Residues of rotenone, azadirachtin, pyrethrins and copper used to control Bactrocera oleae (Gmel.) in organic olives and oil.

Rotenone, azadirachtin, pyrethrins and copper fungicide decay curves were determined in olives and olive oil samples after experimental trials, consisting of one, two and three applications of each active ingredient, were carried out twice in 2005 and 2006. Rotenone, azadiracthin and pyrethrins were analyzed by extraction with acetonitrile and determined by liquid chromatography; copper was extracted into aqueous HCl and determined by chemical stripping. Pyrethrins were always found but in levels below the acceptable limits, whereas rotenone and copper residues always exceeded, after the pre-harvest interval, the maximum threshold allowed for olives. As regards residues in olive oil, rotenone was found in concentrations higher than those detected in olives. Copper accumulated in olives according to the number of applications, whereas, in oil, the residue was always lower than the maximum residue limit. The sensitivity of the method applied did not allow detection of azadirachtin.

Cognitive and behavioural characteristics of children with idiopathic epilepsy in a low-income area of Ankara, Turkey.

Fifteen school-age children with idiopathic epilepsy but with no other neurological symptoms were compared with non-epileptic children, matched for age, on four cognitive tests selected to measure specific cognitive skills at two levels of functioning, and a behaviour rating scale. All children were from a low-income district of Ankara, Turkey. Epileptic children did as well as controls on the recognition of a geometric designs test but were significantly inferior at drawing these designs, suggesting some deficit at a cognitive level involving coordination of perception and motor activity. In language functioning, they were significantly poorer on the receptive test but not on the expressive test. They had significantly more behavioural problems than either the control group or their own siblings, those related to fears and anxiety being most prominent. However, in comparison with their siblings, they also had significantly more problems related to conduct- disobedience and inattention. These findings provide further evidence for the importance of some form of counselling for school-age epileptic children and their families.