The objective of this project was to compile estimates of yield loss in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] to diseases in the top eight soybean-producing countries in 2006. The purpose was to provide information needed by local and world agencies to allocate funds for research and to help scientists focus and coordinate research efforts. Methods used by plant pathologists to estimate yield loss to diseases in these countries included systematic field surveys, cultivar trials, diagnostic clinic records, personal observations, and questionnaires sent to crop consultants and extension staff. The 2006 harvest of soybeans in the top eight soybean-producing countries was reduced an estimated 59.9 million metric tonnes (t) by diseases according to results of the current study. Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, reduced yield in all these countries except Canada in 2006, and the total was more than any other. Next in decreasing order of total yield loss were soybean cyst nematode, brown spot, seedling diseases, anthracnose, and charcoal rot. Accepted for publication 27 October 2009. Published 25 January 2010.

Agitation is commonly seen in acute schizophrenic patients and core symptoms include a wide range of symptom. It requires rapid and effective treatment approaches in order to protect patient and caregiver from potential injury. Clinician's decision of pharmacological treatment should be individualized to the needs and circumstances of the patient. Benzodiazepines, typical antipsychotics, and combinations of typical antipsychotics and benzodiazepines have been widely used as treatment options. Atypical antipsychotics have clear advantages over the typical drugs as they generally show a much better safety and tolerability profile, particularly to EPS and related side effects, however clinical perception regarding efficacy in treating acutely agitated psychotic patient is controversial. New intramuscular atypical antipsychotic formulations offer evidence of being at least as effective as typical antipsychotics in controlling agitation. Therefore, they should be considered as first line therapy in agitated schizophrenic patients.

Starch gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the allelic variability of four polymorphic loci (Lap-2, Lap-3, Pgm and Gpi) from a single population of Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) from the Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA), cultured under eight different experimental conditions. The organisms were cultured to the adult stage under a 2x2x2 experimental design (22 and 30 C; 30 and 60 ppt salinity; and Dunaliella sp. and Spirulina sp. as food). There were significant differences in allele frequencies at each locus and the mean expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0.236 to 0.447. Therefore, the hypothesis of no allelic differences among treatments is rejected. With relation to a possible correlation between genetic variability and the phenotypic characteristics, the results show that there is probably a synergic effect between the different salinities and temperatures on the survival of heterozygous organisms in the different loci.

Objective: To determine changes in clinical manifestations and cerebral blood flow (CBF) before and after administration of ECT to patients with catatonia due to schizophrenia or mood disorders. Methods: A sample of nine patients who met DSM-IV criteria for catatonia was studied. Patients received between 5 and 15 sessions (thrice per week) of ECT. Severity of catatonia was measured with the Modified Rogers Scale (MRS). Changes in CBF were measured with a brain single positron emission computer tomography (SPECT) that was performed 1 week before the first ECT and 1 week after the last ECT. Results: Catatonia was due to schizophrenia in five patients and mood disorders in four patients. There were no significant clinical and brain SPECT differences between these two groups before treatment. Pre- vs. post-ECT comparisons showed significant reduction of catatonic symptoms in both groups. However, patients with mood disorders needed less ECT sessions and showed greater clinical improvement. Brain SPECT showed significant increase in CBF in parietal, temporal, and occipital regions in patients with mood disorder and no significant changes in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions: These results support the efficacy of ECT for treatment of catatonic patients, especially secondary to mood disorders, which seem to be correlated with improvements in CBF.

Genetic resources assessment is considered as the starting point for population management in both fisheries and aquaculture, In this study, we have obtained genetic variability measures of two commercial penaeid shrimp species, Penaeus brevirostris (Kingsley) and P. vannamei (Boone), from the Gulf of California by means of starch electrophoresis analysis of 16 enzymatic systems, plus total protein. Thirty-two loci were resolved, which revealed polymorphism values (P-95) Of 15.63% in P. brevirostris and 25.00% in P. vannamei. Unbiased expected heterozygosity (H-e) was 0.076 and 0.105 respectively. These are high genetic variability figures, taking into account the previously low genetic variability, assessed by means of allozyme variation, reported in several penaeid species around the world. Nei's genetic similarity between the two species is 0.891.

A flow injection (FI) chemiluminescence method for the determination of Cr(III) in blood serum, urine and hair samples is reported. It is based on the chromium-catalyzed light emission from the luminol oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. The apparatus consists of an FI system with a flow cell formed by a coiled transparent tube suitable for chemiluminescence detection. The specificity of the method is achieved in presence of EDTA. The detection limit under optimum conditions is 0.01 μg L –1 of Cr(III). Precision and accuracy were evaluated by determining Cr(III) concentrations in urine standards from the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST).

Fulminant cerebral oedema is an uncommon, fatal complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children. This study aimed to find out whether the sub‐clinical compression of the brain ventricles found by an earlier study, is a general phenomenon during intravenous treatment for DKA. Four boys and four girls were examined. Blood glucose values ranged from 40 to 24. 6mmol/l, base excess ‐34. 6 to ‐ 13. 6 and capillary blood pH 6. 89–7. 22. The patients received fluids containing both glucose and electrolytes, and insulin intravenously. After about lOh, blood glucose was 8. 7–21. 8mmol/l and base excess had decreased substantially (‐9. 5 to ‐2. 9) in seven of the eight cases. Computerized tomography of the brain was then performed, and again after full recovery. Only two of the patients had an initial decrease in intercaudate distance, which exceeded the variability found in a reference group. Compression of the cerebral ventricles does not occur regularly during treatment for DKA.

A sensitive extractive-spect533rophotometric method for the determination of potassium using dibenzo-18-crown-6 and bromothymol blue as the counter ion is described. The absorbance was measured at 410 nm and the value of the molar absorptivity was 18 000 l mol–1 cm–1. A linear working range from 0.1 to 3.0 µg ml–1 of potassium was obtained and the relative standard deviation was 2.3%. Rubidium and ammonium ions gave the highest interference. The method was applied to the determination of potassium in fruits and beverages.

YoungPinus radiata D. Don were fertilized with copper oxychloride and copper sulfate on a random block basis with four replicates. Roots, needles, stems and shoot apices were analyzed separately for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn contents at different times from fertilization.

Di(2-pyridyl)-NN-di[(8-quinolyl)amino]methane (DPQAM) has been examined to evaluated its usefulness as a sensitive and selective spectrophotometric reagent for iron. A green complex is formed, which is extracted into chloroform at pH 2.9–5.4 in the presence of perchlorate and ascorbic acid (the molar absorptivity, ε= 1.14 × 104l mol–1 cm–1 nm). The distribution ratio of this extraction is very favourable, so that iron can be determined in the range 0.25–2.50 p.p.m. (ε= 1.71 × 105l mol–1 cm–1). The effect of foreign ions has been studied and the method has been applied to the determination of iron in blood serum with good results.