#Climate change to shift Kenyas breadbasketskenyan farmers and agriculture officials need to prepare for a possible geographic shift in maize production as climate change threatens to make some areas of the country much less productive for cultivation
while simultaneously making others more maize-friendly according to a new report prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central africa (ASARECA).
The report released today by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food security (CCAFS) at a high-level event with Kenya's agriculture and environment ministries finds that overall Kenyan farmers--who make up 75 percent of the country's labor force--may not only survive
#Model of dangerous bee disease in Jersey provides tool in fight against honeybee infectionsscientists at the University of Warwick have modelled an outbreak of the bee infection American foulbrood in Jersey using a technique
which could be applied to other honeybee diseases such as European foulbrood and the Varroa parasite. As well as modelling how bee infections spread the method also allows scientists to simulate various disease control interventions in order to measure their efficacy.
The researchers used two sets of data gathered two months apart during an outbreak of American foulbrood in Jersey in the summer of 2010.
This provided two'snapshots'of the disease from which they attempted to reconstruct the entire epidemic.
Reconstructions like this are common for livestock infections but this is the first time the method has been applied to bee disease.
The research is published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. American foulbrood is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae
which affects the larval stage of honeybees. It can cause the death of an entire hive within a matter of monthsthe Jersey data covered 450 honeybee hives their location
which the infection grew as well as how it spread geographically. Dr Samik Datta of the WIDER group based at the School of Life sciences at the University of Warwick said:
Honeybees are one of the most important bee species in the world in terms of their contribution to food production through pollination.
But in the past 20 years there has been marked a increase in the level of disease among bee populations.
American foulbrood is an unusually virulent disease which can wipe out a hive within a few months.
This is the first rigorous statistical analysis carried out on a honeybee disease epidemic that we are aware of.
The model suggests that just under half of the 2010 Jersey infection spread was attributed to transmission by owners between their own hives.
The researchers suggest that distance between colonies was another important factor in the spread of the disease with the disease mostly spreading between hives less than 2km apart.
The model also simulated the impact of different control strategies on controlling the epidemic and found that the measures taken by authorities in Jersey at the time--to inspect
However their model suggested an earlier intervention would have made disease extinction more likely. The researchers hope now to expand their model to investigate the spread of European Foulbrood a more common bee disease in the UK.
They also believe the same technique can be applied to the Varroa parasite. Dr Datta said:
Using just two snapshots of data we have been able to reconstruct this epidemic and we are confident that our technique can be applied to a wide range of other outbreak scenarios.
Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by University of Warwick. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
If the numbers and diversity of nitrogen fixers plummet then the health of the surrounding forest would likely be affected for a very long time.
#Surgery proving effective with epilepsy patientsmelanie Vandyke can't wait to get her driver's license. I just want to get back out in the world she said.
For nearly 15 years Vandyke's world was restricted severely by epileptic seizures during which she couldn't control her speech
But since undergoing a cutting-edge minimally invasive surgical procedure called MRI-guided laser ablation at Wake Forest Baptist Medical center Vandyke is poised to reclaim her life.
The surgery I do believe has turned my life around said the resident of Buchanan County in southwestern Virginia.
In the operation the source of Vandyke's seizures--a lesion on her right medial temporal lobe--was destroyed with heat generated by light from a thin laser-tipped probe inserted into her brain through a tiny hole in her skull
while the surgeon viewed real-time MRI images of the process. Wake Forest Baptist is one of only 25 medical centers nationwide
and the only one between Philadelphia and Atlanta to perform this type of laser surgery for epilepsy with a technology called Visualase.
Introduced in 2007 and initially used to destroy tumors the Visualase system was employed first as a treatment for epilepsy in 2010 Wake Forest Baptist performed its first epilepsy-related laser procedure in June of last year
and has done 11 more since then on people between the ages of 10 and 60.
Most of the patients have been seizure-free since having the surgery while a few have experienced only isolated episodes.
Our initial indications are that this is a really effective therapy said Wake Forest Baptist neurosurgeon Adrian Laxton M d. who performed the operation on Vandyke.
It's extremely precise with incredibly quick and powerful delivery so it makes sense that we're getting the results we want.
The laser method is a much less invasive alternative to conventional surgery. That type of procedure is usually a daylong operation
and most patients can go home the next day. Based on what we've seen so far it's at least as effective as open surgery is far superior in terms of risk
and adverse effects and is minimally invasive Laxton said. I'm really quite excited about it.
More than 2. 5 million Americans have epilepsy a disorder in which abnormal electrical impulses in the brain affect a variety of mental and physical functions.
But most people with epilepsy don't need surgery as seizures can be controlled by medication in approximately 60 percent of all patients.
or spasms that are associated commonly with epilepsy that wasn't the initial diagnosis. At first it was diagnosed as blackouts Vandyke said.
Subsequent tests indicated that Vandyke did have epilepsy. Despite seeing specialists at hospitals in three states and taking a variety of medications she continued to have seizures often twice a day.
In 2010--12 years after her first seizure--she was referred to Wake Forest Baptist's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.
As a patient of neurologist Cormac O'Donovan M d. Vandyke underwent an extensive series of scans tests and assessments through
which Medical center specialists were able to identify the source of her seizures. Vandyke was presented with the two surgery options
and chose the laser technique. She underwent the operation April 15. Since then she has had just one seizure in late May
and that was caused by a drug interaction. I'm doing fine she said. I'm getting my feet back on the ground
The above story is provided based on materials by Wake Forest Baptist Medical center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length h
Sometimes the bacteria were similar to human pathogens. Again it wasn't clear what was going on Brock said.
Were they pathogens that were making the amoebas sick? But the amoebas carrying these bacteria seemed to be thriving rather than sick.
when farmers carried certain nonedible strains nonfarmer spore production was reduced in some cases by more than half.
Supernatants (washings) from bacterial cultures had similar effects suggesting that the bacteria were secreting biomolecules that poisoned nonfarmers preventing them from eating the farmers'crops.
Producers of bamboo textiles maintain their products are processed antimicrobial without chemicals non-pollutant biodegradable and recyclable.
Based on these results we do not expect the trace amounts of pyrethroids in sewage treatment plant effluent to be toxic to even the most sensitive aquatic life.
which are more acutely toxic to birds and mammals with uses that include home insect control insect-repellant clothing dog and cat flea shampoos mosquito control and agriculture.
A new study by a team of researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center may help provide some insight.
Some of the same brain regions and neurological chemicals that control human social behavior are involved probably in fish social behavior as well.'
Beyond its findings connecting specific behaviors with genomic regions the study also found that the same regions of the genome appear to control both the stickleback's ability to school as well as the anatomy of its lateral line a system of organs that detect movement
Research on schooling behavior in fish may seem an odd fit for a cancer research center
but Greenwood said natural variation can influence not just behavior but also susceptibility to illness and disease.
The above story is provided based on materials by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
#Australian tarantula venom contains novel insecticide against agricultural pestsspider venoms are usually toxic when injected into prey
but a new protein discovered in the venom of Australian tarantulas can also kill prey insects that consume the venom orally.
The small protein named orally active insecticidal peptide-1 (OAIP-1) was found to be highly toxic to insects that consumed it with potency similar to that of the synthetic insecticide imidacloprid.
Isolated peptides from the venom of spiders or other venomous insectivorous animals such as centipedes and scorpions may have the potential to serve as bioinsecticides.
King elaborates The breakthrough discovery that spider toxins can have oral activity has implications not only for their use as bioinsecticides
but also for spider-venom peptides that are being considered for therapeutic use. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Public library of Science.
or proanthocyanidins are thought to play diverse roles such as defense against herbivores and pathogens or ultraviolet protection.
#Influenza virus in wild birds in Norwayducks and gulls are the natural hosts of Influenza a virus.
Her discoveries may lead to a better understanding of the epidemiology and host adaptation of Influenza a virus.
which can cause disease in animals and humans. Influenza a viruses can be divided into subtypes of which the majority have been found in wild birds.
Most subtypes of Influenza a virus cause subclinical infections in wild birds. Infections in domestic chickens most commonly result in mild disease.
In rare cases if introduced from wild birds to poultry some viruses of the H5
One example of this is the highly pathogenic H5n1 virus in Southeast asia known to cause#oebird flu#.
#Due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5n1 in Southeast asia a programme to monitor influenza viruses in wild birds in Norway was initiated in 2005.
The results showed that low pathogenic avian influenza viruses were present in 15.5%of the samples
but not the highly pathogenic H5n1 virus. The complete genetic material from a total of five influenza viruses from mallard and common gull were sequenced and characterized.
The results showed that the genes of the Norwegian viruses resembled the genes found in influenza viruses from other wild birds in Europe.
and America influenza viruses with different genetic material have developed between these two continents. However in some areas it has been observed that genes can be exchanged between influenza viruses from Eurasia and America.
Tønnessen studied the role that gulls play in the transfer of virus genes between these two continents.
Genes from American avian influenza viruses were detected not in the European gull viruses studied. However within avian influenza viruses from Eurasia she found that virus genes were exchanged between influenza viruses typically found in gulls and ducks respectively.
During the breeding seasons of 2008 and 2009 Tønnessen studied the occurrence of influenza virus in the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) at Hornã¸ya in Finnmark in Northern Norway.
Low amounts of influenza virus were detected in 5-15%of the samples from adult kittiwakes
and she discovered that more than 70%of the adult birds had developed antibodies against Influenza a virus. The majority of the kittiwakes had antibodies against an influenza virus subtype typically found in gulls namely H16.
Ducks can become infected with influenza virus through consumption of surface water contaminated with faeces shed by virus infected birds.
Most subtypes of influenza virus from ducks can retain their infectivity in water over long periods of time.
Experiments performed by Tønnessen showed that influenza virus subtypes primarily found in gulls (i e.
H13 and H16) can also remain infectious in water for several months under different salinity and temperature conditions.
To assess if a typical influenza virus subtype from gull can infect chickens Tønnessen inoculated chickens with an H16n3 virus obtained from herring gull.
Influenza virus was detected in the oropharynx of 2 of the 19 virus inoculated chickens and specific antibodies against H16 were found in the same two chickens.
The chickens did not become ill and the virus did not infect the contact chickens.
These results suggest that H16n3 virus from gull can cause a limited infection in chickens.
In order to find out why influenza viruses of the H13 and H16 subtypes primarily infect gulls Tønnessen examined
whether the internal proteins of these viruses have particular signatures (amino acid composition) possibly related to host adaptation.
Ragnhild Tønnessen defended her doctoral research on 27th august 2013 at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science with a thesis entitled Epidemiology and Host Adaptation of Influenza a viruses in Gulls#.
#The research was conducted at the Department of Food safety and Infection Biology at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and at Section for Virology at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav) who use different strains of fungi and bacteria to promote development
and health in trees which have enabled them to accelerate growth of different species up to 40 percent.
and should not have the toxicity concerns that exist for DEET. Burlingame who is with Allylix Inc. a renewable-chemical firm in Lexington Ky. spoke at a symposium entitled Biopesticides:
and are less toxic to humans than conventional pesticides said James N. Seiber Ph d. of the University of California Davis. He co-organized the symposium with Aaron Gross and Joel Coats Ph d. both of Iowa
and Drug Administration's list of substances generally recognized as safe for use in food.
The need for a more economical source of nootkatone intensified after scientists at the U s. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered nootkatone's effectiveness in controlling ticks mosquitoes and other insects.
And nootkatone shows promise for being the most effective agent for the ticks that cause Lyme disease.
that is placed under the upper lip) in Europe are not due to a concern for the health impacts of smoking
and Anna Gilmore from the University of Bath UK and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies published this week in PLOS Medicine.
and influence national and EU public health policy. The researchers also compare the industry's privately documented interests (observed via internal documents
and investor presentations) with those harm reduction pursuits it has espoused publicly and explore the implications for EU tobacco control policy.
The authors note the study's findings indicate that the industry's rhetoric on harm reduction has been inconsistent with historical and recent documents and business actions.
and vegetables--as health-conscious consumers look for more foods that require minimal preparation like cut fruit
Nature is a very good chemist and we are learning from that and sometimes improving on it with new edible coatings that protect the quality and nutritional value of food.
because most of the diseases pandas get affect their guts said Brown. Understanding the relationships between the microbes
She is with Popz Europe Kft Chicago Ill. But remember that packaging is there to protect the product
and not because of the risk of a nasty sting an expert on the health of those beneficial insects said in Indianapolis today at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
. and some other countries--a condition sometimes termed colony collapse disorder (CCD). Although honeybees have been doing better in recent years something continues to kill about 1 in every 3 honeybees each year.
Some of the leading theories about the cause of CCD include the use of certain pesticides parasites diseases and overall hive nutrition.
because they are predominantly sweet foods that provide little extra nutritional goodness over breast milk indicates research published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
While it is understandable that parents may choose to use these products early in the weaning process health professionals should be aware that such food will not add to the nutrient density of a milk diet they conclude.
The above story is provided based on materials by BMJ-British Medical Journal. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Its nearly 20 talks cover a wide range of topics from the microbes in the human gut to the potential use of diet to manage inflammatory diseases.
But it also creates a vulnerability to environmental toxins giving bedbugs an unusually large surface area where pesticides can enter their bodies.
In case insecticides slip past the armor other genes kick in to prevent the toxins from attacking the nervous system.
study suggeststhe first study under realistic field conditions has found reassuringly low levels of pharmaceuticals
The levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products that we found in food crops growing under real-world conditions were quite low and most likely do not pose any health concern said Jay Gan Ph d. who led the study.
and offices and undergoes processing to kill disease-causing microbes and remove other material. Processing leaves that water
The effluent still may contain traces of impurities including the remains of ingredients in prescription drugs antibacterial soaps cosmetics shampoos
Gan explained that concerns have arisen about the health and environmental effects of those residual PPCPS especially over whether they might accumulate to dangerous levels in food crops.
Xiaoqin Wu a postdoctoral student in Gan's lab who gave the ACS presentation said all the crops absorbed PPCPS including a medication for epilepsy;
triclosan a common antibacterial ingredient; a tranquilizer; and caffeine. Leafy vegetables took up the highest amounts of PPCPS.
Wu and Gan said the findings are a first step toward a full understanding of the potential human health effects of PPCPS in sewage treatment plant effluent recycled for irrigation.
For instance many other substances from PPCPS may occur in recycled water but were included not in the study.
and people with chronic diseases may be more susceptible to low levels of PPCPS. They pointed out that irrigation of food crops with treated wastewater is established a well practice in some desert countries.
#Toward understanding the health effects of waterpipe or hookah smokingwith water pipes or hookahs gaining popularity in the United states
and other countries scientists today described a step toward establishing the health risks of what has been termed the first new tobacco trend of the 21st century.
and smoke contain lower levels of four toxic metals than cigarette tobacco and smoke. It was part of the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS.
and our studies on toxic metals in hookah smoke are taking the first steps toward the necessary animal
That's part of the basis for the popular belief--disputed by the U s. Centers for Disease Control
Other differences in hookah vs. cigarette smoking complicate any interpretation of the health implications of the lower levels of toxic metals in hookah smoke noted Caruso
Under good conditions Palmer amaranth grows an inch or more a day to heights approaching 10 feet with a stem tough enough to damage farm equipment.
Rather the use and management of these technologies to gain control of weeds by practitioners determines the risk of herbicide-resistant weeds evolving.
and the promise that these antioxidant-rich substances may have health benefits. The natural colors industry for foods and beverages is gaining in value as U s
and beverages natural colorings add natural plant-based antioxidant compounds that may have a beneficial effect on health.
They prevent disease or promote general good health. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by American Chemical Society (ACS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length h
#Relationship between landscape simplification and insecticide use exploreda new UCSB study that analyzed U s. Department of agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture data spanning two decades (1987-2007) shows that the statistical magnitude existence
and poses a significant health risk. Similar conditions shut down Beijing's second largest reservoir in 1997;
Although such projects are instituted typically based on the cold calculus that land remediation is a better long-term solution
or more years old according to the study led by Japan's Tottori University and the United nations University's Canadian-based Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
Given the growing importance of wastewater management to the health of people and economies at local and national levels having up-to-date basic insights into wastewater generation treatment
and improve wastewater treatment plants introduced enforceable standards to protect the health of farmers and consumers and continues to focus on this sensitive situation given the importance of regional and international trade.
With widespread occurrence of cholera in Latin america the direct use of untreated wastewater was restricted in the country.
Most wastewater goes untreated in Sub-saharan africa where water pollution triggers the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera.
For centuries the leaves and berries of Rocky mountain juniper which contain strongly aromatic essential oil have been used extensively by native people of North america to treat a number of medical conditions.
#Broccoli to fight skin cancer? With skin cancer emerging as one of the world's most prevalent forms of cancer researchers are using every tool at their disposal to fight this disease.
The tool of choice for Sally Dickinson Phd? Broccoli. A diet heavy in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts has shown potential risk-reduction properties for colorectal prostate and various other forms of cancer.
Dr. Dickinson's research currently focuses on how sulforaphane--a naturally occurring compound in broccoli with established chemopreventive properties--could possibly be used to help patients reduce their risk for skin cancer.
What sets Dr. Dickinson's research apart? Instead of eating broccoli to unlock the risk-reduction nutrients she's asking patients to apply small doses of sulforaphane to their skin.
Think of it as a broccoli-based sunscreen additive. Even though there is heightened awareness about the need for limited sun exposure
and use of sunscreens we're still seeing far too many cases of skin cancer each year Dr. Dickinson said.
We're searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use.
Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Dr. Dickinson a research assistant professor in the Pharmacology Department at the University of Arizona and a UA Cancer Center member began investigating broccoli's chemopreventive properties
when she began her postdoctoral studies in 2005 in the laboratory of Tim Bowden Phd--one of the UACC's most influential research scientists.
Prior to joining Dr. Bowden's laboratory Dr. Dickinson earned her Phd through the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program at the UA studying oxidative stress and heart disease.
Under Dr. Bowden's guidance Dr. Dickinson pursued her postdoctoral training and built up an impressive list of credentials in her own right.
As Dr. Bowden transitions into retirement Dr. Dickinson will take over the majority of his lab's ongoing projects including this in depth look into sulforaphane.
I learned so much from working with Dr. Bowden Dr. Dickinson said. He is driven a hypothesis old-school scientist who quietly extracts the best out of everyone around him.
So how would topical broccoli-based ointments differ from the products currently available in stores? Dr. Dickinson's research shows that sulforaphane is a highly adaptable highly effective agent
when it comes to inhibiting cancer-causing pathways (such as the AP-1 protein) while activating chemoprotective genes (such as the Nrf2 gene).
Her pilot study in collaboration with Johns hopkins university will test a topical broccoli sprout solution on the skin a group of patients to see
if the compound is effective in the context of solar simulated light. Previous studies have shown that the extract is quite safe for both topical and oral administration.
If the research proves to be successful Dr. Dickinson believes this could lead to even more applications for sulforaphane.
if the dosage is measured properly Dr. Dickinson said. We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns
and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin. Someday patients with compromised immune systems may be able to apply sulforaphane to their skin
in order to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Sulforaphane is one of the many natural products and pharmaceutical agents being explored for use in topical prevention of UV-induced skin cancers through the Chemoprevention of Skin cancer Program Project Grant headed by Dr. Bowden and UACC Director David Alberts MD.
Dr. Dickinson's research could potentially lead to a day when parents are instructing their children to not only eat their vegetables
but to wear them as well. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by NCI-Designated Cancer Centers.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length h
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