Models for the predatory behaviour of some reduviids from Southern India (Insecta-Heteroptera-Reduviidae)

The predatory behaviour of three reduviids, the millipede-feedingHaematorrhophus nigroviolaceus (Reuter) (Ectrichodiinae), the insectivorousPirates affinis Serville (Piratinae) and the haematophagousTriatoma rubrofasciata (De Geer) (Triatominae), both under natural and laboratory conditions, is discussed. Visual stimuli elicited by the moving prey appear important for the initiation of feeding response. The olfactory stimuli from the defensive secretions of the prey appear to enhance the response and help in the continuation of feeding. In the haematophagousTriatoma rubrofasciata, while feeding responses are elicited only by the temperature gradient around their vertebrate hosts, the visual and olfactory senses play only a minor role. On the basis of observations on feeding behaviour, appropriate predatory behaviour models for the three reduviid species have been constructed

Functional morphology of pylorus and rectal glands in Reduviidae (Insecta-Heteroptera)

Anatomical and histological studies of the alimentary organs of sixteen reduviids, with diverse food habits indicate structural variations. The terminal part of the tubular second midgut of these predaceous insects has a permanent sac-like region with distinct histology, concerned with absorption of digested food. In addition, the digestive system is characterised by a reduced pylorus with pyloric-intestinal and pyloric-rectal valves, surrounded by flask-shaped ampullae of the four malpighian tubules. The ampullary cells with their filamentous apices and with fibrillar cytoplasmic processes are concerned with. water absorption. Commonly in all these terrestrial insects, the anterior end of the rectum also bears a well-developed, inverted cup-like rectal gland, the cells of which also absorb water from the excreta stored in the impermeable, intima lined rectum. Members of Ectrichodiinae show simple ampullary cells and a unique rectum, reported for the first time among reduviids with scattered dome-shaped glandular cells as found in Homoptera and in some phytophagous Heteroptera. The simple nature of the alimentary organs indicates its primitive organization within the reduviid subfamilies

Functional morphology of the salivary system in some Reduviidae (Insecta-Heteroptera)

This article does not have an abstract

Developments in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is the technique of accurately delivering high doses of radiotherapy to small volume targets in a single or small number of sessions. The high biological effective dose of this treatment is reflected in the high rates of local control achieved across multiple tumour sites. Toxicity of the treatment can be significant and ongoing prospective trials will help define the utility of this treatment as an alternative to surgery in treating primary tumours and oligometastatic disease. Longer follow-up and survival data from prospective trials will be essential in determining the value of this resource-intensive treatment. The opportunity to combine this treatment with systemic therapies and its potential synergy with immunotherapy opens up interesting avenues for research in the future

Reflection On Service-Learning Among Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Students

The purpose of service learning is to connect theory and practice in a way that gives students a prospect to both take part in a service activity that meets community needs, as well as reflect on the experience in class to enhance their civic engagement and deepen their understanding of course content. A successful service-learning program requires reflective practice. The School of Education at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia has been conducting service-learning for many years. Although there is no proper guideline for the students to reflect on their service-learning experiences, students are still expected to do so. The objective in this study are describing service-learning experience. This research study applies case study research method among students’ reflective experiences in service-learning at School of Education in UTM. Data collection was done using qualitative research methodology involving semi structured interviews with UTM postgraduates. Triangulation method used to validate the data and continued with thematic analysis to identify the themes. The findings for every research question have been plotted in diagram. Based on the themes from the findings, a template was proposed for improving service-learning reflection for the students from UTM

The photodissociation and chemistry of CO isotopologues: applications to interstellar clouds and circumstellar disks

Aims. Photodissociation by UV light is an important destruction mechanism for CO in many astrophysical environments, ranging from interstellar clouds to protoplanetary disks. The aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the depth dependence and isotope-selective nature of this process. Methods. We present a photodissociation model based on recent spectroscopic data from the literature, which allows us to compute depth-dependent and isotope-selective photodissociation rates at higher accuracy than in previous work. The model includes self-shielding, mutual shielding and shielding by atomic and molecular hydrogen, and it is the first such model to include the rare isotopologues C17O and 13C17O. We couple it to a simple chemical network to analyse CO abundances in diffuse and translucent clouds, photon-dominated regions, and circumstellar disks. Results. The photodissociation rate in the unattenuated interstellar radiation field is 2.6e-10 s^-1, 30% higher than currently adopted values. Increasing the excitation temperature or the Doppler width can reduce the photodissociation rates and the isotopic selectivity by as much as a factor of three for temperatures above 100 K. The model reproduces column densities observed towards diffuse clouds and PDRs, and it offers an explanation for both the enhanced and the reduced N(12CO)/N(13CO) ratios seen in diffuse clouds. The photodissociation of C17O and 13C17O shows almost exactly the same depth dependence as that of C18O and 13C18O, respectively, so 17O and 18O are equally fractionated with respect to 16O. This supports the recent hypothesis that CO photodissociation in the solar nebula is responsible for the anomalous 17O and 18O abundances in meteorites.Comment: Accepted by A&

E-cigarette use causes a unique innate immune response in the lung, involving increased neutrophilic activation and altered mucin secretion

Rationale: E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular and little is known about their potential adverse health effects. Objectives: To determine the effects of e-cigarette use on the airways. Methods: Induced sputum samples from cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, and nonsmokers were analyzed by quantitative proteomics, and the total and individual concentrations of mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B were determined by light scattering/refractometry and labeled mass spectrometry, respectively. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation rates were also determined for the same groups. Measurements and Main Results: E-cigarette users exhibited significant increases in aldehyde-detoxification and oxidative stress-related proteins associated with cigarette smoke compared with nonsmokers. The levels of innate defense proteins associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as elastase and matrix metalloproteinase-9, were significantly elevated in e-cigarette users as well. E-cigarette users' sputum also uniquely exhibited significant increases in neutrophil granulocyte-related and NET-related proteins, such as myeloperoxidase, azurocidin, and protein-arginine deiminase 4, despite no significant elevation in neutrophil cell counts. Peripheral neutrophils from e-cigarette users showed increased susceptibility to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced NETosis. Finally, a compositional change in the gel-forming building blocks of airway mucus (i.e., an elevated concentration of mucin MUC5AC) was observed in both cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users. Conclusions: Together, our results indicate that e-cigarette use alters the profile of innate defense proteins in airway secretions, inducing similar and unique changes relative to cigarette smoking. These data challenge the concept that e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to cigarettes

Genome Reference and Sequence Variation in the Large Repetitive Central Exon of Human MUC5AC

Despite modern sequencing efforts, the difficulty in assembly of highly repetitive sequences has prevented resolution of human genome gaps, including some in the coding regions of genes with important biological functions. One such gene, MUC5AC, encodes a large, secreted mucin, which is one of the two major secreted mucins in human airways. The MUC5AC region contains a gap in the human genome reference (hg19) across the large, highly repetitive, and complex central exon. This exon is predicted to contain imperfect tandem repeat sequences and multiple conserved cysteine-rich (CysD) domains. To resolve the MUC5AC genomic gap, we used high-fidelity long PCR followed by single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. This technology yielded long sequence reads and robust coverage that allowed for de novo sequence assembly spanning the entire repetitive region. Furthermore, we used SMRT sequencing of PCR amplicons covering the central exon to identify genetic variation in four individuals. The results demonstrated the presence of segmental duplications of CysD domains, insertions/deletions (indels) of tandem repeats, and single nucleotide variants. Additional studies demonstrated that one of the identified tandem repeat insertions is tagged by nonexonic single nucleotide polymorphisms. Taken together, these data illustrate the successful utility of SMRT sequencing long reads for de novo assembly of large repetitive sequences to fill the gaps in the human genome. Characterization of the MUC5AC gene and the sequence variation in the central exon will facilitate genetic and functional studies for this critical airway mucin

A multi-centre survey reveals variations in the standard treatments and treatment modifications for head and neck cancer patients during Covid-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid changes to the practice of head and neck oncology. This survey was conducted to assess the pre-Covid-19 pandemic standard of practice for head and neck oncology patients and the treatment modifications introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic in UK. METHODOLOGY: The UK National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Head and Neck Clinical Studies Group initiated a multi-centre survey using questionnaire to investigate the effect on feeding tube practice, radiotherapy (RT) fractionation and volumes, use of chemotherapy in the neo-adjuvant, adjuvant and palliative setting, the use of immunotherapy in the palliative setting, access to radiology and histopathology services, availability of surgical procedures. RESULTS: 30 centres were approached across UK; 23 (76.7%) centres responded and were included in the survey. There were differences in the standard practices in feeding tube policy, RT dose and fractionation as well as concurrent chemotherapy use. 21 (91%) participating centres had at least one treatment modification. 15 (65%) centres initiated a change in radical RT; changing to either a hypofractionation or acceleration schedule. For post-operative RT 10 centres (43.5%) changed to a hypofractionation schedule.12 (52.2%) centres stopped neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for all patients; 13 (56.5%) centres followed selective omission of chemotherapy in concurrent chemo-radiotherapy patients, 17 (73.9%) centres changed first-line chemotherapy treatment to pembrolizumab (following NHS England’s interim guidance) and 8 (34.8%) centres stopped the treatment early or offered delays for patients that have been already on systemic treatment. The majority of centres did not have significant changes associated with surgery, radiology, histopathology and dental screening. CONCLUSION: There are variations in the standard of practice and treatment modifications for head and neck cancer patients during Covid-19 pandemic. A timely initiative is required to form a consensus on head and neck cancer management in the UK and other countries