3.10 Bumble bee semi-field studies: choice and management of colonies to reduce variability in assessment endpoints

The publication of the proposed EFSA risk assessment for pollinators resulted in an increasing demand for experiments with non-Apis pollinators (EFSA 2013). However, no official guideline for the standardized semifield trials exists so far. To overcome this lack of guidance, the development of semi-field study designs are under way. The methodology is concurrently be developed by an ICPPR working group (non-Apis working group).A major challenge in higher tier studies is the variability of the different endpoints. Hive development and particularly the production of young queens are very variable (Cabrera et al. 2016). With the current knowledge it seemed crucial to select appropriate colonies for the tests to reduce variability. The aim was to evaluate different strategies for the selection of bumble bee colonies and to improve the data quality with regard to the most important endpoints in bumble bee semi-field studies.The publication of the proposed EFSA risk assessment for pollinators resulted in an increasing demand for experiments with non-Apis pollinators (EFSA 2013). However, no official guideline for the standardized semifield trials exists so far. To overcome this lack of guidance, the development of semi-field study designs are under way. The methodology is concurrently be developed by an ICPPR working group (non-Apis working group).A major challenge in higher tier studies is the variability of the different endpoints. Hive development and particularly the production of young queens are very variable (Cabrera et al. 2016). With the current knowledge it seemed crucial to select appropriate colonies for the tests to reduce variability. The aim was to evaluate different strategies for the selection of bumble bee colonies and to improve the data quality with regard to the most important endpoints in bumble bee semi-field studies

3.11 Bumble bee queen production in semi-field studies: assessment of endpoints and challenges

Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris L; Hymenoptera, Apidae) provide important pollination services and are commercially used, e.g. in greenhouse cultures. Consequently, the impacts of pesticides on bumble bees were already tested in the past. In the light of the newest EFSA guidance document on the risk assessment of plant protection products for pollinators standardized higher tier studies for pollinators are needed (EFSA 2013). For that reason a ringtest protocol for a bumble bee semi-field study design was developed in the ICPPR Non-Apis working group starting in 2015 to date.The central endpoint in a higher tier bumble bee study is the colony reproduction success (production of young queens, Cabrera et al. 2016). The endpoint is chosen because at the end of the annual life cycle of a bumble bee colony all workers die and only young queens overwinter. Queens that survive establish a new colony in the following year. However, assessing queen reproduction is challenging. Many variables can influence the number of produced queens, such as the right timing for the termination of the study or the condition of the colony at study start. Furthermore, young queen weights are measured. Weight is used as indicator of diapause survival. Literature values of average weight needed for survival before overwintering state 0.8 g for a young queen for successful overwintering (Beekman et al. 1998).Based on data from ring tests of 2016 and 2017 we tried to answer several open questions concerning queen reproduction, i.e. how can the experimental set-up influence queen weights and how high is the natural variation in queen numbers and queen weight/size?Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris L; Hymenoptera, Apidae) provide important pollination services and are commercially used, e.g. in greenhouse cultures. Consequently, the impacts of pesticides on bumble bees were already tested in the past. In the light of the newest EFSA guidance document on the risk assessment of plant protection products for pollinators standardized higher tier studies for pollinators are needed (EFSA 2013). For that reason a ringtest protocol for a bumble bee semi-field study design was developed in the ICPPR Non-Apis working group starting in 2015 to date.The central endpoint in a higher tier bumble bee study is the colony reproduction success (production of young queens, Cabrera et al. 2016). The endpoint is chosen because at the end of the annual life cycle of a bumble bee colony all workers die and only young queens overwinter. Queens that survive establish a new colony in the following year. However, assessing queen reproduction is challenging. Many variables can influence the number of produced queens, such as the right timing for the termination of the study or the condition of the colony at study start. Furthermore, young queen weights are measured. Weight is used as indicator of diapause survival. Literature values of average weight needed for survival before overwintering state 0.8 g for a young queen for successful overwintering (Beekman et al. 1998).Based on data from ring tests of 2016 and 2017 we tried to answer several open questions concerning queen reproduction, i.e. how can the experimental set-up influence queen weights and how high is the natural variation in queen numbers and queen weight/size

Heat Treatment Process Energy Efficient Design and Optimisation

AbstractEnergy efficiency optimization ICT (Information and Communication Technology) solutions are currently being developed for energy saving in buildings and, to some ex-tent, also for the manufacturing domain. This paper describes an approach and ICT tool developed for manufacturing process energy efficiency optimization, in particular focused on the heat treatment process of steel casting parts. Traditionally this manufacturing process is designed based on experts experience selecting a predefined temperature-time curve provided customer specifications for the resulting steel parts. However this curve can actually be optimised in terms of energy consumption while keeping required mechanical properties. This improved design is what the tool here described provides, using knowledge based approach for process design and multivariate optimisation and simulation techniques for process optimisation

Abdominal functional electrical stimulation to improve respiratory function after spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abdominal FES) is the application of a train of electrical pulses to the abdominal muscles, causing them to contract. Abdominal FES has been used as a neuroprosthesis to acutely augment respiratory function and as a rehabilitation tool to achieve a chronic increase in respiratory function after abdominal FES training, primarily focusing on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aimed to review the evidence surrounding the use of abdominal FES to improve respiratory function in both an acute and chronic manner after SCI. Settings: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, with studies included if they applied abdominal FES to improve respiratory function in patients with SCI. Methods: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria (10 acute and 4 chronic). Low participant numbers and heterogeneity across studies reduced the power of the meta-analysis. Despite this, abdominal FES was found to cause a significant acute improvement in cough peak flow, whereas forced exhaled volume in 1 s approached significance. A significant chronic increase in unassisted vital capacity, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow was found after abdominal FES training compared with baseline. Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that abdominal FES is an effective technique for improving respiratory function in both an acute and chronic manner after SCI. However, further randomised controlled trials, with larger participant numbers and standardised protocols, are needed to fully establish the clinical efficacy of this technique

Gram-negative prosthetic joint infection: outcome of a debridement, antibiotics and implant retention approach. A large multicentre study

AbstractWe aim to evaluate the epidemiology and outcome of gram-negative prosthetic joint infection (GN-PJI) treated with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR), identify factors predictive of failure, and determine the impact of ciprofloxacin use on prognosis. We performed a retrospective, multicentre, observational study of GN-PJI diagnosed from 2003 through to 2010 in 16 Spanish hospitals. We define failure as persistence or reappearance of the inflammatory joint signs during follow-up, leading to unplanned surgery or repeat debridement >30 days from the index surgery related death, or suppressive antimicrobial therapy. Parameters predicting failure were analysed with a Cox regression model. A total of 242 patients (33% men; median age 76 years, interquartile range (IQR) 68–81) with 242 episodes of GN-PJI were studied. The implants included 150 (62%) hip, 85 (35%) knee, five (2%) shoulder and two (1%) elbow prostheses. There were 189 (78%) acute infections. Causative microorganisms were Enterobacteriaceae in 78%, Pseudomonas spp. in 20%, and other gram-negative bacilli in 2%. Overall, 19% of isolates were ciprofloxacin resistant. DAIR was used in 174 (72%) cases, with an overall success rate of 68%, which increased to 79% after a median of 25 months' follow-up in ciprofloxacin-susceptible GN-PJIs treated with ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin treatment exhibited an independent protective effect (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13–0.40; p <0.001), whereas chronic renal impairment predicted failure (aHR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.14–5.77; p 0.0232). Our results confirm a 79% success rate in ciprofloxacin-susceptible GN-PJI treated with debridement, ciprofloxacin and implant retention. New therapeutic strategies are needed for ciprofloxacin-resistant PJI

Characteristics of prosthetic joint infections due to Enterococcus sp. and predictors of failure: a multi-national study

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Catálogo de los ejemplares tipo de Iberodorcadion Breuning, 1943 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) de la colección del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid

The paper provides a list of the type specimens of Iberodorcadion preserved in the Entomology Collection of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN) in Madrid. The catalog contains the data of the type series of 125 taxa of this Genus, consisting of a total of 734 specimens. The lectotype of D. almarzense Escalera, 1902 is designated, and the specimens previously recorded as holotypes of D. granulipenne Escalera, 1908; D. grisescens Escalera, 1900; y D. neilense Escalera, 1902, are considered as lectotypes of those three species (ICNZ, Art. 74.6).Se ofrece una relación de los ejemplares tipo de Iberodorcadion conservados en la Colección de Entomología del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN) de Madrid. El presente catálogo recoge los datos de las series tipo de 125 táxones de este género, constituidas por un total de 734 ejemplares. Se designa el lectotipo de D. almarzense Escalera, 1902, y se da consideración de lectotipos a los ejemplares designados anteriormente como Holotipos de las especies D. granulipenne Escalera, 1908; D. grisescens Escalera, 1900; y D. neilense Escalera, 1902 (artículo 74.6 del Código Internacional de nomenclatura Zoológica)

Computationally Aided Design of a High-Performance Organic Semiconductor: The Development of a Universal Crystal Engineering Core

Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of a suite of molecules based on a benzodithiophene “universal crystal engineering core”. After computationally screening derivatives, a trialkylsilylethyne-based crystal engineering strategy was employed to tailor the crystal packing for use as the active material in an organic field-effect transistor. Electronic structure calculations were undertaken to reveal derivatives that exhibit exceptional potential for high-efficiency hole transport. The promising theoretical properties are reflected in the preliminary device results, with the computationally optimized material showing simple solution processing, enhanced stability, and a maximum hole mobility of 1.6 cm2 V−1 s−1