Surfactant deficiency, poor development of the lung structure and fibrosis as a result of inflammation are thought to play an important role in the development of respiratory distress syndrome in premature calves. Nebulised steroid (fluticasone), bronchodilator (salbutamol) and diuretics (furosemide) can be used in combination alongside standard treatment procedures for premature calves, and might improve viability as observed in infants, foals and horses with pulmonary disorders. Twenty-five premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome were used in this study. Oxygen and supportive treatment were administered to all groups. The first group was used as a control group (Group 1). The nebulised drug combinations were as follows: Group 2: fluticasone + salbutamol, Group 3: salbutamol + furosemide, Group 4: fluticasone + furosemide and Group 5: fluticasone + salbutamol + furosemide. During the 72-h time period of the study, fluticasone (15 µg/kg/12 h), salbutamol (0.025 mg/kg/6 h) and furosemide (1 mg/kg/12h) were applied for 5 min. Arterial blood samples were collected from the auricular artery at 0 h and at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h for blood gas analysis. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in arterial partial oxygen, oxygen saturation and peripheral oxygen saturation and decreases in arterial partial carbon dioxide, lactate and respiration rate were observed in all the nebulised treatment groups, while a statistical difference was observed only for arterial partial carbon dioxide in control group. When comparing the treated groups with the control, it may be concluded that nebulised drugs are highly effective in the therapy of premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome, while the different nebulised groups exhibited similar efficacies.

The aim of this work was to compare the efficacy, selectivity to sunflower and dissipation of three pre-emergent herbicides. Flurochloridone, linuron and oxyfluorfen were applied individually and each herbicide was also applied in a tank mix with two different adjuvants (a silicon-based adjuvant and paraffin oil). Small-plot field trials were carried out with sunflower in Central Bohemia in 2012 and 2015. Around 25-35% of the active ingredients in the applied herbicides were detected in soil 60 days after application in both years, except for oxyfluorfen in 2012, whose residual concentration was 60%. The tested soil adjuvants did not affect the dissipation of any of the tested herbicide in soil in either experimental year. Oxyfluorfen exhibited the highest mobility and caused the greatest degree of sunflower injury (18%), especially in the year with high rainfall shortly after application. None of the tested adjuvants significantly affected sunflower injury by any tested herbicide. The efficacy of flurochloridone and linuron on Fallopia convolvulus was strongly affected by weather conditions shortly after application. The efficacy of oxyfluorfen was around 85% and was not affected by weather conditions. The effect of adjuvant on herbicide efficacy was positive only in dry conditions, where the efficacy of flurochloridone on F. convolvulus was positively affected by the silicon-based adjuvant.

International audience

International audience

The Palaearctic predator Dicyphus errans (Hemiptera: Miridae) lives omnivorously on various host plants, preying on a wide range of small arthropods, including some new invasive alien species. These characteristics make it a promising biological control agent (BCA) in organic greenhouses. The capacity of a BCA to find, kill and consume prey plays a fundamental role in trophic interactions and population dynamics in a predator-prey system. The functional response of a predator, which describes how the individual rate of prey consumption changes in response to prey density, is a key component to assess its effectiveness in pest control and the stability of its own populations. Therefore, the functional response of D. errans on different prey was studied to improve our knowledge on the potential of this mirid, which is naturally widespread in European organic greenhouses. Laboratory experiments were carried out on three exotic pests: the poinsettia thrips Echinothrips americanus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the tomato borer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), to build functional response curves. Prey was offered at different densities to single females of D. errans for 24 h. The predation behaviour of D. errans on all the prey species was defined by Type II functional response curves. The female could daily prey about 62 adults of E. americanus, 114 pupae of T. vaporariorum, and 236 eggs of T. absoluta. The high voracity of this generalist predator on different prey confirmed its suitability as a BCA. For effective and stable pest control strategies, a prior to pest establishment of D. errans in organic greenhouses may prevent pest escaping in case of high infestation rates, even if the type II functional response reaches saturation at very high prey densities.

Anaesthetic efficacy of eugenol was investigated on Flowerhorn (Amphilophus labiatus × Amphilophus trimaculatus). A total of 104 fish with average weights of 12 ± 2.5, 28 ± 5 and 53 ±5.1 g were subjected to 25–200 mg L⁻¹ eugenol and behavioural responses as well as induction and recovery times were recorded. Induction and recovery times were significantly affected by eugenol concentration as well as fish weight (P < 0.05). Generally, 49.9–127.3 s after exposure to 50–200 mg L⁻¹ eugenol, fish reached stage 3 anaesthesia (suitable for general handling). Fish entered stage 4 anaesthesia (suitable for surgery and blood sampling) over 57.3–140.4 s post exposure to such concentrations. Recovery time was 91.7–312 s in all weight classes for all eugenol concentrations. Mortality (23%) was only observed in 12‐g fish when were subjected to 200 mg L⁻¹ eugenol. This study showed the behavioural response of Flowerhorn to anaesthesia and eugenol efficacy as an anaesthetic in this important ornamental species. The general quadratic equation revealed that concentrations of eugenol and fish size along with their interactive effects have significantly contributed to the model, with concentration recording the highest beta value in all models (β = −0.809, −0.818 and −0.909, P = 0.000). According to the results, minimum eugenol concentration to induce anaesthesia in less than 3 min was 50 mg L⁻¹.

Mustapha El Bouhssini. (31/12/2016). Efficacy trial of different insecticides against leaf miner on chickpea. | Results showed that the chemical insecticide Abamectin (25 cc / hl) was the most effective insecticide in both trials. This active ingredient allows more than 50% reduction of leaflets infestation in all applications. The bio-insecticide, Azadirachtin (40 cc/hl) was second most efficient, it reduced the main infestation levels by leaf miner especially after the second and third spray

Reinforcing efficacy of food, or the relationship between food prices and purchasing, is related to obesity status and energy intake in adults. Determining how to allocate resources for food is a decision making process influenced by executive functions. Attention to appetitive cues, as well as working memory capacity, or the ability to flexibly control attention while mentally retaining information, may be important executive functions involved in food purchasing decisions. In two studies, we examined how attention bias to food and working memory capacity are related to reinforcing efficacy of both high energy-dense and low energy-dense foods. The first study examined 48 women of varying body mass index (BMI) and found that the relationship between attentional processes and reinforcing efficacy was moderated by working memory capacity. Those who avoid food cues and had high working memory capacity had the lowest reinforcing efficacy, as compared to those with low working memory capacity. Study 2 systematically replicated the methods of study 1 with assessment of maintained attention in a sample of 48 overweight/obese adults. Results showed the relationship between maintained attention to food cues and reinforcing efficacy was moderated by working memory capacity. Those with a maintained attention to food and high working memory capacity had higher reinforcing efficacy than low working memory capacity individuals. These studies suggest working memory capacity moderated the relationship between different aspects of attention and food reinforcement. Understanding how decision making process are involved in reinforcing efficacy may help to identify future intervention targets.

The efficacy and selectivity of herbicides and tank-mix combinations at different application terms in Clearfield and ExpressSun sunflowers were evaluated. Five-plot field trials (2011–2015) were carried out in Prague. The efficacy of tribenuron (TBM) was excellent and quite rapid on Chenopodium album. Its efficacy on other tested dicot weeds ranged around 90%, depending on weather conditions and growth stages of weeds. Echinochloa crus-galli was not controlled by TBM. The tank-mix combination of TBM + propaquizafop (PQF) caused sunflower injury when applied in a very cold growing period. Under dry conditions, PQF efficacy on E. crus-galli was strongly reduced. The split application of TBM, when PQF was used at the second application, was less negatively affected by herbicide antagonisms. Very good results were obtained on plots with pre-emergence treatment with dimethenamid and post-emergence with TBM. The efficacy of imazamox (IZM) on dicot weeds was strongly affected by growth stages of weed and weather conditions during application. Efficacy of IZM on E. crus-galli was increased by oil adjuvant, but this adjuvant reduced IZM selectivity. The best efficacy, selectivity, and Clearfield sunflower yield were on plots with the split application of IZM.