scholarly journals Determinants of Within-Patch Microdistribution and Movements of Endangered Butterfly Coenonympha Oedippus (Fabricius, 1787) (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Hacquetia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Čelik ◽  
Branko Vreš ◽  
Andrej Seliškar
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
Patch Size ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Continuous Distribution ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oviposition Sites ◽  
Patch Network ◽  
Selection Of

Determinants of Within-Patch Microdistribution and Movements of Endangered Butterfly Coenonympha Oedippus (Fabricius, 1787) (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) The within-patch microdistribution and movements of adults of the critically endangered butterfly, Coenonympha oedippus, were studied using mark-recapture data from an isolated patch network, which consisted of 8 patches in central Slovenia. The impact of patch characteristics on both parameters was analyzed. Males fly longer distances and spend more time flying than females. The distances and seasonal pattern of male movements were dependent on the patch size, and on the microdistribution and density of freshly emerged (receptive) females. The spatial and temporal pattern of female microdistribution was influenced by vegetation height, the homogeneity of host plant stands and the shading of the ground and/or the lowest parts of herb layer. In the case of near continuous distribution of host plants within a patch, the structure of herb vegetation appears to be the major determinant of adult microdistribution. It affects the dynamics of butterfly emergence and the selection of oviposition sites. The per cent cover of the nectar plant, Potentilla erecta, does not play an important role in butterfly microdistribution.

Host-Plant Specific Feeding Relationships and Insect Developmental Stage Modulate the Impact of Rainfall on Diamondback Moth Larvae

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Myron P Zalucki ◽  
Michael J Furlong
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Chinese Cabbage ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Feeding Site ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oviposition Sites

Abstract The impact of simulated rainfall on diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), larvae depends on their stage-specific feeding behavior, physical characteristics, and host plants. Neonates released at typical oviposition sites on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis L. [Brassicales: Brassicaceae]) plants moved less (3–72 cm) and spend shorter periods (>1 h) than it has been previously reported for common cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. [Brassicales: Brassicaceae]) (>80 cm and >3 h, respectively) before establishing feeding sites. On both host plants, larvae spent longer on the abaxial surfaces of leaves and were more likely to establish mines there than on the adaxial surfaces. On Chinese cabbage plants, ≈40% of neonates were removed when exposed to rainfall (5.6 cm/h for 3 min) within 5 min of release. Larval losses decreased rapidly as the interval between release and rainfall exposure increased and exposure to rainfall 2 h after release did not affect survival. On common cabbage plants, ≈65% of neonates were removed when exposed to rainfall within 30 min of release, losses decreased as the interval between release and rainfall exposure increased, but they decreased more slowly than on Chinese cabbage, and rainfall caused significant larval mortality up to 4 h after release. Rainfall also affected later instar larvae (susceptibility: 2nd> 3rd = 4th) but neither the susceptibility of these larvae nor that of pupae was affected by the host plant. Wet leaf surfaces disrupted movement and feeding site establishment by neonates. When dislodged from plants on to the surface of wet soil, most later stage larvae could relocate host plants, but most neonates could not.

Looking for the ants: selection of oviposition sites by two myrmecophilous butterfly species

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Wynhoff ◽  
Mark Grutters ◽  
Frank van Langevelde
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Sanguisorba Officinalis ◽  
Myrmica Scabrinodis ◽  
Oviposition Sites ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObligate myrmecophilous butterfly species, such as Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous that hibernate as caterpillar in nests of the ant species Myrmica scabrinodis and M. rubra respectively, have narrowly defined habitat requirements. One would expect that these butterflies are able to select for sites that meet all their requirements. Both butterfly species occur in habitats where their initial larval resource, the host plant Sanguisorba officinalis, is abundant, while the ant nests are relatively less abundant. With ants in the proximity of a host plant, caterpillars have a chance of being found by their host ant species, while the host plant could become a sink as caterpillars will die when there are no ants close to the host plant. We tested whether females oviposit on host plants in the close proximity of host ants (ant-mediated oviposition) or whether there is random oviposition, using 587 1-m2 plots in and around a nature reserve in The Netherlands where both species were reintroduced. We found that females of both species indeed more often deposit eggs on host plants nearby ants than on host plants without ants. Visits of adult butterflies to plots with the host plant but without the host ants only occurred in years with high butterfly densities. We argue that understanding site selection for oviposition is important for these highly endangered butterfly species with a specialised life cycle, especially after disturbances or reintroductions.

Methods for Restricting Maximum Exposure Rate in Computerized Adaptative Testing

Methodology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ramon Barrada ◽  
Julio Olea ◽  
Vicente Ponsoda
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Computerized Adaptive Testing ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Adaptive Testing ◽  
Exposure Rate ◽  
Control Parameters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Two Alternatives ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Maximum Exposure

Abstract. The Sympson-Hetter (1985) method provides a means of controlling maximum exposure rate of items in Computerized Adaptive Testing. Through a series of simulations, control parameters are set that mark the probability of administration of an item on being selected. This method presents two main problems: it requires a long computation time for calculating the parameters and the maximum exposure rate is slightly above the fixed limit. Van der Linden (2003) presented two alternatives which appear to solve both of the problems. The impact of these methods in the measurement accuracy has not been tested yet. We show how these methods over-restrict the exposure of some highly discriminating items and, thus, the accuracy is decreased. It also shown that, when the desired maximum exposure rate is near the minimum possible value, these methods offer an empirical maximum exposure rate clearly above the goal. A new method, based on the initial estimation of the probability of administration and the probability of selection of the items with the restricted method ( Revuelta & Ponsoda, 1998 ), is presented in this paper. It can be used with the Sympson-Hetter method and with the two van der Linden's methods. This option, when used with Sympson-Hetter, speeds the convergence of the control parameters without decreasing the accuracy.

Impact of removing ESBL designation from culture reports on the selection of antibiotics for the treatment of infections associated with ESBL-producing organisms

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 604-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Lesher ◽  
Cory M. Hale ◽  
Dona S. S. Wijetunge ◽  
Matt R. England ◽  
Debra S. Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Inhibitor Combination ◽  
Lactamase Inhibitor ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractWe characterized the impact of removal of the ESBL designation from microbiology reports on inpatient antibiotic prescribing. Definitive prescribing of carbapenems decreased from 48.4% to 16.1% (P = .01) and β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combination increased from 19.4% to 61.3% (P = .002). Our findings confirm the importance of collaboration between microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship programs.

scholarly journals The Impact of Alkaloid-Producing Epichloë Endophyte on Forage Ryegrass Breeding: A New Zealand Perspective

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Colin Eady
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Livestock Health ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Epichloë Endophyte

For 30 years, forage ryegrass breeding has known that the germplasm may contain a maternally inherited symbiotic Epichloë endophyte. These endophytes produce a suite of secondary alkaloid compounds, dependent upon strain. Many produce ergot and other alkaloids, which are associated with both insect deterrence and livestock health issues. The levels of alkaloids and other endophyte characteristics are influenced by strain, host germplasm, and environmental conditions. Some strains in the right host germplasm can confer an advantage over biotic and abiotic stressors, thus acting as a maternally inherited desirable ‘trait’. Through seed production, these mutualistic endophytes do not transmit into 100% of the crop seed and are less vigorous than the grass seed itself. This causes stability and longevity issues for seed production and storage should the ‘trait’ be desired in the germplasm. This makes understanding the precise nature of the relationship vitally important to the plant breeder. These Epichloë endophytes cannot be ‘bred’ in the conventional sense, as they are asexual. Instead, the breeder may modulate endophyte characteristics through selection of host germplasm, a sort of breeding by proxy. This article explores, from a forage seed company perspective, the issues that endophyte characteristics and breeding them by proxy have on ryegrass breeding, and outlines the methods used to assess the ‘trait’, and the application of these through the breeding, production, and deployment processes. Finally, this article investigates opportunities for enhancing the utilisation of alkaloid-producing endophytes within pastures, with a focus on balancing alkaloid levels to further enhance pest deterrence and improving livestock outcomes.

scholarly journals An IoT-Based Participatory Antitheft System for Public Safety Enhancement in Smart Cities

Smart Cities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 919-937
Author(s):  
Nikos Papadakis ◽  
Nikos Koukoulas ◽  
Ioannis Christakis ◽  
Ilias Stavrakas ◽  
Dionisis Kandris
Keyword(s):  
Smart Cities ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Asset Tracking ◽  
Tracking Tasks ◽  
Tracking Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Operation Center ◽  
Safety Enhancement ◽  
Selection Of

The risk of theft of goods is certainly an important source of negative influence in human psychology. This article focuses on the development of a scheme that, despite its low cost, acts as a smart antitheft system that achieves small property detection. Specifically, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based participatory platform was developed in order to allow asset-tracking tasks to be crowd-sourced to a community. Stolen objects are traced by using a prototype Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based system, which sends signals, thus becoming a beacon. Once such an item (e.g., a bicycle) is stolen, the owner informs the authorities, which, in turn, broadcast an alert signal to activate the BLE sensor. To trace the asset with the antitheft tag, participants use their GPS-enabled smart phones to scan BLE tags through a specific smartphone client application and report the location of the asset to an operation center so that owners can locate their assets. A stolen item tracking simulator was created to support and optimize the aforementioned tracking process and to produce the best possible outcome, evaluating the impact of different parameters and strategies regarding the selection of how many and which users to activate when searching for a stolen item within a given area.

scholarly journals Simulation Verification of the Contact Parameter Influence on the Forces’ Course of Cereal Grain Impact against a Stiff Surface

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 466
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz Kęska ◽  
Jacek Marcinkiewicz ◽  
Łukasz Gierz ◽  
Żaneta Staszak ◽  
Jarosław Selech ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Force Sensor ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Correct Selection ◽  
Contact Parameter ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

The continuous development of computer technology has made it applicable in many scientific fields, including research into a wide range of processes in agricultural machines. It allows the simulation of very complex physical phenomena, including grain motion. A recently discovered discrete element method (DEM) is used for this purpose. It involves direct integration of equations of grain system motion under the action of various forces, the most important of which are contact forces. The method’s accuracy depends mainly on precisely developed mathematical models of contacts. The creation of such models requires empirical validation, an experiment that investigates the course of contact forces at the moment of the impact of the grains. To achieve this, specialised test stations equipped with force and speed sensors were developed. The correct selection of testing equipment and interpretation of results play a decisive role in this type of research. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the force sensor dynamic properties’ influence on the measurement accuracy of the course of the plant grain impact forces against a stiff surface. The issue was examined using the computer simulation method. A proprietary computer software with the main calculation module and data input procedures, which presents results in a graphic form, was used for calculations. From the simulation, graphs of the contact force and force signal from the sensor were obtained. This helped to clearly indicate the essence of the correct selection of parameters used in the tests of sensors, which should be characterised by high resonance frequency.

Does Wrongdoer Reputation Matter? Impact of Auditor-Wrongdoer Performance and Likeability Reputations on Fellow Auditors' Intention to Take Action and Choice of Reporting Outlet

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse C. Robertson ◽  
Chad M. Stefaniak ◽  
Mary B. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Good Performer ◽  
Reporting Decisions ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Reporting Channel ◽  
Channel Preferences ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT We investigate the effects of auditor-wrongdoer reputations for performance and likeability on fellow auditors' intentions to take action in response to a questionable audit act. We also use this context to explore auditor selection of reporting outlets, when they do choose to take action. In an experiment with 181 auditors, main effects suggest that likeability reputation is a significant determinant of intention to take action, while performance reputation is marginally significant. As expected, interaction results indicate that auditors have the greatest intention to take action against less likeable, poor performers. Contrary to expectations, intention to take action against a more likeable, good performer is no lower than the mixed conditions. Thus, the influence of the two dimensions of reputation is complex. Additionally, we find auditors are more likely to whistle-blow internally than externally, and through non-anonymous outlets than anonymous outlets. Our contributions include exploring the impact of reputation on the actions of third parties, and advancing prior literature by considering the influence of wrongdoer attributes on reporting decisions and auditors' reporting channel preferences. Data Availability: Data are available from the first author upon request.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study of COVID-19 Distress in University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110251
Author(s):  
Samantha G. Farris ◽  
Mindy M. Kibbey ◽  
Erick J. Fedorenko ◽  
Angelo M. DiBello
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Public Response ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Viral Outbreak ◽  
Selection Of

The psychological effect of the pandemic and measures taken in response to control viral spread are not yet well understood in university students; in-depth qualitative analysis can provide nuanced information about the young adult distress experience. Undergraduate students ( N = 624) in an early US outbreak “hotspot” completed an online narrative writing about the impact and distress experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected April-May 2020. A random selection of 50 cases were sampled for thematic analysis. Nine themes were identified: viral outbreak distress, fear of virus contraction/transmission, proximity to virus, dissatisfaction with public response, physical distancing distress, social distancing distress, academic and school-related distress, disruptive changes in health behavior and routines, financial strain and unemployment, worsening of pre-existing mental health problems, and social referencing that minimizes distress. Future work is needed to understand the persistence of the distress, in addition to developing methods for assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of the distress.

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