Development and field evaluation of liquid inoculants with native Bradyrhizobial strains for peanut production

A critical process in the leguminous crops cycles is biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Application of inoculants with N fixing bacteria is economically and environmentally favourable. The aim of this work was to select competitive native peanut microsymbionts, evaluate their survival in inoculant support and assess their impact on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production under field conditions at Córdoba province in Argentina. The efficient N fixing Bradyrhizobium sp. J-81 and Bradyrhizobium sp. J-237, previously obtained from peanut nodules in the region of Cordoba, Argentina, were evaluated. In microcosm assays, plants inoculated with these isolates demonstrated better symbiotic parameters than those inoculated with reference strains. Different bacterial growth media and inoculant stabiliser solutions were evaluated. Balanced medium and arabic gum stabilising solution had optimal bacterial growth and the highest bacterial concentration and viability, respectively. Inoculation with either inoculants resulted in 44% greater peanut pod yield at Pizarro compared to the non-inoculated plants, although no significant differences were found with respect to commercial inoculants treatments.La fixation biologique de l’Azote (FBA) est un processus important dans le cycle de vie des légumineuses. L’application d’inoculum de bactéries fixatrices d’azote est favorable au double plan économique et environnemental. Le but de cette étude était de sélectionner des bactéries symbiotiques de l’arachide natives et compétitives, évaluer leur temps de survie dans support d’inoculum et évaluer leur impact sur la production en plein champ de l’arachide (Arachis hypogaea L.) dans la province de Córdoba en Argentine. Les bactéries fixatrices d’azote Bradyrhizobium sp. J-81 et Bradyrhizobium sp. J-237, extraites de nodules collectés sur des plants cultivés dans la région de Cordoba en Argentina, ont été évaluées. Dans des essais de microcosme, des plants inoculés avec ces isolats ont exhibés de meilleurs paramètres symbiotiques que les plants non inoculés. Différents média de culture bactérienne et supports inoculums ont été testés. Medium mixte et solution stabilisée à la gomme arabique ont respectivement exhibés la croissance optimale des bactéries et la meilleure conservation et viabilité des bactéries. L’application de n’importe quel inoculum produisit 44% plus de rendement en gousses d’arachides à Pizarro par rapport aux plantes non-inoculées, et ceci bien qu’aucune différence significative n’a été observée en comparaison avec les traitements à l’inoculum du commerce.Fil: Valetti, Lucio. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Angelini, Jorge Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Taurian, Tania. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ibañez, Fernando Julio. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Vanina Laura. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Anzuay, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; ArgentinaFil: Ludueña, Liliana Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Fabra, Adriana Isidora. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Biologia General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

The Value of Literacy Practices

The concepts of literacy events and practices have received considerable attention in educational research and policy. In comparison, the question of value, that is, ‘which literacy practices do people most value?’ has been neglected. With the current trend of cross-cultural adult literacy assessment, it is increasingly important to recognise locally valued literacy practices. In this paper we argue that measuring preferences and weighting of literacy practices provides an empirical and democratic basis for decisions in literacy assessment and curriculum development and could inform rapid educational adaptation to changes in the literacy environment. The paper examines the methodological basis for investigating literacy values and its potential to inform cross-cultural literacy assessments. The argument is illustrated with primary data from Mozambique. The correlation between individual values and respondents’ socio-economic and demographic characteristics is explored

Clinical expression of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in carriers of 1-3 D4Z4 reduced alleles: Experience of the FSHD Italian National Registry

OBJECTIVES: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) has been genetically linked to reduced numbers ( 64 8) of D4Z4 repeats at 4q35. Particularly severe FSHD cases, characterised by an infantile onset and presence of additional extra-muscular features, have been associated with the shortest D4Z4 reduced alleles with 1-3 repeats (1-3 DRA). We searched for signs of perinatal onset and evaluated disease outcome through the systematic collection of clinical and anamnestic records of de novo and familial index cases and their relatives, carrying 1-3 DRA. SETTING: Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 66 index cases and 33 relatives carrying 1-3 DRA. OUTCOMES: The clinical examination was performed using the standardised FSHD evaluation form with validated inter-rater reliability. To investigate the earliest signs of disease, we designed the Infantile Anamnestic Questionnaire (IAQ). Comparison of age at onset was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum or Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of the FSHD score was performed using a general linear model and Wald test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the age-specific cumulative motor impairment risk. RESULTS: No patients had perinatal onset. Among index cases, 36 (54.5%) showed the first signs by 10 years of age. The large majority of patients with early disease onset (26 out of 36, 72.2%) were de novo; whereas the majority of patients with disease onset after 10 years of age were familial (16, 53.3%). Comparison of the disease severity outcome between index cases with age at onset before and over 10 years of age, failed to detect statistical significance (Wald test p value=0.064). Of 61 index cases, only 17 (27.9%) presented extra-muscular conditions. Relatives carrying 1-3 DRA showed a large clinical variability ranging from healthy subjects, to patients with severe motor impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the D4Z4 allele is not always predictive of severe clinical outcome. The high degree of clinical variability suggests that additional factors contribute to the phenotype complexity

Surgery for benign insulinoma: An international review

In a multiinstitutional review, data on 396 patients with benign solitary or multiple insulinomas operated on in 15 centers were collected. In these 396 patients, 419 laparotomies (375 primary procedures and 44 reoperations) were performed. The rate of unnecessary laparotomies was 1.7%. Complications occurred after 132 operations (31.5%), requiring 27 reinterventions (6.4%). Ten (2%) patients died within 30 days of surgery. The success rate of first procedures in the centers was 94.9%. After reoperation, all but 2 (99.5%) of these patients were cured. The overall cure rate including those patients who had their primary operations elsewhere was 97.5% . Compilant les dossiers de 15 établissements internationaux, nous avons colligé les données concernant 396 patients présentant un insulinome bénin unique ou multiple, opérés. Chez ces 396 patients, 419 laparotomies (375 interventions de première intention et 44 reprises) ont été effectuées. Le taux de laparotomie inutile était de 1.7%. Des complications sont intervenues à la suite de 132 opérations (31.5%), nécessitant 27 réinterventions (6.4%). Dix (2%) patients sont morts dans les trente jours après l'acte chirurgical. Le taux de succès des interventions de première intention dans les centres de l'étude était de 94.9%. Après réinterventions, tous les patients sauf 2 (99.5%) ont été guéris. Le taux global de guérison, y compris les patients ayant été opérés une première fois ailleurs, était de 97.5%. En una revisión multiinstitucional se recolectaron los datos sobre 396 pacientes con insulinomas benignos solitarios o múltiples operados en 15 centros. En estos 396 pacientes se efectuaron 419 laparotomías (375 procedimientos primarios y 44 reoperaciones). Se registró una tasa de laparotomías innecesarias de 1.7%; se presentaron complicaciones después de 132 operaciones (31.5%), las cuales requirieron 27 reintervenciones (6.4%). Diez (2%) pacientes murieron dentro de los primeras 30 días después de la cirugía. La tasa de éxito del procedimiento primario realizado en estos centros fue 94.9%. Después de las reoperaciones la totalidad de los pacientes, menos 2 (99.5%), fueron curados. La tasa global de curación, incluyendo los que tuvieron su operación primaria por fuera de los centros del estudio, fue 97.5%.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41289/1/268_2005_Article_BF01658536.pd

A 5-year clinical follow-up study from the Italian National Registry for FSHD.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is undefined. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted in 246 FSHD1 patients. We split the analysis between index cases and carrier relatives and we classified all patients using the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Form (CCEF). The disease progression was measured as a variation of the FSHD score performed at baseline and at the end of 5-year follow-up (ΔFSHD score). FINDINGS: Disease worsened in 79.4% (112/141) of index cases versus 38.1% (40/105) of carrier relatives and advanced more rapidly in index cases (ΔFSHD score 2.3 versus 1.2). The 79.1% (38/48) of asymptomatic carriers remained asymptomatic. The highest ΔFSHD score (1.7) was found in subject with facial and scapular weakness at baseline (category A), whereas in subjects with incomplete phenotype (facial or scapular weakness, category B) had lower ΔFSHD score (0.6) p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The progression of disease is different between index cases and carrier relatives and the assessment of the CCEF categories has strong prognostic effect in FSHD1 patients

Large genotype-phenotype study in carriers of D4Z4 borderline alleles provides guidance for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy diagnosis.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a myopathy with prevalence of 1 in 20,000. Almost all patients affected by FSHD carry deletions of an integral number of tandem 3.3 kilobase repeats, termed D4Z4, located on chromosome 4q35. Assessment of size of D4Z4 alleles is commonly used for FSHD diagnosis. However, the extended molecular testing has expanded the spectrum of clinical phenotypes. In particular, D4Z4 alleles with 9-10 repeat have been found in healthy individuals, in subjects with FSHD or affected by other myopathies. These findings weakened the strict relationship between observed phenotypes and their underlying genotypes, complicating the interpretation of molecular findings for diagnosis and genetic counseling. In light of the wide clinical variability detected in carriers of D4Z4 alleles with 9-10 repeats, we applied a standardized methodology, the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Form (CCEF), to describe and characterize the phenotype of 244 individuals carrying D4Z4 alleles with 9-10 repeats (134 index cases and 110 relatives). The study shows that 54.5% of index cases display a classical FSHD phenotype with typical facial and scapular muscle weakness, whereas 20.1% present incomplete phenotype with facial weakness or scapular girdle weakness, 6.7% display minor signs such as winged scapula or hyperCKemia, without functional motor impairment, and 18.7% of index cases show more complex phenotypes with atypical clinical features. Family studies revealed that 70.9% of relatives carrying 9-10 D4Z4 reduced alleles has no motor impairment, whereas a few relatives (10.0%) display a classical FSHD phenotype. Importantly all relatives of index cases with no FSHD phenotype were healthy carriers. These data establish the low penetrance of D4Z4 alleles with 9-10 repeats. We recommend the use of CCEF for the standardized clinical assessment integrated by family studies and further molecular investigation for appropriate diagnosis and genetic counseling. Especially in presence of atypical phenotypes and/or sporadic cases with all healthy relatives is not possible to perform conclusive diagnosis of FSHD, but all these cases need further studies for a proper diagnosis, to search novel causative genetic defects or investigate environmental factors or co-morbidities that may trigger the pathogenic process. These evidences are also fundamental for the stratification of patients eligible for clinical trials. Our work reinforces the value of large genotype-phenotype studies to define criteria for clinical practice and genetic counseling in rare diseases