Carte geologique de la zone de Arta (Republique de Djibouti)

carta geologica alla scala 1:25.00

Specific detection of topoisomerase I from the malaria causing P. falciparum parasite using isothermal rolling circle amplification

We present a Rolling-Circle-Enhance-Enzyme-Activity-Detection (REEAD) system with potential use for future point-of-care diagnosis of malaria. In the developed setup, specific detection of malaria parasites in crude blood samples is facilitated by the conversion of single Plasmodium falciparum topoisomerase I (pfTopI) mediated cleavage-ligation events, happening within nanometer dimensions, to micrometer-sized products readily detectable at the single molecule level in a fluorescence microscope. In principle, REEAD requires no special equipment and the readout is adaptable to simple colorimetric detection systems. Moreover, with regard to detection limit the presented setup is likely to outcompete standard gold immuno-based diagnostics. Hence, we believe the presented assay forms the basis for a new generation of easy-to-use diagnostic tools suitable for the malaria epidemic areas in developing countries

Algebraic path tracking to aid the manual harvesting of olives using an automated service unit

Service units used in precision agriculture are able to improve processes such as harvesting, sowing, agrochemical application, and manure spreading. This two-part work presents, a path tracking controller based on an algebraic approach for an articulated service unit, suitable for embedded applications, and its implementation to a hierarchical navigation strategy to aid a manual harvesting process. The path tracking controller approach can be scaled to several trailers attached to the service unit. For harvesting, the service unit drives within an olive grove environment following the previously developed path and a trailer is used as a mobile hopper where olives, collected by human labour, are deposited. The service unit also registers and geo-references the amount of olives (mass) collected for the subsequent creation of yield maps. The developed navigation strategy improved the time associated with harvesting olives by approximately 42–45%. The mathematical formulation of the problem, some real time experimental results, the creation of a yield map and the statistical analysis that validated the method are included.Fil: Auat Cheein, Fernando Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María; ChileFil: Scaglia, Gustavo Juan Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Torres Torriti, Miguel. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Guivant, José. University of New South Wales; AustraliaFil: Prado, Alvaro Javier. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María; ChileFil: Arnò, Jaume. Universidad de Lleida; EspañaFil: Escolà, Alexandre. Universidad de Lleida; EspañaFil: Rosell Polo, Joan R.. Universidad de Lleida; Españ

Natural enemies of the South American moth, Tuta absoluta, in Europe, North Africa and Middle East, and their potential use in pest control strategies

The South American tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an invasive Neotropical pest. After its first detection in Europe, it rapidly invaded more than 30 Western Palaearctic countries becoming a serious agricultural threat to tomato production in both protected and open-field crops. Among the pest control tactics against exotic pests, biological control using indigenous natural enemies is one of the most promising. Here, available data on the Afro-Eurasian natural enemies of T. absoluta are compiled. Then, their potential for inclusion in sustainable pest control packages is discussed providing relevant examples. Collections were conducted in 12 countries, both in open-field and protected susceptible crops, as well as in wild flora and/or using infested sentinel plants. More than 70 arthropod species, 20 % predators and 80 % parasitoids, were recorded attacking the new pest so far. Among the recovered indigenous natural enemies, only few parasitoid species, namely, some eulophid and braconid wasps, and especially mirid predators, have promising potential to be included in effective and environmentally friendly management strategies for the pest in the newly invaded areas. Finally, a brief outlook of the future research and applications of indigenous T. absoluta biological control agents are provided