FlyBoss: a web-based flystrike information and decision support system

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Horton ◽  
L. Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Control And Prevention

The FlyBoss system consists of comprehensive information on flystrike management and control, programs for assisting decision making, and sortable lists of products for preventing and treating flystrike. Readily accessible, up-to-date, best-practice information on flystrike is essential for effective, humane and economic management of flystrike by Australian wool producers, particularly those who are phasing out mulesing and those looking to adopt optimal insecticidal fly-control strategies. FlyBoss provides information on breeding and management to reduce flystrike susceptibility, effective methods of treating existing flystrike and flystrike prevention programs. The FlyBoss decision aids, which are based on simulation models and incorporate local weather data and sheep susceptibility factors, can assist sheep farmers who wish to optimise sheep management, chemical treatment and non-chemical options to minimise the risk of flystrike. FlyBoss also contains comprehensive information on fly biology, sheep and environmental factors associated with flystrike and information on appropriate chemicals for various situations. FlyBoss draws on expertise from organisations throughout Australia to provide the sheep industry with easily accessible, current and locally targeted information on flystrike management. The present report briefly describes the development of FlyBoss and associated workshops and provides an overview of current recommendations for the control and prevention of flystrike.

scholarly journals Combining live and lethal trapping to inform the management of alien invasive rodent populations in a tropical montane forest

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 101-125
Author(s):  
Quiterie Duron ◽  
Thomas Cornulier ◽  
Eric Vidal ◽  
Edouard Bourguet ◽  
Lise Ruffino
Keyword(s):  
New Caledonia ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Flexible Tool ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Scenario Modelling ◽  
Rodent Populations

On large inhabited islands where complete eradication of alien invasive rodents through the use of poison delivery is often not practical or acceptable, mechanical trapping may represent the only viable option to reduce their impact in areas of high biodiversity value. However, the feasibility of sustained rodent control by trapping remains uncertain under realistic operational constraints. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-toxic rat control strategies through a combination of lethal and live-trapping experiments, and scenario modelling, using the example of a remote montane rainforest of New Caledonia. Rat densities, estimated with spatially-explicit capture-recapture models, fluctuated seasonally (9.5–33.6 ind.ha-1). Capture probability (.01–.25) and home range sizes (HR95, .23–.75 ha) varied greatly according to trapping session, age class, sex and species. Controlling rats through the use of lethal trapping allowed maintaining rat densities at ca. 8 ind.ha-1 over a seven-month period in a 5.5-ha montane forest. Simulation models based on field parameter estimates over a 200-ha pilot management area indicated that without any financial and social constraints, trapping grids with the finest mesh sizes achieved cumulative capture probabilities > .90 after 15 trapping days, but were difficult to implement and sustain with the local workforce. We evaluated the costs and effectiveness of alternative trapping strategies taking into account the prevailing set of local constraints, and identified those that were likely to be successful. Scenario modelling, informed by trapping experiments, is a flexible tool for informing the design of sustainable control programs of island-invasive rodent populations, under idiosyncratic local circumstances.

scholarly journals Mosquito Control Priorities in Florida—Survey Results from Florida Mosquito Control Districts

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 947
Author(s):  
Rishi Kondapaneni ◽  
Ashley N. Malcolm ◽  
Brian M. Vazquez ◽  
Eric Zeng ◽  
Tse-Yu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Common Control ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Research Questions

Florida lies within a subtropical region where the climate allows diverse mosquito species including invasive species to thrive year-round. As of 2021, there are currently 66 state-approved Florida Mosquito Control Districts, which are major stakeholders for Florida public universities engaged in mosquito research. Florida is one of the few states with extensive organized mosquito control programs. The Florida State Government and Florida Mosquito Control Districts have long histories of collaboration with research institutions. During fall 2020, we carried out a survey to collect baseline data on the current control priorities from Florida Mosquito Control Districts relating to (1) priority control species, (2) common adult and larval control methods, and (3) major research questions to address that will improve their control and surveillance programs. The survey data showed that a total of 17 distinct mosquito species were considered to be priority control targets, with many of these species being understudied. The most common control approaches included truck-mounted ultra-low-volume adulticiding and biopesticide-based larviciding. The districts held interest in diverse research questions, with many prioritizing studies on basic science questions to help develop evidence-based control strategies. Our data highlight the fact that mosquito control approaches and priorities differ greatly between districts and provide an important point of comparison for other regions investing in mosquito control, particularly those with similar ecological settings, and great diversity of potential mosquito vectors, such as in Florida. Our findings highlight a need for greater alignment of research priorities between mosquito control and mosquito research. In particular, we note a need to prioritize filling knowledge gaps relating to understudied mosquito species that have been implicated in arbovirus transmission.

scholarly journals A New Variant among Newcastle Disease Viruses Isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018 and 2019

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Augustin T. Twabela ◽  
Lam Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Justin Masumu ◽  
Patrick Mpoyo ◽  
Serge Mpiana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Newcastle Disease ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Current Vaccine ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly transmissible and devastating disease that affects poultry and wild birds worldwide. Comprehensive knowledge regarding the characteristics and epidemiological factors of the ND virus (NDV) is critical for the control and prevention of ND. Effective vaccinations can prevent and control the spread of the NDV in poultry populations. For decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported the impacts of ND on commercial and traditional poultry farming systems. The reports were preliminary clinical observations, and few cases were confirmed in the laboratory. However, data on the phylogenetic, genetic, and virological characteristics of NDVs circulating in the DRC are not available. In this study, the whole-genome sequences of three NDV isolates obtained using the next-generation sequencing method revealed two isolates that were a new variant of NDV, and one isolate that was clustered in the subgenotype VII.2. All DRC isolates were velogenic and were antigenically closely related to the vaccine strains. Our findings reveal that despite the circulation of the new variant, ND can be controlled in the DRC using the current vaccine. However, epidemiological studies should be conducted to elucidate the endemicity of the disease so that better control strategies can be implemented.

Meningococcal Disease Prevention and Control Strategies for Practice-based Physicians

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Control And Prevention

Localized outbreaks of meningococcal disease in the United States and Canada continue to cause serious alarm within communities as a result of the fulminating pattern of the disease, high mortality rate, and high incidence among adolescents. The increasing number of outbreaks since 1991 has raised questions about the management and prevention of further cases during an outbreak. The purpose of this statement is to guide primary-care physicians in their role in infection control and prevention of both sporadic cases and outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease. This statement provides information on the epidemiology of meningococcal disease, including definitions of sporadic, secondary, and coprimary cases, clusters of cases, and outbreaks. Data are presented on identification of cases, disease risk of contacts, and agents for chemoprophylaxis, and recommendations are given for: (1) risk assessment of contacts, (2) administration of chemoprophylaxis, (3) appropriate use of meningococcal vaccine, (4) appropriate use of the microbiology laboratory, (5) the necessity for timely and appropriate reporting of invasive meningococcal disease to local public health authorities, and (6) information on counseling and public education that may be helpful during an outbreak to minimize public anxiety. An additional section, "Information for Sharing," which uses a question-and-answer format and which may be helpful to parents and community and health care workers during an outbreak, is also provided.

scholarly journals Using Simulation and Budget Models to Scale-Up Nitrogen Leaching from Field to Region in Canada

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.C. Huffman ◽  
J.Y. Yang ◽  
S. Gameda ◽  
R. de Jong
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Biophysical Modeling ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Policy Model ◽  
Field Level ◽  
Time Of Year

Efforts are underway at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to develop an integrated, nationally applicable, socioeconomic/biophysical modeling capability in order to predict the environmental impacts of policy and program scenarios. This paper outlines our Decision Support System (DSS), which integrates the IROWCN (Indicator of the Risk of Water Contamination by Nitrogen) index with the agricultural policy model CRAM (Canadian Regional Agricultural Model) and presents an outline of our methodology to provide independent assessments of the IROWCN results through the use of nitrogen (N) simulation models in select, data-rich areas. Three field-level models — DSSAT, N_ABLE, and EPIC — were evaluated using local measured data. The results show that all three dynamic models can be used to simulate biomass, grain yield, and soil N dynamics at the field level; but the accuracy of the models differ, suggesting that models need to be calibrated using local measured data before they are used in Canada. Further simulation of IROWCN in a maize field using N_ABLE showed that soil-mineral N levels are highly affected by the amount of fertilizer N applied and the time of year, meaning that fertilizer and manure N applications and weather data are crucial for improving IROWCN. Methods of scaling-up simulated IROWCN from field-level to soil-landscape polygons and CRAM regions are discussed.

scholarly journals Discovery of Novel Entomopathogenic Fungi for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Accoti ◽  
Cecilia Springer Engdahl ◽  
George Dimopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance

The increased application of chemical control programs has led to the emergence and spread of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Novel environmentally safe control strategies are currently needed for the control of disease vectors. The use of entomopathogenic fungi could be a suitable alternative to chemical insecticides. Currently, Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp. are the most widely used entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito control, but increasing the arsenal with additional fungi is necessary to mitigate the emergence of resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi are distributed in a wide range of habitats. We have performed a comprehensive screen for candidate mosquitocidal fungi from diverse outdoor environments in Maryland and Puerto Rico. An initial screening of 22 fungi involving exposure of adult Anopheles gambiae to 2-weeks-old fungal cultures identified five potent pathogenic fungi, one of which is unidentified and the remaining four belonging to the three genera Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and Mucor sp. These fungi were then screened against Aedes aegypti, revealing Isaria sp. as a potent mosquito killer. The entomopathogenic effects were confirmed through spore-dipping assays. We also probed further into the killing mechanisms of these fungi and investigated whether the mosquitocidal activities were the result of potential toxic fungus-produced metabolites. Preliminary assays involving the exposure of mosquitoes to sterile filtered fungal liquid cultures showed that Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and the unidentified isolate 1 were the strongest producers of factors showing lethality against An. gambiae. We have identified five fungi that was pathogenic for An. gambiae and one for Ae. aegypti, among these fungi, four of them (two strains of Galactomyces sp., Mucor sp., and the unidentified isolate 1) have never previously been described as lethal to insects. Further characterization of these entomopathogenic fungi and their metabolites needs to be done to confirm their potential use in biologic control against mosquitoes.

Multi-Scale, Multi-Dimensional Modelling of Future Energy Systems

2015 ◽  
pp. 113-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalina Spataru ◽  
Andreas Koch ◽  
Pierrick Bouffaron
Keyword(s):  
Material Science ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Energy System ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Urban Energy ◽  
Power System Engineering

This chapter provides a discussion of current multi-scale energy systems expressed by a multitude of data and simulation models, and how these modelling approaches can be (re)designed or combined to improve the representation of such system. It aims to address the knowledge gap in energy system modelling in order to better understand its existing and future challenges. The frontiers between operational algorithms embedded in hardware and modelling control strategies are becoming fuzzier: therefore the paradigm of modelling intelligent urban energy systems for the future has to be constantly evolving. The chapter concludes on the need to build a holistic, multi-dimensional and multi-scale framework in order to address tomorrow's urban energy challenges. Advances in multi-scale methods applied to material science, chemistry, fluid dynamics, and biology have not been transferred to the full extend to power system engineering. New tools are therefore necessary to describe dynamics of coupled energy systems with optimal control.

The environmental, economic and societal consequences of inadequate nitrogen pollution controls

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
C.W. Randall
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Full Cost ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Nutrient Control ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Small Increments ◽  
Adequate Nutrient ◽  
Do So

Because adequate nutrient controls were not established in the USA and other countries when there were past opportunities to do so, nutrient pollution of estuaries and coastal waters has resulted in the impairment of ecosystems and major reductions or collapse of fisheries at numerous sites around the world, resulting in major economic and societal impacts. The root problem is that political policies and processes have permitted municipalities, developers, industries and farmers to expand and operate without paying the full cost of their activities. Their expanded activities have occurred at the expense and displacement of those who rely on the productivity and recreational value of our estuarine and coastal waters. Some governments have developed remedial nutrient control programs, but most of them have been poorly conceived, under funded and inadequately enforced, resulting in small increments of progress that tend to be lost because of inadequate land use and immigration controls. It is proposed that establishment of comprehensive nutrient controls is needed throughout the world to preserve and protect estuarine and coastal waters, and to protect or re-establish fisheries, for both economic and societal stability. Nitrogen is the key nutrient for the establishment of control strategies. It is recommended that nutrient recovery from wastewaters and controlled reuse of both water and nutrients be widely implemented as a part of nutrient control strategies.

scholarly journals Assessing Insecticide Resistance in Adult Mosquitoes: Perspectives on Current Methods

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863022095279
Author(s):  
Stephanie L Richards ◽  
Brian D Byrd ◽  
Michael H Reiskind ◽  
Avian V White
Keyword(s):  
Insecticide Resistance ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Level Training

Mosquito insecticide resistance (IR) is a growing global issue that must be addressed to protect public health. Vector control programs (VCPs) should regularly monitor local mosquito populations for IR and plan control measures accordingly. In some cases, state/federal resources financially support this testing with expertise and/or training programs. Standardization of methods (eg, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bottle bioassay, World Health Organization tube testing, dose-mortality bioassay) for monitoring IR must be prioritized. One solution is regional hubs of IR monitoring at the state or other level. Training programs on methodology and interpretation of results should be developed and routinely offered to local VCPs conducting IR testing in mosquitoes. Here, current methods for assessing mosquito IR are discussed and insights into a variety of questions from VCPs are considered. It is critical that methods for IR monitoring and data interpretation are standardized through routine training, with the goal of evidence-driven decision making to improve control of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease.

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