scholarly journals Multiple Resistance to Meloidogyne spp. and to Bipartite and Monopartite Begomovirus spp. in Wild Solanum (Lycopersicon) Accessions

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Pereira-Carvalho ◽  
L. S. Boiteux ◽  
M. E. N. Fonseca ◽  
J. A. Díaz-Pendón ◽  
E. Moriones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Bipartite Begomovirus ◽  
Monopartite Begomovirus ◽  
Repulsion Phase ◽  
Rugose Mosaic ◽  
Infested Field ◽  
Meloidogyne Spp

The Ty-1 locus confers tolerance to monopartite and bipartite Begomovirus spp. (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) and this phenotype is improved in homozygous tomato lines. However, the gene Mi (Meloidogyne spp. resistance) is in repulsion phase linkage with Ty-1, which hampers the large-scale development of multiresistant inbred lines. Seventy-one Solanum (section Lycopersicon) accessions were whitefly inoculated with the bipartite Begomovirus sp. Tomato rugose mosaic virus (ToRMV) and simultaneously infested with a mixture of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica under greenhouse conditions in Brazil. Accessions were then transplanted into a nematode-infested field with natural ToRMV infection. A severity index was used to evaluate ToRMV reaction. Nematode evaluation was done by counting the number of galls per root system. Seventeen accessions with Meloidogyne spp. and ToRMV resistance were selected and evaluated in Spain against three monopartite Begomovirus spp. associated with the tomato yellow leaf curl virus disease, using infectious clones. Systemic infection was monitored by DNA hybridization. Five S. peruvianum accessions (PI-306811, PI-365951, LA-1609, LA-2553, and CNPH-1194) displayed nematode and broad-spectrum resistance to all Begomovirus spp. tested in both continents. From the breeding standpoint, accessions combining resistance to Meloidogyne spp. and to bipartite and monopartite Begomovirus spp. would be useful for the development of elite lines expressing all traits in homozygous condition.

scholarly journals Confocal laser endomicroscopy reveals alterations in duodenal permeability in patients with acute pancreatitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1279-1287
Author(s):  
Lingjia Sun ◽  
Min Yue ◽  
Yining Dai ◽  
Chaohui Yu ◽  
Chunxiao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Duodenal Bulb ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Duodenal Mucosa ◽  
Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Mucosal Permeability ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Severity Index Score

Objective Intestinal permeability increases during the course of acute pancreatitis (AP). We assessed duodenal permeability alterations in patients with AP by confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE). Methods Thirty patients with AP underwent CLE evaluation of the antral and duodenal mucosa. Images were graded based on the appearance of capillaries and the degree of fluorescein leakage. Results Patients with AP had increased duodenal mucosal permeability that could be detected by CLE. The mucosal permeability progressively increased in the gastric antrum, duodenal bulb, and descending duodenum. The CLE parameters in the antrum and duodenal bulb were not significantly different between patients with mild and severe AP. The CLE grades in the descending duodenum were higher in patients with severe than mild AP. The C-reactive protein level in AP was positively correlated with the permeability in the duodenal bulb and descending duodenum, while the computed tomography severity index score was positively correlated with the mucosal permeability in the duodenal bulb and descending duodenum. Conclusion CLE revealed increased duodenal permeability in patients with AP. Higher permeability in the descending duodenum was observed in severe than mild AP. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the relationship between altered duodenal permeability and the severity of AP.

scholarly journals Effects of a workplace prevention programme for problem gambling: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e015963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Rafi ◽  
Ekaterina Ivanova ◽  
Alexander Rozental ◽  
Per Carlbring
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
The Body ◽  
Prevention Programme ◽  
Open Access Journals ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionDespite being considered a public health problem, no prevention programme for problem gambling in workplace settings has been scientifically evaluated. This study aims to fill a critical gap in the field of problem gambling by implementing and evaluating a large-scale prevention programme in organisations.Methods and analysisTen organisations, with a total of n=549 managers and n=8572 employees, will be randomised to either receiving a prevention programme or to a waitlist control condition. Measurements will be collected at the baseline and 3, 12 and 24 months after intervention. The primary outcome of interest is the managers’ inclination to act when worried or suspicious about an employee’s problem gambling or other harmful use. Additional outcomes of interest include the Problem Gambling Severity Index and gambling habits in both managers and employees. Furthermore, qualitative analyses of the responses from semistructured interviews with managers will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the regional ethics board of Stockholm, Sweden, and it will contribute to the body of knowledge concerning prevention of problem gambling. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed, open-access journals.Trial registration numberNCT02925286; Pre-results.

scholarly journals Equine-Origin Immunoglobulin Fragments Protect Nonhuman Primates from Ebola Virus Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hualei Wang ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
Wenjun Zhu ◽  
Shihua He ◽  
Yongkun Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
West African ◽  
Clinical Testing ◽  
The Past ◽  
Over 40 Years

ABSTRACT Ebola virus (EBOV) infections result in aggressive hemorrhagic fever in humans, with fatality rates reaching 90% and with no licensed specific therapeutics to treat ill patients. Advances over the past 5 years have firmly established monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based products as the most promising therapeutics for treating EBOV infections, but production is costly and quantities are limited; therefore, MAbs are not the best candidates for mass use in the case of an epidemic. To address this need, we generated EBOV-specific polyclonal F(ab′)2 fragments from horses hyperimmunized with an EBOV vaccine. The F(ab′)2 was found to potently neutralize West African and Central African EBOV in vitro. Treatment of nonhuman primates (NHPs) with seven doses of 100 mg/kg F(ab′)2 beginning 3 or 5 days postinfection (dpi) resulted in a 100% survival rate. Notably, NHPs for which treatment was initiated at 5 dpi were already highly viremic, with observable signs of EBOV disease, which demonstrated that F(ab′)2 was still effective as a therapeutic agent even in symptomatic subjects. These results show that F(ab′)2 should be advanced for clinical testing in preparation for future EBOV outbreaks and epidemics. IMPORTANCE EBOV is one of the deadliest viruses to humans. It has been over 40 years since EBOV was first reported, but no cure is available. Research breakthroughs over the past 5 years have shown that MAbs constitute an effective therapy for EBOV infections. However, MAbs are expensive and difficult to produce in large amounts and therefore may only play a limited role during an epidemic. A cheaper alternative is required, especially since EBOV is endemic in several third world countries with limited medical resources. Here, we used a standard protocol to produce large amounts of antiserum F(ab′)2 fragments from horses vaccinated with an EBOV vaccine, and we tested the protectiveness in monkeys. We showed that F(ab′)2 was effective in 100% of monkeys even after the animals were visibly ill with EBOV disease. Thus, F(ab′)2 could be a very good option for large-scale treatments of patients and should be advanced to clinical testing.

scholarly journals Confronting the Moscow Healthcare System with the Shocks of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Aleksandr N. Tsibin ◽  
Munira F. Latypova ◽  
Olga I. Ivanushkina
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
The Government ◽  
Challenging Situation

Introduction. Transmissible coronavirus SARS-CoV-2I is the seventh known coronavirus that causes an acute infectious disease predominantly affecting the lungs (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious gaps in health systems preparedness. The epidemic urgently required priority organizational measures to contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Public health authorities had to make decisions in a challenging situation where there was a lack of knowledge, experience, and great confidence, and the number of infected was steadily increasing. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to present the unique experience of Moscow in organizing a large-scale laboratory examination of the population of a metropolis with about 12.6 million inhabitants to meet the needs of the capital in testing for SARS-CoV-2 virus and combating its circulation in conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. The decisions made and the measures taken by the Government of Moscow, the Moscow Operational Staff, the DZM and the DZM Laboratory Service to slow the growth of the COVID-19 epidemic among the population of the capital are listed step-by-step. Results. In the course of organizational activities, sufficient capacity to maintain the public health infrastructure in terms of laboratory diagnosis of the new coronavirus infection was ensured by the joint efforts. Safe laboratory diagnostics for detecting, treating, and isolating COVID-19 cases and contacts have been established in the capital city. Thanks to the successful implementation of timely decisions, the spread of infection in the city of Moscow has been slowed. The Moscow government has reported a steady decline in cases of the new coronavirus disease and most hospitals have switched to a safe treatment regimen for patients requiring hospitalization. Centralized laboratories with readiness to perform screening and referral studies for COVID-19 outbreaks have been established within the structure of the DZM.

scholarly journals The Large Scale Machine Learning in an Artificial Society: Prediction of the Ebola Outbreak in Beijing

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Bin Chen ◽  
Liang Ma ◽  
Zhen Li ◽  
Zhichao Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Propagation Model ◽  
Propagation Mechanism ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Emergency Plans ◽  
Artificial Society ◽  
The City

Ebola virus disease (EVD) distinguishes its feature as high infectivity and mortality. Thus, it is urgent for governments to draw up emergency plans against Ebola. However, it is hard to predict the possible epidemic situations in practice. Luckily, in recent years, computational experiments based on artificial society appeared, providing a new approach to study the propagation of EVD and analyze the corresponding interventions. Therefore, the rationality of artificial society is the key to the accuracy and reliability of experiment results. Individuals’ behaviors along with travel mode directly affect the propagation among individuals. Firstly, artificial Beijing is reconstructed based on geodemographics and machine learning is involved to optimize individuals’ behaviors. Meanwhile, Ebola course model and propagation model are built, according to the parameters in West Africa. Subsequently, propagation mechanism of EVD is analyzed, epidemic scenario is predicted, and corresponding interventions are presented. Finally, by simulating the emergency responses of Chinese government, the conclusion is finally drawn that Ebola is impossible to outbreak in large scale in the city of Beijing.

scholarly journals 0514 Efficacy of a Forehead-Cooling Device for Treating Insomnia in Veterans

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A197-A197
Author(s):  
E Nofzinger
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Prospective Trial ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Cooling Device ◽  
Insomnia Severity Index ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Insomnia Severity

Abstract Introduction In 2 independent studies, we explored whether a forehead-cooling device was effective in improving insomnia in veterans. Methods Both studies were uncontrolled and exploratory in nature. The first study involved 20 veterans who expressed interest in using the forehead-cooling device and received 4 weeks treatment. The second study involved 19 veterans who were recruited via media to participate in a 4-week study and were compensated for their participation. All participants completed questionnaires before and after treatment. Results In the retrospective analysis, veterans had improvements over baseline in insomnia severity index (M ± SD =17.6 ± 4.7 pre- vs 6.9 ± 3.5 post-treatment, t(19) = -9.4, p<0.00001), in sleep latency (M ± SD = 61.7 ± 49.1 minutes pre- vs 25.0 ± 20.8 minutes post-treatment, t(19) = -4.6, p<0.001) and in minutes awake after sleep onset (M ± SD =78.7 ± 57.8 minutes pre- vs 29.9 ± 18.3 minutes post-treatment, t(19) = -4.0, p<0.001). In the prospective study, veterans had improvements in insomnia severity index over baseline (M ± SD = 20.7 +3.8 pre- vs 9.5 ± 7.5 post-treatment, t(18) = 5.8, p<0.00001), depression severity on the PHQ-9 (M ± SD = 21.5 ±6.1 pre- vs 14.2 ± 5.1 post-treatment, t(18) =4.1, p<0.001) and anxiety severity on the GAD 7 (M ± SD = 9.8 ±7.1 pre- vs. 6.2 ± 5.4 post-treatment, t(18) = -3.1, p<0.01). Conclusion Use of a forehead-cooling device improved insomnia in veterans. These findings were replicated in an independent prospective trial. Reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms from baseline were also noted in the prospective study. These promising preliminary data suggest the need for further large scale randomized controlled trials to establish the efficacy of forehead-cooling on insomnia in veterans. Support Ebb Pharmaceuticals, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

scholarly journals Analysis of Molecular Markers Genetically Linked to the Leptosphaeria maculans Avirulence Gene AvrLm1 in Field Populations Indicates a Highly Conserved Event Leading to Virulence on Rlm1 Genotypes

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 672-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnès Attard ◽  
Lilian Gout ◽  
Mathieu Gourgues ◽  
Marie-Line Kühn ◽  
Jacques Schmit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Map ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification ◽  
Leptosphaeria Maculans ◽  
Avirulence Gene ◽  
Bac Contig ◽  
Genome Region ◽  
Repulsion Phase ◽  
Field Isolates

Map-based cloning of the avirulence gene AvrLm1 of Leptosphaeria maculans was initiated utilizing a genetic map of the fungus and a BAC library constructed from an AvrLm1 isolate. Seven polymorphic DNA markers closely linked to AvrLm1 were identified. Of these, two were shown to border the locus on its 5′ end and were present, with size polymorphism, in both the virulent and the avirulent isolates. In contrast, three markers, J19-1.1, J53-1.3 (in coupling phase with avirulence), and Vir1 (in repulsion phase with avirulence), cosegregated with AvrLm1 in 312 progeny from five in vitro crosses. J19-1.1 and J53-1.3 were never amplified in the virulent parents or progeny, whereas Vir1 was never amplified in the avirulent parents or progeny. J19-1.1 and J53-1.3 were shown to be separated by 40 kb within a 184-kb BAC contig. In addition, the 1.6-cM genetic distance between J53-1.3 and the nearest recombinant marker corresponded to a 121-kb physical distance. When analyzing a European Union-wide collection of 192 isolates, J53-1.3, J19-1.1, and Vir1 were found to be closely associated with the AvrLm1 locus. The results of polymerase chain reaction amplification with primers for the three markers were in accordance with the interaction phenotype for 92.2% (J53-1.3), 90.6% (J19-1.1), and 88.0% (Vir1) of the isolates. In addition, genome organization of the AvrLm1 region was highly conserved in field isolates, because 89.1% of the avirulent isolates and 79.0% of the virulent isolates showed the same association of markers as that of the parents of in vitro crosses. The large-scale analysis of field isolates with markers originating from the genetic map therefore confirms (i) the physical proximity between the markers and the target locus and (ii) that AvrLm1 is located in (or close to) a recombination-deficient genome region. As a consequence, map-based markers provided us with high-quality markers for an overview of the occurrence of race “AvrLm1” at the field scale. These data were used to propose hypotheses on evolution towards virulence in field isolates.

scholarly journals Juniper Tree-Ring Data from the Kuramin Range (Northern Tajikistan) Reveals Changing Summer Drought Signals in Western Central Asia

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Chen ◽  
Tongwen Zhang ◽  
Andrea Seim ◽  
Shulong Yu ◽  
Ruibo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Drought Severity ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Tree Ring Chronology ◽  
Tree Ring Data ◽  
June July

Coniferous forests cover the mountains in many parts of Central Asia and provide large potentials for dendroclimatic studies of past climate variability. However, to date, only a few tree-ring based climate reconstructions exist from this region. Here, we present a regional tree-ring chronology from the moisture-sensitive Zeravshan juniper (Juniperus seravschanica Kom.) from the Kuramin Range (Tajikistan) in western Central Asia, which is used to reveal past summer drought variability from 1650 to 2015 Common Era (CE). The chronology accounts for 40.5% of the variance of the June–July self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) during the instrumental period (1901 to 2012). Seven dry periods, including 1659–1696, 1705–1722, 1731–1741, 1758–1790, 1800–1842, 1860–1875, and 1931–1987, and five wet periods, including 1742–1752, 1843–1859, 1876–1913, 1921–1930, and 1988–2015, were identified. Good agreements between drought records from western and eastern Central Asia suggest that the PDSI records retain common drought signals and capture the regional dry/wet periods of Central Asia. Moreover, the spectral analysis indicates the existence of centennial (128 years), decadal (24.3 and 11.4 years), and interannual (8.0, 3.6, 2.9, and 2.0 years) cycles, which may be linked with climate forces, such as solar activity and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The analysis between the scPDSI reconstruction and large-scale atmospheric circulations during the reconstructed extreme dry and wet years can provide information about the linkages of extremes in our scPDSI record with the large-scale ocean–atmosphere–land circulation systems.

scholarly journals Uncovering Dryland Woody Dynamics Using Optical, Microwave, and Field Data—Prolonged Above-Average Rainfall Paradoxically Contributes to Woody Plant Die-Off in the Western Sahel

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 2332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo N. Bernardino ◽  
Martin Brandt ◽  
Wanda De Keersmaecker ◽  
Stéphanie Horion ◽  
Rasmus Fensholt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Dynamics ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Sudden Increase ◽  
Ecosystem Recovery ◽  
Normal Rainfall

Dryland ecosystems are frequently struck by droughts. Yet, woody vegetation is often able to recover from mortality events once precipitation returns to pre-drought conditions. Climate change, however, may impact woody vegetation resilience due to more extreme and frequent droughts. Thus, better understanding how woody vegetation responds to drought events is essential. We used a phenology-based remote sensing approach coupled with field data to estimate the severity and recovery rates of a large scale die-off event that occurred in 2014–2015 in Senegal. Novel low (L-band) and high-frequency (Ku-band) passive microwave vegetation optical depth (VOD), and optical MODIS data, were used to estimate woody vegetation dynamics. The relative importance of soil, human-pressure, and before-drought vegetation dynamics influencing the woody vegetation response to the drought were assessed. The die-off in 2014–2015 represented the highest dry season VOD drop for the studied period (1989–2017), even though the 2014 drought was not as severe as the droughts in the 1980s and 1990s. The spatially explicit Die-off Severity Index derived in this study, at 500 m resolution, highlights woody plants mortality in the study area. Soil physical characteristics highly affected die-off severity and post-disturbance recovery, but pre-drought biomass accumulation (i.e., in areas that benefited from above-normal rainfall conditions before the 2014 drought) was the most important variable in explaining die-off severity. This study provides new evidence supporting a better understanding of the “greening Sahel”, suggesting that a sudden increase in woody vegetation biomass does not necessarily imply a stable ecosystem recovery from the droughts in the 1980s. Instead, prolonged above-normal rainfall conditions prior to a drought may result in the accumulation of woody biomass, creating the basis for potentially large-scale woody vegetation die-off events due to even moderate dry spells.

Genetic analysis of Okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus disease resistance in wild relative of okra Abelmoschus angulosus Wall. ex Wight & Arn

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (04) ◽  
pp. 346-351
Author(s):  
SamanthiKumari Wasala ◽  
Sumudu I. Senevirathne ◽  
Jayantha Bandara Senanayake ◽  
Anuradini Navoditha
Keyword(s):  
Disease Resistance ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Yellow Vein ◽  
Wild Relative ◽  
Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus ◽  
Progress Curve

AbstractWild relative of okra, Abelmoschus angulosus Wall. ex Wight & Arn. was identified as a resistant germplasm for Okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (OYVMV) which is the devastating disease for okra cultivation in Sri Lanka. The mode of resistance of OYVMV in A. angulosus was studied with the aim of tagging responsible genes for the disease resistance. Wide hybridization was performed between A. angulosus and highly virus susceptible A. esculentus variety, MI-7. Very poor seed setting was observed in F1 and F2 generations due to post zygotic abortion. Disease screening was carried out using F1 and F2:3 populations along with parents in the field under induced disease pressure. Disease severity index and area under disease progress curve were calculated to measure disease severity. Number of genes segregating for OYVMV disease resistance was calculated for the F2:3 generation. Modified Wright's formula was used to estimate the effective gene number and mode of inheritance by a quantitative method. A χ2 test was performed for qualitative analysis. Plants of A. angulosus were totally free of virus incidence while 100% disease incidence was observed in the variety MI-7. F2:3 population showed between and within progeny segregation for disease incidence. Results indicated that the disease susceptibility was dominant over resistance. χ2 analysis revealed that the segregation of disease severity was significantly fit to the gene model of 9:6:1 (χ2 = 0.1757 at P ≤ 0.05) suggesting the disease resistance in A. angulosus is governing by two recessive genes in an additive manner. Result was confirmed by the quantitative analysis.

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