Morphological, Cultural, Molecular and Pathogenic Variation of Bipolaris sorokiniana in Wheat

One hundred and twenty isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana of wheat were isolated, identified and characterized based on morphological, cultural, pathogenic and ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) based molecular parameters. Collected isolates differed in respect of radial mycelial growth rate, color of the colony, surface texture of the colony, shape of the colony, conidia production ability and shape and color of conidia. ITS1 and ITS4 based PCR products yielded a species-specific band of 600 bp (base pairs) on agarose gel for the confirmation of B. sorokiniana. The mycelial growth rate of the isolates ranged from 1.39 to 4.46 mm/day. The septation of conidia ranged from 1.4 to 8.6. On the basis of conidia morphology, the isolates were grouped into five different groups, whereas the isolates were grouped into 12 cultural groups based on cultural characteristics. Cultural group 8 [CG (Cultural Group)-8] was the most virulent [38.5% LAD (Leaf area diseased)] and [CG (cultural Group)-4] was the less virulent [2% LAD (Leaf area diseased)] group among 12 groups when inoculated at tillering stage of wheat cv. Kachan.

Childhood Development Cross Culturally:Implications for Designing Childhood Obesity Interventions and Providing Culturally Competent Care

United States is experiencing significant growth in its foreign-born population,especially Chinese American population comprising of 1.2%of the U.S.population.Many healthcare providers are challenged in their efforts to provide culturally competent healthcare to this population.To provide culturally competent healthcare,healthcare providers should understand variations in cultural attributes that impact health.One group in which cultural variation holds great influence is that of children.Culture influences a child's behavior,development and health.This article provides a cross-cultural,comparative examination of important cultural influences on child behaviors development and health in China and the U.S.Using the findings about these two populations,interventions for childhood obesity cross culturally are addressed through the analysis of a U.S.based Children's Obesity Program.The author suggests that uniquely different approaches to childhood obesity intervention research are needed based upon the cultural differences identified within this paper.

Succession and seasonal variation in epilithic biofilms on artificial reefs in culture waters of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Periphytic biofilms in aquaculture waters are thought to improve water quality, provide an additional food source, and improve the survival and growth of some reared animals. In the AsiaPacific region, particularly in China, artificial reefs are commonly used in the commercial farming of sea cucumbers. However, few studies have examined the epilithic biofilms on the artificial reefs. To gain a better understanding of the succession of epilithic biofilms and their ecological processes in sea cucumber culture waters, two experiments were conducted in culture waters of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in Rongcheng, China, using artificial test panels. On the test panels of succession experiment, more than 67 species were identified in the biofilms. On the test panels of seasonal variation experiment, more than 46 species were recorded in the biofilms. In both experiments, communities of epilithic biofilms were dominated by diatoms, green algae and the annelid Spirorbis sp. In the initial colonization, the dominant diatoms were Cocconeis sp., Amphora spp. and Nitzschia closterium in June, which were succeeded by species of Navicula, Cocconeis and Nitzschia(July to September), and then by Licmophora abbreviata, Nitzschia closterium and Synedra spp. in the following months. A diatom bloom in the autumn and filamentous green algae burst in the summer were also observed. Ecological indices well annotated the succession and seasonal changes in epilithic communities. Multidimensional scaling(MDS) analysis found significant differences in diatom community composition among months and seasons. Fast growth of biofilms was observed in the summer and autumn, whereas the biomass of summer biofilms was largely made up of filamentous green algae. Present results show that the components of epilithic biofilms are mostly optimal foods of A. japonicus, suggesting that biofilms on artificial reefs may contribute important nutritional sources for sea cucumbers during their growth seasons. Future works should include quantitative determination of the contribution of epilithic biofilms to the diet of A. japonicus, potential roles of epilithic biofilms in regulating the water quality of sea cucumber ponds, and the regulation of epilithic biofilms in sea cucumber culture ponds.

HEALTH CONSUMER DIVERSITY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

Health care consumers no longer want to be passive receivers of treatment and care, they want to be involved. This shift is driven by the new information technology and a ‘social revolution’. Easy access to health information, thanks largely to the Internet, and active health consumer organizations have provided consumers with enabling independent health information. Individual consumers are also more willing to enter into a dialogue, participate and influence decisions concerning their own care. At the same time the consumer role becomes more diverse. Populations in many countries today are culturally, socially, and demographically diverse. Understanding consumer diversity is one of the greatest challenges facing health care providers. There is a risk that the quality of health care provided to consumers can vary depending on the skills of the professionals to tune into the values and preferences of the individual consumer. Health care providers need to listen to and incorporate consumers’ experiences into their health service offerings in new and creative ways. They need to engage in a dialogue with various consumer groups using multiple channels. There is a need for a new business logic, which would structurally help the providers, on an individual basis to deal with more sophisticated health care consumers. This is a review paper and provides a framework and a set of strategies for dealing with health consumer diversity. We draw on three interrelated theories – open systems theory, service management research and the concept of consumer segmentation to understand health care consumers’ attitudes and behaviour, and their expectations.