Nutrient solution temperature in a hydroponic system affects °Brix and yield of lettuce; thus, it is important to maintain the water temperature within an appropriate range. Nutrient-film technique (NFT) trials were conducted to investigate the effects of different water temperatures (18.3 °C, 21.1 °C, and ambient) on growth and °Brix of 17 cultivars from five different types (Loose leaf, Romaine, Butterhead, Salanova, and Batavian) of lettuce. The average daily water temperature for ambient treatment was recorded to be 20 to 26.5 °C. The study was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications over time. Results indicated that water temperature affected root and shoot fresh and dry weight, plant width, and °Brix for lettuce. Lettuce grown at 21.1 °C were 15% greater for shoot fresh weight than plants grown at ambient conditions. All the growth and quality parameters of lettuce were found to be affected by cultivars, with “Coastal Star” showing the best results in both growth and °Brix parameters. All the cultivars of the Romaine type showed greater growth and °Brix, while Salanova lettuce did not perform well in all treatments compared to other lettuce types. For CO₂ assimilation, the interaction between water temperature and cultivars was significant, with “Parris Island” having the greatest rate at ambient water temperature. These results suggested that maintaining water temperature at 21.1 °C produced lettuce with greater growth and biomass but had 26% lower °Brix than lettuce grown at 18.3 °C.

This study investigates the effect of wearing body armor while walking on lower body mobility using a motion capture system. Seven male participants participated in a walking test while markers were attached to anatomical points on their joints under two garment conditions. The treatment garment was an 18-lb ballistic outer tactical vest with inserted ceramic front and back plates and the control garment was a pair of sports shorts. The walking test was repeated 5 times per subject. Wearing the outer tactical vest significantly increased stance phase, double support, knee flexion, foot plantar flexion at the ankle, and anterior pelvic tilt. Wearing the outer tactical vest significantly decreased swing phase, posterior pelvic tilt, and pelvic rotation. The increase in knee flexion and plantar flexion while wearing the outer tactical vest may accelerate fatigue and increase energy expenditure, which can negatively affect soldiers' performance and safety by increasing injury risk.

Hydrogen peroxide has been used as a sanitation agent for many years. Recently, hydrogen peroxide products have been used to remove algae from irrigation lines and sanitize hydroponic systems between uses. However, hydrogen peroxide can have phytotoxic effects on plants at high concentrations. The goal of this research was to determine if hydrogen peroxide treatments affected plant and algae growth in the ebb and flow hydroponic systems. The research was conducted at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture greenhouses in Stillwater, OK. Two cultivars of lettuce, ‘Green Forest’ and ‘Tropicana’, and two cultivars of basil, ‘Aroma II’ and ‘Genovese’, were transplanted into the ebb and flow hydroponic systems, and three different hydrogen peroxide products, PERpose Plus, ZeroTol, and 3% hydrogen peroxide, were applied at different rates and combinations in two experiments. Shoot fresh weight in lettuce was found to be significantly greater in control and 3% hydrogen peroxide treatments for both cultivars; however, in ‘Tropicana’ those treatments were not different from any other treatment. Greater amounts of PERpose Plus and ZeroTol, such as 60 mL, restricted plant growth in lettuce, whereas only cultivar differences for SPAD and plant width were reported for basil. Algae growth was not significantly controlled by any treatment in this research based on algae counts, weights, or spectrometer readings. However, algae species quantification did show that Microspora tumidula was found in the greatest concentrations in control, with a 96.0%, 99.2%, 94.0%, and 97.9% reduction in the 15 mL ZeroTol, 60 mL ZeroTol, 15 mL PERpose Plus, and 3% hydrogen peroxide treatments, respectively. Other algae genera identified included Scenedesmus, Chlamydomonas, Gloeocystis, Tetraspora, Leptolyngbya, Pennate diatoms, and Centric diatoms.

Winterkill is a major concern for turf‐type bermudagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and C. dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy] when cultivated in the US transition zone and frequently occurring drought conditions challenge bermudagrass management. Therefore, developing new bermudagrasses with both drought resistance and winter survivability are needed for the future sustainability of the turfgrass industry in the transition zone. How these two traits interact within bermudagrass populations is not widely reported. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to estimate reliability for spring green‐up (SG) (as an indicator of winter survivability) and drought response in turf‐type bermudagrasses. A total of 77 experimental genotypes and 7 cultivars were planted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications over 2 years in Goodwell, OK, USA. Substantial genetic variations were found for drought response and SG parameters when analyzed by year, but variations for SG parameters and leaf firing were not significant when analyzed across years. The reliability estimates for drought response ranged from low to moderate (i² = 0.24–0.61), whereas the subsequent estimates for SG were low (i² = 0.13–0.33), suggesting poor reliability. The low‐to‐moderate reliability values in SG were likely due to antecedent drought injuries, indicating that winter survivability and drought resistance may need to be evaluated in separate trials.