Response of Pale Swallow-wort, Vincetoxicum rossicum, following Aboveground Tissue Loss: Implications for the Timing of Mechanical Control

The growth and reproduction of Pale Swallow-wort, Vincetoxicum rossicum, were investigated following differentially timed above-ground tissue loss by clipping throughout the growing season in Ottawa, Canada. If clipping occurred early in the growing season (before June), mature plants were able to compensate in height but not in biomass or reproductive output when compared to uncut controls. This compensation in height did not seem to come at the expense of below-ground storage tissue; there was no significant difference in root mass among the control and treatment conditions. Final plant height, mass, and reproduction declined as plants were cut later in the season. Pale Swallow-wort seedlings clipped before June were able to compensate in height when compared to uncut controls. Unlike mature plants, this compensation in height did come at the expense of root mass. As the clipping treatment was performed later into the growing season, both final plant height and shoot mass decreased, while root mass increased. The best time for controlling the population spread of Pale Swallow-wort using a single cutting treatment was on or near 26 June. Plants cut earlier than this date were able resprout and produce seeds; those cut after had already produced seeds that appeared viable and may be able to germinate if the cut stems were left in the field. When a single cutting or mowing treatment is to be employed for controlling Pale Swallow-wort, we recommend cutting after the first fruits are produced but before they are fully developed

Native range assessment of classical biological control agents: impact of inundative releases as pre-introduction evaluation

Diadromus pulchellus Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is a pupal parasitoid under consideration for introduction into Canada for the control of the invasive leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae). Since study of the parasitoid outside of quarantine was not permitted in Canada at the time of this project, we assessed its efficacy via field trials in its native range in central Europe. This was done by simulating introductory releases that would eventually take place in Canada when a permit for release is obtained. In 2007 and 2008, experimental leek plots were artificially infested with pest larvae to mimic the higher pest densities common in Canada. Based on a preliminary experiment showing that leek moth pupae were suitable for parasitism up to 5-6 days after pupation, D. pulchellus adults were mass-released into the field plots when the first host cocoons were observed. The laboratory-reared agents reproduced successfully in all trials and radically reduced leek moth survival. Taking into account background parasitism caused by naturally occurring D. pulchellus, the released agents parasitized at least 15.8%, 43.9%, 48.1% and 58.8% of the available hosts in the four release trials. When this significant contribution to leek moth mortality is added to previously published life tables, in which pupal parasitism was absent, the total pupal mortality increases from 60.1% to 76.7%. This study demonstrates how field trials involving environmental manipulation in an agent's native range can yield predictions of the agent's field efficacy once introduced into a novel are

Comparative life tables of leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae), in its native range

Leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae), is an invasive alien species in eastern Canada, the larvae of which mine the green tissues of Allium spp. This study was designed to construct and analyse life tables for leek moth within its native range. Stage-specific mortality rates were estimated for the third leek moth generation at three sites in Switzerland from 2004 to 2006 to identify some of the principle factors that inhibit leek moth population growth in areas of low pest density. The contribution of natural enemies to leek moth mortality was measured by comparing mortality on caged and uncaged leeks. Total pre-imaginal mortality on uncaged plants was 99.6%, 99.1% and 96.4% in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Variation in mortality was greater among years than among sites. Total larval mortality was greater than that in the eggs and pupae. This was due largely to the high mortality (up to 83.3%) of neonates during the brief period between egg hatch and establishment of the feeding mine. Leek moth pupal mortality was significantly greater on uncaged than on caged leeks, indicating an impact by natural enemies, and this pattern was consistent over all three years of study. In contrast, the other life stages did not show consistently higher mortality rates on uncaged plants. This observation suggests that the pupal stage may be particularly vulnerable to natural enemies and, therefore, may be the best target for classical biological control in Canad

Improved Efficiency Management Strategy for Battery-Based Energy Storage Systems

Battery-based energy storage systems are forecasted to have a rapid diffusion in the next future, because they can support the diffusion of renewable energy sources and can offer interesting ancillary services for the distribution grid. Consequently, energy management strategies for batteries and inverters present in storage systems will play a fundamental role in order to guarantee effective energy transfer processes between storage systems and the grid. This paper proposes an efficient management strategy which allows maximizing the overall energy efficiency of grid-connected storage systems taking into account the actual relationship between the efficiency and the charging/discharging power of the storage system. The effectiveness of the strategy is as shown by analysis results, the proposed strategy can allow a remarkable efficiency increase compared with strategies which are not aimed at the efficiency optimization

Design, synthesis and characterization of new luminescent crystalline materials

The research project could be divided in two main topics: (i) the structural and thermal characterization and the polymorph screening of a specific class of semiconducting organic materials: the 2,3-thienoimide (TI) based oligothiophenes; (ii) the synthesis and characterization of new luminescent coordination polymers based on d10 metal halides. The crystal structure determination was carried out both by Single Crystal X-ray diffraction and Powder X-ray diffraction. The 2,3-thienoimide (TI) based oligothiophenes present different crystalline forms that can be obtained by changing the solvent of recrystallization or combining deposition and annealing processes, so part of the work was also dedicated to the study of polymorphism and the analysis of the solid state transition between the different crystal phases. These molecules are characterized by a strong luminescence which dramatically changes depending on the polymorph, this behaviour makes the molecule interesting for potential application in OFET, OLET or TTI. The coordination polymers were obtained by solvothermal reaction, synthesis in solution and by direct grinding of the reagents. The mechanochemistry permits to perform the reaction directly in solid state, overcoming the intrinsic low solubility of Cu(I) and Ag(I) halides, and can yield crystal forms that are not obtainable in solution. However, in several cases the 1-D chain is due to the formation of infinite chain of CuI or AgX which make these compounds closer to the hybrid material than to coordination polymers

AgX-based hybrid coordination polymers: mechanochemical synthesis, structure and luminescence property characterization

Hybrid coordination polymers are interesting for their ability to converge the properties of both inorganic and organic systems in one single compound and recently attention has been focused on silver based hybrid coordination polymers due to their luminescence properties. We searched the CSD to establish the propensity of AgXL (X = Cl-, Br- and I-) with L as an organic ligand to form hybrid coordination polymers. About 800 AgXL structures are deposited in the CSD, with huge structural variability: indeed, it is possible to recognize some structural preferences based on the halide nature. The formation of an inorganic polymeric unit is favoured by iodide but it is also possible with the other halides. This research continues with the synthesis of AgX (X = I-, Br-) based coordination polymers with 2-, 3- and 4-picolylamine (n-pica) as ligands. By mechanochemical synthesis five new hybrid coordination polymers and one coordination polymer have been obtained and their structures determined. While [(AgI)(n-pica)](n) are not luminescent, [(AgBr)(n-pica)](n) emit and their profile depends on the crystallinity of the sample

Novel Cu(I)-5-nitropyridine-2-thiol Cluster with NIR Emission: Structural and Photophysical Characterization

A novel Cu(I) cluster compound has been synthesized by reacting CuI with the 2,2′-dithiobis(5-nitropyridine) ligand under solvothermal conditions. During the reaction, the original ligand breaks into the 5-nitropyridine-2-thiolate moiety, which acts as the coordinating ligand with both N- and S-sites, leading to a distorted octahedral Cu6S6 cluster. The structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and FT-IR analysis, and the photophysical properties have been determined in the solid state by means of steady-state and time-resolved optical techniques. The cluster presents a near-infrared emission showing an unusual temperature dependence: when passing from 77 to 298 K, a blue-shift of the emission band is observed, associated with a decrease in its intensity. Time-dependent-density functional theory calculations suggest that the observed behavior can be ascribed to a complex interplay of excited states, basically in the triplet manifold

Arthropod diversity sheltered in Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) larval nests

1. In pine ecosystems, the role of the larval nests of the Mediterranean defoliator Thaumetopoea pityocampa as shelter of other arthropods, was studied for the first time. In Portugal, Pinus stands which differed in understorey plant diversity and level of attack by T. pityocampa were compared. 2. The arthropod fauna found sheltering inside the nests consisted of 60 species, representing 12 foraging types. Both arthropod richness and abundance were positively correlated with nest size, expressed as larval biomass. Arthropod richness was further positively correlated with understorey plant diversity, while no correlation was detected between arthropod richness and nest density. 3. Spiders accounted for up to 50% of the species richness, while 80% of the individuals collected were either juveniles, or females with brood, implying that T. pityocampa nests are used for overwintering and brood care. Seventy-six per cent of the Araneae were nocturnal ground foragers and specialised cryptic hunters, demonstrating the occurrence of indirect interactions among species belonging to different communities, namely ground vegetation layers and forest pine coppice. 4. It was concluded that, in Mediterranean pine ecosystems, T. pityocampa nests (i) create habitat diversification and contribute to improve overwintering survival of a wide range of arthropod species; (ii) play a functional role in the food web of pine ecosystems, by promoting indirectly mediated interactions among species from different communities; and (iii) do not contribute to create habitat for symtopic phytophagous arthropods, since contrary to literature references for different types of shelters, 98% of the associated species belonged to foraging types other than T. pityocampa

Biocleaning of nitrate alterations on wall paintings by Pseudomonas stutzeri

Microorganisms have been considered as causative agents of biodeterioration in multiple artworks. In this paper, we argue that microorganisms can be positively used for the cleaning of salt crusts otherwise difficult to remove by traditional restoration methods. We use Pseudomonas stutzeri to efficiently clean wall paintings. The bacteria allow for adequate and homogenous removal of insoluble salt efflorescence without damaging the painted layer. We also make use of a new application support consisting of agar. This new technology has been successfully applied in the biocleaning of eighteen-century murals located in a lunette of the Santos Juanes church in Valencia, Spain.This work has appreciated partial financial support from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID-05-09: Biotecnologia microbiana aplicada a la limpieza y restauracion de superficies de obras de arte), coordination by Rosa Maria Montes Estelles, and support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, with a Ph.D. scholarship for Pilar Bosch Roig (BES-2006-12110). The authors wish to thank to the priest of the Santos Juanes Church of Valencia; the 'Direccion General de Patrimonio'; Professor Pilar Roig Picazo; Gianluigi Colalucci, Donatella Zari and Carlo Giantomassi restorers of the Campo Santo di Pisa; Jose Juan Baldo and Irene Carpio, restorers of the Santos Juanes church of Valencia; to Mathieu Viau-Courville; the Instituto Universitario de Restauracion del Patrimonio; and Restaura BioTech S.L.; and particularly to Giancarlo Ranalli due to his invaluable help for the development of this manuscript.Bosch Roig, MDP.; Regidor Ros, JL.; Montes Estellés, RM. (2013). Biocleaning of nitrate alterations on wall paintings by Pseudomonas stutzeri. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 84:266-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.09.009S2662748