Detailed morphobiometric studies of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and characterisation of other Bursaphelenchus species (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) associated with Pinus pinaster in Portugal

Detailed studies on Bursaphelenchus xylophilus are provided in this contribution. Comparative observations between field and cultured populations of this species demonstrated significant size differences: cultured specimens overall displayed larger size in all morphometric parameters. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the individuals undergoing moulting allowed their separation in four groups namely J2-J3, J3-J4, J4F-F, and J4M-M; gonad length mean values of these four groups made possible to distinguish the non-moulting groups J2, J3, J4F, J4M and adults. Seven Bursaphelenchus species (B. hellenicus, B. leoni, B. pinasteri, B. sexdentati, B. teratospicularis, B. tusciae and B. xylophilus), associated with Pinus pinaster in Portugal, were charaterized, including biometrical measurements and ratios as well excised spicules observed under SEM; furthermore, B. hellenicus, B. pinasteri, B. sexdentati, B. tusciae and B. xylophilus were characterised on the basis of their ITS-RFLP profiles. B. sexdentati and B. xylophilus were the only species found in high numbers in some of the samples

Species of Bursaphelenchus Fuchs, 1937 (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) associated with maritime pine in Portugal

Summary – Species of Bursaphelenchus associated with maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, from Portugal – within and outside the quarantine restricted demarcated zone of B. xylophilus – are described and characterised both morphologically (LM and SEM) and with the use of molecular biology (ITS-RFLP).A new staining method for spicules is proposed. Species include B. hellenicus, B. hylobianum, B. leoni, B. pinophilus, B. sexdentati, B. tusciae, B. teratospicularis, B. xylophilus and Bursaphelenchus sp. 1. Bursaphelenchus hylobianum was collected from the insect Hylobius sp. The most frequent species in the demarcated zone, besides B. xylophilus, was Bursaphelenchus sp. 1. Morphological characterisation is compared with the original descriptions and discussed. The differentiation between B. pinophilus and B. sexdentati is not clear in the literature and is discussed. Since differentiation of B. xylophilus (mucronate form) from B. mucronatus, and B. pinophilus from B. sexdentati, as well as their juvenile forms, is almost im possible on the basis of morphological features, a molecular approach based on ITS-RFLPs was used. Ribosomal DNA containing the 5.8S gene, the internal transcribed spacer region 1 and 2, and partial regions of 18S and 28S gene were amplified by PCR. Restriction profiles of the amplified products generated species-specific differences, leading to the unambiguous identification of isolates belonging to B. xylophilus, B. mucronatus, B. sexdentati, B. tusciae and B. hylobianum

Morphological and molecular identification of the potato cyst

Summary – The potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida pose one of the greatest threats to potato crops worldwide and are subject to strict quarantine regulations in many countries. The identification of these Globodera species based on morphology may be ambiguous due to the variability of the main morphological features and the overlapping of the standard parameters in these two species; thus, confirmation via molecular methods is recommended. Multiplex PCR with speciesspecificprimers (ITS5/PITSp4 + PITSr3) allows both species to be distinguished. However, despite the development of molecularidentification methods, the morphological approach remains useful as a complementary diagnostic technique. In this work, we report results of morphological and molecular analyses that were carried out in two Globodera species from Portuguese potato fields. The average morphometric values of 40 cysts and 40 second-stage juveniles were generally within the expected ranges for G. pallida and G. rostochiensis with some variations noted. Molecular analysis with multiplex PCR confirmed the morphometric identification. The present results confirmed the occurrence of two potato cyst nematode species, G. rostochiensis and G. pallida. Surprisingly, the analysis of soils from Portuguese potato fields detected a greater number of samples infested with G. pallida, which is contrary to expectation as G. rostochiensis has been considered the most widespread species in Portugal. The distinction between the two species is therefore essential in order to detect their presence in the country with a view to re-evaluating the control measures implemented so far and adopting more effective practices

The Potential of Esteya spp. for the Biocontrol of the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD) and a quarantine organism in many countries. Managing PWD involves strict regulations and heavy contingency plans, and present climate change scenarios predict a spread of the disease. The urgent need for sustainable management strategies has led to an increasing interest in promising biocontrol agents capable of suppressing the PWN, like endoparasitic nematophagous fungi of the Esteya genus. Here, we review different aspects of the biology and ecology of these nematophagous fungi and provide future prospects

Subjective wellbeing, sense of humor and psychological health in hemodialysis patients

Objective: To investigate the relationship between satisfaction with life in general, sense of humor, and anxiety, depression and stress with subjective happiness in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational study was developed in two units of the Diaverum dialysis clinic and one hospital unit, with 183 chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis. An instrument was used to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profile of the sample (age, gender, nationality, education, occupation, marital status, dialysis sessions length, presence of hypertension and diabetes): the subjective happiness scale; the satisfaction with life in general; depression, anxiety and stress scale 21; and multidimensional sense of humor scale. Inferential procedures included Spearman correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression adjusting to age, marital status, professional activity and diabetes.Results: Subjective Happiness was positively correlated with satisfaction with life in general, and the three dimensions of Sense of Humor. Nevertheless, subjective happiness was negatively correlated with stress / anxiety and depression. Satisfaction with life in general, humor production and social use of humor, and attitude towards humor had a positive relationship with subjective happiness. However, depression had a negative relationship with subjective happiness. Conclusions: Higher levels of subjective happiness were associated with higher levels of satisfaction with life in general, and sense of humor, however they were also associated with lower levels of depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis

The Yield Curve and the Macro-economy across Time and Frequencies

This paper assesses the relation between the yield curve and the main macroeconomic variables in the U.S. between early 1960s and 2009 across time and frequencies, using wavelet analyses. The shape of the yield curve is modelled by latent factors corresponding to its level, slope and curvature, estimated by maximum likelihood with the Kalman filter.The macroeconomic variables measure economic activity, unemployment, inflation and the fed funds rate. The cross wavelet tools employed - coherency and phase difference -, the set of variables and the length of the sample, allow for a thorough appraisal of the timevariationand structural breaks in the direction, intensity, synchronization and periodicity of the relation between the yield curve and the macro-economy. Our evidence establishes a number of new stylized facts on the yield curve-macro relation; and sheds light on several results found in the literature, which could not have been achieved with analyses conductedstrictly in the time-domain (as most of the literature) or purely in the frequency-domain

La intervención humor en la interacción enfermero-paciente

Objective: To describe the factors influencing the use of humor in nursing care, its applicability and benefits. Method: A scoping review was performed using the Arksey and O’Mally methodology. A search for articles published between 2008 and 2018 was performed using the platforms EBSCO Host, Virtual Health Library and Google Scholar. Results: From the initial 465 articles found, 17 were included for final revision. Data allowed to retrieve information on humor definition; its applicability as a nursing intervention; humor as a tool to improve nurse-patient communication and relationship; influence factors; type of humor interventions; humor benefits in health care context and; limitations and precautions of humor intervention. Conclusion: The use of humor promotes both communication and human interaction; it promotes well-being; helps deal/cope with difficult and unpleasant situations, reduces tension, discomfort and stress; and strengthens the immune system. This intervention should be used with caution

Use of biocides in the control of filamentous bulking in activated-sludge

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] Filamentous bulking can be controlled by specific and/or non-specific methods. Specific methods intend to recognize and resolve the major causes of filamentous bacterial proliferation and are preferred because they are selective for the target microorganism and cause limited damage to the remaining biomass. In what concerns non-specific methods, chlorination was one of the first methods to be used to control filamentous bulking and is still used, but its action is only temporary and tend to damage flocforming bacteria, leading to floc and process breakdown [1]. The use of alternative biocides has attracted the attention of wastewater treatment technicians and researchers for the potential of its use in the control of filamentous overgrowth (ability to induce filamentous cell lysis) and is presently one of the most commonly used methods for the control of filamentous bulking under critical conditions [2]. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Integrative taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of “dagger” and “needle” nematodes (Fam. Longidoridae) infesting grapevine soils in Portugal.

Dagger and needle, commonly known as longidorid nematodes, are one of the most economically important parasitic nematode groups in grapevine worldwide. They are polyphagous root ectoparasites causing severe damage to plants by their direct feeding, and in addition some species can transmit plant viruses. Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is transmitted by Xiphinema index, and it is one of the main responsible for a progressive degeneration of grapevines which occurs in most vineyards worldwide. Surveys are being conducted since 2015 on representative vineyards. An integrative taxonomy strategy based on the combination of morphometric and morphological characterizations with molecular analysis using ribosomal DNA segments (rDNA) (D2–D3 expansion regions of the 28S gene, and ITS1 region) and/or a segment of a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (cytochrome c oxidase 1 subunit or COI), were used for identification of longidorids. Severe nematode infestations were found in grapevine soils on the oldest vineyard regions, highlighting X. index by its phytopathological importance. Longidorid nematodes detected, in order of decreasing frequency of infestation were Xiphinema pachtaicum, X. santos, X. index, X. dissimile, X. italiae and Longidorus sp. Disease symptoms were observed on aboveground plant parts of the infected grapevines with X. index, displaying a yellow mosaic pattern in leaves characteristic of infections by GFLV

Petrographic-Mineralogical Characterization of Archaeological Materials from “Casa di Diana” Mithraeum Sited in the Open Museum of Ostia Antica

Mithraea, religious Roman buildings, are very common in Italian archeological sites. There are sixteen in Ostia Antica (Rome, Italy)The poor state of conservation, due to the intrinsic environmental conditions, characterized them: they consist of open-air museums and caves simultaneously. These places of worship are characterized by the presence of heterogeneous materials, such as wall building materials (bricks and mortars) and others used for furnishings and fittings. This increases the risk of accelerated damage because the materials ‘rheology is different. Here, a full petrographic-mineralogical characterization with polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS) and isotopic analysis (δ13C, δ18O) is carried out on materials like travertine, marble, pumice, ceramic, and wall-building materials in “Casa di Diana” Mithraeum (Ostia Antica). Their characterization gives provenance information as well as conservation and restoration purposes. The prevalence of siliciclastic or carbonate components discriminates between red and yellow bricks, as well as different textures and minerals in the aggregate of the red ones. The mortars are typically pozzolanic, and the aggregate is mostly made up of black and red pozzolanic clasts. In the altar, apse, and aedicule, which constitute the principal place of the Mithraeum, a variety of materials used for the ornamental purpose are represented by pumices, travertine, marble, and limestone. The altar material, catalogued as marble, resulted in being a limestone coated with a white pigment.This work has been partially supported by the DEMORA (Grant No. PID2020-113391GB-I00) projects funded by the Spanish Agency for Research AEI (MINEICO/FEDER-UE). The authors wish to acknowledge professional support of the Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform from CSIC Open Heritage: Research and Society (PTI-PAIS)