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Medical oncology, Cancérologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Pharmacologie. Traitements medicamenteux, Pharmacology. Drug treatments, Anticancéreux, Antineoplastic agents, Chimiothérapie, Chemotherapy, Anticancéreux, Antineoplastic agent, Anticanceroso, Chimiothérapie, Chemotherapy, Quimioterapia, Cycle cellulaire, Cell cycle, Ciclo celular, Cytométrie flux, Flow cytometry, Citometría flujo, Etude cas, Case study, Estudio caso, Exploration, Exploración, Glande mammaire, Mammary gland, Glándula mamaria, Homme, Human, Hombre, Phase S, S Phase, Fase S, Pronostic, Prognosis, Pronóstico, Préménopause, Premenopause, Premenopausia, Radiothérapie, Radiotherapy, Radioterapia, Traitement adjuvant, Adjuvant treatment, Tratamiento adyuvante, Traitement, Treatment, Tratamiento, Tumeur maligne, Malignant tumor, and Tumor maligno

Cancer chemotherapy interacts with cell proliferation, but data on the relationship between cancer cell replication and the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy are scarce. We have investigated the S-phase fractions of the primary tumour from premenopausal breast cancer patients who participated in a randomised trial comparing 12 cycles of polychemotherapy (CMF) with post-operative radiotherapy. DNA flow cytometry was performed on frozen tissues from 208 primary breast carcinomas, of which the S-phase fraction was estimated in 176 cases. There was a significantly higher benefit from CMF among patients with a high S-phase fraction (P=0.0033).

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Lutte, Control, Lutte intégrée, Integrated pest control, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Bruchidae, Coleoptera, Dicotyledones, Heteroptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Leguminosae, Reduviidae, Spermatophyta, Callosobruchus maculatus, Canavalia ensiformis, Croissance, Growth, Crecimiento, Déprédateur, Pest, Plaga, Emergence, Emergencia, Insecticide, Insecticida, Larve, Larva, Légumineuse grain, Grain legume, Leguminosa grano, Mortalité, Mortality, Mortalidad, Mue, Molt, Muda, Origine végétale, Plant origin, Origen vegetal, Rhodnius prolixus, Toxicité, Toxicity, Toxicidad, Toxine, Toxin, and Toxina

Canatoxin is a toxic protein isolated from the jackbean, Cananvalia ensiformis. The toxin injected intraperitoneally is lethal for mice and rats; however, it is inactive if given orally. In this study, Manduca sexta (L.) (Lepidoptera), Schistocerca americana (Drury) (Orthoptera), Drosophila melanogaster (L.) (Diptera), Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera), Rhodnius prolixus (Stal) (Hemiptera), and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera) were fed on can-atoxin-containing diets. No effects were seen in M. sexta, S. americana, D. melanogaster, or A. aegypti. No traces of canatoxin were found in their feces, suggesting that the protein was digested completely by these insects, which characteristically have a trypsin-based digestion. In contrast, canatoxin was lethal for insects displaying cathepsin-based digestion. Thus, for C. maculatus, a diet containing 0.25% wt:wt canatoxin caused complete inhibition of larval growth. When R. prolixus were fed on canatoxin, 2 effects were seen: impairment of water excretion and increased lethality 48-96 h after feeding. The lethal effect of canatoxin in R. prolixus was blocked partially or completely when the digestion of the toxin by R. prolixus midgut enzymes was impaired. The data showed that canatoxin is highly toxic when ingested by some species of insects but not affecting others, probably in correlation with the characteristics of the digestive process of the insect.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Plant biology and physiology, Biologie et physiologie végétales, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Ecologie animale, vegetale et microbienne, Animal, plant and microbial ecology, Ecologie microbienne, Microbial ecology, Milieux divers (espace extraatmosphérique, air, eau), Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water), Bactérie, Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon flosaquae, Croissance, Growth, Crecimiento, Flottabilité, Buoyancy, Flotabilidad, Milieu marin, Marine environment, Medio marino, Photosynthèse, Photosynthesis, Fotosíntesis, Phytoplancton, Phytoplankton, Fitoplancton, Répartition verticale, Vertical distribution, Distribución vertical, and Vésicule gaz

Observations were made on the vertical distribution of colonies of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae for 9 d at a driftstation east of Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea. The buoyant colonies were dispersed in the upper layers of the water column during periods of wind-induced mixing but floated up during calm periods. From measurements of the vertical light extinction, surface irradiance and the photosynthesis versus irradiance curve, calculations were made of the changes in the daily integral of photosynthesis with respect to time and depth throughout the water column. From these calculations it is demonstrated that net photosynthesis by the population of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae increased nearly threefold by floating up after a deep mixing event. It is estimated that, averaged over alternating periods of calm and mixing, the buoyancy provided by gas vesicles in this organism will result in a nearly twofold increase in photosynthesis. A quantitative analysis has been made of the relationship of the daily integral of photosynthesis by the Aphanizomenon population with the mean depth of the population in the water column and the daily insolation. The analysis shows that the integral decreases linearly with respect to mean depth.

Ecology, Ecologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Ecologie animale, vegetale et microbienne, Animal, plant and microbial ecology, Ecologie animale et végétale, Animal and plant ecology, Autoécologie, Autoecology, Animaux, Animals, Protozoa. Invertebrata, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Lutte, Control, Lutte biologique, Biological control, Arthropoda, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Pentatomidae, Prédateur, Predator, Depredador, Tenebrionidae, Zone tropicale, Tropical zone, Zona tropical, Fréquence temporelle, Temporal frequency, Frecuencia temporal, Longévité, Longevity, Longevidad, Lutte biologique, Biological control, Lucha biológica, Nutrition, Nutrición, Relation prédateur proie, Predator prey relation, Relación depredador presa, Reproduction, Reproducción, Survie, Survival, Sobrevivencia, Tenebrio molitor, Oviposition, and Podisus rostratis

Reproduction and longevity of Podisus rostralis (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) females, fed at different intervals were studied in the Núcleo de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária' (BIOAGRO), of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, at 25 ± 2°C, 70 ± 10% R.H. and photophase of 12 hours. Females of P. rostralis were fed with Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larva, during 24 hours, every one, two, four, eight and 16 days. An inverse linear effect was found between oviposition period, egg batches/female, total number and number of eggs per day with feeding interval. Daily fed females laid more eggs (199.6) while those fed every 16 days showed lowest number of eggs (45.3). Longevity of P. rostralis was similar in all feeding intervals. Egg oviposition rate was reduced but females of this predator maintained its longevity which give then higher chances to maintain themselves in the ecosystem until occurs better conditions of preys.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Signalements, symptômes, dégâts, importance économique, surveillance des populations, Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Dicotyledones, Heteroptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Leguminosae, Relation animal végétal, Animal plant relation, Relación animal vegetal, Spermatophyta, Age, Edad, Comparaison interspécifique, Interspecific comparison, Comparación interespecífica, Coreidae, Dégât, Damage, Estrago, Déprédateur, Pest, Plaga, Gousse, Pod, Vaina, Légumineuse grain, Grain legume, Leguminosa grano, Pentatomidae, Position, Posición, and Vigna unguiculata

Laboratory and screenhouse studies were carried out to assess the relationship between pod age and pod position of cowpea and damage by different pod bug species. The coreids Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stäl and Riptortus dentipes Fabricius caused significant damage to young pods of cultivated genotypes, in contrast to the coreid Anoplocnemis curvipes Fabricius and the pentatomid Aspavia armigera Fabricius which exhibited minor feeding activity. Percent seed damage declined with pod age, the critical stage for pod bug infestation being when pods were about eight days old. Clavigralla tomentosicollis and R. dentipes caused significantly higher damage to pods located within the leaf canopy, thus behaving differently from Anoplocnemis curvipes which showed a distinct preference for pods growing above the leaf canopy. The feeding activity of Aspavia armigera was not affected by the position of pods on the plant. Overall, the study suggests that cowpea genotypes with a short flowering period and pods held above the leaf canopy offer the most promise in the management of pod-sucking pests.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Agronomie. Sciences du sol et productions vegetales, Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions, Génétique et amélioration des plantes d'intérêt économique, Genetics and breeding of economic plants, Sélection variétale. Amélioration spéciale, objectifs d'amélioration, Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims, Résistance aux organismes nuisibles, Pest resistance, Déprédateurs, Pest animals, Amélioration génétique, Genetic improvement, Enriquecimiento genético, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Coreidae, Culture tropicale, Tropical crop, Cultivo tropical, Dicotyledones, Déprédateur, Pest, Plaga, Fruit, Fruto, Heteroptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Leguminosae, Légumineuse grain, Grain legume, Leguminosa grano, Plante sauvage, Wild plant, Planta salvaje, Spermatophyta, Comparaison interspécifique, Interspecific comparison, Comparación interespecífica, Cultivar, Dégât, Damage, Estrago, Effet dimensionnel, Size effect, Efecto dimensional, Etude en laboratoire, Laboratory study, Estudio en laboratorio, Gousse, Pod, Vaina, Graine, Seeds, Semillas, Infestation, Infestación, Lignée sélection, Breeding line, Línea selección, Mécanisme défense, Defense mechanism, Mecanismo defensa, Ressource génétique, Genetic resource, Recurso genético, Résistance insecte, Insect resistance, Resistencia insecto, Trichome, Tricoma, Vigna unguiculata, Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Péricarpe, Pericarp, and Vigna vexillata

Studies were conducted in the laboratory to investigate the different components of the resistance of Vigna vexillata A. Richards, TVnu 72, and several cultivars of cultivated Vigna spp. to infestation and damage by the brown cowpea coreid, Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stäl. The main objective was to determine the different roles of the pod wall and seeds, and the relationship between seed size, number, and damage by this insect. Results showed that both the pod wall and seed clearly contribute different components to the resistance of TVnu 72 to C. tomentosicollis. Analysis of the results suggests that the seed defences and the pod wall pericarp may be more important than are trichomes in this resistance. Seed number was found to influence the extent of damage in a more predictable manner than seed size. However, because both of these traits are generally inversely related and mutually exclusive, their individual effects cannot be completely separated. The implications of these traits in a breeding programme targeted at a specific consumer group are discussed.

General chemistry, physical chemistry, Chimie générale, chimie physique, Metallurgy, welding, Métallurgie, soudage, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Physique, Physics, Etat condense: structure, proprietes mecaniques et thermiques, Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties, Surfaces et interfaces; couches minces et trichites (structure et propriétés non électroniques), Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties), Structure et morphologie de couches minces, Thin film structure and morphology, Structure et morphologie; épaisseur, Structure and morphology; thickness, Diffraction RX, XRD, Dépôt physique phase vapeur, Physical vapor deposition, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Frottement, Friction, Magnétron, Magnetrons, Microscopie électronique balayage, Scanning electron microscopy, Microstructure, Molybdène sulfure, Molybdenum sulfides, Propriété mécanique, Mechanical properties, Pulvérisation irradiation, Sputtering, Revêtement, Coatings, Tribologie, Tribology, Usure, and Wear

MoSx coatings were prepared with an unbalanced DC magnetron-sputtering system by varying the DC power mode, target type and liquid nitrogen trap. The composition and surface morphology were examined by energy dispersive X-ray and scanning electron microscopy; structural characterization was determined by X-ray diffraction. The friction and wear properties were evaluated with a fretting tester in dry (< 10% relative humidity) and humid (50% and 90% relative humidity) air. MoSx coatings deposited by simple DC power tended to form rougher surfaces, and had a higher edge orientation of crystallites with worse tribological performance than those by bipolar pulsed DC power. MoSx coatings made by a cold pressed target had a lower deposition rate, and were inclined to form (002) basal orientations parallel to the surface especially at higher argon pressures. The contents of oxygen and carbon in the MoSx coating with the use of liquid nitrogen trap were greatly reduced, but MoSx coatings had lower coefficients of friction and shorter wear life at higher relative humidity. The role of these deposition variables in the formation process is discussed.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, Biochimie, biologie moléculaire, biophysique, Ecology, Ecologie, Geology, Géologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Ecologie animale, vegetale et microbienne, Animal, plant and microbial ecology, Ecologie microbienne, Microbial ecology, Milieux divers (espace extraatmosphérique, air, eau), Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water), Bactérie, Bacteria, Article synthèse, Review, Artículo síntesis, Cyanobacteria, Cycle biogéochimique, Biogeochemical cycle, Ciclo biogeoquímico, Diazotrophie, Diazotrophy, Diazotrofía, Fixation azote, Nitrogen fixation, Fijación nitrogeno, Milieu marin, Marine environment, Medio marino, Océan, Ocean, Océano, and Trichodesmium

The surface water of the marine environment has traditionally been viewed as a nitrogen (N) limited habitat, and this has guided the development of conceptual biogeochemical models focusing largely on the reservoir of nitrate as the critical source of N to sustain primary productivity. However, selected groups of Bacteria, including cyanobacteria, and Archaea can utilize dinitrogen (N2) as an alternative N source. In the marine environment, these microorganisms can have profound effects on net community production processes and can impact the coupling of C-N-P cycles as well as the net oceanic sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. As one component of an integrated 'Nitrogen Transport and Transformations' project, we have begun to re-assess our understanding of (I) the biotic sources and rates of N2 fixation in the world's oceans, (2) the major controls on rates of oceanic N2 fixation, (3) the significance of this N2 fixation for the global carbon cycle and (4) the role of human activities in the alteration of oceanic N2 fixation. Preliminary results indicate that rates of N2 fixation, especially in subtropical and tropical open ocean habitats, have a major role in the global marine N budget. Iron (Fe) bioavailability appears to be an important control and is, therefore, critical in extrapolation to global rates of N2 fixation. Anthropogenic perturbations may alter N2 fixation in coastal environments through habitat destruction and eutrophication, and open ocean N2 fixation may be enhanced by warming and increased stratification of the upper water column. Global anthropogenic and climatic changes may also affect N2 fixation rates, for example by altering dust inputs (i.e. Fe) or by expansion of subtropical boundaries. Some recent estimates of global ocean N2 fixation are in the range of 100-200 Tg N (1-2 x 1014 g N) yr-1, but have large uncertainties. These estimates are nearly an order of magnitude greater than historical, pre-1980 estimates, but approach modern estimates of oceanic denitrification.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, and Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

The effects of secondary metabolites in different Vigna species on the development of Clavigralla tomentosicollis were investigated in an artificial seed system using different fractions of crude pod extracts, while the orientation response of this pod-bug to volatile extracts was studied using a dual-choice olfactometer. Feeding on the neutral fraction extracts, in contrast to the basic and acidic fractions, resulted in significantly higher mortalities, longer total developmental time, and lower growth index of the insects in comparison with controls. All volatile extracts elicited an avoidance reaction by C. tomentosicollis, except the volatile from the susceptible genotype IT84S-2246 which generally attracted as many insects as controls. Extracts from wild Vigna species showed higher activity than those from their cultivated relatives. The present study which has established that most secondary metabolites in cowpea pods were localized in the neutral fraction of the crude extract, could facilitate experiments on the separation and characterization of the toxic factors involved.

Mechanical engineering, Génie mécanique, Metallurgy, welding, Métallurgie, soudage, Condensed state physics, Physique de l'état condensé, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Physique, Physics, Domaines interdisciplinaires: science des materiaux; rheologie, Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology, Science des matériaux, Materials science, Essais sur les matériaux, Materials testing, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Genie mecanique. Construction mecanique, Mechanical engineering. Machine design, Métrologie industrielle. Contrôle, Industrial metrology. Testing, Contrôle non destructif: méthodes et appareillages, Non-destructive testing: methods and equipments, Acier électrique, Electric furnace steel, Acero horno eléctrico, Conversion onde, Wave conversion, Conversión onda, Dispositif électromagnétique, Electromagnetic devices, Effet Barkhausen, Barkhausen effect, Effet champ magnétique, Magnetic field effects, En ligne, On line, En línea, Essai courant Foucault, Eddy current testing, Essai non destructif, Nondestructive testing, Essai perte magnétique, Magnetic leakage field testing, Control pérdida magnética, Fer, Iron, Grosseur grain, Grain size, Joint grain, Grain boundaries, Mesure électrique, Electrical measurement, Medida eléctrica, Métrologie, Metrology, Processus fabrication, Production process, Proceso fabricación, Procédé fabrication, Manufacturing processes, Visualisation, and Visualization

The results of investigation of the relation between the grain size in the intermediate stages of manufacturing electrical steel and various physical characteristics are given. The investigations are carried out for the purpose of clarifying the possibility of using these characteristics for arranging nondestructive testing of the grain size in the process of steel manufacturing. The paper contains the results of tests performed with the use of the methods of measuring the leakage magnetic fields on the grain boundaries by means of yttrium iron garnet films employed for visualization of the magnetic fields, the Barkhausen effect, the ultrasonic and eddy-current methods, the electromagnetic-acoustic conversion (EMAC) method, and the use of the relation between the grain size and the value of the coercive force.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Ecology, Ecologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Environment, Environnement, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Signalements, symptômes, dégâts, importance économique, surveillance des populations, Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Dicotyledones, Facteur milieu, Environmental factor, Factor medio, Heteroptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Leguminosae, Spermatophyta, Coreidae, Défoliation, Defoliation, Defoliación, Dégât, Damage, Estrago, Déprédateur, Pest, Plaga, Feuille végétal, Plant leaf, Hoja vegetal, Gousse, Pod, Vaina, Infestation, Infestación, Structure, Estructura, Température, Temperature, Temperatura, Vigna unguiculata, Anoplocnemis curvipes, Clavigralla tomentosicollis, canopy temperature, defoliation, and pod position

Potted cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., plants were used to determine the effects of defoliation and pod position relative to the leaf canopy on infestation and damage by the coreid pod-bugs Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stål and Anoplocnemis curvipes (F.). Temperature measurements were taken within and outside the canopy to determine whether there was a correlation to seed damage. Seed damage decreased significantly with increasing defoliation in plants infested with C. tomentosicollis; an inverse trend was observed with A. curvipes. Temperatures within the canopy increased as the number of leaves decreased. As observed in the defoliation experiment, C. tomentosicollis and A. curvipes reacted differently in a free-choice situation between pods located outside or within the canopy. Significantly higher numbers of C. tomentosicollis concealed themselves within the canopy, where they caused more severe damage to seeds, in comparison with numbers and damage outside the canopy. These trends were reversed for A. curvipes. There was a significant negative correlation between percentage of seed damage and temperature with C. tomentosicollis, and a significant positive correlation with A. curvipes, both in defoliated plants and those with pods distributed outside and within the canopy. Overall, plants with less dense canopy, and long peduncles holding pods outside the canopy showed some resistance to C. tomentosicollis, which is the most damaging pod bug on cowpea. Because such cowpea plants harbor fewer C. tomentosicollis, they are likely to suffer less overall damage from infestation by the complex of pod bugs that occur concurrently in cowpea fields.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Lutte, Control, Lutte chimique, Chemical control, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Gramineae, Invertebrata, Monocotyledones, Pesticide, Pesticides, Plaguicida, Plante céréalière, Cereal crop, Planta cerealista, Spermatophyta, Zone tropicale, Tropical zone, Zona tropical, Date de plantation, Planting date, Fecha de plantación, Déprédateur, Pest, Plaga, Fertilisation azotée, Nitrogen fertilization, Fertilización nitrogenada, Infestation, Infestación, Insecta, Insecticide, Insecticida, Irrigation, Irrigación, Lutte antidéprédateur, Pest management, Manejo de plagas, Lutte chimique, Chemical control, Lucha química, Oryza sativa, Prise décision, Decision making, Toma decision, Rendement, Yield, Rendimiento, Résistance insecte, Insect resistance, Resistencia insecto, Seuil intervention, Action threshold, Umbral tratamiento, Pest control, colonisation pattern, decision making, insecticides, irrigated rice, nitrogen fertilisation, plant tolerance, planting date, and yield loss

Action thresholds as decision tools for insecticide application were developed and tested against the major insect pests of rice at four sites in the Philippines over a 13-year period. Action threshold treatments were compared to the farmers' practice, prophylactic insecticide usage, and an untreated check. Yield loss data using the insecticide check method partitioned yield losses over three crop growth stages in the same test fields. Chronic pests that exceeded action thresholds in 79% of fields were whorl maggot Hydrellia philippina Ferino (Diptera: Ephydridae), defoliators Naranga senescens Moore and Rivula atimeta (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), leaffolders Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) and Marasmia patnalis Bradley (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and stemborers Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) and S. innotata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Minor chronic pests reached threshold levels in only one site each: rice bug Leptocorisa oratorius (F.) (Koronadal), whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) (Zaragoza) and green leafhopper Nephotettix virescens (Distant) (Guimba); brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) did not exceed a threshold in any field. Stemborers were the most important pest group in terms of yield loss. Despite the insecticide check method underestimating losses, a mean crop loss of 0.62 t/ha was measured which showed ample scope for corrective action. But loss was evenly distributed across crop growth stages (0.15 0.24 t/ha) reducing the impact of insecticides. Action threshold treatments overall outyielded the untreated check, more so in the two sites with highest pest density. The benefit of thresholds was to reduce insecticide usage, as a cost saving. However all the practices showed poor economic returns including the farmers' practice. Farmers' practice employed low insecticide dosages and timing was not consistent with pest damage, but yields were often similar to threshold treatments. Farmers appear to use insecticide more for risk aversion than for profit. The best threshold characters when evaluated against resulting pest density and yield loss criteria showed accuracies > 90% correct decisions. Future work is needed to improve the insecticide response rather than monitoring tools. Thresholds need to be incorporated into improved crop management, which was often found suboptimal by farmers, to take advantage of the high levels of tolerance in modern high tillering cultivars. Crop husbandry practices which improve yield potential such as selection of longer maturing varieties and nitrogen fertilizer may be a more effective pest management strategy than insecticides.

Medical oncology, Cancérologie, Medical laboratory techniques, Techniques de laboratoire médical, General medicine general surgery, Médecine et chirurgie générales, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Gynecologie. Andrologie. Obstetrique, Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics, Pathologie de la glande mammaire, Mammary gland diseases, Tumeurs, Tumors, Techniques d'exploration et de diagnostic (generalites), Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects), Anatomopathologie. Exploration cytologique. Biochimie. Spectrométries. Méthodes cliniques et paracliniques diverses, Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques, Glande mammaire pathologie, Mammary gland diseases, Glándula mamaria patología, Tumeur maligne, Malignant tumor, Tumor maligno, Adjuvant, Coadyuvante, Anatomopathologie, Anatomic pathology, Anatomía patológica, Essai clinique, Clinical trial, Ensayo clínico, Paramètre, Parameter, Parámetro, Préménopause, Premenopause, Premenopausia, Tamoxifène, Tamoxifene, Tamoxifeno, Cancer sein, Breast cancer, and Cáncer pecho

Background: Subgroups of breast cancer that have an impaired response to endocrine treatment, despite hormone receptor positivity, are still poorly defined. Breast cancer can be subdivided according to standard pathological parameters including histological type, grade, and assessment of proliferation. These parameters are the net result of combinations of genetic alterations effecting tumour behaviour and could potentially reflect subtypes that respond differently to endocrine treatment. Aims: To investigate the usefulness of these parameters as predictors of the response to tamoxifen in premenopausal women with breast cancer. Materials/methods: Clinically established pathological parameters were assessed and related to the tamoxifen response in 500 available tumour specimens from 564 premenopausal patients with breast cancer randomised to either two years of tamoxifen or no treatment with 14 years of follow up. Proliferation was further evaluated by immunohistochemical Ki-67 expression. Results: Oestrogen receptor positive ductal carcinomas responded as expected to tamoxifen, whereas the difference in recurrence free survival between control and tamoxifen treated patients was less apparent in the relatively few lobular carcinomas. For histological grade, there was no obvious difference in treatment response between the groups. The relation between proliferation and tamoxifen response seemed to be more complex, with a clear response in tumours with high and low proliferation, whereas tumours with intermediate proliferation defined by Ki-67 responded more poorly. Conclusions: Clinically established pathology parameters seem to mirror the endocrine treatment response and could potentially be valuable in future treatment decisions for patients with breast cancer.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Lutte, Control, Généralités, Generalities, Vecteurs d'importance medicale, nuisances, depredateurs des denrees et materiaux: surveillance des populations et lutte, Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control, Vecteurs. Hôtes intermédaires, Vectors. Intermediate hosts, Arthropoda, Bactérie, Bacteria, Cicadomorpha, Homoptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Mollicutes, Mycoplasmatales, Spiroplasmataceae, Cicadellidae, Dalbulus maidis, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Maïs, Corn, Maiz, Spiroplasma kunkelii, Vecteur, Vector, corn leafhopper, corn stunt, and spiroplasmas

Corn stunt caused by the mollicute Spiroplasma kunkelii (Whitcomb) is potentially one of the most severe diseases affecting the corn (Zea mays L.) crop in the Americas, and the leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) is considered its most important vector. However, other insects seen quite frequently in corn crops might well be its vectors in Argentina. To identify any leafhoppers species other than D. maidis that can transmit S. kunkelii, transmission assays were conducted, using individuals of Exitianus obscurinervis (Stål) collected in field and reared under controlled conditions. S. kunkelii was transmitted to corn plants by E. obscurinervis. The pathogen was transmitted to seven of the 11 plants, which showed characteristic corn stunt symptoms, and the presence of the pathogen was confirmed by DAS-ELISA. The presence of S. kunkelii in the E. obscurinervis individuals used in transmission experiments was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and electron microscopy. The current study shows the existence of a new experimental vector of S. kunkelii, the leafhopper E. obscurineruis, which acquired spiroplasmas from infected plants and inoculated it to healthy plants.

Agronomy, agriculture, phytopathology, Agronomie, agriculture, phytopathologie, Entomology, Entomologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Invertebres, Invertebrates, Insecta, Phytopathologie. Zoologie agricole. Protection des cultures et des forets, Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection, Protozoaires. Invertébrés, Protozoa. Invertebrates, Lutte, Control, Généralités, Generalities, Agrume, Citrus fruit, Agrios, Angiospermae, Arthropoda, Bactérie, Bacteria, Cicadomorpha, Dicotyledones, Homoptera, Insecta, Invertebrata, Mollicutes, Rutaceae, Spermatophyta, Bocage, Grove, Boscaje, Cicadellidae, Citrus, Hôte, Host, Huesped, Maladie, Disease, Enfermedad, Mauvaise herbe, Weed, Malezas, Phloème, Phloem, Liber, Phytoplasme, Phytoplasma, Fitoplasma, Prévalence, Prevalence, Prevalencia, Sève, Sap, Savia, Vecteur, Vector, phloem-limited bacteria, plant disease, sap-sucking insect, and weed

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a severe citrus (Citrus spp.) disease associated with the bacteria genus Candidatus Liberibacter, detected in Brazil in 2004. Another bacterium was found in association with HLB symptoms and characterized as a phytoplasma belonging to the 16SrIX group. The objectives of this study were to identify potential leafhopper vectors of the HLB-associated phytoplasma and their host plants. Leafhoppers were sampled every other week for 12 mo with sticky yellow cards placed at two heights (0.3 and 1.5 m) in the citrus tree canopy and by using a sweep net in the ground vegetation of two sweet orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, groves infected by the HLB-phytoplasma in Sao Paulo state. Faunistic analyses indicated one Agalliinae (Agallia albidula Uhler) and three Deltocephalinae [Balclutha hebe (Kirkaldy), Planicephalus flavicosta (Stål), and Scaphytopius (Convelinus) marginelineatus (Stål)] species, as the most abundant and frequent leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Visual observations indicated an association of leafhopper species with some weeds and the influence of weed species composition on leafhopper abundance in low-lying vegetation. S. marginelineatus and P. flavicosta were more frequent on Sida rhombifolia L. and Althernantera tenella Colla, respectively, whereas A. albidula was observed more often on Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq. and B. hebe only occurred on grasses. DNA samples of field-collected S. marginelineatus were positive by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing tests for the presence of the HLB-phytoplasma group, indicating it as a potential vector. The association of leafhoppers with their hosts may be used in deciding which management strategies to adopt against weeds and diseases in citrus orchards.

Polymers, paint and wood industries, Polymères, industries des peintures et bois, Sciences exactes et technologie, Exact sciences and technology, Chimie, Chemistry, Chimie generale et chimie physique, General and physical chemistry, Théorie des réactions, cinétique générale. Catalyse. Nomenclature, documentation chimique, informatique chimique, Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry, Catalyse, Catalysis, Réactions catalytiques, Catalytic reactions, Sciences appliquees, Applied sciences, Physicochimie des polymeres, Physicochemistry of polymers, Polymères organiques, Organic polymers, Propriétés et caractérisation, Properties and characterization, Propriétés des solutions et des gels, Solution and gel properties, Activité catalytique, Catalyst activity, Actividad catalítica, Agrégation moléculaire, Molecular aggregation, Agregación molecular, Aldolisation, Aldol condensation, Aldolización, Aminoacide, Aminoacid, Aminoácido, Catalyse asymétrique, Asymmetric catalysis, Catálisis asimétrica, Composé chiral, Chiral compound, Compuesto quiral, Composé marqué, Labelled compound, Compuesto marcado, Copolymère greffé, Graft copolymer, Copolímero injertado, Cyclanone, Cycloalkanone, Ciclanona, Dérivé du benzaldéhyde, Benzaldehyde derivatives, Benzaldehído derivado, Enantiosélectivité, Enantioselectivity, Enantioselectividad, Ethylène oxyde copolymère, Ethylene oxide copolymer, Etileno óxido copolímero, Etude expérimentale, Experimental study, Estudio experimental, Marqueur fluorescent, Fluorescent tracer, Marcador fluorescente, Méthacrylate copolymère, Methacrylate copolymer, Metacrilato copolímero, Nanoencapsulation, Nanoencapsulación, Nanoparticule, Nanoparticle, Nanopartícula, Polymère amphiphile, Amphiphilic polymer, Polímero amfifilo, Reconnaissance moléculaire, Molecular recognition, Reconocimiento molecular, Solution aqueuse, Aqueous solution, Solución acuosa, Spectre dichroïsme circulaire, Circular dichroism spectrum, Espectro dicroismo circular, Dérivé de la proline, Particule monomoléculaire, aldol reaction, benzene-1,3,5-tricaboxamide, molecular recognition, organocatalysis, and single-chain polymeric nanoparticles

Here, a modular approach is reported to introduce a specific function into single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs). Hereto, an amphiphilic polymer with pendant benzene-1,3,5-tri-carboxamide (BTA) units is mixed with a free BTA that contains a functional group, either a fluorescent naphthalimide or a catalytically active L-proline. Taking advantage of hydrophobic interactions and self-recognition properties of the BTA units, the free BTAs are captured into the interior of the SCPN in water as evidenced by fluorescence studies. To illustrate that function can be readily introduced using a modular approach, L-proline-based BTAs are incorporated to procure a catalytically active SCPN in water. The aldol reaction between p-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone shows good conversions at low catalyst loadings and substrate concentrations, and high stereoselectivities are obtained (de = 91% and ee = 98%).