Publication date: 15 September 2017 Source:Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Volume 243 Author(s): Maoya Bassiouni, Martha A. Scholl, Angel J. Torres-Sanchez, Sheila F. Murphy Quantifying the frequency, duration, and elevation range of fog or cloud immersion is essential to estimate cloud water deposition in water budgets and to understand the ecohydrology of cloud forests. The goal of this study was to develop a low-cost and high spatial-coverage method to detect occurrence of cloud immersion within a mountain cloud forest by using time-lapse photography. Trail cameras and temperature/relative humidity sensors were deployed at five sites covering the elevation range from the assumed lifting condensation level to the mountain peaks in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Cloud-sensitive image characteristics (contrast, the coefficient of variation and the entropy of pixel luminance, and image colorfulness) were used with a k-means clustering approach to accurately detect cloud-immersed conditions in a time series of images from March 2014 to May 2016. Images provided hydrologically meaningful cloud-immersion information while temperature-relative humidity data were used to refine the image analysis using dew point information and provided temperature gradients along the elevation transect. Validation of the image processing method with human-judgment based classification generally indicated greater than 90% accuracy. Cloud-immersion frequency averaged 80% at sites above 900m during nighttime hours and 49% during daytime hours, and was consistent with diurnal patterns of cloud immersion measured in a previous study. Results for the 617m site demonstrated that cloud immersion in the Luquillo Mountains rarely occurs at the previously-reported cloud base elevation of about 600m (11% during nighttime hours and 5% during daytime hours). The framework presented in this paper will be used to monitor at a low cost and high spatial resolution the long-term variability of cloud-immersion patterns in the Luquillo Mountains, and can be applied to ecohydrology research at other cloud-forest sites or in coastal ecosystems with advective sea fog.
Publication date: Available online 29 May 2017 Source:Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy Author(s): Monty L. Fetterolf, Chad L. Leverette, Christopher Perez, Garriet W. Smith Gorgonians respond to insult (damage and disease) by producing sclerites containing a purple pigment as opposed to the normal white sclerites. Raman microscopy is used to study the purple areas of three species of diseased coral, Gorgonia ventalina, Pseudoplexaura porosa, and Eunicea laciniata obtained from Puerto Rico. These spectra were compared to Gorgonia ventalina samples previously reported that were obtained from San Salvador, Bahamas. Spectra from two samples of G. ventalina that had been infected by different agents, Aspergillus sydowii and a slime mold, were also obtained. The results indicate that the purple compounds (polyenes) generated by the coral in response to infection are similar regardless of region from which the coral were harvested, of species of coral, and of the infective agent. A discussion of the Raman spectra of G. ventalina and the other coral species is presented. Graphical abstract
Publication date: Available online 13 May 2017 Source:European Urology Author(s): Keith A. Lawson, Olli Saarela, Robert Abouassaly, Simon P. Kim, Rodney H. Breau, Antonio Finelli Background Despite efforts to define metrics assessing hospital-level quality for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) surgical care there remains a paucity of real-world data validating their ability to benchmark performance. Consequently, whether poor performance on hospital-level quality indicators is associated with inferior patient outcomes remains unknown. Objectives To determine hospital-level variations in RCC surgical quality after adjusting for differences in patient- and tumor-specific factors. Further, to determine associations between hospital-level quality performance and surgical volume, academic affiliation, and patient mortality. Design, setting, and participants RCC patients undergoing surgery in the USA and Puerto Rico (2004–2014) were identified from the National Cancer Database. Outcome measures and statistical analysis Hospital-level quality of care was assessed according to disease-specific process and outcome quality indicators. Case-mix adjusted hospital benchmarking was performed using indirect standardization methodology and multivariable regression models. A composite measure of quality, the Renal Cancer Quality Score (RC-QS), was subsequently derived and associations between RC-QS and surgical volume, academic affiliation, and patient mortality were determined. Results and limitations Over 1100 hospitals were benchmarked for quality, with 10–31% identified as providing poor care for a given quality indicator. Lower RC-QS hospitals had smaller referral volumes and were less academic compared with higher RC-QS hospitals (p <0.001). Higher RC-QS was independently associated with lower 30-d, 90-d, and overall mortality (adjusted odds ratio [confidence interval]: 0.92 [0.90–0.95], odds ratio: 0.94 [0.91–0.96], hazard ratio: 0.97 [0.96–0.98] per unit increase, respectively). These data are retrospective and it is unknown whether improvement in the RC-QS improves outcomes. Conclusions Widespread hospital-level variations in RCC surgical quality exist, as captured by the RC-QS. Superior quality is associated with improved patient outcomes, including mortality benefit. The RC-QS serves as a benchmarking tool for RCC quality that can provide audit level feedback to hospitals and policymakers for quality improvement. Patient summary We benchmarked hospital performance across quality indicators for kidney cancer surgical care. Overall, large variations in quality exist, with high volume academic hospitals demonstrating superior performance and improved patient survival. These data can inform hospitals and policymakers for quality improvement initiatives. Widespread variations in the quality of renal cell carcinoma surgical care exist across hospitals, with poor quality being associated with inferior patient outcomes. This is captured by the Renal Cancer Quality Score, a composite quality indicator, supporting its use as a renal cell carcinoma quality benchmarking tool.
Publication date: Available online 30 April 2017 Source:World Neurosurgery Author(s): Akshitkumar M. Mistry, Nishant Ganesh Kumar, Rebecca A. Reynolds, Andrew T. Hale, John C. Wellons, Robert P. Naftel Objective To quantify the proportion of academic neurosurgeons in the United States (U.S.) who acquired residency training outside of the U.S. and compare their training backgrounds and academic success to those who received their residency training in the U.S. Methods We identified 1338 clinically-active academic neurosurgeons from 104 programs that participated in the neurosurgery residency match in the U.S. from January to February 2015. Their training backgrounds, current academic positions, and history of NIH grant awards from 2005-2014 were retrieved from publicly-accessible sources. Results Eighty-four U.S. academic neurosurgeons (6.3%) received their residency training in 20 different countries outside of the U.S./Puerto Rico, representing all major regions of the world. The majority had trained in Canada (n=48). No major difference was noted between the foreign-trained and U.S.-trained neurosurgeons in their male to female ratio, year of starting residency, proportion with positions in medical schools ranked in the top 15 by the U.S. News and World Report, general distribution of academic positions, proportion with an NIH grant. Compared to U.S.-trained, foreign-trained academic neurosurgeons had significantly more Ph.D. degrees (32.1% vs. 12.3%; p<0.0001) and held more associate professor positions (34.5% vs. 23.1%; p=0.02). The academic practices of the foreign-trained neurosurgeons were distributed throughout many states in the U.S. Conclusions There is a small group of the U.S. academic neurosurgeons (6.3%) who have acquired residency training outside of the U.S., representing all major regions of the world. Their general demographics and academic successes are comparable to U.S.-trained neurosurgeons.
Publication date: Available online 27 April 2017 Source:EBioMedicine Author(s): Laura B. Talarico, Juan P. Batalle, Alana B. Byrne, Jorge M. Brahamian, Adrián Ferretti, Ayelén G. García, Aldana Mauri, Carla Simonetto, Diego R. Hijano, Andrea Lawrence, Patricio L. Acosta, Mauricio T. Caballero, Yésica Paredes Rojas, Lorena I. Ibañez, Guillermina A. Melendi, Félix A. Rey, Elsa B. Damonte, Eva Harris, Fernando P. Polack Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease worldwide and is caused by the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1-4). Sequential heterologous DENV infections can be associated with severe disease manifestations. Here, we present an immunocompetent mouse model of secondary DENV infection using non mouse-adapted DENV strains to investigate the pathogenesis of severe dengue disease. C57BL/6 mice infected sequentially with DENV-1 (strain Puerto Rico/94) and DENV-2 (strain Tonga/74) developed low platelet counts, internal hemorrhages, and increase of liver enzymes. Cross-reactive CD8+ T lymphocytes were found to be necessary and sufficient for signs of severe disease by adoptively transferring of DENV-1-immune CD8+ T lymphocytes before DENV-2 challenge. Disease signs were associated with production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and elevated cytotoxicity displayed by heterotypic anti-DENV-1 CD8+ T lymphocytes. These findings highlight the critical role of heterotypic anti-DENV CD8+ T lymphocytes in manifestations of severe dengue disease.
Publication date: September 2017 Source:Language & Communication, Volume 56 Author(s): Sherina Feliciano-Santos This article considers the sources of knowledge and frameworks of knowing from which Puerto Rican Taíno draw in order to support their identification as Taíno. Widespread, authoritative historical narratives of the Caribbean claim that the Taíno population was decimated between the 16th and 18th centuries. This analysis highlights the role that prophetic narratives and communicative strategies played in reframing and recalibrating Taíno historical tellings and in the refashioning of personal trajectories of social actors as Taíno.
Publication date: 15 July 2017 Source:Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 197 Author(s): Timothy E. Seiple, André M. Coleman, Richard L. Skaggs Within the United States and Puerto Rico, publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) process 130.5 Gl/d (34.5 Bgal/d) of wastewater, producing sludge as a waste product. Emerging technologies offer novel waste-to-energy pathways through whole sludge conversion into biofuels. Assessing the feasibility, scalability and tradeoffs of various energy conversion pathways is difficult in the absence of highly spatially resolved estimates of sludge production. In this study, average wastewater solids concentrations and removal rates, and site specific daily average influent flow are used to estimate site specific annual sludge production on a dry weight basis for >15,000 POTWs. Current beneficial uses, regional production hotspots and feedstock aggregation potential are also assessed. Analyses indicate 1) POTWs capture 12.56 Tg/y (13.84 MT/y) of dry solids; 2) 50% are not beneficially utilized, and 3) POTWs can support seven regions that aggregate >910 Mg/d (1000 T/d) of sludge within a travel distance of 100 km. Graphical abstract
Publication date: Available online 20 April 2017 Source:Pediatric Neurology Author(s): Eric J. Kutscher, Sucheta Joshi, Anup D. Patel, Baria Hafeez, Zachary M. Grinspan Objective Children with public insurance (Medicaid) have increased barriers to specialty care in the United States. For children with epilepsy, the relationship between public insurance and barriers to genetic testing is understudied. Methods We surveyed a sample of US child neurology clinicians. We performed quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses. Results There were 302 responses (of 1982 surveyed; response rate 15%) from clinicians from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, including board-certified child neurologists (82%), resident physicians (6%), nurses (3%), and nurse practitioners (3%). More clinicians felt it was more difficult to get genetic testing for patients with Medicaid insurance compared to commercial insurance, (43% vs. 12%, p<0.05), though many felt it was about the same degree of difficulty (25%) or were not sure (20%). Increased availability of testing was associated with less complex testing (p<0.001), in-house testing (p<0.001), and no pre-authorization requirements (p<0.001). Qualitative responses described barriers related to cost, clinician familiarity and comfort, commercial laboratories, healthcare organization, payer, and patient concerns. Descriptions of facilitators included lowered cost, availability of clinical genetics expertise, clinician knowledge, commercial laboratory assistance, healthcare organizational changes, improved payer coverage, and increased interest by parents. Significance. Pediatric Medicaid beneficiaries with epilepsy have barriers to genetic testing, compared to children with commercial insurance, particularly for more advanced testing. Potential strategies to improve access include broader coverage, lower co-pays, increased capacity for testing outside of specialty labs, fewer pre-authorization requirements, improved clinician education, ongoing development and dissemination of guidelines, improved availability of clinical genetics services, and continued assistance programs from commercial laboratories.
Publication date: Available online 18 April 2017 Source:Vaccine Author(s): Akihiro Nakatsukasa, Koji Kuruma, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Takahiro Hiono, Mizuho Suzuki, Keita Matsuno, Hiroshi Kida, Takayoshi Oyamada, Yoshihiro Sakoda Transdermal vaccination using a microneedle (MN) confers enhanced immunity compared with subcutaneous (SC) vaccination. Here we developed a novel dissolving MN patch for the influenza vaccine. The potencies of split virion and whole virus particle (WVP) vaccines prepared from A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1) and A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1), respectively, were evaluated. MN vaccination induced higher neutralizing antibody responses than SC vaccination in mice. Moreover, MN vaccination with a lower dose of antigens conferred protective immunity against lethal challenges of influenza viruses than SC vaccination in mice. These results suggest that the WVP vaccines administered using MN are an effective combination for influenza vaccine to be further validated in humans.
Publication date: Available online 13 April 2017 Source:Antiviral Research Author(s): Miaomiao Wang, Shuyao Wang, Wei Wang, Yi Wang, Hui Wang, Weiming Zhu Development of anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs with novel targets and low toxicity is critical for preparedness against influenza outbreaks. In the current study, our results indicated that the novel polyketide compound purpurquinone B (PPQ-B) derived from acid-tolerant fungus Penicillium purpurogenum strain JS03-21 suppressed the replication of IAV in vitro with low toxicity, and may block some stages after virus adsorption. PPQ-B could inhibit H1N1 (A/Puerto Rico/8/34; PR8), H1N1 (A/California/04/2009; Cal09) and H3N2 (A/swine/Minnesota/02719/2009) virus replication in vitro, suggesting that PPQ-B possesses broad-spectrum anti-IAV activities. PPQ-B's antiviral activity may be largely related to its inhibition of some steps that occur 0–4 h after adsorption. Oral administration of PPQ-B could decrease pulmonary viral titers and improve survival rate in IAV infected mice. PPQ-B also significantly decreased the production of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, RANTES and KC in IAV infected lungs and A549 cells, suggesting that PPQ-B may also attenuate the inflammatory responses caused by IAV infection. PPQ-B may down-regulate the NF-κB and MAPK pathways to inhibit both virus replication and inflammatory responses. In summary, PPQ-B has the potential to be developed into a novel anti-IAV drug targeting host EGFR pathway in the future.
Publication date: Available online 13 April 2017 Source:The Lancet HIV Author(s): Judith A Aberg, Craig A Sponseller, Douglas J Ward, Vladimir A Kryzhanovski, Stuart E Campbell, Melanie A Thompson Background People living with HIV-1 infection are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease than seronegative adults. Treatment of dyslipidaemia with statins has been challenging in people with HIV because of an increased potential for drug interactions due to competing cytochrome P450 metabolism between statins and commonly used antiretroviral agents. Neither pitavastatin nor pravastatin depend on cytochrome P450 for primary metabolism. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of pitavastatin versus pravastatin in adults with HIV and dyslipidaemia. Methods In the INTREPID (HIV-infected patieNts and TREatment with PItavastatin vs pravastatin for Dyslipidemia) randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 4 trial (INTREPID, we recruited adults aged 18–70 years with controlled HIV (with CD4 counts >200 cells per μL and HIV-1 RNA <200 copies per mL) on antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months and dyslipidaemia (LDL cholesterol 3·4–5·7 mmol/L and triglycerides ≤4·5 mmol/L) from 45 sites in the USA and Puerto Rico. Patients being treated with darunavir, or who had homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia or any condition causing secondary dyslipidaemia, or a history of statin intolerance, diabetes, or coronary artery disease were not eligible. We randomly assigned patients (1:1) to pitavastatin 4 mg or pravastatin 40 mg with matching placebos once daily orally for 12 weeks, followed by a 40 week safety extension. Randomisation was stratified by viral hepatitis B or C coinfection and computer-generated. Investigators, patients, study staff, and those assessing outcomes were masked to treatment group. The primary endpoint was percentage change in fasting serum LDL cholesterol from baseline to week 12 and the primary efficacy analysis was done in the modified intention-to-treat population. The safety analysis included all patients who took at least one dose of study medication. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01301066. Findings Between Feb 23, 2011, and March 29, 2013, we randomly assigned 252 patients to the pitavastatin (n=126) or pravastatin group (n=126). LDL cholesterol reduction was 31·1% with pitavastatin and 20·9% with pravastatin (least squares mean difference −9·8%, 95% CI −13·8 to −5·9; p<0·0001) at 12 weeks. At week 52, four patients (3%) in the pitavastatin group and six (5%) in the pravastatin group had virological failure, with no significant difference between treatments. Both treatments had neutral effects on glucose metabolism parameters. 85 patients treated with pitavastatin (68%) and 88 patients treated with pravastatin (70%) reported treatment-emergent adverse events, and these caused study discontinuation in six patients (5%) versus five patients (4%). No serious adverse event occurred in more than one participant and none were treatment-related according to investigator assessment. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhoea in the pitavastatin group (n=12, 10%) and upper respiratory tract infection in the pravastatin group (n=14, 11%). 11 treatment-emergent serious adverse events were noted in seven patients (6%) in the pitavastatin group (atrial septal defect, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chest pain, diverticulitis, enterovesical fistula, gastroenteritis, viral gastroenteritis, herpes dermatitis, multiple fractures, respiratory failure, and transient ischaemic attack) and four events in three patients (2%) in the pravastatin group (cerebrovascular accident, arteriosclerosis coronary artery, myocardial infraction, and muscle haemorrhage). In the pravastatin treatment group, one additional patient discontinued due to an adverse event (prostate cancer that was diagnosed during the screening period, 42 days before first dose of study treatment, and therefore was not a treatment-emergent adverse event). Interpretation The INTREPID results support guideline recommendations for pitavastatin as a preferred drug in the treatment of dyslipidaemia in people with HIV. Funding Kowa Pharmaceuticals America and Eli Lilly.
Publication date: Available online 11 April 2017 Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics Author(s): Michelle I. Echevarria, Arash O. Naghavi, Yazan A. Abuodeh, Kamran A. Ahmed, Carlos Chevere, Daniel Fernandez, Kosj Yamoah Introduction In areas with limited healthcare, it is important to identify and implement effective treatment methods while optimizing available resources. We investigated the implementation of a low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy program for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) in a low-resource setting such as Puerto Rico (PR), where PCa is the main cause of cancer associated death. Methods and Materials After institutional approval, records of patients with non-metastatic PCa treated with LDR brachytherapy from 2008-2013 were reviewed from PR. Factors analyzed include: adequate D90 coverage (≥140Gy), early and late toxicity (CTCAE Grade >2), in addition to prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure. Freedom from biochemical failure (FFbF) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results The barriers for the implementation of LDR brachytherapy in a country with limited resources were identified, which included lack of access to funding for startup costs, specific referral patterns, lack of trained support staff such as dosimetrists and physicists, and initial opposition from insurance companies for reimbursement. Initial results from one-hundred and ninety one patients were included in this study with a median follow-up of 26 months. PSA failure occurred in 6 (3%) patients. There were no early or late gastrointestinal toxicity (grade>2). Only 3 (2%) and 2 (1%) experienced early and late genitourinary toxicity (grade>2), respectively. The 2 and 3 year FFbF in this population was 97% and 95.9%, respectively. Conclusion At the present time, there is limited data delineating the barriers faced by low resource settings in the implementation of LDR brachytherapy. Our data highlights the issues unique to this environment and supports the use of LDR brachytherapy as reliable and effective treatment modality for patients with PCa in low resource settings. Teaser Given the obstacles associated with cancer care in countries with limited resources, identifying treatment modalities that are efficacious and cost effective becomes imperative. We outline the barriers and strategies used to implement an LDR brachytherapy program in a low resource setting and report the outcomes and toxicity associated with this treatment. These results show the potential of LDR brachytherapy to provide an efficacious treatment modality for prostate cancer in countries with limited resources.
Publication date: Available online 7 April 2017 Source:Journal of the Neurological Sciences Author(s): Jorge L. Salinas, Chelsea G. Major, Daniel M. Pastula, Emilio Dirlikov, Ashley Styczynski, Carlos A. Luciano, Valerie Wojna, Tyler M. Sharp, James J. Sejvar, Brenda Rivera-Garcia Background Zika virus has been associated with increases in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) incidence. A GBS incidence estimation and clinical description was performed to assess baseline GBS epidemiology before the introduction of Zika virus in Puerto Rico. Methods Hospitalization administrative data from an island-wide insurance claims database and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates provided a crude GBS incidence for 2013. This estimate was adjusted using the proportion of GBS cases meeting Brighton criteria for confirmed GBS from nine reference hospitals. Characteristics of confirmed GBS cases in the same nine hospitals during 2012–2015 are described. Results A total of 136 GBS hospitalization claims were filed in 2013 (crude GBS incidence was 3.8 per 100,000 population). The adjusted GBS incidence was 1.7 per 100,000 population. Of 67 confirmed GBS cases during 2012–2015, 66% had an antecedent illness. Median time from antecedent illness to GBS onset was 7days. Most cases (67%) occurred during July–September. Conclusions Puerto Rico's GBS incidence for 2013 was estimated using a combination of administrative data and medical records review; this method could be employed in other regions to monitor GBS incidence before and after the introduction of GBS infectious triggers.
Publication date: April 2017 Source:The Lancet Global Health, Volume 5, Supplement 1 Author(s): Anne-Marie Rick, Gretchen Domek, Maureen Cunningham, Daniel Olson, Molly Lamb, Andrea Jimenez-Zambrano, Gretchen Heinrichs, Stephen Berman, Edwin Asturias Background Microcephaly is the result of disturbance in early brain development and has various causes. Zika was identified in Central America in early 2015. Establishing baseline microcephaly rates in areas affected by Zika is important for the assessment of the burden and contribution of Zika to microcephaly in low-resource settings. Methods We undertook a retrospective review of records from a community wellness programme in rural Guatemala where trained community health workers obtained data on weight, length, and head circumference for infants aged 0 to 13 days, enrolled in the programme between August 1, 2014, and March 31, 2016. We estimated gestational age using a Z-score of zero for length on the modified Fenton growth curve. Z-scores for head circumference and weight, adjusted for gestational age and sex, were then calculated. We used univariate logistic regression to test associations between microcephaly and low weight (Z ≤−1), small size for gestational age (weight below 10th percentile for gestational age), and sex. We analysed head circumference Z-scores and microcephaly for changes over time using birth month as well as multiple time-breaks (we compared infants born before versus after April 30, 2015; October 31, 2015; and January 31, 2016) with Student t-tests, and logistic and linear regression. Findings We included 296 infants: mean head circumference Z-score was −0·68 (95% CI −0·78 to −0·58). 20 infants (6·8%) had a head circumference Z-score ≤–2 and were considered to have microcephaly, giving a microcephaly prevalence of 676 per 10 000 livebirths. One infant (0·3%) had a head circumference Z-score ≤–3. Weight ≤–1 SD (OR 4·59 (1·69–12·41, p=0·003) and small for gestational age (6·65, 1·88–23·55, p=0·003) were associated with microcephaly. Sex was not significantly associated with microcephaly. Birth month and time-breaks were not associated with microcephaly nor with head circumference Z score. Interpretation Baseline neonatal microcephaly present in this rural Guatemalan community before and during Guatemala's early Zika epidemic is more than 100 and 300 times higher than baseline rates reported before the Zika virus epidemic in Puerto Rico and Brazil, respectively. Increased microcephaly rate associated with Zika epidemics in other countries was not detectable in our study population, probably because data were collected early in the Zika epidemic. High baseline microcephaly rates have important implications for neonatal screening programmes to identify infants congenitally infected with Zika in low-income countries. Funding The Center for Global Health at the University of Colorado and the Jose Fernando Bolanos Menendez Foundation provided funding for the wellness programme.
Publication date: Available online 6 April 2017 Source:Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Author(s): Ana M. Camargo, Pedro Castañera, Gema P. Farinós, Fangneng Huang The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a major target pest of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize and cotton in America. Since the commercialization of Cry1F maize (event TC1507) in 2003, resistance to Cry1F maize in field populations of S. frugiperda has occurred in Puerto Rico, Brazil and the southeast region of the United States. In this paper, we conducted a comparative analysis of the inheritance of two Cry1F-resistant colonies of S. frugiperda originated from Puerto Rico (PR) and Florida (FL), respectively. The objective of the analysis was to determine if the genetic basis of the resistance was similar in the two different originated colonies. To accomplish the objective, besides PR, FL, and a known Cry1F-susceptible colony, 14 additional colonies were developed by reciprocal crosses among the three parents, F1 by F1 crosses, backcrosses, and intercolony-crosses between PR and FL. Larval mortalities of the 17 colonies were assayed on both Cry1F maize leaf tissue and Cry1F-treated diet at the concentrations of 3.16, 10.00, and 31.60 µg/g. Resistance to Cry1F in both PR and FL was autosomal and recessive or incompletely recessive. Segregations in F2 and backcrossed generations associated with FL fitted the Mendelian monogenic model well, while with PR the segregations did not follow the single gene model in some bioassays. Further analyses with the intercolony complementation tests showed a similar level of resistance in the F1 progeny as their parents FL and PR. Together with the data, it was likely that a single (or a few tightly-linked) gene was involved in FL; PR shared the same locus of the major resistance gene as FL, but the resistance in PR might also be associated with additional minor factors. Information generated from this study should be useful in understanding the origin of Cry1F resistance in the U.S. mainland and developing effective strategies for Bt resistance management in S. frugiperda. Graphical abstract
Publication date: Available online 3 April 2017 Source:Research in Social Stratification and Mobility Author(s): Harold J. Toro Using a large-scale sample of the working-age population drawn from U.S. decennial census microdata for Puerto Rico, this article evaluates whether theories of labor markets adequately explain labor force participation rates in developing countries that are highly integrated to more developed nations. Significant differences across labor cohorts in the likelihood of participation of men and women indicate that participation is conditioned by historical timing of entry into the work force. A two-equation model is used to estimate the exogenous effect of expected earnings. Cohort differences persist net of controls for education and earnings. This evidence suggests path-dependent participation rates associated to distinct stages of the economic development process, and is most consistent with institutionalist perspectives in the sociology of labor markets. Cohort participation-experience profiles are not consistent with the labor-leisure choice model or with the international division of labor theory.
Publication date: April 2017 Source:The Journal of Urology, Volume 197, Issue 4, Supplement Author(s): Jose Antonio Saavedra-Belaunde, Timoteo Torres, Antonio Puras-Baez, Magaly Cabrera-Beauchamp
Publication date: August 2017 Source:Crop Protection, Volume 98 Author(s): Fei Yang, David L. Kerns, Graham Head, Sebe Brown, Fangneng Huang Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a major target species of Bt maize and Bt cotton in the United States. Field resistance to Cry1F maize in S. frugiperda has occurred in Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the southeast region of the United States. There is a great concern that the Cry1F-maize resistant S. frugiperda may move to the cotton fields and cause control problems to Bt cotton where both crops are planted. In this study, larval mortality and growth inhibition of Cry1F maize-susceptible (SS), -heterozygous (RS), and -resistant (RR) genotypes of S. frugiperda were evaluated using diet-incorporated bioassays with six Bt proteins that have been used in commercialized and future Bt cotton plants: Cry1F, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab2, Cry2Ae, and Vip3A. Compared to the mortality data, the measuring of growth inhibition was more sensitive in determining Bt susceptibility of the insect to all six Bt proteins. Overall, RS had a similar performance as SS for the six Bt proteins with a resistance ratio of <5.5-fold. The resistance ratio of RR calculated based on larval growth inhibition was 930-fold for Cry1F, 50.5-fold for Cry1Ab, and >172-fold for Cry1Ac. In contrast, all three insect genotypes were susceptible to Cry2Ab2, Cry2Ae, or Vip3A. The results showed that the Cry1F-maize resistant S. frugiperda was cross-resistant to Cry1Ab or Cry1Ac, but not cross-resistant to Cry2Ab2, Cry2Ae, or Vip3A. The strong cross-resistance among Cry1 proteins suggest that it is necessary to plant pyramided cotton traits that contain at least two active Bt genes for Cry1F-resistant S. frugiperda to ensure the continued success of the Bt cotton technology, especially in the areas where Bt resistance has already occurred.
