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The goal of this research was to discover and compare themes of the top blended learning (BL) articles from seven different regions of the world. Top cited articles in BL from these regions show strong similarities in research processes, practice, terminology, and focus. Small differences are apparent among the regions and top articles in general, but similar patterns demonstrate that themes might promote collaboration and exchange between regions and that the most cited articles from around the world could fit well within the topical, research, and publication practices of the field. Our results suggest that although different regions must have their own nuances and needs, they have much in common, with considerable potential to learn from one another and collaborate on shared interests.

The field of international blended learning (BL) is primed to benefit from stronger communication and collaboration. Collaboration is currently limited, and regions vary greatly in terms of citations. However, BL is growing worldwide and each region is an important part of the community. The goal of this research is to explore where the most impactful conversations about BL worldwide are occurring and how, if at all, are they connected to one another in terms of citations and publications. We present here the most cited BL articles from each region, the journals that publish these articles, and citation and publication patterns for each in order to construct a broad overview of impact and publication within the field.

Since almost a century, sunflower cultivation is endangered by Plasmopara halstedii (Farlow) Berlese & de Toni, a biotrophic oomycete causing downy mildew symptoms. The pathogen has conquered four of the five continents, and through high genetic plasticity recurrently avoided being reliably controlled by the introduction of resistant host cultivars in sunflower production. This paper attempts to retrace the historic routes of sunflower downy mildew spreading from its North American origin into Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. An update of the global diversity of pathotypes will be provided and critically discussed. Finally, the limits of the currently applied bioassay-based techniques for diversity assessment are pointed out and an alternative for continuous and area-wide monitoring is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: South Asians (Asian Indians and Pakistanis) are the second fastest growing ethnic group in the United States (U.S.) and have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This pilot study evaluated a culturally-salient, community-based healthy lifestyle intervention to reduce ASCVD risk among South Asians.Methods: Through an academic-community partnership, medically underserved South Asian immigrants at risk for ASCVD were randomized into the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study. The intervention group attended 6 interactive group classes focused on increasing physical activity, healthful diet, weight, and stress management. They also received follow-up telephone support calls. The control group received translated print education materials about ASCVD and healthy behaviors. Primary outcomes were feasibility and initial efficacy, measured as change in moderate/vigorous physical activity and dietary saturated fat intake at 3- and 6-months. Secondary clinical and psychosocial outcomes were also measured.Results: Participants' (n = 63) average age was 50 (SD = 8) years, 63 % were female, 27 % had less than or equal to a high school education, one-third were limited English proficient, and mean BMI was 30 kg/m2 (SD ± 5). There were no significant differences in change in physical activity or saturated fat intake between the intervention and control group. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant weight loss (-1.5 kg, p-value = 0.04) and had a greater sex-adjusted decrease in hemoglobin A1C (-0.43 %, p-value <0.01) at 6 months. Study retention was 100 %.Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that a culturally-salient, community-based lifestyle intervention was feasible for engaging medically underserved South Asian immigrants and more effective at addressing ASCVD risk factors than print health education materials.Trial Registration: NCT01647438, Date of Trial Registration: July 19, 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) leaf is traditionally used for the treatment of insomnia in Asia. However, studies describing the safety and toxicity profile for this plant preparation are limited. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate the toxicity of peanut leaf hydroalcoholic extract (PLHE) repeated treatment. The extract was administered orally (100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg) in male and female Wistar rats for 28 days (OECD guideline 407). PLHE treatment did not cause mortality or weight variation in the animals. Also, there was no alteration on locomotor activity (open field test), motor coordination (rotarod test), or anxiety behaviour (elevated plus-maze test). Male rats had a reduction in relative liver weight (100 mg/kg) and an increase in total kidney weight (1000 mg/kg), but there was no change in biochemical and haematological parameters after PLHE treatment. Free extracellular double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) levels was also evaluated, but PLHE treatment did not increase this parameter in rat organs. Also, the dose of 1000 mg/kg of PLHE significantly increased the total thiols in the liver of females compared with the control animals. Thus, PLHE did not induce toxicity after repeated exposure for 28 days in rats. Image 1 • Administration of PLHE for 28 days did not induce toxicity or mortality in rats. • PLHE did not change haematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters. • PLHE repeated administration did not cause stomach inflammation. • Administration of PLHE for 28 days did not increase the dsDNA levels in rat organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bremia graminicola (Chromista, Peronosporales) is a common downy mildew pathogen of Arthraxon spp. (Poaceae) in Central to East Asia and the only species of Bremia parasitic on grasses. Despite its widespread occurrence and apparent differences in host range and morphology compared with other species of the genus, its placement in Bremia has not been challenged for the past 90y. Its current taxonomic position is revised based on sporangiophore morphology and ultrastructure, haustorium morphology, and nu-rDNA sequence analysis. Haustorium morphology and sporangiophore ultrastructure indicate that B. graminicola is not a member of the genus Bremia, which shows affinities to Plasmopara and Paraperonospora. Based on haustorium morphology, B. graminicola appears to be more closely related to Viennotia oplismeni, although the sporangiophore morphology is strikingly different between these two taxa. This is supported by molecular analyses based on a near-representative sample of nuLSU rDNA sequences of downy mildew genera, whereby B. graminicola is revealed as the sister taxon of V. oplismeni with 100 % BS support under all phylogenetic optimality criteria applied. Relationships of this clade to other groups are less clear. However, network and reduced-consensus analyses show that this lack of resolution is mainly due to the ambiguous molecular affinities of Sclerospora graminicola. Omitting this highly divergent taxon results in considerable support for a clade comprised of taxa with globose to pyriform haustoria, including B. lactucae, and for the sister-group relationship of B. graminicola and V. oplismeni with Hyaloperonospora. Consequently, a new genus, Graminivora, is described to accommodate B. graminicola. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]