Enhanced biocontrol services in artificially selected strains of Orius laevigatus

Augmentative biological control in protected crops relies mainly on omnivorous predators. Their performance as biological control agents (BCA) depends on several characteristics of the species, which in turn may differ among strains within a species. We have recently reported the achievement of two Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) strains showing a significant larger body size or better fitness when feeding on pollen, two characteristics having a key impact on field performance. However, selection towards a specific trait might result in trade-offs, such as reduced predation capacity, which may impair control efficiency. Therefore, the predation capacity of these selected populations was tested in laboratory as a first step prior to its field use. Functional response to different densities of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (adults and larvae) and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (nymphs) were studied in the large-sized and pollen-tolerant O. laevigatus strains in comparison with commercial and wild populations. A type-II functional response was observed regardless of the population. Body size was significantly related to thrips but not to aphid predation. The large-sized strain showed a superior predation capacity, both on thrips larvae and especially on adult thrips, although not on aphids. Therefore, the larger body size of the selected strain may increase its effectiveness as BCA of thrips. Regarding the pollen-tolerant strain, no trade-offs were observed in predation rates on adults or larvae of thrips, but it showed higher predation capacity on aphid nymphs, suggesting an expanded prey range. Implications of such enhanced biocontrol services on crop protection are also discussed.We acknowledge anonymous referees for reviews and comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Grant PID2020-116897RB-I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. José Enrique Mendoza holds a Grant from the MSIU (FPU14/02932)

Bringing cross-layer MIMO to today's wireless LANs

Recent years have seen major innovations in cross-layer wireless designs. Despite demonstrating significant throughput gains, hardly any of these technologies have made it into real networks. Deploying cross-layer innovations requires adoption from Wi-Fi chip manufacturers. Yet, manufacturers hesitate to undertake major investments without a better understanding of how these designs interact with real networks and applications. This paper presents the first step towards breaking this stalemate, by enabling the adoption of cross-layer designs in today's networks with commodity Wi-Fi cards and actual applications. We present OpenRF, a cross-layer architecture for managing MIMO signal processing. OpenRF enables access points on the same channel to cancel their interference at each other's clients, while beamforming their signal to their own clients. OpenRF is self-configuring, so that network administrators need not understand MIMO or physical layer techniques. We patch the iwlwifi driver to support OpenRF on off-the-shelf Intel cards. We deploy OpenRF on a 20-node network, showing how it manages the complex interaction of cross-layer design with a real network stack, TCP, bursty traffic, and real applications. Our results demonstrate an average gain of 1.6x for TCP traffic and a significant reduction in response time for real-time applications, like remote desktop.National Science Foundation (U.S.

Artificial selection for emamectin benzoate resistance in the biological control agent Orius laevigatus

Biological control is occasionally supplemented with insecticides treatments, which may have a significant impact on natural enemies. Typically, selective compounds are chosen to overcome lack of compatibility, but an alternative approach is the use of biocontrol agents resistant to pesticides. Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is the main predator used to control thrips and other small pests in greenhouses. The avermectin emamectin benzoate is a bioinsecticide developed for the control of lepidopteran pests, reported as moderately to highly toxic to O. laevigatus. Firstly, we studied the variation in susceptibility to emamectin benzoate in 32 wild and commercial populations of O. laevigatus. A 62.4-fold variation in response was found (LC50 from 0.8 mg L−1 to 49.9 mg L−1). The baseline LC50 was 4.8 mg L−1. Secondly, we exploited this intraspecific variation to select four distinct emamectin-resistant strains. After 41–47 selection cycles, four resistant strains were successfully obtained (LC50 = 104–203 mg L−1) compared to the reference population (LC50 = 4.7 mg L−1). The resistance was retained for 18 generations without insecticide exposure and was expressed in all life instars, especially from the 4th nymphal instar to adult. The emamectin-resistant strains did not show cross-resistance to abamectin. Inhibitors of the detoxification enzymes failed to restore susceptibility at the concentrations tested. Fecundity and predation capacity in the resistant strain was similar to those in a commercial population. The resistance obtained may be enough to allow survival of adults and nymphs of O. laevigatus exposed to treatments of emamectin benzoate across the crop season.We thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on the manuscript. This research has been supported by the Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (773902-SuperPests). ARG contract is co-financed by Grant PID2020-116897RB-I00 funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the R&D Support Plan of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena

Insights into the origin of the invasive populations of Trioza erytreae in Europe using microsatellite markers and mtDNA barcoding approaches

The African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae is one of the major threats to citrus industry as the vector of the incurable disease known as huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. The psyllid invaded the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula 6 years ago. The invasion alarmed citrus growers in the Mediterranean basin, the largest citrus producing area in Europe, which is still free of HLB. Before our study, no research had been carried out on the genetic diversity of T. erytreae populations that have invaded the Iberian Peninsula and the archipelagos of the Macaronesia (Madeira and the Canary Islands). In this study, combining microsatellites markers and mtDNA barcoding analysis, we characterize the genetic diversity, structure and maternal relationship of these new invasive populations of T. erytreae and those from Africa. Our results suggest that the outbreaks of T. erytreae in the Iberian Peninsula may have derived from the Canary Islands. The populations of T. erytreae that invaded Macaronesia and the Iberian Peninsula are likely to have originated from southern Africa. We anticipate our results to be a starting point for tracking the spread of this invasive pest outside of Africa and to be important for optimizing contingency and eradication plans in newly invaded and free areasinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inheritance of resistance to acrinathrin in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

[SPA] Se investigó la base genética de la resistencia al acrinatrín para Frankliniella occidentalis. La población resistente, seleccionada en el laboratorio para la resistencia a acrinatrín, de un conjunto de poblaciones de trips recogidas en Almería (sureste de España), mostró una gran resistencia al acrinatrín (43 veces superior a la CL50) comparada con la población susceptible de laboratorio. Los datos de mortalidad de cruces recíprocos de trips resistentes y susceptibles indicaron que la resistencia era autosomal y no estaba influenciada por efectos maternos. El análisis de las líneas probit de las poblaciones parentales y los cruces recíprocos mostró que la resistencia se expresaba como un rasgo codominante. [ENG] The genetic basis of acrinathrin resistance was investigated in WFT. The resistant strain, selected in the laboratory for acrinathrin resistance from a pool of thrips populations collected in Almeria (south-eastern Spain), showed a high resistance to acrinathrin (43-fold based on LC50 values) compared with the laboratory susceptible strain. Mortality data from reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible thrips indicated that resistance was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects. Analysis of probit lines fromthe parental strains and reciprocal crosses showed that resistance was expressed as a codominant trait

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia de los departamentos de Tolima, Santander, Sucre y Boyacá.

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia de los departamentos de Tolima, Santander, Sucre y Boyacá.Este documento recoge los procesos académicos realizados durante el desarrollo del Diplomado de Profundización de Acompañamiento Psicosocial en Escenarios de Violencia. Estos procesos integran la apropiación de conceptos teóricos que han servido de apoyo para identificar componentes simbólicos y subjetivos en los escenarios de violencia, así como para apreciar posibles sucesos psicosociales traumáticos desde un criterio profesional. El ejercicio de aplicación de la herramienta foto voz en un contexto real favoreció la identificación de supuestas realidades de los distintos lugares, permitió descubrir posibles formas de descifrar dichas realidades sociales. También se hizo un análisis de diferentes relatos que describen escenarios de violencias sucedidos en el país, los cuales conducen a una reflexión significativa del impacto que genera en las personas y sus comunidades la problemática psicosocial productos de los escenarios de violencia que ha vivido en Colombia durante varios años. De este análisis y reflexión se desprenden propuestas de acción y estrategias de intervención psicosocial que suponen una forma de fortalecer los recursos de afrontamiento que darían lugar a una posible transformación de los escenarios analizados. Los diferentes recursos bibliográficos proporcionados en este diplomado, han servido de apoyo para el desarrollo de cada fase que lo compone y para valorar de qué manera la aplicación de las diferentes herramientas diseñadas y propuestas como la narrativa y la pregunta permiten alcanzar una trasformación de las historias y proponer una nueva esperanza de vida.This document includes the academic processes carried out during the development of the Diploma for deepening Psychosocial Accompaniment in Violence Scenarios. These processes integrate the appropriation of theoretical concepts that have served as support to identify symbolic and subjective components in the scenarios of violence, as well as to appreciate possible traumatic psychosocial events from a professional criterion. The application of the photo voice tool in a real context favored the identification of supposed realities of the different places, allowed to discover possible ways of deciphering these social realities. An analysis was also made of different stories that describe scenarios of violence in the country, which lead to a significant reflection of the impact generated by people and their communities on the psychosocial problems resulting from the scenarios of violence that the Colombia has experienced during several years. From this analysis and reflection, action proposals and psychosocial intervention strategies emerge that suppose a way to strengthen the coping resources that would lead to a possible transformation of the analyzed scenarios. The different bibliographic resources provided in this diploma, have served as support for the development of each phase that composes it and to assess how the application of the different tools designed and proposed as the narrative and the question allow to achieve a transformation of the stories and propose a new life expectancy

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Experiencias en el aula: segundo encuentro de prácticas pedagógicas innovadoras

Experiencias de profesores en su quehacer en los distintos ambientes de aprendizaje presenciales y a distancia.La segunda entrega de Experiencias en el aula es una publicación anual que recoge las ponencias ganadoras presentadas en el Segundo Encuentro de Prácticas Pedagógicas Innovadoras, organizado por el Centro de Excelencia Docente aeiou, de la Vicerrectoría General Académica de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios – UNIMINUTO Todas las ponencias publicadas en la segunda entrega de Experiencias en el aula fueron seleccionadas por evaluadores externos durante la convocatoria al Segundo Encuentro de Prácticas Pedagógicas Innovadoras en el que fueron presentadas; este evento, organizado por el Centro de Excelencia Docente aeiou, y la Vicerrectoría General Académica de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios- UNIMINUTO, tuvo lugar los días 9 y 10 de octubre de 2017

Bringing cross-layer MIMO to today's wireless LANs

Recent years have seen major innovations in cross-layer wireless designs. Despite demonstrating significant throughput gains, hardly any of these technologies have made it into real networks. Deploying cross-layer innovations requires adoption from Wi-Fi chip manufacturers. Yet, manufacturers hesitate to undertake major investments without a better understanding of how these designs interact with real networks and applications. This paper presents the first step towards breaking this stalemate, by enabling the adoption of cross-layer designs in today’s networks with commodity Wi-Fi cards and actual applications. We present OpenRF, a cross-layer architecture for managing MIMO signal processing. OpenRF enables access points on the same channel to cancel their interference at each other’s clients, while beamforming their signal to their own clients. OpenRF is self-configuring, so that network administrators need not understand MIMO or physical layer techniques. We patch the iwlwifi driver to support OpenRF on off-the-shelf Intel cards. We deploy OpenRF on a 20-node network, showing how it manages the complex interaction of cross-layer design with a real network stack, TCP, bursty traffic, and real applications. Our results demonstrate an average gain of 1.6× for TCP traffic and a significant reduction in response time for real-time applications, like remote desktop. ©201

Genetic relationship among seven specialized forms of Fusarium oxysporum determined by DNA sequencing of the ITS region and AFLPs

[ENG] The fungus Fusarium oxysporum Sch.: Fr. present a high biological and genetic variability, manifested the exixtence of many specialized forms and races. With the goal of evaluating the genetic relationship among different specialized forms, an experiment was carried out involving the application of two types of molecular markers. One consisted of sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA of 17 isolates belonging to seven forms: F.o. melonis (4 isolates), F.o. dianthi (2), F.O. niveum (4), F.o. lycopersici (2), F.o. radicis-lycopersici (3),F.o. lagenaria (1) and F.o. luffae (1). Analysis of these sequences revealed that isolates from different forms presentan identical sequence while isolates of the same form apper distributed in different groups of the dendrogram. This observation was confirmed by an AFLP analysis. In addition to the previously cited forms, ten more were studied in this esperiment, belonging to F.o. ciceris, F.o. cucumerinum, F. proliferatum and F.o. asparagi, as well as two non-pathogenic isolates.The dendrogram calculated with the AFLP markers did not reveal any genetic structuration of the 10 specialized forms. These data, in line with those obtained by other authors, seem to suggest that in general, the specialized forms of F. oxysporum do not constitute monophyletic lineages because they evolve in a divergent way. It rather seems that widely different genotypes could share similar genetic factors conferring pathogenic specificity. [ESP] El hongo Fusarium oxysporum Sch.:Fr. presenta una elevada variabilidad biológica y genética que se manifiesta por la existencia de numerosas formas especializadas y razas. Con el fin de evaluar la relación genética entre diferentes formas especializadas se aplicaron dos tipos de marcadores genéticos. En primer lugar se secuenció la región ITS (inyernal transcribed spacer) del ADN ribosomal de 17 aislados pertenecientes a siete de dichas formas: F.o. melonis (4 aislados), F.o. dianthi (2), F.o. niveum (4), F.o. lycopersici (2), F.o. radicis-lycopersici (3), F.o. lagenaria (1) y F.o. luffae (1). El análisis de estas secuencias reveló que aislados de diferentes formas presentan una secuencia idéntica, mientras que aislados de la misma familia forma a parecen en grupos diferentes del correspondiente dendograma. Esta observación se confirmó mediante marcadores AFLP de las mismas formas especializadas y 10 más pertenecientes a F.o. ciceres, F.o. cucumericum, F. proliferatum y F.o. asparagi, así como dos aislados no patogénicos. El dendograma obtenido no reveló ninguna estructuración genética de las 10 formas especializadas. Estos datos, que están en la línea de los obtenidos por otros autores, parecen indicar que algunas formas especializadas de F. oxysporum no constituyen linajes monofiléticos, ya que evolucionan de forma divergente. Oarece más bien que genotipos muy diferentes podrían compartie factores similares de especifidad y especialización patogénica.This work was financed by the project INIA SC93-135