Plastic Boxes Research Articles

EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL AND COMBINED APPLICATION OF Trichoderma sp. AND VERMICOMPOST ON THE MANAGEMENT OF Sclerotium rolfsii AND GROWTH OF CHILLI UNDER PEATLANDS AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

This study was conducted to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma sp., and vermicompost on the management of Sclerotium rolfsii and chilli plant growth under peatlands agro-climatic conditions. The research was conducted under the laboratory as well field condition of Palangka Raya University in a completely randomized factorial design. As a treatment, four doses of Trichoderma sp. i.e. 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/box, and three doses of Vermicompost i.e. 0, 100, and 200g/ box was used individually and in combination and each treatment have three replications. Three kilograms of sterilized peat soil planting media were placed in the 36 plastic boxes and Trichoderma sp., and vermicompost was applied 1 week before the chilli seeds are planted. After 10 weeks of plantations, observations related to the disease intensity and chilli growth and yield were recorded. The results of the study revealed a synergistic effect of Trichoderma sp. and vermicompost combination in controlling the stem rot disease caused by S. rolfsii. Individual and combined application of Trichoderma and vermicompost had an effective range of 73.33-100% over the control. Further, among the various tested treatments, a combination of Trichoderma sp @ 5g/box with vermicompost @ 200g/box and individual application of Trichoderma sp @ 10g/box were found superior in the management of stem rot disease. In the case of chilli growth parameters, the results of the study suggested that the application of vermicompost had a significant effect on the chilli plant's growth and yield, while the application of Trichoderma sp. significantly affects the chilli plants number of leaves.

Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Control in Poultry Litter Mediated by Lytic Bacteriophage Isolated from Swine Manure.

We report the use of bacteriophages for control of Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry production. Phage was isolated by the double-agar plate assay from agricultural waste samples, and one isolate, named SM1, was selected and propagated for application in poultry litter. Two experimental protocols were tested: single treatment and repeated treatment (re-application of phage SM1 after 6 h and 12 h). Each treatment cycle involved 25 g of poultry litter placed in plastic boxes and contaminated with 105 Colony Forming Units mL−1 (CFU mL−1) of S. Enteritidis, in independent duplicates. The contaminated litter was treated with 106 Plaque Forming Units mL−1 (PFU mL−1) of SM1 phage by dripping. Repeated application of phage SM1 reduced Salmonella counts by over 99.9%; the phage persisted in poultry litter for over 35 days. This study illustrates the application of SM1 treatment as a promising technology for bacterial control in production matrices that could allow safe and sustainable use of agricultural waste products as biofertilizers.

Self-stick membrane based on grafted gum Arabic as active food packaging for cheese using cinnamon extract

Encapsulation of volatile essential oils has been investigated to provide an active food packaging (AFP) material with more control over their fast release and pungent smell. In this work, Gum Arabic-based adhesive membrane was developed as a self-stick AFP material, delivering cinnamon essential oil (CEO) in vapor phase. Gum Arabic (GA) was grafted with butyl acrylate (BA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate [GA-g-poly(BA-HEMA)]. Adhesive membrane was characterized by means of spectral, physicochemical and rheological analysis. GA-adhesive membrane made of 5% wt/v GA, 3.5 m mol HEMA, and 87 m mol BA with 21 N/m tack are loaded with 4, 8 and 10% v/v of CEO and used for antimicrobial bioassays. GA-g-poly(BA-HEMA) membrane prolonged CEO release up to 2 days. 8%v/v CEO showed superior activities against both Gram negative and positive bacteria. Shelf-life of cheese samples, packed with the self-stick membranes loaded with cinnamon extract, has extended from 3 to 8 weeks. Cheese samples that inoculated with shiga toxin producing E. coli O157:H7 and packed in plastic boxes with the self-stick AFP (4, 8 and 10 % CEO), showed significant reduction in the total bacteria counts.

Experimental and numerical investigation of damping in a hybrid automotive damper combining viscous and multiple-impact mechanisms

One of the least investigated approaches in passive vibration control is the possibility of combining different types of dampers that use different damping principles. Such a combination process, if wisely designed and implemented, has the potential to increase the damping performance and extend the damper’s application. The primary purpose of this work is to experimentally and numerically investigate the damping behavior of a novel Fluid-Impact Hybrid Damper. This damper combines a conventional Viscous Fluid Damper with a Particle-Impact Damper. The Fluid-Impact Hybrid Damper comprises a 3D-printed plastic box attached to the Viscous Fluid Damper’s moving rod and filled with stainless steel balls. An experimental setup was designed to drive the Viscous Fluid Damper’s rod into harmonic oscillations at different frequencies (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 Hz). The number of balls was changed three times (5, 10, and 15) to assess the effect of this parameter on the damping performance of the Fluid-Impact Hybrid Damper. A finite element model of the Fluid-Impact Hybrid Damper was developed using LS-Dyna explicit simulation program. The objective of the FE model is to investigate the elastoplastic balls-box collisions using a piecewise-linear plasticity material model. For both the experimental and numerical results, the Frequency Response Function was considered as the main comparison component for a set of force-independent results. The measured Frequency Response Functions showed a noticeable reduction in amplitude at the system’s natural frequency (2 Hz), with an acceptable accuracy between the two approaches.

New Distributional, Host and Plant Association Records of Saproxylic Ichneumonid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in Turkey

The present study was carried out in Diyarbakır Province (N 37°53’36.96”, E 40°16’13.65”, 666 m) in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in 2018-2020. Prunus cerasifera tree parts infested by the buprestid beetle, Ptosima undecimmaculata, were cut in June 2018 and February 2019 (Figs. 1-2) and Prunus persica infested by buprestids larvae, Ptosima undecimmaculata (Herbst, 1784) and Sphenoptera (Tropeopeltis) tappesi Marseul, 1865, respecitvely were cut and placed in plastic boxes until host and/or their potential parasitoids were reared. Three ichneumonid parasitoids, Dolichomitus kriechbaumeri (Schulz, 1906), Poemenia notata Holmgren, 1859 and Xorides gravenhorstii (Curtis, 1831), were obtained. New host records were found: P. undecimmaculata for D. kriechbaumeri and S. tappesi for X. gravenhorstii. All three parasitoid species were reared from the studied plants for the first time. P. notata is a new record for Turkish fauna.

Contributions to the Knowledge on Aquatic/Semi-Aquatic Coleoptera (Insecta) Fauna of Turkey with First Records in Turkish Thrace

The present study was carried out in Diyarbakır Province (N 37°53’36.96”, E 40°16’13.65”, 666 m) in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in 2018-2020. Prunus cerasifera tree parts infested by the buprestid beetle, Ptosima undecimmaculata, were cut in June 2018 and February 2019 (Figs. 1-2) and Prunus persica infested by buprestids larvae, Ptosima undecimmaculata (Herbst, 1784) and Sphenoptera (Tropeopeltis) tappesi Marseul, 1865, respecitvely were cut and placed in plastic boxes until host and/or their potential parasitoids were reared. Three ichneumonid parasitoids, Dolichomitus kriechbaumeri (Schulz, 1906), Poemenia notata Holmgren, 1859 and Xorides gravenhorstii (Curtis, 1831), were obtained. New host records were found: P. undecimmaculata for D. kriechbaumeri and S. tappesi for X. gravenhorstii. All three parasitoid species were reared from the studied plants for the first time. P. notata is a new record for Turkish fauna.

The effect of endocrine disruptors on the reproductive system - current knowledge.

Chemicals that disrupt the endocrine homeostasis of the human body, otherwise known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), are found in the blood, urine, amniotic fluid, or adipose tissue. This paper presents the current knowledge about EDCs and the reproductive system. The article is an overview of the impact of EDCs and their mechanism of action, with particular emphasis on gonads, based on the information available on medical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Google Scholar, EMBASE and Web of Science) until May 2021. EDCs occur in everyday life, e.g., they are components of adhesives, brake fluids, and flame retardants; they are used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic food boxes, pacifiers, medicines, cosmetics (bisphenol A, phthalates), hydraulic fluids, printing inks (polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs), receipts (bisphenol A, BSA) and raincoats (phthalates); they are also a component of polyvinyl products (e.g. toys) (phthalates), air fresheners and cleaning agents (phthalates); moreover, they can be found in the smoke from burning wood (dioxins), and in soil or plants (pesticides). EDCs are part of our diet and can be found in vegetables, fruits, green tea, chocolate and red wine (phytoestrogens). In addition to infertility, they can lead to premature puberty and even cause uterine and ovarian cancer. However, in men, they reduce testosterone levels, reduce the quality of sperm, and cause benign testicular tumors. Therefore, this article submits that EDCs negatively affect our health, disrupting the functioning of the endocrine system, and particularly affecting the functioning of the gonads.

Electrophysiological Study on the Influence of the Morphine Microiontophoresis on Firing Activity of Neurons in Nuclei Related to Acupuncture Analgesia

Background and Aim: Many nuclei such as periaqueductal central gray (PAG), raphe magnus nucleus (RMG) and gigantocellular reticular nucleus (Gi) are related in acupuncture analgesia. The aim of this study is to find the analgesic characteristics when dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (DLPAG), ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (VLPAG), RMG and Gi were individually stimulated in rat. Methods: Wistar rats (200~230g) were used in experiments. Rats were put in a small plastic box except the tail when the tail of a rat was stimulated by using radiant heat, tail flick latency (TFL), threshold of the painful response on account of the radiant heat was determined. The stimulus experiments were performed 3 to 5 days after inserting the electrodes. The current intensity for microiontophoresis is 30nA and time is 20s. Results: When DLPAG was locally stimulated in rats, the analgesia gradually appeared. Its characteristics resembled those of electroacupuncture at ST36 point. And then the analgesic effect appeared only in the period when VLPAG, RMG and Gi were individually stimulated in rats, but didn’t appear after cessation of stimulation. The rates of the excited neurons in the VLPAG, RMG and Gi were increased by microiontophoresis of morphine. Conclusion: There are mechanisms inhibiting the painful impulse in input of spinal cord by influence of endogenous morphine-type substance affecting neurons in VLPAG, RMG, and Gi among the mechanisms of electroacupuncture analgesia on ST36 point.

Experimental Investigation to Determine the Concentration of Radon in Cosmetics Using a Nuclear Track Detector (CR-39)

The nuclear track detector CR-39 is used in the detection of radon gas concentration in selected samples of cosmetics in the local market. Products of wide use are selected and employed in the current study. Six types of cosmetic products of different origins are tested by taking equivalent quantities of these products and putting them in plastic boxes. The detector is left with the samples for a period of 50 days. In addition to measuring the rate of surface evaporation of radon gas, measurements of the annual equivalent dose of radon gas are also carried out. The results show that the highest concentration of radon gas is in Charcoal Facial SCRuB (American origin) and it is equal to 0.0795 Bq/m3, whereas the lowest one in "bb" cream basis (5 in 1) is equal to 0.0355 Bq/m3. Based on specific international organizations and agencies, the concentration of radon in the samples under consideration is within the acceptable limits.

Production and Commercialization of Helianthus annuus L. for Cut Flowers in Texcoco, Mexico

Objective: To evaluate the process of sunflower production (Helianthus annuus L.) for fresh cutting flowers, considering two sowing dates, growing degree-days, and commercialization. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely randomized experimental design with subsampling was used, with five repetitions per treatment (sowing date), in order to analyze the variables: number of leaves, height, and flower diameter. Vincent Choice Dark Eye Ball™ sunflowers were sown in black plastic boxes with 8 cm of soil on January 31 and February 11, 2020, at 153 plants per m-2 in a greenhouse. Later, the seedlings were grown in the open field until harvesting, after which they were given added value and then locally traded. In addition, the growing degree-days (GDD) were calculated. Results: The sunflowers registered a height of 55 cm, 13 leaves per stalk, and a flower diameter of 6.88 cm. Late sowing favored the height and diameter of the flower. The sunflower hybrid required more GDD to reach commercial flower maturity in the first sowing date. The cost-benefit ratio was 1.38. Study Limitations/Implications: Seeds were sown on only two dates. Findings/Conclusions: The production process involved planning, management, and commercialization. The sunflower hybrid required on average 499 GDD to reach the cutting point. The added value increased the price fivefold.

Efficient facemask decontamination via forced ozone convection

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a significant toll on human life and the global economy since its start in early 2020. Healthcare professionals have been particularly vulnerable because of the unprecedented shortage of Facepiece Respirators (FPRs), which act as fundamental tools to protect the medical staff treating the coronavirus patients. In addition, many FPRs are designed to be disposable single-use devices, creating an issue related to the generation of large quantities of non-biodegradable waste. In this contribution, we describe a plasma-based decontamination technique designed to circumvent the shortages of FPRs and alleviate the environmental problems posed by waste generation. The system utilizes a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) to generate ozone and feed it through the fibers of the FPRs. The flow-through configuration is different than canonical ozone-based sterilization methods, in which the equipment is placed in a sealed ozone-containing enclosure without any flow through the mask polymer fibers. We demonstrate the rapid decontamination of surgical masks using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) as model pathogens, with the flow-through configuration providing a drastic reduction in sterilization time compared to the canonical approach. We also demonstrate that there is no deterioration in mask structure or filtration efficiency resulting from sterilization. Finally, we show that this decontamination approach can be implemented using readily available tools, such as a plastic box, a glass tube, few 3D printed components, and the high-voltage power supply from a plasma globe toy. The prototype assembled for this study is portable and affordable, with effectiveness comparable to that of larger and more expensive equipment.

Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods.

Rainfall and associated urban runoff have been linked to an increased deterioration of environmental waters, carrying several pollutants including pathogenic microorganisms. Such happens because fecal matter is washed into storm drainage pipes that are afterward released into environmental waters. Stormwater has not been extensively characterized as it is, because most studies are performed either on drainage pipes that are often impacted by sewage leakage or directly in environmental waters following a rain event. In this study, stormwater collected directly from the streets, was monitored for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and three potential important sources of fecal contamination in urban environments (human, cats, and dogs) in three distinct basins in Lisbon, Portugal. Stormwater was collected in sterilized plastic boxes inserted in the storm drains, therefore collecting only runoff. High concentration of fecal contamination was detected with a high percentage of the samples displayed at least one source of contamination. A strong relationship was found between the number of detected sources and the precipitation levels. Although no statistical correlation was found between the locations and the presence of FIB or source markers, the results show a trend in geographical information on the type of urban use in each basin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the runoff collected directly from the streets. This study suggests that, in urban areas, stormwater runoff is highly impacted by fecal matter, not only from domestic animals but also from human origin, before any cross-contamination in the drainage system and may, by itself, pose a high risk to human health and the environment, particularly if water reuse of this water without further disinfection treatment is the final goal.

Assessing effects of dietary and milking frequency changes and injection of cabergoline during dry-off on hunger in dairy cows using 2 feed-thwarting tests

We investigated the single and combined effects of 2 feeding levels (normal lactation diet vs. energy-reduced diet, both fed for ad libitum intake) and 2 daily milking frequencies (twice vs. once) during 1 wk before the dry-off day (d 0), as well as an intramuscular injection of either a dopamine agonist (cabergoline; Velactis, Ceva Santé Animale; labeled for use only with abrupt dry-off, e.g., no reduction in feeding level or milking frequency before the last milking) or saline after the last milking on d 0 on the feeding motivation of clinically healthy, loose-housed, pregnant, lactating Holstein cows. From d 0, all cows were fed the same dry-cow diet for ad libitum intake. Cows were subjected to 2 feed-thwarting tests, a test in the home pen using their diets (test A: d -6, -1, and 1; during 35 min when the feed bins were filled, but locked) and another test carried out in an adjacent pen in which access to concentrate provided in a familiar plastic box was blocked by a wire-mesh lid (test B: d -5 and 2). In test A, we recorded how often cows attempted to feed per 35 min, whether cows vocalized during the 35-min period, and latency to feed within 300 s after feed bins were unlocked. In test B, we recorded latency to approach either of 2 familiar boxes (the wire-mesh box and an identical open box with a small portion of concentrate) within 600 s and how often cows directed behaviors toward the wire-mesh box (number of occurences/5 min). On d -6 (test A), no clear differences in feeding motivation among treatments were found. On d -5 and -1, cows fed the energy-reduced diet displayed a higher probability of vocalizing (test A), were more than 50% quicker to feed (test A), were approximately 5× quicker to approach a box (test B), and directed 60% more behavior toward the wire-mesh box (test B) than cows fed the normal diet. Moreover, cows fed the energy-reduced diet attempted to feed approximately 75% more on d -1 compared with d -6 (test A). On d 2 (test B), cows previously fed the normal diet directed 40% more behavior toward the wire-mesh box than cows previously fed the energy-reduced diet. Reducing feeding level, either before or on the dry-off day, resulted in consistently increased feeding motivation, interpreted as a sign of hunger. No clear effects of change in milking frequency, singly or combined with reduced diet energy density, on feeding motivation were found before d 0. Whereas, on d 2, cows previously milked twice daily were quicker to approach a box than cows previously milked once daily. Cows injected with cabergoline attempted to feed more, but showed lower probability of vocalizing compared with saline-injected cows (d 1; test A), irrespective of treatment before d 0. The effects of cabergoline on feeding motivation are not easily interpreted and warrant further investigation. From a hunger perspective, reducing milking frequency rather than diet energy density seems to be a less negative management to reduce milk production before dry-off.

Creation of a High Fidelity, Cost Effective, Real World Surgical Simulation for Surgical Education

Background How do surgical residents learn to operate? What is a surgical plane? How does one learn to see and dissect the plane? How do surgical residents learn tissue handling and suturing (sewing)? One method to learn and practice performing surgery is through the use of simulation training. Surgical training models include laparoscopic box trainers (a plastic box with holes for instruments) with synthetic materials inside to simulate tissues, or computer-based virtual reality simulation for laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic techniques. These methods, however, do not use real tissues. They lack the haptic and kinesthetic feedback of real tissue. These simulations fail to recreate the fidelity of soft tissues, do not foster the ability to accurately see surgical planes, do not accurately mimic the act of dissecting surgical planes, do not allow for complex surgical procedures, and do not provide accurate experience to learn tissue handling and suturing. Despite their poor performance, these plastic and virtual trainers are extremely costly to purchase, maintain, and keep up to date - with prices starting at $700 for basic plastic training boxes to thousands of dollars for virtual simulation. Also, there are additional costs of maintenance and software curriculum. Despite the cost of software, virtual simulators do not include a simulation for every surgery. Our aim was to create a life-like surgical simulation as close to real world as possible that allows trainees to learn how to see and dissect surgical planes, learn how soft tissues move, and learn the dynamics of soft tissue manipulation. We created a laparoscopic simulator using porcine tissues for gallbladder removal, acid reflux surgery, and surgery to treat swallowing difficulties (cholecystectomy, Nissen fundoplication, and Heller myotomy, respectively). Second year general surgery residents were able to practice these procedures on real tissues, enabling them to learn the steps of each procedure, increase manual dexterity, improve use of laparoscopic equipment, all while maintaining life-like haptic, soft-tissue feedback and enabling them to develop the ability to see real surgical planes. Methods The abdomen was recreated by purchasing intact porcine liver, gallbladder, (Cholecystectomy simulation) and intact esophagus, stomach, and diaphragm (Nissen and Heller simulation) from a packing supplier. Each organ system was placed into a laparoscopic trainer box with the ability to re-create laparoscopic ports. Surgical residents were then able to perform the procedures using real laparoscopic instruments, laparoscopic camera/video imaging, and real-time electrocautery. The simulation included all critical steps of each procedure such as obtaining the critical view of safety and removing the gallbladder from the liver bed (cholecystectomy), wrapping the stomach around the esophagus and laparoscopic suturing (Nissen fundoplication), and dissecting the muscular portion of the esophageal wall (Heller myotomy). Because these porcine tissues were readily available, several stations were set-up to teach multiple residents during each session (10-12 residents / session). Discussion Surgeons develop haptic perception of soft tissues by cutaneous or tactile feedback and kinesthetic feedback (Okamura, 2009). Kinesthetic feedback is the force and pressure transmitted by the soft tissues along the shaft of the laparoscopic instruments (Okamura, 2009). This soft tissue simulation re-creates the ability to experience what soft tissue feedback feels like, outside a normal operative environment. Real tissue learning allows trainees to learn how to see surgical planes, learn how soft tissues feel and move, develop proficiency in surgical dissection, and learn how to suture laparoscopically. This is the only model that recreates the movement of soft tissues and visualization of dissection planes outside the operative environment. Because this model utilizes the laparoscopic instruments used in the operating room, residents also develop familiarity with laparoscopic instruments, thus, flattening another learning curve. A literature review found that this is the only real tissue simulation being performed for foregut procedures used specifically for resident training. By building a realistic, anatomical model with inherent accurate soft tissue surgical planes, surgical trainees can have a more realistic surgical experience and develop skills in a safe, low pressure environment without sacrificing the hepatic learning and surgical visualization that is critical to performing safe laparoscopic surgery. All residents that participated in the stimulation reported positive feedback and felt that is contributed to their surgical education.

Effects of Calcium Treatment on Physical and Biochemical Changes of Cold-Stored Sweet Cherry Fruit

In the present study, sweet cherry fruit (Prunus avium cv. 0900 Ziraat) were dipped into calcium (Ca) gluconate (calcium concentration of 1.5%) and distilled water (as control). The treated fruit were stored at 1 ± 0.5°C and 90% relative humidity for 4 weeks in two different packages. At weekly intervals, weight loss, fruit firmness, colour changes, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, sensory analysis, total phenolic and anthocyanin content of fruit and total chlorophyll content of stem were evaluated. As a result, Ca treatment positively affected sweet cherry fruits by maintaining firmness and decreasing respiration rate of sweet cherry fruit. Moreover, Ca treatment generally delayed the skin browning, and maintained fruit quality. Stem chlorophyll decomposition was retarded with Ca throughout cold the storage. Considering the sensory analysis, storage life of fruit could be prolonged at least up to 1 week by Ca1 (treated Ca-Glu and stored in plastic box with lid) treatment compared to other treatments.

Effect of aeration on the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus niger in cassava stalks bioconversion

Aspergillus niger is a mould which can be used in bioconversion of cassava stalks through solid-state fermentation. Mould is aerobic microorganism and require oxygen for their growth. Sufficient supply of oxygen by aeration will give better growth of mold, but excess of oxygen will act as a bad condition and encourage production of spores. Moulds at sporulation stage will not produced enzymes required for bioconversion of lignocellulosic material, for example cassava stalks. The aim of this study was to know effect of aeration on the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus niger in bioconversion of cassava stalks. Aspergillus niger FNCC 6114 were grown on media of cassava stalks powder moistened with water in 1:1 ratio, incubated inside of two kinds of incubators. The first, incubator of plastic box at 20 L capacities without aeration. The second, incubator equipped with aquarium aerator for force-aeration and IV needles for controlling the speed of aeration at 40 mL/min. Based on the result, it was shown that fermented media from aerated incubator were: higher glucosamine content, lower reducing sugar content, and higher spores quantity. These indicated that aeration at the speed of 40 mL/min will encourage growth and increase sporulation of Aspergillus niger FNCC 6114.

Influence of potato variety and PVY infection on aphid behaviour: preferences from Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae

In order to determine the potential effects of potato plant infected by Potato virus Y (PVY) on the biology of aphid vectors, plastic box experiments were set up to study the preference of two of the most efficient PVY vectors, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). Aphid-plant selections were assessed 4h and 8h after aphid set in observation chamber presenting dual choices using two potato varieties, cv. Désiré e and cv. Bintje. Experiments show that both M. persicae and M. euphorbia preferentially settled on cv. Bimtie potato plants infested by PVY when compared to healthy potato plants after 4h and 8h. Compared healthy cv. Désirée plant and infested cv. Désirée plant, M. persicae tended to choose healthy plant, no significant preference for M. euphorbiae was found. When both cv. Bintje and cv. Désirée plant were infested by PVY, M. persicae tended to choose cv. Désirée plant, whereas M. euphorbiae made a choice to cv. Bintje plant. While the healthy plants were also compared, no significant preference for M. euphorbiae was observed, M. persicae preferred to cv. Désirée plant in dual-choice experiment. Results of our studies could help to further increase the knowledge on aphid dynamics and viral epidemiology in the potato cropping systems.

80 Hemostasis for running locked versus running unlocked sutures

The purpose of this study is to answer if running locked is more hemostatic than running unlocked sutures. We designed a high-fidelity physical simulation training model for suturing of blood vessels, specifically in the case of a uterine artery laceration. We created a physical simulation training model for suturing of blood vessels to mimic surgery in a laboratory experiment. A fountain submersible pump was fit to six-millimeter diameter latex tubing with a pressure gauge in line. The pressure gauge allowed us to set the pump to a specific pressure of 120 mmHg similar to systolic blood pressure at 250 milliliters per minutes of flow. Subsequently the surgeon made a two-centimeter incision in the tubing and collected the amount of fluid spill from the incision in a plastic enclosure. The tared weight of the fluid was collected from a plastic box enclosure for both locking and non-locking methods of suture closure to estimate blood loss. The method of incision closure was randomized by a random number generator. Each incision was closed with a standard number of three running sutures with an assistant providing the same traction. A metronome was used to keep time with each suture placement and we divided the fluid loss by the time to get a figure of estimated blood loss per second. Fifty trial simulations of running locked suture and another fifty were completed for running unlocked sutures to meet our power calculation. For all sutures, a 0-gauge United States Pharmacopeia polyglactin 910 suture was used. Knots were tied by a single investigator (SRR). Statistics were calculated using R 4.0.1 with exploratory.io. A total of 100 trial simulations were performed with half being closed with running locked and half closed with running unlocked. We found a statistical difference in the estimated blood loss per second between a running locked sutures (24.1 grams +/- 0.72) and running unlocked sutures (27.8 grams +/- 0.85, P < 0.01). Under laboratory conditions, running locked suture was more hemostatic than running unlocked suture. Using a running unlocked suture would allow for 500 milliliters more of estimated blood loss compared to running locked suture when closing a wound over two and a half minutes. Under laboratory conditions, running locked sutures allowed for less blood loss compared to running unlocked sutures.

Materials collect water from the air

Every evening during the summer of 2020, Xingyi Zhou went up to the roof of her lab building at the University of Texas at Austin to check on two plastic boxes containing radish plants. Plants in one of the boxes languished, while those in the other flourished, even though both grew in sand that Zhou and her colleague Fei Zhao collected from an Austin park. The key difference was a ground-up slab of a hydrogel mixed in the sand of one of the boxes. The tiny grains of hydrogel absorbed moisture from the cool, humid night air. In the mornings, the hydrogel gradually warmed up under the heat of the sun and released the water it had absorbed overnight, generating a humid, healthy environment for the plants ( ACS Mater. Lett. 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.0c00439 ). Materials like this UT Austin hydrogel could someday help mitigate the world’s water woes. Four

Close-range cues used by males of Polistes dominula in sex discrimination.

Sexual pheromones are chemical molecules responsible for mediating sex recognition and mating events. Long- and close-range sexual pheromones act differently. The first type is released to attract potential partners, whereas the second coordinates the interactions after potential mating partners encounter each other. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have been suggested to be important cues in the mating systems of several Hymenoptera species, although empirical data are still lacking for many species. Here, we evaluated whether males of the model species Polistes dominula can differentiate the sex of individuals based on their CHC composition. In August 2019, several post-worker emergent nests (n = 19) were collected in the vicinity of Leuven (Belgium) and taken to the lab (KU Leuven), where newly emerged females and males were sampled, marked individually, and kept in plastic boxes for at least a week before being used in the mating trials. Focal males were paired with females and males from different nests and subjected to five different conditions: (I) alive, (II) dead, (III) CHCs washed, (IV) CHCs partially returned, and (V) CHCs from the opposite sex. We videotaped the interactions for 10min and analysed the duration and different behavioural interactions of the focal male. Our results indicate that CHCs may be used by males as cues to recognise a potential mating partner in P. dominula, since the focal males displayed specific courtship behaviours exclusively toward females. Although we cannot exclude that visual cues could also be used in combination with the chemical ones, we empirically demonstrate that CHCs may be important to convey sexual information at close range in mating systems, allowing fast decisions toward potential sexual partners or rivals.