A Rhizobium tropici DNA region carrying the amino-terminal half of a nodD gene and a nod-box-like sequence confers host-range extension

Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 is a broad-host-range strain that, in addition to Phaseolus, nodulates other plant legumes such as Leucaena and Macroptilium. The narrow-host-range of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovars phaseoli (strain CE3) and trifolii (strain RS1051) can be extended to Leucaena esculents and Phaseolus vulgaris plants, respectively, by the introduction of a DNA fragment 521 bp long, which carries 128 amino acids of the amino-terminal region of a nodD gene from R. tropici, as well as a putative nod-box-like sequence, divergently oriented. The 521 bp fragment, in the presence of L. esculenta or P. vulgaris root exudates, induced a R. leguminosarum bv. viciae nodA-lacZ fusion in either a CE3 or RS1051 background, respectively.     

Assessment of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) populations in the wetlands of Corrientes,Argentina

Ten sampling sites were selected to represent six distinct habitat types used by capybaras (clean lagoons, dirty lagoons, cutwaters, fens and marshes, gallery forests, and erosion ditches). The sites were sampled during winter (July and August); densities were expressed as number of capybaras per linear km of shoreline (C/LKS). The sites were classified as protected from poachers (P), under light hunting pressure (LHP), and under heavy hunting pressure (HHP). Clean protected (P) lagoons had three times as many capybaras as LHP ones (30.7 and 10.9 C/LKS, respectively), and thirty times those under HHP (1.0 C/LKS). Protected marshes and dirty lagoons had even higher capybara densities (52.5 and 50.0 C/LKS, respectively). Gallery forests under LHP had low densities (6.3 C/LKS), and protected cutwaters intermediate densities (27.5 C/LKS). Erosion ditches had exceptionally high densities (900 C/LKS), probably because cattle were fenced out, reducing forage competition. These densities, when converted to the standard unit area measurement (individuals/ha), were similar to those obtained by other researchers in the Brazilian Pantanal, and somewhat smaller than those in the Venezuelan Llanos. Mean number of capybaras per group remained relatively constant in all habitats (averages ranged between 9.2 and 11.8 individuals/group) but its coefficient of variation was much higher in LHP sites, probably because social structure was altered severely by hunting. The overall ratio of young to adults and juveniles was 1:7.4. In one of the sites, 13 of 34 groups (38.2%) were with young (average of 17 capybaras per group, 4.7 of which were young), confirming that this species can reproduce all year long.Requests for reprints should be sent to: Dr. J. Rabinovich.     

A mechanistic spatio-temporal modeling of COVID-19 data

Understanding the evolution of an epidemic is essential to implement timely and efficient preventive measures. The availability of epidemiological data at a fine spatio-temporal scale is both novel and highly useful in this regard. Indeed, having geocoded data at the case level opens the door to analyze the spread of the disease on an individual basis, allowing the detection of specific outbreaks or, in general, of some interactions between cases that are not observable if aggregated data are used. Point processes are the natural tool to perform such analyses. We analyze a spatio-temporal point pattern of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases detected in Valencia (Spain) during the first 11 months (February 2020 to January 2021) of the pandemic. In particular, we propose a mechanistic spatio-temporal model for the first-order intensity function of the point process. This model includes separate estimates of the overall temporal and spatial intensities of the model and a spatio-temporal interaction term. For the latter, while similar studies have considered different forms of this term solely based on the physical distances between the events, we have also incorporated mobility data to better capture the characteristics of human populations. The results suggest that there has only been a mild level of spatio-temporal interaction between cases in the study area, which to a large extent corresponds to people living in the same residential location. Extending our proposed model to larger areas could help us gain knowledge on the propagation of COVID-19 across cities with high mobility levels.     

Cloning and molecular characterization of a gene involved in Salmonella adherence and invasion of cultured epithelial cells

Our laboratories have independently identified a gene in Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium that is necessary for efficient adherence and entry of these organisms into cultured epithelial cells. Introduction of a mutated gene into several Salmonella strains belonging to different serotypes rendered these organisms deficient for adherence and invasion of cultured cells. This effect was most pronounced in the host-adapted serotypes Salmonella gallinarum, S. choleraesuis, and Salmonella typhi. The nucleotide sequence of this gene, which we have termed invH, encodes a predicted 147-amino-acid polypeptide containing a signal sequence. The InvH predicted polypeptide is highly conserved in S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis, differing at only three residues. The invH gene was expressed in Escherichia coli using a T7 RNA polymerase expression system and a polypeptide of ～16000 molecular weight was observed, in agreement with the predicted size of its gene product. Upon fractionation, the expressed polypeptide was localized in the bacterial membrane fraction. Southern and colony hybridization analyses indicated that the invH gene is present in all Salmonella strains tested (91 strains belonging to 37 serotypes) with the exception of strains of Salmonella arizonae. No homologous sequences were detected in Yersinia, Shigella, Proteus, and several strains of enteroinvasive and enteropathogenic E. coli. Downstream from the S. choleraesuis (but not S. typhimurium) invH gene, a region with extensive homology to the insertion sequence IS3 was detected.     

Replanning and analysis of partial setup strategies in printed circuit board assembly systems

This paper considers the operation of component placement equipment for the assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a medium-volume, medium-variety manufacturing environment. It focuses on the setup management and operational planning issues associated with productive use of these expensive resources. The concept of replanning is introduced to adapt to changes in the production environment by explicitly considering the initial state of the system. The partial setup strategy is suggested as a means of efficient adaptation and as a strategy that subsumes other setup strategies encountered in practice and the literature. These concepts are applied to the optimization of a single-placement machine producing multiple products. The results of using partial setups are compared with other commonly used strategies. Experimental results suggest significant gains at the singlemachine level. Future research is being pursued to improve the solution procedures and extend these replanning concepts to the line level.     

A controlled study of the effects of EEG biofeedback on cognition and behavior of children with attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities

Eighteen children with ADD/ADHD, some of whom were also LD, ranging in ages from 5 through 15 were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. The experimental condition consisted of 40 45-minute sessions of training in enhancing beta activity and suppressing theta activity, spaced over 6 months. The control condition, waiting list group, received no EEG biofeedback. No other psychological treatment or medication was administered to any subjects. All subjects were measured at pretreatment and at posttreatment on an IQ test and parent behavior rating scales for inattention, hyperactivity, and aggressive/defiant (oppositional) behaviors. At posttreatment the experimental group demonstrated a significant increase (mean of 9 points) on the K-Bit IQ Composite as compared to the control group (p<.05). The experimental group also significantly reduced inattentive behaviors as rated by parents (p<.05). The significant improvements in intellectual functioning and attentive behaviors might be explained as a result of the attentional enhancement affected by EEG biofeedback training. Further research utilizing improved data collection and analysis, more stringent control groups, and larger sample sizes are needed to support and replicate these findings.This research was supported by an equipment grant by Autogenics Systems. Portions of this paper were presented at the annual convention of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, March, 1993 in Los Angeles and at the annual meeting of the Biofeedback Society of California, November, 1992 in Monterey, California. The authors gratefully acknowledge Todd Fischer and Paul Clopton for their valuable assistance in statistical analysis for this article.     

The mite Varroa jacobsoni does not transmit American foulbrood from infected to healthy colonies

The present study was conducted to determine whether Varroa jacobsoni can transmit American foulbrood (AFB), caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae to healthy colonies by the surface transport of spores. Five two-storey Langstroth colonies of Apis mellifera ligustica were infested by placing a sealed brood comb, with 10% Varroa prevalence, between the central brood combs of each colony. Two months later the colonies were inoculated with P. larvae by adding brood comb pieces with clinical signs of AFB (45±5 scales per colony). After 60 days the brood area was completely uncapped by means of dissecting needles and tweezers, separating the Varroa mites from the larvae and the collected mites were introduced at a rate of 51 per colony into four recipient hives placed in an isolated apiary. Twenty female Varroa specimens were separated at random and observed by SEM. Paenibacillus larvae spores were found on the dorsal shield surface and on idiosomal setae. All colonies died after 4–5 months due to a high incidence of varroosis. No clinical AFB symptoms or P. larvae spores were observed in microscopic preparations. It is concluded that Varroa jacobsoni does not transmit AFB from infected to healthy colonies; it does, however transport P. larvae spores on its surface.