Identification of scorpion species (arachnids: scorpions) collected from selected areas in the Jaffna Peninsula

Taxonomic record on scorpion (Arthropoda: Arachnids: Scorpions) is scarce in Sri Lanka. Several families of scorpions, namely Scorpionidae, Charitable and Buthidae were recorded in Yale national park, Kandy, Trincomalee and Mullaittivu in Sri Lanka, based on the collection of the Natural History Museum of the city of Geneva. It is reported that dangerous scorpions are not found in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Recently identified scorpions of Family Buthidae in some parts of India. But to date no one has reported on scorpion species of Families Buthidae & Scorpionidae in the Jaffna peninsula. Field collection was carried out in selected areas including Vadamarachi, Atchuvelly, Thirunelveli, Kopay and Kondavil in the Nonhern Province from September 2010 to March 2011. Collected scorpions were identified with the help of descriptions and illustrations provided by Pocock (1900) and Bucherl (1971). Identification was performed with the aid of dissecting microscope (Kyowa, Photographs of life specimens were taken with a digital camera (Sony). Lined diagrams were drawn with the help of camera lucida stereo microscope (Olympus BX 51). Descriptive terms of Pocock were mostly followed. Two families, namely, Buthidae and Scorpionidae (Koch, 1837) were identified based on colouration, shape of the sternum, tarsal spur and pedal spur present on the leg. Further identification revealed the presence of two species, namely, Bu thus Dorian and Palamnaeus wrongdoing based on pectin teeth and keels on the caudal segment. The present preliminary survey should be continued in order to identify any other scorpion species in other parts of the Jaffna peninsula

Engineered expression of the invertebrate‐specific scorpion toxin AaHIT reduces adult longevity and female fecundity in the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

Background: Previous Genetic Pest Management (GPM) systems in diamondback moth (DBM) have relied on expressing lethal proteins (‘effectors’) that are ‘cell‐autonomous’ i.e. do not leave the cell they are expressed in. To increase the flexibility of future GPM systems in DBM, we aimed to assess the use of a non cell‐autonomous, invertebrate‐specific, neurotoxic effector – the scorpion toxin AaHIT. This AaHIT effector was designed to be secreted by expressing cells, potentially leading to effects on distant cells, specifically neuromuscular junctions. Results: Expression of AaHIT caused a ‘shaking/quivering’ phenotype which could be repressed by provision of an antidote (tetracycline); a phenotype consistent with the AaHIT mode‐of‐action. This effect was more pronounced when AaHIT expression was driven by the Hr5/ie1 promoter (82.44% of males, 65.14% of females) rather than Op/ie2 (57.35% of males, 48.39% of females). Contrary to expectations, the shaking phenotype and observed fitness costs were limited to adults where they caused severe reductions in mean longevity (‐81%) and median female fecundity (‐93%). qPCR of AaHIT expression patterns and analysis of piggyBac‐mediated transgene insertion sites suggest that restriction of observed effects to the adult stages may be due to influence of local genomic environment on the tetO‐AaHIT transgene. Conclusion: We have demonstrated the feasibility of using non cell‐autonomous effectors within a GPM context for the first time in the Lepidoptera, one of the most economically damaging orders of insects. These findings provide a framework for extending this system to other pest Lepidoptera and to other secreted effectors

Evaluation of FluSight influenza forecasting in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons with a new target laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations

Accurate forecasts can enable more effective public health responses during seasonal influenza epidemics. For the 2021–22 and 2022–23 influenza seasons, 26 forecasting teams provided national and jurisdiction-specific probabilistic predictions of weekly confirmed influenza hospital admissions for one-to-four weeks ahead. Forecast skill is evaluated using the Weighted Interval Score (WIS), relative WIS, and coverage. Six out of 23 models outperform the baseline model across forecast weeks and locations in 2021–22 and 12 out of 18 models in 2022–23. Averaging across all forecast targets, the FluSight ensemble is the 2nd most accurate model measured by WIS in 2021–22 and the 5th most accurate in the 2022–23 season. Forecast skill and 95% coverage for the FluSight ensemble and most component models degrade over longer forecast horizons. In this work we demonstrate that while the FluSight ensemble was a robust predictor, even ensembles face challenges during periods of rapid change

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Benzene-1,2-diaminium bis(hydrogen phosphonate)

The asymmetric unit of the title molecular salt, C6H10N22+·2H2PO3−, contains half of a benzene-1,2-diaminium cation and a phosphite anion, the complete cation being generated by a crystallographic mirror plane. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen bonds generate R22(9) and R22(8) ring motifs and O—H...O hydrogen bonds generate an R22(8) ring motif. Overall, these generate a three-dimensional framework. The crystal structure also features π–π interactions [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.8642 (7) Å]

Volumes and heat capacities of Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), and Copper(II) Sulfates in Aqueous Solution

The densities and isobaric volumetric heat capacities of aqueous solutions of the sulfate salts of cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) have been measured at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa using vibrating-tube densimetry and Picker flow calorimetry, respectively, at concentrations in the range 0.01 ≲ m/mol·kg–1 ≲ 1.5. These data were used to derive the corresponding apparent molar volumes, Vϕ, and apparent molar isobaric heat capacities, Cpϕ. Where comparisons were possible, the present Vϕ results were in good agreement with literature data. No Cpϕ data appear to have been reported previously for any of these salts. The variations of Vϕ and Cpϕ with concentration were well correlated using the Pitzer formalism combined with the values of V° and Cp° estimated from literature data. Both Vϕ and Cpϕ for all three salts show remarkable similarities and can be shown to lie on a common line by applying fixed addends over almost the whole concentration range studied

Nonlinear Impedance of Whole Cells Near an Electrode as a Probe of Mitochondrial Activity

By simultaneously measuring the bulk media and electrode interface voltages of a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) suspension subjected to an AC voltage, a yeast-dependent nonlinear response was found only near the current injection electrodes. Computer simulation of yeast near a current injection electrode found an enhanced voltage drop across the yeast near the electrode due to slowed charging of the electrode interfacial capacitance. This voltage drop is sufficient to induce conformation change in membrane proteins. Disruption of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is found to significantly change the measured nonlinear current response, suggesting nonlinear impedance can be used as a non-invasive probe of cellular metabolic activity

2-Aminopyridinium 2,4-dinitrophenolate

The asymmetric unit of the title organic salt, C5H7N2+·C6H3N2O5−, comprises two 2-aminopyridinium cations and two 2,4-dinitrophenolate anions. The cations are protonated at the pyridine N atoms, while the anions are deprotonated at hydroxyl O atoms. In the crystal, bifurcated N—H...O hydrogen bonds generate two R12(6), two R21(6), and one R21(4) ring motifs. Adjacent anions and cations are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds into infinite chains along [110]. Weak C—H...O contacts and π–π interactions further link the components, forming a complex three-dimensional supramolecular network