SPI Measurements of Galactic 26Al

The precision measurement of the 1809 keV gamma-ray line from Galactic $^{26}$Al is one of the goals of the SPI spectrometer on INTEGRAL with its Ge detector camera. We aim for determination of the detailed shape of this gamma-ray line, and its variation for different source regions along the plane of the Galaxy. Data from the first part of the core program observations of the first mission year have been inspected. A clear detection of the \Al line at about 5--7 $\sigma$ significance demonstrates that SPI will deepen \Al studies. The line intensity is consistent with expectations from previous experiments, and the line appears narrower than the 5.4 keV FWHM reported by GRIS, more consistent with RHESSI's recent value. Only preliminary statements can be made at this time, however, due to the multi-component background underlying the signal at \about 40 times higher intensity than the signal from Galactic $^{26}$Al.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication in A&A (special INTEGRAL volume

Comparison of permanent and temporary streams of calcareous Provence [Translation from: Annales de Limnologie 9(3) 273-292, 1973]

The rainfall regime and the karstic nature of the subsoil determines the alternation of a period of flow and a period of drought for a large number of Mediterranean streams. Amongst this type of stream it is possible to distinguish temporary streams, characterised by a period of flow for several months permitting the establishment of the principal groups of aquatic insects; and ephemeral streams whose very brief period of flow permits the establishment of a community reduced to a few species of Diptera. This paper aims to study the structure of the communities which colonise this particular type of stream and the ecology of the principal species which constitute these communities. Four French temporary streams were examined and temperature regimes, dissolved oxygen, calcium and magnesium measured. Samples of fauna were taken regularly and the biotic composition established. The analysis of similarities between the three permanent streams are discussed and compared with permanent streams

First Record of Cacopsylla pulchella (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) in Croatia

The aim of this study is to identify plant lice Cacopsylla pulchella a new alien insect in the fauna of Croatia. We propose a new method of infestation level assessment in order to assess the potential of this insect as a pest. In May 2020 samples were collected from eleven locations in Croatia, where Cercis siliquastrum is grown in parks. Adults and nymphs of C. pulchella were collected together with a plant material and brought to entomological laboratory for further analysis. Field research was performed in order to assess the distribution and infestation intensity across various localities in Croatia. The intensity of infestation was assessed heuristically by visual examination and was categorized in four categories: 0) no infestation, 1) low, 2) moderate and 3) high infestation. C. pulchella was confirmed on C. siliquastrum in eleven localities in Croatia. Most of the infested trees had a low or moderate intensity of infestation. Damages caused by this insect are due to the emission of honey dew, a small spherical drop covered with waxy secretion causing necrotic areas which could lead to the premature fall of the leaves. It is not known what kind of progress in infestation intensity could be expected so infested trees found in this study should be checked closely in the coming years. It is strongly suggested to continue the monitoring of this alien insect on C. siliquastrum in Croatia and to estimate its potential of become an invasive pest which could endanger ornamental and other values of its hosts

The effect of yttrium ion implantation on the sulphidation of incoloy 800H

Previous work has shown the beneficial effect of yttrium implantation on the oxidation behaviour of chromium oxide forming alloys. Because of the limited applicability of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys in sulphur containing gases the effect of yttrium implantation on the sulphidation of Incoloy 800H was studied. In short time tests a significant improvement was observed upon implantation of about 1016 yttrium ions/cm2 if an oxidizing treatment was applied before exposition to the sulphiding environment. The explanation of this effect is probably similar to that proposed in the literature for the improved oxidation resistance

Weighting must wait: incorporating equity concerns into cost effectiveness analysis may take longer than expected

Current practice in economic evaluation is to assign equal social value to a unit of health improvement (“a QALY is a QALY is a QALY”). Alternative views of equity are typically considered separately to efficiency. One proposal seeks to integrate these two sets of societal concerns by attaching equity weights to QALYs. To date, research in pursuit of this goal has focussed on candidate equity criteria and methods for estimating such weights. It has implicitly been assumed that should legitimate, valid, and reliable equity weights become available, it would be a straightforward task to incorporate them into as a separate simple calculation after estimating cost per unweighted QALY. This paper suggests that in many situations these simple approaches to incorporating equity weights will not appropriately reflect the preferences on which the weights are based and therefore equity weights must be incorporated directly into the cost effectiveness analysis. In addition to these technical issues, there are a number of practical challenges that arise from the movement from implicit to explicit consideration of equity. Equity weights should be incorporated in economic evaluation, but not until these challenges have been appropriately addressed

New observations with the gamma ray imager SIGMA

Results from the use of the gamma ray telescope SIGMA are given. An identification and an extensive study was done of sources contributing to the emission of the Galactic center region above 30 keV. A strong line was observed at 480 keV from Nova Muscae, which may be interpreted as an annihilation line with a redshift due to the presence of a compact object. The soft x-ray tails observed by SIGMA in some transient sources already identified as soft x-ray transients might be a common characteristic of these objects and has to be explained. The unusual spectrum of NGC4151 with a break around 50 keV can characterize a particular state of this kind of object. If it is the case, it has interesting implications for the origin of the Cosmic Diffuse Background