Feeding Patterns and Attachment Ability of \u3ci\u3eAltica Subplicata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Sand-Dune Willow

To investigate feeding patterns of a specialist herbivore, Altica subplicata, larvae and adults were caged separately on host plants, Salix cordata, and leaf damage was estimated. Young, relatively more pubescent leaves near the tops of the shoots were consumed more than older leaves. Larvae clearly preferred the young, pubescent leaves and avoided the oldest leaves. Adults showed a stronger preference for the first five young leaves, but amount of consumption did not differ among the older leaves. Attachment ability on smooth and pubescent leaves was examined as a possible factor influencing feeding patterns. Scanning electron microscopy of tarsal adhesive structures and leaf surfaces was conducted to investigate how A. subplicata attaches to its host. Adhesive setae on the tarsi of adults may be effective for attachment on the older, smooth leaves and their tarsal claws are likely used to cling to trichomes of pubescent leaves. Larvae have fleshy adhesive pads for attachment. Laboratory experiments on attachment of larvae and adults to smooth and pubescent leaves under various wind conditions showed that wind caused difficulty in attachment and movement, but leaf pubescence did not affect the number of beetles that fell off leaves. However, larvae fell off more quickly when placed on pubescent leaves. Thus, other factors such as nutritional quality and microclimate provided by trichomes may be responsible for the preference for pubescent leaves exhibited by A. subplicata

Bone cross-sectional geometry in male runners, gymnasts, swimmers and non-athletic controls: a hip-structural analysis study.

Loading of the skeleton is important for the development of a functionally and mechanically appropriate bone structure, and can be achieved through impact exercise. Proximal femur cross-sectional geometry was assessed in the male athletes (n = 55) representing gymnastics, endurance running and swimming, and non-athletic controls (n = 22). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (iDXA, GE Healthcare, UK) measurements of the total body (for body composition) and the left proximal femur were obtained. Advanced hip structural analysis (AHA) was utilised to determine the areal bone mineral density (aBMD), hip axis length (HAL), cross-sectional area (CSA), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) and the femoral strength index (FSI). Gymnasts and runners had greater age, height and weight adjusted aBMD than in swimmers and controls (p < 0.05). Gymnasts and runners had greater resistance to axial loads (CSA) and the runners had increased resistance against bending forces (CSMI) compared to swimmers and controls (p < 0.01). Controls had a lower FSI compared to gymnasts and runners (1.4 vs. 1.8 and 2.1, respectively, p < 0.005). Lean mass correlated with aBMD, CSA and FSI (r = 0.365-0.457, p < 0.01), particularly in controls (r = 0.657-0.759, p < 0.005). Skeletal loading through the gymnastics and running appears to confer a superior bone geometrical advantage in the young adult men. The importance of lean body mass appears to be of particular significance for non-athletes. Further characterisation of the bone structural advantages associated with different sports would be of value to inform the strategies directed at maximising bone strength and thus, preventing fracture

Challenges faced by mental health interpreters in East London: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Background/Aims/Objectives - The role of an interpreter is instrumental for people not fluent in the new language of their host community or country where they are living. This subject is an important one and not enough is known, especially about the challenges faced by mental health interpreters. Methodology/Methods - The study examined how interpreters drew on direct translation, cultural meanings and non-verbal information while interpreting and how they convey these to both service users and providers. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was adopted to analyse three semi-structured interviews with female mental health interpreters that lasted approximately 60 minutes each. All participants were self-identified as fluent in at least two languages and had attended a minimum of six months training on mental health interpreting. Results/Finding - The challenges of mental health interpreting were revealed in three overarching themes: (i) Sensitive nature of interpreting and challenges associated with ensuring accuracy. (ii) Multitasking to convey literal words, feelings and cultural meanings. (iii) Exposure to the risk of vicarious trauma and insufficient organisational support. Discussion/Conclusion - The study concluded that mental health interpreters should have more access to training and development, organisational support, professional recognition and adequate acknowledgement of their essential role in service provision to people not fluent with the new language of their present community or country

The effects of absence of stereopsis on performance of a simulated surgical task in two-dimensional and three-dimensional viewing conditions.

Stereopsis is believed to be advantageous for surgical tasks that require precise hand-eye coordination. We investigated the effects of short-term and long-term absence of stereopsis on motor task performance in three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) viewing conditions

The experiences of young people with epidermolysis bullosa simplex: a qualitative study

Objective: To explore the experiences of young people with Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (EBS). Method: 11 participants aged 10 -14 years were interviewed. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed. Results: A key theme was ‘self as different’. This related to experiences of negative treatment and exclusion from peers; a lack of understanding of others about the condition; and a sense of the self as ‘wrong’. Conclusions: Findings indicate the importance of providing appropriate psychological and peer support, as well as wider community education and intervention, as part of the holistic treatment of young people with this chronic, painful and visible skin condition

Automorphism Modular Invariants of Current Algebras

We consider those two-dimensional rational conformal field theories (RCFTs) whose chiral algebras, when maximally extended, are isomorphic to the current algebra formed from some affine non-twisted Kac--Moody algebra at fixed level. In this case the partition function is specified by an automorphism of the fusion ring and corresponding symmetry of the Kac--Peterson modular matrices. We classify all such partition functions when the underlying finite-dimensional Lie algebra is simple. This gives all possible spectra for this class of RCFTs. While accomplishing this, we also find the primary fields with second smallest quantum dimension.Comment: 32 pages, plain Te

Hydrological response and complex impact pathways of the 2015/2016 El Niño in Eastern and Southern Africa

The 2015/2016 El Niño has been classified as one of the three most severe on record. El Niño teleconnections are commonly associated with droughts in southern Africa and high precipitation in eastern Africa. Despite their relatively frequent occurrence, evidence for their hydrological effects and impacts beyond agriculture is limited. We examine the hydrological response and impact pathways of the 2015/2016 El Niño in eastern and southern Africa, focusing on Botswana, Kenya, and Zambia. We use in situ and remotely sensed time series of precipitation, river flow, and lake levels complemented by qualitative insights from interviews with key organizations in each country about awareness, impacts, and responses. Our results show that drought conditions prevailed in large parts of southern Africa, reducing runoff and contributing to unusually low lake levels in Botswana and Zambia. Key informants characterized this El Niño through record high temperatures and water supply disruption in Botswana and through hydroelectric load shedding in Zambia. Warnings of flood risk in Kenya were pronounced, but the El Niño teleconnection did not materialize as expected in 2015/2016. Extreme precipitation was limited and caused localized impacts. The hydrological impacts in southern Africa were severe and complex, strongly exacerbated by dry antecedent conditions, recent changes in exposure and sensitivity and management decisions. Improved understanding of hydrological responses and the complexity of differing impact pathways can support design of more adaptive, region-specific management strategies

Twenty-five years of two-dimensional rational conformal field theory

In this article we try to give a condensed panoramic view of the development of two-dimensional rational conformal field theory in the last twenty-five years.Comment: A review for the 50th anniversary of the Journal of Mathematical Physics. Some references added, typos correcte

Fecal coliform disappearance in a river impoundment

Fecal coliform (FC) disappearance studies were conducted in Ford Lake during the summer of 1979. Ford Lake, an artificial impoundment at the lower end of the Huron River drainage basin below Ypsilanti, Michigan, receives all upstream flow (2072 km2 of drainage). During dry weather an overall daytime FC disappearance rate of 0.4 (h-1) (K base e) was measured using dye tracer for timed collection. assuming a first order equation of the Chick type. Sedimentation was demonstrated as important in the overall FC disappearance in the upper end of the lake. Rooftop studies showed light level to affect daytime disappearance. Two types of wet weather conditions were documented: (1) where a substantial increase in flow occurred due to an isolated upriver storm; and (2) as a result of two different storm events in the Ford Lake area itself. In both cases, Ford Lake was effective in substantially reducing the large FC contribution.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25455/1/0000905.pd

Development and Optimization of a GMP-Compliant Manufacturing Process for a Personalized Tumor Lysate Dendritic Cell Vaccine.

With the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive T-cell therapies, there is a considerable interest in using personalized autologous dendritic cell (DC) vaccines in combination with T cell-targeting immunotherapies to potentially maximize the therapeutic impact of DC vaccines. Here, we describe the development and optimization of a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant manufacturing process based on tumor lysate as a tumor antigen source for the production of an oxidized tumor cell lysate loaded DC (OC-DC) vaccine. The manufacturing process required one day for lysate preparation and six days for OC-DC vaccine production. Tumor lysate production was standardized based on an optimal tumor digestion protocol and the immunogenicity was improved through oxidation using hypochloric acid prior to freeze-thaw cycles resulting in the oxidized tumor cell lysate (OC-L). Next, monocytes were selected using the CliniMACS prodigy closed system and were placed in culture in cell factories in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF. Immature DCs were loaded with OC-L and matured using MPLA-IFNγ. After assessing the functionality of the OC-DC cells (IL12p70 secretion and COSTIM assay), the OC-DC vaccine was cryopreserved in multiple doses for single use. Finally, the stability of the formulated doses was tested and validated. We believe this GMP-compliant DC vaccine manufacturing process will facilitate access of patients to personalized DC vaccines, and allow for multi-center clinical trials