Emergence and initial growth of tall fescue free and infected with wild or safe endophytes

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar, durante la etapa temprana de implantación de festuca alta, el porcentaje y la velocidad de emergencia, la producción de biomasa y la proporción de raíz en plantas provenientes de una población naturalizada del sudeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (S) y del cv. Taita (T), libres (S- y T-, respectivamente) e infectadas con el endófito silvestre Epichloë coenophiala (S+) y con el endófito seguro AR584 (T+) respectivamente. Se sembraron ocho bandejas plantineras de 50 celdas para cada tratamiento (i.e. S-, S+, T- y T+) y se ubicaron de forma tal que la superficie superior de la misma quedara al ras del suelo en una parcela preparada para la siembra de una pastura. El número de plántulas emergidas en cada bandeja se registró diariamente hasta los 28 días desde la siembra y se determinó el porcentaje y la velocidad de emergencia. A los 47 días desde la siembra se determinó la materia seca de la parte aérea y radical de las plantas emergidas. A los 28 días desde la siembra, no se registraron diferencias significativas en el número de plantúlas emergidas dentro de las festucas infectadas (p=0,9965) ni entre las libres (p=0,7525). No se encontraron diferencias significativas (p=0,4738) entre las festucas en la velocidad de emergencia. Las festucas infectadas presentaron una biomasa total por planta superior a la de las libres debido a una mayor biomasa de raíces, aunque las diferencias para ambas variables sólo fueron significativas (p<0,001) en el caso del cv. Taita. En nuestras condiciones la presencia del endófito aumentó el porcentaje de plántulas emergidas tanto en la población naturalizada como en Taita, y promovió el desarrollo radical en este último.The objective of this work was to assess, during the early stages of tall fescue implantation, the percentage of emergence, the emergence speed index, biomass production and root proportion of a naturalized population from Buenos Aires province (S) and cv. Taita (T), free (S- and T-, respectively) and infected with the wild endophyte Epichloë coenophiala (S+) and with the safe endophyte AR584 respectively (T+). Eight seedling trays with 50 cells were sown for each treatment (i.e. S-, S+, T- and T+) and placed on a bare soil in such a way that the upper surface of the trays was at soil level. The number of emerged seedlings was recorded daily up to 28 days after sowing and percentage and emergence speed index were calculated. At 47 days from sowing the biomass of shoot and roots of the plants was determined. At 28 days from sowing, no significant differences were registered in the number of emerged seedlings within endophyte-infected (p=0.9965) or endophyte-free (p=0.7525) treatments. No significant differences (p=0.4738) were found among treatments for the emergence speed index. The total biomass per plant for endophyte-infected tall fescues was higher than for endophyte-free ones due to a higher root biomass, although for both variables the differences were significant (p<0,001) only in cv. Taita. In our conditions, the presence of both endophytes allowed the respective tall fescues to increase the percentage of seedling emergence and to promote root development in cv. Taita.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

The impact of health status and human capital formation on regional performance: Empirical evidence

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of health on growth, assuming that it is a fundamental component of the human capital of a region along with education. Various measures of population health status are used, together with a health index generated by Principal Component Analysis. Potential endogeneity between health and growth is controlled for using instrumental variable regressions and dynamic panel data. The results show a positive effect of a change in health status on regional output and a negative effect of proxy variables for health limitations on regional performance. This corroborates the importance of investing in health along with education with the aim of improving not only the well-being of individuals but the human capital and growth of a region

Dental cell type atlas reveals stem and differentiated cell types in mouse and human teeth

Understanding cell types and mechanisms of dental growth is essential for reconstruction and engineering of teeth. Therefore, we investigated cellular composition of growing and non-growing mouse and human teeth. As a result, we report an unappreciated cellular complexity of the continuously-growing mouse incisor, which suggests a coherent model of cell dynamics enabling unarrested growth. This model relies on spatially-restricted stem, progenitor and differentiated populations in the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments underlying the coordinated expansion of two major branches of pulpal cells and diverse epithelial subtypes. Further comparisons of human and mouse teeth yield both parallelisms and differences in tissue heterogeneity and highlight the specifics behind growing and non-growing modes. Despite being similar at a coarse level, mouse and human teeth reveal molecular differences and species-specific cell subtypes suggesting possible evolutionary divergence. Overall, here we provide an atlas of human and mouse teeth with a focus on growth and differentiation. Unlike human teeth, mouse incisors grow throughout life, based on stem and progenitor cell activity. Here the authors generate single cell RNA-seq comparative maps of continuously-growing mouse incisor, non-growing mouse molar and human teeth, combined with lineage tracing to reveal dental cell complexity.Peer reviewe

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: comparison between the first and second pandemic waves

In Italy, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection peaked in April and November 2020, defining two pandemic waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and SARS-CoV-2 infections between pandemic waves.MethodsObservational longitudinal study of IBD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with established diagnoses of IBD and of SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively enrolled in two periods: (i) first wave, from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020; and (ii) second wave, from 15 September to 15 December 2020.ResultsWe enrolled 937 IBD patients (219 in the first wave, 718 in the second wave). Patients of the first wave were older (mean & PLUSMN; SD: 46.3 & PLUSMN; 16.2 vs. 44.1 & PLUSMN; 15.4 years, p = 0.06), more likely to have ulcerative colitis (58.0% vs. 44.4%, p < 0.001) and comorbidities (48.9% vs. 38.9%; p < 0.01), and more frequently residing in Northern Italy (73.1% vs. 46.0%, p < 0.001) than patients of the second wave. There were no significant differences between pandemic waves in sex (male: 54.3% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.82) or frequency of active IBD (44.3% vs. 39.0%, p = 0.18). The rates of negative outcomes were significantly higher in the first than second wave: pneumonia (27.8% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.001), hospital admission (27.4% vs. 9.7%, p < 0.001), ventilatory support (11.9% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.003) and death (5.5% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.007).ConclusionBetween the first and second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic waves, demographic, clinical and geographical features of IBD patients were different as were the symptoms and outcomes of infection. These differences are likely due to the different epidemiological situations and diagnostic possibilities between the two waves

Cluster illumination differentially affects growth of fruits along their ontogeny in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).

Shading highbush blueberry plants generally leads to a delayed fruit development. Experiments have been performed to study the effects of light on fruit growth independently from the rest of the canopy. Clusters were shaded during different fruit growth periods. The equatorial diameter of the fruits as a function of days after full bloom followed a double-sigmoidal growth pattern, being fitted using a Gompertz II nonlinear mixed model, and absolute growth rates were obtained from each fitted model. Both whole-cycle shaded and second-stage shaded fruits showed a delayed peak in absolute growth curves with respect to both first-stage shaded and whole-cycle unshaded controls. Our results suggest that deficiency of light during the last stage of highbush blueberry fruits may lead to a substantial delay (of about 10–16 days) in harvest as compared with well-illuminated fruits. In order to estimate the contribution of intrinsic fruit photosynthesis to its own growth at different stages, clusters were subjected to girdling on their peduncles at different times. Girdling just before the second-stage resulted in fruits gaining between 35 and 40% of dry weight in comparison with the controls. This suggests that fruit photosynthesis may play a relevant role in fruit growth during the second sigmoidal stage, which in turn may contribute to explain the delayed growth observed in shaded fruits

Combining the Non-Surgical Treatment with Extracts of Croton Lechleri and Myrciaria Dubia to Solve Gingival Cleft

Nowadays, the "pink" aesthetic possesses a significant role in the success of a dental treatment. Extended or small recessions should be solved to achieve harmony between tooth and gingival tissue. Gingival cleft (GC) is a condition that can lead to unpleasant gingival recession in the anterior area. The etiology of GC is still not clear and is often resolved using surgical treatments that, although minimal, are still interventions which can cause risks and discomfort to the patient. Therefore, this case report aims to propose a non-invasive treatment for GC, consisting of a combination of a non-surgical technique with herbal extracts therapy. A non-smoker, healthy patient was subjected to professional oral hygiene treatment supported by Croton Lechleri resin application and at-home supplementation with natural vitamin C (Myrciaria Dubia). The patient entirely followed the instructions and, after 12 months, the GC almost disappeared. In spite of its limitations, since further clinical cases are needed, the proposed non-surgical periodontal technique combined with herbal extracts therapy can represent a promising way to solve or at least reduce GC, before considering surgical treatment

Effect of the Magnetic Field Generated by a New NeFeB Cover Screw on Bone Healing around Endosseous Implants: A Case Series Report from Dental Practice

This study aimed to investigate the effect of static magnetic field (SMF) generated by innovative cover screws made of NeFeB on early bone healing around dental implants. The study was carried out on humans in a private dental practice. Eight 3i implants (Biomet, Palm Beach, FL, USA) were placed in the posterior mandible at 3.6 and 3.7. The control implants were closed with a conventional screw (G1), while the test implants were closed with a Supercharged((R)) screw (G2). Both groups were compared for stability at 0, 7, 14, 21, 50, and 90 days using a resonant frequency analyzer with Ostell Mentor (Osstell AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). After 50 days, the Supercharged((R)) cover screw was removed. A significant increase in implant stability quotient (ISQ), corresponding to a lower degree of bone resorption, was observed in G2 throughout the follow-up period (p < 0.05), while an initial ISQ decrease was observed until day 21 in G1. In conclusion, the effect of SMF seems to be in the early stages of osseointegration and increases the stability of dental implants

SEM and FT-MIR Analysis of Human Demineralized Dentin Matrix: An In Vitro Study

Recently, the demineralized dentin matrix has been suggested as an alternative material to autologous bone grafts and xenografts for clinical purposes. The aim of this study was to investi-gate the effect of different times of demineralization on the chemical composition and the surface morphology of dentinal particles. Extracted teeth were ground and divided into 5 groups based on demineralization time (T0 = 0 min, T2 = 2 min, T5 = 5 min, T10 = 10 min, and T60 = 60 min) with 12% EDTA. The analysis was performed using Fourier-Transform Mid-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (p T2 > T5 > T10 > T60). On the contrary, the organic (protein) component did not undergo any change. The SEM examination showed that increasing the times of demineralization resulted in a smoother surface of the dentin particles and a higher number of dentinal tubules