Demographic parameters of two spotted ladybird Adalia bipunctata L. (Col.: Coccinellidae) on pomegranate aphid Aphis punicae (Hem.: Aphididae) under controlled conditions

Abstract Demographic parameters of Adalia bipunctata on Aphis punicae under controlled conditions were studied. Life table parameters of predator were studied on 100 newly laid A. bipunctata eggs. Daily larvae and adults of ladybirds were fed on fresh leaves of pomegranate which were infected by A. punicae. Fifteen pairs of A. bipunctata (24h-old) were selected to study the reproductive life history of A. bipunctata. The reproduction data were analyzed according to jackknife method. The results indicated that the incubation period was 30.22 days and adults emerged after 24.85 days. L x was estimated 0.69 and the specific mortality age of larvae and adults of coccinellid increased gradually from day 46. Reproductive parameters of A.bipunctata showed that the gross fecundity rate, gross fertility rate, gross hatch rate, net fecundity rate and net fertility rate were 462.4±22.1, 405.3±23.4, 0.78651±1.058, 228.4±11 and 189.49±9.11 days, respectively. The mean numbers of eggs was estimated 11.8 egg/female/day and 13.21 egg/day. The net reproductive rate (R 0 ), mean generation time (T c ), doubling time (DT) and Finite rate of increase (λ) of A.bipunctata were 133.796, 25.27, 3.57, 1.21 days, respectively and intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ) was 0.193 female/female/days. Also intrinsic rate of birth (b) and intrinsic rate of dead (d) were 0.2047 and 0.02851 female/ female/ day respectively. Hence, our findings may provide important information towards designing a comprehensive IPM program to control the pomegranate aphid in Iran. Up to date, no other published data are available concerning the demographic parameters of A. bipunctata on A. punicae

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Performance estimation and synergetic role of caffeine in increasing efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on Plodia interpunctella hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) is a widespread and serious pest of stored products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, and its synergistic effect with caffeine, in the control of P. interpunctella. The minimum and maximum lethal concentrations (LC) of B. thuringiensis for first instar larvae control, respectively were 65 ppm and 7500 ppm. The LC50 for the first instar stage of larvae was 637.87 ppm. When first instar larvae are fed a diet which contained LC50 of both B. thuringiensis and caffeine, an increased synergistic interaction in terms of mortality was found. The mixture of minimum effective concentrations of 65 ppm bacteria and 4000 ppm of caffeine have resulted in 95% mortality after 144 h, whereas caffeine and bacteria alone caused 10% and 20% mortality, respectively

Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from an ancient apple variety 'Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini' against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts from the peel (APE) and pulp (APP) of a traditional apple variety of central Italy, the 'Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini', on the damage caused by renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats. Thirty mg per kg b.w. of the extracts were administered intraperitoneally to male adult Wistar rats 3 days before the induction of IRI by pedicle clamping. A significant decrease in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-\u3b1 (TNF\u3b1), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1\u3b2) and nuclear factor-\u3baB (NF-\u3baB) was observed in the groups pre-treated with APE when compared with IRI rats. The chemical composition of APE was determined by HPLC-DAD-MSn highlighting a significant amount of proanthocyanidins (52.9 mg g-1), flavonols (42.27 mg g-1) and dihydrochalcones (11.75 mg g-1). These findings indicated that this ancient apple variety is a promising source of nutraceuticals and functional foods helpful to manage complications of renal disorders