Evaluation of culture media for growth and sporulation of Phytophthora colocasiae Racib., causal agent of taro leaf blight

Phytophthora colocasiae was recently the most important pathogen of taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Cameroon and no information is yet available on its culture on common media. Six artificial media, V6 juice agar, V8 juice agar, V8m juice agar, potato dextrose agar, onion agar and taro leaf agar were assessed in vitro to determine the growth characteristics of the pathogen. After isolation of the pathogen on V6 juice agar, mycelial disks from pure culture were placed on each culture media and incubated at 24 oC for up to 21 days. After 7 days, colony diameter was highest on V6 juice agar (64 mm), followed by V8-m juice agar (57 mm), onion agar (55 mm), V8 juice agar (54 mm) and potato dextrose agar (54 mm). Sporulation was highest on V6 juice agar (18 x106 sporangia/ml) and V8 juice agar (17 x 106sporangia/ml) after 21 days of incubation. P. colocasiae grows for 3-7 days in all the media tested and produces sporangia in some of the media after two to three weeks under laboratory conditions. V6 juice agar and V8 juice agar were the best media for isolation, growth and sporulation of the pathogen and can be recommended for the culture of the pathogen

Physicochemical and microbiological meat quality, growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot-finished cull Santa Inês ewes and Moxotó goats

This study aimed at assessing the physicochemical and microbiological quality of feedlot-finished, culled Santa Inês ewes and Moxotó goats, and compares the intake, weight gain and carcass characteristics. Three Santa Inês ewes and Moxotó goats with similar ages were confined in double and/or individual pens and then euthanized after 40 days of confinement. The average intake, daily weight gain, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, weight loss by cooling and rib eye area (94.45%, 0.220 kg/day, 41.37%, 40.14%, 2.99%, 16.1 cm², respectively) of the Santa Inês ewes were higher than that of the Moxotó goats (84.01%; 0.06 kg/day; 41.55%; 39.81%; 4.12%; and 11.35 cm², respectively). The chevon (goat meat) showed higher protein levels (23.09 g/100 g), lower lipid levels (1.43 g/100 g) and higher red-color intensity (11.62), although it had lower tenderness (8.98 kgf shear strength). The superiority of the culled ewes was assessed relative to that of the culled goats, and the results showed that the Santa Inês sheep has better performance than the Moxotó goats. However, mutton and chevon derived from the culled animals are promising alternatives for small farmers because culled meats add value to the standard meat obtained from these animals, broaden sales alternatives and increase profitability.Key words: Performance parameters, physicochemical parameters, microbiological parameters, cull animals

Differentiating patterns of violence in the family

The feasibility and prevalence of Reciprocal, Hierarchical and Paternal patterns of family aggression hypothesised by Dixon and Browne (2003) were explored within a sample of maltreating families. The psychological reports of 67 families referred to services for alleged child maltreatment that evidenced concurrent physical intimate partner violence and child maltreatment were investigated. Of these, 29 (43.3%) cases were characterised by hierarchical; 28 (41.8%) Reciprocal and 10 (14.9%) Paternal patterns. Significant differences in the form of child maltreatment perpetrated by mothers and fathers and parent dyads living in different patterns were found. In Hierarchical sub-patterns, fathers were significantly more likely to have been convicted for a violent and/or sexual offence than mothers and were significantly less likely to be biologically related to the child. The findings demonstrate the existence of the different patterns in a sample of families involved in the Child Care Protection process in England and Wales, supporting the utility of a holistic approach to understanding aggression in the family

The development of a new measure of quality of life in the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: the Reflux Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION This paper reports on the development of a new measure of health-related quality of life for use among patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), funded as part of the REFLUX trial. This is a large UK multi centre trial that aims to compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of minimal access surgery with best medical treatment for patients with GORD within the NHS. Method Potential items were identified via a series of interviews and focus groups carried out with patients who were receiving/had received medical or surgical treatment for GORD. The final measure consisted of 31 items covering 7 categories (Heartburn; Acid reflux; Wind; Eating and swallowing; Bowel movements; Sleep; Work, physical and social activities). The measure produced two outputs: a quality of life score (RQLS) and five Reflux symptom scores. Reliability (internal consistency), criterion validity with the SF-36 and, sensitivity to change in terms of relationship with reported change in prescribed medication were assessed amongst a sample of 794 patients recruited into the trial. RESULTS The measure was shown to be internally consistent, to show criterion validity with the SF-36 and sensitive to changes in patients use of prescribed medication at baseline and 3 month follow-up. DISCUSSION The Reflux questionnaire is a new self-administered questionnaire for use amongst patients with GORD. Initial findings suggest that the new measure is valid, reliable, acceptable to respondents and simple to administer in both a clinical and research context

Extraction of visual motion information for the control of eye and head movement during head-free pursuit

We investigated how effectively briefly presented visual motion could be assimilated and used to track future target motion with head and eyes during target disappearance. Without vision, continuation of eye and head movement is controlled by internal (extra-retinal) mechanisms, but head movement stimulates compensatory vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) responses that must be countermanded for gaze to remain in the direction of target motion. We used target exposures of 50–200 ms at the start of randomised step-ramp stimuli, followed by >400 ms of target disappearance, to investigate the ability to sample target velocity and subsequently generate internally controlled responses. Subjects could appropriately grade gaze velocity to different target velocities without visual feedback, but responses were fully developed only when exposure was >100 ms. Gaze velocities were sustained or even increased during target disappearance, especially when there was expectation of target reappearance, but they were always less than for controls, where the target was continuously visible. Gaze velocity remained in the direction of target motion throughout target extinction, implying that compensatory (VOR) responses were suppressed by internal drive mechanisms. Regression analysis revealed that the underlying compensatory response remained active, but with gain slightly less than unity (0.85), resulting in head-free gaze responses that were very similar to, but slightly greater than, head-fixed. The sampled velocity information was also used to grade head velocity, but in contrast to gaze, head velocity was similar whether the target was briefly or continuously presented, suggesting that head motion was controlled by internal mechanisms alone, without direct influence of visual feedback

Magnetic signatures of plasma-depleted flux tubes in the Saturnian inner magnetosphere

Initial Cassini observations have revealed evidence for interchanging magnetic flux tubes in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere. Some of the reported flux tubes differ remarkably by their magnetic signatures, having a depressed or enhanced magnetic pressure relative to their surroundings. The ones with stronger fields have been interpreted previously as either outward moving mass-loaded or inward moving plasma-depleted flux tubes based on magnetometer observations only. We use detailed multi-instrumental observations of small and large density depletions in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere from Cassini Rev. A orbit that enable us to discriminate amongst the two previous and opposite interpretations. Our analysis undoubtedly confirms the similar nature of both types of reported interchanging magnetic flux tubes, which are plasma-depleted, whatever their magnetic signatures are. Their different magnetic signature is clearly an effect associated with latitude. These Saturnian plasma-depleted flux tubes ultimately may play a similar role as the Jovian ones

Identification of a neuropeptide precursor protein that gives rise to a "cocktail" of peptides that bind Cu(II) and generate metal-linked dimers

The Transparency document associated with this article can be found,in online version.This work was supported by a Leverhulme Trust grant (RPG-2013-351) awarded to MRE and National Science Foundation (USA) grant awards DEB 1036416, 1036358, 1036366, and 1036368

Compression Stockings Used During Two Soccer Matches Improve Perceived Muscle Soreness and High-Intensity Performance.

Gimenes, SV, Marocolo, M, Pavin, LN, Pagoto Spigolon, LM, Neto, OB, Côrrea da Silva, BV, Duffield, R, and Ribeiro da Mota, G. Compression stockings used during two soccer matches improve perceived muscle soreness and high-intensity performance. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-Evidence on the use of compression stockings (CS) during soccer matches is limited. Thus, we evaluated the acute effects of CS on match-based physical performance indicators and perceptual responses during 2 consecutive soccer matches with 72-hour recovery. Twenty outfield players were randomly allocated to the CS group (20-30 mm Hg) or control group (non-CS) and performed 2 matches (5 players using CS or regular socks per team/match). Match loads {rating of perceived exertion × minutes; CS ∼830 vs. control 843 (arbitrary units [AU])} and heart rate (HR) responses (both CS and control ∼86% HRpeak) did not differ (p > 0.05) between CS and control groups. Although total distance covered did not differ (p > 0.05) between groups, CS increased distances (effect size [ES] = 0.9-1.32) in higher-speed zones (>19 km·h CS ∼550 m vs. control ∼373 m) alongside an increased number of accelerations (-50.0 to -3.0 m·s) than control (CS: 33.7 ± 11.2 vs. control: 23.8 ± 7.9; p = 0.003; ES = 1.04). Perceived recovery did not differ (p > 0.05) between groups for either match but was worse in the second match for both groups. Perceived muscle soreness increased in control after match 2 (from 3.1 ± 1.9 to 6.3 ± 1.6 AU; p < 0.0010) but did not in CS (from 2.8 ± 1.4 to 4.1 ± 1.9 AU; p = 0.6275; ES = 1.24 CS vs. control after match). Accordingly, CS use during 2 soccer matches with 72-hour recovery reduces perceived muscle soreness in the second match and increases higher-speed match running performance

Inclusion of sweet sorghum flour in bread formulations

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has been studied as an additional source of raw material for production or partial replacement of foods due to its high fiber concentration. Its consumption is associated with the prevention of some diseases and nutritional benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the partial replacement of wheat flour by sweet sorghum flour in bread formulations in order to characterize the nutritional and physical profile of the flour. Four bread formulations were prepared and evaluated for sensory and textural profile. The composition of sweet sorghum flour showed high fiber content and relative protein value, and moisture showed average value, in accordance with limits established by legislation. The addition of 3% sweet sorghum flour to bread was shown to be technically feasible, with great acceptance by consumers, being a nutritious and tasty option.Key words: Functional food, fiber, baking, texture