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The continuous utilisation of an alternative host may influence parasitoid performance across successive generations due to conditioning in natal hosts. Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) has successfully been reared using Tenebrio molitor L. pupae as a feasible alternative host. However, the extended rearing of T. howardi on this alternative host may impact the biological features of the parasitoids. Parasitoids were reared using T. molitor pupae for 30 consecutive generations. Quality criteria were assessed during the generations F5, F15, and F30, offering pupae of the target pest, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.), and compared with the F0 generation (parasitoids reared in D. saccharalis pupae). Criteria included assessments of parasitism performance, host selection, and wing form variation in the parasitoid wasps. Additionally, we examined the fecundity of T. howardi females that emerged from both hosts, considering their age, egg loading before and after one oviposition, as well as parasitism of sugarcane stalk borer pupae. Rearing T. howardi using pupae of T. molitor did not affect its biological traits or preference for the target pest for 30 generations. After parasitism, the parasitoid left the host pupa inside the stalk, and one oviposition was enough to kill D. saccharalis pupae and obtain viable parasitoid progeny. Female sexual maturation and egg loading occurred 72 and 96 h after parasitoid emergence. Egg-loading recovery after parasitism did not happen within 24 h. T. howardi can be reared for up to 30 generations using alternative hosts without compromising its parasitism performance or egg loading.

Global warming has driven changes in the biology and fitness of organisms that need to adapt to temperatures outside of their optimal range to survive. This study investigated aspects of reproduction and survival of the lady beetle Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) subjected to temperatures that varied from its optimal (28°C) to a gradual decrease (12, 14, 16, and 18°C) and increase (32, 34, 35, and 36°C) over time at a rate of 1°C/day. Fertility, fecundity, oviposition period, and survival were determined. There was a significant reduction in fertility and fecundity at temperatures below 18°C and above 34°C, whereas survival was reduced only above 34°C. Additionally, we evaluated that fecundity was the lowest when females were kept at low temperature, and when males were kept under high temperature. Therefore, if the T. notata remained for a long period under exposure to temperatures outside the ideal range, then the species could present different reproductive responses for each sex to high and low temperatures. This factor must be considered when releasing natural enemies into an area to understand the effect of temperature on the decline of a local population a few generations after release.

Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae) is a predatory ladybird beetle native to South America. It specializes in mealybugs prey (Pseudococcidae), but relatively little is known about its ecology. In contrast, the ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae) is indigenous to Australia and has been introduced to many countries worldwide including Brazil for biological control of mealybugs. The potential impacts of these introductions to native coccinellids have rarely been considered. The software CLIMEX estimated the climate suitability for both species as reflected in the Ecoclimatic Index (EI). Much of South America, Africa, and Australia can be considered climatically suitable for both species, but in most cases, the climate is considerably more favorable for C. montrouzieri than T. notata, especially in South America. The CLIMEX model also suggests seasonal differences in growth conditions (e.g. rainfall and temperature) that could affect the phenology of both species. These models suggest that few locations in South America would be expected to provide T. notata climatic refugia from C. montrouzieri. Although other ecological factors will also be important, such as prey availability, this analysis suggests a strong potential for displacement of a native coccinellid throughout most of its range as a consequence of the invasion by an alien competitor.

A bstract The CONNIE experiment is located at a distance of 30 m from the core of a commercial nuclear reactor, and has collected a 3.7 kg-day exposure using a CCD detector array sensitive to an ∼ 1 keV threshold for the study of coherent neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering. Here we demonstrate the potential of this low-energy neutrino experiment as a probe for physics Beyond the Standard Model, by using the recently published results to constrain two simplified extensions of the Standard Model with light mediators. We compare the new limits with those obtained for the same models using neutrinos from the Spallation Neutron Source. Our new constraints represent the best limits for these simplified models among the experiments searching for CE ν NS for a light vector mediator with mass M Z ′ < 10 MeV, and for a light scalar mediator with mass M ϕ < 30 MeV. These results constitute the first use of the CONNIE data as a probe for physics Beyond the Standard Model.

The cotton ecosystem comprises various arthropod pest and natural enemies with simultaneous occurrence irrespective of growing region. The use of insecticides with reduced impact on natural enemies is a major goal to conserve them and, therefore, to reduce populations of arthropod pests. The survival of twelve key natural enemies for cotton pest management exposed to dried residues using the highest and lowest recommended rates representing old and new insecticides recommended to control cotton pests (chlorantraniliprole, chlofernapyr, spinosad, lambda-cyhalotrin, methidathion, pymetrozine, and thiamethoxam) was determined. The study included parasitoids [Aphelinus gossypii Timberlake, Bracon vulgaris Ashmead, Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson), Telenomus podisi (Ashmead), Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley)] and predators [Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas), Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas), Solenopsis invicta Buren), Orius insidiosus (Say), Chrysoperla externa Hagen and Eriopis connexa (Germar)], with two different cohorts for these last two species. All natural enemies exposed to methidathion exhibited 100% mortality. Thiamethoxam, lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorfenapyr also caused high mortality of P. nigrispinus, S. invicta, H. convergens, O. insidiosus and all tested parasitoids. Among the natural enemies, E. annulipes exhibited high survival when exposed to all tested insecticides, except methidathion. Chlorantraniliprole and pymetrozine caused overall lower impact on the natural enemies tested followed by spinosad; hence, they are options for cotton pest management. Furthermore, the outcomes highlight the implication of knowing the background susceptibility of the species tested when addressing the impact of insecticides on natural enemies.

Autophagy is a catabolic process that is essential to the maintenance of homeostasis through the cellular recycling of damaged organelles or misfolded proteins, which sustains energy balance. Additionally, autophagy plays a dual role in modulating the development and progression of cancer and inducing a survival strategy in tumoral cells. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) modulates the immune response and is responsible for maintaining self-tolerance. Because tumor cells exploit the PD-L1–PD-1 interaction to subvert the immune response, immunotherapy has been developed based on the use of PD-L1-blocking antibodies. Recent evidence has suggested a bidirectional regulation between autophagy and PD-L1 molecule expression in tumor cells. Moreover, the research into the intrinsic properties of PD-L1 has highlighted new functions that are advantageous to tumor cells. The relationship between autophagy and PD-L1 is complex and still not fully understood; its effects can be context-dependent and might differ between tumoral cells. This review refines our understanding of the non-immune intrinsic functions of PD-L1 and its potential influence on autophagy, how these could allow the survival of tumor cells, and what this means for the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapeutic strategies.

Pyrethroid insecticides are widely recommended against various defoliating pest species, but usually lack efficacy against sucking pests such as aphids, which are preferred prey of lacewing larvae. Interaction of pyrethroids and lacewings are likely to occur in fields infested by both defoliating and sap-sucking pests and should provide a complementary control. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate dose-mortality curves and behavioral changes by Chrysoperla externa exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin. We tested the susceptibility of two populations from different locations and insecticide history exposure through topical application. Based on the LD50-calculated, the population exhibiting the greater LD50 was exposed to resistance enhancement (Sel) by treating larvae once for seven successive generations. The population with lower LD50 was kept without selection (Nsel). Subsequently, walking, predation and oviposition behavioral after exposure to dried insecticide residues were investigated. After seven generations with insecticide selection, the resistance rations between Sel and Nsel populations were 5.85- and 9.37-fold higher for larvae and 3.38- and 2.75-fold higher for adults, respectively. Selected females caged in partially treated arenas laid similar eggs number on both treated and untreated surfaces, while Nsel females laid fewer eggs on treated surfaces. Insecticide repellency was not observed in either population, although irritability was observed for Nsel larvae. Selected larvae confined on fully and partially treated surfaces walked further, for a longer time, and with greater speeds compared to Nsel larvae. Furthermore, Sel and Nsel larvae had reduced predation rates when confined on treated surfaces, and Nsel larvae consumed less prey than Sel larvae. Results indicate changes in susceptibility, behavior, and predation rate of C. externa following exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin.

Control of the sugarcane borers, Diatraea saccharalis and Diatraea impersonatella (= D. flavipennella) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in Brazil, is based on mass release of the larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). However, this method does not prevent some pupae of these borers from completing development and recolonizing the crop. Thus, additional control is required. This study investigated the parasitoid Tetrastichus howardi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to control pupae of sugarcane borers, especially D. impersonatella. Regardless of larval instar and species, no larval parasitism occurred within 24 h of exposure. Nevertheless, a longer exposure period (ca. 96 h) resulted in parasitism of older larvae. Approximately 90% of pupae of both borers were parasitized by T. howardi within 24 h of exposure, and the parasitoid produced a similar number of offspring with >90% females. The developmental time of T. howardi parasitizing D. impersonatella pupae was delayed ~2 days from that of in D. saccharalis. No-choice trails revealed that parasitoid females took longer to start probing larvae compared to pupae. Likewise, when larvae and pupae were offered simultaneously (choice test), the latter represented the first choice of about 92% T. howardi females. The elapsed time to first attack was less on pupae than on larvae, whereas the number of attacks and probing time was greater on pupae. In addition, parasitism on D. impersonatella pupae was higher than on larvae feeding on artificially infested sugarcane seedlings. These results suggest that T. howardi prefers to parasitize the pupal stage and has the potential to be used as a biological control agent to complement the control of sugarcane bores.

Objective To validate and evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the 2-min step test (2MST) in measuring the functional performance of patients with knee pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Forty-one patients with knee OA was included. Two examiners assessed the patients at two times with interval between the test and retest from 7 to 14 days. All executions of 2MST were recorded in real time by the examiners and were also recorded by video. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% confidence interval (CI), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable difference (MDD) were used to determine reliability. In the construct validity, we correlate the score of the 2MST with the other instruments used in the study: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Numerical Pain Scale (NPS), Pain-Related Catastrophizing Thoughts Scale (PCTS) and Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (PSEQ). The agreement between the face-to-face assessment and the evaluation based on the video record was assessed using the Bland-Altman methodology in the 4 moments of the 2MST. Results 2MST presented excellent intra- (ICC = 0.94, SEM = 4.47, MDD = 12.40) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.97, SEM = 3.07, MDD = 8.52). The agreement was acceptable between face-to-face assessments and the analyzes performed on video. All instruments showed a statistically significant correlation with 2MST, except the PCTS. A correlation magnitude above 0.50 was found between the 2MST and pain and function domains of the WOMAC, and a correlation magnitude between 0.30 and 0.50 with the joint stiffness domain of the WOMAC, NRPS and PSEQ. Conclusion 2MST proved to be valid for assessing functional capacity in patients with knee OA, with excellent reliability.