26 research outputs found
RAMSWay Safe Path
RAMSWay promotes safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors with a series of safe walkways connecting key locations, such as classroom buildings, gyms, libraries, residence halls, and parking decks, on Virginia Commonwealth Universityās sprawling urban campus. RAMSWay paths are designed to be consistent with the theoretical framework referred to as CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). CPTED suggests that altering the physical design of communities or areas in which people congregate can deter criminal activity. CPTED-compliant landscaping and lighting, security features (e.g., cameras, ERTs phones), and increased police presence on the paths promote the sense of safety. Further, increased foot traffic provides safety in numbers, consistent with VCUās current Bystander Intervention initiative. VCU branded RAMSWay aluminum signs will designate walkways on both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, showing pedestrians a preferred route. When traveling on RAMSWay, members of the VCU community will have more opportunities to interface with VCU Police, pass by ERTs phones, and share the route with fellow students, faculty, and staff. By using the path, we all help do our part to promote safety on our campus. Existing organizations and communication platforms, such as VCU University Relations, Student Government Association, VCU Mobile and LiveSafe, will promote the use of RAMSWay to the VCU community. RAMSWay will be executed in coordination with VCU Police and VCU Facilities
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Under Treatment Outcomes Research (AUTOR): a European observational study in pediatric subjects
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Cost-Effective Lygus Managment in Arizona Cotton
Timing sprays for maximum return on investment requires sampling and counting both Lygus adults and nymphs in a minimum of 100 sweeps. Once at least 15 total Lygus and 4 nymphs per 100 sweeps are detected, sprays for Lygus should be made. This '15/4' regime should protect yields, moderate spray frequency and costs, and maximize profit. Economic thresholds are impacted by the prevailing economic conditions such as lint value and costs of control; however in this case, the relationship that maximizes returns was not changed when varying these parameters well beyond market standards. A key finding of these studies is that aside from profits, yields plateau prior to the more aggressive treatment regimes. This phenomenon, where more protective approaches result in yield reductions, occurred in all three years of study (1997, 1999, 2000). This signals the importance of optimizing inputs so that sprays are made only when indicated by sampling and once the 15/4 level is reached, but no sooner. More aggressive approaches by definition cost more money to maintain, but also have some probability of lowering yields while risking secondary pest outbreaks. The specific mechanism for this yield decline is unknown at this time. At the other end of the spectrum, delaying action beyond the 15/8 action threshold risks economic yield loss and reductions in quality, especially color grade and micronaire. While this work definitively establishes the relative importance of Lygus nymphs to yield loss and to the need for action, the conditions under which these tests were carried out are limited to in-season infestations of Lygus. Further work is necessary to better quantify change in the action levels according to plant phenology and other plant-based factors (e.g., plant population, fruit retention, plantwater status, etc.). Early season infestations may respond differently to the action levels proposed, and it is expected that later season populations of Lygus pose far less damage potential when square populations and retention are very low
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Making Late Season Decisions to Terminate Insecticide Use Against Lygus
The focus of our 2002 field study was to answer a fundamental question in insect control. Once spraying has begun for a particular pest, when should it stop? In this case, we are faced with the question of when to discontinue sprays for Lygus hesperus in cotton. Cotton is susceptible to Lygus any time there are productive squares on the plant. This study developed a series of worst-case scenarios in which to provide information on timing of the latest possible sprays of economic benefit. By late planting (30 May) varieties from three different maturity groups, we were able to examine Lygus control dynamics just prior to, at, and after cutout ā initiation of cut-out was defined as NAWF = 5. We found large differences in yield among the four Lygus chemical termination (LT) treatments. The earliest termination (LT1, 2 weeks prior to cut-out) suffered the largest losses to Lygus, ca. 20ā50% of the maximum yield. Conversely, extending Lygus chemical control 1ā3 weeks after cut-out (LT3 & LT4) provided no yield benefit whatsoever, regardless of the variety examined. Maximum yields and maximum profits were gained in the LT2, where Lygus controls were continued up to 1 week prior to cutout. Given that there was only 1 week separating the LT1 and LT2 timings, it is clear that timing is absolutely critical. The timing used in this study corresponds with previously established threshold guidelines; treat when there are at least 15 total Lygus with at least 4 nymphs per 100 sweeps. Levels far exceeded this threshold late in the season, yet additional chemical controls after cut-out provided no additional yield or control benefits. Further, we have confirmed that nymphs are the life stage of major concern with, by far, the most capacity to reduce yields. Nymphal reductions were well-correlated with yield enhancement. The best timing (LT2) achieved ca. 93% reduction in nymphal densities during the critical 3- week period around cut-out. In contrast, adult numbers were reduced by only 16% during the same period. These results establish an upper bound for treatment of Lygus, no later than 1 week prior to cut-out; however, more work is necessary to identify if earlier cessation is possible under more normal planting conditions
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Search for Effective Chemical Controls for Lygus Bugs and Whiteflies in Arizona Cotton
Whiteflies and Lygus bugs continue to be key pests of Arizona cotton. Some of our most popular and time-tested chemicals are still providing efficacy toward Lygus or whiteflies when used in a timely manner. However, promising new chemicals may also become available in the near future. Through research, growers can be kept updated on options for successful IPM. An experiment was conducted in order to expand our knowledge of currently available compounds and upcoming advances in insecticide development. In this experiment, 11 different compounds were tested for efficacy and duration of activity against whiteflies, Lygus, or both. Although none were active on Lygus adults, some chemicals were very effective on all stages of nymphs. OrtheneĀ® or VydateĀ® continue to show good results against Lygus but did not yield as high as one new compound. The best performing insecticide against Lygus was flonicamid, a novel chemistry under development by FMC. This insecticide had the best control over Lygus nymphs, was the highest yielding treatment, and required one less spray than other top performing compounds. Among newer chemistries for Lygus control is fipronil (RegentĀ® by BASF), which performed slightly better than Vydate but not quite as effective as Orthene. Another higher-yielding regime included the use of novaluron, a novel insect growth regulator (IGR) scheduled for registration in 2005 (DiamondĀ® by Crompton Corporation). This IGR was tested against whiteflies and Lygus bugs, but in light of yield data, Lygus efficacy should be examined more closely. None of the neonicotinoids were effective against Lygus, but several proved to be promising for whitefly control. Of the neonicotinoids tested and sprayed on threshold, dinotefuran (under development by Valent) showed good activity. The performance of spiromesifin (OberonĀ®, a new chemistry by Bayer) was similar to dinotefuran but needing one less spray. IntruderĀ® out-performed all whitefly treatments, requiring only two sprays to control whiteflies season-long. Both Intruder or currently used IGRs (KnackĀ® and CourierĀ®) proved to be very effective against whiteflies. All insecticides in this test underwent very rigorous testing under extreme Lygus and whitefly pressures
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Transitioning Lygus Chemical Controls to More Selective Options for Arizona Cotton
Lygus hesperus (Knight) has been the number one pest of Arizona cotton since 1998. With advances in the selective management of Arizona cottonās other two key pests (i.e., Bemisia tabaci and Pectinophora gossypiella), there has been less opportunity for collateral control of this yield-limiting pest. There has also been a new premium placed on locating less disruptive, even selective, control methods that are compatible with existing selective technologies. Our laboratory routinely screens candidate compounds for efficacy against Lygus hesperus under desert conditions. Promising leads are further developed and evaluated in the field for efficacy, spectrum of activity and safety for beneficial arthropods. Our recent findings have identified three compounds with potential for delivering economic control of Lygus hesperus with greater safety for beneficial arthropods than current standards of control. At the same time, our work has importantly identified many compounds that are ineffective against our Lygus, despite reported success against a related species, the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (e.g., acetamiprid, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, pyrethroids, thiamethoxam). Flonicamid, a pyridine carboxamide, is under development by FMC in the U.S. This aphicide has shown excellent results in controlling our Lygus in cotton. Novaluron, a chitin inhibitor under development by Uniroyal (as DiamondĀ®) in the U.S., has rate sensitive activity against Lygus in cotton. Metaflumizone (BAS320I), under development by BASF in the U.S., is a semi-carbazone chemistry with significant efficacy against Lygus hesperus. These three or potentially other new leads in insecticide discovery may play an important role in transitioning Arizona cotton growers away from neuro-toxic, broad-spectrum, and disruptive organophosphates and carbamates currently used to control Lygus in cotton. The potential benefits to natural enemy conservation should help stabilize insect pest management in Arizona cotton, thus minimizing the chances of secondary pest outbreaks and costly pest resurgences. Until selective alternatives are found and registered, acephate (e.g., Orthene 97 by Valent USA) and oxamyl (Vydate C-LV by DuPont) remain our standard recommendations for Lygus control in Arizona cotton
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Assessment of Knack Field Performance Through Precision Field and Laboratory Bioassays in Cotton
When a product performs better or worse than expectations, there are many biological, ecological, and operational factors that must be examined. Genetic resistance to the pesticide itself is often a concern. The control interval depends on the ecological impact of biotic (e.g., presence and function of natural enemies) and abiotic (e.g., frequency and severity of storms) factors. Timing, rates, and application methods used are also key factors affecting product performance. A four-year study to evaluate pyriproxyfen (KnackĀ®) field performance in Arizona was initiated in 2004, after levels of whitefly susceptibility in statewide surveys were observed to be decreasing. Grower sites in Maricopa, Buckeye, Wellton, and Marana were used. We controlled for major operational factors by using a common timing, rate, and aerial application for each Knack spray. Resistance bio-assays were conducted on progeny of field-collected adults, pre- and post-spray. New eggs were marked in-field prior to spraying and examined in the field and lab in order to isolate Knack-associated mortality caused by direct toxicity as well as by ecological factors (e.g., bioresidual). Nymphal bioassays were used to evaluate metamorphosis inhibition. Population trends were estimated using standard sampling methods. Appropriate check plots were compared to the Knack treatment. Study results suggest Knack field performance and pyriproxyfen resistance has not changed significantly among the years or locations examined to date. In 2005, many struggled to gain control over whitefly populations. This work indicated that Knack performance and resistance parameters were within the range expected for the last several years. However, operational and ecological barriers to the performance of Knack and other chemistry were in play. Late planted conditions, lush winter vegetation capable of hosting whiteflies, poor growing conditions, and an extended period of extreme immigration pressure were all factors that diminished the impact of Knack and other products in 2005. In contrast, the winter preceding 2006 was among the driest on record followed by a very active monsoon season in central Arizona. High winds and dust movement, and a very active natural enemy community helped to continually lower whitefly populations. The result was a whitefly season characterized as light, with overall foliar insecticide usage setting a 28-yr record low for Arizona cotton. Barring all other operational and ecological factors at work, control intervals should have been similar each year. Yet, observed intervals have been different (e.g., 2005 vs. 2006) and point to the importance of these external factors in assessing product performance. Work will continue in 2007 to identify factors that contribute to whitefly outbreak conditions. These data will be key to understanding any performance changes, either due to operational or ecological factors mentioned above or due to innate changes in whitefly susceptibility. This will be important in advising growers about the risk factors associated with whitefly outbreaks and should lead to recommendations for minimizing these risks