Field evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes against orchard pests

Survival of pest in micro-plot trials (container studies) or field plot trials was monitored after exposure to commercially used EPN strains. Experimental plots were artificially infested with pest larvae that naturally burrowed into the soil for diapause. Either larval mortality or adult emergence, was assessed to estimate the control effect of the EPN treatment. Here we present preliminary results from three ongoing projects

Differential transmission of cherry rosette nepovirus by populations of Longidorus arthensis (Nematoda : Longidoridae) with a description of the association of the virus with the odontostyle of its vector

#Longidorus arthensis provenant de la rhizosphère de cerisiers à Maiberg, Baselland, après contact avec le nepovirus de la rosette du cerisier (CRV) ne transmet pas le virus, tandis que des spécimens provenant de la rhizosphère de cerisiers infestés par le CRV à Talmatte, Arth et à Rossberg, Steinerberg, le transmettent. De faibles différences morphométriques ont été relevées entre les nématodes du Baselland et ceux de la région de l'Arth, mais elles sont considérées comme intraspécifiques et non interspécifiques. L'examen en microscopie électronique de fine sections de spécimens femelles ayant transmis le CRV révèle la présence de quelques particules de virus seulement adsorbées à la surface de la lumière de l'odontostyle tandis que nombre de particules sont adsorbées, fréquemment en plusieurs couches, à la surface du fourreau-guide. Il est donc suggéré que les sites actifs de rétention des nepovirus transmis par les espèces de #Longidorus soient considérés comme étant la lumière de l'odontostyle et l'espace situé entre ce dernier et le fourreau-guide de l'odontostyle. (Résumé d'auteur

Evolutionary patchwork of an insecticidal toxin shared between plant-associated pseudomonads and the insect pathogens Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus.

BACKGROUND: Root-colonizing fluorescent pseudomonads are known for their excellent abilities to protect plants against soil-borne fungal pathogens. Some of these bacteria produce an insecticidal toxin (Fit) suggesting that they may exploit insect hosts as a secondary niche. However, the ecological relevance of insect toxicity and the mechanisms driving the evolution of toxin production remain puzzling. RESULTS: Screening a large collection of plant-associated pseudomonads for insecticidal activity and presence of the Fit toxin revealed that Fit is highly indicative of insecticidal activity and predicts that Pseudomonas protegens and P. chlororaphis are exclusive Fit producers. A comparative evolutionary analysis of Fit toxin-producing Pseudomonas including the insect-pathogenic bacteria Photorhabdus and Xenorhadus, which produce the Fit related Mcf toxin, showed that fit genes are part of a dynamic genomic region with substantial presence/absence polymorphism and local variation in GC base composition. The patchy distribution and phylogenetic incongruence of fit genes indicate that the Fit cluster evolved via horizontal transfer, followed by functional integration of vertically transmitted genes, generating a unique Pseudomonas-specific insect toxin cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that multiple independent evolutionary events led to formation of at least three versions of the Mcf/Fit toxin highlighting the dynamic nature of insect toxin evolution

Temporal and crustal effects on differentiation of tholeiite to calcalkaline and ferro-trachytic suites, High Lava Plains, Oregon, USA

Strongly bimodal, basalt-rhyolite volcanism of the High Lava Plains Province of Oregon followed the Middle Miocene flood basalts of the Pacific Northwest and extends to recent time. During the 8 m.y. of volcanism recorded in the central High Lava Plains, in western Harney Basin, three distinct mafic magmatic trends originate from primitive high-alumina olivine tholeiites (HAOT); they are tholeiitic, calcalkaline and ferro-trachytic. Tholeiitic basalts occur throughout the history and their compositions are derived by crystal fractionation while traversing the crust and mixing with evolved mafic magmas. Scavenging of apatite from crustal rocks and minor contamination with felsic melts accounts for P, incompatible element enrichments and increasing tilts of incompatible element patterns with differentiation. The calcalkaline mafic suite occurs in temporal association with abundant silicic volcanism and is the only suite with Fe decreasing with Mg. Calcalkaline compositions are derived from evolved tholeiitic basalt by crystal fractionation coupled with assimilation of felsic crust or crustal melts. The ferro-trachytic suite occurs mainly late, is highly enriched in incompatible element with patterns parallel to tholeiites from which it is derived by protracted fractionation and recharge. The three suites primarily reflect changes in magma flux and crustal interactions in time. High magma flux promotes crustal melting and contamination of tholeiite to make the calcalkaline suite. On the other hand, ferrotrachytic magmas erupted mainly late in the sequence, during magmatic waning and after significant basaltification of the crust.Keywords: basalt differentiation, calcalkaline trend, phosphorus enrichment, HAOT, trachyandesite, high lava plain

Non-interpenetrated metal-organic frameworks based on copper(II) paddlewheel and oligoparaxylene-isophthalate linkers: synthesis, structure and gas adsorption

Two metal–organic framework materials, MFM-130 and MFM-131 (MFM = Manchester Framework Material), have been synthesized using two oligoparaxylene (OPX) tetracarboxylate linkers containing four and five aromatic rings, respectively. Both fof-type non-interpenetrated networks contain Kagomé lattice layers comprising [Cu2(COO)4] paddlewheel units and isophthalates, which are pillared by the OPX linkers. Desolvated MFM-130, MFM-130a, shows permanent porosity (BET surface area of 2173 m2/g, pore volume of 1.0 cm3/g), high H2 storage capacity at 77 K (5.3 wt% at 20 bar and 2.2 wt% at 1 bar), and a higher CH4 adsorption uptake (163 cm3(STP)/cm3 (35 bar and 298 K)) compared with its structural analogue, NOTT-103. MFM-130a also shows impressive selective adsorption of C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6 over CH4 at room temperature, indicating its potential for separation of C2 hydrocarbons from CH4. The single-crystal structure of MFM-131 confirms that the methyl substituents of the paraxylene units block the windows in the Kagomé lattice layer of the framework, effectively inhibiting network interpenetration in MFM-131. This situation is to be contrasted with that of the doubly interpenetrated oligophenylene analogue, NOTT-104. Calculation of the mechanical properties of these two MOFs confirms and explains the instability of MFM-131 upon desolvation in contrast to the behavior of MFM-130. The incorporation of paraxylene units, therefore, provides an efficient method for preventing network interpenetration as well as accessing new functional materials with modified and selective sorption properties for gas substrates

Hypertension in mice lacking 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2

Deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) in humans leads to the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (SAME), in which cortisol illicitly occupies mineralocorticoid receptors, causing sodium retention, hypokalemia, and hypertension. However, the disorder is usually incompletely corrected by suppression of cortisol, suggesting additional and irreversible changes, perhaps in the kidney. To examine this further, we produced mice with targeted disruption of the 11β-HSD2 gene. Homozygous mutant mice (11β-HSD2(–/–)) appear normal at birth, but ∼50% show motor weakness and die within 48 hours. Both male and female survivors are fertile but exhibit hypokalemia, hypotonic polyuria, and apparent mineralocorticoid activity of corticosterone. Young adult 11β-HSD2(–/–) mice are markedly hypertensive, with a mean arterial blood pressure of 146 ± 2 mmHg, compared with 121 ± 2 mmHg in wild-type controls and 114 ± 4 mmHg in heterozygotes. The epithelium of the distal tubule of the nephron shows striking hypertrophy and hyperplasia. These histological changes do not readily reverse with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in adulthood. Thus, 11β-HSD2(–/–) mice demonstrate the major features of SAME, providing a unique rodent model to study the molecular mechanisms of kidney resetting leading to hypertension. J. Clin. Invest. 103:683–689 (1999

Исследование характеристик ядерных трековых мембран для создания дренажной системы в лечении глаукомы

In this article has been researched possibility of using nuclear track membrane for fluid transport in the implementation and maintenance of the cornea weaklydehydrated state

The isochronous cyclotron and high-resolution nuclear spectroscopy

The practical limitations on high-resolution charged-particle spectroscopy imposed by the size and brightness of the effective source from an accelerator are discussed. Methods of measuring the characteristics of the source, and the parameters of the ion-optical system are described. Results of such measurements with an isochronous cyclotron as the source, are given. The technique for calibration of the spectrometer is described.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32802/1/0000175.pd

In-Situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation of Strain, Temperature, and Strain-Rate Variations of Deformation-Induced Vacancy Concentration in Aluminum

Critical strain to serrated flow in solid solution alloys exhibiting dynamic strain aging (DSA) or Portevin–LeChatelier effect is due to the strain-induced vacancy production. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques can be used to monitor in situ the dynamical behavior of point and line defects in materials during deformation, and these techniques are nondestructive and noninvasive. The new CUT-sequence pulse method allowed an accurate evaluation of the strain-enhanced vacancy diffusion and, thus, the excess vacancy concentration during deformation as a function of strain, strain rate, and temperature. Due to skin effect problems in metals at high frequencies, thin foils of Al were used and experimental results correlated with models based on vacancy production through mechanical work (vs thermal jogs), while in situ annealing of excess vacancies is noted at high temperatures. These correlations made it feasible to obtain explicit dependencies of the strain-induced vacancy concentration on test variables such as the strain, strain rate, and temperature. These studies clearly reveal the power and utility of these NMR techniques in the determination of deformation-induced vacancies in situ in a noninvasive fashion.

Association of the 24‐Hour National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale After Mechanical Thrombectomy With Early and Long‐Term Survival

Background The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) obtained 24 hours after ischemic stroke is a good indicator for functional outcome and early mortality, but the correlation with long‐term survival is less clear. We analyzed the correlation of the NIHSS after 24 hours (24h NIHSS) and early clinical neurological development after mechanical thrombectomy with early and long‐term survival as well as its predictive power on survival. Methods We reviewed a prospective observational registry for all patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy between January 2010 and December 2018. Vital status was extracted from the Swiss Population Registry. Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and crude hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression. To assess predictive power of the 24h NIHSS, different Random Survival Forest models were evaluated. Results We included 957 patients (median follow‐up 1376 days). Patients with lower 24h NIHSS and major early neurological improvement had substantially better survival rates. We observed significantly higher aHR for death in patients with 24h NIHSS 12 to 15 (aHR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.1–2.89), with 24h NIHSS 16 to 21 (aHR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.59–4.06), and with 24h NIHSS >21 (aHR, 5.74; 95% CI, 3.47–9.5). The 24h NIHSS showed the best performance predicting mortality (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve at 3 months [0.85±0.034], at 1 year [0.82±0.029], at 2 years [0.82±0.031], and at 5 years [0.83±0.035]), followed by NIHSS change. Conclusions Patients with acute ischemic stroke achieving a low 24h NIHSS or major early neurological improvement after mechanical thrombectomy had markedly lower long‐term mortality. Furthermore, 24h NIHSS had the best predictive power for early and long‐term survival in our machine learning–based prediction