Tuta absoluta-Specific DNA in Domestic and Synanthropic Vertebrate Insectivore Feces.

The ecology of greenhouse pests generally involves parasitoid or predatory insects. However, we investigated whether the leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is part of the diet of domestic and synanthropic vertebrate animals, such as birds, reptiles, and mammals, and that take part in an ecosystem that contains a high density of tomato greenhouses. Feces from domesticated partridges, common quails, and chickens, as well as from wild lizards were collected within tomato greenhouses, and fecal pellets from bats, swallows, common swifts, and house martins living in the vicinity of tomato greenhouses were collected outside. The efficiencies of three different DNA extraction methods were compared on bird, reptile, and mammal stool samples, and the DNA extracts were analyzed using probe real-time PCR for the presence of T. absoluta DNA. The results showed that bats fed on the pest, which was also part of the diet of several bird species: partridges and common quails kept within tomato greenhouses and swallows and common swifts living outside but in the vicinity of tomato greenhouses. In addition, fecal samples of three lizard species living near tomato crops also tested positive for T. absoluta DNA. The results suggest that aerial foraging bats and insectivorous birds are part of ecosystems that involve leaf miners and tomato greenhouses.

Nomen est omen? How and when company name fluency affects return expectations.

Investors perceive stocks of companies with fluent names as more profitable. This perception may result from two different channels: a direct, non-deliberate affect toward fluent names or a deliberate interpretation of fluent names as a signal for company quality. We use preregistered experiments to disentangle these channels and test their limitations. Our results indicate the existence of a significant non-deliberate fluency effect, while the deliberate fluency effect can be activated and deactivated in boundary cases. Both effects are consistent across different groups of participants. However, whereas the fluency effect is strong in isolation, it has limitations when investors are confronted with additional information about the stock.

Exogenous Application of dsRNA for the Control of Viruses in Cucurbits.

The recurrent emergence of viral diseases in intensive horticultural crops requires alternative control strategies. The topical application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules homologous to pathogens has been proposed as a tool for virus control in plants. These dsRNAs induce the silencing mechanism, the RNA interference (RNAi), that degrades homologous dsRNAs. Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) represents a serious threat to cucurbit crops. Since genetic resistance to the virus is not yet available in commercial varieties, we aimed to control this virus by RNAi. For this purpose, we obtained constructions both for expressing dsRNA in bacteria to treat cucumber plants by topical application and for agroinoculation in experiments done in the growth chamber. Besides, greenhouse tests were performed in spring and in summer when plants were challenged with the virus, and differences in several parameters were investigated, including the severity of symptoms, dry weight, total height, virus accumulation, and virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs). Spraying of plants with dsRNA reduced significatively CGMMV symptoms in the plants in growth chamber tests. Agroinfiltration experiments done under identical conditions were also effective in limiting the progress of CGMMV disease. In the greenhouse assay performed in spring, symptoms were significantly reduced in dsRNA-sprayed plants, and the development of the plants improved with respect to non-treated plants. Virus titers and vsiRNAs were clearly reduced in dsRNA-treated plants. The effect of protection of the dsRNA was less evident in the greenhouse assay carried out in the summer. Besides, we investigated the mobility of long (ds)RNA derived from spraying or agroinfiltrated dsRNA and found that it could be detected in local, close distal, and far distal points from the site of application. VsiRNAs were also detected in local and distal points and the differences in accumulation were compared. In parallel, we investigated the capacity of dsRNAs derived from genes of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), another economically important virus in cucurbits, to limit the disease in zucchini, both by agroinfiltration or by direct spraying, but found no protective effect. In view of the results, the topical application of dsRNAs is postulated as a promising strategy for CGMMV control in the cucumber.

Host Species-Dependent Transmission of Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus-ES by Bemisia tabaci.

The tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a bipartite, single-stranded begomovirus that was first identified in India in 1995 affecting solanaceous crops. A different strain, named ToLCNDV-ES, was introduced in Spain in 2012 and causes severe symptoms in zucchini crops. Virus transmission experiments with the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, were used to compare the transmission parameters in zucchini and tomato plants. The minimum acquisition access period and inoculation access period of ToLCNDV-ES transmission was similar in zucchini and tomato. However, the transmission efficiency was significantly higher in zucchini (96%) compared to tomato (2%). The maximum retention of the virus in the vector was 16 days. B. tabaci feeding on, or recently emerged from infected zucchini plants, accumulated more virus than those from infected tomato, as determined by real-time PCR. A total of 20% of B. tabaci that were recently emerged from infected zucchini, and none from infected tomato, were able to transmit the virus to virus-free zucchini. The results may explain the different incidences of ToLCNDV-ES in zucchini and tomato crops in Spain. But they are also relevant for ToLCNDV-ES management of crops and the role of the trade and transport of infected plant material, when small-sized immature stages of B. tabaci could be a source of infection.

Special Issue: "Plant Virus Epidemiology".

We are pleased to present this Special Issue on the topic of "Plant virus Epidemiology" [...].

Resistance to Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus in Cucumis melo.

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a severe threat to melon production worldwide. At present, there are no cultivars available on the market which show an effective resistance or tolerance to CGMMV infection; only wild Cucumis species were reported as resistant. Germplasm accessions of Cucumis melo, as well as C. anguria, C. ficifolius, C. myriocarpus and C. metuliferus, were mechanically infected with isolates belonging to the European and Asian strain of CGMMV and screened for resistance by scoring symptom severity and comparing the accumulation of virus by qRT-PCR. The wild species C. anguria and C. ficifolius showed no symptoms and did not accumulate CGGMV following inoculation, while C. metuliferus was highly susceptible to the isolates of both strains of CGMMV. The virus accumulated also in C. myriocarpus and the European isolate produced symptoms, but the Asian isolate did not. Thirty C. melo accessions were susceptible to CGMMV. An isolate-dependent expression of symptoms was observed in 16 melon accessions: they showed mild and severe symptoms at 14 and 21 days after inoculation with the European and Asian isolate, respectively. Freeman's Cucumber showed few or no symptoms following inoculation with the isolate of either CGMMV strain. This particular accession also showed reduced virus accumulation, whereas most other tested germplasm accessions showed significantly higher viral loads and, therefore, may well be a candidate for breeding programs aiming to reduce the losses produced by CGMMV with resistant commercial melon cultivars.

Epidemiology and control of emerging criniviruses in bean.

During the last two decades, new criniviruses emerged in green bean crops in the south-east of Spain. Bean yellow disorder virus (BnYDV) was first detected in 2003 and caused major economic damage in crops grown in greenhouses. It was characterized as the first crinivirus to infect a member species of the Leguminosae family. Symptoms induced during BnYDV infection include interveinal chlorosis and yellowing on leaves, and reduced fruit yield and quality. Similar symptoms, although more severe, were observed in bean crops in the same region during the fall of 2011. From that moment on, BnYDV was not detected anymore in diseased plants, but instead lettuce chlorosis virus (LCV) was associated with the diseased plants. Previously, LCV was detected only in California, USA, infecting lettuce and sugarbeets. The host range and partial genomic sequences lead to the description of the new strain, LCV-SP. The complete sequence of its genome revealed the virus as a recombinant of BnYDV and LCV, in which the latter had lost two ORFs in the RNA1 of the bipartite genome and had acquired two homologue ORFs from BnYDV. Both viruses are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. When compared with other crinivirus pathosystems, the transmission efficiency of BnYDV to its primary host bean, is among the highest, and its persistence in the vector among the longest, up to 9 days. The host range of BnYDV s restricted to several crop species of the Leguminosae: common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), pea (Pisum sativum), tirabeque (P. sativum subsp. sativum var. macrocarpon), lentil (Lens culinaris) and faba bean (Vicia faba). LCV-SP is also able to infect green bean plants but not lettuce, its original host, probably following its recombinant nature. Symptoms and epidemiology of the bean criniviruses are compared with similar pathosystems that occur in the same region and that involve cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus and tomato chlorosis virus, infecting cucurbitaceous and solanaceous crops, respectively. Control of the criniviruses in bean crops will depend on efficient control of the vector. Physical control with greenhouses that prevent viruliferous whiteflies from gaining access to crops reduces BnYDV infection in plants and loss of production. Integrated pest management in beans would be preferred and the use of natural enemies to reduce secondary spread within greenhouses must be investigated.

Whitefly Control Strategies against Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Greenhouse Zucchini.

(1) Background: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), transmitted by tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is of major concern in the cultivation of zucchini. The threat of this virus motivates reliance on chemical vector control but European consumers' demands for vegetables grown free of pesticides provides an important incentive for alternative pest management; (2) Methods: Different whitefly management strategies and ToLCNDV incidences were surveyed in commercial zucchini greenhouses in south-east Spain. In an experimental greenhouse, three different whitefly control strategies, biological, chemical, and integrated (IPM), were evaluated in a replicated trial to determine the most effective strategy for virus suppression (3) Results: Whitefly was present in all commercial zucchini crops surveyed, whereas fewer crops had Amblyseius swirskii or other natural enemies. During three consecutive years, pest management was increasingly based on chemical treatments. Yet, ToLCNDV was widespread in zucchini greenhouses. Experimental results showed that the order of best strategy for virus suppressing was integrated management (73%) > biological control (58%) > chemical control (44%); and (4) Conclusions: IPM was the best strategy for virus suppression. The results can assist in the design of appropriate control strategies for chemical pesticide reduction and decision-making in pest management.

How Religiosity Shapes Rejection of Homosexuality Across the Globe.

This study investigates to what extent different dimensions of religiosity are differentially related to rejection of homosexuality in countries around the world and, moreover, to what extent these relationships can be explained by particular mediators: authoritarianism and traditional gender beliefs. The theoretical framework includes in particular socialization and integration theories. Hypotheses are tested by employing multilevel models, using data from the World Values Survey, covering 55 countries around the world for the period 2010-2014. The results indicate that every dimension of religiosity has a positive relationship with rejection of homosexuality, rejecting some of our hypotheses: those who adhere to any denomination more often attend religious services and have stronger religious particularistic beliefs, or those who are more religiously salient do reject homosexuality more strongly. Sobel tests and bootstrapping procedures indicate that the relationships between the dimensions of religiosity and rejection of homosexuality are partially explained by authoritarianism and traditional gender beliefs.

First natural crossover recombination between two distinct species of the family Closteroviridae leads to the emergence of a new disease.

Lettuce chlorosis virus-SP (LCV-SP) (family Closteroviridae, genus Crinivirus), is a new strain of LCV which is able to infect green bean plants but not lettuce. In the present study, high-throughput and Sanger sequencing of RNA was used to obtain the LCV-SP full-length sequence. The LCV-SP genome comprises 8825 nt and 8672 nt long RNA1 and RNA2 respectively. RNA1 of LCV-SP contains four ORFs, the proteins encoded by the ORF1a and ORF1b are closely related to LCV RNA1 from California (FJ380118) whereas the 3´ end encodes proteins which share high amino acid sequence identity with RNA1 of Bean yellow disorder virus (BnYDV; EU191904). The genomic sequence of RNA2 consists of 8 ORFs, instead of 10 ORFs contained in LCV-California isolate. The distribution of vsiRNA (virus-derived small interfering RNA) along the LCV-SP genome suggested the presence of subgenomic RNAs corresponding with HSP70, P6.4 and P60. Results of the analysis using RDP4 and Simplot programs are the proof of the evidence that LCV-SP is the first recombinant of the family Closteroviridae by crossover recombination of intact ORFs, being the LCV RNA1 (FJ380118) and BnYDV RNA1 (EU191904) the origin of the new LCV strain. Genetic diversity values of virus isolates in the recombinant region obtained after sampling LCV-SP infected green bean between 2011 and 2017 might suggest that the recombinant virus event occurred in the area before this period. The presence of LCV-SP shows the role of recombination as a driving force of evolution within the genus Crinivirus, a globally distributed, emergent genus.

Absolute Quantification of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus Spain strain, ToLCNDV-ES: Virus Accumulation in a Host-Specific Manner.

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) has recently been introduced in western Mediterranean countries. Isolates in Spain constitute a new strain, denominated ToLCNDV-ES, that is causing losses in commercial zucchini and melon crops; however, it is also, although less often, detected in commercial tomato crops. We developed a tissue-print hybridization test to detect the two genomic components of the virus and a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test to estimate the number of genome copies in plants. qPCR was approximately 104 to 106 times more sensitive than tissue-print hybridization to detect viral genomic DNA-A and DNA-B, respectively. It also detected the virus in more experimentally and naturally ToLCNDV-ES-infected zucchini squash and tomato plants. ToLCNDV-ES DNA-A titers were significantly lower in tomato than in zucchini plants, often falling below the detection limits in the hybridization test. In addition, the DNA-B accumulation was impaired in tomato when compared with zucchini. According to the data obtained in this study, the differences in viral titers of both plant species contribute to explain the dissimilarities in symptom expression, capability of detection, and transmission of the virus.

Biological and Molecular Diversity of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in Spain.

The complete RNA genome from Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) (Alm08), collected during 2009 in cucumber crops located in Spain, was found to be 6,422 nucleotides long. The nucleotide sequence shared the highest identity with isolates from Russia (GQ495274, GQ495275, FJ848666) as do nucleotide sequences of partial CP and MP genes described in Spain since 2005. All the partial genome sequences including RdRp, CP, and MP from 26 isolates collected from 2013 to 2015 in the southeast of Spain, and from seven isolates of other parts of the world, suggest that they grouped in two major clusters: one cluster (I) included 14 isolates collected between 2013 and 2014, and also reference isolates from France, the Netherlands, and Uzbekistan. A second cluster (II) grouped 12 isolates, which were mostly collected in 2015 together with those from Japan, South Korea, and Canada. For the first time, CGMMV isolates of different geographical origin were found coinfecting the same crop and territory. A host range study revealed that representative isolates of cluster II, but not from cluster I, produced local lesions in Chenopodium amaranticolor. RT-PCR using a common primer pair for CGMMV followed by restriction enzyme analysis with KpnI allowed distinguishing cluster I from II CGMMV isolates.

Optimal Strategies for Interception, Detection, and Eradication in Plant Biosecurity.

The introduction of invasive species causes damages from the economic and ecological point of view. Interception of plant pests and eradication of the established populations are two management options to prevent or limit the risk posed by an invasive species. Management options generate costs related to the interception at the point of entry, and the detection and eradication of established field populations. Risk managers have to decide how to allocate resources between interception, field detection, containment, and eradication minimizing the expected total costs. In this work is considered an optimization problem aiming at determining the optimal allocation of resources to minimize the expected total costs of the introduction of Bemisia tabaci-transmitted viruses in Europe. The optimization problem takes into account a probabilistic model for the estimation of the percentage of viruliferous insect populations arriving through the trade of commodities, and a population dynamics model describing the process of the vector populations' establishment and spread. The time of field detection of viruliferous insect populations is considered as a random variable. The solution of the optimization problem allows to determine the optimal allocation of the search effort between interception and detection/eradication. The behavior of the search effort as a function of efficacy or search in interception and in detection is then analyzed. The importance of the vector population growth rate and the probability of virus establishment are also considered in the analysis of the optimization problem.

Countering countermeasures: detecting identity lies by detecting conscious breakthrough.

One major drawback of deception detection is its vulnerability to countermeasures, whereby participants wilfully modulate their physiological or neurophysiological response to critical guilt-determining stimuli. One reason for this vulnerability is that stimuli are usually presented slowly. This allows enough time to consciously apply countermeasures, once the role of stimuli is determined. However, by increasing presentation speed, stimuli can be placed on the fringe of awareness, rendering it hard to perceive those that have not been previously identified, hindering the possibility to employ countermeasures. We tested an identity deception detector by presenting first names in Rapid Serial Visual Presentation and instructing participants to lie about their own identity. We also instructed participants to apply a series of countermeasures. The method proved resilient, remaining effective at detecting deception under all countermeasures.

Subliminal salience search illustrated: EEG identity and deception detection on the fringe of awareness.

We propose a novel deception detection system based on Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). One motivation for the new method is to present stimuli on the fringe of awareness, such that it is more difficult for deceivers to confound the deception test using countermeasures. The proposed system is able to detect identity deception (by using the first names of participants) with a 100% hit rate (at an alpha level of 0.05). To achieve this, we extended the classic Event-Related Potential (ERP) techniques (such as peak-to-peak) by applying Randomisation, a form of Monte Carlo resampling, which we used to detect deception at an individual level. In order to make the deployment of the system simple and rapid, we utilised data from three electrodes only: Fz, Cz and Pz. We then combined data from the three electrodes using Fisher's method so that each participant was assigned a single p-value, which represents the combined probability that a specific participant was being deceptive. We also present subliminal salience search as a general method to determine what participants find salient by detecting breakthrough into conscious awareness using EEG.

Twice random, once mixed: applying mixed models to simultaneously analyze random effects of language and participants.

Psychologists, psycholinguists, and other researchers using language stimuli have been struggling for more than 30 years with the problem of how to analyze experimental data that contain two crossed random effects (items and participants). The classical analysis of variance does not apply; alternatives have been proposed but have failed to catch on, and a statistically unsatisfactory procedure of using two approximations (known as F(1) and F(2)) has become the standard. A simple and elegant solution using mixed model analysis has been available for 15 years, and recent improvements in statistical software have made mixed models analysis widely available. The aim of this article is to increase the use of mixed models by giving a concise practical introduction and by giving clear directions for undertaking the analysis in the most popular statistical packages. The article also introduces the DJMIXED: add-on package for SPSS, which makes entering the models and reporting their results as straightforward as possible.

Yellowing disease in zucchini squash produced by mixed infections of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus and Cucumber vein yellowing virus.

Zucchini squash is host to Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), a member of the genus Crinivirus, and Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), a member of the genus Ipomovirus, both transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Field observations suggest the appearance of new symptoms observed on leaves of zucchini squash crops when both viruses were present. When infected during controlled experiments with CYSDV only, zucchini plants showed no obvious symptoms and the virus titer decreased between 15 and 45 days postinoculation (dpi), after which it was no longer detected. CVYV caused inconspicuous symptoms restricted to vein clearing on some of the apical leaves and the virus accumulated progressively between 15 and 60 dpi. Similar accumulations of virus followed single inoculations with the potyvirus Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and plants showed severe stunting, leaf deformation, and mosaic yellowing. However, in mixed infections with CYSDV and CVYV, intermediate leaves showed chlorotic mottling which evolved later to rolling, brittleness, and complete yellowing of the leaf lamina, with exception of the veins. No consistent alteration of CVYV accumulation was detected but the amounts of CYSDV increased ≈100-fold and remained detectable at 60 dpi. Such synergistic effects on the titer of the crinivirus and symptom expression were not observed when co-infected with ZYMV.

Switching Modalities in A Sentence Verification Task: ERP Evidence for Embodied Language Processing.

In an event related potential (ERP) experiment using written language materials only, we investigated a potential modulation of the N400 by the modality switch effect. The modality switch effect occurs when a first sentence, describing a fact grounded in one modality, is followed by a second sentence describing a second fact grounded in a different modality. For example, "A cellar is dark" (visual), was preceded by either another visual property "Ham is pink" or by a tactile property "A mitten is soft." We also investigated whether the modality switch effect occurs for false sentences ("A cellar is light"). We found that, for true sentences, the ERP at the critical word "dark" elicited a significantly greater frontal, early N400-like effect (270-370 ms) when there was a modality mismatch than when there was a modality-match. This pattern was not found for the critical word "light" in false sentences. Results similar to the frontal negativity were obtained in a late time window (500-700 ms). The obtained ERP effect is similar to one previously obtained for pictures. We conclude that in this paradigm we obtained fast access to conceptual properties for modality-matched pairs, which leads to embodiment effects similar to those previously obtained with pictorial stimuli.

Perfectionism and coping with daily failures: positive reframing helps achieve satisfaction at the end of the day.

Differentiating perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns, the present study examined how perfectionism predicts what coping strategies people use, when dealing with failures, and how perfectionism and coping influence people's satisfaction. A sample of 149 students completed daily reports for 3-14 days, reporting the most bothersome failure they experienced during the day, what strategies they used to cope with the failure, and how satisfied they felt at the end of the day. Multilevel regression analyses showed that perfectionistic concerns predicted more frequent use of self-blame, less frequent use of active coping and acceptance, and higher satisfaction at the end of the day, whereas perfectionistic strivings predicted less frequent use of self-blame and higher satisfaction. Although positive reframing, acceptance, and humor predicted higher satisfaction for all students, further analyses showed that positive reframing coping was particularly helpful for students high in perfectionistic concern. The findings suggest that accommodative coping strategies are generally helpful in dealing with personal failures, with positive reframing being a coping strategy that works particularly well for people high in perfectionistic concerns (who are prone to dissatisfaction) to achieve higher satisfaction at the end of the day.

Triple pelvic osteotomy as treatment for osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Joint-preserving osteotomies are an established treatment for adult hip pain secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip. However, their value for advanced osteoarthritis is unclear. Therefore this study addresses the question of long-term results of triple pelvic osteotomy in patients with second grade osteoarthritis. Thirty-two patients with second grade osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip before triple pelvic osteotomy were clinically and radiographically assessed 11.5 years postoperatively. Five patients required conversion to total hip replacement. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis predicted a survival rate of 85.3%. The mean Harris hip score increased significantly with more than 56% good or very good results. A preoperative BMI > 25 and Harris hip score < 70 resulted in worse outcome or early conversion into total hip arthroplasty. The results indicate that developmental dysplasia of the hip even in second grade osteoarthritis can be treated with triple pelvic osteotomy.