The annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) is a pest of fine turfgrass, but recent research has found that withholding insecticides for ABW control can reduce annual bluegrass cover. The objective of this research was to evaluate threshold-based insecticide and paclobutrazol programs for annual bluegrass control. The effect of three insecticide programs (preventive, threshold, and no insecticide) and four rates of paclobutrazol (0, 70, 105, or 210 g ha−1 applied monthly) were evaluated. Replicate experiments were conducted from April to November in both 2018 and 2019 on a mixed creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass fairway in North Brunswick, NJ. By the conclusion of both experiments, all paclobutrazol programs exhibited reduced annual bluegrass cover compared with the nontreated plots. In threshold and no-insecticide programs, reduction in annual bluegrass cover was enhanced by paclobutrazol applied at 105 g ha−1 in both years, and at 70 g ha−1 in the 2019 experiment. Paclobutrazol at 210 g ha−1 resulted in annual bluegrass cover of <20% regardless of insecticide program. In 2019, threshold-based ABW control without paclobutrazol provided similar annual bluegrass control as monthly applications of paclobutrazol at 70 and 105 g ha−1 with the preventive insecticide program. A reduction in turfgrass quality from threshold-based insecticide programs persisted for a shorter duration than the no-insecticide program, regardless of paclobutrazol treatment. Threshold-based ABW insecticide programs that allow ABW feeding damage to occur can result in reduced annual bluegrass cover. These reductions were further enhanced by paclobutrazol applications. The combination of threshold-level insecticide with moderate rates of paclobutrazol (70 to 105 g ha−1) provided reductions in annual bluegrass cover that were similar to the highest rate of paclobutrazol (210 g ha−1) without ABW damage. Turfgrass managers who integrate the threshold-level insecticide approach and monthly paclobutrazol applications may achieve greater annual bluegrass control than either strategy alone if temporary reductions in turf quality can be tolerated.

Background: Poorly-defined cases (PDCs) of focal epilepsy are cases with no/subtle MRI abnormalities or have abnormalities extending beyond the lesion visible on MRI. Here, we evaluated the utility of Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI perfusion in PDCs of pediatric focal epilepsy. Methods: ASL MRI was obtained in 25 consecutive children presenting with poorly-defined focal epilepsy (20 MRI- positive, 5 MRI-negative). Qualitative visual inspection and quantitative analysis with asymmetry and Z-score maps were used to detect perfusion abnormalities. ASL results were compared to the hypothesized epileptogenic zone (EZ) derived from other clinical/imaging data and the resection zone in patients with Engel I/II outcome and >18 month follow-up. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed perfusion abnormalities in 17/25 total cases (68%), 17/20 MRI-positive cases (85%) and none of the MRI-negative cases. Quantitative analysis confirmed all cases with abnormalities on qualitative analysis, but found 1 additional true-positive and 4 false-positives. Concordance with the surgically-proven EZ was found in 10/11 cases qualitatively (sensitivity=91%, specificity=50%), and 11/11 cases quantitatively (sensitivity=100%, specificity=23%). Conclusions: ASL perfusion may support the hypothesized EZ, but has limited localization benefit in MRI-negative cases. Nevertheless, owing to its non-invasiveness and ease of acquisition, ASL could be a useful addition to the pre-surgical MRI evaluation of pediatric focal epilepsy.

The finite-amplitude space–time mean flows that are precessionally forced in rotating finite circular cylinders are examined. The findings show that, in addition to conventional Reynolds-stress-type source terms for streaming in oscillatory forced flows, a set of Coriolis-type source terms due the background rotation also contribute. These terms result from the interaction between the equatorial component of the total rotation vector and the overturning flow that is forced by the precession, both of which have azimuthal wavenumbers $m={\pm }1$. The interaction is particular to precessing flows and does not exist in rotating flows driven by libration ($m=0$ forcing) or tides ($m={\pm }2$ forcing). By examining typical example flows in the quasi-linear weakly forced streaming regime, we are able to consider the contributions from the Reynolds-stress terms and the equatorial-Coriolis terms separately, and find that they are of similar magnitude. In the cases examined, the azimuthal component of streaming flow driven by the equatorial-Coriolis terms is everywhere retrograde, whereas that driven by Reynolds stresses may have both retrograde and prograde regions, but the total streaming flows are everywhere retrograde. Even when the forcing frequency is larger than twice the background rotation rate, we find that there is a streaming flow driven by both the Reynolds-stress and the equatorial-Coriolis terms. For cases forced at precession frequencies in near resonance with the eigenfrequencies of the intrinsic inertial modes of the linear inviscid unforced rotating cylinder flow, we quantify theoretically how the amplitude of streaming flow scales with respect to variations in Reynolds number, cylinder tilt angle and aspect ratio, and compare these with numerical simulations.

The transgenic Liberty Link® (LL) soybean is tolerant to glufosinate, conferred by the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), which is encoded by the pat gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes. Because symptoms of injury can be observed in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants in some situations, this study evaluated the effects of rates of glufosinate on agronomic performance; quality of LL soybean seeds; and the ammonia, glufosinate, and N-acetyl-l-glufosinate concentration (NAG) in soybeans with and without the pat gene after application of increasing glufosinate rates. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted; the first evaluated the selectivity of glufosinate in LL soybeans, and the second evaluated the metabolic changes in soybeans with (LL) and without (RR2) the pat gene, after application of glufosinate. For fieldwork, application of glufosinate at rates up to four times the maximum recommended caused initial injury symptoms (up to 38.5%) in LL soybean plants. However, no negative effect was found on seed quality and agronomic performance of LL plants, including yield. This shows the selectivity of glufosinate promoted by pat gene insertion for application in POST (V4), in LL soybean. For the greenhouse experiment, it was concluded that the LL soybean plants presented high glufosinate metabolism, lower ammonia concentration, and no reduction in dry matter, in comparison with RR2 soybean, after application of high rates of glufosinate.

The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical symptoms of the tic disorder in children and adolescents and verify the diagnosis of the Tourette's syndrome.

The analysis was conducted on a group of 123 patients at the age of 11.1 +/- 3.2 years, admitted to the Chair and Department of Developmental Neurology to diagnose and treatment of the tic disorder.

Variable tics symptomatology were observed in 53 patients (43,1%). The simple motor tics occurred in 121 patients from the researched group (98,4%), the complex motor tics in 7 cases (5,7%) and the vocal tics in 55 cases (44,7%). The dominant symptoms of simple motor tics in the researched group included: blinking occurring in 67 patients (54,5%) and the head movements occurring in 62 children (50,4%). The complex motor tics were the most frequently manifested by jumping - 4 patients (3,3%). The vocal tics manifested as throat cleaning were observed in 40 patients (32,5%). Coprolalia was observed only in 4 children (3.3%). The obsessive – compulsive disorders occurred in 3 patients (2,4%). In 41 examined patients (33,3%) the co-existence of tics with ADHD symptoms was observed.

The diagnostic criteria of the Tourette's syndrome according to DSM-IV were met by 44 patients (35,8%).

The symptomatology of the tics in children and adolescents are exceptionally rich and the symptoms are highly variable. The Tourette's syndrome is still too seldom recognised as the reason of tics in children and teenagers, despite the patients meeting the diagnostic criteria.

Background: Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) are congenital structural abnormalities of the brain, and represent the most common cause of medication-resistant focal epilepsy in children and adults. Recent studies have shown that somatic mutations (i.e. mutations arising in the embryo) in mTOR pathway genes underlie some FCD cases. Specific therapies targeting the mTOR pathway are available. However, testing for somatic mTOR pathway mutations in FCD tissue is not performed on a clinical basis, and the contribution of such mutations to the pathogenesis of FCD remains unknown. Aim: To investigate the feasibility of screening for somatic mutations in resected FCD tissue and determine the proportion and spatial distribution of FCDs which are due to low-level somatic mTOR pathway mutations. Methods: We performed ultra-deep sequencing of 13 mTOR pathway genes using a custom HaloPlexHS target enrichment kit (Agilent Technologies) in 16 resected histologically-confirmed FCD specimens. Results: We identified causal variants in 62.5% (10/16) of patients at an alternate allele frequency of 0.75–33.7%. The spatial mutation frequency correlated with the FCD lesion’s size and severity. Conclusions: Screening FCD tissue using a custom panel results in a high yield, and should be considered clinically given the important potential implications regarding surgical resection, medical management and genetic counselling.

Contained rotating flows subject to precessional forcing are well known to exhibit rapid and energetic transitions to disorder. Triadic resonance of inertial modes has been previously proposed as an instability mechanism in such flows, and that idea was developed into a successful model for predicting instability in a cylindrical container when departures from solid-body rotation are sufficiently small. Using direct numerical simulation and dynamic mode decomposition, we analyse instabilities of precessing cylinder flows whose three-dimensional basic states, steady in the gimbal frame of reference, may depart substantially from solid-body rotation. In the gimbal frame, the instability can be interpreted as resulting from a supercritical Hopf bifurcation that results in a limit-cycle flow. In the cylinder frame of reference, the basic state is a rotating wave with azimuthal wavenumber $m=1$, and the instability satisfies triadic-resonance conditions with the instability mode maintaining a fixed orientation with respect to the basic state. Thus, we are able to demonstrate the existence of two alternative but congruent explanations for the instability. Additionally, we show that basic states may depart substantially from solid-body rotation even with modest cylinder tilt angles, and growth rates for instabilities may be sufficiently large that nonlinear saturation to disordered states can occur within approximately ten cylinder revolutions, in agreement with experimental observations.

Glyphosate is now the most widely used herbicide; after years of frequent utilization, resistant weeds were selected, mainly due to widespread adoption of glyphosate-resistant crops and no-tillage sowing system. Increasing difficulty in controlling Chloris polydactyla with glyphosate has been noticed in agricultural areas. Here, the susceptibility level of various C. polydactyla accessions from Brazil is examined. Two whole-plant studies were conducted to confirm the presence and extent of glyphosate susceptibility among accessions, which involved the application of seven glyphosate doses on four accessions. The four accessions showed different glyphosate susceptibilities. The “Matão” accession presented major tolerance for glyphosate compared to “Palotina” accessions. “Jaboticabal” plants showed an intermediary susceptibility. The resistance factor (RF) was 3.76 between the “Matão” and “Palotina” accessions. All biotypes died at 2,880 g ae ha−1 glyphosate.

Among several potential animal models that can be used for adipogenic studies, Wagyu cattle is the one that presents unique molecular mechanisms underlying the deposit of substantial amounts of intramuscular fat. As such, this review is focused on current knowledge of such mechanisms related to adipose tissue deposition using Wagyu cattle as model. So abundant is the lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscles of these animals that in many cases, the muscle cross-sectional area appears more white (adipose tissue) than red (muscle fibers). This enhanced marbling accumulation is morphologically similar to that seen in numerous skeletal muscle dysfunctions, disease states and myopathies; this might indicate cross-similar mechanisms between such dysfunctions and fat deposition in Wagyu breed. Animal models can be used not only for a better understanding of fat deposition in livestock, but also as models to an increased comprehension on molecular mechanisms behind human conditions. This revision underlies some of the complex molecular processes of fat deposition in animals.

Direct numerical simulations of flows in cylinders subjected to both rapid rotation and axial precession are presented and analysed in the context of a stability theory based on the triadic resonance of Kelvin modes. For a case that was chosen to provide a finely tuned resonant instability with a small nutation angle, the simulations are in good agreement with the theory and previous experiments in terms of mode shapes and dynamics, including long-time-scale regularization of the flow and recurrent collapses. Cases not tuned to the most unstable triad, but with the nutation angle still small, are also in quite good agreement with theoretical predictions, showing that the presence of viscosity makes the physics of the triadic-resonance model robust to detuning. Finally, for a case with $45^{\circ }$ nutation angle for which it has been suggested that resonance does not occur, the simulations show that a slowly growing triadic resonance predicted by theory is in fact observed if sufficient evolution time is allowed.

We assessed for vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) precursor organisms in southeastern Michigan, an area known to have VRSA. The prevalence was 2.5% (pSK41-positive methicillin-resistant S. aureus, 2009–2011) and 1.5% (Inc18-positive vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 2006–2013); Inc18 prevalence significantly decreased after 2009 (3.7% to 0.82%). Risk factors for pSK41 included intravenous vancomycin exposure.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1531–1534

The present study was conducted to obtain a comprehensive overview of oligosaccharides present in the milk of a variety of important domestic animals including cows, goats, sheep, pigs, horses and dromedary camels. Using an analytical workflow that included ultra-performance liquid chromatography–hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight MS, detailed oligosaccharide libraries were established. The partial or full characterisation of the neutral/fucosylated, phosphorylated and sialylated structures was facilitated by sequencing with linkage- and sugar-specific exoglycosidases. Relative peak quantification of the 2-aminobenzamide-labelled oligosaccharides provided additional information. Milk from domestic animals contained a much larger variety of complex oligosaccharides than was previously assumed, and thirteen of these structures have been identified previously in human milk. The direct comparison of the oligosaccharide mixtures reflects their role in the postnatal maturation of different types of gastrointestinal systems, which, in this way, are prepared for certain post-weaning diets. The potential value of animal milk for the commercial extraction of oligosaccharides to be used in human and animal health is highlighted.