Development, implementation, and test results on integrated optics switching matrix

A small integrated optics switching matrix, which was developed, implemented, and tested, indicates high performance. The matrix serves as a model for the design of larger switching matrices. The larger integrated optics switching matrix should form the integral part of a switching center with high data rate throughput of up to 300 megabits per second. The switching matrix technique can accomplish the design goals of low crosstalk and low distortion. About 50 illustrations help explain and depict the many phases of the integrated optics switching matrix. Many equations used to explain and calculate the experimental data are also included

Seasonal Variation in Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Dispersal and Potential for Suppression of Dispersal Behavior

Seasonal dispersal of Carcinops pumilio (Erichson) was evaluated using two trapping methods-a black-light pitfall trap and a mesh-bottomed trap placed on poultry manure. The black-light trap collected larger numbers than the mesh-bottomed trap from March through June. The mesh-bottomed trap gathered larger numbers of beetles from June through August and numbers were less variable throughout the year. Often, when very low numbers of beetles were recovered from manure cores, large numbers of beetles could be collected with the black-light trap suggesting that beetle density may not be an important factor in dispersal behavior. The greatest dispersal in the dispersal arenas (≈90%) occurred using beetles collected by both trap types in June 2000. Beginning in March and ending in August, a cyclic rise and then fall pattern in both laboratory dispersal and beetle collections was observed. Trap collection patterns were similar in both years of the study. In January and March, we were unable to prevent dispersal behavior of beetles captured in black-light traps. However, in May, after beetles had been in a dispersal phase for several months, we were able to suppress dispersal. In contrast, dispersal behavior among beetles captured with the mesh-bottomed trap did not change following the photoperiod-altered exposur

Risk of suicide among operated and non-operated patients hospitalised for peptic ulcers

Background: Some small studies have reported high risk of suicide after surgical treatment for peptic ulcer. The aim of the present study was to explore the risk of suicide in hospitalised gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer patients separately among operated and non-operated cohorts. Methods: Retrospective cohorts of 163 579 nonoperated patients with gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer and 28 112 patients with surgical treatment for ulcer, recorded in the Swedish Inpatient Register since 1965, were followed from the first hospitalisation, or operation for the surgery cohort, until death, any cancer, emigration, or 31 December 2003. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated, and Poisson regression produced adjusted relative risk estimates among operated and non-operated patients. Results: Non-operated patients hospitalised for peptic ulcer showed a 70% excess risk of suicide (SMR 1.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 1.9) and those who underwent operation had a 60% increased risk (SMR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 1.8). The risk of suicide was very high during the first year after hospitalisation (SMR 4.0, 95% CI 3.4 to 4.7) and more marked among women, patients under 70 and patients hospitalised without complications of ulcer. Both gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer patients had high risk of suicide completion. Conclusion: Hospitalised patients with gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer have an increased risk of suicide regardless of surgical treatment. These patients, especially women, are at very high risk during the first year after first hospitalisation/operation. The evaluation and management of suicidal thoughts in patients in medical settings should be further considered

Qualidade externa de ovos de codornas de postura alimentadas com farelo de arroz integral em diferentes.

A alimentação representa 70% dos custos de uma produção animal, independente do tamanho e da destinação da mesma. Como principais alimentos fornecidos as aves tem-se o milho, farelo de soja e para redução destes custos torna-se interessante o uso de alimentos alternativos. O arroz é um dos grãos mais produzidos em todo o mundo, sendo o Brasil o décimo maior produtor mundial. Santos et al. (2004) afirmam que o FAI é uma matéria-prima disponível no mercado brasileiro, e pode ser utilizado nas dietas, para diminuir os custos de produção, substituindo o milho, que é a matéria-prima que mais dispende custos às rações avícolas. O farelo de arroz integral (FAI), resultante do polimento dos grãos de arroz, é o mais usado na criação de suínos e aves, considerando os farelos de arroz integral e desengordurado como os subprodutos da indústria do arroz que têm sido incluídos nas dietas de aves (Filardi et al, 2007). A presença de elevada quantidade de gordura, constituída principalmente de ácidos graxos insaturados, predispõe à peroxidação, favorecendo a multiplicação de fungos produtores de aflatoxinas e a rancificação oxidativa, que compromete a qualidade do FAI e dificulta o armazenamento de grandes quantidades. Como forma de prevenir a perda do produto, existem no mercado aditivos químicos e orgânicos. Com isso o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade externa dos ovos de codornas alimentadas com farelo de arroz integral armazenado em diferentes tempos

An HFB scheme in natural orbitals

We present a formulation of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) equations which solves the problem directly in the basis of natural orbitals. This provides a very efficient scheme which is particularly suited for large scale calculations on coordinate-space grids.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX, (Postscript-file also available at http://www.th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~bender/nucl_struct_publications.html or at ftp://th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/pub/bender ), accepted for publication in Z. Phys.

Individual and Combined Releases of Muscidifurax raptor and M. raptorellus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) as a Biological Control Tactic Targeting House Flies in Dairy Calf Facilities

The impact of commercially reared house fly parasitoids released into nine dairy calf coverall facilities were evaluated over 3 yr. Individual and equally mixed ratios of the pteromalid parasitoids Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Saunders and M. raptorellus Kogan and Legner were released at a rate of 500 parasitoids per calf per week for 8 wk. Prerelease, release, and postrelease parasitism was monitored using nearly 100,000 sentinel house fly, Musca domestica L., pupae during the 3 yr study. In general, very few adult parasitoids were recovered during the prerelease period and on the no-release farms during any period. However, considerable numbers of M. raptor and M. raptorellus were recovered from sentinel pupae on respective release farms. As expected, the greatest successful parasitism occurred during release periods, with a drop during postrelease periods. High successful parasitism and uneclosed pupae on M. raptorellus release farms suggests that this parasitoid was aggressive in attacking hosts with progeny production at approximately four wasps per pupa. Solitary releases of M. raptor provided sentinel mortality between 31 and 38%, whereas sentinel mortality on M. raptorellus-release farms was double, at 59-80%. Using mixed releases of the two species, overall fly mortality was slightly lower than that observed on M. raptorellus-only farms. This study documents the advantage of releasing M. raptorellus rather than M. raptor on New York dairy calf facilities, as supported by higher parasitism rates and lower costs (35-75%) for purchase of these gregarious wasps, as 75-80% fewer parasitized pupae are needed to achieve similar adult parasitoid level

First report and damage description of Calodesma collaris (Drury, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) caterpillars on Aechmea winkleri Reitz, 1975 (Bromeliaceae).

We report for the first time the occurrence of Calodesma collaris (Drury, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) caterpillars on Aechmea winkleri Reitz, 1975 (Bromeliaceae) and describe the damage it causes on these plants. The consumption of leaf tissue, accumulation of excrements and inhibition of inflorescence emission caused by larvae of C. collariscan result in plants of A. winkleri that are not suitable for ornamental or landscaping purposes

Work disability before and after a major cardiovascular event: a ten-year study using nationwide medical and insurance registers

We examined the trajectories of work disability before and after IHD and stroke events. New IHD (n = 13521) and stroke (n = 7162) cases in 2006-2008 were retrieved from nationwide Swedish hospital records and their annual work disability days five years before and after the date of diagnosis were retrieved from a nationwide disability register. There was no pre-event differences in disability days between the IHD and stroke cases and five years prior to the event, they were close to those observed in the general population. In the first post-event year, the adjusted mean days increased to 83.9 (95% CI 80.6-86.5) in IHD; to 179.5 (95% CI 172.4-186.8) in stroke, a six-fold increase in IHD and 14-fold in stroke. Work disability leveled off among the IHD cases but not among those who had stroke. The highest disability levels for the fifth post-event year after a stroke event was associated with pre-existing diabetes (146.9), mental disorder (141.2), non-employment (137.0), and immigrant status (117.9). In a working-age population, the increase in work disability after a cardiovascular event decreases close to the pre-event level in IHD but remains particularly high after stroke; among patients with comorbid depression or diabetes, immigrants, and those not in employment