The law on the streets: Evaluating the impact of Mexico's drug decriminalization reform on drug possession arrests in Tijuana, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, Mexican Federal Government enacted "narcomenudeo" reforms decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs, delegating prosecution of retail drug sales to the state courts, and mandating treatment diversion for habitual drug users. There has been insufficient effort to formally assess the decriminalization policy's population-level impact, despite mounting interest in analagous reforms across the globe. METHODS: Using a dataset of municipal police incident reports, we examined patterns of drug possession, and violent and non-violent crime arrests between January 2009 and December 2014. A hierarchical panel data analysis with random effects was conducted to assess the impact of narcomenudeo's drug decriminalization provision. RESULTS: The reforms had no significant impact on the number of drug possession or violent crime arrests, after controlling for other variables (e.g. time trends, electoral cycles, and precinct-level socioeconomic factors). Time periods directly preceding local elections were observed to be statistically associated with elevated arrest volume. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of police statistics parallel prior findings that Mexico's reform decriminalizing small amounts of drugs does not appear to have significantly shifted drug law enforcement in Tijuana. More research is required to fully understand the policy transformation process for drug decriminalization and other structural interventions in Mexico and similar regional and international efforts. Observed relationship between policing and political cycles echo associations in other settings whereby law-and-order activities increase during mayoral electoral campaigns.

Integrated control of blister blight disease in tea using the biocontrol agent Ochrobactrum anthropi strain BMO-111 with chemical fungicides.

AIMS: The present study was aimed to evaluate the integration of Ochrobactrum anthropi BMO-111 and chemical fungicides (copper oxychloride and hexaconazole) against blister blight disease of tea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Application of the liquid culture of O. anthropi BMO-111 (36-h-old culture broth) was found to be effective in combined sprays with individual chemical fungicides (copper oxychloride and hexaconazole). Spray application of O. anthropi BMO-111 to tea bushes improved the biochemical parameters such as the levels of chlorophyll, polyphenols, and catechins in the harvestable tea shoots. Moreover, in the microplot and large scale trials, the integrated treatment of every two O. anthropi BMO-111 sprays followed by a single fungicides spray was found to be more efficient than the stand alone O. anthropi BMO-111 or chemicals sprays. Further, pathogenicity study employing Swiss albino mice showed no mortality in the test animals when challenged with O. anthropi BMO-111 through oral, intravenous and intranasal routes. CONCLUSIONS: The field trials clearly established that O. anthropi BMO-111 has capability to reduce incidence in integrated management of blister blight disease of tea and safe to use in the field. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results indicate that O. anthropi BMO-111 can be used as an agricultural input in the integrated crop protection systems.

Biocontrol potential of phylloplane bacterium Ochrobactrum anthropi BMO-111 against blister blight disease of tea.

AIMS: The present study was carried out to screen the phylloplane bacteria from tea for antagonism against grey blight caused by Pestalotiopsis theae and blister bight caused by Exobasidium vexans and to further evaluate the efficient isolates for disease control potential under field condition. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 316 morphologically different phylloplane bacteria were isolated. Among the antagonists, the isolates designated as BMO-075, BMO-111 and BMO-147 exhibited maximum inhibitory activity against both the pathogens under in vitro conditions and hence were selected for further evaluation under microplot field trial. Foliar application of 36-h-old culture of BMO-111 (1 × 10(8) colony-forming units ml(-1) ) significantly reduced the blister blight disease incidence than the other isolates. The culture of BMO-111 as well as its culture filtrate effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of various fungal plant pathogens. The isolate BMO-111 was identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi based on the morphological and 16S rDNA sequence analyses. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that the biocontrol agent O. anthropi BMO-111 was effective against blister blight disease of tea. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Further study is required to demonstrate the mechanism of its action and formulation for the biocontrol potential against blister blight disease of tea.

Protective effects of Asparagus racemosus on oxidative damage in isoniazid-induced hepatotoxic rats: an in vivo study.

To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of Asparagus racemosus against isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. Rats (n = 6 per group)were divided into four groups: saline-treated control, saline-treated control with A. racemosus extract (50 mg/kg), isoniazid treatment alone (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.]), and isoniazid-A. racemosus extract (50 mg/kg)administered orally as cotreatment. Animals were treated for 21 days and euthanized 1 h after the last drug administration. Evaluated body weight, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, g-glutamyl transferase, total protein, albumin, hepatic malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)activity and glutathione (GSH). A. racemosus extract prevented isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity, indicated by both diagnostic indicators of liver damage, liver functional profile, significantly (p < 0.05)inhibited CYP2E1 activity, markedly attenuated oxidative stress by improved enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants levels and mitigate malondialdehyde, lipid hydroperoxide significantly (p < 0.05). These results suggest that A. racemosus extract exerts its hepatoprotective activity by inhibiting the production of free radicals and acts as a scavenger, reducing the free radical generation via inhibition of hepatic CYP2E1 activity, increasing the removal of free radicals through the induction of antioxidant enzymes and improving non-enzymatic thiol antioxidant GSH.

Hepatoprotective and toxicological assessment of an ethnomedicinal plant Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The tubers of Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don (Euphorbiaceae) are traditionally used in India by the Malayali tribes of Chitteri hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu to treat liver disorders. The objective of the present study was to assess the hepatoprotective potential and biosafety of Euphorbia fusiformis tuber upon administration thereby justifying the traditional claims. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hepatoprotective potential of the ethanol extract of Euphorbia fusiformis tuber against rifampicin induced hepatic damage was investigated in Wistar albino rats. The acute and subchronic toxicity were assessed in mice and rats, respectively. RESULTS: The ethanol extract of tubers (250 mg/kg p.o.) showed remarkable hepatoprotective effect against rifampicin induced hepatic damage in Wistar albino rats. The degree of protection was measured using the biochemical parameters serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and total protein. Treatment with ethanolic extract prior to the administration of rifampicin significantly (P<0.05 to P<0.001) restored the elevated levels of the said parameters on a par with the control group. The single dose LD(50) was found to be 10,000 mg/kg bw when administered orally in mice. Subchronic toxicity studies in rats with oral doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg exhibited no significant changes in body weight gain, general behavior, hematological and biochemical parameters. The histological profile of liver and kidney also indicated the non-toxic nature of this drug. CONCLUSION: The ethanol extract of Euphorbia fusiformis tubers may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of liver disorders and is safer to use even at higher doses when taken orally.

Genetic diversity and interrelationships among common European Suillus species based on ribosomal DNA sequences.

The nucleotide sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 regions was determined for 22 Suillus isolates representing seven species. Analysis of the sequence data along with 12 related sequences from databases divided the 34 isolates into seven groups, and six of these were supported by 100% bootstrap values. Isolates belonging to Suillus granulatus (0-11 divergence) were divided into three groups (SG1, SG2 and SG3); SG1 and SG2 had 100% bootstrap values. SG2 was clustered with two Suillus collinitus isolates and a Suillus variegatus isolate; SG3 was linked to a previously characterised Suillus subluteus isolate. These results clearly indicate heterogeneity among the isolates described under these species. Intra- (0.4-11) and inter- (2.4-13.6) specific divergence varied considerably. Suillus laricinus showed a high level (0.5-4.4) of intra-specific divergence. Suillus bovinus showed maximum divergence (11.4-13.3) to all other species examined. The potential of the ITS region for understanding the intra- and inter-specific relationships among Suillus species and refining their taxonomy is discussed.

DNA extraction method for PCR in mycorrhizal fungi.

AIMS: To develop a simple and rapid DNA extraction protocol for PCR in mycorrhizal fungi. METHODS AND RESULTS: The protocol combines the application of rapid freezing and boiling cycles and passage of the extracts through DNA purification columns. PCR amplifiable DNA was obtained from a number of endo- and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi using minute quantities of spores and mycelium, respectively. CONCLUSION: DNA extracted following the method, was used to successfully amplify regions of interest from high as well as low copy number genes. The amplicons were suitable for further downstream applications such as sequencing and PCR-RFLPs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The protocol described is simple, short and facilitates rapid isolation of PCR amplifiable genomic DNA from a large number of fungal isolates in a single day. The method requires only minute quantities of starting material and is suitable for mycorrhizal fungi as well as a range of other fungi.

Genetic analysis and regulation of the Rhizobium meliloti genes controlling C4-dicarboxylic acid transport.

The genes controlling the transport of C4-dicarboxylic acids from Rhizobium meliloti have been cloned and analysed. The nucleotide sequence of the control region of the structural dctA and the regulatory dctBD genes has been determined. Comparison with the Rhizobium leguminosarum dct genes revealed a high degree of homology. Gene fusions to the enteric lacZY reporter gene were constructed and the expression of the dctA and dctBD genes studied under various physiological conditions. In free-living cells, the regulatory dctBD genes are absolutely required for the expression of the dctA gene. In the root nodule environment, a dctA::lacZY gene fusion was found to be expressed in an R. meliloti strain mutated in both the dctB and dctD genes, but not in a strain mutated in the dctB gene alone. The presence of the conserved upstream NifA-binding sites on the dctA promoter sequence, coupled with the fact that the dctA::lacZY gene fusion is not expressed in root nodules formed by a nifA mutant strain of R. meliloti, supports the suggestion that NifA may be involved in the symbiotic expression of dctA in the absence of the regulatory dctBD genes. Under micro-aerobic conditions, however, NifA induction alone is not sufficient for expression of the dctA promoter, even though the NifA-dependent nifHDK promoter is highly expressed under these conditions.

Dicarboxylic acid transport in Bradyrhizobium japonicum: use of Rhizobium meliloti dct gene(s) to enhance nitrogen fixation.

A recombinant plasmid encoding Rhizobium meliloti sequences involved in dicarboxylic acid transport (plasmid pRK290:4:46) (E. Bolton, B. Higgisson, A. Harrington, and F. O'Gara, Arch. Microbiol. 144:142-146, 1986) was used to study the relationship between dicarboxylic acid transport and nitrogen fixation in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The expression of the dct sequences on plasmid pRK290:4:46 in B. japonicum CJ1 resulted in increased growth rates in media containing dicarboxylic acids as the sole source of carbon. In addition, strain CJ1(pRK290:4:46) exhibited enhanced succinate uptake activity when grown on dicarboxylic acids under aerobic conditions. Under free-living nitrogen-fixing conditions, strain CJ1(pRK290:4:46) exhibited higher nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity compared with that of the wild-type strain. This increase in nitrogenase activity also correlated with an enhanced dicarboxylic acid uptake rate under these microaerobic conditions. The regulation of dicarboxylic acid transport by factors such as metabolic inhibitors and the presence of additional carbon sources was similar in both the wild-type and the engineered strains. The implications of increasing nitrogenase activity through alterations in the dicarboxylic acid transport system are discussed.

Organization and partial sequence of a DNA region of the Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiotic plasmid pRL6JI containing the genes fixABC, nifA, nifB and a novel open reading frame.

By hybridization and heteroduplex studies the fixABC and nifA genes of the Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiotic plasmid pRL6JI have been identified. DNA sequencing of the region containing nifA showed an open reading frame of 1557 bp encoding a protein of 56, 178 D. Based on sequence homology, this ORF was confirmed to correspond to the nifA gene. Comparison of three nifA proteins (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Rhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum) revealed only a weak relationship in their N-terminal regions, whereas the C-terminal parts exhibited strong homology. Sequence analysis also showed that the R. leguminosarum nifA gene is followed by nifB and preceded by fixC with an open reading frame inserted in between. This novel ORF of 294 bp was found to be highly conserved also in R. meliloti. No known promoter and termination signals could be defined on the sequenced R. leguminosarum fragment.

Expression and regulation of the Escherichia coli glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh) in Rhizobium japonicum.

The glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene of Escherichia coli was transferred into an ammonium assimilation deficient mutant (Asm-) of Rhizobium japonicum (CJ9) using plasmid pRP301, a broad host range derivative of RP4. Exconjugants capable of growth on ammonia as sole N-source occurred at a frequency of 6.8 X 10(-6). Assimilatory GDH (NADP+) activity was detected in the strain carrying the E. coli gdh gene and the pattern of ammonia assimilation via GDH was similar to that of the Asm+ wild type strain. However, GDH mediated ammonia assimilation was not subject to regulation by L-glutamate. Nitrogenase activity was expressed ex planta in R. japonicum CJ9 harbouring the gdh gene, however, the presence of the gdh gene did not restore symbiotic effectiveness to the CJ9 Asm- strain in nodules. The gdh plasmid was maintained in approximately 90% of the isolates recovered from soybean nodules.

Catabolite repression and role of cyclic AMP in CO2 fixation and H2 metabolism in Rhizobium spp.

CO2 fixation in Rhizobium meliloti was repressed by a variety of organic carbon sources. Cellular cyclic AMP levels were similar in repressed and nonrepressed cultures. Exogenous cyclic AMP or additional copies of the adenyl cyclase gene in cells experiencing repression failed to affect the rates of CO2 fixation. However, in R. japonicum catabolite repression of H2 utilization was partially circumvented by the presence of the R. meliloti adenyl cyclase gene.

Nitrogen Fixation and Carbon Dioxide Assimilation in Rhizobium japonicum.

In free-living Rhizobium japonicum cultures, the stimulatory effect of CO(2) on nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity was mediated through ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity. Two mutant strains (CJ5 and CJ6) of R. japonicum defective in CO(2) fixation were isolated by mitomycin C treatment. No ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity could be detected in strain CJ6, but a low level of enzyme activity was present in strain CJ5. Mutant strain CJ5 also exhibited pleiotropic effects on carbon metabolism. The mutant strains possessed reduced levels of hydrogen uptake, formate dehydrogenase, and phosphoribulokinase activities, which indicated a regulatory relationship between these enzymes. The CO(2)-dependent stimulation of nitrogenase activity was not observed in the mutant strains. Both mutant strains nodulated soybean plants and fixed nitrogen at rates comparable to that of the wild-type strain.