6 research outputs found
Progress in the development of a biopesticide for the structural treatment of grain stores
Chemical insecticides are used to protect stored grain from infestation by stored product insects and mites. In the UK only a limited number of products are available for application and there are concerns about safety, pest resistance and environmental impact of these conventional pesticides. Biological control offers an alternative to the use of chemical insecticides. The potential for biological control of storage pests in the UK using an insect-specific fungus, Beauveria bassiana, to treat the structure of the stores, has previously been established. However, this study also highlighted areas where improvements were needed; specifically to improve the uptake of the fungal conidia by the pests and to improve their germination and penetration into the pests. In addition it was necessary to ensure that potential formulations had a good shelf-life and to develop a mass production method to consistently produce high quality fungal conidia. A four year project has recently been completed examining these areas in detail. The work has concentrated on two different fungal isolates of B. bassiana, both of which were found from insects in UK grain stores. Optimisation of production methods, formulation and delivery systems has resulted in prototype formulations that exhibit good viability over periods up to one year and that have good efficacy against a range of storage insect pests under conditions that are likely to be found in UK grain stores. Pilot scale trials using three species of stored product beetle have shown that significant levels of control can be achieved. An overview of the key findings is presented. The study has made a significant contribution to the development of a biopesticide as a structural treatment for grain storage areas in the UK.Keywords: Biological control; Beauveria bassiana; Oryzaephilus surinamensis; Structural treatment; Biopesticid
Quantifying aquifer properties and freshwater resource in coastal barriers: a hydrogeophysical approach applied at Sasihithlu (Karnataka state, India)
Many human communities living in coastal areas in Africa and Asia rely on thin freshwater lenses for their domestic supply. Population growth together with change in rainfall patterns and sea level will probably impact these vulnerable groundwater resources. Spatial knowledge of the aquifer properties and creation of a groundwater model are required for achieving a sustainable management of the resource. This paper presents a ready-to-use methodology for estimating the key aquifer properties and the freshwater resource based on the joint use of two non-invasive geophysical tools together with common hydrological measurements. <br><br> We applied the proposed methodology in an unconfined aquifer of a coastal sandy barrier in South-Western India. We jointly used magnetic resonance and transient electromagnetic soundings and we monitored rainfall, groundwater level and groundwater electrical conductivity. The combined interpretation of geophysical and hydrological results allowed estimating the aquifer properties and mapping the freshwater lens. Depending on the location and season, we estimate the freshwater reserve to range between 400 and 700 L m<sup>−2</sup> of surface area (± 50%). We also estimate the recharge using time lapse geophysical measurements with hydrological monitoring. After a rainy event close to 100% of the rain is reaching the water table, but the net recharge at the end of the monsoon is less than 10% of the rain. Thus, we conclude that a change in rainfall patterns will probably not impact the groundwater resource since most of the rain water recharging the aquifer is flowing towards the sea and the river. However, a change in sea level will impact both the groundwater reserve and net recharge
Freshwater mapping and quantification in coastal aquifers using magnetic resonance soundings and time domain electro-magnetism
Convergence of Higher Education and Economic Growth during the European Construction: A Contribution to the Cliometrics of Growth (EU-15)
Socio-economic status, cultural diversity and the aspirations of secondary students in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia
Using data from a recent survey of Australian secondary students, we find that
those from higher socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to aspire to attend university.
The same can be said for students who do not speak English at home. We find that
students with an ethnic minority background are more likely to perceive higher levels of
support from parents. However, we find that all students believe they receive encouragement
from their parents to do well at school (rather than discouragement or disinterest),
and that there is little difference in the level of importance placed on the views of parents
between students from English and non-English speaking background. While interest in
university education is strong across all socio-economic groups, particularly for students
who do not speak English at home, there is a considerable gap between aspirations and
enrolment levels. We suggest that this ‘aspirations gap’ is larger for students from low
socio-economic backgrounds. This analysis also supports growing evidence that the
postcode methodology for allocating socio-economic status to individuals is unreliable