211 research outputs found
Bound states of scalar particles in the presence of a short range potential
We analyze the behavior of the energy spectrum of the Klein-Gordon equation
in the presence of a truncated hyperbolic tangent potential. From our analysis
we obtain that, for some values of the potential there is embedding of the
bound states into the negative energy continuum, showing that, in opposition to
the general belief, relativistic scalar particles in one-dimensional short
range potentials can exhibit resonant behavior and not only the Schiff-Snyder
effect.Comment: To appear in Modern Physics Letters
Two-loop renormalization group analysis of hadronic decays of a charged Higgs boson
We calculate next-to-leading QCD corrections to the decay
for generic up and down quarks in the final state. A recently developed
algorithm for evaluation of massive two-loop Feynman diagrams is employed to
calculate renormalization constants of the charged Higgs boson. The origin and
summation of large logarithmic corrections to the decay rate of the top quark
into a lighter charged Higgs boson is also explained.Comment: 10 pages + 4 figures, PostScript
Mating, but Not Male Accessory Gland Products, Changes Female Response to Olfactory Cues in Anastrepha Fruit Flies
Copulation and/or ejaculate components can alter female physiological state and female post-mating behavior. The objective of the present study was to determine if copulation and male reproductive accessory gland products (MAGs) modify the behavior of female Anastrepha ludens (Loew) and Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart; Diptera: Tephritidae) in response to two stimuli: male-emitted pheromone and oviposition host volatiles. Olfactometry studies revealed that mated females of both A. ludens and A. obliqua have a stronger response for host volatiles compared to unmated females, which have a stronger response for male pheromone. We also examined olfactory responses of females mated to testectomized males who could transfer MAGs but not sperm. In both species, MAGs alone did not cause the change in the olfactory response observed after copulation, unlike what has been found in Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Females mated to testectomized males responded equally to the male sex pheromone or to host volatiles, thus suggesting that the whole ejaculate is needed to elicit the complete behavioral switch in olfactory response. The function of MAGs is still unknown in these two pests of economic importance. The response for host volatiles by mated females has implications for the development of baits and traps that should preferably attract and target this population.Fil: CĂłrdova GarcĂa, Guadalupe. Universidad Veracruzana; MĂ©xicoFil: Sirot, Laura. The College Of Wooster; Estados UnidosFil: Abraham, Solana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - TucumĂĄn. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales MicrobiolĂłgicos; ArgentinaFil: DĂaz Fleischer, Francisco. Universidad Veracruzana; MĂ©xicoFil: Flores Estevez, Norma. Universidad Veracruzana; MĂ©xicoFil: LĂłpez Ortega, Maurilio. Universidad Veracruzana; MĂ©xicoFil: PĂ©rez Staples, Diana. Universidad Veracruzana; MĂ©xic
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The Mayan Tropical Rainforest: An Uncharted Reservoir of Tritrophic Host-Fruit Fly-Parasitoid Interactions
Over a twoâyear period, we surveyed natural areas of the Mayan rainforest in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We found 11 species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting 25 species of fruits belonging to ten plant families. We report the first records of 10 host plant species of the genus Anastrepha, which include the first report of a plant family (Putranjivaceae) serving as host of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) infesting Drypetes lateriflora (Sw.) Krug and Urb. (Putranjivaceae). Pouteria reticulata (Engl.) Eyma (Sapotaceae) was found, for the first time, to be infested by Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) and by a new undescribed species of Anastrepha. We also report Casimiroa microcarpa Lundell (Rutaceae) as a possible ancestral host for the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), in Central America. The family Sapotaceae was the best-represented host group with three fruit fly species recovered: A. serpentina, an economically-important species, found in eight host plants, and A. hamata and A. sp. (new species). We recorded six species of koinobiont parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus Szepligeti, Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae Viereck, Opius hirtus Fisher, and Doryctobracon zeteki Musebeck, (all Braconidae), and Aganaspis pelleranoi (BrethĂ©s) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier, (both Figitidae). All these parasitoid species represent at least a new report for their host plants. Of the whole parasitoid community, D. areolatus was the most important parasitoid species with 52.7% of presence in 12 host plant species, parasitizing six fruit fly species. The interaction between fruit flies and their parasitoids with host plants depends on fruit availability, which is crucial for the survival of each of these species. Conserving the landscape of the Mayan rainforest is important not only for species conservation, but also for the maintenance of fruit fly host plants in orchard agroecosystems in southeastern Mexico
Identification of the Efficiency Gap by Coupling a Fundamental Electricity Market Model and an Agent-Based Simulation Model
A reliable and cost-effective electricity system transition requires both the identification of
optimal target states and the definition of political and regulatory frameworks that enable these target
states to be achieved. Fundamental optimization models are frequently used for the determination
of cost-optimal system configurations. They represent a normative approach and typically assume
markets with perfect competition. However, it is well known that real systems do not behave in
such an optimal way, as decision-makers do not have perfect information at their disposal and real
market actors do not take decisions in a purely rational way. These deficiencies lead to increased costs
or missed targets, often referred to as an âefficiency gapâ. For making rational political decisions,
it might be valuable to know which factors influence this efficiency gap and to what extent. In this
paper, we identify and quantify this gap by soft-linking a fundamental electricity market model and an
agent-based simulation model, which allows the consideration of these effects. In order to distinguish
between model-inherent differences and non-ideal market behavior, a rigorous harmonization of the
models was conducted first. The results of the comparative analysis show that the efficiency gap
increases with higher renewable energy shares and that information deficits and policy instruments
affect operational decisions of power market participants and resulting overall costs significantly.Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, grant numbers 03ET4025A/03ET4025B
Higgs Boson Theory and Phenomenology
Precision electroweak data presently favors a weakly-coupled Higgs sector as
the mechanism responsible for electroweak symmetry breaking. Low-energy
supersymmetry provides a natural framework for weakly-coupled elementary
scalars. In this review, we summarize the theoretical properties of the
Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson and the Higgs sector of the minimal
supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM). We then survey the
phenomenology of the SM and MSSM Higgs bosons at the Tevatron, LHC and a future
e+e- linear collider. We focus on the Higgs discovery potential of present and
future colliders and stress the importance of precision measurements of Higgs
boson properties.Comment: 90 pages, 31 figures. Revised version. To be published in Progress in
Particle and Nuclear Physics. This paper with higher resolution figures can
be found at http://scipp.ucsc.edu/~haber/higgsreview/higgsrev.p
Predicting microstructure and strength of maraging steels: Elemental optimisation
A physicsâbased modelling framework to describe microstructure and mechanical properties in maraging steels is presented. It is based on prescribing the hierarchical structure of the martensitic matrix, including dislocation density, and lath and highâangle grain boundary spacing. The evolution of lathâshaped reverted austenite is described using grainâboundary diffusion laws within a lath unit. The dislocation density provides the preferential nucleation sites for precipitation, whereas descriptions for particle nucleation, growth and coarsening evolution are identified for Ni 3 Ti, NiAl and its variants, and BCCâCu clusters. These results are combined to describe the hardness at different ageing temperatures in several [Formula presented], [Formula presented] and [Formula presented] steels. A critical assessment on individual contributions of typical alloying elements is performed. Ni and Mn control the kinetics of austenite formation, where the latter shows stronger influence on the growth kinetics. Ti additions induce higher hardness by precipitating stronger Ni 3 Ti, whereas Cu clusters induce low strength. A relationship between the reverted austenite and the total elongation in overaging conditions is also found. This result allows to identify optimal process and alloy design scenarios to improve the ductility whilst preserving high hardness in commercial maraging steels
Host plant range of a fruit fly community (Diptera: Tephritidae): Does fruit composition influence larval performance?
Background: Phytophagous insects differ in their degree of specialisation on host plants, and range from strictly monophagous species that can develop on only one host plant to extremely polyphagous species that can develop on hundreds of plant species in many families. Nutritional compounds in host fruits affect several larval traits that may be related to adult fitness. In this study, we determined the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and the degree of host specialisation of seven of the eight tephritid species present in La Réunion; these species are known to have very different host ranges in natura. In the laboratory, larval survival, larval developmental time, and pupal weight were assessed on 22 fruit species occurring in La Réunion. In addition, data on fruit nutritional composition were obtained from existing databases. Results: For each tephritid, the three larval traits were significantly affected by fruit species and the effects of fruits on larval traits differed among tephritids. As expected, the polyphagous species Bactrocera zonata, Ceratitis catoirii, C. rosa, and C. capitata were able to survive on a larger range of fruits than the oligophagous species Zeugodacus cucurbitae, Dacus demmerezi, and Neoceratitis cyanescens. Pupal weight was positively correlated with larval survival and was negatively correlated with developmental time for polyphagous species. Canonical correspondence analysis of the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and tephritid survival showed that polyphagous species survived better than oligophagous ones in fruits containing higher concentrations of carbohydrate, fibre, and lipid. Conclusion: Nutrient composition of host fruit at least partly explains the suitability of host fruits for larvae. Completed with female preferences experiments these results will increase our understanding of factors affecting tephritid host range. (Résumé d'auteur
Benefits of a ball and chain: simple environmental enrichments improve welfare and reproductive success in farmed American mink (Neovison vison)
Can simple enrichments enhance caged mink welfare? Pilot data from 756 sub-adults spanning three colour-types (strains) identified potentially practical enrichments, and suggested beneficial effects on temperament and fur-chewing. Our main experiment started with 2032 Black mink on three farms: from each of 508 families, one juvenile male-female pair was enriched (E) with two balls and a hanging plastic chain or length of hose, while a second pair was left as a non-enriched (NE) control. At 8 months, more than half the subjects were killed for pelts, and 302 new females were recruited (half enriched: âlate Eâ). Several signs of improved welfare or productivity emerged. Access to enrichment increased play in juveniles. E mink were calmer (less aggressive in temperament tests; quieter when handled; less fearful, if male), and less likely to fur-chew, although other stereotypic behaviours were not reduced. On one farm, E females had lower cortisol (inferred from faecal metabolites). E males tended to copulate for longer. E females also weaned more offspring: about 10% more juveniles per E female, primarily caused by reduced rates of barrenness (âlate Eâ females also giving birth to bigger litters on one farm), effects that our data cautiously suggest were partly mediated by reduced inactivity and changes in temperament. Pelt quality seemed unaffected, but E animals had cleaner cages. In a subsidiary side-study using 368 mink of a second colour-type (âDemisâ), similar temperament effects emerged, and while E did not reduce fur-chewing or improve reproductive success in this colour-type, E animals were judged to have better pelts. Overall, simple enrichments were thus beneficial. These findings should encourage welfare improvements on fur farms (which house 60-70 million mink p.a.) and in breeding centres where endangered mustelids (e.g. black-footed ferrets) often reproduce poorly. They should also stimulate future research into more effective practical enrichments
Plant chemicals and the sexual behavior of male tephritid fruit flies
Plant compounds affect insects in many different ways. In addition to being a food source, plants also contain secondary metabolites that may have positive and negative impacts on insects. The influence of these compounds on sexual behavior, in particular, has been the focus of many recent studies. Here, we review the existing literature on the effects of plant compounds on the sexual behavior of tephritid fruit fly males. We put special focus on polyphagous species whose males congregate in leks, where females exert strong mate selection. We first summarize the main findings related to plant compounds that increase male signaling behavior and attraction of females and consequently increase mating frequency, a phenomenon that has been recorded mainly for species of Anastrepha and Ceratitis. In other tephritid species, males are attracted to phenylpropanoids produced by plants (such as methyl eugenol or raspberry ketone) that, upon encounter, are consumed and sequestered by males. These compounds, or metabolic derivatives, which normally have negligible nutritional value, are included in the pheromone and also confer advantages in a sexual context: enhanced female attraction and improved male mating success. These phenomena have been reported for several Bactrocera species as well as for Zeugodacus cucurbitae. Because many tephritid species are serious pests, the effect of plant compounds on male behavior has been explored for potential incorporation into control strategies such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). We conclude noting several factors, such as age and nutrition during larval and adult stage, that modulate the effect of plant compounds on male mating behavior as well as some prominent gaps that preclude a thorough understanding of the plant-mediated enhancement of male sexual performance and hence limit our ability to effectively utilize phytochemicals in pest control strategies.Instituto de GenĂ©ticaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de GenĂ©tica. Laboratorio de GenĂ©tica de Insectos de Importancia EconĂłmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Belliard, Silvina A. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de GenĂ©tica. Laboratorio de GenĂ©tica de Insectos de Importancia EconĂłmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vera, MarĂa Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de TucumĂĄn. Facultad de AgronomĂa y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Guillermo Enrique. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de GenĂ©tica. Laboratorio de GenĂ©tica de Insectos de Importancia EconĂłmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, MarĂa Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de TucumĂĄn. Facultad de AgronomĂa y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Jofre-Barud, Flavia. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). EstaciĂłn Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: FernĂĄndez, Patricia. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). EstaciĂłn Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del ParanĂĄ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, M. Liza. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). EstaciĂłn Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Shelly, Todd E. United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Estados Unido
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