Tissue Conditioner Incorporating a Nano-Sized Surface Pre-Reacted Glass-Ionomer (S-PRG) Filler

We aimed to evaluate the properties of a novel tissue conditioner containing a surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) nanofiller. Tissue conditioners containing 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 30 wt% S-PRG nanofiller or 10 or 20 wt% S-PRG microfiller were prepared. The S-PRG nanofillers and microfillers were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The ion release, acid buffering capacity, detail reproduction, consistency, Shore A0 hardness, surface roughness, and Candida albicans adhesion of the tissue conditioners were examined. The results indicated that the nanofiller particles were smaller and more homogeneous in size than the microfiller particles. In addition, Al, B, F, and Sr ions eluted from S-PRG were generally found to decrease after 1 day. Acid neutralization was confirmed in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanical properties of tissue conditioners containing S-PRG nanofiller were clinically acceptable according to ISO standard 10139-1:2018, although the surface roughness increased with increasing filler content. Conditioners with 5–30 wt% nanofiller had a sublethal effect on C. albicans and reduced fungal adhesion in vitro. In summary, tissue conditioner containing at least 5 wt% S-PRG nanofiller can reduce C. albicans adhesion and has potential as an alternative soft lining material.

Sublethal effects of bifenazate on biological traits and enzymatic properties in the Panonychus citri (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Panonychus citri, a major citrus pest. In pest management, bifenazate is a novel acaricide with high biological activity against red mites, such as Tetranychus urticae Koch. However, in the field, pests are frequently exposed to sublethal or lethal concentrations of pesticides. At present, its sublethal effects on P. citri have not been reported. Therefore, in order to investigate sublethal effect of bifenazate on biological traits and enzymatic properties of P. citri. The newly emerged females were treated with two concentrations of bifenazate: LC10 and LC30, the development and fecundity were observed. The results showed that female adult duration, fecundity, oviposition days, longevity were decrease compared with control, but pre-oviposition period was longer, net reproductive rate (R0), mean generation (T) were decreased, intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate (λ) were decreased in LC30, however, doubling time was increased. Enzymatic tests showed that CAT, POD, CarE activities were higher in treatments than control. The SOD and GST activities were lower in LC30 than control and LC10, the CYP450 activity was decreased with the increasing concentrations. This study demonstrated that low lethal concentrations of bifenazate adversely affected life table parameters, enzymatic properties in P. citri. Therefore, bifenazate has the potential to control this pest.

Phytoremediation of batik industry wastewater using water hyacinth plant as a medium for maintaining Cyprinus Carpio L.

Batik is one of Indonesia's cultural heritage that has been recognized internationally. Currently, public demand for batik continues to increase, increasing the production of the batik industry in Banten and will be the impact of increasing batik liquid waste. The results of batik production waste are usually directly disposed of through public water channels without being treated first. This condition can cause environmental pollution that will disrupt the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of phytoremediation of batik industrial wastewater on the lethality and structure of Cyprinus Carpio L. scales. This study used a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatment used was the maintenance of Cyprinus Carpio L. in the wastewater from the phytoremediation batik industry with concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%. The results showed that phytoremediation using water hyacinth plants reduced the BOD and COD content of batik waste. Phytoremediation of batik waste affects the lethality of Cyprinus Carpio L. and the structure of the scales. At concentrations of 20% and 40%, the highest average percentage of lethality is 60% death. Fish mortality is characterized by changes in behavior such as movement activity, body balance, and color morphology. The concentration of the batik industry wastewater also affects the amount of lethality and the sublethal effect of Cyprinus Carpio L. The attachment of the waste indicates the sublethal effect to the scales, the highest concentration of which is 20% and 40%, respectively.

Effect of Sublethal Dose/Concentration on Various Insect Behaviors

Most of the studies on the impact of insecticides have always used acute toxicity with an indicator of death, whereas the lethal effect cannot fully determine the effect of the insecticide on insects. Overall, the effect of sublethal dose/concentration of insecticides can cause biological effects, disrupt egg number, laying period, larva and pupal weight, development period, life span and fertility rate, in addition to influencing feeding behavior, spawning period, locomotor system and reducing or increasing production and response to pheromones, physiological effects on the reproductive and immune systems and the nutritional status of insects. This suggests that the sublethal effect is very important to form the basis for analysis of insecticide risk. In addition, the sublethal effect also affects the presence of natural enemies and other useful insects, so it is hoped that more studies on their impact on non-target insects are expected.Keywords: biological effects, natural enemies, pheromones, sublethal effect

Toxicity and Sublethal Effect of Farnesyl Acetate on Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is the most important pest of cruciferous vegetables worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the properties of selected farnesyl derivative compounds against P. xylostella. The toxicity and sublethal concentration (LC50) of farnesyl acetate, farnesyl acetone, farnesyl bromide, farnesyl chloride, and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone were investigated for 96 h. The leaf-dip bioassays showed that farnesyl acetate had a high level of toxicity against P. xylostella compared to other tested farnesyl derivatives. The LC50 value was 56.41 mg/L on the second-instar larvae of P. xylostella. Then, the sublethal effects of farnesyl acetate on biological parameters of P. xylostella were assessed. Compared to the control group, the sublethal concentration of farnesyl acetate decreased pupation and emergence rates, pupal weight, fecundity, egg hatching rate, female ratio, and oviposition period. Furthermore, the developmental time of P. xylostella was extended after being exposed to farnesyl acetate. Moreover, the application of farnesyl acetate on P. xylostella induced morphogenetic abnormalities in larval–pupal intermediates, adults that emerged with twisted wings, or complete adults that could not emerge from the cocoon. These results suggested that farnesyl acetate was highly effective against P. xylostella. The sublethal concentration of farnesyl acetate could reduce the population of P. xylostella by increasing abnormal pupal and adults, and by delaying its development period.

Selectivity and Sublethal Effects of Botanical Extracts to Pupae of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Aims: assess the effect of botanical extracts on pupae of the natural enemy Trichogramma pretiosum. Study Design: evaluation of the selectivity and sublethal effect on T. pretiosum pupae. Place and Duration of Study: Departamento de Proteção Vegetal e Horticultura da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas – Universidade Estadual Paulista ¨Júlio de Mesquita Filho¨ (FCA/UNESP) – Campus de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, carried out between March 2016 and April 2017. Methodology: the experiment was conducted in laboratory, with eleven treatments: Rosmarinus officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Varronia curassavica, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Vermonia polyanthes, Plectranthus amboinicus, Tetradenia riparia, Artemisia absinthium, Cymbopogon citratus, distilled water and chlorpyrifos, with the two last ones being the negative and positive controls, respectively. The plants were collected in the morning and had 100 g of each species separated and immersed in 300 ml of methyl alcohol for 24 hours in triple extraction. Posteriorly, the solvent was evaporated in rotavapor and the crude extract diluted in the proportion of 1000 mg to 250 mL of distilled water. The parasitism (%) was evaluated. The mortality of the parasitoids was classified in: class 1 – innocuous (E < 30%); class 2 – slightly harmful (30 ≤ E ≤ 79%); class 3 – moderately harmful (80 ≤ E ≤ 99%); class 4 – harmful (E > 99%); daily and accumulated parasitism, total of parasitized eggs and longevity were reported. Results: Solely the extract of R. officinalis was selective to T. pretiosum pupae. Despite it, all tested extracts induced sublethal effects, with R. officinalis and C. citratus causing the highest damage. Although R. officinalis resulted in sublethal effects, it was the only extract which did not lead to the mortality of females of T. pretiosum. Conclusion: the tested botanical extracts are innocuous (class 1) or slightly harmful (class 2) to pupae of T. pretiosum, resulting in some sublethal effect that might spoil its efficiency in the Integrated Pest Control.

Side Effects of Pesticides on the Olive Fruit Fly Parasitoid Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti): A Review

Pesticide applications in olive orchards could alter the biological control of parasitoid Psyttalia concolor Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the key pest Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae). Psyttalia concolor adults can be contaminated by exposure to spray droplets, contact with treated surfaces or oral uptake from contaminated food sources. Pesticides impact both pest and parasitoid populations when they coexist in time and space, as they reduce pest numbers available for parasitoids and might cause toxic effects to parasitoids from which they need to recover. Therefore, the appropriate timing and application of selective chemical treatments provides the opportunity to incorporate this parasitoid in the IPM of B. oleae. This manuscript reviews the current literature on lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and biopesticides on P. concolor. Insecticides were generally more toxic, particularly organophosphates and pyrethroids, while herbicides and biopesticides had less effects on mortality and reproductive parameters. Some fungicides were quite harmful. Most of the studies were conducted in laboratory conditions, focused on reproduction as the only sublethal effect, exclusively considered the effect of a single pesticide and persistence was hardly explored. Field studies, currently quite scarce, are absolutely needed to satisfactorily assess the impact of pesticides on P. concolor.