Outbreak of poliomyelitis in Hispaniola associated with circulating type 1 vaccine-derived poliovirus

An outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in the Dominican Republic (13 confirmed cases) and Haiti (8 confirmed cases, including 2 fatal cases) during 2000-2001. All but one of the patients were either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children, and cases occurred in communities with very low (7 to 40%) rates of coverage with oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). The outbreak was associated with the circulation of a derivative of the type 1 OPV strain, probably originating from a single OPV dose given in 1998-1999. The vaccine-derived poliovirus associated with the outbreak had biological properties indistinguishable from those of wild poliovirus.     

Addressing reproductive stochasticity and grazing impacts in the restoration of a canopy-forming brown alga by implementing mitigation solutions

1. The worldwide decline of marine forests, due to human impacts and climate change, emphasizes the need to develop and implement effective and sustainable solutions to restore these endangered habitats and to re-establish the services they provide.
2. In this study, the ex situ restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata), a Mediterranean subtidal habitat-forming species of brown seaweed, was for the first time implemented in a marine protected area in the Adriatic Sea. Two restoration efforts were performed in 2019. The first was started in winter, after a marine heatwave that triggered early fertility, and the second in spring, when the species usually reproduces.
3. This study aimed to evaluate: (i) the disruptive effects of a thermal anomaly on the reproductive biology and performance in culture of G. barbata; and (ii) the impact of the grazing pressure on juveniles after the outplanting.
4. The first cultivation was more productive than the second, in terms of zygote release and germling growth. To mitigate the low efficiency of the second culture and to avoid prolonged highly demanding maintenance in the mesocosms, the cultivation period was extended outdoors using a structure suspended in the water column.
5. The modular frames conceived for outplanting G. barbata proved to be effective because of their easy operability and low cost. Controlling for herbivorous fish had significant positive effects on both juvenile survival and growth.
6. The outcomes highlighted that an unpredictable climatic event and fish grazing were major threats that impaired the restoration process of G. barbata. These stressors should be considered when developing plans to implement effective large-scale restoration of canopy-forming macroalgae.

     

Relation between visitors’ behaviour and characteristics of green spaces in the city of Granada,south-eastern Spain

This paper examines the relation between visitor behaviour and certain features of a number of major green spaces in the city of Granada, south-eastern Spain, focussing on key urban, ecological and landscape-related issues. Information on user profiles and numbers, the various uses made of these areas, their design, plant species richness and local urban and sociological background, was collected by means of in situ observation in a total of ten urban green spaces with surface areas of over 5000 m². Findings indicated that these spaces were used largely for purposes directly related to well-being: recreational and sporting activities, socialising, or simply relaxing. Interestingly, the most common activities in each space were governed by features intrinsic to the space itself: accessibility, design, maintenance and plant richness and distribution, all of which affected the health-related attributes and aesthetic value of the space. The study also highlighted a number of serious deficiencies in certain green spaces, which will need to be addressed in future action plans and replanning projects as an essential step in ensuring that they meet the real needs and expectations of the target population. The information provided by this research may prove particularly valuable for improving the systemic functions of green spaces in Mediterranean cities sharing similar bioclimatic and sociological features, and for ensuring that they fulfil the role assigned to green spaces in sustainable cities.     

Fluorescein diacetate as a viability stain for tree roots and seeds

Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was tested as a viability stain for roots of green ash as well as for seeds of green ash and 10 other tree species. The viability level indicated by FDA staining of green ash roots agreed well with root growth potential results, bud condition assessment, and foliage browning measurements. In seed viability experiments, the FDA staining intensity of embryos was related to germination in 9 out of 11 species tested using a 30 minute stain incubation period. In the other 2 species, eastern hemlock and Scotch pine, embryo FDA staining intensity and germination were also similar, provided an 18 h stain incubation period was used. When two seedlots of differing viability were tested in each of white spruce, Douglas-fir, and pitch pine, significantly higher germination was reflected in significantly higher embryo FDA staining intensity. In Sitka spruce seed that was heat treated to produce a range of viabilities, the semilog plot of germination (log scale) and FDA staining intensity of the embryo (linear scale) had an r²= 0.95. Based on these preliminary results, FDA shows promise as a rapid viability stain for tree roots and seeds.     

The status and future of stock quality testing

Stock quality testing (SQT) is a vital component of forest regeneration programs world-wide. SQT consists of stock quality control (SQC) during production at the nursery and planting stock quality assessment (PSQA) prior to planting. Current tests being used for SQC and PSQA are reviewed, indicating whether they are used on an operational or research scale. Prediction of growth by PSQA is still not far advanced, and the operational application of physiological methods in particular in SQT is still limited, although progress varies according to country or region. Challenges in implementation of operational SQT are reviewed, and a 'total quality management' approach to addressing the challenges is proposed.     

On the Different Sensitivity of White Clover Clones to Ozone: Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in a Multivariate Approach

This study analyses the physiological and biochemical basis of chronic ozone exposure (60 ppb for 56 days, 5 h day^?1) on NC-S (sensitive) and NC-R (resistant) white clover clones. Analyses were performed after 0, 14, 28 and 56 days of fumigation which corresponded to AOT40 s of 0, 1400, 2800 and 5600 ppb.h, respectively. NC-S exhibited foliar injury and had a decreased content of photosynthetic pigments, while peroxidized lipids and solute leakage increased, indicating that the plants were subjected to membrane damage. The multivariate approach identified five groups. The NC-R group, with the exception of samples at 0 days of exposure and treated for the longest time period (and thus at the highest dose), and NC-S controls after 28 and 56 days were associated with photosynthetic pigments variables. Ascorbate peroxidase was twinned with NC-R treated at the highest dose. Guaiacol peroxidase and solute leakage was mildly linked with NC-S following ozone treatment for 56 days (AOT40 = 5600 ppb.h).     

A chromatographic approach to the taxonomy ofVicia L.

Summary Paper chromatography was applied to investigate the distribution of flavonoids plus other not identified phenols in ten species ofVicia.Considerable biochemical differences were found between as well as within species. The extract ofV. cordata produced a chromatogram substantially different from other taxa of theV. sativa aggregate which confirms its separation as species. The similarity in flavonoids betweenV. villosa andV. dasycarpa supports the view of considering the latter as a subspecies of the former. Similar comments are made on the other species investigated.Cluster analysis may be useful for studying species relationships. It suggests the existence of a parallel between evolutionary advancement and degree of diversification. The results of this small survey would encourage the use of flavonoids and other secondary products for improving the existing classification of the genus.

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Ein chromatographischer Beitrag zur Taxonomie vonVicia L.

Zusammenfassung Papierchromatographie wurde zur Analyse des Vorkommens von Flavonoiden und weiteren nicht identifizierten phenolischen Verbindungen in 10Vicia-Arten genutzt.Betiächtliche biochemische Unterschiede wurden sowohl zwischen als auch innerhalb von Arten ermittelt. Der Extrakt vonV. cordata ergab ein wesentlich von anderen Taxa desV. sativa-Aggregats abweichendes Chromatogramm, das die Abgliederung dieser Sippe als eigene Art bestätigte. Andererseits stützt die Ähnlichkeit der Flavonoide vonV. villosa andV. dasycarpa deren Zusammenfassung als 2 Unterarten einer Art. Ähnliche Kommentare waren bei anderen untersuchten Arten möglich.Die Cluster-Analyse konnte erfolgreich zur Einschätzung der Verwandtschaft zwischen den Arten herangezogen werden. Mit ihrer Hilfe ergab sich eine Parallele zwischen dem Grad abstammungsgeschichtlicher Ableitung und dem Ausmaß der Differenzierung.Die Ergebnisse dieser ersten Übersicht ermutigen zur weiteren Verwendung von Flavonoiden und anderen sekundären Pflanzenstoffen bei der Optimierung der Klassifikation der Gattung.

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Vicia L.

10 Vicia. , . V. cordata , V. sativa, ¶rt; . , V. villosa V. dasycarpa . . . . .

     

THE ACTION OF PHENANTHROLINE METAL CHELATES AND RELATED SUBSTANCES ON ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE AND FUSIFORMIS NODOSUS

Metal chelates, quaternary salts and hydrochlorides of 3,4,5,-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline are bactericidal to E. rhusiopathiae and F. nodosus; for the metal chelates, the rank order of speed of bactericidal action against E. rhusiopathiae is Cu(II) > Fe(Ii) = Ni(II) ≥ Ru(II) > Zn(II) > Mn(II) = Co(II). E. rhusiopathiae does not develop significant resistance to the Cu(II) chelate. The unusual susceptibility of F. nodosus to the Co(II) chelate and the possible uses of such metal chelates in veterinary practice are discussed.     

Genome conservation between the bovine and human interleukin-8 receptor complex: improper annotation of bovine interleukin-8 receptor b identified

Interleukin (IL)-8 and its receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, are key regulators of inflammation. However, knowledge of these receptors at the genomic level is limiting or absent in cattle. Therefore, our objective was to identify bovine orthologs of human CXCR1 and CXCR2. Alignment of bovine CXCR2 reference mRNA to the bovine genome revealed two regions of similarity on BTA2 approximately 20 kb apart and on opposite strands. Comparison with the human genome suggested the more centromeric region to be CXCR2 and the more telomeric region to be CXCR1 which contradicts the current annotation of the bovine CXCR2 reference mRNA. This observation was verified by sequencing RT-PCR products of specific regions within each predicted IL-8 receptor and comparing with human sequences using ClustalW. Further examination of coding and non-coding regions within the IL-8 receptor genome complex revealed that both bovine and canine CXCR1 and CXCR2 genes had more conserved sequences in common with the human genes than either mouse or rat, and may offer more suitable animal models for certain applications. This molecular information provides a stepping stone for greater understanding of the role each IL-8 receptor plays in inflammation and will enhance our ability to develop strategies against inflammatory based diseases.