Alfalfa Snout Beetle, \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Methods for Egg Collection and Larval Rearing

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L., is the most serious pest of alfalfa in northern New York State. Recent research efforts focused on the biological control of this insect require the availability of all life stages. With a 2-year lifecycle and a mandatory diapause, the artificial rearing of a laboratory culture appears to be a non-viable option at present, but methods described here can be used to obtain sufficient numbers of eggs and larvae over an extended period of time for research purposes. The crowding of adult beetles in egg production units (cups) had a significant, negative effect on egg production per beetle but the total egg production per cup was still higher with higher number of beetles per cup resulting in a significant saving of labor per egg produced. Larval survival rates in alfalfa-planted cans were surprisingly low given the protected conditions of the greenhouse. The larval survival rates were not significantly different among the dates for the second instar and later instars, suggesting that larval mortality occurs in the first instar in alfalfa-planted cans

Multi-year Biological Control of Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, with Persistent Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Abstract: The black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has a worldwide distribution and is a serious pest of many agricultural crops with a host plant species range of 140 plants. Common economic losses occur in small fruits, including strawberries, ornamental and nursery plants, caused primarily by the root feeding larvae resulting in reduced vigor and plant death. The susceptibility of BVW to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is well established with numerous authors publishing papers using a wide array of EPN species from commercial sources and very high application rates for use as a biopesticide. The concept of using native EPN strains that are climate adapted and retain the genetic traits of phased infectivity to persist across multiple years was successfully developed and tested on a related species, Otiorhynchus ligustici, alfalfa snout beetle. In this study, a single application of climate adapted persistent EPN strains resulted in a reduction of an economically damaging BVW population in strawberries to sub-economic levels. Subsequently, the BVW population remained undetectable for four years while the EPN populations remained moderately high

Alfalfa Snout Beetle, \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Methods for Egg Collection and Larval Rearing

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L., is the most serious pest of alfalfa in northern New York State. Recent research efforts focused on the biological control of this insect require the availability of all life stages. With a 2-year lifecycle and a mandatory diapause, the artificial rearing of a laboratory culture appears to be a non-viable option at present, but methods described here can be used to obtain sufficient numbers of eggs and larvae over an extended period of time for research purposes. The crowding of adult beetles in egg production units (cups) had a significant, negative effect on egg production per beetle but the total egg production per cup was still higher with higher number of beetles per cup resulting in a significant saving of labor per egg produced. Larval survival rates in alfalfa-planted cans were surprisingly low given the protected conditions of the greenhouse. The larval survival rates were not significantly different among the dates for the second instar and later instars, suggesting that larval mortality occurs in the first instar in alfalfa-planted cans

The Effect of Autologous Platelet Lysate Eye Drops: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Study

Purpose. To determine the effectiveness of autologous platelet lysate (APL) eye drops in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) dry eye, refractory to standard therapy, in comparison with patients treated with artificial tears. We focused on the effect of APL on cornea morphology with the in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Methods. Patients were assigned to two groups: group A used autologous platelet lysate QID, and group B used preservative-free artificial tears QID, for 90 days. Ophthalmological assessments included ocular surface disease index (OSDI), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Schirmer test, fluorescein score, and breakup time (BUT). A subgroup of patients in group A underwent IVCM: corneal basal epithelium, subbasal nerves, Langerhans cells, anterior stroma activated keratocytes, and reflectivity were evaluated. Results. 60 eyes of 30 patients were enrolled; in group A (n=20 patients) mean OSDI, fluorescein score, and BUT showed significant improvement compared with group B (n=10 patients). The IVCM showed a significant increase in basal epithelium cells density and subbasal nerve plexus density and number and a decrease in Langerhans cells density (p<0.05). Conclusion. APL was found effective in the treatment of SS dry eye. IVCM seems to be a useful tool to visualize cornea morphologic modifications

Copy number variants (CNVs): a powerful tool for iPSC-based modelling of ASD

Patients diagnosed with chromosome microdeletions or duplications, known as copy number variants (CNVs), present a unique opportunity to investigate the relationship between patient genotype and cell phenotype. CNVs have high genetic penetrance and give a good correlation between gene locus and patient clinical phenotype. This is especially effective for the study of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including those falling within the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A key question is whether this correlation between genetics and clinical presentation at the level of the patient can be translated to the cell phenotypes arising from the neurodevelopment of patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here, we examine how iPSCs derived from ASD patients with an associated CNV inform our understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying the aetiology of ASD. We consider selection of genetically characterised patient iPSCs; use of appropriate control lines; aspects of human neurocellular biology that can capture in vitro the patient clinical phenotype; and current limitations of patient iPSC-based studies. Finally, we consider how future research may be enhanced to maximise the utility of CNV patients for research of pathological mechanisms or therapeutic targets

Measurement of the K_L \to \pi\mu\nu form factor parameters with the KLOE detector

Using 328 pb^{-1}of data collected at DAFNE corresponding to $\sim$ 1.8 million $K_L\to \pi\mu\nu$ decays, we have measured the $K_{\mu 3}$ form factor parameters. The structure of the $K-\pi$ vector-current provides information about the dynamics of the strong interaction; its knowledge is necessary for evaluation of the phase-space integral required for measuring the CKM matrix element $V_{us}$ and for testing lepton universality in kaon decays. Using a new parametrization for the vector and scalar form factors, we find $\lambda_+$=\pt(25.7\pm 0.6),-3, and $\lambda_0$=\pt(14.0\pm 2.1),-3,. Our result for $\lambda_0$, together with recent lattice calculations of $f_\pi$, $f_K$ and $f(0)$, satisfies the Callan-Trieman relatio

Inhaled Methoxyflurane Provides Greater Analgesia and Faster Onset of Action Versus Standard Analgesia in Patients With Trauma Pain: InMEDIATE: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Emergency Departments

Study objective: The objective of the InMEDIATE study was to evaluate the change in intensity of traumatic pain over the first 20 min in adult patients treated with methoxyflurane versus standard analgesic treatment in Spain. This the first randomized, active-controlled, multicenter trial of methoxyflurane in the emergency setting in Europe. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled study that enrolled adult patients with acute moderate to severe (score >= 4 on the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale) trauma-associated pain in 14 Spanish emergency departments. Patients were randomized 1:1 to methoxyflurane (up to 2x3 mL) or standard analgesic treatment. Coprimary endpoints were the change from baseline in Numeric Rating Scale pain intensity score during the first 20 minutes of treatment and time to first pain relief. Results: Three hundred five patients were randomized (methoxyflurane 156; standard analgesic treatment 149). Most patients in the standard analgesic treatment group (70%) received intravenous first-step analgesics and 9.4% of patients were treated with opioids. Mean decrease from baseline in Numeric Rating Scale pain intensity score was greater for methoxyflurane than standard analgesic treatment at all points, with a significant treatment difference overall up to 20 minutes (repeated-measures model 2.47 versus 1.39; treatment difference 1.00; 95% confidence interval 0.84 to 1.32). Median time to first pain relief was significantly shorter for methoxyflurane than standard analgesic treatment (3 versus 10 minutes). Methoxyflurane achieved better patient and clinician ratings for pain control and comfort of treatment than standard analgesic treatment and exceeded patient and clinician expectations of treatment in, respectively, 77% and 72% of cases compared with 38% and 19% for standard analgesic treatment. Conclusion: These results support consideration of methoxyflurane as a nonnarcotic, easy-to-administer, rapid-acting, first-line alternative to currently available analgesic treatments for trauma pain

Equivariant Gauge Fixing of SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory

I construct a Lattice Gauge Theory (LGT) with discrete Z_2 structure group and an equivariant BRST symmetry that is physically equivalent to the standard SU(2)-LGT. The measure of this Z_2-LGT is invariant under all the discrete symmetries of the lattice and its partition function does not vanish. The Topological Lattice Theories (TLT) that localize on the moduli spaces are explicitly constructed and their BRST symmetry is exhibited. The ghosts of the Z_2-invariant local LGT are integrated in favor of a nonlocal bosonic measure. In addition to the SU(2) link variables and the coupling g^2, this effective bosonic measure also depends on an auxiliary gauge invariant site variable of canonical dimension two and on a gauge parameter \alpha. The relation between the expectation value of the auxiliary field, the gauge parameter \alpha and the lattice spacing $a$ is obtained to lowest order in the loop expansion. In four dimensions and the critical limit this expectation value is a physical scale proportional to \Lambda_L in the gauge \alpha=g^2 (11-n_f)/24+ O(g^4). Implications for the loop expansion of observables in such a critical gauge are discussed.Comment: 46 pages, Latex, updated and shortened version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Long-term home ventilation of children in Italy: A national survey.

BACKGROUND: Improved technology, as well as professional and parental awareness, enable many ventilator-dependent children to live at home. However, the profile of this growing population, the quality and adequacy of home care, and patients' needs still require thorough assessment. OBJECTIVES: To define the characteristics of Italian children receiving long-term home mechanical ventilation (HMV) in Italy. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire was sent to 302 National Health Service hospitals potentially involved in the care of HVM in children (aged <17 years). Information was collected on patient characteristics, type of ventilation, and home respiratory care. RESULTS: A total of 362 HMV children was identified. The prevalence was 4.2 per 100,000 (95% CI: 3.8-4.6), median age was 8 years (interquartile range 4-14), median age at starting mechanical ventilation was 4 years (1-11), and 56% were male. The most frequent diagnostic categories were neuromuscular disorders (49%), lung and upper respiratory tract diseases (18%), hypoxic (ischemic) encephalopathy (13%), and abnormal ventilation control (12%). Medical professionals with nurses (for 62% of children) and physiotherapists (20%) participated in the patients' discharge from hospital, though parents were the primary care giver, and in 47% of cases, the sole care giver. Invasive ventilation was used in 41% and was significantly related to young age, southern regional residence, longer time spent under mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular disorders, or hypoxic (ischemic) encephalopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Care and technical assistance of long-term HMV children need assessment, planning, and resources. A wide variability in pattern of HMV was found throughout Italy. An Italian national ventilation program, as well as a national registry, could be useful in improving the care of these often critically ill children