A field trial with permethrin against bodylice,pediculm humanus humanus in Egypt, 1976

Populations of bodylice, Pediculus humanus humanus L., in Egypt have become resistant to DDT and BHC, but not to malathion. A single dust application of permethrin (1 % a.i.; cis: trans-ratio 25:75) rendered 98.9% of the treated population louse-free. Thirty-seven days after dusting 91.3% and at the end of the 98-day observation period 64.6% of the population were free of infestation; during the same period the proportion of infested individuals rose by 12.3% in a similar untreated village. Permethrin is ovicidal against bodylice, affects the population of the human flea, PulexirritansL., and ishighly effective against the rat flea, Xenopsyllacheopis(Rothsch.).     

Disease and injury among participants in the Agricultural Health Study

The Agricultural Health Study (www.aghealth.org) is a cohort of 89,658 pesticide applicators and their spouses from Iowa and North Carolina assembled between 1993 and 1997 to evaluate riskfactorsfor disease in ruralfarm populations. This prospective study is just now reaching sufficient maturity for analysis of many disease endpoints. Nonetheless, several analyses have already provided interesting and important leads regarding disease patterns in agricultural populations and etiologic clues for the general population. Compared to the mortality experience of the general population in the two states (adjusted for race, gender, age and calendar time), the cohort experienced a very low mortality rate overall and for many specific causes and a low rate of overall cancer incidence. A few cancers, however, appear elevated, including multiple myeloma and cancers of the lip, gallbladder, ovary, prostate, and thyroid, but numbers are small for many cancers. A study of prostate cancer found associations with exposure to several pesticides, particularly among individuals with a family history of prostate cancer. Links to pesticides and other agricultural factors have been found for injuries, retinal degeneration, and respiratory wheeze. Methodological studies have determined that information collected by interview is unbiased and reliable. A third round of interviews scheduled to begin in 2005 will collect additional information on agricultural exposures and health outcomes. The study can provide data to address many health issues in the agricultural community. The study investigators welcome collaboration with interested scientists.     

A thymic precursor to the NK T cell lineage

CD1d-restricted autoreactive natural killer (NK1.1+) T cells function as regulatory cells in various disease conditions. Using improved tetramer tracking methodology, we identified a NK1.1- thymic precursor and followed its differentiation and emigration to tissues by direct cell transfer and in situ cell labeling studies. A major lineage expansion occurred within the thymus after positive selection and before NK receptor expression. Surprisingly, cytokine analysis of the developmental intermediates between NK and NK+ stages showed a T helper cell TH2 to TH1 conversion, suggesting that the regulatory functions of NK T cells may be developmentally controlled. These findings characterize novel thymic and postthymic developmental pathways that expand autoreactive cells and differentiate them into regulatory cells.     

Eulachnus tuberculostemmatus (Lachninae: Eulachnini) sur pin d'Alep: premier signalement en Tunisie

During a study on the population dynamics of aphids on Aleppo pine, Pinus halepensis, in Chott Mariem region, Eulachnus tuberculostemmatus Theobald was found. This is the first record of the species in Tunisia.     

Composition and insecticidal activity of essential oil from Ruta graveolens,Mentha pulegium and Ocimum basilicum against Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The aim of this research was to explore the chemical composition and evaluate the insecticidal activities of Ruta graveolens, Mentha pulegium and Ocimum...     

Lotusine G: a new cyclopeptide alkaloid from Zizyphus lotus

In addition to six cyclopeptide alkaloids lotusines A-F, a new compound lotusine G, was isolated from the root bark of Zizyphus lotus by centrifugal partition chromatography.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea musimomum. Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities

The chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Centaurea musimomum exhibited significant activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The phytochemical study of this extract gave seven native and four acetylated sesquiterpene lactones.     

EFFECT OF FOLIAR BORON APPLICATION ON GROWTH,REPRODUCTION, AND OIL QUALITY OF OLIVE TREES CONDUCTED UNDER A HIGH DENSITY PLANTING SYSTEM

Boron (B) foliar treatments (300 mg L^?1 as Solubor DF) were applied at two different dates in 2006 and 2007, prior to flowering and just after fruit set, on olive (Olea europaea L.) trees with no visual symptoms of B deficiency. Leaf B level increased after the first application as compared to control (?B). After July treatment, leaf B levels in ?B and +B treated trees increased when compared to the first sampling date. Foliar B application did not significantly affect vegetative growth in either year. During the first year of study (considered as an “on year”), B application had no significant effect on several phenological characteristics including fruit set, yield oil contents and oil quality. In the second year (“off year”), B sprays improved blooming rate, which increased from 20% in ?B to 30% in + B treated trees, and olive yield, which increased by 27% in response to B.