Soy flour versus skimmed milk powder in artificial diets for Galleria mellonella, a factitious host for Exorista larvarum

Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) is worldwide produced and utilized for different purposes. In the entomology laboratories of the University of Bologna, Italy, this insect has long been maintained in continuous colony, and used as a factitious host for Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera Tachinidae), a polyphagous, gregarious larval parasitoid, mainly of Lepidoptera, which lays eggs on the host body. The “standard” diet used to feed G. mellonella larvae, which contains skimmed milk powder, white and whole wheat flour, maize flour, honey, bee wax, brewer’s yeast and glycerine, has long proven to be efficient, but presents the drawback to be rather expensive. We tested the possibility to reduce diet costs by replacing skimmed milk powder (added for its protein and energy intake) with soy flour, an alternative and cheaper protein source. The development times and adult yields of G. mellonella were not negatively affected, when the “soy” diet was used to feed the larvae for one generation. Host acceptance by E. larvarum (measured as number of parasitoid eggs laid on G. mellonella) was higher for the larvae fed on the “soy” than on the “standard” diet. The use of soy flour in lieu of skimmed milk powder, however, proved inappropriate for the rearing of G. mellonella in the long run, because some quality traits, e.g. pupal weights and development times were lower in the “soy” than in the “standard” diet and further worsened through generations. Moreover, the number of eggs laid was dramatically lower for the F2 G. mellonella females obtained on the “soy” than on the “standard” diet. These results suggested that the costs of the artificial diet currently used for G. mellonella may not be lowered by replacing skimmed milk powder with soy flour on a regular basis, possibly due to nutrient imbalance

Host stage and temperature for the rearing of Aridelus rufotestaceus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with notes on acceptance and suitability of 2 stink bug species

Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a harmful pest of many agricultural crops in different parts of the world. This stink bug is the preferred host species of Aridelus rufotestaceus Tobias (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an endoparasitoid of nymphs and adults of pentatomids. With the aim to improve the rearing procedure of this beneficial insect, the acceptance and suitability of all mobile stages of N. viridula (from first instar nymph to adult) were evaluated. At 25 & DEG;C, all host stages were accepted and suitable for A. rufotestaceus development, but the highest parasitoid cocoon and adult yields were obtained from second instar nymphs. The possibility to reduce the development time of A. rufotestasceus by increasing the rearing temperature was also evaluated, but 28 & DEG;C proved to be detrimental for parasitoid development, as shown by the very low cocoon and adult numbers obtained. The acceptance and suitability of the invasive pentatomid species Halyomorpha halys (Stal) for A. rufotestaceus was also tested. Female wasps were observed piercing H. halys nymphs with the ovipositor, but no cocoons were obtained, nor were larvae or head capsules detected in the exposed stink bugs

ARTICLE Factors influencing Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) foraging movement patterns during the breeding season

Abstract: During the breeding season, seabird foraging behaviors are driven by a combination of individual-and external-based factors. This study evaluated how two individual-based factors (body condition and sex) and two external factors (nest stage and colony size), and their interactions, were related to movement. To do so, we used movement data obtained from 22 GPS-tagequipped Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis L., 1766) breeding in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In Brown Pelicans, the postegg-hatching phase imposes increased foraging demands on breeding adults relative to the prehatching phase. This study demonstrates that the progression of the breeding period affects the nature and intensity of the relationship between individualbased factors and movement patterns. In particular, birds in relatively lower condition traveled greater distances during foraging trips during the energetically demanding posthatching phase, but not during the incubation stage. Contrary to many seabird species studied to date, neither colony size nor sex appeared to affect Brown Pelican movement patterns. Our results suggest that nest stage is the most important factor influencing foraging movements, and that it may modulate relationships between condition and movement. More refined measures of body condition and foraging behavior will allow further insights into the movement ecology of this seabird

Organometallic iridium(III) anticancer complexes with new mechanisms of action: NCI-60 screening, mitochondrial targeting, and apoptosis

Platinum complexes related to cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], are successful anticancer drugs; however, other transition metal complexes offer potential for combating cisplatin resistance, decreasing side effects, and widening the spectrum of activity. Organometallic half-sandwich iridium (IrIII) complexes [Ir(Cpx)(XY)Cl]+/0 (Cpx = biphenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = phenanthroline (1), bipyridine (2), or phenylpyridine (3)) all hydrolyze rapidly, forming monofunctional G adducts on DNA with additional intercalation of the phenyl substituents on the Cpx ring. In comparison, highly potent complex 4 (Cpx = phenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = N,N-dimethylphenylazopyridine) does not hydrolyze. All show higher potency toward A2780 human ovarian cancer cells compared to cisplatin, with 1, 3, and 4 also demonstrating higher potency in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) NCI-60 cell-line screen. Use of the NCI COMPARE algorithm (which predicts mechanisms of action (MoAs) for emerging anticancer compounds by correlating NCI-60 patterns of sensitivity) shows that the MoA of these IrIII complexes has no correlation to cisplatin (or oxaliplatin), with 3 and 4 emerging as particularly novel compounds. Those findings by COMPARE were experimentally probed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of A2780 cells exposed to 1, showing mitochondrial swelling and activation of apoptosis after 24 h. Significant changes in mitochondrial membrane polarization were detected by flow cytometry, and the potency of the complexes was enhanced ca. 5× by co-administration with a low concentration (5 μM) of the γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO). These studies reveal potential polypharmacology of organometallic IrIII complexes, with MoA and cell selectivity governed by structural changes in the chelating ligands

Impact of clinical pathways in surgery

BACKGROUND: One strategy to reduce the consumption of resources associated to specific procedures is to utilize clinical pathways, in which surgical care is standardized and preset by determination of perioperative in-hospital processes. The aim of this prospective study was to establish the impact of clinical pathways on costs, complication rates, and nursing activities. METHOD: Data was prospectively collected for 171 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 50), open herniorrhaphy (n = 56), and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 65). RESULTS: Clinical pathways reduced the postoperative hospital stay by 28% from a mean of 6.1 to 4.4 days (p 6,390 to 4,800 (p 1,810 to 1,374 (p < 0.001). A trend was noted for lower postoperative complication rates in the clinical pathway group (7% vs. 14%, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates clinically and economically relevant benefits for the utilization of clinical pathways with a reduction in use of all resource types, without any negative impact on the rate of complications or re-hospitalization

Male Wistar rats show individual differences in an animal model of conformity

Conformity refers to the act of changing one’s behaviour to match that of others. Recent studies in humans have shown that individual differences exist in conformity and that these differences are related to differences in neuronal activity. To understand the neuronal mechanisms in more detail, animal tests to assess conformity are needed. Here, we used a test of conformity in rats that has previously been evaluated in female, but not male, rats and assessed the nature of individual differences in conformity. Male Wistar rats were given the opportunity to learn that two diets differed in palatability. They were subsequently exposed to a demonstrator that had consumed the less palatable food. Thereafter, they were exposed to the same diets again. Just like female rats, male rats decreased their preference for the more palatable food after interaction with demonstrator rats that had eaten the less palatable food. Individual differences existed for this shift, which were only weakly related to an interaction between their own initial preference and the amount consumed by the demonstrator rat. The data show that this conformity test in rats is a promising tool to study the neurobiology of conformity

Development of the ALMA Band-3 and Band-6 Sideband-Separating SIS Mixers

As the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) nears completion, 73 dual-polarization receivers have been delivered for each of Bands 3 (84-116 GHz) and 6 (211-275 GHz). The receivers use sideband-separating superconducting Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb tunnel-junction (SIS) mixers, developed for ALMA to suppress atmospheric noise in the image band. The mixers were designed taking into account dynamic range, input return loss, and signal-to-image conversion (which can be significant in SIS mixers). Typical SSB receiver noise temperatures in Bands 3 and 6 are 30 and 60 K, respectively, and the image rejection is typically 15 dB

EuraHS: the development of an international online platform for registration and outcome measurement of ventral abdominal wall hernia repair

Background Although the repair of ventral abdominal wall hernias is one of the most commonly performed operations, many aspects of their treatment are still under debate or poorly studied. In addition, there is a lack of good definitions and classifications that make the evaluation of studies and meta-analyses in this field of surgery difficult. Materials and methods Under the auspices of the board of the European Hernia Society and following the previously published classifications on inguinal and on ventral hernias, a working group was formed to create an online platform for registration and outcome measurement of operations for ventral abdominal wall hernias. Development of such a registry involved reaching agreement about clear definitions and classifications on patient variables, surgical procedures and mesh materials used, as well as outcome parameters. The EuraHS working group (European registry for abdominal wall hernias) comprised of a multinational European expert panel with specific interest in abdominal wall hernias. Over five working group meetings, consensus was reached on definitions for the data to be recorded in the registry. Results A set of well-described definitions was made. The previously reported EHS classifications of hernias will be used. Risk factors for recurrences and co-morbidities of patients were listed. A new severity of comorbidity score was defined. Post-operative complications were classified according to existing classifications as described for other fields of surgery. A new 3-dimensional numerical quality-of-life score, EuraHS-QoL score, was defined. An online platform is created based on the definitions and classifications, which can be used by individual surgeons, surgical teams or for multicentre studies. A EuraHS website is constructed with easy access to all the definitions, classifications and results from the database. Conclusion An online platform for registration and outcome measurement of abdominal wall hernia repairs with clear definitions and classifications is offered to the surgical community. It is hoped that this registry could lead to better evidence-based guidelines for treatment of abdominal wall hernias based on hernia variables, patient variables, available hernia repair materials and techniques

Comparison of risk-scoring systems in the prediction of outcome after liver resection

Background: Risk prediction techniques commonly used in liver surgery include the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET). This study compares the utility of these techniques along with the number of segments resected as predictive tools in liver surgery. Methods: A review of a unit database of patients undergoing liver resection between February 2008 and January 2015 was undertaken. Patient demographics, ASA, CCI and CPET variables were recorded along with resection size. Clavien-Dindo grade III–V complications were used as a composite outcome in analyses. Association between predictive variables and outcome was assessed by univariate and multivariate techniques. Results: One hundred and seventy-two resections in 168 patients were identified. Grade III–V complications occurred after 42 (24.4%) liver resections. In univariate analysis of CPET variables, ventilatory equivalents for CO2 (VEqCO2) was associated with outcome. CCI score, but not ASA grade, was also associated with outcome. In multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of developing grade III–V complications for incremental increases in VEqCO2, CCI and number of liver segments resected were 1.09, 1.49 and 2.94, respectively. Conclusions: Of the techniques evaluated, resection size provides the simplest and most discriminating predictor of significant complications following liver surgery