Performance of Host-Races of the Fruit Fly, Tephritis conura on a Derived Host Plant, the Cabbage Thistle Cirsium oleraceum: Implications for the Original Host Shift

The thistle-infesting fruit fly Tephritis conura Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) forms host races on the melancholy thistle, Cirsium hetewphyllum (L.) Hill (Asterales: Asteraceae) and the cabbage thistle, Cirsium olemceum (L.). Scop. Previous research indicates that the host shift occurred from C. hetewphyllum to C. oleraceum. In this paper we address whether the host shift involved physiological adaptations by studying oviposition acceptance and survival of the two host races on the derived host C. oleraceum. Performance differed significantly between host races. T. conura originating from C. oleraceum produced adults in 75% of all egg-laying trials in contrast to only 6.6% in T. conura originating from C. hetewphyllum. Population fitness components measured as a function of life-stage was linear decreasing for T. conura on C. oleraceum but stepwise for T. conura on C. heterophyllum. Low performance of T. conura on C. hetewphyllum was determined by low plant acceptance and high mortality during the larval stage, whereas hatching (at least one larva per batch) and pupae survival were not affected

Geschichte der entwicklungspolitischen Bildung. 20 Jahre Dritte-Welt-Pädagogik

Entwicklungspolitische Bildungsarbeit bekommt - etwa ab 1967- eine andere Qualität. Sie wird politischer, normativer und gewinnt einen neuen Stellenwert als grundlegendes Bildungsprinzip jenseits von Schularten, Schulstufen, Schulfächern und sonstigen Bildungsorganisationen. Vor allem aber gewinnt sie auch eine neue Quantität: Jetzt verliert das Thema seinen Nischenplatz in der Politikdidaktik und wird zu einem allgemeinen Prinzip schulischer und außerschulischer Bildung - ein "Bildungsinhalt besonderer Art". (DIPF/Orig.

Investigations on the population ecology and the population control of the Common earwig Forficula auricularia (Linnaeus) in vineyards of the Palatinate

Der Gemeine Ohrwurm Forficula auricularia (Linnaeus) wurde bisher im Weinbau als natürlicher Gegenspieler verschiedener Rebschädlinge zu den Nützlingen gezählt. Etwa seit 2005 verursacht er aufgrund stark ansteigender Individuenzahlen verbreitet Schäden in pfälzischen Rebanlagen. Zu den Primärschäden zählen das An- und Ausfressen von faulen und vorgeschädigten Beeren, starke Kot­ablagerungen im Stielgerüst sowie die Übertragung von Pathogenen. Ein möglicher negativer Einfluss des in Stresssituationen aus der Abdominaldrüse ausgestoßenen und auch im Kot vorhandenen benzochinonhaltigen Abwehrsekretes auf die Weinqualität wird zurzeit analysiert. Sekundär können die hohen Individuendichten von Ohrwürmern am gesamten Rebstock die Pflege- und Erntemaßnahmen stören. Diese Schäden führen beim Erzeuger zu einer Qualitätsminderung des Weines. Beim Verbraucher verursachen die hohen Individuenansammlungen in den geernteten Trauben einen negativen Eindruck. Aufgrund der beschriebenen Problematik wurde im Mai 2007 ein durch den Forschungsring des Deutschen Weinbaus (FDW) finanziertes Forschungsprojekt am Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum Rheinpfalz in Neustadt an der Weinstraße begonnen. Bis 2010 sollen offene Fragen zur Populationsökologie und Populationsbiologie des Gemeinen Ohrwurms in Rebanlagen geklärt und Strategien zu seiner Befallsregulierung entwickelt werden. Primäres Ziel der Arbeit ist es, die lagenweise hohen Populationsdichten auf ein für die weinbauliche Praxis akzeptables Maß zu reduzieren. Ein weiterer wichtiger Projektpunkt war die Aufklärung des Entwicklungszyklus von F. auricularia speziell in Rebanlagen. Am Rebstamm wurden die Individuen mit einer speziell entwickelten Lebendfalle aus Bambusröhren erfasst, die in Vortests die höchste Fangeffektivität von 4 Fallentypen erreichte. Die auf der Bodenoberfläche aktiven Ohrwürmer wurden mit Barberfallen aufgenommen.The Common earwig has been classified as a beneficial predator in vineyards. Amongst others the insect feeds on grape pests like different tortricids. In recent years within many regions of the viticultural area of the Palatinate the individual densities increased to an extremely high level. Earwigs may cause direct damages such as contamination of the grapes with faeces, eroded berries and transfer of pathogens. The chemical agent 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, released from the abdominal glands while earwigs are menaced and likewise contained in faeces, may have a negative influence on the wine quality. All these facts constitute a quality downslide by winegrowers. The high number of earwigs in the grapes after harvesting causes a negative image by consumers. This study was carried out to investigate possible relations between the population dynamics of earwigs and specific environmental conditions in vineyards. The main focus of the research project is to test chemical, ecological and biological strategies to reduce the population densities. Another important point of survey was to study the life cycle of earwigs especially in vineyards. For sampling purposes in the trunk zone a special life trap out of bamboo tubes has been developed. This type of trap showed the highest catch rate of the four trapping types tested. For the monitoring of ground dwelling earwigs pitfall traps were used

Management of giant-cell arteritis in Switzerland: an online national survey.

AIMS OF THE STUDY To assess current practices in diagnosing, treating, and following-up giant-cell arteritis by specialists in Switzerland and to identify the main barriers to using diagnostic tools. METHODS We performed a national survey of specialists potentially caring for patients with giant-cell arteritis. The survey was sent by email to all members of the Swiss Societies of Rheumatology and for Allergy and Immunology. A reminder was sent to nonresponders after 4 and 12 weeks. Its questions covered the following dimensions: respondents' main characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and imaging's role during follow-up. The main study results were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Ninety-one specialists, primarily aged 46-65 years (n = 53/89; 59%), working in academic or nonacademic hospitals or private practice, and treating a median of 7.5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-12) patients with giant-cell arteritis per year participated in this survey. Ultrasound of temporal arteries/large vessels (n = 75/90; 83%) and positron-emission-tomography-computed tomography (n = 52/91; 57%) or magnetic resonance imaging (n = 46/90; 51%) of the aorta/extracranial arteries were the most common techniques used to diagnose giant-cell arteritis with cranial or large vessel involvement, respectively. Most participants reported a short time to obtain imaging tests or arterial biopsy. The glucocorticoid tapering scheme, glucocorticoid-sparing agent, and glucocorticoid-sparing treatment duration varied among the participants. Most physicians did not follow a predefined repeat imaging scheme for follow-up and mainly relied on structural changes (vascular thickening, stenosis, or dilatation) to drive treatment choice. CONCLUSIONS This survey indicates that imaging and temporal biopsy are rapidly accessible for diagnosing giant-cell arteritis in Switzerland but highlights heterogeneous practice in many disease management areas

Beiträge zur Geschichte des Landkreises Regensburg 37

Heimat gestern und heute III - 56 Arbeitsproben von 12 Autoren; darin: Detterbeck, Pius: Mei Häuserl, mei Goat´n (S. 3); Fendl, Josef, Herbst im Jura (bei Schönhofen), Die Jahreszeit der fünf Sinne, Terra incognita, Schlecht verteilt, Diplomatisch (S. 4-5); Heigl, Margot: Hoamat, Grod a Hausfrau, Liebeserklärung, "Bayernbild", "Blaue" Volksmusik, Glück, Zeit, Kloana Unterschied (S. 6-8); Hemrich, Hans: Dö staade Zeit, Abschied, olt (S. 9-10); Kraus, Josef: A Pferdl, Nie Altwerden, Die alt Mauer, Scho wieder (S. 11-16); Mühldorfer, Albert: Koa Arbat, Mia samma aa wea, Wöiltbürger, Sanierung, Landschaftsplanung, Versaamt is versaamt, Rest-WAA-heit (S. 17-18); Rosenmeier, Maria: Fortschritt, Oasn, Schauspieler, Menschn, Moral, Generationsproblem, Glockenklang, Walhalla - Ruhmestempel (S. 19-20); Seitz, Angelika: Regensburg, August 85, wintergedeck, spätaugust, i bin unschuldig, im Normalfall (S. 21-23); Stadler, Ali: Gestern war´s, Woaßt as no? (S. 24-25); Staudigl, Franz Xaver: Beratzhausener Skizzen, Friedhof, Ansichtskarte "Partie am Marktplatz", Allegorie? (S. 26-27); Weigert, Hans: Macha, Da Duillnbock (S. 28-30); Zenger, Georg: Blick ins Allerseelenland (S. 31

Identification of regulatory variants associated with genetic susceptibility to meningococcal disease.

Non-coding genetic variants play an important role in driving susceptibility to complex diseases but their characterization remains challenging. Here, we employed a novel approach to interrogate the genetic risk of such polymorphisms in a more systematic way by targeting specific regulatory regions relevant for the phenotype studied. We applied this method to meningococcal disease susceptibility, using the DNA binding pattern of RELA - a NF-kB subunit, master regulator of the response to infection - under bacterial stimuli in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. We designed a custom panel to cover these RELA binding sites and used it for targeted sequencing in cases and controls. Variant calling and association analysis were performed followed by validation of candidate polymorphisms by genotyping in three independent cohorts. We identified two new polymorphisms, rs4823231 and rs11913168, showing signs of association with meningococcal disease susceptibility. In addition, using our genomic data as well as publicly available resources, we found evidences for these SNPs to have potential regulatory effects on ATXN10 and LIF genes respectively. The variants and related candidate genes are relevant for infectious diseases and may have important contribution for meningococcal disease pathology. Finally, we described a novel genetic association approach that could be applied to other phenotypes

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead