Disaster Plant Pathology: Smart Solutions for Threats to Global Plant Health from Natural and Human-Driven Disasters.

Disaster plant pathology addresses how natural and human-driven disasters impact plant diseases and the requirements for smart management solutions. Local to global drivers of plant disease change in response to disasters, often creating environments more conducive to plant disease. Most disasters have indirect effects on plant health through factors such as disrupted supply chains and damaged infrastructure. There is also the potential for direct effects from disasters, such as pathogen or vector dispersal due to floods, hurricanes, and human migration driven by war. Pulse stressors such as hurricanes and war require rapid responses, whereas press stressors such as climate change leave more time for management adaptation but may ultimately cause broader challenges. Smart solutions for the effects of disasters can be deployed through digital agriculture and decision support systems supporting disaster preparedness and optimized humanitarian aid across scales. Here, we use the disaster plant pathology framework to synthesize the effects of disasters in plant pathology and outline solutions to maintain food security and plant health in catastrophic scenarios. We recommend actions for improving food security before and following disasters, including (i) strengthening regional and global cooperation, (ii) capacity building for rapid implementation of new technologies, (iii) effective clean seed systems that can act quickly to replace seed lost in disasters, (iv) resilient biosecurity infrastructure and risk assessment ready for rapid implementation, and (v) decision support systems that can adapt rapidly to unexpected scenarios. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Single-molecule detection and super-resolution imaging with a portable and adaptable 3D-printed microscopy platform (Brick-MIC).

Over the past decades, single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy have advanced and represent essential tools for life science research. There is,however, a growing gap between the state-of-the-art and what is accessible to biologists, biochemists, medical researchers or labs with financial constraints. To bridge this gap, we introduce Brick-MIC, a versatile and affordable open-source 3D-printed micro-spectroscopy and imaging platform. Brick-MIC enables the integration of various fluorescence imaging techniques with single-molecule resolution within a single platform and exchange between different modalities within minutes. We here present variants of Brick-MIC that facilitate single-molecule fluorescence detection, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and super-resolution imaging (STORM and PAINT). Detailed descriptions of the hardware and software components, as well as data analysis routines are provided, to allow non-optics specialist to operate their own Brick-MIC with minimal effort and investments. We foresee that our affordable, flexible, and opensource Brick-MIC platform will be a valuable tool for many laboratories worldwide.

Solitary mesenteric fibromatosis in a male patient: clinical case report.

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare tumor that grows slowly and asymptomatically and is more frequent among men. The risk factors described in the literature may not be present in all cases. The clinical presentation is variable and depends on the localization of the tumor and the involvement of surrounding structures. Imaging studies such as abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the preferred methods for the diagnosis of this tumor. However, a definitive diagnosis is made based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry results. Surgical resection remains the preferred option for the treatment of mesenteric fibromatosis. This report presents a clinical case of mesenteric fibromatosis in a male patient who presented with partial abdominal obstruction and the absence of risk factors for mesenteric fibromatosis.

Farmers Experiencing Potato Seed Degeneration Respond but Do Not Adjust Their Seed Replacement Strategies in Ecuador.

In Ecuador, farmers poorly adopt practices to manage potato seed degeneration. This could be related to the deficient understanding of the farmers' capacity to experience seed degeneration and respond to it. We contribute to this understanding by answering: How do farmers experience seed degeneration?; What practices do farmers implement when their seed is degenerated?; and Is experiencing degeneration the pivotal factor determining how farmers replace their seed regardless their income? We analysed data collected in Ecuador through farmers' focus group discussions, farmers' surveys and interviews, and the Ecuadorian employment status survey. We found that approximately half of the farmers experienced degeneration. Farmers experienced it through low yields, change in seed appearance, crop weakening, and seed physiological problems. When farmers experienced degeneration, they replaced their seed, sought for technical advice, applied more agricultural inputs, or grew other crops. Income was an important trigger for farmers to change their seed replacement practices.

Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of the role of the media regarding COVID-19 in medical students from a peruvian university. / Conocimientos, actitudes y percepción sobre el rol de los medios de comunicación respecto a la COVID-19 en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad peruana.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on medical students from a private Peruvian university. The aim was to describe knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 as well as the student's perception of the role of media outlets and social media. Of the students, 32% did not know that during the first five days of illness, serological tests are preferred for diagnosing COVID-19 over molecular tests; 73% reported being willing to work as a volunteer during the pandemic, and 94% received false information regarding COVID-19 on social media. This study demonstrated that information regarding diagnostic tests should be reinforced and that the high percentage of students willing to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic should not be overlooked.

Se realizó un estudio transversal en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad privada de Lima. El objetivo fue describir el nivel de conocimientos y las actitudes sobre la COVID-19, además de su percepción sobre el rol de los medios de comunicación y de las redes sociales. El 32% no sabía que en los primeros cinco días de la enfermedad, las pruebas serológicas son preferibles para diagnosticar la COVID-19, comparadas con las pruebas moleculares; el 73% reportó estar dispuesto a trabajar como voluntario durante la pandemia y el 94% recibió información falsa sobre la COVID-19 en las redes sociales. Este estudio demuestra que la información sobre el uso de pruebas diagnósticas debe ser reforzada y que se debe tomar en cuenta el alto porcentaje de estudiantes dispuestos a ser voluntarios durante la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Conocimientos, actitudes y percepción sobre el rol de los medios de comunicación respecto a la COVID-19 en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad peruana / Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of the role of the media regarding COVID-19 in medical students from a peruvian university

RESUMEN Se realizó un estudio transversal en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad privada de Lima. El objetivo fue describir el nivel de conocimientos y las actitudes sobre la COVID-19, además de su percepción sobre el rol de los medios de comunicación y de las redes sociales. El 32% no sabía que en los primeros cinco días de la enfermedad, las pruebas serológicas son preferibles para diagnosticar la COVID-19, comparadas con las pruebas moleculares; el 73% reportó estar dispuesto a trabajar como voluntario durante la pandemia y el 94% recibió información falsa sobre la COVID-19 en las redes sociales. Este estudio demuestra que la información sobre el uso de pruebas diagnósticas debe ser reforzada y que se debe tomar en cuenta el alto porcentaje de estudiantes dispuestos a ser voluntarios durante la pandemia de la COVID-19.

ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study was carried out on medical students from a private Peruvian university. The aim was to describe knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 as well as the student's perception of the role of media outlets and social media. Of the students, 32% did not know that during the first five days of illness, serological tests are preferred for diagnosing COVID-19 over molecular tests; 73% reported being willing to work as a volunteer during the pandemic, and 94% received false information regarding COVID-19 on social media. This study demonstrated that information regarding diagnostic tests should be reinforced and that the high percentage of students willing to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic should not be overlooked.

Screening South American Potato Landraces and Potato Wild Relatives for Novel Sources of Late Blight Resistance.

Late blight (LB) caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans is one of the most important biotic constraints for potato production worldwide. This study assessed 508 accessions (79 wild potato species and 429 landraces from a cultivated core collection) held at the International Potato Center genebank for resistance to LB. One P. infestans isolate belonging to the EC-1 lineage, which is currently the predominant type of P. infestans in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, was used in whole plant assays under greenhouse conditions. Novel sources of resistance to LB were found in accessions of Solanum albornozii, S. andreanum, S. lesteri, S. longiconicum, S. morelliforme, S. stenophyllidium, S. mochiquense, S. cajamarquense, and S. huancabambense. All of these species are endemic to South America and thus could provide novel sources of resistance for potato breeding programs. We found that the level of resistance to LB in wild species and potato landraces cannot be predicted from altitude and bioclimatic variables of the locations where the accessions were collected. The high percentage (73%) of potato landraces susceptible to LB in our study suggests the importance of implementing disease control measures, including planting susceptible genotypes in less humid areas and seasons or switching to genotypes identified as resistant. In addition, this study points out a high risk of genetic erosion in potato biodiversity at high altitudes of the Andes due to susceptibility to LB in the native landraces, which has been exacerbated by climatic change that favors the development of LB in those regions.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Analyzing the Impact of COVID-19 Trauma on Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Emergency Medical Workers in Spain.

The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic presented the characteristics of a traumatic event that could trigger post-traumatic stress disorder. Emergency Medical Services workers are already a high-risk group due to their professional development. The research project aimed to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EMS professionals in terms of their mental health. For this purpose, we present a descriptive crosssectional study with survey methodology. A total of 317 EMS workers (doctors, nurses, and emergency medical technicians) were recruited voluntarily. Psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia were assessed. The instruments were the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS-8), and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8). We found that 36% of respondents had psychological distress, 30.9% potentially had PTSD, and 60.9% experienced insomnia. Years of work experience were found to be positively correlated, albeit with low effect, with the PTSD score (r = 0.133). Finally, it can be stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a traumatic event for EMS workers. The number of professionals presenting psychological distress, possible PTSD, or insomnia increased dramatically during the early phases of the pandemic. This study highlights the need for mental health disorder prevention programmes for EMS workers in the face of a pandemic.

The Potato of the Future: Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainable Agri-food Systems.

In the coming decades, feeding the expanded global population nutritiously and sustainably will require substantial improvements to the global food system worldwide. The main challenge will be how to produce more food with the same or fewer resources and waste less. Food security has four dimensions: food availability, food access, food use and quality, and food stability. Among several other food sources, the potato crop is one that can help match all these constraints worldwide due to its highly diverse distribution pattern, and its current cultivation and demand, particularly in developing countries with high levels of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. After an overview of the current situation of global hunger, food security, and agricultural growth, followed by a review of the importance of the potato in the current global food system and its role played as a food security crop, this paper analyses and discusses how potato research and innovation can contribute to sustainable agri-food systems comparing rural and industrial agri-food systems with reference to food security indicators. It concludes with a discussion about the challenges for sustainable potato cropping enhancement considering the needs to increase productivity in rural-based potato food systems that predominate in low-income countries, while promoting better resource management and optimization in industrial-based agri-food systems considering factors such as quality, diversity of products, health impacts, and climate change effects. Research and innovation options and policies that could facilitate the requirements of both rural and industrial potato-based agri-food systems are described.

"Breaking through the 40% adoption ceiling: Mind the seed system gaps." A perspective on seed systems research for development in One CGIAR.

Seed systems research is central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Improved varieties with promise for ending hunger, improving nutrition, and increasing livelihood security may be released, but how do they reach and benefit different types of farmers? Without widespread adoption the genetic gains achieved with improved crop varieties can never be actualized. Progress has been made toward demand responsive breeding, however the draft CGIAR 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy fails to recognize the complexity of seed systems and thus presents a narrow vision for the future of seed systems research. This points to the lack of evidence-based dialogue between seed systems researchers and breeders. This perspective paper presents findings from an interdisciplinary group of more than 50 CGIAR scientists who used a suite of seed systems tools to identify four knowledge gaps and associated insights from work on the seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), focusing on bananas (especially cooking bananas and plantains), cassava, potato, sweetpotato, and yam. We discuss the implications for thinking about and intervening in seed systems using a combined biophysical and socioeconomic perspective and how this can contribute to increased varietal adoption and benefits to farmers. The tools merit wider use, not only for the seed systems of VPCs, but for the seed of crops facing similar adoption challenges. We argue for deeper collaboration between seed systems researchers, breeders and national seed system stakeholders to address these and other knowledge gaps and generate the evidence and innovations needed to break through the 40% adoption ceiling for modern varieties, and ensure good quality seed once the new varieties have been adopted. Without this, the achievements of breeders may remain stuck in the seed delivery pipeline.

Global Cropland Connectivity: A Risk Factor for Invasion and Saturation by Emerging Pathogens and Pests.

The geographic pattern of cropland is an important risk factor for invasion and saturation by crop-specific pathogens and arthropods. Understanding cropland networks supports smart pest sampling and mitigation strategies. We evaluate global networks of cropland connectivity for key vegetatively propagated crops (banana and plantain, cassava, potato, sweet potato, and yam) important for food security in the tropics. For each crop, potential movement between geographic location pairs was evaluated using a gravity model, with associated uncertainty quantification. The highly linked hub and bridge locations in cropland connectivity risk maps are likely priorities for surveillance and management, and for tracing intraregion movement of pathogens and pests. Important locations are identified beyond those locations that simply have high crop density. Cropland connectivity risk maps provide a new risk component for integration with other factors-such as climatic suitability, genetic resistance, and global trade routes-to inform pest risk assessment and mitigation.

BLIGHTSIM: A New Potato Late Blight Model Simulating the Response of Phytophthora infestans to Diurnal Temperature and Humidity Fluctuations in Relation to Climate Change.

Temperature response curves under diurnal oscillating temperatures differ from those under constant conditions for all stages of the Phytophthora infestans infection cycle on potatoes. We developed a mechanistic model (BLIGHTSIM) with an hourly time step to simulate late blight under fluctuating environmental conditions and predict late blight epidemics in potato fields. BLIGHTSIM is a modified susceptible (S), latent (L), infectious (I) and removed (R) compartmental model with hourly temperature and relative humidity as driving variables. The model was calibrated with growth chamber data covering one infection cycle and validated with field data from Ecuador. The model provided a good fit to all data sets evaluated. There was a significant interaction between average temperature and amplitude in their effects on the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) as predicted from growth chamber data on a single infection cycle. BLIGHTSIM can be incorporated in a potato growth model to study effects of diurnal temperature range on late blight impact under climate change scenarios.

Rotura hepática asociada a hipertensión arterial crónica y preeclampsia sobreañadida / Liver rupture associate with chronic hypertension and overadded preeclampsia

Se describe el caso clínico de una paciente de 29 años de edad con gestación de 24 semanas y antecedentes de hipertensión arterial crónica, que acudió al Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente Tamara Bunke Bider de Santiago de Cuba, por presentar cifras tensionales elevadas, cefalea, epigastralgia y vómitos. Se diagnosticó una preeclampsia sobreañadida y, por los signos de agravamiento, se decidió efectuar laparotomía. Se halló hemoperitoneo y una rotura en lóbulo derecho hepático, de modo que se realizó taponamiento hepático, que luego se retiró. La paciente requirió cuidados intensivos en el Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico Saturnino Lora Torres y la evaluación de un equipo multidisciplinario debido a la aparición de complicaciones: síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, absceso de pared abdominal, absceso hepático y presunta trombosis ileofemoral. La evolución fue favorable y egresó viva.

The case report of a 29 year-old patient is described with a pregnancy of 24 weeks and a history of chronic hypertension, so that she went to the emergency Department of Tamara Bunke Bider Teaching Gynecological and Obstetrical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, due to her high values, migraine, epigastralgia and vomits. A overadded preeclampsia was diagnosed and, because of the worsening signs, it was decided to make a laparotomy. A hemoperitoneo and a rupture in hepatic right lobe were found, thus, a hepatic tamponing was carried out which was then retired. The patient required intensive cares in Saturnino Lora Torres Teaching Clinical-Surgical Provincial Hospital and the evaluation of a multidisciplinary team due to the emergence of complications: acute respiratory failure syndrome, abdominal wall abscess, hepatic abscess and presumed ileofemoral thrombosis. Her clinical course was favorable and she was discharged alive.

Impacto maternoperinatal de la corioamnionitis / Maternal and perinatal impact of chorioamnionitis

Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de 96 gestantes (48 en cada grupo) que parieron en el Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente "Tamara Bunke Bider" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2009, con vistas a determinar la repercusión de la corioamnionitis en los indicadores de salud del binomio madre-perinato. En la investigación fueron incluidas todas las embarazadas con 28 semanas de gestación y más. Para validar los resultados se utilizaron la prueba no paramétrica de Ji al cuadrado, el método porcentual y las proporciones. Se halló que esta afección repercutió en la ocurrencia de partos pretérmino, en los altos índices de cesárea, así como también en las infecciones neonatales precoces y puerperales. Se concluyó que la corioamnionitis incidió negativamente sobre los mencionados indicadores.

A case-control study of 96 pregnant women (48 in each group) who gave birth in «Tamara Bunke Bider¼ Teaching Gynecological and Obstetrical Hospital from Santiago de Cuba was carried out from January, 2008 to December, 2009, with the objective of determining the repercussion of chorioamnionitis in the health indicators of the binomial mother-neonate. All the pregnant women with 28 weeks of gestation and more were included in the investigation. To validate the results the non parametric test for X2, the percentage method and the proportions were used. It was found that this disorder influenced on the occurrence of preterm births, in the high rates of cesarean sections, as well as on the neonates and puerperal early sepsis. It was concluded that chorioamnionitis influenced negatively on the mentioned indicators.

Impacto maternoperinatal de la corioamnionitis / Maternal and perinatal impact of chorioamnionitis

Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de 96 gestantes (48 en cada grupo) que parieron en el Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente Tamara Bunke Bider de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2009, con vistas a determinar la repercusión de la corioamnionitis en los indicadores de salud del binomio madre-perinato. En la investigación fueron incluidas todas las embarazadas con 28 semanas de gestación y más. Para validar los resultados se utilizaron la prueba no paramétrica de Ji al cuadrado, el método porcentual y las proporciones. Se halló que esta afección repercutió en la ocurrencia de partos pretérmino, en los altos índices de cesárea, así como también en las infecciones neonatales precoces y puerperales. Se concluyó que la corioamnionitis incidió negativamente sobre los mencionados indicadores(AU)

A case-control study of 96 pregnant women (48 in each group) who gave birth in Tamara Bunke Bider Teaching Gynecological and Obstetrical Hospital from Santiago de Cuba was carried out from January, 2008 to December, 2009, with the objective of determining the repercussion of chorioamnionitis in the health indicators of the binomial mother-neonate. All the pregnant women with 28 weeks of gestation and more were included in the investigation. To validate the results the non parametric test for X2, the percentage method and the proportions were used. It was found that this disorder influenced on the occurrence of preterm births, in the high rates of cesarean sections, as well as on the neonates and puerperal early sepsis. It was concluded that chorioamnionitis influenced negatively on the mentioned indicators(AU)

Use of Phosphonate to Manage Foliar Potato Late Blight in Developing Countries.

Twenty phosphonate products found in the agrochemical market in Ecuador and Peru were evaluated in bioassays for the control of foliar potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans. Eight phosphonate products were evaluated in 16 field experiments done in Peru, Ecuador, Kenya, and Nepal. A meta-analysis across locations involving 71 combinations of potato genotype by site and year demonstrated a significant relationship between phosphonate application rate and efficacy for controlling late blight on potato foliage. The meta-analysis revealed that phosphonate rates of approximately 2.5 g a.i./liter provided efficacy similar to that of the conventional contact fungicides mancozeb and chlorothalonil used at similar rates. At rates higher than 2.5 g a.i./liter, the efficacy of phosphonate was superior to the contact fungicides. Overall, late blight control by phosphonate appeared relatively stable in field experiments across locations. An analysis of field experiments and 64 combinations of potato genotype by site and year showed no correlation between the susceptibility level of potato genotypes and efficacy of phosphonates. The cost of both phosphonate compounds and contact fungicides varied greatly among the countries of the field study; however, in Kenya, control with phosphonate was clearly less expensive than with mancozeb.

Factores de riesgo en la corioamnionitis / Chorioamnionitis risk factors

Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de 96 gestantes (48 en cada grupo) que parieron en el Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente Tamara Bunke Bider de Santiago de Cuba, en el bienio 2008-2009, para determinar algunos factores clinicoepidemiológicos que incidieron en la aparición de corioamnionitis. En la investigación fueron incluidas todas las embarazadas con 28 semanas de gestación y más. Para validar los resultados se utilizaron la prueba no paramétrica de Ji al cuadrado, el método porcentual y las proporciones. En la casuística, los factores determinantes de la ocurrencia del proceso infeccioso, fueron: malnutrición materna por defecto (en 26,8 por ciento), politactos (más de 3 en 15,5 por ciento), infecciones genitales asociadas al embarazo (en 74,2 por ciento), tiempo de rotura de membranas e inicio del trabajo de parto después de 24 horas (en 22,7 por ciento).

A case-control study of 96 pregnant women (48 in each group) who delivered at Tamara Bunke Bider Teaching Gynecobstetric Hospital from Santiago de Cuba was carried out during the biennium 2008-2009, in order to determine some clinical-epidemiological factors that influence in the chorioamnionitis onset. All pregnant women with 28 gestation weeks or more were included in the research. Non-parametric chi-square test, percentage method, and proportions were used to validate the results. Determinant factors of the occurrence of the infectious process in the case material were as follows: maternal malnutrition by default (in 26,8 percent), multiple vaginal examination (more than 3 in 15,5 percent), pregnancy-associated genital infections (in 74,2 percent), and membrane rupture time and labor initiation after 24 hours (in 22,7 percent).

Factores de riesgo en la corioamnionitis / Chorioamnionitis risk factors

Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de 96 gestantes (48 en cada grupo) que parieron en el Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente Tamara Bunke Bider de Santiago de Cuba, en el bienio 2008-2009, para determinar algunos factores clinicoepidemiológicos que incidieron en la aparición de corioamnionitis. En la investigación fueron incluidas todas las embarazadas con 28 semanas de gestación y más. Para validar los resultados se utilizaron la prueba no paramétrica de Ji al cuadrado, el método porcentual y las proporciones. En la casuística, los factores determinantes de la ocurrencia del proceso infeccioso, fueron: malnutrición materna por defecto (en 26,8 por ciento), politactos (más de 3 en 15,5 por ciento), infecciones genitales asociadas al embarazo (en 74,2 por ciento), tiempo de rotura de membranas e inicio del trabajo de parto después de 24 horas (en 22,7 por ciento)AU)

A case-control study of 96 pregnant women (48 in each group) who delivered at Tamara Bunke Bider Teaching Gynecobstetric Hospital from Santiago de Cuba was carried out during the biennium 2008-2009, in order to determine some clinical-epidemiological factors that influence in the chorioamnionitis onset. All pregnant women with 28 gestation weeks or more were included in the research. Non-parametric chi-square test, percentage method, and proportions were used to validate the results. Determinant factors of the occurrence of the infectious process in the case material were as follows: maternal malnutrition by default (in 26,8 percent), multiple vaginal examination (more than 3 in 15,5 percent), pregnancy-associated genital infections (in 74,2 percent), and membrane rupture time and labor initiation after 24 hours (in 22,7 percent)(AU)