1,439 research outputs found
Rapa Whelk Rapana Venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) Predation Rates On Hard Clams Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
The recent discovery of adult veined rapa whelks Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) in the Lower Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. offers cause for both ecological and economic concern. Adult rapa whelks are large predatory gastropods that consume bivalves including commercially valuable species such as hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758). Laboratory feeding experiments were used to estimate daily consumption rates of two sizes of whelks feeding on two size classes of hard clams. Large rapa whelks (shell length, SL \u3e 101 mm) are capable of consuming up to 2.7 g wet weight of clam tissue daily, equivalent to 0.8% of their body weight. Small whelks (60-100 mm SL) ingest an average of 3.6% of their body weight per day
Transplacental transmission of field and rescued strains of BTV-2 and BTV-8 in experimentally infected sheep
Transplacental transmission of bluetongue virus has been shown previously for the North European strain of serotype 8 (BTV-8) and for tissue culture or chicken egg-adapted vaccine strains but not for field strains of other serotypes. In this study, pregnant ewes (6 per group) were inoculated with either field or rescued strains of BTV-2 and BTV-8 in order to determine the ability of these viruses to cross the placental barrier. The field BTV-2 and BTV-8 strains was passaged once in Culicoides KC cells and once in mammalian cells. All virus inoculated sheep became infected and seroconverted against the different BTV strains used in this study. BTV RNA was detectable in the blood of all but two ewes for over 28 days but infectious virus could only be detected in the blood for a much shorter period. Interestingly, transplacental transmission of BTV-2 (both field and rescued strains) was demonstrated at high efficiency (6 out of 13 lambs born to BTV-2 infected ewes) while only 1 lamb of 12 born to BTV-8 infected ewes showed evidence of in utero infection. In addition, evidence for horizontal transmission of BTV-2 between ewes was observed. As expected, the parental BTV-2 and BTV-8 viruses and the viruses rescued by reverse genetics showed very similar properties to each other. This study showed, for the first time, that transplacental transmission of BTV-2, which had been minimally passaged in cell culture, can occur; hence such transmission might be more frequent than previously thought
Psychiatric profile of motor subtypes of de novo drug-naïve Parkinson's disease patients
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. It is well established that different motor subtypes of PD evolve with different clinical courses and prognoses. The complete psychiatric profile underlying these different phenotypes since the very early stage of the disease is debated. Aims of the study: We aimed at investigating the psychiatric profile of the three motor subtypes of PD (akinetic-rigid, tremor-dominant, and mixed) in de novo drug-naïve patients with PD. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with PD, divided into 39 akinetic-rigid (AR), seven mixed (MIX), and 22 tremor-dominant (TD) patients underwent a complete assessment of psychiatric, cognitive, and motor symptoms. Results: No significant differences were found among groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a differentiation of the psychiatric symptoms associated with specific motor subtypes of PD is not detectable in de novo drug-naïve patients. Previous evidence that emerges later along the disease progression may be a consequence of the dopaminergic and nondopaminergic damage increase
Absolute calibration and beam reconstruction of MITO (a ground-based instrument in the millimetric region)
An efficient sky data reconstruction derives from a precise characterization
of the observing instrument. Here we describe the reconstruction of
performances of a single-pixel 4-band photometer installed at MITO (Millimeter
and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory) focal plane. The strategy of differential
sky observations at millimeter wavelengths, by scanning the field of view at
constant elevation wobbling the subreflector, induces a good knowledge of beam
profile and beam-throw amplitude, allowing efficient data recovery. The
problems that arise estimating the detectors throughput by drift scanning on
planets are shown. Atmospheric transmission, monitored by skydip technique, is
considered for deriving final responsivities for the 4 channels using planets
as primary calibrators.Comment: 14 pages, 6 fiugres, accepted for pubblication by New Astronomy (25
March
Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature at Galaxy Clusters
We have deduced the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature in the Coma
cluster (A1656, ), and in A2163 () from spectral
measurements of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect over four passbands at radio
and microwave frequencies. The resulting temperatures at these redshifts are
K and K, respectively. These values confirm the expected
relation , where K is the value
measured by the COBE/FIRAS experiment. Alternative scaling relations that are
conjectured in non-standard cosmologies can be constrained by the data; for
example, if or , then
and (at 95% confidence). We
briefly discuss future prospects for more precise SZ measurements of at
higher redshifts.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, ApJL accepted for publicatio
Regressing multiple viral plaques and skin fragility syndrome in a cat coinfected with FcaPV2 and FcaPV3
Feline viral plaques are uncommon skin lesions clinically characterized by multiple, often pigmented, and slightly raised lesions. Numerous reports suggest that papillomaviruses (PVs) are involved in their development. Immunosuppressed and immunocompetent cats are both affected, the biological behavior is variable, and the regression is possible but rarely documented. Here we report a case of a FIV-positive cat with skin fragility syndrome and regressing multiple viral plaques in which the contemporary presence of two PV types (FcaPV2 and FcaPV3) was demonstrated by combining a quantitative molecular approach to histopathology. The cat, under glucocorticoid therapy for stomatitis and pruritus, developed skin fragility and numerous grouped slightly raised nonulcerated pigmented macules and plaques with histological features of epidermal thickness, mild dysplasia, and presence of koilocytes. Absolute quantification of the viral DNA copies (4555 copies/microliter of FcaPV2 and 8655 copies/microliter of FcaPV3) was obtained. Eighteen months after discontinuation of glucocorticoid therapy skin fragility and viral plaques had resolved.The role of the two viruses cannot be established and it remains undetermined how each of the viruses has contributed to the onset of VP; the spontaneous remission of skin lesions might have been induced by FIV status change over time due to glucocorticoid withdraw and by glucocorticoids withdraw itself
Innovative Configuration for a Far Infrared Space Interferometer
In the last ten years many proposals and studies have been advanced for a far-IR kilometer baseline interferometer. This paper shows the results of FISICA (Far Infrared Space Interferometer Critical Assessment), an FP7 program of the European Community. In particular, we focus on an innovative strategy to cover the plane of observation with a minimal propellant consumption. Results of some numerical simulations, carried out for a three-booms configuration, are provided
Triple Experiment Spectrum of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect in the Coma Cluster: H_0
The Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect was previously measured in the Coma cluster
by the Owens Valley Radio Observatory and Millimeter and IR Testa Grigia
Observatory experiments and recently also with the Wilkinson Microwave
Anisotropy Probe satellite. We assess the consistency of these results and
their implications on the feasibility of high-frequency SZ work with
ground-based telescopes. The unique data set from the combined measurements at
six frequency bands is jointly analyzed, resulting in a best-fit value for the
Thomson optical depth at the cluster center, tau_{0}=(5.35 \pm 0.67) 10^{-3}.
The combined X-ray and SZ determined properties of the gas are used to
determine the Hubble constant. For isothermal gas with a \beta density profile
we derive H_0 = 84 \pm 26 km/(s\cdot Mpc); the (1\sigma) error includes only
observational SZ and X-ray uncertainties.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur
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