Management of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita infecting sugar beet as affected by certain bacterial and fungal suspensions

Abstract: Three experiments were conducted in a greenhouse to study the nematicidal activity of Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, B. pumilus and Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma harzianum, T.viride and T. vierns against nematode parameters of Meloidogyne incognita infecting sugar beet. Experiment I was conducted to test B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. pumilus and P. fluorescens, T. harzianum , T. viride and T. vierns as single treatment. T. vierns highly reduced the galls number by 74%, followed by B. pumilus (73%), T. viride (73%), B. subtilis and T. harzianum (71%), B. megaterium (71%) and P. fluorescens (60%). Also, T. vierns caused the highest percentages reduction of egg-masses numbers (80%), followed by B. pumilus, T. harzianum and T. viride that caused 74%, B. megaterium (68%), B. subtilis (65%) and P. fluorescens (61%), respectively. Experiment II was conducted to test T. vierns and B. pumilus as single treatment at doses of 10, 20 and 30ml/pot. Results showed that treatments significantly reduced the number of J2, galls and egg-masses by 79 – 95; 61 – 78 and 64 - 87%, compared to 97; 80 and 88% with Micronema®, respectively. The treatments ,also, by T. vierns and B. pumilus enhanced the length of shoot, fresh and dry weight of shoot, tuber weight and TSS% content of sugar beet. Experiment III revealed that T. vierns and B. pumilus when applied at both times of treatments reduced the numbers of J2; galls and egg-masses by 86 - 96; 68-81 and 69 - 89%, compared to 97; 79 and 87% with Micronema®, respectively. T. vierns when applied at one and/or second times was effective in enhancing the growth parameters viz., length of shoot, fresh and dry weight of shoot and  root (Tuber) weight as well as TSS% content than B. pumilus

Structural and geotechnical observations after the April 25, 2015 M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake and its aftershocks

The April 25, 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) Earthquake (M7.8) and its related aftershocks had a devastating impact on Nepal. The earthquake sequence resulted in nearly 9,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and left hundreds of thousands of inhabitants homeless. With economic losses estimated at several billion US dollars, the financial impact to Nepal is severe and the rebuilding phase will likely span many years. To investigate the effects of this event, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) sponsored a team to visit Nepal, funded by a CEE Rapid Response Grant. From May 22-28, 2015, Youssef Hashash visited Nepal, in collaboration with a Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association team, and collected data primarily related to geotechnical response. From June 7-13, 2015, Larry Fahnestock visited Nepal and collected data related to structural response of buildings, with focus on reinforced concrete frame structures. This report briefly summarizes geotechnical aspects of the events, which are documented more extensively in a GEER Association report, and thoroughly summarizes structural observations.CEE Rapid Response Grant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignOpe

Effect of Modifying Mechanical Ventilator Trigger Sensitivity on Arterial Blood Gases in ICU Patients

Background: Despite the fact that mechanical ventilation is an essential part in management of critically ill patients, mechanically ventilated patients have a higher risk of complications, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study aimed to study the effect of training inspiratory muscle through modifying mechanical ventilator (MV) trigger sensitivity on arterial blood gases in mechanically ventilated patients. Patients and Methods: Sixty adult patients diagnosed with acute respiratory failure, needed to be intubated and connected to mechanical ventilated. They were from both gender and their ages ranged from 50 to 70 years. The patient were chosen from Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Chest Diseases, Cairo University Hospitals. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Group (A): included thirty patients who received training for inspiratory muscle through modifying MV trigger sensitivity plus usual physical therapy. Group (B): included thirty patients who received usual physical therapy only. Results: The results showed a significant increase in partial arterial pressure (PaO2) in both groups, this increasing was significantly higher in  patients who received training for the inspiratory muscle plus the usual chest physical therapy than patients who only received usual chest physical therapy (P-value < 0.001). The results showed no significant change in neither power of hydrogen (pH) nor partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Conclusion: Training to inspiratory muscles in mechanically ventilated patient through modifying mechanical ventilator trigger sensitivity can produce a significant increase in partial arterial pressure (PaO2). Although it has no effect in pH nor PaCO2

China Earthquake Reconnaissance Report: Performance of Transportation Structures during the May 12, 2008, M7.9 Wenchuan Earthquake

This report documents the lessons learned from damage caused in the May 12, 2008, M7.9 earthquake in Wenchuan County, China. The damage to the 14 observed bridges reminded the researchers of damage suffered during the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake in California. The bridges had few seismic details such as long seats, large shear keys, or tightly spaced transverse reinforcement. Most arch and girder bridges collapsed due to surface rupturing of the seismic faults in the Longmen-Shan thrust zone. A significant portion of roadways and bridges were pushed away or buried by landslides in the steep slopes of mountainous terrain. Damage to bridge superstructure included unseating of girders, longitudinal and transverse offset of decks, pounding at expansion joints, and shear key failure. The bearings of several girder bridges were either crushed or displaced significantly. The substructure and foundation of bridges were subjected to shear and flexural cracks, concrete spalling, stirrup rupture, excessive displacement, and loss of stability. More damage occurred in simply supported bridges than in continuous spans. Curved bridges either collapsed or suffered severe damage. Evidence of directivity effects on bridges near the earthquake epicenter was observed during the earthquake. The San Fernando earthquake significantly changed the seismic design and construction of bridges in the United States. The Wenchuan earthquake is expected to have the same significance for China\u27s bridge engineers

Synaptotagmin 2 is ectopically overexpressed in excitatory presynapses of a widely used CaMKΙΙα-Cre mouse line

The CaMKΙΙα-Cre mouse lines, possibly the most used Cre lines in neuroscience, have resulted in over 800 articles to date. Here, we demonstrate that the second most widely used CaMKΙΙα-Cre line, Tg(Camk2a-cre)2Gsc (or CamiCre), shows ectopic overexpression of synaptotagmin 2, the most efficient Ca2+ sensor for fast synchronous neurotransmitter release, in excitatory presynapses of Cre+ brains. Moreover, the upregulation of immediate-early genes and genes incorporated in bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenes, such as L-proline transporter Slc6a7, was found in Cre+ hippocampus. The copy number and integration site of the transgene are suggested to have caused the aberrant gene expression in Cre+ brains. Most importantly, CamiCre+ mice showed functional phenotypes, such as hyperactivity and enhanced associative learning, suggesting that neural activities are affected. These unexpected results suggest difficulties in interpreting results from studies using the CamiCre line and raise a warning of potential pitfalls in using Cre driver lines in general

Comparative Toxicity of Neem and Peppermint Oils Nano Formulations against Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Applications of nanotechnology in agriculture will result in the development of efficient and potential approaches towards the management of insect pests. The toxicity effects of four essential oils peppermint, thyme, camphor and sage oils were tested against the fourth instar larvae of Agrotis ipsilon to select the most effective essential oil to be converted to the nano form. According to the results obtained, peppermint oil was the most toxic compound, which has been used in the present investigation  compared  with neem oil. The toxicity of  bulk and nano- formulations of neem  and pepper mint oils were tested  against  2nd and 4th instar  larvae of A. ipsilon under laboratory conditions of 25±2 °C& 65 -70 % R.H.relative humidity The results show that the LC50 value (the concentration used which kill 50% of the tested individuals)of loaded neem or pepper mint were lower (0.62 and 36.47 ppm) compared with neem or pepper mint oil nano-emulsion and bulk neem for the second larval instar. The different formulations of neem are more potent than in case of peppermint oil, as LC50 and LC90 values were significantly lower.The same trend was found concerning the 4th larval instar. Age of treated larvae had a detrimental effect on the response to the compounds tested. It was noticed that the younger larvae were much more sensitive to the prepared compounds compared to the older ones. The least LC50 value for loaded neem nano-emulsion was 6.68 ppm compared with the highest value for  bulk neem oil (16.68 ppm ). Also,  LC90  values followed the same trend as in  case ofLC50.  Again, the toxicity of loaded peppermint oil had the most insecticidal activity as expressed by the lowest LC50 value (51.9 ppm) with more insecticidal effect than the bulk(125.43 ppm)  or nano-emulsion (85.43 ppm).  The present results indicated that these novel systems could be used in integrated pest management program for A. ipsilon control

Comparative Toxicity of Neem and Peppermint Oils Nano Formulations against Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Applications of nanotechnology in agriculture will result in the development of efficient and potential approaches towards the management of insect pests. The toxicity effects of four essential oils peppermint, thyme, camphor and sage oils were tested against the fourth instar larvae of Agrotis ipsilon to select the most effective essential oil to be converted to the nano form. According to the results obtained, peppermint oil was the most toxic compound, which has been used in the present investigation  compared  with neem oil. The toxicity of  bulk and nano- formulations of neem  and pepper mint oils were tested  against  2nd and 4th instar  larvae of A. ipsilon under laboratory conditions of 25±2 °C& 65 -70 % R.H.relative humidity The results show that the LC50 value (the concentration used which kill 50% of the tested individuals)of loaded neem or pepper mint were lower (0.62 and 36.47 ppm) compared with neem or pepper mint oil nano-emulsion and bulk neem for the second larval instar. The different formulations of neem are more potent than in case of peppermint oil, as LC50 and LC90 values were significantly lower.The same trend was found concerning the 4th larval instar. Age of treated larvae had a detrimental effect on the response to the compounds tested. It was noticed that the younger larvae were much more sensitive to the prepared compounds compared to the older ones. The least LC50 value for loaded neem nano-emulsion was 6.68 ppm compared with the highest value for  bulk neem oil (16.68 ppm ). Also,  LC90  values followed the same trend as in  case ofLC50.  Again, the toxicity of loaded peppermint oil had the most insecticidal activity as expressed by the lowest LC50 value (51.9 ppm) with more insecticidal effect than the bulk(125.43 ppm)  or nano-emulsion (85.43 ppm).  The present results indicated that these novel systems could be used in integrated pest management program for A. ipsilon control

Geotechnical Field Reconnaissance: Gorkha (Nepal) Earthquake of April 25, 2015 and Related Shaking Sequence

The April 25, 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) Earthquake and its related aftershocks had a devastating impact on Nepal. The earthquake sequence resulted in nearly 9,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and has left hundreds of thousands of inhabitants homeless. With economic losses estimated at several billion US dollars, the financial impact to Nepal is severe and the rebuilding phase will likely span many years. The Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association assembled a reconnaissance team under the leadership of D. Scott Kieffer, Binod Tiwari and Youssef M.A. Hashash to evaluate geotechnical impacts of the April 25, 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and its related aftershocks. The focus of the reconnaissance was on time-sensitive (perishable) data, and the GEER team included a large group of experts in the areas of Geology, Engineering Geology, Seismology, Tectonics, Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. The GEER team worked in close collaboration with local and international organizations to document earthquake damage and identify targets for detailed follow up investigations. The overall distribution of damage relative to the April 25, 2015 epicenter indicates significant ground motion directivity, with pronounced damage to the east and comparatively little damage to the west. In the Kathmandu Basin, characteristics of recorded strong ground motion data suggest that a combination of directivity and deep basin effects resulted in significant amplification at a period of approximately five seconds. Along the margins of Kathmandu Basin structural damage and ground failures are more pronounced than in the basin interior, indicating possible basin edge motion amplification. Although modern buildings constructed within the basin generally performed well, local occurrences of heavy damage and collapse of reinforced concrete structures were observed. Ground failures in the basin included cyclic failure of silty clay, lateral spreading and liquefaction. Significant landsliding was triggered over a broad area, with concentrated activity east of the April 25, 2015 epicenter and between Kathmandu and the Nepal-China border. The distribution of concentrated landsliding partially reflects directivity in the ground motion. Several landslides have dammed rivers and many of these features have already been breached. Hydropower is a primary source of electric power in Nepal, and several facilities were damaged due to earthquake-induced landsliding. Powerhouses and penstocks experienced significant damage, and an intake structure currently under construction experienced significant dynamic settlement during the earthquake. Damage to roadways, bridges and retaining structures was also primarily related to landsliding. The greater concentration of infrastructure damage along steep hillsides, ridges and mountain peaks offers a proxy for the occurrence of topographic amplification. The lack of available strong motion records has severely limited the GEER team’s ability to understand how strong motions were distributed and how they correlate to distributions of landsliding, ground failure and infrastructure damage. It is imperative that the engineering and scientific community continues to install strong motion stations so that such data is available for future earthquake events. Such information will benefit the people of Nepal through improved approaches to earthquake resilient design