The side-effects of six pesticides used on peaches in Brazil were tested on the hymenopteran egg parasitoid Trichogramma cacoeciae using four laboratory tests: (a) adult parasitoid exposure to fresh pesticide residue on glass plates (worse case); (b) direct spray of host eggs enclosing the parasitoid egg, larvae or pupae (less-exposed life stages); (c) exposure of adults to pesticide residues on plant leaves at different intervals after application (persistence); (d) Doseresponse pesticide exposures of adults on glass plates. Two dose rates were used: (1) The highest recommended field dosage (FD) and (2) the predicted initial environmental concentrations (PIEC). The results showed that the preparations greatly differed in their initial toxicity and persistence. The insecticide Valient Ò (methoxyphenozide) and the fungicide Venturol Ò (dodine) were considered harmless to T. cacoeciae adults as they fell into the class 1 category according to the guidelines of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) when parasitoids were directly exposed to chemical residues. The insecticide/acaricide Assist Ò (mineral oil) was slightly harmful at the rate of PIEC 0.4 (40% of FD) and moderately harmful at FD. Pesticides in the categories harmless and moderately harmful can be considered for use in integrated pest management (IPM). The fungicide/acaricide Kumulus DF Ò (sulphur) and the insecticides Dipterex Ò 500 (triclorfon) and Lebaycid Ò 500 (fenthion) were harmful at both concentrations. In the persistence test, Assist Ò was short lived and therefore may in special cases (i.e. reduced direct contact) be considered for use in IPM, but Kumulus Ò DF, Dipterex Ò 500 and Lebaycid Ò 500 constantly reduced parasitism between 77 and 100% and were rated as persistent (more than 30 days). The direct spray of parasitized host eggs at intervals after parasitism showed that Assist Ò and Kumulus Ò DF were harmless to the parasitoid egg, larvae and pupae within the host eggs. Dipterex Ò 500 was slightly harmful when sprayed one day after parasitism (parasitoid egg) and moderately harmful to the other two stages (larvae and pupae). Lebaycid Ò 500 was harmful to the parasitoid egg and larvae and moderately harmful to the pupae. The dose-response test showed that Kumulus Ò DF and Dipterex Ò 500 were toxic to T. cacoeciae. Kumulus Ò DF was harmful from 1 PIEC 0.4 to 0.125 PIEC 0.4 dosages and was slightly harmful with 0.0625 PIEC 0.4 dosage. Dipterex Ò 500 was harmful to T. cacoeciae in all the dosages tested.

Silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus, were collected by fishing with drift gillnets on one spawning ground in Kuwait waters during 1998Kuwait waters during -2000. Fish size frequency, sex ratio, maturation cycle, spawning frequency, fecundity and egg weight were assessed. The length-weight relationship differed between sexes whereby females were significantly bigger than males. Spawning started in mid-May and continued until early October. During this time the water temperature ranged from 26.0 to 32.8°C, salinity was @ 39.0& and water depth ranged between 5 and 12 m. Large females spawned earlier than young spawners and the overall percentage of males during the spawning period was 70.3%. Spawning occurred after 13.00 h, with peak spawning between 15.00 and 18.00 hours during outgoing tide. Mean daily spawning frequency amounted to 63.2%. Spawning activity was found to be associated with the lunar cycle and spawnings were concentrated during the first and third quarters of the moon period, indicating a semilunar reproduction cycle. It was concluded that a female would spawn at least six times during the season. No change was observed in relative fecundity during the peak spawning season (June-August). Average relative batch fecundity was 176.3 eggs g )1 somatic weight (SW), corresponding to a relative total fecundity of 1058 eggs g )1 SW, which is 1.5 times higher than estimates obtained from counting the standing stock of oocytes. Bigger fish produced heavier eggs and the egg weight decreased as the spawning season progressed. Based on gonadal cycles, oocyte size frequency distribution and total fecundity, we concluded that silver pomfret is a multiple batch spawner with indeterminate fecundity.

Background: Reducing the hazards of the early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is a priority justifying the further investigation for potential biomarkers for its early diagnosis. Purpose: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of presepsin, procalcitonin, lactoferrin, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 for the early diagnosis of EONS. Methods: A prospective comparative study, including 30 cases with highly suspected EONS and 30 matched controls, was conducted. Besides the complete blood count and blood culture, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, presepsin, IL-6, IL-8, and lactoferrin were measured at the admission and after 72 hours. Results: At the time of the admission, presepsin, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and IL-8 were significantly higher in the sepsis group. The levels of presepsin, procalcitonin, and IL-8 significantly decreased after 72 hours of the admission. Presepsin, procalcitonin, IL-8, and IL-6 showed a high diagnostic ability for sepsis at admission with area under the curve of 0.934, 0.798, 0.775, and 0.751, respectively. The cutoff values of presepsin, procalcitonin, IL-8, and IL-6 were 821 pg/mL, 2.3 ng/mL, 54 pg/mL, and 24 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 88.9%, 72.2%, 83.3%, and 94.4% and specificity of 85.7%, 80.9%, 71.4%, and 52.4%, respectively. Lactoferrin had the lowest diagnostic ability with area under the curve of 0.558. Implications for Practice: Presepsin was the most accurate biomarker followed by procalcitonin, IL-8, and IL-6 regarding the early diagnosis and management of EONS. The combination between these biomarkers is highly recommended. Implications for Research: Further studies are needed to investigate the diagnostic ability of the combination of these biomarkers.

RESUMENOleoquímica I: Estudios sobre la preparación y la estructura de los jabones de litio.Se han preparado estearato, palnnitato, miristato, laurato, caprato y caprilato de litio por fusión. Se ha realizado el análisis elemental, los espectros de absorción en el infrarrojo y las difracciones de rayos X de los Jabones de litio preparados, además del análisis termogravimétrico de los mismos.Las sales de litio anhidra de los ácidos con 12 átomos de carbono o menos mostraron una estabilidad térmica hasta los 300 ± 78 °C dependiendo de la longitud de la cadena. Por otro lado las sales con 14 átomos de carbono o más se descompusieron a 126 ± 4 °C formándose carbonato de litio.Los jabones homólogos de litio mostraron una estructura cristalina similar, siendo los enlaces metal-oxígeno del mismo tipo para los ácidos grasos de número de átomos de carbono entre 8 y 18.Sin embargo el ángulo de inclinación que forma la molécula con el plano basal aumentó con la disminución del número de átomos de carbono, lo que se observó por difracción de rayos X.Se comprobó por espectroscopia infrarroja la intensificación del carácter iónico del enlace metal-oxígeno al disminuir el número de átomos de carbono. PALABRAS-CLAVE: Análisis elemental -Análisis termogravimétrico -Difracción de rayos X -Espectrofotometría infrarrojaHidróxido de litio -Jabón metálico. SUMMARY Oleochemicals I: Studies on the preparation and the structure of lithium soaps.Lithium stéarate, palmitate, myristate, laurate, caprate and caprylate were prepared by means of fusion method. Elementary analysis and the infrared absorptions spectra of the prepared lithium soaps as well as their X-ray diffractions and the thermogravimetric analyses were carried out.The anhydrous lithium salts of fatty acids with 12 carbon atoms or less showed thermal stability up to ca. 300 ± 78 °C depending on the chain length. On other hand the salts with 14 carbon atoms or more were decomposed at 126 ± 4 °C leading to formation of lithium carbonate.The homologous lithium soaps had very similar crystal structure among them and their metal -to-oxygen bonds were similar for the acyl chains between 8 and 18 carbons. However the angle of inclination of the molecular axes to the basal plane increased with the decreasing of the number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid chain, as determined by X-ray diffraction. In addition, the ionic character of the metal -to-oxygen bond was enhanced with the decrease of the number of carbon atoms as shown by infrared spectroscopy.

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Morphologie, Biologie und Schadensweise der beiden an Dattelpalmen schädlichen Milben Raoiella indica Hirst und Phyllotetranychus aegyptiacus Saved in ägypten untersucht. Die erstgenannte Art hat zwei Nymphenstadien, die letztere nur eins. Phyllotetranychus hat eine längere Gesamtentwicklung als Raoiella, was z. T. in der längeren Inkubationszeit begründet ist. Freilandbeobachtungen ergaben, daß die zwei Arten ihre Entwicklung und Reproduktion zwar im Winter fortsetzen, jedoch in verlangsamter Form.

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Background: To date, the cytokine profile in children and adolescent with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been reported. Objectives:We investigated serum levels of a panel of key cytokines in children and adolescent with COVID-19 pneumonia with a primary focus on "cytokine storm" cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and two chemokines interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and IL-8. We also studied whether these cytokines could be potential markers for illness severity in COVID-19 pneumonia.Methods: Ninety-two symptomatic patients aged less than 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and 100 well-matched healthy controls were included in this multi-center study. For all patients, the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory fluid specimens was detected by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We measured serum concentrations of studied cytokines by using flow cytometry.

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between occurrence of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer, and the presence of H. pylori cagA gene and anti-CagA IgG, and to estimate the value of these antibodies in detecting infection by cagA gene-positive H. pylori strains in Saudi patients. The study included 180 patients who were subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Taif province and Western region of Saudi Arabia (60 gastric cancer, 60 peptic ulcer, and 60 with non-ulcer dyspepsia). Gastric biopsy specimens were obtained and tested for H. pylori infection by rapid urease test and culture. PCR was performed on the isolated strains and biopsy specimens for detection of the cagA gene. Blood samples were collected and tested for CagA IgG by ELISA. H. pylori infection was detected among 72.8% of patients. The cagA gene and anti-CagA IgG were found in 63.4% and 61.8% of H. pylori-infected patients, respectively. They were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in patients with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer compared with those with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Detection of the CagA IgG was 91.6% sensitive, 89.6% specific, and 90.8% accurate compared with detection of the cagA gene. Its positive and negative predictive values were 93.8% and 86%, respectively. The study showed a significant association between the presence of the cagA gene and gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease, and between anti-CagA IgG and the cagA gene in Saudi patients. However, a further larger study is required to confirm this finding.