Adult Parasitoids of Honeydew-Producing Insects Prefer Honeydew Sugars to Cover their Energetic Needs

To meet their carbohydrate requirements, adult parasitoids exploit a broad range of sugar resources, including floral and extrafloral nectar and honeydew. Although honeydew might be the predominant sugar source, especially in agricultural systems, it often is nutritionally inferior to sugar sources like nectar. Given its broad availability, it may be expected that sugar-feeding insects have evolved specialized adaptations to deal with this typically inferior sugar source. This would apply especially to organisms that have a close association with honeydew producers. Here, we hypothesized that parasitoids of honeydew-producing insects should show a pronounced response to sugars, such as fructose, sucrose, melezitose, and trehalose, and to a lesser extent glucose. To test this hypothesis, we investigated sugar consumption, feeding behavior and survival of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi on several sugars (equiweight solutions). Our results show that A. ervi adults consumed typical honeydew sugars (sucrose, fructose, trehalose, and melezitose) the most, while consuming considerably less glucose or melibiose. Rhamnose, which does not occur in aphid honeydew, was not, or was only marginally, consumed. When different sugars were provided at the same time, A. ervi adults preferred sucrose or fructose over glucose or melezitose. Furthermore, pre-exposure to sucrose or fructose significantly reduced subsequent intake of glucose, suggesting an acquired distaste for glucose after being previously exposed to highly preferred sugars such as sucrose and fructose. Altogether, this study shows that A. ervi adults prefer sugars (fructose, melezitose, trehalose, and sucrose) that are overrepresented in aphid honeydew and show a lower preference to one (glucose) that is underrepresented in honeydew.     

Wireless GINI: an educational platform for hosting virtual wireless networks

We describe Wireless GINI, a wireless platform for hosting virtual networks. Wireless GINI Is Not Internet (GINI) allows each virtual network to define its own topology and network configuration, while amortizing costs by sharing the physical infrastructure. The platform also creates mechanisms to readily integrate physical wireless devices into a deployed network. The platform supports a diverse combination of network elements that are all integrated into one custom Internet. The platform seamlessly integrates process‐emulated components running on the user machine, wireless mesh overlays deployed on the wireless platform, and generic wireless devices connected to the user's custom network. Wireless GINI provides a user‐friendly interface that makes the physical setup process completely transparent to the user. A centralized server is used to provide this transparency, handle user requests, and automatically provision the shared physical infrastructure. We describe the design and implementation of Wireless GINI. Moreover, we evaluate the performance of the platform and suggest several educational experiments that can be conducted on this new platform. A detailed survey of the existing toolkits and platforms and a comparison with Wireless GINI are also provided. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mixture-model approach to linking ADHD to adolescent onset of illicit drug use.

Prior research findings have been mixed as to whether attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is related to illicit drug use independent of conduct problems (CP). With the current study, the authors add to this literature by investigating the association between trajectories of ADHD symptoms across childhood and adolescence and onset of illicit drug use, with and without controlling for CP. In a longitudinal panel study of a community sample of 754 girls and boys recruited in kindergarten, this research question was examined with a combination of growth mixture modeling (to model parent-reported ADHD symptom trajectories) and survival analysis (to model youth-reported initiation of illicit drug use). Results revealed a 3-class model of ADHD trajectories, with 1 class exhibiting no or minimal symptoms throughout childhood and adolescence, another class showing a convex shape (an increase, then a decrease in symptoms) across time, and a third class showing a concave shape (a decrease, then a slight increase in symptoms) over time. The concave-trajectory class demonstrated significantly earlier onset of illicit drug use than the minimal-problem class, with the convex-trajectory class falling between (but not significantly different from either of the other two classes). These results did not change when the authors added CP to the model as a covariate. Implications of findings for theory and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

o-Quinone involvement in the prooxidant tendency of a mixture of quercetin and caffeic acid

The oxidation products of a previously tested prooxidant mixture of quercetin (Q) and caffeic acid (CA) at 1:2 ratio were analysed by LC-MS. The UV-Vis and MS spectra of three chromatographic peaks eluting at t(R)=9.11min, t(R)=14.36min and t(R)=30.30min were studied further. The structures of the tentatively identified compounds indicate polymeric molecules. A pentamer formed by 3 units of quercetin and 2 units of caffeic acid was attributed in the case of peaks t(R)=9.11min and t(R)=14.36min. The quercetin quinone (QQ) - a polymerization intermediate - is a fragment of the compound identified in the MS spectrum with the m/z=323 coming from Q o-quinone m/z=300 plus 23 from Na(+). According to the UV-Vis spectrum, we suggest a different intermolecular arrangement which gives a more extended e-delocalisation. At t(R)=30.30min, the spectra helped us to tentatively identify this oxidation product as being a polymer of 4 CA units and 1 QQ.     

The axillo-axillary bypass graft: further experience

The recent utilization of the axillo-axillary bypass graft for revascularization of proximal subclavian or innominate artery occlusions has proved to be a successful operation, technically simple with a low operative morbidity. We have reviewed the reported experience to date and have added our experience of nine additional cases. The procedure has produced excellent results in all patients, with no evidence of postoperative "steal" from the donor limb. Preoperative hemodynamic defects were corrected. Our experience has led us to the conclusion that this simpler and safer extrathoracic approach should be considered as the procedure of choice when arterial lesions allow for its selection and use.     

LPS-Induced Coagulation and Neuronal Damage in a Mice Model Is Attenuated by Enoxaparin

Background. Due to the interactions between neuroinflammation and coagulation, the neural effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP), n = 20) and treatment with the anti-thrombotic enoxaparin (1 mg/kg, IP, 15 min, and 12 h following LPS, n = 20) were studied in C57BL/6J mice. Methods. One week after LPS injection, sensory, motor, and cognitive functions were assessed by a hot plate, rotarod, open field test (OFT), and Y-maze. Thrombin activity was measured with a fluorometric assay; hippocampal mRNA expression of coagulation and inflammation factors were measured by real-time-PCR; and serum neurofilament-light-chain (NfL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by a single-molecule array (Simoa) assay. Results. Reduced crossing center frequency was observed in both LPS groups in the OFT (p = 0.02), along with a minor motor deficit between controls and LPS indicated by the rotarod (p = 0.057). Increased hippocampal thrombin activity (p = 0.038) and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) mRNA (p = 0.01) were measured in LPS compared to controls, but not in enoxaparin LPS-treated mice (p = 0.4, p = 0.9, respectively). Serum NfL and TNF-α levels were elevated in LPS mice (p < 0.05) and normalized by enoxaparin treatment. Conclusions. These results indicate that inflammation, coagulation, neuronal damage, and behavior are linked and may regulate each other, suggesting another pharmacological mechanism for intervention in neuroinflammation.     

Assessing the optoelectronic behavior of soiled silicon photovoltaic cell under harsh environmental conditions

In the current study, a monocrystalline Si photovoltaic(PV) cell was modeled using solar cell capacitance simulator(SCAPS) to demonstrate the optoelectronic performance of the cell under harsh environmental conditions. Harsh conditions are simulated in terms of wind speed and temperature fluctuations within the presence of a dust layer. All models are evaluated with respect to a bare model with no dust layer accumulated and operating under standard test conditions(STC). Accordingly, the PV under...     

Antioxidant/pro-oxidant properties of model phenolic compounds. Part II: Studies on mixtures of polyphenols at different molar ratios by chemiluminescence and LC–MS

The behaviour of four known antioxidants (quercetin, ascorbic acid, catechin and caffeic acid) and their mixtures at different molar ratios was studied in view of elaborating predictions over an eventual pro-oxidant or synergistic antioxidant activity. The Co(II)–EDTA luminol chemiluminescence showed that the mixture of quercetin and ascorbic acid at ratio 2:1 had the most pronounced antioxidant activity, while that of quercetin and caffeic acid at ratio 1:2 showed the least antioxidant activity, which may be interpreted as a strong propensity for pro-oxidant behaviour. The LC–MS analysis for the two mixtures revealed a significant amount of unoxidised quercetin in the case of quercetin with ascorbic acid, whereas in the case of quercetin with caffeic acid this amount was negligible. This observation supports the fact that the first combination was more antioxidant than the second, through efficient quercetin recycling (reduction of the quinone by ascorbic acid; redox cycling of quinones).