Response to rearing in laboratory of the xylophagous grape pest,Xylotrechus arvicola (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Xylotrechus arvicola (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an important pest in vineyards (Vitis vinifera) in the main Iberian wine‐producing regions. Larvae were reared with Semi‐Synthetic Iglesias (SSI) diet over 27 months and two generations in the laboratory. Larval mortality was highest during the first (49.49 %) and second (9.38 %) month of rearing, increasing to 50.52 % during the first month if F2 reared larvae were obtained from an F1 adult female obtained in laboratory. The diet had sufficient nutrients to enable the pest to complete its life cycle within nine months, with F1 larval viability ranging from 23.49 % to 27.97 % and F2 larval viability reduced to 2.07 %. However, the diet did not allow for the completion of additional life cycles and generations (F3, F4,…). Larval mortality increased as the months of rearing (66.13 %, 69.51 % and 89.50 %) and generations (59.10 % and 76.93 % in F1 and F2, respectively) progressed in the laboratory. The larva–adult period of females obtained in the laboratory was longer than for males. In the laboratory, the life cycle was shortened in relation to the life cycle in the field because larvae did not require a cold period to break diapause and start pupation. This indicates that X. arvicola has the potential to complete its life cycle inside grape wood in vineyards of wine‐producing regions with warmer winters.     

Response of predatory mites with different rearing histories to volatiles of uninfested plants

The behavioural response of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis to volatiles from several host plants of its prey, spider mites in the genus Tetranychus, was investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer. A positive response to volatiles from tomato leaves and Lima bean leaves was recorded, whereas no response was observed to volatiles from cucumber leaves, or leaves of Solanum luteum and Solanum dulcamara.Different results were obtained for predators that differed in rearing history. Predators that were reared on spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on Lima bean leaves did respond to volatiles from Lima bean leaves, while predators that had been reared on the same spider mite species but with cucumber as host plant did not respond to Lima bean leaf volatiles. This effect is compared with the effect of rearing history on the response of P. persimilis to volatile allelochemicals of prey-infested plant leaves.     

Reproductive biology and small-scale rearing of cherry bark tortrix and its candidate biological control agent

Abstract:  The larval parasitoid, Campoplex dubitator (Hym.,: Ichneumonidae), is under consideration as an agent for classical biological control of cherry bark tortrix (CBT), Enarmonia formosana (Lep.,: Tortricidae), in North America. A comprehensive risk analysis of the candidate agent will require prosperous cultures of both the pest and its parasitoid. We present a rearing method for small-scale production of both species using a bean-based artificial diet, with additional information on the reproductive biology of C. dubitator . Based on estimated survivorship probabilities, a CBT egg had a 70% chance of developing completely to the adult stage under this system. The success of parasitism, however, was very dependent on the instar of the CBT host larva at the time of oviposition. All parasitised first instar larvae died shortly after the attack, rendering them unsuitable for oviposition, while 50% of parasitised second instar larvae died prematurely. In contrast, early mortality was 15–30% for larvae parasitised in the third to fifth instars. Regardless of the instar at oviposition, approximately 90% of the surviving hosts yielded parasitoids, showing a high acceptance by C. dubitator of second to fifth instars for oviposition.     

Responses of epidermal cell turgor pressure and photosynthetic activity of leaves of the atmospheric epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides (Bromeliaceae) after exposure to high humidity

It has been well-established that many epiphytic bromeliads of the atmospheric-type morphology, i.e., with leaf surfaces completely covered by large, overlapping, multicellular trichomes, are capable of absorbing water vapor from the atmosphere when air humidity increases. It is much less clear, however, whether this absorption of water vapor can hydrate the living cells of the leaves and, as a consequence, enhance physiological processes in such cells. The goal of this research was to determine if the absorption of atmospheric water vapor by the atmospheric epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides results in an increase in turgor pressure in leaf epidermal cells that subtend the large trichomes, and, by using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, to determine if the absorption of atmospheric water vapor by leaves of this epiphyte results in increased photosynthetic activity. Results of measurements on living cells of attached leaves of this epiphytic bromeliad, using a pressure probe and of whole-shoot fluorescence imaging analyses clearly illustrated that the turgor pressure of leaf epidermal cells did not increase, and the photosynthetic activity of leaves did not increase, following exposure of the leaves to high humidity air. These results experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, that the absorption of water vapor following increases in atmospheric humidity in atmospheric epiphytic bromeliads is mostly likely a physical phenomenon resulting from hydration of non-living leaf structures, e.g., trichomes, and has no physiological significance for the plant's living tissues.     

Association between light exposure at night and manic symptoms in bipolar disorder: cross-sectional analysis of the APPLE cohort

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have found that keeping the room dark at night was associated with a decrease in manic symptoms for patients with bipolar disorder (BD). However, the association between light at night of real-life conditions and manic symptoms is unclear. We investigated the association between bedroom light exposure at night and manic symptoms in BD patients. One-hundred and eighty-four outpatients with BD participated in this cross-sectional study. The average light intensity at night during sleep was evaluated using a portable photometer for seven consecutive nights. Manic symptoms were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and scores ≥5 were treated as a “hypomanic state.” The median (interquartile range) YMRS score was 2.0 (0–5.0), and 52 (28.2%) participants were in a hypomanic state. The prevalence of a hypomanic state was significantly higher in the participants with an average light intensity at night exposure of ≥3 lux than in those with <3 lux (36.7% versus 21.9%; P = .02). In multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for BD type, depressive symptoms, sleep duration, and daytime physical activity, the odds ratio (OR) for a hypomanic state was significantly higher for the participants with an average light intensity at night exposure of ≥3 lux than for those with <3 lux (OR: 2.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.09–4.22, P = .02). This association remained significant at the cutoff value of YMRS score ≥6 (OR: 2.51, 95% confidence interval: 1.15–5.46; P = .02). The findings of this study indicate bedroom light exposure at night is significantly associated with manic symptoms in BD patients. Although the results of this cross-sectional investigation do not necessarily imply causality, they may serve to inform beneficial nonpharmacological intervention and personalized treatment of BD patients.     

A comprehensive review on two-stage integrative schemes for the valorization of dark fermentative effluents

This review provides the alternative routes towards the valorization of dark H₂ fermentation effluents that are mainly rich in volatile fatty acids such as acetate and butyrate. Various enhancement and alternative routes such as photo fermentation, anaerobic digestion, utilization of microbial electrochemical systems, and algal system towards the generation of bioenergy and electricity and also for efficient organic matter utilization are highlighted. What is more, various integration schemes and two-stage fermentation for the possible scale up are reviewed. Moreover, recent progress for enhanced performance towards waste stabilization and overall utilization of useful and higher COD present in the organic source into value-added products are extensively discussed.     

以青砖茶为原料的果茶饮料制备

以青砖茶、新鲜苹果汁、西瓜汁和菠萝汁为主要原料进行果茶饮料的研制,采用单因素试验及正交分析试验对果茶饮料的配方进行工艺优化,以感官评价和吸光值为评定指标,确定果茶饮料的最佳配方。结果表明,体积比分别为8∶2的茶汤与苹果汁的混合汁、5∶5的茶汤与西瓜汁的混合汁和3∶7的茶汤与菠萝汁的混合汁混匀调配出的茶饮料的口感最佳,色泽清透,且香气较佳。本研究为黑茶果茶饮料的研 制提供了理论依据。     

Properties and aromatic profile of dry-fermented sausages produced from Krškopolje pigs reared under organic and conventional rearing regime

Krškopolje pig, the only Slovenian autochtonous breed is still relatively untapped, with almost no information available on the effect of rearing conditions or its aptitude for processing and meat product quality. In the present study, dry-fermented sausages were produced from Krškopolje pigs that were fed similar diets (with regard to ingredients, energy and protein content) but reared in either conventional (CON) or organic conditions (ECO). Sausage weight losses at the end of processing were recorded and their final pH, chemical composition (moisture, fat and protein content, proteolysis index, fat and protein oxidation, fatty acid and free fatty acid profile) were determined in addition to measurements of instrumental texture, sensory evaluation and volatile profile analysis. Compared with CON, ECO dry-fermented sausages had lower processing losses, lower pH, higher moisture, salt and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content, less saturated fat and less free fatty acids. Volatile profile analysis showed that ECO dry-fermented sausages exhibited higher concentrations of compounds arising from lipid autooxidation and lower levels of volatile compounds resulting from microbial lipid β-oxidation, amino acid degradation and spices. Panellists perceived ECO dry-fermented sausages as saltier and less colour intensive, while both rheological and sensory analysis indicated that ECO sausages had softer texture than CON. The present results indicate that rearing of Krškopolje pigs according to organic standards induced differences in meat and fat properties which affected the quality of dry-fermented sausages, most distinctly in terms of softer texture and different volatile profile.     

人眼微光下夜近视机制的研究

本文利用激光散斑屈光测试系统详细探讨了夜近视(night myopia)的产生机制。夜近视在环境亮度降低到产生暗视觉时出现,并随亮度继续降低而增大,平均值为1.35D。实验证明眼睛球差和色差不是造成夜近视的主要因素。夜近视数值在暗适应过程中呈增大的趋势。在暗视觉时,由于视野中缺少适宜的刺激,眼睛处于暗焦(dark focus)休止状态,这是造成夜近视的主要原因。     

Performance of Sclerodermus brevicornis,a parasitoid of invasive longhorn beetles,when reared on rice moth larvae

Biological control efficiency can be improved by developing effective mass‐rearing systems to produce large numbers of high‐quality parasitoids. This study explored an alternative host for rearing Sclerodermus brevicornis (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a potential biocontrol agent for the suppression of exotic and invasive wood‐boring longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) populations in the European agroforestry ecosystems. We tested larvae of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), as host for the parasitoid. We quantified the probability and timing of host attack and parasitism as well as reproductive success, offspring production, and the characteristics of adult offspring. As S. brevicornis is a quasi‐social species (multiple females, communally produced offspring broods), we also explored the effects of varying the number of females to which individual hosts were presented, with the aim of determining the optimal female‐to‐host ratio. As time to host attack can be a limiting factor in S. brevicornis rearing protocols, we tested the use of adult females of another bethylid species, Goniozus legneri Gordh, to paralyse C. cephalonica larvae prior to presentation. We identified the conditions within our experiment that maximized offspring production per host and offspring production per adult female parasitoid. We found that C. cephalonica is suitable as a factitious host and, as it is considerably more straightforward for laboratory rearing than cerambycid species, it is a good candidate for adoption by future S. brevicornis mass‐rearing and release programmes.