Temperature - dependent life table of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseidae) fed on stored product mite Carpoglyphus lactis (Astigmata: Carpoglyphidae)

The predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) is an efficient predator of some insect pests particularly thrips and whiteflies. To evaluate the optimum temperature for  A.swirskii, a life table study, based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, was conducted using the stored product mite, Carpoglyphus lactis L. as the food diet. Experiments were performed at temperatures of 22, 25, 30 and 32° C, %70 ± 5 relative humidity and 16: 8 (L: D) photoperiod. Developmental time of eggs at 30° C was significantly shorter comparing to the temperatures 22 and 32° C. Developmental time of the mobile pre-adult stages, male and female, were significantly shorter at 32° C, comparing to 25° C. The highest fecundity of the predator was observed at 25° C (72.34 eggs / female). The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of population increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), at temperature of 22° C were 0/226 day-1, 1/25 day-1, 25/53 offspring/individual; at 25° C were 0/304 day-1, 1.35 day-1, 33/82 offspring/ individual; at 30° C were 0/097 day-1, 1/102 day-1, 2/42 offspring/ individual; at a temperature of 32° C were 0/128 day-1, 1/137 day-1, 2/67 offspring/ individual. The population parameters of A. swirskii, except mean generation times (T), at 25° C and 32° C were significantly higher than those at 30° C, and the average generation time (T), at temperature of 22° C, was found to be the highest. The total population projection demonstrated that the highest population growth of predatory mite, A. swirskii occurred at 25° C

Effect of Steel Fiber on The Behavior of Deep Beams With and Without Web Opening

This study investigates experimentally the strengthening of reinforced concrete deep beams using steel fibers. The experimental work could be divided in two parts, the first part consists of casting and testing six deep beams without web opening and the second part consists of casting and testing six deep beams with web openings to show the effect of volume of steel fibers on the behavior of the deep beams with and without web opening on ultimate load, deflection, with various shear span to depth (a/d) ratios [variable of clear shear span].On the other hand, the effects of these parameters on the behavior and capability of deep beams with constant steel fiber – volume fraction are obtained by using three groups of beams having steel fiber– volume fractions of 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and studying the effect of the presence of steel fibers in deep beams with web openings. The results obtained from the experimental work [solid deep beams and deep beams with web openings], demonstrate that when the steel fiber volume- fraction is increased, the ultimate loads are also increased. The effect of steel fibers increases as the (a/d) ratio is decreased. In addition, the experimental work on deep beams without web opening showed that when the steel fiber volume-fraction is kept constant, the ultimate loads are increased as the (a/d) ratio is decreased. On the other hand, the percentages of increase in ultimate loads become higher as the steel fiber volumefraction is increased from 0.0% to 0.5% and 1.0%. However, the effect of decreasing the (a/d) ratio on the ultimate and cracking loads of the deep beams with web openings was not significant

Dimensionamento das armaduras de compressão em chapas de concreto armado

This paper presents a method to design membrane elements of concrete with orthogonal mesh of reinforcement which are subject to compressive stress. Design methods, in general, define how to quantify the reinforcement necessary to support the tension stress and verify if the compression in concrete is within the strength limit. In case the compression in membrane is excessive, it is possible to use reinforcements subject to compression. However, there is not much information in the literature about how to design reinforcement for these cases. For that, this paper presents a procedure which uses the model based on Baumann's [1] criteria. The strength limits used herein are those recommended by CEB [3], however, a model is proposed in which this limit varies according to the tensile strain which occur perpendicular to compression. This resistance model is based on concepts proposed by Vecchio e Collins [2]

Consensus Nomenclature for Reporting Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Data: Consensus on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Nomenclature Study Group

© 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Purpose: To establish a process to evaluate and standardize a state-of-the-art nomenclature for reporting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) data. Design: Consensus meeting. Participants: An international panel of retina specialists, imaging and image reading center experts, and ocular pathologists. Methods: During several meetings organized under the auspices of the Macula Society, an international study group discussed and codified a set nomenclature framework for classifying the subtypes of neovascular AMD and associated lesion components. Main Outcome Measures: A consensus classification of neovascular AMD. Results: The study group created a standardized working definition of AMD. The components of neovascular AMD were defined and subclassified. Disease consequences of macular neovascularization were delineated. Conclusions: The framework of a consensus nomenclature system, a definition of AMD, and a delineation of the subtypes of neovascular AMD were developed. Establishing a uniform set of definitions will facilitate comparison of diverse patient groups and different studies. The framework presented is modified and updated readily, processes that are anticipated to occur on a periodic basis. The study group suggests that the consensus standards outlined in this article be used in future reported studies of neovascular AMD and clinical practice

Combination of optison with ultrasound and electroporation increases albumin and thrompoietin transgene expression whilst elongation factor promoter prolongs its duration

Hypoalbuminaemia and thrombocytopaenia are two clinical problems frequently encountered in patients with chronic liver failure or cancer following treatment with chemotherapy. The current study was designed to assess the magnitude and duration of thrombopoietin and albumin transgene expression hoping to increase the production of albumin and platelets. Immunocompetent and immunocompromised (nude) mice were injected intramuscularly with plasmids expressing either human serum albumin or human thrombopoietin. The therapeutic expression cassette of the plasmids was driven by either CMV or elongation factor 1- promoters respectively. In order to achieve muscle specific expression both gene constructs included the myosin light chain enhancer. The experiment was conducted in a group of mice which were injected with the transgene plasmid either in normal saline or plasmid followed by electroporation, ultrasound, optison and a combination of all three to increase transgene expression. The result showed that plasmids with the CMV promoter induced the highest transgenic expression lasting for one week whilst plasmids with the elongation factor 1-alpha promoter produced a weaker expression lasting for a longer and more stable duration of expression up to 3 months in both immunocompetent and nude mice. The combination of electroporation and ultrasound with Optison TM provided the highest transgene expression. We concluded that it would be possible to increase albumin and platelets production by an intramuscular injection of plasmids expressing human albumin and thromopoietin. A combination of electroporation and ultrasound with Optison TM can increase their expression

Intra-Hepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Treated with GEMOX + Cetuximab Protocol

New studies show a possible benefit of combining Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin and Cetuximab for the treatment of intrahepatic tumors. However, there is currently no consensus on this in the literature. Hence, this article contributes to the debate by presenting a case of cholangiocarcinoma(biliary tract cancer), treated with a modified Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin and Cetuximab protocol, which evolved to a considerable regression of the tumor and a complete radiologic response assessed by PET-CT Scan. The case report is of a female adult, who presented with a cholangiocarcinoma extending to hepatic segments V and VIII which met the unresectability criteria. She was submitted to chemotherapy,consisting of a combination of Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin and Cetuximab for a prolonged period,followed by a maintenance interval of Cetuximabmonotherapy. After the 8th cycle, the patient presented better hepatic biomarker levels; after 12months of treatment, she presented a PET-CT scan showing complete radiologic response; after 15 months of treatment, an MRI scanshowed a reduced and resectable tumor. Our case report suggests use of theGemcitabine + Oxaliplatin(GEMOX) plus Cetuximab protocol as a neoadjuvant settingfor patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma submitted to the GEMOX protocol, presenting a progressing disease. Additionally, our case report confirms the GEMOX plus Cetuximab protocol can be modified according to clinical response so patients can obtain maximum therapeutic gain despite minor or adverse reactions

Depth Measurement of Moving Slurry at the Wet End of a Paper Machine

The paper industry has long had a need to better understand and control its papermaking process upstream, specifically at the wet end in the forming section of a paper machine. A vision-based system is under development that addresses this need by automatically measuring and interpreting the pertinent paper web parameters at the wet end in real time. The wet-end characterization of the paper web by a vision system involves a four-dimensional measurement of the slurry in real time. These measurements include the two-dimensional spatial information, the intensity profile, and the depth profile. This paper describes the real-time depth profile measurement system for the high-speed moving slurry. A laser line-based measurement method is used with a high-speed programmable camera to directly measure slurry height. The camera is programmed with a profile algorithm, producing depth data at fast sampling rates. Analysis and experimentation have been conducted to optimize the system for the characteristics of the slurry and laser line image. On-line experimental results are presented