Effect of UV-Absorbing Nets on the Performance of the Aphid Predator Sphaerophoria Rueppellii (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Photoselective nets have proven to be effective for aphid pest control as they limit their dispersal ability. However, little is known on the impact of such nets on natural enemies of aphids. In this work, we study the effect of UV-absorbing nets on the syrphid fly Sphaerophoria rueppellii Wiedemann (Diptera: Syrphidae), a commercially available aphid biocontrol agent in Mediterranean horticultural crops. First, we released mature syrphid adults and evaluated density and dispersal of the resulting immatures in a turnip crop grown under either UV-blocking (Bionet) or standard net. Second, we assessed, under controlled conditions, the impact of UV radiation on fitness-related parameters, and on flight behavior of S. rueppellii adults. Results showed that, while syprhid immature density was higher, their dispersion was reduced under Bionet. UV-absorbing nets are known to influence the dispersion pattern of aphids, which may have indirectly conditioned the distribution of their predator S. rueppellii. On the other hand, the type of net had no influence on the performance of adults. We conclude that the use of photoselective nets and the release of syrphid predators such S. rueppellii are compatible strategies to be used in IPM aphid-control programs.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (AGL2005-01449/AGR project). R.A.J was supported by JAE Predoc CSIC scholarship (JAEPre_08_00457)

Herramienta de Simulación para el dimensionamiento de líneas ferroviarias electrificadas

Las necesidades del mercado del transporte actual exigen un incremento en la velocidad de circulación de los medios de transporte que realizan trayectos de media y larga distancia. Ésto, el compromiso con el medio ambiente y la saturación del espacio aéreo europeo, dejan ver el porqué del éxito actual de las líneas ferroviarias europeas de alta velocidad y en especial para las líneas de alta velocidad españolas con el titánico plan de inversiones que pronostica un futuro prometedor para este sector. Para alcanzar mayores prestaciones de forma más racional, económica y sistemática, se impone la utilización de herramientas de simulación, basadas en modelos matemáticos, que permitan simular el comportamiento del sistema de forma fiable y económica. Los requerimientos de los ferrocarriles hasta ahora permitía apoyarse en diseños veteranos totalmente probados, sin embargo hoy en día las exigencias son tales que para alcanzar el objetivo se deben utilizar herramientas informáticas dedicadas al estudio del comportamiento eléctrico. La herramienta de simulación, por tanto, permite el cálculo de las características técnicas de la electrificación obteniendo las magnitudes físicas necesarias para evaluar un funcionamiento correcto y dimensionar correctamente los elementos que lo componen

El papel de los entomólogos en el siglo actual

P.19-25El 18 de septiembre de 1997, en el Aula Magna “San Isidoro” de la Universidad de León y coincidiendo con la celebración del Fifht International Symposium on Aphids que tenía lugar durante esos días, se celebró la solemne ceremonia académica de investidura como doctor “honoris causa” por la Universidad de León del Prof. Georges Remaudière. Considerando que el mensaje del texto además de estar en plena actualidad, tiene un interés general y que ese interés que no se vio atendido por ninguno de los dos libros mencionados –por lo limitado de la difusión del primero de ellos y por lo especializado del segundo–, hemos estimado interesante ponerlo al alcance de un público más amplio. Para ello se ha contado con la autorización expresa del Prof. Remaudière. El texto no se ha alterado, aunque los autores de este prólogo y también de las notas fi nales nos hemos permitido añadir un título inspirado en el sentir del propio discurso. Valgan además estas líneas para agradecer al Dr. Remaudière su fecundo trabajo dedicado al estudio de los pulgones, impregnado de un extraordinario amor a la naturaleza, y preocupación por el mantenimiento de los ecosistemas y de los equilibrios naturales; su experiencia y su testimonio no dejan de sorprendernosS

Role of Thrips Omnivory and Their Aggregation Pheromone on Multitrophic Interactions Between Sweet Pepper Plants, Aphids, and Hoverflies

In complex food webs, plants are commonly attacked by multiple herbivorous species, affecting the preference and performance of other herbivores and natural enemies. The role of omnivorous insects in ecosystems may be more complex because of the consumption of both plant and animal organisms. However, the effect of omnivorous insects on herbivores and natural enemies, has received little attention so far. The main goal of this study was to investigate whether the dual herbivore interaction between aphids and thrips, an omnivorous pest, on a sweet pepper system, may affect different trophic levels, from plant and aphid performance until the third trophic level, i.e., preference and performance of the predatory hoverfly Sphaerophoria rueppellii. Additionally, we tested whether the aggregation pheromone of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, could disturb the oviposition behavior of the predatory hoverfly. Our results show that the presence of thrips decreases host plant and aphid performance. Furthermore, despite not affecting syrphid larval performance, thrips presence reduces fecundity of the adults that emerge from those larvae. Additionally, we observed that syrphids avoid ovipositing on plants with either thrips or thrips aggregation pheromone. The present study reveals how the presence of thrips or a semiochemical compound related to thrips, can impact the behavior and performance of an aphidophagous predator.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (CGL2016-79054)

Implication of miR-612 and miR-1976 in the regulation of TP53 and CD40 and their relationship in the response to specific weight-loss diets

Background: Non-coding RNAs (i.e., miRNAs) play a role in the development of obesity and related comorbidities and the regulation of body weight. Objective: To identify candidate miRNA biomarkers throughout omics approaches in order to predict the response to specific weight-loss dietary treatments. Design: Genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from white blood cells of a subset from the RESMENA nutritional intervention study (Low-responders (LR) vs High-responders (HR)) was hybridized in Infinium Human Methylation450 BeadChip and in Illumina Human HT-12 v4 gene expression BeadChips arrays respectively. A bioinformatic prediction of putative target sites of selected miRNAs was performed by applying miRBase algorithms. HEK-293T cells were co-transfected with expression vectors containing the 3'-UTR of candidate genes to validate the binding of miRNAs to its target sites. Results: 134 miRNAs were differentially methylated between HR and LR in the methylation array, whereas 44 miRNAs were differentially expressed between both groups in the expression array. Specifically, miR-1237, miR-1976, miR-642, miR-636, miR-612 and miR-193B were simultaneously hypomethylated and overexpressed in HR. miR-612 and miR-1976 showed greatest differences in methylation and expression levels, respectively. The bioinformatic prediction revealed that TP53 was a putative target gene of miR-612 and CD40 of miR-1976. Moreover, TP53 was downregulated in the expression array when comparing HR vs LR expression levels adjusted by sex, diet, age and baseline weight, and CD40 showed a statistical trend. Furthermore, gene expression levels of TP53 and CD40 in white blood cells, when measured by qPCR, were also downregulated in HR. Finally, miR-612 and miR-1976 potently repressed TP53 and CD40 respectively by targeting its 3'-UTR regions. Conclusion: miR-612 and miR-1976 levels could be prospective biomarkers of response to specific weight-loss diets and might regulate the gene expression of TP53 and CD40

Diversidad de enemigos naturales de pulgones en cultivos de lechuga

Este trabajo ha sido subvencionado por la beca predoctoral del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología: AGL2003-0753-C03-01 y forma parte de la Tesis Doctoral de I. Morales (BES-2004-5217)

Foro de discusión y debate sobre la reforma fiscal 2014 que afecta a los impuestos sobre sociedades y sobre la renta de los no residentes

Memoria ID-0151. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

Innovación en el I.R.P.F. Foro de debate

Memoria ID-0150. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

La reforma de la Ley General Tributaria a discusión

Memoria ID-0247. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

Innovación en el aprendizaje del IVA: debate sobre los libros electrónicos

Memoria ID-0249. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015