The star method: will they do it?

A number of studies confirmed the impact of peer culture when it comes to recommending books for pleasure reading (Rinehart, Gerlach, Wisell and walker, 1998; Hopper 2003; Howard 2008; Mansor, Ransul, Rauf and Koh 2013; Jones, 201; Scholastic,2017). In fact, some of the studies include empirical date

Identification and Field Evaluation of Grape Shoot Volatiles Attractive to Female Grape Berry Moth ( Paralobesia viteana )

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) were used to identify volatile compounds from shoots of riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) that attract the female grape berry moth (GBM, Paralobesia viteana). Consistent EAD activity was obtained for 11 chemicals: (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, (E)-linalool oxide, (Z)-linalool oxide, nonanal, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, methyl salicylate, decanal, β-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, and α-farnesene. In flight-tunnel tests that involved female GBM and rubber septa loaded with subsets of these 11 compounds, we found that both the 11-component blend and a seven-component blend, composed of (E)-linalool oxide, (Z)-linalool oxide, nonanal, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, decanal, β-caryophyllene and germacrene-D, elicited equivalent levels of upwind flight as freshly cut grape shoots. The removal of any of the seven compounds from the seven-component blend resulted in a significant decrease in female upwind flight responses. In a field trial with these two synthetic blends, traps equipped with either blend captured more female GBM compared to traps baited with hexane only (control), although the number of females caught was generally low. There were no differences in the number of males captured among treatments. Although in flight-tunnel trials, moths readily flew upwind to both grape shoots and rubber septa loaded with the best lures, they landed on shoots but not on rubber septa. Coupled with relatively low field catches, this suggests that additional host finding cues need to be identified to improve trap efficac

Flight Tunnel Responses of Female Grape Berry Moth ( Paralobesia viteana ) to Host Plants

Semiochemicals play important roles in mate and host recognition of herbivorous insects, such as moths, and flight tunnels have been an effective tool in the identification of these bioactive compounds. However, more work has been carried out on pheromones than on host plant cues, and few examples exist where flight tunnel evaluations of host cues have resulted in a lure that is attractive under field conditions. Our goal was to determine whether the flight tunnel could be used to evaluate the response of a specialist moth, grape berry moth (GBM), to its host plant (grapevines), by incorporating ecological and physiological aspects of GBM biology. We found grape shoot tips and mature leaves were more attractive to female GBM than unripe and ripe berries or flowers. Under optimized flight tunnel conditions, approximately 80% of tested females flew upwind and closely approached or landed on the most preferred target. Mating status, wind speed, the time of day, and the presence/absence of patterns that resemble grape tissues on the top of the flight tunnel all significantly affected the responses of female GBM. Consideration of these factors in flight tunnel assays will aid in the development of a synthetic lure that can be used to monitor female moths in the fiel

Comparison of a Synthetic Chemical Lure and Standard Fermented Baits for Trapping Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

We determined the attractiveness of a new chemical lure compared with fermented food baits in use for trapping Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, spotted wing drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in Connecticut, New York, and Washington in the United States and at Dossenheim in Germany. The chemical lure (SWD lure) and food baits were compared in two types of traps: the dome trap and a cup trap. Regardless of trap type, numbers of male and female D. suzukii trapped were greater with the SWD lure compared with apple cider vinegar (ACV) baits at the Washington and New York sites, and were comparable with numbers of D. suzukii captured with a wine plus vinegar bait (W + V) at Germany site and a combination bait meant to mimic W + V at the Connecticut site. Averaged over both types of attractants, the numbers of D. suzukii captured were greater in dome traps than in cup traps in New York and Connecticut for both male and female D. suzukii and in Washington for male D. suzukii. No such differences were found between trap types at the Washington site for female and Germany for male and female D. suzukii. Assessments were also made of the number of large (>0.5 cm) and small (<0.5 cm) nontarget flies trapped. The SWD lure captured fewer nontarget small flies and more large flies compared with ACV bait in New York and fewer nontarget small flies compared with W + V in Germany, although no such differences were found in Washington for the SWD lure versus ACV bait and in Connecticut for the SWD lure versus the combination bait, indicating that these effects are likely influenced by the local nontarget insect community active at the time of trapping. In New York, Connecticut, and Germany, dome traps caught more nontarget flies compared with cup traps. Our results suggest that the four-component SWD chemical lure is an effective attractant for D. suzukii and could be used in place of fermented food-type bait

Monitoring Grape Berry Moth (Paralobesia viteana: Lepidoptera) in Commercial Vineyards using a Host Plant Based Synthetic Lure

For some Lepidopteran pests, such as the grape berry moth Paralobesia viteana (Clemens), poor correlation between males captured in traps baited with sex pheromone and oviposition activities of female moths has called into question the value of pheromone-based monitoring for these species. As an alternative, we compared the capture of female and male grape berry moth in panel traps baited with synthetic host volatiles with captures of males in pheromone-baited wing traps over two growing seasons in two blocks of grapes in a commercial vineyard in central New York. Lures formulated in hexane to release either 7-component or 13-component host volatile blends captured significantly more male and female grape berry moth on panel traps compared with the numbers captured on panel traps with hexane-only lures. For both sexes over both years, the same or more moths were captured in panel traps along the forest edge compared with the vineyard edge early in the season but this pattern was reversed by mid-season. Male moths captured in pheromone-baited wing traps also displayed this temporal shift in location. There was a significant positive correlation between captured males and females on panel traps although not between females captured on panel traps and males captured in pheromone-baited traps for both years suggesting pheromone traps do not accurately reflect either female or male activity. Male moths captured in pheromone traps indicated a large peak early in each season corresponding to first flight followed by lower and variable numbers that did not clearly indicate second and third flights. Panel trap data, combining males and females, indicated three distinct flights, with some overlap between the second and third flights. Peak numbers of moths captured on panel traps matched well with predictions of a temperature-based phenology model, especially in 2008. Although effective, panel traps baited with synthetic host lures were time consuming to deploy and maintain and captured relatively few moths making them impractical, in the current design, for commercial purpose

Population genomics of Drosophila suzukii reveal longitudinal population structure and signals of migrations in and out of the continental United States

Drosophila suzukii, or spotted-wing drosophila, is now an established pest in many parts of the world, causing significant damage to numerous fruit crop industries. Native to East Asia, D. suzukii infestations started in the United States (U.S.) a decade ago, occupying a wide range of climates. To better understand invasion ecology of this pest, knowledge of past migration events, population structure, and genetic diversity is needed. In this study, we sequenced whole genomes of 237 individual flies collected across the continental U.S., as well as several sites in Europe, Brazil, and Asia, to identify and analyze hundreds of thousands of genetic markers. We observed strong population structure between Western and Eastern U.S. populations, but no evidence of any population structure between different latitudes within the continental U.S., suggesting there is no broad-scale adaptations occurring in response to differences in winter climates. We detect admixture from Hawaii to the Western U.S. and from the Eastern U.S. to Europe, in agreement with previously identified introduction routes inferred from microsatellite analysis. We also detect potential signals of admixture from the Western U.S. back to Asia, which could have important implications for shipping and quarantine policies for exported agriculture. We anticipate this large genomic dataset will spur future research into the genomic adaptations underlying D. suzukii pest activity and development of novel control methods for this agricultural pes

Grape Cane Borer

NYS IPM Type: Fruits IPM Fact SheetThe grape cane borer is a wood feeding beetle in the Bostrichidae family that is widely distributed across eastern North America and in Europe. Also known as the apple twig borer, adult beetles tunnel into live grape canes (or apple twigs) during late summer or early fall damaging and reducing the fruitfulness of the affected canes. In New York State significant damage has historically occurred near Keuka Lake, and this beetle is also found across the Finger Lakes and Lake Erie growing regions as well as other grape-growing areas in the east

Regulation of PKR by RNA: Formation of Active and Inactive Dimers

PKR is a member of the eIF2α family of protein kinases that inhibit translational initiation in response to stress stimuli and functions as a key mediator of the interferon-induced antiviral response. PKR contains a dsRNA binding domain that binds to duplex regions present in viral RNAs, resulting in kinase activation and autophosphorylation. An emerging theme in the regulation of protein kinases is the allosteric linkage of dimerization and activation. The PKR kinase domain forms a back-to-back parallel dimer that is implicated in activation. We have developed a sensitive homo-Förster resonance energy transfer assay for kinase domain dimerization to directly probe the relationship among RNA binding, activation, and dimerization. In the case of perfect duplex RNAs, dimerization is correlated with activation and dsRNAs containing 30 bp or more efficiently induce kinase domain dimerization and activation. However, more complex duplex RNAs containing a 10–15 bp 2′-<i>O</i>-methyl RNA barrier produce kinase dimers but do not activate. Similarly, inactivating mutations within the PKR dimer interface that disrupt key electrostatic and hydrogen binding interactions fail to abolish dimerization. Our data support a model in which activating RNAs induce formation of a back-to-back parallel PKR kinase dimer whereas nonactivating RNAs either fail to induce dimerization or produce an alternative, inactive dimer configuration, providing an additional mechanism for distinguishing between host and pathogen RNA

Feasibility of a Smart Grid on Nantucket

Nantucket residents pay uncommonly high electricity rates because delivery of electricity to the island is costly and demand for it fluctuates widely by season. Accordingly, the goal of this report is to assess the feasibility of various smart grid scenarios and conservation initiatives that could reduce the cost and consumption of electricity island-wide. Based on our analysis of the associated benefits and costs, we concluded that a smart grid could conservatively save island residents up to $500,000 annually, and pay for itself in only five years. Understanding the pattern of use on Nantucket and the potential of smart grids, we recommend seeking further consultation

GT2006-91263 ADVANCED LABYRINTH SEALS FOR STEAM TURBINE GENERATORS

ABSTRACT A new class of knives (C-Shaped) for reduced labyrinth seal discharge has been designed and assessed through two dimensional numerical modeling of the seal&apos;s internal flow passages. Modeling procedures used for the analysis have been previously validated by comparison with static labyrinth seal experiments. The objectives of the new seal are to: 1) reduce flow leakage through the seal and 2) introduce structural flexibility in the knives so that design clearances could be maintained even after rub events during startup. The baseline chosen for comparative evaluation is an N2 packing used in GE steam turbines. The new seals have compliant C-shaped knives instead of the straight knives, found in an N2 packing. The best performing configuration has one tall &apos;C&apos; shaped long knife and three &apos;C&apos; shaped short knives in each stage. It was found that the best configuration at clearances similar to the baseline seal reduces flow leakage by 42%. Two dimensional numerical structural analyses showed that the new seal knife is more flexible than a straight knife. This is also intuitive by virtue of its geometric profile. A non-dimensional geometric parameter correlates with the degree of flexibility in the knife. These results indicate a potential for design of labyrinth seals that maintain lower design clearances throughout their life time by carefully selecting the knives&apos; geometric parameters and incorporating high performance composite materials. Then, the new design would result in significantly lower steam leakage