Author: Gabrielle Walker

Surgeon

Colonoscopy – What is a Colonoscopy?

Gabrielle Walker

A colonoscopy is a safe and quick test to see the lining of your large intestine. It can also help find and remove polyps, which are clusters of abnormal cell growth that may eventually become cancerous.

Colonoscopy

A doctor usually performs a colonoscopy in a procedure room at your health care provider’s office or hospital. You will need to drink only clear liquids the day before the exam and take a laxative that causes diarrhoea. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical for professional help.

A colonoscopy is an examination of the rectum and colon with a long, narrow, flexible tube that has an HD camera attached (the colonoscope). The procedure helps doctors detect abnormalities in the bowel such as polyps, colorectal cancer and unexplained pain or bleeding. It also allows them to remove tissue samples for testing.

Aside from being an important tool for detecting colon cancer, a colonoscopy can also help identify other health issues such as diverticulosis and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases can cause serious complications such as intestinal blockages that require surgery, malnourishment, painful cramping and colon bleeding. By identifying these issues early, your doctor can make recommendations for simple dietary changes that will prevent them from becoming serious in the future.

During a colonoscopy, you will be sedated so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. You will be given the medication through a small tube that goes into your vein (called an intravenous, or IV) or, for some patients, you may breathe a combination of pain relievers and air (Entonox) through a mouthpiece. You will have nurses in the room to monitor your oxygen levels, blood pressure and heart rate throughout the procedure.

After your procedure, you will be brought to a recovery area for 30 to 45 minutes while the sedation wears off. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home, as the sedatives or anesthesia can interfere with your ability to safely operate a vehicle.

You may have some pain or tenderness in your tummy after the test, which is caused by the carbon dioxide or air they put into your bowel. You might also have some bleeding, which is usually a small amount and stops on its own within a few days. Rarely, the sedation or anesthesia can cause a tear in your bowel wall (called a perforation), which requires surgery to treat. For this reason, you should never try to drive after a colonoscopy. You should also plan to stay at home for 24 hours after your colonoscopy to ensure the sedative or anesthesia has fully worn off.

How is a colonoscopy performed?

Colonoscopy is most often done in the procedure room at your health care provider’s office or a hospital/medical center. You will be asked to change out of your street clothes into a gown before the test begins. You will also be given medicine into a vein (IV) to help you relax. This isn’t general anesthesia like you would have for a major surgery, but it will make you drowsy and you won’t feel any pain or remember anything about the procedure.

After you are sedated a specialist called an endoscopist will put a tube with a camera at the end of it (the colonoscope) into your back passage through your anus. The camera will send a picture of your colon back to a monitor so the health professional can look at it closely for any abnormal areas. They can then take small tissue biopsies or remove polyps as needed.

It is important to empty your bowel for this procedure. The day before the test you will drink a solution that will help you to do this. You will need to drink this in two rounds – half on the night before the procedure and then the rest the morning of your colonoscopy.

When it is time for your colonoscopy you will lie on a table. The doctor will insert the colonoscope through your anus and then into your rectum and colon. The doctor will move you on the table several times to get a good view of the lining of your rectum and colon. The doctor may also inflate the colon with air for a better view. Once the doctor has examined the lining of your colon and rectum they will slowly remove the scope.

Once the scope is removed you will be taken to a recovery area where nurses will monitor you until you are ready to go home. You may feel bloated or have stomach cramps for a couple of hours after the colonoscopy. This is due to the sedation that you received and should not last more than a few hours.

What are the risks of a colonoscopy?

Although a colonoscopy is very effective and safe, it does not come without some risks. The most common risks are bleeding and perforation (a tear in the intestine). You may also experience some discomfort or bloating after your procedure, but this is normal and usually passes quickly. If you notice severe stomach pain, blood in your stool, or a fever after the test, call your doctor right away.

You will receive a light sedative during the procedure, so you won’t feel any pain or awareness of what is happening. Depending on your health condition and your tolerance for medication, you might need to stay in the hospital for a few hours afterward to allow the sedative to wear off.

A gastroenterologist — a specialist in the digestive tract — will perform the colonoscopy. It’s important to choose a gastroenterologist who has received special training for this procedure and is certified by the American Board of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

During the procedure, the doctor inserts a thin tube called a colonoscope into your anus, then into your rectum and colon. This tube has a camera on the end, which sends video images to a screen. The doctor can then examine the colon lining and take tissue samples. They can also remove polyps, which are small growths that might be precancerous or cancerous.

Your doctor may recommend that you follow a low-fiber diet for several days before the test. This means no solid food, but you can drink clear liquids, such as broth, lemon or lime gelatin, tea, and water. You may also need to use a laxative or enema before your appointment.

If you do experience complications after a colonoscopy, it is likely that the problem was not identified during the examination. This may be due to inadequate bowel preparation or an error in the handling of instruments. It is also possible for polyps to be mistaken for cancerous tumors and removed, which could lead to unnecessary surgery.

Another risk of a colonoscopy is that you might develop a tear in the lining of your intestine (colon perforation). This can be serious and requires surgical repair. You might also have some minor bleeding from the biopsy or from removing polyps.

How can I prepare for a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy lets your doctor see inside your large intestine. It may be used to find and remove polyps or other abnormal tissue for testing. It also can be used to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer or other diseases. You may get a colonoscopy to screen for disease, such as colorectal cancer, before you have symptoms. Your doctor may recommend getting screened starting at age 45 or earlier depending on your risk for developing colon polyps and other diseases. You can also be screened for these conditions with stool tests.

To prepare for a colonoscopy, you need to follow a liquid diet the day before your procedure. You also must drink a special laxative to empty your bowels before the test. These preparations help your doctor get clear pictures of your colon. If your bowel is full of stool (poop), your doctor might not be able to do the test or might have trouble finding and removing a biopsy sample.

The laxative you take may be pills, a powder that dissolves in liquid, an at-home enema, or a combination of these. The day of the test, you must start drinking the laxative early and stay close to a toilet. If you have trouble following the instructions on the colonoscopy prep, talk to your doctor.

You may be given sedatives or anesthesia during a colonoscopy to make you relax and not feel pain during the test. You’ll need someone to drive you home after the test because the sedatives or anesthesia might take a while to wear off.

After the test, you might feel bloated or have stomach cramps for a few hours. You might also have blood in your stools the first time you have a bowel movement after the procedure. This is common and usually not a cause for concern.

You’ll get results of the biopsy and any polyps removed during the colonoscopy in about seven days. Your doctor will call or send you a letter with the results. If they found a colon polyp, your doctor will give you advice on when to come back for a follow-up test.

Movers

Moving Upright Pianos

Gabrielle Walker

Upright pianos differ in size and structure from grand pianos, making them a different challenge to move. Upright Piano Movers Charleston have the experience and equipment needed to safely transport these large, heavy items.

movers

Enlist the help of at least two people for this task. Coordinating your team helps avoid uneven weight distribution and back injuries. It also ensures that the piano can safely navigate through doorways and stairs.

When moving an upright piano, you will want to use a dolly that offers smooth mobility. This will help to reduce the physical strain of moving the instrument and also reduce the risk of damage to the flooring. The phenolic casters on this dolly are designed to move smoothly across different floor surfaces, minimizing the potential for damage. The dolly is also built to handle the weight of the piano, ensuring that it will not tip during transport.

It is also important to consider the size of your piano when determining which type of furniture dolly you will need. Smaller uprights can be moved with a standard furniture dolly, while larger ones require a heavy-duty piano mover. In addition, you should also take into account the width of the piano and any tight corners that will need to be navigated.

If you are planning to move an upright piano in a home or office, it is important to measure doorways and pathways in advance. This will ensure that the piano can fit through all doors, stairways, and hallways without any problems. In addition, you should clear out any foreseeable obstacles and prepare protective paths with cardboard or old rugs to protect the piano’s surface from scratches.

Aside from the aforementioned precautions, you should also consider hiring a professional piano mover to assist in the process. Upright pianos can be difficult to maneuver, and professional movers have the equipment and expertise needed to safely relocate them. Depending on the value and sentimental significance of your piano, it may be worth the extra investment to hire an expert to make sure your move is completed properly.

Moving an upright piano is a complex task, but it can be done with the right preparation and planning. By following these tips, you can guarantee a successful relocation and prevent any costly mistakes. Remember to measure doorways and pathways in advance, plan a route in advance, and communicate with your team members. With a little bit of planning, you can have your piano relocated in no time at all!

Sturdy Design

Upright pianos are heavy, delicate instruments that require careful handling during moves. The right equipment makes the process easier and protects your piano from damage. To move an upright piano, you’ll need a heavy-duty furniture dolly with large, non-marking wheels, moving straps, and a protective pad or blanket for the instrument. You’ll also want to clear your path of travel by laying down cardboard or old rugs, clearing away any obstacles, and removing the piano pedals and legs from the instrument.

A professional piano mover has the experience and expertise to handle your instrument safely and securely. They know how to minimize jostling during transit to prevent damage and can even take apart your piano if necessary. They use special padding and securing techniques that can’t be replicated by the average person. In addition, they use specialized vehicles to reduce jostling during transit and have access to tools and supplies that you might not have.

If you’re planning a DIY move, it’s important to have plenty of help. It will make the job much easier and faster and minimizes the risk of injury to yourself and your team members. You’ll also want to plan ahead by measuring the dimensions of your home and making note of any tight spaces and stairs that may be an issue. It’s also a good idea to lay down protective paths with rugs or cardboard in case the floor gets damaged during transit.

When choosing the best piano movers for your situation, look for one that’s designed to glide smoothly across a variety of flooring surfaces. This feature significantly reduces the physical strain on your team and eliminates the risk of damaging your piano or the floor itself. It’s also a great option for musicians who frequently rearrange their space and need to transport their pianos from one room to another.

Upright piano caster cups offer protection and reduced noise during transport, while phenolic casters ensure smooth mobility. Raymond steel panel movers are another strong choice, offering strength and a 2400 lb capacity. Other options include Melody cradle piano dollies, which offer both stability and a sleek matte black design, and XUYIYUE Wheels, which are durable and versatile.

Safety

Upright pianos are massive, heavy musical instruments that require precise handling to avoid damage. They are also difficult to maneuver through doorways and tight spaces. For these reasons, it is important to hire a reputable piano mover who has experience and the right tools to safely relocate your instrument. Professional piano movers use piano-specific dollies, padded covers, and straps to ensure safe transport. They also use specialized equipment like ramps and hydraulic lift gates to load your instrument onto trucks without damaging floors or walls. In addition, reputable movers carry up-to-date licensing and liability insurance to protect you in case of an unforeseen incident.

Choosing the right upright piano mover is crucial to ensuring safe transportation. Look for a mover who specializes in pianos and has extensive experience handling all types of models. Inexperienced movers may not understand the anatomy of an upright piano and could easily damage internal components. They also might not have the specialized equipment and knowledge needed to navigate tight spaces or stairs.

To prevent injury, it is advisable to recruit at least two other people to help you move your piano. This will lighten the load and make it easier to handle. It is also vital to plan your route in advance and remove any obstacles. Communicating effectively is essential to keeping the team coordinated throughout the process.

If you are moving an upright piano on stairs, you should take one step at a time to prevent slipping or tipping. In addition, it is important to keep the weight evenly distributed and to use a strap to secure the instrument to the dolly.

Whether you are moving an upright or grand piano, it is important to protect the instrument from moisture and extreme heat. Moisture can cause the wood to warp or decompose, while high temperatures can melt internal components. Both conditions can damage the exterior of your piano and lead to a costly repair bill. To protect your piano from these dangers, be sure to cover it with a protective wrap and to store it in a well-ventilated area.

Cost

Moving a piano requires much more than a few boxes and a truck. It requires professional expertise, proper equipment, patience, and care. Moreover, it is essential to minimise severe bumps or movement in transit, and to drive carefully to ensure the instrument does not get damaged.

To prevent costly damage to your piano, it is vital that you prepare it for transport. This involves lowering and securing the lid, disassembling pedals, and removing legs. This is especially important if you are moving the piano across long distances. You should also ensure that the piano is retuned about a month after it has been moved. This is because climatic changes may cause the tuning to change.

You can avoid expensive damage by hiring professionals to move your piano. The local moving labor providers on the Moving Help Marketplace can protect your instrument from damage and save you time, effort, and money. They can also provide a variety of additional services such as packing, cleaning, and unpacking. These service providers can also help you set up your new piano and connect it to its power source.

The cost of a piano move depends on the type and size of the instrument, the location of its destination, whether it is going upstairs or down, and any other requirements you might have. The price will also depend on the distance of the move. To obtain an accurate quote, you can ask your local moving labor provider for a free estimate.

It is also important to check whether your home or workplace has the space and facilities to accommodate a piano. Ensure that you have clear access to the piano and that there are no tight turns, stairs, or any other obstacles that could be a problem. You should also measure doorways to make sure that they are wide enough for the piano. Finally, you should make sure that you have plenty of furniture blankets on hand to protect your piano from scratches and dents.

Before moving day, you should also do a walkthrough of your home and check for any potential hazards. This way, you can avoid the cost of unforeseen damages to your piano and property. You should also take the time to clean up and secure loose parts and accessories before your moving labor providers arrive. This will ensure that everything goes smoothly on moving day.

Insulation

Benefits of Ceiling Insulation

Gabrielle Walker

Insulation is an easy and cost-effective way to improve the energy efficiency of your property. It can prevent a significant amount of heat from escaping during winter and keeps your home cooler in summer.

Insulation

There are several types of Ceiling Insulation Perth including spray foam, cellulose, and fiberglass. Closed-cell spray foam offers the best thermal performance and is moisture resistant.

Ceiling insulation helps prevent heat loss during the cold season and avoids it in the hot season, significantly reducing energy consumption and utility bills. This is because it prevents direct transfer of energy by minimizing thermal conduction and air leakage. It can be sprayed on the ceiling using an application process that provides an airtight seal. It also provides a vapour barrier that stops moisture from building up. Spray foam insulation is a popular choice among builders due to its versatility and high R-values. It can be used in irregularly shaped spaces and around obstacles, providing a uniform layer of insulation that prevents drafts and offers good energy efficiency.

Other options include rigid foam boards that come in thick panels installed directly on the ceiling and loose fill insulation, which is blown into place. The type of insulation you choose depends on the size of the space to be insulated, installation time and cost, and your desired R-value.

Aside from lowering energy bills, ceiling insulation can improve comfort in a home by keeping the temperature moderate all year round. It can also reduce noise from outside or between different rooms. Some types of insulation can even act as a fire retardant, protecting the building and its occupants in case of an emergency.

In addition to controlling the temperature of indoors, a well-insulated ceiling can help extend the life of your roof by preventing condensation and other moisture from developing. Insulation can also prevent water leaking from pipes, which can lead to serious issues.

Another benefit of insulating the ceiling is that it can block external pollutants, like dirt, dust, smoke and radon, that diminish indoor air quality. These pollutants can penetrate a house or structure through air gaps in uninsulated areas and lead to mold, mildew and diseases. By reducing their entry, insulated ceilings can improve indoor air quality and increase health and wellbeing of its occupants.

Reduced Energy Bills

Ceiling insulation acts as a thermal barrier to minimize heat transfer, keeping a building warm in winter and cool in summer. This significantly reduces energy consumption and associated costs. It also enhances the overall sustainability of a house or building, thus reducing its ecological footprint.

Choosing the correct type of insulation depends on several factors, including the R-value of the product and its thickness. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation will be at resisting thermal transfer and ensuring energy savings. Moreover, the installation method should be taken into account. For example, spray foam insulation expands to fill gaps and crevices, making it more effective than fiberglass batt insulation.

A good time to insulate a building is during new construction or major renovations. This enables the contractor to access and install insulation without disturbing existing structures. However, homeowners may also choose to insulate their homes during the fall or spring, when temperatures are moderate and there is less humidity.

In addition to reducing energy bills, ceiling insulation helps block external pollutants that can diminish indoor air quality and lead to health issues. These pollutants include dirt, radon, and smoke. Insulation keeps these contaminants from penetrating readily available spaces, such as ceiling cavities, and promoting the spread of mold or mildew within a home or building.

Regardless of the type of insulation you select, it is important that it be properly installed in order to achieve maximum benefits. Improper installation can result in a reduced R-value and reduced energy efficiency, as well as higher energy bills and discomfort.

In addition, a variety of state and federal tax credits are available for energy-efficient home improvements like insulation. This further reduces upfront costs and enables homeowners to start saving on energy bills much sooner. This translates into a quicker return on investment for your insulation. For more information about available rebates, contact Mass Save. They offer a range of incentives for insulation projects, including up to 100% financing and discounts of up to $4,500 for Massachusetts residents. This makes it even more cost-effective to invest in high-quality ceiling insulation.

Improved Comfort

Insulation, particularly in the ceiling, helps control indoor temperatures to maintain a comfortable environment for residents. Without insulation, hot air can escape during winter and cold air can penetrate through gaps in walls and ceilings. With a thick layer of effective insulation, indoor temperature variations can be reduced, reducing reliance on heating and cooling systems and saving on energy costs.

The ideal type of insulation for your home will depend on your climate and the construction of your house. For example, in cooler climates, bulk insulation with a higher R-value is best to help inhibit heat loss. While in warm and temperate regions, a combination of bulk insulation and reflective insulation may be recommended to better regulate indoor temperatures throughout the year.

When choosing the right type of insulation for your home, it’s important to consider R-value and thickness. An expert will be able to recommend the most suitable products and R-values for your specific home.

Another consideration is how the insulation will be installed in your home. This is important for both achieving optimal results and maintaining them over time. A professional installer can ensure that all gaps and air leaks are sealed, ensuring your home is well-insulated.

Besides improving comfort, a good quality and adequate level of ceiling insulation also protects against moisture problems such as moulds and mildews. This is because it creates a barrier between the outside air and the interior of your home. This is essential in areas where there are exposed ceilings that can be easily prone to moisture.

In addition, a high level of ceiling insulation will reduce noise levels and create a more quiet living environment. Some types of insulation have sound-absorbing properties that further enhance this benefit, making them an appealing choice for residential and commercial applications.

Insulating your ceiling is an easy and cost-effective way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. It will not only save you money on your energy bills, but it will also provide a range of other benefits that make the investment worthwhile. To find out more about the benefits of insulation, talk to a RetroFoam dealer near you and arrange for an energy assessment.

Reduced Pollution

Insulation helps to reduce pollutants and airborne allergens in your home by creating a barrier that keeps outdoor air from entering your living spaces. This can significantly reduce allergies and asthmatic symptoms, as well as create a healthier indoor environment. It also prevents drafts and air leaks that allow pollen, dust, and exhaust fumes to enter your home.

Another way that insulation reduces pollution is by blocking the transmission of vibrational energy to other parts of the building, preventing it from amplifying into audible noise. This is particularly useful in commercial buildings where equipment vibrations could disrupt activities on multiple floors. Specialized acoustic insulation like resilient channels and dense fiberglass can neutralize vibrational energy before it becomes noise, ensuring a quieter, more peaceful environment in your building.

Ceiling insulation reduces a building’s overall energy consumption by limiting thermal transfer, allowing it to use less heating and cooling energy. This is a crucial aspect of green construction as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with power generation and supports sustainability goals.

The regulating properties of insulation can also improve IAQ by reducing fluctuating temperatures in a building and retaining heat during winter. This can eliminate the need to open windows and doors as frequently to cool a house during summer or warm it in the cold, resulting in a more consistent temperature throughout the building and a better IAQ.

Many insulation materials are also designed as moisture barriers to control condensation and prevent the development of molds or mildew in roof cavities. Additionally, some insulation materials can be fire-retardant to provide an extra layer of protection in the event of a fire and slow the spread of flames.

However, not all insulation is created equal. Some have a much higher upfront embodied carbon footprint than others, meaning that they require a greater amount of energy to produce and install. This makes it important to consider the embodied carbon impacts of insulation when selecting the right product for your project. A recent KPMB study analyzed the embodied carbon of spray foam, extruded polystyrene (XPS), graphite polystyrene (EPS), stone wool, and blown cellulose insulation. The lowest impact options were blown cellulose and mineral wool, which have lower embodied carbon than XPS insulation types.

Pest Control

Why Integrated Pest Management is the Future of Pest Control

Gabrielle Walker

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, reduces risk from pests in urban, agricultural wildland, and natural areas by using monitoring and non-chemical control methods. This approach also focuses on the prevention of future pest problems through monitoring, habitat manipulation, change in cultural practices, and resistant plant varieties.

These techniques minimize reliance on chemicals, but when necessary, use the least toxic chemicals to protect people, pets, and the environment. Call Pest Control O’Fallon MO now for more details.

pest control

Cost-Effectiveness

Pest control can be a costly endeavor, and it’s important to know that the right pest management strategies are used to ensure that long-term results are achieved. With IPM, you can minimize the amount of chemical pesticides required to get results and lower recurring costs.

In addition, IPM’s focus on prevention also helps to lower health risks and minimize environmental impact compared to other forms of pest control. IPM is a great option for businesses that prioritize the health of their employees and the environment.

Pests are unwanted organisms, including insects, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, plants, vertebrates, and weeds that damage or devalue properties or products, displace native species, and disrupt natural ecosystems. While some pests pose a direct threat to human health, many are simply a nuisance.

To identify a pest infestation, experts first evaluate the situation and environmental conditions that caused it to occur. Then, they set an action threshold—the point at which the pests and their damage become significant enough to justify intervention. This process eliminates the risk that pesticides will be used when they are not needed and prevents inappropriate use of harsher chemicals.

Next, the pest control strategy is implemented, incorporating all tools available. Monitoring allows for the identification of the pests and their life cycles, which in turn helps guide the best control options. Control methods include biological, physical, mechanical, cultural, and regulatory controls. Biological controls utilize predators or parasites to manage population sizes; physical controls include traps and barriers, such as steam sterilization of soil or blocking access to habitats that support pest populations; and cultural practices include changing land usage, cropping patterns, and modifying planting and harvesting techniques.

These tactics reduce the need for chemical interventions and allow for precise targeting. Precise monitoring allows for the determination of what is and is not working, reducing costs and potential negative impacts. IPM’s flexibility enables it to better fit the needs of each pest and environment. This helps to avoid over-treatment, which can lead to wasteful investments and unnecessary exposure to harmful substances. In short, IPM is the future of pest control because it provides lasting results while minimizing risk to humans and the environment.

Less Residue

Pesticides leave behind a residue that can harm the environment, people, and animals. IPM aims to minimize pesticide use, only use it when necessary, and limit the amount of chemicals used. This helps to reduce short- and long-term effects, such as cancer and air pollution.

IPM is an all-encompassing strategy that can be applied to agricultural production, military landscapes, public health settings, schools, and residential homes and communities. It can also be used in natural areas to manage invasive species that compete with or predate native plants and animals.

The first step in IPM is to monitor and identify the pests that are affecting your crops or environment. This allows you to determine whether the pests can be tolerated or if control methods are needed. IPM requires the consideration of all the information about the pests’ biology and environmental factors to make these decisions.

After monitoring, the next step in IPM is to set action thresholds, which are based on the pest population levels or environmental conditions that indicate it’s time to act. This ensures that pest control measures are only used when they’re needed, as opposed to being a blanket spray across the entire field.

Prevention is a big part of IPM, as it’s cheaper than controlling pest populations once they’ve already reached economically damaging levels. This can be done through several different strategies, such as planting disease-resistant crops, removing weeds before they flower, or installing bird feeders and pheromone traps to attract natural predators.

IPM also prioritizes cultural controls, which involve making the environment less conducive to pests’ growth. For example, reducing food and water sources, eliminating weeds, and keeping trash bins clean can all help deter unwanted guests. By combining all of these methods, IPM is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to control pests. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly pest control solution, contact Rid-A-Bug today to learn more about IPM and our services. We can protect your home or business from the threat of pests and keep them out for good. We’re committed to ensuring the well-being of our customers, community, and the environment.

Less Resistance

Integrated pest management practices prevent the development of pest resistance to pesticides by using a variety of techniques, including biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. It also uses monitoring to reduce unnecessary pesticide applications. When used correctly, IPM methods provide a win-win situation for the environment and people alike.

To minimize the risk of developing resistance to pesticides, IPM programs typically avoid applying chemical controls until they reach a threshold of economic injury (EIL), which is based on the damage that can be caused by the pest in its present abundance and the expected cost of controlling it at that population level. EIL should take into account the likelihood that the pest may develop resistance, as determined by the proportion of individuals in the population carrying resistance alleles.

Because they are designed to be less damaging to the environment, IPM strategies try to limit their use to the amount needed to meet their objectives. Pest populations should be kept below the EIL, and if possible, the threshold for pesticide application should be set at levels that can be sustained over time without creating significant short-term economic yield loss, or “future EIL,” as envisioned by Menegat, Jack, and Gerhard (2015).

IPM also encourages the use of plant varieties that are more tolerant to diseases and insect pests, which can improve crop quality and yield. These resistant or tolerant plant varieties can be developed through breeding programs, or are often the result of natural selection in fields where the crops have been exposed to many different factors such as soil type, climate, and other cropping systems.

Biological pest controls, such as the use of parasitoids that are predators or destroyers of harmful insects, also play an important role in IPM. Parasitoid attacks on insects can significantly decrease the pest populations, and in some cases can kill them entirely.

Mechanical and physical controls, such as traps, are also commonly used in IPM. These can kill the pests by contact or block them from accessing the crops.

Environmentally Friendly

Eco-friendly pest control methods are kinder to humans, pets, and the environment than their chemical counterparts. Because they are designed to be sustainable, they minimize the need for chemicals and their metabolites, which can cause harm to ecosystems and human health. They also avoid the “pesticide treadmill,” where repeated use of pesticides leads to resistance and environmental damage.

In addition, eco-friendly strategies preserve the beneficial insects that work with nature to keep pest populations in check, such as ladybugs and lacewings. These natural predators, parasites, and pollinators can be devastated by the broad spectrum of chemicals used in traditional pest control. This results in fewer natural enemies, leaving pest populations unchecked.

IPM practices include monitoring and scouting of fields, forests, and other sites to assess pest presence, damage, and population trends. This information helps to determine whether the pest can be tolerated or needs to be controlled. It can also help to develop objectives for the management of the pest and identify the best management strategy.

Using a variety of tools and strategies to control pests, including biological, physical, and cultural controls, IPM is an environmentally friendly approach to preserving the biodiversity of our planet. It also contributes to healthy ecosystems, which are vital to human health and prosperity.

A comprehensive integrated pest management program can reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides and other toxic substances. By implementing eco-friendly methods, you can protect your human and pet health, the environment, and your crop yields.

If you are interested in learning more about the eco-friendly pest control options available, contact your local pest management experts. These professionals can offer advice about what preventative and curative practices are right for your particular situation. They can also explain how IPM programs save money in the long run by reducing the need for costly, harmful chemicals. They can even show you how to use stickies with specific pheromones embedded in them to lure different pest species, or how to make your reusable insect traps at home. These are all great tools to add to your arsenal when fighting your local pests!

Publication

Natalie Wood

Gabrielle Walker

In 1956, Natalie Wood became a major star with her Oscar-nominated turn as a rebellious teenager in the film Rebel Without a Cause. She would earn two more nominations, for the period drama Splendor in the Grass and the romance Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Natalie Wood

In November 1981, she was shooting her final film, the sci-fi thriller Brainstorm. She and her co-stars, husband Robert Wagner and boat captain Dennis Davern, took a weekend trip to California’s Catalina Island.

Natalie Wood was born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko in San Francisco to Russian immigrant parents. Her mother, Maria Gurdin, a housewife who had multiple aliases, and her father, Nick, a janitor and prop builder, moved to Santa Rosa when she was three or four. In 1942, she and her family bought a home in the city, where she was noticed by members of a crew during a film shoot downtown. The film’s producer, Irving Pichel, helped her get a screen test. She made her first film at age five in Happy Land (1943), playing the role of a girl who drops an ice cream cone and gets blamed. Her scene lasted 15 seconds.

Wood’s dark ethnic beauty helped her stand out in the film business. She began to receive leading roles, beginning with her Academy Award-nominated performance in Splendor in the Grass (1957). As she entered her teenage years, she became a star with her appearance in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). In 1961, she appeared as restless Puerto Rican youth Maria in West Side Story.

The sixties were a productive time for Wood, both professionally and personally. Her films often reflected the times, such as West Side Story, which dealt with racial prejudice; Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, about middle class housewives; and Gypsy, in which she played burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee.

Wood’s volatile personal life also garnered media attention. She dated actor Dennis Hopper, hotel dynasty heir Nicky Hilton and other high-profile men. She married director Richard Gregson in 1957 (divorced 1962; remarried 1972) and had a daughter with him, Courtney. She also had a daughter from her second marriage, to actor Robert Wagner.

Early life

A young Natalie Wood grew up in the shadow of her mother’s unfulfilled dreams of stardom. Mary Tatuloff, who had danced professionally in the Russian city of Ussuriysk before emigrating to America with her husband Alexander Zacharenko, passed her passion for film acting onto her daughter. Despite a skewed moral compass, she used her talent to manipulate her daughter’s life.

Wood’s early career was marked by child roles and by her mother’s maniacal obsession with her image. She feared losing her audience once she outgrew the child actor stage and tried to control every aspect of her daughter’s public image. She also manipulated her daughter’s dating and marriage choices. Ultimately she caused her daughter great heartache with her constant need to curry favor with powerful men in order to further her career.

The film West Side Story was a pivotal point in Wood’s career. Her role as the restless Maria portrayed an important cultural phenomenon for young Americans at the time, and her performance earned her an Oscar nomination. Wood’s next significant role was in Gypsy Rose Lee, which gave her the opportunity to showcase her witty dialogue and deeper emotional range.

Throughout the 1960s, Wood was cast in a number of “girlfriend” films that she found less gratifying. But in 1970, she starred in the well-received melodrama Intimate Strangers. It was the first film to show that she could handle adult roles.

In the last decade of her life, Wood acted on occasion in television shows such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Cracker Factory and Hart to Hart. She remarried British producer Richard Gregson and had a daughter with him before her death in 1981.

Education

Natalie Wood’s acting career started at age five with a brief scene in the 1943 film Happy Land. Her performance in that film earned her media attention, and she received a contract from 20th Century Fox. Her film roles became more numerous after that, usually playing the daughter of star actors such as Fred MacMurray, Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart, and Joan Blondell. California laws at the time required child actresses to attend three hours of school each day. Wood took her lessons on the set of her films, and she was considered a straight-A student.

By the time she was 16, Wood was a teen idol. She starred with James Dean in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, and the movie earned her an Academy Award nomination. She followed it with the box office hits West Side Story and Gypsy. She also appeared in the movies Splendor in the Grass and Love with a Proper Stranger, receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her work in both of them.

In 1957, she married actor Robert Wagner, eight years her senior, and their relationship attracted media attention. In her later years, she struggled with depression and sought therapy. She reportedly was influenced by her mother and her husband, and she made some movies that were not to her liking. She was a fashion icon of her time, and she influenced many trends in dressing. She was an avid reader, and she enjoyed cooking and hosting parties for her friends and family. She was also a vegetarian. Her untimely death at the age of 47 while on vacation with her husband and co-star Christopher Walken off the coast of Santa Catalina Island, California in 1981 was ruled a suicide. However, in 2018, fresh evidence prompted authorities to reopen the investigation into her death. Wagner was named a person of interest in her case.

Career

After making her screen debut in the 1943 film Happy Land, Natalie Wood appeared in a few more films before moving into teenage and young adult roles. Her work in these early films earned her critical praise and the attention of 20th Century Fox studio chief Irving Pichel, who signed her to a contract after she made a minor appearance in the 1947 Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street.

In 1955, she starred with James Dean and Sal Mineo in Rebel Without a Cause, the groundbreaking depiction of teenage rebellion and angst that cemented her as one of Hollywood’s top young stars. In the next several years, Wood’s work in a variety of films won her two more Oscar nominations—for Splendor in the Grass (1961) and Love with a Proper Stranger (1963)—and numerous Golden Globe nominations.

While she often found herself cast as the girlfriend of her male co-stars, Wood made a few exceptions to play a more substantial character. In the 1956 Western The Searchers, she played abducted Native American girl Debbie Edwards, the daughter of John Wayne’s character, a role that broke ground for its use of a white actress in a Native American role.

Later in her career, Wood portrayed Maria in the Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise musical West Side Story, which was also a box office success. As Tibbetts writes, Wood “represents a modern allegory on the themes of Romeo and Juliet—in particular, youth gangs and juvenile delinquency, rock and roll music and its sexual freedom, private restlessness and public alienation.”

Wood also had more serious dramas to her credit, including This Property Is Condemned (1966) and Inside Daisy Clover (which was based on a true story). After finding herself in demand as an older actress, she turned down many roles—including that of a woman seeking emotional stability in Bonnie and Clyde opposite Faye Dunaway—and pursued professional therapy. Toward the end of her life, Wood was cast in four more theatrical films, including the mystery comedy Peeper (1975), science fiction film Meteor (1979) and the comedy The Last Married Couple in America (1980).

Death

Natalie Wood was a popular actress and the object of intense media attention. Her first marriage to Robert Wagner, eight years her senior, in 1957 made headlines and she was a regular feature in fan magazines. The fairy tale union didn’t last long, however, and by 1962 the two were separated. By that time, she had begun dating Hollywood heartthrob Warren Beatty.

When she died in 1981, the mystery surrounding her death grew even more complex. The official cause of her death was listed as accidental drowning, but in 2012 the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reopened the case, citing new information that called into question the original ruling. Bruises found on her body were a key piece of the new evidence.

On the night of her death, Wood, Wagner, and her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken were cruising on their boat Splendour off California’s Catalina Island. They stopped for dinner at Doug’s Harbor Reef, where the manager later testified that all four were drunk. After the meal, they were drinking ashore when Wagner became agitated and jealous of Walken, who was flirting with another woman.

Wagner then broke a bottle over Walken’s head, and the rest of the night turned violent. The couple eventually separated, but they were back together by the end of the filming for Brainstorm.

Despite her turbulent personal life, Wood continued to act in films like West Side Story (1961), Gypsy (1962), Inside Daisy Clover (1965), Pepper (1975) and The Last Married Couple in America (1980). She also appeared in two TV series, including the critically acclaimed Western The Big Valley (1984) and the less successful The New Frontier (1989). In 1969, she married British talent agent Richard Gregson, with whom she had one child before they divorced in 1972.