Natural Enemies of Cranberry Fruitworm, \u3ci\u3eAcrobasis Vaccinii\u3c/i\u3e, (Lepidoptera: Pyraudae) in Michigan Highbush Blueberries

A two-year study was conducted in Michigan highbush blueberries to determine the complex of parasitoids attacking cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii. Eight parasitoid species and one fungal pathogen were collected. Parasitism of collected hosts ranged from 6.6% to 28.1%. The more common larval parasitoid encountered was Campoletis patsuiketorum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). The more common parasitoid recovered from fruitworm hibernacula was Villa lateralis (Diptera: Bombyliidae). This study documented six unreported natural enemies of cranberry fruitworm, including C. patsuiketorum; V. lateralis; Diadegma compressum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Compsilura concinnata (Diptera: Tachinidae); Memorilla pyste (Diptera: Tachinidae); an undescribed Microtypus species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae); and a fungal pathogen, Paecilomyces near farinosus. This is the first known host association for the undescribed Microtypus species, and increases the known parasitoid complex of cranberry fruitworm to 17 species

Combinatorial biomaterials discovery strategy to identify new macromolecular cryoprotectants

Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are typically solvents or small molecules, but there is a need for innovative CPAs to reduce toxicity and increase cell yield, for the banking and transport of cells. Here we use a photochemical high-throughput discovery platform to identify macromolecular cryoprotectants, as rational design approaches are currently limited by the lack of structure–property relationships. Using liquid handling systems, 120 unique polyampholytes were synthesized using photopolymerization with RAFT agents. Cryopreservation screening identified “hit” polymers and nonlinear trends between composition and function, highlighting the requirement for screening, with polymer aggregation being a key factor. The most active polymers reduced the volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) required to cryopreserve a nucleated cell line, demonstrating the potential of this approach to identify materials for cell storage and transport

Coastal oceanography and sedimentology in New Zealand, 1967-91.

This paper reviews research that has taken place on physical oceanography and sedimentology on New Zealand's estuaries and the inner shelf since c. 1967. It includes estuarine sedimentation, tidal inlets, beach morphodynamics, nearshore and inner shelf sedimentation, tides and coastal currents, numerical modelling, short-period waves, tsunamis, and storm surges. An extensive reference list covering both published and unpublished material is included. Formal teaching and research programmes dealing with coastal landforms and the processes that shape them were only introduced to New Zealand universities in 1964; the history of the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research parallels and chronicles the development of physical coastal science in New Zealand, most of which has been accomplished in last 25 years

The effects of Chern-Simons gravity on bodies orbiting the Earth

One of the possible low-energy consequences of string theory is the addition of a Chern-Simons term to the standard Einstein-Hilbert action of general relativity. It can be argued that the quintessence field should couple to this Chern-Simons term, and if so, it drives in the linearized theory a parity-violating interaction between the gravito-electric and gravitomagnetic fields. In this paper, the linearized spacetime for Chern-Simons gravity around a massive spinning body is found to include new modifications to the gravitomagnetic field that have not appeared in previous work. The orbits of test bodies and the precession of gyroscopes in this spacetime are calculated, leading to new constraints on the Chern-Simons parameter space due to current satellite experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; minor corrections made; to appear in PR

The role of genes, stress, and dopamine in the development of schizophrenia

The dopamine hypothesis is the longest standing pathoetiologic theory of schizophrenia. Because it was initially based on indirect evidence and findings in patients with established schizophrenia, it was unclear what role dopamine played in the onset of the disorder. However, recent studies in people at risk of schizophrenia have found elevated striatal dopamine synthesis capacity and increased dopamine release to stress. Furthermore, striatal dopamine changes have been linked to altered cortical function during cognitive tasks, in line with preclinical evidence that a circuit involving cortical projections to the striatum and midbrain may underlie the striatal dopamine changes. Other studies have shown that a number of environmental risk factors for schizophrenia, such as social isolation and childhood trauma, also affect presynaptic dopaminergic function. Advances in preclinical work and genetics have begun to unravel the molecular architecture linking dopamine, psychosis, and psychosocial stress. Included among the many genes associated with risk of schizophrenia are the gene encoding the dopamine D2 receptor and those involved in the upstream regulation of dopaminergic synthesis, through glutamatergic and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic pathways. A number of these pathways are also linked to the stress response. We review these new lines of evidence and present a model of how genes and environmental factors may sensitize the dopamine system so that it is vulnerable to acute stress, leading to progressive dysregulation and the onset of psychosis. Finally, we consider the implications for rational drug development, in particular regionally selective dopaminergic modulation, and the potential of genetic factors to stratify patients

Biosynthesis of rabbit haptoglobin: Chemical evidence for a single chain precursor

AbstractThe primary translation product of the mRNA for rabbit haptoglobin was obtained from a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system by immunoprecipitation with an antiserum that was directed to the β chain of haptoglobin. Analysis of the translation product by gel electrophoresis and by protein sequencing analysis identified a single polypeptide of Mr 41 000. Sequence analysis established a signal region of 18 residues that was immediately followed by the α chain sequence. These results give strong evidence that haptoglobin is initially synthesized as a single chain composed of a signal peptide followed by α and β chain regions, respectively

Synthetic Approaches to Clovene

The total synthesis of clovene, a tricyclic rearrangement product of caryophyllene has been undertaken. PART ONE. Methyl 3-methylcyclohexanone-3-acetate was prepared from 3-methylcyclohex-2-enone by treatment with diethyl malonate and sodium ethoxide, followed by hydrolysis, decarboxylation and re-esterification. Treatment of the keto-ester with malononitrile afforded 3-carbo-methoxymethyl-3-methylcyclonexylidenemalononitrlle, which was converted to 3-carbomethoxyrnethyl-3-methyl- l-cyano-l-dlcyanomethyleyclohexene as a mixture of stereoisomers. Hydrolysis, decarboxylation, reesterification and high-dilution, intra-molecular Dieckmann cyclisation furnished a separable mixture of 5-methylbicyclo [3:3:1] nonan-3-one-l-carboxylic acid and 5-methylbicycIo[3:2:1] octan-7-one-I-acetic acid. 5-methyl-l-(isopropenylaceto)-bicyclo [3:3:1] nonan-3-one was then prepared from the 5-methylbicyclo [3:3:1] nonan-3-one-l-carboxylic acid chloride, but it was found to be impossible to cyclise the enedione to clovan-2:6-dione. Further modifications of 5-methyibicyclo [3:3:1] nonan-3-one-l-carboxylic acid and several alternative unsuccessful cyclisations to the clovene skeleton are described# PART TWO. 2-Carbethoxy-6-methylcyclohexanone, on treatment with acrolein, gave 3-(l-carbethoxy-2-keto-3-methyl-cyclohexylJ-proptonaldehyde which cyclised in concentrated sulphuric acid to ethyl 5-methylbicyclo[3:3:1] non-3-ene-9-one-l-carboxylate. Clemmensen reduction of the corresponding keto-acid furnished 5-methyIbicyclo[3:3:1]-non-3-ene-l-carboxylic acid, which by direct allylic oxidation followed by catalytic reduction afforded 5-motnyl-bicyclo[3:3:1] nonan-2-nonan-2-one-1-carboxylic acid. A stepwise allylic oxidation of the olefinic-ester has been devised. Treatment with t-butyl perbenzoate, followed by trans-esterlfication with sodium methoxide and oxidation with manganese dioxide afforded methyl 5-methylbicyclo[3:3:1]-non-3-ene-2-cne-l-earboxylate in good overall yield In a high state of purity. Hydrogenation and saponification furnished 5-methylbieyclo {3:3:1] nonan-2-one-1-carboxylic acid. Various synthetic pathways from this system to the clovene skeleton have been pursued. 5-Methylbicyclo [3:3:1] nonane-l-carboxylic acid has been synthesised by Molff-Kishner reduction of 5-methylbicyclo-[3:3:1] nonan-3-one-1-carboxyilc acid and by catalytic hydrogenation of 5-methyIbicyclo [3:3:1] non-3-ene-l-carboxylic acid. The structure of the parent bicyclo[3:3:1] nonane system is thus authenticated by its synthesis from two totally independent synthetic pathways

Direct health care costs of treating seasonal affective disorder: a comparison of light therapy and fluoxetine.

Objective. To compare the direct mental health care costs between individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder randomized to either fluoxetine or light therapy. Methods. Data from the CANSAD study was used. CANSAD was an 8-week multicentre double-blind study that randomized participants to receive either light therapy plus placebo capsules or placebo light therapy plus fluoxetine. Participants were aged 18-65 who met criteria for major depressive episodes with a seasonal (winter) pattern. Mental health care service use was collected for each subject for 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment and for 4 weeks prior to the end of treatment. All direct mental health care services costs were analysed, including inpatient and outpatient services, investigations, and medications. Results. The difference in mental health costs was significantly higher after treatment for the light therapy group compared to the medication group-a difference of $111.25 (z = -3.77, P = 0.000). However, when the amortized cost of the light box was taken into the account, the groups were switched with the fluoxetine group incurring greater direct care costs-a difference of$75.41 (z = -2.635, P = 0.008). Conclusion. The results suggest that individuals treated with medication had significantly less mental health care cost after-treatment compared to those treated with light therapy