Complex Effects of a Land-Use Gradient on Pollinators and Natural Enemies: Natural Habitats Mitigate the Effects of Aphid Infestation on Pollination Services

Pollinators and natural enemies are essential ecosystem service providers influenced by land-use and by interactions between them. However, the understanding of the combined impacts of these factors on pollinator and natural enemy activities and their ultimate effects on plant productivity remains limited. We investigated the effects of local and landscape vegetation characteristics and the presence of herbivorous pests on pollination and biological control services and their combined influence on phytometer seed set. The study was conducted in a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem, encompassing ten shrubland plots spanning a land-use gradient. Within each plot, we placed caged and uncaged potted phytometer plants that were either aphid-infested or aphid-free. We quantified insect flower visitation, aphid predation and parasitism rates, and fruit and seed set. We found scale-dependent responses of pollinators and natural enemies to land-use characteristics. Flower species richness had a positive impact on aphid parasitism rates but a negative effect on pollinator activity. Notably, we found a more pronounced positive effect of natural areas on pollinator activity in aphid-infested compared to aphid-free plants, indicating a potentially critical role of natural habitats in mitigating the adverse effects of aphid infestation on pollination services. These results highlight the complex and interactive effects of land-use on pollinators and natural enemies, with significant implications for plant productivity.

Life-table analyses for the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): effects of plant genotype

BACKGROUND

Host plant resistance plays an important role in integrated pest management programs. Crop resistance assessments commonly focus on only a single dependent variable, such as larval survival/plant damage, which limits the ability to appreciate the impact of host plants on pest populations in the full sense. Therefore, we performed life-table analyses for tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta, on 19 Solanum lycopersicum genotypes and a wild Solanum habrochaites accession. These analyses assess the ability of the pest to attain a high population density on different tomato genotypes. Based on the resulting ranking of tomato resistance at the vegetative stage (45-day-old plants), we tested the resistance of six selected genotypes at the reproductive stage (4-month-old plants).

RESULTS

T. absoluta performance was significantly inferior on vegetative-stage S. habrochaites plants (LA 1777); time taken for the first instars to mine the leaves (5 ± 0.14 days), development time of early- and late-stage larvae (8.8 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.2 days, respectively), pupal period (11.2 ± 0.58 days), and total developmental time (29.4 ± 0.83 days) were significantly longer, fecundity was significantly lower (18.66 ± 7.24 days), and the highest total mortality (63.33%) also recorded compared with other genotypes, resulting in the lowest net reproductive rate (R₀ ) (11.20 ± 2.51). For the six selected genotypes, the ranking of plant resistance did not change between plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that of 20 screened tomato genotypes, LA 1777 and EC-620343 are the least suitable hosts for T. absoluta to establish fast-growing populations, and thus can be employed in integrated T. absoluta management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of apocarotenoid volatiles from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) induced by insect herbivores and characterization of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene

Plant apocarotenoids have been shown to have a diverse biological role in herbivore-plant interactions. Despite their importance, little is known about herbivores' effect on apocarotenoid emissions in Lactuca sativa. In this study, we examined changes in apocarotenoid emissions in lettuce leaves after infestation by two insects, viz., Spodoptera littoralis larvae and Myzus persicae aphids. We found that β-ionone and β-cyclocitral showed higher concentrations than the other apocarotenoids, with a significant increase as per the intensity of infestation of both herbivore species. Furthermore, we performed functional characterization of Lactuca sativa carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 1 (LsCCD1) genes. Three LsCCD1 genes were overexpressed in E. coli strains, and recombinant proteins were assayed for cleavage activity on an array of carotenoid substrates. The LsCCD1 protein cleaved β-carotene at the 9,10 (9',10') positions producing β-ionone. The transcript analysis of LsCCD1 genes revealed differential expression patterns under varying levels of herbivores' infestation, but the results were inconsistent with the pattern of β-ionone concentrations. Our results suggest that LsCCD1 is involved in the production of β-ionone, but other regulatory factors might be involved in its induction in response to herbivory. These results provide new insights into apocarotenoid production in response to insect herbivory in lettuce.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03511-4.

Negative Effects of Phthorimaea absoluta-Resistant Tomato Genotypes on the Zoophytophagous Biocontrol Agent, Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Complex interactions between host plant resistance (HPR) and biological control agents, particularly omnivorous predators, can shape the outcome of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. However, such interactions are seldom explored during plant breeding programs. Therefore, in the present study, we compared the performance of the omnivorous biological control agent Orius laevigatus on six tomato genotypes with different levels of resistance to the tomato leaf miner Phthorimaea absoluta. We found that the O. laevigatus fitness components (i.e., egg deposition, egg hatching rate, and duration of egg, early nymphal, late nymphal stages, and their survival) were inferior on the wild resistant genotypes (LA 716 and LA 1777) in comparison to the resistant domesticated genotype EC 620343 and the susceptible genotypes (EC 705464 and EC 519819). It appears that the adverse effects of tomato genotypes on O. laevigatus are determined mainly by glandular and non-glandular trichome densities on the leaves. Comparison of O. laevigatus response to the tested tomato cultivars to that of P. absoluta revealed significant positive correlations in duration of the egg stages, development time of early and late larval stages, and overall immature mortality in both species. It appears, therefore, that defensive plant traits operate in a similar way on the pest and its predator in the system. Overall, the present study of the tomato-P. absoluta-O. laevigatus system provides experimental evidence for the need to optimize pest management by employing intermediate levels of crop resistance together with biological control agents.

Optimal foraging strategy to balance mixed diet by generalist consumers: a simulation model

Animals of a wide range of taxonomic groups mix various food sources to achieve a nutritionally balanced diet. The strategies they adopt to balance multiple nutrients depend on their availability in the environment. Behavioural and physiological adaptations to forage for nutrient-differing food sources have rarely been investigated in respect to nutrient availability in the environment. We developed a simulation model to explore the strategy consumers should adopt in response to the abundance of two nutritionally complementary food types. Results show that (1) consumers should invest more effort in detecting the scarce resource; (2) there is an optimized negative relationship between effort foragers should allocate to find the two types of food; (3) consumers should exhibit higher selectivity when the proportion of food types in the habitat deviates from their optimal ratio in the diet. These findings have important implications for pest control using predators that benefit from plant-based food supplements.

Rickettsia association with two Macrolophus (Heteroptera: Miridae) species: A comparative study of phylogenies and within-host localization patterns

Many arthropods host bacterial symbionts, some of which are known to influence host nutrition and diet breadth. Omnivorous bugs of the genus Macrolophus (Heteroptera: Miridae) are mainly predatory, but may also feed on plants. The species M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma (=M. caliginosus) are key natural enemies of various economically important agricultural pests, and are known to harbor two Rickettsia species, R. bellii and R. limoniae. To test for possible involvement of symbiotic bacteria in the nutritional ecology of these biocontrol agents, the abundance, phylogeny, and distribution patterns of the two Rickettsia species in M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma were studied. Both of the Rickettsia species were found in 100 and 84% of all tested individuals of M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that a co-evolutionary process between Macrolophus species and their Rickettsia is infrequent. Localization of R. bellii and R. limoniae has been detected in both female and male of M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma. FISH analysis of female gonads revealed the presence of both Rickettsia species in the germarium of both bug species. Each of the two Rickettsia species displayed a unique distribution pattern along the digestive system of the bugs, mostly occupying separate epithelial cells, unknown caeca-like organs, the Malpighian tubules and the salivary glands. This pattern differed between the two Macrolophus species: in M. pygmaeus, R. limoniae was distributed more broadly along the host digestive system and R. bellii was located primarily in the foregut and midgut. In contrast, in M. melanotoma, R. bellii was more broadly distributed along the digestive system than the clustered R. limoniae. Taken together, these results suggest that Rickettsia may have a role in the nutritional ecology of their plant-and prey-consuming hosts.

[Continuous Glucose Monitoring. Which is the evidence in Children?]

Diabetes Technology refers to the software or hardware that is designed to facilitate and improve the quality of life of the patient with diabetes Mellitus. A non-systematic literature search was carried out which included articles in English and Spanish about the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in pediatric patients with Type 1 diabetes Mellitus. This review summarizes the performance of the CGM, its accuracy, and classification. A chronological synthesis of the general evidence up to June 2020 was done including both adult and pediatric studies. Aspects of metabolic control were specified on the use of real-time and intermittent / flash CGM, such as reduction of HbA1c levels, reduction in frequency and severity of hypoglycemia, decrease in episodes of ketoacidosis and well being, and variables such as the Frequency of CGM use, which have been related to the improvement of the objectives of diabetes control. This review presents a chronological summary of the evidence for flash glucose monitoring in studies where only pediatric population is included and provides an account of diabetes technology recommendations that apply to pediatric population from the Ame rican Diabetes Association 2020 guideline, the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes 2018 recommendations.

Transitioning a cardiovascular health and rehabilitation programme to a virtual platform during covid 19

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

OnBehalf

Our Hearts Our Minds

Purpose

Can a virtual cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme be as effective as face-to-face programme.

Background

The Our Hearts Our Minds (OHOM) prevention and rehabilitation programme rapidly transitioned to a virtual platform in the covid era.  Here we compare if a virtual programme potentially could offer the same standard of the nursing intervention (education, smoking cessation, medical risk factor management and psychosocial health) as the previous face to face programme

Methods

Both the initial assessment (IA) and end of programme (EOP) assessments were conducted via telephone/video as per patient preference. The following measures were recorded at both time points (home blood pressure (BP) monitors were provided)

Smoking (self report) BP/Heart rate, Lipids/HbA1c (facilitated by phlebotomy hub), cardio protective drugs (doses, adherence), Hospital Anxiety and Depression score, EuroQoL

Nursing Intervention Smoking cessation counselling and pharmacotherapy where appropriate

Weekly meeting with cardiologist to optimise BP and lipid management and up titration cardio protective drugs

Bimonthly virtual coaching consultation for monitoring/goal resetting

Bimonthly group video education sessions

Results

From April to November 2020, of the 432 referrals received 400 were eligible with 377 accepting the offer of an IA (94% response rate). 262 have had an IA with the remaining 115 awaiting an assessment date.  Of the completed IA’s 257 were willing to attend the programme (98% uptake).  120 had been offered an end of programme assessment with 114 attending (96% of those offered). The results for the virtual programme were then compared to the same period one year previously when the programme was fully face to face and are outlined in the table below.

The comparison of results delivered via remote delivery are remarkably similar to those achieved in the previous year delivered via face to face.

Conclusion

Initial data has shown that virtual delivery of the nursing component of the OHOM prevention/rehabilitation programme was highly acceptable to patients and was as effective as that of the traditional face to face service.

Table 1 below exhibits the clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Ecological and economic effects of COVID-19 in marine fisheries from the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic starting at the end of 2019 impacted many human activities. We analysed the abrupt reduction in fishing pressure of the mixed small-scale and industrial fisheries in the Catalan Sea, Spanish Mediterranean, and resulting ecological and economic impacts during the first half of 2020. We used detailed fisheries data on fishing effort, landings, revenues, landings per unit of effort (LPUE) and revenues per unit of effort from January to June 2020, and complemented it with the outcomes of a marine ecosystem model. We analysed data from 2017 to 2019 and compared these to 2020 to characterise changes in the fishing activity from before (January-February) to during (March-May) the lockdown. Fishing effort during the lockdown dropped by 34%, landings were down by 49% and revenues declined by 39% in comparison with the same period in 2017-2019. LPUEs did not show significant changes during the lockdown, with the exception of shrimp species, especially the deep-water rose shrimp, which significantly increased in LPUE during March-May. These increases may reflect positive effects of reduced fishing on fast-growing species. Positive effects mostly disappeared in June 2020 with the relaxation of the lockdown. In agreement, the ecological simulations projected slight short-term increases of biomass for fast-growing, small-sized organisms during 2020, which quickly vanished when fishing resumed, and which had no detectable ecosystem effects. Three additional alternative ecological simulations illustrated that to substantially recover commercial species and ensure ecosystem sustainability in the study area, a sustained and notable reduction of fishing activity would be needed.

Lamotrigine induced Brugada-pattern in a patient with genetic epilepsy associated with a novel variant in SCN9A

BACKGROUND

A 30-year-old man presented with intellectual disability associated with epilepsy. The epilepsy was initially treated with sodium valproate and since he was 28 years-old with lamotrigine. With the addition of lamotrigine, a pattern of Brugada syndrome appeared on the electrocardiogram. The family history was positive for epilepsy from the motheŕs side, who had never been treated with lamotrigine.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the genetic cause of the intellectual disability, epilepsy and Brugada syndrome of the patient and try to establish a possible correlation between the genetic background and the Brugada syndrome pattern under lamotrigine treatment.

METHODS

A standard karyotype, array comparative genomic hybridization and two different NGS panels have done to the index case to identify the genetic causes of the intellectual disability, epilepsy and Brugada syndrome pattern.

RESULTS

Genetic analyses in the family identified a de novo duplication of 1.3 Mb in 8p21.3 as well as two novel heterozygous rare variants in SCN9A and AKAP9 genes, both inherited from the mother.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that in this family the SCN9A variant was responsible for the epileptic syndrome. In addition, given that SCN9A is lightly expressed in the heart tissue, we postulate that this SCN9A variant, alone or in combination with AKAP9 variant, might be responsible for the Brugada pattern when challenged by lamotrigine.

Future scenarios of marine resources and ecosystem conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean under the impacts of fishing, alien species and sea warming

Using a temporal-dynamic calibrated Ecosim food web model, we assess the effects of future changes on marine resources and ecosystem conditions of the Israeli Mediterranean continental shelf. This region has been intensely invaded by Indo-Pacific species. The region is exposed to extreme environmental conditions, is subjected to high rates of climate change and has experienced intense fishing pressure. We test the impacts of a new set of fishing regulations currently being implemented, a continued increase in sea temperatures following IPCC projections, and a continued increase in alien species biomass. We first investigate the impacts of the stressors separately, and then we combine them to evaluate their cumulative effects. Our results show overall potential future benefits of fishing effort reductions, and detrimental impacts of increasing sea temperature and increasing biomass of alien species. Cumulative scenarios suggest that the beneficial effects of fisheries reduction may be dampened by the impact of increasing sea temperature and alien species when acting together. These results illustrate the importance of including stressors other than fisheries, such as climate change and biological invasions, in an ecosystem-based management approach. These results support the need for reducing local and regional stressors, such as fishing and biological invasions, in order to promote resilience to sea warming.

Photo-identification as a tool to study small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula

Photo-identification (photo-ID) was tested as a means to identify individual small-spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula. The spotting pattern of the caudal region of S. canicula was used for the tests and revealed that photo-ID is an efficient method to identify individuals. Photo-ID is logistically simple, making it a potential alternative to traditional tagging to provide information on the distribution patterns and population dynamics of S. canicula and related species.

Untangling surface oxygen exchange effects in YBa2Cu3O6+x thin films by electrical conductivity relaxation

The kinetics of oxygen incorporation (in-diffusion process) and excorporation (out-diffusion process), in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (YBCO) epitaxial thin films prepared using the chemical solution deposition (CSD) methodology by the trifluoroacetate route, was investigated by electrical conductivity relaxation measurements. We show that the oxygenation kinetics of YBCO films is limited by the surface exchange process of oxygen molecules prior to bulk diffusion into the films. The analysis of the temperature and oxygen partial pressure influence on the oxygenation kinetics has drawn a consistent picture of the oxygen surface exchange process enabling us to define the most likely rate determining step. We have also established a strategy to accelerate the oxygenation kinetics at low temperatures based on the catalytic influence of Ag coatings thus allowing us to decrease the oxygenation temperature in the YBCO thin films.

Estimating the effect of plant-provided food supplements on pest consumption by omnivorous predators: lessons from two coccinellid beetles

BACKGROUND

Plant-provided food supplements can influence biological pest control by omnivorous predators in two counteracting ways: they can (i) enhance predator populations, but (ii) reduce pest consumption by individual predators. Yet the majority of studies address only one of these aspects. Here, we first tested the influence of canola (Brassica napus L.) pollen supplements on the life history of two ladybeetle species: Hoppodamia variegata (Goeze) and Coccinella septempunctata (L.). We then developed a theoretical model to simulate total pest consumption in the presence and absence of pollen supplements.

RESULTS

Supplementing a prey diet with canola pollen increased H. variegata larval survival from 50 to 82%, and C. septempunctata female oviposition by 1.6-fold. Model simulations revealed a greater benefit of pollen supplements when relying on C. septempunctata for pest suppression than on H. variegata.

CONCLUSION

For these two predators, the tested pollen serves as an essential supplement to a diet of prey. However, the benefit of a mixed prey-pollen diet was not always sufficient to overcome individual decrease in pest consumption. Taken together, our study highlights the importance of addressing both positive and negative roles of plant-provided food supplements in considering the outcome for biological control efforts that rely on omnivorous predators. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Prey and Pollen Food Choice Depends on Previous Diet in an Omnivorous Predatory Mite

The time allocated by omnivorous predators to consuming prey versus plant-provided foods (e.g., pollen) directly influences their efficacy as biocontrol agents of agricultural pests. Nonetheless, diet shifting between these two very different food sources remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that previous diet composition influences subsequent choice of prey and plant food types. We tested this hypothesis by observing the foraging choices of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), which were first maintained on either prey (broad mites) or corn pollen, and then offered familiar and unfamiliar foods. A. swirskii exhibited strong fidelity to familiar food, whether prey or pollen, suggesting there are physiological or behavioral costs involved in shifting between such different foods. Results illustrate the importance of previous diet for subsequent pest consumption by omnivorous natural enemies.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a biomarker of acute-on-chronic liver failure and prognosis in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome that occurs in cirrhosis characterized by organ failure(s) and high mortality rate. There are no biomarkers of ACLF. The LCN2 gene and its product, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), are upregulated in experimental models of liver injury and cultured hepatocytes as a result of injury by toxins or proinflammatory cytokines, particularly Interleukin-6. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NGAL could be a biomarker of ACLF and whether LCN2 gene may be upregulated in the liver in ACLF.

METHODS

We analyzed urine and plasma NGAL levels in 716 patients hospitalized for complications of cirrhosis, 148 with ACLF. LCN2 expression was assessed in liver biopsies from 29 additional patients with decompensated cirrhosis with and without ACLF.

RESULTS

Urine NGAL was markedly increased in ACLF vs. no ACLF patients (108(35-400) vs. 29(12-73)μg/g creatinine; p<0.001) and was an independent predictive factor of ACLF; the independent association persisted after adjustment for kidney function or exclusion of variables present in ACLF definition. Urine NGAL was also an independent predictive factor of 28day transplant-free mortality together with MELD score and leukocyte count (AUROC 0.88(0.83-0.92)). Urine NGAL improved significantly the accuracy of MELD in predicting prognosis. The LCN2 gene was markedly upregulated in the liver of patients with ACLF. Gene expression correlated directly with serum bilirubin and INR (r=0.79; p<0.001 and r=0.67; p<0.001), MELD (r=0.68; p<0.001) and Interleukin-6 (r=0.65; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

NGAL is a biomarker of ACLF and prognosis and correlates with liver failure and systemic inflammation. There is remarkable overexpression of LCN2 gene in the liver in ACLF syndrome.

LAY SUMMARY

Urine NGAL is a biomarker of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). NGAL is a protein that may be expressed in several tissues in response to injury. The protein is filtered by the kidneys due to its small size and can be measured in the urine. Ariza, Graupera and colleagues found in a series of 716 patients with cirrhosis that urine NGAL was markedly increased in patients with ACLF and correlated with prognosis. Moreover, gene coding NGAL was markedly overexpressed in the liver tissue in ACLF.

Intraguild interactions among specialised pollen feeders and generalist phytoseiids and their effect on citrus rust mite suppression

BACKGROUND

Antagonistic interactions among predators with shared prey are thought to hamper their ability to suppress herbivores. Our aim was to quantify intraguild interactions in omnivorous predatory mite assemblages in the presence of pollen, and assess their effect on pest populations. We focused on the following naturally occurring phytoseiid species in Israeli citrus orchards and their ability to suppress a key pest, the citrus rust mite (CRM) Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Eriophyidae): the generalists Amblyseius swirskii and Typhlodromus athiasae and the specialised pollen feeders Iphiseius degenerans, Euseius scutalis, E. stipulatus and E. victoriensis. Evaluations were performed on two spatial scales, tree seedlings and leaf discs.

RESULTS

On seedlings, experiments were conducted to quantify the interactions between predators in the presence of pollen and its effects on CRM suppression. On leaf discs, intraguild interactions were studied between pairs of phytoseiid species in the presence of pollen without CRM. On seedlings, the specialised pollen predators were more effective at suppressing CRM populations than the generalist predators.

CONCLUSION

In most cases, the more aggressive intraguild predator was the specialised pollen feeder. Similarly, leaf-disc experiments suggest that in these interactions the specialised pollen feeders tend to be the intraguild predators more often than the intraguild prey.

Efficacy of indigenous predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) against the citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Acari: Eriophyidae): augmentation and conservation biological control in Israeli citrus orchards

The citrus rust mite (CRM), Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Acari: Eriophyidae) is a cosmopolitan key pest of citrus, inflicting severe economic damage if not controlled. In Israel, CRM damages all citrus cultivars. International regulation and increasing control failures of CRM led growers to seek sustainable biological control solutions such as acarine biological control agents. Laboratory studies conducted in Israel have indicated that the indigenous predator species Amblyseius swirskii, Iphiseius degenerans, Typhlodromus athiasae and Euseius scutalis (all Acari: Phytoseiidae) can potentially control CRM. Our general objective in the present study was to bridge the gap of knowledge between laboratory studies and the lack of control efficacy of these species in commercial orchards. Predator augmentation in the field showed that although predator populations increased immediately following releases they later decreased and did not affect CRM populations. When A. swirskii augmentation was combined with a series of maize pollen applications, A. swirskii populations were enhanced substantially and continuously but again CRM populations were not affected. Growth chamber studies with CRM-infested seedlings, with or without a maize pollen supplement, indicated that pollen provisioning led to population increase of E. scutalis and A. swirskii but only E. scutalis significantly lowered CRM populations. Control with E. scutalis was confirmed in the field on CRM infested seedlings with pollen provisioned by adjacent flowering Rhodes grass. While experiments in mature citrus orchard showed that pollen supplement usually increased predator populations they also indicated that other factors such as intraguild interactions and pesticide treatments should be taken into account when devising CRM biological control programs.

Adnexal Glands Chemistry of Messor ebeninus Forel (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Anabasine is the major volatile product in the poison gland exudate of Messor ebeninus, acting as a defensive compound. Exudates of the poison gland also contain minor, yet unidentified, components that are possibly responsible for the alarm behavior that is also elicited by the venom.

Dufour’s gland secretion is characterized by aliphatic hydrocarbons of which 1-pentadecene predominates. Upon exposure to Dufour’s gland secretion the ants recruited to the emitting source, but did not exhibit any aggressive behavior. The possible concordant effects of both adnexal glands secretions is discussed.

Effects of Global Warming on Predatory Bugs Supported by Data Across Geographic and Seasonal Climatic Gradients

Global warming may affect species abundance and distribution, as well as temperature-dependent morphometric traits. In this study, we first used historical data to document changes in Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) species assemblage and individual morphometric traits over the past seven decades in Israel. We then tested whether these changes could have been temperature driven by searching for similar patterns across seasonal and geographic climatic gradients in a present survey. The historical records indicated a shift in the relative abundance of dominant Orius species; the relative abundance of O. albidipennis, a desert-adapted species, increased while that of O. laevigatus decreased in recent decades by 6 and 10–15 folds, respectively. These shifts coincided with an overall increase of up to 2.1°C in mean daily temperatures over the last 25 years in Israel. Similar trends were found in contemporary data across two other climatic gradients, seasonal and geographic; O. albidipennis dominated Orius assemblages under warm conditions. Finally, specimens collected in the present survey were significantly smaller than those from the 1980’s, corresponding to significantly smaller individuals collected now during warmer than colder seasons. Taken together, results provide strong support to the hypothesis that temperature is the most likely driver of the observed shifts in species composition and body sizes because (1) historical changes in both species assemblage and body size were associated with rising temperatures in the study region over the last few decades; and (2) similar changes were observed as a result of contemporary drivers that are associated with temperature.

Identification of Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) females based on egg operculum structure

Naturally occurring predators of the genus Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) often suppress agricultural pests in insecticide-free environments. Knowledge of Orius species composition in the field is important because species vary in their biology, prey preference, and ability to suppress pest populations. However, field-collected Orius bugs are often female biased and the identification of Orius females may be unreliable and time consuming. Identification of Orius species based on egg structure may allow easy and nondestructive identification of females, by inspecting the eggs they deposit, and identification of species that reproduce in the field. The aim of the current study was to illustrate how several Mediterranean Orius species could be identified using egg opercula. For this purpose, the structure of the operculum was described for eggs deposited by field-collected females, based on scanning electron microscope images. Then, adult males that developed from these eggs were identified to species by genitalia examination. A detailed description of diagnostic features of the operculum is given for each of four Orius species: O. albidipennis (Reuter), O. niger Wolff, O. laevigatus (Fieber), and O. horvathi (Reuter). Characterizing the structure of egg opercula of additional Orius species would facilitate ecological and biological control research in other parts of the world.

Wide variation in spatial genetic structure between natural populations of the European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and its implications for SGS comparability

Identification and quantification of spatial genetic structure (SGS) within populations remains a central element of understanding population structure at the local scale. Understanding such structure can inform on aspects of the species' biology, such as establishment patterns and gene dispersal distance, in addition to sampling design for genetic resource management and conservation. However, recent work has identified that variation in factors such as sampling methodology, population characteristics and marker system can all lead to significant variation in SGS estimates. Consequently, the extent to which estimates of SGS can be relied on to inform on the biology of a species or differentiate between experimental treatments is open to doubt. Following on from a recent report of unusually extensive SGS when assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphisms in the tree Fagus sylvatica, we explored whether this marker system led to similarly high estimates of SGS extent in other apparently similar populations of this species. In the three populations assessed, SGS extent was even stronger than this previously reported maximum, extending up to 360 m, an increase in up to 800% in comparison with the generally accepted maximum of 30-40 m based on the literature. Within this species, wide variation in SGS estimates exists, whether quantified as SGS intensity, extent or the Sp parameter. Consequently, we argue that greater standardization should be applied in sample design and SGS estimation and highlight five steps that can be taken to maximize the comparability between SGS estimates.

Nanoscale strain-induced pair suppression as a vortex-pinning mechanism in high-temperature superconductors

Boosting large-scale superconductor applications require nanostructured conductors with artificial pinning centres immobilizing quantized vortices at high temperature and magnetic fields. Here we demonstrate a highly effective mechanism of artificial pinning centres in solution-derived high-temperature superconductor nanocomposites through generation of nanostrained regions where Cooper pair formation is suppressed. The nanostrained regions identified from transmission electron microscopy devise a very high concentration of partial dislocations associated with intergrowths generated between the randomly oriented nanodots and the epitaxial YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) matrix. Consequently, an outstanding vortex-pinning enhancement correlated to the nanostrain is demonstrated for four types of randomly oriented nanodot, and a unique evolution towards an isotropic vortex-pinning behaviour, even in the effective anisotropy, is achieved as the nanostrain turns isotropic. We suggest a new vortex-pinning mechanism based on the bond-contraction pairing model, where pair formation is quenched under tensile strain, forming new and effective core-pinning regions.

Putting plant resistance traits on the map: a test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes

• It has long been believed that plant species from the tropics have higher levels of traits associated with resistance to herbivores than do species from higher latitudes. A meta-analysis recently showed that the published literature does not support this theory. However, the idea has never been tested using data gathered with consistent methods from a wide range of latitudes. • We quantified the relationship between latitude and a broad range of chemical and physical traits across 301 species from 75 sites world-wide. • Six putative resistance traits, including tannins, the concentration of lipids (an indicator of oils, waxes and resins), and leaf toughness were greater in high-latitude species. Six traits, including cyanide production and the presence of spines, were unrelated to latitude. Only ash content (an indicator of inorganic substances such as calcium oxalates and phytoliths) and the properties of species with delayed greening were higher in the tropics. • Our results do not support the hypothesis that tropical plants have higher levels of resistance traits than do plants from higher latitudes. If anything, plants have higher resistance toward the poles. The greater resistance traits of high-latitude species might be explained by the greater cost of losing a given amount of leaf tissue in low-productivity environments.

Incorporation of intraguild predation into a pest management decision-making tool: the case of thrips and two pollen-feeding predators in strawberry

Action thresholds are traditionally based on the density of pests and the economic damage they cause to crops. Pest damage assessments are usually made in a "sterile" environment, devoid of extenuating factors such as predators, parasitoids, and alternative food sources. Recently, the effects of a predator or parasitoid species have been considered. However, interactions between natural enemy species (intraguild predation and interference), which are common in agricultural fields, have not been incorporated yet into decision-making tools. We conducted a series of leaf disc and potted plant trials to evaluate the effects of two predator species, the anthocorid Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and the phytoseiid Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) on the density of and fruit damage inflicted by western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). We then used the obtained results to develop a pest management decision-making tool for the control of western flower thrips. Because strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) flower in cycles, pollen, a food source for both predators and the pest, is periodically available in the system and has also been incorporated in our decision-making tool. The developed new management tool would allow the relaxation of the economic threshold (ET) for western flower thrips in strawberry flowers. The presence of an average of a single O. laevigatus per flower for example, may allow that relaxation of the ET by 40% (from 10 to 14 western flower thrips per flower) when pollen is available during the winter. Because field monitoring shows that O. laevigatus populations in Israeli strawberry often reach mean densities of three to four per flower, the new approach promises to drastically reduce the employment of toxic insecticides.

Parasitized aphids are inferior prey for a coccinellid predator: implications for intraguild predation

Discussions of intraguild predation (IGP) have assumed that the nutritional quality of intraguild (IG) prey is similar to that of any other prey available to the IG predator. It has been suggested therefore that generalist predators do not distinguish between healthy and parasitized aphids and thus function as facultative predators of parasitoids. More recent studies have shown that predators may selectively ingest prey of various nutritional qualities and that predators may have higher body nitrogen composition than herbivores. If so, predators may preferentially feed on other predators (i.e., IG prey) to increase their nitrogen intake. We used a system composed of larvae of the coccinellid Coccinella undecimpunctata (IG predator), the parasitoid Aphidius colemani (IG prey), and their shared food source, the green peach aphid Myzus persicae, to test whether (1) the predator preferentially feeds on parasitized over healthy prey, (2) predatory behavior on parasitized aphids changes with time elapsed after parasitism, and (3) parasitized and healthy aphids differ in their suitability for predator development. Results indicate that, given a choice, C. undecimpunctata larvae show no preference for either parasitized or healthy prey items, regardless of parasitoid age. Feeding time, however, increased with parasitoid age, leading to a reduction in the number of prey consumed per unit time. Mummified prey were protected from predation by C. undecimpunctata larvae but the larvae were able to feed and complete development on mummies with a broken cuticle. These predators, however, had an extended developmental time and lower pupal and adult weights in comparison to larvae fed healthy aphids. That parasitized aphids are inferior prey for C. undecimpunctata larvae should act to reduce intensity of IGP in the field and the negative impact IGP has on herbivore suppression.

Nanostructural control in solution-derived epitaxial Ce(1-x)Gd(x)O(2-y) films

A novel mechanism based on aliovalent doping, allowing fine tuning of the nanostructure and surface topography of solution-derived ceria films, is reported. While under reducing atmospheric conditions, non-doped ceria films are inherently polycrystalline due to an interstitial amorphous Ce(2)C(3) phase that inhibits grain growth, a high quality epitaxial film can be achieved simply by doping with Gd(3+) cations. Gd(3+) [Formula: see text] Ce(4+) substitutions within the lattice are accompanied by charge-compensating oxygen vacancies throughout the volume of the crystallites acting as an efficient vehicle to reduce the barrier for grain boundary motion caused by interstitial Ce(2)C(3). In this way, the original nanostructure is self-purified by pushing the amorphous Ce(2)C(3) phase towards the free surface of the film. Once a full epitaxial cube-on-cube oriented ceria film is obtained, its surface morphology is dictated by the interplay between faceting on low energy {110} and/or {111} pyramidal planes and truncation of those pyramids by (001) ones. The development of the latter requires the suppression of their polar character which is thought to be achieved by charge compensation between the dopand and oxygen along [Formula: see text] directions.

The VIZIER project: preparedness against pathogenic RNA viruses

Life-threatening RNA viruses emerge regularly, and often in an unpredictable manner. Yet, the very few drugs available against known RNA viruses have sometimes required decades of research for development. Can we generate preparedness for outbreaks of the, as yet, unknown viruses? The VIZIER (VIral enZymes InvolvEd in Replication) (http://www.vizier-europe.org/) project has been set-up to develop the scientific foundations for countering this challenge to society. VIZIER studies the most conserved viral enzymes (that of the replication machinery, or replicases) that constitute attractive targets for drug-design. The aim of VIZIER is to determine as many replicase crystal structures as possible from a carefully selected list of viruses in order to comprehensively cover the diversity of the RNA virus universe, and generate critical knowledge that could be efficiently utilized to jump-start research on any emerging RNA virus. VIZIER is a multidisciplinary project involving (i) bioinformatics to define functional domains, (ii) viral genomics to increase the number of characterized viral genomes and prepare defined targets, (iii) proteomics to express, purify, and characterize targets, (iv) structural biology to solve their crystal structures, and (v) pre-lead discovery to propose active scaffolds of antiviral molecules.

Application of the use of high-throughput technologies to the determination of protein structures of bacterial and viral pathogens

The Structural Proteomics In Europe (SPINE) programme is aimed at the development and implementation of high-throughput technologies for the efficient structure determination of proteins of biomedical importance, such as those of bacterial and viral pathogens linked to human health. Despite the challenging nature of some of these targets, 175 novel pathogen protein structures (approximately 220 including complexes) have been determined to date. Here the impact of several technologies on the structural determination of proteins from human pathogens is illustrated with selected examples, including the parallel expression of multiple constructs, the use of standardized refolding protocols and optimized crystallization screens.

Tomato fruit size, maturity and alpha-tomatine content influence the performance of larvae of potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Various physical and chemical properties of host plants influence insect larval performance and subsequent adult fitness. Tomato plants are relatively new hosts to the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), with the fruit being its preferred feeding site. However, it is unclear how the biochemical and physical properties of tomato fruits relate to potato tuber moth performance. Significant amounts of alpha-tomatine were detected in maturing green and ripening fruits of cherry (cv. Ceres) and processing (cv. Serio) types of tomatoes whereas none was detected in a fresh market variety (cv. Marglobe), at comparable stages. alpha-Tomatine is negatively and significantly correlated with development rate (head capsule size) of larvae reared in the fruits of the cherry and processing type tomatoes. Generally, survival, growth and development were significantly superior for larvae reared in the ripening fruits of the fresh market cultivar. At this stage, the fruits of this cultivar are also the largest. Based on these results it is concluded that fruit alpha-tomatine content, as well as fruit size and maturity, all affect performance of P. operculella larvae in the fruits of cultivated tomatoes.

The Systemic Absorption of Etoposide after Intravaginal Administration in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Lesions Associated with Human Papillomavirus Infection

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the systemic absorption and the release of etoposide in cervical tissue administered via a vaginal ovule to women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV).

METHODS

Fifteen women with low- and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia confirmed by colposcopic test received a 50-mg intravaginal etoposide dose three times a week for 3 weeks. At the end of the study period, paralleled with the last ovule administered, blood samples were collected over a period of 24 h, and in situ cervical samples were obtained at 3 and 10 h after drug administration. Etoposide concentrations were determined in plasma and in in situ cervical samples using the high-performance liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection.

RESULTS

Pharmacokinetic analyses of plasma data indicated low or lack of systemic exposure of etoposide after the vaginal administration. Nevertheless, high concentrations of etoposide were found in all in situ cervical samples, indicating that etoposide could be released from its pharmaceutical formulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study suggest that the etoposide administered as intravaginal ovule is safe and tolerable and apparently could be a suitable option in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Clinical results and the true impact on HPV infection and evolution of dysplasia need to be confirmed.