Chemical Control of Root-Knot Nematodes in Established Vineyards

Chemical control of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in established vineyards was investigated. A liquid soil fumigant (1,3-dichloropropene) and four systemic (nonfumigant) nematicides in granular form, viz. aldicarb, carbofuran, oxamyl and fenamiphos were applied as soil treatments during bud burst and after harvest. Significant average yield and cane mass increases were recorded during the three years following split treatment at bud burst with aldicarb and oxamyl and when aldicard was applied as a single treatment after harvest

Liturgical pharmacology: Time of the question, complexity and ethics

Bernard Stiegler depicts technics as the human’s tertiary memory retention generating a pharmakon with both curative and malignant potential. He additionally rues the posthuman epoch’s depletion of a ‘time of the question’: revealed in the prevalent inaptitude for wisdom – scilicet long-term acuity. We offer Christian liturgy as an abeyant psychotechnique arcing the current pharmakon to cure through soliciting a ‘time of the question’. Rejuvenating Christian liturgy as a psychotechnique can bolster a broader societal ‘time of the question’. Firstly, we describe technic’s du jour mise on scène. Secondly, we constrain Christian liturgies as complex systems incorporating malleability, temporality, and instability. Thirdly, we imagine Christian liturgy as empty tradition allowing amateur repetition of ancient art enticing a ‘time of the question’

The quantitative determination and some values of dimethyl sulphide in white table wines

A gaschromatographic headspace method has been developed for the quantitative determination of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in wines. The standard deviation of the method was in the order of 6%.Application of the method to the analysis of several white wines showed DMS values which varied from O to over 400 µg/1. From analytical data it appeared that DMS developed in the bottle and could as such possibly contribute to bottle bouquet. It was found that maturecl Riesling wines had particularly high concentrations of DMS.Die quantitative Bestimmung von Dimethylsulfid in weißen Tafelweinen sowieeinige Angaben über seine KonzentrationFür die quantitative Bestimmung von Dimethylsulfid (DMS) in Wein wurde unter Verwendung der „headspace"-Technik und von Dichlormethan als Standard eine gaschromatographische Methode entwickelt. Die Genauigkeit der Methode liegt bei einer Standardabweichung von 6%. Bei der Anwendung der Methode auf eine Reihe von Weißweinen wurden DMS-Werte zwischen O und über 400 µg/l ermittelt. DMS scheint sich während der Ausreifung des Weines in der Flasche zu entwickeln und könnte zum sogenannten Lagerungsbukett beitragen. Besonders hohe DMS-Konzentrationen wurden in älteren Riesling-Weinen festgestellt

Immunology for Clinicians: A ‘Trojan Horse’ approach

A South African website imparts basic immunology information to clinicians and other health care workers

Energy levels and decoherence properties of single electron and nuclear spins in a defect center in diamond

The coherent behavior of the single electron and single nuclear spins of a defect center in diamond and a 13C nucleus in its vicinity, respectively, are investigated. The energy levels associated with the hyperfine coupling of the electron spin of the defect center to the 13C nuclear spin are analyzed. Methods of magnetic resonance together with optical readout of single defect centers have been applied in order to observe the coherent dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins. Long coherence times, in the order of microseconds for electron spins and tens of microseconds for nuclear spins, recommend the studied system as a good experimental approach for implementing a 2-qubit gate.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Genetic testing approaches for hereditary breast cancer: Perspectives from a private diagnostic laboratory

Breast cancer is highly prevalent in South Africa, and up to 10% of breast cancer cases may be hereditary. The landscape of genetic testing options for hereditary breast cancer (HBC) has changed significantly over the past decade, and healthcare providers are faced with multiple options when referring breast cancer patients for genetic testing. We have performed a retrospective study of 3 years’ worth of breast cancer genetic testing referrals to our laboratory. While Afrikaner and Ashkenazi Jewish founder screens may be appropriate as first-line tests in a limited subset of patients, we have shown that in the majority of cases it is more effective to adopt a multigene panel approach. While variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes still account for a significant proportion of cases, close to 40% of pathogenic variants were found in genes other than BRCA1 or BRCA2. There are many factors that healthcare providers should consider when requesting genetic testing for breast cancer patients and families, including family history, ancestral background, cost, medical aid scheme reimbursement and scope of testing. We summarise our findings and provide advantages and disadvantages of each approach, with the aim of assisting clinicians and genetic counsellors to make appropriate testing decisions

Resuscitating myth: Hollywood, Big History and transdisciplinary theology

Expanding our description of liturgy as an organisation of technics structuring desire, we describe the accompanying myth as a technic of knowing. Drawing on transdisciplinary theology, developed from the work of Wentzel van Huyssteen, Paul Cilliers and Alfonso Montuori, we engage the cross-disciplinary construction of scientific myth by Big Historians. We argue that myth, as a transversal technic of knowing, is abundant in many spheres of our lives and bridges what Bernard Stiegler calls the persistent minimal gap between humanity and technics. Can Big Historians offer such a bridge and what does it mean when scientists use technicities developed by religious practitioners

Properties of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond: group theoretic approach

We present a procedure that makes use of group theory to analyze and predict the main properties of the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. We focus on the relatively low temperatures limit where both the spin-spin and spin-orbit effects are important to consider. We demonstrate that group theory may be used to clarify several aspects of the NV structure, such as ordering of the singlets in the ($e^2$) electronic configuration, the spin-spin and the spin-orbit interactions in the ($ae$) electronic configuration. We also discuss how the optical selection rules and the response of the center to electric field can be used for spin-photon entanglement schemes. Our general formalism is applicable to a broad class of local defects in solids. The present results have important implications for applications in quantum information science and nanomagnetometry.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figure

Short-term impacts of the filling transition across elevations in intermittent water supply systems

Intermittent Water Supply (IWS) is characterised as drinking water distribution systems that are supplied with water for less than 24 hours/day on average. The filling transition from non-supply to pressurised supply is a period of hydraulic instability that negatively impacts water quality, deteriorates infrastructure integrity and intensifies social inequalities. Understanding the factors contributing to the severity of impact from filling is vital to develop effective management strategies. This paper investigates the hydraulic phenomena induced during the short-term IWS filling period and how this behaviour can be exacerbated by elevation and other hydraulic system factors, such as velocity and pressure. Controlled laboratory experiments conducted in the UK and field studies performed in operational networks across South Africa are presented. Results demonstrate the crucial role elevation plays in the network response during the filling transition, emphasising the need for greater consideration of elevation in IWS and well-maintained air relief valves in strategic locations

Liturgical pharmacology : time of the question, complexity and ethics

Bernard Stiegler depicts technics as the human’s tertiary memory retention generating a pharmakon with both curative and malignant potential. He additionally rues the posthuman epoch’s depletion of a ‘time of the question’: revealed in the prevalent inaptitude for wisdom – scilicet long-term acuity. We offer Christian liturgy as an abeyant psychotechnique arcing the current pharmakon to cure through soliciting a ‘time of the question’. Rejuvenating Christian liturgy as a psychotechnique can bolster a broader societal ‘time of the question’. Firstly, we describe technic’s du jour mise on scène. Secondly, we constrain Christian liturgies as complex systems incorporating malleability, temporality, and instability. Thirdly, we imagine Christian liturgy as empty tradition allowing amateur repetition of ancient art enticing a ‘time of the question’.http://www.hts.org.zaam2016Procedural La