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The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was "Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns", with 3 topics. Each topic had an unbiased introduction and 2 teams. The debate topics were (i) Nonnative insect introduction is an ethical approach for counteracting proliferation and overpopulation of consumers, (ii) What is the best technology to control undesirable insect pests in urban and agricultural settings? and (iii) Compared to other solutions, like plant-based diets, insect farming is the best method to address rising human global food and nutrient supply demands. Unbiased introduction speakers and teams had approximately 6 months to prepare for their presentations., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, is an introduced plant hopper that causes significant damage to host plants in the United States. Because of its affinity for tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, control efforts have focused on the use of the systemic insecticide, dinotefuran, in designated trap trees. There is concern about exposure to this pesticide by non-target species, especially honey bees, Apis mellifera, via lanternfly honeydew. Therefore, honey bee colonies were established in areas of high densities of trap trees and samples of honey, bees, and beeswax were collected in May, July, and October of 2017 for analysis. Samples were extracted by the QuEChERS method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to determine the presence and quantity of dinotefuran. Additionally, honeydew from lanternflies was analyzed for dinotefuran and informal observations of trap tree visitors were made. None of the worker bee, wax, or honey samples indicated detectable levels of dinotefuran; however, honeydew samples collected did contain dinotefuran above the detection limit with amounts ranging from 3 to 100 ng per sample. The lack of dinotefuran in honey bee products matches the general absence of honey bees at trap trees in informal observations., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The study group was composed of 50 workers exposed to electromagnetic radiation (radiowaves). Out of them 31 persons (62%), employed mostly in the risk zone, showed irregular glycaemia after oral administration of 75 g of glucose. At normal blood sugar before breakfast, the glycaemia level was high following administration of glucose and it did not return to starting values after 2 hours. After 30 min from glucose administration the level accounted for 155 mg%, after 60 min-180 mg%, after 90 min-153 mg% and after 120 min-124 mg%, on average. In 10 persons (32%) with glucose tolerance disturbances, disorders in bioelectric activity of the brain (abnormal EEG record) were observed.

The statics of prostheses in complete absence of teeth is discussed with analysis of the effect of the position of the masticating surfaces of artificial teeth on the values of forces disturbing the balance of the prosthesis during mastication. Considering the friction forces active during mastication, the worse fixation of lower prostheses, and the lateral position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla the author describes as optimal such a spatial arrangement of artificial teeth that in centric occlusion the interalveolar line passes through the centre of their masticating surfaces which are perpendicular to it.

The author discusses the principles of arrangement of artificial teeth in complete prostheses from the standpoint of statics. In the consideration of the action of forces released in the mastication the values of these forces, the application points, the directions of action and vector sense as well as the developing torques are taken into account.

An attempt of treatment of hand ischemia caused by vibration using acupuncture has been undertaken in forest workers occupationally exposed to mechanical vibration in the early phase of vascular lesions. The workers have been treated in the Kołobrzeg city sanatorium. The control groups consisted of forest workers of similar age and analogous vascular lesions treated in the sanatorium by balneologic methods (mineral salt bath, underwater whirlpool massage) or by pharmacologic agents (Pridazol, Bametan); some of subjects of control groups have been treated only by the climate therapy without other additives. It has been stated that acupuncture significantly ameliorates or even normalizes the peripheral ischemia of upper extremities induced by vibration, analogously or even better than balneologic therapy. The duration of amelioration period was longer in subjects treated by acupuncture than in those treated with balneologic methods. In contrast, the pharmacologic treatment or the climate therapy remained without effects. The acupuncture therapy is cheaper than balneotherapy and could be used by trained industrial physicians in conditions o outpatient care. However, there is a need for further studies on detailed conditions of acupuncture therapy.

A new method to investigate renal function in detail without use of catheters is demonstrated. This method combines the advantages of two techniques, the physiological clearance measurement technique and the isotope nephrogram technique. The function of each kidney is quantitated in terms of the velocity of renal blood flow, the velocity of filtration and secretion and the velocity of urine flow to the bladder. The new concept is illustrated by two clinical examples.

The young workers adaptation to the workplace depends on a number of psycho-social and professional factors, such as: competences, qualifications, personality, attitude to work, attitude to superiors and co-workers in a social group etc. Furthermore, the psycho-social adaptation depends on the style of life led so far and the impact of the family- and school milieu. The professional adaptation begins when one chooses his future profession. However, it is not easy to choose a profession that would give satisfaction and meet young people's ambitions. A considerable assistance in this area comes from vocational guidance dispensaries and health service, especially for young people suffering from psychophysical defects. In the initial period of professional work it becomes essential to ensure that the young worker is well informed on his workplace, range of duties and all relevant problems inherent in the workplace as well as some guidance as regards possible promotion and improvement of qualifications, and the use of all possible social allowances. A young worker should not in any way feel isolated in his workplace. The person who imparts all the information should not only be a good expert and production organizer, but a good educator as well.

A total of 824 chain-saw operators who were employed in felling trees in the forestry industry were exposed to local vibration, which produced peripheral blood-flow disorders and lesions in the joints and hand bones. In the last 10 years, they have undergone 24-day balneoclimatic treatment at the Kołobrzeg Health Resort. It was found that a stay in the spa and certain balneological treatments exert a favorable effect on the peripheral blood-flow disorders produced by the local vibration of chain saws. The symptoms (chills and numbing of the fingers, etc.) disappeared in nearly 40% of these workers. An improvement in the objective indices of the peripheral circulation (thermographic and plethysmographic tests) was observed in about 90% of patients treated with brine baths combined with underwater vibratory massage (rotatory) or brine baths alone. The brine bath and vibratory massage have a direct beneficial influence on the peripheral blood flow of pectoral limbs.

In some furniture factories an ergonomic analysis of work stress was carried out at 10 workplaces typical for this industry. Physical and psychological stress, the influence of the work environment and some elements of the work-organization were measured. In order to compare the stress at the different workplaces, a point scale was applied. This investigation showed that the energy expenditure of the workers varied between 1026 and 1937 kcal during one shift. Psychological stress was not large. Environmental conditions were stressful. Noise levels at all locations exceeded 90 dB(A), and lighting was inadequate. The investigations also showed that the greatest stress appeared in the operation of the horizontal belt sanding machine and of the tilting arbor saw. The least stress was observed in the operation of the hydraulic hot-plate press and of the edge-glueing press-chain conveyor system.

Occupational medicine, and physiology of work and occupational hygiene in particular, play an important and inspiring role in ergonomic activity. In the process of adaptation of work or technique to man, the knowledge about man demarcates the lines and the scope of activities as well as helps to evaluate the effectiveness of ergonomic solutions. That is of particular importance in the area of the so called "products of ergonomics", at evaluation of adaptation of man to equipment and appliances of daily use. Therefore it may be assumed that occupational medicine-beside psychology-determines, among others, the degree of adaptation of production process to psychophysical capabilities of man and establishes the most important lines of activities aimed at improvement of this adaptation: whereas technique and production organization fulfills an important and difficult executive role in implementation of these designs. Both lines of activities i.e. indicating the direction of the changes and their implementation are equally valid and closely interrelated, as only joint complex action may bring the expected results.