Pseudaulacaspis pentagona : a new threat to the trees and ornamental plants of Sweden?

Pseudaulacaspis pentagona är en skadegörare som kan orsaka stor skada och har dokumenterats på över 200 växtsläkten. Likt andra arter inom familjen pansarsköldlöss så livnär sig arten på att suga växtsaft från värdväxten, och på så sätt minska växternas tillgång till energi. 2022 så gjordes det första fyndet av arten i Sverige när den återfanns på en Katalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, hos en privatperson i södra Sverige. Pansarsköldlöss är svåra att upptäcka på grund av den oftast kamouflerade skölden som fungerar som ett skydd. Pseudaulacaspis pentagona är en av de polyfaga sköldlusarterna med flest värdväxter i världen och det finns idag observationer av arten i över 100 länder, fördelat över alla kontinenter. Arten angriper lövfällande träd och vedartade prydnadsväxter och är idag ett stort problem inom produktionen av frukt och te. Pansarsköldlusen P. pentagonas livscykel och antal generationer styrs av temperatur. I kombination med klimatförändringar och ökade temperaturer ökar även arealen över lämpliga habitat för arten. Om ökningen av medeltemperaturen fortsätter enligt de prognoser som tagits av IPCC så kommer Sverige inom kort att kunna stå på tröskeln till att vara nästa lämpliga boplats för detta fruktade skadedjur. P. pentagonas saknar skydd under nymfstadiet, och är på så vis mer mottaglig för angrepp och kontaktverkande bekämpning. Idag används oljor som en effektiv metod vid bekämpningen av P. pentagona, och så även nyttjandet av dess naturliga fiender. Sverige har idag sex reproducerande arter som agerar naturliga fiender till pansarsköldlusen, där majoriteten består av skalbaggar och steklar, men endast ett kemiskt bekämpningsmedel, som inom kort kommer att utgå och förbjudas för användning. Det kommer med största sannolikhet att krävas en kombination av flera metoder för önskat resultat vid arbetet mot Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, då en IPM-strategi sällan kan hålla tillbaka ett angrepp ensam. Vikten ligger i att vara förberedd och redo när angreppet kommer.Pseudaulacaspis pentagona is a pest that can cause extensive damage and has been documented on over 200 plant genera. Like other species within the family of Diaspididae, the species feeds on sucking plant sap from the host plant, thus reducing the plant's access to energy. In 2022, the first observation of the species was made in Sweden when it was found on a Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, in southern Sweden. Armored scale insects are difficult to detect due to the usually camouflaged shell that acts as protection. Pseudaulacaspis pentagona is one of the polyphagous insect species with the most host plants in the world and there are today observations of the species in over 100 countries, distributed over all continents. The species attacks deciduous trees and woody ornamental plants and is today a major problem in the production of fruit and tea. The life cycle and number of generations of the armored scale insect P. pentagona is controlled by temperature. In combination with climate change and increased temperatures, the area of suitable habitat for the species is increasing. If the increase of the average temperature continues according to the forecasts made by the IPCC, Sweden will soon stand on the threshold of being the next suitable habitat for this dreaded pest. P. pentagonas lacks protection during the nymph stage, and is thus more susceptible to the means of control. Today, oils are used as an effective method in the control of P. pentagona, and so is the use of its natural enemies. Sweden today has six reproducing species that act as natural enemies of the armored scale insect, where the majority consists of beetles and wasps, but only one chemical pesticide, which will soon be phased out and banned for use. A combination of several methods will most likely be required for desired results when working against Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, as one IPM strategy rarely can contain an infestation alone. The importance lies in being prepared and ready when the attack comes

NKS ICP User 2017 Seminar Proceedings

The ICP User seminar was held at Risø, Denmark, during 25-27 September 2017. The seminar consisted of 2-day lectures given by six invited professionals and thirteen seminar participants, as well as 1-day lab training by invited expert. The lectures covered different topics including theoretical principles of ICP, methodology development and application of ICP techniques for different isotopes/isotopic ratios, recent development of new ICP technology and its application, etc. The results obtained from the inter-comparison exercise 2016 were presented and discussed. The lab training covered demonstration of the operation of ICP-MS, software and technical instructions. The seminar was attended by 51 individuals from 26 organisations

Temporal Patterns of Nucleotide Misincorporations and DNA Fragmentation in Ancient DNA

DNA that survives in museum specimens, bones and other tissues recovered by archaeologists is invariably fragmented and chemically modified. The extent to which such modifications accumulate over time is largely unknown but could potentially be used to differentiate between endogenous old DNA and present-day DNA contaminating specimens and experiments. Here we examine mitochondrial DNA sequences from tissue remains that vary in age between 18 and 60,000 years with respect to three molecular features: fragment length, base composition at strand breaks, and apparent C to T substitutions. We find that fragment length does not decrease consistently over time and that strand breaks occur preferentially before purine residues by what may be at least two different molecular mechanisms that are not yet understood. In contrast, the frequency of apparent C to T substitutions towards the 5′-ends of molecules tends to increase over time. These nucleotide misincorporations are thus a useful tool to distinguish recent from ancient DNA sources in specimens that have not been subjected to unusual or harsh treatments

ARCH 14 - International Conference on Research on Health Care Architecture - November 19-21, 2014, Espoo, Finland - Conference Proceedings

Healthcare Architecture has grown rapidly in recent years. However, there are still many questions remaining. The commission, therefore, is to share the existing research knowledge and latest results and to carry out research projects focusing more specifically on the health care situation in a variety of contexts. The ARCH14 conference was the third conference in the series of ARCH conferences on Research on Health Care Architecture initiated by Chalmers University. It was realized in collaboration with the Nordic Research Network for Healthcare Architecture .It was a joint event between Aalto University, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) and National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL International).The conference gathered together more than 70 researchers and practitioners from across disciplines and countries to discuss the current themes

GDNF Overexpression from the Native Locus Reveals its Role in the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic System Function

Peer reviewe

Dollarization in Ecuador and El Salvador

This thesis examines the impact of dollarization in Ecuador and El Salvador. The variables studied are inflation, interest rate and GDP growth. We compare mean values and volatility before and after the implementation of the US dollar to analyze significant changes. Interest rates and inflation fell and stabilized in both countries after dollarization. The results regarding GDP growth are ambiguous which is explained by country specific factors. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of dollarization on trade by using a gravity regression model. Earlier empirical studies have shown equivocal results regarding the trade enhancing effect. Our findings provide no support of an increase in trade due to dollarization

MANF Is Essential for Neurite Extension and Neuronal Migration in the Developing Cortex

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident protein with neuroprotective effects. Previous studies have shown that MANF expression is altered in the developing rodent cortex in a spatiotemporal manner. However, the role of MANF in mammalian neurogenesis is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the role of MANF in neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, differentiation, and cerebral cortex development. We found that MANF is highly expressed in neural lineage cells, including NSCs in the developing brain. We discovered that MANF-deficient NSCs in culture are viable and show no defect in proliferation. However, MANF-deficient cells have deficits in neurite extension upon neuronal differentiation. In vivo, MANF removal leads to slower neuronal migration and impaired neurite outgrowth. In vitro, mechanistic studies indicate that impaired neurite growth is preceded by reduced de novo protein synthesis and constitutively activated unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. This study is the first to demonstrate that MANF is a novel and critical regulator of neurite growth and neuronal migration in mammalian cortical development.Peer reviewe

Drug information sources in professional work - a questionnaire study on physicians’ usage and preferences (the drug information study)

Purpose: This study aimed to explore physicians’ use of drug information in professional work, with special focus on those working in primary care, and also in relation to personal characteristics of physicians. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to physicians in five regions in Sweden. The questions concerned drug-related queries at issue when searching for information, sources used, and factors of importance for the choice of source, as well as responder characteristics. Results: A total of 3254 (85%) out of 3814 responding physicians stated that they searched for drug information every week. For physicians working in primary health care, the corresponding number was 585 (96%). The most common drug-related issues searched for by 76% of physicians every week concerned pharmacotherapeutic aspects (e.g., dosing), followed by adverse drug reactions (63%). For 3349 (88%) physicians, credibility was the most important factor for the choice of sources of drug information, followed by easy access online (n = 3127, 82%). Further analyses among physicians in primary care showed that some personal characteristics, like seniority, sex, and country of education, as well as research experience, were associated with usage and preferences of drug information sources. Conclusions: This study confirms that physicians often use drug information sources in professional work, in particular those who work in primary health care. Credibility and easy access are key factors for usage. Among physicians in primary care, personal factors influenced the choice of drug information sources