Additional observations on the nesting behavior of \u3ci\u3eMiscophus (Nitelopterus) californicus\u3c/i\u3e (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

Close-up photographs of nest entry, nest closure and prey transport taken on sandy coastal back dunes in Santa Barbara County, CA by Alice J. Abela substantiate and enhance written descriptions of these nesting be­havior components in Miscophus californicus (Ashmead) [=M. laticeps (Ashmead)] (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Dictynidae (Dictyna Sundevall or Emblyna Chamberlin) is introduced as a new host family and host spider leg amputation is revealed for the first time for this small miscophine wasp. Miscophus (Nitelopterus) californicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) is a small (4.5–7.0 mm) Nearctic miscophine wasp that ranges from California and Arizona north to southern Alberta and Saskatchewan (M. Buck, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB, 2020 pers. comm.). This species is extremely common in California with larger black individuals inhabiting relict sand dunes along the Pacific Coast (Wasbauer 1978). The females excavate short shallow burrows in friable soil and hunt various tiny spiders which they immobilize with a sting in the cephalothorax. They transport the prey forward in flight or on the ground, depending on its relative size and weight, and return periodically to an open or closed nest entrance holding the spider face forward and venter to venter. They release the prey on the ground in that position, enter the burrow, pull the spider inside, and, after several spiders are deposited within and oviposition on a single prey occurs, close the burrow and entrance with loose soil. The nesting behavior of Miscophus californicus [as M. laticeps (Ashmead)] was studied in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA by Kurczewski et al. (2012) to clarify variation in previous reports on this species. Voucher specimens from this study were collected from coastal sand dunes in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, CA, deposited in the University of California–Davis R.M. Bohart Insect Museum, and identified as M. laticeps by L.S. Kimsey, University of California–Davis. This study was basically in agreement with that on M. californicus by Powell (1967) and in disagreement with the study of M. laticeps by Cazier and Mortenson (1965). Miscophus laticeps is a heretofore previously unpublished synonym of M. californicus in Joanne Slansky Wasbauer’s (1978) Ph. D. Thesis from the University of California–Davis (L.S. Kimsey, University of California–Davis, Davis, CA, 2020 pers. comm.)

Nesting behavior, ecology, and functional morphology of the trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasp \u3ci\u3eAporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus\u3c/i\u3e (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

Macrophotographs in series taken by Alice Abela on sandy coastal dunes in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, CA in 2010–2021 supplement and enhance F. X. Williams (1928) study of the ecol­ogy and nesting behavior of the trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasp Aporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Aporini). Abela’s macrophotographs and observations provide new details of adult wasp feeding, functional morphology, hunting, digging and prey transport, and host spider trapdoor, entrance, burrow structure, host capture and escape activity. Newly reported host records from this study and online photographs expand A. hirsutus host selection in the large wafer-lid trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae). The A. hirsutus California geographic distribution map by Wasbauer and Kimsey (1985) is updated, thereby providing a broader definition of intraspecific variation in this species. Aporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Aporini) is black, its body, antennae, legs and forewings rendered brilliant bluish, greenish or violaceous by its pubescence (Evans 1966; Wasbauer and Kimsey 1985) (Fig. 1). Females of A. hirsutus are 6.5–13.0 mm in body length, their size depending on the size of the host spider on which they fed as a larva (Evans 1966; F. E. Kurczewski pers. obs.). Females have the appropriate structural characteristics for preying on the wafer-lid trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae: Myga­lomorphae: Euctenizidae) in loose sand of active and relict coastal sand dunes and deserts in the western U. S. (Williams 1928; Wasbauer and Kimsey 1985). Aporus hirsutus ranges from Oregon and California eastward to Idaho, Nevada and western Arizona, and southward into Sonora and Baja California, Mexico (Evans 1966; Was­bauer and Kimsey 1985) (Fig. 9; Table 1)

Genetic optimization for radio interferometer configurations

The large bandwidth and resolution specifications of today’s telescopes require the use of different types of collectors positioned over long baselines. Innovative feeds and detectors must be designed and introduced in the initial phases of development. The required level of resolution can only be achieved through a ground-breaking configuration of dishes and antennas. This work investigates the possibility of the genetic optimization of radio interferometer layouts given constraints on cable length, required UV density distribution and point-spread function. Owing to the large collecting area and the frequency range required for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) to deliver the promised science, the configuration of the dishes within each station is an important issue. As a proof of concept, the Phase 1 specifications of this telescope are used to test the proposed framework.peer-reviewe

Ordinal patterns in epileptic brains: Analysis of intracranial EEG and simultaneous EEG-fMRI

Epileptic seizures are associated with high behavioral stereotypy of the patients. In the EEG of epilepsy patients characteristic signal patterns can be found during and between seizures. Here we use ordinal patterns to analyze EEGs of epilepsy patients and quantify the degree of signal determinism. Besides relative signal redundancy and the fraction of forbidden patterns we introduce the fraction of under-represented patterns as a new measure. Using the logistic map, parameter scans are performed to explore the sensitivity of the measures to signal determinism. Thereafter, application is made to two types of EEGs recorded in two epilepsy patients. Intracranial EEG shows pronounced determinism peaks during seizures. Finally, we demonstrate that ordinal patterns may be useful for improving analysis of non-invasive simultaneous EEG-fMR

Computer models to inform epilepsy surgery strategies: prediction of postoperative outcome

This is the final version of the article. Available from OUP via the DOI in this record.M.G., M.P.R. and J.R.T. gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the EPSRC via grant EP/N014391/1. They further acknowledge funding from Epilepsy Research UK via grant number A1007 and the Medical Research Council via grant MR/K013998/1. The contribution of M.G. and J.R.T. was generously supported by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Award (WT105618MA). M.P.R. is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. C.R. and A.E. were supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant SPUM 140332). K.S. is grateful for support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants 122010 and 155950)

Estimation of brain network ictogenicity predicts outcome from epilepsy surgery

Surgery is a valuable option for pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. However, significant post-operative improvements are not always attained. This is due in part to our incomplete understanding of the seizure generating (ictogenic) capabilities of brain networks. Here we introduce an in silico, model-based framework to study the effects of surgery within ictogenic brain networks. We find that factors conventionally determining the region of tissue to resect, such as the location of focal brain lesions or the presence of epileptiform rhythms, do not necessarily predict the best resection strategy. We validate our framework by analysing electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings from patients who have undergone epilepsy surgery. We find that when post-operative outcome is good, model predictions for optimal strategies align better with the actual surgery undertaken than when post-operative outcome is poor. Crucially, this allows the prediction of optimal surgical strategies and the provision of quantitative prognoses for patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.MG, MPR and JRT gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the EPSRC via grant EP/N014391/1. They further acknowledge funding from Epilepsy Research UK via grant number A1007 and the Medical Research Council via grant MR/K013998/1. The contribution of MG and JRT was generously supported by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Award (WT105618MA). MPR is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. CR and AE were supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant SPUM 140332). KS is grateful for support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants 122010 and 155950)

Computational modelling in source space from scalp EEG to inform presurgical evaluation of epilepsy

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordObjective: The effectiveness of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to inform epilepsy surgery depends on where iEEG electrodes are implanted. This decision is informed by noninvasive recording modalities such as scalp EEG. Herein we propose a framework to interrogate scalp EEG and determine epilepsy lateralization to aid in electrode implantation. Methods: We use eLORETA to map source activities from seizure epochs recorded from scalp EEG and consider 15 regions of interest (ROIs). Functional networks are then constructed using the phase-locking value and studied using a mathematical model. By removing different ROIs from the network and simulating their impact on the network’s ability to generate seizures in silico, the framework provides predictions of epilepsy lateralization. We consider 15 individuals from the EPILEPSIAE database and study a total of 62 seizures. Results were assessed by taking into account actual intracranial implantations and surgical outcome. Results: The framework provided potentially useful information regarding epilepsy lateralization in 12 out of the 15 individuals (p=0.02, binomial test). Conclusions: Our results show promise for the use of this framework to better interrogate scalp EEG to determine epilepsy lateralization. Significance: The framework may aid clinicians in the decision process to define where to implant electrodes for intracranial monitoring.Medical Research CouncilEpilepsy Research UKEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Wellcome TrustEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Innovate UKEuropean Union’s Horizon 2020Alzheimer's SocietyMedical Research Counci

Abnormal temporal lobe morphology in asymptomatic relatives of patients with hippocampal sclerosis: A replication study.

We investigated gray and white matter morphology in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (mTLE+HS) and first-degree asymptomatic relatives of patients with mTLE+HS. Using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we sought to replicate previously reported findings of structural surface abnormalities of the anterior temporal lobe in asymptomatic relatives of patients with mTLE+HS in an independent cohort. We performed whole-brain MRI in 19 patients with mTLE+HS, 14 first-degree asymptomatic relatives of mTLE+HS patients, and 32 healthy control participants. Structural alterations in patients and relatives compared to controls were assessed using automated hippocampal volumetry and cortical surface-based morphometry. We replicated previously reported cortical surface area contractions in the ipsilateral anterior temporal lobe in both patients and relatives compared to healthy controls, with asymptomatic relatives showing similar but less extensive changes than patients. These findings suggest morphologic abnormality in asymptomatic relatives of mTLE+HS patients, suggesting an inherited brain structure endophenotype

Elevated ictal brain network ictogenicity enables prediction of optimal seizure control

This is the final version of the article. Available from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this record.Recent studies have shown that mathematical models can be used to analyze brain networks by quantifying how likely they are to generate seizures. In particular, we have introduced the quantity termed brain network ictogenicity (BNI), which was demonstrated to have the capability of differentiating between functional connectivity (FC) of healthy individuals and those with epilepsy. Furthermore, BNI has also been used to quantify and predict the outcome of epilepsy surgery based on FC extracted from pre-operative ictal intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG). This modeling framework is based on the assumption that the inferred FC provides an appropriate representation of an ictogenic network, i.e., a brain network responsible for the generation of seizures. However, FC networks have been shown to change their topology depending on the state of the brain. For example, topologies during seizure are different to those pre- and post-seizure. We therefore sought to understand how these changes affect BNI. We studied peri-ictal iEEG recordings from a cohort of 16 epilepsy patients who underwent surgery and found that, on average, ictal FC yield higher BNI relative to pre- and post-ictal FC. However, elevated ictal BNI was not observed in every individual, rather it was typically observed in those who had good post-operative seizure control. We therefore hypothesize that elevated ictal BNI is indicative of an ictogenic network being appropriately represented in the FC. We evidence this by demonstrating superior model predictions for post-operative seizure control in patients with elevated ictal BNI.ML, MG, MR, and JT gratefully acknowledge funding from the Medical Research Council via grant MR/K013998/1. MG, MR, and JT further acknowledge the financial support of the EPSRC via grant EP/N014391/1. The contribution of MG and JT was further generously supported by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Award (WT105618MA). MR and EA are supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. KS gratefully acknowledges support by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF 32003B_155950)