Functional response of a parasitoid Ganaspidium utilis （Hymenoptera： Eucoilidae） on the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii （Diptera： Agromyzidae）

Functional response of a solitary, larval-pupal endoparasitoid of Liriomyza leafminers, Ganaspidium utilis Beardsley, was estimated on Liriomyza trifolii Burgess at three temperatures （17℃, 25℃, 29℃ ） and host densities. A type Ⅱ random parasitoid equation （RPE） was used to estimate instantaneous search rate and handling time. The instantaneous search rate increased as temperature increased. All of the RPE regressions obtained for functional response of G. utilis at different temperatures were significant （P〈0.01）. The slope of RPE regression lines was lower across the temperatures. At 29±2℃, the maximum number of larvae parasitized was 7.8 per day. It decreased to 7.2 larvae parasitized at 25±2℃. At 17±2℃, no significant increment of parasitization was observed due to the host density increments. The estimated handling time was lowest at 17±2℃ and highest at 25 ± 2℃, respectively. The ability of G. utilis to find and parasitize L. trifolii over a wide range of temperatures makes them a good candidate for biological control of Liriomyza leafminers.     

What makes a good psychiatrist? A survey of clinical tutors responsible for psychiatric training in the UK and Eire

The characteristics of a good psychiatrist practising in the UK health services have been described in policy but not in practice. We set out to determine what key characteristics are required for an individual to be identified as a good psychiatrist to become a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. A postal survey of all clinical tutors responsible for psychiatric training in the UK and Eire was carried out. These tutors are approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 113 tutors responded (out of 163, 69.3% return). The most important identified characteristic was overall competency in diagnosis, management and investigations (98%) and the least desirable was ability to appraise staff (13%). With recent changes in training and assessment in the UK, further surveys of this kind are indicated to understand the trainers’ views, and should be extended also to trainees     

SGT1 positively regulates the process of plant cell death during both compatible and incompatible plant–pathogen interactions

SGT1 (suppressor of G2 allele of Skp1), an interactor of SCF (Skp1‐Cullin‐F‐box) ubiquitin ligase complexes that mediate protein degradation, plays an important role at both G1–S and G2–M cell cycle transitions in yeast, and is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. Plant SGT1 is required for both resistance (R) gene‐mediated disease resistance and nonhost resistance to certain pathogens. Using virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Nicotiana benthamiana, we demonstrate that SGT1 positively regulates the process of cell death during both host and nonhost interactions with various pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae. Silencing of NbSGT1 in N. benthamiana plants delays the induction of hypersensitive response (HR)‐mediated cell death against nonhost pathogens and the development of disease‐associated cell death caused by the host pathogen P. syringae pv. tabaci. Our results further demonstrate that NbSGT1 is required for Erwinia carotovora‐ and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum‐induced disease‐associated cell death. Overexpression of NbSGT1 in N. benthamiana accelerates the development of HR during R gene‐mediated disease resistance and nonhost resistance. Our data also indicate that SGT1 is required for pathogen‐induced cell death, but is not always necessary for the restriction of bacterial multiplication in planta. Therefore, we conclude that SGT1 is an essential component affecting the process of cell death during both compatible and incompatible plant–pathogen interactions.     

WPA guidance on mental health and mental health care in migrants

The purpose of this guidance is to review currently available evidence on mental health problems in migrants and to present advice to clinicians and policy makers on how to provide migrants with appropriate and accessible mental health services. The three phases of the process of migration and the relevant implications for mental health are outlined, as well as the specific problems of groups such as women, children and adolescents, the elderly, refugees and asylum seekers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. The concepts of cultural bereavement, cultural identity and cultural congruity are discussed. The epidemiology of mental disorders in migrants is described. A series of recommendations to policy makers, service providers and clinicians aimed to improve mental health care in migrants are provided, covering the special needs of migrants concerning pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies.     

Psychiatric training in the UK: the next steps

Postgraduate education and training in the UK is undergoing tremendous change. In this paper the changes affecting psychiatry are described, with an account of the drivers. Patients, their carers and politicians all expect psychiatric service providers to have certain characteristics. Psychiatric training is becoming more competency focused and it is right that assessments of competencies also occur at the place that trainees work. There are key competencies that trainees need to take into account while learning and working. These are described along with the way forward     

An overview of the factors affecting sugar content of potatoes

Potatoes destined for making chips, French fries and other fried products, need to have low sugar content to avoid browning of the finished product. The sugar content of potatoes is determined by the genotype and several pre‐ and post‐harvest factors. The major pre‐harvest factors affecting sugar content are crop maturity, temperature during growth, mineral nutrition and irrigation, while important post‐harvest factors are mechanical stresses and storage conditions. Each genotype requires an ideal pre‐and post‐harvest treatment to maintain low sugar levels; any kind of stress results in sugar accumulations.     

Metabolic Roles of the M3 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Studied with M3 Receptor Mutant Mice: A Review

The M₃ muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (M₃ mAChR) is expressed in many central and peripheral tissues. It is a prototypic member of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and preferentially activates G proteins of the G_q family. Recent studies involving the use of newly generated mAChR mutant mice have revealed that the M₃ mAChR plays a key role in regulating many important metabolic functions. Phenotypic analyses of mutant mice that either selectively lacked or overexpressed M₃ receptors in pancreatic β -cells indicated that β -cell M₃ mAChRs are essential for maintaining proper insulin release and glucose homeostasis. The experimental data also suggested that strategies aimed at enhancing signaling through β -cell M₃ mAChRs might be beneficial for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies with whole body M₃ mAChR knockout mice showed that the absence of M₃ receptors protected mice against various forms of experimentally or genetically induced obesity and obesity-associated metabolic deficits. Under all experimental conditions tested, M₃ receptor-deficient mice showed greatly ameliorated impairments in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, reduced food intake, and a significant elevation in basal and total energy expenditure, most likely due to increased central sympathetic outflow and increased rate of fatty acid oxidation. These findings are of potential interest for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.