Selectivity of chlorantraniliprole to parasitoid wasps

BACKGROUND: Chlorantraniliprole is a novel anthranilic diamide insecticide registered for use in vegetables, fruits, grains and turf against a variety of insect pests. The objective of this article is to summarize results of acute toxicity testing of chlorantraniliprole on seven species of parasitic wasps with wide geographic distribution and relevance to different crops and integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. RESULTS: Tier‐1, worst‐case laboratory studies evaluated wasp survival and reproduction following different exposure concentrations and scenarios to chlorantraniliprole (i.e. fresh‐dried spray deposits on glass plates, direct contact, ingestion, egg card, dipped leaf residue bioassays, sprayed mummies). No statistically significant effects on adult survival, percentage parasitism or emergence were observed following exposures to chlorantraniliprole compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole was harmless to the parasitoid wasp species tested according to IOBC classification criteria (<30% effects) and may be a useful tool in IPM programmes. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation

Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere. Specific amino acids in the HLA-B peptide binding groove, as well as an independent HLA-C effect, explain the SNP associations and reconcile both protective and risk HLA alleles. These results implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major factor modulating durable control of HIV infection.     

SALMON AQUACULTURE: LARGER COMPANIES AND INCREASED PRODUCTION

Salmon farming is among the most successful aquaculture industries with a production growth that is substantially higher than aggregate aquaculture production in recent decades. It is well known that innovations and productivity growth are the main sources for this development. In this article we look closer at two potentially important factors in production growth, development of farm size and company size directly through economies of scale and indirectly through capacity in R&D, innovation, sales and marketing. In Norway, production per license has increased from 26 tons in 1980 to 1,130 tons in 2010, suggesting a substantial intensification in the industry. In all five leading salmon producing countries, the degree of concentration has increased and the large firms have become bigger over time.     

Grazing of protozoa on rhizosphere bacteria alters growth and reproduction of Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant roots are densely colonized by bacteria which form the basis of the rhizosphere bacterial food web with protozoa as most effective predators. We established a well defined laboratory system with Arabidopsis thaliana as model plant allowing to investigate in detail the effect of rhizosphere interactions on plant performance. We used this system to analyse separate and combined effects of natural rhizobacteria and the protozoa Acanthamoeba castellanii on plants.Protozoa and bacteria increased plant growth with the effect of protozoa markedly exceeding that of bacteria only. Arabidopsis immediately responded to the presence of protozoa by increasing carbon but not nitrogen uptake. Later protozoa enhanced plant uptake of nitrogen from organic material and prolonged vegetative growth of Arabidopsis resulting in strongly increased seed production. It is concluded that the immediate plant response was based on changes in rhizosphere signalling inducing increased plant carbon fixation rather than on protozoa-mediated increase in nitrogen availability. The subsequently increased plant nitrogen uptake presumably originated from nitrogen fixed in bacterial biomass made available by protozoan grazing, i.e. the microbial loop in soil. The results suggest that Arabidopsis prepared for the upcoming mobilization of nitrogen by increasing carbon fixation and root carbon allocation which paid-off later by increased nutrient capture and strongly increased plant reproduction.     

Anaerobic Bioremediation of a Soil With Mixed Contaminants: Explosives Degradation and Influence on Heavy Metal Distribution,Monitored as Changes in Concentration and Toxicity

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The sorption behavior of bisphenol A (BPA) on marine sediments treated using different methods was investigated in batch equilibrium experiments. Adsorption...     

评估土壤微量元素生物有效性测定方法

Trace element-contaminated soils (TECSs) are one of the consequences of the past industrial development worldwide.Excessive exposure to trace elements (TEs) represents a permanent threat to ecosystems and humans worldwide owing to the capacity of metal(loid)s to cross the cell membranes of living organisms and of human epithelia,and their interference with cell metabolism.Quantification of TE bioavailability in soils is complicated due to the polyphasic and reactive nature of soil constituents.To unravel critical factors controlling soil TE bioavailability and to quantify the ecological toxicity of TECSs,TEs are pivotal for evaluating excessive exposure or deficiencies and controlling the ecological risks.While current knowledge on TE bioavailability and related cumulative consequences is growing,the lack of an integrated use of this concept still hinders its utilization for a more holistic view of ecosystem vulnerability and risks for human health.Bioavailability is not generally included in models for decision making in the appraisal of TECS remediation options.In this review we describe the methods for determining the TE bioavailability and technological developments,gaps in current knowledge,and research needed to better understand how TE bioavailability can be controlled by sustainable TECS management altering key chemical properties,which would allow policy decisions for environmental protection and risk management.     

Production risk of pangas (Pangasius hypophthalmus) fish farming

Pangas is a relatively new and fast-growing fish species that has great potential for production and export growth in Bangladesh. However, production variability exists from farm to farm and location to location, which indicates that production risk may be a problem in pangas farming. Research on production risk is therefore of great importance, especially for small-scale farming systems in developing countries, where farmers are more vulnerable to risk. This study investigates the production risk of pangas farming in selected areas of Bangladesh. A Just–Pope stochastic production function is chosen to estimate the mean and risk functions. The test result shows that significant production risk exists in pangas farming, and that the risk differs between small and large farms.     

Dietary taurine supplementation in plant protein based diets do not affect growth and reproductive performance of zebrafish

Taurine (Tau) has been regarded as a conditional essential nutrient for some fish species. Although its role has been extensively studied in higher vertebrates, limited results are reported with fish especially its role on reproductive performance and the ontogenic changes on Tau levels throughout the life cycle. Therefore, we designed a feeding trial using zebrafish as a model species to test whether Tau supplementation to plant protein diets would have a positive effect on growth and reproductive performance. Zebrafish were fed plant protein diets containing graded levels of Tau (0.2, 4.6, 5.9 and 13.7 g/kg diet) from 10 days post fertilization (dpf) to sexual maturity. An additional commercial diet was used as a positive control for performance. The trial followed a completely randomized design with five treatments (diets) and three replications. After 60 days of feeding, growth, Tau concentration in the body, redox status, lipid body composition, reproductive and offspring performances were analysed. Tau supplementation did not affect growth and/or reproductive performance; however, zebrafish seems to differently modulate Tau concentration according to the growth stage. Tau seemed to induce a hypolipidemic effect in zebrafish by reducing lipid accumulation in their bodies (p < .05). A trend to a more pro‐oxidant effect of Tau supplementation was observed by the decreased reduced glutathione levels. In sum, Tau does not affect growth and reproductive performance of zebrafish but it is important for normal lipid utilization and redox status.