A new egg parasitoid for possible biological control of the asiatic maize borer in Malaysia

A species of egg parasitoid tentatively identified as Trichogramma papilionis Nag. was found attacking egg masses of Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee. The life cycle of the parasitoid was completed within 9 days; the egg, larval and pupal stages lastedfor 2,4 and 3 days, respectively. The female: male sex ratio was 3:1, higher than the usual 2:1 sex ratio for Trichogramma spp. Superparasitism was observed whereby 3 individuals were produced from one . host egg. All eggs were parasitized in 4 days at 2:1 (host: parasitoid) ratio. The female parasitoid showed a high degree of searching efficiency and normally parasitized all eggs in a batch before continuing her search for the next egg batch. The female spent 40% of the time searching on the upper surface of a maize leaf, 30% on the lower surface and 30% on the leaf edges. The female searching and parasitization behaviour followed the Type III functional response curve. The female parasitoid showed positive response to the odour ofthe maize leaf, indicating a possibility that a kairomone or contact communication chemical is involved. T. papilionis appeared to be a very efficient egg parasitoid of O. furnacalis and a good candidate for a biological control programme of the pest

Optimal statistical method to predict subsurface formation permeability depending on open hole wireline logging data: A comparative study

One crucial parameter related to subsurface formations fluid flowing is the rock permeability. Generally, rock permeability reflects the formation capability to transmit fluid. Its significance reflected through several methods existing utilized to predict it, including rock core measurements, empirical correlation, statistical techniques, and other methods. The best and more exact permeability findings are acquired in the laboratory from core plug cored from a subsurface formation. Unfortunately, these experiments are expensive and tedious in comparison to the electrical and electronic survey techniques as wireline well logging methods, for example, not exclusively. The current study compares and discusses different methods and approaches for predicting permeability via wireline logs data. These approaches include empirical correlations, non-parametric statistical approaches, flow zone indicator FZI approach. In this research, we introduced a comparatively new process to predict permeability by the combination of FZI method and the artificial neural networks method. All these approaches are performed using well logs data to the non-homogenous formation, and findings are placed in comparison with permeability from laboratory experiments, which is regarded to be standard. Several statistical criteria, such as ANOVA test and regression analysis, were used to determine the reliability of calculated permeability results

Apply Binary Logistic Regression Model to Recognize the Risk Factors of Diabetes through Measuring Glycated Hemoglobin Levels

This study aimed to identify diabetes risk factors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and explain why diabetes is rapidly spreading there, which examined some sociodemographic characteristics factors that might affect type 2 diabetes such as age, gender, alcohol consumption, and smoking, diabetes family history, and body weight. The data was collected from the hospital of diabetes named the center of diabetes in Sulaymaniyah city of Iraq, in which 218 diabetic cases were used for that purpose. According to the findings, some factors influence type 2 diabetes, such as Gender, Smoking, and Body Weight. For Gender, Females are more likely to have diabetes than males. Also, someone that smokes is more likely to have diabetes than those who do not smoke. Furthermore, with increasing each kilogram of body weight, the diabetes degree increases as well. On the other hand, regarding the results, some factors such as Age, Consumption of Alcoholic, and Diabetes Family History do not affect type 2 diabetes. Depending on the findings, it is recommended that people engage in regular physical activity and consume nutritious foods to minimize weight gain, which is one of the primary causes of diabetes as well as they should quit smoking

Preparation and study the mechanical properties of CMC/PVA composites by sound waves

The CMC/PVA composite membranes were prepared by casting method, the appropriate weight of CMC was variable (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 gm) was dissolved in (25ml) of distilled water under stirring and heat (80?C) for (30 min.) then add the PVA with different weights (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 gm) for each CMC weight. In order to evaluate the mechanical properties of CMC/PVA composite the ultrasonic measurements were performed at the samples , these properties are ultrasonic velocity, compressibility, acoustic impedance and bulk modulus, were made at fixed frequency (f =2.5 KHz), another acoustic mechanical properties were measured and calculated at a same time such as the ultrasonic wave amplitude before and after absorption by composite were measured using oscilloscope ,then we calculated absorption coefficient , transmittance and the reflected pressure ratio of the sound. It was found that there is significant relationship between ultrasonic velocity and material properties also results show that adding PVA affects on the density then the absorption of the ultrasonic waves inside the composites samples. Keywords: Carboxy methylcellulose; polyvinyle alcohol; mechanical properties; casting method

Comparative estimation of water saturation in carbonate reservoir: A case study of northern Iraq

Water saturation is among important petrophysical properties of rock used to assess the initial hydrocarbon in an exploration well. This paper studies five formations from the main limestone carbonate reservoir belong to an exploration field located in the northern part of Iraq. Additionally, we review water saturation models to choose the best one to this exploration field. There are several techniques of water saturation determination applied to estimate reservoir quality. Archie equation is considered one of these techniques; however, applying this model in shale formation gives errors in water saturation estimation. Three different models of water saturation, Simandoux, Indonesian, and Modified Simandoux, were chosen to estimate water saturation in shale beds. Our results demonstrated that the water saturation obtained from the Archie equation is higher than all other models. Furthermore, the Indonesian water saturation model is higher than Simandoux and Modified Simandoux water saturation models. The outcome of the Simandoux and Modified Simandoux were lower than those of Archie and Indonesian models. The accuracy of the water saturation model is evaluated by tends to be close to that of Archie water saturation model is considered negative. The reason is there are no production test results or saturation data from core analysis. The lowest average of water saturation is found in Simandoux and Modified Simandoux models. Depending on water saturation value, the good positive model is modified Simandoux or Simandoux model due to its lowest average value of water saturation. Besides, it can be used for further reservoir studies

On the critical pair theory in abelian groups : Beyond Chowla's Theorem

We obtain critical pair theorems for subsets S and T of an abelian group such that |S+T| < |S|+|T|+1. We generalize some results of Chowla, Vosper, Kemperman and a more recent result due to Rodseth and one of the authors.Comment: Submitted to Combinatorica, 23 pages, revised versio

Prevalence of obesity in patients suffering from migraine

Background: Migraine is one of the most common primary headaches, accounting for significant morbidity in patients suffering from it. An association between obesity and migraine has been documented in the past, despite some studies pointing to the contrary. Author’s purpose is to calculate the prevalence of obesity in migraine patients in order to contribute to the existing concepts. A positive correlation could lead to the employment of weight loss interventions in the management of obese patients with migraine.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 patients, recently diagnosed with migraine, attending the Neurology Outpatient Department at the Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi were enrolled after taking informed consent.  Migraine was diagnosed using International Classification of Headache Disorders III (ICHD III) criteria. Height (meters) and weight (kilograms) were measured and body mass index calculated. This data was kept confidential. The results were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 19.  Continuous quantitative data were analyzed using chi square test. A p Value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The mean age of enrolled participants was 30.69±6.96 years, 204(51%) were >30 years of age, 159(39.8%) were male and 241(60.3%) were female, mean height was 1.55±0.1 meters, mean weight was 56.26±12.98 kg, and mean duration of migraine was 5.04±2.02 weeks. The prevalence of obesity in patients with migraine was 108 (27%).Conclusions: It was concluded that the prevalence of obesity in patients with migraine was 27%

Threat assessment algorithm for Active Blind Spot Assist system using short range radar sensor

Road safety has become more concern due to the number of accidents that keeps increasing every year. The safety systems include from simple installation such as seat belt, airbag, and rear camera to more complicated and intelligent systems such as braking assist, lane change assist, steering control and blind spot monitoring. This paper proposes another intelligent safety system to be implemented in passenger vehicle by monitoring the blind-spot region by using automotive short range radar as sensor to assess its surrounding. This system is called Active Blind-Spot Assist (ABSA) system and this system will collaborate with a Steering Intervention system for autonomous steering maneuvers. The objective of ABSA system is to deploy safety interventions by giving warning to the driver whenever other vehicle is detected within the blind-spot region. Furthermore, this active system also triggers autonomous steering control when the potential of collision with the detected vehicle increases greatly. Consequently, a threat assessment algorithm is developed to evaluate the right moment to give safety interventions to the driver and the conditions for autonomous steering maneuvers. The process of developing the threat assessment algorithm explained in this paper

1,25(OH)2D3 administration in moderate renal failure: A prospective double-blind trial

1,25(OH)2D3 administration in moderate renal failure: A prospective double blind trial. This study represents the first randomized prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of 1,25(OH)2D3 on bone histology and serum biochemistry in patients with mild to moderate renal failure. Sixteen patients with chronic renal impairment (creatinine clearance 20 to 59ml per min) received either 1,25(OH)2D3, at a dose of 0.25 to 0.5 µg daily (eight patients), or placebo. Transiliac crest bone biopsies were performed before entrance into the study and after 12 months of experimental observation. None of the patients were symptomatic or had radiological evidence of bone disease. Of the thirteen patients who completed the study, initial serum 1,25(OH)2D levels were low in seven patients and parathyroid hormone levels were elevated in seven patients. Bone histology was abnormal in all patients. 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment was associated with a significant fall in serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase concentrations as well as with histological evidence of an amelioration of hyperparathyroid changes. In contrast to previous reports, no deterioration of renal function attributable to the treatment occurred, perhaps because a modest dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 was employed combined with meticulous monitoring. Further investigation is required to determine whether alternative therapeutic strategies (smaller doses or intermittent therapy) may avoid the potential for suppressing bone turnover to abnormally low levels in the long term