Efficacy of dust formulations of spinosad for controlling insects infesting stored wheat

Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the efficacy of three new dust formulations (B1, C3, and D1) of spinosad as grain protectants on stored wheat. Evaluations were conducted on grain that was held for 1 d and 12, 24, 39, and 52 wk after insecticide treatments were applied. Bioassays for adult mortality and progeny production were conducted at 28°C and about 65% r.h. Dust formulations B1 and C3 effectively controlled adult Rhyzopertha dominica and prevented progeny development for 52 wk while formulation D1 was less effective. Only formulation B1 controlled Sitophilus oryzae adults (> 91% parental mortality) but did not prevent progeny production. None of the dust formulations were effective against Tribolium castaneum adults but progeny production was lower on grain treated with formulations B1 and C3. Egg mortality of Plodia interpunctella was similar for all treatments although overall progeny production was less on grain treated with formulation B1. The type of dust formulation of spinosad is critical in controlling stored grain insects.Keywords: Spinosad dust formulations, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus oryzae, Tribolium castaneum,Plodia interpunctell

Kids in the city study: research design and methodology

Background: Physical activity is essential for optimal physical and psychological health but substantial declines in children's activity levels have occurred in New Zealand and internationally. Children's independent mobility (i.e., outdoor play and traveling to destinations unsupervised), an integral component of physical activity in childhood, has also declined radically in recent decades. Safety-conscious parenting practices, car reliance and auto-centric urban design have converged to produce children living increasingly sedentary lives. This research investigates how urban neighborhood environments can support or enable or restrict children's independent mobility, thereby influencing physical activity accumulation and participation in daily life.Methods/Design: The study is located in six Auckland, New Zealand neighborhoods, diverse in terms of urban design attributes, particularly residential density. Participants comprise 160 children aged 9-11 years and their parents/caregivers. Objective measures (global positioning systems, accelerometers, geographical information systems, observational audits) assessed children's independent mobility and physical activity, neighborhood infrastructure, and streetscape attributes. Parent and child neighborhood perceptions and experiences were assessed using qualitative research methods.Discussion: This study is one of the first internationally to examine the association of specific urban design attributes with child independent mobility. Using robust, appropriate, and best practice objective measures, this study provides robust epidemiological information regarding the relationships between the built environment and health outcomes for this population

The cost of health care and health insurance in Australia: Some problems associated with the fee-for-service system

This paper reviews the health care system and the supporting health insurance framework in Australia. The importance of the health insurance mechanism is stressed in relation to the maintenance and growth of private fee-for-service medicine. The Medical Benefits Schedule, which is the negotiated basis for medical fees under insurance, is examined for the logic implicit in the fee structure. The high rewards for procedural medicine relative to consulting are suggested as part of the basis of the rapid growth in hospital admissions. It is also argued that the refund schedule has helped to determine the nature of the medical specialist manpower pool. Other problems associated with the complex nature of the refund schedule, such as fraud and wasteful over-servicing, are identified and discussed. It is asserted that the health insurance system and refund schedule are partly determining the nature of medical service provision and inducing inequities in the financing and delivery of medical care in Australia.