Analyzing the Mass-Rearing System of the California Red Scale Parasitoid Aphytis melinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Results from studies to improve mass rearing production of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus De Bach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are presented. Parasitoid production was carried out following standard commercial procedures using an alternative host, Aspidiotus nerii Bouché (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), infesting Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne) (Cucurbitaceae), butternut squash. We found that the initial number of A. melinus adults introduced into rearing cages to start production and the scale/parasitoid ratio in those cages profoundly influenced future parasitoid production. We also observed that scale parasitism was positively correlated with the production of parasitoid adults, but this relationship was negatively correlated if > 2.6 parasitoids per d, per cm2, were used in the cages to start parasitism. Supplemental honey (provided on the squash surface) had no clear impact on parasitoid production or survival, but improved host parasitism. Approximately 47% of the host scale population on squash was parasitized, with another 43.1% of the population recorded as dead. We found that ≤ 10 host scales per cm2 on squash was an adequate density for mass production purposes

An evaluation of the Macarena Integral Consolidation Plan (PCIM)

This paper presents a description of the new strategy for the fight against drugs implemented in Colombia since the year 2007. The Strategic Leap Forward, as the Colombian government has called the program, or the Strategic Development Initiative, as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) calls it, is a step forward in the design of anti-drug policies that are more sustainable and effective in the mid-term. Currently, a pilot project is being implemented in the Macarena region, in the department of Meta (southeast of Bogotá), where coca crops and illicit activities were the norm just a few years ago. The Colombian State, partially financed by the United States governments and European countries, consolidates its presence in this region with the different instances and programs of the state apparatus to recover territorial control and combat the production of illicit drugs. But even more important is that this new approach in the fight against illegal drugs is based on a regional economic development plan, to avoid that peasants become involved in the first stages of cocaine production and trafficking process. The adequate functioning of this strategy can be a reference point to other countries that face similar problems of illicit drug production and conflict associated with these activities.Macarena, Consolidation Plan, Colombia, Anti-drug policies

Estimation of the control parameter from symbolic sequences: Unimodal maps with variable critical point

The work described in this paper can be interpreted as an application of the order patterns of symbolic dynamics when dealing with unimodal maps. Specifically, it is shown how Gray codes can be used to estimate the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the order patterns of parametric unimodal maps. Furthermore, these PDFs depend on the value of the parameter, what eventually provides a handle to estimate the parameter value from symbolic sequences (in form of Gray codes), even when the critical point depends on the parameter.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figure

The credibility of the Venezuela crawling-band system

This paper studies the credibility of the Venezuela crawling-band exchange rate regime during the period July, 1996-February, 2002. We show that, introducing some modifications, the credibility analysis widely applied to target zone regimes can also be used in studying the credibility of crawling- band regimes. In analyzing the credibility of the Venezuela crawling band, first we use the so-called simple credibility tests developed by Svensson (1991). Additionally, we estimate the expected rate of realignment using the drift- adjustment method. Both the credibility tests and the drift-adjustment method give similar results, showing that the crawling-band system was highly credible during the period.crawling band exchange rate system, credibility, realignments

Entropy-Expansiveness and Domination for Surface Diffeomorphisms

Let f : M → M be a Cr-diffeomorphism, r ≥ 1, deffined on a closed manifold M. We prove that if M is a surface and K ⊂ M is a compact invariant set such that TKM = E ⊕ F is a dominated splitting then f/K is entropy expansive. Moreover C¹ generically in any dimension, isolated homoclinic classes H(p), p hyperbolic, are entropy expansive. Conversely, if there exists a C1 neighborhood U of a surface diffeomorphism f and a homoclinic class H(p), p hyperbolic, such that for every g ∈ U the continuation H(pg) of H(p) is entropy-expansive then there is a dominated splitting for f/H(p).Let f : M → M be a Cr-diffeomorphism, r ≥ 1, defined on a closed manifold M. We prove that if M is a surface and K ⊂ M is a compact invariant set such that TK M = E ⊕ F is a dominated splitting then f/K is entropy expansive. Moreover C1 generically in any dimension, isolated homoclinic classes H(p), p hyperbolic, are entropy expansive. Conversely, if there exists a C1 neighborhood U of a surface diffeomorphism f and a homoclinic class H(p), p hyperbolic, such that for every g ∈U the contin¬uation H(pg) of H(p) is entropy-expansive then there is a dominated splitting for f/H(p)

Country Creditor Rights, Information Sharing, and Commercial Banks’ Profitability

The authors analyze commercial banks’ profitability (return on equity, ROE) at different levels of creditor rights and an aggregate score of information sharing in terms of credit bureaus. After controlling for bank size and some macroeconomic variables, the results indicate that profitability is higher and more persistent when creditors are well protected. Furthermore, the presence of a (public or private) credit bureau increases the persistence of ROE, but higher levels of information sharing foster competition and erode future profitability.return on equity (ROE), commercial banks, creditor rights, information sharing, predictive ability of accounting

Devaluation Beliefs and Debt Crisis: The Argentinian Case

Throughout the year 2001 the Argentine real GDP fell by 20 percent and the Investment Rate decreased by more than 20 percent of the GDP. The government made several announcements on changes in exchange rate policy in order to assist the recovery of the economy. At same time, the Trade Balance produced a huge surplus and the Argentine External Debt over GDP ratio increased so much that it forced the Argentinian government to default and, afterwards, devalue the peso 40 percent. We explore the relationship between default and the expectations on devaluation. We find that depending on the level of debt and given an expectation of devaluation two types of crises can arise: if the level of debt is low the government devalues but does not default; for a higher level of debt, the government devalues and defaults to cancel the future cost of repaying the debt. We have calibrated our model to match the main features of the Argentine crisis and we show that the External Debt over GDP ratio was in a crisis zone where the government found it optimal to default and to devalue.Debt crisis, Devaluation, Argentina

A sensitive study of the peculiar jet structure HST-1 in M87

To obtain a better understanding of the location and mechanisms for the production of the gamma-ray emission in jets of AGN we present a detailed study of the HST-1 structure, 0.8 arcsec downstream the jet of M87, previously identified as a possible candidate for TeV emission. HST-1 shows a very peculiar structure with superluminal as well as possible stationary sub-components, and appears to be located in the transition from a parabolic to a conical jet shape, presumably leading to the formation of a recollimation shock. This scenario is supported by our new RHD simulations in which the interaction of a moving component with a recollimation shock leads to the appearance of a new superluminal component. To discern whether HST-1 is produced by a recollimation shock or some other MHD instability, we present new polarimetric 2.2 and 5 GHz VLBA, as well as 15, 22 and 43 GHz JVLA observations obtained between November 2012 and March 2013.Comment: 6 page

Psicología Jurídica en España: Delimitación Conceptual, Campos de Investigación e Intervención y Propuesta Formativa dentro de la Enseñanza Oficial / Legal Psychology in Spain: Conceptual Boundary, Fields of Investigation and Intervention and Formative Proposal of Official Education

La Psicología Jurídica como especialidad profesional del psicólogo ha tenido un desarrollo exponencial desde finales de los años ochenta hasta la actualidad, considerándose un campo consolidado dentro de la Psicología Aplicada. Inexplicablemente, sin embargo, esta madurez de la Psicología Jurídica no se ha visto reflejada con su incursión en los nuevos itinerarios curriculares elaborados a partir del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. En el presente trabajo se maneja como hipótesis explicativa de esta situación la dificultad de vertebrar este campo disciplinar debido a los diversos ámbitos de interés investigador y de intervención. Se pretende, por tanto, generar debate entre académicos y profesionales de la Psicología Jurídica con el fin de buscar el consenso que impulse un firme afianzamiento no sólo de perfiles profesionales específicos dentro del ámbito de la Psicología Jurídica sino de ésta como disciplina dentro de la Psicología. Se propone así, un concepto único para definir el campo, distintas áreas en las que agrupar la investigación y prácticas profesionales, a la vez que se sugiere un proyecto de Master Oficial en Psicología Jurídica como punto de partida para el debate. El reconocimiento académico de la Psicología Jurídica además de garantizar la proyección futura de la disciplina tanto en su vertiente aplicada como de investigación permitirá seguir ofreciendo a la sociedad en general y al mundo de la ley en particular una actuación profesional de calidad y adaptada a los retos futuros. [ABSTRACT]Legal Psychology as psychologist´s professional specialty has had an exponential development since the end of the Eighties until the present time, considering itself a consolidated field within Applied Psychology. Inexplicably, nevertheless, this maturity of Legal Psychology has not been reflected with its incursion in the new curricular itineraries elaborated from the European Space of Superior Education. This paper handles, as an explanatory hypothesis of this situation, the difficulty of integrating this disciplinary field due to the diverse scopes of investigative interest and intervention. It is intended, therefore, to generate debate between academics and professionals of Legal Psychology in altars to the search of the consensus that impels a firm reinforcement not only of specific professional profiles within the scope of Legal Psychology but also as a discipline within Psychology. A unique concept to define the field, different areas in which to group the professional investigation and practices, are being proposed, as well as it is being suggested a project of Official Masters in Legal Psychology as departure point for the debate. The academic recognition of Legal Psychology, along with guaranteeing the future projection of this discipline in its applied and investigative areas, will allow to continue offering a professional and qualified performance adapted to future challenges, to the mainly society and specifically the world of the law