Z-11-TETRADECENYL ACETATE: SEX ATTRACTANT OF AGAPETA ZOEGANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), A POTENTIAL SPECIES FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF KNAPWEED

In Canada, 78 of the most important weed species are introductions from Eurasia (Frankton and Mulligan 1970). Classical biological control aims to reduce the density of alien weeds below the economic threshold through introduction of specific herbivores from the native distribution area (Peschken 1979). During extended field surveys in central and southeastern Europe, the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control established the root-mining tortricid Agapeta zoegana Haw. as a promising control agent for Centaurea diffusa Lam. and C. maculosa Lam., 2 important ranch weeds in southwestern Canada (Harris and Myers 1984) and the northwestern United States (Maddox 1982). Due to the limited host range and suitable climatic conditions this moth was chosen for introduction into North America (Müller et al. 1982; Müller 1984). We wish to report an attractant that may be used to monitor the establishment of this beneficial species in its new habita

Workshop Proceeding of the 2nd Workshop on Green (Responsible, Ethical and Social) IT and IS – the Corporate Perspective (GRES-IT/IS)

For the 2nd Workshop on Green (Responsible, Ethical and Social) IT and IS – the Corporate Perspective (GRES-IT/IS), extended abstracts from various fields of the information systems research community have been submitted. We received 36 extended abstracts and were happy to invite seven of them for presentation.Series: Working Papers on Information Systems, Information Business and Operation

Protection of the vascular endothelium in experimental situations

One of the factors proposed as mediators of vascular dysfunction observed in diabetes is the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This provides support for the use of antioxidants as early and appropriate pharmacological intervention in the development of late diabetic complications. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats we observed endothelial dysfuction manifested by reduced endothelium-dependent response to acetylcholine of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta, as well as by increased endothelaemia. Changes in endothelium-dependent relaxation of SMA were induced by injury of the nitric oxide radical (·NO)-signalling pathway since the endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF)-component of relaxation was not impaired by diabetes. The endothelial dysfunction was accompanied by decreased ·NO bioavailabity as a consequence of reduced activity of eNOS rather than its reduced expression. The results obtained using the chemiluminiscence method (CL) argue for increased oxidative stress and increased ROS production. The enzyme NAD(P)H-oxidase problably participates in ROS production in the later phases of diabetes. Oxidative stress was also connected with decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the early phase of diabetes. After 10 weeks of diabetes, adaptational mechanisms probably took place because GSH levels were not changed compared to controls. Antioxidant properties of SMe1EC2 found in vitro were partly confirmed in vivo. Administration of SMe1EC2 protected endothelial function. It significantly decreased endothelaemia of diabetic rats and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation of arteries, slightly decreased ROS-production and increased bioavailability of ·NO in the aorta. Further studies with higher doses of SMe1EC2 may clarify the mechanism of its endothelium-protective effect in vivo

Analysis of nucleoside-binding proteins by ligand-specific elution from dye resin: application to Mycobacterium tuberculosis aldehyde dehydrogenases

We show that Cibacron Blue F3GA dye resin chromatography can be used to identify ligands that specifically interact with proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and that the identification of these ligands can facilitate structure determination by enhancing the quality of crystals. Four native Mtb proteins of the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) family were previously shown to be specifically eluted from a Cibacron Blue F3GA dye resin with nucleosides. In this study we characterized the nucleoside-binding specificity of one of these ALDH isozymes (recombinant Mtb Rv0223c) and compared these biochemical results with co-crystallization experiments with different Rv0223c-nucleoside pairings. We found that the strongly interacting ligands (NAD and NADH) aided formation of high-quality crystals, permitting solution of the first Mtb ALDH (Rv0223c) structure. Other nucleoside ligands (AMP, FAD, adenosine, GTP and NADP) exhibited weaker binding to Rv0223c, and produced co-crystals diffracting to lower resolution. Difference electron density maps based on crystals of Rv0223c with various nucleoside ligands show most share the binding site where the natural ligand NAD binds. From the high degree of similarity of sequence and structure compared to human mitochondrial ALDH-2 (BLAST Z-score = 53.5 and RMSD = 1.5 Å), Rv0223c appears to belong to the ALDH-2 class. An altered oligomerization domain in the Rv0223c structure seems to keep this protein as monomer whereas native human ALDH-2 is a multimer

The NOX toolbox: validating the role of NADPH oxidases in physiology and disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are cellular signals but also disease triggers; their relative excess (oxidative stress) or shortage (reductive stress) compared to reducing equivalents are potentially deleterious. This may explain why antioxidants fail to combat diseases that correlate with oxidative stress. Instead, targeting of disease-relevant enzymatic ROS sources that leaves physiological ROS signaling unaffected may be more beneficial. NADPH oxidases are the only known enzyme family with the sole function to produce ROS. Of the catalytic NADPH oxidase subunits (NOX), NOX4 is the most widely distributed isoform. We provide here a critical review of the currently available experimental tools to assess the role of NOX and especially NOX4, i.e. knock-out mice, siRNAs, antibodies, and pharmacological inhibitors. We then focus on the characterization of the small molecule NADPH oxidase inhibitor, VAS2870, in vitro and in vivo, its specificity, selectivity, and possible mechanism of action. Finally, we discuss the validation of NOX4 as a potential therapeutic target for indications including stroke, heart failure, and fibrosis

S-D logic-informed customer engagement: Integrative framework, revised fundamental propositions, and application to CRM

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Sex pheromone components of Mamestra suasa: chemical analysis, electrophysiological activity, wind tunnel activity and field tests in two European countries

(Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z‐11–16:Ac), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z‐11–16:Ald), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenol (Z‐11–16:OH) and hexadecanyl acetate (16:Ac) were found in pheromone gland extracts of female Mamestra suasa (Den. et Schiff.) in the relative amounts 100/2/10/5. All four compounds were also present in collections of airborne volatiles from calling females in a 100/7/5/5 ratio. No traces of 14 carbon aldehydes or acetates were detected. In gland extracts the presence of methyl hexadecanoate, methyl (Z)‐9‐hexadecenoate and methyl (Z)‐11‐hexadecenoate was demonstrated by base methanolysis. No methyl tetradecenoates were detected. In EAG tests Z‐11–16:Ac gave the best responses, followed by (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z‐9–14:Ac), Z‐11–16:Ald and Z‐11–16:OH. In single sensillum recordings large spike amplitude cells in sensilla responded to Z‐11–16:Ac, while small spike amplitude cells to both Z‐11–16:OH and Z‐9–14:Ac. Cells responding to Z‐11–16:Ald were found in one out of 60 sensilla tested. In wind tunnel tests 0.1 μg of a 10:1 blend of Z‐11–16:Ac/Z‐11–16:Ald evoked the same responses and at a similar intensity as 3 isolated female pheromone glands did. In field tests a 10:1 blend of Z‐11–16:Ac/Z‐11–16:Ald caught significant numbers of males in both Bulgaria and Hungary. The addition of 16:Ac to the binary blend did not have any effect, while more than 1% of Z‐11–16:OH or 0.1170 of Z‐9–14:Ac dramatically decreased captures. In comparing different ratios of the acetate/aldehyde blend at different dose levels, best catches were recorded at the 10:1 ratio and at the highest (1000 μg) dose level. La composition de la phéromone sexuelle de Mamestra suasa***: analyse chimique, étude de l'effet par éléctrophysiologie et à la chambre de vol, et piégeages dans deux pays de l'Europe On a trouvé l'acetoxy‐1 hexadécene‐11 Z (Z‐11–16:Ac), le hexadécene‐11 Z al‐1 (Z‐11–16:Ald), le hexadécene‐11 Z ol‐1 (Z‐11–16:OH) et l'acetoxy‐1 hexadécene (16:Ac) dans des extraits de glandes phéromona les des femelles de Mamestra suasa. La proportion relative des composés était 100/2/10/5. Tous les quatre composés ont été présents aussi dans les collections d'émanations des femelles en stade d'appel, dans la proportion un peu différente de 100/7/5/5. On n'a détecté aucune trace des tétradécenes al‐1 ou d'acetoxy‐1 tétradécenes. On a démontré la présence de hexadécenoate‐1 methyl, hexadécene‐9 Z oate‐1 methyl et héxadécene‐11 Z oate‐1 methyl dans des extraits des glandes, par la méthode de ‘base methanolysis’. On n'a trouvé pas des tétradéceneoates methyl. En éléctroantennographie, Z‐11–16:Ac a donné les meilleurs réponses, suivis par l'acetoxy‐1 tétradécene‐9 Z (Z‐9–14:Ac), Z‐11–16:Ald et Z‐11–16:OH. Dans des études de ‘single sensillum’ les cellules à amplitude grande ont répondu à la stimulation avec de Z‐11–16:Ac, cependant les cellules à amplitude petite ont répondu à la stimulation avec des deux composés Z‐9–14:Ac et Z‐11–16:OH. On a trouvé des cellules sensitives à Z‐11–16:Ald dans 1 entre 60 sensilla étudiés. Á la chambre de vol, le dose de 0.1 μg d'un mélange de 10:1 de Z‐11–16:Ac/Z‐11–16:Ald a provoqué les mêmes réponses et à l'intensité pareille comme 3 glandes phéromonales isolées des femelles. En piégeages sur le champs des males en quantité importante ont été capturé par un mélange de 10:1 de Z‐11–16:Ac/Z‐11–16:Ald en Bulgarie et Hongrie. L'addition de 16:Ac au mélange binaire n'avait aucun effet, cependant l'addition de plus de 1% de Z‐11–16:OH ou 0.1% de Z‐9–14:Ac a sérieusement diminué les captûres. En comparant des proportions différentes du mélange de l'acetoxy/aldéhyde dans des doses différentes, on a observé les meilleurs captûres avec de la proportion 10:1 et à la dose la plus haute (1000 μg). 1986 The Netherlands Entomological Societ

Electrophysiological and chemical-analysis of sex pheromone communication system of the mottled umber, Erannis defoliaria (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

(Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene (Z3, Z6, Z9-19Hy) and (Z,Z)-3,9-cis-6,7-epoxy-nonadecadiene (Z3, Z9-cis-6,7-epo-19Hy) were identified in pheromone gland extracts from female Erannis defoliaria. The two components were found in a 1:3 ratio, with the main component, Z3, Z9-cis-6,7-epo-19Hy present at an amount of about 1.5 ng per female. The components were identified by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-electroantennography and gas chromatography-single sensillum recordings. Single sensillum measurements on the male antenna showed two physiological types of sensilla. One type was characterized by a large spike amplitude cell responding to Z3, Z9-cis-6,7-epoxy-19Hy and a small spike amplitude cell responding to Z3, Z6, Z9-19Hy. A second type responded only with a large spike amplitude cell to the epoxide, and this cell was inhibited by the triene. Of the two pheromone components, the epoxide gave the higher response in the EAG tests. Preliminary field tests support the identification of the pheromone components. The epoxide was also found to be present in the extract of the pheromone gland of Colotois pennaria, and males of C. pennaria and Agriopis marginaria were trapped by the mixture of the identified compounds

Pheromone variation among eastern-european and a western asian population of the turnip moth Agrotis segetum Schiff (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

The female sex pheromone composition and the male electro-physiological response with respect to the three main sex pheromone components, (Z)-5-decenyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, were investigated in populations of Agrotis segetum from Armenia and Bulgaria. The percentage composition of the female-produced pheromone was 1:52:47 and 1:42:57 for the respective populations. Corresponding male receptor frequencies were 9:90:1 and 6:92:2. EAG response profiles of the male antennae were similar for the two populations. The populations from Armenia and Bulgaria differed from the earlier investigated French and Swedish populations, which have larger amounts of (Z)-5-decenyl acetate in gland extracts and have a majority of (Z)-5-decenyl acetate-sensitive receptors. Investigation of receptor frequencies on antennae of male Hungarian moths showed that individuals could be classified as either Swedish or Armenian/Bulgarian type. Males of the Swedish type were preferentially attracted to the three-component pheromone blend, whereas blends of (Z)-7-dodecenyl and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z)-7-dodecenol [pure or in mixture with (Z)-5-decenol] attracted the Armenian/Bulgarian type. The nature of pheromone variation among European and Asian populations of the turnip moth and possible mechanisms maintaining the variation are discussed

Novel type of sex pheromone structure identified from Stigmella malella (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae)

Short-chain unsaturated chiral methyl carbinols are identified as a new class of lepidopteran pheromone components. The natural female-produced pheromone of the banded apple pigmyStigmella malella (=Nepticula malella) (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae) was identified to be a mixture of (S)-(E)-6,8-nonadien-2-ol and (S)-(Z)-6,8-nonadien-2-ol. For monitoring traps, a 10:3E:Z blend at 100–1000 µg is recommended. It is suggested that pheromones with similar structures may be specific to Nepticulidae and other related microlepidopteran families