Rhodobacter veldkampii, a new species of phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacteria

We describe a new species of purple nonsulfur bacteria, which has the ability to grow under photoautotrophic growth conditions with sulfide as an electron donor and shows the characteristic properties of Rhodobacter species (i.e., ovoid to rod-shaped cells, vesicular internal photosynthetic membranes, bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series as photosynthetic pigments). In its physiological properties this new species is particularly similar to the recently described species Rhodobacter adriaticus, but it shows enough differences compared with R. adriaticus and the other Rhodobacter species to be recognized as a separate species. In honor of Hans Veldkamp, a Dutch microbiologist, the name Rhodobacter veldkampii sp. nov. is proposed

Extended Abstract: Analysis of 1000 Arbiter PUF based RFID Tags

In this extended abstract a large-scale analysis of 4- way Arbiter PUFs is performed with measurement results from 1000 RFID tags. Arbiter PUFs are one of the most important building blocks in PUF-based protocols and have been the subject of many papers. However, in the past often only software simulations or a limited number of test chips were available for analysis. Therefore, the goal of this work is to verify earlier findings in regard to the uniqueness and reliability of Arbiter PUFs by using a much larger measurement set. Furthermore, we used machine learning algorithms to approximate and compare the internal delay differences of the employed PUF. One of the main research questions in this paper is to examine if any “outliers” occurred, i.e., if some tags performed considerably different. This might for example happen due to some unusual manufacturing variations or faults. However, our findings are that for all of the analyzed tags the parameters fell within the range of a Gaussian distribution without significant outliers. Hence, our results are indeed in line with the results of prior work

Monitoring gastrointestinal nematode and liver fluke infections in Belgium by bulk tank milk ELISA: are we making progress in parasite control?

Parasitic infections with gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes and liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) are common causes of reduced productivity in ruminants. In this paper, the results of a voluntary monitoring campaign on helminth infections in Belgian dairy herds are summarized and discussed. From 2009 until 2011, a bulk tank milk sample was collected in autumn and analyzed by antibody-detecting bulk tank milk ELISA's to assess the level of exposure to GI nematodes and liver fluke. The number of farms participating in the survey increased over the years, from 1216 in 2009 to 1731 in 2011. The proportion of herds with high exposure to GI nematodes varied significantly between the three years, from 67% in 2009 over 70% in 2010 to 63% in 2011. The proportion of herds with high exposure to F. hepatica remained stable around 30%. Important regional variations were observed with levels of exposure to GI nematodes increasing from the north to the south of the country, whereas the distribution of F. hepatica was concentrated in the province of West-Flanders, the southern part of East-Flanders, Hainaut and the northern part of Luxembourg. It can be concluded that, when compared with surveys conducted in surrounding countries, the levels of helminth exposure in Belgium can be considered high, especially for GI nematodes. If the aim is to decrease levels of exposure in the future, this will likely require control methods based on altered timings of treatment and changes in pasture management

Larval description and chaetotaxic analysis of dineutus sinuosipennis laporte, 1840, with a key for the identification of larvae of the tribe Dineutini (Coleoptera, Gyrinidae)

The larvae of the Malagasy whirligig beetle Dineutus sinuosipennis Laporte, 1840, identified using DNA sequence data, are described and illustrated for the first time, including detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of selected structures and a description of larval habitat. Larvae of the genus Dineutus Macleay, 1825 are diagnosed, and a key to identify the genera of the tribe Dineutini is presented. Larvae of Dineutus exhibit the characters traditionally recognized as autapomorphies of the Gyrinidae: body less sclerotized, egg bursters located on the parietal, one additional sensorial plate on the third antennomere, cardo and lacinia well developed, prementum completely divided, abdominal tracheal gills, and four terminal hooks on the pygopod. They also share with larvae of the other Dineutini genera these putative synapomorphies: numerous minute pore-like additional structures on the ultimate maxillary and labial palpomeres, coxal primary seta CO12 inserted submedially, and trochanteral primary seta TR2 absent. Larvae of Dineutus can be distinguished from those of other known genera of Dineutini by the posterior margin of the lacinia not dentate, tracheal gills plumose, parietal seta PA5 inserted relatively far from setae PA7–9, mandibular pores MNb and MNc inserted relatively far from each other, and tarsal seta TA1 inserted submedially.Fil: Michat, Mariano Cruz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Gustafson, Grey T.. University of Kansas; Estados UnidosFil: Bergsten, Johannes. Swedish Museum Of Natural History; Sueci

An architecture for rule based system explanation

A system architecture is presented which incorporate both graphics and text into explanations provided by rule based expert systems. This architecture facilitates explanation of the knowledge base content, the control strategies employed by the system, and the conclusions made by the system. The suggested approach combines hypermedia and inference engine capabilities. Advantages include: closer integration of user interface, explanation system, and knowledge base; the ability to embed links to deeper knowledge underlying the compiled knowledge used in the knowledge base; and allowing for more direct control of explanation depth and duration by the user. User models are suggested to control the type, amount, and order of information presented