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Phytophthora cinnamomi is a phytopathogen that causes extensive damage in different crops, and therefore, produces important economic losses all around the world. Chemical fungicides are a key factor for the control of this disease. However, ecological and environmental considerations, as well as the appearance of strains that are resistant to commercial fungicides, have prompted the quest for new antifungal agents which are of low ecological impact. In this work, a series of new 2-allylphenol derivatives was synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by FT-IR, NMR, and MS. Some of the synthesized compounds, more specifically nitro derivatives, exhibit strong growth inhibition of P. cinnamomi with EC50 as low as 10.0 µg/mL. This level of activity is similar to that exhibited by METALAXYL MZ 58 WP, a commonly-used commercial fungicide; therefore, these compounds might be of agricultural interest due to their potential use as fungicides against P. cinnamomi. The results indicate that this activity depends on the chemical structures of the 2-allylphenol derivatives, and that it is strongly enhanced in molecules where nitro and hydroxyl groups adopt a -para configuration. These effects are discussed in terms of the electronic distribution of the aromatic ring induced by substituent groups.

Botrytis cinerea is a worldwide spread fungus that causes the grey mold disease, which is considered the most important factor in postharvest losses in fresh fruit crops. Consequently, the control of gray mold is a matter of current and relevant interest for agricultural industries. In this work, a series of phenylpropanoids derived from eugenol were synthesized and characterized. Their effects on the mycelial growth of a virulent and multi-resistant isolate of B. cinerea (PN2) have been evaluated and IC50 values for the most active compounds range between 31–95 ppm. The antifungal activity exhibited by these compounds is strongly related to their chemical structure, i.e., increasing activity has been obtained by isomerization of the double bond or introduction of a nitro group on the aromatic ring. Based on the relationship between the fungicide activities and chemical structure, a mechanism of action is proposed. Finally, the activity of these compounds is higher than that reported for the commercial fungicide BC-1000 that is currently employed to combat this disease. Thus, our results suggest that these compounds are potential candidates to be used in the design of new and effective control with inspired natural compounds of this pathogen.

While restorative justice has been the topic of much research, a specific type of program included in restorative justice, Impact of Crime (IOC) on Victims programs, has not been widely studied or assessed for effectiveness. This study examines IOC on Victims Curriculum Development Programs. Offenders from programs in California, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia were participants in this research. A four-state evaluation methodology was developed in order to assess the effectiveness of these programs in educating offenders about victims’ right and victim facts, as well as increasing their sensitivity to victims’ difficulties. The findings in this evaluation lend support to previous studies, indicating efficacy for IOC programs. Suggestions for future research are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent frequently cited treatises by Goldstein, Freud, and Solnit have overemphasized family autonomy and disregarded the positive aspects of social interdependence. A privacy-seeking ideology can constrict the support and feedback functions of social networks. Rather than focusing on the "best" way to break up families when problems become severe, emphasis should be placed on preventive services at a mcuh earlier point. Public policy should be directed toward empowering the community as a family support system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]