Comparative Study of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthiniformis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack and Simulated Mowing for Control of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e Spp. \u3ci\u3eDalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Plantaginaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica spp. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae) has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Two field studies were conducted to examine the impact of simulated mowing or insect herbivory on L. dalmatica growth and reproduction. Simulated mowing over the duration of the study decreased L. dalmatica total biomass per square meter, significantly reduced the total number of fruits and flowers per square meter, and resulted in significantly shorter flowering stems in the simulated mowing plots than in their controls. Plants in plots attacked by Mecinus janthiniformis Toševski and Caldara (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) had significantly less biomass per square meter, significantly fewer total numbers of fruits and flowers per square meter, and significantly fewer reproductive structures per stem than plants in paired control plots over the duration of the study. Specifically, both management tactics resulted in a negative impact on this invasive plant. With repeated tissue removal or damage, a reduction in numbers of fruits and flowers per stem on both the stems subjected to simulated mowing and Mecinus-attacked stems relative to their controls suggests that long term stress effects on the plants may be similar. The results of these studies suggest that mowing may warrant further evaluation as a possible method of control in areas where M. janthiniformis release is not effective

Impact of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthinus\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the Growth and Reproduction of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Scrophulariaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Scrophulariaceae), a native to the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions of Europe and Asia, has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Once established, the aggressive vegetative growth of the plant allows it to invade undisturbed habitats where it can out-compete most other vegetation, placing native plant communities at risk. Biological control of L. dalmatica with Mecinus janthinus Thomson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has shown promise in the field. In both studies reported in this paper, the presence of insect attack reduced L. dalmatica plant growth and reduced plant reproductive potential. In a field sleeve cage study, insect- attacked stems were significantly shorter (18 cm) and had 50-70% fewer fruits and flowers than the control stems at the end of the study period. M. janthinus attacked stems showed little apical growth, fewer fruits and flowers, and lower stem biomass relative to control stems. Similar results were observed in the potted plant study where the influence of the extensive root system of the plant was eliminated. This negative impact by the insect is caused both by adult feeding in the apical portion of the plant and the physical destruction of the plant stem from larvae feeding. The decrease in the insect-attacked stem heights may also have an impact on seed dispersal from the mature reproductive structures. A combination of decreased seed production through M. janthinus biological control and poor seedling competition in the moisture limited sites common to north-central Washington State and other similarly dry habitats may negatively influence L. dalmatica populations more than general models predict

Comparative Study of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthiniformis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack and Simulated Mowing for Control of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e Spp. \u3ci\u3eDalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Plantaginaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica spp. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae) has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Two field studies were conducted to examine the impact of simulated mowing or insect herbivory on L. dalmatica growth and reproduction. Simulated mowing over the duration of the study decreased L. dalmatica total biomass per square meter, significantly reduced the total number of fruits and flowers per square meter, and resulted in significantly shorter flowering stems in the simulated mowing plots than in their controls. Plants in plots attacked by Mecinus janthiniformis Toševski and Caldara (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) had significantly less biomass per square meter, significantly fewer total numbers of fruits and flowers per square meter, and significantly fewer reproductive structures per stem than plants in paired control plots over the duration of the study. Specifically, both management tactics resulted in a negative impact on this invasive plant. With repeated tissue removal or damage, a reduction in numbers of fruits and flowers per stem on both the stems subjected to simulated mowing and Mecinus-attacked stems relative to their controls suggests that long term stress effects on the plants may be similar. The results of these studies suggest that mowing may warrant further evaluation as a possible method of control in areas where M. janthiniformis release is not effective

Development of Gene Expression Markers of Acute Heat-Light Stress in Reef-Building Corals of the Genus Porites

Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to increased incidence of climate-induced coral bleaching, which will have widespread biodiversity and economic impacts. A simple method to measure the sub-bleaching level of heat-light stress experienced by corals would greatly inform reef management practices by making it possible to assess the distribution of bleaching risks among individual reef sites. Gene expression analysis based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine coral condition in situ. We evaluated the expression of 13 candidate genes during heat-light stress in a common Caribbean coral Porites astreoides, and observed strong and consistent changes in gene expression in two independent experiments. Furthermore, we found that the apparent return to baseline expression levels during a recovery phase was rapid, despite visible signs of colony bleaching. We show that the response to acute heat-light stress in P. astreoides can be monitored by measuring the difference in expression of only two genes: Hsp16 and actin. We demonstrate that this assay discriminates between corals sampled from two field sites experiencing different temperatures. We also show that the assay is applicable to an Indo-Pacific congener, P. lobata, and therefore could potentially be used to diagnose acute heat-light stress on coral reefs worldwide

A validation of carbon fiber imaging couch top modeling in two radiation therapy treatment planning systems: Philips Pinnacle³ and BrainLAB iPlan RT Dose

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbon fiber (CF) is now the material of choice for radiation therapy couch tops. Initial designs included side metal bars for rigidity; however, with the advent of IGRT, involving on board imaging, new thicker CF couch tops without metal bars have been developed. The new design allows for excellent imaging at the expense of potentially unacceptable dose attenuation and perturbation.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>We set out to model the BrainLAB imaging couch top (ICT) in Philips Pinnacle³ treatment planning system (TPS), to validate the already modeled ICT in BrainLAB iPlan RT Dose treatment planning system and to compute the magnitude of the loss in skin sparing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using CF density of 0.55 g/cm³ and foam density of 0.03 g/cm³, we demonstrated an excellent agreement between measured dose and Pinnacle³ TPS computed dose using 6 MV beam. The agreement was within 1% for all gantry angle measured except for 120^o, which was 1.8%. The measured and iPlan RT Dose TPS computed dose agreed to within 1% for all gantry angles and field sizes measured except for 100^o where the agreement was 1.4% for 10 cm × 10 cm field size. Predicted attenuation through the couch by iPlan RT Dose TPS (3.4% - 9.5%) and Pinnacle³ TPS (2% - 6.6%) were within the same magnitude and similar to previously reported in the literature. Pinnacle³ TPS estimated an 8% to 20% increase in skin dose with increase in field size. With the introduction of the CF couch top, it estimated an increase in skin dose by approximately 46 - 90%. The clinical impact of omitting the couch in treatment planning will be dependent on the beam arrangement, the percentage of the beams intersecting the couch and their angles of incidence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have successfully modeled the ICT in Pinnacle³ TPS and validated the modeled ICT in iPlan RT Dose. It is recommended that the ICT be included in treatment planning for all treatments that involve posteriors beams. There is a significant increase in skin dose that is dependent on the percentage of the beam passing through the couch and the angle of incidence.</p