A Systematic Review of Published Respondent-Driven Sampling Surveys Collecting Behavioral and Biologic Data.

Reporting key details of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey implementation and analysis is essential for assessing the quality of RDS surveys. RDS is both a recruitment and analytic method and, as such, it is important to adequately describe both aspects in publications. We extracted data from peer-reviewed literature published through September, 2013 that reported collected biological specimens using RDS. We identified 151 eligible peer-reviewed articles describing 222 surveys conducted in seven regions throughout the world. Most published surveys reported basic implementation information such as survey city, country, year, population sampled, interview method, and final sample size. However, many surveys did not report essential methodological and analytical information for assessing RDS survey quality, including number of recruitment sites, seeds at start and end, maximum number of waves, and whether data were adjusted for network size. Understanding the quality of data collection and analysis in RDS is useful for effectively planning public health service delivery and funding priorities

Six recently recorded Australian insects associated with Eucalyptus in South Africa

The increased movement of goods and pathways to transport these goods around the world, combined with the global homogenisation of cultivated areas has resulted in an increase in insect movement and establishment (McCullough et al. 2006; Roques et al. 2008;Aukema et al. 2010; Garnas et al. 2012). This pattern has been evident in South Africa (Giliomee 2011), including plantations of Eucalyptus where an increase in the rate of introduction of non-native insect herbivores has been reported (Wingfield et al. 2008; Garnas et al. 2012; Hurley et al. 2016). Indeed, in just three years (2012–2014), at least six insect species native to Australia and associated with Eucalyptus trees have been detected in South Africa for the first time. This short communication serves to formally report these six species, namely Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides Froggatt (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Closterocerus chamaeleon Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame, Dzokou, Gumovsky & Coninck (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).Members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/entohttp://www.entsocsa.co.za/Publications.htm2018-09-30am2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsZoology and Entomolog

A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of aromatic or chlorinated organic chemicals commonly found in manufactured products that have high vapor pressure, and thus vaporize readily at room temperature. While airshed VOCs are well studied and have provided insights into public health issues, we suggest that belowground VOCs and the related vapor intrusion process could be equally or even more relevant to public health. The persistence, movement, remediation, and human health implications of subsurface VOCs in urban landscapes remain relatively understudied despite evidence of widespread contamination. This review explores the state of the science of subsurface movement and remediation of VOCs through groundwater and soils, the linkages between these poorly understood contaminant exposure pathways and health outcomes based on research in various animal models, and describes the role of these contaminants in human health, focusing on birth outcomes, notably low birth weight and preterm birth. Finally, this review provides recommendations for future research to address knowledge gaps that are essential for not only tackling health disparities and environmental injustice in post-industrial cities, but also protecting and preserving critical freshwater resources

Host specificity tests reveals new host of a global biological control agent Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an invasive, sap-sucking eucalypt pest in various parts of the world. Psyllaephagus bliteus(Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was first released as a biological control agent against this pest in California in 2000. Since then, P. bliteus has been found with its insect pest host, with no intentional introduction, in various South American, European and North African countries, and recently South Africa. Here we report on host specificity studies of P. bliteus in South Africa in order to determine potential risks to non-target hosts. Non-target test insects included the only native lerp-forming psyllid in South Africa, Retroacizzia mopani (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), as well as two free-living and one lerp-forming psyllid that are not native but also feed on Eucalyptus species. Psyllaephagus bliteus was monitored during no-choice tests for antennation, probing and oviposition behaviours towards the test insects. In addition, P. bliteus was enclosed on live plants infested with the test insects which were then monitored for offspring of P. bliteus. Retroacizzia mopani and the non-native free-living psyllids were not attacked, but P. bliteus did attack and develop on the non-native lerp psyllid, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Hemiptera: Aphalari- dae). Choice tests were then undertaken with G. brimblecombei and S. cf. plicatuloides, and G. brimblecombei was found to be the preferred host. The results indicate that the risk of P. bliteusto native insects is low, but that the host range of P. bliteusis not restricted to Glycaspis spp. and Creiis costatus(Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) as previously thought. The host range of P. bliteus may thus include other lerp-forming insects on eucalypts, especially those within the Spondyliaspidinae.The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and the University of Pretoria (UP).https://journals.co.za/content/journal/ento2022-09-01pm2021BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyZoology and Entomolog

First record of Quadrastichus mendeli, a parasitoid of Leptocybe invasa, in South Africa

Leptocybe invasa, the blue gum chalcid, is a well-known pest of Eucalyptus globally. Since it was first observed in the Mediterranean and Middle East in 2000, it has spread to other countries where Eucalyptus have been planted. Efforts to control it have included the release of a number of larval and pupal parasitoids. This report serves as the first record of the presence of Quadrastichus mendeli in South Africa, a parasitoid originally released as a biological control agent of L. invasa in Israel. The interactions and potential impacts on the other insects in the L. invasa galls will need to be investigated.Members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tsfs20hj2018Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsZoology and Entomolog

Biology and host preference of Selitrichodes neseri : a potential biological control agent of the Eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa

Selitrichodes neseri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a parasitoid of the invasive gall-forming wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), which has caused serious damage to Eucalyptus plantations in many parts of the world. S. neseri is a recently discovered parasitoid considered to be a potentially important biological control agent of L. invasa. The aim of this study was to provide the first basic data on the biology of S. neseri, which is essential for its application in biological control. S. neseri was shown to be a biparental ectoparasitoid. Observation from dissected galls indicated that the parasitoid developed on late larvae, pupae and callow adults, although development did occur in a range of gall ages. Observed nominal parasitism in captivity ranged from 9.7% to 71.8%. Adult S. neseri specimens, fed with honey-water and galled Eucalyptus leaves, survived an average of 26 days at 26 C. The average developmental time from oviposition to emergence was 19.3 days ± 0.2 days. There was no pre-oviposition period. A single female produced a maximum of thirty-nine offspring, with a maximum of ten per day. Dissection of the ovaries showed that twelve ovarioles were present. The sex ratio of S. neseri observed in this study was 1:3.43 males:females. Galls of native insects most closely related to L. invasa and to galls of similar morphology to L. invasa-induced galls, were not suitable for S. neseri oviposition. S. neseri showed considerable potential as a biological control agent of L. invasa due to its relatively short developmental time, long adult life span when supplemented with carbohydrates, ability to utilize a range of gall ages and the fact that it has a high level of host specificity.The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), the Department of Science and Technology (DST).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ybconhj201

Supplemental material for Defining and surveying key populations at risk of HIV infection: Towards a unified approach to eligibility criteria for respondent-driven sampling HIV biobehavioral surveys

<p>Supplemental material for Defining and surveying key populations at risk of HIV infection: Towards a unified approach to eligibility criteria for respondent-driven sampling HIV biobehavioral surveys by Avi J Hakim, Lisa G Johnston, Samantha Dittrich, Dimitri Prybylski, Janet Burnett and Evelyn Kim in International Journal of STD & AIDS</p

A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of aromatic or chlorinated organic chemicals commonly found in manufactured products that have high vapor pressure, and thus vaporize readily at room temperature. While airshed VOCs are well studied and have provided insights into public health issues, we suggest that belowground VOCs and the related vapor intrusion process could be equally or even more relevant to public health. The persistence, movement, remediation, and human health implications of subsurface VOCs in urban landscapes remain relatively understudied despite evidence of widespread contamination. This review explores the state of the science of subsurface movement and remediation of VOCs through groundwater and soils, the linkages between these poorly understood contaminant exposure pathways and health outcomes based on research in various animal models, and describes the role of these contaminants in human health, focusing on birth outcomes, notably low birth weight and preterm birth. Finally, this review provides recommendations for future research to address knowledge gaps that are essential for not only tackling health disparities and environmental injustice in post-industrial cities, but also protecting and preserving critical freshwater resources