Residual Effects Research Articles

Residual Effect of Organics and Humic Acid on Physical, Chemical and Biological Property of Soil after Harvest of Succeeding Chickpea

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, C. P. College of Agriculture, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar to study the effect of organics and humic acid on kharif pearlmillet and their residual effect on succeeding chickpea during kharif- 2022 to 2023 and rabi 2022-23 to 2023-24. The soil of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture, alkaline in reaction, normal in salinity, low in organic carbon, available N, medium in available P2O5 and K2O and low DTPA- extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. The treatments were applied in kharif pearlmillet crop and their residual effect was studied in succeeding chickpea crop. Residual effect of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 recorded significantly increased OC (0.298, 0.302 and 0.300 per cent), available N (177.28, 180.10 and 178.69 kg ha-1), P2O5 (41.20, 42.04 and41.62 kg ha-1) was observed during both the year and pooled result and total bacterial count (156.26 cfu g soil-1) in pooled result soil with the application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1. While application of humic acid did not get significant result and but numerically increased above mention parameter under the soil application of humic acid 30 kg ha-1.

Влияние биокомпоста на основе птичьего помета на продуктивность звена севооборота «яровой рапс → озимая рожь на зеленую массу»

One of the most accessible methods for producing environmentally safe organic fertilizer from poultry manure is its composting. This process balances the nutrient composition of the manure and reduces physical and gaseous losses by slowing down the mineralization of organic matter. Research on the preparation of biocompost based on poultry manure, obtained under different poultry housing systems and combined with sawdust, as well as its impact on the productivity of the crop rotation link "spring rapeseed → winter rye for green mass," was conducted under vegetative trial conditions at the experimental site of Nizhny Novgorod State Agrotechnical University. It was established that the biocompost, applied at doses of 20, 40, and 60 g per container (equivalent to 10, 20, and 30 tons/ha under production conditions), reliably increased the seed yield of spring rapeseed by 5.7–6.5 times. However, as soil fertility increased, the grain yield improved only slightly (by 10.3–2.9% compared to the previous variant). The most significant residual effect of the biocompost was observed in the variant with the highest dose (30 tons/ha), where the maximum biomass yield of winter rye was achieved (3.5 times higher than the control variant and 1.9 times higher than with the minimum biocompost dose). Keywords: BIOCOMPOST, SPRING RAPESEED, WINTER RYE, POULTRY MANURE, TOTAL BIOMASS YIELD, SEED YIELD

Residual Effects of Vinasse and Poultry Manure Application on Soil Quality and Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Yield Grown in Calcareous Soil

Reuse poultry manure (PM) and vinasse (V) is a promising technology for the sustainability of various agricultural systems without environmental impact, but its effects on soil fertility index (SFI), hydraulic conductivity (Ks), porosity (TP), available water (AW), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) growth in calcareous soils are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the residual effect of combining PM either individually or mixed with V at different rates in pots. This study found that adding PM alone or in conjunction with V at various application rates resulted in an important improvement in SFI, Ks, TP, AW, and spinach yield. Vinasse contributed to an increase in more than 20% of the organic matter when adding it as 4.2 g V and 6.3 g PM kg−1 soil, and gave the best results in the organic matter fresh weight of spinach plant, SFI, and AW by 43.8%, 26.33%, 41.24%, and 63.63% compared to control. Spinach leaf uptake of NPK rose considerably when the soil was treated with PM alone or in combination with V. The SFI, cation exchange capacity (CEC), available N (AN), available P (AP), Ks, and AW were shown to be positively associated with spinach fresh weight utilizing principal component analysis, but soil electrical conductivity (EC), exchange sodium percentage (ESP), pH, and bulk density (BD) were found to be negatively correlated. Additionally, it was estimated by the K-Nearest Neighbors technique that under certain soil conditions, including AP 14.89 mg kg−1, AN 38.25 mg kg−1, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) 2.47 mg kg−1, CEC 11.66 cmol kg−1, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) 11.65%, and SFI 26.55%, spinach fresh weight increases to 13.8 t ha−1. These findings show how adding PM and V can improve soil quality and enhance nutrient uptake, all of which can contribute to a higher productivity of spinach and sustainability in calcareous soils.

A novel two-layer composite geomembrane lining structure to mitigate frost damage in cold-region canals: Model test and numerical simulation

The canal is crucial for water diversion projects, but it is susceptible to frost damage. To address this, a two-layer composite geomembrane lining structure (TLCGLS) was proposed that regulates the interaction between canal lining and frozen soil. Model tests were conducted to investigate its anti-frost heave effectiveness. Considering the interaction among the lining, two-layer composite geomembranes (TLCGs), and frozen soil, a canal frost heave model with heat-water-mechanical coupling was developed. The influence of canal cross-section shapes and TLCGs arrangements on anti-frost heave performance and mechanism of TLCGLS were discussed. Results show that TLCGLS reduces uneven frost heave degree and compressive/tensile strains of the lining by 35%, 29%, and 28% respectively. During melting, it rapidly reduces frost heave, tangential deformation, and strain with minimal residual effects. TLCGLS demonstrates strong resetting ability and excellent anti-frost heave performance. It is particular suitable for arc-bottomed trapezoidal canals. However, excessive reduction in friction between TLCGs weakens arching effect of the bottom lining, increasing tensile stress and safety risks. TLCGLS with geomembrane-geotextile contact exhibits superior anti-frost heave performance, mitigating compressive stress by over 50% while meeting design requirements for tensile stress. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical solution for mitigating frost damage in canals.

Effect of Integrated Sources of Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Economics of Cowpea (Vigna unguculata L.) var Ankur Gomati

A field experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 7 treatments and 3 replications to study the effect of fertilizers, organic manures, biochar and crop residues on growth. yield and economics of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Inceptisols of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India in 2022. A research variety Ankur Gomati was taken for this research trial. Recommended doses of fertilizers (N, P2O5 and K2O @ 25, 75 and 60 kg ha-1) was applied with inorganic fertilizers (Zn and B), organic manures (FYM, vermicompost, neem cake and poultry manure), biochar and crop residues (rice straw and wheat straw). Growth parameters such as the maximum plant height 46.96 cm, 70.21 cm and 92.22 cm, maximum number of branch plant-1 5.82, 7.56 and 9.79, highest number of leaf plant-1 28.32, 30.56 and 32.22, highest length of leaf as 5.37 cm, 7.31 cm and 9.18 cm were recorded in T7 [RDF + Poultry Manure @2 t ha-1 + Biochar @2.5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @2 t ha-1 + Neem Cake @500 kg ha-1] at 30 DAS, 55 DAS and 70 DAS respectively. And yield parameters such as high pod length as 21.72 cm and 20.01 cm, highest number of pods plant-1 35.52 and 35.75, highest number of seed pod-1 10.01 and 10.21 and highest test weight 27.12 g and 26.23 g were recorded in T7 [RDF + Poultry Manure @2 t ha-1 + Biochar @2.5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @2 t ha-1+ Neem Cake @500 kg ha-1] at 55 DAS and 70 DAS respectively. Highest yield 160.12 q ha-1 were obtained in treatment T7 [RDF + Poultry Manure @2 t ha-1 + Biochar @2.5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @2 t ha-1+ Neem Cake @500 kg ha-1]. Maximum gross return ₹ 2,41,680 was recorded in treatment T7 [RDF + Poultry Manure @2 t ha-1 + Biochar @2.5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @2 t ha-1+ Neem Cake @500 kg ha-1]. Maximum B:C ratio (2.80) was recorded in T4 [RDF + Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 + Rice Straw @ 6 t ha-1]. But maximum net return (₹ 1,47,624.1) was recorded in treatment T4 [RDF + Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 + Rice Straw @ 6 t ha-1]. The yield and growth parameters also significantly increased with the application of the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Insight into the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and volatile compounds of yellow-feathered chickens fed with fermented pineapple residue

This study aimed to evaluated the effect of dietary fermented pineapple residue (FPR) on chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and volatile compounds in yellow-feathered chickens. GC-IMS technique combined with multivariate analysis were performed to clarify the key volatile compounds. The results showed that dietary FPR improved meat quality by increasing the antioxidant capacity, pH value, and decreasing cooking loss of breast muscle. The fatty acids profile was altered in breast muscle of chickens that fed with FPR. GC-IMS detected 43 volatile compounds in breast muscle, including mainly aldehydes, esters, and alcohols. Among them, 12 volatile compounds could serve as potential aroma markers to distinguish meat flavor of chickens fed with FPR. Correlation analysis revealed that C18:1n9c, C18:2n6, and PUFA are important contributor for meat flavor formation. In conclusion, dietary FPR improved antioxidant capacity, meat quality, fatty acids profile, and volatile compounds of breast muscle in chickens.

Liquid Chromatography Column Screening for the Analysis of Corrosion Inhibitor Molecules Using Derringer Desirability Functions.

Corrosion inhibitors (CIs) are extensively employed in the oil and gas industry, yet their analysis remains a challenge. To develop a suitable liquid chromatography method for a wide array of CIs, a column screening was conducted. Nine different chromatographic conditions were tested across eight RPLC and mixed-mode columns (Accucore C18, CORTECS Shield RP18, Acquity HSS T3, Acquity Premier HSS T3, Accucore 150-C4, Accucore PFP, Synergi Polar RP, and Acclaim WCX-1). Seven model mixtures representative of CIs, which included quaternary ammoniums, imidazolines, and phosphoric esters, were considered to probe the columns. Each column exhibited unique analytical performances, peak shape, and separation profiles. To find a compromise to analyze all the mixtures with one method, Derringer desirability functions were used. Shielding of residual silanols proved to be a critical factor. The trifunctional grafting of the Acquity HSS T3 columns appeared to be a promising strategy to minimize residual silanol effects. However, it was the Premier technology, which protects the column's inner walls and frits against parasitic adsorption, which delivered the best overall results. Based on the desirability study, the Acquity Premier HSS T3 column was selected and the gradient was optimized, which enabled the separation of the molecules present in the model mixtures.

Exploration of urease-aided calcium carbonate mineralization by enzyme analyses of Neobacillus mesonae strain NS-6.

Urease containing nickel cofactor is crucial for urea-hydrolytic induced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation (UICP). However, limited information exists regarding the influence of amino acid residues interacting with nickel ions in its structure on induced CaCO3 mineralization. Herein, RT-qPCR was used to demonstrate that the addition of NiCl2 dramatically upregulated the expression of urease structural gene ureC that was correlated with nickel binding in Neobacillus mesonae strain NS-6. Homology modeling and molecular docking were employed to construct the three-dimensional structure of urease and seek the key residues involved in nickel binding process, and virtual mutation technology was adopted to inform three key residues coordinated with nickel ions and urea, His249, His275, and Asp363. Four metrics, including root mean square deviation values for mutations of those key residues in urease-urea complexes severally and wild-type, were calculated by molecular dynamics simulations when they were mutated into alanine, respectively. Subsequently, the mutations of H249A, H275A, and D363A were characterized using western blotting to reveal a decrease in the relative expression and activity of urease, along with a corresponding reduction in CaCO3 precipitation. Ultimately, the mutations also exhibited that they had lower substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency for urea through enzymatic properties analysis. The findings suggested that those residues played a pivotal role in UICP of strain NS-6, which would expand the theoretical basis for modulating urease activity.IMPORTANCEUrease-producing bacterium is of great importance in diverse application fields, such as environmental remediation, due to its key driving characteristics in catalyzing urea hydrolysis via urea-hydrolytic induced CaCO3 precipitation (UICP). As essential cofactors of urease, nickel ions play a crucial role in regulating urease catalysis and maintaining structural stability. Numerous investigations have emphasized the impact of nickel ions on urease activity in recent years, to our best knowledge, only a few literatures have studied the molecular-level regulation of nickel-ligand residues. This study focused on the highly urease-producing bacterial Neobacillus mesonae NS-6 to explore the effects of specific nickel-ligand residues on the urease-aided CaCO3 mineralization process using molecular simulation predictions and targeted mutation experiments. The aim was to provide a molecular-level understanding of the interactive effects between urea and critical residues associated with the urease active center, as well as propose an effective modification strategy to enhance the application of UICP in future environmental areas.

Systemic exposure to COVID-19 virus-like particles modulates firing patterns of cortical neurons in the living mouse brain.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a systemic infection that affects the central nervous system. We used virus-like particles (VLPs) to explore how exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 proteins affects brain activity patterns in wild-type (WT) mice and in mice that express the wild-type human tau protein (htau mice). VLP exposure elicited dose-dependent changes in corticosterone and distinct chemokine levels. Longitudinal two-photon microscopy recordings of primary somatosensory and motor cortex neurons that express the jGCaMP7s calcium sensor tracked modifications of neuronal activity patterns following exposure to VLPs. There was a substantial short-term increase in stimulus-evoked activity metrics in both WT and htau VLP-injected mice, while htau mice showed also increased spontaneous activity metrics and increase activity in the vehicle-injected group. Over the following weeks, activity metrics in WT mice subsided, but remained above baseline levels. For htau mice, activity metrics either remain elevated or decreased to lower levels than baseline. Overall, our data suggest that exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 VLPs leads to strong short-term disruption of cortical activity patterns in mice with long-term residual effects. The htau mice, which have a more vulnerable genetic background, exhibited more severe pathobiology that may lead to more adverse outcomes.

Spatial and directional tuning of serial dependence for tracking eye movements.

An attractive influence of past sensory experience on current behavior has been observed in many domains ranging from perceptual decisions to motor responses. However, it is unclear what sort of information is integrated across trials, especially for oculomotor behavior. Here we provide a detailed investigation of the spatial and directional tuning of serial dependence for oculomotor tracking. Across multiple experiments, we measured oculomotor responses to sequences of movements: the first movement (prior) could move at different velocities (5deg/s or 15deg/s), and could vary in its spatial location or direction relative to the following movement. The second movement (probe) was constant across all experiments and moved at 10deg/s. We observed that eye velocity for the probe was faster when following the fast prior compared to following the slow prior, replicating attractive serial dependence. Importantly, this effect stayed consistent for distances of up to 30deg between prior and probe, indicating a retinotopic reference frame. When we manipulated the direction of the prior, we observed that the influence of the prior on eye velocity, as well as eye direction, was stronger for prior directions more similar to the probe direction, and the magnitude of the effect on eye velocity and eye direction was correlated. Across all experiments, we observed that even when the prior moved in the opposite direction, there was a residual attractive effect. This suggests that serial dependence for oculomotor tracking consists of two components, one retinotopic, direction-tuned component and one more general component that is not direction specific.

Comparison of Butorphanol-Azaperone-Medetomidine and Nalbuphine-Medetomidine-Azaperone for Immobilization of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) is commonly used for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) immobilization in captive and free-ranging populations. It is a federally regulated controlled substance requiring stringent regulatory compliance, complicating field application. A prescription-only drug combination, nalbuphine-medetomidine-azaperone® (NalMed-A) provides a less-regulated alternative for use by wildlife professionals. Efficacy and safety of these drug combinations for immobilization of deer have not been compared in a controlled trial, and reports of dose-specific effects of NalMed-A on white-tailed deer physiology are lacking. Additionally, residual effects of these drugs on deer behavior, food consumption, and stress response have not been reported. In February through April 2021, we immobilized 30 captive female, adult white-tailed deer in three treatment groups (n=10 each). Hand-injected doses were 1.5 mL BAM intramuscularly (IM; 41.0 mg butorphanol, 13.6 mg azaperone, 16.4 mg medetomidine), 1.5 mL NalMed-A IM (60.0 mg nalbuphine, 15.0 mg medetomidine, 15.0 mg azaperone), and 2.0 mL NalMed-A IM (80.0 mg nalbuphine, 20.0 mg medetomidine, 20.0 mg azaperone). We compared quality of immobilizations and reversals and times to induction and reversal among treatments, collected biological samples to measure stress hormones and blood gases, and conducted observations to determine treatment-related variations in behaviors. When an effective dose was administered, both BAM and NalMed-A produced rapid and smooth immobilization and recovery after reversal. All treatments in combination with manual restraint caused some degree of hyperthermia, hypoxemia, hypercarbia, bradycardia, respiratory and metabolic acidosis, and elevated lactate and serum cortisol. At 60 d, all deer were still alive, with no apparent residual effects. Vital signs of deer exposed to manual restraint and these drug combinations should be monitored closely, with supportive therapy provided when needed. We suggest BAM and NalMed-A are safe for immobilizing deer in situations similar to our trials, although doses may perform differently in deer remotely injected without manual restraint.

Nitrogen Residual Effect of Winter Cover Crops on Maize in Uruguay: Conventional and Isotopic Evaluation

This study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen (N) residual effects of winter cover crops (CCs) on soil N availability and corn (Zea mays L.) performance over two growing seasons and at two sites in Uruguay. Both conventional and isotopic methods were used to assess the N residual effects of two legume monocultures, a legume–grass mixture, an oat monoculture, and a control without CCs. The experimental design was a randomized block with split plots, where CCs were applied to main plots and N rates (0 and 100 kg ha⁻1) to subplots. An isotopic trial with 15N was included to measure fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE). Results varied between sites: at Site 1, legume monocultures enhanced soil N availability and, along with N rate, significantly increased corn yield and N uptake. At Site 2, only the N rate affected these variables. Site 1 had a low crop 15N recovery, averaging 9.5% due to weeds and heavy rainfall, while Site 2 showed higher recovery, notably when corn succeeded lupine (35%) and mixture CCs (40%). The soil’s top layer and corn grain showed the highest 15N concentration. The study suggests that specific CC combinations tailored to site conditions may optimize corn yield and NUE.

A Comprehensive Review of Low- and Zero-Residue Pesticide Methods in Vegetable Production

Increasing demand for sustainable vegetable production is leading to low- and zero-pesticide farming practices. This review examines many strategies intended to lower pesticide use without impacting crop quality and production. The use of biopesticides, biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), and organic farming are some of the important techniques that are examined. This investigation also covers cutting-edge technology that improves the efficacy and efficiency of various techniques, such as robots, artificial intelligence (AI), and precision agriculture. A rigorous evaluation of the effects of pesticide residues on the environment and human health emphasises how crucial it is to use fewer pesticides. Market trends and customer preferences are considered, as well as the social and economic effects of implementing these strategies. The paper’s conclusion identifies obstacles to the general adoption of low- and zero-pesticide approaches and makes recommendations for future research topics to overcome these obstacles.

Toxicity of Eight Insecticides on Drosophila suzukii and Its Pupal Parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae.

The pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) has been evaluated as a biological agent of Drosophila suzukii. Integrated pest management strategies mostly rely on combined application of multiple insecticides and natural enemies. This study assessed the toxicity of eight common insecticides against D. suzukii in fruit orchards and the effects of semilethal and sublethal doses on T. drosophilae. The eight insecticides had higher toxicities to D. suzukii larvae with lower LC50 values than those for adults. Adults and larvae showed high susceptibility to emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, lambda-cyhalothrin, abamectin, and sophocarpidine. The median lethal doses (LC50) of lambda-cyhalothrin and imidacloprid to T. drosophilae adults were 60.41 mg/L and 100.58 mg/L, higher than the toxicities of the other six insecticides. Applying chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, sophocarpidine, abamectin, azadirachtin, and spinetoram resulted in low toxicity to D. suzukii pupae. However, the exposure of D. suzukii pupae or larvae to these insecticides at semilethal and sublethal doses decreased the parasitism or eclosion rate of T. drosophilae. These results improve our understanding of the effects of insecticide residues on T. drosophilae development and provide a basis for the combined use of chemical and biological options for managing D. suzukii.

Association of early perioperative stroke after cardiothoracic surgery with intraoperative regional cerebral oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy: an observational cohort study comparing affected versus non-affected hemispheres.

Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery are at risk of developing perioperative stroke, but residual effects of anesthesia may hamper timely detection. This study aims to determine if there is an association between intraoperative regional cerebral oxygenation (ScO2) monitoring using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the occurrence of early perioperative stroke within three days after cardiothoracic surgery. We performed a single-center retrospective observational cohort study including all consecutive cardiothoracic surgery patients with routinely perioperative ScO2 monitoring admitted postoperatively to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between 2008 and 2017. Patients with a confirmed stroke in the anterior cerebral circulation on brain imaging were included in the analysis. Intraoperative area under the curve (AUC), duration, and total ScO2 excursions below predefined thresholds (< 50% ScO2 or > 20% reduction below baseline) were calculated for each hemisphere. Stroke-affected and non-affected hemispheres were compared using logistic regression analyses to investigate a potential association between ScO2 values and stroke. Of the 2454 cardiothoracic surgery patients with perioperative ScO2 monitoring, 39 had a anterior stroke on brain imaging. ScO2 readings of 44 affected hemispheres were compared to 34 non-affected hemispheres. Only the duration of ScO2 < 50% or a > 20% drop from baseline were significantly associated with global ischemia (OR 1.30 (0.95%CI; 1.09-2.30)) when comparing affected (72 [5 to 33] min.) versus non-affected (28 [4 to 44] min.) hemispheres. The duration of ScO2 values < 50% or a drop > 20% from baseline were associated with the occurrence of early perioperative global cerebral ischemia within three days after cardiothoracic surgery.

Use of diagnostic subtraction angiography for ischemic stroke (US DUTCH study) Regional variation and time-trend among medicare beneficiaries

IntroductionThere are no guideline recommendations for DSA in the ischemic stroke work-up. We studied the rate of DSA in ischemic stroke, the recent time-trend, hospital variation and associated factors. MethodsThis is a retrospective cross-sectional study among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with ischemic stroke admitted between 2016 and 2020 in the United States. ICD-10 codes were used to determine ischemic stroke diagnosis and procedure codes for thrombectomy and DSA. Hospital trends and factors associated with DSA performance were analyzed in hospitals with DSA capacity. Results7.373 (0.7 %) of the 1,085,644 ischemic stroke patients, had a DSA for diagnostic purposes. In the patients that were admitted to a hospital with DSA facility, the following factors showed the strongest association with DSA: younger age (aOR=0.81 [95 % confidence interval (CI):0.81-0.83]), thrombectomy rate in that hospital (aOR=2549 [95 %CI:610-10663]), transfer (aOR=1.41[95 %CI:1.34-1.50]) and carotid disease (aOR=5.8 [95 %CI:5.6-6.1]). There was large variation in the hospital DSA rate, varying from 0.07 % to 11.1 %. Of the variance of DSA rates, 15 % was attributed to the residual effect hospital propensity to perform DSA. The top decile of hospitals with the highest DSA rate, performed DSA's in >2.3 % of patients, compared to the 0.6 % median. There was no change in DSA rates over time. ConclusionDSA is used infrequently in acute ischemic stroke patients and did not change between 2016 to 2020. Hospital variation in DSA use was however large, and not solely explained by patient and facility factors.

Effectiveness of Commercial Plant Extracts in Management of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) on Broccoli in Mexico1

Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is the primary pest of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica von Plenck), and it holds the distinction of having the highest number of documented cases of insecticide resistance among insect pests, which complicates its management. The utilization of plant extracts is considered an alternative approach. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the efficacy of commercial plant extracts for the control of P. xylostella. Nine commercial extract products were evaluated, and their effects were compared with Inex-A® + distilled water (control group) and Exalt® (commercial control). Toxicity assays were conducted using third-instar larvae by topical application bioassay. Oviposition inhibition was assessed along with adult female repellency by exposing females to treated surfaces. To determine the residual effect on feeding and oviposition inhibition, third-instar larvae and 3- to 6-d-old adult females were used, respectively, with residual effects measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 d postapplication. Nimicide 80 (Ultraquimia, Morelos, Mexico) exhibited a mortality rate of 35% of third-instar larvae. Garlimax (Plant Health Care, Azcapotzalco, Mexico) inhibited oviposition by 80%, and demonstrated 85% repellency. The residual effect of Garlimax persisted for 4 d, resulting in a reduced percentage of the consumed area and egg oviposition. The findings of this research highlight the effectiveness of these two products, Nimicide 80 and Garlimax; however, field evaluations are recommended to verify the consistency of their biological effects.

Evaluation of carrot and agroindustrial residues for obtaining Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) powder enriched in bioaccessible provitamin A and colourless carotenoids

In this pilot study Tenebrio molitor larvae were fed with two residues (olive leaf meal and spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrate meal) and wheat flour (control). Carrot was used to provide a source of water and carotenoids. The objectives were to compare the effect of residues on growth and proximate composition of the flours and their carotenoid profile, by providing carotenoids and/or affecting their absorption by larvae. Additionally, the carotenoid bioaccesible content in Tenebrio molitor powder was evaluated. The powder obtained from larvae fed with the residues had a similar proximal composition to the control and residue meals tested did not affect negatively larval survival nor growth. Larvae accumulated significant amounts of carotenoids, especially when fed with olive leaf meal, followed by spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrate meal, even though the latter lacked detectable amounts of carotenoids. This suggests that the composition of the fungal substrate may favour a higher carotenoid uptake mechanism in mealworms compared to control. The colourless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene exhibited the highest carotenoid bioaccesible content, followed by the provitamin A carotenoids β-carotene and α-carotene. Summarizing, T. molitor fed on agri-food residues can accumulate bioavailable and health-promoting carotenoids, that can contribute to alleviating global problems such as vitamin A deficiency.

The amendment value of pulp and paper mill sludges in Finnish coarse-textured soil

As a source of exogenous organic matter, pulp and/or paper mill sludges (PPMS) may have beneficial effects on crop productivity and soil chemical and physical properties. This study's aim was to assess the impacts of two different PPMS materials on crop yields, the quality of percolation water, and soil chemical and hydraulic properties in a three-year field experiment on a silt loam soil in East Central Finland. Fresh (FPMS) and lime-stabilized (LPMS) sludges were applied once at rates of 21–28 fresh-Mg ha−1 in the spring prior to the sowing of grass ley under barley as a cover crop and incorporated into the upper 7 cm soil layer. Supplemental nitrogen (N) was applied at levels of 40 and 80 kg ha−1. A decrease of barley grain yield due to N immobilization was observed at the N level 40 kg ha−1, but the standard N application rate (80 kg ha−1) connected with a moderate C:N ratio (FPMS 27:1, LPMS 24:1) was adequate to avoid significant yield losses. In the second and third year following the PPMS applications, there was a tendency for positive residual effects on the total dry matter yield of grass ley, which could be attributed to slow mineralization of sludge-N. The application of LPMS increased the pH in surface soil by 0.5–0.7-units and Ca concentration by 240–660 mg L−1 of soil relative to the non-amended control over the study period. In the year of PPMS applications, the amendments produced a significant increase (about 2.0 g kg−1) in the total carbon (C) concentrations in the uppermost 10 cm soil layer relative to the non-amended soil. During the following years, the change in soil C was no longer measurable, indicating relatively fast decomposition of sludge-C. Saturated hydraulic conductivity tended to be 1.4 to 2.3 times higher in the PPMS-treated soils than in the non-amended soil. Except for the decline in readily plant-available water, the other common water retention parameters were not significantly affected by the PPMS amendments. There were significant positive treatment effects on the amount of water retained between −13 and − 316 kPa matric potentials, suggesting an increase in medium-sized pores contributing to water storage in the soil. To maintain or enhance the beneficial direct and indirect effects of PPMS on crop yields and soil physico-chemical properties, repeated applications of PPMS are required, possibly combined with the use of organic fertilizers, especially during grass ley years.

Residual next-day effects of alprazolam on psychomotor performance and simulated driving in healthy normal adults.

The prevalence of drugged driving has increased in the United States. Some drugged driving may be unintentional as prescription medications used as sleeping aids, like zolpidem, cause impairment after the predicted duration of therapeutic action has elapsed. The aim of this study was to determine if nighttime administration of alprazolam, a drug commonly prescribed off-label as a sleeping aid, impacts driving performance the following day. Participants were healthy adults (n = 15) who completed a double-blind, double-dummy, within-subjects inpatient study examining the effects of nighttime administration of alprazolam (0.5, 1, and 2 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), and placebo on driving performance the following day. Alprazolam (1 mg; morning) and zolpidem (nighttime) both served as positive control conditions. Driving simulator measures, cognitive and psychomotor tasks, and questionnaires querying drug effects were collected the afternoon before drug administration and for 5.5 hr the next day and analyzed using symmetry and mixed-model approaches. Morning alprazolam significantly impaired driving performance. Driving impairment was observed up to 12.5 hr after nighttime alprazolam 2 mg and for 8.5 hr after nighttime zolpidem 10 mg. Participant reports on driving ability indicated that they were not aware of their level of impairment. These results suggest that alprazolam used before bed may pose a yet unrecognized public safety risk in the form of next-day drugged driving. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).