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Nursery
Kinds of Nursery Terms modified by Nursery Selected Abstracts"Ghosts in the Nursery:" Infant sleep and sleep-related cognitions of parents raised under communal sleeping arrangementsINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Liat Tikotzky In an experiment of nature, a normal cohort of parents who were raised under communal sleeping arrangements (CSA) in Israeli kibbutzim are raising their infants at home under home-based family sleeping arrangements. The present study focused on exploring the links between the early sleep experiences of CSA parents and their present sleep-related beliefs and behaviors. In particular, the study assessed whether the cognitions of CSA parents regarding infant sleep differ from cognitions of parents who were raised under home-based family sleeping arrangements. Furthermore, parental soothing methods and infant sleep patterns were compared. One hundred forty-one families participated in this study. The children's ages ranged between 4.5 to 30 months. Parental cognitions were evaluated by two questionnaires. Infant sleep was assessed by a questionnaire and by daily parental reports. As expected, CSA parents were more likely than were control parents to: (a) interpret infant night wakings as a sign of distress and (b) actively soothe their infants at bedtime, co-sleep with them, and report more night wakings of their infants. These findings support the hypothesis that early childhood sleep-related experiences of parents ("Ghosts in the Nursery") influence their parental sleep-related cognitions that in turn affect infant sleep patterns. [source] The drug epidemic: Effects on newborn infants and health resource consumption at a tertiary perinatal centreJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 3 2000J J Kelly Objectives: Illicit drug taking in Australia, with its attendant social and medical consequences, is increasing and the effects extend to maternity hospitals where infants born to addicted mothers have more health problems in the neonatal period. The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) the patterns of illness of such infants and (2) the burden imposed on the neonatal department of a large tertiary maternity centre. Methodology: An audit was conducted of all Chemical Dependency Unit (CDU) mothers and babies delivered at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia during 1997. Data were compared with those from a concurrent control group of mothers and babies randomly generated from the hospital's obstetric database. Results: Ninety-six infants born to CDU mothers were compared with a control group of 200 infant/mother pairs. The majority of women in the CDU clinic were treated for narcotic addiction with methadone (90%) but most continued to use heroin during pregnancy (68%). Infants born to CDU mothers were significantly less mature and lighter than control infants. Fifty-three (55%) CDU infants required admission to the Special Care Nursery either because of neonatal abstinence syndrome (n = 29) or other medical reasons (n = 24). The median length of hospital stay was significantly longer in CDU compared with control infants (8 vs 3 days, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Infants born to drug dependent mothers have more neonatal problems requiring specialized medical and nursing expertise, compared with control infants. These infants are large consumers of scarce health resources. [source] Lessons from the Nursery: Children as Writers in Early Years EducationLITERACY, Issue 2 2000Lesley Clark This paper considers the rationale of the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) for changing approaches to the teaching of writing in the early years. Existing pedagogy and practice are summarised and mapped against the NLS requirements. It is suggested that there are tensions both in ideology and practice which are particularly striking for the Reception year. Research in early years classrooms in three primary schools in Southern England draws attention, in particular, to the ways in which the NLS is prompting changes in contexts for writing and in the nature of teacher intervention, with an increasingly early emphasis on the didactic teaching of writing conventions. The paper concludes that developmentally appropriate, affirming strategies need not contravene the educational ideals of the NLS, providing the professionalism of early years practitioners is genuinely nurtured and respected. [source] A randomised controlled trial of two instruments for vacuum-assisted delivery (Vacca Re-Usable OmniCup and the Bird anterior and posterior cups) to compare failure rates, safety and use effectivenessAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Glen D.L. MOLA Background:, Most previous trials of vacuum-assisted delivery have been in settings with high rates of instrumental vaginal delivery (8,12%) and high rates of failure to deliver with the intended instrument (20,30%). Over the past 20 years, vacuum-assisted delivery rates at the Port Moresby General Hospital have been 3,4% with failure rates of <3%. Objective:, The objective is to compare the failure rates of two vacuum extractor instruments, the Vacca Re-Usable Omnicup and the Bird Vacuum delivery system (anterior and posterior cups). Setting:, Port Moresby General national referral and teaching Hospital (PMGH), Papua New Guinea. Population:, Two hundred consecutive women requiring assisted delivery, June,December, 2007. Methods:, When a woman required an assisted delivery, she was randomised into either the Vacca Re-Usable Omnicup (Clinical Innovations Inc.) or Bird anterior or posterior metal cup (depending upon the position of the vertex). One hundred women were randomised to each vacuum device. Statistical analysis was on ,an intention-to-treat' basis. Main outcome measures:, The main outcome measure was the successful completion of the delivery with the allocated instrument. Secondary outcomes were maternal trauma (episiotomy and trauma to the maternal genital tract), significant scalp trauma (sub-galeal haemorrhage or serious abrasion) and fetal and neonatal outcomes (Apgar score less than seven at 5 minutes, days spent in the Special Care Nursery and neonatal death). Results:, Failure rates for both Omnicup (2/100) and Bird metal cups (6/100) were not statistically different (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99,1.12; P = 0.17). Rates of maternal trauma and fetal scalp trauma were similar in both groups. Conclusion:, Both the Vacca re-useable Omnicup and the Bird metal cups are very effective instruments to achieve successful assisted delivery and equally so. Failures and problems were associated with not applying the vacuum cup to the flexion point on the fetal scalp and the mechanical faults with vacuum equipment devices. [source] Reassessing the value of nursery areas to shark conservation and managementCONSERVATION LETTERS, Issue 2 2009Michael John Kinney Abstract Concern over declining shark populations has led to an intense interest in their conservation and management. Due to the difficulties involved in managing adult sharks, focus has been placed on young juvenile and neonate age classes that inhabit discrete inshore nursery areas. However, past confusion over what qualifies as a nursery habitat has led to the identification of vast coastal areas as nurseries, making conservation unfeasible. With the establishment of more discerning criteria for nursery area identification such concerns have been somewhat alleviated, but while effort has been put into defining, identifying, mapping, and in some cases protecting nursery areas, little attention has been paid to the practical value of nurseries for the recovery of exploited shark populations. Often neonate and young juveniles are considered the most critical age classes in terms of population stability/recovery, but evidence is mounting that suggests life stages outside the nursery may be more important in this regard. While nursery area protection should remain a component in shark management strategies it will be critical to link early life stage conservation with management strategies that encompass older individuals residing outside nurseries if effective management is to be achieved. [source] Viruses of grapevine in SyriaEPPO BULLETIN, Issue 3 2006T. Mslmanieh Surveys for virus and virus-like diseases were carried out in commercial vineyards and nurseries in seven different Syrian provinces (Aleppo, Dara'a, As Suwayda, Al Qunaytirah, Homs, Hamah, Tartous). Samples were collected at random from 835 individual vines (735 Vitis vinifera and 100 rootstock accessions) for laboratory testing. Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), and Grapevine virus A (GVA) were the only viruses recovered by mechanical transmission to herbaceous hosts. Vein necrosis developed in c. 53% of graft-inoculated 110R indicators and vein mosaic in V. riparia inoculated with material from cv. Corna Alegra. A total of 71% of the ELISA-tested V. vinifera plants (522 out of 735) were infected by one (14.8%) or more (55.8%) viruses. GVA was the most widespread (54.7%), followed by Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1, 47.3%), Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV, 29.7%), and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3, 23.9%). Other economically relevant viruses were scarcer, i.e. Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2, 9%), GFLV (0.8%) and ArMV (0.1%). The most important Syrian grapevine varieties, i.e. Hellwany, Salty, Balady, and Zeiny, had average infection rates that ranged between 44% and 91%. The highest incidence of infections was observed at Damascus (90%), whereas it ranged between 68% and 79% in the other provinces, except for Hama (36%). Rootstocks were in much better sanitary condition (25% infection). GFkV (22%) was the most common virus, whilst the presence of GLRaV-3 (3%), GLRaV-1, and GFLV (1%) was negligible. Grapevine rupestris stem pitting associated virus (GRSPaV) was detected in 72.3% of the samples by RT-PCR. A high percentage of the GRSPaV-positive vines (80%) induced vein necrosis reactions in 110R, thus confirming the recently established correlation between this virus and vein necrosis. [source] Regulatory measures against Erwinia amylovora in Switzerland,EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2005B. Duffy Switzerland joined the list of fireblight-affected European countries in 1989. Vigorous and systematic steps were taken to limit the impact of the disease on fruit production and amenity plants. These efforts are codified in a Swiss law detailing prevention, eradication, control measures and issues of compensation. As with many Swiss legal directives, there is a defined coordination of federal and cantonal responsibilities and, in the case of fireblight, there is also an emphasis at all levels on personal responsibility of owners of susceptible objects (e.g. nurseries, orchards, host plants). Extension activities have been a key component in achieving compliance with disease management regulations and in obtained public support for control efforts. Agroscope FAW Wädenswil has taken a leading role in this respect through its website http://www.feuerbrand.ch. [source] Fireblight monitoring in Lithuania1EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 3 2004L. Baranauskait Lithuania has requested that its whole territory should be recognized by the EU as a protected zone for Erwinia amylovora. Fireblight monitoring was performed in 1998/2002 with the aim of detecting and identifying the bacterium, and of determining its distribution in the country. The study consisted of periodic surveys (at least twice a year) of nurseries, orchards, collective farms and host plants, growing individually or in small groups, as well as the surrounding zone within a radius of 250 m. Tests, under conditions of quality control, were applied to host plants with and without symptoms, using detection methods such as ELISA and immunofluorescence (with polyclonal antibodies), semi-selective plating and pathogenicity. [source] Official survey, in 2002, for detection of Erwinia amylovora in a proposed protected zone in Jihomoravsky region (Czech Republic)1EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 3 2004O. Vahala Inspectors of the Czech NPPO surveyed the occurrence of fireblight Erwinia amylovora in an area of Jihomoravsky region (South Moravia) proposed as an EU protected zone, including 16 designated buffer zones around nurseries. The disease was not detected in communes where fireblight hosts are grown (nurseries, variety testing stations, orchards) or in buffer zones around nurseries. In 902 communes where fireblight hosts are grown only in orchards or not at all, wild host plants were inspected at 2.629 observation points (2137 located by GARMIN GPS). In Vy,kov district, suspected fireblight was confirmed at one observation point on Crataegus, growing by a railway in Rousínov commune and, in the course of a delimiting survey outside observation points, in four other communes (Drnovice, Habrovany, Komo,any and Vy,kov). [source] A spatially explicit, individual-based model to assess the role of estuarine nurseries in the early life history of North Sea herring, Clupea harengusFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2005JOACHIM MAES Abstract Herring (Clupea harengus) enter and remain within North Sea estuaries during well-defined periods of their early life history. The costs and benefits of the migrations between offshore spawning grounds and upper, low-salinity zones of estuarine nurseries are identified using a dynamic state-variable model, in which the fitness of an individual is maximized by selecting the most profitable habitat. Spatio-temporal gradients in temperature, turbidity, food availability and predation risk simulate the environment. We modeled predation as a function of temperature, the optical properties of the ambient water, the time allocation of feeding and the abundance of whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Growth and metabolic costs were assessed using a bioenergetic model. Model runs using real input data for the Scheldt estuary (Belgium, The Netherlands) and the southern North Sea show that estuarine residence results in fitter individuals through a considerable increase in survival probability of age-0 fish. Young herring pay for their migration into safer estuarine water by foregoing growth opportunities at sea. We suggest that temperature and, in particular, the time lag between estuarine and seawater temperatures, acts as a basic cue for herring to navigate in the heterogeneous space between the offshore spawning grounds at sea and the oligohaline nursery zone in estuaries. [source] Identification of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) stocks from putative nurseries using otolith chemistryFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2003Jay R. Rooker Abstract Chemical signatures in the otoliths of teleost fishes represent natural tags that may reflect differences in the chemical and physical characteristics of an individuals' environment. Otolith chemistry of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) was quantified to assess the feasibility of using these natural tags to discriminate juveniles (age 0 and age 1) from putative nurseries. A suite of six elements (Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Sr and Ba) was measured in whole otoliths using solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Otolith chemistry of age-1 T. thynnus collected from the two primary nurseries in the Mediterranean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean differed significantly, with a cross-validated classification accuracy of 85%. Spatial and temporal variation in otolith chemistry was evaluated for age-0 T. thynnus collected from three nurseries within the Mediterranean Sea: Alboran Sea (Spain), Ligurian Sea (northern Italy), and Tyrrhenian Sea (southern Italy). Distinct differences in otolith chemistry were detected among Mediterranean nurseries and classification accuracies ranged from 62 to 80%. Interannual trends in otolith chemistry were observed between year classes of age-0 T. thynnus in the Alboran Sea; however, no differences were detected between year classes in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Age-0 and age-1 T. thynnus collected from the same region (Ligurian Sea) were also compared and distinct differences in otolith chemistry were observed, indicating ontogenetic shifts in habitat or elemental discrimination. Findings suggest that otolith chemistry of juvenile T. thynnus from different nurseries are distinct and chemical signatures show some degree of temporal persistence, indicating the technique has considerable potential for use in future assessments of population connectivity and stock structure of T. thynnus. [source] Springtime ichthyoplankton of the slope region off the north-eastern United States of America: larval assemblages, relation to hydrography and implications for larval transportFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2001Jonathan A. Hare Larval transport in the slope region off north-eastern North America influences recruitment to juvenile habitats for a variety of fishes that inhabit the continental shelf. In this study, collections of larval fishes were made during springtime over the continental slope to provide insights into larval distributions and transport. Ichthyoplankton composition and distribution mirrored the physical complexity of the region. Three larval fish assemblages were defined, each with different water mass distributions. A Gulf Stream assemblage was found predominantly in the Gulf Stream and associated with filaments of discharged Gulf Stream water in the Slope Sea. Larvae of this assemblage originated from oceanic and shelf regions south of Cape Hatteras. Several members of this assemblage utilize habitats in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) as juveniles (Pomatomus saltatrix, Peprilus triacanthus) and other members of the assemblage may share this life cycle (Mugil curema, Sphyraena borealis, Urophycis regia). A Slope Sea assemblage was found in all water masses, and was composed of epi- and mesopelagic fish larvae, as well as larvae of benthic shelf/slope residents. Larvae of one member of this assemblage (U. tenuis) are spawned in the Slope Sea but cross the shelf-slope front and use nearshore habitats for juvenile nurseries. A MAB shelf assemblage was found in MAB shelf water and was composed of larvae that were spawned on the shelf. Some of these species may cross into the Slope Sea before returning to MAB shelf habitats (e.g. Enchelyopus cimbrius, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus). Previous studies have examined the effect of warm-core rings on larval distributions, but this study identifies the importance of smaller-scale features of the MAB shelf/slope front and of filaments associated with Gulf Stream meanders. In combination with these advective processes, the dynamic nature of larval distributions in the Slope Sea appears to be influenced, to varying degrees, by both vertical and horizontal behaviour of larvae and pelagic juveniles themselves. [source] Microbial communities in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings with damping-off symptoms in two forest nurseries as determined by ITS1/2 rDNA sequencingFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009H. Kwa Summary A methodological molecular procedure, which included extraction and cloning of the ITS1/2 rDNA of root-associated organisms with subsequent transformation and sequencing of representative clones, was effective for detection, discrimination and determination of the frequency of the main damping-off pathogens in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings growing in different forest-tree nursery soils and exhibiting different rates of disease progress. Roots exhibiting slower damping-off progression were colonized by Fusarium oxysporum, Neonectria radicicola (Ascomycota) and Pythium spp. (Oomycota), which comprised 50% of the microbial community. Roots exhibiting faster damping-off progression were dominated by Thanatephorus cucumeris (Basidiomycota), which comprised 80% of the microbial community. The microbial community was more diverse in roots with slower damping-off progression (14 species) than in roots with faster disease progression (seven species). [source] Pathogenicity of Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium oxysporum on Pinus nigra seedlings in northwest SpainFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008P. Martín-Pinto Summary Fusarium verticillioides may be responsible for causing significant damping-off damage similar to that incited by F. oxysporum on forest seedlings, resulting in considerable losses in nurseries in northwest of Spain. Traditionally, F. oxysporum has been considered the most important agent of this disease in Spanish forest nurseries. However, recent studies have showed that F. verticillioides also has been frequently isolated from diseased plants. This has increased the necessity for a more comprehensive knowledge of the behaviour and pathogenicity of both Fusarium spp. isolated from these sites. The effect of Fusarium spp. on seed germination and on seedling mortality was analysed by inoculating the fungus at seeding. The in vitro growth of the two species was studied and is discussed in relation to in vivo virulence. Both species caused a reduction in seed germination and an increase in seedling mortality. Mortality caused by F. verticillioides treatments occurred sooner than that for F. oxysporum and the growth rate of F. verticillioides was also greater. [source] The effects of calcium on stem lesions of silver birch seedlingsFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2007A. Lilja Summary In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decreased liming of growth medium has a role in the increase of stem lesions and top dying caused by Phytophthora cactorum in containerized silver birch seedlings (Betula pendula) in Finnish forest nurseries. The effect of limestone dose rates on growth and the nutrient status was also monitored. An index based on severity of symptom expression was used to compare the effect of different liming treatments on P. cactorum infection. Limestone amended into the sphagnum peat growth medium increased the amount of calcium in the seedling stems. Liming did not significantly decrease the disease severity although index values in most cases decreased with the increased limestone dose rates. In general, the lesions were restricted after out-planting and the mortality of seedlings was low. Only inoculated seedlings on which the lesions had spread around the stem in the nursery died. Phytophthora cactorum appears to be a nursery pathogen, as it did not survive under conditions present in the field. Four years after out-planting, the tallest birches were those grown in sphagnum peat amended with the highest limestone dose of 8 kg m,3. [source] Studies on anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia solani isolates causing disease in two forest nurseries in PolandFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006S. St, pniewska-Jarosz Summary Thirty-eight isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were isolated from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings with damping-off symptoms, originating from two forest nurseries in central-west Poland (Wronczyn and Jarocin) and from diseased seedlings grown in soil from Wronczyn nursery. Majority of these isolates (79%) had multinucleate cells and were identified as Rhizoctonia solani. The remaining isolates were recognized as binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. R. solani isolates were characterized using hyphal anastomosis and were divided into five anastomosis groups (AG). The most prevalent was AG5 (37% of isolates), followed by AG2-1 (30%) and 27% of the isolates were identified as AG4. Groups AG1-IB and AG2-2 were only represented by single isolates. The virulence recorded as mortality (in percentage) was comparatively high for binucleate and multinucleate isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. Sequence analysis of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region was used for phylogenetic analysis. The dendrogram showed that isolates were distinctly separated based on their AG types and there was no relationship between pathogenicity on Scots pine seedlings and the AG to which the isolates belong to. The results are discussed with respect to pathogenic potential of the various AG groups. Résumé Trente-huit isolats de Rhizoctonia spp. ont été isolés de semis de Pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris) présentant des symptômes de fonte, dans deux pépinières forestières du Centre-Ouest de la Pologne (Wronczyn and Jarocin) et de semis malades élevés dans du sol provenant de la pépinière de Wronczyn. La majorité de ces isolats (79%) ont des cellules multi-nucléées et ont été identifiés comme des Rhizoctonia solani. Le reste des isolats ont été reconnus comme des Rhizoctonia spp. binucléés. Les isolats de R. solani ont été caractérisés en utilisant l'anastomose d'hyphes et répartis dans cinq groupes d'anastomoses (AG). Le plus important est le groupe AG5 (37% des isolats), suivi par AG2-1 (30%) et AG4 (27%). Les groupes AG1-IB et AG2-2 sont représentés chacun par seulement un isolat. La virulence, estimée par le pourcentage de mortalité, est relativement forte pour les isolats binucléés et multinucléés de Rhizoctonia spp. L'analyse des séquences de la région ITS de l'ADNr amplifiées par PCR a été utilisée pour l'analyse phylogénétique. Le dendrogramme montre que les isolats sont séparés selon leur groupe d'anastomose mais il n'y a pas de relation entre le groupe d'anastomose et la virulence sur semis de Pin sylvestre. Les résultats sont discutés dans la perspective du pouvoir pathogène des différents groupes d'anastomoses. Zusammenfassung Von Kiefernsämlingen (Pinus sylvestris) mit Umfallkrankheit, die aus zwei Forstbaumschulen in Zentral-Westpolen stammten (Wronczyn und Jarocin) und aus erkrankten Sämlingen, die in Bodenproben aus der Baumschule Wronczyn kultiviert worden waren, wurden 38 Stämme von Rhizoctonia spp. isoliert. Die meisten dieser Isolate (79%) hatten vielkernige Zellen und wurden als R. solani identifiziert. Die restlichen Isolate waren zweikernige Rhizoctonia spp. Die Isolate von R. solani wurden durch Anastomosierungstests charakterisiert und fünf Anastomosierungsgruppen zugeordnet. Die häufigste Gruppe war AG5 (37% der Isolate), gefolgt von AG2-1 (30%) und AG4 (27%). Die Gruppe AG1-IB und AG2-2 waren nur durch einzelne Isolate vertreten. Die Virulenz (gemessen als % Mortalität) war sowohl für zweikernige als auch für vielkernige Isolate vergleichsweise hoch. Mit den Sequenzen der PCR-amplifizierten ITS-rDNA-Region wurde eine phylogenetische Analyse durchgeführt. Das Dendrogramm zeigte, dass die Isolate aufgrund ihrer Zugehörigkeit zu den Anastomosierungsgruppen deutlich voneinander getrennt waren, und es bestand keine Beziehung zwischen ihrer Virulenz gegenüber Kiefernsämlingen und der Gruppenzugehörigkeit. Die Befunde werden im Hinblick auf das pathogene Potential der verschiedenen Anastomosierungsgruppen diskutiert. [source] Identification of Lophodermium seditiosum and L. pinastri in Swedish forest nurseries using species-specific PCR primers from the ribosomal ITS regionFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005E. Stenström Summary Lophodermium seditiosum is a serious needle pathogen on pine, particularly in nurseries, and there is a need to detect the pathogen during its latent phase. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA of L. seditiosum and L. pinastri were amplified with universal primers and sequenced. Sequence comparisons of the two species allowed the design of species-specific primers for the ITS regions. The primers were between 18 and 24 bp long with a minimum of 3 bp differences between the species. These primer pairs did not give any amplification of DNA from any other of the examined fungal species or from healthy Pinus sylvestris needles. It was also possible to identify either L. seditiosum or L. pinastri in infected needles with and without signs of infection using these primer pairs. The method was found to be very useful for detection of latent infections of L. seditiosum in P. sylvestris needles in nurseries. Résumé Lophodermium seditiosum est un pathogène important des aiguilles sur pins, particulièrement en pépinières, et il serait nécessaire de détecter le pathogène dans sa phase latente. Les régions ITS de L. seditiosum et L. pinastri ont été amplifiées avec des amorces universelles et séquencées. La comparaison de la séquence des deux espèces a permis de développer des amorces spécifiques pour chaque espèce dans la région ITS. Les amorces ont une longueur de 18 à 24 paires de bases avec un minimum de 3 paires de bases de différence entre espèces. Ces amorces n'ont produit aucune amplification avec l'ADN des autres espèces de champignons testées ou les aiguilles saines de Pinus sylvestris. Il a également été possible de détecter L. seditiosum ou L. pinastri avec ces amorces dans des aiguilles infectées avec ou sans signe d'infection. Cette méthode s'avère très utile pour la détection d'infections latentes de L. seditiosum dans les aiguilles de P. sylvestris en pépinières. Zusammenfassung Lophodermium seditiosum ist ein starkes Nadelpathogen an Kiefern, speziell in Baumschulen. Für den Einsatz von Bekämpfungsmassnahmen wäre es von Vorteil, wenn man das Pathogen bereits während der Latenzperiode nachweisen könnte. Die ITS Regionen der ribosomalen DNA von L. seditiosum und L. pinastri wurden mit Standardprimern amplifiziert und sequenziert. Vergleiche der Sequenzen der beiden Arten erlaubten die Entwicklung von artspezifischen Primern für die ITS Regionen. Die Primerpaare waren zwischen 18 and 24 Basenpaaren lang und wiesen einen Unterschied von mindestens drei Nukleotiden auf. Die DNA von allen anderen untersuchten Pilzarten und von gesunden Pinus sylvestris Nadeln liessen sich mit keinem dieser Primerpaare amplifiziern. Lophodermium seditiosum und L. pinastri konnten mit den Primerpaaren in infizierten Nadeln mit und ohne Symptome direkt nachgewiesen werden. Die Methode eignete sich vorzüglich zum Nachweis von latenten Infektionen von L. seditiosum in P. sylvestris Nadeln in Baumschulen. [source] Dispersal and migration of juvenile African Black Oystercatchers Haematopus moquiniIBIS, Issue 3 2003Philip A. R. Hockey African Black Oystercatchers Haematopus moquini are sedentary as adults. However, colour-ringing of more than 700 juveniles has revealed complex post-fledging movements that vary geographically. Young from the western part of the breeding range either remain within 150 km of their natal site or migrate 1500,2000 km to one of five discrete nursery areas on the Namib Desert coast of central and northern Namibia, and southern Angola. These nurseries all lie north of the species' breeding range. We calculate that 36,46% of all juveniles born in South Africa migrate to nurseries. Birds return to their natal sites from nurseries at 2,3 years old, but never migrate again. Juveniles from the eastern part of the range undertake ,diffusion dispersal', regularly up to 1000 km, but these journeys mostly end within the breeding range, where there are no nurseries. Very few eastern birds reach nurseries. There is no evidence that movements of western birds are density-dependent responses to hatching date, but long-distance migrants are significantly heavier as chicks than are short-distance dispersers. We hypothesize that a genetic basis exists to these movements, possibly triggered by body condition, that could account not only for the highly dichotomous behaviour of western birds, but also for the intermediate behaviour of eastern birds. [source] Effect of Altitude on Energy Exchange Characteristics of Some Alpine Medicinal Crops from Central HimalayasJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004S. Chandra Abstract To explore the conservation and cultivation of endangered alpine medicinal crops at comparatively lower altitudes, a study on variations in morphological parameters and energy exchange characteristics was conducted on five herbaceous medicinal crops from the alpines of Central Himalayas. Plants of same age were selected from the alpine medicinal crop nursery, Tungnath (3600 m), and were planted at the nurseries at 2100 and 550 m altitudes. After well acclimatization at lower altitudes, plants were examined for morphological and energy exchange studies during their active growth period. The energy balance sheet of these plant species indicates that most of the energy absorbed by the leaves dissipates by re-radiation, transpiration and thermal conductance across leaf surfaces. All species maintained leaf temperature below the surrounding air temperature at all altitudes and therefore gained energy by convection of heat as well as by boundary layer thermal conduction. Leaf-to-air temperature difference, gain of energy by convection of heat and boundary layer thermal conduction was maximum at an altitude of 2100 m in all the species. Boundary layer thermal conductivity, boundary layer thickness, thermal conductivity of the leaf and therefore, total energy absorbed by the leaves of these species increase significantly with decreasing altitude. Leaf thickness significantly decreases with decreasing altitude, which in turn enhances total energy absorption (r = ,0.975, P < 0.005) of the leaves in all the species. The results indicate that all these species absorb higher amount of energy at lower altitudes, which indicates their adaptability to warm temperatures at low altitudes (up to 550 m). Therefore, these species can be cultivated at relatively lower altitudes. However, a proper agronomic methodology needs to be developed for better yields. [source] Current issues with fish and fisheries: editor's overview and introductionJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2003S. J. Ormerod Summary 1.,By any measure, fishes are among the world's most important natural resources. Annual exploitation from wild populations exceeds 90 million tonnes, and fish supply over 15% of global protein needs as part of total annual trade exceeding $US 55 billion. Additionally, with over 25 000 known species, the biodiversity and ecological roles of fishes are being increasingly recognised in aquatic conservation, ecosystem management, restoration and aquatic environmental regulation. 2.,At the same time, substantial management problems now affect the production, exploitable stocks, global diversity, trophic structure, habitat quality and local composition of fish communities. 3.,In marine systems, key issues include the direct effects of exploitation on fish, habitats and other organisms, while habitat or water quality problems arise also from the atmospheric, terrestrial and coastal environments to which marine systems are linked. In freshwaters, flow regulation and obstruction by dams, fragmentation, catchment management, pollution, habitat alterations, exotic fish introductions and nursery-reared fish are widespread issues. 4.,Management responses to the problems of fish and fisheries include aquatic reserves in both marine and freshwater habitats, and their effectiveness is now being evaluated. Policies on marine exploitation increasingly emphasise fishes as integral components of aquatic ecosystems rather than individually exploitable stocks, but the rationalisation of fishing pressures presents many challenges. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, policies on freshwaters encourage habitat protection, integrated watershed management and restoration, but pressures on water resources will cause continued change. All these management approaches require development and evaluation, and will benefit from a perspective of ecological understanding with ecologists fully involved. 5.,Synthesis and applications. Although making a small contribution to the Journal of Applied Ecology in the past, leading work on aquatic problems and fish-related themes appear increasingly in this and other mainstream ecology journals. As this special profile of five papers shows, significant contributions arise on diverse issues that here include the benefit of aquatic reserves, river restoration for fish, the accumulation of contaminants, interactions with predators, and the fitness of salmonids from nurseries. This overview outlines the current context in which papers on the applied ecology of fish and fisheries are emerging, and it identifies scope for further contributions. [source] Biology and control of Dicladispa gestroi Chapuis (Col., Chrysomelidae)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 9-10 2001V. Delucchi The beetle Dicladispa gestroi is known only from Madagascar, where it is considered to be a pest of rice. Research were carried out from 1885 to 1994 in the Alaotra lake region, the main rice-producing area of the country, characterized by a warm rainy season from October to April and a cool dry season from April to October. The adult beetles invade the rice nurseries and the first direct-seeded fields at the beginning of the rainy season; they have a gregarious behaviour and their feeding activity, together with the mines bored by the larvae, determines a change of colour from green to pale yellow in the damage areas, which resemble outbreak areas of rice leafhoppers. Oviposition takes place only on young rice plants in the tillering stage. Females emerging after the end of February enter a reproductive diapause and leave the rice fields to ,hibernate'. Temperature summations for the egg, larval, and pupal development, as well as for the preoviposition period have been calculated. There is no yield loss up to a larval density of 0.6 per leaf and this economic injury level is seldom exceeded in the Alaotra lake region. Life tables carried out under field conditions show that chalcid parasitoids are the main mortality factor and are responsible for the collapse of entire outbreak areas. Since the discovery of the rice yellow mottle virus in 1989 in the Alaotra lake region and the disease transmission by chrysomelids, the pest status of D. gestroi has changed and control measures have to be applied. However, to avoid interference with the action of the parasitoids, chemical applications should be limited to rice nurseries. [source] Interspecific variations of otolith chemistry in estuarine fish nurseriesJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2008P. Reis-Santos Otolith chemical composition differed between juveniles of five fish species (Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus, Diplodus vulgaris and Dicentrarchus labrax) in nursery areas of six estuaries along the Portuguese coast (Douro, Ria de Aveiro, Mondego, Tejo, Sado and Mira). Spatially consistent patterns in the concentration of some elements were responsible for differences between species. Discrimination of estuaries using data from all species simultaneously averaged 44·7% of correctly classified cases, whilst discrimination of species averaged 76·2%. Moreover, species-related patterns in otolith fingerprints were highlighted when comparing species for each estuarine nursery area, with intra estuarine species discrimination averages ranging from 86·2 to 100·0%. Similarities in the otolith elemental fingerprints were larger between species with close phylogeny and ecology, particularly between flatfish and perciform species. In addition to the differences in physiological regulation of species, specific microhabitat use in a common environment was suggested as a relevant factor for the differentiation of otolith chemistry among species occurring in the same locations. Despite positive results in specific estuaries, variation in otolith composition limited the use of species as proxies to classify others to their system of origin. [source] Ability of stress-related volatiles to attract and induce attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other ambrosia beetlesAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Christopher M. Ranger 1Xylosandrus germanus typically colonizes physiologically-stressed deciduous hosts but it is increasingly being recognized as a key pest of ornamental nursery stock. We tested the attractiveness of common plant stress-related volatiles to ambrosia beetles occupying the nursery agroecosystem, as well as their ability to induce attacks on selected trees. Experiments were conducted in Ohio, U.S.A. 2Stress volatile attractiveness was first assessed by positioning traps baited with acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol in ornamental nurseries. Cumulative trap counts confirmed that ethanol was the most attractive stress-related volatile to X. germanus. Methanol-baited traps were slightly attractive to X. germanus, whereas traps baited with acetaldehyde and acetone were not attractive to any ambrosia beetle. 3A series of tree injection experiments were also conducted to determine the ability of these volatiles to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles under field conditions. Injection of ethanol into Magnolia virginiana induced the largest number of attacks, whereas injection of acetaldehyde induced more attacks than methanol or acetone. Xylosandrus germanus was the most predominant species emerging from M. virginiana injected with each of the stress-related volatiles. No attacks by wood-boring beetles were observed on water injected or uninjected control trees. 4Solid-phase microextraction,gas chromatography,mass spectrometry confirmed the emission of acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol after their injection into M. virginiana. 5Xylosandrus germanus has an efficient olfactory-based mechanism for differentiating among host volatile cues. Injecting select trees with stress-related volatiles, particularly ethanol, shows promise as a trap tree strategy for X. germanus and other ambrosia beetles. [source] Comparison of viral load and duration of virus shedding in symptomatic and asymptomatic neonatal rotavirus infectionsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 10 2010Sasirekha Ramani Abstract A single rotavirus strain causing asymptomatic infections as well as severe gastrointestinal disease has been described in the neonatal nurseries of the Christian Medical College, Vellore. In this study, quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the association of viral load with the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms in neonates. Viral load was estimated in terms of the crossing point [C(t) value] at which the amplicon could be detected in the real-time PCR assay. The study was carried out on 103 neonates, including 33 asymptomatic neonates and 70 neonates with different gastrointestinal symptoms. The duration of virus shedding was also compared between five symptomatic and four asymptomatic neonates using real-time RT-PCR. There was no significant difference in viral load between symptomatic and asymptomatic neonates (P,=,0.087). Among neonates with different gastrointestinal symptoms, those presenting with feed intolerance and abdominal distension had a significantly higher viral load than those with other gastrointestinal symptoms (P,=,0.02). For the study on virus shedding, nine neonates were followed up for a median duration of 53 days, with a median of 31 samples tested per child. Extended shedding of low copies of rotavirus was found, with no significant differences in pattern of shedding between symptomatic and asymptomatic neonates. The lack of correlation between viral load and gastrointestinal disease demonstrates yet another difference between neonatal rotavirus infection and infection in older children where higher viral load correlates with severe disease. J. Med. Virol. 82:1803,1807, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Practice variation in initial management and transfer thresholds for infants with respiratory distress in Australian hospitals.JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2007Who should write the guidelines? Aim: In Australian hospitals: (i) to identify current practices in the initial oxygen management of infants with respiratory distress; (ii) to identify factors important in deciding to transfer an infant; and (iii) to identify thresholds for transfer. Methods: All Australian hospitals with: >200 registered deliveries, a special care unit (SCU) or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and at least one paediatrician were surveyed in 2004 (n = 176). The questionnaire sought information on the initial oxygen management and factors important in deciding to transfer. Three scenarios were also used to identify thresholds for pH, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels at which transfer should occur. Responses from SCU were compared with those from NICU. Results: 15/19 (79%) NICUs and 118/157 (75%) SCUs responded. Initial oxygen management varies widely among SCUs and NICUs. NICUs set significantly lower saturation (SaO2) targets in two of the three scenarios. NICUs are statistically significantly more likely to regard ,Medical Staff Experience' and ,Time to Nearest NICU' as important compared with SCUs (P < 0.05). NICUs would ,Probably' and ,Definitely Transfer' infants at significantly lower oxygen levels in all three cases (P < 0.05). SCUs are significantly less likely to transfer babies with pH of <7.25 compared with NICUs. There was no difference between the centres for CO2 level. Conclusion: The wide variation that exists between nurseries in the initial management of infants with respiratory distress and in the thresholds for transfer strongly suggests the need for the development of practice guidelines. [source] Increased effectiveness of the Trichoderma harzianum isolate T-78 against Fusarium wilt on melon plants under nursery conditionsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2009Agustina Bernal-Vicente Abstract BACKGROUND: The use of isolates of the genus Trichoderma to control Fusarium wilt in melon plants is one of the most recent and effective alternatives to chemical treatments. In this work we have studied the immobilization of the isolate Trichoderma harzianum T-78 on different carriers as an efficient method to control vascular Fusarium wilt of melon in nurseries. Different formulations were developed: liquids (spore suspension, guar gum and carboxymethylcellulose) and solids (bentonite, vermiculite and wheat bran). RESULTS: The introduction of F. oxysporum resulted in a significant decrease in seedling fresh weight. The treatments which gave a lesser reduction in weight and showing a greater biocontrol effect were the liquid conidial suspension and the solid treatments with bentonite and superficial vermiculite. Microbiological analyses revealed that the conidial suspension and all the solid treatments, except wheat bran, significantly decreased F. oxysporum populations. Of all the treatments assayed, bentonite produced the greatest decline in the F. oxysporum population. CONCLUSIONS: The most effective treatments against Fusarium wilt on melon plants were the solid treatments bentonite and superficial vermiculite. These two treatments gave the greatest plant weight, the lowest percentage of infected plants and the greatest T. harzianum population throughout the assay. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Comparison of Three Culture Methods for the Intensive Culture of Northern Quahog Seed, Mercenaria mercenariaJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2001Timothy J. Pfeiffer A number of approaches have been utilized for growing bivalve hatchery seed (1 mm) to a size suitable for field planting (< 8 mm) but few have been directly compared. This study evaluated the growth and survival of northern quahog seed in three different culture systems and two different stocking densities. The three systems were: 1) a stacked-tray unit with downward water flow; 2) traditional upweller culture units with water flowing upward without seed bed expansion; and 3) upweller culture units with water flowing upward at fluidization velocities to provide seed bed expansion. The two stocking densities were 1.0 and 3.0 g whole wet weight clam/cm2 respectively. During each trial period the seed clams were fed a 1% daily ration (% dry weight algae per wet weight clam per day) of the cultured diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. After 14 d of culture at the 1.0 g whole wet weight/cm2 stocking density, seed clams (4.4 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) under fluidized-flow condition exhibited better growth (0.54/d), and a greater final shell length (5.9 ± 1.0 mm). At the high density stocking conditions, after 28 d of culture, seed clams (4.2 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) in the fluidized-flow culture conditions again exhibited better growth rate (0.031/d) and a greater final shell length (6.0 ± 1.0 mm). The preliminary evaluation of fluidized-flow for seed clam culture in land-based nurseries indicates its potential as a suitable alternative to raceway, downwelling, or traditional forced-flow culture methods. [source] Intrauterine growth standards in a developing country: a study of singleton livebirths at 28,42 weeks' gestationPAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Khalid A. Yunis Summary This study aimed to develop fetal growth charts for the population of Greater Beirut, Lebanon, and compare them with previously established references. A survey of consecutive singleton livebirths admitted to normal nurseries and neonatal intensive care units of major hospitals, through the database project of the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network was used as a design. The study was conducted in nine major healthcare institutions serving the population of Beirut and its suburbs. A total of 24 767 singleton livebirths delivered between 28 and 42 weeks' gestation, with known data on gender, gestational age and anthropometric characteristics were recorded between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2002. Growth charts were developed by plotting birthweight, length and head circumference percentiles against gestational age for male and female infants separately. Overall, 1348 (5.4%) pregnancies were delivered before 37 weeks' gestation and 1227 (4.9%) were low birthweight. Male infants were delivered slightly earlier than their female counterparts and the mean birthweight, length and head circumference were consistently higher in males. A total of 2247 (9.1%) infants were small-for-gestational-age, with a male-to-female sex ratio of 1.03. Using previously established growth references that overestimated small-for-gestational-age prevalence resulted in a greater proportion of false positives. The opposite was true for growth references that underestimated small-for-gestational-age prevalence. The current growth charts present useful tools for assessing the general health status of newborn infants delivered at sea level in the urban areas of Lebanon and other East Mediterranean countries. [source] Effects of reduced-rate methyl bromide applications under conventional and virtually impermeable plastic film in perennial crop field nurseriesPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 8 2010Bradley D Hanson Abstract BACKGROUND: Producers of perennial crop nursery stock in California use preplant soil fumigation to meet state phytosanitary requirements. Although methyl bromide (MB) has been phased out in many agricultural industries, it is still the preferred treatment in the perennial nursery industry and is used under Critical Use Exemptions and Quarantine/Preshipment provisions of the Montreal Protocol. The present research was conducted to evaluate reduced-rate MB applications sealed with conventional and low-permeability plastic films compared with the primary alternative material. RESULTS: Reduced rates (100,260 kg ha,1) of MB applied in combination with chloropicrin (Pic) and sealed with a low-permeability plastic film provided weed and nematode control similar to the industry standard rate of 392 kg ha,1 MB:Pic (98:2) sealed with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film. However, the primary alternative chemical, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), tended to provide slightly lower pest control even on sites with relatively low plant parasitic nematode, soil-borne pathogen and weed pest pressure. CONCLUSION: If California regulations change to allow the use of low-permeability films in broadcast fumigant applications, the results of this research suggest that reduced rates of MB in perennial crop nurseries could serve as a bridge strategy until more technically, economically and environmentally acceptable alternatives are developed. Published 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Phytophthora hydropathica, a new pathogen identified from irrigation water, Rhododendron catawbiense and Kalmia latifoliaPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2010C. X. Hong A new species of Phytophthora, previously referred to as taxon Dre II, is named Phytophthora hydropathica. It is heterothallic, but all isolates recovered to date are of the A1 compatibility type. Plerotic oospores are produced. Its sporangia are usually obpyriform and are nonpapillate and noncaducous. Isolates of P. hydropathica had nearly identical single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)-based DNA fingerprints that are distinct from those of all existing species. Their closest relatives are P. parsiana and P. irrigata. This new species is able to grow at relatively high temperatures, with an optimum of 30°C and a maximum of 40°C. It was frequently isolated from irrigation water during warm summers. This species caused leaf necrosis and shoot blight of Rhododendron catawbiense and collar rot of Kalmia latifolia at two nurseries where irrigation reservoirs yielded P. hydropathica. Its potential impact on other horticultural crops is discussed. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||