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Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) were recently reported as highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins in the gas phase. Previous studies revealed a substantial increase in surface oxygen content after exposure to ODH conditions (heating to ca. 500 °C under a flow of alkane and oxygen); however, the complexity of these materials has thus far precluded an in-depth understanding of the oxygenated surface species. In this contribution, we combine advanced NMR spectroscopy experiments with scanning electron microscopy and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the molecular structure of the oxygen functionalized phase that arises on h-BN and BNNT following catalytic testing for ODH of propane. The pristine BN materials are readily oxidized and hydrolyzed under ODH reaction conditions to yield a phase consisting of three-coordinate boron sites with variable numbers of hydroxyl and bridging oxide groups which is denoted B(OH)

Fumigant use in perennial crops can be reduced through prolonging the life of existing orchards. The longer an orchard remains healthy and productive, the less often it will be terminated, fumigated, and replanted. Two trials were conducted to determine the effectiveness of DiTera, a toxin produced by the fungus (Myrothecium verrucaria) and Nema-Q, an extract of the soap bark tree (Quillaja saponaria) for management of root-lesion (Pratylenchus vulnus) and ring (Mesocriconema xenopla) nematodes on walnuts. In the first trial, spring and fall treatments of DiTera were applied each year for four years to variety ‘Chandler’ scion on seedling ‘Paradox’ rootstock, and to own-rooted ‘Chandler’ trees. On ‘Paradox’ rootstock, both DiTera and Nema-Q increased walnut yields (P ≤ 0.05) and produced more vigorous trees (P ≤ 0.05) without significant reductions in nematode populations (P ≤ 0.05). A second trial was conducted with three rates of DiTera and four rates of Nema-Q, combinations of the two products, and an untreated control on ‘Chandler’ scion on ‘Paradox’ rootstock. The highest rate of Nema-Q (P ≤ 0.05), and a combination treatment of DiTera plus Nema-Q (P ≤ 0.05) increased trunk circumference. Several treatments showed reductions in root-lesion and ring nematodes (P ≤ 0.05). Bionematicides can improve yield, growth, and vigor in walnut orchards infested with plant-parasitic nematodes.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction (OD; TD) among COVID‐19 positive health care workers (HCWs), their associated risk factors and prognosis. Methods Between May and June 2020, a longitudinal multicenter study was conducted on symptomatic COVID‐19 PCR confirmed HCWs (COVID‐19 positive) in London and Padua. Results Hundred and fourteen COVID‐19 positive HCWs were surveyed with a response rate of 70.6% over a median follow‐up period of 52 days. UK prevalence of OD and TD was 73.1% and 69.2%, respectively. There was a male to female ratio of 1:3 with 81.6% being white, 43.7% being nurses/health care assistants (HCAs), and 39.3% being doctors. In addition, 53.2% of them worked on COVID‐19 wards. Complete recovery was reported in 31.8% for OD and 47.1% for TD with a 52 days follow‐up. The job role of doctors and nurses negatively influenced smell (P = .04 and P = .02) and taste recovery (P = .02 and P = .01). Ethnicity (being white) showed to positively influence only taste recovery (P = .04). Sex (being female) negatively influenced OD and TD recovery only in Paduan HCWs (P = .02 and P = .011, respectively). Working on a COVID‐19 ward did not influence prognosis. Conclusions The prevalence of OD and TD was considerably higher in HCWs. The prognosis for OD and TD recovery was worse for nurses/HCAs and doctors but working on a COVID‐19 ward did not influence prognosis. Sixty‐eight percent of surveyed HCWs at 52 days continued to experience OD or TD requiring additional future medical management capacity. Level of Evidence 4., XXX.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have a theoretically increased risk of contracting severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) given their occupational exposure. We tested 2,167 HCWs in a London Acute Integrated Care Organisation for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in May and June 2020 to evaluate seroprevalence. We found a seropositivity rate of 31.6% among HCWs.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is presented as an outstanding catalyst for the selective production of C4 olefins by the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane and isobutane. Unlike catalysts reported previously, hBN limits the amount of undesired COx and instead forms C2 and C3 olefins as the main side products. Kinetic experiments suggest a mechanism in which the rates of n-butane and isobutane consumption are dependent on O2 adsorption. Kinetic and spectroscopic insights are used to formulate mechanistic hypotheses for the formation mechanisms of C2–C4 olefins.

We evaluated the low-density application of 50 dispensers per hectare, in contrast to the traditional >800 dispensers per hectare in apple orchards, to achieve disruption of communication of adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), in walnuts, Juglans regia (L.), using several methods. These methods included cumulative catches of male moths in traps baited with sex pheromone (Ph) or codlemone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol, or a combination of codlemone, pear ester (PE), ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate, and acetic acid, and by examining the mating status of females. These data were collected from 2011-2014 in nontreated plots and in similar plots treated with Meso dispensers loaded with codlemone (Ph Meso) or codlemone and PE (Ph + PE Meso). Male moth captures in both the Ph and combination lure traps reduced by 88-96% and 72 to 77%, respectively, compared with traps in the nontreated plots. A significantly higher proportion of female moths were nonmated in plots treated with Ph + PE Meso dispensers (33%) than in plots treated with Ph Meso (18-26%), or left nontreated (13%). In addition, significantly fewer multiple-mated females were trapped in the Ph + PE Meso-treated plots (6%) than in either Ph Meso-treated (13-18%) or nontreated plots (23%). These data suggest that the addition of PE can effectively improve Ph-based disruption of C. pomonella in walnut orchards. In addition, these data suggest that the use of low-density hand-applied dispensers can be an effective and lower-cost approach to manage this pest in the large canopy presented by walnut orchards.

A series of supported two- and three-dimensional vanadium oxide surface species on β-SiC with various V coverages are prepared via incipient wetness impregnation and characterized by a variety of ex and in situ techniques. The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) is also used as a probe reaction to complementarily distinguish between two- and three-dimensional VOx surface species. Herein, we show that treating pristine β-SiC with oxygen transforms the existing amorphous SiOxCy surface layer into a more SiO2-type layer, though with a negligible formation of Si–OH sites, which initially were expected to be the anchor sites for VOx species. In its place, the C–OH functional groups identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) act as anchor sites for the VOx species during the impregnation process, and are consumed as a function of V coverage. Our experimental observations all corroborate the formation of two- and three-dimensional VOx species on the surface of β-SiC.

Boron nitride catalysis Propene is one of the highest-volume organic chemicals produced. Propene has mainly been made from naphtha, but changes in the global supply chain are creating shortages. Direct conversion from propane, a component of natural gas, via reaction with oxygen is an attractive alternative, but existing approaches produce a large fraction of unwanted CO and CO 2 . Grant et al. report that boron nitride, normally an unreactive material, has high selectivity to catalyze the production of propene (77%) and ethene (13%). Science , this issue p. 1570

Drosophila suzukii is a serious pest of several fruit crop systems in California’s Central Valley, which is one of the world’s major fruit-growing regions. This study followed D. suzukii seasonal population dynamics in multiple cropping and riparian systems in four cherry-producing counties of the Valley. Apple cider vinegar baited traps were used to monitor D. suzukii adults weekly, from April 2013 to July 2014, in 28 fields. Results show peak captures in the spring and fall seasons. In cherry orchards, adult trap counts were the highest near harvest (June) and declined thereafter, as fly populations moved to other crop (e.g., citrus) or non-crop habitats. The number of captured adults was positively related between pairs of sampled sites based on their proximity but was negatively related to differences in fruit ripening periods between different crops, suggesting that fly populations moved among crop and/or non-crop habitats during the year or had varying population dynamics on different crops and in different seasons. Mature egg load per female was higher during the fruiting season but lower during the winter season, with the majority of winter-captured females not containing mature eggs. This survey also reports for the first time the presence of trapped D. suzukii adults bearing melanized and encapsulated parasitoids in North America, non-target captures of larval drosophilid parasitoids in the traps, as well as the occurrence of larvae in the ovaries of adult female D. suzukii.

Heterogeneous metal oxide catalysts are widely studied for the aerobic oxidations of C1–C4 alkanes to form olefins and oxygenates. In this review, we outline the properties of supported metal oxides, mixed-metal oxides, and zeolites and detail their most common applications as catalysts for partial oxidations of light alkanes. By doing this we establish similarities between different classes of metal oxides and identify common themes in reaction mechanisms and research strategies for catalyst improvement. For example, almost all partial alkane oxidations, regardless of the metal oxide, follow Mars–van Krevelen reaction kinetics, which utilize lattice oxygen atoms to reoxidize the reduced metal centers while the gaseous O2 reactant replenishes these lattice oxygen vacancies. Many of the most-promising metal oxide catalysts include V5+ surface species as a necessary constituent to convert the alkane. Transformations involving sequential oxidation steps (i.e., propane to acrylic acid) require specific reacti...

We investigate the chemical reactions involved during the synthesis of supported vanadium oxide catalysts using chemical grafting of vanadium oxytriisopropoxide (VO(OiPr)3) to thermally pretreated silica under solvent-free conditions. VO(OiPr)3 is found to react with both site-isolated silanol (Si−OH) groups and strained siloxane (≡Si−O−Si≡) bridges at the silica surface. Solid-state 51V and 13C MAS NMR confirms the formation of two slightly different vanadium species associated with the two anchoring mechanisms. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), in situ Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry-mass spectrometry (TGA-DSC-MS) were used to study the subsequent calcination, revealing the formation of a transient V—OH intermediate upon the release of propene, followed by the formation of isolated VO4 surface species upon elimination of water. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and 51V MAS NMR of the calcined material confirm the conversion of the two original vanadium sites to a species with a single isotropic shift, confirming the formation of isolated, tetrahedral VO4 sites., Chemistry of Materials, 28 (15), ISSN:0897-4756

This publication will help walnut growers reduce offsite movement of pesticides in surface water. Covered is the current regulatory approach to surface water protection; background information on the safe and effective use of pesticides, integrated pest management, and handling runoff water. Included are flowcharts for specific management practices and orchard conditions that can help you undertake a self-assessment of the potential risk of offsite movement. When followed systematically from beginning to end, the flowcharts will guide you through a step-by-step evaluation of your operation to identify potential problem areas. After completing the self assessment you can understand and implement management practices to address problem areas.

This Article examines the ethical dilemmas faced by attorneys who represent clients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. To do so, this Article raises three (3) hypothetical case studies, and applies the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel ("ACTEC") Commentaries, where appropriate, to those hypothetical case studies. Additionally, this Article proposes initiatives to ameliorate the lack of awareness and discussion of Alzheimer's disease in the law school curriculum, and finally, modest initiatives that the practicing bar can embrace to further a discussion and awareness among practicing attorneys about the ethical dilemma attorneys face in their daily interaction with actual and potential clients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This article's objectives are twofold. First, the intention is to use this Article as a vehicle to expose law students, legal educators, practicing attorneys, policymakers, and layperson observers to the impact, medical symptoms and manifestations of Alzheimer's disease in accessible and easy to understand terms. Second, to use this Article as a tool for teaching, raising understanding, and providing guidance on a multitude of ethical considerations that law students (who will soon be lawyers) and practicing members of the bar should consider while being exposed to actual or potential clients who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

The objective of this project was to select rootstocks that are tolerant or resistant to the canker disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. In February 2000, twenty-three rootstocks, including the two controls, Nemaguard (susceptible) and Lovell (tolerant), grafted with the 'Ross' scion were planted in a commercial orchard near Escalon, CA. This orchard had very coarse, sandy soil and a history of bacterial canker problems. Symptoms of canker started to show on some of the rootstocks in 2003. Generally, the symptoms started to be apparent in late March and were more pronounced in mid April. Tree death due to canker disease and ratings of springtime canker infections from 2003 through 2009 indicated that trees on several rootstocks were not significantly affected by bacterial canker. These rootstocks were Guardian, Viking, P. mira, Flordaguard, HBOK 15, HBOK 1, and HBOK 17. Data from samples of soils and roots, from which live ring (Criconemoides xenoplax), root-knot (Meloidogyne sp.) and root-lesion (Pratylenchus vulnus) nematodes were extracted, showed that the highest numbers of ring nematodes were found on Nickels, K119-50, Hansen 536, Hiawatha, P. subhirtella, P30-135, Nemaguard and K146-43 rootstocks. These data, generally, correlated with the data of tree mortality, i.e., rootstocks that harbored high numbers of ring nematodes also showed high numbers of tree mortality. Dormant pruning weights indicated that growth of trees on K146-43, St. Anthony, P30-135, K119-50, Weeping Peach and Compass were the most size controlling rootstocks. Trees on Hansen 536, P. ferganensis, HBOK 15, HBOK 1, HBOK 17 and Nickels were similar to, or larger than the Nemaguard control. St. Anthony, Cadaman, Guardian and the Nemaguard control had the highest number of suckers (2.3 to 4.1 suckers per tree). The rest of the rootstocks had zero to one sucker per tree. Trees on the majority of the rootstocks tested were similar to the control with regard to the traditional measure of yield efficiency (Yield/Trunk Sectional Area). Yield efficiencies of trees on the Weeping peach, HBOK 1, Cadaman, HBOK 17, Atlas, K119-50, K146-43, and Lovell rootstocks were higher than the control. Trees on the Nickels rootstock had lower efficiency than the control. In general, all tested size controlling rootstocks were susceptible to bacterial canker.

Integrated pest management (IPM) offers guidelines to reduce spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) outbreaks by avoiding pesticides known to be harmful to the natural enemies of spider mites. However, in practice, these guidelines can be inconsistent in their effectiveness. The project examined whether California walnut (Juglans L.) growers, following IPM guidelines to avoid pesticides harmful to the natural enemies of spider mites, achieved lower miticide use. Significant statistical tests suggested that fields with harmful applications were 40% more likely to have a miticide application than fields without. Although the IPM guidelines achieved the goal of reducing miticide use, further analysis of other potential causal mechanisms behind outbreaks could strengthen the effectiveness of the guidelines, potentially increasing IPM adoption.

Seedlings from seven open-pollinated selections of Chinese wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera) (WN) representing collections of the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository at Davis, CA, and the University of California at Davis were evaluated as rootstocks for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. citricola and graft compatibility with scions of five cultivars of Persian walnut (Juglans regia). Seedlings of Northern California black walnut (NCB) (J. hindsii) and Paradox hybrid (PH) (typically J. hindsii × J. regia) were used as standards. In greenhouse experiments, potted plants of the rootstocks were subjected to intermittent flooding in soil artificially infested with the pathogens. All WN seedlings were relatively resistant to the pathogens (means of 0% to 36% of root and crown length rotted) compared with NCB (44% to 100%) and PH seedlings (11% to 100%). Negligible disease occurred in flooded control soil without the pathogens. In 9-year graft compatibility trials in an orchard, NCB and PH rootstocks supported relatively good survival and growth of all tested scion cultivars (‘Chandler’, ‘Hartley’, ‘Serr’, ‘Tulare’, and ‘Vina’; final scion survival 80% to 100%, mean scion circumference increase 292 to 541 mm), whereas results with WN were mixed. Wingnut rootstocks from all sources were incompatible with ‘Chandler’ (final scion survival 20% to 60%, scion circumference increase 17 to 168 mm). Conversely, all WN rootstocks from all sources were compatible with ‘Tulare’ and ‘Vina’ (final scion survival 80% to 100%, scion circumference increase 274 to 556 mm). Use of the WN rootstocks produced variable results in ‘Hartley’ and ‘Serr’ (final scion survival 10% to 100%, mean scion circumference increase 69 to 542 mm). There was a tendency for more rootstock sprouts on WN selections than on NCB or PH. In a commercial walnut orchard infested with P. cinnamomi, ‘Hartley’ survived and grew markedly better on WN selections than on PH. High resistance to P. cinnamomi and P. citricola was common to all of the WN selections. The results indicate that WN selections may be useful rootstocks for cultivars Tulare and Vina in soils infested with P. cinnamomi or P. citricola and that WN selections may contribute valuable resistance to these pathogens in walnut rootstock breeding efforts.

Increasing temperatures are likely to impact ectothermic pests of fruits and nuts. This paper aims to assess changes to pest pressure in California’s US$0.7 billion walnut industry due to recent historic and projected future temperature changes. For two past (1950 and 2000) and 18 future climate scenarios (2041–2060 and 2080–2099; each for three General Circulation Models and three greenhouse gas emissions scenarios), 100 years of hourly temperature were generated for 205 locations. Degree-day models were used to project mean generation numbers for codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella Walker), two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), and European red mite (Panonychus ulmi Koch). In the Central Valley, the number of codling moth generations predicted for degree days accumulated between April 1 and October 1 rose from 2–4 in 1950 to 3–5 among all future scenarios. Generation numbers increased from 10–18 to 14–24 for two-spotted spider mite, from 9–14 to 14–20 for European red mite, and from 2–4 to up to 5 for navel orangeworm. Overall pest pressure can thus be expected to increase substantially. Our study did not include the possibility of higher winter survival rates, leading to higher initial pest counts in spring, or of extended pest development times in the summer, factors that are likely to exacerbate future pest pressure. On the other hand, initiation of diapause may prevent an extension of the season length for arthropods, and higher incidence of heat death in summer may constrain pest population sizes. More information on the impact of climate change on complex agroecological food webs and on the response of pests to high temperatures is needed for improving the reliability of projections.

Many arthropod pesticides used by California walnut growers have been linked to water quality impairment. However lower risk alternatives are often associated with higher costs. The purpose of this paper was to: (1) identify currently practiced pest management strategies with probable high water quality impact, (2) quantify the importance of factors which affect economic tradeoffs associated with reducing water quality impact, and (3) identify pest management strategies that could potentially lower water quality impact with less economic consequence. An integrated analysis using environmental, economic and pesticide use data revealed that 96% of the pest management strategies analyzed were candidates for reducing the impact on water quality. Replacement of current pesticides by alternative pest controls lowered probable impact, but resulted in an economic tradeoff in the form of higher costs for the majority of growers. If biological control could eliminate the need for miticides and aphicides, this tradeoff could be replaced by savings for nearly half of the sample analyzed. This cost savings would most likely be realized by growers who currently have low numbers of pests that are not candidates for biological control, and relatively high use of organophosphates and miticides. The results indicated that if these pest management strategies had been replaced by alternative strategies and biological control, then total organophosphate, pyrethroid, and miticide active ingredient use would have been reduced by an average of 5 kg/hectare per year, while simultaneously lowering the grower’s pest management costs by an average of $128/hectare, thus contributing to both economic and environmental long-run sustainability.

Seedling 'Paradox' (Juglans hindsii × J. regia) has been the rootstock of choice for English walnut in California because of its vigor and greater tolerance of wet soil conditions. However, seedling 'Paradox' rootstock is highly susceptible to crown gall, a disease caused by the soil-borne bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In regions where tree death from walnut blackline disease (cherry leafroll virus) is prevalent, seedling English rootstock is used to avoid the hypersensitive response at the graft union associated with 'Paradox'. Own-rooted English walnut trees have replaced seedling English in the nursery trade and are now often used in counties where walnut blackline disease is severe. Early observations revealed no crown gall on own-rooted trees. In 2006-2007, we conducted a systematic statewide crown gall survey of own-rooted English walnut trees and 'Paradox' rooted walnut trees at five rootstock research sites and 14 commercial orchards planted in 2003 or earlier. Crown gall incidence was determined by visual inspection, and rated as present or absent at the crown level. Every own-rooted tree site was compared to 100 English trees on 'Paradox' rootstock growing within or near each site. Across the five research sites, seedling 'Paradox' had significantly more crown gall (20.5%) compared to the own-rooted trees (0.9%). The commercial orchards had a similar pattern with seedling 'Paradox' exhibiting 22.2% crown gall versus 0.3% in the own-rooted trees.

Walnut husk fly (WHF), Rhagoletis completa Cresson, is a serious insect pest of walnuts in California. Control of WHF relies on repeated applications of broad-spectrum insecticides combined with a feeding stimulant to suppress adult flies before oviposition. The broad-spectrum insecticides suppress beneficial insects and mites that in turn suppress a number of secondary insect and mite pests. Thus an efficacious and environmentally benign WHF control needs to be developed to reduce or eliminate broad-spectrum insecticides. To this end, laboratory and field studies were conducted from 2002 to 2005 to evaluate spinosad as a replacement for broad-spectrum insecticides. In laboratory trials, spinosad at low rates was not as efficacious as malathion but was as efficacious as esfenvalerate and superior to pyrethrin. WHF mortality as a result of feeding on GF-120 was adversely affected by increased WHF density. The longevity of GF-120 appears to be very short under hot and dry California conditions. In field trials, GF-120 and Success 2SC provided significantly lower infestation as compared to the blank bait check and was equivalent to the grower standard of malathion or chlorpyrifos.

Many organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides currently used by California walnut growers have been linked to negative environmental or human health impacts, increasing the probability of use restrictions and phase-outs. We assessed the acceptability of alternative reduced-risk strategies by comparing their costs to those of pest management programs currently in use among San Joaquin County walnut growers. To do this, we analyzed data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's legally mandated Pesticide Use Reports on actual pesticide applications for 3 years, from 2002 to 2004. While many factors other than cost influence growers’ pest management choices, we found that alternative strategies can be cost-competitive with conventional approaches, depending on the pest pressure and savings due to reductions in secondary pest outbreaks.

The catalytic performance of supported metal oxides is often controlled by their two- or three-dimensional dispersion. Silica, one of the popular inert supports, triggers the undesired formation of three-dimensional nanoparticles at significantly lower loadings than other conventional supports like Al2O3, TiO2, Nb2O5, or ZrO2. This observation has been ascribed to the lower reactivity of surface SiOH groups toward the precursor, compared to other metal hydroxyl groups on different supports. In this contribution, we show that by promoting amorphous silica with low amounts of sodium, the surface density of two-dimensional metal oxide species can be significantly enhanced to the same level as all other oxide supports previously reported in the literature. This effect is demonstrated for the case of supported vanadia using a variety of spectroscopic techniques (i.e., Raman, diffuse reflectance UV–vis, and 51V-MAS NMR), as well as a catalytic activity study for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP), a structure-sensitive probe reaction. The propane consumption rate was found to increase linearly with the vanadium surface density while the propylene selectivity was not affected until a monolayer coverage of ca. 9 vanadia per nm2 was surpassed. The method is also applicable to other group V metals (i.e., Nb- and Ta-oxide), opening new perspectives for supported metal oxides., ACS Catalysis, 5 (10), ISSN:2155-5435

As concerns increase over changes in pesticide regulations, farmworker safety, surface and groundwater contamination and escalating costs and uncertainties associated with chemical controls, walnut growers need effective and cost-efficient ways to produce walnuts with minimal use of pesticides. This study compared the effectiveness of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) with conventionally managed walnut orchards in the northern San Joaquin Valley from 1999 to 2001. We found no significant differences between BIOS and conventional blocks in nut quality or yields. Codling moth was effectively controlled by pheromone disruption and alternative pest-control methods. Mating disruption, by itself, appears to provide good control of codling moth in many orchards. However, it is still more expensive for growers than conventional pest-control methods.

Slow-release pheromone technology can successfully control oriental fruit moth and peach twig borer while eliminating in-season insecticide sprays in cling peaches. In conjunction with a demonstration program, we compared mating disruption for these two pests with standard grower pest-control methods in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and monitored for pest damage, yield and grower costs. While the mating-disruption program was effective in controlling the targeted pests, costs were higher and growers preferred a partial disruption program that included some supplemental late-season insecticide sprays. Subsequently, we developed monitoring methods to determine the need for supplemental sprays. This partial matingdisruption program still costs about $60 more per acre than a standard spray program. Predicting efficacy and determining the need for supplement sprays is also more difficult with the partial program than with the pheromone-based control program.

Boron nitride was recently identified as a highly selective catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP). In this communication we report that other boron-containing materials such as boron carbide, titanium boride, nickel boride, cobalt boride, hafnium boride and tungsten boride, as well as elemental boron itself show the same exceptional behavior as boron nitride. X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy suggest oxyfunctionalization of the surface. This observation disproves previous mechanistic hypotheses that edge sites on the boron nitride would be the active sites and rather suggests the formation of an analogous surface-stabilized BOx active site for all tested boride catalysts.

Correction for ‘Supported two- and three-dimensional vanadium oxide species on the surface of β-SiC’ by Carlos A. Carrero et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7cy01036b.

Author(s): Fulton, Allan; Grant, Joe; Buchner, Richard; Connell, Joe | Abstract: The pressure chamber (or pressure bomb) is a device fruit and nut growers can use to measures a tree's stem water potential at midday—and so determine exactly how much irrigation water to apply and when. Learn the ins and outs of this excellent tool.