The Palaearctic species of Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900 (Hymenoptera, Aulacidae) : remarks on taxonomy, systematic, and biogeography

Taxonomic, systematic, and biogeography knowledge on the Palaearctic species of Pristaulacus Kieffer 1900 is summarized. Twenty-one valid species are recognized. The most important morphological characters taken into consideration are: shape, cuticular sculpture, and pubescence of head; index length/width of antennomeres; shape, sculpture and cuticular processes of mesosoma, especially of pronotum and mesonotum; number and shape of teeth on claw; shape and sculpture of metasoma; ovipositor length compared with wing and antenna length; and colour pattern (e.g., the dark spots on fore wing, and the colour of hind tarsus). Several characters of the genital capsule of the male were proved to be very useful for species identification, e.g., the shape of the paramere, volsella, cuspis, and digitus. Based on analysis of twenty-five morphological characters, eight species groups are recognized. The critical revision of the chorological data, including many new records, introduced relevant changes of the geographical distribution pattern of most species. Twelve species are restricted to the western part of the Palaearctic Region and eight species are restricted to its eastern part; only one species, P. gibbator, has a wider distribution, including both western and eastern parts of the Palaearctics

Review of Aulacidae from Greece and Cyprus with new records

Στη μελέτη αυτή έγινε επισκόπηση των ειδών της οικογένειας Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) της Ελλάδας και της Κύπρου. Σημειώθηκαν επτά είδη που όλα ανήκουν στο γένος Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900. Δύο από αυτά, τα P. chlapowskii Kieffer, 1900 and P. compressus (Spinola, 1808) αναφέρονται για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. Το Pristaulacus mourguesi Maneval, 1935, που είχε αναφερθεί μόνο από μια περιοχή, στην παρούσα μελέτη καταγράφηκε και στο Ανατολικό Αιγαίο (Νήσος Ικαρία) και σε περιοχές της ηπειρωτικής χώρας. Το Pristaulacus galitae (Gribodo, 1879) αναφέρεται για πρώτη φορά στη Λέσβο και στην Κύπρο. Γίνεται σύντομη αναφορά στην περιγραφή και στην εξάπλωση των ειδών αυτών και αναφέρονται οι ξενιστές τους.The Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from Greece and Cyprus are reviewed. Seven species are recorded, all comprised within the genus Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900. Two of them, P. chlapowskii Kieffer, 1900 and P. compressus (Spinola, 1808) are reported for the first time from Greece; P. mourguesi Maneval, 1935, previously known from only one locality of northern Greece, is recorded for the first time from the Eastern Aegean islands (Ikaria) and other localities from the Greek mainland are reported; P. galitae (Gribodo, 1879) is recorded for the first time from Lesvos island (Eastern Aegean islands) and Cyprus. Brief references for identification and essential data on the treated species are provided

First record of the wasp family Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) from Malta

The occurrence of the parasitoid wasp Pristaulacus galitae (Gribodo, 1879) in Malta is reported for the first time based on a female from Buskett Garden reared from wood of Pistacia lentiscus L. together with five potential hosts: the xylophagous beetles Trichoferus fasciculatus fasciculatus (Faldermann, 1837), Niphona picticornis Mulsant, 1839, Penichroa fasciata (Stephens, 1831) (Cerambycidae), Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) scylla Levey, 1985 (Buprestidae), and Opilo domesticus (Sturm, 1837) (Cleridae). This is the first species of the evaniomorphan family Aulacidae recorded in the Maltese Islands.peer-reviewe

A new species of Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900 from Laos (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae)

A new species, belonging to the recently revised Pristaulacus comptipennis species-group, P. harisi Turrisi, sp. nov. from Laos (Ventiane Province, Ban Van Eue) is described, illustrated and compared with most related species

Ritrovamento di <em>Zamenis longissimus</em> (Laurenti, 1768) (Reptilia, Colubridae) sull'Isola d'Elba (Toscana, Italia)

The presence of Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) in Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy), previously known by only one ancient and doubtful record, is confirmed. Two specimens road killed, were collected in the north-east of the island. The new distributional data is briefly commented in the context of the paleogeographic and historical-environmental background

Predicting LVOT Obstruction in Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement for Failed Surgical Annuloplasty

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Strong reproductive barriers in a narrow hybrid zone of West-Mediterranean green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup) with Plio-Pleistocene divergence

Background One key question in evolutionary biology deals with the mode and rate at which reproductive isolation accumulates during allopatric speciation. Little is known about secondary contacts of recently diverged anuran species. Here we conduct a multi-locus field study to investigate a contact zone between two lineages of green toads with an estimated divergence time of 2.7 My, and report results from preliminary experimental crosses. Results The Sicilian endemic Bufo siculus and the Italian mainland-origin B. balearicus form a narrow hybrid zone east of Mt. Etna. Despite bidirectional mtDNA introgression over a ca. 40 km North-South cline, no F1 hybrids could be found, and nuclear genomes display almost no admixture. Populations from each side of the contact zone showed depressed genetic diversity and very strong differentiation (FST = 0.52). Preliminary experimental crosses point to a slightly reduced fitness in F1 hybrids, a strong hybrid breakdown in backcrossed offspring (F1 x parental, with very few reaching metamorphosis) and a complete and early mortality in F2 (F1 x F1). Conclusion Genetic patterns at the contact zone are molded by drift and selection. Local effective sizes are reduced by the geography and history of the contact zone, B. balearicus populations being at the front wave of a recent expansion (late Pleistocene). Selection against hybrids likely results from intrinsic genomic causes (disruption of coadapted sets of genes in backcrosses and F2-hybrids), possibly reinforced by local adaptation (the ranges of the two taxa roughly coincide with the borders of semiarid and arid climates). The absence of F1 in the field might be due to premating isolation mechanisms. Our results, show that these lineages have evolved almost complete reproductive isolation after some 2.7 My of divergence, contrasting sharply with evidence from laboratory experiments that some anuran species may still produce viable F1 offspring after &gt; 20 My of divergence

Enforcing Constraints over Learned Policies via Nonlinear MPC: Application to the Pendubot

In recent years Reinforcement Learning (RL) has achieved remarkable results. Nonetheless RL algorithms prove to be unsuccessful in robotics applications where constraints satisfaction is involved, e.g. for safety. In this work we propose a control algorithm that allows to enforce constraints over a learned control policy. Hence we combine Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) with control-state trajectories generated from the learned policy at each time step. We prove the effectiveness of our method on the Pendubot, a challenging underactuated robot

Decision support system for emergency management of oil spill accidents in the Mediterranean Sea

This paper presents an innovative web-based decision support system to facilitate emergency management in the case of oil spill accidents, called WITOIL (Where Is The Oil). The system can be applied to create a forecast of oil spill events, evaluate uncertainty of the predictions, and calculate hazards based on historical meteo-oceanographic datasets. To compute the oil transport and transformation, WITOIL uses the MEDSLIK-II oil spill model forced by operational meteo-oceanographic services. Results of the modeling are visualized through Google Maps. A special application for Android is designed to provide mobile access for competent authorities, technical and scientific institutions, and citizens

Treatment of Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American College of Chest Physicians Guideline

PURPOSE: The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) produced an evidence-based guideline on treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Because of the relevance of this guideline to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) membership, ASCO reviewed the guideline, applying a set of procedures and policies used to critically examine guidelines developed by other organizations. METHODS: The ACCP guideline on the treatment of SCLC was reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists. An ASCO Endorsement Panel updated the literature search, reviewed the content, and considered additional recommendations. RESULTS: The ASCO Endorsement Panel determined that the recommendations from the ACCP guideline, published in 2013, are clear, thorough, and based on current scientific evidence. ASCO endorses the ACCP guideline on the treatment of SCLC, with the addition of qualifying statements. RECOMMENDATIONS: Surgery is indicated for selected stage I SCLC. Limited-stage disease should be treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with good performance status. Thoracic radiotherapy should be administered early in the course of treatment, preferably beginning with cycle one or two of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy should consist of four cycles of a platinum agent and etoposide. Extensive-stage disease should be treated primarily with chemotherapy consisting of a platinum agent plus etoposide or irinotecan. Prophylactic cranial irradiation prolongs survival in patients with limited-stage disease who achieve a complete or partial response to initial therapy and may do so in similarly responding patients with extensive-stage disease as well. Additional information is available at http://www.asco.org/endorsements/sclc and http://www.asco.org/guidelineswiki