Dew condensation on desert beetle skin Guadarrama-Cetina, J.; Mongruel, A.; Medici, M. -G. ...
The European physical journal. E, Soft matter and biological physics,
11/2014, Volume:
37, Issue:
11
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Some tenebrionind beetles inhabiting the Namib desert are known for using their body to collect water droplets from wind-blown fogs. We aim to determine whether dew water collection is also possible ...for desert insects. For this purpose, we investigated the infra-red emissivity, and the wetting and structural properties, of the surface of the elytra of a preserved specimen of
Physasterna cribripes
(Tenebrionidæ) beetle, where the macro-structure appears as a series of “bumps”, with “valleys” between them. Dew formation experiments were carried out in a condensation chamber. The surface properties (infra-red emissivity, wetting properties) were dominated by the wax at the elytra surface and, to a lower extent, its micro-structure. We performed scanning electron microscope on histological sections and determined the infra-red emissivity using a scanning pyrometer. The emissivity measured (0.95±0.07 between 8–14μm) was close to the black body value. Dew formation occurred on the insect’s elytra, which can be explained by these surface properties. From the surface coverage of the condensed drops it was found that dew forms primarily in the valleys between the bumps. The difference in droplet nucleation rate between bumps and valleys can be attributed to the hexagonal microstructure on the surface of the valleys, whereas the surface of the bumps is smooth. The drops can slide when they reach a critical size, and be collected at the insect's mouth.
Graphical abstract
•A new web-based tool for the cost-benefit analysis of precision farming technologies is described.•The tool provides guidance for farmers on decisions to invest in new precision farming ...technology.•The tool is characterized by open access and high adaptability.
To develop precision agriculture (PA) to its full potential and make agriculture progress toward sustainability and resilience, appropriate criteria for the economic assessment are recognised as being one of the most significant issues requiring urgent and ongoing attention. In this work, we develop a web-tool supporting the assessment of the net economic benefits of integrating precision farming technologies in different contexts. The methodological approach of the tool is accessible to any agricultural stakeholder through a guided process that allows to evaluate and compare precision agriculture technologies with conventional systems, leading the final user to assess the financial viability and environmental impact resulting from the potential implementation of various precision agriculture technologies in his farm. The web-tool is designed to provide guidelines for farmers over their decisions to invest in selected PA technologies, by increasing the knowledge level about novel technologies characteristics and the related benefits. Possible input reduction also offers the possibility to investigate the mitigation of environmental impacts.
Background: To reduce side-effects of corticosteroid-containing antiemetic regimens, tailoring antiemetic schedules to specific requirements of different patients could be of benefit. We evaluated ...the possibility to reduce the total dose of corticosteroids when palonosetron, a long-acting second-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, is used.
Materials and methods: Double-blind, multicentre, noninferiority study of chemotherapy-naive breast cancer patients receiving 0.25mg palonosetron and 8mg dexamethasone on day 1, randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 151) or 4mg b.i.d. dexamethasone (n = 149) on days 2 and 3. Primary end point was complete response (CR) rate (no emesis, no rescue medication) in the overall (days 1–5) period. Secondary end points were CR rates in the acute (day 1) and delayed (days 2–5) periods, rates of no emesis and no nausea and impact on daily functioning (Functional Living Index-Emesis).
Results: Noninferiority between the two treatments was demonstrated by similar CR rates (P = 0.487) in the overall period. Most parameters showed that palonosetron and dexamethasone on day 1 only offer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting protection similar to multiple-day dexamethasone administration.
Conclusion: In patients treated with a single injection of palonosetron on day 1, reducing dexamethasone is an option that is not associated with significant reduction in antiemetic control during the 5-day period or an impact on patient functioning.
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