Behavioural Evidence and Chemical Identification of a Female Sex Pheromone in Anagrus atomus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Anagrus atomus (L.) is an egg parasitoid involved in the biological control of Empoasca vitis (G\uf6the) in vineyards. Sex pheromones play a crucial role in mate finding for several parasitoid species and could be used for monitoring under field conditions. We carried out laboratory and field studies aimed at assessing the existence and identity of a possible A. atomus sex pheromone. We found that males were significantly attracted by virgin females independent of age. Males were not attracted to individuals of the same sex, but they were attracted by a crude extract from an unmated female and its polar fraction. Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) was identified as the attractive substance and proved to be attractive not only in the olfactometer but also in another laboratory bioassay and under field conditions. Attraction of males, but not females, confirms that this is not an aggregation pheromone. This is the first sex-pheromone component identified in Mymaridae, however more compounds could be involved in the mating behaviour of A. atomus. The utility of a sex pheromone in A. atomus is discussed in the context of fitness returns

Feasibility Study of a Neutron Time Of Flight Facility at the CERN-PS

This report summarises the feasibility study of a neutron time-of-flight facility at the CERN-PS as described in Refs. [1] and [2]. The idea is to extract at 24 GeV/cproton bunches (r.m.s. length ~7 ns) on to a target. The neutrons produced by spallation are directed to an experimental area located 230 m downstream throughout a vacuum pipe (diameter ~80 cm) making use of the existing TT2A tunnel about 7 m below the ISR tunne

Collecting a set of psoriasis family material through a patient organisation; clinical characterisation and presence of additional disorders

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical characteristics of a population of psoriatics sampled from a patient organisation and not from hospitals or out-patient clinics. Furthermore, we wanted to compare siblings with and without psoriasis regarding the occurrence of other diseases. METHODS: At the end of 1991, we initiated a project which aimed to study genetic factors leading to psoriasis. Firstly, we sent questionnaires to all the members of the Swedish Psoriasis Association. We then examined 1,217 individuals (570 with psoriasis) from 310 families, in their homes in the southern part of Sweden. All the available family members were examined clinically and asked about the course of the skin disease and the occurrence of other diseases. The eight hundred members of the proband generation were divided into two groups, with or without psoriasis, and their clinical features were compared. RESULTS: Most individuals in this study population had a mild form of psoriasis. The siblings with psoriasis had joint complaints significantly more frequently than their siblings without the skin disease and those with joint complaints had more widespread skin disease. Among the other studied concomitant diseases (iritis, heart or hypertension disease, endocrine disease, inflammatory bowel disease and neurological disease), we were not able to find any difference. Seventy-seven of 570 persons were found to be in remission (13.5%). Females had a mean onset 2.5 years earlier than males. We were not able to find any correlation between the extent of the skin disease and age at onset. Twice as many persons with joint complaints were found among those with psoriasis than among those without, 28% versus 13%. Almost half (48%) the psoriatics who also had joint complaints had psoriasis lesions on their nails. Endocrine disorders were found in 9% of those without any allele for Cw6, but only in 1% of those who had Cw6. In fact, none of 183 Cw6 carriers had diabetes, as compared to the population prevalence of 3–5% in Sweden. CONCLUSION: With the exception of joint complaints, persons with psoriasis, collected from a patient organisation, did not have an increased frequency of (studied) co-existing diseases

Realization of vertically aligned, ultra-high aspect ratio InAsSb nanowires on graphite

The monolithic integration of InAs1–xSbx semiconductor nanowires on graphitic substrates holds enormous promise for cost-effective, high-performance, and flexible devices in optoelectronics and high-speed electronics. However, the growth of InAs1–xSbx nanowires with high aspect ratio essential for device applications is extremely challenging due to Sb-induced suppression of axial growth and enhancement in radial growth. We report the realization of high quality, vertically aligned, nontapered and ultrahigh aspect ratio InAs1–xSbx nanowires with Sb composition (xSb(%)) up to ∼12% grown by indium-droplet assisted molecular beam epitaxy on graphite substrate. Low temperature photoluminescence measurements show that the InAs1–xSbx nanowires exhibit bright band-to-band related emission with a distinct redshift as a function of Sb composition providing further confirmation of successful Sb incorporation in as-grown nanowires. This study reveals that the graphite substrate is a more favorable platform for InAs1–xSbx nanowires that could lead to hybrid heterostructures possessing potential device applications in optoelectronics

A distinguishing feature of Pongo upper molars and its implications for the taxonomic identification of isolated hominid teeth from the Pleistocene of Asia

The taxonomic status of isolated hominoid teeth from the Asian Pleistocene has long been controversial due to difficulties distinguishing between pongine and hominin molars given their high degree of morphometrical variation and overlap. Here, we combine nonmetric and geometric morphometric data to document a dental pattern that appears to be taxonomically diagnostic among Pongo. We focus on the protoconule, a cuspule of well‐documented evolutionary history, as well as on shape differences of the mesial fovea of the upper molars

First Early Hominin from Central Africa (Ishango, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Despite uncontested evidence for fossils belonging to the early hominin genus Australopithecus in East Africa from at least 4.2 million years ago (Ma), and from Chad by 3.5 Ma, thus far there has been no convincing evidence of Australopithecus, Paranthropus or early Homo from the western (Albertine) branch of the Rift Valley. Here we report the discovery of an isolated upper molar (#Ish25) from the Western Rift Valley site of Ishango in Central Africa in a derived context, overlying beds dated to between ca. 2.6 to 2.0 Ma. We used µCT imaging to compare its external and internal macro-morphology to upper molars of australopiths, and fossil and recent Homo. We show that the size and shape of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) surface discriminate between Plio-Pleistocene and post-Lower Pleistocene hominins, and that the Ishango molar clusters with australopiths and early Homo from East and southern Africa. A reassessment of the archaeological context of the specimen is consistent with the morphological evidence and suggest that early hominins were occupying this region by at least 2 Ma

Entwicklungszusammenarbeit ohne Ethnologen?

No abstract available

Handbook of ocular genetics

Includes bibliographical references and index"Many serious, potentially blinding eye disorders have a genetic basis. Currently, there are relatively few ocular geneticists in the world, yet inherited eye disease is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Significant strides have been made in gene identification and acquisition of knowledge on the underlying mechanisms of hereditary eye disease. The field of ocular genetics is becoming an increasingly relevant part of ophthalmologists'purview. This has resulted in a dire need for a comprehensive textbook ophthalmologists and other professionals who work with patients with genetic disorders can utilize to gain a better understanding of inherited eye disorders.The Wills Eye Handbook of Ocular Genetics, by Alex Levin, Mario Zanolli, and Jenina Capasso of Wills Eye Hospital, is a practical, reader-friendly guide on the diagnosis and management of ophthalmic genetic conditions. Every chapter begins with a disease overview, followed by relevant modern genetic concepts, pathways to attaining the correct diagnosis, and pitfalls and pearls gleaned from years of hands-on expertise. At the end of each chapter, questions and answers enable readers to test their knowledge in real-life scenarios they might face in everyday practice. The ultimate goal of this clinically robust handbook is to facilitate optimal patient management and outcomes.Key FeaturesFundamentals, including basic genetics, inheritance patterns, genetic testing, and ethical issuesPatient-centered genetic counseling issues such as reproduction, dealing with emotional reactions, prognosis, and future optionsAnterior segment disorders - from corneal dystrophies and aniridia - to childhood cataract and microphthalmiaA broad spectrum of vitreoretinopathies and retinal diseases including incontinentia pigmenti, retinitis pigmentosa, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, choroideremia, Stargardt disease, achromatopsia, and juvenile X-linked retinoschisisThis textbook is essential reading for practitioners at all levels and in all subspecialties including ophthalmology and genetics. They will find it an excellent resource for navigating the complexities of genetic eye disease."--Publisher.Basic Genetics -- Inheritance Patterns -- Genetic Testing -- Ethical Issues -- Corneal Dystrophies - Aniridia -- Peters Anomaly -- Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome -- Primary Congenital Glaucoma and Juvenile Open Angle Glaucoma -- Childhood Cataract - Microphthalmia -- Marfan Syndrome and Other Causes of Ectopia Lentis -- Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy -- Stickler Syndrome -- VCAN Vitreoretinopathies (Erosive Vitreoretinopathy and Wagner Syndrome) -- Incontinentia Pigmenti -- Retinitis Pigmentosa -- Usher Syndrome -- Bardet-Biedl Syndrome -- Cone-Rod Dystrophy - Choroideremia -- Enhanced S-Cone Syndrome and Other NR2E3-Related Retinal Dystrophies -- Stargardt Disease and Other ABCA4 Retinopathies -- Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (Best Disease) -- Leber Congenital Amaurosis - Achromatopsia -- Congenital Stationary Night Blindness -- Juvenile X-Linked Retinoschisis - Retinoblastoma -- Optic Nerve Hypoplasia -- Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy -- Complex Ocular Disorders - Albinism.1 online resource

Electric control of the magnetization in BiFeO3/LaFeO3 superlattices

First-principles techniques are used to investigate the behavior of BiFeO3/LaFeO3 perovskite oxide superlattices epitaxially grown on a (001)-SrTiO3 substrate. The calculations show that 1/1 superlattices exhibit a Pmc21 ground state combining a trilinear coupling of one polar and two oxygen rotational lattice modes, and weak ferromagnetism. The microscopic mechanism allowing one to manipulate the magnetization with an electric field in such systems is presented and its dependence on strain and chemical substitution is discussed. BiFeO3/LaFeO3 artificial superlattices appear to be good candidates to achieve electric switching of magnetization at room temperature