The recently described Mexican parasitic wasp Eurytoma sivinskii Gates and Grissell (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), attacks Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae in the soil. The life cycle ...(egg to adult) is completed in 23.1(± 2.1) d (mean ± S.E.) at 27 ± 2°C. Females were capable of superparasitism and laid 1-8 eggs per host (2.59. ± 1.56, meant S.E.), but invariably only 1 adult parasitoid emerged. Oviposition occurred primarily in the medial and posterior portions of the host. Eurytoma sivinskii is ectoparasitic since 100% of the eggs are laid within the internal cavity of the puparium and on the surface of the pupa of the host fly. In no case were first and second instars parasitized. However, 1 third-instar out of 625 fly pupae exposed, yielded a single parasitoid per host. Eight-day-old pupae yielded the most parasitoids although females laid eggs in 1-d- to 14-d-old pupae. There were no significant differences in rates of parasitism among female E. sivinskii of different ages. Adults derived from eggs laid in the posterior region developed more rapidly, but adult sex ratio and percent of emergence were the same in both posterior and medially laid eggs. Regardless of oviposition location, adults were more likely to emerge through the middle of the puparium.
The neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN is a spallation source dedicated to measurements of neutron-induced reaction cross-sections of interest in nuclear technologies, astrophysics, and ...other applications. Since 2014, Experimental ARea 2 (EAR2) is operational and delivers a neutron fluence of \(4\times 10^7\) neutrons per nominal proton pulse, which is 50 times higher than the one of Experimental ARea 1 (EAR1) of \(8\times10^5\) neutrons per pulse. The high neutron flux at EAR2 results in high counting rates in the detectors that challenged the previously existing capture detection systems. For this reason, a Segmented Total Energy Detector (sTED) has been developed to overcome the limitations in the detectors response, by reducing the active volume per module and by using a photomultiplier (PMT) optimized for high counting rates. This paper presents the main characteristics of the sTED, including energy and time resolution, response to \(\gamma\)-rays, and provides as well details of the use of the Pulse Height Weighting Technique (PHWT) with this detector. The sTED has been validated to perform neutron-capture cross-section measurements in EAR2 in the neutron energy range from thermal up to at least 400 keV. The detector has already been successfully used in several measurements at n_TOF EAR2.
miniBELEN is a modular and transportable neutron moderated counter with a nearly flat neutron detection efficiency up to 10 MeV. Modularity implies that the moderator can be reassembled in different ...ways in order to obtain different types of response. The detector has been developed in the context of the Measurement of Alpha Neutron Yields (MANY) collaboration, which is a scientific effort aiming to carry out measurements of (alpha,n) production yields, reaction cross-sections and neutron energy spectra. In this work we present and discuss several configurations of the miniBELEN detector. The experimental validation of the efficiency calculations using 252Cf sources and the measurement of the 27Al(alpha,n)30P reaction is also presented.
miniBELEN-10A is a modular and transportable moderated neutron counter with a nearly flat detection efficiency up to 8 MeV. The detector was designed to carry out measurements of (alpha, n) reactions ...in the context of the Measurement of Alpha Neutron Yields (MANY) project. In this work we present the results of the commissioning of miniBELEN-10A using the relatively well-known thick-target neutron yields from 27Al(alpha, n)30P.
Neutron capture cross-section measurements are fundamental in the study of astrophysical phenomena, such as the slow neutron capture (s-) process of nucleosynthesis operating in red-giant and massive ...stars. However, neutron capture measurements via the time-of-flight (TOF) technique on key \(s\)-process nuclei are often challenging. Difficulties arise from the limited mass (\(\sim\)mg) available and the high sample-related background in the case of the unstable \(s\)-process branching points. Measurements on neutron magic nuclei, that act as \(s\)-process bottlenecks, are affected by low (n,\(\gamma\)) cross sections and a dominant neutron scattering background. Overcoming these experimental challenges requires the combination of facilities with high instantaneous flux, such as n\_TOF-EAR2, with detection systems with an enhanced detection sensitivity and high counting rate capabilities. This contribution reviews some of the latest detector developments in detection systems for (n,\(\gamma\)) measurements at n\_TOF, such as i-TED, an innovative detection system which exploits the Compton imaging technique to reduce the dominant neutron scattering background and s-TED, a highly segmented total energy detector intended for high flux facilities. The discussion will be illustrated with results of the first measurement of key the \(s\)-process branching-point reaction \(^{79}\)Se(n,\(\gamma\)).
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection still remains the most frequent viral complication of the post transplant period in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients. The ...aim of this study was to investigate the ability of real time PCR methods to detect HCMV in saliva samples of allo-HSCT recipients and to compare it with blood HCMV detection by PCR. Thirty consecutive allo-HSCT recipients, admitted between October 2006 and November 2007, were included in this study. Patients were sampled for PCR analysis from seven days before transplantation (day -7) to 100 days after HSCT (day +100) or until death of recipient. One saliva and one blood samples were attempted to be simultaneously obtained from each recipient once a week during the evaluation course. HCMV DNA load in saliva samples showed a high correlation with blood viral levels, as detected by real time PCR (correlation coefficient of 0.858; p<0.0001). Virus DNA levels in blood also showed a positive correlation with antigenemia assays (correlation coefficient of 0.773; p<0.0001). One HCMV DNA copy / 200ng DNA in saliva samples corresponded to 41 HCMV DNA copies / 200ng DNA in blood samples. The best possible prediction point set by a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, determining positive results in saliva, was the cut-off point of 2 HCMV DNA copies /200ng DNA, with sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 75%. Real time PCR assays were able to clearly distinguish levels of HCMV replication in saliva (p = 0.015) and blood (p = 0.008) before, at the beggining and after anti-viral therapy. It was worth noting that HCMV DNA levels in survival patients were lower than in individuals who did not survive. Despite the preliminary nature of our data, this study shows that the highly sensitivity real time PCR test could be useful to identify HCMV DNA in saliva samples and to monitor patients at risk of HCMV disease after allo-SCT.
The role of regulators controlling the G1/S transition of the cell cycle was analyzed during neuronal apoptosis in post-mitotic cerebellar granule cells in an attempt to identify common mechanisms of ...control with transformed cells. Cyclin D1 and its associated kinase activity CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinase 4) are major regulators of the G1/S transition. Whereas cyclin D1 is the regulatory subunit of the complex, CDK4 represents the catalytic domain that, once activated, will phosphorylate downstream targets such as the retinoblastoma protein, allowing cell-cycle progression. Apoptosis was induced in rat cerebellar granule cells by depleting potassium in presence of serum. Western-blot analyses were performed and protein kinase activities were measured. As apoptosis proceeded, loss in cell viability was coincident with a significant increase in cyclin D1 protein levels, whereas CDK4 expression remained essentially constant. Synchronized to cyclin D1 accumulation, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 drastically dropped to 20% normal values. Cyclin D1/CDK4-dependent kinase activity increased early during apoptosis, reaching a maximum at 9-12 h and decreasing to very low levels by 48 h. Cyclin E, a major downstream target of cyclin D1, decreased concomitantly to the reduction in cyclin D1/CDK4-dependent kinase activity. We suggest that neuronal apoptosis takes place through functional alteration of proteins involved in the control of the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. Thus, apoptosis in post-mitotic neurons could result from a failed attempt to re-enter cell cycle in response to extracellular conditions affecting cell viability and it could involve mechanisms similar to those that promote proliferation in transformed cells.
This study aimed establish the variations in the phytotoxic activity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Moutabea guianensis, and methyl caffeate and scopoletin isolated from the ethyl ...acetate extract, variyng the concentration and the receptor species. Phytotoxic activity bioassays of germination (at 25 °C and 12 hours of photoperiod) and development of radicle and hypocotyl (25 °C and 24 hours of photoperiod) were developed. The seed germination of Mimosa pudica was sensitive to the roots hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts at 1% (w/v), with inhibition potentials in 92%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Comparative analysis on the phytotoxic activity of the tested compounds revealed that scopoletin showed a higher inhibition potential on the seed germination bioassay against Mimosa pudica. Senna obtusifolia was not sensitive to the tested compounds. Methyl caffeate showed the highest potential to inhibit the development of radicle and hypocotyls, and the intensity of the allelopathic effects varied with the concentrations.
Background: Empiric therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requires the use of antibiotics with activity against a broad spectrum of respiratory pathogens and suitable pharmacokinetic ...properties to simplify IV-to-oral step-down therapy switches.
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of IV gatifloxacin with the option for oral stepdown gatifloxacin with a standard regimen of IV ceftriaxone (with or without erythromycin or clarithromycin) with the option for oral stepdown clarithromycin in patients with mild to moderate CAP requiring hospitalization.
Methods: In a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study, adults with CAP received 7 to 14 days of treatment with either IV gatifloxacin 400 mg QD with the stepdown option or IV ceftriaxone 1 or 2 g QD (with or without erythromycin 0.5 or 1 g QID or clarithromycin 500 mg BID) with the stepdown option.
Results: One hundred seventy adults with CAP were included in the study. IV gatifloxacin was stepped down to oral gatifloxacin in 90.6% (
77
85
) of patients; IV ceftriaxone was stepped down to oral clarithromycin in 87.1% (
74
85
) of patients. Among clinically evaluable patients (n = 153), cure rates at 1 to 3 days after treatment were 97.4% in the gatifloxacin group (
74
76
) and 90.9% in the ceftriaxone group (
70
77
), with a 95% CI for the difference (−3.7% to 19.1%) indicating statistical equivalence. In patients in whom pathogens were isolated from pretreatment sputum cultures, bacteriologic eradication rates were 100.0% (
29
29
) and 90.9% (
30
33
), respectively. Both regimens were well tolerated; treatment-related adverse events occurred in 27.1% (
23
85
) and 21.2% (
18
85
) of patients, respectively.
Conclusions: In the population studied, treatment with IV gatifloxacin with an option for oral stepdown gatifloxacin was as effective for achieving clinical cure as IV ceftriaxone (with or without concomitant IV erythromycin or clarithromycin) with an option for oral stepdown clarithromycin. Both regimens were well tolerated.
