Simplicillium lanosoniveum, a mycoparasite of Phakopsora pachyrhizi and its use as a biological control agent

In 2007, a filamentous fungus was recovered from sori of soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, collected from Louisiana and Florida. This fungus was identified as Simplicillium lanosoniveum on the basis of ITS sequence data and morphological traits. Simplicillium lanosoniveum was found coiling within sori and around urediniospores and showed a trophic attraction to rust sori, extending from sorus to sorus. In co-inoculated soybean leaves, the fungus did not grow or establish on leaf surfaces until sori erupted. Similarly, S. lanosoniveum colonized within 3 days and sporulated within 4 days on leaves showing disease symptoms. In field studies, when soybean leaves were inoculated with S. lanosoniveum during the latent stages of infection of SBR, disease progression was significantly limited. Additionally, sori became increasingly red-brown, which appeared to represent accelerated aging of sori. In the presence of S. lanosoniveum, urediniospores turned brown and failed to germinate. To examine the mode of action by which S. lanosoniveum antagonized urediniospores, we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as confocal microscopy to characterize the interaction. Putative penetration points were observed over germ pores, and hyphae penetrated urediniospores through germ pores within the first 24 hours. By the third day, hyphae exited urediniospores and sporulated on the surface of colonized urediniospores. These studies provide evidence of a mycoparasitic interaction between S. lanosoniveum and P. pachyrhizi. Implications of this mycoparasitic relationship include potential use of S. lanosoniveum as a component of an integrated pest management program or as a biological control agent in organic soybean production

Southern right whale vocalisations, and the “spot” call in Australian waters: characteristics; spatial and temporal patterns; and a potential source - the southern right whale

Passive acoustic recordings collected in Australian temperate waters were used to provide the first summary of southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) vocalisations in Australia, and to document the characteristics, and temporal and spatial patterns of an as yet unattributed whale sound, referred to as the “spot” call, which is suggested to be produced by the southern right whale

Spinal Epidural Abscess Complicated by Meningitis, Sepsis and Thrombocytopenia in a Patient Lacking Traditional Risk Factors

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare diagnosis with a classic triad of fever, spinal pain and neurologic deficits. Only a small proportion of patients have all three findings, making the diagnosis challenging. Here we present a case of cervical and thoracic spinal epidural abscess complicated by meningitis, sepsis and thrombocytopenia in a patient lacking traditional risk factors. The patient was initially treated non-operatively secondary to thrombocytopenia but subsequently required transfer to a tertiary care facility for surgical drainage after clinical deterioration. This case report highlights the need for a high index of suspicion and low threshold for imaging when considering this rare but potentially deadly condition

Quality of Neonatal Health Care: Learning From Health Workers’ Experiences in Critical Care in Kilimanjaro Region, Northeast Tanzania

Neonatal deaths are generally attributed to suboptimal standards of health care. Health care worker motivation and adherence to existing guidelines are rarely studied. To assess the performance of health workers for neonatal health care in the hospitals of Kilimanjaro region. A descriptive study using a semi-structured interview for health care workers at a tertiary referral hospital and peripheral health facilities (regional referral, district hospitals and health centres).was used. Health Care Workers (HCW) were asked to recall a scenario of a critically ill neonate admitted in the wards and the treatment that was provided. The WHO Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT) guidelines were used as a standard reference for knowledge of critical care. Birth asphyxia was the most recalled health problem requiring critical care, reported by 27.5% of 120 HCW at both peripheral hospitals and by 46.4% of 28 health workers in tertiary referral centres. Half of the HCW commented on their own performance (47.5%, n=140). HCW presented with low to moderate levels of knowledge for critical care were at 92%. Supplementary training was associated with a higher levels of knowledge of neonatal critical care (p value = 0.05). HCW in peripheral hospital had lower levels of knowledge (only 44.7% at peripheral hospitals had sufficient ratings compared to 82.1% at the referral centre). [Pearson χ2 (2) = 12.10, p value = 0.002]. Guided Practical-Competence Diagnostic Specific neonatal health care training is highly needed in the peripheral facilities of rural Kilimanjaro region

How Dry Seasons Affect Woody Plants

Pattern, frequency, and amounts of rainfall are important components to plant health. Water is an essential plant component, making up 70 percent to 90 percent of plant mass. Growth, photosynthesis (manufacture of food), nutrient transport, important chemical reactions, and the production of secondary metabolites are all dependent upon water uptake from roots. Water expands and enlarges new cells within stems and leaves, which holds them upright (turgor pressure). During dry seasons and drought conditions, plants become stressed (Figure 1). Growth ceases, nutrient transport slows, and plants wilt as cells become water-deficient. Severe, long-term, or consecutive drought events may cause permanent damage

Including Students with Disabilities and Achieving Accountability: Educators’ Emerging Challenge

The nation-wide movement toward increased accountability in our schools has been implemented in large part through state-mandated standardized testing of students. The state assessments in Texas, as in many states, have a powerful influence on educators’ decisions and practices. Whether or not students with special learning needs are provided with an educational experience in the least restrictive environment is dependent upon the decisions and actions of educators. The high-stakes testing agenda in Texas influences decisions related to the inclusion of students with special learning needs. In this article, we examine the issue of how the inclusion of students with disabilities is being achieved in the midst of the high-stakes testing environment of south Texas. Using a questionnaire mailed to general and special education teachers along with school administrators, we examine educators’ attitudes/practices concerning inclusion and testing

Plant Diseases [2016]

Anyone who has ever planted a garden knows not only the rewards of beautiful flowers, fruit, and/ or vegetables, but also the disappointment when plants become diseased or damaged. Many factors cause plants to exhibit poor vigor, changes in appearance, or even death. Both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors can negatively impact plant heath. Disorders that result from non-living factors (such as nutrient deficiencies, over/under watering, temperature stress, and chemical damage) are discussed in subsequent chapters. This chapter focuses on those living organisms that cause disease: fungi, water molds, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas, and parasitic plants

miRNAs and their role in neural crest development

The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent, migratory cell population that is unique to vertebrate embryos and gives rise to many derivatives, such as the craniofacial skeleton, sensory neurons and pigment cells. A complex gene regulatory network underlies the process of NC formation, which involves the early induction of the neural plate border (NPB), specification of the NC, migration of the NC away from the neural tube along distinct pathways and differentiation into diverse cell types. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding regulatory genes, which act posttranscriptionally to regulate gene expression. They are of widespread significance and have been implicated in many biological processes. Many miRNAs have now been identified, however, as of yet, they have not been shown to have any direct roles in early NC development. Using various molecular techniques this study has placed specific miRNAs within the complex NC gene network. These miRNAs are miR-196a and miR-219. SRNA sequencing of induced Xenopus NC tissue generated a miRNA expression profile which in combination with whole mount in situ hybridisation (WISH) revealed multiple candidate miRNAs expressed in NC. Using knockdown (KD) experiments, the depletion of miR-196a and miR-219 resulted in aberrant NC development including abnormal craniofacial cartilage development. Using luciferase assays, this study shows for the first time that miR-219 directly targets the transcription factor Eya1 in vitro. This gene lies directly upstream of the NPB marker Pax3. When miR-219 is knocked down, Pax3 expression is expanded across the surface ectoderm of the embryo suggesting the miR-219 serves to inhibit the Pax3 domain. To begin to understand the molecular mechanisms behind both this phenotype and why the NC is lost, RNA sequencing on dissected NC tissue was employed. Results from this sequencing data demonstrated that following miR-219 KD the NPB and the placodes form whilst the NC is lost. This indicates that miR-219 is playing a role in ensuring the correct specification of NC. In comparison, following miR-196a KD the NPB development is impaired and derivatives are lost (placode and NC). This implies miR-196a has an earlier role in ensuring the correct induction of the NPB possibly through fine-tuning early inducing signals such as BMP and Notch. Using the data presented in this study, the first models of how specific miRNAs could function in NC development have been formulated

Quantifying uncertainties in the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials considering regional characteristics in Japan

In the evaluation of concrete sustainability, what constitutes "sustainable" to one region may vary from another. This often leads to methodological forms of uncertainties that makes the evaluation process more complex. As such, this paper aims to quantify the effect of uncertainties in the regional context on the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials. This is carried out by quantifying the regional context through establishing a weighting scheme and then integrating the obtained weights into the sustainability analysis of concrete materials in tandem with uncertainty analysis. Japan is used as a case study because although it relatively appears as a homogeneous country, its prefectures possess unique characteristics that may make the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials vary across prefectures. Cluster analysis is carried out in the 47 prefectures of Japan using a set of regional context indicators. Five clusters are identified with varying characteristics and these are translated into different weighting schemes. The established weights are used in the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials using multi-criteria decision-making analysis. The results showed that one mix is the most sustainable for four of the clusters and a different mix is the most sustainable for the remaining cluster. When uncertainty analysis is conducted, the effect of the weights in the sustainability evaluation is explained by examining the average scores of the concrete mixes and the variance of the scores across the five clusters. This investigation facilitated the understanding of how regional differences and the uncertainties associated with it impact the evaluation of concrete sustainability