Susceptibility to Melampsora leaf rust of poplar clones from diverse genetic backgrounds: effects on photochemistry and water relations

The selection of resistant genotypes is the most appropriate approach in the prevention of the reduction of biomass and mortality caused by rust infection in poplar plantations. Thus, it is pertinent that we improve our understanding of the consequences that this fungal disease has on leaf physiology. Here, we studied the susceptibility to Melampsora rust in three different poplar clones of commercial interest: Lux clone - Populus deltoides Batr. (cottonwood) and Luisa Avanzo and Adige clones - both Populus × canadensis Mönch. The most susceptible clone to the infection was L. Avanzo whereas Lux and especially Adige were only slightly affected. The propagation of the disease was very rapid in L. Avanzo; their leaves showed a high incidence and severity of the disease in early and advanced stages of infection as was clearly evidenced by the degree of infection. Infected leaves of L. Avanzo were shown to have drought impaired water relations during summer as reflected by the marked decline in the relative water content (RWC). Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging revealed heterogeneity of the effect of the pathogen in the leaves, and areas with pustules showed low maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and PSII quantum yield (?PSII) values, indicative of strong photoinhibition. In L. Avanzo, with a greater pustule density, rust provoked a decline in whole leaf photochemistry as indicated by Fv/Fm and photochemical reflectance index (PRI) results. Leaf structural parameters were not affected by the disease but results in L. Avanzo and Lux showed higher leaf mass per area (LMA) and higher leaf density (D) indicating an adaptation to increasing summer drought. In all clones, the effect of the pathogen was reflected in lower leaf chlorophyll content

Implementation of Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy in primary care

OBJECTIVE To show the implementation process of IPT-G in primary care, including facilitating and obstructing factors, implementation strategies, and training and supervision of primary care professionals. METHODS Quantitative (cross-sectional and longitudinal) analysis of pre and post-knowledge tests; qualitative analyses of the training courses; patient recruitment; conduction of IPT-G sessions; supervision of IPT-G therapists; application of a semi-structured questionnaire to assess, investigate, and develop strategies against the identified barriers. RESULTS About 120 clinicians answered the pre-test; 84 completed the post-test. Pre- and post-test scores of IPT-G knowledge were significantly different. Twenty initially trained clinicians completed additional supervision in IPT-G. Qualitative analysis identified twelve barriers and six facilitators to IPT-G implementation in individual, organizational, and systemic contexts. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of IPT-G in primary care is a complex process with several steps. In the first step, health professionals were successfully trained in IPT-G. However, subsequent steps were more complex. Therefore, careful planning of IPT-G implementation is essential to maximize the success of this innovation

Wbp2 is required for normal glutamatergic synapses in the cochlea and is crucial for hearing

WBP2 encodes the WW domain-binding protein 2 that acts as a transcriptional coactivator for estrogen receptor a (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR). We reported that the loss of Wbp2 expression leads to progressive high-frequency hearing loss in mouse, as well as in two deaf children, each carrying two different variants in the WBP2 gene. The earliest abnormality we detect in Wbp2-deficient mice is a primary defect at inner hair cell afferent synapses. This study defines a new gene involved in the molecular pathway linking hearing impairment to hormonal signalling and provides new therapeutic targets

Health, education, and social care provision after diagnosis of childhood visual disability

Aim: To investigate the health, education, and social care provision for children newly diagnosed with visual disability.Method: This was a national prospective study, the British Childhood Visual Impairment and Blindness Study 2 (BCVIS2), ascertaining new diagnoses of visual impairment or severe visual impairment and blindness (SVIBL), or equivalent vi-sion. Data collection was performed by managing clinicians up to 1-year follow-up, and included health and developmental needs, and health, education, and social care provision.Results: BCVIS2 identified 784 children newly diagnosed with visual impairment/SVIBL (313 with visual impairment, 471 with SVIBL). Most children had associated systemic disorders (559 [71%], 167 [54%] with visual impairment, and 392 [84%] with SVIBL). Care from multidisciplinary teams was provided for 549 children (70%). Two-thirds (515) had not received an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). Fewer children with visual impairment had seen a specialist teacher (SVIBL 35%, visual impairment 28%, χ2p < 0.001), or had an EHCP (11% vs 7%, χ2p < 0 . 01).Interpretation: Families need additional support from managing clinicians to access recommended complex interventions such as the use of multidisciplinary teams and educational support. This need is pressing, as the population of children with visual impairment/SVIBL is expected to grow in size and complexity.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited