Histopathological Investigation of Varietal Responses to Cercospora beticola Infection Process on Sugar Beet Leaves.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is the most destructive foliar disease in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). It is caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc., a fungal pathogen that produces toxins and enzymes which affect membrane permeability and cause cell death during infection. In spite of its importance, little is known about the initial stages of leaf infection by C. beticola. Therefore, we investigated the progression of C. beticola on leaf tissues of susceptible and resistant sugar beet varieties at 12-h intervals during the first 5 days after inoculation using confocal microscopy. Inoculated leaf samples were collected and stored in DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) solution until processed. Samples were stained with Alexa Fluor-488-WGA dye to visualize fungal structures. Fungal biomass accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the area under the disease progress curve were evaluated and compared. ROS production was not detected on any variety before 36 h postinoculation (hpi). C. beticola biomass accumulation, percentage leaf cell death, and disease severity were all significantly greater in the susceptible variety compared with the resistant variety (P < 0.05). Conidia penetrated directly through stomata between 48 to 60 hpi and produced appressoria on stomatal guard cells at 60 to 72 hpi in susceptible and resistant varieties, respectively. Penetration of hyphae inside the parenchymatous tissues varied in accordance with time postinoculation and varietal genotypes. Overall, this study provides a detailed account to date of events leading to CLS disease development in two contrasting varieties.

Resistance to QoI and DMI Fungicides Does Not Reduce Virulence of C. beticola Isolates in North Central United States.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is a destructive disease limiting sugar beet production and is managed using resistant cultivars, crop rotation, and timely applications of effective fungicides. Since 2016, its causal agent, Cercospora beticola, has been reported to be resistant to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and to have reduced sensitive to demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) in sugar beet growing areas in North Dakota and Minnesota. Isolates of C. beticola resistant to QoIs, DMIs, and both QoIs and DMIs were collected from fields in Foxhome, Minnesota, in 2017. Fitness of these resistant isolates was compared with that of QoI- and DMI-sensitive isolates in laboratory and greenhouse studies. In the lab, mycelial growth, spore production, and spore germination were measured. The results showed that resistant isolates had significantly less mycelial growth and spore production than sensitive isolates, while no significant difference in spore germination was detected. In the greenhouse, six leaf-stage sugar beets were inoculated with a spore suspension made from each resistant group and incubated in separate humidity chambers. CLS disease severity was evaluated visually at 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation (DAI), and the areas under disease progress curve (AUDPC) were calculated. Resistant isolates had significantly smaller AUDPC but still caused as high disease severity as the sensitive ones at 21 DAI. Although QoI- and/or DMI-resistant isolates had a relatively slower disease development, they still caused high disease severity and need to be factored in disease management practices.

Decision support system for NPK fertilization: a solution method for minimizing the impact on human health, climate change, ecosystem quality and resources.

Sugarcane cultivation requires correct fertilizer rates. However, when nutrients are not available, or there is over-fertilization, the yields are significantly reduced and the environmental burden increase. In this study, it is proposed a decision support system (DSS) for the correct NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) fertilization. The DSS consists of two fuzzy models; the edaphic condition model (EDC-M) and the NPK fertilization model (NPK-M). The DSS using parameters from soil analysis and is based on the experience of two groups of experts to avoid the bias to the reality of a single group of professionals. The results of the DSS are compared with the results of soil analysis and those of the group of experts. One hundred and sixty tests were developed in the NPK-M. The N rate shows R 2=0.981 for the DSS and R 2=0.963 for soil analyzes. The P rate shows R 2=0.9702 for the DSS and R 2=0.9183 for the soil analyzes. The K rate shows R 2=0.9691 for the DSS and R 2=0.9663 for the soil analyzes. Environmental results indicate that the estimated rates with the DSS do reduce the environmental impact on the tests performed.

Antioxidant and neuroprotector effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) methanol leaf extract against 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are normally produced during cell metabolism, there is strong evidence to suggest that ROS produced in excess impair the cell and may be etiologically related to various neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) methanol leaf extract on neurotoxicity in PC12 cell exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Fresh samples of "maca" leaves were processed in order to obtain foliar extracts and to evaluate the neurobiological activity on PC12 cells, subjected to the cytotoxic effect of 6-OHDA through the determination of the capacity antioxidant, cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on PC12 cells. The results of the tests of antioxidant activity, showed maximum values of 2262.37 and 1305.36 expressed in Trolox equivalents (TEAC), for the methanolic and aqueous fractions respectively. Cell viability assays at a dose of 10 µg extract showed an increase of 31% and 60% at 6 and 12 h of pretreatment, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays at the same dose and exposure time showed a 31.4% and 47.8% reduction in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The results allow us to affirm that the methanolic foliar extract of "maca" presents in vitro neurobiological activity of antioxidant protection, increase in cell viability and reduction of cytotoxicity against oxidative stress generated by 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study shows a protective role for Lepidium meyenii leaf extract on 6-OHDA-induced toxicity by an antioxidant effect.

Segmentación y parametrización automática de imágenes iridológicas / Automatic segmentation and parameterization iridology images / Segmentação automática e pa rametrização iridologia imagens

Actualmente el estudio y procesamiento de datos iridológicos viene avanzando de manera importante. Diferentes trabajos han demostrado que es posible realizar detección de algunas patologías usando las características del iris de cada sujeto, pero los resultados mostrados en cuanto a la segmentación del mapa iridológico, no son los más prometedores. En este artículo se presenta una novedosa metodología para obtener la segmentación del iris (mapa iridológico) humano de forma automática y manual usando técnicas de procesamiento de imágenes. Dicha segmentación, fue realizada sobre imágenes a nivel de gris, empleándose para el procesamiento de cada imagen herramientas matemáticas como: integral proyectiva, OTSU, realce de contraste, negativo, binarización, suavizado y filtrado. Con el uso de estas técnicas, se han obtenido diferentes parámetros como son la detección de pupila y detección del iris. Con estos parámetros se inició la segmentación de cada imagen iridológica basada en geometría analítica, dicha segmentación permite parametrizar zonas del iris, que muestran el funcionamiento interno de diferentes sistemas fisiológicos, y de esta forma obtener patrones característicos de dichos sistemas, que en el futuro, lograrán realizar procesos de detección de enfermedades basadas en procesamiento de imágenes iridológicas.

This paper presents a novel methodology for human iris segmentation automatically and manual using image processing techniques. This segmentation was performed on gray level images, using for processing each image math tools like: comprehensive projective, OTSU, negative contrast enhancement, binarization, smoothing and filtering. Using these techniques, various parameters are obtained for example, the detection of the pupil and iris. With these parameters the iridology segmentation of each image is performed using analytic geometry. This segmentation allows parameterized parts of iris, showing the inner workings of different physiological systems, thus obtaining characteristic patterns of such systems. In the future, will achieve disease detection processes based on image processing iridology.

Actualmente o estudo e processamento de dados iridologia está avançando significativamente. Diferentes estudos têm mostrado que é possível detectar algumas patologias, utilizando as características da íris de cada sujeito, mas os resultados apresentados como a segmentação do gráfico iridologia, eles não são os mais promissores. Este artigo apresenta uma nova metodologia para a segmentação da íris (quadro da íris) humana automaticamente ou manualmente utilizando técnicas de processamento de imagem. Essa segmentação foi realizada em imagens em nível de cinza, sendo usado para processar cada imagem ferramentas matemáticas como um projetivo integral, Otsu, realce de contraste, negativo, binarização, alisando e filtragem. Utilizando estas técnicas, obtivemos diferentes parâmetros, tais como a detecção de detecção da pupila e da íris. Com estes parâmetros de segmentação de cada imagem iridologia baseado em geometria analítica começou, esta segmentação permite parametrizar áreas da íris, mostrando o funcionamento interno dos diferentes sistemas fisiológicos, e assim obter padrões característicos de tal, que, em futuros sistemas, eles vão conseguir executar processos de detecção com base em doenças iridologia processamento de imagem.

Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses.

In stud management, broodmares are commonly fed concentrates in late pregnancy. This practice, however, was shown to correlate with an increased incidence of osteochondrosis in foals, which may be related to insulin sensitivity. We hypothesized that supplementation of the mare with barley in the last trimester of pregnancy alters the pre-weaning foal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status. Here, pregnant multiparous saddlebred mares were fed forage only (group F, n=13) or both forage and cracked barley (group B, n=12) from the 7th month of pregnancy until term, as calculated to cover nutritional needs of broodmares. Diets were given in two daily meals. All mares and foals returned to pasture after parturition. Post-natal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status were investigated in pre-weaning foals. B mares maintained an optimal body condition score (>3.5), whereas that of F mares decreased and remained low (<2.5) up to 3 months of lactation, with a significantly lower bodyweight (-7%) than B mares throughout the last 2 months of pregnancy. B mares had increased plasma glucose and insulin after the first meal and after the second meal to a lesser extent, which was not observed in F mares. B mares also had increased insulin secretion during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Plasma NEFA and leptin were only temporarily affected by diet in mares during pregnancy or in early lactation. Neonatal B foals had increased serum osteocalcin and slightly increased glucose increments and clearance after glucose injection, but these effects had vanished at weaning. Body measurements, plasma IGF-1, T4, T3, NEFA and leptin concentrations, insulin secretion during IVGTT, as well as glucose metabolism rate during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps after weaning, did not differ between groups. Radiographic examination of joints indicated increased osteochondrosis relative risk in B foals, but this was not significant. These data demonstrate that B or F maternal nutrition has very few effects on foal growth, endocrinology and glucose homeostasis until weaning, but may induce cartilage lesions.

[Diagnostic imaging of the small bowel]. / Estudio radiológico del intestino delgado.

This article describes the different imaging techniques used in the study of the small bowel. We define the technical requirements that conventional small bowel follow through studies must fulfill to be considered an efficacious examination (individualized study of each bowel loop by compression and fluoroscopy); we evaluate the different types of enteroclysis, giving special attention to the biphasic type, which is the most commonly employed; we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of biphasic enteroclysis with respect to conventional small bowel follow through studies; and finally we evaluate the role of modern techniques of image acquisition, tomodensitometry and magnetic resonance imaging used together with traditional techniques. Small bowel studies require accurate indications for radiologic study, thorough and meticulous examination, and careful interpretation of the images obtained. Although the modern techniques of magnetic resonance and computed tomography enteroclysis are no better than conventional small bowel follow through or enteroclysis at demonstrating the details of the intestinal mucosa, they are of great use in solving the problem of the superimposition of intestinal loops and provide information about the intestinal wall and possible extraluminal pathology.