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Adapting health professional curriculum and training to evolving requirements and exponential expansion in healthcare awareness and knowledge is vital. As an example of this uniformity, interprofessional education can be found. Teachers’ willingness to participate in interprofessional education is closely linked to their attitude about it. The goal of this research is to investigate teacher attitudes toward interprofessional education (IPE) at Ekiti State College of Health and Technology (EKCHT), Ijero Ekiti, Nigeria. Cross-sectional research involving 85 teachers was used. In order to collect data, a five-point Likert scale with three subscales on IPE was utilized, which was stratified sampling. Positive attitude was defined as having a cut-off percentage of more than seventy-five percent. At a 96% confidence level, SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the Bio-demographic data and teacher attitudes were correlated using logistic regression. There are a greater number of male teachers than females that took part in the survey. Attitudes of teacher's IPE in academic contexts were found to be negative (30.82 < 75%) in the total attitude score (121.45 > 75%). Teacher’s attitudes were not influenced by their age, gender, academic rank, or level of competence. Academics with positive opinions toward interprofessional education were more likely to have used it at the college (P = 0.147). As a result, while teachers have a generally positive view of interprofessional education, they have a negative view of subscale 3-interprofessional education in academic contexts. Training in behavior change and IPE awareness for teachers is suggested to avoid negative attitudes.

Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) is worldwide produced and utilized for different purposes. In the entomology laboratories of the University of Bologna, Italy, this insect has long been maintained in continuous colony, and used as a factitious host for Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera Tachinidae), a polyphagous, gregarious larval parasitoid, mainly of Lepidoptera, which lays eggs on the host body. The “standard” diet used to feed G. mellonella larvae, which contains skimmed milk powder, white and whole wheat flour, maize flour, honey, bee wax, brewer’s yeast and glycerine, has long proven to be efficient, but presents the drawback to be rather expensive. We tested the possibility to reduce diet costs by replacing skimmed milk powder (added for its protein and energy intake) with soy flour, an alternative and cheaper protein source. The development times and adult yields of G. mellonella were not negatively affected, when the “soy” diet was used to feed the larvae for one generation. Host acceptance by E. larvarum (measured as number of parasitoid eggs laid on G. mellonella) was higher for the larvae fed on the “soy” than on the “standard” diet. The use of soy flour in lieu of skimmed milk powder, however, proved inappropriate for the rearing of G. mellonella in the long run, because some quality traits, e.g. pupal weights and development times were lower in the “soy” than in the “standard” diet and further worsened through generations. Moreover, the number of eggs laid was dramatically lower for the F2 G. mellonella females obtained on the “soy” than on the “standard” diet. These results suggested that the costs of the artificial diet currently used for G. mellonella may not be lowered by replacing skimmed milk powder with soy flour on a regular basis, possibly due to nutrient imbalance.

Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera Crambidae), native to East Asia, was first recorded in Europe in 2007. In Italy, it was detected in 2010 in Veneto and it is now distributed in other regions. This exotic species represents a threat to Buxus plants in European parks and gardens, as well as in natural environments, i.e. spontaneous formations of southern France and northwestern Italy. In Europe, only two parasitoids, including the tachinid Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata (Walker), have so far been found to attack C. perspectalis in nature, at a very low rate. In the areas of origin, the parasitoid complex of the box tree moth is wider and comprises other tachinid species, including Exorista spp. A stock colony of Exorista larvarum (L.), a larval parasitoid native to the Palearctic region, is currently maintained in the laboratory of Entomology of the University of Bologna, using Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) as a factitious host. Both biological bioassay and anatomical and histological examinations were carried out to evaluate the possibility of adaptation of this indigenous tachinid species to C. perspectalis. In no-choice experiments, box tree moth larvae were accepted by E. larvarum females, though a lower number of eggs were laid compared to G. mellonella, maintained as a control. Most eggs hatched, as also shown in the anatomical and histological studies, but no puparia formed in any accepted C. perspectalis larva. Two out of six first instar E. larvarum larvae penetrated the body of a box tree moth larva and were encapsulated. The encapsulation response turned into the formation of the respiratory funnel by two parasitoid larvae, similarly to what happens in G. mellonella. The results obtained in this study showed that C. perspectalis was unsuitable as host for E. larvarum. The mortality following the parasitoid larval activity (independently of successful parasitism) was, however, not significantly different between C. perspectalis and G. mellonella. The overall results suggest that the mortality of C. perspectalis larvae due to the partial development of E. larvarum may be useful to regulate the populations of this invasive pest in a context of conservative biological control.

Widespread negative impacts of climate change include limited plant growth, decreased soil fertility, and ultimately limited food production. Roots, tubers and bananas (RTB) are key commodities for food security, nutrition and livelihoods especially among small-holder farmers. Furthermore, roots and tubers, being resilient crops, can help farmers adapt to climate change and variability. Nevertheless, food security and livelihood agenda mostly emphasize on grain crops (such as rice, maize, and wheat), and very few studies have looked into the future potential of RTB crops and their likely increasing importance in the face of climate change. This study attempts to identify areas in the Asia-Pacific region where considerable climate impacts that threaten agricultural viability of major crops are expected. The study used climate projections and species distribution modeling approach for eight key crops in the region. In areas where impacts are very high, it is assumed that the currently cultivated crops may need to be substituted with more resilient crops. Key findings of this study include: • Countries, such as India, China, and Myanmar will experience high impacts of climate change on land suitability for maize. • Although there is a general decrease of climatic suitability for rice, the viability threshold was not crossed across time periods. However, climate change will put increasing pressure on this crop, particularly in India that will likely experience considerable losses of land suitability for rice. • Among RTB crops, cassava and sweetpotato can play an important role in terms of food resilience in areas where climate change is likely to trigger transformational changes for non-RTB (rice and maize) and some RTB crops. • Some RTB crops, although considered resilient crops, will also undergo considerable transformational change, specifically potato in India. • In terms of food system resilience, considerations and emphasis on the role of cassava and sweetpotato (and RTB in general) should be integrated in any adaptation initiative, especially in countries where food systems and value chains are particularly threatened by climate change.

A laboratory bioassay and anatomical and histological studies were conducted to evaluate the acceptance and suitability of an exotic insect, the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera Crambidae), as host for the native parasitoid Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera Tachinidae). The factitious host Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) was maintained as control. In the bioassay, C. perspectalis and G. mellonella mature larvae were separately exposed for 3 hours to E. larvarum mated females. Box tree moth larvae were accepted by E. larvarum females, but a lower number of eggs were laid on them than on G. mellonella. Most eggs hatched, as also shown in the anatomical and histological studies, but no puparia formed in any accepted C. perspectalis larva. Two out of six first instar E. larvarum larvae penetrated the body of a box tree moth larva and were encapsulated. The encapsulation response turned into the formation of the respiratory funnel by two parasitoid larvae, similarly to what happens in G. mellonella. The results obtained in this study showed that the exotic species was unsuitable as host for E. larvarum. The mortality following the parasitoid larval activity (independently of successful parasitization) was, however, not significantly different between C. perspectalis and G. mellonella. The overall results suggest that the mortality of C. perspectalis larvae due to the partial development of E. larvarum may be useful to regulate the populations of this invasive pest in a context of conservative biological control.

People today experience coolness through the use technology (air conditioners) that produces cooling comfort at homes, at offices and even in cars and buses. More importantly, a simple homeowner needs to select an air conditioner that matches the size of a room to install it in, in order to make full use of its capacity or choose to pay more without following the intention of learning the basics of care and maintenance of the unit. The study is then conducted to assess setting up the cooling capacity needed for a particular room size, where to place the unit and what must be done in order to maintain the unit in good operating condition. The study gathers such idea from the office personnel, homeowners (includes lodgers, bed spacers, and transients) taken purposively at random (non-probability sampling procedure using quota). Customarily, people experiencing cooling comfort has the inner motive to work productively and efficiently. The study finds that for most homeowners learned the cooling capacity of a space through a friend and placing it on window line upper part is the common sight for most window type package air conditioners with at most five (5) occupants. The office personnel, on the other hand, stated that the units were provided by the owner of the building when moving in seeing it mounted on floors, walls or ceiling. The prevailing conditions on people’s awareness on the practices are limited to what was usually heard from the store attendant upon buying the air conditioners. Information contained on the sheet provided upon receipt of the unit were left unscanned and unattended to. These practices form the basis for recommendations leading to the attainment of experiencing cooling comfort at lower cost., {"references":["Atkinson, L. (2013). Clarifying, Confusing or Crooked? Interpretations of green advertising claims by ethically minded consumers. In M. Drumwright and S. Reese (Eds.) Ethical Issues in Communication Professions: New Agendas in Communication. New York: Routledge.","Boafo, B. (2014). Energy efficiency of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems as 'princes quay shopping centre goes green'. The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education - Teesside University May 2014.","Brager, G. S., & De Dear, R. J. (1998). Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a literature review. Energy and Buildings, 27(1), 83-96.","Frontczak, M. J., & Wargocki, P. (2011). Human comfort and self-estimated performance in relation to indoor environmental parameters and building features. Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil Engineering. (DTU Civil Engineering Report; No. R-260)","Hutchison, B. (2009). What Temperature Do You Set Your Air Conditioner To?Retrived from http://www.renovateaustralia.com/2009/07/18/what-temperature-do-you-set-your-air-conditioner-to","Liu, J., Sun, X., Lu, B., Zhang, Y., & Sun, R. (2016). The life cycle rebound effect of air-conditioner consumption in China. Applied Energy, 184(1), 1026-1032.","Matsushita Electric Company Philippines. Room Air Conditioner Cooling Load Calculation Form. Retrieved October 23, 2017 from http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/oee.nrcan.gc.ca/files/pdf/publications/infosource/pub/roomaircond/pdf/AC_e_Worksheet1_04.pdf","Saito, T., et al. (2006) Final Summary Report by Air Conditioner Evaluation Standard Subcommittee, Energy Efficiency Standards Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy Jul.2006. Retrieved October 23, 2017 from https://www.eccj.or.jp/top_runner/pdf/tr_air_con_06.pdf","Santamouris, M. (2014). Cooling the cities–a review of reflective and green roof mitigation technologies to fight heat island and improve comfort in urban environments. Solar Energy, 103(1), 682-703.","Skog, J. E., (2006). Maintenance and Reliability Theory. Retrieve from http://www.mtec2000.com/cigre_a3_06/Rio/theory.pdf","Toma, M., & Bobâlcă, C. (2016). Research on drivers' perception on the maintenance of air filters for internal combustion engines. Procedia Technology, 22(1), 961-968.","Wallace, L. (2008). Effectiveness of home air cleaners in reducing indoor levels of particles. Technical report, Health Canada."]}

This paper discusses the experience of a Philippines-based agricultural research program, where participatory evaluation is embedded in a broader, user-centered participatory research approach. Three case projects illustrate and analyze participatory evaluation of agricultural research in a developing country context. Different evaluation types are identified and their use in different phases of the research process is discussed. These field experiences show how “evaluation from the inside” can contribute to effective research planning and implementation, particularly in enhancing sensitivity to user needs and situations.

Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was reared for 1 generation on artificial diet composed of skimmed milk, chicken egg yolk, yeast extract and saccharose. The laboratory and field efficacy of in vitro-cultured E. larvarum was compared with that of parasitoids reared on the factitious host G. mellonella. In the laboratory, the effectiveness of in vitro and in vivo-reared tachinids against the natural host Lymantria dispar (L.) was tested. For in vitro-reared E. larvarum the percentage of successfully parasitized larvae was 19.8% compared with 22.7% for parasitoids reared on the host. No significant difference was found between the in vitro and the in vivo-reared flies. In a cork oak forest in northern Sardinia (Italy), parasitism of L. dispar and Malacosoma neustrium (L.) by E. larvarum cultured in vitro or in vivo was also evaluated. The in vitro-reared females oviposited a significantly lower number of eggs on L. dispar larvae. Nevertheless, no difference in percentages of successfully parasitized larvae was recorded between the two rearing methods. No eggs were laid on M. neustrium larvae by the in vitro-reared females. No puparia formed in M. neustrium larvae, not even in those exposed to in vivo-reared flies.

Previous studies have emphasized that, in sawfly metamorphosis, most of morphogenesis and hormonal activity occurs during the pronymphal phase in the prepupal stage. The titres of ecdysteroids in haemolymph and ovaries were measured in selected stages of development of the sawfly Neodiprion sertifer (Hymenoptera Diprionidae), during the metamorphosis and in the adult. The hormonal levels detected were compared with the main morphological and anatomical differentiations observed. The last larval instar showed a peak of ecdysteroid secretion about two days before the apolysis. During the prepupal stage there were two peaks of ecdysteroid secretion with the second much higher. At the pupal stage a sudden increase of the hormone titre was found. The sawfly therefore showed a variation of the molting hormone titre comparable with that observed for other holometabolous insects. Moreover an intense secretive activity of the ovaries from the late pupal stage to the adult stage was clearly detected. The doseresponse hypothesis of ecdysteroid action is discussed.

The probing behaviour of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer (Rhynchota Aphididae) was evaluated by electrical penetration graph (EPG-DC) on the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. syn. Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar Motelle, containing the Mi gene conferring resistance to the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Rhynchota Aphididae), to test the resistance degree of the cultivar to M. persicae. The aphid probing behaviour was also evaluated on a susceptible (mi) tomato cultivar, Moneymaker, after treatment by a chemical plant resistance elicitor, benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (benzothiadiazole or BTH). Concerning a possible antixenotic effect due to physical and chemical barriers, no significant differences were found between the two cultivars in the probing and phloem phases. However, a difference was detected between the preinfested and non-preinfested susceptible cultivar in the total duration of phloem ingestion. The lack of significant differences in the entire process of host feeding between resistant and susceptible cultivars is probably due to the fact that the resistant cultivar identifies only the specific elicitors produced by M. euphorbiae. By contrast, the BTH treatment apparently makes the susceptible cultivar less palatable to a generalist aphid like M. persicae: the main component of this induced resistance is the reduced phloem ingestion.

Exorista larvarum (L.) is a tachinid parasitoid native to the Palearctic region, known as an antagonist of lepidopterous defoliators. This species is suitable to be cultured in vitro, and yields of fecund adults, approaching those usually attained in host larvae, have been previously achieved on artificial media. Direct oviposition by E. larvarum on media has not yet been obtained, and the eggs for the in vitro rearing are routinely removed from parasitized host larvae. However, many eggs are usually laid throughout the cage by captive females and can be retrieved by placing them on artificial media. Storage at low temperatures provides a method for prolonging the development of insects and stockpile them when not needed immediately. We studied the effects of storage at 20 °C (for 5 d or until pupation) or 15 °C (for 5 d or until egg hatching) on the in vitro development of E. larvarum. Lower temperatures were excluded, because previous studies showed a strong negative impact on hatching when the eggs were stored at 5 °C or 10 °C. For the experiments, eggs were removed from hosts and placed on an artificial medium. The results suggested that it is possible to delay the development of the in vitro-reared E. larvarum, which eventually reached the adult stage, although some negative effects on fly quality (i.e., longevity and fecundity) were also observed. Because quality is not an absolute concept, all the situations tested in this study could be appropriate according to the current requirements.

La recente nascita e sviluppo del mercato nutraceutico sta portando ad una sempre maggiore richiesta di colture ad elevato contenuto in composti noti per possedere effetti benefici per la salute dell’uomo. Tra questi i fitoestrogeni (FIT) e la melatonina (MEL), prodotti dalla pianta in condizioni fisiologiche e ancor più in risposta a stress biotici e abiotici, sono di grande interesse principalmente grazie alle loro proprietà antiossidanti, in un’ottica di rafforzamento delle difese naturali dell’organismo e per la prevenzione di patologie e disordini che colpiscono la donna e l’uomo occidentali (osteoporosi, sindromi pre-mestruali, neoplasie ormone-dipendenti). La presente relazione descrive la sperimentazione condotta dal nostro gruppo di ricerca su piante di leguminose. In particolare, i principali obiettivi sono stati la valutazione delle potenzialità di leguminose tipiche degli ambienti mediterranei, quali fagiolo comune ed erba medica, come fonti di FIT e MEL a livello del germoglio e della pianta adulta; la valutazione degli effetti di stress abiotici (fisici e chimici) e biotici (insetti e miceti) sulla sintesi e l’accumulo di FIT e MEL nel germoglio e nella pianta adulta; l’identificazione di nuove destinazioni d’uso per erba medica e fagiolo comune come piante funzionali per il consumo umano diretto (germogli per l’alimentazione) e indiretto (integratori e/o preparati nutraceutici); la definizione di nuovi protocolli produttivi in grado di assicurare un elevato e costante contenuto di FIT e MEL; infine, la valutazione della ricaduta clinica della ricerca in chiave di ottimizzazione dell’interazione in vivo di FIT e MEL.

The tachinid fly, E. larvarum is a polyphagous larval endoparasitoid which deposit macrotype eggs on the host exoskeleton. The newly-hatched larvae burrow through the host integument, leaving a dark spot in the point of their penetration as a result of cuticle melanisation. The attachment of E. larvarum larvae to the host tissues and formation of the hemocyte capsule surrounding the tachinid larva were studied in the last larval instar of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L). Parasitization was carried out according to the standard laboratory procedure. The parasitized larvae were examined, dissected and fixed every day of the parasitoid development, which lasts 3 - 4 days from egg hatching to pupal stage at 26°C. Standard histological techniques were used. The material was embedded in Histoplast II and sections 5 - 7 µm thick were stained with hematoxylin - eosin and Masson΄s trichrome stain. As the parasitoid first and second instar larvae are more difficult to be sectioned, the cryosection and rapid microscopic analysis were used to obtain sections of better quality. Frozen sections were stained with azan or hematoxylin - eosin. Our histological examination showed that the endoparasitoid penetration induces the host cellular defence resulting into the formation of a hemocyte capsule consisting of a multi-cellular sheath. This enveloping capsule later undergoes melanisation, which is more evident towards the abdominal part of the parasitoid larval body. The tachinid larva uses this encapsulation response, as well as the integument reaction to wounding, to build the respiratory funnel. The encapsulated larva is attached to the respiratory funnel via an anal hook and cuticular spines and remains in contact with the outside air with its posterior spiracles until the third instar (when the funnel is abandoned). The respiratory funnel was also studied by scanning electron microscopy.

A list is given of hoverflies collected by means of Malaise and white sticky traps in two organic apple orchards in north-western Italy. The total number of collected species was 17 and it was compared with literature, in order to discuss differences due to sampling methods. The predominant species collected were Sphaerophoria scripta (L.) (73% of the total sample) and Eupeodes corollae (F.) (14%). The trend of adult captures of this species is drawn and discussed. Data on wild plant species in the orchards are also given.