bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of Pythium schmitthenneri Causing Maize Seedling Blight in Iowa
Authors: Matthiesen R. L. , Ahmad A. A. , Ellis M. L. , Robertson A. E. 
Published: January 2014

In spring 2012, maize farmers in southeast and south central Iowa reported stand losses due to pre- and post-emergence damping-off, and many of the fields had to be replanted. Symptoms of the disease included rotted seed, or brown, rotted, water-soaked mesocotyls and root tips. Maize seedlings with severe root and mesocotyl symptoms were yellow and wilted, stunted, or dead. The disease occurred approximately 2 weeks after cool, wet conditions. Symptomatic mesocotyls and roots were washed for 30 min, rinsed with sterile distilled water, and blotted dry on sterile paper towels. Isolation of the pathogen was performed by aseptically cutting 2- to 3-mm sections of tissue from the edge of a lesion, placing the segments under corn meal agar (CMA) containing pimaricin, ampicillin, rifampicin, and pentachloronitrobenzene (PARP), and incubating at 22°C in the dark. Colonies that developed were putatively identified as Pythium species based on morphological characteristics and cultural features when compared to published descriptions (2,3). Characteristics of isolate IAC12F21-3 included spherical and smooth-walled oogonia 18 to 26 μm in diameter, monoclinous or usually diclinous antheridia 10 to 22 μm long and 5 to 10 μm wide with one or occasionally two per oogonium, and plerotic oospores 15 to 25 μm in diameter. Sporangia were globose to ellipsoidal, 22 to 41 μm in diameter, and zoospores were 7 to 10 μm long. Primers ITS1 and ITS4 were used to amplify the ITS region within clade E1 of 88 isolates. The resultant amplicons were sequenced and a BLAST search in GenBank confirmed isolate IAC12F21-3 as Pythium schmitthenneri based on 100% similarity with GenBank accession numbers JF836869 and JF836870. Pathogenicity testing was conducted using seed and seedling assays (1,4). Koch's postulates was performed by sampling pieces of symptomatic mesocotyl and root tissue from the inoculated pots, placing segments under CMA + PARP, and incubating at 22°C. Symptoms were similar to those observed in the field and P. schmitthenneri was re-isolated successfully. Non-inoculated control plants showed no symptoms. This is the first report of P. schmitthenneri causing seedling blight on maize in Iowa. Previously, P. schmitthenneri was reported as a pathogen on maize in Ohio (2). References: (1) K. Broders et al. Plant Dis. 91:727, 2007. (2) M. Ellis et al. Mycologia, 104:477, 2012. (3) J. Middleton. Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 20:171, 1943. (4) A. Rojas et al. Phytopathology, 102(Suppl):S5.8, 2012.
First Report of Stem and Root Rot of Stevia Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in North Carolina
Authors: Koehler A. , Shew H. 
Published: January 2014

Stevia (Stevia rebaundia) is an emerging crop in the United States. Once established, the crop is grown for 3 to 5 years and is typically harvested twice per growing season. Stevia leaves contain multiple glycosides that are used as a natural noncaloric sweetener that was approved by the USDA in 2008 as a sugar substitute. In commercial plantings of Stevia in North Carolina, wilting and death of plants in first- and second-year plantings were observed in 2012 and 2013. Diseased plants were observed in multiple counties in the state, with first symptoms observed in May of each year and continuing through the summer months. Prior to Stevia, these fields had been planted primarily in a corn-soybean rotation. Symptoms began as moderate to severe wilting of young shoots and chlorosis of leaves, rapidly followed by death of stems and rotting of roots. White mycelial growth was frequently observed at the base of stem tissue. Theses characteristic hyphae of Sclerotium rolfsii were often accompanied by the presence of abundant white to brown sclerotia. Isolations from infected root and stem tissue were made on potato dextrose agar amended with 50 μg/ml of streptomycin sulfate and penicillin G. Isolations from diseased tissue yielded characteristic white hyphae of S. rolfsii (1,3). Numerous sclerotia 0.5 to 2 mm in diameter developed following 4 to 7 days of mycelial growth. Sclerotia were initially white and melanized turning brown with age. To verify pathogenicity, 10-week-old Stevia seedlings were transplanted in 10-cm diameter pots containing sterile 1:1:1 sand, loam, media mix. Inoculum consisted of oat grains infested with one isolate obtained from the field plants. Oats were sterilized on three consecutive days and then inoculated with colonized agar plugs of S. rolfsii. Oats were incubated at room temperature to allow the fungus to thoroughly colonize the oats. Three infested oat grains were added to each test pot and plants were then observed over a 3-week period. Symptoms were observed within 5 days on most plants and included chlorotic leaves, bleached stems, wilting, and necrotic roots. White mycelium and abundant sclerotia were found at the base of plants. Uninoculated plants did not develop any symptoms. This is the first report of S. rolfsii on Stevia in the United States. Kamalakannan et al. (2) reported a root rot disease of Stevia in India and confirmed S. rolfsii as the causal agent. References: (1) R. Aycock. N.C. Agr. Exp. St. Tech. Bull. No. 174, 1966. (2) A. Kamalakannan et al. Plant Pathol. 56:350, 2007. (3) J. E. M. Mordue. Corticium rolfsii. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria No. 410. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1974.
Vitamin B12 Status in Children With Cystic Fibrosis and Pancreatic Insufficiency
Authors: Maqbool Asim , Schall Joan I. , Mascarenhas Maria R. , Dougherty Kelly A. , Stallings Virginia A. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTObjectives:Unexpectedly high serum B12 concentrations were noted in most study subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency (PI) participating in a nutrition intervention at the baseline evaluation. The objectives of this study were to determine dietary, supplement‐based, and enzyme‐based B12 intake, serum B12 concentrations, and predictors of vitamin B12 status in children with CF and PI.Study Design:Serum B12 status was assessed in subjects (5–18 years) and categorized as elevated (serum B12 above reference range for age and sex [Hi‐B12]) or within reference range (serum B12 within reference range for age and sex) for age and sex. Serum homocysteine, plasma B6, red blood cell folate, height, weight, and body mass index z scores, pulmonary function, energy, and dietary and supplement‐based vitamin intake were assessed.Results:A total of 106 subjects, mean age 10.4 ± 3.0 years, participated in the study. Median serum B12 was 1083 pg/mL, with 56% in the Hi‐B12 group. Dietary and supplement‐based B12 intakes were both high representing 376% and 667% recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. The Hi‐B12 group had significantly greater supplement‐based B12 intake than the serum B12 within reference range for age and sex group (1000% vs 583% RDA, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high supplement‐based B12 intake and age >12 years increased the risk of Hi‐B12, whereas higher forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) decreased the risk (pseudo‐R2 = 0.18, P < 0.001).Conclusions:Serum B12 was elevated in the majority of children with CF and PI. Supplement‐based B12 intake was 6 to 10 times the RDA, and strongly predicted elevated serum B12 status. The health consequences of lifelong high supplement‐based B12 intake and high serum B12 are unknown and require further study, as does the inversed correlation between serum B12 and forced expiratory volume at 1 second.
Improving “order handling” process by using QFD and FMEA methodologies: a case study
Authors: Tanık Murat 
Published: January 2014

PurposeWithout doubt safety and satisfaction of the end user of food products are the most crucial aspect of food production. However, in order to achieve complete satisfaction, the effectiveness of all interconnected processes of the supply chain should be guaranteed. The purpose of this paper is to emphasise the advantages of using systematic quality improvement tools like QFD and FMEA in every part of the supply chain in food production.Design/methodology/approachTwo quality improvement tools, QFD and FMEA, are described and an integrated application of these quality improvement methodologies on a package material supplier is presented and analysed.FindingsThe order‐receiving process requires a very deep and thorough understanding of customer needs and it is by nature an essential part of the quality deployment function itself. Any misunderstanding, mistake or omitted point can result in severe customer dissatisfaction through the order fulfilment process. QFD is a very helpful tool for transforming customer needs into the product design, but there are still many potential dangers in its second phase where the product specifications are determined. This fact is very obvious for the food‐packaging supplier and it is believed to be a threat in every supplier customer relationship. This gap or the potential risks can be eliminated with the help of a downstream control mechanism. Potential failures within the order‐receiving process or any inattention during this period have an important and direct effect on the performance of the order fulfilment. So it is suggested that this process can be improved by analysing the potential failures that can occur during the process of gathering data and transforming them into design issues by the use of a systematic methodology called FMEA.Practical implicationsThe managers of any supply chain can improve their understanding of their customer needs by the combined use of the QFD and FMEA methodologies and have a good opportunity to improve their order‐handling process starting from the beginning of the order receiving, by eliminating the potential risks and designing better product specifications by reflecting the knowledge generated through FMEA.Originality/valueThe paper offers a systematic approach to improve the order‐handling process in food package production, and this approach can be generalised to many order‐handling processes to strengthen the supply chain in any industry.
Impact of chronic exposure to a pyrethroid pesticide on bumblebees and interactions with a trypanosome parasite
Authors: Baron Gemma L. , Raine Nigel E. , Brown Mark J. F. 
Published: January 2014

Summary

Bees are exposed to pesticides when foraging in agricultural areas and growing evidence suggests that such compounds can be harmful to managed and wild populations. Given the economic and ecological importance of bees, and the evidence of widespread population declines, the full impacts of pesticides and their interactions with other stressors in the environment need to be investigated.

Here, we focus on the impacts of chronic exposure to the commonly used pyrethroid pesticide lambda (λ)‐cyhalothrin on the bumblebee Bombus terrestris at both the individual and colony level. Furthermore, we investigated the interactions of pesticide exposure with a highly prevalent trypanosome parasite Crithidia bombi. Colonies were exposed to λ‐cyhalothrin in the laboratory, and colony growth and reproductive output were monitored for up to 14 weeks. The potential interactions between the pesticide and C. bombi were investigated by quantifying the impact of pesticide treatment on susceptibility to, and success of experimental infections, as well as the survival of workers. Male survival after larval pesticide exposure was also monitored.

Pesticide‐treated colonies produced workers with a significantly lower body mass. However, out of the twelve variables of colony development measured, this was the only metric that was significantly affected by pesticide treatment and there was no subsequent significant impact on the reproductive output of colonies.

Lambda‐cyhalothrin had no significant impact on the susceptibility of workers to C. bombi, or intensity of parasitic infection.

Pesticide exposure did not cause differential survival in workers or males, even when workers were additionally challenged with C. bombi.

Synthesis and applications. Chronic exposure to λ‐cyhalothrin has a significant impact on worker size, a key aspect of bumblebee colony function, particularly under conditions of limited food resources. This could indicate that under times of resource limitation, colonies exposed to this pesticide in the field may fail. However, the lack of other impacts found in this study indicate that further field trials are needed to elucidate this.
No signs of meristem senescence in old Scots pine
Authors: Mencuccini Maurizio , Oñate Marta , Peñuelas Josep , Rico Laura , Munné‐Bosch Sergi 
Published: January 2014

Summary

Ageing and senescence in plants remain poorly understood. Although meristem totipotency may allow woody perennials to be immortal, relative growth and photosynthetic rates typically decline with age.

Trees of ages between 129 and 534 years were selected in one of the oldest extant populations of Scots pine. Apical branches were propagated by grafting onto homogeneous juvenile rootstock to eliminate the effects of size and environmental variability and isolate those due to age. The hormonal profile of leaves and seeds along with markers of the physiological status of leaves and their pattern of DNA cytosine methylation were measured 15 years after grafting.

The percentage of total methylated loci in nuclear DNA increased with increasing meristematic age. However, only very few significant relationships were found between levels of phyto‐hormones, pigments or physiological markers either in leaves or seeds and age of the meristem. In addition, shoots grafted from old trees grew as fast as those from younger trees and produced the same number of germinable seeds.

Synthesis. We conclude that changes in DNA methylation can occur in old trees. The lack of apparent physiological deterioration in the grafted plants suggests that meristem senescence is not the main factor triggering whole‐plant ageing in Scots pine.
A preliminary report on the English phonology of typically developing English–Mandarin bilingual preschool Singaporean children
Authors: En Lydea Gn Wei , Brebner Chris , McCormack Paul 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundThere are no published data on typical phonological development for Singaporean children. There is therefore the risk that children's speech in Singapore may be misdiagnosed or that clinicians may set goals erroneously.AimsThis paper reports a preliminary study on the English phonology of typically developing 4;0–4;5‐year‐old Chinese Singaporean children who speak English and Mandarin.Method & ProceduresSeventy children were recruited throughout Singapore, and speech samples were collected in English using the Phonology Assessment of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP). The participants were divided equally into two groups: English‐dominant and Mandarin‐dominant. Their speech samples were compared with British English targets (BT) and Singapore English targets (ST) in terms of phonological accuracy and types of phonological processes used.Outcomes & ResultsThe results showed that Singaporean children's phonological accuracy scores increased significantly when scored against ST instead of BT. When scored against ST, English‐dominant children were found to perform similarly to their DEAP counterparts. However, Mandarin‐dominant children had significantly less accurate consonant production in English and exhibited more interference effects from Mandarin phonology than English‐dominant children.Conclusions & ImplicationsIn this preliminary study, the results highlight the importance of speech and language therapists using local dialect pronunciations to be the target of speech assessments so as to provide appropriate assessment and intervention. It is also essential to account for the language background and language dominance of the children. More local normative data are needed for the typical acquisition of Singapore English in children, especially for children whose dominant language is not English.
Proteolysis in ultra‐heat‐treated skim milk after exposure to multispecies biofilms under conditions modelling a milk tanker
Authors: Teh Koon Hoong , Lindsay Denise , Palmer Jon , Andrewes Paul , Bremer Phil , Flint Steve 
Published: January 2014

Bacteria from milk tankers can form multispecies biofilms and produce heat‐stable enzymes. In this study, milk was exposed to multispecies biofilms in stainless steel vessels and was then used to produce ultra‐heat‐treated (UHT) milk, which was stored for 5 months. The UHT milks were assessed for microbial counts, free peptide concentration and pH. The free peptide concentration, which indicated proteolysis, was higher in UHT milk that had been exposed to multispecies biofilms than in untreated UHT milk. Biofilm formation may be promoted in milk tankers that are not properly cleaned, which may compromise the quality of the final dairy product.
Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: outcomes and lessons learned from initial 50 cases
Authors: Cabalag Miguel S. , Mann G Bruce , Gorelik Alexandra , Miller Julie A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundPosterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA) is an alternative approach to minimally invasive adrenalectomy, potentially offering less pain and faster recovery compared with laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy (LA). The authors have recently changed from LA to PRA in suitable patients and audited their first 50 cases.MethodsData were prospectively collected for 50 consecutive PRAs performed by the same surgeon. Patient demographics, tumour characteristics, analgesia use, operative and preparation time, length of stay, and complications were recorded.ResultsFifty adrenalectomies were performed in 49 patients. The median (range) age was 58.5 years (30–83) and the majority of patients were female (n = 33, 66.0%). The median (interquartile range (IQR)) preparation time was 35.5 (28.5–50.0) and median operation time was 70.5 (54–85) min, which decreased during the study period. After a learning curve of 15 cases, median operative time reached 61 min. PRA patients required minimal post‐operative analgesia, with a median (IQR) of 0 (0–5) mg of intravenous morphine equivalent used. The median (IQR) length of stay was 1 (1–1) day, with 8 (16.0%) same‐day discharges. There were four complications: one blood pressure lability from a phaeochromocytoma, one reintubation, one self‐limited bleed and one temporary subcostal neuropraxia. There were no conversions to open surgery or deaths.ConclusionOur results support previously published findings that PRA is a safe procedure, with a relatively short learning curve, resulting in minimal post‐operative analgesia use and short length of hospital stay.
Impact of geographic location on surgical outcomes of women with breast cancer
Authors: Azzopardi Jonathan , Walsh David , Chong Chilton , Taylor Corey 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study is to use the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand Quality Audit to evaluate the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment path for Australian women with early breast cancer in relation to geographic location.MethodsWe accessed data on patient geographic demographics, diagnostic and surgical procedures and cancer characteristics in 115 872 episodes of early breast cancer reported to the Quality Audit between 1998 and 2012. Tumour size, grade and number, lymph node positivity and lymphovascular invasion are the major prognostic factors adjusted for.ResultsCore biopsy is the most frequently performed diagnostic method and open biopsy the least (P = 0.001). Remote locations have the highest proportion of open biopsies and cities the lowest (13.8 versus 9.8%, P = 0.001). The outer regional/remote patient group has a higher likelihood of an open biopsy than city patients (odds ratio 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.2 P = 0.02). Reconstruction rates are low throughout ranging from 3 to 4% (P = 0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of no surgery (1.5%, P = 0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of breast conserving surgery and the remote the lowest (64.5% versus 29.9%, P = 0.001). Outer regional locations have the highest proportion of mastectomies and cities the lowest (38 versus 29.9%, P = 0.001). The likelihood of receiving radiotherapy is associated with geographic location of residence and geographic distribution of the radiotherapy facility (P = 0.002, P = 0.001).ConclusionGeographic location of residence is associated with the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment of Australian women with early breast cancer.
Prognostic value of surgical margin status in gastric cancer patients
Authors: Liang Yuexiang , Ding Xuewei , Wang Xiaona , Wang Baogui , Deng Jingyu , Zhang Li , Liang Han 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundIt has been reported that positive surgical margin is one of the most significant risk factors for local recurrence and poor survival. However, the survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients with positive margin is still controversial.MethodsA total of 1025 stage I–III GC patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent between January 2003 and April 2008 in our centre were enrolled in this study, of whom, 75 patients got a microscopic positive resection margin. Other 950 patients with negative resection margin were used for comparison.ResultsBorrmann type and extranodal metastasis were independent risk factors for positive margin. The 5‐year overall survival for the patients with positive margin is merely 13.3%. Survival in such patients was similar to that of the patients staged IIIc with R0 resection. In multivariate analysis, surgical margin status was found to be an independent prognostic factor for GC patients, while histology, tumour location, TNM stage and chemotherapy were independently associated with overall survival for patients with positive margin.ConclusionSurgical margin status is an independent prognostic factor for GC. Patients with positive margin have a poor prognosis, similar to that of IIIc stage disease. When the tumour demonstrates infiltrative growth pattern (Borrmann type III and IV) and the surgical margin status is difficult to determine, extended gastrectomy should be implemented to ensure an R0 resection. Those high‐risk patients should be considered for postoperative chemotherapy.