Requirements of leaf wetness and temperature for infection of groundnut by rust

Experiments are described to quantify the effects of temp. and duration of leaf wetness on infection of groundnut by Puccinia arachidis. After inoculation, a min. period of leaf wetness, m, was necessary for infection. When leaf wetness duration was >m, lesion density increased with increasing wetness duration to an asymptote, Dmax. The principal effects of temp. were on m and Dmax. The value of m decreased linearly from 6 h, as temp. increased from 15 to 25°C and increased slightly at temp. >25°. Dmax increased with temp. from zero at 8° to a max. at 22°, and decreased to zero again at c. 30°. The experimental results were used to produce a set of curves relating an infection index to leaf wetness duration at different temp. The implications for infection of groundnut crops are discussed in relation to the climate at Patancheru in southern India

Role of potassium and calcium channels in sevoflurane-mediated vasodilation in the foeto-placental circulation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sevoflurane has been demonstrated to vasodilate the foeto-placental vasculature. We aimed to determine the contribution of modulation of potassium and calcium channel function to the vasodilatory effect of sevoflurane in isolated human chorionic plate arterial rings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Quadruplicate <it>ex vivo </it>human chorionic plate arterial rings were used in all studies. <b><it>Series 1 and 2 </it></b>examined the role of the K⁺channel in sevoflurane-mediated vasodilation. Separate experiments examined whether tetraethylammonium, which blocks large conductance calcium activated K⁺(K_Ca++) channels (<b><it>Series 1A+B</it></b>) or glibenclamide, which blocks the ATP sensitive K⁺(K_ATP) channel (<b><it>Series 2</it></b>), modulated sevoflurane-mediated vasodilation. <b><it>Series 3 – 5 </it></b>examined the role of the Ca⁺⁺channel in sevoflurane induced vasodilation. Separate experiments examined whether verapamil, which blocks the sarcolemmal voltage-operated Ca⁺⁺channel (<b><it>Series 3</it></b>), SK&F 96365 an inhibitor of sarcolemmal voltage-independent Ca⁺⁺channels (<b><it>Series 4A+B</it></b>), or ryanodine an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca⁺⁺channel (<b><it>Series 5A+B</it></b>), modulated sevoflurane-mediated vasodilation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sevoflurane produced dose dependent vasodilatation of chorionic plate arterial rings in all studies. Prior blockade of the K_Ca++and K_ATPchannels augmented the vasodilator effects of sevoflurane. Furthermore, exposure of rings to sevoflurane in advance of TEA occluded the effects of TEA. Taken together, these findings suggest that sevoflurane blocks K⁺channels. Blockade of the voltage-operated Ca⁺⁺channels inhibited the vasodilator effects of sevoflurane. In contrast, blockade of the voltage-independent and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca⁺⁺channels did not alter sevoflurane vasodilation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Sevoflurane appears to block chorionic arterial K_Ca++and K_ATPchannels. Sevoflurane also blocks voltage-operated calcium channels, and exerts a net vasodilatory effect in the <it>in vitro </it>foeto-placental circulation.</p

Alcohol, binge drinking and associated mental health problems in young urban Chileans

OBJECTIVE: To explore the link between alcohol use, binge drinking and mental health problems in a representative sample of adolescent and young adult Chileans. METHODS: Age and sex-adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) for four mental wellbeing measures were estimated with separate conditional logistic regression models for adolescents aged 15-20 years, and young adults aged 21-25 years, using population-based estimates of alcohol use prevalence rates from the Chilean National Health Survey 2010. RESULTS: Sixty five per cent of adolescents and 85% of young adults reported drinking alcohol in the last year and of those 83% per cent of adolescents and 86% of young adults reported binge drinking in the previous month. Adolescents who reported binging alcohol were also more likely, compared to young adults, to report being always or almost always depressed (OR 12.97 [95% CI, 1.86-19.54]) or to feel very anxious in the last month (OR 9.37 [1.77-19.54]). Adolescent females were more likely to report poor life satisfaction in the previous year than adolescent males (OR 8.50 [1.61-15.78]), feel always or almost always depressed (OR 3.41 [1.25-9.58]). Being female was also associated with a self-reported diagnosis of depression for both age groups (adolescents, OR 4.74 [1.49-15.08] and young adults, OR 4.08 [1.65-10.05]). CONCLUSION: Young people in Chile self-report a high prevalence of alcohol use, binge drinking and associated mental health problems. The harms associated with alcohol consumption need to be highlighted through evidence-based prevention programs. Health and education systems need to be strengthened to screen and support young people. Focussing on policy initiatives to limit beverage companies targeting alcohol to young people will also be needed

Sexual (Dis)satisfaction and Its Contributors Among People Living with HIV Infection in Sweden

Earlier research reports lower sexual satisfaction among people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to HIV-negative persons. A number of psychosocial factors directly associated with sexual dissatisfaction have been identified. Little is known about sexual satisfaction and their contributors among PLHIV in Sweden. The aim of this study was to examine direct and indirect effects of variables within sociodemographic, clinical HIV-related, psychological, and sexual domains on sexual(dis)satisfaction among PLHIV in Sweden. Data for this study was derived from a national representative, anonymous survey among PLHIV conducted in 2014 (n=1096). Statistical analysis included four steps: descriptive analyses, identification of variables associated with sexual (dis)satisfaction, identification of variables associated with those contributors of sexual (dis)satisfaction, and a path model integrating all these analyses. A total of 49% of participants reported being sexually dissatisfied and no significant differences were observed when non-heterosexual men, heterosexual men and women were compared. Among women, a negative change in sex life after HIV diagnosis and distress with orgasmic difficulties were directly associated with sexual dissatisfaction. For men, hopelessness, high HIV stigma, sexual inactivity in the last 6 months, and a negative change in sex life after HIV diagnosis were directly associated with sexual dissatisfaction. Path analyses showed in both men and women significant indirect association between not being involved in an intimate relationship, lower self-reported CD4 cell counts, and perceiving obligation to disclose HIV status to sexual partners as a barrier to look for a long-term partner and sexual dissatisfaction. Our results show that despite good treatment outcomes, the HIV diagnosis has a negative bearing on sexual satisfaction. The need for gender-tailored interventions and clinical implications of these findings are discussed

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe