Voracité comparative de trois coccinelles prédatrices contre le tétranyque rouge du pommier [Acarina : Tetranychidae]

La voracité de la coccinelle à sept points, Coccinella septempunctata, de la coccinelle à quatorze points, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, et de la coccinelle orientale, Harmonia axyridis, [Coleoptera : Coccinellidae] a été évaluée en laboratoire face au tétranyque rouge du pommier, Panonychus ulmi [Acarina : Tetranychidae]. Les trois espèces ont consommé le tétranyque rouge. H. axyridis était significativement plus vorace que les autres espèces et présente le potentiel le plus élevé comme ennemi naturel du tétranyque. Malgré sa grande taille, C. septempunctata possédait une voracité très faible, ce qui confirme son inefficacité comme agent de lutte face aux acariens phytophages.Voracity of the seven-spotted ladybeetle, Coccinella septempunctata, the fourteen-spotted ladybeetle, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, and the oriental ladybeetle, Harmonia axyridis [Coleoptera : Coccinellidae], was evaluated in laboratory on the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi [Acarina : Tetranychidae]. The three species fed on the European red mite. H. axyridis was significantly more voracious than the other species and has the greater potential as a natural enemy of the mite. Despite its large size, C. septempunctata showed a very low voracity, confirming its inefficacy as a biological control agent against phytophagous mites

Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana isolates toward Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae], Myzus persicae [Homoptera : Aphididae] and their predator Coleomegilla maculata lengi [Coleoptera : Coccinellidae]

L'effet pathogène de dix isolats de Beauveria bassiana de différentes sources et provenances géographiques a été évalué au laboratoire à une concentration de 107 conidies ml-1 sur deux insectes ravageurs, le doryphore de la pomme de terre ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata) et le puceron vert du pêcher ( Myzus persicae), et leur prédateur, la coccinelle maculée ( Coleomegilla maculata lengi). Six isolats ont provoqué une mortalité élevée sur les trois espèces d'insectes. Les quatre autres ont démontré un différent degré de spécificité pour les insectes visés. Les isolats 49, 233 et 210087 se sont avérés les plus intéressants comme agents de lutte biologique parce qu'ils ont démontré une forte virulence pour les insectes nuisibles mais ne causant qu'une faible mortalité pour la coccinelle.Ten isolates of Beauveria bassiana from different sources and geographical sites were evaluated under laboratory conditions at a concentration of 107 conidia ml-1 for their pathogenicity against two insect pests, the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) and the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), and their predator, the spotted ladybird beetle (Coleomegilla maculata lengi). Six isolates were highly virulent to all three insect species. Four others showed different degrees of specificity. The isolates 49, 233 and 210087 were the most interesting for their potential development as biological control agents because they were highly virulent for the two insect pests and caused low mortality in the coccinellid

Biogeographic origin of the common green lacewings (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) of the Azores archipelago, through morphology analysis

Due to a great dispersal ability and small size, insects are probably among the first island colonisers. Chrysoperla carnea sensu lato was for long considered the sole member of the Chrysopidae family in the Azores (Portugal) since it has been regarded as a complex of sibling species in Europe and North America. Its separation into different morphotypes is based on a set of pre-determined morphological traits. Their analysis leads to appraise Azorean Chrysopidae origin, comparing insular and mainland populations. Two outside “carnea complex” species, namely the Nearctic C. rufilabris and the Neotropical C. externa, were also examined to validate the method. Data analysis resulted in grouping separately the two out-group species as expected, and clearly joins insular and Palaearctic specimens of C. lucasina. Chrysoperla agilis, although known to be present in the Azores through courtship song analysis, is morphologically similar to the two other Palaearctic species, which confirms the continental Palaearctic origin of the common green lacewings in the Azores. Madeira has probably served as a stepping-stone to the Azorean colonisation

The influence of objectives, learning experiences and examination blueprint on medical students' examination preparation

BACKGROUND: The influence of intended and informal curricula on examination preparation has not been extensively studied. This study aims to firstly describe how students utilized components of intended and informal curricula to guide examination preparation, and secondly to study the relationship between examination preparation and performance. METHODS: Students received a pre-examination questionnaire to identify components from the intended curriculum (objectives and examination blueprint), and informal curriculum (content emphasised during lectures and small groups), used during examination preparation. Multiple logistic regression was used to study the relationship between these variables and student performance (above versus at or below average). RESULTS: Eighty-one students participated. There was no difference in the proportions using the examination blueprint, content emphasised during lectures, and content emphasised during small groups (87 – 93%) but fewer students used objectives (35%, p < 0.001). Objectives use was associated with reduced odds of above average examination performance (adjusted odds ratio 0.27 [0.07, 0.97], p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: When preparing for the renal course examination, students were influenced at least as much by the informal as the intended curriculum. Of the two intended curriculum components, the examination blueprint appeared to be more widely used than the course objectives. This decreased use of objectives on examination preparation did not appear to have a detrimental effect on student performance

The influence of objectives, learning experiences and examination blueprint on medical students' examination preparation

BACKGROUND: The influence of intended and informal curricula on examination preparation has not been extensively studied. This study aims to firstly describe how students utilized components of intended and informal curricula to guide examination preparation, and secondly to study the relationship between examination preparation and performance. METHODS: Students received a pre-examination questionnaire to identify components from the intended curriculum (objectives and examination blueprint), and informal curriculum (content emphasised during lectures and small groups), used during examination preparation. Multiple logistic regression was used to study the relationship between these variables and student performance (above versus at or below average). RESULTS: Eighty-one students participated. There was no difference in the proportions using the examination blueprint, content emphasised during lectures, and content emphasised during small groups (87 – 93%) but fewer students used objectives (35%, p < 0.001). Objectives use was associated with reduced odds of above average examination performance (adjusted odds ratio 0.27 [0.07, 0.97], p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: When preparing for the renal course examination, students were influenced at least as much by the informal as the intended curriculum. Of the two intended curriculum components, the examination blueprint appeared to be more widely used than the course objectives. This decreased use of objectives on examination preparation did not appear to have a detrimental effect on student performance

Uptake of the BPA into glioblastoma multiforme correlates with tumor cellularity

Fourteen patients scheduled to undergo craniotomy for glioblastoma multiforme were infused with p-boronophenylalanine fructose intravenously for 2 hours prior to surgery. Tissues removed during the procedure and blood obtained at its conclusion were analyzed for boron by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The results are presented herein

A treatment planning comparison of BPA- or BSH-based BNCT of malignant gliomas

Accurate delivery of the prescribed dose during clinical BNCT requires knowledge (or reasonably valid assumptions) about the boron concentrations in tumor and normal tissues. For conversion of physical dose (Gy) into photon-equivalent dose (Gy-Eq), relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and/or compound-adjusted biological effectiveness (CBE) factors are required for each tissue. The BNCT treatment planning software requires input of the following values: the boron concentration in blood and tumor, RBEs in brain, tumor and skin for the high-LET beam components, the CBE factors for brain, tumor, and skin, and the RBE for the gamma component

Protocols for BNCT of glioblastoma multiforme at Brookhaven: Practical considerations

In this report we discuss some issues considered in selecting initial protocols for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of human glioblastoma multiforme. First the tolerance of normal tissues, especially the brain, to the radiation field. Radiation doses limits were based on results with human and animal exposures. Estimates of tumor control doses were based on the results of single-fraction photon therapy and single fraction BNCT both in humans and experimental animals. Of the two boron compounds (BSH and BPA), BPA was chosen since a FDA-sanctioned protocol for distribution in humans was in effect at the time the first BNCT protocols were written and therapy studies in experimental animals had shown it to be more effective than BSH

A prospective randomized trial of content expertise versus process expertise in small group teaching

Article deposited according to agreement with BMC, December 6, 2010.YesFunding provided by the Open Access Authors Fund

A Phase 1 trial of intravenous boronophenylalanine-fructose complex in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of glioblastoma multiforme was initially performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the early 1950`s While this treatment for malignant brain tumors has continued in Japan, new worldwide interest has been stimulated by the development of new and more selective boron compounds. Boronophenylalanine (BPA) is a blood-brain barrier penetrating compound that has been used in BNCT of malignant melanomas. SPA has been employed experimentally in BNCT of rat gliosarcoma and has potential use in the treatment of human glioblastoma. As a preface to clinical BNCT trials, we studied the biodistribution of SPA in patients with glioblastoma