Prostephanus truncatus IN AFRICA: A REVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

The pest status of the Larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), is higher in African countries than in Latin America, its region of origin. This pest reduces the storage period of maize grain and cassava chips in granaries of small scale farmers. This reduced storage period results from larval and adult feeding, with consequent shortening of the period these commodities are available for food and income generating sources. Depending on storage time, yield losses of up to 45 and 100% have been recorded for maize and cassava chips, respectively, in West Africa; while 62% yield losses have been reported in Mozambique. Since P. truncatus invaded Africa from approximately 1970, research mostly addressed its biology, ecology, dispersal and control methods. This review paper aims at evaluating P. truncatus pest status in Africa as a basis for designing pragmatic strategies for its control. Prostephanus truncatus pest status in Africa is high and the degree of infestation and damage vary between regions. The variation in pest status is due to climatic conditions, food sources, and degree of storage infra-structure development and efficacy of control methods. Prostephanus truncatus has established in 20 African countries. Its temporal and spatial dispersion is unpredictable and depends on ecological factors, maize and dry cassava trade routes, and availability of forest host plants. Development of sustainable integrated management strategies is a key to future successful management of this pest. Area-wide management strategies using the predator, Teretrius nigrescens , parasitoids, plant derived products and environmentally friendly insecticides is needed. Integrated management practices must be based on improved knowledge of P. truncatus population dynamics and its determining factors.Le statut de la peste de d\ue9voreur des grains, Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), est plus \ue9lev\ue9 dans les pays africains que dans ceux d\u2019Am\ue9rique Latine, sa r\ue9gion d\u2019origine. Cette peste r\ue9duit la p\ue9riode de stockage des grains de ma\uefs et de manioc dans des grainiers des petits exploitants. Ceci est d\ufb \ue0 l\u2019alimentation des larves et adultes, avec pour cons\ue9quence, l\u2019\ue9courtement de la p\ue9riode dont de ces produits devraient \ueatre disponibles pour nourriture et sources de g\ue9n\ue9ration des revenues. D\ue9pendamment du temps de stockage, les pertes de rendement d\u2019environ 45 et 100% ont \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9es pour le ma\uefs et le manioc, respectivement en Afrique de l\u2019ouest; pendant que 62% de pertes de rendement ont \ue9t\ue9 report\ue9es au Mozambique. Depuis l\u2019invasion de l\u2019Afrique par P. truncatus aux environ de 1970, la recherche s\u2019est en grande partie attabl\ue9e sur sa biologie, \ue9cologie, propagation et m\ue9thodes de contr\uf4le. Cette revue \ue9value le statut de la peste P. truncatus en Afrique pour comme base de conception des strat\ue9gies pragmatiques pour son contr\uf4le. Le statut de la peste de Prostephanus truncatus est \ue9lev\ue9 en Afrique et les degr\ue9s d\u2019infestation et dommage varient entre les r\ue9gions. La variation du statut de cette peste est due aux conditions climatiques, sources d\u2019aliments et, degr\ue9 de d\ue9veloppement des infrastructures de stockage et l\u2019efficacit\ue9 des m\ue9thodes de contr\uf4le. Le Prostephanus truncatus s\u2019est \ue9tabli dans 20 pays africains. Sa propagation temporelle et spatiale est impr\ue9dictible et d\ue9pend des facteurs \ue9cologiques, les voies de commercialisation du ma\uefs et manioc sec, et disponibilit\ue9 des plantes h\uf4tes dans des forets. Le d\ue9veloppement durable des strat\ue9gies de gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e est une cl\ue9 pour un succ\ue8s futur de gestion de cette peste. Des strat\ue9gies de gestion utilisant le pr\ue9dateur, Teretrius nigrescens , les parasito\uefdes, les produits d\ue9riv\ue9s des plantes et des insecticides environnementalement viables sont n\ue9cessaires. Des pratiques de gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e doivent \ueatre bas\ue9es sur l\u2019am\ue9lioration des connaissances sur la dynamique des populations de P. truncatus et ses facteurs d\ue9terminants

Titanium-catalyzed esterification reactions: beyond Lewis acidity

Esterification is a key reaction and is used in many synthetic and industrial processes, yet the detailed mechanism of operation of often-used (Lewis acid) catalysts is unknown and subject of little research. Here, we report on mechanistic studies of a titanium aminotriphenolate catalyst, using stoichiometric and catalytic reactions combined with kinetic data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While often only the Lewis acidity of the Ti-center is taken into account, we found that the amphoteric nature of this catalyst, combining this Lewis acidity with Brønsted basicity of a Ti-bound and in situ formed carboxylate group, is crucial for catalytic activity. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding interactions are essential to pre-organize substrates and to stabilize various intermediates and transition states and thus enhancing the overall catalytic reaction. These findings are not only applicable to this class of catalysts, but could be important for many other esterification catalysts

Assessment of nutritional status in haemodialysis patients using PG-SGA and handgrip strength

In this cross-sectional study, we primarily aimed to assess prevalence of malnutrition by the Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PGSGA), and muscle strength in haemodialysis patients. Second, we explored to which extent these patients are able to complete the patient component of the PG-SGA, aka PG-SGA Short Form (SF) (weight, intake, symptoms, activities/functioning) independently

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on PICU admissions for severe asthma exacerbations: a single-center experience

BackgroundThe incidence of severe asthma exacerbations (SAE) requiring a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (and its association with public restrictions) is largely unknown. We examined the trend of SAE requiring PICU admission before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its relationship with features such as environmental triggers and changes in COVID-19 restriction measures.MethodsIn this single-center, retrospective cohort study, all PICU admissions of children aged >= 2 years for severe asthma at the Amsterdam UMC between 2018 and 2022 were included. The concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and pollen were obtained from official monitoring stations.ResultsBetween January 2018 and December 2022, 228 children were admitted to the PICU of the Amsterdam UMC for SAE. While we observed a decrease in admissions during periods of more stringent restriction, there was an increase in the PICU admission rate for SAE in some periods following the lifting of restrictions. In particular, following the COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, we observed a peak incidence of admissions from August to November, which was higher than any other peak during the indicated years. No association with air pollution or pollen was observed.ConclusionWe hypothesize that an increase in clinically diagnosed viral infections after lockdown periods was the reason for the altered incidence of SAE at the PICU in late 2021, rather than air pollution and pollen concentrations.Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD)Public Health and primary car

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BACKGROUND: Endovascular or intra-arterial treatment (IAT) increases the likelihood of recanalization in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a proximal intracranial arterial occlusion. However, a beneficial effect of IAT on functional recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke remains unproven. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of IAT on functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Additionally, we aim to assess the safety of IAT, and the effect on recanalization of different mechanical treatment modalities. METHODS/DESIGN: A multicenter randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment. The active comparison is IAT versus no IAT. IAT may consist of intra-arterial thrombolysis with alteplase or urokinase, mechanical treatment or both. Mechanical treatment refers to retraction, aspiration, sonolysis, or use of a retrievable stent (stent-retriever). Patients with a relevant intracranial proximal arterial occlusion of the anterior circulation, who can be treated within 6 hours after stroke onset, are eligible. Treatment effect will be estimated with ordinal logistic regression (shift analysis); 500 patients will be included in the trial for a power of 80% to detect a shift leading to a decrease in dependency in 10% of treated patients. The primary outcome is the score on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days. Secondary outcomes are the National Institutes of Health stroke scale score at 24 hours, vessel patency at 24 hours, infarct size on day 5, and the occurrence of major bleeding during the first 5 days. DISCUSSION: If IAT leads to a 10% absolute reduction in poor outcome after stroke, careful implementation of the intervention could save approximately 1% of all new stroke cases from death or disability annually. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR1804 (7 May 2009)/ISRCTN10888758 (24 July 2012)