Selectivity of mycoinsecticides and a pyrethroid to the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

Plants of the genus Eucalyptus, cultivated in many countries, have great importance for the world economy. In Brazil, this culture occupies a total of 5.7 million hectares, but native and exotic insect pests can reduce its productivity. Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), an exotic Australian pest, damages Eucalyptus plants. Biological control using the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Heteroptera predators and entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, have potential for managing T. peregrinus. Chemical insecticides, including bifenthrin and acetamiprid+bifenthrin, also control this insect. The compatibility of chemical and biological control methods favors integrated pest management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the selectivity of commercial products based on B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and the chemical bifenthrin on the parasitoid C. noackae and its parasitism on T. peregrinus eggs. The selectivity test followed the standards recommended by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). Beauveria bassiana has selectivity to parasitism as well as viability, but was slightly harmful to C. noackae adults; M. anisopliae was innocuous to adults and to the viability of the ofspring of this parasitoid, but it reduced the parasitism rate; and bifenthrin did not show selectivity to this parasitoid

Development of a Social Communication construct for a Computerized Adaptive Measure of Functional Cognition for Traumatic Brain Injury

The study investigated the item-level psychometrics of the Social Communication (SC) construct, one of six constructs that comprise the Computer Adaptive Measure of Functional Cognition for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (CAMFC-TBI). Sixty-nine individuals with TBI (outpatients and 1-year post injury) and 68 caregivers participated. Rasch analysis demonstrated that the SC had sound psychometrics for both groups. Items conformed to the theoretical difficulty hierarchy. Person reliability (comparable to Cronbach’s alpha) was high. Respondents were separated into at least 3 significantly different ability levels. Differential item functioning showed no statistically significant differences between patients and caregivers. These results are promising for inclusion of the SC items in the CAMFC-TBI

Temperaturas extremas interferem na virulência de Cordyceps javanica a ninfas de Bemisia tabaci?.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito das temperaturas de 15oC, 20oC, 25oC, 30oC e 35oC na virulência do fungo a ninfas de mosca-branca

Resultados do desempenho e análise operacional de um sistema fotovoltaico de 10 kWp de alta concentração interligado à rede

Este trabajo presenta una evaluación del desempeño y comportamiento operacional de un Sistema Fotovoltaico de Alta Concentración conectado a la red interna de distribución eléctrica del Departamento de Energía Nuclear (DEN) de la Universidad Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), durante los primeros 12 meses de funcionamiento. Son discutidos los resultados en condiciones reales de operación de la eficiencia del generador HCPV. Fue realizada una comparación del comportamiento del sistema HCPV con un sistema fotovoltaico convencional operando bajo condiciones similares a través del cálculo del Índice de Desempeño y el Factor de Capacidad. Son realizadas proyecciones de producción de energía en otras localidades brasileñas con diferentes características del recurso solar disponible.This paper presents a performance and operational behavior evaluation of a High Concentration Photovoltaic system connected to the internal electricity distribution network of the Department of Nuclear Energy (DEN) of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) during the first 12 months of operation. In this paper are discussed the results in real operating conditions of the efficiency of the HCPV photovoltaic generator. A comparison of the behavior of the HCPV system with a conventional photovoltaic system operating under similar conditions by calculating the Performance Ratio and Capacity Factor was also performed. Projections of energy production in other Brazilian city with different characteristics of solar resources were also included.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Natural and human-induced Holocene paleoenvironmental changes on the Guadiana shelf (northern Gulf of Cadiz)

Three contrasting sedimentary environments on the continental shelf off the Guadiana River (northern Gulf of Cadiz) were integrated in a chronological framework and analysed in terms of sedimentology and benthic foraminiferal assemblages to understand the Holocene paleoenvironmental evolution. The analysed environments differ in terms of their depositional regimes and benthic foraminiferal assemblages. However, a dominant fluvial origin of the sand fraction was observed in all three environments. Holocene sedimentary processes were mainly controlled by natural (sea level changes and climate variations) and human-induced processes (e.g. deforestation, agriculture) along four evolutionary stages. The three older stages were mainly influenced by natural processes, such as sea level variations and fluvial inputs, whereas the most recent stage reflects a combination of climatic- and human-induced processes. A deepening of sedimentary environments related to a period of rapid sea level rise, strongly influenced by river discharges occurred from c. 11,500 to c. 10,000 cal. yr BP. A reduction in sediment export to the shelf, as a result of the continuous and rapid sea level rise and enhanced estuary infilling reflects the second stage, from c. 10,000 to c. 5000 cal. yr BP. The beginning of the third stage, from c. 5000 to c. 1500–1000 cal. yr BP, is marked by a sea-level slowdown and the relatively stable climate and environmental conditions. The fourth stage, from c. 1500–1000 cal. yr BP to Recent times, reflects the intensification of human-induced processes and climatic variability in the Guadiana River basin. This stage also reflects modern depositional conditions, with the formation of a proximal prodeltaic wedge and a distal muddy body

The Development of a Standardized Assessment of Phonology in Aphasia

The long-term goal of this research is to develop a valid and reliable impairment level measure of phonology in aphasia. The short-term goal, and focus of this abstract, is to present data collected from individuals with aphasia for 3 domains (or subtests) of this assessment: reading, repetition and perception. From the perspective of Item response theory (IRT), procedures will be presented on the development of the item bank. Results pertaining to the psychometric properties of the items when tested on individuals with aphasia show a reasonable fit to the Rasch model. Further research will validate and refine existing items

Cross-cultural validation of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool in RA in 7 European countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Educational Needs Assessment Tool (the ENAT) is a 39-item patient questionnaire originally developed in the UK to assess educational needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to assess the cross-cultural validity of the ENAT in 7 European countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The ENAT was translated into Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish versions by using Beaton's cross-cultural adaptation process, and was completed by a convenience sample of patients with RA in each country. The generated country-specific data were assessed for construct validity and were then pooled and assessed for cross-cultural invariance using Rasch analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Individual country-specific analysis showed adequate fit to the Rasch model after adjustment for local dependency within domains. When data from the different countries were pooled, the 39 items deviated significantly from Rasch model's expectations (X²= 977.055, DF = 351, p = 0.000, PSI = 0.976). Again, most items within domains were found to be locally dependent, significantly affecting the fit. Consequently each domain was treated as a unit (i.e. testlet) and the ENAT was re-analysed as a seven-testlet scale resulting into a good fit to the Rasch model (X²= 71.909; DF = 63; p = 0.207, PSI = 0.951). A test of strict unidimensionality confirmed that all domains contributed to measuring a single construct. Cross-cultural non-invariance was discounted by splitting domains for DIF maintaining an excellent fit to the Rasch model. This allowed calibration of the ENAT into an interval scale.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ENAT is a simple tool, which is a valid measure of educational needs of people with RA. Adjustment for cross-cultural non-invariance is available if data from the 7 European countries are to be pooled or compared.</p

Rendimiento del ASAS Health Index en pacientes con Espondiloartritis de la vida real

Introducción: el cuestionario “Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health In- dex” (ASAS-HI) fue desarrollado para medir de manera global la funcionalidad y el estado de salud en pacientes con espondiloartritis (EspA). Se han propuesto puntos de corte para determinar diferentes estados de salud que fueron poco evaluados en pacientes de la vida real. Objetivos: describir el estado de salud medido por ASAS-HI en pacientes argentinos con EspA axial (EspAax) y periférica (EspAp) en la práctica diaria y evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, analítico y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron consecutivamente pacientes con EspAax y EspAp según criterios ASAS, de 15 centros argentinos. Análisis estadístico: se realizó estadística descriptiva, análisis bivariado y multivariado (regresión logística múltiple) para evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud (ASAS-HI ≥12). Para analizar la validez de constructo de la herramienta se realizó correlación de Spearman entre el ASAS-HI y otros parámetros de evaluación de la enfermedad. Resultados: se incluyeron 274 pacientes con EspA, con una edad media de 49 (±14) años y una duración mediana de la enfermedad de 62 meses (p25-75: 24-135), 155 (56,6%) de los pacientes eran de sexo masculino, 129 pacientes (47%) con EspAax y 145 (52,9%) EspAp. Según el ASAS-HI 119 pacientes (43,4%) presentaban buen estado de salud, 117 (42,7%) tenían estado de salud moderado y 38 (13.9%) pobre estado de salud. En los pacientes con EspAp el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 7 (p25-75: 3-10). El ASAS-HI correlacionó positivamente con: DAS28: rho: 0.5 (p<0.001) y HAQ: rho: 0.54 (p<0.001). La variable asociada de manera independiente con pobre estado de salud fue el DAS28 (OR: 1.9, IC95% 1.1- 3.4, p: 0.029). En los pacientes con EspAax el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 6 (p25-75: 2.75-10). El ASAS-HI mostró correlación con: BASDAI: rho: 0.7 (p<0.001), ASDAS-ERS: rho: 0.7 (p<0,001), ASQoL: rho: 0.8 (p<0.001), BASFI rho: 0.75 (p<0.001). La variable que se asoció de manera independiente a pobre estado de salud fue el ASDAS-ERS (OR 6.6, IC95% 2-22, p 0.002). Conclusión: Un pobre estado de salud se asoció independientemente a mayor actividad de la enfermedad en pacientes con EspAax y EspAp. El ASAS-HI correlacionó con otros parámetros de la enfermedad, lo que refuerza la validez de constructo de esta nueva herramienta