Preliminary evidence that the long-proboscid fly, Philoliche gulosa, pollinates Disa karooica and its proposed Batesian model Pelargonium stipulaceum

AbstractLong-proboscid flies have been documented as the primary pollinators in several long-tubed floral guilds in southern Africa. These specialized pollination systems have become models for studying floral mimicry, adaptation, and coevolution. In this study we document a previously unknown pollinator of Pelargonium stipulaceum (L.f.) Willd. (Geraniaceae) and Disa karooica Johnson & Linder, a species within the Disa draconis complex (Orchidaceae), and propose the occurrence of a new floral model-mimic system in the semiarid interior of South Africa. We find that Philoliche gulosa Wiedemann (Tabanidae) is a pollinator of the putative floral model, Pelargonium stipulaceum and its floral mimic, Disa karooica. We document similarities in floral spur/tube length, spectral reflectance, absence of scent, presence of nectar guides, and overlapping phenology and distribution in these two sympatric plant species. We use colour spectrum analyses to test the idea that divergence in flower colour in the D. draconis complex is driven by adaptation to model Pelargonium species of different colours

Velocity-space sensitivity of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer at JET

The velocity-space sensitivities of fast-ion diagnostics are often described by so-called weight functions. Recently, we formulated weight functions showing the velocity-space sensitivity of the often dominant beam-target part of neutron energy spectra. These weight functions for neutron emission spectrometry (NES) are independent of the particular NES diagnostic. Here we apply these NES weight functions to the time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR at JET. By taking the instrumental response function of TOFOR into account, we calculate time-of-flight NES weight functions that enable us to directly determine the velocity-space sensitivity of a given part of a measured time-of-flight spectrum from TOFOR

Relationship of edge localized mode burst times with divertor flux loop signal phase in JET

A phase relationship is identified between sequential edge localized modes (ELMs) occurrence times in a set of H-mode tokamak plasmas to the voltage measured in full flux azimuthal loops in the divertor region. We focus on plasmas in the Joint European Torus where a steady H-mode is sustained over several seconds, during which ELMs are observed in the Be II emission at the divertor. The ELMs analysed arise from intrinsic ELMing, in that there is no deliberate intent to control the ELMing process by external means. We use ELM timings derived from the Be II signal to perform direct time domain analysis of the full flux loop VLD2 and VLD3 signals, which provide a high cadence global measurement proportional to the voltage induced by changes in poloidal magnetic flux. Specifically, we examine how the time interval between pairs of successive ELMs is linked to the time-evolving phase of the full flux loop signals. Each ELM produces a clear early pulse in the full flux loop signals, whose peak time is used to condition our analysis. The arrival time of the following ELM, relative to this pulse, is found to fall into one of two categories: (i) prompt ELMs, which are directly paced by the initial response seen in the flux loop signals; and (ii) all other ELMs, which occur after the initial response of the full flux loop signals has decayed in amplitude. The times at which ELMs in category (ii) occur, relative to the first ELM of the pair, are clustered at times when the instantaneous phase of the full flux loop signal is close to its value at the time of the first ELM

Preliminary evidence that the long-proboscid fly, Philoliche gulosa, pollinates Disa karooica and its proposed Batesian model Pelargonium stipulaceum

Long-proboscid flies have been documented as the primary pollinators in several long-tubed floral guilds in southern Africa. These specialized pollination systems have become models for studying floral mimicry, adaptation, and coevolution. In this study we document a previously unknown pollinator of Pelargonium stipulaceum (L.f.) Willd. (Geraniaceae) and Disa karooica Johnson & Linder, a species within the Disa draconis complex (Orchidaceae), and propose the occurrence of a new floral model-mimic system in the semiarid interior of South Africa. We find that Philoliche gulosa Wiedemann (Tabanidae) is a pollinator of the putative floral model, Pelargonium stipulaceum and its floral mimic, Disa karooica. We document similarities in floral spur/tube length, spectral reflectance, absence of scent, presence of nectar guides, and overlapping phenology and distribution in these two sympatric plant species. We use colour spectrum analyses to test the idea that divergence in flower colour in the D. draconis complex is driven by adaptation to model Pelargonium species of different colours. © 2009 SAAB.Articl

Application of atomic vapor laser isotope separation to the enrichment of mercury

Workers at GTE/Sylvania have shown that the efficiency of fluorescent lighting may be markedly improved using mercury that has been enriched in the /sup 196/Hg isotope. A 5% improvement in the efficiency of fluorescent lighting in the United States could provide a savings of approx. 1 billion dollars in the corresponding reduction of electrical power consumption. We will discuss the results of recent work done at our laboratory to develop a process for enriching mercury. The discussion will center around the results of spectroscopic measurements of excited state lifetimes, photoionization cross sections and isotope shifts. In addition, we will discuss the mercury separator and supporting laser mesurements of the flow properties of mercury vapor. We will describe the laser system which will provide the photoionization and finally discuss the economic details of producing enriched mercury at a cost that would be attractive to the lighting industry

A comprehensive prospective comparison of acute skin toxicity after hypofractionated and normofractionated radiation therapy in breast cancer.

The current study aims to determine whether hypofractionated radiotherapy (HF) leads to lower rates of acute radiodermatitis compared to conventional normofractionated radiotherapy (CF). A total of 166 patients with invasive breast cancer or DCIS were included in a prospective cohort study. Evaluation of acute radiodermatitis was obtained before radiotherapy, at the end of the treatment (T1), and 6 weeks after the treatment (T2) using CTCAE (v5.0) scores, the Skindex-16 questionnaire, and ultrasound measurement of the skin. CTCAE and Skindex-16 scores in the CF-group were significantly higher compared to the HF group indicating more pronounced side effects at the end of the treatment (CTCAE: CF-RT 1.0 (IQR: 0.0) vs. HF-RT 0.0 (0.25); p = 0.03; Skindex-16: CF: 20.8 (IQR: 25.8); HF: 8.3 (27.1); p = 0.04). At 6 weeks after the treatment, no significant differences between the two fractionation schemes were observed. Ultrasound based assessment showed that the skin thickness in the treated breast was higher compared to the healthy breast at all time-points. However, no significant difference between HF and CF was seen either at T1 or T2. The current study complements and confirms pre-existing evidence that HF leads to a lower degree of acute radiodermatitis and better patient reported outcome compared to CF at the end of treatment. This should be considered whenever fractionation of adjuvant breast cancer treatment is being dis-cussed

Late diagnosis of HIV : An updated consensus definition

International audienceIntroduction: In recent years, HIV testing frequency has increased, resulting in more people being diagnosed during seroconversion with a temporarily low CD4 count. Using the current consensus definition of late HIV presentation ('presenting for care with a CD4 count < 350 cells/μL or an AIDS-defining event, regardless of CD4 count') these individuals would be incorrectly assigned as being diagnosed late.Methods: In spring 2022, a European expert group convened to revise the current late HIV presentation consensus definition. A survey on data availability to apply this revised definition was sent to nominated European focal points responsible for HIV surveillance (n = 53).Results: Experts agreed that the updated definition should refer to late HIV diagnosis rather than presentation and include the following addition: People with evidence of recent infection should be reclassified as 'not late', with evidence of recent infection considered hierarchically. The individual must have: (i) laboratory evidence of recent infection; (ii) a last negative HIV test within 12 months of diagnosis; or (iii) clinical evidence of acute infection. People with evidence of being previously diagnosed abroad should be excluded. A total of 18 countries responded to the survey; 83% reported capturing CD4 count and/or AIDS at diagnosis through national surveillance, 67% captured last negative test and/or previous HIV diagnosis, 61% captured seroconversion illness at diagnosis and 28% captured incident antibody results.Conclusions: Accurate data on late diagnosis are important to describe the effects of testing programmes. Reclassification of individuals with recent infection will help to better identify populations most at risk of poor HIV outcomes and areas for intervention