Advances in the understanding of phytoseiid mites genera (Acari: Phytoseiidae) present in citrus plantations Tucuman, Argentina

Phytoseiidae es dentro de los ácaros depredadores, la familia más estudiada y muchas de sus especies se utilizan como agentes de control biológico de insectos y ácaros plagas. Estudios previos reportan la presencia de Amblyseius hibisci (Ch.), Thyphloseiopsis arboreus (Ch.), Phytoseiulus macropilis (B.) y Euseius concordis (Ch.) en cítricos de las regiones del noroeste (NOA) y noreste (NEA) de Argentina. Sin embargo, no existe información reciente sobre las especies presentes en plantaciones cítricas del NOA. Este trabajo se propuso actualizar la diversidad de ácaros fitoseidos en plantaciones de pomelo, naranja, mandarina, limón y la vegetación espontánea asociada en la provincia de Tucumán, noroeste de Argentina. Se identificaron especies de los siguientes géneros: en pomelo, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. y Galendromus M.; en naranja, Euseius W.; en mandarina, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. y Tryphlodromalus M.; en limón, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. y Phytoseiulus E. mientras que en la vegetación espontánea se encontraron los géneros Neoseiulus H., Euseius W., Amblyseius B., Typhlodromalus M. y Graminaseius Ch. y Mc M. El género que se presentó en mayor porcentaje y que estuvo representado en todas las especies muestreadas fue Euseius W. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un incremento en la diversidad de géneros de Phytoseiidae presentes en el agroecosistema cítrico de Tucumán respecto a lo reportado por otros autores. Esta información es de relevancia para el desarrollo de programas de control biológico de ácaros fitófagos en los cultivos cítricos de la de la región.The Phytoseiidae is within predatory mites the family most studied and many of its species are used as biological control agents of insect and mite pests. Previous studies report the presence of Amblyseius hibisci (Ch.), Thyphloseiopsis arboreus (Ch.), Phytoseiulus macropilis (B.) and Euseius concordis (Ch.) in citrus regions of the Northwest (NOA) and Northeastern (NEA) of Argentina. However, there is no recent information on the species present in citrus plantations from NOA. The aim of this study was to update the diversity of phytoseiid mites in plantations of grapefruit, orange, tangerine, lemon and the spontaneous vegetation associated to them in the province of Tucuman, Northwest Argentina. The following genera were identified: in grapefruit, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. and Galendromus M.; orange, Euseius W.; in Mandarin, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. and Tryphlodromalus M.; in lemon, Euseius W., Amblyseius B. and Phytoseiulus E. while in the spontaneous vegetation the genera Neoseiulus H., Euseius W., Amblyseius B., Typhlodromalus M. and Graminaseius Ch. y Mc M. were found. The most representative genus in all citrus species sampled was Euseius. Results show an increase in the diversity of the Phytoseiidae family genera present in the citrus agricultural system of the province of Tucuman compared to what has been reported by other authors. This information is relevant for the development of biological control programs of phytophagous mites in citrus crops in the region.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Baseline data of four insecticides with different modes of action for Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

La mosca de la fruta del Mediterráneo, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), y la mosca sudamericana de los frutos, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) son plagas de gran importancia económica en Argentina y el mundo. Una de las formas de control es el uso de insecticidas en pulverizaciones totales o en cebos. El uso reiterado de un determinado producto ejerce una fuerte presión de selección, pudiendo ocasionar la aparición de resistencia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el dato de nivel básico de cuatro insecticidas con diferentes mecanismos de acción mediante bioensayos en laboratorio. Los productos utilizados fueron formulaciones comerciales de ciantraniliprol, clorpirifos, lambdacialotrina y spinosad. La concentración letal media se estimó mediante un análisis de la curva dosis-respuesta. Para ciantraniliprol y clorpirifós los machos y las hembras de ambas especies fueron igualmente susceptibles. Para lambdacialotrina se detectaron diferencias entre las dos especies; la CL50 de A. fraterculus (0,058 y 0,074 para machos y hembras respectivamente) fue menor que la de C. capitata (0,523 y 0,624 para machos y hembras respectivamente). Para spinosad, los machos de A. fraterculus fueron igualmente susceptibles que los machos y las hembras de C. capitata. Estos resultados generan valores de referencia para Argentina y evidencian la necesidad de completar este tipo de estudios con evaluaciones de poblaciones naturales sobre las cuales se ejerce control químico así como con ensayos en campo y semi-campo. Asimismo muestran la necesidad de completar este tipo de estudios con evaluaciones de los niveles de ingesta en las distintas concentraciones.The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) are pests of major economic importance in Argentina and worldwide. One way to control them is the use of insecticide in sprays or baits. The repeated use of a particular product exerts a strong selection pressure and can lead to development of resistance. The aim of this study was to determine baseline data of four insecticides with different mechanisms of action through laboratory bioassays. The products used were commercial formulations of cyantraniliprole, chlorpyrifos, lambdacyalothrin and spinosad. The mean lethal concentration was estimated by a dose-response curve analysis. Cyantraniliprole and chlorpyrifos were equally susceptible for males and females of both species. For lambdacyalothrin differences between the two species were detected; LC50 of A. fraterculus (0.058 and 0.074 for males and females respectively) was lower than that of C. capitata (0.523 and 0.624 for males and females respectively). For spinosad, A. fraterculus males were equally susceptible than males and females of C. capitata. These results generate reference values for Argentina and demonstrate the need to complete these studies with field evaluations of natural populations on which chemical control is exercised as well as with field and semi-field trials. It also shows the need to complete these studies in which the intake at different concentrations is measured.Fil: Paez Jerez, P. G.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Carrizo, B. N.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Musse, R.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Varela, E.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Armiñana, A.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Milla, F.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Vera, Maria Teresa. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: de la Vega, M. H.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra. Terapéutica Vegetal; Argentin

A cost-effective algae-based biosensor for water quality analysis: Development and testing in collaboration with peasant communities

New anthropic potentially harmful compounds are released into the environment everyday. In this context, broad range bioassays have emerged providing economically viable and widely applicable alternatives due to their ability to detect the cumulative toxicity of mixtures of both known and unknown chemicals in a sample, thus allowing direct information about water quality. Here we present a low-cost, wide-range algae-based biosensor that is easy to assemble and operate by untrained users and provides direct readings. It was developed as a request of a peasant social movement organization to assess the toxicity of drinking water in rural communities affected by pesticide spraying. Two fresh water algae strains, Scenedesmus acutus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, were immobilized in alginate beads and tested as bioindicators. After incubation with different pollutants for five days, naked eye analysis by several observers proved to be a successful method to survey algae’s growth and establish the detection limits. Best detection limits were 10 ppm for technical-grade acid glyphosate, 15 ppm for glyphosate-based formulation, 50 ppb for atrazine formulation, 7.5 ppm for copper and 250 ppb for chromium. Absorbance measurements upon algae resuspension validated these results. The developed device was successfully tested in participatory workshops conducted at rural communities. Children, adults and elders with no scientific training were able to build the sensor and interpret the results, thus evaluating the quality of rain and well water used in their communities.Universidad Nacional de Santiago del EsteroConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Aberrant Insertion of the Right Subclavian Artery: an Unusual Cause of Dysphagia in an Adult

Contains fulltext : 79615.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

First Results from High Angular Resolution ALMA Observations Toward the HL Tau Region

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations from the 2014 Long Baseline Campaign in dust continuum and spectral line emission from the HL Tau region. The continuum images at wavelengths of 2.9, 1.3, and 0.87 mm have unprecedented angular resolutions of 0.075 arcseconds (10 AU) to 0.025 arcseconds (3.5 AU), revealing an astonishing level of detail in the circumstellar disk surrounding the young solar analogue HL Tau, with a pattern of bright and dark rings observed at all wavelengths. By fitting ellipses to the most distinct rings, we measure precise values for the disk inclination (46.72pm0.05 degrees) and position angle (+138.02pm0.07 degrees). We obtain a high-fidelity image of the 1.0 mm spectral index ($\alpha$), which ranges from $\alpha\sim2.0$ in the optically-thick central peak and two brightest rings, increasing to 2.3-3.0 in the dark rings. The dark rings are not devoid of emission, we estimate a grain emissivity index of 0.8 for the innermost dark ring and lower for subsequent dark rings, consistent with some degree of grain growth and evolution. Additional clues that the rings arise from planet formation include an increase in their central offsets with radius and the presence of numerous orbital resonances. At a resolution of 35 AU, we resolve the molecular component of the disk in HCO+ (1-0) which exhibits a pattern over LSR velocities from 2-12 km/s consistent with Keplerian motion around a ~1.3 solar mass star, although complicated by absorption at low blue-shifted velocities. We also serendipitously detect and resolve the nearby protostars XZ Tau (A/B) and LkHa358 at 2.9 mm.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

An Overview of the 2014 ALMA Long Baseline Campaign

A major goal of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is to make accurate images with resolutions of tens of milliarcseconds, which at submillimeter (submm) wavelengths requires baselines up to ~15 km. To develop and test this capability, a Long Baseline Campaign (LBC) was carried out from September to late November 2014, culminating in end-to-end observations, calibrations, and imaging of selected Science Verification (SV) targets. This paper presents an overview of the campaign and its main results, including an investigation of the short-term coherence properties and systematic phase errors over the long baselines at the ALMA site, a summary of the SV targets and observations, and recommendations for science observing strategies at long baselines. Deep ALMA images of the quasar 3C138 at 97 and 241 GHz are also compared to VLA 43 GHz results, demonstrating an agreement at a level of a few percent. As a result of the extensive program of LBC testing, the highly successful SV imaging at long baselines achieved angular resolutions as fine as 19 mas at ~350 GHz. Observing with ALMA on baselines of up to 15 km is now possible, and opens up new parameter space for submm astronomy.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters; this version with small changes to affiliation

Can luteal regression be reversed?

The corpus luteum is an endocrine gland whose limited lifespan is hormonally programmed. This debate article summarizes findings of our research group that challenge the principle that the end of function of the corpus luteum or luteal regression, once triggered, cannot be reversed. Overturning luteal regression by pharmacological manipulations may be of critical significance in designing strategies to improve fertility efficacy

Non-invasive ventilation in obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe obstructive sleep apnoea

Background Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective form of treatment in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) who have concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the efficacy of NIV in patients with OHS without severe OSA. We performed a multicentre randomised clinical trial to determine the comparative efficacy of NIV versus lifestyle modification (control group) using daytime arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) as the main outcome measure. Methods Between May 2009 and December 2014 we sequentially screened patients with OHS without severe OSA. Participants were randomised to NIV versus lifestyle modification and were followed for 2 months. Arterial blood gas parameters, clinical symptoms, health-related quality of life assessments, polysomnography, spirometry, 6-min walk distance test, blood pressure measurements and healthcare resource utilisation were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using intention-to-treat analysis. Results A total of 365 patients were screened of whom 58 were excluded. Severe OSA was present in 221 and the remaining 86 patients without severe OSA were randomised. NIV led to a significantly larger improvement in PaCO2 of -6 (95% CI -7.7 to -4.2) mm Hg versus -2.8 (95% CI -4.3 to -1.3) mm Hg, (p<0.001) and serum bicarbonate of -3.4 (95% CI -4.5 to -2.3) versus -1 (95% CI -1.7 to -0.2 95% CI) mmol/L (p<0.001). PaCO2 change adjusted for NIV compliance did not further improve the inter-group statistical significance. Sleepiness, some health-related quality of life assessments and polysomnographic parameters improved significantly more with NIV than with lifestyle modification. Additionally, there was a tendency towards lower healthcare resource utilisation in the NIV group. Conclusions NIV is more effective than lifestyle modification in improving daytime PaCO2, sleepiness and polysomnographic parameters. Long-term prospective studies are necessary to determine whether NIV reduces healthcare resource utilisation, cardiovascular events and mortality

TreeDyn: towards dynamic graphics and annotations for analyses of trees

BACKGROUND: Analyses of biomolecules for biodiversity, phylogeny or structure/function studies often use graphical tree representations. Many powerful tree editors are now available, but existing tree visualization tools make little use of meta-information related to the entities under study such as taxonomic descriptions or gene functions that can hardly be encoded within the tree itself (if using popular tree formats). Consequently, a tedious manual analysis and post-processing of the tree graphics are required if one needs to use external information for displaying or investigating trees. RESULTS: We have developed TreeDyn, a tool using annotations and dynamic graphical methods for editing and analyzing multiple trees. The main features of TreeDyn are 1) the management of multiple windows and multiple trees per window, 2) the export of graphics to several standard file formats with or without HTML encapsulation and a new format called TGF, which enables saving and restoring graphical analysis, 3) the projection of texts or symbols facing leaf labels or linked to nodes, through manual pasting or by using annotation files, 4) the highlight of graphical elements after querying leaf labels (or annotations) or by selection of graphical elements and information extraction, 5) the highlight of targeted trees according to a source tree browsed by the user, 6) powerful scripts for automating repetitive graphical tasks, 7) a command line interpreter enabling the use of TreeDyn through CGI scripts for online building of trees, 8) the inclusion of a library of packages dedicated to specific research fields involving trees. CONCLUSION: TreeDyn is a tree visualization and annotation tool which includes tools for tree manipulation and annotation and uses meta-information through dynamic graphical operators or scripting to help analyses and annotations of single trees or tree collections