Preliminary Evaluation of a Dodder Anthracnose Fungus from China as a Mycoherbicide for Dodder Control in the US

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is a noxious, parasitic, annual weed throughout most of the United States. A fungus used to control it in China was imported under permit for studies with U.S. dodder species in containment. The fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, sporulated on liquid and solid media at room temperature. Conidia from 7-12 day old cultures were diluted to 3.5 to 7 X 16⁶ spores ml^-1 for host range inoculations. Germination on water agar at 24 hrs was higher at 28 than 30 or 24 C. Inoculated plants were exposed to dew periods of 12-1 4 hrs at 24 or 28 C, then transferred to growth chambers with 1 2-hr photoperiods at constant temperatures of 24, 28, and 32C. Dodder species were severely diseased but rarely killed. Symptoms were most severe on native collections of Cuscuta campestris after 4 to 5 days incubation when this species on periwinkle seedlings was inoculated with 3.5 to 7 X 10⁵ spores ml^-1 . Cuscuta cuspidata, C. pentagona, and C. campestris from a California seedlot were also tested under optimum conditions for disease. The C. campestris from California was the most susceptible. Inoculation of 16 species in eight plant families revealed no other host except sweet potato which developed a necrotic fleck. This research indicates a need for strain improvement prior to field tests

Introducing an Innovative Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Curriculum to Adolescents: Evaluation Results

ABSTRACT SANDY TEMPLETON Introducing an Innovative Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Curriculum to Adolescents: Evaluation Results (Under the direction of Sheryl Strasser, Ph.D.) Introduction In the U.S., injuries account for over half of all deaths among persons age 1-44 which is more deaths than non-communicable and infectious diseases combined. Adolescents and males are disproportionately affected. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an injury prevention curriculum for adolescents. Methods A curriculum employing indirect instructional strategies was implemented with 7th graders in four local middle schools in Cobb County, Georgia. A 45-item test assessing 6 injury-related theoretical domains: awareness of severity, preventability, risk and susceptibility; intention to behave protectively and to advocate for safety, was administered at baseline, and 4 weeks later, following curriculum completion. Dependent t-tests were run to evaluate differences in average pre- and post-test responses. Independent t-tests were conducted to investigate gender differences. Results A total of 678 matched pre- and post-tests were included in analysis, 44% male/56% female. Dependent t-test results revealed that respondents\u27 awareness of severity, preventability, risk and susceptibility, as well as intention to behave protectively and advocate for safety, increased significantly. Significant post-test gender differences were only observed in the intention to behave protectively domain; where female gains were greater than male gains. Discussion Results demonstrate the effectiveness of indirect instructional strategies which make positive use of adolescent egocentrism, an important characteristic that puts adolescents at greater risk for brain and spinal cord injury. This curriculum demonstrates promise in influencing adolescents\u27 beliefs in invincibility. Future studies should evaluate effectiveness in other communities and amongst students with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds

Mixed genotype hepatitis C infections and implications for treatment

No abstract available

European Banking After the Euro: Progress and Problems

The introduction of the euro has presented the European banking industry with an opportunity to examine its structure and address its fragmentation. The leaders in European banking will evolve as the efficiencies in a single currency are realized. This article discusses the changes in European banking since the introduction of the euro, providing statistics on mergers and acquisitions and their effects on assets both inside and outside the eurozone. It considers the factors which make cross-border mergers less attractive, the effect of consolidation on costs, and the impact of the euro on foreign exchange earnings, debt markets and cash management systems. It concludes that although banks are becoming more competitive with each other and with other financial services companies, national barriers to further integration of the financial services market remain

The Effect of Nonbank Diversification on Bank Holding Company Risk

Examines the effect of activity diversification on bank holding company (BHC) risk. Historical background of the BHC; Presentation of the research design and test results; Predictions of the modern portfolio theory; Implications of the study regarding the effect of nonbank diversification on BHC risk

Effects of Sex and Gender on Adaptation to Space: Musculoskeletal Health

There is considerable variability among individuals in musculoskeletal response to long-duration spaceflight. The specific origin of the individual variability is unknown but is almost certainly influenced by the details of other mission conditions such as individual differences in exercise countermeasures, particularly intensity of exercise, dietary intake, medication use, stress, sleep, psychological profiles, and actual mission task demands. In addition to variations in mission conditions, genetic differences may account for some aspect of individual variability. Generally, this individual variability exceeds the variability between sexes that adds to the complexity of understanding sex differences alone. Research specifically related to sex differences of the musculoskeletal system during unloading is presented and discussed

Financial education and asset allocation

We conduct a clinical study on a firm that restructures its 401(k) plan and simultaneously offers financial education seminars to its employees. The restructuring requires each employee to restate allocation percentages, thus we are able to analyze the specific benefits of retirement planning seminars on the asset allocation decision. We find that seminar attendance is associated with increased portfolio diversification and improved risk management. When combined with changes in return, the overall result is that seminar attendees create more efficient portfolios, which implies a better understanding of the retirement planning process

Banking on the Euro: Changes and Challenges

Considers the likely effects of EMU and the introduction of the euro on the “fragmented” European banking industry. Recognizes that transition to the euro will be expensive in terms of equipment, training, customer care etc.; and that some new products and services will be demanded (e.g. cross-border cash management systems, euro-denominated bonds etc.) while others will decline (e.g. foreign exchange hedging, commercial loans etc.). Refers to US experience to identify growth opportunities and discusses the current and future impact of increased competition in the new market; and strategies for surviving it

Recent physical conditions and health service utilization in people with common mental disorders and severe mental illness in England: Comparative cross-sectional data from a nationally representative sample

BACKGROUND.: Policies addressing the physical health of people with mental disorders have historically focused on those with severe mental illness (SMI), giving less prominence to the more prevalent common mental disorders (CMDs). Little is known about the comparative physical health outcomes of these patient groups. We aimed to first compare the: (a) number of past-year chronic physical conditions and (b) recent physical health service utilization between CMDs vs. SMI, and secondly compare these outcomes between people with CMDs vs. people without mental disorders. METHODS.: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the third Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a representative sample of the English population. We determined the presence of physical conditions and health service utilization by self-report and performed logistic regression models to examine associations of these outcomes between participant groups. RESULTS.: Past-year physical conditions were reported by the majority of participants (CMDs, n = 815, 62.1%; SMI = 27, 63.1%) with no variation in the adjusted odds of at least one physical condition between diagnoses (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.42-1.98, p = 0.784). People with CMDs were significantly more likely to be recently hospitalized relative to with those with SMI (OR = 6.33, 95% CI 5.50-9.01, p < 0.05). Having a CMD was associated with significantly higher odds of past-year physical conditions and recent health service utilization (all p < 0.001) compared with the general population. CONCLUSIONS.: People with CMDs experience excess physical health morbidities in a similar pattern to those found among people with SMI, while their somatic hospitalization rates are even more elevated. Findings highlight the importance of recalibrating existing public health strategies to bring equity to the physical health needs of this patient group