(11Z,13E)-Hexadecadien-1-yl acetate: sex pheromone of the grass webworm Herpetogramma licarsisalis-identification, synthesis, and field bioassays.

The grass webworm Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), which has recently established in pasture in Northland, New Zealand, is an important pest of many tropical and subtropical grasses. Two pheromone components, (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-yl acetate (Z11-16:Ac) and (11Z,13E)-hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (Z11,E13-16:Ac), were identified in pheromone gland extracts of female moths by gas chromatography (GC), GC-electroantennographic detection, and GC-mass spectrometry in conjunction with microchemical tests (dimethyldisulfide and 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione derivatizations). Z11,E13-16:Ac and its geometric isomer (11E,13Z)-hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (E11,Z13-16:Ac) were synthesized via stereoselective Wittig reactions, and the identity of the diene present in the pheromone glands was confirmed to be Z11,E13-16:Ac. Field bioassays at Indooroopilly in Brisbane, Australia, established that Z11,E13-16:Ac was necessary and sufficient for attraction of male grass webworm moths and that the corresponding alcohol, (11Z,13E)-hexadecadien-1-ol (Z11,E13-16:OH), had a strong inhibitory effect on trap catches at the ratios tested. When mixed with Z11,E13-16:Ac in various ratios, Z11-16:Ac had no effect on the attractiveness of lures.

A descriptive study of the decline in cervical screening coverage rates in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of the UK from 1995 to 2005.

Since the mid-1990s, there has been a steady decline in coverage rates for cervical screening in the target age group (25-64 years) across England. This article describes the rate of decline from 1995 to 2005 in the old health authority areas of the North East and the Yorkshire and the Humber (NEYH) regions in relation to age group, deprivation, ethnicity and religion. The results show that the rate of decline is faster in these northern regions than that in England as a whole, with a very strong correlation between age and rate of change of coverage rates. Younger age groups experience the fastest rate of decline, and those over 55 years show an increase in coverage rates. There is an association between the deprivation of the old health authority areas and the rate of change of coverage rates, with weaker evidence that areas with high proportions of Black or Mixed ethnicity may have a faster decline. However, the rate of decline is not associated with other ethnic groups or religions. Therefore, interventions could be targeted at younger women and those who live in deprived areas to prevent the widening of inequalities.

Validation of a method to establish practice-based stroke and TIA registers.

This study compares two methods to establish stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) practice-based registers, which are of particular relevance to practices with limited diagnostic coding. Both arms involved a notes review of all patients taking antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and, either a further notes review of all patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) or diabetes (extensive arm), or asking about a history of stroke or TIA during IHD or diabetic clinics (pragmatic arm). The extensive arm involved searching 11% of the practice notes, whereas the pragmatic arm only involved 3% and had almost as high a yield. This study suggests that the pragmatic method could be used to help build practice-based stroke and TIA registers.