Field and Laboratory Responses of Male Leaf Roller Moths, Choristoneura rosaceana and Pandemis pyrusana, to Pheromone Concentrations in an Attracticide Paste Formulation

Male leafroller moths, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Pandemis pyrusana (Kearfott), were evaluated for responses to a paste formulation loaded with a range of concentrations of the two species' pheromone blends and evaluated in a laboratory wind tunnel and in the field. Response criteria were flight, flight towards the pheromone source, and contact with the pheromone source for the wind tunnel assays, and capture of moths in traps for the field tests. In the wind tunnel and field, responses of males of both species to the paste generally increased as the pheromone concentration in the paste was increased. There was little response by either species to paste with less than 0.16% pheromone. The relationship between pheromone concentration and response for P. pyrusana was linear and for C. rosaceana was sinusoidal over the range of pheromone concentrations tested. These patterns were seen both in the wind tunnel and in the field. Initial release rates from the paste of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, the main component of the pheromone blends of both species was 3.6–3.8 ng/h. Inhibitory thresholds for responses were not reached for either species, using pheromone concentrations as high as 16%, in either the wind tunnel or the field. For both species, response of males to rubber septa with one mg pheromone loads was similar to the response to the paste with pheromone at concentrations greater than 3–4%. For C. rosaceana, rates of contact with the paste in the wind tunnel were statistically similar to rates of contact in response to conspecific females, with paste pheromone concentrations above 1.6%. Response rates for males of P. pyrusana were significantly lower to the paste than to conspecific females at all paste pheromone concentrations tested. Overall, the optimum pheromone concentration in the paste for moth attraction to contact was 3.2 % for C. rosaceana and 8% for P. pyrusana

Mechanical properties of epoxy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites

In this paper, two types of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed into two different epoxy resins b high - shear mixing. Dispersion and homogenisation of nanofillers was analysed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Microhardness of epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites, as well as of neat epoxy resins, is measure by Vickers method. The evolution of nanocomposites microhardness values were studied in function of curing time takin in account the influence of two different epoxy matrix and MWCNTs. Asymptotic values were analysed and compare with those of pure epoxy resin

Searching for Programme theories for a realist evaluation: a case study comparing an academic database search and a simple Google search

Background: Realist methodologies are increasingly being used to evaluate complex interventions in health and social care. Programme theory (ideas and assumptions of how a particular intervention works) development is the first step in a realist evaluation or a realist synthesis, with literature reviews providing important evidence to support this. Deciding how to search for programme theories is challenging and there is limited guidance available. Using an example of identifying programme theories for a realist evaluation of Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Instruments in clinical practice, the authors explore and compare several different approaches to literature searching and highlight important methodological considerations for those embarking on a programme theory review. Methods: We compared the performance of an academic database search with a simple Google search and developed an optimised search strategy for the identification primary references (i.e. documents providing the clearest examples of programme theories) associated with the use of Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Instruments (PU-RAIs). We identified the number of primary references and the total number of references retrieved per source. We then calculated the number needed to read (NNR) expressed as the total number of titles and abstracts screened to identify one relevant reference from each source. Results: The academic database search (comprising CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, HMIC, Medline) identified 2 /10 primary references with a NNR of 1395.The Google search identified 7/10 primary references with a NNR of 10.1. The combined NNR was 286.3. The optimised search combining Google and CINAHL identified 10/10 primary references with a NNR of 40.2. Conclusion: The striking difference between the efficiency of the review’s academic database and Google searches in finding relevant references prompted an in-depth comparison of the two types of search. The findings indicate the importance of including grey literature sources such as Google in this particular programme theory search, while acknowledging the need for transparency of methods. Further research is needed to facilitate improved guidance for programme theory searches to enhance practice in the realist field and to save researcher time and therefore resource

Validation of the Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure (TRAM) for the Managing the Link and Strengthening Transition from Child to Adult Mental Healthcare in Europe (MILESTONE) study

OBJECTIVE: Young people moving from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) are faced with significant challenges. To improve this state of affairs, there needs to be a recognition of the problem and initiatives and an urgent requirement for appropriate tools for measuring readiness and outcomes at the transfer boundary (16-18 years of age in Europe). The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure (TRAM) for assessing a young person's readiness for transition, and their outcomes at the transfer boundary. DESIGN: MILESTONE prospective study. SETTING: Eight European Union (EU) countries participating in the EU-funded MILESTONE study. PARTICIPANTS: The first phase (MILESTONE validation study) involved 100 adolescents (pre-transition), young adults (post-transition), parents/carers and both CAMHS and AMHS clinicians. The second phase (MILESTONE cohort study and nested cluster randomised trial) involved over 1000 young people. RESULTS: The development of the TRAM began with a literature review on transitioning and a review of important items regarding transition by a panel of 34 mental health experts. A list of 64 items of potential importance were identified, which together comprised the TRAM. The psychometric properties of the different versions of the TRAM were evaluated and showed that the TRAM had good reliability for all versions and low-to-moderate correlations when compared with other established instruments and a well-defined factor structure. The main results of the cohort study with the nested cluster randomised trial are not reported. CONCLUSION: The TRAM is a reliable instrument for assessing transition readiness and appropriateness. It highlighted the barriers to a successful transition and informed clinicians, identifying areas which clinicians on both sides of the transfer boundary can work on to ease the transition for the young person. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN83240263 (Registered 23 July 2015), NCT03013595 (Registered 6 January 2017); Pre-results

The effects of improving sleep on mental health (OASIS): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis

BACKGROUND: Sleep difficulties might be a contributory causal factor in the occurrence of mental health problems. If this is true, improving sleep should benefit psychological health. We aimed to determine whether treating insomnia leads to a reduction in paranoia and hallucinations. METHODS: We did this single-blind, randomised controlled trial (OASIS) at 26 UK universities. University students with insomnia were randomly assigned (1:1) with simple randomisation to receive digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia or usual care, and the research team were masked to the treatment. Online assessments took place at weeks 0, 3, 10 (end of therapy), and 22. The primary outcome measures were for insomnia, paranoia, and hallucinatory experiences. We did intention-to-treat analyses. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN61272251. FINDINGS: Between March 5, 2015, and Feb 17, 2016, we randomly assigned 3755 participants to receive digital CBT for insomnia (n=1891) or usual practice (n=1864). Compared with usual practice, the sleep intervention at 10 weeks reduced insomnia (adjusted difference 4·78, 95% CI 4·29 to 5·26, Cohen's d=1·11; p<0·0001), paranoia (-2·22, -2·98 to -1·45, Cohen's d=0·19; p<0·0001), and hallucinations (-1·58, -1·98 to -1·18, Cohen's d=0·24; p<0·0001). Insomnia was a mediator of change in paranoia and hallucinations. No adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: To our knowledge, this is the largest randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention for a mental health problem. It provides strong evidence that insomnia is a causal factor in the occurrence of psychotic experiences and other mental health problems. Whether the results generalise beyond a student population requires testing. The treatment of disrupted sleep might require a higher priority in mental health provision. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust

Suicide trends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis of preliminary data from 21 countries

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is having profound mental health consequences for many people. Concerns have been expressed that at its most extreme, this may manifest itself in increased suicide rates.MethodsWe sourced real-time suicide data from around the world via a systematic internet search and recourse to our networks and the published literature. We used interrupted time series analysis to model the trend in monthly suicides prior to COVID-19 in each country/area-within-country, comparing the expected number of suicides derived from the model with the observed number of suicides in the early months of the pandemic. Countries/areas-within countries contributed data from at least 1 January 2019 to 31 July 2020 and potentially from as far back as 1 January 2016 until as recently as 31 October 2020. We conducted a primary analysis in which we treated 1 April to 31 July 2020 as the COVID-19 period, and two sensitivity analyses in which we varied its start and end dates (for those countries/areas-within-countries with data beyond July 2020).OutcomesWe sourced data from 21 countries (high income [n=16], upper-middle income [n=5]; whole country [n=10], area(s)-within-the-country [n=11]). In general, there does not appear to have been a significant increase in suicides since the pandemic began in the countries for which we had data. In fact, in a number of countries/areas-within-countries there appears to have been a decrease.InterpretationThis is the first study to examine suicides occurring in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple countries. It offers a consistent picture, albeit from high- and upper-middle income countries, of suicide numbers largely remaining unchanged or declining in the early months of the pandemic. We need to remain vigilant and be poised to respond if the situation changes as the longer-term mental health and economic impacts of the pandemic unfold

Comunicación corta. Feromonas inhibidoras para machos de Pandemis pyrusana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

A grease matrix was loaded with pheromone components for Pandemis pyrusana and Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), two synchronic and sympatric species affecting apple orchards in Washington, USA. The chemicals used were a 5-blend of cis-11-tetradecenyl-acetate (Z11-14Ac), trans-11-tetradecenyl-acetate, cis-11- tetradecenyl-1-ol, cis-11-tetradecanal, and cis-9-tetradecenyl-acetate (Z9-14Ac) (90.05:1.89:1.42:0.95:5.69 ratio), or a 2-blend of Z11-14Ac and Z9-14Ac (94:6 ratio). Experiments to test each blend separately in a wind tunnel (at 0.16% and 16% pheromone), or in field trials (1.6% and 16%), indicated that significantly more P. pyrusana males responded to the higher concentration within any blend, and that a source containing the 5-pheromone blend caused significant reduction in attractiveness to this species. Source contact was significantly reduced within the P. pyrusana male behavioral sequence. This is the first report for P. pyrusana pheromone inhibitor, but further research is needed to identify whether one or more specific components elicit this response. The inhibitory effect observed probably helps to avoid interspecific matings in nature, and might be useful to develop some strategies against this pest, but it impedes to developing an attracticide formulation targeting simultaneously P. pyrusana and any other sympatric and synchronic species using these chemicals (as C. rosaceana) within their pheromone blends.Se utilizaron mezclas de compuestos químicos que forman parte de una feromona descrita para Pandemis pyrusana y Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), dos plagas sincrónicas y simpátricas que atacan huertos de manzanos en Washington, EEUU. Estas mezclas fueron de 5 componentes: cis-11-tetradecenil-acetato (Z11-14Ac), trans- 11-tetradecenil-acetato, cis-11-tetradecenil-1-ol, cis-11-tetradecanal y cis-9-tetradecenil-acetato (Z9-14Ac), en proporción de 90.05:1.89:1.42:0.95:5.69, ó de 2 componentes: Z11-14Ac y Z9-14Ac, en proporción 94:6, y fueron incorporadas a una matriz grasosa, hasta lograr el 16%, 1,60% ó 0,16% de cada mezcla. Se condujeron ensayos en un túnel de viento con cada mezcla en forma independiente (al 0,16% y 16%), y otro en el campo (al 1,6% y 16%). Estos estudios mostraron que significativamente más machos respondieron a las concentraciones más altas para ambas mezclas, y que la mezcla de cinco componentes redujo significativamente la atracción de machos de P. pyrusana en laboratorio y campo. El contacto con la fuente, dentro de la secuencia de comportamiento, se redujo significativamente. Este es el primer reporte de inhibidores de feromona para P. pyrusana, pero se requiere investigar específicamente si uno o más de estos componentes indujeron estas respuestas. El efecto observado puede ayudar a evitar cópulas inter-específicas en la naturaleza y podría ser útil en el desarrollo de estrategias de control contra esta especie, pero es un impedimento para el desarrollo de atracticidas para el control simultáneo de P. pyrusana y otra(s) especie(s) simpátricas y sincrónicas que usen estos compuestos químicos (como C. rosaceana) como componentes de su feromona sexual

Control de "Pseudococcus longispinus" (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) con imidacloprid aplicado al follaje o al tronco en naranjos en Chile

Se evaluó el control de pseudocóccidos en naranjos usando una nueva formulación de imidacloprid. Las aplicaciones fueron hechas con pulverizadora, en tres dosis, al follaje, o con pistola aplicadora, en dos dosis, sobre el tronco a aproximadamente 80 cm del suelo. Los tratamientos realizados en enero intentaron evitar la colonización de la cavidad calicinal aproximadamente 5 meses antes de la cosecha (junio). Ellos se contrastaron con tratamientos al follaje con clorpirifos aplicado sólo y un programa con clorpirifos (enero) e imidacloprid (60 días antes de la cosecha). El ensayo se realizó en un huerto comercial de 5 años (Quillota, V Región, Chile Central) severamente infestado con Pseudococcus longispinus. Se evaluó el número de individuos vivos antes y, periódicamente, después de las aplicaciones, mediante revisiones de frutos y trampas de agregación (cartón corrugado) hasta la cosecha. Se concluyó que una única aplicación de imidacloprid al follaje proporcionó un control similar al logrado con una aplicación de clorpirifos y con el programa que incluyó ambos insecticidas. Todos los tratamientos con insecticidas fueron significativamente superiores al testigo, pero ninguno fue capaz de evitar la infestación a cosecha. Las aplicaciones al tronco no fueron efectivas contra P. longispinus aparentemente debido a la reducida o nula absorción y/o movimiento de imidacloprid desde el sitio de aplicación hacia los frutos, no obstante hubo actividad local por algunas semanas en el punto de aplicación