Caragana korshinskii Kom. plantation reduced soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated organic carbon on desert steppe.

BACKGROUND: After implementing of the "Grain-for-Green" project, Caragana korshinskii Kom. has been widely planted in China's arid regions. Although natural restoration grassland and artificial Caragana plantations measures have long been focuses in carbon research, the combined influence of natural restoration grassland and artificial Caragana plantation measures on aggregate stability and the aggregate-associated organic carbon (OC) remains unclear. METHOD: We selected natural grassland (NG) and three different densities of Caragana plantations (high planting density, HG; middle planting density, MD; low planting density, LD) on desert steppe. The soil aggregate distribution and stability index such as fractal dimension (D), mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), percentage of aggregation destruction (PAD), as well as aggregate-associated OC concentration and stock were measured. RESULTS: Results shows that the soil aggregates were primarily macroaggregates (>2 mm) and mesoaggregates (0.25-2 mm) under dry sieving while microaggregates (<0.25 mm) were preponderant under wet sieving (more than 57%). Overall, compared with Caragana plantations, the MWD (4.43 and 4.51 mm) and GMD (1.72 and 1.83 mm) were both highest in two soil layers under the NG and the D (2.77 and 2.71) was lowest. Compared with the NG, the aggregate-associated OC stocks in the 0-40 cm depths in the LD, MD, and HD decreased by 41.54%, 46.93%, and 42.03%, respectively. SOC stock was mainly concentrated in the soil aggregate with sizes of >2 mm and <0.25 mm. These results suggested that natural grassland restoration measures could improve the soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated OC concentration better than Caragana plantation restoration measures, which NG may be optimal for increasing carbon sequestration and stabilizing soil aggregates on desert steppe.

Biochar impacts on soil chemical properties, greenhouse gas emissions and forage productivity: A field experiment.

Biochar is a promising alternative to agricultural productivity and climate change mitigation. However, quantitative data are needed to better understand the productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural fields amended with biochar. To assess the impacts of the four biochars on soil properties, forage productivity, and GHG emissions, a 1-year field experiment was conducted in a Humic Haploxerands (Andisol). Three manure-derived biochars and one wood residue biochar (all pyrolyzed at 550 °C) were applied at rates of 1% (equivalent to 11 t ha-1) in two parallel and independent experiments. The changes in (i) soil chemical properties and yield of Sorghum sudangrass (S. bicolor×S. bicolor var. Sudanese) and (ii) soil CO2 and N2O emissions were monitored. Two controls, with and without NPK, were included. The added amendments produced from residues of poultry and pig systems increased soil pH by 0.73 and 0.19 units, respectively. Increased sorghum yield were associated with fertilizer and the liming potential of the added biochar. Soil total carbon (TC) increased with the addition of different biochars, especially during the wood biochar treatment. Biochar application, regardless of the feedstock, had no significant impact on the cumulative soil CO2 emitted after a year. Soil N2O fluxes decreased (23%-50%) in treatments containing biochars with low mineral N contents and high C stability (i.e., low H:OC and Cox:TC ratios). NPK treatment resulted in the highest N2O emissions. Wood residue-derived biochar has a great potential in mitigating climate change, reducing soil N2O emissions, and promoting soil C storage. Manure-derived biochars could be instrumental in circular economy livestock systems, where pyrolyzed animal manure can satisfy the demand for nutrients and/or liming of Andisols under sustainable forage models.

Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection of adenomas and colorectal serrated lesions: a prospective clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) without submucosal injection has been described as an alternative technique to the endoscopic resection of adenomas and colorectal serrated lesions. We aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of UEMR in a Brazilian setting. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of consecutive patients who underwent UEMR between January and July 2019, in a single tertiary care center. Inclusion criteria were lesions without endoscopic stigmata of deep submucosal invasion in patients referred for endoscopic resection of colorectal adenomas, and serrated lesions detected in a previous colonoscopy. The following features were assessed: complete resection rate, en bloc resection rate, resection time, adverse events, and resection infeasibility. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients underwent UEMR for 51 colorectal lesions. The mean/median lesion size was 16.24/13 mm and the mean/median resection time was 16.97/9.19 min. Histopathology revealed the following: tubular adenoma (43.1%), tubulovillous adenoma (13.7%), serrated lesions (41.2%), and intramucosal adenocarcinoma (2%). Complete resection was achieved in 86.3% of cases; 52.9% of the lesions were removed en bloc, while 47.1% were resected in a piecemeal fashion. UEMR was feasible in 96.1% of cases and failed on 2 occasions, requiring conversion to standard endoscopic mucosal resection. Minor intraoperative bleeding occurred in 5 patients (9.8%) and only 1 presented with delayed bleeding (2%), all controlled endoscopically. CONCLUSION: UEMR for removal of adenomas and colorectal serrated lesions was demonstrated to be feasible, safe and effective.

Enseñando en el siglo XXI: la formación on-line / Teaching in the 21st century: on-Line training

La introducción de Internet, y con ella las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TICs) ha revolucionado nuestras vidas, incluyendo la manera de enseñar. El acceso a la información y a una comunicación rápida y constante que permiten las TICs cambia de manera importante el rol de los profesores/Tutores, que pasan de ser los "poseedores" de un conocimiento que transmiten a sus alumnos, a guías y facilitadores que orientan en el océano de información indiscriminada que permite Internet. También cambia el rol de los alumnos, que adquieren un papel más activo en su formación, con mayor autonomía y auto organización. Para organizar adecuadamente un curso on-line es preciso formar a los profesores/tutores en este tipo de enseñanza, y construir una adecuada Guía Didáctica que permita la creación de un "Sistema de Aprendizaje", integrado por todos los agentes que participan en el proceso formativo. Este tipo de formación puede adaptarse perfectamente a la formación sistémica, como lo demuestra el buen resultado el programa de formación on-line de la Escuela Vasco-Navarra de Terapia Familiar, que viene funcionando desde 2003 con cursos en español y portugués.

The arrival of the Internet, and the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that have followed in its wake, has revolutionized our lives, including how we teach. The use of ICT allows students (and teachers) quick and easy access to a boundless volume of information that was not previously selected, resulting in an inevitable role change for both the former and the latter. Students, because this possibility allows them to be significantly more autonomous and to learn much more by themselves; teachers, because where they were once the main source of information and the transferors of knowledge, their work is now one of guidance, orientation and selecting the available information. If an online training course is to be organized properly, the teachers/tutors need to be trained in this type of learning and a suitable Teaching Guide has to be drawn up, one that makes it possible to create a "Learning System" involving all the agents who take part in the full training process. This kind of training can be perfectly adapted to the systemic training, as shown by the excellent results of the Vasco-Navarra Family Therapy School online training program that has been given in Spanish since 2003 and in Portuguese since 2013.

Influence of resin matrix on the rheology, translucency, and curing potential of experimental flowable composites for bulk-fill applications.

OBJECTIVE: To propose monomer formulations that show an optimal degree of conversion as a function of depth for bulk-fill applications. METHODS: Four resin blends were formulated with methacrylate-based monomers: BisGMA + TEGDMA (control); BisEMA + BisGMA + TEGDMA (BisEMA-based); UDMA + BisGMA + TEGDMA (UDMA-based) and BisEMA + UDMA + BisGMA + TEGDMA (BisEMA + UDMA-based). For each material, a photoinitiating system and silanized filler particles were added. The rheological analyses were performed with a rotational rheometer using the cone/plate geometry. CIELab coordinates were assessed over black and white backgrounds using a bench spectrophotometer (SP60, X-Rite) to calculate the translucency parameter (TP) for samples with 0.5, 4, and 6 mm thickness. The degree of CC conversion (DC) was determined by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR) at 0.05 mm (top), 4, and 6 mm depths (bottom), and the bottom-to-top ratio was considered. A broad spectrum-based LED was used for light activation. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test (95%) were performed on the results. RESULTS: The materials tested showed pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior and a predominance of viscous effects over elastics. The control resin yielded the lowest viscosity for the entire shear rate investigated, followed by the BisEMA-based, BisEMA + UDMA-based, and UDMA-based group, which had the highest viscosity. The UDMA-based material showed the lowest TP as a function of thickness. Both the materials' formulations and depths significantly influenced the DC. The UDMA-based group promoted the highest DC ​​on the top (71 ± 1%) and 4 mm depth (68 ± 1%) but exhibited lower bottom-to-top DC ratio. The BisEMA + UDMA-based material promoted the highest bottom-to-top DC ratio at 4 mm (99%) and 6 mm (97%). SIGNIFICANCE: The resin matrix interferes in the rheological behavior, translucency parameter, and polymerization capacity as a function of depth. The material formulated with the addition of UDMA and BisEMA demonstrated the highest curing potential as a function of depth and can be useful for bulk-fill applications.

Full inversion tillage during pasture renewal to increase soil carbon storage: New Zealand as a case study.

As soils under permanent pasture and grasslands have large topsoil carbon (C) stocks, the scope to sequester additional C may be limited. However, because C in pasture/grassland soils declines with depth, there may be potential to sequester additional C in the subsoil. Data from 247 continuous pasture sites in New Zealand (representing five major soil Orders and ~80% of the grassland area) showed that, on average, the 0.15-0.30 m layer contained 25-34 t ha-1 less C than the top 0.15 m. High-production grazed pastures require periodic renewal (re-seeding) every 7-14 years to maintain productivity. Our objective was to assess whether a one-time pasture renewal, involving full inversion tillage (FIT) to a depth of 0.30 m, has potential to increase C storage by burying C-rich topsoil and bringing low-C subsoil to the surface where C inputs from pasture production are greatest. Data from the 247 pasture sites were used to model changes in C stocks following FIT pasture renewal by predicting (1) the C accumulation in the new 0-0.15 m layer and (2) the decomposition of buried-C in the new 0.15-0.30 m layer. In the 20 years following FIT pasture renewal, soil C was predicted to increase by an average of 7.3-10.3 (Sedimentary soils) and 9.6-12.7 t C ha-1 (Allophanic soils), depending on the assumptions applied. Adoption of FIT for pasture renewal across all suitable soils (2.0-2.6 M ha) in New Zealand was predicted to sequester ~20-36 Mt C, sufficient to offset 9.6-17.5% of the country's cumulative greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture over 20 years at the current rate of emissions. Given that grasslands account for ~70% of global agricultural land, FIT renewal of pastures or grassland could offer a significant opportunity to sequester soil C and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Effect of soil cadmium on root organic acid secretion by forage crops.

The two forage species used in New Zealand pastoral agricultural systems, chicory (Cichorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) show differential ability to absorb and translocate cadmium (Cd) from roots to shoots. Chicory can accumulate Cd from even low Cd soils to levels that might exceed regulatory guidelines for Cd in fodder crops and food. Chicory and plantain were grown in soil-filled rhizocolumns under increasing Cd levels (0 (Control), 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg Cd/kg soil) for 60 days and showed variable secretion of oxalic, fumaric, malic and acetic acids as a function of Cd treatment. Plant roots secrete such Low Molecular Weight Organic Acids into the rhizosphere soil, which can influence Cd uptake. Chicory showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower secretion of fumaric acid, and higher secretion of acetic acid than plantain at all Cd treatments. We propose that the significant secretion differences between the two species can explain the significantly (P < 0.05) higher shoot Cd concentration in chicory for all Cd treatments. Understanding the mechanism for increased uptake in chicory may lead to breeding or genetic modification which yield low Cd uptake cultivars needed to mitigate the risk of Cd accumulation in pastoral agricultural food chains from this increasingly important fodder crop.

Impact of the immunohistochemical panel on patients with breast cancer diagnosis cared for in a referral hospital in the state of Amazonas

Objective: To demonstrate the time between the diagnosis of the disease, the result of the immunohistochemical panel and the beginning of specialized treatment in patients diagnosed with breast cancer seen at the Foundation Center of Oncology of the State of Amazonas, from June to November 2018 and in the same period of 2019. Methods: The study was part retrospective, based on data from medical records, and part prospective, based on data from patients, and we evaluated the time between diagnosis from the immunohistochemical panel and the beginning of specialized treatment in breast cancer patients. Results: 170 patients diagnosed with breast cancer were included, 71 from June to November 2018 and 99 breast cancer patients seen from June to November 2019. The median time between diagnosis and immunohistochemistry results of all patients was 36 days, and comparing the two groups of patients, it was observed that for half of the 2018 patients, the time was less than 105 days, while for half of the 2019 patients, it was less than 27 days. If the times between the result of the immunohistochemical panel and the start of personalized treatment in both groups were compared, it was seen that the median time until the start of treatment was longer for patients in 2018, 94.5 days versus 79 days for patients in 2019. Conclusion: There was a decrease in the time between the diagnosis and the result of the molecular panel in 2019 compared to 2018. Achieving this result more quickly provided the choice of personalized treatment for each patient, having an important impact on survival in that population.

Beauveria bassiana Culturing and Harvesting for Bioassays With House Flies.

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) has been widely studied against a wide range of arthropod pests, including many of medical and veterinary importance. New investigators must sort through a wide array of published methods for the production, harvest, storage, and bioassay methods for this pathogen. Simplified methods for production of conidia using Sabouraud dextrose agar with yeast (SDYA) plates and two conidial harvesting methods are described. Dry harvesting yields conidia that are ready to incorporate into dusts and food baits, but the fungal product includes mycelial debris that can hamper quantification and introduces variable amounts of unwanted bulk. Wet harvesting with filtration produces a cleaner product that is immediately ready for testing in liquid formulations. Examples of bioassays with house flies are presented that include conidia applied topically to the dorsal thorax for dose-mortality assays and conidial suspensions applied to filter paper disks for concentration mortality assays.

Qualidade de vida de mulheres mastectomizadas submetidas à reconstrução mamária imediata em hospital de referência oncológica no Amazonas: um estudo transversal / Quality of life of mastectomized women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction in a cancer referral hospital in Amazonas: a crosssectional study

Introdução: A avaliação da qualidade de vida é importante para uma abordagem mais humana e abrangente. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal descritivo com abordagem quantitativa que avaliou a qualidade de vida em mulheres submetidas à reconstrução mamária imediata após a mastectomia, no período de janeiro a junho de 2015, na Fundação Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Amazonas. O instrumento de avaliação foi o questionário WHOQOL-bref, seguindo a sintaxe do Grupo WHOQOL. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 22 pacientes, em relação ao perfil sócio demográfico, a faixa etária predominante foi de 45 a 49 anos, o ensino médio foi o mais frequente no estudo (63,64%) e em relação a procedência 90,91% das pacientes foram de Manaus, quanto a estado civil 72,73% eram casadas. Na avaliação através do questionário, a autoavaliação de qualidade de vida foi definida como boa em 41%, o domínio físico apresentou o maior comprometimento, enquanto o domínio de relações sociais foi o menos afetado. Conclusão: A avaliação da qualidade de vida deve ser parte primordial na escolha do tratamento do câncer de mama.

Introduction: The assessment of the quality of life is considered important for a more humanistic and comprehensive treatment approach. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional observational study using a quantitative approach. The quality of life of women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy at the Amazonas Oncology Control Center Foundation (Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Amazonas) from January to June 2015 was assessed. The assessment instrument used was the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, following the syntax of the WHOQOL Group. Results: The sociodemographic profiles of 22 patients were evaluated. The predominant age group was 45­49 years, the predominant educational level was high school (63.64%), 90.91% of the patients were from Manaus, and 72.73% were married. A total of 41% of the respondents defined their quality of life as good in the questionnaire, with the physical domain being the most affected and the social relationships domain being the less affected. Conclusion: The assessment of the quality of life should be prioritized in the choice of treatment for breast cancer.v

Comparative Quantification of Trail-Following Behavior in Pest Ants.

A comparison of trail-following movement parameters of six major urban pest ants, Nylanderia fulva (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Pheidole megacephala, Linepithema humile (Mayr), Solenopsis invicta Buren, Paratrechina longicornis (Forel), and Technomyrmex albipes (Smith) demonstrated several differences in velocity of movement, amplitude of the deviations from a marked trail, percent fidelity to the trail, number of curves per unit of trail, and trail-following accuracy. Paratrechina longicornis and N. fulva had the largest deviations from the marked trails and moved three times faster (25-30 mm/s) along the trail than the slowest ant, S. invicta (< 10 mm/s), with other ants following between these extremes. Species differences in relation to going toward or returning from food were observed in a few cases, especially with Pa. longicornis for which velocity, amplitude, and trail fidelity differed between the foraging and return trails. Quantification of ant trail-following movement parameters can be useful in understanding the mechanics of ant movement and may be important in testing specific strategies and products that disrupt trail-following behavior.

Estado nutricional e práticas alimentares de idosos do Piauí: dados do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional ­ SISVAN Web / Nutritional status and eating habits of elderly people in Piauí: available data in SISVAN Web / Estado nutricional y hábitos alimenticios de ancianos de Piauí: datos del SISVAN Web

A avaliação do estado nutricional dos idosos possibilita uma intervenção adequada, a fim de evitar ou minimizar agravos à saúde que comprometam a capacidade funcional dessas pessoas. Nessa perspectiva, o trabalho apresentado neste artigo teve como objetivo verificar o estado nutricional e hábitos alimentares da população idosa do estado do Piauí. Foram utilizados dados de acesso público disponíveis no SISVAN Web referentes à avaliação nutricional realizada nos anos de 2014 a 2018. Observou-se aumento da prevalência de sobrepeso naquela população e uma diminuição do número de pessoas com baixo peso. Quando avaliados por sexo, as mulheres apresentaram maiores percentuais de excesso de peso em todos aqueles anos. O perfil do consumo alimentar mostrou que a maioria dos idosos consome alimentos in natura como frutas, verduras e feijão, e que, entre os que participaram da amostra, poucos fizeram uso de alimentos ultraprocessados. Por fim, cabe ressaltar a importância da avaliação do quadro de saúde da população como forma de subsídio para o planejamento de ações de saúde, dessa forma alocando melhor os recursos e possibilitando uma atuação eficaz dos que trabalham na área da saúde.

The evaluation of the nutritional status of the elderly allows the appropriate nutritional intervention avoiding or minimizing health problems that cause damage on their functional capacity. From this perspective, the study presented in this article aimed to verify the nutritional status and eating habits of the elderly population of the state of Piauí, Brazil. We used public access data available in the SISVAN Web regarding the nutritional evaluation carried out from 2014 to 2018. The data revealed an increase in the prevalence of overweight in that population and a reduction of the number of elderly with low weight. When evaluated by sex, women presented higher percentages of overweight in all those years. The food consumption profile showed that the majority of the eldery population consumes fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables and beans and only a few of participants of the sample consumed ultra-processed foods. Finally, the importance of the evaluation of the health of the population as a form of incentive to plan health actions is highlighted, so that the resources can be more competently allocated and the health care workers can act efficiently and effectively.

La evaluación del estado nutricional de las personas mayores permite una intervención nutricional adecuada evitando o minimizando los problemas de salud que comprometen su capacidad funcional. Desde esta perspectiva, el estudio presentado en este artículo tuvo como objetivo verificar el estado nutricional y los hábitos alimenticios de la población anciana del estado de Piauí, Brasil. Utilizamos los datos de acceso público disponibles en el SISVAN Web con respecto a la evaluación nutricional realizada desde los años 2014 hasta 2018. Se observó un aumento en la prevalencia del sobrepeso en laquella población y una disminución en el número de personas que tenían bajo peso. Cuando fueron evaluados por sexo, las mujeres presentaron porcentajes más altos de sobrepeso en todos aquellos años. El perfil del consumo de alimentos mostró que la mayoría de los ancianos consumía alimentos frescos como frutas, verduras y frijol, y pocos participantes de la muestra habían consumido alimentos ultraprocesados. Por fin, debe ser destacada la importancia de la evaluación de la salud de la población como una forma de incentivo para la planificación de acciones de salud, asignando así mejores recursos y posibilitando una actuación de los trabajadores de la salud eficiente y eficaz.

Sticky Trap Design Considerations for Entrapping Bed Bugs.

Little evidence has been presented on the usefulness of sticky traps for monitoring bed bugs, Cimex lectularius. We examined how the surface roughness around the adhesive of a sticky trap affects both bed bug behavior and adhesive entrapment. In the first assay, bed bugs were placed onto acetate paper discs with different roughness averages (Ra). Each disc was surrounded by sticky trap adhesive and number of captured bed bugs were recorded. The second assay was set up similarly to the first assay except that the outer portion of the acetate disc had a different Ra than the center. In the third assay, bed bugs were placed into circular acetate arenas where they were surrounded by different Ra treatments. The number of times the bed bugs contacted the Ra treatment but did not cross onto the treatment was recorded. Results of these assays showed that as the acetate surfaces got smoother (lower Ra), bed bugs were more likely to get trapped in sticky trap adhesives but also less likely to travel across the smoother surfaces they encountered. A sticky trap design with a smooth plastic film around the adhesive was tested in the field to see if it could capture bed bugs in apartments with known bed bug activity. This trap was not only able to capture bed bugs but was also able to detect unknown German cockroach, Blattela germanica, infestations. Sticky trap designs with smooth surfaces around an adhesive could be used to monitor not only bed bugs but also German cockroaches.

Mosquitocidal Chips Containing the Insect Growth Regulator Pyriproxyfen for Control of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes aegypti were exposed to water treated with mosquitocidal chips containing the insecticide pyriproxyfen in a polymer formulation. Chips were tested under different conditions; different water volumes, in containers made of different material, and in water with different levels of organic matter. Treated chips caused 100% mortality of Ae. aegypti during their pupal stage independent of size or type of container, and the mount of organic matter contained in the water to which the mosquito larvae were exposed. When mosquitocidal chips were used in >25% of the oviposition containers within their cages, there was a significant control of the mosquito populations. Mosquitocidal chips worked in different environments, caused significant mosquito population decreases, and were effective in controlling Ae. aegypti.

A Low-Cost, Passive Release Device for the Surveillance and Control of Mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes continue to be a major threat to global health, and the ability to reliably monitor, catch, and kill mosquitoes via passive traps is of great importance. Global, low-cost, and easy-to-use outdoor devices are needed to augment existing efforts in mosquito control that combat the spread of disease, such as Zika. Thus, we have developed a modular, portable, non-powered (passive), self-contained, and field-deployable device suitable for releasing volatiles with a wide range of applications such as attracting, repelling, and killing mosquitoes. This unique device relies on a novel nested wick and two-reservoir design that achieves a constant release of volatiles over several hundred hours. Devices loaded with one of either two compounds, geraniol or 1-methylpiperazine (MP), were tested in a controlled environment (32 °C and 70% relative humidity), and both compounds achieved a constant release from our devices at a rate of 2.4 mg/h and 47 mg/h, respectively. The liquid payload can be volatile attractants or repellants as well as mosquitocide-containing feeding solutions for capture and surveillance. This low-cost device can be utilized for both civilian and military mosquito control purposes, but it will be particularly important for protecting those in economically repressed environments, such as sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South America.

Factors Affecting Short-Range Host-Seeking for the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae).

Understanding short-range cues (e.g., host odorants, heat, moisture) of host-seeking female Aedes aegypti L. is very important for attempts to reduce mosquito bites, to complement current control strategies, and to develop potential spatial repellents. We investigated behavior under semi-field conditions utilizing a new portable uni-port taxis box with a caged chicken host. The combined influences of airflow regimes (0, 1.5, 3, 5, and 6 m/s), distance from host odor (10, 50, 100 cm), host-odor confinement (partial confinement/unconfined), and foraging periodicity (day/evening) were studied. Statistical regression analysis was used to delineate the significant factors that predict upwind flight behavior and short-range source location. Almost 15% of host-seeking Ae. aegypti were activated by an unconfined chicken odor in still air. This was double the number of attracted mosquitoes to confined host odor. The maximum behavioral response was reported with airflow of 5 m/s during daytime (76.7% ± 2.85) at a distance of 10 (70.7% ± 2.47) and 50 cm (56.7% ± 8.88). However, airflow of 6 m/s activated host-seeking orientation during evening assays. The host-seeking response between indoor and outdoor experiments was not significantly different and demonstrated the reliability of the portable taxis box in evaluating mosquito short-range behavioral response toward hosts.

Xanthan gum production by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. mangiferaeindicae from glycerin of biodiesel in different media and addition of glucose

Biodiesel production has been increasing yearly in Brazil. A large amount of glycerin is generated in this process and needs a correct destination. One possible use of this glycerin in crude form is in biotechnological processes. Xanthan gum is a commercial gum used primarily in the pharmaceutical and food industries as thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer. It is synthetized by species of the bacterium Xanthomonas generally from glucose. However, current research shows that species of this bacterium have the capacity to grow and synthesize the gum using glycerin from biodiesel. The aim of this study was to produce xanthan gum using glycerin from biodiesel production in medium with different nitrogen content, named complex and simple media. The kinetics of fermentation in simple medium showed a twofold increase in gum production (3.16 kg.m-3) compared to the one in complex medium (1.46 kg.m-3) after 120 hours. The gum generated in this study showed chemical and rheological characteristics of xanthan gum. Glucose supplementation did not show an increase in xanthan production but did increase the consistency index and the behavioral index of solutions of this gum.

Data on the organic matter characteristics of New Zealand soils under different land uses.

This article contains data related to the research article entitled "An Investigation of Organic Matter Quality and Quantity in Acid Soils as Influenced by Soil Type and Land Use" (Shen et al., 2018) [1]. The data was collected using a chemical fractionation scheme of soil organic matter (OM). This involved the separation of organic carbon (OC) fractions based on their solubility in (i) cold and hot water, (ii) 0.1 M sodium pyrophosphate (pH ~ 10), and (iii) 2% HF solution, and the residue remaining after the HF extraction. The OM in this residue, after treatment with 2% HF solution, was characterised using pyrolysis (Py)-GC/MS. This technique involves thermal decomposition of OM into various pyrolysis products, which are then chromatographically separated and determined by mass spectroscopy. This technique has been used to semi-quantify individual soil OM constituents so that in-depth information on soil OM molecular fingerprints is provided. This article presents a detailed dataset of physical-chemical characterization, OC fractions and OM molecular fingerprints of 62 soil samples for a range of soil orders (i.e., Allophanic, Brown, Gley, Pallic and Recent) and land uses (i.e., permanently grazed pasture, ungrazed/unmanaged grasslands, annual cropping) across New Zealand. Principal component analysis was used to investigate the relationships of different soil properties with OC fractions and OM chemistry so that the underlying mechanisms responsible for the differences encountered in OM quantity and quality between soil orders and land uses are understood.

Laboratory Evaluation of a Novel Lethal Ovitrap for Control of Aedes aegypti.

Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) are known to flourish in a variety of natural and residential habitats and are competent vectors of at least 22 different arboviruses, including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Their global distribution, anthropophilic nature, and vector competency make them species of interest for control. A novel durable dual-action lethal ovitrap (DDALO) with combined larviciding and adulticiding effects, as well as a slow-release polymer (isobutyl methacrylate), was designed to target Ae. aegypti. The use of the DDALO resulted in high adult mosquito mortality (~95-100%) in no-choice laboratory cage studies targeting gravid females and successfully prevented all deposited eggs from hatching. Aging of the traps caused some loss in activity over time, but they still caused adult mortality (~50%) and continued to prevent successful hatching of eggs for 6 mo. Oviposition preference studies resulted in ~4.5 times as many larvae developing in untreated DDALOs compared with the other containers combined. Small-cage multigenerational studies resulted in significantly lower populations of adult mosquitoes in cages containing treated DDALOs after 4 wk. Successful laboratory studies show that the DDALO appears to be a promising tool that could be used for controlling wild vector populations of Ae. aegypti in combination with other mosquito control practices.