An improved real-time PCR assay for the detection of Old World screwworm flies

The Old World screwworm (OWS) fly, Chrysomya bezziana, is a serious pest of livestock, wildlife and humans in tropical Africa, parts of the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, south-east Asia and Papua New Guinea. Although to date Australia remains free of OWS flies, an incursion would have serious economic and animal welfare implications. For these reasons Australia has an OWS fly preparedness plan including OWS fly surveillance with fly traps. The recent development of an improved OWS fly trap and synthetic attractant and a specific and sensitive real-time PCR molecular assay for the detection of OWS flies in trap catches has improved Australia's OWS fly surveillance capabilities. Because all Australian trap samples gave negative results in the PCR assay, it was deemed necessary to include a positive control mechanism to ensure that fly DNA was being successfully extracted and amplified and to guard against false negative results. A new non-competitive internal amplification control (IAC) has been developed that can be used in conjunction with the OWS fly PCR assay in a multiplexed single-tube reaction. The multiplexed assay provides an indicator of the performance of DNA extraction and amplification without greatly increasing labour or reagent costs. The fly IAC targets a region of the ribosomal 16S mitochondrial DNA which is conserved across at least six genera of commonly trapped flies. Compared to the OWS fly assay alone, the multiplexed OWS fly and fly IAC assay displayed no loss in sensitivity or specificity for OWS fly detection. The multiplexed OWS fly and fly IAC assay provides greater confidence for trap catch samples returning negative OWS fly results. �� 2014 International Atomic Energy Agency.

Panel of real-time PCRs for the multiplexed detection of two tomato-infecting begomoviruses and their cognate whitefly vector species

A new approach for the simultaneous identification of the viruses and vectors responsible for tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) epidemics is presented. A panel of quantitative multiplexed real-time PCR assays was developed for the sensitive and reliable detection of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus-Israel (TYLCV-IL), Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV), Bemisia tabaci Middle East Asia Minor 1 species (MEAM1, B biotype) and B.tabaci Mediterranean species (MED, Q biotype) from either plant or whitefly samples. For quality-assurance purposes, two internal control assays were included in the assay panel for the co-amplification of solanaceous plant DNA or B.tabaci DNA. All assays were shown to be specific and reproducible. The multiplexed assays were able to reliably detect as few as 10 plasmid copies of TYLCV-IL, 100 plasmid copies of ToLCV, 500fg B.tabaci MEAM1 and 300fg B.tabaci MED DNA. Evaluated methods for routine testing of field-collected whiteflies are presented, including protocols for processing B.tabaci captured on yellow sticky traps and for bulking of multiple B.tabaci individuals prior to DNA extraction. This work assembles all of the essential features of a validated and quality-assured diagnostic method for the identification and discrimination of tomato-infecting begomovirus and B.tabaci vector species in Australia. This flexible panel of assays will facilitate improved quarantine, biosecurity and disease-management programmes both in Australia and worldwide.

Molecular diversity of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus in Sudan: High rates of intra-species recombination ��� a driving force in the emergence of new strains

In Sudan Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV, genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) is an important pathogen of pulses that are grown both for local consumption, and for export. Although a few studies have characterised CpCDV genomes from countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent, little is known about CpCDV diversity in any of the major chickpea production areas in these regions. Here we analyse the diversity of 146 CpCDV isolates characterised from pulses collected across the chickpea growing regions of Sudan. Although we find that seven of the twelve known CpCDV strains are present within the country, strain CpCDV-H alone accounted for ���73% of the infections analysed. Additionally we identified four new strains (CpCDV-M, -N, -O and -P) and show that recombination has played a significant role in the diversification of CpCDV, at least in this region. Accounting for observed recombination events, we use the large amounts of data generated here to compare patterns of natural selection within protein coding regions of CpCDV and other dicot-infecting mastrevirus species.

Solomon Robert Kagan papers undated, 1920-1955

Contains correspondence, printed material, and photographs relating to Jews in the medical profession, used as a basis for Kagan's several works on Jews in medicine, including the correspondence of members of the American Physicians Fellowship Committee of the Israel Medical Association; includes also correspondence relating to the Near East and the internationalization of Jerusalem, 1945-1954; and personal correspondence. Among the correspondents are Bernard M. Baruch and Christian A. Herter.

An Investigation of Environmental Conditions Experienced During the Life of High Value Wood Components and Products

Australian forest industries have a long history of export trade of a wide range of products from woodchips(for paper manufacturing), sandalwood (essential oils, carving and incense) to high value musical instruments, flooring and outdoor furniture. For the high value group, fluctuating environmental conditions brought on by changes in mperature and relative humidity, can lead to performance problems due to consequential swelling, shrinkage and/or distortion of the wood elements. A survey determined the types of value-added products exported, including species and dimensions packaging used and export markets. Data loggers were installed with shipments to monitor temperature and relative humidity conditions. These data were converted to timber equilibrium moisture content values to provide an indication of the environment that the wood elements would be acclimatising to. The results of the initial survey indicated that primary high value wood export products included guitars, flooring, decking and outdoor furniture. The destination markets were mainly located in the northern hemisphere, particularly the United States of America, China, Hong Kong, Europe including the United Kingdom), Japan, Korea and the Middle East. Other regions importing Australian-made wooden articles were south-east Asia, New Zealand and South Africa. Different timber species have differing rates of swelling and shrinkage, so the types of timber were also recorded during the survey. Results from this work determined that the major species were ash-type eucalypts from south-eastern Australia (commonly referred to in the market as Tasmanian oak), jarrah from Western Australia, spotted gum, hoop pine, white cypress, black butt, brush box and Sydney blue gum from Queensland and New South Wales. The environmental conditions data indicated that microclimates in shipping containers can fluctuate extensively during shipping. Conditions at the time of manufacturing were usually between 10 and 12% equilibrium moisture content, however conditions during shipping could range from 5 (very dry) to 20% (very humid). The packaging systems incorporated were reported to be efficient at protecting the wooden articles from damage during transit. The research highlighted the potential risk for wood components to ���move��� in response to periods of drier or more humid conditions than those at the time of manufacturing, and the importance of engineering a packaging system that can account for the environmental conditions experienced in shipping containers. Examples of potential dimensional changes in wooden components were calculated based on published unit shrinkage data for key species and the climatic data returned from the logging equipment. The information highlighted the importance of good design to account for possible timber movement during shipping. A timber movement calculator was developed to allow designers to input component species, dimensions, site of manufacture and destination, to see validate their product design. This calculator forms part of the free interactive website www.timbers.com.au.

Kriegs-Tagebuch 1914-1917

World War I diary of the physician Nathan Wolf

Pharmacogenetics of SLCO1B1: Population genetics and effect on statins

Kohonneiden kolesterolipitoisuuksien alentamisessa k��ytett��vien statiinien hy��dyt syd��n- ja verisuonisairauksien estossa on vahvasti osoitettu ja niiden k��ytt�� on niin Suomessa kuin muuallakin maailmassa kasvanut voimakkaasti ��� Suomessa statiinink��ytt��ji�� on noin 600 000. Statiinil����kitys on pitk��aikaisessakin k��yt��ss�� melko hyvin siedetty, mutta yleisimpin�� haittavaikutuksina voi ilmet�� lihasheikkoutta, -kipua ja -kramppeja, jotka voivat edet�� jopa henke�� uhkaavaksi lihasvaurioksi. Lihashaittariski suurenee suhteessa statiiniannokseen ja plasman statiinipitoisuuksiin. Statiinien plasmapitoisuuksissa, tehossa ja haittavaikutusten ilmenemisess�� on suuria potilaskohtaisia eroja. SLCO1B1-geenin koodaama OATP1B1-kuljetusproteiini kuljettaa monia elimist��n omia aineita ja l����keaineita verenkierrosta solukalvon l��pi maksasoluun, mm. statiineja, joiden kolesterolia alentava vaikutus ja poistuminen elimist��st�� tapahtuvat p����osin maksassa. Er����n SLCO1B1-geenin nukleotidimuutoksen (c.521T>C) tiedet����n heikent��v��n OATP1B1:n kuljetustehoa. T��ss�� v��it��skirjaty��ss�� selvitettiin SLCO1B1-geenin perinn��llist�� muuntelua suomalaisilla ja eri v��est��iss�� maailmanlaajuisesti. Lis��ksi selvitettiin SLCO1B1:n muunnosten vaikutusta eri statiinien pitoisuuksiin (farmakokinetiikka) ja vaikutuksiin (farmakodynamiikka) sek�� kolesteroliaineenvaihduntaan. N��ihin tutkimuksiin valittiin SLCO1B1-genotyypin perusteella terveit�� vapaaehtoisia koehenkil��it��, joille annettiin eri p��ivin�� kerta-annos kutakin tutkittavaa statiinia: fluvastatiinia, pravastatiinia, simvastatiinia, rosuvastatiinia ja atorvastatiinia. Verin��ytteist�� m����ritettiin plasman statiinien ja niiden aineenvaihduntatuotteiden sek�� kolesterolin ja sen muodostumista ja imeytymist�� kuvaavien merkkiaineiden pitoisuuksia. Toiminnallisesti merkitt��vien SLCO1B1-geenimuunnosten esiintyvyydess�� todettiin suuria eroja eri v��est��jen v��lill��. Suomalaisilla SLCO1B1 c.521TC-genotyypin (geenimuunnos toisessa vastinkromosomissa) esiintyvyys oli noin 32 % ja SLCO1B1 c.521CC-genotyypin (geenimuunnos molemmissa vastinkromosomeissa) esiintyvyys noin 4 %. Globaalisti geenimuunnosten esiintyvyys korreloi maapallon leveyspiirien kanssa siten, ett�� matalaan transportteriaktiivisuuteen johtavat muunnokset olivat yleisimpi�� pohjoisessa ja korkeaan aktiivisuuteen johtavat p��iv��ntasaajan l��hell�� asuvilla v��est��ill��. SLCO1B1-genotyypill�� oli merkitt��v�� vaikutus statiinien plasmapitoisuksiin lukuun ottamatta fluvastatiinia. Simvastatiinihapon plasmapitoisuudet olivat keskim����rin 220 %, atorvastatiinin 140 %, pravastatiinin 90 % ja rosuvastatiinin 70 % suuremmat c.521CC-genotyypin omaavilla koehenkil��ill�� verrattuna normaalin c.521TT-genotyypin omaaviin. Genotyypill�� ei ollut merkitt��v���� vaikutusta mink����n statiinin tehoon t��ss�� kerta-annostutkimuksessa, mutta geenimuunnoksen kantajilla perustason kolesterolisynteesinopeus oli suurempi. Tulokset osoittavat, ett�� SLCO1B1 c.521T>C geenimuunnos on varsin yleinen suomalaisilla ja muilla ei-afrikkalaisilla v��est��ill��. T��m�� geenimuunnos voi altistaa erityisesti simvastatiinin, mutta my��s atorvastatiinin, pravastatiinin ja rosuvastatiinin, aiheuttamille lihashaitoille suurentamalla niiden plasmapitoisuuksia. SLCO1B1:n geenimuunnoksen testaamista voidaan tulevaisuudessa k��ytt���� apuna valittaessa sopivaa statiinil����kityst�� ja -annosta potilaalle, ja n��in parantaa sek�� statiinihoidon turvallisuutta ett�� tehoa.

Communication and Political Crisis: Media, Politics and Governance in a Globalized Public Sphere

Communication and Political Crisis explores the role of the global media in a period of intensifying geopolitical conflict. Through case studies drawn from domestic and international political crises such as the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, leading media scholar Brian McNair argues that the digitized, globalized public sphere now confronted by all political actors has produced new opportunities for social progress and democratic reform, as well as new channels for state propaganda and terrorist spectaculars such as those performed by the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. In this major work, McNair argues that the role of digital communication will be crucial in determining the outcome of pressing global issues such as the future of feminism and gay rights, freedom of speech and media, and democracy itself.

Immune responses to hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of peste des petits ruminants virus expressed in transgenic peanut plants in sheep

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute, highly contagious disease of small ruminants caused by a morbillivirus, Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). The disease is prevalent in equatorial Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. A live attenuated vaccine is in use in some of the countries and has been shown to provide protection for at least three years against PPR. However, the live attenuated vaccine is not robust in terms of thermotolerance. As a step towards development of a heat stable subunit vaccine, we have expressed a hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of PPRV in peanut plants (Arachis hypogea) in a biologically active form, possessing neuraminidase activity. Importantly. HN protein expressed in peanut plants retained its immunodominant epitopes in their natural conformation. The immunogenicity of the plant derived HN protein was analyzed in sheep upon oral immunization. Virus neutralizing antibody responses were elicited upon oral immunization of sheep in the absence of any mucosal adjuvant. In addition, anti-PPRV-HN specific cell-mediated immune responses were also detected in mucosally immunized sheep. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geomagnetic Storms Over India: A Close Look at Historic Space Weather at Mumbai

The swirling colors of aurorae, familiar to many in polar communities, can occasionally be seen at middle latitudes in locations such as southern Canada and central Europe. But in rare instances, aurorae can even be seen in the tropics. On 6 February 1872, news of the sighting of one such aurora was carried by the Times of India newspaper. The aurora occurred on 4 February 1872 and, as noted, was also observed over the Middle East.

Regional research priorities in brain and nervous system disorders

The characteristics of neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders in low-and middle-income countries are unique and the burden that they have will be different from country to country. Many of the differences are explained by the wide variation in population demographics and size, poverty, conflict, culture, land area and quality, and genetics. Neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders that result from, or are worsened by, a lack of adequate nutrition and infectious disease still afflict much of sub-Saharan Africa, although disorders related to increasing longevity, such as stroke, are on the rise. In the Middle East and North Africa, major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are a primary concern because of the conflict-ridden environment. Consanguinity is a serious concern that leads to the high prevalence of recessive disorders in the Middle East and North Africa and possibly other regions. The burden of these disorders in Latin American and Asian countries largely surrounds stroke and vascular disease, dementia and lifestyle factors that are influenced by genetics. Although much knowledge has been gained over the past 10 years, the epidemiology of the conditions in low-and middle-income countries still needs more research. Prevention and treatments could be better informed with more longitudinal studies of risk factors. Challenges and opportunities for ameliorating nervous-system disorders can benefit from both local and regional research collaborations. The lack of resources and infrastructure for health-care and related research, both in terms of personnel and equipment, along with the stigma associated with the physical or behavioural manifestations of some disorders have hampered progress in understanding the disease burden and improving brain health. Individual countries, and regions within countries, have specific needs in terms of research priorities.

Joint modeling of lithosphere and mantle dynamics: Evaluation of constraints from global tomography models

With the advances in technology, seismological theory, and data acquisition, a number of high-resolution seismic tomography models have been published. However, discrepancies between tomography models often arise from different theoretical treatments of seismic wave propagation, different inversion strategies, and different data sets. Using a fixed velocity-to-density scaling and a fixed radial viscosity profile, we compute global mantle flow models associated with the different tomography models and test the impact of these for explaining surface geophysical observations (geoid, dynamic topography, stress, and strain rates). We use the joint modeling of lithosphere and mantle dynamics approach of Ghosh and Holt (2012) to compute the full lithosphere stresses, except that we use HC for the mantle circulation model, which accounts for the primary flow-coupling features associated with density-driven mantle flow. Our results show that the seismic tomography models of S40RTS and SAW642AN provide a better match with surface observables on a global scale than other models tested. Both of these tomography models have important similarities, including upwellings located in Pacific, Eastern Africa, Iceland, and mid-ocean ridges in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean and downwelling flows mainly located beneath the Andes, the Middle East, and central and Southeast Asia.

Benjam��n de Tudela y los motivos del viaje : la educaci��n del jud��o y el encuentro con la propia identidad a trav��s del otro

Resumen: El presente trabajo aborda un tema concreto: el motivo u objeto con que el maestro y erudito espa��ol Benjam��n de Tudela (1130-1173) abandona moment��neamente su pa��s, Espa��a, para realizar un viaje de m��s de diez a��os por el Mediterr��neo, el Asia Menor, el Medio Oriente y, aunque es menos probable, el Lejano Oriente. El corpus a considerar es su Libro de viajes (1160-1173), uno de los m��s completos y did��cticos cuadernos de bit��cora de la literatura occidental. Esta obra, que ha tenido grandes incidencias en la educaci��n jud��a de siglos posteriores, es considerada hasta hoy como uno de los primeros documentos demogr��ficos de las comunidades jud��as de la di��spora. Una vez identificados los motivos que impulsaron un periplo de tal calibre, proceder�� a analizar b��sicamente dos. Por un lado, la misi��n did��ctica que ��l mismo se ha atribuido en consonancia con el precepto que ordena la transmisi��n intergeneracional de la fe y sus valores. Por otro lado, infiero un motivo que califico como de origen divino o sobrenatural, y que comparo con el viaje de Abraham desde Ur de Caldea hasta la Tierra Prometida. Para desarrollar este punto parto de un fragmento de la Biblia denominado en la tradici��n jud��a Lej lej�� (G��nesis XII:1-XVII:27), del que tomo los dos vers��culos iniciales, y aplico un an��lisis hecho por la licenciada y rabina Silvina Chemen con motivo del di��logo interreligioso.

Eli, Eli, Lama Shabaqtani��� la condici��n cristiana en el Medio Oriente

Resumen: El art��culo enfoca la situaci��n de los cristianos del Medio Oriente y trata de formular su destino colectivo en t��rminos de ���la condici��n cristiana���. El argumento central sostiene que la tragedia de la condici��n cristiana en el Medio Oriente se explica por la crisis del Estado secular provocada tanto por el factor del Islam, as�� como las intervenciones de potencias europeas desde las cruzadas hasta el per��odo colonial e intervenci��n militar de Estados Unidos en Irak en 2003. En este sentido, la actualidad no es la repetici��n de la historia, sino la continuidad del mismo padr��n de inequidad en distintos per��odos hist��ricos dentro de las sociedades musulmanas y el intervencionismo externo/occidental que, tanto en el pasado como en la actualidad, muy pocas veces se ha preocupado por el destino de la cristiandad del Medio Oriente.