Characterization of the Earwig, Doru lineare, as a Predator of Larvae of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda: A Functional Response Study

Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is considered as the most important pest of maize in almost all tropical America. In Argentina, the earwig Doru lineare Eschscholtz (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) has been observed preying on S. frugiperda egg masses in corn crops, but no data about its potential role as a biocontrol agent of this pest have been provided. The predation efficiency of D. lineare on newly emerged S. frugiperda larva was evaluated through a laboratory functional response study. D. lineare showed type II functional response to S. frugiperda larval density, and disc equation estimations of searching efficiency and handling time were (a) = 0.374 and (t) = 182.9 s, respectively. Earwig satiation occurred at 39.4 S. frugiperda larvae

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

KPFM and DFT as tools to correlate the charge distribution and molecular orientation of dendritic adsorbates on different surfaces

The interaction between metals and organic layers is currently a hot topic due to its relevance in future applications based on hybrid organic/inorganic systems at the nanoscale. This work studies the surface modification of HOPG and gold substrates by spontaneous adsorption of aryl-dendrons based on either 3,5-bis(3,5-dinitrobenzoylamino) or 3,5-bis(3,5-diaminobenzoylamino) benzoic acids at fully controlled conditions. KPFM is used to assess the local work function variations upon assembly. A correlation between changes in work function values and spatial ordering of the adsorbates is observed. The aryl-dendrons interact with graphite surfaces through π-π stacking, allowing the formation of ordered layers. Due to depolarization effects, these films cause changes in the local work function values that are smaller on graphite surfaces than on gold substrates. Furthermore, the presence of molecular aggregates driven by intermolecular hydrogen bonding for the case of amino functionalized surfaces has a direct impact on the local work function, which varies depending on whether the areas are partially covered or densely packed. DFT calculations were performed in order to gain a deeper understanding of the correlation between the work function variations and the orientation of the effective molecular dipole moment due to the underlying molecular structures of the adsorbed layer.Fil: Farias, Eliana Desiree. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Fisicoquímica; ArgentinaFil: Zoloff Michoff, Martin Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Química Teórica y Computacional; ArgentinaFil: Sueldo Occello, Valeria Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Fisicoquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Brunetti, Veronica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Fisicoquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Passeggi, Mario Cesar Genaro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Física del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Glatzel, Thilo. Universitat Basel; Suiz

Strengthening the Leadership of Rites and Ceremonies for Reconciliation and Truth: The Case of Socorro Mosquera, Manager and Human Rights Defender in Colombia

This article proposes a tool to strengthen the leadership of rites and ceremonies for reconciliation and truth, using a multidisciplinary approach and bringing together political topics (reconciliation and truth), anthropological concepts (rites and ceremonies), and management sciences issues (leadership) in a special urban context that requires reconciliation and truth after a long, irregular war with multiple violations of human rights. After formulation of the research problem, we were able to relate reconciliation and truth with leadership, rites, and ceremonies. Once so related, we analyzed the historical evolution of rites and ceremonies, with special emphasis on the organizational context, to finally propose a tool to strengthen the leadership of rites and ceremonies for reconciliation and truth. The utility of this tool was confirmed in the case of Socorro Mosquera, a manager and human rights defender in Medellín, Colombia. The eclectic and integrative approach brings originality to the study, while the methodological application of mixed approaches increases its value. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC