Changes in the Activities, Functions, and Roles of Public Health Educators

Accounts of early activities of public health educators, statements of the American Public Health Association on the qualifications and functions of these educators, and studies concerned with their responsibilities, functions, work, or roles are reviewed. These point up the three major foci in public health education over time in the U.S., viz, dissemination of information, community organization, and health behavior and program planning. Functions of public health educators in emerging settings for practice are presented and the implications of this movement (i.e., movement of health educators into non-traditional settings) for the public health education profession are discussedPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66927/2/10.1177_109019817600400304.pd

Regulation of nitrogen availability results in changes in grain protein content and grain storage subproteomes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Barley grain protein content (GPC) is an important quality factor that determines grain end-use value. The synthesis and accumulation of grain protein is highly dependent on the availability of nitrogen fertilizer, and it is important to understand the underlying control mechanisms of this. In the current study, the GPC and protein composition of mature grain seeds from Yangsimai 3 and Naso Nijo barley cultivars were analyzed. Grain storage subproteomes (albumin, glubulin, hordein and glutelin) were compared in the cultivars grown in both low and high nitrogen level conditions. The GPC of mature grain was significantly higher in Yangsimai 3 than Naso Nijo following nitrogen treatment. Albumin, hordein and glutelin content were increased in Yangsimai, while only hordein content was increased in Naso Nijo. Large-scale analysis of the grain storage subproteome revealed 152 differentially expressed protein spots on 2-DE gels with a pH range of 3-10. Among these, 42 and 66 protein spots were successfully identified by tandem mass spectrometry in Yangsimai 3 and Naso Nijo grown in low and high nitrogen conditions. The identified proteins were further grouped into thirteen categories according to their biological functions. This detailed analysis of grain subproteomes provides information on how barley GPC may be controlled by nitrogen supply

Genome-wide association studies reveal stable loci for wheat grain size under different sowing dates

Background Wheat (Tritium aestivum L.) production is critical for global food security. In recent years, due to climate change and the prolonged growing period of rice varieties, the delayed sowing of wheat has resulted in a loss of grain yield in the area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is of great significance to screen for natural germplasm resources of wheat that are resistant to late sowing and to explore genetic loci that stably control grain size and yield. Methods A collection of 327 wheat accessions from diverse sources were subjected to genome-wide association studies using genotyping-by-sequencing. Field trials were conducted under normal, delayed, and seriously delayed sowing conditions for grain length, width, and thousand-grain weight at two sites. Additionally, the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was applied to evaluate the stability of thousand-grain weight of 327 accessions across multiple sowing dates. Results Four wheat germplasm resources have been screened, demonstrating higher stability of thousand-grain weight. A total of 43, 35, and 39 significant MTAs were determined across all chromosomes except for 4D under the three sowing dates, respectively. A total of 10.31% of MTAs that stably affect wheat grain size could be repeatedly identified in at least two sowing dates, with PVE ranging from 0.03% to 38.06%. Among these, six were for GL, three for GW, and one for TGW. There were three novel and stable loci (4A_598189950, 4B_307707920, 2D_622241054) located in conserved regions of the genome, which provide excellent genetic resources for pyramid breeding strategies of superior loci. Our findings offer a theoretical basis for cultivar improvement and marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding practices

Genome-wide analysis of the MADS-box gene family involved in salt and waterlogging tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

MADS-box transcription factors are crucial members of regulatory networks underlying multiple developmental pathways and abiotic stress regulatory networks in plants. Studies on stress resistance-related functions of MADS-box genes are very limited in barley. To gain insight into this gene family and elucidate their roles in salt and waterlogging stress resistance, we performed genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of MADS-box genes in barley. A whole-genome survey of barley revealed 83 MADS-box genes, which were categorized into type I (Mα, Mβ and Mγ) and type II (AP1, SEP1, AGL12, STK, AGL16, SVP and MIKC*) lineages based on phylogeny, protein motif structure. Twenty conserved motifs were determined and each HvMADS contained one to six motifs. We also found tandem repeat duplication was the driven force for HvMADS gene family expansion. Additionally, the co-expression regulatory network of 10 and 14 HvMADS genes was predicted in response to salt and waterlogging stress, and we proposed HvMADS11,13 and 35 as candidate genes for further exploration of the functions in abiotic stress. The extensive annotations and transcriptome profiling reported in this study ultimately provides the basis for MADS functional characterization in genetic engineering of barley and other gramineous crops

In situ mapping of ion distribution profiles and gene expression reveals interactions between hypoxia and Mn2+/Fe2+ availability in barley roots

Flooding stress affects soil properties thus altering the availability, uptake, and transport of mineral nutrients in plant roots. Flooding stress also increases the amount of soluble Mn2+ and Fe2+ in the soil and their uptake by plants, causing elemental toxicity. However, as oxygen profiles in plant roots are not uniform, it is still unclear how soil flooding will affect Mn2+/Fe2+ absorption and distribution in different cell types and tissues. In this study, waterlogging sensitive barley variety NasoNijo (NN) and tolerant variety TX9425 (TX) were exposed to hypoxia, metal (Mn2+ and Fe2+), and combined hypoxia + metal treatment to map the in situ ion profiles at different regions of barley root. We found that combined hypoxia and metal stress causes significantly more reduction in plant biomass compared with the single submergence or metal stress. Despite this, more Fe and Mn were accumulated under metal stress condition than those under combined stress, regardless of variety. Cultivar NN absorbed more Fe and Mn than TX in the cortical cells of the root meristem and in the mature zone under metal stress which was also verified by histochemical detection. In the mature zone, the expressions of Fe and Mn transporter genes including HvADPRibase-Mn (Manganese-dependent ADP-ribose), HvZIP1 (zinc-regulated transporter /Fe-regulated transporter-like protein 1), HvYS1 (yellow stripe 1), HvNRAMP5 (Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein 5) were significantly downregulated under all three treatments in both barley varieties except HvADPRibase-Mn HvZIP1 cortex of TX were unchanged under metal stress. Interestingly, the transcripts of HvMTP1 (metal tolerance protein 1) were significantly downregulated by metal and combined stress in stele and upregulated by hypoxia and metal stress in cortex of TX, but not affected in NN. It is concluded that Fe and Mn absorption involving HvMTP1is associated with the extent of waterlogging tolerance in barley

Serum angiopoietin-2 and β-hCG as predictors of prolonged uterine bleeding after medical abortion in the first trimester.

OBJECTIVE: The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is an established method for induction of early first trimester abortion, but there is no consensus about the best evaluation of treatment outcome. We evaluate serum Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and β human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in women who had undergone a medical abortion as markers of prolonged uterine bleeding (PUB). METHODS: Prospective trial involving 2843 women attending an gynecology outpatient clinic who following a medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol, the study cohort was divided into women with duration of uterine bleeding >14 days (PUB) and women with duration of uterine bleeding ≤14 days (normal uterine bleeding, NUB). Serum determinations of Ang-2 levels by ELISA and β-hCG levels by electrochemiluminiscence immunoassay. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analyses were calculated and plotted for the diagnostic accuracy of serum β-hCG and Ang-2 concentration to discriminate PUB and NUB. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics for both groups were similar, Only duration of bleeding showed a significant difference between the PUB group and NUB group. Ang-2 serum levels moderately correlated with serum β-hCG levels with statistically significant correlation coefficients of 0.536. Serum β-hCG and Ang-2 levels on day 7 and on day 14 after medical abortion were signifcantly higher in PUB group than in NUB group. Plotted as ROC curves, β-hCG area under curve (AUC) was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.53-0.76) on day 7, rising to AUC = 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.92) on day 14. Using Ang-2 on day 7 and day 14 as predictive parameter resulted in an analogous AUC (AUC = 0.61 on day 7, AUC = 0.78 on day 14). CONCLUSIONS: Both parameters are clinically useful as a diagnostic test in predicting PUB after medical abortion, and can be helpful in uncertain clinical situations, but should be considered as supplementary to a general clinical evaluation

Identification of Wheat Germplasm Resistance to Late Sowing

To evaluate the performance of wheat plant height and spike-related traits under delayed sowing conditions, a screening trial was conducted for wheat germplasm that exhibits resistance to late sowing and early maturity. The differences and stability of plant height and spike-related traits under different sowing dates were analyzed using 327 wheat germplasm sources from a wide range of areas. The results showed that mean values of wheat plant height and spike-related traits generally decreased along with the delay in sowing dates. Broad-sense heritability of plant height (PH), internode length below spike (ILBS), spike length (SL), spikelet per spike (SPS), and spike number (SN) under multiple environments were all above 85%. Ten varieties, including Xiangmai 35, Pingyang 27, Huaimai 23, Huaimai 22, Emai 6, Zhenmai 12, Xiaoyan 81, Shannong 7859, Annong 1589, and Shuiyuan 86 indicated stable performance under different sowing dates, which harboring good resistance to late sowing. The results of this study laid a foundation for breeding high-yield wheat varieties that are resistant to late sowing

Range of phenotypes induced by salt stress at the booting stage in potting mixture experiment.

<p>A: part of the whole trial showing tolerant (left and middle) and susceptible lines (right) in the same trial; B to L: lines with scores of 0 (very tolerant) to 10 (very sensitive – all dead), respectively.</p

QTL identified for different traits under salinity and control conditions in the DH population of TX9425 × Naso Nijo from hydroponic screening.

*<p>See M&M for abbreviations.</p