Influences of Host Density, Temperature, and Parasite Age on the Reproductive Potential of \u3ci\u3eBathyplectes Curculionis\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), an Endoparasite of the Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Alfalfa weevil larvae were exposed to Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) to determine the effect of host density, temperature, and parasite age on the reproductive potential of curculionis. Percent parasitism was found to be inversely proportional to host density and most of the parasites distributed their eggs randomly regardless of host density. The number of eggs deposited was largely independent of temperature. Peak egg laying was reached in three days from which point the parasite\u27s capabilities diminished with increasing age. The longevity of ovipositing females was shorter than females that were not exposed to larvae

Influence of Acute Resistance Training on Memory, Executive Function, and Mood

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Could decision trees help improve Farm Service Agency lending decisions?

This study examines whether a statistically derived decision tree could serve as a means to improve U.S.A. Farm Service Agency lending decisions. The study is a substantial extension and reanalysis of an earlier work by Barney, Graves and Johnson, (1999). Results indicate that a decision tree could be a valuable tool for Farm Service Agency employees in their lending decisions. The decision tree provides as good or better predictive accuracy than neural networks and logistic regression models at reasonable cutoff levels of Type II to Type I costs of lending. The decision tree also meets the transparency criteria for Farm Service Agency purposes by providing logical, understandable rules for lending decisions

Clogging by sieving in microchannels: Application to the detection of contaminants in colloidal suspensions

We report on a microfluidic method that allows measurement of a small concentration of large contaminants in suspensions of solid micrometer-scale particles. To perform the measurement, we flow the colloidal suspension through a series of constrictions, i.e. a microchannel of varying cross-section. We show and quantify the role of large contaminants in the formation of clogs at a constriction and the growth of the resulting filter cake. By measuring the time interval between two clogging events in an array of parallel microchannels, we are able to estimate the concentration of contaminants whose size is selected by the geometry of the microfluidic device. This technique for characterizing colloidal suspensions offers a versatile and rapid tool to explore the role of contaminants on the properties of the suspensions

The TOTEM front end driver, its components and applications in the TOTEM experiment

The TOTEM Front End Driver, so-called TOTFED, receives and handles trigger building and tracking data from the TOTEM detectors, and interfaces to the global trigger and data acquisition systems. The TOTFED is based on the VME64x standard and has deliberately been kept modular. It is very flexible and programmable to deal with the different TOTEM sub-detectors and possible evolution of the data treatment and trigger algorithms over the duration of the experiment. The main objectives for each unit are to acquire ondetector data from up to 36 optical links, to perform fast data treatment (reduction, consistency checking, etc.), to transfer it to the next level of the system (via the Slink64 interface), and to store data on request for slow spy readout via VME64x or USB2.0. The TOTFED is fully compatible with CMS and permits TOTEM to run both standalone and together with CMS. The TOTEM Front End Driver, its components and applications in the TOTEM experiment are presented in this paper

Mutant glycyl-tRNA synthetase (Gars) ameliorates SOD1G93A motor neuron degeneration phenotype but has little affect on Loa dynein heavy chain mutant mice

Background: In humans, mutations in the enzyme glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) cause motor and sensory axon loss in the peripheral nervous system, and clinical phenotypes ranging from Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy to a severe infantile form of spinal muscular atrophy. GARS is ubiquitously expressed and may have functions in addition to its canonical role in protein synthesis through catalyzing the addition of glycine to cognate tRNAs. Methodology/Principal findings: We have recently described a new mouse model with a point mutation in the Gars gene resulting in a cysteine to arginine change at residue 201. Heterozygous Gars^{C201R/+} mice have locomotor and sensory deficits. In an investigation of genetic mutations that lead to death of motor and sensory neurons, we have crossed the Gars^{C201R/+} mice to two other mutants: the TgSOD1^{G93A} model of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the Legs at odd angles mouse (Dync1h1^{Loa}) which has a defect in the heavy chain of the dynein complex. We found the Dync1h1^{Loa/+}; Gars^{C201R/+} double heterozygous mice are more impaired than either parent, and this is may be an additive effect of both mutations. Surprisingly, the Gars^{C201R} mutation significantly delayed disease onset in the SOD1^{G93A}; Gars^{C201R/+} double heterozygous mutant mice and increased lifespan by 29% on the genetic background investigated. Conclusions/Significance: These findings raise intriguing possibilities for the study of pathogenetic mechanisms in all three mouse mutant strains

On the feasibility of N2 fixation via a single-site FeI/FeIV cycle: Spectroscopic studies of FeI(N2)FeI, FeIV=N, and related species

The electronic properties of an unusually redox-rich iron system, [PhBPR 3]FeNx (where [PhBPR 3] is [PhB(CH2PR2)3]−), are explored by Mössbauer, EPR, magnetization, and density-functional methods to gain a detailed picture regarding their oxidation states and electronic structures. The complexes of primary interest in this article are the two terminal iron(IV) nitride species, [PhBPiPr 3]FeN (3a) and [PhBPCH2Cy 3]FeN (3b), and the formally diiron(I) bridged-Fe(μ-N2)Fe species, {[PhBPiPr 3]Fe}2(μ-N2) (4). Complex 4 is chemically related to 3a via a spontaneous nitride coupling reaction. The diamagnetic iron(IV) nitrides 3a and 3b exhibit unique electronic environments that are reflected in their unusual Mössbauer parameters, including quadrupole-splitting values of 6.01(1) mm/s and isomer shift values of −0.34(1) mm/s. The data for 4 suggest that this complex can be described by a weak ferromagnetic interaction (J/D < 1) between two iron(I) centers. For comparison, four other relevant complexes also are characterized: a diamagnetic iron(IV) trihydride [PhBPiPr 3]Fe(H)3(PMe3) (5), an S = 3/2 iron(I) phosphine adduct [PhBPiPr 3]FePMe3 (6), and the S = 2 iron(II) precursors to 3a, [PhBPiPr 3]FeCl and [PhBPiPr 3]Fe-2,3:5,6-dibenzo-7-aza bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (dbabh). The electronic properties of these respective complexes also have been explored by density-functional methods to help corroborate our spectral assignments and to probe their electronic structures further

Research productivity of management faculty: job demands-resources approach

Purpose The main purpose of this study was to examine which job resources are most valuable for research productivity, depending on varying teaching demands. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 324 management faculty at research, balanced and teaching (i.e. respectively low-, moderate- and high-teaching demands) public universities in the United States. Findings Results showed that no single job resource predicted research productivity across all three types of schools. At research schools (i.e. low-teaching demands), productivity was positively associated with job resources including summer compensation, level of protection for untenured faculty and number of research assistant hours, while negatively associated with travel funding. At balanced schools (i.e. moderate-teaching demands), research output was positively associated with time allocated to research, grant money, travel funding and conference attendance, while negatively associated with amount of consulting hours. At teaching schools (i.e. high-teaching demands), the only significant resource was time allocated to research. Practical implications This paper can help management faculty and business school leaders understand what resources are most appropriate given the teaching demands associated with the specific institution, and by further helping these institutions attract and retain the best possible faculty. Originality/value This study extends prior work on academic research performance by identifying resources that can help faculty publish given different levels of teaching demands. This is important as teaching demands tend to be relatively stable within an institution, while they can vary greatly across types of institutions