Thiamethoxam in Papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus) Agroecosystems

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a profitable fruit of economic and food importance in Mexico and Central America. Veracruz is the state in Mexico with the highest cultivable area, eventhough its production presents numerous phytosanitary problems, which are being faced with the use of the pesticide thiamethoxam. The aim of this study was to make a diagnosis of the use and management of thiamethoxam in papaya agroecosystems in the municipality of Cotaxtla, Veracruz. Two surveys were applied, one to a 30% of the total number of producers organized by an association dedicated to papaya culture, and the other survey was through key informants, both surveys were designed using the snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. The results indicate that 6% of papaya producers use mainly the pesticide thiamethoxam, which belongs to the chemical group of neonicotinoids. It was found out that for five years there have been records of thiamethoxam use in vertisoils. During the cycle of papaya cultivation the producers use a maximum dose of 3 L/ha and a minimum dose of 250 ml/ha per crop cycle. One hundred per cent of those who apply thiamethoxam are not aware of its use and efficient management, nor of the damage they are doing or have caused to agroecosystems

Magnetized Particle Capture Cross Section for Braneworld Black Hole

Capture cross section of magnetized particle (with nonzero magnetic moment) by braneworld black hole in uniform magnetic field is considered. The magnetic moment of particle was chosen as it was done by \citet{rs99} and for the simplicity particle with zero electric charge is chosen. It is shown that the spin of particle as well as the brane parameter are to sustain the stability of particles circularly orbiting around the black hole in braneworld i.e. spin of particles and brane parameter try to prevent the capture by black hole.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Community-Based Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans to Support Climate-Resilient Development in the Eastern African Highlands

Smallholder farmers in the Eastern African Highlands depend on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. Climate adaptation and sustainable development goals must be targeted in an integrated way to better match farmers’ realities and address local priorities and vulnerabilities in these areas. To support climate-resilient development in the Eastern African Highlands, 224 local stakeholders were engaged in the development of community-based climate change adaptation action plans for the Jimma Highlands in Ethiopia, Taita Hills in Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Participatory methods, high-resolution climate projections and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP’s) guidelines were used in the design of these climate action plans with specific objectives to: 1) engage stakeholders to increase understanding of climate change impacts, adaptation options and their potential trade-offs, 2) build their capacities to design climate change adaptation projects, 3) empower stakeholders to identify existing vulnerabilities and enhance climate resilience and 4) strengthen networks to facilitate information access and sharing. Increased risk of water stress and reduction of agricultural productivity were the most frequently identified climate-change-induced problems in the three areas. The developed action plans target the underlying causes of these problems and describe sector-specific responses, activities, critical barriers and opportunities and support the National Adaptation Programmes of Action.Peer reviewe

Characterization of production and commercialization systems of camedor palm (Chamaedorea elegans Mart.).

Objective: Describe the cultivation systems of C. elegans, through the analysis of production and marketing, in three municipalities in the high region of Veracruz, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in the municipalities of Tepatlaxco, Zongolica and Omealca, Veracruz, Mexico. From January to July 2022, a survey was applied to 84 camedor palm producers through convenience sampling. In addition, interviews with key informants and participant observation were applied. Results: The production of camedor palm is carried out in small production units of 1 (ranges ±0.05 to 7) ha, mostly by male producers (93%) with an average age of 48 years and six years of schooling. Planting densities range from 35,000 to 100,000 plants per hectare and leaf cutting is carried out quarterly, with yields from 1000 to 3700 rolls per hectare at an average price paid to the producer of $14.00 Mexican pesos per roll. Before growing camedor palm, 56Limitations on study/implications: This is a specific case study; Therefore, the results are limited to descriptive statements about the study area. Findings/conclusions: Producers use non-timber forest products as an alternative to the crises of other crops and investment limitations that production units present. The production of C. elegans is accessible, requires low investment and is compatible with family farming. However, returns in some cases are low and the marketing network has high intermediation.Objective: To describe the cultivation systems of C. elegans through the analysis of production and commercialization in three municipalities in the high mountain region of Veracruz, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was conducted in Tepatlaxco, Zongolica, and Omealca, Veracruz, Mexico. From January to July 2022, a survey was administered to 84 producers of Camedor palm using convenience sampling. In addition, interviews with key informants and participant observation were conducted. Results: Camedor palm production occurs in small production units ranging from 1 ± 0.05 to 7.0 hectares, primarily managed by male producers (93$14.00 Mexican pesos per roll paid to the producer. Prior to cultivating Camedor palm, 56% of producers were growing coffee. The main driving factor for cultivation is the steady generation of income. Limitations/Implications: This is a specific case study; therefore, the results are limited to descriptive statements about the study area.   Findings/Conclusions: Producers utilize non-timber forest products as alternatives to crises in other crops and investment constraints within production units. The production of C. elegans is accessible, requires low investment, and is compatible with family farming. However, yields in some cases are low, and the marketing network shows high intermediation

Variables claves para la evaluación de la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agropecuarios: Hacia un sistema de indicadores de Intensificación Sostenible en el Cono Sur.

El término Intensificación Sostenible (IS) es utilizado por una gran diversidad de actores (académicos, organismos públicos, agencias internacionales, empresas del sector productivo, entre otros) por lo que se observan grandes diferencias en su interpretación (Tittonell, 2014). Estas diferencias prácticas y conceptuales condujeron a debates aún vigentes y a propuestas incluso contrapuestas (Mahon et al., 2017). En este contexto, el PROCISUR estableció en su Plan de Mediano Plazo 2015 ? 2018 a la IS como una de sus cinco líneas estratégicas y, en 2016, creó un grupo de trabajo1 (GT) para compartir los fundamentos conceptuales del uso del término a nivel global y en cada país e institución e identificar elementos conceptuales comunes que permitiesen consensuar un marco y una definición regional sobre Intensificación Sostenible2 que guie el trabajo en el ámbito del PROCISUR: ?La intensificación sostenible (IS) es un proceso de mejora gradual de la eficiencia ecológica de los sistemas agropecuarios a través de la innovación, con el fin de propender a una mayor productividad y rentabilidad con menor impacto ambiental, al mantenimiento y/o mejora de los recursos naturales, reduciendo la dependencia de insumos externos y favoreciendo la equidad y la inclusión social

Genetic Discrimination Between LADA and Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Within the MHC

OBJECTIVE The MHC region harbors the strongest loci for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA); however, the strength of association is likely attenuated compared with that for childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. In this study, we recapitulate independent effects in the MHC class I region in a population with type 1 diabetes and then determine whether such conditioning in LADA yields potential genetic discriminators between the two subtypes within this region. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Chromosome 6 was imputed using SNP2HLA, with conditional analysis performed in type 1 diabetes case subjects (n = 1,985) and control subjects (n = 2,219). The same approach was applied to a LADA cohort (n = 1,428) using population-based control subjects (n = 2,850) and in a separate replication cohort (656 type 1 diabetes case, 823 LADA case, and 3,218 control subjects). RESULTS The strongest associations in the MHC class II region (rs3957146, beta [SE] = 1.44 [0.05]), as well as the independent effect of MHC class I genes, on type 1 diabetes risk, particularly HLA-B*39 (beta [SE] = 1.36 [0.17]), were confirmed. The conditional analysis in LADA versus control subjects showed significant association in the MHC class II region (rs3957146, beta [SE] = 1.14 [0.06]); however, we did not observe significant independent effects of MHC class I alleles in LADA. CONCLUSIONS In LADA, the independent effects of MHC class I observed in type 1 diabetes were not observed after conditioning on the leading MHC class II associations, suggesting that the MHC class I association may be a genetic discriminator between LADA and childhood-onset type 1 diabetes.Peer reviewe

Towards a collaborative research: A case study on linking science to farmers' perceptions and knowledge on Arabica coffee pests and diseases and its management

The scientific community has recognized the importance of integrating farmer's perceptions and knowledge (FPK) for the development of sustainable pest and disease management strategies. However, the knowledge gap between indigenous and scientific knowledge still contributes to misidentification of plant health constraints and poor adoption of management solutions. This is particularly the case in the context of smallholder farming in developing countries. In this paper, we present a case study on coffee production in Uganda, a sector depending mostly on smallholder farming facing a simultaneous and increasing number of socio-ecological pressures. The objectives of this study were (i) to examine and relate FPK on Arabica Coffee Pests and Diseases (CPaD) to altitude and the vegetation structure of the production systems; (ii) to contrast results with perceptions from experts and (iii) to compare results with field observations, in order to identify constraints for improving the information flow between scientists and farmers. Data were acquired by means of interviews and workshops. One hundred and fifty farmer households managing coffee either at sun exposure, under shade trees or inter-cropped with bananas and spread across an altitudinal gradient were selected. Field sampling of the two most important CPaD was conducted on a subset of 34 plots. The study revealed the following findings: (i) Perceptions on CPaD with respect to their distribution across altitudes and perceived impact are partially concordant among farmers, experts and field observations (ii) There are discrepancies among farmers and experts regarding management practices and the development of CPaD issues of the previous years. (iii) Field observations comparing CPaD in different altitudes and production systems indicate ambiguity of the role of shade trees. According to the locality-specific variability in CPaD pressure as well as in FPK, the importance of developing spatially variable and relevant CPaD control practices is proposed. (Résumé d'auteur

TLR4 and NKT Cell Synergy in Immunotherapy against Visceral Leishmaniasis

NKT cells play an important role in autoimmune diseases, tumor surveillance, and infectious diseases, providing in most cases protection against infection. NKT cells are reactive to CD1d presented glycolipid antigens. They can modulate immune responses by promoting the secretion of type 1, type 2, or immune regulatory cytokines. Pathogen-derived signals to dendritic cells mediated via Toll like Receptors (TLR) can be modulated by activated invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells. The terminal β-(1–4)-galactose residues of glycans can modulate host responsiveness in a T helper type-1 direction via IFN-γ and TLRs. We have attempted to develop a defined immunotherapeutic, based on the cooperative action of a TLR ligand and iNKT cell using a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. We evaluated the anti-Leishmania immune responses and the protective efficacy of the β-(1–4)-galactose terminal NKT cell ligand glycosphingophospholipid (GSPL) antigen of L. donovani parasites. Our results suggest that TLR4 can function as an upstream sensor for GSPL and provoke intracellular inflammatory signaling necessary for parasite killing. Treatment with GSPL was able to induce a strong effective T cell response that contributed to effective control of acute parasite burden and led to undetectable parasite persistence in the infected animals. These studies for the first time demonstrate the interactions between a TLR ligand and iNKT cell activation in visceral leishmaniasis immunotherapeutic