Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: putative underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest

Background Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug, is a highly invasive insect species due in part to its exceptionally high levels of polyphagy. This species is also a nuisance due to overwintering in human-made structures. It has caused significant agricultural losses in recent years along the Atlantic seaboard of North America and in continental Europe. Genomic resources will assist with determining the molecular basis for this species’ feeding and habitat traits, defining potential targets for pest management strategies. Results Analysis of the 1.15-Gb draft genome assembly has identified a wide variety of genetic elements underpinning the biological characteristics of this formidable pest species, encompassing the roles of sensory functions, digestion, immunity, detoxification and development, all of which likely support H. halys’ capacity for invasiveness. Many of the genes identified herein have potential for biomolecular pesticide applications. Conclusions Availability of the H. halys genome sequence will be useful for the development of environmentally friendly biomolecular pesticides to be applied in concert with more traditional, synthetic chemical-based controls

Use of the weight efficacy lifestyle questionnaire with African American women: validation and extension of previous findings

While the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) shows promise as a measure of self-efficacy for eating control, there is a lack of research examining the psychometric properties of this measure with ethnic minorities. The current study examined the WEL with a sample of 144 overweight and obese African American females. Analyses indicated similar self-efficacy levels compared to predominantly Caucasian samples. Supporting the validity of the WEL, participants undergoing obesity treatment demonstrated modest improvement in WEL scores, while standard care participants showed no changes in self-efficacy over time. Factor analysis indicated a four-factor structure rather than the five factors previously found. The four-factor structure accounted for 61.85% of the variance. Results indicate the WEL may be a valid measure of self-efficacy for overweight and obese African American women, although researchers should be mindful of the variation in scale properties when using the WEL with this population

A primary care weight management intervention for low-income African-American women

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a tailored weight management program, addressing the needs of obese, low-income African-American women, would produce greater weight loss than standard medical care. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted between 1999 and 2003 with 144 overweight or obese women (predominantly African-American) enrolled at two primary care clinics. Four physicians at each clinic were randomly assigned to provide either tailored weight management interventions or standard care. The tailored condition consisted of six monthly outpatient visits lasting approximately 15 minutes each, which included personalized materials and messages. The main outcome was body weight change. RESULTS: The intervention group lost more weight than the standard care group (p = 0.03). The tailored group lost a mean (standard deviation) of 2.0 (3.2) kg by Month 6. The standard care group gained 0.2 (2.9) kg. More participants in the tailored group lost weight (79% vs. 47%; p = 0.04). DISCUSSION: Obese, low-income, African-American women provided with 90 minutes of physician-delivered, tailored weight management instruction over 6 months achieved greater weight loss than those receiving standard medical care. The primary care physician can be effective in delivering weight loss interventions, and the primary care clinic may be a useful setting to implement weight management interventions

Smoking relapse and weight gain prevention program for postmenopausal weight-concerned women: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: Postmenopausal women have substantial concerns about weight gain when quitting smoking, which may contribute smoking relapse. There is a need for smoking cessation and weight gain prevention programs effective in this population. METHODS: Two formats of a smoking cessation/weight gain prevention follow-up intervention in postmenopausal weight concerned women were compared: a minimally-tailored group format and a highly tailored, multidisciplinary individual format. Effects on sustained abstinence and postcessation weight gain were assessed. Postmenopausal smokers received 6 sessions of behavioral counseling over a 2-week period, 8 weeks of the nicotine transdermal patch, and subsequent random assignment to receive follow-up relapse prevention sessions at 1, 3, 8, and 16 weeks postcessation in either group or individual format. RESULTS: The sample (N = 98), was 67% Caucasian; 33% African-American. Age: m=52.3(7.8) years, follicle stimulating hormone: m=42.6(25.7), body mass index (BMI): m=27.4(6.2), daily smoking rate: m=20.3(11.5), for m=29.4(10.7) years, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND): m=6.4(2.1), and carbon monoxide: m=23.8(13.0) ppm. Abstinence rates in the group condition were significantly higher at 8 weeks posttreatment. Group format significantly predicted abstinence rates at 8 and 16 weeks posttreatment, even while controlling for age, race, BMI, CPD, years smoking, FTND, and weight concern. Weight concern predicted postcessation weight gain at 8 and 16 weeks posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that smoking cessation programs for postmenopausal women may best be delivered in a group format and that postcessation weight concerns be dealt with prior to a quit date