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Methodology to Determine Fungicide Efficacy Ratings for the EuroBlight Tables – Potato Late or Early Blight
Full text linkLate blight (Phytophthora infestans) and early blight (Alternaria solani) are the most important diseases in potato cultivation. The control of these diseases depends largely on fungicide sprays during the growing season. Fungicides differ in their efficacy to control any pathogen. The use of effective fungicides is necessary for both the control of the disease and to avoid unnecessary sprays. Each active ingredient has its own efficacies and specific characteristics, which are expressed in fungicide products. A EuroBlight fungicide table was set up to provide an overview of the relative ratings for each characteristic for different fungicides used to control late blight or early blight. Until 2007, EuroBlight fungicide ratings were based on the judgement of experts from the crop protection companies and independent researchers. To objectively evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides, harmonised protocols were discussed, and it was proposed that the ratings of fungicides for the EuroBlight fungicide table were to be calculated based on results from field experiments carried out over 2 years and in at least 3 European countries. Fungicide ratings derived from the experiments, which indicate the efficacy of fungicides to control potato late blight (foliar and tuber blight) or early blight, were published on the EuroBlight website from 2008. This paper describes the experimental procedure as well as statistical analyses used to derive the EuroBlight fungicide ratings. The procedure allows ratings to be calculated even although candidate fungicides are tested in different years. Overall, the method developed and validated in this study is robust and provides an objective procedure for deriving numeric ratings for fungicides, not just for potato late blight and early blight, but also for other host–pathosystems
Exploring molecular mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance in Escherichia coli MG1655 using the antibiotic resistance growth plate
Full text linkThe overuse of antibiotics in human and animal health has driven the rapid emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance, we developed the Antibiotic Resistance Growth Plate (ARGP), an experimental evolution tool that imposes a spatiotemporal antibiotic gradient. Using the ARGP, Escherichia coli MG1655 populations developed resistance to gentamicin up to 10x MIC within two days. Whole-genome sequencing of wildtype and resistant strains revealed mutations in 16 S rRNA genes and the fusA gene. Bioinformatic, phylogenetic, and molecular docking analyses were used to demonstrate the mechanical significance of the fusA gene in the molecular pathways of gentamicin resistance in E. coli MG1655, where mutations in fusA alter EF-G function, disrupting gentamicin's inhibition of ribosomal translocation. These results highlight the rapidity and specificity of adaptive responses to aminoglycosides and establish the ARGP as a versatile tool for studying the molecular pathways driving antibiotic resistance. [Abstract copyright: © 2026. The Author(s).
Developing marginal abatement cost curves for peatland restoration
Full text linkAs countries strive to meet climatic targets, halting peatland degradation is coming to the foreground as a way of reducing emissions. However, restoring these valuable ecosystems entails complex interventions and substantial costs, requiring an understanding of both emissions and cost dynamics. Marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs) offer a framework to assess the cost-effectiveness of GHG mitigation options and could inform restoration planning by identifying the most efficient pathways for halting degradation. Yet the unique characteristics of peatlands and the very nature of long-term land use change involved pose challenges for their application. In this paper, we explore these challenges and suggest ways in which they may be addressed. The high spatial variability of degradation and restoration responses limits generalisation across sites, suggesting that bottom-up MACCs could be built around clusters of peatlands with similar condition and restoration trajectories rather than individual measures. Further complexity arises from uncertain GHG flux dynamics, trade-offs, and from wide variation in restoration costs. These uncertainties highlight the need to account for variable timeframes of carbon accumulation, the duration of monitoring required to verify long-term benefits, and the risk of future emission reversals. Moreover, restoration delivers multiple non-GHG benefits, calling for multidimensional approaches that complement cost-effectiveness analysis. Ultimately, MACCs should be viewed as iterative decision-support tools that evolve with data, practice, and policy learning.</p
Anatomy and physiology of the pig tail: characterisation of tail biting injury and consequences
No full textThis chapter describes the function of the porcine tail based on the current available literature and it provides a comprehensive overview of the anatomy and physiology of the pig’s tail at both gross and microscopical levels. This chapter also includes details of the somatosensory and motor innervation necessary for the tail to respond to external stimuli such as touch and pain, and to coordinate its movement and posture for communication and expression of emotional state. In addition, this chapter discusses the different types of lesions caused by tail biting and describes the outcomes of lesions of varying severity (e.g. superficial to full thickness tissue injury and tail amputation) and their implications for pig health and welfare
Mechanistic Insights and Design Strategies for Hydrogel/Aerogel Sorbents in Remediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Full text linkPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for several decades in various sectors, including aerospace, construction, the military, and the production of goods, among others. This widespread use has significantly contaminated water bodies globally. Several government agencies and organizations are trying to develop advanced technologies such as oxidation, membrane filtration, adsorption, and ion-exchange resin to capture these chemicals and thus mitigate their impacts. Adsorption has proven to be a highly attractive method for removing PFAS, involving activated carbon, silica, bioadsorbents, anion-exchange resin, hydrogels, and nonion exchange polymers. Among different adsorbents, hydrogels are the most effective adsorbents for removing these forever chemicals due to their highly porous structure, reuse and regeneration ability, and ease of functionalization with specific groups for effective binding with PFAS molecules. Keeping in view their tremendous potential, this Review critically reviews the potential of underexplored hydrogel/aerogels-based sorbents developed from synthetic polymers as well as biopolymers. The use of different cross-linkers, co-monomers, inorganic and organic additives, and surface functionalization techniques on the PFAS removal ability of the resulting hydrogels/aerogels under varying pH, background species concentration, PFAS concentration, and temperature was thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the underlying adsorption mechanisms (ionic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and F–F interactions) of hydrogels and aerogels for PFAS adsorption from a molecular perspective were also examined. Finally, the challenges inhibiting the large-scale production of these adsorbents and the scope of ionic fluorogel and thermosensitive hydrogels have also been thoroughly reviewed
Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at‐sea anthropogenic threats
Full text linkMarine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species’ vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at‐sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate‐change‐related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation
Investigating how food insecurity shapes the effect of visual salience on food choices and what it means for cue-based interventions
No full textThis study tested whether food insecurity increases the effect of visual salience on food selection. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups; a control, a healthy-salience and an unhealthy-salience group. Dish selection was analyzed using chi-square and likelihood-ratio tests. Cue susceptibility was tested using Kruskal–Wallis tests across different levels of food insecurity. Participants experiencing food insecurity were not more responsive to visually accentuated cues. They also did not report higher susceptibility to promotional cues. For food retailers and public health actors, this points to more caution in how behavioral tools like salience are applied.</p
Role of Modern Technologies for Sustainable Genetic Improvement of African Livestock
Full text linkEvidence of the impact of advanced technologies in genetics, nutrition and health management in the last seven decades has led to a twofold increase in the milk produced by a Holstein cow and a fourfold increase in the size of a broiler chicken in Western countries. Therefore, harnessing breakthrough technologies of genomicGenomics breeding, reproductionReproduction, management practices (health and environment), etc., with supporting infrastructure, funding and technical know-how is key to solving current problems and achieving rapid developments in the African livestock sector. This chapter presents an overview of some modern technologiesModern technologies that have played and continue to play significant roles in advancing sustainable genetic improvementSustainable genetic improvement in the livestock sector. Firstly, Section 20.2 presents the key issues impeding sustainable livestock improvement within Africa’s complex livestock production systems. Then the phenomicsPhenomics technologies used for data capture to support genetic selectionSelections are presented in Section 20.3 followed by the breakthrough genomicsGenomics technologies responsible for sustained genetic improvementsGenetic improvements in livestock traits (Section 20.4). The emerging technologies of genome editing (Section 20.4.3) and cellular agriculture (Section 20.4.4) are also presented. Breakthrough reproductive technologies that have been responsible for the spread of high-merit genetics are examined in Section 20.5. This chapter concludes with future perspectives (Section 20.6) on how the adoption and implementation of modern genomicGenomics technologies can accelerate desired improvements in the African livestock sector.</p