A social study of eleven post-partum psychotic patients.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Biological traits and life table parameters A and B biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) on cotton and rapeseed

The aim of this work was to construct life table of Bemisia tabaci (Gen.) A and B (silverleaf whitefly B. argentifolii Bellows and Perring) biotype (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) on two host plants; cotton, (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and rapeseed, (Brassica napus L.). Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber under 24 ± 2ºC, 55±3% RH and 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod on caged plants of cotton G. hirsutum L. (Varamin 76 variety) and rapeseed B. napus L. (global variety. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) for B. tabaci A biotype was 0.1010 females per female per day, 18.4075 females per female and 30.079 day (d) on cotton; 0.1286, 30.6760 and 26.77 d on rapeseed; and for B biotype (B. argentifolii) those above respective parameters averaged 0.1033, 27.8426 and 32.74 d on cotton and 0.1750, 40.75 and 21.27 d on rapeseed. The total survival of A and B biotype from the egg to adult on cotton was 22.08 and 22.25, respectively. The results showed significant differences between the two biotype reared on either host plant for gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0 or NRR), intrinsic rates of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), doubling time (DT) and mean generation times (Tc). To obtain a better understanding of the biology of these biotypes, Stable age distribution (Cx) and some other aspects of life history related to their hosts were also studied. Based upon the results, both biotypes showed a greater reproduction capacity on rapeseed than on cotton. Thus, rapeseed was more suitable host than cotton for two biotypes and this was an important factor in host plant selection for optimizing the control strategies of these major pests.Mohammad Amin Samih, Mehdi Zarabi, Maryam Yazdani and Mohammad Rouhani

The two-sex life table and predation rate of Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Col.: Coccinellidae) feeding on pomegranate green aphid, Aphis punicae (Hem.: Aphididae), under laboratory conditions

The ladybird species Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menetries) is one of the major predators of pests in the orchards across Iran. The life history and predation rate of this predator were studied under laboratory conditions with 27.5 ± 2oC, 55 ± 5 RH and 16: 8 h (L: D) photoperiod to 6-cm petri dishes. To study the demography, a cohort containing about 100 eggs with less than 24h of age was chosen. Ladybeetle larvae were fed daily on the immature stages of pomegranate green aphids, Aphis punicae Pass. The daily fertility, immature developmental time, mortality and predation rate data were analyzed using age-stage, two-sex life table analysis - MSChart software. Means and standard errors of population growth parameters were calculated by bootstrap method. To determine the predation rate, the first-instar beetle larvae were fed on the third and forth developmental stages of A. punicae. The adult ladybirds were grouped in pairs of opposite sexes to investigate their predation rates on daily basis. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase(λ) , mean generation time (T0) and net reproductive rate )R0( were 0.181 d-1, 1.198 d-1, 30.58 d and 251.65 offspring per individual respectively. Predation rate of different stages of forth-instar larvae and both adult sexes were 49.56, 95 and 125, aphids respectively, and the average predation rate (C0) was 118 aphids that shows a high rate of predation on the aphid population

Math teachers' beliefs, practices, and belief change in implementing problem based learning in Qatari primary governmental school

This study explored math teachers' beliefs regarding their roles, practices and perceived change in implementing Problem-Based Learning in Qatar's primary government schools. Multiple sources of qualitative data were generated including metaphors, lesson plans and interviews with seventeen math teachers. Although teachers considered PBL as an effective method benefiting student learning and they demonstrated progress in changing their beliefs moving from subject to didactic dimension through PBL implementation, their practices remained partially aligned with their perceived belief changes. This discrepancy could be attributed to several encountered challenges, including teachers' insecurity and lack of confidence, difficulty in facilitating student collaboration, structural constraints, additional workload, and the lack of school and peer support. Results suggest the need for different types of "problems" and approaches such as more direct instruction, and higher feasibility in teachers' autonomy when implementing PBL in primary education.Scopu

Predatory efficiency of Hippodamia variegata (Col.: Coccinellidae) on common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hem.: Aphalaridae), under laboratory conditions

Common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt & Lauterer, is the most economically important species among the psyllid pests of pistachio in Iran. Hence, the possibility of using nonchemical control methods against A. pistaciae and the existence of its natural enemies need to be investigated. The spotted amber ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), is one of the most effective predators in pistachio orchards. It is a highly polyphagous coccinellid that preys mainly on aphid and psyllid pests of pistachio trees. This study is intended to improve the knowledge about the predation capacity of A. pistaciae. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions of 25oC and 30oC, 55 ± 5 RH and 16: 8 L: D. Logistic regression was used to determine the type of functional response and nonlinear regression calculated the parameters of the rate of searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The functional response on different density of prey at both temperatures was type II. The attack rate and handling time were 0.088 ± 0.012 h-1 and 0.0647 ± 0.011 h at 25ºC and 0.195 ± 0.031 h-1 and 0.0698 ± 0.056 h at 30ºC, respectively. The density and temperature affected the predation rate significantly. The data suggests that the H. variegata is a viable biological agent against A. pistaciae

Effect of temperature on life table parameters of Diaphania indica (Lep.: Pyralidae) under laboratory conditions

The cucumber moth, Diaphania indica (Saunders), is a tropical and sub-tropical pest on cucurbits and a key pest of greenhouse crops in Jiroft region of Iran. The effect of temperature on life table parameters of this pest was investigated in a growth chamber at four constant temperatures i.e. 20, 25, 30 and 35 ºC on Cucumis sativus L. The net reproductive rates (R0) were found to be 68.19, 120.977, 64.05 and 21.23, respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (rm) were 0.0619, 0.1746, 0.1934 and 0.1491, and mean generation times (T) were 69.063, 27.45, 21.49 and 20.44, respectively. According to the results, for the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ) and intrinsic birth rate (b), the optimum temperature was 30 ºC and the least suitable temperature was 20 ºC

Developmental periods of Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Col.: Coccinellidae) reared on eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Lep.: Gelechiidae) and Ephestia kuehniella (Lep.: Pyralidae) at constant temperatures

The coccinellid Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menteries) is one of the most important predators of orchard pests in Iran. The effect of eggs of Sitotroga cereallela Olivier (Lep.: Gelechiidae) and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae) on development and survival of this beetle was studied and compared under laboratory conditions (five constant temperatures i.e., 22.5 ± 1, 25 ± 1, 27.5 ± 1, 30 ± 1 and 32.5 ± 1 °C 55 ± 5% relative humidity (R. H.) and a 16:8 h light: dark photoperiod). Total developmental time at the above-mentioned temperatures were 28.83 ± 0.17, 24.52 ± 0.37, 21,39 ± 0.21 17.92 ± 0.16 and 18.22 ± 0.29 days on S. cereallelaand27 ± 0.38, 23.32 ± 0.14, 19.57 ± 0.28, 16.14 ± 0.17 and 16.33 ± 0.05 days on E. kuehniella. The lower developmental thresholds (T0) of egg, larva, pupa and egg to adult on E. kuehniella were estimated15.02, 8.6, 7.48 and 8.55 ºC and the thermal constant for these periods calculated as 38.16, 222.22, 71.9 and 370.37 DD. The lower developmental thresholds on S. cereallela were found to be 13.79, 5.6, 5.82 and 6.54 ºC andthermal constant for the mentioned periods were 41.15, 277.77, 91.7, 454.54 DD, respectively. Although significant differences between developmental times at different temperatures exist, no significant differences was observed between 30 and 32.5 °C for two prey species. The results suggest that E. kuehniella serves as a more effective host than S. cereallela for rearing of coccinellid O. conglobata

Comparison of bone regenerative capacity of donor-matched human adipose–derived and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) have been used as an alternative to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) for bone tissue engineering. However, the efficacy of ASC in bone regeneration in comparison with BMSC remains debatable, since inconsistent results have been reported. Comparing ASC with BMSC obtained from different individuals might contribute to this inconsistency in results. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the bone regenerative capacity of donor-matched human ASC and BMSC seeded onto poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) scaffolds using calvarial bone defects in nude rats. First, donor-matched ASC and BMSC were seeded onto the co-polymer scaffolds to evaluate their in vitro osteogenic differentiation. Seeded scaffolds and scaffolds without cells (control) were then implanted in calvarial defects in nude rats. The expression of osteogenesis-related genes was examined after 4 weeks. Cellular activity was investigated after 4 and 12 weeks. Bone formation was evaluated radiographically and histologically after 4, 12, and 24 weeks. In vitro, ASC and BMSC demonstrated mineralization. However, BMSC showed higher alkaline phosphatase activity than ASC. In vivo, human osteogenesis–related genes Runx2 and collagen type I were expressed in defects with scaffold/cells. Defects with scaffold/BMSC had higher cellular activity than defects with scaffold/ASC. Moreover, bone formation in defects with scaffold/BMSC was greater than in defects with scaffold/ASC, especially at the early time-point. These results suggest that although ASC have the potential to regenerate bone, the rate of bone regeneration with ASC may be slower than with BMSC. Accordingly, BMSC are more suitable for bone regenerative applications.publishedVersio