Evaluación de trampas para Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) en la costa de Oaxaca, México

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the modified CSAT and PET traps in the capture of coconut palm black weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Río Grande, Tututepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Design/methodology/approximation:  To capture R. palmarum in an Enano Malayo Amarillo cv. Acapulco coconut grove, during 2016-2018, were installed modified CSAT and PET traps, both whit Rincoforol as pheromone and Tabasco banana as food bait. With the capture log every seven days, the monthly was built. A paired plot treatment design with six repetitions was used and the results were compared with the Student t test for paired samples. Results: In the three years of the study, the monthly average of captured specimens was 3.1 in the modified CSAT trap and 1.5 in the PET (p<0.01); during the rainy season (June to October) the catch increased. As the time elapsed the attraction of Rincoforol decreased, becoming nullified after 120 days. Limitations on study/Implications: No limitations/implications were found in this study. Findings/Conclusions:  The modified CSAT trap was more efficient in capturing coconut palm black weevil. The PET trap is a safe and cheaper option to reduce populations of the pest.Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de las trampas CSAT modificada y PET en la captura del picudo negro del cocotero Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleóptera: Curculionidae) en Río Grande, Tututepec, Oaxaca, México.Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Para capturar R. palmarum en una huerta de cocotero Enano Malayo Amarillo cv. Acapulco, durante 2016-2018 se instalaron trampas CSAT modificada y PET, ambas con Rincoforol como feromona y plátano Tabasco como cebo alimenticio. Con el registro de captura de cada siete días, se obtuvo el total mensual. Se utilizó un diseño de tratamientos de parcelas apareadas con seisrepeticiones y los resultados se compararon con la prueba de t de Student para muestras pareadas. Resultados: En los tres años del estudio, el promedio mensual de ejemplares capturados fue de 3.1 en la trampa CSAT modificada y de 1.5 en la PET (p<0.01); durante la época de lluvias (junio a octubre)se incrementó la captura. A medida que transcurrió el tiempo disminuyó el poder de atracción del Rincoforol, nulificándose después de 120 días. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: No se tuvo ninguna en este estudio. Hallazgos/conclusiones: La trampa CSAT modificada fue más eficiente para capturar picudos negros del cocotero. La trampa PET es una opción inocua y más económica para disminuir las poblaciones de laplaga

Facile synthesis of low band gap ZnO Microstructures

Abstract In this work a simple chemical route was employed to synthesize ZnO microparticles by precipitation from aqueous solution of ZnCl2 as precursor, NaOH as oxidizing and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant. Samples of ZnO microparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, UV/Vis-NIR diffusereflectance,highresolutiontransmissionelectronmicroscopy(HR-TEM),andN2 adsorption-desorption.Itwasobserved from SEM analysis that ZnO microparticles with morphologies resembling six-blade impeller with diameters in the range of 500 nm to 1 m, and sheet-like (approximately 200 nm×300 nm) were obtained through this technique. X-Ray diffraction and Raman analyses confirmed the obtaining of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The calculated band gap energy was 3.19 eV, which is slightly lower than the average value reported in the literature. Specific BET area of ZnO microparticles was 26.5 m2/g. Keywords: ZnO, microstructures, band gap energy, SEM, morphology. Resumen En este trabajo se empleó un a ruta química sencilla para sintetizar micropartículas de ZnO mediante precipitación en solución acuosa de ZnCl2 como precursor, NaOH como oxidante y dodecil sulfato de sodio (SDS) como tensoactivo. Las muestras de ZnO fueron analizadas mediante microscopía de barrido electrónico (SEM), espectroscopía de FTIR, espectroscopía Raman, difracción de rayos-X, reflectancia difusa de UV/Vis-NIR, microscopía de transmisión de electrones de alta resolución (HRTEM), y mediante adsorción-desorción de N2. Se observó mediante análisis de SEM que mediante esta técnica se obtienen micropartículas de ZnO con morfologías similares a impulsores de seis-aspas con diámetros entre 500 nm y 1 m, morfologías tipo-hojas(deaproximadamente200nm×300nm).Losanálisisdedifracciónderayos-XydeRamanconfirmaronlaobtención de ZnO con estructura cristalina wurtzita hexagonal. La energía de band gap calculada fue de 3.19 eV, la cual es ligeramente menor que el valor promedio reportado en la literatura. El área superficial BET de las nanopartículas de ZnO fue de 26.5 m2/g Palabras clave: ZnO, microestructuras, energía de band gap, SEM, morfología

Bridging the Gap Between National and Ecosystem Accounting Application in Andalusian Forests, Spain

National accounting either ignores or fails to give due values to the ecosystem services, products, incomes and environmental assets of a country. To overcome these shortcomings, we apply spatially-explicit extended accounts that incorporate a novel environmental income indicator, which we test in the forests of Andalusia (Spain). Extended accounts incorporate nine farmer activities (timber, cork, firewood, nuts, livestock grazing, conservation forestry, hunting, residential services and private amenity) and seven government activities (fire services, free access recreation, free access mushroom, carbon, landscape conservation, threatened biodiversity and water yield). To make sure the valuation remains consistent with standard accounts, we simulate exchange values for non-market final forest product consumption in order to measure individual ecosystem services and environmental income indicators. Manufactured capital and environmental assets are also integrated. When comparing extended to standard accounts, our results are 3.6 times higher for gross value added. These differences are explained primarily by the omission in the standard accounts of carbon activities and undervaluation of private amenity, free access recreation, landscape and threatened biodiversity ecosystem services. Extended accounts measure a value of Andalusian forest ecosystem services 5.4 times higher than that measured using the valuation criteria of standard accounts

An external quality assessment feasibility study; cross laboratory comparison of haemagglutination inhibition assay and microneutralization assay performance for seasonal influenza serology testing: A FLUCOP study

Introduction: External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes are designed to provide a snapshot of laboratory proficiency, identifying issues and providing feedback to improve laboratory performance and inter-laboratory agreement in testing. Currently there are no international EQA schemes for seasonal influenza serology testing. Here we present a feasibility study for conducting an EQA scheme for influenza serology methods. Methods: We invited participant laboratories from industry, contract research organizations (CROs), academia and public health institutions who regularly conduct hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) assays and have an interest in serology standardization. In total 16 laboratories returned data including 19 data sets for HAI assays and 9 data sets for MN assays. Results: Within run analysis demonstrated good laboratory performance for HAI, with intrinsically higher levels of intra-assay variation for MN assays. Between run analysis showed laboratory and strain specific issues, particularly with B strains for HAI, whilst MN testing was consistently good across labs and strains. Inter-laboratory variability was higher for MN assays than HAI, however both assays showed a significant reduction in inter-laboratory variation when a human sera pool is used as a standard for normalization. Discussion: This study has received positive feedback from participants, highlighting the benefit such an EQA scheme would have on improving laboratory performance, reducing inter laboratory variation and raising awareness of both harmonized protocol use and the benefit of biological standards for seasonal influenza serology testing.publishedVersio

Fast photodegradation of Orange II azo dye under visible light irradiation using a semiconducting n-p heterojunction of ZnO nanoparticles/polypyrrole as catalyst

Preparation of innovative nano- and microstructured heterojunctions consisting of two semiconductors for highly efficient p–n photocatalysts has been of growing interest due to their advanced applications. n-type ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple precipitation method from ZnCl2 and NaOH and coated with semiconducting p-type polypyrrole (PPy) nanospheres by chemical oxidation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant, obtaining a n-p type ZnO/PPy composite. The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR and UV/Vis–NIR spectroscopies, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was observed that composite consisted of ZnO nanoparticles with rice-like morphology of sizes in the range of 180–600 nm long and between 70 and 227 nm wide, which were well dispersed into a matrix made of agglomerated spherical nanoparticles of PPy. The composite was tested as photocatalyst in the degradation of Orange II azo dye using visible light irradiation at different initial dye concentrations, catalyst loading, initial pH, and in the presence of hole and radical scavengers. Photodegradation efficiencies after 30 min of reaction in the range of 90.9–100% and fast photodegradation rates depending on the initial dye concentration and catalyst load were observed. The best photodegradation efficiency was observed at acidic pH, which was ascribed to an improved electrostatic interaction of dissociated dye molecules with the positively charged surface of photocatalyst. It was demonstrated that ·O2- and other ROS are the main reactive species formed via reaction between O2 and photogenerated electrons, following a pseudo-first order of reaction.Fil: Escobar-Villanueva, Alondra G.. Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi; MéxicoFil: Ovando-Medina, Víctor M.. Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi; MéxicoFil: Martínez-Gutiérrez, Hugo. INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL (IPN);Fil: Militello, María Paula. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnologías Energéticas y Materiales Avanzados. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnologías Energéticas y Materiales Avanzados; Argentin

Miniemulsion copolymerization of (meth)acrylates in the presence of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes for reinforced coating applications

Film forming, stable hybrid latexes made of methyl metacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymer reinforced with modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by in situ miniemulsion polymerization. The MWCNTs were pretreated by an air sonication process and stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone. The presence of the MWCNTs had no significant effect on the polymerization kinetics, but strongly affected the polymer characteristics (Tg and insoluble polymer fraction). The performance of the in situ composites was compared with that of the neat polymer dispersion as well as with those of the polymer/MWCNT physical blends. The in situ composites showed the presence of an additional phase likely due to the strong interaction between the polymer and MWNCTs (including grafting) that reduced the mobility of the polymer chains. As a result, a substantial increase of both the storage and the loss moduli was achieved. At 60 °C, which is above the main transition region of the polymer, the in situ composites maintained the reinforcement, whereas the blends behaved as a liquid-like material. This suggests the formation of a 3D network, in good agreement with the high content of insoluble polymer in the in situ composites

A nonparametric model for stationary time series

We present a family of autoregressive models with nonparametric stationary and transition densities, which achieve substantial modelling flexibility while retaining desirable statistical properties for inference. Posterior simulation involves an intractable normalizing constant; we therefore present a latent extension of the model which enables exact inference through a trans-dimensional MCMC method. We argue the capacity of this family of models to capture time homogeneous transition mechanisms, making them a powerful tool for predictive inference even when the process generating the data does not have a stationary density. Numerical illustrations are presented