Impact of heteroptera pentatomidae feeding and oviposition on photosynthesis of herbaceous plants and egg parasitoids host location

The present study was designed to examine the effect of heteroptera pentatomidae feeding and/or oviposition on photosynthesis. Murgantia histrionica and Nezara viridula were fed on Brassica and Phaseolus plants, respectively. The changes in photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were followed immediately after the feeding as well as during the post-feeding period (24, 48 and 72 h). Murgantia feeding caused visible damage on leaf lamina, whereas this was not the case with Nezara feeding. In both cases a substantial decrease (50%) in photosynthesis was observed, which was partially restored only in Phaseolus plants by the end of the experiment. By using high resol…

A sex pheromone triggers courtship behaviour in the egg parasitoid Trissolcus brochymenae

Association of Variants in the SPTLC1 Gene with Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Key Points Question What genetic variants are associated with juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Findings In this family-based genetic study, exome sequencing was performed in 3 patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and failure to thrive; this identified de novo variants in SPTLC1 (p.Ala20Ser in 2 patients and p.Ser331Tyr in 1 patient). Variants in SPTLC1 are a known cause of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 1A, and these data extend the phenotype associated with this gene. Meaning De novo variants in the SPTLC1 gene are associated with juvenile ALS, a fatal neurological disorder.

Effect of dual biotic stress on plant volatile synomones used by egg parasitoids

Studies on semiochemical communication have demonstrated that broad bean plant, Vicia faba, emits volatile synomones induced by feeding and oviposition activities of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, which recruit the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis. However plants growing in agro-ecosystems can be attacked by several herbivore species that could affect both above and belowground plant tissues with possible consequences for parasitoid recruitment. For example, broad bean plants can also be attacked by the leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus, and simultaneous attacks by the southern green stink bug and the leaf weevil can occur in agro- ecosystems. The purpose of this work was to inv…

Severity of Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis and Risk of Ipsilateral Hemispheric Ischaemic Events: Results from the ACSRS Study

Objectives. This study determines the risk of ipsilateral ischaemic neurological events in relation to the degree of asymptomatic carotid stenosis and other risk factors. Methods. Patients (n = 1115) with asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis greater than 50% in relation to the bulb diameter were followed up for a period of 6-84 (mean 37.1) months. Stenosis was graded using duplex, and clinical and biochemical risk factors were recorded. Results. The relationship between ICA stenosis and event rate is linear when stenosis is expressed by the ECST method, but S-shaped if expressed by the NASCET method. In addition to the ECST grade of stenosis (RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.21-2.15), histor…

La localizzazione dell’ospite nei parassitoidi oofagi: il ruolo delle cere epicuticolari delle piante

La localizzazione dell’ospite nei parassitoidi oofagi è il risultato di un complesso comportamento di foraggiamento influenzato prevalentemente da stimoli di natura fisica e chimica. I segnali chimici (semiochimici) possono derivare dall’interazione tra la pianta e l’uovo ospite (sinomoni indotti dall’ovideposizione), dall’uovo tal quale (cairomoni diretti) e/o da stadi diversi da quello di uovo, come per esempio l’adulto (cairomoni indiretti). I sinomoni indotti con l’ovideposizione, capaci di richiamare i parassitoidi delle uova ancor prima che il fitofago possa causare danni, sono un efficace esempio del coinvolgimento “diretto” della pianta nel processo di localizzazione dell’ospite da …

The size of juxtaluminal hypoechoic area in ultrasound images of asymptomatic carotid plaques predicts the occurrence of stroke

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the size of a juxtaluminal black (hypoechoic) area (JBA) in ultrasound images of asymptomatic carotid artery plaques predicts future ipsilateral ischemic stroke. METHODS: A JBA was defined as an area of pixels with a grayscale value 10 mm(2) (P 8 mm(2)) was still significant after adjusting for other plaque features known to be associated with increased risk, including stenosis, grayscale median, presence of discrete white areas without acoustic shadowing indicating neovascularization, plaque area, and history of contralateral TIA or stroke. Plaque area and grayscale median were not significant. Using the significant variables (stenosis, discr…