Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Control

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Control Abstract Brown marmorated stink bug (Order Hemiptera: Family Pentatomidae) (BMSB) was  accidentally introduced into the eastern U.S. from Asia in the late 1990s. In 2001   it was officially identified in Pennsylvania, and has since spread along the eastern seaboard and  westward into the Great Lakes region. In 2002 it was found in Portland, Oregon, and has since spread to localized areas in Washington and California. It has not yet been found in Utah, but it is likely only a matter of time before it will occur in most states due to its rapid adaptation to a wide range of climates. Since 2004, BMSB has gained notoriety as a major nuisance due to large aggregations of the bugs invading buildings in the fall to overwinter, attracted to the protective warmth. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Biological control and insecticides are two primary control tactics under evaluation. Entomologists have explored its native range for natural enemies, and a few  are under further study for potential release in the U.S. Many of the synthetic pyrethroid-type insecticides are efficacious in rapid knockdown of adults and nymphs; however, this group of insecticides has a major negative side-effect of high toxicity to many beneficial insects,  mites, and spiders. Research to develop effective traps and lures is underway, with the release of a killing station pending (Alpha Scents Inc.) Life History In the temperate   regions of the U.S. there appears to be one to two generations per season. In the warmer areas of its native range there can be up to six generations per year.   Therefore, it is likely that two or more generations will occur in warmer areas of the U.S. as its range  expands. Adults have an extended egg-laying   period. Adults and nymphs have been observed in the field up through September. Host Plants BMSB has been found feeding on over 60 plant species. Crop plants which host BMSB include tree fruits and nuts such as peach, apricot, cherry, apple, pear, Asian pear,  filbert, and cane and vine fruits including berries and grape. The most preferred vegetable and field crops include pepper, tomato, green bean, soybean, field and sweet com.   BMSB also feeds on ornamental plants such as butterfly bush, some rose species, honeysuckle and catalpa. Management Research is underway to develop effective traps and lures for monitoring and an attract-and-kill management approach. A BMSB pheromone lure was recently  released by Alpha Scents Inc., and they are close to releasing a killing station design. To date, research has shown that tall, pyramid shaped, ground-level traps colored dark brown or black rather than yellow are more attractive to BMSB. In addition, researchers found that BMSB adults frequently escape from traps, so that placing a quick knockdown insecticide device in the trap such as vaportape or a 114 piece of cattle ear tag improved trap capture. Exclusion BMSB can squeeze into narrow cracks and crevices, so seal entry points into homes and other buildings with caulking. Place and repair screens on windows,   doors and vents; and remove or seal around window air conditioner units. Mechanically remove adults congregating on exterior surfaces or within buildings with a vacuum or broom. Insecticides Evaluation of insecticide effectiveness has shown that BMSB can be more difficult to kill than other stink bug species. Insecticides were most effective when BMSB  were directly contacted with the spray as compared to walking on dried residues on plant foliage  (Leskey 2010). While a number of insecticides initially disabled BMSB, the effect was temporary and a high percentage of the population recovered and returned to feeding. References Petrizzo, E. (2011)   Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Utah State University Cooperative Extension Brown  marmorated stink  bug Adult female Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum:  Ã‚   Arthropoda Class:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Insecta Order:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hemiptera Family: Pentatomidae Genus: Haly_omorl2._ha Species:  Ã‚   H.halys      

Monday, January 20, 2020

Feeding and Fishing: the Issue Facing the U.S. and the Global Community

Feeding and Fishing: the Issue Facing the U.S. and the Global Community â€Å"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for life.† When translated into agricultural terms, this Chinese proverb confronts the question facing the United States and the global community today. The United States has been providing food for the rest of the world for years. While this illustration of care is commendable, it also has a downside. In the future, and debatably in the present, it is not possible for the United States to continue providing for other countries. An increasing world population, a lack of methods for effectively sharing crop surpluses, and a decrease in the amount of food produced by agriculture has created a situation where it is impossible for the United States to feed the world; instead we must teach the world how to feed, or fish, for themselves. Egypt is a prime example of the U.S. feeding the world. Between 1979 and 1991, the U.S. provided Egypt with over three billion dollars in wheat and corn. According to W. Fornos, â€Å"every third loaf of bread baked in Egypt is made from wheat and corn ground in the United States† (Fornos). The U.S. is currently giving the world fish, but we cannot continue to do so. The first issue limiting the ability of the world to feed itself is the increasing world population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as cited by Agroecology Professor Dave Wilson, the world population was one billion in 1804. The world population doubled itself in 154 years and has since continued to double exponentially. In 1987, the world population was 5 billion, and in 13 years, the population doubled once again. Accompanying 1999 was a world population ... ...tion Development.† Irrigation and Drainage. Vol. 52. 2003. 31-38. McMullum, et al. â€Å"Application of Modern Biotechnology to Food and Agriculture; Food Systems Perspective.† Journal of Nutrition, Education, and Behavior. Vol. 35. 6. Nov/Dec. 2003. 319, 326-328. Academic Search Premier. â€Å"Population Growth and Food Needs.† Population Reports. 25. 4. 3. 1997. 24, Feb. 2005. Academic Search Premier. Pretty, Jules. â€Å"Agroecology in Developing Countries.† Environment. Vol. 45. Nov. 2003. Academic Search Premier. Serageldin, Ismali. â€Å"World Poverty and Hunger-the Challenge for Science.† Science. Vol. 296. 5565. 54. 17, Feb. 2005. Academic Search Elite. Wilson, Dave. â€Å"Homework Topic 6; Genetically Engineered Crops.† Class lecture. 25, Feb. 2005. Wilson, Dave. â€Å"Population Growth.† Class lecture. 7, Feb. 2005.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Alternatives to fossil fuels Essay

The conventional source of energy like coal, the petroleum, etc, will probably be exhausted up within a time that the humanity might foresee. In addition, according to Hordeski (2002), fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, coal must be discovered and extracted before they can be conducive to mankind. This is a costly and time-consuming job. Meanwhile, the quantity of these fuels is limited. Therefore, it is proved that the global resources consumption is undue. Their supply is virtually unlimited or they can be replaced as needed. Because of less pollution, recycling, larger power and higher efficiency, the nuclear power seems to be more than a good choice definitely. This essay will first outline the effects of the over-consumption of global natural resources, which followed by going to assess the viability of using nuclear power as a alternative in a long-term. Last but not least, the essay will point out that the measure should be first considered as a priority currently. Abundant clean energy is all that humankind expected in the modern time. As a new energy, nuclear power plays an important role in the current world. Kurdsunoaeglu (2000) points out that nuclear power plants generate electricity without release of chemicals which cause atmospheric pollution and global warming. However, using nuclear technology more effectively will probably help people avoid such danger and threat. Moreover, burning fossil fuels continually, which place carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, will cause changes in the climate that maybe catastrophic for human. Furthermore, the escalating price of fossil fuels will raise the price of everything else the location of the remaining reserves is the source of much of today’s international disorder (A white-hot elephant 2006). Therefore, exploring the nuclear power has become the urgent project to face for the aim of less pollution. Because the energy converted relatively balance, the nuclear energy can be recycled. Recycling the nuclear power will reduce harmful emissions. Furthermore, people could make use of good things of small quantities of emissions which so much as are just thrown away as waste. The president of Spain has agreed to a widely consultative process to find a solution to what to do with existing radioactive waste (Spain says â€Å"Adios† to nuclear powe:Fourth European country to begin phase out 2006). The effort would lead to a new energy system that will save more energy during transformation. Nuclear energy is obtained by nuclear fission and radioactive decay, both of which extract energy with a costless way, and also bring us an alternative choice of energy source without any pollution. On the other hand, the ways of recycling the nuclear power are comprehensive. Under the modern technology, industry, agriculture, environmental protection, health and medical community, scientific research are all dying for the technology of recycling nuclear power. At the present moment, the function this technology has drawn out its maximum utility in some fields. Compared with other alternatives, nuclear power can produce bigger energy. Studies show that the total annual solar energy input to the earth is more than 15,000 times as great as the earth current yearly use of fossil and nuclear fuels. The term photovoltaic comes from the Greek word for light, photos and voltaic which refers to the unit of electromotive force. The discovery of the photovoltaic effect goes back to the French physicist Becquerel, who conducted experiments with a wet cell battery and found that the battery voltage increased when its silver plates were exposed to sunlight (Hordeski, 2002). On the face of this fact, once completely put it into the use, nuclear power will display the energy with the amount that beyond imagination. According to Hordeski (2002), Nuclear power stations operate on the same principles as fossil fuel plants except the heat from the fossil fuel is replaced by a heat from a controlled nuclear reactor. This means if only the produce of energy conversion keep balance, nuclear power can keep a higher efficiency. Opportunities for nuclear power are distributed broadly around the world, and nuclear power can help to address concerns over sustainable energy resources (Advertising in Cooperation in the Energy Futures of China and the United States, 2000). Engineering a new energy system will provide stewardship for all life on earth. Renewable energy is effectively infinite in supply. Presently the cost of using nuclear power is very high. This is due to that using the nuclear power needs a very high scientific and technological content. The deficiency in this plan is very clear. The process of using nuclear power is very complicated. Energy is generally divided into two categories: stored and transient. The stored forms of energy are potential, kinetic, internal, chemical, and nuclear. Chemical and nuclear energy represent the energy bound up in the structure of the molecular and atomic compounds (Hordeski, 2002). In the long and complicated course of exploring and using this energy, the sufficient manpower, physical and financial resources are unprecedentedly needed. The risk still exists in using the nuclear power. Elliott (1997) stresses the longer term prospects for nuclear power are unclear. Fission reactors use a fuel (uranium), which although still relatively abundant, will not be available indefinitely; fast breeder reactors, which in effect would stretch the availability of the fuel, have yet to be operated commercially and pose what some people regards as significant safety and security risks. Finally, nuclear fusion remains a long-term possibility, but as we may predict that, even if the technology comes to be perfect, it also has problems. As discussed by (Cimbala, 2000) nuclear optimists assume that these states will reason as past nuclear powers have about the costs and risks of nuclear brinkmanship or war, the international society still have to appeal for an effective and peaceful way in using nuclear power resources in behalf of benefiting the humanity. The challenges of nuclear power are widely recognized to be in four aspects: cost, operational safety, the safe disposal of nuclear waste, and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons (Advertising in Cooperation in the Energy Futures of China and the United States, 2000). Focus on these four challenges, there are several available solutions to deal with. Firstly, the governments may use mass media as vehicles for propaganda to support the peaceful use of nuclear energy; enhance the use of nuclear energy security and persist the principle of use nuclear power. Bent, Orr and Baker (2002) claim that if national leaders explained the importance of developing a sustainable energy policy, and pushed hard for one, the people would follow their leadership. Most people are keenly aware of the urgent energy challenges and are prepared to make sacrifices to ensure that the world has an adequate, secure, sustainable, and affordable energy supply. Secondly, every country should be dedicated to produce a new energy system to develop the new technology and reduce the cost of nuclear power. A fully implementation of this system would stop the use of fossil fuels and launch an entirely new energy infrastructure. An economist, Joseph Schumpeter makes convincing arguments that new products and innovation are the driving force of an expanding economy (Robert, 1992). The universities which are equipped with high quality research offices should set the specialized field to appeal for more talents who design to be nuclear experts. The educational policy will advance the development of the top technology. The third point, increasing funds for scientific research to improve the use of nuclear power and technology is another important policy to support the reasonable use of nuclear power. Laurence (2002) maintains that ‘Homo Technologist must implement the energy system that utilizes no fossil fuels. An energy system based on renewable energy and fusion reactors has been proposed.’ Governments should establish special funds to support this scientific research. In addition, the public should be educated in how to use energy more effectively, because it is important to bear in mind that making the nuclear power become the focal point in the area of energy utilization in the future is an essential work for all the world. In conclusion, facing the environmental concerns and energy shortage, seeking available alternatives to replace the conventional energy sources becomes an urgent matter at the present time. There are several energy resources that are renewable. People have to find long-term alternatives to substitute fossil fuels to overcome the new energy challenges. Thus, nuclear power is going to become a new energy which has comparatively more powerful energy and higher efficiency. However, the use of nuclear power has some flaws. As mentioned in the former part, it always goes with the higher costs, potential risks and desires for highly advanced technology. Facing these problems, scientists are drawing some strong points to offset its own weakness, devoting themselves to developing the nuclear technology. Besides enhancing the use of nuclear energy security, the governments are also required to increase the funds to support the scientific research for making nuclear power more effective, safer and more economical to serve humanity.

Friday, January 3, 2020

How Significant Was The Economic Policy During The Russian...

HOW SIGNIFICANT WAS BOLSHEVIK ECONOMIC POLICY DURING THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR FOR THE SOVIET UNION? The Bolshevik Economic Policy during the Civil War was significant for the Soviet Union as it helped to win the war and was the first implementation of Communist ideology anywhere. In addition, it affected many people, led to the Tambov Revolt and the Kronstadt Mutiny and had long-term political consequences. The Bolsheviks’ aim was to dismantle the outdated structure of Tsarist regime and create a new economic system beneficial to all by introducing first Trotsky’s War Communism and subsequently the New Economic Policy [NEP]. As historians we measure significance by the consequences of an event. Therefore, this essay will argue that the Bolshevik Economic Policy’s main significance was that it represented a major turning point in the running of the country, that the introduction of War Communism led to success in the Civil War, and that its subsequent failure led to the NEP with its own consequences for the Soviet Union. War Communism, ‘the measures introduced to gear the economy for the war effort’ and the first part of the Bolshevik Economic Policy, represented a turning point for the Soviet Union because it helped the Red Army to win the Civil War; in addition it was the first implementation of Communism anywhere, therefore this was the most significant effect. To defeat the White Army Trotsky developed ways to keep his army well supplied and battle-ready. 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