Search

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is a rare, dominantly inherited multisystem developmental disorder characterized by highly variable manifestations of growth and developmental delays, upper limb involvement, hypertrichosis, cardiac, gastrointestinal, craniofacial, and other systemic features. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding cohesin complex structural subunits and regulatory proteins (NIPBL, SMC1A, SMC3, HDAC8, and RAD21) are the major pathogenic contributors to CdLS. Heterozygous or hemizygous variants in the genes encoding these five proteins have been found to be contributory to CdLS, with variants in NIPBL accounting for the majority (>60%) of cases, and the only gene identified to date that results in the severe or classic form of CdLS when mutated. Pathogenic variants in cohesin genes other than NIPBL tend to result in a less severe phenotype. Causative variants in additional genes, such as ANKRD11, EP300, AFF4, TAF1, and BRD4, can cause a CdLS-like phenotype. The common role that these genes, and others, play as critical regulators of developmental transcriptional control has led to the conditions they cause being referred to as disorders of transcriptional regulation (or "DTRs"). Here, we report the results of a comprehensive molecular analysis in a cohort of 716 probands with typical and atypical CdLS in order to delineate the genetic contribution of causative variants in cohesin complex genes as well as novel candidate genes, genotype-phenotype correlations, and the utility of genome sequencing in understanding the mutational landscape in this population.

Debate about what proportion of the Earth to protect often overshadows the question of how nature should be conserved and by whom. We present a systematic review and narrative synthesis of 169 publications investigating how different forms of governance influence conservation outcomes, paying particular attention to the role played by Indigenous peoples and local communities. We find a stark contrast between the outcomes produced by externally controlled conservation, and those produced by locally controlled efforts. Crucially, most studies presenting positive outcomes for both well-being and conservation come from cases where Indigenous peoples and local communities play a central role, such as when they have substantial influence over decision making or when local institutions regulating tenure form a recognized part of governance. In contrast, when interventions are controlled by external organizations and involve strategies to change local practices and supersede customary institutions, they tend to result in relatively ineffective conservation at the same time as producing negative social outcomes. Our findings suggest that equitable conservation, which empowers and supports the environmental stewardship of Indigenous peoples and local communities represents the primary pathway to effective long-term conservation of biodiversity, particularly when upheld in wider law and policy. Whether for protected areas in biodiversity hotspots or restoration of highly modified ecosystems, whether involving highly traditional or diverse and dynamic local communities, conservation can become more effective through an increased focus on governance type and quality, and fostering solutions that reinforce the role, capacity, and rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. We detail how to enact progressive governance transitions through recommendations for conservation policy, with immediate relevance for how to achieve the next decadeâ s conservation targets under the U

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a polyphagous pest, widely distributed in diverse agroecosystems across the globe. Several bioagents including predators and parasitoids from diverse groups have been recorded against whitefly worldwide. A field survey was conducted during 2016 and 2017 in different cotton growing districts of Punjab to record the natural enemies associated with whitefly. Sixteen species of natural enemies were recorded, including 7 species of insect predators; 2 species of parasitoids and 7 species of spiders. Coccinella septempunctata Linneaus, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) and Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius), Serangium parcesetosum Sicard, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson), Zanchius breviceps (Wagner), Geocoris sp. and spiders were most commonly recorded predators. Out of these, Chrysoperla was the predominant species. Encarsia lutea (Masi) and Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) were the two parasitoids that emerged from whitefly pupae. The mean parasitization of whitefly by Encarsia spp. in different cotton growing areas of Punjab was 5.20 per cent (range = 1.5 to 9.1 %).

Effectiveness of bioformulations was tested against pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in mungbean during Kharif 2015 and 2016 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Among the bioformulations the per cent pod damage and yield varied from 21.43 to 24.49 per cent and 5.50 to 8.53 q/ha respectively. During Kharif 2016, per cent pod damage and yield varied from 12.00 to 15.69 per cent and 6.30 to 9.33 q/ha respectivley. The chemical treatment Chlorpyrifos 20 EC (3.75 l/ha) was most effective in terms of pod damage reduction and yield of mungbean. The Bt formulations PDBC-BT1 and NBAIR-BTG4 (2%) and both doses of Delfin WG (1 and 2Kg/ha) were equally effective in controlling the H. armigera pod damage when compared to Chlorpyrifos 20EC. Myco Jaal (commercial formulation of Beauveria bassiana) was not effective in controlling the pod borer as compared to B. thuringiensis formulations in mungbean. The B. thuringiensis formulations Delfin (commercial) and PDBC/NBAIR (2%) effectively reduced the pod damage by H. armigera in mungbean and can be integrated in IPM programme for pulse crop protection.

Effectiveness of bioformulations was tested against pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in mungbean during Kharif 2015 and 2016 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Among the bioformulations the per cent pod damage and yield varied from 21.43 to 24.49 per cent and 5.50 to 8.53 q/ha respectively. During Kharif 2016, per cent pod damage and yield varied from 12.00 to 15.69 per cent and 6.30 to 9.33 q/ha respectivley. The chemical treatment Chlorpyrifos 20 EC (3.75 l/ha) was most effective in terms of pod damage reduction and yield of mungbean. The Bt formulations PDBC-BT1 and NBAIR-BTG4 (2%) and both doses of Delfin WG (1 and 2Kg/ha) were equally effective in controlling the H. armigera pod damage when compared to Chlorpyrifos 20EC. Myco Jaal (commercial formulation of Beauveria bassiana) was not effective in controlling the pod borer as compared to B. thuringiensis formulations in mungbean. The B. thuringiensis formulations Delfin (commercial) and PDBC/NBAIR (2%) effectively reduced the pod damage by H. armigera in mungbean and can be integrated in IPM programme for pulse crop protection.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a polyphagous pest, widely distributed in diverse agroecosystems across the globe. Several bioagents including predators and parasitoids from diverse groups have been recorded against whitefly worldwide. A field survey was conducted during 2016 and 2017 in different cotton growing districts of Punjab to record the natural enemies associated with whitefly. Sixteen species of natural enemies were recorded, including 7 species of insect predators; 2 species of parasitoids and 7 species of spiders. Coccinella septempunctata Linneaus, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) and Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius), Serangium parcesetosum Sicard, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson), Zanchius breviceps (Wagner), Geocoris sp. and spiders were most commonly recorded predators. Out of these, Chrysoperla was the predominant species. Encarsia lutea (Masi) and Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) were the two parasitoids that emerged from whitefly pupae. The mean parasitization of whitefly by Encarsia spp. in different cotton growing areas of Punjab was 5.20 per cent (range = 1.5 to 9.1 %).

© 2019 by the authors. In 2016, the United Nations (UN) launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for sustainable development and a sustainable future. However, the global challenge has been to engage, connect, and empower communities, particularly young people, to both understand and deliver the 17 SDGs. In this study, we show the benefit of a strategic planning-based experiential learning tool, the Young Persons' Plan for the Planet (YPPP) Program, to improve the underlying competencies of Australian and Mauritian adolescents in increasing understanding and delivering the SDGs. The study was conducted with 300 middle to senior high school students, in 25 schools throughout Australia and Mauritius, over an 18-month period. The intervention included the development of research, strategic planning, management, STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, Maths) and global competency skills in the students, to enable them to build and deliver regional and national SDG plans. Research methods included pre- and post-intervention testing of the attitudes of these students to sustainable development outcomes and compared these attitudes to subsets of scientists and the Australian national population. Our results, from both qualitative and quantitative evidence, demonstrate significant improvements in these adolescents' appreciation of, and attitudes towards, the SDGs and sustainable outcomes, across a range of key parameters. The results from the 76 students who attended the International Conference in Mauritius in December 2018 demonstrate significant improvements in mean levels of understanding, and attitudes of the students towards the SDGs awareness (+85%), understanding/engagement (+75%), motivation (+57%), and action orientation/empowerment (+66%). These changes were tested across a range of socio-demographic, geographic, and cultural parameters, with consistent results. These findings have significant implications for the challenge of sustainabl