Perpetrating Cyber Dating Abuse: A Brief Report on the Role of Aggression, Romantic Jealousy and Gender

There is increasing evidence that the use of elec-tronic communication technology (ECT) is being integrated into romantic relationships, which can be used as a medium to control a romantic partner. Most research focuses on the vic-tims of cyber dating abuse, however, we focused on the factors that predict perpetration of cyber dating abuse. We explored whether aggression (verbal aggression, physical aggression, anger and hostility), romantic jealousy (emotional, cognitive and behavioral jealousy), and gender predicted perpetration of cyber dating abuse (n = 189). We found that hostility, behav-ioral jealousy and gender significantly predicted perpetration of cyber dating abuse. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of the psychological factors that drive cyber dating abuse in romantic relationships

Effects of a penthiopyrad and picoxystrobin fungicide mixtureon phoma stem canker (Leptosphaeria spp.) on UK winteroilseed rape

© Koninklijke Nederlandse Planteziektenkundige Vereniging 2016. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in European Journal of Plant Pathology following peer review. The final publication [Sewell, T.R., Moloney, S., Ashworth, M. et al., European Journal of Plant Pathology (2016) 145: 675-685, first published online April 5, 2016] is available at Springer via doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-016-0916-8In the UK, fungicides are often used to controlphoma stem canker on winter oilseed rape. Field trialswere established near Boxworth, Cambridgeshire for fourcropping seasons (2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and2014/15) to test the efficacy of a new fungicide mixtureRefinzar® (penthiopyrad + picoxystrobin) by comparisonto an existing fungicide Proline 275® (prothioconazole)against phoma stem canker (Leptosphaeria spp.) andthe effect on winter oilseed rape (cv. Catana) yield. Ineach season, weather data were collected from a weatherstation at Boxworth and the release of ascospores wasmonitored using a nearby Burkard spore sampler. Thepatterns of ascospore release differed between seasonsand related to weather conditions. Fungicidespenthiopyrad + picoxystrobin and prothioconazole wereapplied in October/November when 10 % of plants hadphoma leaf spotting (T1, early), 4/8 weeks after T1 (T2,late) or at both T1 and T2 (combined). When phoma leafspot symptoms were assessed in autumn/winter,penthiopyrad + picoxystrobin and prothioconazole bothdecreased numbers of phoma leaf spots caused byL. maculans; there were few leaf spots caused byL. biglobosa. Penthiopyrad + picoxystrobin andprothioconazole both reduced phoma stem canker severitybefore harvest compared to the untreated control butdid not increase yield in these seasons when epidemicswere not severe. In 2013/2014, the presence ofL. maculans and L. biglobosa in upper stem lesions orstem base cankers was determined by species-specificPCR. The proportions of stems with L. maculans DNAwere much greater than those with L. biglobosa DNA forboth upper stem lesions and basal stem cankers. Theseresults suggest that both penthiopyrad + picoxystrobinand prothioconazole can decrease phoma stem cankerseverity on winter oilseed rape in severe disease seasons.Peer reviewe

The Change Up Project : using social norming theory with young people to address domestic abuse and promote healthy relationships

This paper presents the findings of a secondary analysis of data collected during a pilot project, Change Up, which used a social norming approach (SNA) to address domestic violence and abuse (DVA) with young people aged 13–14. A SNA is based upon a well-articulated theory of behavior and evidence-based methodology for addressing social justice issues. This reflects a paradigm shift focusing upon strengths and positives, rather than pathologizing behaviours. Adopting a SNA, the Change Up project comprised a baseline survey followed by the intervention (workshop and peer-to-peer campaign), ending with a post-intervention survey. It was delivered in two high schools in a UK city between 2015 and 16. A secondary analysis of the survey data collected during the surveys and qualitative data collected at the end of each workshop was undertaken and this is reported here. Change Up data illustrates that most young people in the sample thought that DVA is unacceptable. There was, however, a gender difference in the norms held about the social acceptability of girls using physical violence against boys (and vice versa). The analysis of Change Up data indicates that a social norming approach to DVA programs aimed at young people can be successful in promoting attitude and behaviour change. It also highlights a continuing need for young people’s education about relationships and gender equality

Quantitative PCR analysis of abundance of airborne propagules of Leptosphaeria species in air samples from different regions of Poland

When airborne propagules of Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa were collected in Poland at three ecologically different sites from 1 September to 30 November in 2004 to 2008, using a Hirst-type seven-day volumetric spore trap, there were fluctuations in timing of ascospore release and diverse ratios between airborne propagules of both species depending on season, field location and weather conditions. The detection was done using the microscope as well as quantitative PCR with species-specific primers targeted against fragments of β-tubulin genes and quantified with a dual-labelled fluorescent probe approach. This detection chemistry is described for the first time for L. maculans and L. biglobosa. Its advantage over the previous ITS-based SYBR-Green chemistry resides in improved sensitivity and the virtual absence of false positives in the detection of these fungi. There were significant, positive correlations between data obtained using visual assessment of ascospore numbers and DNA concentrations that were measured by qPCR. Climatic differences between the oilseed rape growing regions could have significantly affected the biological processes of pseudothecial maturation and ascospore development of the pathogens. The data suggest that regular rain events of intermediate intensity recorded in the Maritime region favoured the maturation of the pathogen more than the drier weather recorded in the Silesia or Pomerania regions. It was observed that the number of rainy days was of greater importance than the cumulative rainfall to obtain the generative sporulation of the pathogen. Accurate detection of airborne inoculum of pathogenic Leptosphaeria spp. facilitates improved targeting of disease management decisions for oilseed rape protection against phoma stem canker and stem necrosis diseases.Peer reviewe

Avaliação da capacidade de produzir fitotoxinas in vitro por parte de fungos com propriedades antagônicas a nematóides In vitro evaluation of the phytotoxin production ability by fungi with antagonic properties to nematodes

Em trabalho preliminar foram obtidos 24 isolados fúngicos com propriedades antagônicas a nematóides parasitas de plantas segundo experimentos realizados em laboratório. Para dar continuidade a tal trabalho, tornou-se desejável dispor de metodologia simples e de baixo custo para selecionar aqueles sem capacidade de produção de substâncias fitotóxicas, para serem empregados em experimentos em casa-de-vegetação com fitonematóides. Conseqüentemente, cultivaram-se os fungos em meio líquido e, após filtração, as fases líquidas foram liofilizadas e extraídas com acetato de etila/metanol. Os extratos foram concentrados sob vácuo e dissolvidos em água e solução de sacarose para serem submetidos a testes in vitro com sementes de alface (Lactuca sativa L.) e com coleóptilos de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), respectivamente. Vinte e três isolados pertencentes aos gêneros Arthrobotrys, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Cunninghamella, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Mortierella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Sclerotinia, Trichoderma e Verticillium, apresentaram atividade tóxica contra os coleóptilos de trigo. Apenas os isolados de Cylindrocarpon magnusianum (Sacc.) Wollenw., Fusarium moniliforme Shelden, Mortierella sp., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson e Penicillium sp. apresentaram atividade fitotóxica no teste com sementes de alface. Somente um isolado de F. moniliforme se mostrou inativo em ambos os testes, o que sugere que não seja produtor de fitotoxinas.<br>In a previous work 24 fungi cultures were selected due to their antagonic properties to phytonematodes in laboratory experiments. To proceed to further studies, it became desirable to use a simple and inexpensive methodology to identify those fungi able to produce phytotoxic substances, so that only the non phytotoxin producers could be used in green-house experiments with plant parasite nematodes. Thus, fungi were grown in liquid medium and the resulting mixtures were submitted to filtration. The liquid phases were freeze-dried and extracted with ethyl acetate/methanol. After extracts concentration under vacuum, the remaining substances were dissolved in water and aqueous saccharose solution to be submitted to in vitro assays with lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) and wheat coleoptile (Triticum aestivum L.), respectively. Twenty three isolates from genera Arthrobotrys, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Cunninghamella, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Mortierella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Sclerotinia, Trichoderma and Verticillium, presented toxic activity against wheat coleoptile, though only isolates of Cylindrocarpon magnusianum (Sacc.) Wollenw., Fusarium moniliforme Shelden, Mortierella sp., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson and Penicillium sp., presented phytotoxic effects in the lettuce seeds assay. Only one isolate of F. moniliforme was inactive in both assays, what suggests that this fungus is not able to produce phytotoxins