Cross sections for nuclide production in proton- and deuteron-induced reactions on 93

Isotopic production cross sections were measured for proton- and deuteron-induced reactions on 93Nb by means of the inverse kinematics method at RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The measured production cross sections of residual nuclei in the reaction 93Nb + p at 113 MeV/u were compared with previous data measured by the conventional activation method in the proton energy range between 46 and 249 MeV. The present inverse kinematics data of four reaction products (90Mo, 90Nb, 88Y, and 86Y) were in good agreement with the data of activation measurement. Also, the model calculations with PHITS describing the intra-nuclear cascade and evaporation processes generally well reproduced the measured isotopic production cross sections

Spallation reaction study for fission products in nuclear waste: Cross section measurements for 137

Spallation reactions for the long-lived fission products 137Cs, 90Sr and 107Pd have been studied for the purpose of nuclear waste transmutation. The cross sections on the proton- and deuteron-induced spallation were obtained in inverse kinematics at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Both the target and energy dependences of cross sections have been investigated systematically. and the cross-section differences between the proton and deuteron are found to be larger for lighter fragments. The experimental data are compared with the SPACS semi-empirical parameterization and the PHITS calculations including both the intra-nuclear cascade and evaporation processes

Effects of Asobara japonica venom on larval survival of host and nonhost Drosophila species

Ovipositing Asobara japonica females inject venom (containing paralysis-inducing factors) immediately after the insertion of their ovipositors into Drosophila larvae, and lay eggs a little later. Interruption of their oviposition behaviour before egg laying causes high larval mortality in host Drosophila species, while normal oviposition does not. This suggests that venom of this parasitoid is toxic to larvae of these host species but its toxicity is suppressed by factor(s) provided by parasitoid females at the time of laying egg or by parasitoid embryos developing in the hosts. On the other hand, venom does not show toxicity to larvae of non-host Drosophia species. Possible functions of venom are discussed

Frequencies of ovipositor insertion behavior <i>(A)</i> and oviposition by wasp <i>(B)</i> of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> TK strain, IR strain, or tet-TK strain.

<p>In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 6–7 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). Two female wasps of each strain were put in an assay plate containing twenty <i>D</i>. <i>melanogaster</i> larvae with their medium, and each test wasp was allowed to parasitize for 1 h during each determination.</p

Bacteria Endosymbiont, <i>Wolbachia</i>, Promotes Parasitism of Parasitoid Wasp <i>Asobara japonica</i>

<div><p><i>Wolbachia</i> is the most widespread endosymbiotic bacterium that manipulates reproduction of its arthropod hosts to enhance its own spread throughout host populations. Infection with <i>Wolbachia</i> causes complete parthenogenetic reproduction in many Hymenoptera, producing only female offspring. The mechanism of such reproductive manipulation by <i>Wolbachia</i> has been extensively studied. However, the effects of <i>Wolbachia</i> symbiosis on behavioral traits of the hosts are scarcely investigated. The parasitoid wasp <i>Asobara japonica</i> is an ideal insect to investigate this because symbiotic and aposymbiotic strains are available: <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected Tokyo (TK) and noninfected Iriomote (IR) strains originally collected on the main island and southwest islands of Japan, respectively. We compared the oviposition behaviors of the two strains and found that TK strain females parasitized <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> larvae more actively than the IR strain, especially during the first two days after eclosion. Removing <i>Wolbachia</i> from the TK strain wasps by treatment with tetracycline or rifampicin decreased their parasitism activity to the level of the IR strain. Morphological and behavioral analyses of both strain wasps showed that <i>Wolbachia</i> endosymbionts do not affect development of the host female reproductive tract and eggs, but do enhance host-searching ability of female wasps. These results suggest the possibility that <i>Wolbachia</i> endosymbionts may promote their diffusion and persistence in the host <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> population not only at least partly by parthenogenesis but also by enhancement of oviposition frequency of the host females.</p></div

<i>(A)</i> Rate of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> wasps reached to <i>Drosophila</i> medium with <i>Drosophila</i> larvae before and after removing their antennae. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 8 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (*P<0.01, **P<0.001). Fifteen day 2 female wasps of each strain were used for each determination. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. <i>(B)</i> Relative expression levels of <i>Orco</i> in antennae of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> TK, tet-TK, and IR wasps on day 0 and day 2. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 5–8 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (*P<0.05). Twenty wasps of each strain were used for each determination.

<p><i>(A)</i> Rate of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> wasps reached to <i>Drosophila</i> medium with <i>Drosophila</i> larvae before and after removing their antennae. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 8 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (*P<0.01, **P<0.001). Fifteen day 2 female wasps of each strain were used for each determination. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. <i>(B)</i> Relative expression levels of <i>Orco</i> in antennae of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> TK, tet-TK, and IR wasps on day 0 and day 2. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 5–8 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (*P<0.05). Twenty wasps of each strain were used for each determination.</p

<i>(A)</i> The number of eggs oviposited in one host larva by TK or IR strain wasp during first 3 days after eclosion. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 18 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (**P<0.01). One female wasp of each strain was allowed to parasitize for 24 h during each determination. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. <i>(B)</i> Expression of <i>wsp</i>, <i>WP1</i>, and <i>rp49</i> in tetracycline-treated TK strain (tet-TK) wasps. <i>(C)</i> The number of eggs oviposited in one host larva by TK or IR strain wasp during first 3 days after eclosion. In this assay, we used only mated IR females and we verified that the presence of males did not cause any change of oviposition rates of IR female wasps. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 15 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (**P<0.01). One female wasp of each strain was allowed to parasitize for 24 h during each deter

<p><i>(A)</i> The number of eggs oviposited in one host larva by TK or IR strain wasp during first 3 days after eclosion. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 18 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (**P<0.01). One female wasp of each strain was allowed to parasitize for 24 h during each determination. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. <i>(B)</i> Expression of <i>wsp</i>, <i>WP1</i>, and <i>rp49</i> in tetracycline-treated TK strain (tet-TK) wasps. <i>(C)</i> The number of eggs oviposited in one host larva by TK or IR strain wasp during first 3 days after eclosion. In this assay, we used only mated IR females and we verified that the presence of males did not cause any change of oviposition rates of IR female wasps. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 15 independent determinations. Significant difference indicated by Tukey’s HSD (**P<0.01). One female wasp of each strain was allowed to parasitize for 24 h during each determination.</p

Width <i>(A)</i>, length <i>(B)</i>, and the number of eggs <i>(C)</i> in lateral oviducts of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> TK, IR, and tet-TK strains.

<p>Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 7–9 independent determinations. One female wasp of each strain was used for each determination.</p

<i>(A)</i> RT-PCR of <i>Wolbachia</i> specific genes, <i>Wolbachia</i> surface protein gene (<i>wsp</i>) and <i>Wolbachia</i> protein 1 gene (<i>WP1</i>), and <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> ribosomal protein 49 gene (<i>rp49</i>) in whole bodies of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> wasps. <i>(B)</i> The number of offspring wasps emerged from parasitized female. One female wasp randomly selected from day 0 to day 2 adults of TK or IR strain colony was put in a glass vials (35 x 120 mm) containing 200–300 <i>D</i>. <i>melanogaster</i> larvae and allowed to freely parasitize for 15 h. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 16 independent determinations. Ten wasps of each strain were used for each determination. P = 0.056 (Tukey’s HSD).

<p><i>(A)</i> RT-PCR of <i>Wolbachia</i> specific genes, <i>Wolbachia</i> surface protein gene (<i>wsp</i>) and <i>Wolbachia</i> protein 1 gene (<i>WP1</i>), and <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> ribosomal protein 49 gene (<i>rp49</i>) in whole bodies of <i>A</i>. <i>japonica</i> wasps. <i>(B)</i> The number of offspring wasps emerged from parasitized female. One female wasp randomly selected from day 0 to day 2 adults of TK or IR strain colony was put in a glass vials (35 x 120 mm) containing 200–300 <i>D</i>. <i>melanogaster</i> larvae and allowed to freely parasitize for 15 h. In the case of IR strain, mated females were used. Each value represents the mean ± S.D. for 16 independent determinations. Ten wasps of each strain were used for each determination. P = 0.056 (Tukey’s HSD).</p