Winter survival and population dynamics of bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Ecological study of the population dynamics of bean leaf beetle adults, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with special reference to the overwintering populations, was conducted in central Iowa. Ecological habits, spatial distribution, cold tolerance, and winter survival of overwintering beetle adults, were studied for 3-yr (1996 through 1999). Additionally, the population fluctuation of the adult beetles during the growing season was studied for 10-yr, from 1989 through 1998, inclusively. Overwintering beetle adults mostly hibernated in the crop residue of soybean fields ( ≈ 20%) and leaf litter of woodlands ( ≈ 80%). A few beetles (\u3c 1%) overwintered in alfalfa fields, cornfields, and grasslands. The overwintering adults aggregated in the litter of soybean fields and woodlands. Residue in the habitats served as an insulating layer for the overwintering beetles. However, over 50% mortality of the overwintering beetles was observed in both soybean fields and woodlands during the 3-yr study. Laboratory study indicated that most of the overwintering beetles survived more than hundreds of hours when they were kept at --5°C or above, whereas most of the beetles died when they were kept at --10°C or below. This result indicated that cold temperature has a strong effect on the winter survival of the overwintering populations. A model for the estimation of the mortality of overwintering beetle adults, based on the accumulation of the air mean subfreezing winter temperature, was developed. Linear regression and multiple regression stepwise selection procedure analyses were used to relate environmental factors to population fluctuations of bean leaf beetle during the 10-yr study. The analyses showed a strong relationship between the environmental factors, including temperature and precipitation, and beetle population densities. A predictive model for F2 adults in the next late season was developed. The major factors affecting the survival of overwintering populations and population fluctuations of the beetles, estimation of winter survival, and the prediction of the population dynamics of bean leaf beetle during seasonal cycles are discussed

Winter survival of bean leaf beetle

During the growing season, bean leaf beetle larvae feed on soybean roots, root hairs, and nodules, whereas the adults defoliate soybeans and feed on the external tissues of pods. The beetle is known to be the vector of soybean viral diseases, including bean pod mottle virus, yellow cowpea mosaic virus, cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, and southern bean mosaic virus. In addition, the second-generation adults feed on the pod tissues, often causing secondary infection of fungal pathogens (Alternaria spp.) and seed-quality reduction

Targeting Mnks for Cancer Therapy

Deregulation of protein synthesis is a common event in human cancer and a key player in translational control is eIF4E. Elevated expression levels of eIF4E promote cancer development and progression. Recent findings suggest that eIF4E activity is a key determinant of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK mediated tumorigenic activity and targeting eIF4E should have a major impact on these pathways in human cancer. The function of eIF4E is modulated through phosphorylation of a conserved serine (Ser209) by Mnk1 and Mnk2 downstream of ERK. While the phosphorylation event is necessary for oncogenic transformation, it seems to be dispensable for normal development. Hence, pharmacologic Mnk inhibitors may provide non-toxic and effective anti-cancer strategy. Strong circumstantial evidence indicates that Mnk inhibition presents attractive therapeutic potential, but the lack of selective Mnk inhibitors has so far confounded pharmacological target validation and clinical development

Influence of row width and conservation tillage practice on soybean insect communities in Iowa

The objective of the research was to understand the effects of row width under conservation tillage practice on the populations of phytophagous insects and their natural enemies in soybean insect communities in Iowa. Field studies were conducted at Iowa State University research farms from 1993 through 1995. Soybean were planted with no-tillage and reduced-tillage at narrow (25-cm) and wide (76-cm) row spacings in a split-plot design. The above-ground insect populations were estimated by sampling in two-week intervals, and the environmental factors, including air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, leaf area index, and weed escapes percentage estimation, were recorded. The prominent insect pests sampled included potato leafhopper (Empoascafabae (H.)), green cloverworm (Plathypena scabra (F.)), bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster)), brown stink bugs (Euschistus spp.), differential and red-legged grasshoppers (Melanoplus differentialis (T.) and M. femurrubrum (S.)), and tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris (P.)). Common natural enemies sampled were damsel bugs (Nabis spp.) and insidious flower bugs (Orius insidiosus (S.)). No significant differences were detected among insect pests between row spacing treatments. Similarly, no significant differences were observed among natural enemies between treatments of row spacings and tillage practices. However, population densities of the potato leafhopper and the bean leaf beetle were significantly greater in the reduced-tillage plots. No consistent results of ANOVA were obtained from the environmental factors including air and soil temperatures and relative humidity. Leaf area index was significantly greater in the narrow-row plots. In addition, weed percentages were significantly greater in both wide-row plots and no-tillage plots. The results of the study supported a hypothesis that different row width under conservation tillage practice would not dramatically affect soybean insect communities in Iowa

Early-season bean leaf beetles rarely equal economic damage

Don\u27t be surprised to see more bean leaf beetles this season than in typical years. Last year, a large bean leaf beetle population was present in most of Iowa. The mild winter apparently allowed at least 50 percent winter survival of overwintering beetles. This is in contrast to the 25 percent survival recorded last year. The bean leaf beetle completes two generations each year in Iowa. Adults overwinter and emerge in late April or May depending on the temperature. Adults have been reported in 1998 since the third week of April

New concept for bean leaf beetle management

Bean leaf beetles feeding on soybean pods can lead to significant reductions in seed quality and yield throughout Iowa. Management of bean leaf beetles in soybeans during the pod setting and filling stages can be frustrating for farmers and crop advisers because beetles may feed on pods for a couple of weeks before the population reaches the economic threshold. In this situation, some loss in seed quality and quantity occurs before an insecticide application can be economically justified. Is there any way to realistically prevent this economic damage

Synthesis and biological evaluation of benzyl styrylsulfonyl derivatives as potent anticancer mitotic inhibitors

We herein report the synthesis, biological activity and structure activity relationship of derivatives of benzylstyrylsulfone, benzylstyrylsulfine and benzylsulfonyl-N-phenylacetamide. A lead compound 7 represents a new class of mitotic inhibitors that demonstrates potent anti-proliferative activity and selectively induces cancer cell apoptosis while sparing non-transformed lung fibroblast

Ad hoc influenza vaccination during years of significant antigenic drift in a tropical city with 2 seasonal peaks

We evaluated the acceptability of an additional ad hoc influenza vaccination among the health care professionals following seasons with significant antigenic drift. Self-administered, anonymous surveys were performed by hard copy questionnaires in public hospitals, and by an on-line platform available to all healthcare professionals, from April 1st to May 31st, 2015. A total of 1290 healthcare professionals completed the questionnaires, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working in both the public and private systems. Only 31.8% of participating respondents expressed an intention to receive the additional vaccine, despite that the majority of them agreed or strongly agreed that it would bring benefit to the community (88.9%), save lives (86.7%), reduce medical expenses (76.3%), satisfy public expectation (82.8%), and increase awareness of vaccination (86.1%). However, a significant proportion expressed concern that the vaccine could disturb the normal immunization schedule (45.5%); felt uncertain what to do in the next vaccination round (66.0%); perceived that the summer peak might not occur (48.2%); and believed that the summer peak might not be of the same virus (83.5%). Furthermore, 27.8% of all respondents expected that the additional vaccination could weaken the efficacy of previous vaccinations; 51.3% was concerned about side effects; and 61.3% estimated that there would be a low uptake rate. If the supply of vaccine was limited, higher priority groups were considered to include the elderly aged ≥65 years with chronic medical conditions (89.2%), the elderly living in residential care homes (87.4%), and long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled (80.7%). The strongest factors associated with accepting the additional vaccine included immunization with influenza vaccines in the past 3 years, higher perceived risk of contracting influenza, and higher perceived severity of the disease impact. The acceptability to an additional ad hoc influenza vaccination was low among healthcare professionals. This could have a negative impact on such additional vaccination campaigns since healthcare professionals are a key driver for vaccine acceptance. The discordance in perceived risk and acceptance of vaccination regarding self versus public deserves further evaluation