\u3ci\u3eMicroctonus Pachylobii\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): New Host Record From \u3ci\u3eHylobius Radicis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Additional Notes on Its Biology

The endoparasite Microctonus pachylobii was discovered parasitizing a new weevil host, Hylobius radicis. Thirteen of the 154 H. radicis adults collected were parasitized (8.5%). The median numbers of parasites per weevil were 26 (x =22.5) during the period April through June, and 4 (x =9.4) during August and September. The median male:female sex ratio was 0.91 (x =0.65). Males emerged approximately 1 day earlier than females. Median parasite mortality while in the cocoon was 10.2% per parasitized weevil (x = 11.8%). Microctonus pachylobii was not found parasitizing two previously recorded weevil hosts from field samples, Hylobius rhizophagus and H. pales, and a laboratory study suggests that the parasite may have difficulty parasitizing the latter species

\u3ci\u3eDendroctonus Valens\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eHylastes Porculus\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Scolytidae): Vectors of Pathogenic Fungi (Ophiostomatales) Associated With Red Pine Decline Disease.

A study was conducted to determine whether Dendroctonus valens and Hylastes porculus could vector their commonly associated fungi to red pine. Field collected adult D. valens transmitted Leptographium terebrantis, Leptographium procerum and Ophiostoma ips into 45%, 30%, and 5%, respectively of the wounded red pine roots onto which they were caged. Field collected H. porculus transmitted L. terebrantis, L. procerum and O. ips into 55%, 40%, and 5%, respectively, of the wounded red pine roots onto which beetles were caged. None of the control roots, which were mechanically wounded only, were found to contain O. ips, whereas only one control root contained L. terebrantis and only one control root contained L. procerum. This work demonstrates that D. valens and H. porculus can vector their associated Leptographium fungi to red pine trees and that these organisms are likely involved in red pine decline disease

Novel achromatic single reflection quarter-wave retarder: design and measurement

In this work, we present an achromatic quarter-wave retarder whose design is based upon the reflection properties of an isotropic-anisotropic interface. In theory, it is possible to obtain a π/2 phase shift by means of a total internal reflection at an isotropic-isotropic interface. However, in order to achieve such a phase shift, it is necessary to use a medium with a particularly high refractive index. We have previously shown that these phase shifts can be achieved by means of a total internal reflection in an isotropic-uniaxial interface, which allows the use of smaller refractive index media. By means of this property, we designed, built, and characterized a novel quarter-wave retarder that makes it possible to obtain circularly polarized light from a linear polarization state. We developed some guidelines that allowed us to obtain a device of competitive performance, low cost, and manageable manufacture.Fil: Veiras, Francisco Ezequiel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Raffa, G.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Caré, D.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Liliana Ines. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garea, María Teresa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física; Argentin

Tree defence and bark beetles in a drying world: carbon partitioning, functioning and modelling.

Drought has promoted large-scale, insect-induced tree mortality in recent years, with severe consequences for ecosystem function, atmospheric processes, sustainable resources and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological linkages among drought, tree defences, and insect outbreaks are still uncertain, hindering our ability to accurately predict tree mortality under on-going climate change. Here we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for addressing these crucial knowledge gaps. Our framework includes field manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modelling of insect and vegetation dynamics, and focuses on how drought affects interactions between conifer trees and bark beetles. We build upon existing theory and examine several key assumptions: (1) there is a trade-off in tree carbon investment between primary and secondary metabolites (e.g. growth vs defence); (2) secondary metabolites are one of the main component of tree defence against bark beetles and associated microbes; and (3) implementing conifer-bark beetle interactions in current models improves predictions of forest disturbance in a changing climate. Our framework provides guidance for addressing a major shortcoming in current implementations of large-scale vegetation models, the under-representation of insect-induced tree mortality

Effects of Feeding by Two Folivorous Arthropods on Susceptibility of Hybrid Poplar Clones to a Foliar Pathogen

We investigated variation in folivore-induced effects on subsequent plant suitability to a foliar pathogen. We used a leaf disk assay to expose three clones of hybrid poplar, NC11382, NE332 and NM6, to colonization by a leaf spot pathogen, Septoria musiva. Undamaged leaf disks of NE332 were the most resistant to S. musiva, followed by NM6 and NC11382, respectively. To test the effects of prior herbivory on subsequent susceptibility to this fungal pathogen, we inoculated S. musiva on leaf disks taken from leaves which had been exposed to feeding by Tetranychus mites or cottonwood leaf beetles. Prior activity by mites and cottonwood leaf beetle affected the subsequent susceptibility of clones NC 11382 and NE332 to S. musiva

WDR79/TCAB1 plays a conserved role in the control of locomotion and ameliorates phenotypic defects in SMA models

SMN (Survival Motor Neuron) deficiency is the predominant cause of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a severe neurodegenerative disorder that can lead to progressive paralysis and death. Although SMN is required in every cell for proper RNA metabolism, the reason why its loss is especially critical in the motor system is still unclear. SMA genetic models have been employed to identify several modifiers that can ameliorate the deficits induced by SMN depletion. Here we focus on WDR79/TCAB1, a protein important for the biogenesis of several RNA species that has been shown to physically interact with SMN in human cells. We show that WDR79 depletion results in locomotion defects in both Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans similar to those elicited by SMN depletion. Consistent with this observation, we find that SMN overexpression rescues the WDR79 loss-of-function phenotype in flies. Most importantly, we also found that WDR79 overexpression ameliorates the locomotion defects induced by SMN depletion in both flies and worms. Our results collectively suggest that WDR79 and SMN play evolutionarily conserved cooperative functions in the nervous system and suggest that WDR79/TCAB1 may have the potential to modify SMA pathogenesis

Separation of quadrupolar and magnetic contributions to spin-lattice relaxation in the case of a single isotope

We present a NMR pulse double-irradiation method which allows one to separate magnetic from quadrupolar contributions in the spin-lattice relaxation. The pulse sequence fully saturates one transition while another is observed. In the presence of a Delta m = 2 quadrupolar contribution, the intensity of the observed line is altered compared to a standard spin-echo experiment. We calculated analytically this intensity change for spins I=1, 3/2, 5/2, thus providing a quantitative analysis of the experimental results. Since the pulse sequence we used takes care of the absorbed radio-frequency power, no problems due to heating arise. The method is especially suited when only one NMR sensitive isotope is available. Different cross-checks were performed to prove the reliability of the obtained results. The applicability of this method is demonstrated by a study of the plane oxygen 17O (I = 5/2) in the high-temperature superconductor YBa_2Cu_4O_8: the 17O spin-lattice relaxation rate consists of magnetic as well as quadrupolar contributions.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Polaron Effects on Superexchange Interaction: Isotope Shifts of TNT_N, TCT_C, and T∗T^* in Layered Copper Oxides

A compact expression has been obtained for the superexchange coupling of magnetic ions via intermediate anions with regard to polaron effects at both magnetic ions and intermediate anions. This expression is used to analyze the main features of the behavior of isotope shifts for temperatures of three types in layered cuprates: the Neel temperatures ($T_N$), critical temperatures of transitions to a superconducting state ($T_C$), and characteristic temperatures of the pseudogap in the normal state ($T^*$).Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

The eICU Collaborative Research Database, a freely available multi-center database for critical care research

Critical care patients are monitored closely through the course of their illness. As a result of this monitoring, large amounts of data are routinely collected for these patients. Philips Healthcare has developed a telehealth system, the eICU Program, which leverages these data to support management of critically ill patients. Here we describe the eICU Collaborative Research Database, a multi-center intensive care unit (ICU)database with high granularity data for over 200,000 admissions to ICUs monitored by eICU Programs across the United States. The database is deidentified, and includes vital sign measurements, care plan documentation, severity of illness measures, diagnosis information, treatment information, and more. Data are publicly available after registration, including completion of a training course in research with human subjects and signing of a data use agreement mandating responsible handling of the data and adhering to the principle of collaborative research. The freely available nature of the data will support a number of applications including the development of machine learning algorithms, decision support tools, and clinical research

Operação Bororos: vivências de saúde, educação e cultura na Chapada dos Guimarães

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.Introdução: O Projeto Rondon é um programa interministerial, coordenado pelo Ministério da Defesa, que visa integrar e desenvolver ações comunitárias em regiões com maiores índices de pobreza e exclusão social, bem como áreas isoladas do território nacional necessitadas de maior aporte de bens e serviços. Em parceira com as universidades, o projeto pretende contribuir com a formação do universitário como cidadão, integrá-lo ao processo de desenvolvimento nacional por meio de ações participativas sobre a realidade do país. Além disso, visa consolidar no universitário o sentido de responsabilidade social coletiva, em prol da cidadania estimulando a produção de projetos coletivos locais, em parceria com as comunidades, com foco na capacitação de agentes multiplicadores, estimulando ações que valorizem o cidadão, a cultura local e promovam o intercâmbio de informações. Com esse espírito, a Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) desenvolveu um plano de trabalho, aprovado para execução no município de Chapada dos Guimarães, estado do Mato Grosso, durante a Operação Bororos, no período de 10 a 26 de julho de 2015. Objetivo: Descrever as atividades realizadas no município, direcionadas aos profissionais de saúde, educação, assistência social e à comunidade em geral. Metodologia: A descrição se dará a partir do registro documental e fotográfico das atividades desenvolvidas e das avaliações feitas pelos participantes. Resultados: Foram realizadas 22 atividades de cultura, comunicação, saúde e educação, por meio de oficinas teórico-práticas, simpósios, mutirão de saúde e rodas de conversa, com participação de 293 pessoas. A maior parte das atividades foi concentrada na área urbana do município, em escolas, creches, centros culturais, praças e feiras ao ar livre. Observaram-se benefícios à comunidade com a troca de saberes e informações ofertadas pelos universitários, uma vez que agregaram novos subsídios para o trabalho cotidiano, seja dos multiplicadores ou dos cidadãos em geral que tiveram acesso às atividades desenvolvidas. Conclusão: O Projeto Rondon consolida-se como oportunidade única para os universitários colocarem em prática os conhecimentos adquiridos ao longo de suas vivências acadêmicas em prol da sociedade. Observou-se a necessidade de adequação das atividades priorizando-se as populações rurais caracterizadas como mais vulneráveis