Vertical Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Sweet Potato.

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are harmful pests that have become a severe threat to crop production worldwide. Diversity of PPN at horizontal and spatial scales influence the effectiveness of control strategies. This study evaluated the vertical distribution of PPN genera at 0 cm to 30 cm and 30 cm to 60 cm in sweet potato fields in Central, Manyatta, and Nembure regions of Embu County, Kenya.

Commonly occurring adverse birth outcomes and maternal depression: a longitudinal study.

Objectives: Little is known about whether commonly occurring adverse birth outcomes have a long-term impact on the mental health of mothers. The aim of this study was to investigate whether commonly occurring adverse birth outcomes predicted mothers' depressive-symptom trajectories over a 27-year period following the birth of a baby.

Study Design: Longitudinal study.

Improving Patient Flow on Adult Mental Health Units: A multimodal Study of Canberra Hospital's Acute Psychiatric Facilities.

Background: Due to increasing demands on limited resources in the health care system, many hospitals are working to improve patient flow, thereby increasing their effective capacity. Identifying barriers to patient flow provides the best available evidence to improve such flow in The Canberra Hospital's acute psychiatric units.

Methods: This audit uses a multi-method design (combining focus groups, audits of flow in mental health units and retrospective data analysis on a cross-section of patients) to investigate current patterns of patient flow and barriers to discharge through the Canberra Hospital Mental Health Assessment & Adult Mental Health Units, and factors associated with increased length of stay.

Social adversity in pregnancy and trajectories of women's depressive symptoms: A longitudinal study.

Background: Sound evidence has linked the experience of adversity with depression. Less is known about this association over time.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine whether or not social adversity experienced by pregnant women is associated with their patterns of depressive symptoms over their reproductive life course.

Does having a difficult child lead to poor maternal mental health?

Objectives: Considerable evidence suggests maternal psychopathology influences that of their offspring. The probability of a reverse causal pathway has been only rarely considered but is a concern, given around 10% of children manifest mental impairment during their early years. This study determines the extent to which child behavior problems at ages 5 and 14 years are associated with mothers' mental health at 21 years post birth.