Preeclampsia (PE) is now recognised as a cardiovascular risk factor for women. Emerging evidence suggests that children exposed to PE in utero may also be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life. Individuals exposed to PE in utero have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure and higher body mass index (BMI) compared to those not exposed to PE in utero. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential mechanisms driving the relationship between PE and offspring CVD. Exposure to an adverse intrauterine environment as a consequence of the pathophysiological changes that occur during a pregnancy complicated by PE is proposed as one mechanism that programs the fetus for future CVD risk. Consistent with this hypothesis, animal models of PE where progeny have been studied demonstrate causality for programming of offspring cardiovascular health by the preeclamptic environment. Shared alleles between mother and offspring, and shared lifestyle factors between mother and offspring provide alternate pathways explaining associations between PE and offspring CVD risk. In addition, adverse lifestyle habits can also act as second hits for those programmed for increased CVD risk. PE and CVD are both multifactorial diseases and, hence, identifying the relative contribution of PE to offspring risk for CVD is a very complex task. However, considering the emerging strong association between PE and CVD, those exposed to PE in utero may benefit from targeted primary CVD preventive strategies.

For 0 < a < 1, the Sibuya distribution sa is concentrated on the set ℕ+ of positive integers and is defined by the generating function $$\sum\nolimits_{n = 1}^\infty s_a (n)z^{{\kern 1pt} n} = 1 - (1 - z)^a$$. A distribution q on ℕ+ is called a progeny if there exists a branching process (Zn)n≥0 such that Z0 = 1, such that $$(Z_1 ) \le 1$$, and such that q is the distribution of $$\sum\nolimits_{n = 0}^\infty Z_n$$. this paper we prove that sa is a progeny if and only if $${\textstyle{1 \over 2}} \le a < 1$$. The main point is to find the values of b = 1/a such that the power series expansion of u(1 − (1 − u)b)−1 has nonnegative coefficients.

Introduction of the Roundup Ready® Xtend system (Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO) provides an alternative weed management option for growers, but of concern is the risk of dicamba injury to sensitive crops, particularly soybean from off-target movement and tank contamination. Experiments were conducted to determine the response of soybean to low rates of dicamba over a wide range of application timings. Two glufosinate-resistant varieties (HBK 4950LL–indeterminate and HALO 5.45LL–determinate) commonly grown in Arkansas were chosen for these studies. Two rates of dicamba, 2.18 and 8.75 g ae ha–1 (1/256× and 1/64× of the POST labeled rate for dicamba-resistant soybean), were applied at two vegetative (V4, V6) and six reproductive (R1 to R6) growth stages. Compared to the nontreated control, dicamba applied during late vegetative and early reproductive growth of soybean caused leaf injury, plant height reduction, and seed yield loss for both soybean cultivars. Averaged across dicamba rates applied at R1, soybean seed yield was reduced 14% for the HBK 4950LL cultivar and 19% for the HALO 5.45LL cultivar. Averaged over rates, dicamba applied at R1 to the HALO 5.45LL and HBK 4950LL soybean resulted in 48% and 43% visible injury 4 wk after treatment, respectively. Grain yield was similar to that of the nontreated control when dicamba was applied at the later reproductive stages averaged across rates.

To address recent concerns related to auxin herbicide drift onto soybean, a study was developed to understand the susceptibility of the reproductive stage of soybean to a new auxin herbicide compared with dicamba. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is under development as the second herbicide in a new structural class of synthetic auxins, the arylpicolinates. Field studies were conducted to (1) evaluate and compare reproductive soybean injury and yield following applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or dicamba across various concentrations and reproductive growth stages and (2) determine whether low-rate applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or dicamba to soybean in reproductive stages would have similar effect on the progeny of the affected plants. Soybean were treated with 0, 1/20, or 1/160, of the 1X rate of florpyrauxifen-benzyl (30 g ai ha−1) or dicamba (560 g ae ha−1) at R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 growth stage. Soybean plant height and yield was reduced from 1/20X dicamba across all reproductive stages. High drift rates (1/20X) of florpyrauxifen-benzyl also reduced soybean plant height >25% and yield across R1 to R4 stages. Germination, stand, plant height, and yield of the offspring of soybean plants treated with dicamba and florpyrauxifen-benzyl were significantly affected. Dicamba applied at a rate of 1/20X at R4 and R5 resulted in 20% and 35% yield reduction for the offspring, respectively. A similar reduction occurred from florpyrauxifen-benzyl applied at R4 and R5 at the 1/20X rate, resulting in 15% to 24% yield reduction for the offspring, respectively. Based on these findings, it is suggested that growers use caution when applying these herbicides in the vicinity of reproductive soybean.

Susceptibility studies keep farmers informed, and enhance breeding programmes' testing against infestation and damage by stored product pests. Therefore, the susceptibility of 20 elite maize varieties to Sitophilus zeamais infestation was investigated in the laboratory at 32.7 °C ambient temperature and 70.4% relative humidity. The varieties tested were obtained from the Maize Breeding Units of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), both in Ibadan, Nigeria. Susceptibility was assessed, using as indices, weevil mortality and survival rates, percentage grain damage, percentage grain weight loss, weight of grain powder, weevil development time, and number of emerged adults. The susceptibility index was determined post-infestation at 56 days using Dobie's formula and at 90 days from a new formula derived from Dobie's formula. Susceptible varieties produced significantly (P≤ 0.05) high numbers of F1 and F2 progeny, and had significantly (P≤ 0.05) low weevil mortality and early first weevil emergence. Grain damage and loss increased with storage duration. There was no visible damage to varieties 2000SYNEE-WSTR and TZBRELD3C5 at 56 days post-infestation. At 90 days, the two varieties had the lowest percentage grain damage, percentage weight loss, and weight of grain powder. The index of susceptibility at F2 progeny showed that the resistant varieties decreased in number from 17 (85%) to 13 (65%) and the moderately resistant varieties increased from 2 (10%) to 6 (30%). This suggests the effect of prolonged storage duration on the inherent ability of varieties to resist weevil attack. Variety PVASYN3F2 was susceptible. The factors conferring high resistance to 2000SYNEE-WSTR and TZBRELD3C5 should be investigated. They should be promoted to control S. zeamais infestation and damage in stored maize.

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory to screen the leaf extract of Dracaena arborea (Willd.) Link for the presence of chemical groups with insecticidal activity against Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). The plant materials were collected, dried, ground to fine powder and extracted with 90% ethanol. Phytochemical screening involved the use of thin layer chromatography analysis for chemical compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones, flavonoids and terpenes. Partitioning of the extract was carried out by dissolving the extract in water to obtain the aqueous phase, which was partitioned between equal volumes of chloroform, n-hexane, n-butanol and ethyl acetate. The different fractions were screened for insecticidal activity against S. zeamais and C. maculatus. Some fractions of the leaf extract such as ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions demonstrated 100% mortality, offered protection to grains, reduced progeny development and repelled the insects compared with the control. Based on the activity of some fractions, the leaf extract of D.arborea has the potential for development as a botanical insecticide against S. zeamais and C. maculatus.

Chick quality is dependent upon conditions in the laying house, egg handling systems, and the hatchery. If any of these areas are sub-optimal, chick quality, in addition to hatchability, may deteriorate. Alternative methods to improve chick quality are warranted, especially in chicks from young broiler breeder flocks. Moreover, antibiotic compounds that improve early growth and prevent bacterial infections in broilers are becoming increasingly less available to commercial poultry producers. This paper is concerned with breeder hen nutrition as a means to improve chick quality. Published reports concerned with hen nutritional deficiencies and sufficiencies on progeny performance, rather than toxicities, are primarily discussed. The areas of protein, energy, fat, mineral, and vitamin hen nutrition that impact progeny status are reviewed. Non-nutritional substances (i.e., toxins) that impact progeny when present in the hen's diet are reviewed. Specific ingredients and nutrients fed to hens that influence progeny growth, carcass attributes, enzyme functions, and immunity are discussed.

Progeny production and sex ratios of the parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its exotic congener Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) emerging from three species of field-collected stemborers were compared. There were no significant differences in numbers of progeny of the two parasitoids from the African stemborers, Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Cotesia flavipes produced more progeny than C. sesamiae on large larvae of its coevolved Asian host, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). No significant differences in the number of parasitoid progeny were observed for different-sized Ch. orichalcociliellus or S. calamistis larvae. These data suggest that under field conditions, Co. flavipes may be superior to Co. sesamiae as a parasitoid of its co-evolved host, Ch. partellus.

The juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) 6′, 7′,-epxy-3, 7′-dimethyl-undec-2′-enyl 6-ethyl-3-pyridyl ether at 10 ppm (v/v) applied to whole wheat grains was not toxic to adult insects, but effectively reduced the F1 generation of the lesser grain borer, Rhizopertha dominica (F.). However, topical applications of 4 ppm (v/v) of the JHA prevented normal metamorphosis of the larvae and pupae; all the test insects died due to morphogenetic abnormalities induced by treatment with the JHA.

Full-grown pupae Agrotis ipsilon were irradiated with 5 or 10 krad and crossed with unirradiated female. The F1 progeny were more sterile than parents. Percentage of mated female of F1 was greatly reduced while the mating frequency was increased. Less inseminated females were among the F1, particularly when the female inherited the sterility. The mortality among larvae of the F1 was high and dose-dependent, and that among F2 larvae was even higher. The sex ratio of the F1 progeny was altered in favour of male, while that of the F2 was normal. 10 krad for P1 male was sufficient to inhibit hatching of the eggs produced by F1 adults.

The pupal parasitoid Xanthopimpla stemmator Thunberg oviposits in the pupae of the spotted stalk borer (or sorghum stem borer) Chilo partellus (Swin). The adult parasitoid emerges from the pupal case, killing it in the process. Ten mated females of the parasitoid had an average longevity of 30 days (maximum 37 days and minimum 22 days). The number of progeny produced ranged from 71 to 115, with an average of 84.5. The male:female sex-ratio of their progeny averaged 1.14:1. The maximum mean progeny production per day (mx) was 1.9. The innate capacity for increase was 0.131 per female per day; and the population multiplied 43.43 times in the generation time of 28.78 days.