Emerging health care-associated infections in the geriatric population.

The increasing number of persons >65 years of age form a special population at risk for nosocomial and other health care-associated infections. The vulnerability of this age group is related to impaired host defenses such as diminished cell-mediated immunity. Lifestyle considerations, e.g., travel and living arrangements, and residence in nursing homes, can further complicate the clinical picture. The magnitude and diversity of health care-associated infections in the aging population are generating new arenas for prevention and control efforts

Ionized Reflection Spectra from Accretion Disks Illuminated by X-Ray Pulsars

X-ray reflection signatures are observed around multiple classes of accreting compact objects. Modelling these features yield important constraints on the physics of accretion disks, motivating the development of X-ray reflection models appropriate for a variety of systems and illumination conditions. Here, constant density ionized X-ray reflection models are presented for a disk irradiated with a very hard power-law X-ray spectrum (\Gamma \u3c 1) and a variable high-energy cutoff. These models are then applied to the Suzaku data of the accreting X-ray pulsar LMC X-4, where very good fits are obtained with a highly ionized reflector responsible for both the broad Fe K line and the soft excess. The ionized reflector shows strong evidence for significant Doppler broadening and is redshifted by ~10^4 km/s. These features indicate that the reflecting material is associated with the complex dynamics occurring at the inner region of the magnetically-truncated accretion disk. Thus, reflection studies of X-ray pulsar spectra may give important insights into the accretion physics at the magnetospheric radius

USDA-ARS sugar beet germplasm developed in Salinas, CA, evaluated for rhizomania resistance in Idaho

Thirty-one sugar beet germplasm breeding lines and releases produced by the USDA-ARS sugarbeet program at Salinas, CA, and one line from the USDA-ARS sugarbeet program at East Lansing, MI, were evaluated for resistance to rhizomania under south-central Idaho conditions at Twin Falls, ID. The field had been identified as having Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), which overcomes resistance conditioned by the Rzl gene. Single-row plots 10 ft long with 22-in. spacing were planted on 23 May 05. Plants were thinned to 4 to 6-in. spacing in mid-Jun. The materials were predominantly multigerm; they were hand thinned to single plants during the first week of Jul. The trial layout was a randomized complete block with eight replicates, however, the blocks were divided into 16 sub-blocks of six rows in which single-row plots of two entries and four control lines were randomized. The control lines were Beta443OR (Rzl gene), GO17R (Rz2 gene), Angelina (Rzl+Rz2 genes) and Beta6600 (no resistance to rhizomania). This allowed each entry plot to have its own control (Local Control). This was necessary given the uneven distribution in the field of resistance breaking strains of BNYVV. Naturally occurring Curly top virus infection was found throughout the field early in the season. Many plants of the rhizomania susceptible control were killed apparently by curly top and therefore this should be considered when evaluating the results. Plants were scored 19 Sep for curly top using a 0-9 scale with 0 showing no symptoms and 9 being dead. Plants were topped, roots lifted then scored on 12-13 Oct. Four teams evaluated the trial for rhizomania with each team rating two replicates. Each root was scored based on the traditional 0 to 6 scale which was converted to a 0 to 9 scale. The categories were 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 with 0-3 being resistant, 5-7 susceptible and 9 was dead. The average disease severity was determined to create a disease index (DI) for each entry and control. A second index (DI2) was calculated for each entry-plot to evaluate the entry relative to the mean of the Rz2 and Rzl+Rz2 Local Controls (DI of entry/mean DI of the Rz2 and Rzl+Rz2 Local Controls). The percent healthy roots (categories 0-3 combined) and the percent of healthy roots relative to Rz2 and Rzl+Rz2 Local Controls were calculated (PR and PR2, respectively). The DI and DI2 were transformed with the inverse square root and analyzed using PROC MIXED - SAS with Dunnett's test (P = 0.05) option and PROC GLM – SAS with Fisher's protected LSD test (P = 0.05) option, respectively. PR and PR2 were analyzed with PROC GLM –SAS using Dunnett's test (P = 0.05) and Fisher's protected LSD (P = 0.05) test, respectively. The analysis of variance of DI2 showed that block effects were significant, therefore Spearman's partial correlation (PROC CORR Spearman partial - SAS) was used to analyze the relationship of D1, PR, DI2, PR2, and curly top. PROC CORR Spearman -SAS was used to analyze the relationship between DI and DI2

Beet curly top resistance in USDA-ARS Plant Introduction lines, 2022.

Curly top symptom development was uniform and no other disease problems were evident in the plot area. The resistant and susceptible checks performed as expected for the visual ratings. Statistically, 12 of the entries contain at least some minor resistance since their visual ratings were significantly lower than those for both susceptible checks. Nine entries from the USDA-ARS Utah sugar beet program that were donated to the NPGS in 1983 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 14) were not significantly different from the resistant check. All nine of these entries were statistically more resistant than both susceptible check lines. An additional two entries from the USDA-ARS Utah sugar beet program (NSL 183366 and NSL 183511) and one Beta vulgaris spp. maritima accession collected by USDA-ARS researchers in Morocco (W6 44508) were statistically more resistant than the susceptible sugar beet check SV2012RR, but had statistically higher curly top ratings than the resistant check. These entries along with entries with similar levels of resistance from prior years evaluations will be retested and, if resistance is confirmed, these lines will be considered for incorporation into the USDA-ARS germplasm improvement program as a source of resistance to BCTV

Beet curly top resistance in USDA-ARS Kimberly germplasm, 2022

Curly top caused by Beet curly top virus (BCTV) is a widespread disease problem vectored by the beet leafhopper in semiarid sugar beet production areas. Host resistance is the primary defense against this problem, but resistance in commercial cultivars is only low to intermediate. In order to identify novel sources of curly top resistance, 8 sugar beet lines produced by the USDA-ARS Kimberly sugar beet program were screened in a disease nursery in 2022. The lines were arranged in a randomized complete block design with six replications. A curly top epiphytotic was created by releasing six viruliferous beet leafhoppers per plant at the four- to six-leaf growth stage on 15 Jun. Foliar symptoms were evaluated on 6 July using a scale of 0-9 (0 = healthy and 9 = dead). Curly top symptom development was uniform and no other disease problems were evident in the plot area. The disease pressure in the test was moderately severe with good symptom development in the susceptible checks. Based on the visual rating, five of the entries contain at least some minor resistance since their ratings were lower than the susceptible checks. However, only three entries (KDH13, KDH-39/KDH13, and KDH4-9) were not significantly different from the resistant check. These three entries and the two others with minor resistance will be retested and investigated further for potential release to the general public so they can be utilized to improve BCTV resistance in commercial sugar beet cultivars

Combined Omics Approaches Reveal Distinct Mechanisms of Resistance and/or Susceptibility in Sugar Beet Double Haploid Genotypes at Early Stages of Beet Curly Top Virus Infection

Sugar beet is highly susceptible to Beet curly top virus (BCTV) which significantly reduces yield and sugar production in the semi-arid growing regions worldwide. Sources of genetic resistance to BCTV is highly limited and primarily dependent upon seed treatment with neonicotinoids, the use of which is gradually being restricted. Through double haploid production and genetic selection, we have developed BCTV resistant breeding lines. Using BCTV resistant (R) [KDH13; Line 13, and KDH4-9; Line 4] and susceptible (S) [KDH19-17; Line 19] lines, beet leafhopper meditated natural infection, mRNA/sRNA sequencing, and metabolite analyses we demonstrate potential mechanisms of resistance against the virus. At early infection stages (2- and 6-days post inoculation), examples of differentially expressed genes highly up-regulated in the ‘R’ lines (vs. ‘S’) include EL10Ac5g10437 (inhibitor of trypsin and hageman factor), EL10Ac6g14635 (jasmonate induced protein), EL10Ac3g06016 (ribosome related), EL10Ac2g03119 (unknown) etc. Pathway enrichment analysis showed differentially expressed genes predominantly involved with peroxisome, amino acids metabolism, fatty acid degradation, amino/nucleotide sugar metabolism etc. Metabolite analysis revealed significantly higher amounts of isoflavonoid O-glycosides, flavonoid 8-C glycosides, triterpenoid, iridoid-O-glycosides in the leaves of the ‘R’ lines (vs. ‘S’). The data presented here suggest a combination of transcriptional regulation and production of antiviral metabolites might contribute to BCTV resistance. In addition, genome divergence among BCTV strains differentially affects the production of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and small peptides which may potentially affect pathogenicity and disease symptom development

Evaluation of fungicide and biological treatments for control of fungal storage rots in sugar beet, 2014

Preventing sucrose losses in storage is important to the economic viability of the sugar beet industry. In an effort to establish additional measures for reducing sucrose losses in storage, ten fungicide and/or biological treatments were evaluated on sugar beet roots in a commercial sugar beet storage building for their ability to limit fungal growth on roots harvested 2 Oct. Six of the treatments were applied as a direct spray to roots, but two treatments were applied as a cold fog and two others were applied as a thermal fog. The treated eight-beet root samples were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 6 replications on top of the commercial sugar beet pile inside a storage building. Roots were evaluated for fungal growth, root rot, weight loss, and sucrose reduction. Fungal growth on the root surface ranged from 0 to 58% depending on the rating date and treatment. After 136 days in storage, root rot ranged from 4 to 34%, weight loss ranged from 7.5 to 10.2%, and sucrose reduction ranged from 17 to 33%. The treatments that reduced rot and sucrose reduction the most were Phostrol, Propulse, and Stadium applied as direct sprays and Propulse as a cold fog. Thus, the results indicate that several of the fungicides evaluated have the potential to protect roots from fungal rot in sugar beet storage piles, which could lead to considerable economic benefit for the sugar beet industry