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The GHA strain of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is known to establish symbiotic relationships with some plant species. The present study was developed to determine whether the foliar application of B. bassiana-GHA and B. bassiana ANT-03, another commercial B. bassiana, results in the successful colonization of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and examine whether the endophyte can influence the survivorship and feeding damage by the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Using polymerase chain reaction, colonization success by B. bassiana-GHA, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation was estimated at 83.3%, 100%, 91.7%, and 83.3%, respectively. The colonization success based on the mycelial outgrowth method was 41.7%, 66.7%, 58.3%, and 50%, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation, respectively. Beauveria bassiana ANT-03 did not colonize cotton. Corn earworms preferred untreated plants over the neonicotinoid and B. bassiana-GHA treatments. The B. bassiana ANT-03-treated plants and controls were not distinguished from one another by the corn earworms. The corn earworm survivorship was higher on the control plants, compared to plants treated with B. bassiana ANT-03, B. bassiana-GHA, and the neonicotinoid insecticide. The neonicotinoid insecticide, B. bassiana-GHA, and B. bassiana ANT-03 reduced corn earworm damage compared to the untreated controls. Our results demonstrated the potential for B. bassiana-GHA to be used as a biological control agent against H. zea in cotton. Key words: Corn earworm, biological control, entomopathogenic fungi, insect pathology, endophytism

By analyzing the structure of fiber winding round rod forming molds, this paper extracts parameterizable and modularized content. Using family tables, User-Defined Features (UDFs), Mapkey macro modules, and the Program module, a fiber winding round rod forming mold design system is successfully developed. The reliability of the system is verified through three successful case studies. Compared with development tools such as ProToolkit, J-Link, and VB API, the proposed method is simple, efficient, scalable, and low-cost.

This article presents the results of testing the suitability of X-ray computed tomography for the quality control of the casting moulds used for producing turbine blades. The research was focused on the analysis of cross-sectional images, spatial models and the porosity of moulds using a Phoenix L 450 microtomograph. The research material consisted of samples from three mixtures of ceramic materials and binders intended for producing casting moulds using the lost wax method. Various configurations of filling materials (Molochite and quartz flours) and binder (Remasol, Ludox PX 30 and hydrolysed ethyl silicate) mixtures were considered. X-ray computed tomography enabled the detection of a number of defects in the ceramic mass related to the distribution of mass components, porosity concentration and defects resulting from the specificity of the mould production. It was found that casting mould quality control on cross-sectional tomographic images is faster and as accurate as the analysis of three-dimensional models and allows for the detection of a whole range of ceramic defects, but the usefulness of the images is greatest only when the cross-sections are taken at an appropriate angle relative to the object being examined.

Conformal cooling channels (CCCs) are employed to improve the cooling rate due to the equal distance from the mold surface. CCCs play a key role in mold injection productivity by enhancing heat transfer between the CCs and mold surface, which leads to shorter cooling time. As the cooling stage of the mold injection highly influences the quality and efficiency of production, the design of cooling channels (CCs) and thermally enhanced molds has recently received great attention. Furthermore, the shape and design of CCCs have particularly been studied extensively since these parameters indicate promising effects on the cooling performance. Moreover, new designs and novel material compositions are being proposed in order to improve the heat removal in injection molds. This paper reviews the various and significant types of the CCCs by classifying them into four major groups. An overview of advancements of CCCs and thermally enhanced molds are provided which considers simulations and numerical and experimental studies generally. Details are also given for new proposed designs that utilize different algorithms, optimization process, fabrication procedures, and optimization parameters in CCC design which is summarized. Generally speaking, studies show that conventional straight drilled CCs are expected to be substituted by CCCs due to their promising performance in diminishing the cycle time and shape deviations of forming plastic. The most common results of summarized literature demonstrate a shorter cycle time in CCC utilization in comparison to the conventional CCs. This is because injection molding process cycle time significantly relies on molded part cooling time. In addition, warpage and inconsistent volume shrinkage of the plastic parts is reduced considerably. Varied manufacturing methods are applied in CCC fabrication, with additive manufacturing being the dominant fabrication technique. Ultimately, the review concluded that shape, temperature distribution, and pressure drop are the key parameters for CCCs in mold injection.

Summary Pathogenic fungi cause major postharvest losses. During storage and ripening, fruit becomes highly susceptible to fungi that cause postharvest disease. Fungicides are effective treatments to limit disease. However, due to increased public concern for their possible side effects, there is a need to develop new strategies to control postharvest fungal pathogens. Botrytis cinerea, a common postharvest pathogen, was shown to uptake small double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules from the host plant. Such dsRNA can regulate gene expression through the RNA interference system. This work aimed to develop a synthetic dsRNA simultaneously targeting three essential transcripts active in the fungal ergosterol biosynthesis pathway (dsRNA‐ERG). Our results show initial uptake of dsRNA in the emergence zone of the germination tube that spreads throughout the fungus and results in down‐regulation of all three targeted transcripts. Application of dsRNA‐ERG decreased B. cinerea germination and growth in in vitro conditions and various fruits, leading to reduce grey‐mould decay. The inhibition of growth or decay was reversed by the addition of ergosterol. While dual treatment with dsRNA‐ERG and ergosterol‐inhibitor fungicide reduced by 100‐fold the required amount of fungicide to achieve the same protection rate. The application of dsRNA‐ERG induced systemic protection as shown by decreased decay development at inoculation points distant from the treatment point in tomato and pepper fruits. Overall, this study suggests that dsRNA‐ERG can effectively control B. cinerea growth and grey‐mould development suggesting its efficacy as a future method for postharvest control of fungal pathogens.

A fungicultura das formigas pertencentes a tribo Attini (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) é categorizada em cinco sistemas com características distintas. O sistema mais avangado é o da \"Attini superior cortadora de folhas\", seguido pela \"Attini superior nao cortadora de folhas\". Ambos cultivam clados da espécie Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Möller) (Basidiomycota: Agaricales: Agaricaceae). Os sistemas subsequentes, conhecidos como \"fungicultura menor\", \"fungicultura de levedura\" e \"fungicultura de fungos do tipo coral\", sao menos avangados. Em todos os casos, com excegao dos fungos de coral, sao cultivados fungos leucocoprináceos intimamente relacionados ao L. gongylophorus e fungos de vida livre. Entretanto, esses sistemas variam no nivel de especializagao entre os fungos e suas formigas simbióticas. Os cultivares de Attini superiores sao simbiontes obrigatórios, o que significa que o fungo cultivado di ficilmente sobreviverá fora do mutualismo, enquanto os fungos cultivados em fungiculturas inferiores sao simbiontes facultativos. Os cultivares no sistema de fungicultura de fungos do tipo coral pertencem a très espécies do género Myrmecopterula (Agaricales: Pterulaceae), que sao totalmente diferentes dos fungos leucocoprináceos. As características de cada sistema de fungicultura variam de acordo com a filogenia das formigas e seus cultivares. A compreensao da diversidade de fungos cultivados pelas formigas Attini e a complexidade de seus sistemas de fungicultura elucidarao um dos processos coevolutivos mais bem-sucedidos entre formigas e fungos na história evolutiva. O objetivo desta revisao foi discutir o conhecimento atual sobre a fungicultura desenvolvida pelas formigas Attini, bem como o nivel de especializaçao entre os fungos cultivados e sua relaçao com a coevoluçao cronológica das Attini.

Microbiological drinking water safety is traditionally monitored mainly by bacterial parameters that indicate faecal contamination. These parameters correlate with gastro-intestinal illness, despite the fact that viral agents, resulting from faecal contamination, are usually the cause. This leaves behind microbes that can cause illness other than gastro-intestinal and several emerging pathogens, disregarding non-endemic microbial contaminants and those with recent pathogenic activity reported. This white paper focuses on one group of contaminants known to cause allergies, opportunistic infections and intoxications: Fungi. It presents a review on their occurrence, ecology and physiology. Additionally, factors contributing to their presence in water distribution systems, as well as their effect on water quality are discussed. Presence of opportunistic and pathogenic fungi in drinking water can pose a health risk to consumers due to daily contact with water, via several exposure points, such as drinking and showering. The clinical relevance and influence on human health of the most common fungal contaminants in drinking water is discussed. Our goal with this paper is to place fungal contaminants on the roadmap of evidence based and emerging threats for drinking water quality safety regulations.

The currently growing demand for metallic and polymeric products has undoubtedly changed the rules of manufacturing, enabling customers to more functionally define their products based on their needs. Nowadays, a new technique for rapid tooling, Additive Manufacturing (AM), can create customized products with more complex geometries and short life cycles (flexibility) in order to keep up with the new variables imposed by the manufacturing environment. In the last two decades, the migration from subtractive manufacturing to AM has materialized such products with reduced costs and cycle times. AM has been recently promoted to develop polymer molds for product manufacturing. This paper reviews the main findings in the literature concerning polymer molds created by AM compared to conventional (metal) molds obtained by subtractive manufacturing. Information about specific topics is scarce or nonexistent, for example, about the characterization of the most commonly injected materials and molds used in this type of technology, their mechanical properties (part and mold), designs for all types of geometries, and costs. These aspects are addressed in this literature review, highlighting the advantages of this alternative manufacturing process, which is considered a desirable technology worldwide.

Background Ambient air quality monitoring is a governmental duty that is widely carried out in order to detect non-biological (“chemical”) components in ambient air, such as particles of < 10 µm (PM 10 , PM 2.5 ), ozone, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These monitoring networks are publicly funded and air quality data are open to the public. The situation for biological particles that have detrimental effects on health, as is the case of pollen and fungal spores, is however very different. Most pollen and spore monitoring networks are not publicly funded and data are not freely available. The information regarding which biological particle is being monitored, where and by whom, is consequently often not known, even by aerobiologists themselves. This is a considerable problem, as local pollen data are an important tool for the prevention of allergic symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to review pollen monitoring stations throughout the world and to create an interactive visualization of their distribution. Methods The method employed to collect information was based on: (a) a review of the recent and historical bibliography related to pollen and fungal spore monitoring, and (b) personal surveys of the managers of national and regional monitoring networks. The interactive application was developed using the R programming language. Results We have created an inventory of the active pollen and spore monitoring stations in the world. There are at least 879 active pollen monitoring stations in the world, most of which are in Europe (> 500). The prevalent monitoring method is based on the Hirst principle (> 600 stations). The inventory is visualised as an interactive and on-line map. It can be searched, its appearance can be adjusted to the users’ needs and it is updated regularly, as new stations or changes to those that already exist can be submitted online. Conclusions The map shows the current situation of pollen and spore monitoring and facilitates collaboration among those individuals who are interested in pollen and spore counts. It might also help to improve the monitoring of biological particles up to the current level employed for non-biological components.