Seed production of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) in response to time of emergence in cotton and rice

The spread of herbicide resistance in barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) poses a serious threat to crop production in the southern United States. A thorough knowledge of the biology of barnyardgrass is fundamental for designing effective resistance-management programmes. In the present study, seed production of barnyardgrass in response to time of emergence was investigated in cotton and rice, respectively, in Fayetteville and Rohwer, Arkansas, over a 2-year period (2008–09). Barnyardgrass seed production was greater when seedlings emerged with the crop, but some seed production was observed even if seedlings emerged several weeks after crop emergence. Moreover, barnyardgrass seed production was highly variable across environments. When emerging with the crop (0 weeks after crop emergence (WAE)), barnyardgrass produced c. 35 500 and 16 500 seeds/plant in cotton, and c. 39 000 and 2900 seeds/plant in rice, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Seed production was observed when seedlings emerged up to 5 WAE (2008) or 7 WAE (2009) in cotton and up to 5 WAE (2008, 2009) in rice; corresponding seed production was c. 2500 and 1500 seeds/plant in cotton, and c. 14 700 and 110 seeds/plant in rice, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The results suggest that cultural approaches that delay the emergence of barnyardgrass or approaches that make the associated crop more competitive will be useful in integrated management programmes. In the context of herbicide resistance management, it may be valuable to prevent seed return to the seedbank, irrespective of cohorts. The findings are vital for parameterizing herbicide resistance simulation models for barnyardgrass

Virion Positions and Relationships of Lactococcal Temperate Bacteriophage TP901-1 Proteins

AbstractThe major proteins of phage TP901-1 virion were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and structural relations were determined using specific antibodies, obtained by affinity purification from a polyclonal serum. A 23-kDa protein was identified as the major tail protein, and a 31-kDa molecule as the major head protein, respectively. Labeling experiments with antibodies against two proteins, with molecular masses of 20 and 19 kDa, indicated that they were baseplate-related components. A 72-kDa protein was found to be part of a neck passage structure, which includes a collar. Evidence for the presence of attached whiskers was also obtained. T7 RNA polymerase-mediated expression of the two major proteins confirmed the gene location of the previously sequenced region of the phage genome. The relation to other lactococcal phages was determined by DNA hybridization and antibody probing, showing that despite low DNA similarity, TP901-1 NPS epitopes were detected in both related and unrelated small isometric-headed phages

Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London response to the EFRA committee enquiry COVID-19 and food supply

The COVID19 pandemic has led to major disruptions in the UK and global food systems. The response by the UK government has been uncoordinated and inadequate. Our research highlights the broad range of policy input needed for food governance (at least 16 departments, plus multiple public bodies and agencies). Our research also highlights that while there have been efforts to connect this policy work in the past, food remains uncoordinated as a policy sector. The COVID19 crisis calls for a coordinated food response. Drawing on our research we recommend a cross-government committee to coordinate work on food policy. We also provide the following more specific recommendations: a. Address financial (in)security: For populations experiencing financial insecurity, it is close to impossible for the purchasing or consumption of healthy foods to be a priority. Actions include: •Reconsider the Universal Credit system so that it does not leave people with less money or with gaps in payment • Address challenges related to insecure work, such as zero hours contracts • Raise the minimum wage to a living wage. • Increase the eligibility and amount of Healthy Start vouchers and link them to local agriculture and food production. • Expand Free School Meals vouchers, and enable wider redeemability (in local food systems beyond supermarkets).• Provide funding and support for the expansion of local school meals to combat wider community food insecurity. b. Ensure food availability, and increase community resources to access to food, during and post lockdown. Without wider community and policy support the UK food system will be slow to recover. Actions include: • Support and subsidise the hospitality and food service sector to allow it to rebuild (supporting UK agriculture in the process).• Support UK farming, fishing and food production with proactive policies to stabilize labour and farm incomes • Invest in social spaces and organisations that can provide social outlets for children and families during and post lockdown (that also don’t rely on High Fat, Sugar and Salt foods (HFSS) as their main attraction). • Provide access to affordable, healthy and safe food through both the supermarket and alternative food systems – beyond food aid. c. Advertising and communication around food needs to be rethought in the UK post lockdown. Actions include: • A wider dedicated information and advertising campaign communicating a systems approach to food. This would help to educate on topics including: healthy and sustainable diets; risk and transparency of food governance; misinformation about diet on social media (e.g. miracle cures for COVID-19 or misleading claims about particular foods/diets) and finally, • A comprehensive restriction of all forms of marketing and promotion of HFSS foods.. D. Learn from international lessons that can be integrated into UK policy. • Cities and national governments have launched services to allow citizens to get basic food items directly from small scale farmers, supporting local production and providing access to healthy and fresh food. •Provided social safety nets and economic stimulus directly to vulnerable households so that they are able to purchase food despite the economic havoc wrought by Covid 19 lockdowns •Appoint a cross-government committee to coordinate work on food policy; in NYC this is being led by a “COVID-19 Food Czar”. • Understand that “Food Security is Economic Security is Economic Stimulus

Why do parents use packaged infant foods when starting complementary feeding? Findings from phase one of a longitudinal qualitative study

Background The first 1000 days in a child’s life, from conception to age two, are a critical period for establishing a child’s health and development. One important element is the diet that children receive during this time. Dietary intake of infants in the UK has been shown to be high in sugar and salt, with overall energy intakes exceeding recommendations by the time they are two years of age. Commercial infant food, which forms approximately 40-60% of infants’ dietary intake, was identified in 2011 as the main contributor to sugar intake for infants aged 4-9 months in the United Kingdom. Further, evidence demonstrates inconsistencies between national recommendations on infant feeding and some of these products in terms of the type available, their nutritional value and product labelling and marketing. Given their role in infants’ diets, it is important to understand parental perceptions of these products and why they are chosen. Methods The study comprised the first phase of an in-depth, longitudinal qualitative study which explored parents’ experiences of introducing solid foods to their infants over the first year of feeding. 62 parents/ carers were recruited to this phase when their infants were four-six months old. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and a photo-elicitation exercise. Data from interview transcripts which focused on the purchase and use of packaged purees and commercial snacks were analysed thematically. Results Parents/ carers drew on a range of reasons for buying both packaged purees and commercial snacks for their infants. These included anxiety over food preparation, food safety, convenience, cost effectiveness, the pull of brand eco-systems for packaged purees, and the way in which commercial snacks provide opportunities for safe development of motor skills, keep infants occupied, and allow them to take part in family rituals. Conclusions In considering the use of packaged products as a food source for infants in public health nutrition policy, it is important to understand the broad range of factors that shape parents decisions ranging from the way that products are advertised and perceived, to the non-nutritive roles that they play

Persistent Reversal of Enhanced Amphetamine Intake by Transient CaMKII Inhibition

Amphetamine exposure transiently increases CaMKIIα expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell and this persistently increases local GluA1 S831 phosphorylation and enhances behavioral responding to the drug. Here we assessed whether transiently interfering with CaMKII signaling using a dominant-negative CaMKIIα mutant delivered to the NAcc shell with herpes simplex viral (HSV) vectors could reverse these long-lasting biochemical and behavioral effects observed following exposure to amphetamine. As expected, transient expression of CaMKIIα K42M in the NAcc shell produced a corresponding transient increase in CaMKIIα and decrease in pCaMKIIα (T286) protein levels in this site. Remarkably, this transient inhibition of CaMKII activity produced a long-lasting reversal of the increased GluA1 S831 phosphorylation levels in NAcc shell and persistently blocked the enhanced locomotor response to and self-administration of amphetamine normally observed in rats previously exposed to the drug. Together, these results indicate that even transient interference with CaMKII signaling may confer long-lasting benefits in drug sensitized individuals and point to CaMKII and its downstream pathways as attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of stimulant addiction

"Because at school, you can become somebody" - the perceived health and economic returns on secondary schooling in rural Burkina Faso

Background The perceived returns on schooling are critical in schooling decision-making but are not well understood. This study examines the perceived returns on secondary schooling in Burkina Faso, where secondary school completion is among the lowest globally (<10%). Methods We conducted a two-staged qualitative study using semi-structured interviews (N = 49). In the first stage, we sampled students, dropouts, parents and teachers from a random sample of five schools (n = 39). In the second stage, we interviewed key informants knowledgeable of the school context using snowball sampling (n = 10). Systematic analysis was based on a grounded theory approach with a reading of transcripts, followed by coding of the narratives in NVivo 12. Results Respondents nearly universally perceived health benefits to schooling. In particular, key health benefits included improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes, hygiene knowledge and practices, as well as better interactions with the formal health system. Common economic returns on schooling included improved employment opportunities and the provision of support to family members, in addition to generally attaining success and recognition. Indirect and long-term health returns, however, were infrequently mentioned by respondents. Conclusions While respondents reported nearly universally short-term health benefits to schooling, responses with regard to economic as well as indirect and long-term health benefits were more ambiguous. Future intervention studies on the perceived returns on formal education are needed to inform policy and reach education and health targets in the region