Efficacy of zeta-cypermethrin as pour-on or spray formulations for the control of buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua) in cattle

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of zeta-cypermethrin in controlling buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua). DESIGN: Five field trials in northern and central Queensland. PROCEDURE: Zeta-cypermethrin pour-on at 2.5 mg/kg, spray at 62.5 ppm, deltamethrin pour-on and pour-on vehicle were applied to groups of 20 cattle. Buffalo fly counts were conducted three times before treatment and 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after treatment. RESULTS: In central Queensland where synthetic pyrethroid resistance in buffalo fly populations was rare, 2.5 mg/kg of zeta-cypermethrin pour-on gave good control of buffalo fly for 4 weeks and was better than a deltamethrin product. A zeta-cypermethrin spray used at 62.5 ppm gave 14 days control. In far-north Queensland where resistance to synthetic pyrethroids and heavy rain was common, the maximum period of efficacy of zeta-cypermethrin pour-on was reduced to 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: In areas where there is low resistance to synthetic pyrethroids among buffalo flies, zeta-cypermethrin pour-on can be expected to give good control for 4 weeks.     

Time domain deconvolution of transient radar data

A simple technique is presented for obtaining the impulse response of a conducting radar target by deconvolving the measured response of the experimental system from the measured response of the target. The scheme uses singular value decomposition (SVD). It is shown that the ill-conditioned nature of the deconvolution process can be linked to the use of inappropriate frequency information in the representation of the unknown impulse response. Examples using measured transient radar data establish the usefulness of the scheme. The noise sensitivity of the deconvolution process can also be traced to the improper representation of the impulse response. Accurate deconvolution is demonstrated even in the presence of large amounts of random noise     

Scattering of TE-polarized EM wave by discontinuity in groundeddielectric layer

The two-dimensional problem of EM wave interaction with a dielectric discontinuity in an infinite grounded dielectric layer is studied. An electric field integral equation (EFIE) for TE illumination has been derived based on the Green's function for the electric field produced by induced polarization currents in the discontinuity region. Impressed electric fields consist of either plane waves incident from space above the dielectric layer or surface waves supported by that layer. Method of Moments (MoM) numerical solutions for the induced electric field in the discontinuity region are implemented. The amplitudes of surface waves excited by excess discontinuity-region polarization currents are calculated, as well as the pattern of the scattered field and the associated scattering width. It is observed that the excitation of a surface-wave mode reduces the back scattered radiation for TE-polarized plane wave incidence. The accuracy of the theory is verified by comparison of numerical results with those of existing studies     

Self-structuring antennas

This paper introduces a new class of antennas, called self-structuring antennas (SSAs). An SSA has the ability to alter its electrical shape in response to changes in its environment. This property makes an SSA suitable for use in a number of traditionally difficult antenna situations. The basic principles of the SSA are introduced, and a number of potential applications are highlighted. Details of a simple prototype antenna are provided. Computer tools capable of analyzing the SSA are described, and results of both numerical and experimental investigations of the SSA are presented     

Cooperatively breeding cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) do not donate rewards to their long-term mates.

This study tested the hypothesis that cooperative breeding facilitates the emergence of prosocial behavior by presenting cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) with the option to provide food rewards to pair-bonded mates. In Experiment 1, tamarins could provide rewards to mates at no additional cost while obtaining rewards for themselves. Contrary to the hypothesis, tamarins did not demonstrate a preference to donate rewards, behaving similar to chimpanzees in previous studies. In Experiment 2, the authors eliminated rewards for the donor for a stricter test of prosocial behavior, while reducing separation distress and food preoccupation. Again, the authors found no evidence for a donation preference. Furthermore, tamarins were significantly less likely to deliver rewards to mates when the mate displayed interest in the reward. The results of this study contrast with those recently reported for cooperatively breeding common marmosets, and indicate that prosocial preferences in a food donation task do not emerge in all cooperative breeders. In previous studies, cottontop tamarins have cooperated and reciprocated to obtain food rewards; the current findings sharpen understanding of the boundaries of cottontop tamarins’ food-provisioning behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Whole body metabolic responses to brain trauma in the rat

Hotien prefecture, Xinjiang Province, China, in the Taklamakan Desert, is an area of severe iodine deficiency. Because usual methods of iodine supplementation failed here, we began supplementation in 1992 with potassium iodate, which was added to irrigation water (Lancet 1994; 334:107-110). We report 4 y experience with this method in 3 townships that contained a total treated population of 37,000. Potassium iodate was dripped into irrigation water (to a concentration 10-80 microg/l) during a 2- to 4-wk period. During the 3 y that followed, no further supplementation was made, and iodine concentrations increased several fold in crops and plants, sheep and chicken thyroid glands, and meat and in urine of children 2-6 y of age and of women who were of childbearing age. Infant mortality decreased 50%, and sheep production increased 43%. Iodine repletion of soil through irrigation water is an effective and cost-efficient way of providing iodine in appropriate situations.     

Vestibular hypersensitivity to clicks is characteristic of the Tullio phenomenon

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a smoking cessation and relapse-prevention program for hospitalized adult smokers from the perspective of an implementing hospital. It is an economic analysis of a two-group, controlled clinical trial in two acute care hospitals owned by a large group-model health maintenance organization. The intervention included a 20-minute bedside counseling session with an experienced health counselor, a 12-minute video, self-help materials, and one or two follow-up calls. METHODS: Outcome measures were incremental cost (above usual care) per quit attributable to the intervention and incremental cost per discounted life-year saved attributable to the intervention. RESULTS: Cost of the research intervention was $159 per smoker, and incremental cost per incremental quit was $3,697. Incremental cost per incremental discounted life-year saved ranged between $1,691 and $7,444, much less than most other routine medical procedures. Replication scenarios suggest that, with realistic implementation assumptions, total intervention costs would decline significantly and incremental cost per incremental discounted life-year saved would be reduced by more than 90%, to approximately $380. CONCLUSIONS: Providing brief smoking cessation advice to hospitalized smokers is relatively inexpensive, cost-effective, and should become a part of the standard of inpatient care.     

Live analysis of free centrosomes in normal and aphidicolin-treated Drosophila embryos

In a number of embryonic systems, centrosomes that have lost their association with the nuclear envelope and spindle maintain their ability to duplicate and induce astral microtubules. To identify additional activities of free centrosomes, we monitored astral microtubule dynamics by injecting living syncytial Drosophila embryos with fluorescently labeled tubulin. Our recordings follow multiple rounds of free centrosome duplication and separation during the cortical division. The rate and distance of free sister centrosome separation corresponds well with the initial phase of associated centrosome separation. However, the later phase of separation observed for centrosomes associated with a spindle (anaphase B) does not occur. Free centrosome separation regularly occurs on a plane parallel to the plasma membrane. While previous work demonstrated that centrosomes influence cytoskeletal dynamics, this observation suggests that the cortical cytoskeleton regulates the orientation of centrosome separation. Although free centrosomes do not form spindles, they display relatively normal cell cycle-dependent modulations of their astral microtubules. In addition, free centrosome duplication, separation, and modulation of microtubule dynamics often occur in synchrony with neighboring associated centrosomes. These observations suggest that free centrosomes respond normally to local nuclear division signals. Disruption of the cortical nuclear divisions with aphidicolin supports this conclusion; large numbers of abnormal nuclei recede into the interior while their centrosomes remain on the cortex. Following individual free centrosomes through multiple focal planes for 45 min after the injection of aphidicolin reveals that they do not undergo normal modulation of their astral dynamics nor do they undergo multiple rounds of duplication and separation. We conclude that in the absence of normally dividing cortical nuclei many centrosome activities are disrupted and centrosome duplication is extensively delayed. This indicates the presence of a feedback mechanism that creates a dependency relationship between the cortical nuclear cycles and the centrosome cycles.     

Discovery of 3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl acetate,a new alarm component in the sting apparatus of Africanized honeybees

We analyzed the alarm pheromone components from five colonies of Africanized honeybees and three colonies of European honeybees collected in Mexico. Analyses revealed a novel alarm pheromone component that was only present in appreciable quantities in the Africanized bee samples. Analysis of the mass spectrum and subsequent synthesis confirmed that this compound is 3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl acetate (3M2BA), an unsaturated derivative of IPA. In Africanized honeybees, sampling from stings of guards showed that 3M2BA was present at levels of 0–38% the amount of isoamyl acetate (IPA). Behavioral assays from three colonies each of Africanized and European bees showed that 3M2BA recruited worker bees from hives of both Africanized bees and European bees at least as efficiently as isopentyl acetate IPA, a compound widely reported to have the highest activity for releasing alarm and stinging behavior in honeybees. However, a mixture of of 3M2BA and IPA (1:2) recruited bees more efficiently than either of the compounds alone. None of the compounds differed in their efficacy for inducing bees to pursue the observers.     

The application of optical microscopy to studies of dust filtration: II. Specimen preparation techniques for analysing the distribution of dusts in filter fabrics

Microscopic examination of dust cakes supported on filter fabrics is limited by difficulties in preparing useful sections by impregnating in cold setting resins; cake movement and sedimentation of dust particles result in sections which are not representative of the initial materials. An evaporator-condenser assembly has been designed to enable sections to be prepared in which the fibres and dust particles are retained in their initial locations. Specimens of dust cakes supported on filter fabrics are placed in a thermal gradient in this assembly and a volatile monomer is condensed from the vapour phase on to dust particles and fibres of the fabrics. In situ polymerization effectively cements individual dust particles to each other and to the supporting fabric. After this treatment, specimens are vacuum impregnated in cold setting resin and sectioned by established techniques.