Sampling pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) pressure in oilseed rape: which method is best?

BACKGROUND: The pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) is the most abundant pests of oilseed rape in spring and potentially one of the most damaging. Adults feed on the pollen within closed flower buds and the damage leads to bud abscission, resulting in podless stalks and yield reduction. Several methods are currently used to monitor the pressure of this insect such as counting the numbers of adults on the plants, quantifying the number of buds damaged by the insect before flowering or counting the number of podless stalks before harvest. We conducted experiments to evaluate the robustness of these sampling methods and compared their results. We also describe how pollen beetles damage the plants to understand the limitations of the methods based on an estimation of the damage. RESULTS: We found that methods based on adult abundance lack robustness. We observed that most of the damage to buds is caused by pollen beetles feeding on small buds, and that this damage can be quantified later in the season, indicating the robustness of methods based on the count of podless stalks. Different methods gave consistent results and quantification of the pressure on the primary raceme can be a good proxy for data collected by assessing the whole plant. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized methods for assessment of pollen beetle pressure will enable comparison of pest management strategies between different studies and facilitate the development of alternative control strategies for this pest

A Genetic Model of Impulsivity, Vulnerability to Drug Abuse and Schizophrenia-Relevant Symptoms With Translational Potential: The Roman High- vs. Low-Avoidance Rats

The bidirectional selective breeding of Roman high- (RHA) and low-avoidance (RLA) rats for respectively rapid vs. poor acquisition of active avoidant behavior has generated two lines/strains that differ markedly in terms of emotional reactivity, with RHA rats being less fearful than their RLA counterparts. Many other behavioral traits have been segregated along the selection procedure; thus, compared with their RLA counterparts, RHA rats behave as proactive copers in the face of aversive conditions, display a robust sensation/novelty seeking (SNS) profile, and show high impulsivity and an innate preference for natural and drug rewards. Impulsivity is a multifaceted behavioral trait and is generally defined as a tendency to express actions that are poorly conceived, premature, highly risky or inappropriate to the situation, that frequently lead to unpleasant consequences. High levels of impulsivity are associated with several neuropsychiatric conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. Herein, we review the behavioral and neurochemical differences between RHA and RLA rats and survey evidence that RHA rats represent a valid genetic model, with face, construct, and predictive validity, to investigate the neural underpinnings of behavioral disinhibition, novelty seeking, impulsivity, vulnerability to drug addiction as well as deficits in attentional processes, cognitive impairments and other schizophrenia-relevant traits

Some exact solutions of F(R) gravity with charged (a)dS black hole interpretation

In this paper we obtain topological static solutions of some kind of pure $F(R)$ gravity. The present solutions are two kind: first type is uncharged solution which corresponds with the topological (a)dS Schwarzschild solution and second type has electric charge and is equivalent to the Einstein-$\Lambda$-conformally invariant Maxwell solution. In other word, starting from pure gravity leads to (charged) Einstein-$\Lambda$ solutions which we interpreted them as (charged) (a)dS black hole solutions of pure $F(R)$ gravity. Calculating the Ricci and Kreschmann scalars show that there is a curvature singularity at $r=0$. We should note that the Kreschmann scalar of charged solutions goes to infinity as $r \rightarrow 0$, but with a rate slower than that of uncharged solutions.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, generalization to higher dimensions, references adde

Relative efficiency of methods to estimate cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) larval infestation in oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Background The cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB; Psylliodes chrysocephala) is an important pest of winter oilseed rape (OSR) crops in Europe. Damage is caused by adults feeding on young leaves and by larvae mining in the leaves and stems. The most common method to estimate the severity of CSFB larval infestation is by plant dissection, which is time consuming and labour intensive. Two alternative methods have been proposed: extraction of larvae from desiccating plants and counting the percentage of leaves with scars left by larvae on plant petioles. These methods are easy to implement and less time consuming than plant dissection but have not been properly validated. Results OSR plants were sampled in five different experiments and the two alternative methods tested; assessment of the total number of scars per plant as a predictor of the number of larvae was also tested. The number of larvae remaining in plants following various periods of desiccation was checked via plant dissection. We found that the desiccation method is efficient, giving reliable results after 7 days (76% of the total larvae extracted) with good accuracy in estimating the number of larvae per plant (±0.38 larvae per plant). The total number of scars also gives a reliable estimation of the number of larvae (r = 0.76, accuracy of ±1.01 larvae per plant). Conclusion OSR plant desiccation and the total number of scars per plant are reliable methods to estimate CSFB larval infestation and will facilitate monitoring of this cryptic pest stage. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry

Companion plants and straw mulch reduce cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) damage on oilseed rape

Plant diversification, especially sowing crops with the addition of companion plants has been demonstrated as a suitable practice to increase insect pest control in multiple cropping systems. Since the ban on use of neonicotinoid seed treatments in oilseed rape (OSR), the harvested area has reduced significantly in Europe, mainly because of the damage caused by cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala). Several companion plants such as legumes and other species of Brassicaceae have been reported as potential companions for OSR but robust evaluation of their efficiency to reduce cabbage stem flea beetle damage in replicated trials is lacking. Four field trials were conducted in the UK and Germany to test the effect of different companion plants, or the addition of straw mulch, on cabbage stem flea beetle adult feeding and larval infestation in OSR. We found significant differences in the level of feeding damage between treatments in all experiments. Combinations of OSR with cereal companion plants or with straw mulch showed the strongest reduction in adult feeding damage. A protective effect of legumes was also observed in one trial. Differences in larval infestation were also observed between treatments but were not consistent and might be more related to the OSR plant biomass than to treatments. This study shows that companion planting can protect OSR crops from cabbage stem flea beetle adult feeding damage. We show for the first time that not only legumes, but also cereals and the application of straw mulch can have a strong protective effect on the crop

Integrated pest management strategies for cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) in oilseed rape

Oilseed rape (OSR) is the second largest source of vegetable oil globally and the most important biofuel feedstock in the European Union (EU) but production of this important crop is threatened by a small insect; Psylliodes chrysocepaha – the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB). The EU ban on use of neonicotinoid seed treatments and resistance of CSFB to pyrethroid insecticides have left farmers with limited control options resulting in drastic reductions in production. Integrated pest management (IPM) may offer a solution. We review the lifecycle of CSFB and the current options available, or in the research pipeline, for the eight IPM principles of the EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (Directive-2009/128/EC). A full IPM strategy for CSFB barely exists. Although there are a range of preventative measures these require scientific validation; critically, resistant/tolerant OSR cultivars are not yet available. Existing monitoring methods are time consuming and there are no commercial models to enable decision support based on predictions migration timing or population size. Available thresholds are not based on physiological tolerances of the plant making it hard to adapt them to changing market prices for the crop and costs of control. Non-synthetic alternatives tested and registered for use against CSFB are lacking, making resistance management impossible. CSFB control is therefore dependent upon conservation biocontrol. Natural enemies of CSFB are present, but quantification of their effects is needed and habitat management strategies to exploit their potential. Although some EU countries have local initiatives to reduce insecticide use and encourage use of ‘greener’ alternatives, there is no formal process for ranking these and little information available to help farmers make choices. We summarise the main knowledge gaps and future research needed to improve measures for CSFB control and to facilitate development of a full IPM strategy for this pest -and sustainable oilseeds production

P2613Initial combination therapy with ambrisentan and tadalafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension: clinical effect and haemodynamic changes. A multicenter retrospective analysis

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The Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker Big Bang singularities are well behaved

We show that the Big Bang singularity of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker model does not raise major problems to General Relativity. We prove a theorem showing that the Einstein equation can be written in a non-singular form, which allows the extension of the spacetime before the Big Bang. The physical interpretation of the fields used is discussed. These results follow from our research on singular semi-Riemannian geometry and singular General Relativity.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Seminal fluid metabolomic markers of oligozoospermic infertility in humans

Infertility affects 12–15% of couples worldwide, and male factors are the cause of nearly half of all cases. Studying seminal fluid composition could lead to additional diagnostic accuracy and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of male factor infertility. Metabolomics offers a new opportunity to evaluate biomarkers and better understand pathological mechanisms. The aim of the study was to identify new markers or therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in male factor or idiopathic infertility patients. Semen samples were obtained from 29 men with a normal spermogram test, and from 18 oligozoospermic men. Samples were processed and analyzed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and, subsequently, multivariate and univariate statistical analyses. Receiving Operator Curves (ROC) and Spearman correlations were also performed. An Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis supervised multivariate model was devised to compare the groups. The levels of fructose, myo‐inositol, aspartate and choline were altered. Moreover, Spearman Correlation associated fructose, aspartate and myo‐inositol with the total amount of spermatozoa, total motile spermatozoa, % of immotility and % of “in situ” spermatozoic motility respectively. NMR‐based metabolomics allowed the identification of a specific metabolic fingerprint of the seminal fluids of patients affected by oligozoospermia

Tyrosinase Inhibitor Activity of Coumarin-Resveratrol Hybrids

In the present work we report on the contribution of the coumarin moiety to tyrosinase inhibition. Coumarin-resveratrol hybrids 1-8 have been resynthesized to investigate the structure-activity relationships and the IC50 values of these compounds were measured. The results showed that these compounds exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Compound 3-(3’,4’,5’-trihydroxyphenyl)-6,8-dihydroxycoumarin (8) is the most potent compound (0.27 mM), more so than umbelliferone (0.42 mM), used as reference compound. The kinetic studies revealed that compound 8 caused non-competitive tyrosinase inhibition