Pesticide diversity in rice growing areas of Northern Vietnam

Pesticide use in developing countries increases rapidly. In many regions, we miss knowledge of how frequently pesticides are applied and which active ingredients are used. We present a new cost-efficient and rapid assessment method of recording pesticides diversity in rice-dominated landscapes and present some evidence of the misuse of active ingredients in our study regions. We investigated 17 rice fields in two regions of Northern Vietnam in 2014 and 2015. At each region, we explore the abundance of pesticides used with three methods including (1) the novel approach of collecting pesticide packages close to our target rice fields, (2) observations of farmers spraying pesticides in the surrounding and (3) interviewing local farmers. By collecting pesticide packages, we found 811 packages containing 74 different active ingredients. On average, 19 active ingredients (ranging from four to 40 active ingredients) were applied with an average content of 275.3 g of active ingredients per site. Insecticide packages (39%) were most abundant followed by those of fungicides (31%), herbicides (16%) and other active ingredients (14%). On all sites, active ingredients banned in the European Union were applied by the farmers. Collecting pesticide packages proved to be an efficient and rapidly implemented method to obtain some baseline information about pesticide application (for Northern Vietnam). We suspect that improved agricultural extension services could contribute to good agricultural practices in pest management. Generally, better information and education for local farmers for appropriate use of pesticides seem a necessity.     

Prevalence of Setaria equina microfilaraemia in horses in Hungary

Peripheral blood samples were collected randomly from 195 horses in various parts of Hungary, and the presence of microfilariae was evaluated by the Knott technique. On the basis of morphological identification 18 of the horses (9.2 per cent) were infected with Setaria equina, and the infection was confirmed in 10 animals by pcr and sequencing. The level of microfilaraemia was between 1 and 1138 larvae in 2 ml of blood. There was no correlation between the time of sampling or the sex of the animals (stallions versus mares) and the prevalence of infection, but the prevalence decreased with age. There was a significant association between the prevalence of microfilaraemia and the presence of still waters; positive samples were collected either in the region of Lake Balaton, the largest lake in the country, or at places with nearby ponds.     

Biological control of crown gall in rose nursery stock

Rooted plants and cuttings ofRosa indica were dipped or sprayed withAgrobacterium radiobacter strain 84 and planted in a commercial rose nursery. Crown gall was controlled effectively and equally well when the protectant inoculum was grown in broth or on agar and used for treating plants which were immediately planted in naturally infested soil (mean disease control was 91%). Untreated rooted-plant stock and unrooted cuttings had 20% and 0.7% galled plants, respectively, at the end of 8 months in the field; plants and cuttings dipped inA. radiobacter} inoculum had 0.6% and 0.1% galled plants, respectively. Spraying with inoculum also gave effective control of the disease. Fewer plants of the untreated nursery stock survived the 8 months between planting and harvesting than treated stock.     

Settling of insecticide from dip wash mixed with dam water and zinc sulphate and used to control sheep lice (Bovicola ovis)

SUMMARY Insecticidal dipping fluid emulsions, mixed in vitro in dam water containing suspended clay particles and 1% w/v zinc sulphate, were analysed to determine rates of settling of diazinon, cyhalothrin and cypermethrin. Fifteen minutes after mixing, the concentration of the insecticides 5 cm below the surface had declined by 72.5%, 72.8% and 89.4%, respectively. On remixing, the concentration of insecticide in suspension was close to or greater than the initial concentration. In 2 trials, lice were eradicated from sheep showered with dip wash mixed in cloudy dam water to which 1% w/v of zinc sulphate was added. In 12 flock treatments in which 1000 to 2000 sheep were dipped with added zinc sulphate, the concentration of insecticide remained above the minimum lethal for susceptible strains of lice. However, lice were still present 6 months later in 8 of these flocks. When zinc sulphate is added to dip wash, agitation is needed to maintain the insecticide in suspension.     

The structure of the upper atmosphere of mars: In situ accelerometer measurements from mars global surveyor

The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) z-axis accelerometer has obtained over 200 vertical structures of thermospheric density, temperature, and pressure, ranging from 110 to 170 kilometers, compared to only three previous such vertical structures. In November 1997, a regional dust storm in the Southern Hemisphere triggered an unexpectedly large thermospheric response at mid-northern latitudes, increasing the altitude of thermospheric pressure surfaces there by as much as 8 kilometers and indicating a strong global thermospheric response to a regional dust storm. Throughout the MGS mission, thermospheric density bulges have been detected on opposite sides of the planet near 90 degreesE and 90 degreesW, in the vicinity of maximum terrain heights. This wave 2 pattern may be caused by topographically-forced planetary waves propagating up from the lower atmosphere.     

Fatty acid composition of the ingested food only slightly affects physicochemical properties of liver total phospholipids and plasma membranes in cold-adapted freshwater fish

The fatty acid content, fatty acid molecular species composition, and fluidity of phospholipid vesicles and plasma membranes of livers of fish feeding on phytoplankton (silver carp, Hypophthalmichtys molitrix), zooplankton, (big head carp, Hypophtalmitrix nobilis), higher plants, (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella), and omnivorous fish, (common carp, Cyprinus carpio), adapted to reduced temperatures, was determined. Levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest in silver and big head carp and lowest in common carp. Differences in long chain PUFAs were poorly reflected in fluidity, determined either by fluorescence anizotropy of 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene or rotational correlation time of 16-doxyl- stearic acid, of phospholipid vesicles. Phospholipid vesicles of C. caripo and C. idella proved to be slightly more rigid than of H. molitrix and H. nobilis below ca. 15 °C. These differences were not seen with isolated plasma membranes assessed with 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene. Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy plasma membranes from H. molitrix proved to be more fluid than those from C. carpio below ca. 15 °C. Phosphatidylethanolamines were abundant in 1-monounsaturated, 2-polyunsaturated (18:1/22:6, 18:1/20:4) species with H. molitrix and H. nobilis more rich in these species than C. carpio and C. idella. It is suggested that differences in fluidities of phospholipid vesicles below 15 °C is due to differences in levels of the above molecular species. In native membranes these differences may be masked by proteins and other membrane components. It is also suggested that it is not the fatty acid composition of the ingested food but the specific response of the fish to temperature that is the most important factor controlling the physicochemical properties of membranes during thermal adaptation.     

Application of real-time RT-PCR utilising lux (light upon extension) fluorogenic primer for the rapid detection of avian influenza viruses

A real-time RT-PCR assay utilising light upon extension fluorogenic primer (LUX RT-PCR) was developed for the rapid and efficient detection of avian influenza viruses (AIV). The assay detected each of the AIV isolates tested (16/16) and gave negative results with heterologous pathogens (17/17). The detection limit of the assay proved to be 10(-0.5) EID50/0.2 ml and 10(1.5) EID50/0.2 ml in allantoic fluid of virus-infected embryonated chicken eggs and in spiked chicken faeces samples, respectively. Based on its specificity, sensitivity and relative simplicity, the LUX RT-PCR assay provides a novel, rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tool for avian influenza surveillance and monitoring programs.     

Principles for Sustainable Governance of the Oceans

Pressures being exerted on the ocean ecosystems through overfishing, pollution, and environmental and climate change are increasing. Six core principles are proposed to guide governance and use of ocean resources and to promote sustainability. Examples of governance structures that embody these principles are given.