Fusaristatin A production negatively affects the growth and aggressiveness of the wheat pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum.

Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp), the causative fungal pathogen of the diseases Fusarium crown rot, is an important constraint to cereals production in many countries including Australia. Fp produces a number of secondary metabolites throughout its life cycle. One of these metabolites, the cyclic lipopeptide fusaristatin A, is encoded by a specific gene cluster containing a polyketide synthase and a three-module non-ribosomal peptide synthetase. However, a recent survey of Fp populations across Australia suggests that this cluster may only be present in a subset of isolates from Western Australia (WA). In this study, we screened 319 Fp isolates from WA and 110 Fp isolates from the Australian eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia to examine the distribution of this gene cluster among Australian Fp populations. The fusaristatin A gene cluster was found to be present in ~50% of Fp isolates from WA but completely absent in Fp isolates from eastern states. To determine its potential function, mutants of the fusaristatin A gene cluster were generated by disrupting the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase genes simultaneously in two different parental backgrounds. The mutants showed increased growth rates and were significantly more aggressive than their respective parental strains on wheat in crown rot pathogenicity assays. This suggested that fusaristatin A has a negative effect on fungal development and aggressiveness. The possible reasons for the geographically restricted presence of the fusaristatin A gene cluster and its role in fungal biology are discussed.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of antenatal depression among women attending antenatal clinics in primary health care centers in the Ministry of Health in Al-Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to measure the prevalence and associated risk factors of antenatal depression (AD) among women attending antenatal clinics at primary care centers in the Ministry of Health in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 357 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at primary care centers, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia between April 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used for collection of information including questions relevant to sociodemographic variables and a screening tool Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the probable depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of AD among pregnant women in Al-Ahsa is 31.9%. We found a significant association (P < 0.005) between AD and factors such as difficulty in sleeping, having a smoker husband, having one previous pregnancy, and having postabortion psychological complications. CONCLUSION: It was observed that depression prevails among pregnant ladies in Al-Ahsa city. Hence, in the present study, we tried to rule out the factors that led to depression in pregnant ladies during our antenatal care. In addition, we found that there is a need to train the physicians for asking questions (only two simple PHQ-2 questions) for the screening of depression during antenatal care visite.

Textile finishing dyes and their impact on aquatic environs.

In the present review, we have been able to describe the different families of dyes and pigments used in textile finishing processes (Yarns, fabrics, nonwovens, knits and rugs) such as dyeing and printing. These dyes are reactive, direct, dispersed, indigo, sulphur and vats. Such that their presence in the liquid effluents resulting from the textile washing constitutes a serious risk, in the absence of their purification, for the quality of receiving aquatic environments. Indeed, the presence of these dyes and pigments can cause a significant alteration in the ecological conditions of the aquatic fauna and flora, because of the lack of their biodegradability. This has a negative impact on the equilibrium of the aquatic environment by causing serious dangers, namely the obvious dangers (Eutrophication, under-oxygenation, color, turbidity and odor), the long-term dangers (Persistence, bioaccumulation of carcinogenic aromatic products and formation of by-products of chlorination), mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

Data on effect of a reducer of water and retarder of setting time admixtures of cement pastes and mortar in hardened stat.

The aim of this work is to study the influence of the admixture of superplasticizers on the physical properties of cement paste to know the initial and final time, water content and mechanical performance of concrete. In this work we have incorporated an Advanced Superplasticité for Prolonged Slump Retention (ASPPSR402) in the formulation matrix of concrete at different percentages ranging from 0.5% to 5% by weight of cement with a step of 0.5%, while partially substituting the mixing water by the last one to reduce the amount of water used. The obtained results by different prospected formulations show that the admixture of ASPPSR402 in formulations matrix significantly reduces the (Water/Cement "W/C") ratio. Subsequently, we observed that the initial and final time increases in function of the percentage of ASPPSR402. Similarly, the compressive strength at the young age, median age and long-term has been improved.