ABSTRACT
Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, has not been considered an economic pest of field corn. Historical losses estimates ranged from 1.5 to 2.5%, and a large number of foliar insecticide applications would be needed to minimize infestations. In recent years, Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) field corn, Zea mays (L.) Poales: Poaceae, technologies that exhibit activity against corn earworm have been introduced. However, it is unclear how much damage to corn ears (number of damaged kernels) is required to reduce yield. In this study manual damage methods were utilized to inflict defined levels of kernel damage and to impose damage at levels greater than observed with natural corn earworm infestations. Bt corn hybrids expressing the Agrisure Viptera (Vip 3A) trait were used to minimize injury from natural infestations of corn earworm. Manual kernel damage was imposed at R3 stage to mimic corn earworm feeding while avoiding interference with pollination. These methods were used in experiments where treatments were applied to individual ears and hand-harvested and in experiments where treatments were applied to all primary ears in the plot and machine-harvested. Damage of ≥60 kernels per ear was required to significantly reduce yield regardless of harvest method. Kernel damage from natural corn earworm infestations reported in other studies was much lower than 60 kernels per ear. Timely planting is a key component of all integrated pest management programs. Field corn planted during the recommended planting window for optimum yield is unlikely to experience corn earworm damage great enough to reduce yield.
Subject(s)
Bacillus thuringiensis , Moths , Animals , Bacterial Proteins , Endotoxins , Hemolysin Proteins , Larva , Pest Control, Biological , Plants, Genetically Modified , Zea maysABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The treatment of urinary stones in morbidly obese patients is associated with higher morbidity. Extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the options to achieve urinary stone clearance with minimal morbidity of these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and efficiency of ESWL in patients with body mass index (BMI) upper 35 Kg/m(2). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 98 patients with BMI more than 35 and urinary stones who were treated using ESWL from October 2002 to January 2008. Evaluation of efficiency was based on radiological examinations using abdominal radiography, echography or CT scan. It was mode during as consultation with the urologist surgeon four or six weeks after the last session. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients, 53 men and 45 women, mean BMI 37.74 presented 133 urinary stones of mean size 10.38 mm. Their location was 83% renal, with 42.11% low caliceal. The number of ESWL is 219, without analgesics safe three under neuroleptanalgesics. Fifty-four cystoscopics stents have been pose (40.6%). The overall stone free was 56.3%, residual fragment of 37.5% and failure of 6.2%. The efficiency was bound to the BMI in a significant way. For the complications: five renal colics, three obstructive pyelonephritis with cystosccopic stent. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ESWL is an effective and mini invasive treatment, which can be proposed, in the first intention in the treatment of urinary stones to obese patients.
