Fall Armyworm as a Pest of Corn

The fall armyworm can cause major damage to corn, generally by causing whorl-stage leaf damage. This publication provides an overview of the biology and management of the insect for growers, consultants, and all other agricultural professionals

Integrated pest management of the Mexican rice borer in Louisiana and Texas sugarcane and rice

Interactions between sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and the invasive species Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), were evaluated in field experiments and in the greenhouse with rice, Oryza sativa L., as an additional host. By determining adult emergence holes together with percent bored internodes, a novel method for evaluating sugarcane cultivar resistance was developed. In 2001, LCP 85-384 had the greatest moth production per hectare, significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than HoCP 85-845. High levels of sodium and magnesium salt stress in the soil were associated with higher E. loftini injury in all cultivars except HoCP 91-555 and CP 70-321. Irrigation reduced injury in both susceptible (LCP 85-384) and resistant (HoCP 85-845) cultivars by 2.5-fold. The combination of irrigation, plant resistance, and insecticide applications of tebufenozide decreased injury from 70% bored internodes to less than 10%. Several free amino acids essential for insect development increased in sugarcane leaves under drought stressed conditions, which exacerbated E. loftini infestations. Drought stressed sugarcane was 1.8-fold more attractive based on egg masses/plant than non stressed sugarcane. Based on egg masses/plant and eggs/egg mass, cultivar LCP 85-384 was more attractive than the resistant HoCP 85-845. Egg masses were 9.2-fold more abundant on sugarcane than on rice. Oviposition on sugarcane occurred exclusively on dry leaf material, and the number of dry leaves was positively correlated with egg masses per plant. Several free amino acids essential for insect development increased in sugarcane leaves under drought stressed conditions, and were highly correlated with egg masses per plant. Rice leaves, despite being less attractive for oviposition, had higher levels of free amino acids than sugarcane. Based on boundary movement monitoring with pheromone traps, the average rate of spread from 1980 (Weslaco, TX) to 2004 (Chambers County, TX) was 23.2 km/yr. From 2000 to 2004, annual mean centroids of moth trap counts moved 29.3 km, however 95% C.I. overlapped across years. Minimizing sugarcane stress will play a major role in managing this invasive pest when it becomes established in Louisiana

Sugarcane Aphid as a Pest of Sorghum

A new pest of grain and forage sorghum, the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari), was found for the first time in South Carolina in October 2014. The insect rapidly became a key pest of sorghum. This publication provides an overview of the insect’s biology and recommended management practices. Melanaphis sacchar

Social Mobility: the potential of a genealogical approach

This paper highlights the potential of taking a genealogical approach to researching social mobility based on empirical insights, generated from a qualitative case study in a secondary school located in the South East of England. The study involved interviews with 42 students and the data leads to a deeper understanding of the role of families in inter and intra-generational social movement. We begin by highlighting some limitations in existing research on social mobility. Next the role of households and families in conditioning an individual’s identity, dispositions, aspirations and choices are emphasised. We then present findings from analysis of 42 genealogical work histories over three generations and explore the role of education and family background in shaping young peoples’ employment aspirations. We argue that education has had little impact on overall mobility rates and suggest that whilst education has a significant role in mediating social mobility, the importance of family context should not be overlooked

Extended Sentinel Monitoring of Helicoverpa zea Resistance to Cry and Vip3Aa Toxins in Bt Sweet Corn: Assessing Changes in Phenotypic and Allele Frequencies of Resistance

Transgenic corn and cotton that produce Cry and Vip3Aa toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely planted in the United States to control lepidopteran pests. The sustainability of these Bt crops is threatened because the corn earworm/bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is evolving a resistance to these toxins. Using Bt sweet corn as a sentinel plant to monitor the evolution of resistance, collaborators established 146 trials in twenty-five states and five Canadian provinces during 2020–2022. The study evaluated overall changes in the phenotypic frequency of resistance (the ratio of larval densities in Bt ears relative to densities in non-Bt ears) in H. zea populations and the range of resistance allele frequencies for Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa. The results revealed a widespread resistance to Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab2, and Cry1A.105 Cry toxins, with higher numbers of larvae surviving in Bt ears than in non-Bt ears at many trial locations. Depending on assumptions about the inheritance of resistance, allele frequencies for Cry1Ab ranged from 0.465 (dominant resistance) to 0.995 (recessive resistance). Although Vip3Aa provided high control efficacy against H. zea, the results show a notable increase in ear damage and a number of surviving older larvae, particularly at southern locations. Assuming recessive resistance, the estimated resistance allele frequencies for Vip3Aa ranged from 0.115 in the Gulf states to 0.032 at more northern locations. These findings indicate that better resistance management practices are urgently needed to sustain efficacy the of corn and cotton that produce Vip3Aa

To align or not to align? Research methods and its relationship with dissertation marks across sport undergraduate degree programmes within a UK-based HE institution

Much research has referred to the complexity of research methods modules within undergraduate degree programmes. Less attention has been paid to the objective understanding of alignment between research methods and final year dissertations. This study explored relationships across Sport and Exercise Science (SES) and Sports Therapy (ST) programmes within a UK-based Higher Education institution. Analysis revealed females (N=73) outperformed males (N=117) at Levels 4/5, and SES students outperformed ST at Level 6. The Level 5 statistics assessment explained the lowest variance in the dissertation, suggesting poor alignment in curriculum design. Future research should consider the efficacy of statistics-based modules

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Tobacco Hornworm as a Pest of Tobacco

The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is a common pest of flue-cured tobacco in North America. This publication intended for growers, Extension personnel, and other agricultural professionals provides an outline of pest biology and management

Cereal Leaf Beetle as a Pest of Small Grains

The cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) can be a significant pest of small grains in North America. This publication intended for growers, Extension personnel, and other agricultural professionals provides an outline of pest biology and management