'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' distribution and diversity in Scotland and the characterisation of novel haplotypes from Craspedolepta spp. (Psyllidae: Aphalaridae).

The phloem limited bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (Lso) is associated with disease in Solanaceous and Apiaceous crops. This bacterium has previously been found in the UK in Trioza anthrisci, but its impact on UK crops is unknown. Psyllid and Lso diversity and distribution among fields across the major carrot growing areas of Scotland were assessed using real-time PCR and DNA barcoding techniques.

Introducing a gender-neutral pronoun in a natural gender language: the influence of time on attitudes and behavior.

The implementation of gender fair language is often associated with negative reactions and hostile attacks on people who propose a change. This was also the case in Sweden in 2012 when a third gender-neutral pronoun hen was proposed as an addition to the already existing Swedish pronouns for she (hon) and he (han). The pronoun hen can be used both generically, when gender is unknown or irrelevant, and as a transgender pronoun for people who categorize themselves outside the gender dichotomy.

Group belongingness and collective action: Effects of need to belong and rejection sensitivity on willingness to participate in protest activities.

Engaging in political protests are becoming increasingly common, and considering the potential, individual, costs and the low probability of affecting the political outcome, it is necessary to understand the motivations behind such actions. The desire to be part of a social group is deeply rooted in human nature, and previous research proposes that the groups one belongs to may influence the decision to engage in protests. We build on this research and suggest that social exclusion, individual fear of exclusion and need to belong interact in explaining who is likely to become engaged.

Effects of parental relations and upbringing in troubled adolescent eating behaviors.

Family relations may constitute a risk for developing eating problems. Not enough is known about parent-child relationship quality and upbringing in food situations. Self-report data from 80 high school students (45 males) showed that females had more eating problems than males, and their problems were related both to insecure mother attachment, controlling for body/weight dissatisfaction, and to more memories of childhood food rules.

Post-decision consolidation in large group decision-making.

Decision-makers tend to change the psychological attractiveness of decision alternatives in favor of their own preferred alternative after the decision is made. In two experiments, the present research examined whether such decision consolidation occurs also among individual group members in a large group decision-making situation. High-school students were presented with a decision scenario on an important issue in their school.

Insecticidal activity of scorpion toxin (ButaIT) and snowdrop lectin (GNA) containing fusion proteins towards pest species of different orders.

Background: The toxicity of a fusion protein, ButalT/GNA, comprising a venom toxin (ButaIT) derived from the red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus (F.), and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), was evaluated under laboratory conditions against several pest insects. Insecticidal activity was compared with SFI1/GNA, a fusion comprising a venom toxin (SFI1) derived from the European spider Segestria florentina (Rossi) and GNA, which has been previously demonstrated to be effective against lepidopteran and hemipteran pests, and to GNA itself.

Characterisation of midgut digestive proteases from the maize stem borer Busseola fusca.

Background: Insect damage is a major constraint on maize production. Control of Busseola fusca (Fuller) in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively ineffective; the major larval digestive enzymes were characterised with a view to developing future control strategies.

Results: Using BODIPY-FL Casein, maximal activity was at pH 9.