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Forage alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. [Fabales: Fabaceae]) is a key agricultural commodity of the western region of the United States. The key insect pest of alfalfa, Hypera postica Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has developed resistance to the most common class of insecticide used to manage its damage. Alfalfa weevil samples from 71 commercial alfalfa fields located in Arizona, California, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming were assayed for susceptibility to lambda-cyhalothrin during 2020–2022 using a laboratory concentration-response assay. Seventeen field sites representing all six states were highly resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin (resistance ratios >79.6) and bioassay mortality often did not exceed 50% even at the highest concentration tested (3.30 µg/cm2 in 2020 and 10.00 µg/cm2 in 2021–2022). Field sites assayed with more than one pyrethroid active ingredient indicated likely cross-resistance between lambda-cyhalothrin and zeta-cypermethrin (type II pyrethroids) and variable and/or limited potential cross-resistance to permethrin (type I pyrethroid). Thirty-two field sites representing five states were susceptible to lambda-cyhalothrin (resistance ratios ranging from 1 to 20). While resistance is widespread, integrated resistance management strategies including rotating mode of action groups, applying chemical control tactics only when economic thresholds have been met, and utilizing cultural control tactics can be employed to slow the further development of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Concrete presents complex behavior, being a difficult material to define the ideal proportion of its constituents. To overcome this challenge, many mix design methods have been developed over time. However, most of these methods do not consider durability parameters during the procedure. Thus, the objective of this article is to present a mix design method for concrete, with properties of workability (slump rating from 50 mm to 220 mm), axial compressive strength (class of 25MPa to 55MPa), and durability as response parameters. From the application of the proposed method, it was possible to create mix design and performance diagrams. It was noticed that all concretes fell into the pre-established consistency class and presented axial compressive strength results close to the predetermined values. Moreover, it was possible to obtain indications of the material's durability.

Tendo em vista o elevado crescimento populacional e a escassez dos recursos hídricos na região nordeste do Brasil, o uso da água para fins diferentes do consumo humano vem sendo avaliado. Com a finalidade de prover um destino sustentável às águas oriundas do processo de tratamento de esgoto, este trabalho averigua a aplicabilidade da água recuperada, coletada na saída do tratamento terciário da estação Guadalajara, como água de amassamento na construção civil. Observou-se total conformidade na análise da água em estudo com a norma NBR 15.900. Foram produzidos corpos de prova cilíndricos de concreto, sendo executados ensaio de resistência à compressão axial aos 3, 7, 28 e 91 dias, bem como ensaios de índice de vazios, absorção e massa específica. Através do teste estatístico ANOVA, observou-se que não há diferença significativa nos valores apresentados nos ensaios realizados.

Deuterium-labelled indatraline was synthesized in high efficiency employing a Friedel-Crafts alkylation of [2H6]benzene with ( E)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)acrylic acid as a key step. The desired labelling of the final compound was ascertained in two ways, by incorporation of [2H6]benzene in the target molecule and additionally by deuterium transfer to the non-deuterated aryl moiety of the Friedel-Crafts alkylation product from [2H6]benzene, the latter thus serving as reagent and solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, is an herbivorous hymenopteran that feeds exclusively on members of the Graminae family. Synanthropically, it has become one of the most important insect pests of wheat grown in the northern Great Plains region of the USA and Canada. Insecticides are generally ineffective because of the wheat stem sawfly's extended adult flight period and its inaccessible larval stage, during which it feeds within the wheat stems, making it virtually intractable to most pest management strategies. While research towards integrated pest management strategies based on insect olfaction has proved promising, nothing is known about the molecular basis of olfaction in this important pest species. In this study we identified 28 unique odorant receptor (Or) transcripts from an antennal transcriptome. A phylogenetic analysis with the predicted Ors from the honey bee and jewel wasp genomes revealed at least four clades conserved amongst all three Hymenoptera species. Antennal expression levels were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR, and one male-biased and five female-biased Ors were identified. This study provides the basis for future functional analyses to identify behaviourally active odours that can be used to help develop olfactory-mediated pest management tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemoreception is important for locating food, mates and other resources in many insects, including the parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis. In the insect chemoreceptor superfamily, Nasonia has 58 gustatory receptor (Gr) genes, of which 11 are pseudogenes, leaving 47 apparently intact proteins encoded. No carbon dioxide receptors, two candidate sugar receptors, a DmGr43a orthologue, and several additional Gr lineages were identified, including significant gene subfamily expansions related to the 10 Grs found in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Nasonia has a total of 301 odorant receptor (Or) genes, of which 76 are pseudogenes, leaving 225 apparently intact Ors. Phylogenetic comparison with the 174 honey bee Ors reveals differential gene subfamily expansion in each hymenopteran lineage, along with a few losses from each species. The only simple orthologous relationship is the expected single DmOr83b orthologue. The large number of Nasonia Ors is the result of several major subfamily expansions, including one of 55 genes. Nasonia does not have the elaborate social chemical communication of honey bees, nor the diversity of floral odours honey bees detect, however, Nasonia wasps might need to detect a diversity of odours to find potential mates and hosts or avoid harmful substances in its environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gustatory receptor (Gr) family of insect chemoreceptors includes receptors for sugars and bitter compounds, as well as cuticular hydrocarbons and odorants such as carbon dioxide. We have annotated a total of 65 Gr genes from the silkworm Bombyx mori genome. The Gr family in the silkworm moth includes putative carbon dioxide receptors and sugar receptors, as well as duplicated orthologues of the orphan DmGr43a receptor. Most prominent in this 65-gene family, however, is a single large expansion of 55 Grs that we propose are predominantly ‘bitter’ receptors involved in perception of the large variety of secondary plant chemicals that caterpillars and moths encounter. These Grs might therefore mediate food choice and avoidance as well as oviposition site preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olfaction plays an important role in the life history of insects, including key behaviours such as host selection, oviposition and mate recognition. Odour perception by insects is primarily mediated by the large diverse family of odourant receptors (Ors) that are expressed on the dendrites of olfactory neurones housed within chemosensilla. However, few Or sequences have been identified from the Lepidoptera, an insect order that includes some of the most important pest species worldwide. We have identified 41 Or gene sequences from the silkworm ( Bombyx mori) genome, more than double the number of published Or sequences from the Lepidoptera. Many silkworm Ors appear to be orthologs of the 17 published tobacco budworm ( Heliothis virescens) Ors indicating that many Or lineages may be conserved within the Lepidoptera. The majority of the Or genes are expressed in adult female and male antennae (determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis), supporting their probable roles in adult olfaction. Several Or genes are expressed at high levels in both male and female antennae, suggesting they mediate the perception of common host or conspecific volatiles important to both sexes. BmOrs 45–47 group together in the same phylogenetic branch and all three are expressed at moderate female-biased ratios, six to eight times higher in female compared to male moth antennae. Interestingly, BmOrs19 and 30 appear to be expressed predominantly in female antennae, opposite to that of the published silkworm pheromone receptors BmOrs 1 and 3 that are specific to male antennae. These results suggest that BmOr19 and 30 may detect odours critical to female behaviour, such as oviposition cues or male-produced courtship pheromones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are associated with insect sensory organs, including the sensillum lymph in some cases. However, they are also commonly expressed in nonsensory tissues that lack gustatory and olfactory neurones. We characterized the sex and development specific expression patterns of four CSP genes from the Eastern spruce budworm (ESB) using Northern blots.CfumAY426540.2was detected at high levels in adult moths. Conversely,CfumAY426538was expressed in all stages except adult moths, and was most abundant during late stages of the 6th instar.CfumAY701858was expressed in all stages, whileCfumAY426539was detected less frequently, at specific developmental stages such as the 5th to 6th instar moult. During a natural moult, and a premature moult induced by the ecdysteroid agonist tebufenozide,CfumAY701858andCfumAY426539were up-regulated, whileCfumAY426538appeared to be down-regulated. Our results suggest that some members of the CSP gene family from the ESB may be involved in development, including moulting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Given that cholinergic neurons are predominantly affected in AD, current treatments primarily aim to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission. However, imbalances in other neurotransmitters, such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), also contribute to AD symptomatology. In the presented research, using a combination of crystallography and computational methods we developed compound 6 as a dual modulator of GABAergic and cholinergic neurotransmission systems. Compound 6 demonstrated inhibition of BuChE (IC 50 =0.21 μM) and GABA transporter 1 (IC 50 =10.96 μM) and 3 (IC 50 =7.76 μM), along with a favorable drug-likeness profile. Subsequent in vivo studies revealed the effectiveness of 6 in enhancing memory retention and alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms in animal models, while also proving safe and bioavailable for oral administration. The innovative multi-target-directed ligand 6 offers a new approach to treating cognitive deficits and BPSD in AD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection results in a smaller HIV-1 latent reservoir, reduced immune activation, and less viral diversity compared to starting cART during chronic infection. We report results of a 4-year study designed to determine whether these properties would allow sustained virological suppression after simplification of cART to dolutegravir (DTG) monotherapy., Methods: EARLY-SIMPLIFIED is a randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial. People with HIV (PWH) who started cART <180 days after a documented primary HIV-1 infection with suppressed viral load were randomized (2:1) to DTG monotherapy with 50 mg daily or continuation of cART. The primary endpoints were the proportion of PWH with viral failure at 48, 96, 144, and 192 weeks; noninferiority margin was 10%. After 96 weeks, randomization was lifted and patients were permitted to switch treatment groups as desired., Results: Of 101 PWH randomized, 68 were assigned to DTG monotherapy and 33 to cART. At week 96 in the per-protocol population, 64/64 (100%) showed virological response in the DTG monotherapy group versus 30/30 (100%) in the cART group (difference, 0.00%; upper bound of 95% confidence interval 6.22%). This demonstrated noninferiority of DTG monotherapy at the prespecified level. At week 192, the study end, no virological failure occurred in either group during 13 308 and 4897 person weeks of follow-up for the DTG monotherapy (n = 80) and cART groups, respectively., Conclusions: This trial suggests that early cART initiation during primary HIV infection allows sustained virological suppression after switching to DTG monotherapy., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. H. F. G. has received grants from the SNF, SHCS, Yvonne Jacob Foundation, University of Zurich's Clinical Research Priority Program, viral disease; Zurich Primary HIV Infection, Systems.X, National Institutes of Health, Gilead Sciences, and Roche; and personal fees from Merck, Gilead Sciences, ViiV, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, GSK, and Novartis, for consultancy or DSMB membership and a travel grant from Gilead. D. L. B. reports Advisory Board honoraria paid to himself as a consultant for Gilead, ViiV, and Merck; and travel support from ViiV. K. J. M. has received travel grants and advisory board honoraria from Gilead Sciences (DACH Virology) and ViiV; and the University of Zurich received unrestricted research grants from Gilead Science and Novartis for a study for which K. J. M. serves as principal investigator. B. H. reports grants from Gilead Science, Federal Office of Public Health, and Swiss National Science Foundation (paid to institution); honoraria for a speaking engagement from ViiV Healthcare; travel support from Gilead Science; participation on Advisory Boards for Gilead Science and ViiV Healthcare; and support for clinic equipment to institution from Gilead Science and ViiV Healthcare. R. D. K. reports grants or contracts from Swiss National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and Gilead Sciences. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)