Contrerasmcneil0589

Root exudates can play an important role in plant-nematode interactions. Recent studies have shown that the root cap exudates obtained from several plant species trigger a state of dormancy or quiescence in various genera of nematodes. This phenomenon is not only of fundamental ecological interest, but also has application potential if the plant-produced compound(s) could be used to control harmful nematodes or help to prolong the shelf-life of beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The identification of the compound(s) involved in quiescence induction has proven to be a major challenge and requires large amounts of active material. Here, we present a high-throughput method to obtain bioactive root extracts from flash-frozen root caps of green pea and maize. The root cap extract obtained via this method was considerably more potent in inducing quiescence than exudate obtained by a previously used method, and consistently induced quiescence in the EPN Heterorhabditis megidis, even after a 30-fold dilution. Extracts obtained from the rest of the root were equally effective in inducing quiescence. Infective juveniles (IJs) of H. megidis exposed to these extracts readily recovered from their quiescent state as soon as they were placed in moist soil, and they were at least as infectious as the IJs that had been stored in water. Excessive exposure of IJs to air interfered with the triggering of quiescence. The implications of these results and the next steps towards identification of the quiescence-inducing compound(s) are discussed from the perspective of applying EPN against soil-dwelling insect pests.Foragers face many variables that influence their food intake. These may include habitat structure, time, climate, resource characteristic, food quality, and plant defenses. I conducted foraging experiments using common duikers that involved 1) testing the effect of plant toxins on foraging, and 2) titrating toxin intake against safety. I used giving up densities (GUDs, food remaining after foraging) to test for selection among trays containing alfalfa pellets treated with water, with 10% oxalic acid, or 10% quebracho tannin. Pairs of trays were placed within islands of woody vegetation and out in open grass. I also conducted a titration experiment by offering the duikers a choice between a patch with water-treated pellets placed at a risky site, or a patch with one of three oxalic acid-treated pellets at a safe site. 680C91 This made it possible to determine the concentration of oxalic acid at which the cost of toxin in the safe site equals the predation cost at the risky site. The common duikers showed no selectivity among the three treatments at 10% concentration, however, GUDs in the open grass (i.e., safe) were significantly lower than in the wooded islands (i.e., risky). As the oxalic acid concentration increased at the safe sites, the duiker's food intake from the risky sites increased significantly. The results demonstrate that foraging hazards may come in different forms such as predation and plant toxins, and their interactions may alter habitat use, foraging patterns, and perceptions of risk. These variables occur under natural situations, altering the overall habitat quality.Nine strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood, tree bark, ant nests or living as endophytes in leaves of Vellozia gigantea. Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that this species was related to Candida insectorum in the Yamadazyma clade. The novel species differed from closely related species by 10 and 11 substitutions in the ITS region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene, respectively. The species is heterothallic and forms asci with one to two hat-shaped ascospores. The name Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species. The type strain is UFMG-CM-Y444T ( = CBS 14121T) and the allotype strain is TT12 ( = CBS 14098 = UFMG-CM-Y577). The Mycobank number is MB 813221.The aim of our study was to determine the validity of cardiac output (CO) measurements taken with the ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM) by comparing to CO measured by pulmonary arterial catheter (PAC) thermodilution during cardiac catheterization. We enrolled thirty-one children ( less then 18 years) undergoing cardiac catheterization in this double-blinded, prospective, observational study. The median CO measured by USCOM was 4.37 L/min (IQR 3.73, 5.60 L/min) compared to 4.28 L/min (IQR 3.52, 5.26 L/min) by PAC thermodilution. The bias (mean difference) between the two methods was 0.2 L/min, and the 95% limits of agreement were -1.2 to 1.6 L/min. The mean percentage error of CO between USCOM and PAC thermodilution was 11%. When excluding a sole outlier, the bias between the two measures decreased to 0.1 L/min (95% limits of agreement -0.6 to 0.9 L/min), and the percentage error was reduced to 8%. The median SVRI measured by USCOM was 22.0 Wood Units (IQR 17.0, 26.8 Wood Units) compared to 22.1 Wood Units (IQR 17.6, 27.4 Wood Units) by PAC thermodilution. Bias (mean difference) between the two methods was -0.6 Wood Units, and the 95% limits of agreement were -8.2 to 6.9 Wood Units. We found that the estimation of CO and by extension SVRI with USCOM is reliable against pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution in children with normal cardiac anatomy. Given the noninvasive nature of USCOM, speed of measurement, and relative ease of use, it may be useful as a bedside tool for pediatric patients.Pigeons given a simultaneous spatial discrimination reversal, in which a single reversal occurs at the midpoint of each session, consistently show anticipation prior to the reversal as well as perseveration after the reversal, suggesting that they use a less effective cue (time or trial number into the session) than what would be optimal to maximize reinforcement (local feedback from the most recent trials). In contrast, rats (Rattus norvegicus) and humans show near-optimal reversal learning on this task. To determine whether this is a general characteristic of mammals, in the present research, pigeons (Columba livia) and dogs (Canis familiaris) were tested with a simultaneous spatial discrimination mid-session reversal. Overall, dogs performed the task more poorly than pigeons. Interestingly, both pigeons and dogs employed what resembled a timing strategy. However, dogs showed greater perseverative errors, suggesting that they may have relatively poorer working memory and inhibitory control with this task. The greater efficiency shown by pigeons with this task suggests they are better able to time and use the feedback from their preceding choice as the basis of their future choice, highlighting what may be a qualitative difference between the species.The success of a primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction depends on the functional and structural integrity of coronary microcirculation. Coronary microvascular dysfunction and obstruction (CMVO) occurs in up to half of patients submitted to apparently successful primary PCI and is associated to a much worse outcome. The current review summarizes the complex mechanisms responsible for CMVO, including pre-existing coronary microvascular dysfunction, and highlights the current limitations in the assessment of microvascular function. More importantly, at the light of the substantial failure of trials hitherto published on the treatment of CMVO, this review proposes a novel integrated therapeutic approach, which should overcome the limitations of previous studies.

This open-label, randomized, and multicentre trial tested the hypothesis that, on a background of aspirin, continuing clopidogrel would be superior to stopping clopidogrel at 12 months following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Patients (N = 1799) who had undergone placement of ≥1 DES for stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome were included in 58 French sites (January 2009-January 2013). Patients (N = 1385) free of major cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events or major bleeding and on aspirin and clopidogrel 12 months after stenting were eligible for randomization (11) between continuing clopidogrel 75 mg daily (extended-dual antiplatelet therapy, DAPT, group) or discontinuing clopidogrel (aspirin group). The primary outcome was net adverse clinical events defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or major bleeding. Follow-up was planned from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 36 months after randomization. Owing to slow recruitment, the study was stopped after enrolment of 1385 of a planned 1966 patients. Median follow-up after stenting was 33.4 months. The primary outcome occurred in 40 patients (5.8%) in the extended-DAPT group and 52 in the aspirin group (7.5%; hazard ratio 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.50-1.28; P = 0.17). Rates of death were 2.3% in the extended-DAPT group and 3.5% in the aspirin group (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.34-1.22; P = 0.18). Rates of major bleeding were identical (2.0%, P = 0.95).

Extended DAPT did not achieve superiority in reducing net adverse clinical events compared to 12 months of DAPT after DES placement. The power of the OPTIDUAL trial was however low and reduced by premature termination of enrolment.

NCT00822536.

NCT00822536.It was an honor for me to present the 2014 G. Heiner Sell Memorial Lecture at the annual American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) meeting in San Antonio. For this purpose, I provided a comprehensive review of the scope of research targeting discovery and translational and clinical investigations into spinal cord injury (SCI) research. Indeed, these are exciting times in the area of spinal cord research and clinical initiatives. Many laboratories and clinical programs throughout the world are publishing data related to the pathophysiology of SCI and new strategies for protecting and promoting recovery in both animal models and humans. For this lecture, several topics were discussed including neuroprotective and reparative strategies, neurorehabilitation, quality of life issues, and future directions. In the area of neuroprotection, pathophysiological events that may be targeted with therapeutic strategies, including pharmacological and targeted temperature management were reviewed. For reparative approaches, the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of axonal regeneration was highlighted. Various cell therapies currently being tested in preclinical and clinical arenas were reviewed as well as ongoing US Food and Drug Administration approved trials for SCI patients. Neurorehabilitation is an evolving research field with locomotive training strategies, electrical stimulation, and brain-machine interface programs targeting various types of SCI. The importance of testing combination approaches including neuroprotective, reparative, and rehabilitative strategies to maximize recovery mechanisms was therefore emphasized. Finally, quality of life issues that affect thousands of individuals living with paralysis were also presented. Future directions and specific obstacles that require attention as we continue to move the SCI field forward were discussed.