Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of potato pests and their management in Uganda

As we initiate entomological research on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Uganda, there is need to understand farmers’ knowledge of existing insect pest problems and their management practices. Such information is important for designing a suitable intervention and successful integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. A farm household survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among 204 potato farmers in six districts of Uganda (i.e., Kabale, Kisoro, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Mubende, and Kyegegwa) during August and September 2013. Diseases, insect pests, price fluctuations, and low market prices were the four highest ranked constraints in potato production, in order of decreasing importance. Cutworms (Agrotis spp.), aphids (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)), and potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)) were the three most severe insect pests. Ants (Dorylis orantalis Westwood), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)), and leafminer flies (Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard)) were pests of moderate importance. Major yield losses are predominantly due to late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) and reached 100% without chemical control in the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Mbale, and Kapchorwa. On average, farmers had little to moderate knowledge about pest characteristics. The predominant control methods were use of fungicides (72% of respondents) and insecticides (62% of respondents). On average, only 5% of the 204 farmers knew about insect pests and their natural enemies. This lack of knowledge calls for training of both farmers and extension workers in insect pest identification, their biology, and control. Empowering farmers with knowledge about insect pests is essential for the reduction of pesticide misuse and uptake of more environmentally friendly approaches like IPM. Field surveys would need follow-up in order to assess the actual field infestation rates and intensities of each insect pest and compare the results with the responses received from farmers.

Cooperative Physics of Fly Swarms: An Emergent Behavior

We have simulated the behavior of several artificial flies, interacting visually with each other. Each fly is described by a simple tracking system (Poggio and Reichardt, 1973; Land and Collett, 1974) which summarizes behavioral experiments in which individual flies fixate a target. Our main finding is that the interaction of theses implemodules gives rise to a variety of relatively complex behaviors. In particular, we observe a swarm-like behavior of a group of many artificial flies for certain reasonable ranges of our tracking system parameters.

XXII Olimpiada Española de Física : fase aragonesa.

Seleccionado en la convocatoria: Ayudas para proyectos de temática educativa, Gobierno de Aragón 2010-2011

XXIII Olimpiada Española de Física : fase aragonesa.

Seleccionado en la convocatoria: Ayudas para proyectos de temática educativa, Gobierno de Aragón 2011-12

Tsetse fly

These are magnified photographs of tsetse flies.

Diseño de una estrategia de desarrollo responsable y sostenible de productividad estructurada en los soportes categóricos y enfoques productivos

El presente documento, tiene como finalidad presentar una estrategia de desarrollo responsable y sostenible social y ambientalmente, estructurada en cinco ejes categóricos y tres enfoques de la productividad, los cuales son determinados en el recorrido de la investigación.

Comparación de CPRE temprana y tardia en pacientes con pancreatitis aguda severa de origen biliar

INTRODUCCION: La obstrucción biliar es la principal causa de pancreatitis aguda y su curso es moderado a leve aunque un 20% desarrollan formas severas. La remoción de los cálculos por CPRE se ha empleado como terapéutica aunque su rol es controversial y no se ha demostrado su utilidad en forma temprana. El propósito de este estudio es observar la evolución de los pacientes con PASB en quienes se realice CPRE con respecto al curso de la enfermedad. METODOLOGIA: Estudio retrospectivo observacional descriptivo en pacientes con PASB llevados a CPRE. Entre junio y octubre de 2012 se encontraron 72 pacientes con PASB y patrón biliar obstructivo, 49 (68.06%) en los cuales se realizo de forma temprana (antes de 72 horas) y 23 (31,94 %) de forma tardía (después de las 72 horas). RESULTADOS: No se encontraron diferencias en la morbilidad entre los dos grupos observados. Se encontró una mayor incidencia de PASB en mujeres, no hubo complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento y no hubo mortalidad asociada en ninguno de los grupos. DISCUSION: El estudio no muestra que la realización de CPRE tardía influya de forma desfavorable en los pacientes con PASB. Se encontró mayor incidencia de PASB en mujeres y edad media de 61 años. Deben realizarse mas estudios como el presente con un mayor número de pacientes para demostrar que no hay aumento en la morbimortalidad en los pacientes que sean llevados a CPRE después de 72 horas de inicio de los síntomas y poder generar recomendaciones de manejo locales.

Predictors of Attitudes toward Cosmetic Surgery among U.S. and Colombian College Women: The Roles of Eating Behaviors and Demographic Variables

Cross-cultural studies on eating behaviors and related constructs can identify cultural and social factors that contribute to eating disorder symptomatology. Eating disorders (EDs) are a major cause for concern in the U.S., and recent studies in Colombia have shown growing rates among their female population. In addition, cosmetic surgery procedures have been increasing rapidly in both the U.S. and Colombia, and preliminary research suggests a positive relation between disordered eating and endorsement of plastic surgery. In samples of college women from Colombia and the U.S., we investigated patterns of association between disordered eating variables and cosmetic surgery acceptance. Our approach utilized separate analyses for various subcomponents of disordered eating (to determine their unique associations with cosmetic surgery acceptance) while adjusting for potentially relevant covariates and examining cross-cultural patterns. Participants were students at an urban, public college in the U.S. (n=163) and an urban, private college in Colombia (n=179). Overall, our findings suggested that participants from Colombia with greater disordered eating were more likely to endorse cosmetic surgery for social reasons, while those from the U.S. were more likely to consider undergoing cosmetic surgery for personal reasons. Differing findings between the two samples may be due to cultural and social factors, which we delineate. These findings also have potential implications for presurgical counseling of cosmetic surgery candidates.

Estudio de cultivos celulares primarios derivados de Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The main purpose of this study was to obtain primary cell cultures derived from Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Necrophagous this fly is used for determination of post-mortem interval and larval therapy. Since explants embryonated eggs were performed in various culture media (Grace Schneider, MM/VP12, DMEM, Grace/L-15 and L-15), supplemented with 20% fetal serum. Sterilization of the biological material was carried out by immersing it in formaldehyde and sodium hypochlorite solutions. The cell growth was initiated in the L-15, MM/VP12, and Schneider Grace/L-15 in an average time of 10 days after completion of planting by the proliferation of groups of colonies scattered on the surface of the boxes crops and also from the endings of larval fragments. The evolution of cell growth to the formation of monolayer semi-confluent was relatively fast, reaching at 3 weeks post-explant. Cellular morphology in cultured cells was heterogeneous, especially epithelioid forms, similar to nerve, giant and irregular. Comparison of the growth characteristics of these cell cultures with those obtained from other species of flies was more favorable in the evolution of those obtained from L. sericata, on the grounds that the cells are better adapted to the physical-chemical conditions of several culture media. This is the first report of a cell culture-fly family Calliphoridae.

Resultados de la terapia antiangiogenica con Ranibizumab en retinopatia del prematuro: revisión sistemática.

Introducción: La retinopatía del prematuro (ROP) se presenta hasta en el 73% de los neonatos pretérmino por debajo de la semana 27, los agentes antiangiogénicos se presentan como una herramienta para su tratamiento con resultados prometedores. En el presente estudio se pretendió evaluar los resultados de la terapia antiangiogénica con ranibizumab en pacientes con retinopatía del prematuro según la evidencia descrita hasta la fecha. Metodología: se realizó una revisión sistemática de literatura con componente meta-analítico de los datos sociodemográficos y clínicos, incluyendo todos los artículos sobre el tema sin límite de fecha de publicación. Se usó una estrategia de búsqueda en diferentes bases de datos, todos los estudios relacionados con el pronóstico de la enfermedad fueron elegibles. Resultados: Se encontraron un total de 13 artículos que cumplieron criterios de elegibilidad para su inclusión, que incluyeron 75 pacientes en total (133 ojos evaluados). La edad promedio al nacimiento fue 23.6 semanas, la edad al momento de aplicación de tratamiento fue 36.3 semanas. 11/13 artículos reportaron que el tratamiento con ranibizumab fue satisfactorio en términos de resolución completa de la enfermedad sin efectos secundarios (64 pacientes) Discusión: Los resultados de la terapia con ranibizumab para retinopatía del prematuro según la evidencia hasta la fecha permiten recomendar el uso de terapia antiangiogénica con el fin de mejorar la salud visual a mediano y largo plazo y por ende disminución en la prevalencia de ceguera por esta causa.

Natural resource windfalls and efficiency of local government expenditures: evidence from Peru

We study the role of natural resource windfalls in explaining the efficiency of public expenditures. Using a rich dataset of expenditures and public good provision for 1,836 municipalities in Peru for period 2001-2010, we estimate a non-monotonic relationship between the efficiency of public good provision and the level of natural resource transfers. Local governments that were extremely favored by the boom of mineral prices were more efficient in using fiscal windfalls whereas those benefited with modest transfers were more inefficient. These results can be explained by the increase in political competition associated with the boom. However, the fact that increases in efficiency were related to reductions in public good provision casts doubts about the beneficial effects of political competition in promoting efficiency.

XXIV Olimpiada Española de Física : fase aragonesa

Seleccionado en la convocatoria: Ayudas para proyectos de olimpiadas educativas y otras actuaciones que premien el esfuerzo y rendimiento académico, Gobierno de Aragón 2012-2013

A identidade moral e a integridade são preditoras da motivação moral?

Com o objetivo de analisar os componentes que induzem o comportamento moral, apoiámo-nos nas teorias psicológicas que admitem a importância do papel das emoções e da identidade na motivação para a ação moral, contrariamente ao que era defendido pelas teorias construtivistas, que apenas referiam a cognição como motor do funcionamento moral. Deste modo elegemos a identidade moral e a integridade como variáveis que podem estar associadas à motivação moral. Participaram 91 adultos emergentes, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 25 anos (M = 20,63; Dp = 2,33), 14 do género masculino e 77 do género feminino. Para avaliar a motivação moral, a identidade moral e a integridade utilizámos respetivamente a PMAM, EIM e EI. Os objetivos foram verificar se existem diferenças individuais na consciência moral e nas emoções atribuídas a atos de transgressão, se a intensidade das emoções auto-atribuídas varia em função da consciência moral, e se a identidade moral e a integridade estão associadas à motivação moral. Os resultados mostram que existem diferenças individuais tanto na consciência moral como na atribuição de emoções. Os sujeitos avaliaram as transgressões de cuidado, não cuidar de parente e infidelidade, com emoções mais negativas e com maior utilização de consciência moral de transgressão, do que as transgressões anti-sociais, fraude e mentira. Verificámos também que a intensidade emocional varia em função da consciência moral. As categorias de Transgressão Identitária e Transgressão estão associadas com emoções mais negativas e as de Transgressão Relativizada e Não Transgressão estão relacionadas com emoções menos negativas. Foi ainda encontrada associação entre a identidade moral e integridade com a motivação moral, mas apenas para as transgressões anti-sociais.

Ecological specificity of arbuscular mycorrhizae: evidence from foliar- and seed-feeding insects

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have a variety of effects on foliar-feeding insects, with the majority of these being positive, although reports of negative and null effects also exist. Virtually all previous experiments have used mobile insects confined in cages and have studied the effects of one, or at most two, species of mycorrhizae on one species of insect. The purpose of this study was to introduce a greater level of realism into insect-mycorrhizal experiments, by studying the responses of different insect feeding guilds to a variety of AM fungi. We conducted two experiments involving three species of relatively immobile insects (a leaf-mining and two seed-feeding flies) reared in natural conditions on a host (Leucanthemum vulgare). In a field study, natural levels of AM colonization were reduced, while in a phytometer trial, we experimentally colonized host plants with all possible combinations of three known mycorrhizal associates of L. vulgare. In general, AM fungi increased the stature (height and leaf number) and nitrogen content of plants. However, these effects changed through the season and were,dependent on the identity of the fungi in the root system. AM fungi increased host acceptance of all three insects and larval performance of the leaf miner, but these effects were also season- and AM species-dependent. We suggest that the mycorrhizal effect on the performance of the leaf miner is due to fungal-induced changes in host-plant nitrogen content, detected by the adult fly. However, variability in the effect was apparent, because not all AM species increased plant N content. Meanwhile, positive effects of mycorrhizae were found on flower number and flower size, and these appeared to result in enhanced infestation levels by the seed-feeding insects. The results show that AM fungi exhibit ecological specificity, in that different. species have different effects on host-plant growth and chemistry and the performance of foliar-feeding insects. Future studies need to conduct experiments that use ecologically realistic combinations of plants and fungi and allow insects to be reared in natural conditions.

Predation of Bradysia sp (Diptera: Sciaridae), Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by Coenosia attenuata (Diptera: Muscidae) in greenhouse crops

We studied the predation behaviour of the "hunter fly" (Coenosia attenuata Stein) in the laboratory and greenhouse. In the laboratory, which was conducted at 25 degrees C at 60-80% RH, with a 16L : 8D photoperiod, we examined the functional response of this species to three different pests, namely the sciarid fly (Bradysia sp.), the tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and the leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii. In the greenhouse, we studied the population dynamics of the predator and its prey on pepper and water melon crops grown in southern Spain. Adult hunter flies were found to exhibit a type I functional response to adult sciarid flies and whiteflies, but a type II response to adult leaf miners. The type II response was a result of the greater difficulty in capturing and handling leaf miners compared to the other two species. The dynamics of the predator-prey interaction in the greenhouse revealed that the predator specializes mainly on adult sciarids and that the presence of the other prey can be supplemental, but is never essential for survival of the predator; this, however, is crop-dependent. The results oil the dynamics of the predator-prey systems were obtained through a known population dynamics model with modifications.