A pseudo-outbreak of bronchoscopy-associated Mycobacterium chelonae and M. mucogenicum was traced to contaminated ice machine water and ice. A nonsterile ice bath was used to cool uncapped, sterile, saline syringes used to slow procedural bleeding. Joining the growing evidence of bronchoscopy pseudo-outbreaks, our investigation describes several lessons for future prevention.

Let $G$ be a compact Lie group. In this article, we investigate the Cauchy problem for a nonlinear wave equation with the viscoelastic damping on $G$. More precisely, we investigate some $L^2$-estimates for the solution to the homogeneous nonlinear viscoelastic damped wave equation on $G$ utilizing the group Fourier transform on $G$. We also prove that there is no improvement of any decay rate for the norm $\|u(t,\,\cdot )\|_{L^2(G)}$ by further assuming the $L^1(G)$-regularity of initial data. Finally, using the noncommutative Fourier analysis on compact Lie groups, we prove a local in time existence result in the energy space $\mathcal {C}^1([0,\,T],\,H^1_{\mathcal {L}}(G)).$

Improving plant resistance against Fusarium wilt (FW) is key to sustaining chickpea production worldwide. Given this, the current study tested a set of 75 FW-responsive chickpea breeding lines including checks in a wilt-sick plot for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). Genetic diversity analysis using 75 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed a total of 267 alleles with an average of 3.56 alleles per marker. The entire set was divided into two major classes based on clustering method and factorial analysis. Similarly, STRUCTURE analysis placed the 75 genotypes into three distinct sub-groups (K = 3). Marker-trait association (MTA) analysis using the generalized linear model approach revealed nine and eight significant MTAs for FW resistance in the years 2016 and 2017, respectively. Three significant MTAs were obtained for FW resistance following the mixed linear model approach for both years. The SSR markers CESSR433, NCPGR21 and ICCM0284 could be potentially employed for targeted and accelerated improvement of FW resistance in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on association mapping of the genomic loci controlling FW (Foc2) resistance in chickpea.

The dynamical behaviour of weakly nonlinear, low-frequency sound waves are investigated in a plasma composed of only positive and negative ions incorporating the effects of a weak external uniform magnetic field. In the plasma model the mass (temperature) of the positive ions is smaller (larger) than that of the negative ions. The dynamics of the nonlinear wave is shown to be governed by a novel nonlinear equation. The stationary plane wave (analytical and numerical) nonlinear analysis on the basis of experimental parameters reveals that the nonlinear wave does have quasi-periodic and chaotic solutions. The Poincarè return map analysis confirms these observed complex structures.

Introduction: There is an evidence-practice gap between guidelines for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) and emergency physician practice. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is being overused to exclude PE in Canadian emergency departments (EDs) and current guidelines do not fit well with the ED model of patient care. There is a lack of research on patient opinions on PE testing, and a poor physician understanding of patient-specific goals in the ED. We are addressing this by conducting patient interviews to identify patient-specific values and opinions on PE testing in the ED. These will be used to develop patient-centered educational tools which physicians and patients can use to discuss the decision to order a CT PE scan. The aim of this study is to identify patient expectations and priorities on PE testing in the ED. Methods: This qualitative study uses constructivist grounded theory to analyze patient values and opinions on PE testing in ED patients from two hospitals. Participants are screened by monitoring the ED patient tracker. If a patient is being tested for PE, they are approached and consented by a researcher to take part in a 30-minute semi-structured interview. Each interview is transcribed verbatim and independently analyzed by four researchers using constant comparative coding. The researchers meet weekly to compare codes and agree on common coding terms. The codes are grouped into themes, and the interview script is modified to maximize information on emerging themes. From this, major themes with associated subthemes will be derived, each representing an opportunity, barrier or value which must be addressed in our new patient education tools. We have performed 23 interviews and expect to reach theme saturation at 30 interviews. Full results will be available by the 2019 CAEP conference. Results: From the patient interviews conducted so far, we have mapped four major themes: patient satisfaction comes from addressing their primary concern (for example, their pain); patients expect individualized care; patients prefer imaging over clinical examination when testing for PE; and patients expect 100% confidence from their ED physician when given a diagnosis. Conclusion: These four domains will be used to create a new patient-centered approach to PE testing in the ED which will include physician education, patient information and organizational changes to patient processing. This study incorporates evidence-based medicine with ethical and social implications to improve patient outcomes.

It is known that in the radio spertrum the limb of the quiet sun is brighter in the equatorial regions than near the pole. But most of the available theoretical calculations of the brightness distribution over the quiet sun have been made with the assumption of spherical symmetry. We have therefore calculated two-dimensional distributions at several decimetre and metre wavelengths, taking account of the observed asymmetry in the north-south direction. Newkirk’s method of ray-tracing was used, the calculations being made with a CDC 3600 computer. Some of the preliminary results (particularly for a sunspot minimum period) are presented here; they indicate that the electron temperature of the solar corona has a value of about 1 to 1.5 x 106 °K.

The nonlinear properties of the ion acoustic waves (IAWs) in a three-component quantum plasma comprising electrons, and positive and negative ions are investigated analytically and numerically by employing the quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) model. The Sagdeev pseudopotential technique is applied to obtain the small-amplitude soliton solution. The effects of the quantum parameter $H$ , positive to negative ion density ratio ${\it\beta}$ and Mach number on the nonlinear structures are investigated. It is found that these factors can significantly modify the properties of the IAWs. The existence of quasi-periodic and chaotic oscillations in the system is established. Switching from quasi-periodic to chaotic is possible with the variation of Mach number or quantum parameter $H$ .

Epistasis is an important feature of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, but the dynamics of epistatic interactions in natural populations and the relationship between epistasis and pleiotropy remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the effects of epistatic modifiers that segregate in a wild-derived Drosophila melanogaster population on the mutational effects of P-element insertions in Semaphorin-5C (Sema-5c) and Calreticulin (Crc), pleiotropic genes that affect olfactory behaviour and startle behaviour and, in the case of Crc, sleep phenotypes. We introduced Canton-S B (CSB) third chromosomes with or without a P-element insertion at the Crc or Sema-5c locus in multiple wild-derived inbred lines of the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) and assessed the effects of epistasis on the olfactory response to benzaldehyde and, for Crc, also on sleep. In each case, we found substantial epistasis and significant variation in the magnitude of epistasis. The predominant direction of epistatic effects was to suppress the mutant phenotype. These observations support a previous study on startle behaviour using the same D. melanogaster chromosome substitution lines, which concluded that suppressing epistasis may buffer the effects of new mutations. However, epistatic effects are not correlated among the different phenotypes. Thus, suppressing epistasis appears to be a pervasive general feature of natural populations to protect against the effects of new mutations, but different epistatic interactions modulate different phenotypes affected by mutations at the same pleiotropic gene.

The IAU Working Group on Historical Radio Astronomy (WGHRA) was formed at the 2003 General Assembly of the IAU as a Joint Working Group of Commissions 40 (Radio Astronomy) and 41 (History of Astronomy), in order to: a) assemble a master list of surviving historically-significant radio telescopes and associated instrumentation found worldwide; b) document the technical specifications and scientific achievements of these instruments; c) maintain an on-going bibliography of publications on the history of radio astronomy; and d) monitor other developments relating to the history of radio astronomy (including the deaths of pioneering radio astronomers).

During the Rio General Assembly we held the following meetings of the Working Group: a Business Meeting, a Science Meeting on “The Development of Aperture Synthesis Imaging in Radio Astronomy”, and a Science Meeting on “Recent Research”.

Six early maturing inbreds from maturity group I of Indian cauliflowers were selected and diallol crosses were made to study the combining ability of inbreds and identify the desirable parent(s) for hybridization. Seven characters, i.e. curd weight, curd size index, maturity, plant height, number of leaves, leaf size index and plant spread were studied both in F1 and F2 generations. Though the estimates of both general and specific combining ability variances were highly significant for all the characters, the magnitudes of general combining ability variances were higher than that of specific combining ability variances. The performance of the inbreds was in general associated with their general combining ability effects. The inbred 103 was found to be best combiner for all the characters and the cross 105 x 108 showed maximum yield potential.

In a field study at exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values of 11 and 32, subjecting a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop to waterlogging for 1, 2, 4 and 6 days at the time of first irrigation (25-day-old plants), significantly reduced tillering and plant height, delayed ear emergence and resulted in 8, 17, 27 and 39% reduction in grain yield, respectively. Waterlogging decreased oxygen diffusion rate (ODR), restricted root growth and reduced ion uptake, especially of N, P, K., Ca, Mg and Zn, and led to higher absorption of Na, Fe and Mn. However, the effects of waterlogging were more pronounced at higher alkalinity values. The results indicated that, to ensure optimum wheat yield in alkaline soils, waterlogging must be avoided.

A field study in India in 1987 evaluated the effects of flooding at either tillering (25 days after sowing) or flowering (50 days after sowing) or at both on growth, yield and mineral composition of Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke in a moderately sodic soil (pH 8·5, exchangeable Na 18%).

Flooding for 1, 2, 4 or 6 days at tillering or flowering significantly reduced tillering, plant height, dry matter content, ear length and 1000-grain weight and resulted in a 6·3, 150, 21·6 or 26·6% reduction in grain yield, respectively. Flooding decreased oxygen diffusion rate, restricted root growth and decreased ion uptake, especially of N, P, K and Zn, and led to higher absorption of Na, Fe and Mn. The detrimental effects were greater when the crop was flooded at both stages.

In a field experiment with transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) during the wet season of 1990 at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India, the effects of four rates of N application (0, 80, 120 and 160 kg N/ha), two methods of urea application (before puddling, M,, and after puddling, M2) and two presubmergence periods (none, S0, and 1 week, S1,) were evaluated on ammonia volatilization losses in a sodic soil (pH 9·0, exchangeable sodium 29%). Cumulative ammonia volatilization losses were 1·43, 18·00, 22·54 and 28·29 kg/ha following applications of 0, 80, 120 and 160 kg N/a respectively; 17·08 and 18·01 kg/ha for treatments M1, and M2 respectively; and 18·63 and 16·34 kg/ha for treatments S0 and S1 respectively. Flood-water NH4+ and pH increased during days 1–4 and then there was a sharp decline on days 4–9, followed by a gradual decline. The highest flood-water NH4+ and pH values were found for the treatments which received urea at the rate of 160 kg N/ha, after puddling (M2) and with no presubmergence period (S0).

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India during 1992/93 to evaluate the effects of rates and methods of manganese application on the yield and nutrition of wheat on a reclaimed and intensively cropped Mn-deficient sodic soil (pH = 8·7, exchangeable sodium percentage = 18 and DTPA-extractable Mn = 2·7 mg kg-1). There were eight treatments which consisted of a control (no Mn application), three rates of 25, 50 and 100 kg MnSO4. H2O ha-1 each either as a basal or a top-dressing at first irrigation or a foliar spray of 1·0% MnSO4.H2O at crown root initiation (CRI), tillering and jointing stages. Grain and straw yield of wheat increased significantly with increasing rates of Mn application. A foliar spray of Mn produced a significantly higher yield than 25 and 50 kg MnSO4. H2O ha-1 applied either as a basal or a top-dressing but similar to that from 100 kg MnSO4.H2O ha-1. Efficiency of Mn was higher with a foliar spray (82·6 kg grain kg-1 Mn) than with soil application (4·4–6·4 kg grain kg-1 Mn). Application of Mn increased its concentration in the crop but decreased Fe and Cu crop concentrations. Grain yield had a significant positive correlation with the Mn content of the grain (r = 0·72) and straw (r = 0·78). Grain yield was positively correlated with 1000-grain weight (r = 0·90). Recovery of applied Mn ranged from 28·1 to 33·0%.

The Working Group was formed at the IAU XXV General Assembly in Sydney, 2003, as a joint initiative of Commissions 40 Radio Astronomy and Commission 41 History of Astronomy, in order to assemble a master list of surviving historically-significant radio telescopes and associated instrumentation found worldwide, and document the technical specifications and scientific achievements of these instruments. In addition, it would maintain an on-going bibliography of publications on the history of radio astronomy, and monitor other developments relating to the history of radio astronomy (including the deaths of pioneering radio astronomers).

Field experiments during the winter seasons of 1986–7 and 1987–8 studied the effect of three sub-surface drain spacings and three levels of phosphorus on the yield, chemical composition and uptake of nutrients by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). The number of siliquae m-2 and seed yield decreased with increasing drain spacing. Application of phosphorus increased seed yield and yield attributes. The concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the seed and stalks decreased and those of sodium, calcium and magnesium increased with increasing drain spacing, but application of phosphorus increased the concentration of these nutrients in the seed and stalks. Absence of phosphorus in the drain water effluent and the level of available phosphorus in the soil profile after crop harvest indicated very slow movement of phosphorus, most of which was retained in the top 30 cm of soil.

Gyps vulture populations across the Indian subcontinent collapsed in the 1990s and continue to decline. Repeated population surveys showed that the rate of decline was so rapid that elevated mortality of adult birds must be a key demographic mechanism. Post mortem examination showed that the majority of dead vultures had visceral gout, due to kidney damage. The realisation that diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug potentially nephrotoxic to birds, had become a widely used veterinary medicine led to the identification of diclofenac poisoning as the cause of the decline. Surveys of diclofenac contamination of domestic ungulate carcasses, combined with vulture population modelling, show that the level of contamination is sufficient for it to be the sole cause of the decline. Testing on vultures of meloxicam, an alternative NSAID for livestock treatment, showed that it did not harm them at concentrations likely to be encountered by wild birds and would be a safe replacement for diclofenac. The manufacture of diclofenac for veterinary use has been banned, but its sale has not. Consequently, it may be some years before diclofenac is removed from the vultures' food supply. In the meantime, captive populations of three vulture species have been established to provide sources of birds for future reintroduction programmes.