scholarly journals Acaricidal efficacy of ultraviolet-C irradiation of Tetranychus urticae adults and eggs using a pulsed krypton fluoride excimer laser

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Gala ◽  
Ott Rebane ◽  
Jérôme Ambroise ◽  
Sergey Babichenko ◽  
Omar Nyabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Excimer Laser ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Krypton Fluoride ◽  
Post Irradiation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Uv C ◽  
Mite Mortality

Abstract Background Pulsed ultraviolet (UV)-C light sources, such as excimer lasers, are used in emerging non-thermal food-decontamination methods and also have high potential for use in a wide range of microbial decontamination applications. The acaricidal effect of an experimental UV-C irradiation device was assessed using female adults and eggs of a model organism, the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Methods UV-C light was generated by a pulsed krypton fluoride excimer laser operating at 248-nm emission wavelength. The pulse energy and pulse repetition rate were 5 mJ and up to 100 Hz, respectively. The distance from the light source to the target was 150 mm; the target surface area was 2.16 cm2. The exposure time for the mites and fresh eggs varied from 1 to 4 min at 5–300 mW, which corresponded to UV doses of 5–80 kJ/m2. Post-irradiation acaricidal effects (mite mortality) were assessed immediately and also measured at 24 h. The effects of UV-C irradiation on the hatchability of eggs were observed daily for up to 12 days post-irradiation. Results The mortality of mites at 5 and 40 kJ/m2 was 26% and 92%, respectively. Mite mortality reached 98% at 80 kJ/m2. The effect of exposure duration on mortality was minimal. The effect of irradiation on egg hatchability was even more significant than that on adult mite mortality, i.e. about 100% egg mortality at an accumulated dose of as little as 5 kJ/m2 for each exposure time. Conclusions A high rate of mite mortality and lethal egg damage were observed after less than 1 min of exposure to 5 mJ UV-C pulsed irradiation at 60 Hz. Pending further developments (such as beam steering, beam shaping and miniaturisation) and feasibility studies (such as testing with mites in real-life situations), the reported results and characteristics of the UV-C generator (modulation of energy output and adaptability to varying spot sizes) open up the use of this technology for a vast field of acaricidal applications that require long-range radiation. Graphical Abstract

scholarly journals Acaricidal Activity of UV-C irradiation on Tetranychus urticae and eggs using pulsed krypton fluoride excimer laser

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Gala ◽  
Ott Rebane ◽  
Jérôme Ambroise ◽  
Sergey Babichenko ◽  
Omar Nyabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Source ◽  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Excimer Laser ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Krypton Fluoride ◽  
Post Irradiation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Uv C

Abstract Background While pulsed UV-C light sources such as excimer lasers are used in emerging non-thermal food decontamination method, they also have a high potential for a wide range of other microbial decontamination applications. The acaricidal effect of an experimental UV-C irradiation device was assessed using two-spotted spider mite female adults Tetranychus urticae and eggs as a model. Methods The UV-C light source was generated by a pulsed krypton fluoride (KrF) excimer laser operating at 248 nm emission wavelength. Pulse energy and pulse repetition rate were 5mJ, and up to 100Hz rate, respectively. Distance from light source to target was 150 mm with a target surface of 21.6 cm². The exposure time of the mite and fresh eggs varied from 1 to 4 minutes at a power of 300 mW. The post-irradiation acaricidal effects (mites’ mortality) were assessed immediately and measured 24 h post-irradiation. Effects on the hatchability of irradiated eggs were observed daily post-irradiation for up to 12 days. Results The mortality of mites observed with an energy amount of 5 and 40 mJ/mm² was 26% and 90%, respectively. The mortality at 80 mJ/mm² reached 99%. The effect of exposure duration on mortality was minimal. The effect of irradiation of eggs hatchability was even more important, with about 100% mortality with as little as 5 mJ/mm² for each exposure time. Conclusions A high mite mortality and lethal egg damage was already observed after less than 1 min exposure to UV-C pulsed irradiation. Pending further developments and feasibility studies, the current results and features of the UV-C generator (energy output modulation and applicability to varying spot sizes) open up a large field of germicidal applications requiring long-range radiation.

Home Learning in Times of COVID: Experiences of Parents

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelina Bhamani ◽  
Areeba Zainab Makhdoom ◽  
Vardah Bharuchi ◽  
Nasreen Ali ◽  
Sidra Kaleem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Google Docs ◽  
Learning Gap ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Home Learning ◽  
Collection Data ◽  
Learning At Home ◽  
At Home

<p align="center"><em>The widespread prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic has affected academia and parents alike. Due to the sudden closure of schools, students are missing social interaction which is vital for better learning and grooming while most schools have started online classes. This has become a tough routine for the parents working online at home since they have to ensure their children’s education. The study presented was designed to explore the experiences of home learning in times of COVID-19. A descriptive qualitative study was planned to explore the experiences of parents about home learning and management during COVID-19 to get an insight into real-life experiences.  Purposive sampling technique was used for data collection.  Data were collected from 19 parents falling in the inclusion criteria. Considering the lockdown problem, the data were collected via Google docs form with open-ended questions related to COVID-19 and home learning. Three major themes emerged after the data analysis: impact of COVID on children learning; support given by schools; and strategies used by caregivers at home to support learning. It was analyzed that the entire nation and academicians around the world have come forward to support learning at home offering a wide range of free online avenues to support parents to facilitate home-learning. Furthermore, parents too have adapted quickly to address the learning gap that have emerged in their children’s learning in these challenging times. Measures should be adopted to provide essential learning skills to children at home. Centralized data dashboards and educational technology may be used to keep the students, parents and schools updated.</em></p>

scholarly journals A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis Resulting in a Typology of Elementary Classroom Movement Integration Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyridoula Vazou ◽  
Collin A. Webster ◽  
Gregory Stewart ◽  
Priscila Candal ◽  
Cate A. Egan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Movement Integration

Abstract Background/Objective Movement integration (MI) involves infusing physical activity into normal classroom time. A wide range of MI interventions have succeeded in increasing children’s participation in physical activity. However, no previous research has attempted to unpack the various MI intervention approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review, qualitatively analyze, and develop a typology of MI interventions conducted in primary/elementary school settings. Subjects/Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify published MI interventions. Irrelevant records were removed first by title, then by abstract, and finally by full texts of articles, resulting in 72 studies being retained for qualitative analysis. A deductive approach, using previous MI research as an a priori analytic framework, alongside inductive techniques were used to analyze the data. Results Four types of MI interventions were identified and labeled based on their design: student-driven, teacher-driven, researcher-teacher collaboration, and researcher-driven. Each type was further refined based on the MI strategies (movement breaks, active lessons, other: opening activity, transitions, reward, awareness), the level of intrapersonal and institutional support (training, resources), and the delivery (dose, intensity, type, fidelity). Nearly half of the interventions were researcher-driven, which may undermine the sustainability of MI as a routine practice by teachers in schools. An imbalance is evident on the MI strategies, with transitions, opening and awareness activities, and rewards being limitedly studied. Delivery should be further examined with a strong focus on reporting fidelity. Conclusions There are distinct approaches that are most often employed to promote the use of MI and these approaches may often lack a minimum standard for reporting MI intervention details. This typology may be useful to effectively translate the evidence into practice in real-life settings to better understand and study MI interventions.

scholarly journals Effects of local isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cenk Yucel
Keyword(s):  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Spider Mite ◽  
Lethal Effect ◽  
Probit Analysis ◽  
Plant Feeding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Two Spotted Spider Mite ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Tetranychus Urticae Koch

Abstract Background The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a widely distributed plant-feeding pest that causes significant yield losses in a wide range of crops. Newly developed or improved environmentally friendly biocontrol agents serve as an alternative to traditional pest control tools. Experiment of the effects of 2 local fungal isolates of Beauveria bassiana (BGF14 and BCA32) was carried out against T. urticae under laboratory conditions. Results Both tested isolates had lethal effect in a short time after application, and this effect increased as time progressed. BGF14 and BCA32 isolates caused T. urticae mortality rates ranging from 25.88 to 61.92 and 32.36 to 62.03% when applied at the concentrations between 1×105 and 1×108 conidia/ml, respectively. According to the Probit analysis performed on the effect of fungi on T. urticae adults, the LC50 values of BGF14 and BCA32 isolates on the 7th day after inoculation were 2.6×106 and 6.3×104 conidia/ml, respectively, and the LT50 values for both fungi applied at a concentration of 108 conidia/ml were 2.14 and 2.23 days, respectively. Conclusions The 2 isolates of B. bassiana (BGF14 and BCA32) had the potentials to suppress T. urticae population and can be recommended as promising biocontrol agent candidates for control of T. urticae.

scholarly journals Estimating the number of usability problems affecting medical devices: modelling the discovery matrix

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Vandewalle ◽  
Alexandre Caron ◽  
Coralie Delettrez ◽  
Renaud Périchon ◽  
Sylvia Pelayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Devices ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Usability Problems ◽  
Usability Problem ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Problem Detection

Abstract Background Usability testing of medical devices are mandatory for market access. The testings’ goal is to identify usability problems that could cause harm to the user or limit the device’s effectiveness. In practice, human factor engineers study participants under actual conditions of use and list the problems encountered. This results in a binary discovery matrix in which each row corresponds to a participant, and each column corresponds to a usability problem. One of the main challenges in usability testing is estimating the total number of problems, in order to assess the completeness of the discovery process. Today’s margin-based methods fit the column sums to a binomial model of problem detection. However, the discovery matrix actually observed is truncated because of undiscovered problems, which corresponds to fitting the marginal sums without the zeros. Margin-based methods fail to overcome the bias related to truncation of the matrix. The objective of the present study was to develop and test a matrix-based method for estimating the total number of usability problems. Methods The matrix-based model was based on the full discovery matrix (including unobserved columns) and not solely on a summary of the data (e.g. the margins). This model also circumvents a drawback of margin-based methods by simultaneously estimating the model’s parameters and the total number of problems. Furthermore, the matrix-based method takes account of a heterogeneous probability of detection, which reflects a real-life setting. As suggested in the usability literature, we assumed that the probability of detection had a logit-normal distribution. Results We assessed the matrix-based method’s performance in a range of settings reflecting real-life usability testing and with heterogeneous probabilities of problem detection. In our simulations, the matrix-based method improved the estimation of the number of problems (in terms of bias, consistency, and coverage probability) in a wide range of settings. We also applied our method to five real datasets from usability testing. Conclusions Estimation models (and particularly matrix-based models) are of value in estimating and monitoring the detection process during usability testing. Matrix-based models have a solid mathematical grounding and, with a view to facilitating the decision-making process for both regulators and device manufacturers, should be incorporated into current standards.

scholarly journals An Interoperability Platform Enabling Reuse of Electronic Health Records for Signal Verification Studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Yuksel ◽  
Suat Gonul ◽  
Gokce Banu Laleci Erturkmen ◽  
Ali Anil Sinaci ◽  
Paolo Invernizzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Lombardy Region ◽  
Common Information ◽  
Spontaneous Reports ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Common Information Model

Depending mostly on voluntarily sent spontaneous reports, pharmacovigilance studies are hampered by low quantity and quality of patient data. Our objective is to improve postmarket safety studies by enabling safety analysts to seamlessly access a wide range of EHR sources for collecting deidentified medical data sets of selected patient populations and tracing the reported incidents back to original EHRs. We have developed an ontological framework where EHR sources and target clinical research systems can continue using their own local data models, interfaces, and terminology systems, while structural interoperability and Semantic Interoperability are handled through rule-based reasoning on formal representations of different models and terminology systems maintained in the SALUS Semantic Resource Set. SALUS Common Information Model at the core of this set acts as the common mediator. We demonstrate the capabilities of our framework through one of the SALUS safety analysis tools, namely, the Case Series Characterization Tool, which have been deployed on top of regional EHR Data Warehouse of the Lombardy Region containing about 1 billion records from 16 million patients and validated by several pharmacovigilance researchers with real-life cases. The results confirm significant improvements in signal detection and evaluation compared to traditional methods with the missing background information.

Peroxidase: a multifunctional enzyme in grapevines

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Ros Barceló ◽  
Federico Pomar ◽  
Matías López-Serrano ◽  
Maria Angeles Pedreño
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Trichoderma Viride ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
H2o2 Production ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Absorption Bands ◽  
Peroxidase Isoenzyme ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Uv C

Peroxidases are heme-containing enzymes that catalyse the one-electron oxidation of several substrates at the expense of H2O2. They are probably encoded by a large multigene family in grapevines, and therefore show a high degree of polymorphism. Grapevine peroxidases are glycoproteins of high thermal stability, whose molecular weight usually ranges from 35 to 45 kDa. Their visible spectrum shows absorption bands characteristic of high-spin class III peroxidases. Grapevine peroxidases are capable of accepting a wide range of natural compounds as substrates, such as the cell wall protein extensin, plant growth regulators such as IAA, and phenolics such as benzoic acids, stilbenes, flavonols, cinnamyl alcohols and anthocyanins. They are located in cell walls and vacuoles. These locations are in accordance with their key role in determining the final cell wall architecture, especially regarding lignin deposition and extensin insolubilization, and the turnover of vacuolar phenolic metabolites, a task that also forms part of the molecular program of disease resistance. Although peroxidase is a constitutive enzyme in grapevines, its levels are strongly modulated during plant cell development and in response to both biotic and abiotic environmental factors. To gain an insight into the metabolic regulation of peroxidase, several authors have studied how grapevine peroxidase and H2O2 levels change in response to a changing environment. Nevertheless, the results obtained are not always easy to interpret. Despite such difficulties, the response of the peroxidase–H2O2 system to both UV-C radiation and Trichoderma viride elicitors is worthy of study. Both UV-C and T. viride elicitors induce specific changes in peroxidase isoenzyme / H2O2 levels, which result in specific changes in grapevine physiology and metabolism. In the case of T. viride-elicited grapevine cells, they show a particular mechanism for H2O2 production, in which NADPH oxidase-like activities are apparently not involved. However, they offer a unique system whereby the metabolic regulation of peroxidase by H2O2, with all its cross-talks and downstream signals, may be elegantly dissected.

Mainstream Superhero Comics and Gendered Representations of Social Control

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope Hutchins
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Graphic Novels ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Media Constructions ◽  
Women Police

In the context of increasing familiarity with mainstream superhero comics and their characters, a wide range of readers are being exposed to the values regarding gender and social control being communicated in this genre. Therefore, it is important to assess whether social control is signified differently for males and females in superhero comics. This presentation will begin with a discussion of why it is important to study comics and graphic novels. I will then outline the concept of social control and criminological theories centered on this idea before demonstrating why superheroes may be understood as agents of social control. This will bring me to a discussion of preliminary findings of a qualitative content analysis of issues of Batman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Ms Marvel, Justice League of America, and New Avengers comics released from May to October 2007. In examining the leadership positions, the formal and informal methods employed, those over whom social control is exercised, and relative success of each superhero in these issues, I am seeking to assess whether social control is portrayed as being exercised by male and female superheroes in different ways and to identify how this happens. The results of this content analysis will be compared with previous studies of women police officers to assess whether representations of female agents of social control in superhero comics are consistent with the experiences of real‐life criminal justice practitioners. Finally, the reasons for and implications of the nature of such media constructions will be briefly explored to encourage other students to study comics and graphic novels.

Use of Functional Response Modeling to Evaluate the Effect of Temperature on Predation of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Adults Preying on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) Nymphs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azadeh Farazmand ◽  
Masood Amir-Maafi
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Handling Time ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Temperature Threshold ◽  
Amblyseius Swirskii ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract In this research, functional responses of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot preying on different Tetranychus urticae Koch nymphal densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128) were studied at eight constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35 and 37.5°C) in a circular Petri dish (3-cm diameter × 1-cm height) under lab conditions. At all temperatures, the logistic regression showed a type II functional response. A nonlinear relationship was found between temperature and attack rate and the reciprocal of handling time. The reciprocal of handling time decreased exponentially with increasing temperature. In contrast, the attack rate grew rapidly with increasing temperatures up to an optimum, showing a decreasing trend at higher temperatures. In order to quantify the functional response of A. swirskii over a broad range of temperatures and to gain a better estimation of attack rate and handling time, a temperature-settled functional response equation was suited to our data. Our model showed that the number of prey consumed increased with rising prey density. Also, the predation rates increased with increasing temperatures but decreased at extremely high temperatures. Based on our model, the predation rate begins at the lower temperature threshold (11.73°C) and reaches its peak at upper temperature threshold (29.43°C). The coefficient of determination (R2) of the random predator model was 0.99 for all temperatures. The capability of A. swirskii to search and consume T. urticae over a wide range of temperatures makes it a good agent for natural control of T. urticae in greenhouses.

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