Anatomy and Histology of the Male Reproductive Complex of the Onion Maggot Fly, \u3ci\u3eDelia Antiqua\u3c/i\u3e, (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) Including Some Comparisons With \u3ci\u3eD. Platura\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eD. Radicum\u3c/i\u3e

In Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), the male reproductive complex is composed of a pair of testes, paired vas deferens connecting the testes to the anterior ejaculatory duct, and a pair of paragonial (accessory) glands. Each D. antiqua paragonial gland consists of a single layer of secretory epithelial cells surrounded by a thin sheath of muscle tissue. The paragonial cells appear to be largely homogeneous in form, however a minor number of cells exhibit unique staining characteristics distinct from the main cells of the gland. This is preliminary evidence for a secondary cell type as has been found for Drosophila and Aedes paragonial glands. In contrast to the testis and vas deferens, where most of the growth occurs during the pupal stage, the D. antiqua paragonial glands expanded markedly due to secretory accumulation during the first days of adult life. Based on histochemical analyses, the paragonial secretion contained abundant protein, with evidence of glycoprotein. The reproductive complex in all three Delia species (D. antiqua, D. radicum (Bouche) and D. platura (Meigen)) appears similar, with the exception of size differences and timing of paragonial secretory accumulation and sperm maturation. Paragonial glands of D. radicum were the largest in both length and width, and only this species possessed abundant sperm upon eclosion. Of the three species, D. radicum appears most capable of mating immediately after eclosion based on the histology of its reproductive complex, which is consistent with biochemical and behavioral observations made earlier in this laboratory

An Allometric Study of the Boxelder Bug, \u3ci\u3eBoisea Trivittata\u3c/i\u3e (Heteroptera: Rhopalidae)

An allometric study was conducted on the boxelder bug, Boisea trivittata, to confirm the number ofinstars and to identify characteristics most useful for rapid instar identification of field samples. Analysis of field populations collected throughout the 1990-92 seasons indicated that there were five instars, clearly defined on the basis of size and the presence of wing pads. This finding is in contrast with the only other published study on stages of the boxelder bug, which claims there are six nymphal instars. Size data gathered from field populations were substantiated by laboratory growth studies. Head width and/or second antennal segment length were identified as the most useful parameters for instar identification

Egg Production in the Boxelder Bug \u3ci\u3eBoisea Trivittata\u3c/i\u3e (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae)

Boxelder bug females emerged from overwintering sites in the spring and rapidly provisioned eggs with yolk materials. Five discrete egg stages were identified based on egg size, protein content, and degree of chorion sclerotization. Females did not accumulate yolk materials into the egg until after melanization was completed, as unmelanized animals rarely possessed even stage 2 eggs. All adult females entering overwintering sites possessed only immature stage eggs (stage 1 and 2). The rate of egg vitellogenesis in the spring was rapid; a major change in numbers of more mature stage eggs (stage 3 and above) in the ovary occurred within approximately 6 days. Most mating pairs recovered in the field (92%, 12/13) possessed ovaries full of eggs in stages 3, 4 or 5. The remaining female contained only immature eggs of stage 1 and 2. This finding indicates that fully provisioned ovaries are not an absolute requirement for mating to occur. The signals that initiate vitellogenesis and control the movement of materials from fat body into eggs are unknown for the boxelder bug

Egg Production in the Boxelder Bug \u3ci\u3eBoisea Trivittata\u3c/i\u3e (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae)

Boxelder bug females emerged from overwintering sites in the spring and rapidly provisioned eggs with yolk materials. Five discrete egg stages were identified based on egg size, protein content, and degree of chorion sclerotization. Females did not accumulate yolk materials into the egg until after melanization was completed, as unmelanized animals rarely possessed even stage 2 eggs. All adult females entering overwintering sites possessed only immature stage eggs (stage 1 and 2). The rate of egg vitellogenesis in the spring was rapid; a major change in numbers of more mature stage eggs (stage 3 and above) in the ovary occurred within approximately 6 days. Most mating pairs recovered in the field (92%, 12/13) possessed ovaries full of eggs in stages 3, 4 or 5. The remaining female contained only immature eggs of stage 1 and 2. This finding indicates that fully provisioned ovaries are not an absolute requirement for mating to occur. The signals that initiate vitellogenesis and control the movement of materials from fat body into eggs are unknown for the boxelder bug

Estimation of In Vivo Water Content of the Stratum Corneum from Electrical Measurements

In vivo water content in the epidermal stratum corneum can be estimated by means of low frequency susceptance measurements. In the in vitro calibration necessary to find the in vivo water content, the stratum corneum will have a uniform distribution of water across its thickness. However, in vivo stratum corneum has an increasing water concentration profile from the outermost towards the innermost parts. This paper will investigate the possibility of estimating the equilibrium water content in the in vivo stratum corneum non-invasively from electrical susceptance measurements. Given a known shape of the water concentration profile in the in vivo stratum corneum and the dependence of susceptance on the water content, it is possible to calculate the water content in vivo based on analytically derived expressions for the water concentration profile. A correspondence between in vivo and in vitro water content needed for this purpose is also established

Electrical impedance tomography system: an open access circuit design

BACKGROUND: This paper reports a simple 2-D system for electrical impedance tomography EIT, which works efficiently and is low cost. The system has been developed in the Sharif University of Technology Tehran-Iran (for the author's MSc Project). METHODS: The EIT system consists of a PC in which an I/O card is installed with an external current generator, a multiplexer, a power supply and a phantom with an array of electrodes. The measurement system provides 12-bit accuracy and hence, suitable data acquisition software has been prepared accordingly. The synchronous phase detection method has been implemented for voltage measurement. Different methods of image reconstruction have been used with this instrument to generate electrical conductivity images. RESULTS: The results of simulation and real measurement of the system are presented. The reconstruction programs were written in MATLAB and the data acquisition software in C++. The system has been tested with both static and dynamic mode in a 2-D domain. Better results have been produced in the dynamic mode of operation, due to the cancellation of errors. CONCLUSION: In the spirit of open access publication the design details of this simple EIT system are made available here

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, gender and smoking status. The Tromsø Staph and Skin Study

Vitamin D induces the expression of antimicrobial peptides with activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, we studied the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and S. aureus nasal colonization and carriage. Nasal swabs, blood samples and clinical data from 2,115 women and 1,674 men, aged 30–87 years, were collected in the Tromsø Staph and Skin Study 2007–08, as part of the population-based sixth Tromsø Study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were stratified by recognized risk factors for S. aureus carriage: sex, age and smoking. In non-smoking men, we observed a 6.6% and 6.7% decrease in the probability of S. aureus colonization and carriage, respectively, by each 5 nmol/l increase in serum 25(OH)D concentration (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001), and serum 25(OH)D > 59 nmol/l and ≥75 nmol/l as thresholds for ~30% and ~50% reduction in S. aureus colonization and carriage. In non-smoking men aged 44–60 years, the odds ratio for S. aureus colonization was 0.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.28−0.69) in the top tertile of serum 25(OH)D versus the bottom tertile. In women and smokers there were no such associations. Our study supports that serum vitamin D is a determinant of S. aureus colonization and carriage

Three-dimensional cometary dust coma modelling in the collisionless regime: strengths and weaknesses

Inverse coma and tail modelling of comets based on the method developed by Finson & Probstein is commonly used to analyse cometary coma images. Models of this type often contain a large number of assumptions that may not be constrained unless wide temporal or spectral coverage is available and the comets are bright and at relatively small geocentric distance. They are used to predict physical parameters, such as the mass distribution of the dust, but rarely give assessments of the accuracy of the estimate. A three-dimensional cometary dust coma model in the collisionless regime has been developed to allow the effectiveness of such models to constrain dust coma properties to be tested. The model is capable of simulating the coma morphology for the following input parameters: the comet nucleus shape, size, rotation, emission function (including active fraction and jets), grain velocity distribution (and dispersion), size distribution, dust production rate, grain material and light scattering from the cometary dust. Characterization of the model demonstrates that the mass distribution cannot be well constrained as is often assumed; the cumulative mass distribution index ? can only be constrained to within ±0.15. The model is highly sensitive to the input grain terminal velocity distribution so model input can be tested with a large degree of confidence. Complex secondary parameters such as jets, rotation and grain composition all have an effect on the structure of the coma in similar ways, so unique solutions for these parameters cannot be derived from a single optical image alone. Multiple images at a variety of geometries close in time can help constrain these effects. The model has been applied to photometric observations of comets 126P/IRAS and 46P/Wirtanen to constrain a number of physical properties including the dust production rate and mass distribution index. The derived dust production rate (Qdust) for 46P/Wirtanen was 3+7/1.5 kg s1 at a pre-perihelion heliocentric distance of 1.8 au, and for P/IRAS was 50+100/20 kg s1 at a pre-perihelion heliocentric distance of 1.7 au; both comets exhibited a mass distribution index ? = 0.8 ± 0.15

No significant effect on bone mineral density by high doses of vitamin D3 given to overweight subjects for one year

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In meta-analyses supplementation with vitamin D appears to reduce incidence of fractures, and in cross-sectional studies there is a positive association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and bone mineral density (BMD). However, the effect of supplementation with high doses of vitamin D on BMD is more uncertain and could in theory have both positive and negative effects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a one year, double blind placebo-controlled intervention trial performed at the University Hospital of North Norway. 421 subjects, 21 - 70 years old, were included and 312 completed the study. The subjects were randomized to vitamin D₃40.000 IU per week (DD group), vitamin D₃20.000 IU per week (DP group), or placebo (PP group). All subjects were given 500 mg calcium daily. Serum 25(OH)D, osteoprotegrin (OPG), receptoractivator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and BMD at the lumbar spine and the hip were measured before and at the end of the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At baseline the mean serum 25(OH)D levels were 58 nmol/L (all subjects) and increased to 141 and 100 nmol/L in the DD and DP groups, respectively. After one year, no significant differences were found between the three groups regarding change in BMD, serum OPG or RANKL.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Supplementation with high doses of vitamin D for one year does not appear to have a negative effect on BMD in healthy subjects. In order to disclose a positive effect, subjects with low BMD and/or low serum 25(OH)D levels need to be studied.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00243256).</p

Real-time estimation of horizontal gaze angle by saccade integration using in-ear electrooculography

The manuscript proposes and evaluates a real-time algorithm for estimating eye gaze angle based solely on single-channel electrooculography (EOG), which can be obtained directly from the ear canal using conductive ear moulds. In contrast to conventional high-pass filtering, we used an algorithm that calculates absolute eye gaze angle via statistical analysis of detected saccades. The estimated eye positions of the new algorithm were still noisy. However, the performance in terms of Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients was significantly better than the conventional approach in some instances. The results suggest that in-ear EOG signals captured with conductive ear moulds could serve as a basis for lightweight and portable horizontal eye gaze angle estimation suitable for a broad range of applications. For instance, for hearing aids to steer the directivity of microphones in the direction of the user’s eye gaze