Biology and population dynamics of Scaeva albomaculata (Diptera: Syrphidae) in almond orchards of Shahrekord, Iran

Biology of Scaeva albomaculata (Macquart) was investigated on Brachycaudus amygdalinus (Schouteden) as a prey in laboratory conditions (20 ± 2 ºC and 45 ± 5 % RH). Developmental times were 2.57 ± 0.098, 1.57 ± 0.072 and 4.3 ± 0.085 days for the first, second and third instar larvae, respectively. The first and second instar larvae of syrphid fly consumed 21.7 ± 0.87 and 35.1 ± 1.25 the first and second nymphs, respectively, whereas the third instar larvae consumed 613.2 ± 18.43 alate nymphs of B. amygdalinus. Adults of syrphid flies mostly emerged in early morning. Population dynamics of eggs and larvae and larval behavior were studied from emergence time (early March) to late October during 2001-2004 in two regions (Shahrekord and Shorab-Saghir). In natural conditions, the larvae that completed their growth left the almond twigs and pupated at a depth of 3-5 cm below the soil surface. The most important natural enemies of S. albomaculata larvae were identified as Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius) (Hym.: Ichneomonidae) and Dotriothorax sp. (Hym.: Encyrtidae), which parasitized 34% and 5% of the larvae, respectively. These parasitoids emerged from pupae of S. albomaculata. Another mortality agent was an unknown pathogen, which caused the body content of the pupae to become a milky liquid

VINYL: The VIrtual Neutron and x-raY Laboratory and its applications

Experiments conducted in large scientific research infrastructures, such as synchrotrons, free electron lasers and neutron sources become increasingly complex. Such experiments, often investigating complex physical systems, are usually performed under strict time limitations and may depend critically on experimental parameters. To prepare and analyze these complex experiments, a virtual laboratory which provides start-to-end simulation tools can help experimenters predict experimental results under real or close to real instrument conditions. As a part of the PaNOSC (Photon and Neutron Open Science Cloud) project, the VIrtual Neutron and x-raY Laboratory (VINYL) is designed to be a cloud service framework to implement start-to-end simulations for those scientific facilities. In this paper, we present an introduction of the virtual laboratory framework and discuss its applications to the design and optimization of experiment setups as well as the estimation of experimental artifacts in an X-ray experiment

Tolvaptan in ADPKD Patients With Very Low Kidney Function

Introduction: Tolvaptan slowed estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in subjects with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in TEMPO 3:4 and REPRISE trials. Tolvaptan effects in subjects with eGFR 15 to 24 ml/min per 1.73 m2 were not investigated. This post hoc analysis retrospectively investigated eGFR decline in REPRISE versus an open-label, phase 3b extension trial (open-label extension [OLE] NCT02251275) in subjects who received placebo in REPRISE and tolvaptan in OLE with eGFR 15 to 24 and 25 to 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively. Methods: One data subset comprised subjects with OLE baseline eGFR 15 to 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2 who had received placebo in REPRISE and began tolvaptan in OLE. The second comprised subjects who had received tolvaptan in REPRISE and were matched to REPRISE placebo-treated subjects for REPRISE baseline characteristics. Annualized eGFR slopes in REPRISE versus OLE were compared within the REPRISE placebo (i.e., placebo vs. tolvaptan treatment) and tolvaptan (i.e., 2 periods of tolvaptan treatment) subsets. Results: Mean annualized eGFR slopes (ml/min per 1.73 m2) during tolvaptan treatment in OLE versus placebo treatment in REPRISE were -3.4 versus -5.2 for subjects with OLE baseline eGFR 15 to 29 (difference, 1.7; P < 0.001), -3.6 versus -5.4 with baseline eGFR 15 to 24 (difference, 1.8; P < 0.001), and -3.3 versus -4.9 with baseline eGFR 25 to 29 (difference, 1.6; P < 0.001). In REPRISE tolvaptan subjects who continued tolvaptan in OLE, treatment effect was maintained (no difference between mean annualized eGFR slopes). Conclusion: Initiating or maintaining tolvaptan therapy significantly delayed eGFR decline in subjects with baseline eGFR 15 to 24 and 25 to 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2

Reassessment of selected factors affecting siting of Nuclear Power Plants

Brookhaven National Laboratory has performed a series of probabilistic consequence assessment calculations for nuclear reactor siting. This study takes into account recent insights into severe accident source terms and examines consequences in a risk based format consistent with the quantitative health objectives (QHOs) of the NRC`s Safety Goal Policy. Simplified severe accident source terms developed in this study are based on the risk insights of NUREG-1150. The results of the study indicate that both the quantity of radioactivity released in a severe accident as well as the likelihood of a release are lower than those predicted in earlier studies. The accident risks using the simplified source terms are examined at a series of generic plant sites, that vary in population distribution, meteorological conditions, and exclusion area boundary distances. Sensitivity calculations are performed to evaluate the effects of emergency protective action assumptions on the risk of prompt fatality and latent cancers fatality, and population relocation. The study finds that based on the new source terms the prompt and latent fatality risks at all generic sites meet the QHOs of the NRC`s Safety Goal Policy by margins ranging from one to more than three orders of magnitude. 4 refs., 17 figs., 24 tabs

Strategies for Searching the Internet for Orthopedic Surgeons: Tips and Tricks

Internet provides access to large amounts of information quickly, provides a flexible learning platform, and is easily accessible from anywhere, especially with new technologies. Web-based search engines and bibliographic databases, have already become part of a doctor\u27s everyday life. However, even well-published researchers often fail to appreciate the background knowledge required to conduct a good literature search on the internet. Using the right techniques can improve the ability to search for relevant information This chapter briefly outlines the internet as an information resources such as Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane for orthopedic surgeons. Also the subsequent sections of the chapter offers combining search engines tips and tricks for a best search that orthopedic surgeons can use to improve their use of web-based information and learning resources

Genomic catastrophes frequently arise in esophageal adenocarcinoma and drive tumorigenesis

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence is rapidly increasing in Western countries. A better understanding of EAC underpins efforts to improve early detection and treatment outcomes. While large EAC exome sequencing efforts to date have found recurrent loss-offunction mutations, oncogenic driving events have been underrepresented. Here we use a combination of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism-array profiling to show that genomic catastrophes are frequent in EAC, with almost a third (32%, n¼40/123) undergoing chromothriptic events. WGS of 22 EAC cases show that catastrophes may lead to oncogene amplification through chromothripsis-derived double-minute chromosome formation (MYC and MDM2) or breakage-fusion-bridge (KRAS, MDM2 and RFC3). Telomere shortening is more prominent in EACs bearing localized complex rearrangements. Mutational signature analysis also confirms that extreme genomic instability in EAC can be driven by somatic BRCA2 mutations. These findings suggest that genomic catastrophes have a significant role in the malignant transformation of EAC

The CMS ECAL Barrel HV system

The CMS electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) comprises 75848 scintillating lead tungstate crystals. 61200 crystals are contained in the ECAL Barrel section and are read out by avalanche photodiode (APD) with internal gain of about 50. This gain is achieved with a high voltage (HV) of about 400 Volts. The gain stability requirement implies a supply voltage stable to within 0.01%. We describe our experience with the installed Barrel HV power supply system, which has been used for data taking since 2008

Evaluation of probabilistic photometric redshift estimation approaches for The Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)

Many scientific investigations of photometric galaxy surveys require redshift estimates, whose uncertainty properties are best encapsulated by photometric redshift (photo-z) posterior probability density functions (PDFs). A plethora of photo-z PDF estimation methodologies abound, producing discrepant results with no consensus on a preferred approach. We present the results of a comprehensive experiment comparing 12 photo-z algorithms applied to mock data produced for The Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time Dark Energy Science Collaboration. By supplying perfect prior information, in the form of the complete template library and a representative training set as inputs to each code, we demonstrate the impact of the assumptions underlying each technique on the output photo-z PDFs. In the absence of a notion of true, unbiased photo-z PDFs, we evaluate and interpret multiple metrics of the ensemble properties of the derived photo-z PDFs as well as traditional reductions to photo-z point estimates. We report systematic biases and overall over/underbreadth of the photo-z PDFs of many popular codes, which may indicate avenues for improvement in the algorithms or implementations. Furthermore, we raise attention to the limitations of established metrics for assessing photo-z PDF accuracy; though we identify the conditional density estimate loss as a promising metric of photo-z PDF performance in the case where true redshifts are available but true photo-z PDFs are not, we emphasize the need for science-specific performance metrics

Evaluation of probabilistic photometric redshift estimation approaches for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)

Many scientific investigations of photometric galaxy surveys require redshift estimates, whose uncertainty properties are best encapsulated by photometric redshift (photo-z) posterior probability density functions (PDFs). A plethora of photo-z PDF estimation methodologies abound, producing discrepant results with no consensus on a preferred approach. We present the results of a comprehensive experiment comparing 12 photo-z algorithms applied to mock data produced for The Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time Dark Energy Science Collaboration. By supplying perfect prior information, in the form of the complete template library and a representative training set as inputs to each code, we demonstrate the impact of the assumptions underlying each technique on the output photo-z PDFs. In the absence of a notion of true, unbiased photo-z PDFs, we evaluate and interpret multiple metrics of the ensemble properties of the derived photo-z PDFs as well as traditional reductions to photo-z point estimates. We report systematic biases and overall over/underbreadth of the photo-z PDFs of many popular codes, which may indicate avenues for improvement in the algorithms or implementations. Furthermore, we raise attention to the limitations of established metrics for assessing photo-z PDF accuracy; though we identify the conditional density estimate loss as a promising metric of photo-z PDF performance in the case where true redshifts are available but true photo-z PDFs are not, we emphasize the need for science-specific performance metrics