Efficacy of Communicative Reading Strategies as an Instructional Approach for Adult Low-Ability Readers.

Twelve adult low-ability readers participated in a pretest-posttest control group study investigating the efficacy of Communicative Reading Strategies (CRS) as an instructional reading approach. Six adults received CRS instruction and constituted the experimental group. The remaining six adults received skill-based instruction and served as the control group. All participants demonstrated instructional level reading skills at or below a fifth grade level and completed 40 hours of instruction. Changes in performance on measures of word recognition, comprehension, and reading rate from pretest to posttest were used to compare CRS and control groups. Results of Mann Whitney U analyses revealed that both methods of instruction were effective in improving word recognition and comprehension abilities for most subjects. For individual subjects and mean group gains, the word recognition and comprehension results favored the CRS group, although these differences did not reach a level of statistical significance. Further analyses of the reading performance of CRS subjects revealed additional findings. Scaffolding provided by CRS interactions increased both the assisted word recognition level and assisted comprehension scores for most subjects at both pretest and posttest. Furthermore, reading gains made under scaffolded conditions at pretest were highly predictive of actual unassisted reading gains demonstrated after 40 hours of instruction. Measures of reading accuracy, fluency, rate, comprehension, and story retelling ability obtained from CRS subjects after every 10 hours of instruction was not representative of actual gains demonstrated at posttest

Efficacy of propionic acid against the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.)

Propionic acid is used to preserve feed grain, especially against fungal attack, and is known to affect stored product insects as well. In the study presented here, the effect of wheat treated with different amounts of pure propionic acid on both adult Sitophilus granarius and its progeny was investigated. Propionic acid (99.5% purity) was added to samples of 150 g of wheat at the doses of 0.5, 0.7 and 1% by weight. Subsequently, 100 adult S. granarius were released into each vial with treated wheat. Each trial was repeated three times. The untreated controls received water instead of propionic acid. Dead weevils were counted after 7 and 14 days. Insects surviving 7 days were placed back into the vials, all adults were removed after 14 days. During the period of 8 and 11 weeks after start of the experiment, the number of progeny was counted weekly. In the trials with 0.5%, 0.7% and 1% by weight, after 14 days 73.7, 37.3 and 3.7% of the adults were alive, respectively. While the mean number of progeny was 1549 in the untreated control, 1.3 and 0.3 progeny on average emerged from the grain treated with 0.5% and 0.7% propionic acid, respectively. No progeny survived in the treatment with 1% by weight. Even though complete control of adult S. granarius could not be achieved with the tested conditions, under practical situations of storage of feed grain, the described application of propionic acid will effectively suppress the mass-development of S. granarius. Keywords: Granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius, Propionic acid, Control, Feed storag

Penetration ability of Holepyris sylvanidis into the feeding substrate of its host Tribolium confusum

The bethylid wasp Holepyris sylvanidis (Brèthes, 1913) is an antagonist of the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val 1868, a severe pest in the food processing industry and in grain products, primarily in flour mills and bakeries. Females of the larval ectoparasitoid H. sylvanidis have to detect hosts that feed in different depths inside stored products like flour or grist. This study addresses the questions (1) whether successful host finding by H. sylvanidis is dependent on the location of Tribolium larvae in the substrate and (2) whether the type of substrate affects host finding. In laboratory experiments, T. confusum larvae in a Petri dish accessible to the wasps were placed 1, 2, 4 or 8 cm deep in either fine or coarse ground wholemeal grist of wheat (main particle size: < 0.2 mm or 1.4 – 3 mm) in fifteen replicates per substrate and depth. Parasitoids were released onto the surface of the substrate. Tribolium confusum larvae were not able to  leave the Petri dish, however they could be pulled outside into the grist by H. sylvanidis. Within the behavioural sequence of parasitisation, pulling away of host larvae is the typical behaviour preceding oviposition. In order to determine host finding success by the parasitoid, the number of missing host larvae was assessed 2 wks after release of the wasps. In fine grist larvae were attacked down to 4 cm depth; however, larvae placed deeper (8 cm) were not found anymore. In contrast, host larvae in coarse grist were still detected at 8 cm depth. The results suggest that host finding by H. sylvanidis is hindered by decrease in particle size of the substrate. Nevertheless, H. sylvanidis may be considered a promising candidate for biological control of T. confusum larvae feeding in coarse grist and in thin layers of fine grist. Keywords: Holepyris sylvanidis, Tribolium confusum, Biological control, Penetration ability, Host findin

Vorratsschutz im Ökologischen Landbau: Entscheidungshilfe durch das Computerprogramm VOEL 1.0

VOEL 1.0 is a decision-support software for the protection of organic stored-products that was developed for store-keepers, farmers and pest control specialists in Ger-many. Most of the information given applies to all Central European countries, except for some legislative aspects concerning registration, which are specific for Germany. The program contains a decision-support module for monitoring and control of stored product pest, an encyclopedia on pests and beneficial organisms, a key for the deter-mination of these organisms, information on registered products for stored product protection in Germany, a data bank where literature concerning associations of pests and beneficials can be retrieved, a list of references on stored product protection in general and several original papers on stored-product protection

Holepyris sylvanidis, ein natürlicher Gegenspieler des Amerikanischen Reismehlkäfers Tribolium confusum; Untersuchungen zur Eindringfähigkeit des Parasitoiden in das Nahrungssubstrat seines Wirtes

Zusammenfassung Das Ameisenwespchen Holepyris sylvanidis (Brèthes, 1913) (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) ist ein natürlicher Gegenspieler des Amerikanischen Reismehlkäfers Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, 1868 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). T. confusum gilt als bedeutender Schädling in der Nahrungsmittelindustrie sowie in gelagerten Getreideprodukten und tritt in Zentraleuropa vorwiegend in Mühlen und Bäckereien auf. Als Ektoparasitoid der T. confusum-Larven muss H. sylvanidis seine Wirte aufspüren, welche sich in ihren Nahrungssubstraten, wie Mehl und Schrot, in unterschiedlicher Tiefe aufhalten können. Diese Arbeit beschäftigte sich daher mit der Fragestellung, ob der Erfolg von H. sylvanidis bei der Wirtssuche von der Lagetiefe der Wirtslarven im Substrat sowie der Art des Substrates abhängig ist. In Laborversuchen wurde jeweils eine mit 10 T. confusum-Larven bestückte, nicht vollständig geschlossene Petrischale auf dem Boden eines Versuchsglases platziert und mit einer 1, 2, 4 oder 8 cm hohen Schicht feinem oder grobem Weizenvollkornschrot bedeckt (überwiegende Partikelgröße: feiner Schrot < 0,2 mm; grober Schrot 1,4 - 3,0 mm). An der Substratoberfläche wurden jeweils 10 H. sylvanidis-Weibchen und 2 Männchen freigelassen. Je Schrotart und Testtiefe erfolgten 15 Versuchswiederholungen. Die T. confusum-Larven waren nicht in der Lage, die Petrischale zu verlassen, konnten aber von den Wespenweibchen heraustransportiert werden. Das Verschleppen der Wirtslarven ist ein für H. sylvanidis typisches Verhalten, das der eigentlichen Parasitierung vorausgeht. Zwei Wochen nach Versuchsbeginn wurde die Anzahl der verschleppten Käferlarven ermittelt, um den Wirtsfindungserfolg der Wespen bestimmen zu können. In beiden Schrotarten nahm der Anteil der von H. sylvanidis gefundenen Wirtslarven mit zunehmender Tiefe ab. In feinem Schrot fanden die Wespenweibchen ihre Wirtslarven bis zu einer Tiefe von 4 cm, in 8 cm Tiefe platzierte Larven wurden nicht mehr gefunden. Im Gegensatz dazu fanden die Parasitoide in grobem Schrot auch die in 8 cm Tiefe ausgebrachten Wirtslarven. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass eine geringe Partikelgröße des Substrates den Wirtsfindungserfolg von H. sylvanidis verringert. In grobem Schrot sowie in dünnen Schichten eines feinen Substrates erscheint die biologische Bekämpfung von T. confusum mit H. sylvanidis dagegen vielversprechend. Stichwörter: Holepyris sylvanidis, Tribolium confusum, Biologische Bekämpfung, Parasitoid, Eindringfähigkeit, Wirtsfindung   Abstract The bethylid wasp Holepyris sylvanidis (Brèthes, 1913) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is an antagonist of the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, 1868 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). T. confusum is a severe pest in the food processing industry and in grain products, in Central Europe primarily in flour mills and bakeries. Females of the larval ectoparasitoid H. sylvanidis face the problem to detect hosts that feed in different depths inside a stored product like flour or grist. The study addressed the question whether successful host finding by H. sylvanidis is dependent on the location of host larvae inside the substrate. Furthermore, it was studied whether the type of substrate affects host finding. In laboratory experiments, 10 T. confusum larvae were placed in a Petri dish accessible to the wasps at a depth of 1, 2, 4 or 8 cm inside either fine or coarse ground wholemeal grist of wheat (main particle size: fine grist < 0.2 mm; coarse grist 1.4 - 3.0 mm). 15 replicates per substrate and depth were performed. 10 female and 2 male parasitoids were released on the surface of the substrate. Host larvae were not able to leave the Petri dish, however, they could be pulled outside the dish by female H. sylvanidis. Within the behavioural sequence of parasitisation, pulling away of host larvae is the behaviour typically preceding oviposition. In order to determine the host finding rate by the parasitoid, the number of missing host larvae was counted two weeks after experiments started. In both types of substrates, host finding decreased with increasing depth. In fine grist, larvae were removed from the Petri dish down to 4 cm depth, however, larvae placed at 8 cm depth were not found anymore. In contrast, in coarse grist host larvae were still parasitised at 8 cm depth. The results suggest that decreasing substrate particle size reduces the host finding capability by H. sylvanidis. Nevertheless, H. sylvanidis may be considered a promising candidate for biological control of T. confusum larvae feeding in coarse ground grist and in thin layers of fine ground grist. Keywords: Holepyris sylvanidis, Tribolium confusum, biological control, parasitoid, penetration ability, host findin

Transportation Energy Pathways LDRD.

This report presents a system dynamics based model of the supply-demand interactions between the USlight-duty vehicle (LDV) fleet, its fuels, and the corresponding primary energy sources through the year2050. An important capability of our model is the ability to conduct parametric analyses. Others have reliedupon scenario-based analysis, where one discrete set of values is assigned to the input variables and used togenerate one possible realization of the future. While these scenarios can be illustrative of dominant trendsand tradeoffs under certain circumstances, changes in input values or assumptions can have a significantimpact on results, especially when output metrics are associated with projections far into the future. Thistype of uncertainty can be addressed by using a parametric study to examine a range of values for the inputvariables, offering a richer source of data to an analyst.The parametric analysis featured here focuses on a trade space exploration, with emphasis on factors thatinfluence the adoption rates of electric vehicles (EVs), the reduction of GHG emissions, and the reduction ofpetroleum consumption within the US LDV fleet. The underlying model emphasizes competition between13 different types of powertrains, including conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), conventional hybrids(HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles(BEVs).We find that many factors contribute to the adoption rates of EVs. These include the pace of technologicaldevelopment for the electric powertrain, battery performance, as well as the efficiency improvements inconventional vehicles. Policy initiatives can also have a dramatic impact on the degree of EV adoption. Theconsumer effective payback period, in particular, can significantly increase the market penetration rates ifextended towards the vehicle lifetime.Widespread EV adoption can have noticeable impact on petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas(GHG) emission by the LDV fleet. However, EVs alone cannot drive compliance with the most aggressiveGHG emission reduction targets, even as the current electricity source mix shifts away from coal and towardsnatural gas. Since ICEs will comprise the majority of the LDV fleet for up to forty years, conventional vehicleefficiency improvements have the greatest potential for reductions in LDV GHG emissions over this time.These findings seem robust even if global oil prices rise to two to three times current projections. Thus,investment in improving the internal combustion engine might be the cheapest, lowest risk avenue towardsmeeting ambitious GHG emission and petroleum consumption reduction targets out to 2050.3 AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to thank Dr. Andrew Lutz, Dr. Benjamin Wu, Prof. Joan Ogden and Dr. ChristopherYang for their suggestions over the course of this project. This work was funded by the Laboratory DirectedResearch and Development program at Sandia National Laboratories.

Natural polymorphisms in mycobacterium tuberculosis conferring resistance to delamanid in drug-naïve patients.

Mutations in the genes of the F420 signaling pathway, including dnn, fgd1, fbiA, fbiB, fbiC, and fbiD, of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex can lead to delamanid resistance. We searched for such mutations among 129 Mtb strains from Asia, South-America, and Africa using whole-genome sequencing; 70 (54%) strains had at least one mutation in one of the genes. For ten strains with mutations, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of delamanid. We found one strain from a delamanid-naïve patient carrying the natural polymorphism Tyr29del (ddn) that was associated with a critical MIC to delamanid

Inconsistency in aortic stenosis severity between CT and echocardiography: Prevalence and insights into mechanistic differences using computational fluid dynamics

© 2019 Author(s). Objectives The aims of this study were to evaluate the inconsistency of aortic stenosis (AS) severity between CT aortic valve area (CT-AVA) and echocardiographic Doppler parameters, and to investigate potential underlying mechanisms using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Methods A total of 450 consecutive eligible patients undergoing transcatheter AV implantation assessment underwent CT cardiac angiography (CTCA) following echocardiography. CT-AVA derived by direct planimetry and echocardiographic parameters were used to assess severity. CFD simulation was performed in 46 CTCA cases to evaluate velocity profiles. Results A CT-AVA>1 cm 2 was present in 23% of patients with echocardiographic peak velocity≥4 m/s (r=-0.33) and in 15% patients with mean Doppler gradient≥40 mm Hg (r=-0.39). Patients with inconsistent severity grading between CT and echocardiography had higher stroke volume index (43 vs 38 mL/m 2, p1 cm 2 in up to a quarter of patients. CFD demonstrates that haemodynamic severity may be exaggerated on Doppler analysis due to high LVOT flow rates, with or without skewed velocity profiles, across the valve orifice. These factors should be considered before making a firm diagnosis of severe AS and evaluation with CT can be helpful

Expression profiling with RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Molecular characterization of breast and other cancers by gene expression profiling has corroborated existing classifications and revealed novel subtypes. Most profiling studies are based on fresh frozen (FF) tumor material which is available only for a limited number of samples while thousands of tumor samples exist as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks. Unfortunately, RNA derived of FFPE material is fragmented and chemically modified impairing expression measurements by standard procedures. Robust protocols for isolation of RNA from FFPE material suitable for stable and reproducible measurement of gene expression (e.g. by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, QPCR) remain a major challenge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present a simple procedure for RNA isolation from FFPE material of diagnostic samples. The RNA is suitable for expression measurement by QPCR when used in combination with an optimized cDNA synthesis protocol and TaqMan assays specific for short amplicons. The FFPE derived RNA was compared to intact RNA isolated from the same tumors. Preliminary scores were computed from genes related to the ER response, HER2 signaling and proliferation. Correlation coefficients between intact and partially fragmented RNA from FFPE material were 0.83 to 0.97.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We developed a simple and robust method for isolating RNA from FFPE material. The RNA can be used for gene expression profiling. Expression measurements from several genes can be combined to robust scores representing the hormonal or the proliferation status of the tumor.</p