The treatment of bacterial disease of plants by bacteriophage coated nanoparticles

Bacterial phytopathogens are a recurring issue for agricultural plants.Traditional control measures include copper treatment and use of pesticides and antibiotics. The use of bacteriophages that selectively kill the causative pathogen as an alternative treatment has been delayed by technical difficulties associated with phage stability and deployment methods. In this project, we developed phage-coated nanoparticles for the control of tomato plant soft rot, caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum, as a model system.Scottish crops were used as a source to isolate new bacteriophages,followed by triple isolation of single plaques formed after infection. Using the enrichment technique, that uses bacteria to isolate the virus from a soil sample, twelve potentially different bacteriophages were recovered and fully characterised. All of the phages isolated resemble T7 based on morphology by transmission electron microscopy; consistent with the genomic characterisation, electron microscopy revealed that the phages displayed a morphology characteristic of the Podoviridae. Subsequently, we covalently bound a collection of phages to the surface of different nanoparticles and the capacity of these phage coated nanoparticles to control bacterial plant disease was assessed.This new technology fully retains the antimicrobial capacity of the bacteriophages and enhances its stability, particularly against dehydration,making this technology a potentially good candidate for use of biocontrol agents for crop pathogen treatment.Bacterial phytopathogens are a recurring issue for agricultural plants.Traditional control measures include copper treatment and use of pesticides and antibiotics. The use of bacteriophages that selectively kill the causative pathogen as an alternative treatment has been delayed by technical difficulties associated with phage stability and deployment methods. In this project, we developed phage-coated nanoparticles for the control of tomato plant soft rot, caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum, as a model system.Scottish crops were used as a source to isolate new bacteriophages,followed by triple isolation of single plaques formed after infection. Using the enrichment technique, that uses bacteria to isolate the virus from a soil sample, twelve potentially different bacteriophages were recovered and fully characterised. All of the phages isolated resemble T7 based on morphology by transmission electron microscopy; consistent with the genomic characterisation, electron microscopy revealed that the phages displayed a morphology characteristic of the Podoviridae. Subsequently, we covalently bound a collection of phages to the surface of different nanoparticles and the capacity of these phage coated nanoparticles to control bacterial plant disease was assessed.This new technology fully retains the antimicrobial capacity of the bacteriophages and enhances its stability, particularly against dehydration,making this technology a potentially good candidate for use of biocontrol agents for crop pathogen treatment

Software Defined Radio for processing GNSS signals

GPS satellites are fitted with atomic clocks, in which it relapses the main objective of this project, to recover some of their accuracy and stability on a ground based receiver. This project describes the fundamentals of GPS signals, the assembly of the installation implemented to process them in software and the corresponding experiments. In order to achieve the software processing, a USB DVB-T dongle is connected to an active antenna and to the computer. As mentioned, one of the purposes is also to understand how a GPS can be implemented by software as a the substitution of a big part of the hardware that makes it impenetrable, as they are black boxes of integrated circuits, and expensive. It is known that a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) software-defined open source receiver has already been created by people in Barcelona in “Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)”, a testbed for GNSS signal processing since it can be customized in every way. It has been used at some intermediate steps of the study while executing parallel experiments in the course of understanding how a GPS signal is digitally processed. In the meantime, some experiments have also been performed only employing hardware before implementing them in software, so that the concepts are visually reflected. When realizing software experiments, an interface called GNURadio has been used because of its enormous implementation of signal processing blocks. GNURadio can be used with external RF hardware to create software-defined radios, or without hardware in a simulation-like environment. Nevertheless, various simulations in the GNU (Octave software environment) have also been executed as processing in real time has not been considered a goal. However, to successfully accomplish the demodulation of the navigation data, which will contribute to restore the accuracy and stability of the satellites clocks that have sent it, the carrier frequency needs to be perfectly recovered, being this last point where the final aim of the project falls on.Outgoin

Intra-operative blood salvage in total hip and knee arthroplasty

Purpose To review records of 371 patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA or TKA) with intra-operative blood salvage to determine the allogeneic blood transfusion rate and the predictors for allogeneic blood transfusion. Methods Records of 155 male and 216 female consecutive patients aged 17 to 95 (mean, 70) years who underwent primary THA or TKA by a single surgeon with the use of intra-operative blood salvage were reviewed. Results The preoperative haemoglobin level was &lt;120 g/dl in 15% of THA patients and 5% of TKA patients; the allogeneic transfusion rate was 24% in THA patients and 12% in TKA patients. Despite routine use of intra-operative blood salvage, only 59% of THA patients and 63% of TKA patients actually received salvaged blood, as a minimum of 200 ml blood loss was required to activate blood salvage. In multivariable analysis, predictors for allogeneic blood transfusion were female gender (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=2.8, p=0.02), age &gt;75 years (adjusted OR=5.9, p&lt;0.001), and preoperative haemoglobin level &lt;120 g/l (adjusted OR=30.1, p&lt;0.001), despite the use of intra-operative blood salvage. Patients who received allogeneic blood transfusion had a longer hospital stay and greater complication rate. Conclusion Intra-operative blood salvage is not effective in preventing allogeneic blood transfusion in patients with a preoperative haemoglobin level &lt;120 g/l. It should be combined with preoperative optimisation of the haemoglobin level or use of tranexamic acid. </jats:sec

Why Do First and Second-Generation Young Migrants Volunteer? The Migrant Volunteerism Motivation Model (MVMM)

The following study aims at inquiring into the motivations behind young migrants' volunteerism in civic organizations in Italy, namely in starting and maintaining their engagement (preliminary vs. maintenance phase). The term "young migrants" refers to first and second generation of migrants who deal with two challenges: the transition to adulthood and the acquisition of a cultural identity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 Sub-Saharan young migrants living in Italy (18-32 years old), 19 of first generation (1G) and 18 of second generation (2G). The Omoto and Snyder's Volunteer Process Model (VPM, 1995) was used as an underpinning theoretical framework and a guide for the interpretations of the results. The findings indicate that a) motivations included in the VPM are also found for young migrants, b) some of these motivations take particular meaning for young migrants, c) some motivations are not included in the VPM and are specific of this sample. We named these last motivations: social norms, advocacy and ethno-cultural. In addition, some considerations may be advanced regarding the generation and the phase of motivation: 1G migrants are particularly moved by the importance of integration in the Italian context and by the promotion of their ethnic group while 2G migrants reported mostly the desire to understand their roots. The values, the concern for the community and the longing to develop relationships are the motivations for which all young migrants continue to volunteer; however, 1G migrants are also sustained by advocacy and ethno-cultural motivations. Implications and future directions are discussed

Electricity generation from untreated fresh digestate with a cost-effective array of floating microbial fuel cells

Over one billion tons of food waste is generated every year worldwide. This waste represents a substantial part of municipal solid waste and is usually incinerated. The effective integration of the anaerobic digester process with the microbial fuel cell technology is an ecofriendly and promising solution for the treatment of food waste, which leads to clean energy generation and by-products of industrial interest. In this context, we here report the development of a floating air-cathode microbial fuel cell device and demonstrate electricity generation from fresh digestate, directly collected from an anaerobic digester effluent with no pre-treatment, used as the electrolyte, fuel and source of electroactive bacteria. The floating fuel cells are characterised by a simple yet innovative design. No metal catalyst is used at the cathode, and the use of a membrane is not required thanks to a natural vertical stratification of microorganisms in the digestate that prevents oxygen diffusion to the anode. Both the wettability and the surface area of the anode are enhanced with a two-step pre-treatment, which enhances the electrochemical performance of the electrode, leading to an oxidation peak twice greater than the non-treated electrode. The individual microbial fuel cell unit generated a power peak of 0.043 ± 0.001 mW, which increased linearly by connecting several units electrically in parallel in a stack and reached the value of 0.43 mW (corresponding to 51 ± 2 mW m −3) with ten units. Considering the simplicity and affordability of the design proposed, which facilitates upscaling, this work paves the way for a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to food waste incineration. </p

Five new species of the genera Heerz Marsh, Lissopsius Marsh and Ondigus Braet, Barbalho and van Achterberg (Braconidae, Doryctinae) from the Chamela-Cuixmala biosphere reserve in Jalisco, Mexico

Five new species belonging to the poorly known Neotropical doryctine parasitoid wasps genera Heerz Marsh (H. ecmahla sp. n. and H. macrophthalma sp. n.), Lissopsius Marsh (L. pacificus sp. n. and L. jalisciensis sp. n.) and Ondigus Braet, Barbalho & van Achterberg (O. cuixmalensis sp. n.) are described from the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere reserve in Jalisco, Mexico. Keys to the described species of the above three genera are provided. The phylogenetic placement of the examined taxa is investigated based on mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S, 2nd and 3rd domain regions) DNA sequence data.Fil: Zaldivar Riverón, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Ceccarelli, Fadia Sara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Shaw, Scott R.. University of Wyoming; Estados Unido

The Process of Wage Adjustment: An Analysis Using Establishment-Level Data

This article presents a study of the influences on the factors that shape wage adjustments. The cost of living, comparability with other firms' wages, the fulfilment of collective agreements at sector level, the need to recruit and retain employees, the performance of the organisation, and the climate of industrial relations are included as factors of interest. The analysis was carried out using a sample of Spanish manufacturing plants. Our results show that the structural characteristics of the establishment such as its size or foreign ownership, as well as the wage setting arrangements and trade unions, play a role in explaining the importance of the factors mentioned in shaping wage adjustments. The human resource management policies adopted by the employer seem to be less relevant, although the qualification of workers and the use of pay for performance have a significant impact on the process of wage adjustment.pay settlements, collective bargaining, wage negotiation

The Diffusion of Pay for Performance across Occupations

In this paper the differences in the incidence of pay for performance plans between occupations in a sample of Spanish manufacturing establishments are analyzed. Our results show that there are significant differences between occupations in the incidence of individual, group and firm or plant pay for performance plans. The roles of establishment size, multinational ownership and the human resources management department in the incidence of pay for performance plans and their variability of use across occupations within the same firm are also studied. These factors are found to correlate to a greater use of pay for performance and, in most cases, this effect is homogenous across occupations.incentives

What Are the Factors Behind Pay Settlements? Evidence from Spanish and British Data

This article presents a study of the determinants of pay settlements in a sample of Spanish and British establishments. We find that variables such as establishment size and age, foreign ownership, labour costs, the existence of internal labour markets, a strategic approach to human resource management and pay setting institutions are related to the factors that shape pay adjustments. Moreover, our findings show that there are significant differences in the determinants of pay settlements between Spain and Great Britain. We suggest that the labour market institutions developed in each country influence pay setting decisions.compensation systems, labor market institutions, wage settlements, establishment level data

Performance Appraisal: Dimensions and Determinants

The determinants of the dimensions that shape a formal system of performance appraisal are studied in relation to a sample of Spanish manufacturing establishments. In particular, the factors that influence the measures used to evaluate performance, the person who carries out such appraisal and its frequency are analysed. Our results show that the characteristics of the establishment exert a significant influence on the configuration of performance appraisal. Specifically, we find that the use of practices complementary to performance evaluation and the structural factors of the establishment are found to correlate closely with the dimensions of formal performance appraisal.performance appraisal, monitoring, establishment characteristics, dimensions of appraisal