Changing of flight phenology and ecotype expansion of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) in Hungary Part

The studies aimed to acquire the widest possible information on the annual flight in Hungary of the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The investigations used biomathematical (Part 1) and graphical (Part 2) evaluation to document changes in the individual population number.The study was conducted in Hungary using ECB moth capture records from the Plant Protection Information System black light trap system (1991–2004). We have drawn conclusions on the appearance of annual flights and the tendency of alterations in flight direction by means of light trap results in four different areas in Hungary. We calculated the flight peak quotients, the individual population numbers of the second flight peak, the distinctions of individual numbers of two flight peaks in this part.As previously published, alterations in flight direction of ECB flights began at different times in Hungary. In the current study, a gradual disappearance of the univoltine ecotype and gradual appearance of the bivoltine ecotype ECB in Hungary is confirmed by the data obtained between 1991–2004. Flight peak quotients and data concerning the second flight peak have confirmed change this process, too: the appearance of a second flight peak in Northwestern Hungary from 1995–1996 (FP = 1.27), the more significant appearance of flights in August in Western Hungary (FP = 1.05) and Northeastern Hungary (FP = 1.45), and a three and four times more individual number of the second flight peak in Southeastern Hungary (FP = 3.44). Flight peak quotients, individual population numbers of the second flight peak, the tendency towards a difference in population number of the two peaks, and size of increase of these values demonstrates the southeastern-northwestern presence of the bivoltine ecotype in Hungary

Surgically implanted aortic valve bioprostheses deform after implantation: insights from computed tomography

Objective: Little is known about the prevalence and degree of deformation of surgically implanted aortic biological valve prostheses (bio-sAVRs). We assessed bio-sAVR deformation using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: Three imaging databases were searched for patients with MDCT performed after bio-sAVR implantation. Minimal and maximal valve ring diameters were obtained in systole and/or diastole, depending on the acquired cardiac phase(s). The eccentricity index (EI) was calculated as a measure of deformation as (1 − (minimal diameter/maximal diameter)) × 100%. EI of 10% non-circular. Indications for MDCT and implanted valve type were retrieved. Results: One hundred fifty-two scans of bio-sAVRs were included. One hundred seventeen measurements were performed in systole and 35 in diastole. None or trivial deformation (EI 5%) in 56% of studied cases and were considered non-circular (eccentricity index > 10%) in 17% of studied valves. • The higher deformity rate found in bio-sAVRs with (suspected) valve pathology could suggest that geometric deformity may play a role in leaflet malformation and thrombus formation similar to that of transcatheter heart valves

Traveling length and minimal traveling time for flow through percolation networks with long-range spatial correlations

We study the distributions of traveling length l and minimal traveling time t through two-dimensional percolation porous media characterized by long-range spatial correlations. We model the dynamics of fluid displacement by the convective movement of tracer particles driven by a pressure difference between two fixed sites (''wells'') separated by Euclidean distance r. For strongly correlated pore networks at criticality, we find that the probability distribution functions P(l) and P(t) follow the same scaling Ansatz originally proposed for the uncorrelated case, but with quite different scaling exponents. We relate these changes in dynamical behavior to the main morphological difference between correlated and uncorrelated clusters, namely, the compactness of their backbones. Our simulations reveal that the dynamical scaling exponents for correlated geometries take values intermediate between the uncorrelated and homogeneous limiting cases

An application of bilinear integration to quantum scattering

Scattering theory has its origin in Quantum Mechanics. From the mathematical point of view it can be considered as a part of perturbation theory of self-adjoint operators on the absolutely continuous spectrum. In this work we deal with the passage from the time-dependent formalism to the stationary state scattering theory. This problem involves applying Fubini's Theorem to a spectral measure integral and a Lebesgue integral of functions that take values in spaces of operators. In our approach, we use bilinear integration in a tensor product of spaces of operators with suitable topologies and generalize the results previously stated in the literature. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and FEDER, under Grant #MTM2012-36740-c02-02.García-Raffi, LM.; Jefferies, B. (2014). An application of bilinear integration to quantum scattering. Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications. 415(1):394-421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmaa.2014.01.055S394421415

Patency of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy in the treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasoundguided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is a novel, minimally invasive technique in the palliative treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Several studies have demonstrated feasibility and safety of EUS-GE, but evidence on long-term durability is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate patency of EUS-GE in treatment of malignant GOO. Patients and Methods An international multicenter study was performed in seven centers in four European countries. Patients who underwent EUS-GE with a LAMS between March 2015 and March 2019 for palliative treatment of symptomatic malignant GOO were included retrospectively. Our main outcome was recurrent obstruction due to LAMS dysfunction; other outcomes of interest were technical success, clinical success, adverse events (AEs), and survival. Results A total of 45 patients (mean age 69.9 ± 12.3 years and 48.9% male) were included. Median duration of followup was 59 days (interquartile range [IQR] 41–128). Recurrent obstruction occurred in two patients (6.1 %), after 33 and 283 days of follow-up. Technical success was achieved in 39 patients (86.7 %). Clinical success was achieved in 33 patients (73.3 %). AEs occurred in 12 patients (26.7 %), of which five were fatal. Median overall survival was 57 days (IQR 32–114). Conclusions EUS-GE showed a low rate of recurrent obstruction. The relatively high number of fatal AEs underscores the importance of careful implementation of EUSGE in clinical practice

Introducing Tax Education in Non-Accounting Curriculum in Higher Education: Survey Evidence

This study aims i) to assess the quest for tax education among working adults that pursuing off-campus non-accounting program, ii) to analyze the level of tax knowledge among the working adults, iii) to elicit the relevant tax topics to be taught should tax education be integrated into non-accounting curriculum in higher education. We surveyed 450 working adults pursuing off-campus non-accounting program in one Malaysian public university. 190 usable responses were received. The survey found 64% of the respondents were keen to learn taxation, and only 23.7% of the respondents possessed high level of tax knowledge. The topics that they desired to learn the most are basic tax principles, personal taxation, tax planning for individuals and taxation for small business and company. The findings suggest that as we moved into the era of self-assessment tax system, it is imperative for the accounting academics and the education authorities to seriously consider introducing tax education in non-accounting curriculum in higher education

It's not only about technology, it's about people: interpersonal skills as a part of the IT education.

Proceedings of: Second World Summit on the Knowledge Society (WSKS 2009), Chania, Crete, Greece, September 16-18, 2009.The importance of what have been termed the "soft skills" for the professional development of IT professionals is beyond any doubt. Taking account of this circumstance, the objective of the current research may be phrased as two separate questions. In the first place, determining the importance which IT related degree students place on these types of competencies for their professional future. In the second place, the importance which the development of the mentioned competencies has been given during their studies. The realization of an empirical study has fulfilled the two objectives described. The results demonstrate, on the one side, the moderate relevance which students assign to interpersonal competencies, especially emotional competencies, in contrast to the international curricular recommendations and studies concerning labor markets. On the other hand, the results indicate the scarce emphasis which lecturers have placed on the development of such competencies.Publicad

Microtiming patterns and interactions with musical properties in Samba music

In this study, we focus on the interaction between microtiming patterns and several musical properties: intensity, meter and spectral characteristics. The data-set of 106 musical audio excerpts is processed by means of an auditory model and then divided into several spectral regions and metric levels. The resulting segments are described in terms of their musical properties, over which patterns of peak positions and their intensities are sought. A clustering algorithm is used to systematize the process of pattern detection. The results confirm previously reported anticipations of the third and fourth semiquavers in a beat. We also argue that these patterns of microtiming deviations interact with different profiles of intensities that change according to the metrical structure and spectral characteristics. In particular, we suggest two new findings: (i) a small delay of microtiming positions at the lower end of the spectrum on the first semiquaver of each beat and (ii) systematic forms of accelerando and ritardando at a microtiming level covering two-beat and four-beat phrases. The results demonstrate the importance of multidimensional interactions with timing aspects of music. However, more research is needed in order to find proper representations for rhythm and microtiming aspects in such contexts