining the conversations to previously developed themes. As themes emerged from patient/caregiver interviews, artifacts and interventions were designed to alleviate pain points and improve the patient/caregiver experience. These artifacts and interventions were integrated into the clinical processes in real time and patient/caregivers were interviewed to understand the impact of these activities. Results: Several themes emerged from qualitative interviews with patients and caregivers. From the themes, interventions were developed. We were able to demonstrate a qualitative improvement in patient/caregiver experience through these interventions (Figure 1). Conclusions: Patients/caregivers undergoing CAR-T therapy have unique issues surrounding the logistics of care, emotional burden, and physical effects of treatment. We implemented processes to address these issues and observed a qualitative improvement via patient interviews/feedback. Ongoing work includes optimizing remote monitoring, digital platforms for patient education, and a quantitative study looking at patient reported outcomes (PROs) in such patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report for care delivery optimization in real-world practice for this new therapy.

Hydrolysis of Corn Stalk Enzymatics using Cellulation Enzyme as an Efforts to Increase Reducing Sugar Levels

Bioethanol can be processed from various types of starchy plants (cassava, corn, seed sorghum, sago), sugary plants (sugar cane, sweet sorghum, beets) as well as cellulose (straw, sawmill residue, bagasse, soybean seed skin). Cellulose is the main constituent of plant cells and is an abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose material which is not a food ingredient can be used as bioethanol raw material. One of them is corn stalk waste. Corn stalk waste is obtained from the corn harvest. In the corn harvest, there is a cellulose waste that can be utilized, including corn leaves and corn cobs. This study aims to utilize corn stalk waste to obtain optimum reducing sugar levels using variations in cellulase enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time. Before the hydrolysis process, initial processing is carried out using alkaline solutions, namely NaOH, for the delignification process. The variables used in the study include: cellulase enzyme concentration: 2%; 2.5%; 3%; 3.5%; 4% and hydrolysis time: 6, 8 and 10 hours. The effect of Physical treatment and Chemical treatment affect the levels of Lignin and cellulose. After the corn stalk waste has undergone physical and chemical treatment using 10% NaOH, there is a decrease in lignin levels from 12% to 4% and there is an increase in cellulose levels from 40% to 75%. While for the best result is obtained at the enzyme concentration of 3.5% with hydrolysis time of 10 hours which produces a reducing sugar of 2214.900 mg/L.

Impacto de la mastectomía sobre la vida sexual y emocional de las mujeres atendidas por un servicio de salud del norte de Minas Gerais

This study aims to understand the impact of mastectomy on the sexual and emotional life of women receiving care at a health facility in northern Minas Gerais. This is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach, conducted with 12 women in the radiotherapy department of a hospital. We used a not structured interview for data collection. Data were recorded and fully transcribed for further categorization and analysis. Data processing was done through content analysis. It was evident that after radical mastectomy, sexual and emotional life of women is committed by both the physical effects of treatment, such as the psychosocial consequences, such as the construction of female identity, self-image and how to understand others the sighted. It is concluded that there are significant changes in the lives of these women, but the removal of the breast means the removal of a problem and the desire to be cured is greater than losing a breast.

Impact of chemical peeling combined with negative pressure on human skin.

In vivo changes in skin barrier function after chemical peeling with alpha hydroxyacids (AHAs) have been previously reported. However, the additional effects of physical treatment with chemical agents on skin barrier function have not been adequately studied. This study measured the degree of acute skin damage and the time required for skin barrier repair using non-invasive bioengineering methods in vivo with human skin to investigate the additional effect of a 4% AHA chemical jet accelerated at supersonic velocities. Thirteen female subjects (average age: 29.54 ± 4.86 years) participated in this study. The faces of the subjects were divided into half according to the block randomization design and were then assigned to receive AHA peeling alone or AHA peeling combined with pneumatic pressure on each side of the face. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin colour and skin blood flow were evaluated at baseline and at 30 min, 2, 5 and 7 days after treatment. The TEWL and skin blood flow were significantly increased after 30 min in chemodermabrasion compared with chemical peeling alone (P < 0.05). The TEWL and skin blood flow recovered to baseline after 2 days, and TEWL was significantly decreased at 7 days compared with chemical peeling alone (P < 0.05). Chemodermabrasion can temporarily impair skin barriers, but it is estimated that it can enhance the skin barrier function after 7 days compared to the use of a chemical agent alone. In addition, chemodermabrasion has a more effective impact in the dermis and relatively preserves the skin barrier.

Effects of physical treatments on germination and stand establishment of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. Hyson) under laboratory condition

Seed priming has been reported to enhance growth of plants. To evaluate the effect of some physical seed priming materials (ultrasonic, gamma, beta and laser irradiation, magnetic field and hydro-priming) on seed germination and growth of sunflower a laboratory experiment was conducted at Islamic Azad University of Tabriz branch, using completely randomized design, with three replicates. The results revealed that the highest seed germination percent took place in seeds treated with “magnetic field” for 10 min. and lowest in those treated by ultrasonic irradiation and hydro-priming. Mean comparions indicated that the highest seedling length belonged to seeds treated by hydro-priming and beta irradiation and lowest from seeds primed by magnetic field for 5 min., magnetic field for 15 min. Higest seedling vigor index was obtained when seeds primed by magnetic field for 10 min. It may be concluded that tomato producers could improve seed germination percent by priming the seed with magnetic field for 15 min.

Chemical modification of Hyflon® AD copolymer end groups by means of physical and chemical treatments. A joint spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigation

In this paper is presented a study on the effects of physical treatments, namely electron beam irradiation or fluorination, on a perfluoropolymer copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with 2,2,4-trifluoro-5-trifluoromethoxy-1,3-dioxole (Hyflon® AD copolymer). The analysis has been carried out by means of IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical modeling based on density functional theory; this combined experimental/theoretical approach has proven effective for the interpretation of previously unassigned IR bands, which are associated to functional groups generated by polymer degradation and chain scission. We performed a systematic screening of chemical groups and structures compatible with degradation pathways that are possible from the chemical point of view: the chemical mechanisms and the correlation with the spectroscopic experimental data (both frequency and intensity) provide guidelines in understanding the phenomena. Moreover, the spectroscopic experimental/theoretical and chemical approaches allowed us to identify some chemical structures responsible for the unassigned IR bands in the CO stretching frequency region above 1800cm−1, which is typical for carbonyl groups in fluorinated systems.

Combined adsorbents and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators in soil for treating reverse osmosis concentrates

The increasing presence of contaminants in water streams is an emerging concern with regards to detection, cost-effective treatments, and analytical methods of addressing the resulting pollution, especially for emerging contaminants. The application of reverse osmosis (RO) is one method used to improve water quality, but few researchers have investigated the specific contaminants found in water, including emerging contaminants generated from the RO process. The present study focused on this issue to investigate a potential method for treating RO concentrates. The method involves a composition system with both chemical and physical treatment effects; this system consists of radical generators and adsorbents in soil. Contaminants from RO concentrates were effectively removed through the combined physical and chemical processes. The proposed composition system has several benefits, including a relatively low cost, no separate equipment, and simplicity of use. This new system may offer a wide range of applications for environmental remediation.

Telephone follow-up of patients after radical prostatectomy: a systematic review.

Objective to assess and summarize the best scientific evidence from randomized controlled clinical trials about telephone follow-up of patients after radical prostatectomy, based on information about how the phone calls are made and the clinical and psychological effects for the individuals who received this intervention.Method the search was undertaken in the electronic databases Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cinahl, Lilacs and Cochrane. Among the 368 references found, five were selected.Results two studies tested interventions focused on psychological support and three tested interventions focused on the physical effects of treatment. The psychoeducative intervention to manage the uncertainty about the disease and the treatment revealed statistically significant evidences and reduced the level of uncertainty and anguish it causes.Conclusion the beneficial effects of telephone follow-up could be determined, as a useful tool for the monitoring of post-prostatectomy patients.

Treatment Alternatives and Timing Affect Seeds of African Mustard (Brassica tournefortii), an Invasive Forb in American Southwest Arid Lands

AbstractDeveloping management strategies for invasive plant species requires identifying effective treatment methods (e.g., physical or chemical treatments) and optimally timing their application. For invasive annual plants, effects of treatments on seed production and germinability are paramount to reduce seed banks and subsequent plant establishment. We compared effects of a range of physical and chemical treatments applied to plants containing seeds at different developmental stages at field sites in the Mojave Desert (Nevada and Arizona) for managing the exotic annual forb, African mustard. Effectiveness of physical treatments (hand pulling entire plants, breaking plants, or separating siliques from plants) for reducing African mustard seed size and germination varied by treatment and seed maturity stage at which treatments were applied. With all treated plant material remaining in the field (i.e., not bagged and transported off site), hand pulling or breaking plants resulted in 90 to 100% of developing and developed seeds still able to germinate. Separating siliques from plants, however, resulted in 0% germination of undeveloped and developing seeds. All three tested herbicides (glyphosate, 2,4-D, and metsulfuron) reduced germination to zero or near zero across all seed development stages. Results suggest that physical treatments are most effective at early stages of seed development, whereas several different herbicides are effective across seed developmental stages. Results also highlight the importance of considering the potential for continued seed development and germinability on treated plant material when choosing invasive plant treatment types and timing.