First report of curvularia trifolii causing curvularia blight in agrostis stolonifera in South of Portugal

Algarve region (Portugal) has nearly 40 golf courses with a significant economic impact. Summer surveys on 10 golf courses detected an unknown disease on one course in 2009 and on another course in 2012 and 2013 at 29 to 30°C daily average. The second course had symptoms on about 25% of the turf of two putting greens. Diseased bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) had a green dappled pattern with irregular patches of turfgrass on yellowed leaves. Prior to decaying, affected leaves turned brown and then gray. Crown and leaf sheath infections resulted in dark brown dry rot. No lesions were observed on the roots. Leaves were surface disinfected with 5% commercial bleach (0.225% sodium hypochlorite) and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Ten fungal colonies grew from the leaf tissue, and brown mycelia, conidiophores, and conidia were observed under a microscope. Conidia were ventricose pyriform, mostly abruptly curved, 20 to 36 µm (30 µm, SD = 4) × 7 to 12 µm (10.5 µm, SD = 1.3) (n = 50), predominantly three-septate, with a prominent hilum and enlarged and darkened central cells. Colonies grown on PDA were black-brown with a black reverse side. Conidia differed in size, 15.4 to 24.6 µm (19.99 µm, SD = 3.00) × 6 to 11 μm (8.68 µm, SD = 1.54) (n = 50) and morphology (cylindrical or slightly curved). These characteristics were consistent with Curvularia trifolii (Kauffm.) Boedijn. (Ellis 1971; Falloon 1976; Khadka 2016). Species identification of the representative isolate A2 1.12 was confirmed by analysis of nucleotide sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region using primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and GPDH gene region with primer set gpd (Koike et al. 2013). BLAST searches of GenBank showed a high similarity of the isolate ITS sequence (MG029439) to the reference sequence JN712458 of C. trifolii (99% identity) and GPDH sequence (MK570108) with LT715803.1 (97.88% identity). The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree showed that our isolate clustered with C. trifolii. The pathogenicity assay of this isolate was conducted in greenhouse on A. stolonifera ‘Penncross’. The isolate was grown on PDA (25°C, 10 days). Five pots (100 ml) were filled with a sand and peat mix (9:1 v/v) with 0.06 g of seeds per pot, covered with a fine sand layer. Turfgrass was cut once a week beginning 2 weeks after seeding and was fertigated with 0.5 g/liter of Peter’s foliar feed (27 + 15 + 12; N + P2O5 + K2O; and micronutrients; Scotts, Heerlen, The Netherlands). To obtain a conidial suspension for inoculation, cultured plates were scraped with a sterilized spreader and water. The suspension was filtered through a sterile gauze. Conidia were counted under a microscope (400×) with a hemocytometer. The suspension was adjusted to 8 × 103 conidia/ml, and 10 ml was sprayed per pot. Pots maintained humidity for 2 days under microtunnels. The first disease symptoms appeared 3 days after inoculation. Bentgrass from the five pots developed Curvularia blight and rotted crown symptoms. Control plants (five pots treated with water) did not display symptoms. This trial was repeated once. On PDA, C. trifolii was reisolated from leaf lesions and morphologically identified, confirming Koch’s postulates. Ellis (1971) referred to the presence of C. trifolii in Portugal, but no region, symptom description, or grass species was detailed. Sivanesan (1987) reported C. trifolii in Portugal only on Lolium multiflorum. Therefore, this is the first report of C. trifolii in Algarve, affecting A. stolonifera. This disease can increase maintenance costs in greens in this area.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Too dense to go through: The importance of low-mass clusters for satellite quenching

We study the evolution of satellite galaxies in clusters of the C-EAGLE simulations, a suite of 30 high-resolution cosmological hydrodynamical zoom-in simulations based on the EAGLE code. We find that the majority of galaxies that are quenched at $z=0$ ($\gtrsim$ 80$\%$) reached this state in a dense environment (log$_{10}$M$_{200}$[M$_{\odot}$]$\geq$13.5). At low redshift, regardless of the final cluster mass, galaxies appear to reach their quenching state in low mass clusters. Moreover, galaxies quenched inside the cluster that they reside in at $z=0$ are the dominant population in low-mass clusters, while galaxies quenched in a different halo dominate in the most massive clusters. When looking at clusters at $z>0.5$, their in-situ quenched population dominates at all cluster masses. This suggests that galaxies are quenched inside the first cluster they fall into. After galaxies cross the cluster's $r_{200}$ they rapidly become quenched ($\lesssim$ 1Gyr). Just a small fraction of galaxies ($\lesssim 15\%$) is capable of retaining their gas for a longer period of time, but after 4Gyr, almost all galaxies are quenched. This phenomenon is related to ram pressure stripping and is produced when the density of the intracluster medium reaches a threshold of $\rho_{\rm ICM}$ $\sim 3 \times 10 ^{-5}$ n$_{\rm H}$ (cm$^{-3}$). These results suggest that galaxies start a rapid-quenching phase shortly after their first infall inside $r_{200}$ and that, by the time they reach $r_{500}$, most of them are already quenched.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, Submitted to MNRA

Clash of Titans: A MUSE dynamical study of the extreme cluster merger SPT-CL J0307-6225

We present MUSE spectroscopy, Megacam imaging, and Chandra X-ray emission for SPT-CL J0307-6225, a z = 0.58 major merging galaxy cluster with a large BCG-SZ centroid separation and a highly disturbed X-ray morphology. The galaxy density distribution shows two main overdensities with separations of 0.144 and 0.017 arcmin to their respective BCGs. We characterize the central regions of the two colliding structures, namely 0307-6225N and 0307-6225S, finding velocity derived masses of M200, N = 2.44 ± 1.41 × 1014M⊙ and M200, S = 3.16 ± 1.88 × 1014M⊙, with a line-of-sight velocity difference of |Δv| = 342 km s-1. The total dynamically derived mass is consistent with the SZ derived mass of 7.63 h70-1 ± 1.36 × 1014M⊙. We model the merger using the Monte Carlo Merger Analysis Code, estimating a merging angle of 36+14-12 ° with respect to the plane of the sky. Comparing with simulations of a merging system with a mass ratio of 1:3, we find that the best scenario is that of an ongoing merger that began 0.96+0.31-0.18 Gyr ago. We also characterize the galaxy population using Hδand [O ii] λ3727 Å lines. We find that most of the emission-line galaxies belong to 0307-6225S, close to the X-ray peak position with a third of them corresponding to red-cluster sequence galaxies, and the rest to blue galaxies with velocities consistent with recent periods of accretion. Moreover, we suggest that 0307-6225S suffered a previous merger, evidenced through the two equally bright BCGs at the centre with a velocity difference of ∼674 km s-1

Nasal versus oronasal masks for home non-invasive ventilation in patients with chronic hypercapnia:a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The optimal interface for the delivery of home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat chronic respiratory failure has not yet been determined. The aim of this individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis was to compare the effect of nasal and oronasal masks on treatment efficacy and adherence in patients with COPD and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). METHODS: We searched Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of at least 1 month's duration, published between January 1994 and April 2019, that assessed NIV efficacy in patients with OHS and COPD. The main outcomes were diurnal PaCO2, PaO2 and NIV adherence (PROSPERO CRD42019132398). FINDINGS: Of 1576 articles identified, 34 RCTs met the inclusion criteria and IPD were obtained for 18. Ten RCTs were excluded because only one type of mask was used, or mask data were missing. Data from 8 RCTs, including 290 IPD, underwent meta-analysis. Oronasal masks were used in 86% of cases. There were no differences between oronasal and nasal masks for PaCO2 (0.61 mm Hg (95% CI -2.15 to 3.38); p=0.68), PaO2 (-0.00 mm Hg (95% CI -4.59 to 4.58); p=1) or NIV adherence (0·29 hour/day (95% CI -0.74 to 1.32); p=0.58). There was no interaction between the underlying pathology and the effect of mask type on any outcome. INTERPRETATION: Oronasal masks are the most used interface for the delivery of home NIV in patients with OHS and COPD; however, there is no difference in the efficacy or tolerance of oronasal or nasal masks

Non-invasive ventilation in obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe obstructive sleep apnoea

Background Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective form of treatment in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) who have concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the efficacy of NIV in patients with OHS without severe OSA. We performed a multicentre randomised clinical trial to determine the comparative efficacy of NIV versus lifestyle modification (control group) using daytime arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) as the main outcome measure. Methods Between May 2009 and December 2014 we sequentially screened patients with OHS without severe OSA. Participants were randomised to NIV versus lifestyle modification and were followed for 2 months. Arterial blood gas parameters, clinical symptoms, health-related quality of life assessments, polysomnography, spirometry, 6-min walk distance test, blood pressure measurements and healthcare resource utilisation were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using intention-to-treat analysis. Results A total of 365 patients were screened of whom 58 were excluded. Severe OSA was present in 221 and the remaining 86 patients without severe OSA were randomised. NIV led to a significantly larger improvement in PaCO2 of -6 (95% CI -7.7 to -4.2) mm Hg versus -2.8 (95% CI -4.3 to -1.3) mm Hg, (p<0.001) and serum bicarbonate of -3.4 (95% CI -4.5 to -2.3) versus -1 (95% CI -1.7 to -0.2 95% CI) mmol/L (p<0.001). PaCO2 change adjusted for NIV compliance did not further improve the inter-group statistical significance. Sleepiness, some health-related quality of life assessments and polysomnographic parameters improved significantly more with NIV than with lifestyle modification. Additionally, there was a tendency towards lower healthcare resource utilisation in the NIV group. Conclusions NIV is more effective than lifestyle modification in improving daytime PaCO2, sleepiness and polysomnographic parameters. Long-term prospective studies are necessary to determine whether NIV reduces healthcare resource utilisation, cardiovascular events and mortality

E2F-1 Directly Regulates Thrombospondin 1 Expression

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) has been shown to play a critical role in inhibiting angiogenesis, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth and metastases. To figure out TSP1's regulators will lead to reveal its biological function mechanistically. In this study, we show that E2F-1 could activate the transcription of TSP1 by both promoter assays and Northern blot. Analysis of various TSP1 promoter mutant constructs showed that a sequence located −144/−137 up-stream of the transcriptional initiation site, related to the consensus E2F-responsive sequence, is necessary for the activation. In consistence with up-regulation of TSP-1 activity by over-expression of E2F-1, the knockdown of endogenous E2F-1 inhibited TSP-1 promoter activity significantly, implying that E2F-1 mediated regulation of TSP-1 is relevant in vivo. In addition, E2F-1 could also directly bind to the TSP1 promoter region covering −144/−137 region as revealed by ChIP assays. Furthermore, the E2F-1-induced activation of TSP1 gene transcription is suppressed by pRB1 in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, the results demonstrate that TSP1 is a novel target for E2F1, which might imply that E2F-1 can affect angiogenesis by modulating TSP1 expression

LRP-1 Promotes Cancer Cell Invasion by Supporting ERK and Inhibiting JNK Signaling Pathways

Background: The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) is an endocytic receptor mediating the clearance of various extracellular molecules involved in the dissemination of cancer cells. LRP-1 thus appeared as an attractive receptor for targeting the invasive behavior of malignant cells. However, recent results suggest that LRP-1 may facilitate the development and growth of cancer metastases in vivo, but the precise contribution of the receptor during cancer progression remains to be elucidated. The lack of mechanistic insights into the intracellular signaling networks downstream of LRP-1 has prevented the understanding of its contribution towards cancer. Methodology/Principal Findings: Through a short-hairpin RNA-mediated silencing approach, we identified LRP-1 as a main regulator of ERK and JNK signaling in a tumor cell context. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that LRP-1 constitutes an intracellular docking site for MAPK containing complexes. By using pharmacological agents, constitutively active and dominant-negative kinases, we demonstrated that LRP-1 maintains malignant cells in an adhesive state that is favorable for invasion by activating ERK and inhibiting JNK. We further demonstrated that the LRP-1-dependent regulation of MAPK signaling organizes the cytoskeletal architecture and mediates adhesive complex turnover in cancer cells. Moreover, we found that LRP-1 is tethered to the actin network and to focal adhesion sites and controls ERK and JNK targeting to talin-rich structures. Conclusions: We identified ERK and JNK as the main molecular relays by which LRP-1 regulates focal adhesion disassembly of malignant cells to support invasion

Regional and experiential differences in surgeon preference for the treatment of cervical facet injuries: a case study survey with the AO Spine Cervical Classification Validation Group

Purpose: The management of cervical facet dislocation injuries remains controversial. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify whether a surgeon’s geographic location or years in practice influences their preferred management of traumatic cervical facet dislocation injuries. Methods: A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. The survey included clinical case scenarios of cervical facet dislocation injuries and asked responders to select preferences among various diagnostic and management options. Results: A total of 189 complete responses were received. Over 50% of responding surgeons in each region elected to initiate management of cervical facet dislocation injuries with an MRI, with 6 case exceptions. Overall, there was considerable agreement between American and European responders regarding management of these injuries, with only 3 cases exhibiting a significant difference. Additionally, results also exhibited considerable management agreement between those with ≤ 10 and &gt; 10&nbsp;years of practice experience, with only 2 case exceptions noted. Conclusion: More than half of responders, regardless of geographical location or practice experience, identified MRI as a screening imaging modality when managing cervical facet dislocation injuries, regardless of the status of the spinal cord and prior to any additional intervention. Additionally, a majority of surgeons would elect an anterior approach for the surgical management of these injuries. The study found overall agreement in management preferences of cervical facet dislocation injuries around the globe