Table 2: Example applications of the use of remote sensing technologies to detect change in vegetation.

In order to understand the distribution and prevalence of Ommatissus lybicus (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae) as well as analyse their current biographical patterns and predict their future spread, comprehensive and detailed information on the environmental, climatic, and agricultural practices are essential. The spatial analytical techniques such as Remote Sensing and Spatial Statistics Tools, can help detect and model spatial links and correlations between the presence, absence and density of O. lybicus in response to climatic, environmental, and human factors. The main objective of this paper is to review remote sensing and relevant analytical techniques that can be applied in mapping and modelling the habitat and population density of O. lybicus. An exhaustive search of related literature revealed that there are very limited studies linking location-based infestation levels of pests like the O. lybicus with climatic, environmental, and human practice related variables. This review also highlights the accumulated knowledge and addresses the gaps in this area of research. Furthermore, it makes recommendations for future studies, and gives suggestions on monitoring and surveillance methods in designing both local and regional level integrated pest management strategies of palm tree and other affected cultivated crops

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (1,4-BD; BDO) : a literature review with a focus on UK fatalities related to non-medical use

Misuse of gamma hydroxybutrate (GHB) and gamma butyrolactone (GBL) has increased greatly since the early 1990s, being implicated in a rising number of deaths. This paper reviews knowledge on GHB and derivatives, and explores the largest series of deaths associated with their non-medical use. Descriptive analyses of cases associated with GHB/GBL and 1,4 butanediol (1,4-BD) use extracted from the UK’s National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths database. From 1995 to September 2013, 159 GHB/GBL-associated fatalities were reported. Typical victims: White (92%), young (mean age 32 years); male (82%); with a drug misuse history (70%). Most deaths (79%) were accidental or related to drug use, the remainder (potential) suicides. GHB/GBL alone was implicated in 37%; alcohol 14%; other drugs 28%; other drugs and alcohol 15%. Its endogenous nature and rapid elimination limit toxicological detection. Post-mortem blood levels: mean 482 (range 0 - 6500; S.D. 758) mg/L. Results suggest significant caution is needed when ingesting GHB/GBL, particularly with alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, stimulants, and ketamine. More awareness is needed about risks associated with consumption.Peer reviewe

The application of thin film and microwave technology in instrumentation

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX175959 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

EFFECT OF SPROUT INHIBITORS ON RESPIRATION RATE, HEAT EXCHANGE, SPROUTING AND ETHANOL PRODUCTION IN STORED POTATOES (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) (CHIP STORAGE, NEBRASKA, ROTTING)

The effects of maleic hydrazide (MH) applied at three developmental stages (prebloom, full bloom and post-full bloom) and Fusarex applied after harvest on the yield, quality and storability of five potato cultivars under three types of storage (surface, pit and cold storage) were investigated. MH resulted in higher percentage of US #1 over the control. Best results were obtained when MH was applied at post-full bloom. MH when applied at full bloom or at post-full bloom did not result in a significant reduction in yield or leaf area. MH was effective in reducing the percentage of sprouted and rotted tubers in the three methods of storage. However, Fusarex was only effective in reducing sprouting of cold stored potatoes. The surface storage produced the best chip quality but resulted in high percentage of sprouting. This increase in sprouting percentage was effectively suppressed when MH was used. The pit storage resulted in the highest percent of rotting and respiration rate of the tubers. The five cultivars were not significantly different in percentage of sprouting or rotting in the three methods of storage, but they varied significantly in chip quality, glucose content, respiration rate and ethanol production. The cultivar Norchip, having the lowest percentage of glucose, had a lower respiration rate and the best chip quality, whereas Rhinered had the highest glucose content, higher respiration rate and darkest chip quality. The Ebulliometer Salleron method of measurement of ethanol production gave consistently higher value (11% higher) than the refractometer method. When compared to a standard, the Ebulliometer Salleron method was more accurate, due to the error in the refractometer which is more sensitive to minor change in temperature. However, ethanol production measured by both methods was not affected by the application of MH or method of storage. The five cultivars varied significantly in ethanol production. NE A71.72-1 produced the highest number of gallons per cwt (1.15) or 0.094 L/kg and Rhinered produced the lowest (0.99 gal/cwt or 0.081 L/kg) while Haig, Norchip, and Oceania were intermediate

Disentangling the link between zebrafish diet, gut microbiome succession, and Mycobacterium chelonae infection

Abstract Background Despite the long-established importance of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism and their increasing use in microbiome-targeted studies, relatively little is known about how husbandry practices involving diet impact the zebrafish gut microbiome. Given the microbiome’s important role in mediating host physiology and the potential for diet to drive variation in microbiome composition, we sought to clarify how three different dietary formulations that are commonly used in zebrafish facilities impact the gut microbiome. We compared the composition of gut microbiomes in approximately 60 AB line adult (129- and 214-day-old) zebrafish fed each diet throughout their lifespan. Results Our analysis finds that diet has a substantial impact on the composition of the gut microbiome in adult fish, and that diet also impacts the developmental variation in the gut microbiome. We further evaluated how 214-day-old fish microbiome compositions respond to exposure of a common laboratory pathogen, Mycobacterium chelonae, and whether these responses differ as a function of diet. Our analysis finds that diet determines the manner in which the zebrafish gut microbiome responds to M. chelonae exposure, especially for moderate and low abundance taxa. Moreover, histopathological analysis finds that male fish fed different diets are differentially infected by M. chelonae. Conclusions Overall, our results indicate that diet drives the successional development of the gut microbiome as well as its sensitivity to exogenous exposure. Consequently, investigators should carefully consider the role of diet in their microbiome zebrafish investigations, especially when integrating results across studies that vary by diet