Redefining genera of cereal pathogens: Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora.

The taxonomy of Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora is re-evaluated, along with that of phylogenetically related genera. Isolates are identified using comparisons of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA locus (ITS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), actin (act), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II largest (rpb1) and second largest subunit (rpb2) genes, and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), combined with their morphological characteristics. Oculimacula is restricted to two species, O. acuformis and O. yallundae, with O. aestiva placed in Cyphellophora, and O. anguioides accommodated in a new genus, Helgardiomyces. Rhynchosporium s. str. is restricted to species with 1-septate conidia and hooked apical beaks, while Rhynchobrunnera is introduced for species with 1-3-septate, straight conidia, lacking any apical beak. Rhynchosporium graminicola is proposed to replace the name R. commune applied to the barley scald pathogen based on nomenclatural priority. Spermospora is shown to be paraphyletic, representing Spermospora (type: S. subulata), with three new species, S. arrhenatheri, S. loliiphila and S. zeae, and Neospermospora gen. nov. (type: N. avenae). Ypsilina (type: Y. graminea), is shown to be monophyletic, but appears to be of minor importance on cereals. Finally, Vanderaaea gen. nov. (type: V. ammophilae), is introduced as a new coelomycetous fungus occurring on dead leaves of Ammophila arenaria. Citation: Crous PW, Braun U, McDonald BA, Lennox CL, Edwards J, Mann RC, Zaveri A, Linde CC, Dyer PS, Groenewald JZ (2020). Redefining genera of cereal pathogens: Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 7: 67-98. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2021.07.04.

Temperature Influence on Pseudothecia Development Stages of Venturia inaequalis in the Western Cape of South Africa.

Pseudothecia development stages of Venturia inaequalis (apple scab) were investigated in two climatically different regions in the Western Cape of South Africa. The aim was to determine the pseudothecial density (PD; pseudothecia per fertile lesion [p/f]) and ascal density (AD; asci per pseudothecium [a/p]) that contributes to defining the potential ascospore dose in a common prediction model of the apple scab infection risk. The PD and AD were compared between Elgin (EL), now considered a warm winter apple-growing region because of climate warming, and Koue Bokkeveld (KB), a cold winter region. In 2012 and 2013, scabbed apple leaves were collected during leaf-drop in KB and EL and overwintered either in their region of origin or in the other region. PD was significantly higher in scabbed leaves collected and overwintered in KB (mean, 24.11 p/f) than in leaves collected in KB and overwintered in EL (mean, 17.11 p/f; P < 0.001). PD of scabbed leaves collected and overwintered in EL (mean, 15.27 p/f) or collected in EL and overwintered in KB (mean, 16.07 p/f) did not differ significantly. Ascal density did not differ significantly in any treatment or season. We concluded that the significantly higher PD of scabbed leaves collected from the cooler region of KB and overwintered in KB compared with scabbed leaves collected in EL or KB and overwintered in EL could be caused by adaptations of V. inaequalis populations to the respective climates. This implied long-term effects of climate warming on apple scab epidemiology and management.

Genetic Diversity and Gene Flow of Four South African Venturia inaequalis (Apple Scab) Populations.

Venturia inaequalis isolates were collected during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons from the four principal apple growing regions of South Africa, Elgin (n = 114), Koue Bokkeveld (n = 126), Lower Langkloof (n = 92), and Upper Langkloof (n = 103). Sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene regions and genotyping with six (2012/13) and seven (2013/14) microsatellite (SSR) markers was conducted. A subset of 12 isolates from the individual ITS haplotype groups were sequenced for the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1) and the large subunit of the RNA polymerases II (RPB1) gene regions. Four haplotypes were found for ITS, whereas all isolates were identical for the TEF1 and RPB1 gene regions. The SSR markers revealed considerable variation with an average gene diversity (H) of 0.675. Multivariate analysis (discriminant analysis of principal components [DAPC]) revealed that the two Langkloof populations clustered together with the Koue Bokkeveld population. The population from the warmer winter region, Elgin, clustered separately from the rest of the populations (ΦPT = 0.076 to 0.116; P ≤ 0.05). Estimates of gene flow showed the highest migration rate from the Koue Bokkeveld, toward the Lower Langkloof (M = 151.1), and the least migration to and from the Elgin region (average M = 42.75). Occasionally, identical genotypes (clones) were detected across seasons in the Koue Bokkeveld and Elgin area, which might contribute to overwintering conidia. From this study, it is evident that South Africa most likely has V. inaequalis subpopulations linked to diverse climatic conditions of the coastal Elgin region compared with the mountainous inland regions of the Koue Bokkeveld and the Langkloof.

Using realist review to inform intervention development: methodological illustration and conceptual platform for collaborative care in offender mental health.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports how we used a realist review, as part of a wider project to improve collaborative mental health care for prisoners with common mental health problems, to develop a conceptual platform. The importance of offenders gaining support for their mental health, and the need for practitioners across the health service, the criminal justice system, and the third sector to work together to achieve this is recognised internationally. However, the literature does not provide coherent analyses of how these ambitions can be achieved. This paper demonstrates how a realist review can be applied to inform complex intervention development that spans different locations, organisations, professions, and care sectors. METHODS: We applied and developed a realist review for the purposes of intervention development, using a three-stage process. (1) An iterative database search strategy (extending beyond criminal justice and offender health) and groups of academics, practitioners, and people with lived experience were used to identify explanatory accounts (n = 347). (2) From these accounts, we developed consolidated explanatory accounts (n = 75). (3) The identified interactions between practitioners and offenders (within their organisational, social, and cultural contexts) were specified in a conceptual platform. We also specify, step by step, how these explanatory accounts were documented, consolidated, and built into a conceptual platform. This addresses an important methodological gap for social scientists and intervention developers about how to develop and articulate programme and implementation theory underpinning complex interventions. RESULTS: An integrated person-centred system is proposed to improve collaborative mental health care for offenders with common mental health problems (near to and after release) by achieving consistency between the goals of different sectors and practitioners, enabling practitioners to apply scientific and experiential knowledge in working judiciously and reflectively, and building systems and aligning resources that are centred on offenders' health and social care needs. CONCLUSIONS: As part of a broader programme of work, a realist review can make an important contribution to the specification of theoretically informed interventions that have the potential to improve health outcomes. Our conceptual platform has potential application in related systems of health and social care where integrated, and person-centred care is a goal.

Cool and hot executive function in conduct-disordered adolescents with and without co-morbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: relationships with externalizing behaviours.

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the exact nature of executive function (EF) deficits in conduct disorder (CD) remains elusive because of issues of co-morbidity with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Seventy-two adolescents with CD, 35 with CD + ADHD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed on a computerized battery of putative 'cool' and 'hot' EFs. Participants also completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: In the cool EF tasks such as planning, the CD + ADHD group in particular showed most notable impairments compared to HCs. This pattern was less evident for set shifting and behavioural inhibition but there were significant correlations between errors scores on these tasks and indices of externalizing behaviours on the CBCL across the sample. For hot EF tasks, all clinical groups performed worse than HCs on delay of gratification and poor performance was correlated with externalizing scores. Although there were no notable group differences on the punishment-based card-playing task, there were significant correlations between ultimate payout and externalizing behaviour across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings highlight the fact that there may be more common than distinguishing neuropsychological underpinnings to these co-morbid disorders and that a dimensional symptom-based approach may be the way forward.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 107-127.

Novel species of microfungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Phytophthora amnicola from still water, Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi from Castanea sp., Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiae from Corymbia sp., Diaporthe eucalyptorum from Eucalyptus sp., Sporisorium andrewmitchellii from Enneapogon aff. lindleyanus, Myrmecridium banksiae from Banksia, and Pilidiella wangiensis from Eucalyptus sp. Several species are also described from South Africa, namely: Gondwanamyces wingfieldii from Protea caffra, Montagnula aloes from Aloe sp., Diaporthe canthii from Canthium inerne, Phyllosticta ericarum from Erica gracilis, Coleophoma proteae from Protea caffra, Toxicocladosporium strelitziae from Strelitzia reginae, and Devriesia agapanthi from Agapanthus africanus. Other species include Phytophthora asparagi from Asparagus officinalis (USA), and Diaporthe passiflorae from Passiflora edulis (South America). Furthermore, novel genera of coelomycetes include Chrysocrypta corymbiae from Corymbia sp. (Australia), Trinosporium guianense, isolated as a contaminant (French Guiana), and Xenosonderhenia syzygii, from Syzygium cordatum (South Africa). Pseudopenidiella piceae from Picea abies (Czech Republic), and Phaeocercospora colophospermi from Colophospermum mopane (South Africa) represent novel genera of hyphomycetes. Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.

"Challenges in the management of fractures in osteopetrosis"! Review of literature and technical tips learned from long-term management of seven patients.

Osteopetrosis is a metabolic disorder with diminished bone resorption due to osteoclastic abnormality. It causes hard and brittle marble bone which fractures easily. Most of these fractures can be treated conservatively. Operative intervention when needed presents with unique technical challenges. While osteopetrotic hard bone may be penetrated with a drill bit; high friction and prolonged drilling can make the drill bit blunt. The heat generated can cause bone necrosis and break the drill bit. Besides this, brittleness of bones can cause intra-operative fractures. Due to the difficulties during the operation, the operative time may be prolonged thereby increasing the risk of post-operative infection. There is also a risk of delay in consolidation and non-union owning to impaired bone remodelling. We present an account of seven patients treated for various fracture related problems occurring throughout their life due to this disease. Difficulties encountered during their treatment prompted us to present some general management principles.

Osteoid osteoma of the tibial tubercle--an unusual cause of anterior knee pain.

This case report describes an atypical cause of anterior knee pain in an adolescent male. The osteoid osteoma was located in the tibial apophysis.

Timing of Preharvest Infection of Pear Fruit by Botrytis cinerea and the Relationship to Postharvest Decay.

Botrytis cinerea causes significant levels of postharvest decay in the winter pear cultivar d'Anjou. The objectives of this study were to determine the timing of B. cinerea infection of pear stems and calyxes in the orchard during the growing season, to investigate the development of gray mold in storage, and to determine whether preharvest levels of B. cinerea in pear stems and calyxes can be used as predictors of gray mold levels observed in storage. Very low levels of B. cinerea were isolated from stem tissue prior to harvest. In a single year repeat experiment, stems sampled at harvest had higher levels of infection than those sampled earlier in the season. Little or no stem end gray mold was detected in fruit after 3 months in air-storage; however, incidence increased between 6 and 8 months. Calyx end gray mold was detected at low levels in fruit stored for up to 8 months. The mean incidence of stem end gray mold was 3.6 and 2.0%, and incidence of calyx end gray mold was 1.2 and 0.2%, in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Calyxes were susceptible to infection soon after full bloom; however, inoculation of calyxes in April or May did not result in higher levels of calyx end gray mold in storage. Therefore, preharvest level of calyx infection is a poor predictor of calyx end gray mold in storage. In addition, application of benomyl in the orchard reduced the level of B. cinerea in blossoms but had no effect on levels of calyx end gray mold of fruit in storage. Packing and shipping fruit within 3 to 6 months of harvest may mitigate economic losses due to gray mold.

The reliability of the American Knee Society Score.

We have investigated the reliability of the American Knee Society Score (AKS), a widely used functional outcome score for knee arthroplasty. 29 subjects were assessed in random order by 6 observers, each patient seen twice by each observer. The interobserver reference intervals were 16 points for the Knee Score (0-100 points) and 21 points for the Function Score (0-100 points). The intraobserver reference intervals were smaller, 11 points and 13 points for the Knee Score and the Function Score, respectively. The presence of arthritis in other joints and general debility did not affect the reliability of the scores. The more experienced observers had greater intraobserver reproducibility. Notably, we found moderate agreement between observers in the subjective variables, while the objective variables produced lower levels of agreement. The high inter- and intraobserver variations of the AKS makes estimation of score change questionable. Reliable use of the AKS would necessitate repeated evaluation by an experienced observer.

Breech labor on the WHO partograph.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of breech labor management using the WHO partograph on fetal and maternal outcomes of labor. METHOD: All 1,740 breech presentations in a larger multicenter hospital-based study in South East Asia of the use of the WHO partograph in labor management were studied. The partograph was introduced into each hospital during the study and a before and after analysis of various labor outcomes was conducted. RESULTS: There were 923 breech presentations prior to implementation of the partograph and 817 after. The overall Cesarean section rate was 29.7% (21.6% emergency and 7.6% elective). Introducing the partograph reduced Cesarean sections for multigravida from 27.1% to 19.3% (non-significant) but had no impact on the rate for primigravida (38.5% to 38.7%). Prolonged labor (> 18 hours) was reduced significantly among multigravida and primigravida (p < 0.05), despite a reduced use of oxytocin. Intrapartum stillbirths fell (non-significantly) from 1.9% to 1.1% (all parities combined). Fetal outcome, as measured by intrapartum deaths and Apgar scores < 7 at 1 minute, was significantly better (P < 0.05) when delivery was by Cesarean section rather than vaginally, regardless of use of the partograph. CONCLUSION: The use of the WHO partograph in the management of breech labor reduces prolonged labor and (among multigravida) Cesarean sections and improves fetal outcome. In this study, however, Cesarean section was a safer method of delivery for the baby, regardless of use of the partograph.

The development of phonological rules and visual strategies in average and poor spellers.

To investigate the development of phonological and visual skills used in spelling, 420 children between the ages of 6 and 16 completed the spelling dictation test of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised. The misspellings were scored for phonological as well as visual accuracy using a constrained (inclusion of position cues) and an unconstrained system. Poor spellers made fewer phonologically accurate and fewer visual matches than age-matched average spellers. Poor spellers produced significantly more misspellings that were close visual matches to the target word and fewer phonologically unconstrained misspellings than spelling grade-matched average spellers. The groups did not differ in their production of phonologically constrained misspellings. Average spellers used a phonological approach more frequently than a visual approach, while the reverse pattern was true for poor spellers. When phonological rules are less well developed, then individuals are more likely to use orthographic skills.

Delay in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis pubis.

The pubis is an uncommon site for osteomyelitis, which fact may contribute to difficulty in establishing the diagnosis. Two cases of osteomyelitis pubis in children are presented in which the diagnosis and definitive treatment were delayed.

Audit of knee injuries seen in a sports medicine clinic.

In order to assess the management of knee injuries in a sports medicine clinic, an audit was performed of all new patients who attended the clinic over a 12-month period. Of the 167 new patients seen, 76 (46%) had sustained knee injuries. Of these, 43 (57%) were treated in the sports medicine clinic and 33 (43%) were referred for arthroscopic assessment. The maximum waiting time from the time of referral was 3 weeks, with 85% of patients seen within 1 week and 92% within 2 weeks. Arthroscopy was performed on 28 (85%) of the 33 patients referred, and the positive correlation between the sports clinic diagnosis and the arthroscopic diagnosis was 64%. Of the 33 patients referred for arthroscopy, 28 (85%) had sustained acute knee injuries while five (15%) had been treated at other hospitals before referral to the sports medicine clinic. A National Health Service sports medicine clinic is an effective means of treating knee injuries, provided that access to arthroscopy is readily available.

Hip effusion in nephrotic syndrome mimicking septic arthritis.

A case of painful bilateral hip effusions resolving spontaneously in the diuretic phase of steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome in a 6-year-old girl is reported.