A Pilot Study to Measure Upper Extremity H-reflexes Following Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy after Stroke

Upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis persists after stroke, limiting hand function. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an effective intervention to improve UE recovery, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Our objective was to establish a reliable protocol to measure UE agonist–antagonist forearm monosynaptic reflexes in a pilot study to determine if NMES improves wrist function after stroke. We established the between-day reliability of the H-reflex in the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) musculature for individuals with prior stroke (n = 18). The same-day generation of ECRL/FCR H-reflex recruitment curves was well tolerated, regardless of age or UE spasticity. The between-day reliability of the ECRL H-reflex was enhanced above FCR, similar to healthy subjects [20], with the Hmax the most reliable parameter quantified in both muscles. H-reflex and functional measures following NMES show the potential for NMES-induced increases in ECRL Hmax, but confirmation requires a larger clinical study. Our initial results support the safe, easy, and efficacious use of in-home NMES, and establish a potential method to measure UE monosynaptic reflexes after stroke

The Fueling Diagram: Linking Galaxy Molecular-to-Atomic Gas Ratios to Interactions and Accretion

To assess how external factors such as local interactions and fresh gas accretion influence the global ISM of galaxies, we analyze the relationship between recent enhancements of central star formation and total molecular-to-atomic (H2/HI) gas ratios, using a broad sample of field galaxies spanning early-to-late type morphologies, stellar masses of 10^(7.2-11.2) Msun, and diverse stages of evolution. We find that galaxies occupy several loci in a "fueling diagram" that plots H2/HI vs. mass-corrected blue-centeredness, a metric tracing the degree to which galaxies have bluer centers than the average galaxy at their stellar mass. Spiral galaxies show a positive correlation between H2/HI and mass-corrected blue-centeredness. When combined with previous results linking mass-corrected blue-centeredness to external perturbations, this correlation suggests a link between local galaxy interactions and molecular gas inflow/replenishment. Intriguingly, E/S0 galaxies show a more complex picture: some follow the same correlation, some are quenched, and a distinct population of blue-sequence E/S0 galaxies (with masses below key transitions in gas richness) defines a separate loop in the fueling diagram. This population appears to be composed of low-mass merger remnants currently in late- or post-starburst states, in which the burst first consumes the H2 while the galaxy center keeps getting bluer, then exhausts the H2, at which point the burst population reddens as it ages. Multiple lines of evidence suggest connected evolutionary sequences in the fueling diagram. In particular, tracking total gas-to-stellar mass ratios within the diagram provides evidence of fresh gas accretion onto low-mass E/S0s emerging from central starbursts. Drawing on a comprehensive literature search, we suggest that virtually all galaxies follow the same evolutionary patterns found in our broad sample.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures (table 4 available at http://user.physics.unc.edu/~dstark/table4_csv.txt), accepted for publication in Ap

A world list of chickpea and pigeonpea pathogens

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) are mandate pulses of ICRISAT. The first world list of chickpea and pigeonpea pathogens was published in 1978 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-3) and was revised in 1980 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-8), in 1984 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-32), and in 1989 (ICRISAT Legumes Pathology Progress Report-7). This comprehensive list contains information available as of December 1995 and has been prepared mainly from published reports and observations by ICRISAT researchers and cooperators. Pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses and mycoplasma, and nematodes) and their global distribution are listed. The occurrence of the pathogens in 1978 and 1995 is briefly reviewed. Common names for the diseases of chickpea and pigeonpea are also given..

A potential substitute for agar in routine cultural work on fungi and bacteria

Agar was first used by Fanny Eilshemius Hessc in 1881 (Hitchens and Leikind 1939) as a solidifying agent in the preparation of bacteriological culture media. Subsequently, agar has been used in Increasing quantities in microbiological laboratories all over the world. Agar is a gelatinous complex polsaccharide obtain from such marine algae as Gelidiella sp Gracilaria sp.................

Important Disease Problems of Kabuli Chickpea

Both types of chickpeas, kabuli and dcsi, arc affcctcd by thc samc rangc of pathogcns. Discascs that arc more important in thc kabuli chickpca-growing rcpions arc: ascochyta blight (Ascocltyta rabiei), botrytis gray mould (Borryris cinerea), fusarium and vcrticillium wilts (Fusarium atysponmt and Ve~ficillirlmo lbo-atnrnt), collar and root rots (Scleroriurn mljsii, Rhizocfottia hufuricolo, Fusaritor~ solani, Rltizocrottiu sokutti and Qrhilrtrt ~rlfirr~ror~), stunt (bcan lcaf roll virus) and ncmatodcs. Whilc foliar discascs such as ascochya blight and botrytis gray mould havc hccn rcsponsiblc for devastating crops in diffcrcnt countries in ccrtain years, soil-hornc discascs such as fuaarium wilt and collar and root rots havc causcd lcss spectacular I)ut consihtcnt d;tmagc. This papcr gives LI Ijricf itccount of thc important discascs of kabuli chickpca with spccial rcfcrcncc to cconomic importance, hiolom and cpidcmiology, and control. The prcscnt status on ~hcav ;tilahili~yo f sourccs of gcnctic rcsistancc to various discascs is discussed

Mechanism of resistance to Aceria cajani in pigeonpea.

Leaf anatomy was studied in relation to resistance to Aceria cajani, the vector of pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus in 7 lines of pigeon peas. The leaf cuticle and epidermal cell wall were 50-100% thicker in resistant lines than in susceptible lines. In the resistant lines, cuticle thickness was 3.79 µm in ICP 7035 and 3.03 µm in ICP 8862. In the susceptible lines it was 1.89 µm in C 11, 1.52 µm in BDN 1 and 2.27 µm in ICP 8863. The cuticle thickness in the moderately resistant lines ICP 2376 (1.89 µm) and ICP 10976 (2.27 µm) was similar to that of the susceptible lines. When measured, the stylet length of A. cajani was less than the leaf cuticle thickness of the resistant lines. Resistance was, therefore, attributed to the thick cuticle of resistant lines through which the mite vectors could not penetrate into the living epidermal cells to transmit the pathogen

Control of Mycoflora Associated with Pigeonpea Seeds

Associated with the seeds of four field-grown pigeonpea cultivars, Alternaria sp., Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium spp., and Rhizoctonia bataticola were predominant. Cultivars NP-69 (late) and Prabhat (extra early) harbored more fungi than did T-21 (early) or ICP-1 (mid). Genotypic differences rather than weather during pod maturity, or different storage periods seem to Influence the intensity or seed-borne mycoflora. Greater reduction in seed germination was observed incultivars NP-69 and Prabhat which had higher frequency of mycoflora, especially Aspergillus spp. Seed treatment with Benlate T at 3 g/kg provided crmplete control of all seed-borne fungi with no adverse effect on germination. This treatment can be recommended for controlling seed-borne mycoflora to ensure safe imernational exchange of seed

A World List of Chickpe and Pigeonpea Pathogens

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) are mandate pulses of ICRISAT. The first world list of chickpea and pigeonpea pathogens was published in 1978 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-3) and was revised in 1980 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-8), in 1984 (ICRISAT Pulse Pathology Progress Report-32), and in 1989 (ICRISAT Legumes Pathology Progress Report-7). This comprehensive list contains information available as of December 1995 and has been prepared mainly from published reports and observations by ICRISAT researchers and cooperators. Pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses and mycoplasma, and nematodes) and their global distribution are listed. The occurrence of the pathogens in 1978 and 1995 is briefly reviewed. Common names for the diseases of chickpea and pigeonpea are also given. We hope that this revised list will be useful to chickpea and pigeonpea researchers and extension workers all over the world..

Role Of An Eriophyid Mite Aceria Cajani (Acari: Eriophyidae) In Transmission And Spread Of Sterility Mosaic Of Pigeonpea

Sterility mosaic (SM) is one of the most important diseases of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in India causing an annual loss of 205,000 tonnes of grain, especially in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (Kannaiyan el ai, 1984). The disease is presumed to be caused by a virus, although the causal agent is yet to be determined (Capoor, 1952). Selh (1962) and Nene (1972) reported that the eriophyid mite, Acer/a cajant ChannaBasavanna could transmit SM. However, in spite of the lack of evidence of the viral nature of this pathogen and its association with the diseased plants, mite toxaemia could be the possible cause of SM (Slykhuis, 1980). There is also no information on the nature and extent of spread of the disease under field conditions and the relationship between the mite vector and SM pathogen. In this paper, results of the studies on the possibility of a mite-transmitted pathogen being the cause of SM, relationship between the mile vector and SM pathogen, and spread of the disease and the mite vector under field conditions are reported

Household income and contraceptive methods among female youth: a cross-sectional study using the Canadian Community Health Survey (2009-2010 and 2013-2014).

BACKGROUND: Low socioeconomic status is one of many barriers that may limit access to family planning services. We aimed to examine the relation between household income and contraceptive methods among female youth in Canada. METHODS: Our study population included sexually active females aged 15-24 who were trying to avoid pregnancy. We used cross-sectional data from the 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey to compare household income and other sociodemographic covariates for those using oral contraceptives, injectable contraceptives, condoms or a dual method (condoms plus oral or injectable contraceptives). RESULTS: Of female youth at risk for unintended pregnancy, 59.2% reported using oral contraceptives, 29.0% used dual methods, 16.8% used condoms only, 2.5% used injectable contraceptives and 13.6% did not use contraception. In multiple regression models, lower annual household income (< $80 000) was associated with decreased use of oral contraceptives (relative risk [RR] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-0.91) and dual methods (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.71-0.91), increased use of condoms (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11-1.67) and injectable contraceptives (RR 1.69, 95% CI 0.98-2.92), and a greater risk of contraceptive nonuse (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.94-1.50). INTERPRETATION: We found that lower household income was associated with decreased use of oral contraceptives and increased reliance on injectable contraceptives and condoms only. Young, low-income females may face barriers to accessing the full range of contraceptive methods available in Canada. Easier access to affordable contraception may decrease the number of female youth at risk for unintended pregnancy due to financial barriers