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There is increasing interest in understanding how the microbial communities on roots can be manipulated to improve plant productivity. Root systems are not homogeneous organs but are comprised of different root types of various ages and anatomies that perform different functions. Relatively little is known about how this variation influences the distribution and abundance of microorganisms on roots and in the rhizosphere. Such information is important for understanding how root-microbe interactions might affect root function and prevent diseases. This study tested specific hypotheses related to the spatial variation of bacterial and fungal communities on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots grown in contrasting soils. We demonstrate that microbial communities differed significantly between soil type, between host species, between root types, and with position along the root axes. The magnitude of variation between different root types and along individual roots was comparable with the variation detected between different plant species. We discuss the general patterns that emerged in this variation and identify bacterial and fungal taxa that were consistently more abundant on specific regions of the root system. We argue that these patterns should be measured more routinely so that localised root-microbe interactions can be better linked with root system design, plant health and performance.Genotypic variation in transpiration (Tr) response to vapour pressure deficit (VPD) has been studied in many crop species. There is debate over whether shoots or roots drive these responses. We investigated how stomata coordinate with plant hydraulics to mediate Tr response to VPD and influence leaf water status in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We measured Tr and stomatal conductance (gs) responses to VPD in well-watered, water-stressed and de-rooted shoots of eight wheat genotypes. Tr response to VPD was related to stomatal sensitivity to VPD and proportional to gs at low VPD, except in the water-stressed treatment, which induced strong stomatal closure at all VPD levels. Moreover, gs response to VPD was driven by adaxial stomata. A simple linear Tr response to VPD was associated with unresponsive gs to VPD. In contrast, segmented linear Tr to VPD response was mostly a function of gs with the breakpoint depending on the capacity to meet transpirational demand and set by the shoots. However, the magnitude of Tr response to VPD was influenced by roots, soil water content and stomatal sensitivity to VPD. These findings, along with a theoretical model suggest that stomata coordinate with plant hydraulics to regulate Tr response to VPD in wheat.The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus obligations for health services to protect the health and safety of their staff, arising from Occupational, Health and Safety legislation and the duty of care owed by a health service as an employer. Health workers, by nature of their work, are a particularly at-risk population in the context of COVID-19. This article examines the legal standard of care that healthcare employers owe their staff in terms of reduction of risk exposure, both physically and psychologically, to COVID-19, the obligation to provide staff with personal protective equipment, adequate hygiene, cleaning and the consequences for breaching these standards. This article also explores the right to dismiss employees who are non-compliant with their obligations.What is known about the topic?It is well known that health workers are an at-risk population for COVID-19, particularly those with direct exposure to affected patients. Since early 2020, healthcare services have faced substantial challenges in managing employee risk while complying with Occupational, Health and Safety law in Australia.What does this paper add?This paper explores the standard of care that healthcare services owe their staff in terms of reduction of risk exposure within the current Australian legal framework, as well as the rights and obligations of healthcare service employees.What are the implications for practitioners?Health services should be aware of the range of legal obligations to protect healthcare workers from the consequences of COVID-19 in order to minimise risk as much as reasonably practicable for employees. This includes ensuring access to adequate personal protective equipment, psychological support, adequate hygiene and cleaning of the physical workspace as well as the appropriate reporting of incidents and exposures.Plants inevitably receive harmful UV-B radiation when exposed to solar energy, so they have developed a variety of strategies to protect against UV-B radiation damage during long-term evolution. In this study, Zebrina pendulaSchnizl. was used to investigate the plant defence against UV-B radiation because of its strong adaptability to sunlight changes, and the colour of its leaves changes significantly under different sunlight intensities. The experiment was carried out to study the changes of Z. pendula leaves under three light conditions artificial daylight (control check); shading 50%; and artificial daylight + UV-B, aiming to explore the mechanism of defence against UV-B radiation by observing changes in leaf morphological structure, anthocyanin content and distribution. Results showed that the single leaf area increased but leaves became thinner, and the anthocyanin content in the epidermal cells decreased under 50% shading. In contrast, under daylight + UV-B, the single leaf area decreased but thickness increased (mainly due to the increase of the thickness of the upper epidermis and the palisade tissue), the trichomes increased. In addition, the anthocyanin content in the epidermal cells and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity increased, and the leaf colour became redder, also, the photosynthetic pigment content in mesophyll cells and the biomass per unit volume increased significantly under daylight + UV-B. Thus, when UV-B radiation was enhanced, Z. pendula leaves reduced the exposure to UV-B radiation by reducing the area, and reflect some UV-B radiation by growing trichomes. The UV-B transmittance was effectively reduced by increasing the single leaf thickness and anthocyanin content to block or absorb partial UV-B. Through the above comprehensive defence strategies, Z. pendula effectively avoided the damage of UV-B radiation to mesophyll tissue.

To determine the effect of 2 regulations issued by the Israel Ministry of Health on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections and quarantine among healthcare workers (HCWs) in general hospitals.

Before-and-after intervention study without a control group (interrupted time-series analysis).

All 29 Israeli general hospitals.

All HCWs.

Two national regulations were issued on March 25, 2020 one required universal masking of HCWs, patients, and visitors in general hospitals and the second defined what constitutes HCW exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and when quarantine is required.

Overall, 283 HCWs were infected at work or from an unknown source. Before the intervention, the number of HCWs infected at work increased by 0.5 per day (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.7; P < .001), peaking at 16. After the intervention, new infections declined by 0.2 per day (95% CI, -0.3 to -0.1; P < .001). Before the intervention, the number of HCWs in quarantine or isolation increased by 97 per day (95% CI, 90-104; P < .001), peaking at 2,444. After the intervention, prevalence decreased by 59 per day (95% CI, -72 to -46; P < .001). Epidemiological investigations determined that the most common source of HCW infection (58%) was a coworker.

Universal masking in general hospitals reduced the risk of hospital-acquired COVID-19 among HCWs. Universal masking combined with uniform definitions of HCW exposure and criteria for quarantine limited the absence of HCWs from the workforce.

Universal masking in general hospitals reduced the risk of hospital-acquired COVID-19 among HCWs. Universal masking combined with uniform definitions of HCW exposure and criteria for quarantine limited the absence of HCWs from the workforce.

To prioritise and refine a set of evidence-informed statements into advice messages to promote vegetable liking in early childhood, and to determine applicability for dissemination of advice to relevant audiences.

A nominal group technique (NGT) workshop and a Delphi survey were conducted to prioritise and achieve consensus (≥70% agreement) on 30 evidence-informed maternal (perinatal and lactation stage), infant (complementary feeding stage) and early years (family diet stage) vegetable-related advice messages. Messages were validated via triangulation analysis against the strength of evidence from an Umbrella review of strategies to increase children's vegetable liking, and gaps in advice from a Desktop review of vegetable feeding advice.

Australia.

A purposeful sample of key stakeholders (NGT workshop, n=8 experts; Delphi survey, n=23 end-users).

Participant consensus identified the most highly ranked priority messages associated with the strategies of 'in-utero exposure' (perinatal and lactation,stry provides a vehicle for advice promotion and product development. Further research, where stronger evidence is needed, could further inform strategies for policy and practice, and food industry application.The supply of N95 respirators has been severely strained by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We used quantitative fit-testing to evaluate 16 participants and 45 respirators through up to 4 rounds of ultraviolet decontamination and clinical reuse. The mean fit-test failure rate was 29.7%, and the probability of failure increased through N95 reuse.Microglia, the main immune cell of the central nervous system (CNS), categorized into M1-like phenotype and M2-like phenotype, play important roles in phagocytosis, cell migration, antigen presentation, and cytokine production. As a part of CNS, retinal microglial cells (RMC) play an important role in retinal diseases. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Recent studies have demonstrated that DR is not only a microvascular disease but also retinal neurodegeneration. RMC was regarded as a central role in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss RMC polarization and its possible regulatory factors in early DR, which will provide new targets and insights for early intervention of DR.Stewart Hunter was born in 1936 in Comrie, Perthshire. He was the son of Margaret (Peggy) and Archibald Hunter who was a minister in the Church of Scotland and later became Professor of New Testament Theology at the University of Aberdeen. Whilst Stewart chose medicine over the Kirk, he still studied at Aberdeen University. Following qualification in 1960, he chose to specialise in Paediatric Cardiology moving his family to London to learn how to treat children born with heart malformations at Great Ormond Street. Subsequently, he and the family moved back north to Edinburgh to continue that speciality at the Sick Children's Hospital. In 1969, he was appointed as a lecturer in paediatric cardiology in the academic department of Newcastle University. Between 1972 and 1973, he and the family went to a research post in the United States of America in Pennsylvania where he was part of a team researching and publishing on the use of cineangiography in adults, a technique which he then extended with Dr Mike Tynan to children and infants upon his return to Newcastle.