bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Shift in Antimicrobial Resistance Due to Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase and AmpC Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hampshire England
Authors: Fouch Sarah
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to identify shifts in antimicrobial resistance in the Hampshire region including correlations between patient demographic and antibiotic prescribing to inform safe and effective antimicrobial stewardship. 475 ESBL and AmpC producing bacteria, from various infection sites, were obtained from four hospital laboratories in Hampshire, UK, during 2010 and 2012. All isolates were identified to species level. ESBL production and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disc diffusion methodology. Multiplex PCR and gel electrophoresis was used to detect the BlaCTX, BlaTEM and BlaSHV resistance determinants. Corresponding patient data included patient age, gender, location, clinical details and previous antibiotic therapy. Patient information revealed mean ages of 60 and 62 for the 2010 and 2012 cohorts respectively, with ages ranging from 3 months to 96. ESBL production was the most prevalent resistance mechanism (65% in 2010, 79% in 2012), produced mostly by E.coli (85% in 2010, 84% in 2012). While 9 of the 13 antibiotics demonstrated increased resistance, 4 demonstrated a decrease. CTX was the most prevalent resistance determinant (38% in 2010 and 27% in 2012), followed by dual expression of CTX & TEM, TEM, TEM & SHV, SHV, SHV & CTX and all three resistance determinants. A significant correlation between patient age and joint expression of TEM & SHV was observed in 2010, in 2012, patient age significantly correlated with joint CTX and SHV expression. Significant differences could also be determined between resistance determinant type and antimicrobial resistance. This study shows that the incidence of ESBL and AmpC infections and resistance to commonly used antibiotics within Hampshire is increasing both within the hospital and community setting. This emphasises the need for judicious antibiotic prescribing to safeguard this valuable medical commodity.
Nanotechnology Combating Fight against Cancer
Authors: Khalid Iqbal Rana
Published: July 2021

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. Cancer spread through multiple steps that make it an incurable disease. Earlier different conventional methods are used such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy to treat cancer. In conventional also affects the normal body cells. To overcome this problem different new approaches are applied that help to diagnose and treat cancer. With the advancement of techniques, new technique emerges called cancer nanotechnology that helps to diagnose and treat cancer by using different drug delivery system. Cancer nanotechnology uses different nanoparticles or nano vectors as a carrier to treat the disease. These nano-carriers for drug delivery include liposomes, polymers, dendrimers, micelles, carbon nano-tube, quantum dots, etc. Active and passive targeting helps to target the drug and easily recognize the site of the tumor. The aim of this paper is to provide information about how cancer nanotechnology helps in combating the fight against cancer. And also the use of different drug delivery systems to treat and recognize cancer
An Improved Protocol for the Expression and Purification of Tetracycline Monooxgenase: An Enzyme Involved in Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Francis Kevin
Published: July 2021

Tetracyclines are an important group of antibiotics used in agricultural and clinical settings. They function by binding to the 30S subunit of the prokaryotic ribosome to effectively halt translation. The emergence of tetracycline resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria has threatened the continued use of the drug. One mechanism of tetracycline resistance is the degradation of the drug by the flavin dependent enzyme tetracycline monooxygenase (TetX). Only a limited number of studies of the enzyme have been conducted to date due to the limited amounts of pure protein that can be obtained from current protocols (~6 mg/L of cell culture). The current report describes the development of optimized expression and purification protocols to obtain larger amounts of pure, soluble enzyme suitable for detailed kinetic studies to deduce its chemical mechanism. During the initial phase of this work the pET22a+ plasmid with the gene encoding for TetX was used to transform either DH5α or Rosetta (DE3) pLysS Escherichia coli cells. Expression trials of these cell lines in which both the temperature and times of incubation with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyrandoside were then carried out. Of the conditions tested, optimal expression of TetX was found with a 20 h induction period at 30 °C using E. coli DH5α cells. Ammonium sulfate precipitation trials were then conducted where it was concluded that a 20 fold purification of the enzyme is achieved through treatment with 40% saturation of salt and collection of the supernatant after centrifugation. A nickel affinity chromatographic protocol was also developed, which purified the enzyme to high levels as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the specific activity of the purified sample. The expression and purification protocol developed here resulted in ~36 mg/L of cell culture, which is a 6-fold improvement over published protocols.
Mental ill-health among health and social care professionals: an analysis using administrative data
Authors: Curran Emma , Rosato Michael , Ferry Finola , Leavey Gerard
Published: July 2021

ObjectiveHealth and Social Care (HSC) workers are at high risk of job-related stress, burnout and mental ill-health. This study examines differences in self-reported mental health and psychotropic medication uptake across HSC occupational groups.
MethodNorthern Ireland (NI) data linkage study of people working in the Health and Care sector, aged between twenty and sixty-four years, enumerated at the 2011 Northern Ireland Census and living in private households, and their uptake of prescribed psychotropic medications during 2011-2012 (using data derived from routine electronically captured information on prescriptions issued within the NHS and linked at an individual level using a NI-specific Health and Care key identifier). Comparing HSC workers with all those professionals not involved in HSC occupations, we used multinomial logistic regression to examine (a) self-reported chronic mental illness and (b) uptake of psychotropic medication by occupational groups adjusting for age, sex and socio-demographic circumstance.
ResultsWhen compared against other professionals highest risks for mental health problems (associated with psychotropic prescription uptake) were associated with nursing/midwifery (OR = 1.25: 95{%}CI = 1.17-1.33; OR = 1.84: 1.58-2.15 for females and males respectively), welfare (OR = 1.34: 1.21-1.48; OR = 1.71: 1.44-2.03) and formal caregiving roles (OR = 1.42: 1.31-1.53; OR = 1.70: 1.50-1.91), again for females/males respectively). These higher risk professions record notable increases in psychotropic medication use.
ConclusionWorking in the Health and Social Care sector, irrespective of gender, may be more stressful than other jobs. Additionally, self-reported mental ill-health and psychotropic medication treatment both appear to be associated with social class inequity.
Perceptions of Doctoral Students: Satisfaction, Difficulties, Gained Skills and Performance in Publishing in Academic Journals
Authors: Bozkurt Veysel , Yalçınkaya Elvan , Karataş Abdullah , Talas Mustafa , Şahin Arzu
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions of doctoral students about the content of doctoral programs, faculty and doctoral field. It was also aimed at determining the indicators that affect doctoral students' performance in getting published in academic journals. For this purpose, 1367 doctoral students from 15 different universities were administered a "Doctoral Education Evaluation Survey" face-to-face and online. Principal component analysis revealed 4 factors. The majority of doctoral students at the course stage are satisfied with the content of the doctoral program, the faculty members and the doctoral field. As the students' awareness increases over time, their complaints increase. The dissatisfaction of doctoral students reaches the highest level, at the proficiency stage. Furthermore, from the second year on, there is a decline in the satisfaction of doctoral students with the content of the doctoral programs, with the faculty members and the opportunities offered by the doctoral field, to a statistically significant extent. Especially those working in the social sciences complain that research methods are not taught enough. Binary logistic regression was applied to determine the indicators affecting the publication performance of the doctoral students in academic journals. The participation of doctoral students in international academic symposiums emerged as the most important indicator. The other predictive variables are doctoral students' participation in a project, working as a research assistant at the university, and completion of the course stage. Encouraging the participation of doctoral students in academic congresses with their advisors or their colleagues will contribute to increasing their publication performance.
Thailand 4.0: A new value-based economy and its implication on wellness business
Authors:   School of Business University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand, School of Law and Politics, Suan Dusit University, Thailand, Chundasutathanakul Surada , Chirapanda Suthawan ,   School of Business, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
Published: July 2021

The research aims to explain Thailand’s value-based economy and its implications on wellness business. The research uses political and management theories namely, developmental state theory, neo-authoritarian developmental state theory, social network theory, social capital theory, diffusion of innovation theory, resource-based theory, and image theory to portray and applied into the case. Moreover, the research is a qualitative research by nature as it uses semi-structure interviews and focus groups to find the answers. The main finding of this research is that since 2002 where the Thai government has set “Medical and Wellness Tourism” as the country’s development strategy to make Thailand a “hub” for medical and wellness tourism—though the country’s politics has faced two coup d’états and the country’s administrations have been rough as it is controlled by different political groups—both, civilian and military, governments have followed the strategy and have highlighted medical and wellness business sector as one of their development strategies as well as policies. The conclusion of the research is that the military government has stepped forward from solely being authoritarian state and transform the country to become a neo-authoritarian developmental state where it practices capitalism while limits people participation in politics. On top of that, the state implements policies that benefit healthcare and wellness industry, especially SMEs, to assure that it achieves the goal of being a medical and wellness hub of the region.
Social business under the youth guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania
Authors:   European University of Tirana, Albania, Ymeraj Arlinda
Published: July 2021

The paper “Social Business under the Youth Guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania” deals with the model of Social Business, piloted in Albania, as a sustainable mode to encourage youth entrepreneurship and employment. The Albanian social business model, named Youth Albanian Parcel Service (YAPS), which employs exclusively disadvantaged youth, is an innovative example of new thinking on tackling social exclusion and reducing poverty. Case analysis of YAPS (Youth Albanian Parcel Service), the successful Social Business Model established almost 20 years ago thanks to a harmonized multidimensional effort of key stakeholders, is used to bring in evidence from the ground to promote the novel concept of using efficiency and in-built sustainability of free markets to generate social wealth. The evidence provided here shows that a new approach is emerging vis-á-vis social policies. A shift in thinking on social policy foresees the emergence of a social capital approach to social exclusion. This approach involves the mobilization of the entire community-including business actors and civil society leaders-in tackling social exclusion and empowering disadvantaged members of society. Therefore, it is the government, which should bear the burden of finding ways to harmonize economic development with social policies. Although social business is perceived as relevant by all stakeholders, people are looking for clear guidance from the government because they still miss innitiative, financial resources and entrepreneurship education. Hence, the government may utilize economic levers to encourage the development of markets and competition; it may exercise its social role by implementing active labour market policies. Nevertheless, alongside them, the government must boost the education of people with the rules of democracy and the market, alike. These three roles are inextricably linked as they reflect the new political, social and economic order in which we live and secondly, because they determine a new relationship between citizen and the state in the post-communist era.
The construction of occupational professionalism among business rescue practitioners supplying professional bodies
Authors:   Department of Business Management University of Pretoria, Ayaya Onesmus , Pretorius Marius ,   Department of Business Management University of Pretoria
Published: July 2021

Purpose of the research: To identify and explore the construction of professionalism in a multiple professional bodies (MPB) landscape in South Africa (SA) and demonstrate how such construction can be used to enhance professional accreditation regime. Design of research and methodology: The study used a qualitative research design. This required five consecutive steps of (a) interviewing member services managers at four professional bodies (PBs); (b) systematic content analysis of codes of professional conduct (CPCs) and policy statements to identify constituent professionalism notions; (c) a systematic search of the literature to identify notions of professionalism mentioned in definitions and explanations of the construct; and (d) analysis of notions of professionalism using the constant comparison procedure to reveal key themes. The results in (a) through to (d) were used to advance a programmatic framework to construct professionalism in an MPB landscape. Research results: The construction of professionalism is linked to services rendered and competencies in the MPB landscape. The existing licensing regime encapsulates the increased importance of the MPB landscape, leading to a shift away from a conventional conceptualisation of professionalism in a single professional body (PB) setting. A total of 90 separate notions of professionalism were identified in the 192 scholarly papers included in our study. The identified theme within BRP professionalism (emphasising relational aspects) point to practitioner dealings with (i) clients (business rescue candidates); (ii) government and others; (iii) the PB; and (iv) oneself to gain the essence of occupation. There is fragmentation between the constructed conceptualisations of professionalism among PBs, leading to an incoherent and inconsistent expert accreditation regime. Practical implications and value: The findings of the study are useful in the integration of practitioner learning and development practices in the PBs whose members serve as BRPs. BRP is a regulated occupation and requires a distinct professional accreditation framework (PAF) to integrate multidimensional professionalism in the MPB landscape. Approaches to enhance accreditation should consider delineating BRP services and task from interview results from a community of practitioners. The PAF will structure the construction, investigation, and documentation of occupational professionalism required by the licensing authorities. It will also help delineate BRP as a discipline worth of academic and professional pursuits with known competencies.
The relationship between the National Senior Certificate and the National Benchmark Test for accounting students at a South African university
Authors:   College of Accounting, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Carpenter Riley , Roos Lily ,   College of Accounting, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Published: July 2021

The South African accounting profession needs racial transformation. Consequently, students pursuing the chartered accountant (South Africa) (CA(SA)) designation, especially at-risk Black students, require adequate support. To be successful, the support must be driven by factors influencing students’ academic performance. As prior academic performance is one such factor, this study examines the relationship between the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams and the National Benchmark Test (NBT) for students enrolled in an accounting degree at a South African university. Due to numerous moderate and strong correlations between NSC and NBT results, without multicollinearity, it was concluded that both sets of results should be considered as factors contributing to students’ academic performance. The findings highlight the need for further empirical research on NSC and NBT results as determinants of success for accounting students.
USAHA TERNAK AYAM SENTUL MELALUI OPTIMALISASI PEMANFAATAN FEED ADDITIVE HERBAL DI KELOMPOK TANI RANCA BAWANG 1
Authors: Widjastuti Tuti
Published: July 2021

Kegiatan KKN-PPMD Integratif dari universitas Padjadjaran telah dilakukan kepada anggota kelompok Tani Ranca Bawang I yang tertarik beternak ayam lokal di Desa Cinanjung, kecamatan Tanjungsari Kabupaten Sumedang dari bulan Juli hingga bulan November tahun 2019. Tujuan dari kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan kepada anggota kelompok Tani Ranca Bawang I mengenai budidaya beternak ayam lokal, menetaskan telur, menyusun ransum, dan pengolahan hasil ternak ayam berupa daging ayam olahan seperti baso dan nugget. Metode kegiatan adalah dengan cara penyuluhan, praktek pembuatan nugget dan baso dari daging ayam serta demonstrasi penyusunan ransum dan pembuatan kandang. Dari kegiatan ini antusiasme peserta untuk memperoleh pengetahuan dan keterampilan usaha budidaya beternak ayam lokal cukup tinggi.   Wawasan peserta mengenai tatalaksana pemeliharaan ayam, pembuatan baso daging ayam dan nugget serta penyusunan ransum masih sangat kurang, tetapi animo peternak sangat baik untuk belajar semua pengetahuan tentang budidaya beternak ayam lokal, sehingga kegiatan ini dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan, keterampilan dan semangat untuk usaha beternak ayam lokal secara intensif memalui manajemen pakan dan pemanfaatan feed additive herbal.
RESPONS PESERTA PELATIHAN URBAN FARMING YANG RAMAH LINGKUNGAN SECARA ONLINE
Authors: Wicaksono Fiky Yulianto , Nurmala Tati
Published: July 2021

Hobi urban farming semakin meningkat pada saat pandemi Covid-19 ini, terutama saat Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar dan Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan Masyarakat yang mengharuskan masyarakat tinggal di rumah. Kegiatan urban farming yang dilakukan banyak terkait dengan teknik hidroponik yang membutuhkan biaya besar, pengetahuan yang baik, serta limbah yang tidak tertangani sehingga membutuhkan teknik alternatif untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut dan harus disosialisasikan pada masyarakat. Tujuan sosialisasi ini adalah untuk mengenalkan urban farming yang ramah lingkungan pada masyarakat dengan memanfaatkan limbah rumah tangga. Metode yang digunakan berupa pelatihan dan simulasi mengenai urban farming yang ramah lingkungan yang dilaksanakan secara online dari bulan Januari – Februari 2021. Pelatihan dilakukan oleh narasumber yang ahli dalam urban farming. Simulasi dilakukan dengan cara demonstrasi dalam bentuk video. Peserta kegiatan diseleksi dengan kriteria telah atau ingin mempraktekkan urban farming di rumah atau sekitar rumah dan bersedia untuk mengikuti pelatihan. Hasil sosialisasi menunjukkan keahlian narasumber dapat meningkatkan wawasan peserta. Sebagian besar peserta memahami materi pelatihan dan mempraktekkan urban farming yang ramah lingkungan di rumah atau sekitar rumah.
PERAN PESERTA DIDIK SMA NEGERI 2 PADANG PANJANG DALAM MEMBANGUN JIWA WIRAUSAHA MELALUI MEDIA ONLINE PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Eliza Eliza , Mulya Jumiatul
Published: July 2021

MA Negeri 2 Padang Panjang adalah peserta didik yang merupakan kelompok kecil dari masyarakat yang akan menghadapi dunia kerja untuk memenuhi kebutuhan fianasial mereka, saat ini pengerakan dunia industri sangat cepat, sehingga para peserta didik tersebut harus mampu mengikuti perkembangan zaman dengan membekali diri menjadi sosok yang kreatif, inovatif, berpikir maju (tidak hanya untuk mencari lapangan pekerjaan saja, tetapi mampu menciptakan lapangan pekerjaan bagi orang) agar menjadi sosok yang mandiri dan tangguh menghadapi tantangan. Adapun tujuan dari edukasi kepada peserta didik untuk mengembangkan jiwa wirausaha sejak dini agar dapat mandiri dan tangguh menghadapi tantangan di masa depan yang mampu mengembangkan diri menjadi produktif, kreatif, inovatif sejak dini yang dimulai dari bagian kecil yaitu melalui media online dalam menghadapi situasi dan kondisi pandemi covid-19. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini adalah sosialisasi, diskusi, serta tanya jawab tentang membangun jiwa wirausaha secara online tersebut secara virtual Zoom Cloud Meeting, mengingat situasi dan kondisi saat ini untuk mengurangi mobilitas dan menjaga segala sesuatunya agar tetap aman pada semua pihak yang terkait dalam kegiatan ini. Dengan adanya sosialisasi ini diharapkan peserta didik yang mengikuti kegiatan ini sejak dini mampu mengembangkan diri untuk menjadi sosok entrepreneurship dalam menciptakan sesuatu sesuai dengan skill yang dimiliki untuk menghadapi tantangan masa depan yang semakin pesat dan persaingan ketat pada revolution industry 4.0 dan era society 5.0.
Peran Pers Sebagai Aktor Gerakan Digital Tagar #SolidaritasUntukNTT di Twitter
Authors: Bakry Gema Nusantara , Kusmayadi Ika Merdekawati
Published: July 2021

Peristiwa banjir bandang yang diakibatkan Siklon Seroja telah mengundang perhatian dan simpati masyarakat Indonesia. Berbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk berkontribusi dalam upaya penanggulangan dampak yang diterima oleh masyarakat NTT. Salah satu upaya yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat adalah mengampanyekan gerakan sosial digital #SolidaritasUntukNTT di Twitter. Gerakan sosial digital melalui pesan-pesan tertentu dapat menggugah kesadaran bagi penggunanya. Untuk mengetahui efektivitas penyebaran pesan dalam gerakan sosial digital dapat divisualisasikan menggunakan metode Social Network Analysis (SNA).  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memvisualisasikan peran pers dalam mendistribusikan pesan gerakan sosial digital dengan tagar #SolidaritasUntukNTT. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah analisis jaringan sosial dengan teori graf di Twitter. Hasil analisis dan visualisasi jaringan dilakukan di aplikasi Gephi dengan algoritma Yifan Hu untuk melihat distribusi pola pesan dan peran pers pada tagar #SolidaritasUntukNTT. Penelitian ini menggambarkan tipe jaringan two mode yang terdiri dari interaksi antara individu dan organisasi dengan pola komunikasi radial personal network yang memiliki ciri jaringan terbuka dan kohesivitas yang rendah dengan arah relasi directed dan asimetris. Analisis peran pers diukur melalui sentralitas aktor untuk mengetahui degree centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality dan eigenvector centrality. Aktor @vice_id diketahui sebagai aktor yang memiliki degree dan eigenvector centrality tertinggi dibandingkan dengan aktor pers lainnya. Aktor @idntimes dan @detikcom memiliki nilai closeness dan betweenness centrality yang lebih tinggi dari media lainnya. Analisis jaringan sosial memberikan pemahaman terkait distribusi pesan dalam media sosial untuk mengetahui efektivitas pesan yang didistribusikan oleh beberapa aktor jaringan, khususnya peran pers dalam mengampanyekan gerakan sosial di media. Oleh karena itu, metode SNA dapat digunakan untuk penelitian jurnalisme data.
CSR PROGRAM PT PERTAMINA BASED ON COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN PEAT ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Nurjanah Nurjanah , . Samsir
Published: July 2021

Environmental problems that require serious handling are the problem of land and forest fires, especially on peatlands which cause losses, especially economic and environmental aspects. Peatlands are a natural resource that has the potential to be utilized for the welfare of the community. Utilization of peatlands is not only for agriculture, plantations and residential land, but can be used as peat ecotourism. The large number of peatlands that were initially not utilized, and most of them became unproductive idle lands, can be managed properly and are able to contribute samsirto improving the welfare of the surrounding communities through the company’s CSR program. This paper aims to analyze the management of the CSR program in the development of peat ecotourism in Bukit Batu DistrictPakning River.Researchers collected field data through interviews, observation and documentation. The results showed that the company’s CSR program is directed at developing various community empowerment programs, aiming for the community to have the power, strength or ability in physical and material aspects, as well as economic aspects.Utilization of post-fire peatlands with community empowerment in the process of developing peatland ecotourism through the Peat Typical Tree Planting program on burned land, the development of the Environmental-Based School Curriculum program and the Peat Arboretum Development program. The management of the CSR program is carried out through the planning, implementation and evaluation stages. The management of the CSR program is analyzed throughCommunity Based Tourism (CBT) Model which is a tourism development planning strategy.
Research of the energy efficiency of a combined air and water heating of a public building
Authors: Ignatiev K. A. , Giniyatullin E. R. , Ziganshin M. G.
Published: July 2021

Combined air and water heating schemes have been actively used recently for heating public and residential premises. They have certain advantages in countries with a warm climate, whereas in a temperate climate, their use may be unfeasible. The most effective regulation of the heating system in the building can be expected, if all the technology specifics are taken into account, in terms of both the purpose of the room and the methods of regulation. A system focused only on weather-based regulation falls short of meeting to energy-efficient control classes: a heat carrier with the same temperature is distributed among rooms with different requirements for temperature and humidity characteristics. The issues of ensuring the energy efficiency of the combined air and water heating system in public buildings for the temperate continental climate of Russia — the academic building (AB) and laboratory building (LB) of the Kazan State Energy University (KSEU) have been considered. Heating devices of the KSEU heating system have manual control valves installed in the premises, or radiator valves with thermostatic heads, but without room controllers, which does not meet the energy-efficient control classes. An experimental survey of the functioning of the heating system of the KSEU buildings during the 2019 – 2020 and 2020 – 2021 heating seasons was conducted. The optical pyrometry method was used to measure the temperature of the surfaces of windows, walls and elements of the heating system, as well as the temperature and humidity of the air in lecture rooms and corridors of the AB and LB of the KSEU. The parameters of heating devices and indoor air in rooms of various purposes were found compliant with the current sanitary and hygienic requirements. At the same time, the need to switch to a higher class of regulation has been revealed, since, under the current situation, the parameters of the indoor air depend on the outdoor temperature: in the abnormally warm winter of 2020, the indoor air temperature was at the edge of the maximum permissible value, while in the normal climate of winter of 2021, it was at the edge of the minimum permissible value.
Predatory phytoseiid mites associated with cassava in Kenya, identification key and molecular diagnosis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Mutisya Daniel L. , El-Banhawy El Sayed M. , Vicente dos Santos Victor , Kariuki Charles W. , Khamala Cannute P.M.. , Tixier Marie-Stéphane
Published: July 2021

The objective of this study was to carry out a large survey in order to characterize Phytoseiidae species diversity on cassava in Kenya. A total of 29 species from 10 genera were identified in diverse ecological zones in Kenya. The warm-to-hot low midlands of eastern and the warm-humid coastal strip yielded over 70 % of the species identified. The dominant species were Euseius fustis (Pritchard and Baker) and Typhlodromalus aripo De Leon present in 37 and 34 % of samples, respectively. Typhlodromalus aripo was found persistent in coastal, eastern and western regions of Kenya while E. fustis was present in all sampled localities of the country. In addition to morphological diagnosis, molecular sequences for DNA fragments 12S, CytB, COI and ITS, were obtained for T. aripo and E. fustis. Molecular diagnosis has revealed the unexpected presence of Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark and Muma and indicated its misidentification as Neoseiulus onzoi (Zannou, Moraes and Oliveira) in a previous survey carried out in Kenya. Molecular sequences herein obtained will help further diagnosis of phytoseiid species and complement the international reference databases needed to assist molecular identification of Phytoseiidae species.
Acaricide susceptibility of Oligonychus coffeae Nietner (Acari: Tetranychidae) with corresponding changes in detoxifying enzyme levels from tea plantations of sub-Himalayan Terai, India
Authors: Das Soma , Saren Jayashree , Mukhopadhyay Ananda
Published: July 2021

Oligonychus coffeae Nietner is cosmopolitan in its distribution and is an important pest of a number of economically important tropical and sub-tropical crops including tea. It is the most damaging acarine pest of tea crops in the sub-Himalayan Terai region of India which is mostly controlled chemically in the conventionally managed tea plantations of the region. Objectives of the present study were to i) investigate the tolerance level of O. coffeae collected from bio-organically managed plantations (BMP) (with no synthetic acaricide application) and conventionally managed plantations (CMP) (with periodic application of synthetic acaricide) to the acaricides, ’ethion’ and ’fenpropathrin’, ii) Quantify the detoxifying enzymes, general esterases (GE) of phase I and glutathione S-transferases (GST) of phase II, in O. coffeae as these are deemed important in acquiring pesticide tolerance, iii) Establish the relation of GE and GST activity levels with acaricide tolerance levels in populations of O. coffeae. The study revealed that i) BMP populations of O. coffeae were susceptible to both of the acaricides whereas CMP populations were tolerant. CMP populations of the pest showed low to medium tolerance to the organophosphate acaricide ’ethion’ whereas tolerance to the synthetic pyrethroid, ’fenpropathrin’ was high; ii) Corresponding GE and GST levels were significantly higher in CMP populations compared to that of BMP population. Electrophoretic analysis of GE isozymes of CMP and BMP populations further corroborated the quantitative study; iii) activity of the detoxifying enzymes, GE and GST were positively correlated with the tolerance level of O. coffeae populations indicating involvement of these enzymes in the development of acaricide tolerance.
Complementary description of Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) and observation on its reproductive strategy
Authors: Cavalcante Ana C. C. , Demite Peterson R. , Amaral Felipe S. R. , Lofego Antonio C. , de Moraes Gilberto J.
Published: July 2021

Neoseiulus tunus (De Leon) is one of the most frequent species of this genus in the Neotropical Region, reported on several plants and localities. In this study, the morphological characterization of various Brazilian populations of this species is presented. Females and males are illustrated. Neoseiulus neotunus (Denmark and Muma) is here considered a junior synonymn of N. tunus. Thelytokous parthenogenesis is reported for the first time for this species, based on two populations.
Additions to the oribatid mite fauna of the Caribbean, with description of a new species of Epidamaeus (Acari, Oribatida, Damaeidae)
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Smit Harry
Published: July 2021

A list of identified oribatid mite taxa (Acari, Oribatida) from the Caribbean (mostly Lesser Antilles) partly based on a collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, The Netherlands), including 84 species from 64 genera and 35 families, is presented; of these, Grandjeania bicaudata, Scheloribates (Scheloribates) milleri, Protoribates oblongus, and Orthogalumna saeva are recorded in the Neotropical region for the first time. A new species of Epidamaeus from the Bahamas is described; E. bahamensis n. sp. differs from E. flagelloides Norton, 1979 by the morphology of notogastral setae, prodorsal tubercles Dp and parastigmatic tubercles Sa, and the absence of prodorsal tubercles Bp. Moreover, a new combination, Dyobelba palaciosi (Iglesias and Guzmán, 2012) n. comb., is proposed.
A new genus and species of Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Aradus betulae (Heteroptera: Aradidae) from European Russia
Authors: Khaustov Alexander A. , Abramov Vladimir V.
Published: July 2021

A new genus and species, Lobotarsonemus betulae n. gen., n. sp. (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is described based on phoretic females collected under the hemielytra of the aradid bug Aradus betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Heteroptera: Aradidae) in European Russia.
Two new species and a new record of Bdellidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Syria
Authors: Barbar Ziad , Ueckermann Edward A.
Published: July 2021

Two new species of Bdellidae, Cyta kreiteri n. sp. and Odontoscirus tixieri n. sp. were collected from Latakia province, Syria. Biscirus iranensis Paktinat-Saeej and Bagheri is reported for the first time from Syria, and Spinibdella cronini (Baker and Balock) is re-studied.
A new species of the genus Tuckerella (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tuckerellidae) from Iran
Authors: Safdarkhani Hamid Khadem , Asadi Mahdieh
Published: July 2021

A new mite species Tuckerella parsi n. sp. (Prostigmata: Tuckerellidae) from Tamarix aphylla (Tamaricaceae) is described from Iran. The description of the adult female, adult male, female tritonymph and protonymph and also leg setal designations for this family are provided.
Age-specific functional response and predation capacity of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Phytoseiidae) on the two-spotted spider mite
Authors: Fathipour Yaghoub , Karimi Maryam , Farazmand Azadeh , Talebi Ali Asghar
Published: July 2021

The lifetime-dependent functional response and predation rate of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch was determined under laboratory conditions using cucumber leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 prey were offered to 4 (protonymph), 5 (deutonymph), 6 (1-day-old adult), 10 (5-day-old adult), 15 (10-day-old adult), 20 (15-day-old adult), 25 (20-day-old adult), 30 (25-day-old adult), 35 (30-day-old adult) and 40 (35-day-old adult) P. persimilis individuals. The results of logistic regression analyses showed that on the 15th, 35th and 40th days of predator age, predation rate of T. urticae eggs increased, resulting in the type III functional response, while at the other ages, the functional response was type II. The Rogers model was used to estimate searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The longest handling time was obtained in the protonymphal stage with 2.377 +/- 0.192 h. The shortest handling time and the highest value of estimated maximum attack rate (T/Th) were estimated at the age of 20 days (0.494 +/- 0.009 h and 48.57prey/day). At the highest prey density used (128 eggs), our findings showed that the highest number of prey was eaten by 15, 20, 25 and 30 days old P. persimilis (39.3, 41.7, 39.3 and 38.1 eggs per day, respectively). The results of this study revealed that P. persimilis especially at the middle and late ages has a good predation potential on T. urticae eggs at higher prey densities.
Effects of Metarhizium anisopliae on host choice of the bee-parasitic mite Varroa destructor
Authors: Reinbacher Lara , Fernández-Ferrari María Celeste , Angeli Sergio , Schausberger Peter
Published: July 2021

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor poses one of the biggest threats to the western honeybee Apis mellifera. Possibilities to control the mites are limited; therefore, it is important to assess the performance of novel alternatives like the use of biological control agents. The goal of our work was to evaluate the effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae BIPESCO 5, which is a potential biological control agent against the bee parasitic mite V. destructor, on the behavior of the parasite. In detail, we investigated whether the presence of fungal spores on the surface of host nurse bees, A. mellifera, affects the host choice behavior of adult female mites. We conducted two behavioral assays to monitor the behavior of the mites towards adult bees inoculated with a solution of fungal spores. Both choice and no-choice experiment revealed that M. anisopliae has a significant repellent influence on V. destructor‘s host selection behavior. The mites preferred, and stayed longer on, nurse bees free from fungal spores over bees
carrying fungal spores. Our study provides the first evidence of sub-lethal behavioral effects of a fungal biocontrol agent against Varroa mites.
A new species of Paracarophenax (Acari: Heterostigmata: Acarophenacidae) associated with Triplax scutellaris (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) from European Russia
Authors: Khaustov Alexander A. , Abramov Vladimir V.
Published: July 2021

A new species, Paracarophenax triplaxophilus n. sp. (Acari: Acarophenacidae), is described based on phoretic females collected under the elytra of a mycophagous beetle Triplax scutellaris Charpentier, 1825 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in European Russia. An updated key to species of Paracarophenax is provided. Homologies of some gnathosomal structures of acarophenacid mites are re-evaluated.
Description of two new species of Stigmaeopsis, Banks 1917 (Acari, Tetranychidae) inhabiting Miscanthus grasses (Poaceae)
Authors: Saito Y. , Sato Y. , Chittenden A.R. , Lin J.-Z. , Zhang Y.-X.
Published: July 2021

We provided a new diagnosis of the genus Stigmaeopsis. Then we described two new species that are very closely related to Stigmaeopsis miscanthi (Saito) from Miscanthus spp. in Japan and China. The Japanese species, named Stigmaeopsis sabelisi Saito and Sato n. sp., was previously referred to as Stigmaeopsis miscanthi low aggressiveness form , and is characterized by its low male-to-male aggression behavior. The other species, Stigmaeopsis continentalis Saito and Lin n. sp., was found in China (Fujian district). Thus four species could be discriminated from the species inhabiting Miscanthus and reed grasses. However, the two new species and S. miscanthi resemble each other very closely, thus they are considered to be sibling species. To identify them several naive characters, geographic distribution and genetic data are needed. An updated key to all known species of Stigmaeopsis is also proposed.
Bisexual and oedipal reproduction of Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acari, Macrochelidae) feeding on Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae) eggs
Authors: Farahi Sara , Shishehbor Parviz , Nemati Alireza
Published: July 2021

Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) is a predatory mesostigmatic mite that inhabits different manure microhabitats and preys mostly on housefly (Musca domestica L.) eggs. When a virgin female colonizes a new manure substrate, it produces male offspring through parthenogenesis (arrhenotoky); when her sons reach maturity, oedipal mating takes place and the female begins to produce bisexual offspring. In order to examine the consequence of oedipal reproduction on population development, we designed two separate experiments to compare life history traits and life table parameters of oedipal versus bisexual cohorts of M. muscaedomesticae, using the age-stage, two sex life table method. Experiments were conducted at 28 +/- 1 °C, using a photoperiod of 14:10 (L: D) h, and 65 +/- 5% relative humidity, with housefly eggs used to feed mites. Mean adult female longevity was 38.63 days, and fecundity 128.51 offspring under bisexual reproduction, and 37.48 days and 68.23 offspring under oedipal reproduction. In the bisexual cohort, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), the finite rate of increase (λ), the net reproduction rate (R0), the gross reproductive rate (GRR) and the mean generation time (T) of M. muscaedomesticae were 0.2938 d-1, 1.3415 d-1, 54.216 offspring/individual, 77.7 offspring/individual and 13.5885 days, respectively. Because only male eggs were produced during the first 5.62 days (on average) of the oviposition period in the oedipal cohort, it was theoretically incorrect to compute the population parameters using the survival and fecundity values for this group, even though bisexual reproduction did occur after this period. Our findings determined that the effect of oedipal reproduction could be correctly defined and analyzed by using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. Our results demonstrated that virgin females are able to produce and copulate with their sons (oedipal mating), which then allows those females to produce both sexes. This reproductive system can enable this valuable natural enemy to considerably extend its distribution potential.
Exploiting assembly pheromone for the control of ixodid ticks
Authors: Ranju R.S. , Latha Bhaskaran Ravi , Leela V.
Published: July 2021

The effect of an Assembly Pheromone – Deltamethrin complex (AP – D complex) on the larvae of five ixodid tick species viz. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. microplus, R. haemaphysaloides, Hyalomma marginatum and Haemaphysalis bispinosa, as well as the adults of R. sanguineus and R. microplus, was assessed by in vitro bioassays. All the larval as well as adult stages of ticks exposed to the AP – D complex were lured and killed within 24 hours of exposure, except H. bispinosa. Exposure to the AP – D complex for an hour resulted in 70%, 95%, 90%, 90%, 95% mortality of the larval stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. microplus, R. haemaphysaloides, H. bispinosa and H. marginatum respectively. No mortality was observed when the larval stages of the five tick species were exposed to AP alone (positive control). Exposure of adults to the AP – D complex for an hour resulted 92% and 90% mortality of R. microplus and R. sanguineus, respectively. Negligible mortality was recorded in adult ticks exposed to deltamethrin alone (Negative control), while no mortality was recorded when exposed only to AP (Positive control). Hence, the AP – D complex is better in luring and killing ticks than AP or D alone, regardless of the life stage. Our results suggest that the development of a sustained release AP – D complex device may be an effective means of controlling ticks in India.
Re-descriptions of Amblyseius decolor (Westerboer) and Proprioseiopsis sororculus (Wainstein) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) based on the specimens collected in Turkey and France
Authors: Çobanoğlu Sultan , Faraji Farid , Cılbırcıoğlu Cihan
Published: July 2021

Re-descriptions of Amblyseius decolor (Westerboer, 1962) and Proprioseiopsis sororculus (Wainstein, 1960) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) based on specimens collected in Turkey and France are provided. Both of these mite species represent new distribution records for Turkey. Some new morphological data related to these two species collected in Turkey and France, as well as an identification key for Amblyseiini species of Turkey, are also given. These species are re-described, measured and illustrated. Amblyseius lutezhicus Wainstein is considered as a junior synonym of A. decolor.
Effects of Aculus schlechtendali (Acari: Eriophyidae) population densities on Golden Delicious apple production
Authors: Simoni Sauro , Angeli Gino , Baldessari Mario , Duso Carlo
Published: July 2021

Field trials were carried out in order to evaluate the seasonal abundance and the impact on yields of the Apple Rust Mite (ARM) Aculus schlechtendali (Acari: Eriophyidae) in an experimental fruit orchard located in northern Italy (Trentino region). The effect of ARM on yield and market quality parameters were assessed on Golden Delicious apple fruits. Fruit size, fruit weight, round colour hue, presence of russet as well as inside quality, i.e. soluble solids, acidity and Perlim index, were evaluated over two seasons considering three population levels of ARM that were determined applying different pesticide strategies. Effects of rust mites on return bloom and yield efficiency were also evaluated. ARM seasonal abundance showed a peak in mid-summer. Relationships between ARM and predatory mites were weak. Moderate to high ARM densities affected fruits size, fruit weight, and round colour hue of Golden Delicious fruits. In contrast, ARM populations did not affect russet on fruits, return bloom and yield efficiency. Additional studies were conducted in the laboratory, on detached Golden Delicious apple leaves, to evaluate the potential for population increase at temperatures close to those recorded in field conditions. These studies evidenced a high potential for population increase.
Biological control of spider mites in North-Italian vineyards using pesticide resistant predatory mites
Authors: Lorenzon Mauro , Pozzebon Alberto , Duso Carlo
Published: July 2021

The success of phytoseiid mite releases to control spider mites [Eotetranychus carpini (Oudemans) and Panonychus ulmi (Koch)] on grapevines can be influenced by pesticide use and competition with local predatory mites. In field experiments we evaluated the effect of the release of Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten strains showing field resistance to organophosphates and dithiocarbamates. Predatory mites were released in two vineyards infested by spider mites despite the occurrence of Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) and/or Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga. Single or mixed releases were planned. Spider mite populations were not effectively controlled by local predatory mites while successful control was achieved by released species. The effects of releases were higher in the second experimental year. In most cases A. andersoni densities were reduced by T. pyri and K. aberrans releases. Ph. finitimus suffered less than A. andersoni from intraguild predation. Among released species, the effect of the presence of a competitor was higher on T. pyri than on K. aberrans. Results suggest that the outcome of intraguild predation is prey-mediated. The equilibrium level between K. aberrans and T. pyri may depend on which spider mite species is the shared prey. The implications in management of spider mites on grapevines are discussed.