Antigenic and Morphological Similarities of Progressive Pneumonia Virus, a Recently Isolated “Slow Virus” of Sheep, to Visna and Maedi Viruses

Progressive pneumonia virus, the causative agent of a slow, pulmonary disease of Montana sheep, was shown to be antigenically related to two other slow viruses of sheep, visna and maedi. Electron microscopic examination of infected cells revealed that the virus matures by a budding process and that the budding particles as well as the mature, extracellular virions bear striking resemblances to the oncogenic ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses. Recent findings of an RNA-dependent deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase associated with the virions of this group of slow viruses lend further support to the notion that they may tentatively be classified with the oncogenic RNA tumor viruses.     

Foliar application of urea to “Sauvignon Blanc” and “Merlot” vines: doses and time of application

A careful control of the N nutritional status of grapevines can have a determining effect on wine characteristics; therefore a suitable management of N fertilization might allow some wine parameters to be modified, thereby improving product quality. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of foliar application of urea at different doses and different times of the growing season on the parameters of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot grape juice. The research described herein involved Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot grapevines (V. vinifera L.) at a commercial vineyard and was conducted over 2 years. In the first year, N treatment involved a foliar application at a dose of 10 kg N ha^?1 during veraison, whereas in the second year it involved a foliar urea application at two doses (10 and 50 kg N ha^?1) and at three different times—3 weeks before veraison, during veraison and 3 weeks after veraison. In this second year, the urea applied at a dose of 10 kg N ha^?1 was isotopically labelled with 1% ¹⁵N. Chemical parameters, yeast assimilable N, amino acid content, amino acid profile and N isotopic composition were determined for all treatments. Grape and grape-juice parameters for Merlot were found to be more affected by N fertilization than for Sauvignon Blanc and were also more affected during the second year than during the first year, thus indicating that the climatic characteristics of each campaign could affect these parameters. The yeast assimilable N in grape juice was found to be higher for late applications of foliar urea, with application of the higher dose of urea during veraison increasing the amino acid and proline contents in both varieties. The isotopic analysis data showed that the urea applied to leaves was transferred to the berries, with the maximum translocation in Sauvignon Blanc occurring for the post-veraison treatment and in Merlot for the veraison treatment. We can therefore conclude that foliar application of urea could modify grape juice quality and could therefore be used as a tool for obtaining quality wines.     

Quantification Methodology of “Health Human Resources” Related to “Health Technologies” Based on Indicators “RhSan”, “TechSan” and “RhTech”: Application to Senegal

ObjectivesAfter a century of spectacular advances, healthcare systems are facing unprecedented crisis, linked to shortage of health human resources and health technologies. In fact, availability of care depends on both technological and human resources of health. The objective of this study is to develop indicators that can measure qualitatively human resources and technologies of health in healthcare facilities, in order to assess availability of care in sub-Saharan African countries.Materials and MethodsRegarding “health technology” related to “medical devices”, an indicator called “TechSan” for “Technologies de Santé” was previously developed and published (Ndione FB et al. (2019) [6]). To address the deficiencies in usual indicators related to health human resources, a second indicator called “RhSan” for “Ressources humaines de santé” in French is proposed. This indicator assigns a weight to each health worker taking into account his specific “level of medical knowledge” and “experience”. In order to correlate “RhSan” with “TechSan”, a third indicator called “RhTech” is also developed to assess matches between “health technologies” and “health human resources” and establish realistic availability of care. These indicators have the advantage to be consolidated by specialty such as laboratory, imaging, surgery, and “mother and child care”.ResultsThe application of TechSan, RhSan and RhTech to data collected in Senegal in 2016, enabled to assess the distribution of “health technology” and “health human resources” in this country. They also permit the mapping of care availability per specialty in Senegal. The results show a strong oversupply of Dakar in terms of both human resources and technologies of health compared to other Senegalese regions. Oppositely, Sedhiou, Kaffrine, Matam and Kédougou are poorly endowed showing limits of the Senegalese health pyramid system.ConclusionTechSan, RhSan and RhTech can provide reliable decision-making tools in order to elaborate health policies in sub-Saharan African countries on more rigorous basis.     

Comparative Study of the Absorption,Plasma Levels,and Urinary Excretion of the “New” and the “Old” Lanoxin

A comparative study was performed of the absorption, the plasma level at equilibrium, and the urinary excretion of digoxin using two types of Lanoxin tablets, those produced before and after the 1972 alteration of the tablet manufacture.After a single dose the absorption rate of the new tablets was about twice as great as the old, both in young subjects and in the elderly patients. There were no significant differences in the plasma levels of digoxin for the two tablets 15 hours after the last administration in patients on an equal maintenance dose. The urinary excretion of digoxin increased about 40% when the “old” Lanoxin was replaced by the “new.” In elderly patients a daily dose of 0·125 mg twice daily of the new tablets should be sufficient to reach the therapeutic range. Young people need a higher dosage. If the kidney function is reduced by as much as 50% the dose should be reduced.     

The Early History of “Photosynthetica”, “Photosynthesis Research”, and their Publishers

The history of the journals Photosynthetica and Photosynthesis Research is traced from its beginning. Their development is related to the history of several publishers (Dr W. Junk Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff, Kluwer Academic Publishers). This account is based on recollections and records of the authors, Ad C. Plaizier, and René Marcelle (the first Editor-in-Chief of Photosynthesis Research).     

The Inability of the Consumer Price Index to Measure “Cost of Quality” of Medical Care,Report of the Bureau of Research and Planning

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is an index which measures the price changes of 300 goods and services. Among these 300 items are several which reflect price changes for selected health care and medical care services. These comprise the medical care index and physician fee index, depending on what services are being measured.The Physician Fee Index is based upon charges for five procedures rendered by physicians: Appendectomy, tonsillectomy, obstetrical delivery, home visits and office visits.Although the CPI takes into account quality changes in the prices for various goods, it is unable to do so for services, particularly physicians'' services.The difficulty in measuring the “cost” of quality of medical care overstates price increases in the physician fee and medical care indexes.     

Response of “criollo” maize to single and mixed species inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

We tested the effect of two single species inocula and a mixed inoculum of the native population of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth response of criollo maize (Zea mays L.). To determine the inocula that produced the highest response on maize growth, we conducted a greenhouse experiment at 3 levels of P fertilization (0, 40 and 80 kg ha^–1). Inoculation with Glomus mosseae (Nicolson and Gerdemann) Gerd. and Trappe (LMSS) produced the greatest shoot growth rates at the two lowest P fertilization levels. Inoculation with Acaulospora bireticulata Rothwell and Trappe (ABRT) and the native population (NP) resulted in similar shoot growth rates at all P levels. These rates were higher than the non-mycorrhizal control rate at the lowest P level but lower than the control at the highest P level. Also, ABRT and NP had significantly lower shoot growth rates than the inoculation treatment with G. mosseae at all P levels. The non-mycorrhizal control had the lowest growth rate at the lowest P level but its growth rate increased linearly with increased P fertilization. Inoculation with G. mosseae and A. bireticulata produced similar colonization rates which were lower than the native population colonization rate. There was no correlation between colonization and shoot growth rates.     

The Genome Sequences of Cellulomonas fimi and “Cellvibrio gilvus” Reveal the Cellulolytic Strategies of Two Facultative Anaerobes,Transfer of “Cellvibrio gilvus” to the Genus Cellulomonas,and Proposal of Cellulomonas gilvus sp. nov

Actinobacteria in the genus Cellulomonas are the only known and reported cellulolytic facultative anaerobes. To better understand the cellulolytic strategy employed by these bacteria, we sequenced the genome of the Cellulomonas fimi ATCC 484^T. For comparative purposes, we also sequenced the genome of the aerobic cellulolytic “Cellvibrio gilvus” ATCC 13127^T. An initial analysis of these genomes using phylogenetic and whole-genome comparison revealed that “Cellvibrio gilvus” belongs to the genus Cellulomonas. We thus propose to assign “Cellvibrio gilvus” to the genus Cellulomonas. A comparative genomics analysis between these two Cellulomonas genome sequences and the recently completed genome for Cellulomonas flavigena ATCC 482^T showed that these cellulomonads do not encode cellulosomes but appear to degrade cellulose by secreting multi-domain glycoside hydrolases. Despite the minimal number of carbohydrate-active enzymes encoded by these genomes, as compared to other known cellulolytic organisms, these bacteria were found to be proficient at degrading and utilizing a diverse set of carbohydrates, including crystalline cellulose. Moreover, they also encode for proteins required for the fermentation of hexose and xylose sugars into products such as ethanol. Finally, we found relatively few significant differences between the predicted carbohydrate-active enzymes encoded by these Cellulomonas genomes, in contrast to previous studies reporting differences in physiological approaches for carbohydrate degradation. Our sequencing and analysis of these genomes sheds light onto the mechanism through which these facultative anaerobes degrade cellulose, suggesting that the sequenced cellulomonads use secreted, multidomain enzymes to degrade cellulose in a way that is distinct from known anaerobic cellulolytic strategies.     

Biosociality,biocitizenship and the new regime of hope and despair: interpreting “Portraits of Hope” and the “Mehmet Case”

The concepts of biocitizenship and biosociality, in many ways developed as a reaction to the former critique of genetification and fears of a return of eugenics, have gained a stronghold in much of the current debates on the social effects of modern-day genetics. In contrast to claims of a return to eugenics, the literature on biocitizenship highlights the new choice-enhancing possibilities involved in present-day biomedicine, underlining the break with past forms of biopower. In this analysis, hope becomes a life-inducing and vitalizing force, opening new avenues of civic participation and engagement. Most critics of this analysis have attacked the claims to novelty attributed to these concepts, arguing that more traditional forms of biopower remain as important as ever. In contrast, we argue that the biocitizenship literature underestimates the radical nature of this break with the past, ending up with a too narrow and one-sided interpretation of the ramifications of the new discourse of hope. On the basis of two different case stories, the “Portraits of Hope” campaign from California, USA and the “Mehmet Case” from Norway, we indicate an alternative “darker” reading of the new discourse of hope, arguing that its driving force is not so much future possibilities as present despair.