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Background: In a long‐term rotation experiment (2016–2022) with different nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels in subtropical South‐India, crop yields of low N plots were unexpectedly high. We therefore hypothesized that in the absence of mineral N application, these yields are largely due to N inputs by N2 fixation in the component crops. To assess the diazotrophic N2‐fixation of lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet) and possible associative N2‐fixation of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn), a controlled experiment was conducted during the 2021 monsoon season within the above‐mentioned long‐term field study. Two approaches were used to estimate the quantity of N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa): the dilution method using a 15N‐labeled fertilizer and the natural abundance method. Method: For the 15N dilution method irrigated maize (Zea maize L.), finger millet and lablab were labeled with two split applications of 10% 15N fertilizer (50:50 15N‐urea and 15N‐ammonium sulfate) amounting to a total of 15 kg N ha−1. Maize was selected as the non‐fixing reference plant to estimate diazotrophic N2‐fixation. The entire aboveground biomass of the labeled plants was harvested at maturity and analyzed for total DM, N concentration, and the 15N isotope ratio. Results: N2 fixation efficiency for lablab was 52%–69% depending on the calculation method, corresponding to 40–53 kg N ha−1. For finger millet, the natural abundance method resulted in an estimated N2‐fixation of 5 kg N ha−1, which was suggested by the results of the dilution method whereby the reference plant maize was only poorly labeled. Conclusion: Labeling of maize might have been diluted due to unexpected associative N2‐fixation or N‐uptake from unlabeled deep soil N pools. The data underline the importance of symbiotic N2‐fixation in crop rotation systems of South‐India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Approximately 2-13% of the world population suffers from onychomycosis. Recently, lasers have been introduced for treatment. However, no effect was found with in vitro laser irradiation of pathogens on agar plates. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of laser irradiation against fungi using an alternative in vitro approach. Materials and methods: Lasers of 808, 980 and 1064 nm were used to heat cell culture media and a nail clipping. Trichophyton rubrum. T. interdigitale. Microsporum gypseum. Candida albicans. C. parapsilosis, and C. guilliermondii species were subcultured and subjected to laser treatments (808/980 nm: 9-27 J/cm2, 6 ms, 12 × 12 or 12 × 50 mm and 1064 nm: 50-240 J/cm2, 90 ms, 5-10 mm). After irradiation, the fungal elements were transferred onto agar plates using conventional and Drigalski spatulas and were incubated for 6 days. Results: The highest increase in temperature was found using a 980-nm laser with a pulse duration of 6 ms and a fluence of 27 J/cm2. The histology work-up revealed a dissection of the nail plate from the nail bed tissue after laser irradiation. Growth inhibition was only found for C. guilliermondii and T. interdigitale. All other pathogens presented only reduced growth, and C. albicans growth was unaffected. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a clear thermal effect for linear scanning 980-nm and long-pulsed 1064-nm laser systems on either nail clippings or cell culture media. Complete pathogen growth impairment was achieved if temperatures were measured above 50 °C. The results for the 1064-nm system were almost comparable to 980 nm results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inducible plant defence responses in sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) leaves are repressed during the early phase of infection by the fungus Cercospora beticola. In this report, we show that the concentration of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) increases in sugar beet leaves during C. beticola infection. After an initial burst of ABA induced by inoculation of the fungus, elevated ABA concentrations were detected during the fungal penetration and colonization phases 3–9 days after inoculation. Fifteen days after inoculation, with visible onset of the necrotic phase of infection, the strongly elevated ABA concentrations in infected leaves were at levels similar to drought-stressed plants. A synthetic promoter composed of four copies of the ABA-responsive element (ABRE) A2 and the coupling element CE3 of the ABA-inducible barley gene HVA1 was strongly induced by ABA and C. beticola infection in transgenic sugar beet leaves. Analysis of the spatial pattern of promoter activity revealed that the ABA-inducible promoter was locally activated at the fungal infection sites. Furthermore, expression of the basic leucine zipper transcription factor AREB1 was induced by drought stress and fungal infection in the sugar beet. Application of ABA reduced the promoter activity of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase ( BvPAL) gene, and this effect was observed with the –34 to +248 BvPAL promoter region. This region is equivalent to the core promoter, which is necessary for the suppression of BvPAL expression by C. beticola, as recently shown. These data indicate that ABA accumulation and activation of the ABA-dependent signalling cascade are the primary cause of suppression of BvPAL expression during infection of sugar beet leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a patient's ability to perform simulated work activities guides return-to-work decisions, a significant question to address is whether the simulated work environment accurately reflects the actual work environment. Work hardening programs have been used extensively as a method of rehabilitating workers to return to their pre-injury functioning levels. Re-training workers to lift boxes is a common method used to simulate the work environment. Although very few boxes used in the real work environment have handles, boxes with handles are often used in the simulated work environment. The difference in compression forces at the L5/S1 joint while lifting boxes with and without handles was investigated. The Lift Trak Motion Analysis system was used to estimate lumbar isometric compression forces exerted while lifting a 20-pound (9.07-kg) box. The results indicated that estimates of compression forces when lifting a box without handles were significantly different (p < 0.01) than when lifting the same box with handles. Based on these results, it is recommended that work hardening professionals carefully re-evaluate the simulated work environments currently being used for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]