2003-2007 Report on Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Arab Americans

Analyzes rates, patterns, and sources of anti-Arab-American hate crimes and discrimination, including detainee abuse, delays in naturalization, and threats; civil liberties concerns; bias in schools; and defamation in the media. Includes case summaries

Evaluation of mango cultivars for resistance to infection by ceratocystis manginecans

Ceratocystis manginecans has been reported to cause a serious wilt disease of mango in Oman and Pakistan. To identify plants resistant to this disease, 30 mango cultivars were artificially inoculated with isolates of C. manginecans in three trials. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (P < 0.0001) in lesion lengths among mango cultivars. Similarly, there were significant differences in the aggressiveness of the isolates used for inoculations. However, in trials where more than one isolate was used, there was no significant isolate x cultivar interaction suggesting that isolates do not affect the ranking of cultivars as susceptible or resistant. Cultivar ‘Pairi’ and local mango cultivars had the longest lesions and were ranked as highly susceptible. In contrast, cultivars ‘Hindi Besennara’, ‘Sherokerzam’, ‘Mulgoa’, ‘Baneshan’, ‘Rose’ and ‘Alumpur Baneshan’, had the smallest lesions and are considered as relatively resistant against C. manginecans. The inoculation results are concurrent with the incidence of wilt of these cultivars under field conditions.The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa, the Ministry of Agriculture and Sultan Qaboos University in Sultanate of Oman and Food and Agriculture organization (FAO).http://www.actahort.org/am201

Mango sudden decline pathogen, Ceratocystis manginecans, is vectored by Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Coleoptera : Scolytinae) in Oman

In Oman, the bark beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae is closely associated with trees affected by mango sudden decline disease caused by Ceratocystis manginecans. Although it has previously been assumed that this beetle plays a role in the dispersal of the pathogen, this has not been established experimentally. The aim of this study was to determine whether H. mangiferae vectors C. manginecans from infected to healthy mango trees. A survey conducted in northern Al Batinah region of Oman revealed that H. mangiferae was closely associated with mango sudden decline disease symptoms and it was found on trees in the early stages of the disease. Healthy, 2- year-old mango seedlings were exposed to H. mangiferae collected from diseased mango trees. Seedlings were infested by the bark beetles and after 6 weeks, typical mango sudden decline disease symptoms were observed. Ceratocystis manginecans was isolated from the wilted mango seedlings while uncolonized control seedlings remained healthy. The results show that H. mangiferae vectors C. manginecans in Oman and is, therefore, an important factor in the epidemiology of this disease.The National Research Foundation (NRF)http://www.springerlink.com /content/100265

Ceratocystis manginecans associated with a serious wilt disease of two native legume trees in Oman and Pakistan

A serious wilt disease has recently been found on Prosopis cineraria (Ghaf) in Oman and on Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham) in Pakistan. Disease symptoms on both these native, leguminous hosts include vascular discolouration and partial or complete wilt of affected trees. A species of Ceratocystis was consistently isolated from symptomatic material. Morphological comparisons and analyses of DNA sequence data of the ITS, β-tubulin, and EF 1-α gene regions showed that the Ceratocystis isolates obtained from both tree species represent C. manginecans. This is the same pathogen that is causing the devastating mango sudden decline disease in Oman and Pakistan. This is also the same pathogen that has been reported causing a wilting disease on Acacia mangium in Indonesia. Cross inoculation with C. manginecans isolates from P. cineraria, D. sissoo and mango showed that the fungus can cause disease on all three trees.Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), University of Pretoria, South Africa, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Omanhttp://link.springer.com/journal/13313hb201

Clonal structure of Ceratocystis manginecans populations from mango wilt disease in Oman and Pakistan

Ceratocystis manginecans has recently been described from Oman and Pakistan where the fungus causes a serious wilt disease of mango. In both countries, the disease has moved rapidly throughout mango producing areas leading to the mortality of thousands of mango trees. The disease is associated with the infestation of the wood-boring beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae that consistently carries C. manginecans. The aim of this study was to consider the population structure of C. manginecans isolated from Oman and Pakistan using microsatellite markers and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs).Population genetic analysis of C. manginecans isolates from diseased mango tissue and bark beetles associated with the disease in Oman and Pakistan, showed no genetic diversity. The apparently clonal nature of the population suggests strongly that C. manginecans was introduced into these countries as a single event or from another clonal source.Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Sultanate of Oman.http://link.springer.com/journal/13313hb201

Two new Ceratocystis species associated with mango disease in Brazil

Mangifera indica, a disease known as mango blight, murcha or seca da mangueira in Brazil, is caused by the canker wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata sensu lato. It is also closely associated with infestation by the non-native wood-boring beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). The aim of this study was to characterize Ceratocystis isolates obtained from diseased mango trees in Brazil. Identification was based on sequence data from ITS1+5.8S+ITS2 rDNA, part of the Beta-tubulin 1 gene, and part of the Transcription Elongation Factor 1-alpha gene. The Brazilian isolates grouped in two well defined and unique clades within C. fimbriata s.l. These were also distinct from C. manginecans, which causes a similar disease associated with H. mangiferae in Oman and Pakistan. Based on sequence comparisons and morphological characteristics, isolates representing the two phylogenetic clades are described as C. mangicola sp. nov. and C. mangivora sp. nov.The National Research Foundation (NRF), members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB).http://www.mycotaxon.com/nf201

Can older people remember medication reminders presented using synthetic speech?

Reminders are often part of interventions to help older people adhere to complicated medication regimes. Computer-generated (synthetic) speech is ideal for tailoring reminders to different medication regimes. Since synthetic speech may be less intelligible than human speech, in particular under difficult listening conditions, we assessed how well older people can recall synthetic speech reminders for medications. 44 participants aged 50-80 with no cognitive impairment recalled reminders for one or four medications after a short distraction. We varied background noise, speech quality, and message design. Reminders were presented using a human voice and two synthetic voices. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Reminder recall was satisfactory if reminders were restricted to one familiar medication, regardless of the voice used. Repeating medication names supported recall of lists of medications. We conclude that spoken reminders should build on familiar information and be integrated with other adherence support measures. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected] numbered affiliations see end of article

Breeding on the leading edge of a northward range expansion: differences in morphology and the stress response in the arctic Gambel's white-crowned sparrow

Individuals at the forefront of a range shift are likely to exhibit phenotypic traits that distinguish them from the population breeding within the historic range. Recent studies have examined morphological, physiological and behavioral phenotypes of individuals at the edge of their range. Several studies have found differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in response to acute restraint stress in individuals at the range limits. HPA axis activation leads to elevations in glucocorticoids that regulate physiology and behavior. Here we compare the hormonal profiles and morphometrics from Gambel's white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) breeding at the northern limit of the population's range to those birds breeding within the historic population range. Birds breeding at the northern limit experienced a harsher environment with colder temperatures; however, we found no differences in arthropod prey biomass between the northern limit and more southern (historic) sites. Males at the northern limit had higher body condition scores (mass corrected for body size) compared to individuals within the historic range, but no differences were found in beak and tarsus lengths, wing chord, muscle profile or fat stores. In males during the pre-parental stage, before breeding commenced, HPA axis activity was elevated in birds at the northern limit of the range, but no differences were found during the parental or molt stages. Females showed no differences in HPA axis activity during the parental stage. This study suggests that "pioneering" individuals at the limits of their breeding range exhibit physiology and morphology that are distinct from individuals within the historic range

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1042-1111

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects' frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.)from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.)on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov.)from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes