Abstract. Taphrina caerulescens is a fungal pathogen of oak trees, it causes the disease leaf blister in 50 reported Quercus spp. In 2015, the fungus was isolated for the first time from Quercus eduardii, an oak species endemic to the Sierra Fria of Aguascalientes, Mexico. The objective of this study was to document the changes that occur in the inoculum prior to infection of its host as it changes from saprophytic to parasitic. Two host plant species were used: Q. eduardii and Q. potosina and one non-host species Pittosporum tobira. Portions of leaf tissue 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post inoculation with a suspension of T. caerulescens conidia were analysed with a scanning electron microscope. Moderate budding was observed after 24 h on Quercus samples; after 48 h increased budding on both Quercus spp. and the formation of blastospores significantly smaller than the original inoculum was observed on the Quercus eduardii samples. Formation of germ tubes was verified after 48 h on Quercus eduardii. The germinative tubes were observed growing randomly towards the stomata. No significant changes were observed on the surface of the non-host samples. There is no other report of these smaller blastospores in T. caerulescens.

Resumen. Taphrina caerulescens es un hongo fitopatógeno de encinos, que causa ampollas en hojas de 50 especies de Quercus. En 2015, el hongo se aisló por primera vez de Quercus eduardii, especie de encino endémica de la Sierra Fría de Aguascalientes, México. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar los cambios que se producen en el inóculo fúngico antes de la infección de su hospedante a medida que cambia de saprófito a parásito. Se utilizaron dos especies de plantas hospedantes: Q. eduardii y Q. potosina, y una especie no hospedante, Pittosporum tobira. En el microscopio electrónico de barrido se analizaron muestras de hojas 24 h, 48 h y 72 h post inoculación con una suspensión de conidios de T. caerulescens. Se observó una gemación moderada de conidios después de 24 h en muestras de Quercus; después de 48 h la gemación incrementó en las dos especies de Quercus y se observó la formación de blastosporas significativamente más pequeñas, que el inóculo original en las muestras de Quercus eduardii. La formación de tubos germinativos de las blastosporas pequeñas se comprobó después de 48 h en Quercus eduardii. Los tubos germinativos se observaron creciendo de manera aleatoria hacia las estomas. No se observaron cambios significativos en las muestras no hospedantes. No existe otro reporte de blastosporas pequeñas en T. caerulescens.

Lead-based alloys are used as the primary anodes for electrowinning from sulphate-based aqueous systems. Lead anode technology has evolved over the years, migrating from pure lead and lead-antimonial alloys to the present-day lead-calcium-tin alloys for copper electrowinning and lead-silver alloys for zinc electrowinning. Anode technology has also migrated from cast to rolled microstructures in search of improved mechanical properties and higher corrosion resistance. Although great strides have been made in the development of new alloys and production processes, the industry still has unresolved issues related to untimely corrosion, which limits anode life and may lead to higher contaminant levels in the metal being produced. Lead anodes corrode because of the difference in the chemical/electrochemical potential across the microstructural features of an anode. Given a very high purity material, we find that the grain boundary areas corrode significantly faster than the rest of the grain. A balance of alloying element selection and microstructural design allows the grain boundary area to be engineered, thus minimizing grain boundary corrosion. However, operational issues can lead to unexpected corrosion behaviours that we will discuss moving forward. The comments in this work, although directed toward copper electrowinning, can be extended to similar phenomena in other metals electrowon from sulphate media (i.e., zinc, nickel, cobalt, manganese). The life cycle of electrowinning anodes depends on tankhouse operating conditions and maintenance of the anodes, including cleaning and straightening. This paper will focus on the operational aspects of maximizing the utilization of lead anodes for base metals electrowinning.

A cisticercose bovina, uma doença cosmopolita causada pelaTaenia saginata, resulta em perdas econômias devido á desvalorização de carcaças durante o abate. A inspeção sanitária nos frigoríficos, método de diagnóstico de rotina no Brasil, não possui sensibilidade necessária para detectar animais levemente infectados, os quais são tipicamente encontrados no Brasil. Neste estudo testou-se soro de animais diagnosticados positivos e negativos pela inspeção veterinária por (1) anticorpos anti-parasita usando antígenos de metacestóides (fluido vesicular deT. solium e secreções de T. saginata) e (2) antígeno secretado de metacestóides viáveis. Os pontos de corte foram calculados pela curva ROC, considerando condições de intensa e leve infeção, e pelo método clássico ( das amostras negativas). A sensibilidade e a especificidade dos testes diagnósticos foram diferentes dependendo do valor de ponto de corte assumido e, sobretudo, se a infecção era intensa ou leve. Apesar destas observações, no entanto, tanto o ensaio ELISA para anticorpos séricos quanto para antígeno de parasita constituem importante ferramenta para propósitos epidemiológicos e no estabelecimento de prioridades no controle da cisticercose bovina.

Bovine cysticercosis, a cosmopolitan disease caused by Taenia saginata, leads to economic losses due to carcass devaluation at slaughter. Sanitary inspection at slaughterhouses, the routine diagnostic method in Brazil, lacks the necessary sensitivity to detect the mildly infected cattle that are typically encoutered in Brazil. In this study we have tested cattle sera from animals diagnosed as positive and negative by veterianry inspection for (1) anti-parasite antibodies using metacestodes antigens (T. solium vesicular fluid and T. saginata secretions) and (2) the HP10 secreted antigen of viable metacestodes. The cut-off values were calculated by ROC curve for intense and mild infections conditions, and by the classical method ( for negative samples). The sensitivity and specificity of these diagnostic tests were different depending on the assumed cut-off value and, importantly, whether the infection was mild or intense. In spite of these observations, however, such ELISA assays for serum antibodies and parasite antigens constitute an important tool for epidemiological porposes, and in establishing priorities for the control of bovine cysticercosis.

Purpose: To report the immediate changes of intraocular (IOP) pressure after an intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1ml) of bevacizumab. Methods: Prospective, non-controlled, interventional case series of 45 patients undergoing intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1mL) of bevacizumab for a variety of retinal disorders. IOP was measured with a Goldmann tonometer at baseline, immediately after, 30minutes and one day after injection in all of the cases. The main outcome measured was the IOP immediately after injection. Results: At baseline the mean IOP was 16.6±2.8mm Hg (range, 10-24mm Hg; median, 16mm Hg; 25th percentile, 14mm Hg and 75th percentile, 18mm Hg). IOP rose to 53.9±18.2mm Hg (range, 16-78mm Hg, median, 54mm Hg; 25th percentile, 40mm Hg and 75th percentile, 70mm Hg; p<0.001) immediately after the injection. After 30minutes, the IOP normalized but was still higher than baseline with a mean of 19.8±5.2mm Hg (range, 10-36mm Hg; median,18mm Hg; 25th percentile,16mm Hg and 75th percentile, 24mm Hg; P<.01). At 24hours the IOP was 15.7±3.1mm Hg (range,10-24mm Hg; median, 16mm Hg; 25th percentile,14mm Hg and 75th percentile,18mm Hg; p>0.05). Conclusions: An intravitreal injection of 2.5mg (0.1ml) of bevacizumab causes a transient elevation of IOP that tends to return to normal 30 minutes later.

Objetivo: Comunicar los cambios inmediatos en la presión intraocular (PIO) después de una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg de bevacizumab. Métodos: Serie prospectiva, sin controles de 45 pacientes con una variedad de enfermedades retinianas que se sometieron a una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg (0,1ml) de bevacizumab. A todos los pacientes se les midió la presión intraocular con el tonómetro de Goldmann previo a la inyección, inmediatamente después, 30 minutos después y un día después de la inyección. El resultado principal fue la PIO inmediatamente después de la inyección. Resultados: La PIO basal fue de 16,6±2,8mm Hg (rango, 10-24mm Hg; mediana, 16mm Hg; primer cuartil, 14mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 18mm Hg)., La PIO subió hasta 53,9±18,2mm Hg (rango, 16-78mm Hg; mediana, 54mm Hg; primer cuartil, 40mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 70mm Hg; p<0,001) inmediatamente después de la inyección. Después de 30 minutos, la PIO se normalizó pero se mantenía aún elevada con una media de 19,8±5,2mm Hg (rango, 10-36mm Hg; mediana,18mm Hg; primer cuartil,16mm Hg y tercer cuartil, 24mm Hg; p<0,01) en comparación a la PIO. A las 24 horas la PIO bajó a 15,7±3,1mm Hg (rango, 10-24mm Hg, mediana, 16mm Hg; primer cuartil,14mm Hg y tercer cuartil,18mm Hg; p>0,05). Conclusión: Una inyección intravítrea de 2,5mg (0,1ml) de bevacizumab causa una elevación transitoria de la PIO que tiende a normalizarse 30 minutos más tarde.

Advanced wastewater-treatment techniques such as adsorption are essential in the removal of non-biodegradable toxic wastes from water. In this study, the use of South African coal fly ash, an industrial byproduct, has been investigated as a potential replacement for the current costly adsorbents used for removing heavy metals from wastewater. We utilised coal fly ash for the adsorption of cobalt(II) ions from synthetic petrochemical wastewater and characterised its performance. A two-level three-factor full-factorial design was successfully employed for experimental design and analysis of the results. The combined effects of pH, initial concentration and adsorbent dose on cobalt(II) removal were assessed using response surface methodology. Although the focus was on removal of cobalt(II), the adsorption was carried out in the presence of phenol and other heavy metal ions using the batch technique. The applicability of the Freundlich and Langmuir models to the equilibrium data was tested. Consequently, the equilibrium data was found to conform more favourably to the Freundlich isotherm than to the Langmuir isotherm; in this case, the coal fly ash had a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.401 mg/g for cobalt(II). We conclude that South African coal fly ash, as a natural, abundant and low-cost adsorbent, might be a suitable local alternative for elimination of cobalt(II) from aqueous solutions.