Blogs

Introduction

1. Leafminer Liriomyza trifolii is a damaging pest
   
   1. Low damage crops helped by insecticide for leafminer control (Cox et al. 1995)
   2. Overuse of insecticides cause resistance in L. trifolli. (Leibee 1981, Parrella and Keil 1984)
   3. Cyromazine and abamectin both successful for leafminer control (Trigard)
   4. One case of L. trifolli being resistant to Cyromazine in 1990 Florida (G. L. Leibee and J.S.F., unpublished data)
   5. Unstable resistance and no cross resistance of cyromazine and abamectin
   6. 1991 survey said cyromazine resistance only affects celery in one location (G. L. Leibee and J.S.F., unpublished data)
   7. No published reports of abamectin and cyromazine resistance on leafminers
2. Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association gathers scientists, commercial growers, and the agricultural chemical industry to try to make a leafminer resistance program
   
   1.  

Stigmella multispicata Rociene. & Stonis, an Asian leafminer on Siberian elm, now widespread in eastern North America (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae)

Introduction

Topic: Increased invasive insect populations in the US

• originate from Europe and Asia
  • Mattson W, Vanhanen H, Veteli T, Sivonen S, Niemelä P (2007) Few immigrant phytophagous insects on woody plants in Europe: legacy of the European crucible? Biological Invasions 9: 957–974. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-007-9096-y
• Leaf consuming insect species 310 from Europe and 77 from Asia in 2007 (Mattson et al. 2007)
• Increased global travel/transport of goods are the cause  growing number of established alien  species (Work et al. 2005)
  • Work TT, McCullough DG, Cavey JF, Komsa R (2005) Arrival rate of nonindigenous insect species into the United States through foreign trade. Biological Invasions 7: 323–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-004-1663-x
• Not as many Lepodatra as other species (Pohl et al, 2018)
  • Pohl GR, Landry J-F, Schmidt BC, Lafontaine JD, Macaulay AD, Nieukerken EJ van, DeWaard JR, Dombroskie JJ, Klymko J, Nazari V, Stead K (2018) Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Series Faunistica 118, 1–580. https://ebooks.pensoft.net/book/13218/annotated-checklist-of-the-moths-and-butterflies-lepidoptera-of-canada-and-alaska
• DNA barcoding enabled better tracking of these porly studied groups (Landry et al. 2013)
  • Landry J-F, Nazari V, DeWaard JR, Mutanen M, Lopez-Vaamonde C, Huemer P, Hebert PDN (2013) Shared but overlooked: 30 species of Holarctic Microlepidoptera revealed by DNA barcodes and morphology. Zootaxa 3749. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3749.1.1.​

Concluding statment: Report about insect from asia that was ID through DNA barcoding

Topic: James Vargo found UK species of Stigmella in Indiana USA

• Material sent to DNA specialist who did not recognize the moths as being native to the US
• Another specimen from Missisippi UNK

Conclusion: DNA barcoding matched these with a leafminer from Beijing China

(Final Paragraph) Redescribe S. multispicata and compare to Europian S. ulmivora  and North Americain species of Nepticulidae feeding on Ulmus.

Conclusion: Discuss probility coming from Asia to North America

OUTLINE FOR GENTAMICIN AND VANCOMYCIN INTERFERENCE…..

Introduction

    Interference in medical tests

        some type of interference exists.

            Yadav S, Sanjaya KC Interference of drugs on clinical 

chemistry—shall we start thinking? 

        Analytical interference defined.

    Nikolac N. Ispitivanje interferencija. In: Simundic AM, ed. Upravljanje 

kvalitetom laboratorijskog rada. Zagreb, Croatia: Medicinska naklada; 

2013:51– 64. 3. 

Dodig S. Interferences in quantitative immunochemical methods. Biochem 

Med. 2009;19(1):50–62.

Incorrect test results.

     Lippi G, Becan-McBride K, Beh´ulova´ D, et al. Preanalytical quality 

improvement: in quality we trust. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2013;51(1):229–241. 

Kailajarci M, Takala T, Gr ¨ onroos P, et al. Reminders of drug effects on ¨ 

laboratory test results. Clin Chem. 2000;46(9):1395–1400. 

Nikolac N, Simundic AM, Miksa M, et al. Heterogeneity of manufacturers’ declarations for lipemia interference—an urgent call for standardization. 

Clin Chem Acta. 2013;426(1):33–40.

Also, the knowledge of laboratory staff and clinicians about possible drug interferences is often overlooked or unknown.

     Sonntag O. Quality in the analytical phase. Biochem Med. 

2010;20(2):147– 153.

Classification of interferences

Interferences are classified as endogenous or exogenous. 

No sources

An endogenous interference originates from the substance found naturally in the 

patient’s sample, like bilirubin, hemoglobin, glucose, antibodies, or proteins,

2,8–12

with hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia as the most common interferences.

13

 An exogenous interference results from substances not naturally found in a patient’s 

specimen, like drugs, their metabolites and additives, herbal products, or other 

Toxins.

2,8–11 

Interference effect depends on the concentration of an interfering substance, but not necessarily in a proportional way.

3,14

    Interference mechanisms

Drugs can interfere with laboratory measurements via several mechanisms. 

No ref

Biological interferences occur when a drug activates one of the mechanisms, like 

induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes, enzyme inhibition, or drug 

displacement from protein-binding site. 

    No ref

However, these changes reflect a true state in the human body and thus are not 

considered analytical errors. Analytical (or chemical) interference is present when 

a drug causes falsely decreased or increased results of laboratory parameters. 

    No Ref

Mechanisms of interference often include structural similarity of the drug to the 

tested analyte, drug inhibition of the reaction used in the analyte measurement, 

or changes in the structural integrity of the matrix (ie, viscosity or turbidity).

    No Ref

 However, these effects can often go unrecognized in the laboratory because of 

the lack of relevant information about patient drug therapy or unavailability of 

methods for drug concentration measurement.

Kroll HM, Elin JR. Interference with clinical laboratory analytes. Clin Chem. 1994;40(11):1996–2005. 16. 

Forman TD, Young SD. Drug interference in laboratory testing. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1976;6(3):263–271. 17. 

Benet LZ, Sheiner LB. Pharmacokinetics: The Dynamics of Drug Absorption, Distribution and Elimination. New York, NY: Macmillan; 1985:13– 22. 18. 

Caraway WT, Kammeyer CW. Chemical interference of drugs and other substances with clinical laboratory test procedures. Clin Chim Acta. 1972;41(1): 395–434. 19. Kroll MH, Ruddel KW, Blank DW. A model for assessing interference. Clin Chem. 1987;33(7):1121–1123.

        Seems these references cover the whole paragraph    

Last Paragraph

    Introduce objects of interest

    Introduce function of objects

    Concern

        . Review of vancomycin-induced renal toxicity: an update

Factors impacting unbound vancomycin concentrations in different patient 

populations

    Hypothesis

        We hypothesized that high drug concentrations might affect results of clinical 

chemistry tests.

Aims

Introduction

1. Kenyan horticultural industry faced new pests being Liriomyza huidobrensis (leaf miners) hurting the economic importance. The paper outlines the farmers' awareness of the pests and diffuculties facing and controlling them.

          a. Questionnaire survey showed that snow pea farmers in kenya rely on pesticides for control of suck insects. (Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2007, Ekesi, 2010)

          b. Snow pea farmers signed contracts with exporters abd whose production practices with GlobalGAP to contraol them using more stratergies.

          c. The findings imply that pest status of Liriomyza leafminers is liely to increase and snow pea production will decrease in central areas of Kenya.

This all can be prevented if they use a intergrated leafminer management strategy and farmers are educated on methods of identifying them in their early stages of attack and use of appropriate chemicals and methods. Although, this is leading to the effect on business.

2. A new threat of invasion with pests are affecting the fresh produce export business. Slowly they are affecting the vegetable production and fresh produce export businesses due to the amount of pests around Kenya.

          a. Three species are attacking a variety of crops of commercial value including snow peas. (HDCA, 2009)

          b. The study is then focused on the small scale farmenrs growing snow peas for export at the market where they have devolped control strategies against leafminer pests however, must be in compliancewith the pesticide that as restrictions from GlobalGAP.

         c. The present study examines the current level of Liriomyza leafminers awareness and control strategies being employed by Kenyan snow pea farmers against the pests.

The objectives of this study is to analyze farmers awareness about Liriomyza leafminer infesations and assess their current status at the farm level to analyze leafminer control stratgies used by snow peas farmers and examine factors affecting the choice of control statergie in snow peas production systems.

Specific Aim: To sample each species of Ulmus present on the UMass Amherst campus,  and to survey them for leaf mining insects.

Approach and Analysis: This experiment aims to sample leaves from every available Elm on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. There are currently 293 Elms on campus, and 17 unique species. At least one of each Elm species will be searched for evidence of leaf miners by observing the lowest branches of the tree. All observed leaf miners will be removed from the infected tree as well as a healthy uninfected leaf in close proximity. The location of the Elm will be marked, and the leaves will be cataloged for further analysis. 

    Specific Aim: To categorize infected leaves and identify factors related to the predation of 

infected leaves.

    Approach and Analysis: After obtaining a collection of infected leaves, we intend to 

measure the symmetry of each leaf from the mid rib. We intend to collect four width measurements every fifth of the way up the leaf from the base. We will measure from the outside leaf edge to the edge of the midrib on both the infected and uninfected leaves. We will also count the amount of veins, and the average distance between veins, on each side of the mid rib. This data will be analyzed for trends involving predation, the entry site of the miner, and the relative symmetry of each leaf in comparison to the ignored leaves.

Leaf miners are made by a number of species of insects in which the larval stage eats the tissue of the plant. Leaf miners can be made by several different insects. Most leaf miner burrows or tunnels are referred to as serpentine mines, consisting of thin, winding, whitish trails, or as blotch mines which are broad and whitish or brownish in color. These mines may cause heavy infestations, causing the leaves and the entire plant to turn brown by late spring. They feed on the leaf tissue between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. Elm leaf miners are a pest that feed on the tissues in between the outer layers of elm leaves causing them to turn brown and the leaf to decay. Just because on leaf on the plant is affected does not mean that the whole plant is affected. Although, overtime this does change due to the amount of insects feeding on the leaves.

Leaf miners are made by a number of species of insects in which the larval stage eats the tissue of the plant. Leaf miners can be made by several different insects. Most leaf miner burrows or tunnels are referred to as serpentine mines, consisting of thin, winding, whitish trails, or as blotch mines which are broad and whitish or brownish in color. These mines may cause heavy infestations, causing the leaves and the entire plant to turn brown by late spring. They feed on the leaf tissue between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. Elm leaf miners are a pest that feed on the tissues in between the outer layers of elm leaves causing them to turn brown and the leaf to decay. Just because on leaf on the plant is affected does not mean that the whole plant is affected. Although, overtime this does change due to the amount of insects feeding on the leaves.

Specific Aim 2.To categorize infected leaves and identify factors related to the predation of infected leaves. The literature suggests that leaf miners have a specific oviposition tendency based upon the structure of the leaf (Apape 1995). As we collect data on the leaf miners, we want to confirm this phenomenon while also analyzing for other contributing factors.  

Today in class we crerated a comic and were limited to the 1,000 most common words. The subject matter was varied but all scientific. The point of the exercise was to use the 1,000 common words and pictures to explain the more complicated scientific topic. I liked this exercise because i feel like it is going to help me think along those terms more when I am learning complicated stuff. Maybe I can do this sort of thing when I am studying. I can rewrite what it is saying in the simplest terms possible. I encounter a lot of stuff in my classes that is complex and hard to wrap my mind around. It would be great t o have a new and improved study strategy.

      I thought that class went very well today. First Dr. Brewer cleared up a lot of the mind boggling information about the methods project. Dr. Long sat down with me and described in detail how to approach writing a scientific paper. Her suggestion about creating an outline was very helpful and I will try to implement this technique in the future. 

       The introduction to persuasive writing was a fun exercise. Dogs have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  I felt that saving them is the least I could do for them since they have brought me such joy throughout my life. Even though this was a fictitious exercise it was something that I could get behind. Everyone in the class had such strong arguments as to why the breed that they chose would be the best. 

      The work with the things explainer was such a refreshing look at simple words to explain complex systems. Dr. Long's explanations were spot on about how people use words that they do not understand just because its expected in technical papers. Creating my own cartoon was something I haven't done since elementary school, and I see that my artistic abilities really have not improved since than.