Impacts, Monitoring and Management of Forest Pests and Diseases

Forest pests have diverse negative impacts on forestry economy, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and sustainable ecosystem management. The first step towards effectively managing forest pests would be to monitor their occurrence and assess their impact on forest ecosystems. The monitoring results can provide basic information for effective management strategies. The data from monitoring programs can result in the development of new methods for monitoring, assessing impact, and developing management techniques. This special issue aims to share information to assist in the effective management of forest pests, by understanding the responses of forest pests to natural and anthropogenic changes, and discussing new studies on the monitoring, assessment, and management of forest pests. The fourteen papers included in this issue focus on monitoring, assessing, and managing forest pests, including one editorial providing an overall idea of the monitoring, assessment and management of forest pests, two articles reviewing long-term changes in forest pests and forests, four papers focusing on the monitoring of forest pests, three papers on the assessment of forest pests, and four papers on the management of forest pests. These papers provide a better understanding of the structures and processes in forest ecosystems and fundamental information for the effective management of forest pests

Responses of the functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates to floods and drought at small streams with different flow permanence

Floods and droughts are 2 of the most influential factors affecting the structure and function of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in stream ecosystems. Even if these natural disturbances occur at the same magnitude at multiple research sites, the responses may differ according to stream type. In our study, we examined the various responses of functional feeding guilds (FFGs), related to the feeding methods and food types of macroinvertebrates, and habit trait guilds (HTGs), related to the mobility of macroinvertebrates and location of food obtained, to floods and droughts in different stream types (perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral). The stream types were categorised according to the stream flow conditions, flow permanence, and stream connectivity. Perennial streams were those maintaining continuous lotic habitats; intermittent streams were lotic habitats during periods of heavy rain but either connected or isolated pools during dry periods; and ephemeral streams existed only during the rainy season. Among the substrates,cobbles and boulders were highly dominant during heavy rain, especially in the first periods of heavy rain, whereas silt and sand were more often present in high proportions at intermittent stream sites. Across all stream types, highly intense and heavy rain led to a decrease in species richness and abundance, with changes in the composition of both FFGs and HTGs. Organisms characterised as scrapers and/or clingers (e.g., Ecdyonurus dracon, E. levis, and Simuliidae sp.),were highly resistant to high discharge compared to other FFGs or HTGs and were dominant during floods. In dry periods, the composition and richness of FFGs and HTGs were more affected at intermittent streams than at perennial streams. Long-lasting dry periods consistently reduced lotic habitat abundance and diversity and increased the amount of lentic habitats as well as zones with sedimentation, especially at intermittent stream sites, resulting in a decrease in collector-filterer organisms and an increase in burrowers (e.g., Ephemera strigata). Despite seasonal predictability, however, floods of relatively lower magnitude and intensity provided opportunities for some species, especially clingers (e.g., Epeorus pellucidus) and swimmers (e.g., Baetis fuscatus), to be introduced and/or become established in new habitats downstream in the ephemeral streams. Our research indicated that spatial (i.e., stream type) and temporal (i.e.,floods and drying events) heterogeneities are the defining factors that influence functional diversity in benthic macroinvertebrate communities

Downregulation of protein kinase CK2 activity induces age-related biomarkers in C. elegans

Studies show that a decrease in protein kinase CK2 (CK2) activity is associated with cellular senescence. However, the role of CK2 in organism aging is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether protein kinase CK2 (CK2) modulated longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. CK2 activity decreased with advancing age in the worms. Knockdown of kin-10 (the ortholog of CK2 beta) led to a short lifespan phenotype and induced age-related biomarkers, including retardation of locomotion, decreased pharyngeal pumping rate, increased lipofuscin accumulation, and reduced resistance to heat and oxidative stress. The long lifespan of age-1 and akt-1 mutants was significantly suppressed by kin-10 RNAi, suggesting that CK2 acts downstream of AGE-1 and AKT-1. Kin-10 knockdown did not further shorten the short lifespan of daf-16 mutant worms but either decreased or increased the transcriptional activity of DAF-16 depending on the promoters of the target genes, indicating that CK2 is an upstream regulator of DAF-16 in C. elegans. Kin-10 knockdown increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the worms. Finally, the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly counteracts the lifespan shortening and lipofuscin accumulation induced by kin-10 knockdown. Therefore, the present results suggest that age-dependent CK2 downregulation reduces longevity by associating with both ROS generation and the AGE-1-AKT-1-DAF-16 pathway in C. elegans. © Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.1111sci

Clinical Study Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid on the Fatty Acid Content of the Erythrocyte Membrane and Proteinuria in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid (FA) has cardioprotective effect and is associated with a slower deterioration of albumin excretion in patients with diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of omega-3 FA on proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy patients who are controlling blood pressure (BP) with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). In addition, we identified changes in erythrocyte membrane FA contents. A total of 19 patients who were treated with ACEi or ARB for at least 6 months were treated for 12 weeks with omega-3 FA (Omacor, 3 g/day) or a control treatment (olive oil, 3 g/day). Proteinuria levels were unchanged after 12 weeks compared with baseline values in both groups. The erythrocyte membrane contents of omega-3 FA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were significantly increased, and oleic acid, arachidonic acid : EPA ratio, and omega-6 : omega-3 FA ratio were significantly decreased after 12 weeks compared with the baseline values in the omega-3 FA group. Although omega-3 FA did not appear to alter proteinuria, erythrocyte membrane FA contents, including oleic acid, were altered by omega-3 FA supplementation

Nanovesicles derived from iron oxide nanoparticles-incorporated mesenchymal stem cells for cardiac repair

Because of poor engraftment and safety concerns regarding mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, MSC-derived exosomes have emerged as an alternative cell-free therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). However, the diffusion of exosomes out of the infarcted heart following injection and the low productivity limit the potential of clinical applications. Here, we developed exosome-mimetic extracellular nanovesicles (NVs) derived from iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs)-incorporated MSCs (IONP-MSCs). The retention of injected IONP-MSC-derived NVs (IONP-NVs) within the infarcted heart was markedly augmented by magnetic guidance. Furthermore, IONPs significantly increased the levels of therapeutic molecules in IONP-MSCs and IONP-NVs, which can reduce the concern of low exosome productivity. The injection of IONP-NVs into the infarcted heart and magnetic guidance induced an early shift from the inflammation phase to the reparative phase, reduced apoptosis and fibrosis, and enhanced angiogenesis and cardiac function recovery. This approach can enhance the therapeutic potency of an MSC-derived NV therapy.

The cascade of care for latent tuberculosis infection in congregate settings:a national cohort 1 analysis, Korea, 2017-18

BACKGROUND: In 2017, Korea implemented a nationwide project to screen and treat latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in high-risk for transmission public congregate settings. We aimed to assess programme success using a cascade of care framework. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a cohort study of people from three congregate settings screened between March 2017 and December 2018: (1) first-grade high school students, (2) employees of educational institutions, (3) employees of social welfare facilities. We report percentages of participants with LTBI completing each step in the cascade of care model. Poisson regression models were used to determine factors associated with not visiting clinics, not initiating treatment, and not completing treatment. RESULTS: Among the 96,439 participants who had a positive interferon-gamma release assay result, the percentage visiting clinics for further assessment, to initiate treatment, and who then completed treatment were 50.7, 34.7, and 28.9%, respectively. Compared to those aged 20-34 years, individuals aged < 20 years and aged ≥ 65 years were less likely to visit clinics, though more likely to complete treatment once initiated. Using public health centres rather than private hospitals was associated with people "not initiating treatment" (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 3.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.95-3.86). Nine-month isoniazid monotherapy therapy was associated with "not completing treatment," compared to 3-month isoniazid and rifampin therapy (aRR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.16-1.41). CONCLUSION: Among participants with LTBI from three congregate settings, less than one third completed treatment. Age, treatment centre, and initial regimen were important determinants of losses to care through the cascade

Variation block-based genomics method for crop plants

BACKGROUND: In contrast with wild species, cultivated crop genomes consist of reshuffled recombination blocks, which occurred by crossing and selection processes. Accordingly, recombination block-based genomics analysis can be an effective approach for the screening of target loci for agricultural traits. RESULTS: We propose the variation block method, which is a three-step process for recombination block detection and comparison. The first step is to detect variations by comparing the short-read DNA sequences of the cultivar to the reference genome of the target crop. Next, sequence blocks with variation patterns are examined and defined. The boundaries between the variation-containing sequence blocks are regarded as recombination sites. All the assumed recombination sites in the cultivar set are used to split the genomes, and the resulting sequence regions are termed variation blocks. Finally, the genomes are compared using the variation blocks. The variation block method identified recurring recombination blocks accurately and successfully represented block-level diversities in the publicly available genomes of 31 soybean and 23 rice accessions. The practicality of this approach was demonstrated by the identification of a putative locus determining soybean hilum color. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the variation block method is an efficient genomics method for the recombination block-level comparison of crop genomes. We expect that this method will facilitate the development of crop genomics by bringing genomics technologies to the field of crop breeding

Large Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma Arising in the Scalp

Superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC), a rare sub-type of basal cell carcinoma, can frequently occur in younger patients. This cancer type preferentially develops on the trunk. However, other subtypes of BCC can occur in the head and neck, probably secondary to sunlight exposure. Especially, sBCC on the scalp has been rarely-reported, accounting for 0.7~0.8% of all sBCC cases. We report a case of 71-year-old female with a large sBCC of the scalp, an unusual site of sBCC

Intra-host competition and interactions between Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strains in mixed-infected soybean

Abstract Over the past two decades, the dominant Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strain in South Korea has changed from G5 to G7H. To examine the dominance of G7H, intra-host competition between G7H and G5 was evaluated in soybean plants infected with a mixture of SMV strains. The distribution patterns of the two SMV strains in soybean plants inoculated with G7H, G5 and G7H/G5 were investigated at designated time points by RT-PCR/RFLP analysis, which enables the specific differentiation of low concentrations of SMV strains and the detection of mixed infection at any given time. When leaves of &apos;Kwangankong&apos; and &apos;Tawonkong&apos; were infected with both strains, the upper leaves had only the G7H strain in simultaneous infections. In sequential inoculations, the leaves exhibited mosaic symptoms caused by G7H, and the G5 strain was not detected in plants pre-inoculated with the G7H strain before inoculation with the G5 strain. In the reverse treatment, both G5 and G7H were present at every vegetative stage. In addition, interactions between the virulence and dominance of G7H, G5, and G1, a less virulent strain, were investigated. Three landrace soybeans were co-inoculated with G7H/G5, G7H/G1, G5/G1, and G7H/G5/G1 sets. There was no significant difference between virulence and dominance. These results demonstrate the dominance of G7H in mixed infections and could explain the prevalence of G7H in South Korea