A Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the South American Locust, Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), and Future Prospects

In the first half of the twentieth century, the South American Locust (SAL), Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), was a major pest of agriculture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. From 1954–2014, a preventive management program appeared to limit SAL populations, with only small- to moderate-scale treatments required, limited to outbreak areas in northwest Argentina. However, the lack of major locust outbreaks led to a gradual reduction in resources, and in 2015, the sudden appearance of swarms marked the beginning of a substantial upsurge, with many swarms reported initially in Argentina in 2015, followed by expansion into neighboring countries over the next few years. The upsurge required a rapid allocation of resources for management of SAL and a detailed examination of the improvements needed for the successful management of this species. This paper provides a review of SAL biology, management history, and perspectives on navigating a plague period after a 60-year recession.

SMART VILLAGES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The “smart village” concept is relatively new among EU decision- and policy it is a result of many-it is a result of many years of debate, economic and territorial inequalities, social exclusion, diversification of certain areas, gradual reduction of agricultural activities and the interaction of cohesion, regional, and common agricultural policy. The concept of smart villages implies saving villages and their inhabitants, protecting cultural heritage and using local potentials to meet modern challenges. In its initial stages, it requires activities of all stakeholders, from individuals living in the rural area in question to decision-makers participating in identifying the strengths, threats, opportunities, and weaknesses of a certain rural area. Apart from the theoretical definition of smart villages, this paper aims to analyse European regulations of smart villages, and to define the challenges and smart village traps in rural development and ways in which they can be prevented.

Influence of sucrose reduction on fouling during the production of dulce de leche

In this Research Communication we focus the food industry´s broad tendency to decrease sugar content in food products onto dulce de leche (DL) and examine the influence of sucrose reduction on the detrimental deposits formed during the production process. The method used to identify the impact produced directly on the heat exchanger during the production of this product with low sucrose content required varying the quantity of sucrose in the milk. Different percentages of sucrose (20, 15, 10, 5 and 0% w/w) were submitted to the DL concentration process in a process simulator. After concentration, the quantification of the deposits formed in each was carried out and these deposits were characterized according to their composition. Methods such as Kjeldahl, Pregl-Dumas and sem-EDS were used. Thus, the work highlights the need to change the product manufacturing process due to changes in the formulation that directly impact the formation of deposits in the equipment used (fouling). This deposit changes significantly in relation to its quantity as well as in relation to the composition and chemical characteristics as the gradual reduction of the sucrose content in the production takes place. Therefore, these impacts must be considered in order to maintain better manufacturing and ensure efficient cleaning of equipment.

Process Design & Development Using Smed Concept- A Case Study

The growth of the industry and its production ultimately depends on its ability to respond systematically and continuously to market changes to increase product value. The process of adding value is necessary to obtain this advantage; therefore using a coherent production system and its tools becomes a key skill. Since the set time is the main reason for the production break time, a short set time is always desirable. The Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) as proposed by Shingo is a tool that aims to reduce overtime setting, but does not work when used alone. SMED can be used effectively with the help of additional tools such as FMRS (Finish, Merge, Reduce and Simplify). This paper describes the process of planning and implementing SMED and other useful tools. It is based on a collaborative approach that allows for a gradual reduction in machine set-up time associated with an ongoing continuity program.

Insights into the Karyotype Evolution of Charinidae, the Early-Diverging Clade of Whip Spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi)

Whip spiders (Amblypygi) represent an ancient order of tetrapulmonate arachnids with a low diversity. Their cytogenetic data are confined to only a few reports. Here, we analyzed the family Charinidae, a lineage almost at the base of the amblypygids, providing an insight into the ancestral traits and basic trajectories of amblypygid karyotype evolution. We performed Giemsa staining, selected banding techniques, and detected 18S ribosomal DNA and telomeric repeats by fluorescence in situ hybridization in four Charinus and five Sarax species. Both genera exhibit a wide range of diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 42–76 and 22–74 for Charinus and Sarax, respectively). The 2n reduction was accompanied by an increase of proportion of biarmed elements. We further revealed a single NOR site (probably an ancestral condition for charinids), the presence of a (TTAGG)n telomeric motif localized mostly at the chromosome ends, and an absence of heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Our data collectively suggest a high pace of karyotype repatterning in amblypygids, with probably a high ancestral 2n and its subsequent gradual reduction by fusions, and the action of pericentric inversions, similarly to what has been proposed for neoamblypygids. The possible contribution of fissions to charinid karyotype repatterning, however, cannot be fully ruled out.

Docking phenomenon and subsequent acetabular development after gradual reduction using overhead traction for developmental dysplasia of the hip over six months of age

Purpose This study aimed to explore the docking of the femoral head into the acetabulum after gradual reduction (GR) using traction for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and the impact on subsequent acetabular development. Methods A total of 40 patients with DDH (42 hips) undergoing GR using overhead traction and spica casting were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of inverted labrum and the coronal and axial femoral-acetabular distances (FADs) were compared between MRI immediately and five weeks after spica casting. The change in the acetabular index on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs were compared between hips with inverted labrum (residual group) and with normally-shaped labrum (normalized group) on follow-up MRI. Results The mean age at reduction was 13.1 months (7 to 33) and the mean follow-up duration was 7.7 years (4 to 11). The rate of inverted labrum and the FADs significantly decreased between the MRI scans (all p-values < 0.001), and previous Pavlik harness failure had no negative effect on these decreases. The acetabular indices at the ages of three and five years in the residual group were significantly larger than those in the normalized group (both p-values < 0.001). Residual acetabular dysplasia was seen in 84.2% of the residual group compared with 34.8% of the normalized group (p = 0.002). Conclusion The docking phenomenon can occur during spica casting following GR using traction in children with DDH between the ages of six months and three years. The remaining inverted labrum at the cast removal may negatively affect subsequent acetabular development. Level of evidence III - retrospective comparative study

Development of pulmonary tuberculosis in the patient with systemic sarcoidosis and brain involvement

The article presents a clinical case of pulmonary tuberculosis with destruction and bacterial excretion in the patient with systemic sarcoidosis and cerebral lesions. Tuberculosis was characterized by the infiltrate and cavity in S1+2 of the left lung, tuberculous mycobacteria were detected by microscopy, GeneXpertMBT/Rif, and culture. Systemic sarcoidosis with brain involvement was diagnosed based on intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in 2015, development of dissemination in the lungs and neurological symptoms by 2018, deterioration of changes by 2019, rapid partial resolution of foci in the lungs, and moderate regression of neurological disorders during the treatment with prednisolone. A full course of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy (316 doses) resulted in persistent sputum conversion, resolution of the infiltrate and cavity healing. Prednisolone was administered simultaneously for 318 days with increased doses (45-35 mg) for the first 2 months, then titrated down to 15 mg and remained so until the end of the treatment with gradual reduction and discontinuation. Changes in the lungs and improvement of clinical and radiological manifestations of neurosarcoidosis were documented.

Comparative Study on Effectiveness of Various Compost Cultures on Composting of Farm Wastes

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of various microbial compost cultures for aerobic-composting of farm wastes. Place of Study: Three trials were conducted on farmer’s field and one at Krishi Vigyana Kendra (KVK) Ramanagara district. Methodology: During the composting process, days to compost, maturity in terms of changes in temperature, pH and composting dynamics were studied. Compost quality parameters such as macro and micro-nutrients and C:N ratio and stability of the compost were recorded at different intervals. Results: The results showed that the compost culture from IIHR and UASB had taken 90 and 105 days respectively, for complete stabilization; further had relatively higher temperature and pH during the initial phase and reached ambient condition at maturity stage, C:N ratio has showed gradual reduction from 39.65 to 15.98 and 39.75 to 13.66% respectively in IIHR and UASB cultures, they also had high macro, secondary and micro nutrients(IIHR-1.55% N, 0.93% P, 0.95% K, 4.39% Ca, 0.69% Mg, 0.19%S, 930 ppm Fe, 10ppm Cu, 305ppm Mn, 82ppm Zn, 26 ppm B UASB-1.59% N, 0.91% P, 0.97% K, 4.25%Ca, 0.88% Mg, 0.21%S, 948 ppm Fe, 9ppm Cu, 325ppm Mn, 93ppm Zn, 28ppm B) content and resulted in more compost production ( 3.3 and 2.8 t/year, respectively) with B:C ratio of 6.67 and 7.25 respectively when compared to NCOF (T3) and farmers practice (T4). Conclusion: Aerobic-composting of farm waste using microbial culture of UASB and IIHR proved to be an effective technology that aids to convert organic farm waste into valuable organic manure with an advantage of minimizing the environmental contamination associated with burning of residues.

Plasmotype condition nuclear pleiotropic effects on clock and fitness in barley

In plants, the role of chloroplasts and mitochondria (plasmotype) in controlling circadian clock plasticity and overall plant robustness has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the rhythmicity of chlorophyll fluorescence (Chl F) clock output , and fitness in the field at optimal and elevated temperatures, in three different barley populations. First, we examined a reciprocal DH population between two wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum), in which we identified two pleiotropic QTLs (frp2.1 and amp7.1) that modulate clock and fitness including conditioning of these effects by plasmotype diversity. In the second population, a complete diallel consisting of 11 genotypes (reciprocal hybrids differing in plasmotype), we observed a gradual reduction in plasmotype, ranging from 26% and 15% for Chl F and clock measurements to 5.3% and 3.7% for growth and reproductive traits, respectively. The third population studied was a collection of cytolines in which nine different wild plasmotypes replaced the cultivated Noga (H. vulgare) plasmotype. Here, the order and magnitude of the effects of the plasmotypes differed from what we observed in the diallel population, with the greatest effect of plasmotype diversity observed for clock period and amplitude. Comparison of the chloroplast sequences suggests several candidate genes in the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) complex that may be responsible for the observed plasmotype effects. Overall, our results unravel previously unknown cytonuclear epistatic interactions that controls clock performance while also having pleiotropic effects on a plant field characteristics.