A new species of Dialeurodes Cockerell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on Schefflera Forst and Forst in Florida

Descriptions of pupal cases of Dialeurodes schefflerae, new species, as well as distribution records are presented. This species is known to occur in Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico appearing to feed only on species of Schefflera Forst and Forst. This restriction to plant hosts in the Asian genus Schefflera, along with its affinities with Dialeurodes agalmae Takahashi, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) and Dialeurodes kirkaldyi (Kotinsky), suggests it is an invasive species, probably endemic to the Asian region

A dynamic simulation of low-carbon policy influences on endogenous electricity demand in an isolated island system

This paper considers the dynamics of electricity demand in response to changes arising from low-carbon policies and socio-economic developments. As part of an investigation into the evolution of such systems on small economically-developed islands, endogenous electricity demand and associated policies are studied for the Azorean island of São Miguel. A comprehensive System Dynamics (SD) model covering the period 2005 − 2050 is presented which captures both historical behaviours and real-world influences on the endogenous demand dynamics of an island-based electricity system. The impact of tourism, energy efficiency and electric vehicles (EV) expansion allied with associated policy options, are critically evaluated by the SD model using a series of scenarios. The model shows that energy efficiency measures exhibit the most significant long-term impact on electricity demand, while in contrast, policies to increase tourism have a much less direct impact and EV expansion has thought-provoking impacts on the long-term demand, although this is not as influential as energy efficiency measures

Playing popular science

Popular science is a critical form of science communication and dissemination. While scientific journals and detailed textbooks are well suited to dissemination of detailed theories and findings within academic communities, there is a definitive need to inform the general public of key scientific concepts and challenges. Indeed, this is increasingly seen as a central part of any research project or funding bid: in the United Kingdom, the Research Councils stipulate a need to consider public engagement and outreach in research proposals For scientists, the popular science book has long been a medium of choice, primarily because they already have a great deal of experience in writing. But in recent years scientific researchers have been increasingly engaged with other forms of popular science communication, including radio and television broadcasting. Early careers researchers are now provided with training in these areas, including guidance on how to develop programme proposals and how to write, present, direct, and edit materials for print, the airwaves, and screen. In effect, today’s scientists are expected to engage directly with popular science journalism not merely as scientific advisors, but as the writers, directors, and broadcasters.This event involved an exhibition and discussion of four popular science games, co-designed by scientific experts and designed and developed by students at Abertay University. The four games were: (1) Namaka by Crowbar Games Co-designed by Ecotoxicologist Dr Brian Quinn (2) Tides: A Shark Tale by Benthos Games Co-designed by Immunologist and sharks expert Dr Helen Dooley (3) Orbs by Quantessential Games Co-designed by Quantum Physicist Dr Erik Gauger (4) Cell Cycle by Type 3 Games Co-designed by Cell Biologist and cancer researcher Dr Adrian Sauri

The Characterization of Salmonella isolated from Pig Meat in Northern Ireland by PFGE and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles

The emergence of antibiotic resistance and especially multiple antibiotic resistance Salmonella has become a concern for the pig industry throughout the EU. Pig herds and pork are considered as principal reservoirs for the multi-resistant Salmonella type Typhimunum DT104, which has acquired resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycm, sulphonamides and tetracycline. This resistance pattern is also known as ACSSuT. In this study Porcine Salmonella strains were isolated between December 2005 and December 2006. The strains origmated from an abattoir study sampling the \u27oyster\u27 cut. The Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of all Salmonella isolates in this study were determined by disk diffusion tests. Twelve antibiotics were utilized throughout the profiling procedure Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), which is regarded as the Gold Standard for the typmg and strain identification of Salmonella isolates, was used to determine DNA fingerprints of the Salmonella isolates using the restriction enzyme Xbal (Invitrogen) The fragments were then separated by PFGE in a Chef DR II system (Bio-Rad). This enabled comparison of Salmonella isolated in this study

A new cross-layer dynamic spectrum access architecture for TV White Space cognitive radio applications

As evermore applications and services are developed for wireless devices, the dramatic growth in user data traffic has led to the legacy channels becoming congested with the corresponding imperative of requiring more spectra. This has motivated both regulatory bodies and commercial companies to investigate strategies to increase the efficiency of the existing spectrum. With the emergence of cognitive radio technology, and the transference of TV channels from analogue to digital platforms, a unique opportunity to exploit spectrum by mobile digital service providers has emerged, commonly referred to as TV White Space (TVWS). One of the challenges in utilising TVWS spectrum is reliable primary user (PU) detection which is essential as any unlicensed secondary user has no knowledge of the PU and thereby can generate interference. This paper addresses the issue of PU detection by introducing a new dynamic spectrum access algorithm that exploits the unique properties of how digital TV (DTV) frequencies are deployed. A fuzzy logic inference model based on an enhanced detection algorithm (EDA) is used to resolve the inherent uncertain nature of DTV signals. Simulation results confirm EDA significantly improves the detection probability of a TVWS channel compared to existing PU detection techniques, while providing consistently low false positive detections. The paper also analyses the impact of the hidden node problem on EDA by modelling representative buildings and proposes a novel solution

Cognitive Radio and TV White Space (TVWS) Applications

As more user applications emerge for wireless devices, the corresponding amount of traffic is rapidly expanding, with the corollary that ever-greater spectrum capacity is required. Service providers are experiencing deployment blockages due to insufficient bandwidth being available to accommodate such devices. TV White Space (TVWS) represents an opportunity to supplement existing licensed spectrum by exploiting unlicensed resources. TVWS spectrum has materialised from the unused TV channels in the switchover from analogue to digital platforms. The main obstacles to TVWS adoption are reliable detection of primary users (PU) i.e., TV operators and consumers, allied with specifically, the hidden node problem. This chapter presents a new Generalised Enhanced Detection Algorithm (GEDA) that exploits the unique way Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) channels are deployed in different geographical areas. GEDA effectively transforms an energy detector into a feature sensor to achieve significant improvements in detection probability of a DTT PU. Furthermore, by framing a novel margin strategy utilising a keep out contour, the hidden node issue is resolved, and a viable secondary user sensing solution formulated. Experimental results for a cognitive radio TVWS model have formalised both the bandwidth and throughput gains secured by TVWS users with this new paradigm

Enhanced Bezier curve models incorporating local information

The Bezier curve is fundamental to many challenging and practical applications, ranging from computer aided geometric design and postscript font representations through to generic object shape descriptors and surface representation. A drawback of the Bezier curve however, is that it only considers global information about the control points, so there is often a large gap between the curve and its control polygon, leading to considerable error in curve representations. To address this issue, this paper presents enhanced Bezier curve (EBC) models which seamlessly incorporate local information. The performance of the models is empirically evaluated upon a number of natural and synthetic objects having arbitrary shape and both qualitative and quantitative results confirm the superiority of both EBC models in comparison with the classical Bezier curve representation, with no increase in the order of computational complexity

Low temperature ignition of biomass

Abstract Biomass is an especially reactive fuel. There have been large increases in the transportation and utilization of biomass fuels over the past 10 years and this has raised concerns over its safe handling and utilization. Fires, and sometimes explosions, are a risk during all stages of fuel production as well as during the handling and utilization of the product. This paper presents a method for assessing ignition risk and provides a ranking of relative risk of ignition of biomass fuels. Tests involved single particle measurements, thermal analysis, dust layer and basket ignition tests. In all cases, smouldering combustion was observed, whereby the fuels pyrolyse to produce a black char, which then subsequently ignites. Low temperature pyrolysis kinetics have been utilised to predict ignition delay times at low temperatures. A method for evaluating risk was explored based on the activation energy for pyrolysis and a characteristic temperature from {TGA} analysis. Here, olive cake, sunflower husk and Miscanthus fall into the high risk category, while the woods, plane, pine, mesquite and red berry juniper, fall into the medium risk category. This method is able to capture the impact of low activation energy for pyrolysis on the increased risk of ignition

Loss of constitutional heterozygosity on chromosomes 5 and 17 in cholangiocarcinoma.

It has been established that loss of tumour suppressor genes is crucial in carcinogenesis. There has been no reported study on searching for tumour suppressor genes in cholangiocarcinomas as yet. In order to investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), which may represent such gene loss, in cholangiocarcinoma, we studied 14 patients with this tumour using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Twenty-two probes assigned to chromosomes 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 were used. Allelic losses were found in chromosomal regions 5q35-qter and 17p13. Loss of genetic material in these regions in cholangiocarcinoma was shared with hepatocellular carcinoma. Probes for other chromosomes have as yet shown no consistent LOH. In conclusion, this study for the first time showed LOH on chromosomes 5 and 17 in cholangiocarcinoma