Efficacy Test of Different Insecticides on Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Infecting Pitaya

[Objective] The aim was to select insecticides effective in contrlling Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Infecting Pitaya. [Method] Efficacy effects of 11 insecticides in 22 concentrations were performed on Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Infecting Pitaya. [Result] When the insecticides were sprayed after 14 d, the treatment group with 22.4% spirotetramat SC at two concentrations proved the best, with control effects at 95.24% and 92.05%, followed by Nurelle at two concentrations, with control effects at 90.86% and 89.19%, and the control effects of chlorpyrifos （x2 000） was the poorest at only 67.08%. Therefore, it is feasible to make use of 22.4% spirotetramat SC, chlorpyrifos EC and Nurelle EC alternatively in controlling Pseudaulacaspis pentagona in case of pesticide resistance. [Conclusion] The research provided references for scientific use of insecticides in controlling Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Infecting Pitaya.

Field Efficacy Trial and Optimum Control Period of Rice False Smut(Ustilaginoidea virens) in Single Cropping Middle-late Rice

[Objective]The paper was to study optimum chemical agents and control periods against rice false smut( Ustilaginoidea virens) in single cropping middle-late rice. [Method]Taking chemical agents( triadimefon,armure,Jinggangmycin) as main treatments and spraying periods( within 7 d before initial heading stage,within 7 d before initial heading stage + initial heading stage,initial heading stage) as assisted treatments,the field efficacy trial and optimum control period of U. virens in single cropping middle-late rice were studied using Huanghuazhan and Jinnongsimiao as experimental materials in 2013. [Result] Three chemical agents,triadimefon,armure,Jinggangmycin,extremely reduced diseased panicle rate and disease index of U. virens,but there was no significant difference among three chemical agents. Spraying period did not have significant impact on diseased panicle rate and disease index of U. virens,whereas spraying within7 d before initial heading stage and during initial heading stage had relatively good control effect. Yield increased significantly after application of three chemical agents,and armure led to greater increase. The reason for yield increase was that seed setting rate was significantly increased,and the number of filled grains per panicle was significantly increased. Although spraying period influenced yield,the difference was not significant. [Conclusion] Triadimefon,armure and Jinggangmycin had good control effects against U. virens in single cropping middle-late rice,of which armure had better control effects. Spraying chemical agents increased seed setting rate,and further increased the number of filled grains per panicle and yield. Spraying within 7 d before initial heading stage and during initial heading stage had relatively better control effect against U. virens.

Efficacy and Phytotoxicity Trial of Different Dosages of 4% Nicosulfuron SC on Weeds in Corn Fields

[Objective]The paper was to study efficacy and phytotoxicity of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron on weeds in corn fields.[Method]With summer corn variety Zhengdan 958commonly used in field production in Hengshui area of Hebei Province of China as the test material,different dosages（1 050,1 500 and 1 950mL/hm2）of corn postemergence herbicide 4% nicosulfuron SC were sprayed during five-leaf stage of corn,and the treatments with water spraying and manual weeding were set as controls.The effects of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron SC on weed control efficacy and safety and yield of corn were analyzed in order to determine the optimal dosage.[Result]Spraying 4% nicosulfuron SC with dosage of 1 500mL/hm2 during five-leaf stage of corn not only had better control effect against various weeds,but also did not produce phytotoxicity on corn,and the yield of corn was higher.[Conclusion]The study provided scientific information for using 4% nicosulfuron to eradicate weeds in corn fields.

Development and validation of a simple and multifaceted instrument,GERD-TEST,for the clinical evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux and dyspeptic symptoms

To evaluate the psychometric properties of a newly developed questionnaire, known as the gastroesophageal reflux and dyspepsia therapeutic efficacy and satisfaction test (GERD-TEST), in patients with GERD.METHODSJapanese patients with predominant GERD symptoms recruited according to the Montreal definition were treated for 4 wk using a standard dose of proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The GERD-TEST and the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8) were administered at baseline and after 4 wk of treatment. The GERD-TEST contains three domains: the severity of GERD and functional dyspepsia (FD) symptoms (5 items), the level of dissatisfaction with daily life (DS) (4 items), and the therapeutic efficacy as assessed by the patients and medication compliance (4 items).RESULTSA total of 290 patients were eligible at baseline; 198 of these patients completed 4 wk of PPI therapy. The internal consistency reliability as evaluated using the Cronbach’s α values for the GERD, FD and DS subscales ranged from 0.75 to 0.82. The scores for the GERD, FD and DS items/subscales were significantly correlated with the physical and mental component summary scores of the SF-8. After 4 wk of PPI treatment, the scores for the GERD items/subscales were greatly reduced, ranging in value from 1.51 to 1.87 and with a large effect size (P < 0.0001, Cohen’s d; 1.29-1.63). Statistically significant differences in the changes in the scores for the GERD items/subscales were observed between treatment responders and non-responders (P < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONThe GERD-TEST has a good reliability, a good convergent and concurrent validity, and is responsive to the effects of treatment. The GERD-TEST is a simple, easy to understand, and multifaceted PRO instrument applicable to both clinical trials and the primary care of GERD patients.

Determination of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance value and emulsion properties of sacha inchi oil

Objective: To determine hydrophilic–lipophilic balance(HLB) value, stability of formulate emulsion and properties of sacha inchi oil.Methods: The physiochemical characteristics of sacha inchi oil were first investigated.Free radical scavenging property was studied by DPPH assay. HLB value of sacha inchi oil was experimentally determined by preparing the emulsion using emulsifiers at different HLB value. Sacha inchi oil emulsion was prepared using the obtained HLB and its stability was conducted by centrifugation, temperature cycling, and accelerated stability test. The efficiency of the prepared emulsion was clinically investigated by 15 volunteers. The primary skin irritation was performed using closed patch test. Subjective sensory assessment was evaluated by using 5-point hedonic scale method.Results: Peroxide value of sacha inchi oil was 18.40 meq O2/kg oil and acid value was1.86 KOH/g oil. The major fatty acids are omega-3(44%), omega-6(35%) and omega-9(9%). The vitamin E content was 226 mg/100 g oil. Moreover, sacha inchi oil(167 ppm)and its emulsion showed 85% and 89% DPPH inhibition, respectively. The experimental HLB value of sacha inchi oil was 8.5. The sacha inchi oil emulsion exhibited good stability after stability test. The emulsion was classified as non-irritant after tested by primary skin irritation method. The skin hydration value significantly increased from38.59 to 45.21(P < 0.05) after applying sacha inchi oil emulsion for 1 month and the overall product satisfaction of volunteers after use was with score of 4.2.Conclusions: This work provides information on HLB value and emulsion properties of sacha inchi oil which is useful for cosmetic and pharmaceutical application.

Control Effects of 9 Fungicides on Citrus Canker

In order to screen out effective fungicides for controlling citrus canker,the control effects of 9 fungicides on Jinhong bingtang orange canker were studied.The results showed that 77%cupric calcium sulfate WP,30%copper oxychloride SC,46%copper hydroxide WG,30%thiodiazole-copper SC and 40%zinc thiazole SC had better comprehensive control effect on citrus canker,6%benziothiazolinone WG had an average effect,3%zhongshengmycin AS,2%kasugamycin AS and 33.5%oxine-copper SC had poor control effect.Therefore,fungicides could be used alternately or choose compounded preparation.In addition,adjuvants could be considered in use,which was an effective way to enhance efficacy,reduced dosage and delayed pesticide resistance.

Is hepatitis B-virucidal validation of biocides possible with the use of surrogates?

The hepatitis B virus(HBV)is considered to be a major public health problem worldwide,and a significant number of reports on nosocomial outbreaks of HBV infections have been reported.Prevention of indirect HBV transmission by contaminated objects is only possible through the use of infection-control principles,including the use of chemical biocides,which are proven to render the virus non-infectious.The virucidal activity of biocides against HBV cannot be predicted;therefore,validation of the virucidal action of disinfectants against HBV is essential.However,feasible HBV infectivity assays have not yet been established.Thus,surrogate models have been proposed for testing the efficacy of biocides against HBV.Most of these assays do not correlate with HBV infectivity.Currently,the most promising and feasible assay is the use of the taxonomically related duck hepatitis B virus(DHBV),which belongs to the same Hepadnaviridae virus family.This paper reviews the application of DHBV,which can be propagated in vitro in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes,for the testing of biocides and describes why this model can be used as reliable method to evaluate disinfectants for efficacy against HBV.The susceptibility levels of important biocides,which are often used as ingredients for commercially available disinfectants,are also described.