Comparison of tarsal attachment in two closely related leaf beetle species

Green dock beetles Gastrophysa viridula and Colorado potato beetles Leptinotarsa decemlineata having distinctly different body mass and gait habits were compared with respect to their tarsal morphology and attachment ability. The focus laid on shapes and dimensions of tenent setae related to the peeling line, i.e., the sum of widths of all thin-film elements participating in contact. High-speed rotation of the two leaf beetle species attached to the horizontal and vertical sides of a Plexiglass drum resulted in higher attachment forces of the heavier beetle species that has a larger number of tarsal setae and a larger peeling line length. However, normalizing the measured forces with the corresponding peeling line lengths led to a reversed relationship. This allowed us to assume that the design of adhesive setae in different leaf beetle species matches the requirements imposed by their habitats. In accordance with the theory of thin film peeling, tangential forces were found to be higher than normal forces. The attachment system of females was found to exhibit stronger functional efficiency, which can be correlated to the morphology of their setae.

Guidelines for the management of diabetes services and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

The UK National Diabetes Inpatient COVID Response Group was formed at the end of March 2020 to support the provision of diabetes inpatient care during the COVID pandemic. It was formed in response to two emerging needs. First to ensure that basic diabetes services are secured and maintained at a time when there was a call for re-deployment to support the need for general medical expertise across secondary care services. The second was to provide simple safe diabetes guidelines for use by specialists and non-specialists treating inpatients with or suspected of COVID-19 infection. To date the group, comprising UK-based specialists in diabetes, pharmacy and psychology, have produced two sets of guidelines which will be continually revised as new evidence emerges. It is supported by Diabetes UK, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and NHS England.

Rheological and Theoretical Estimation of the Spinnability of Polyolefines

Melt spinning is a polymer processing technique that makes great demands on the extensibility of the polymer melt in the distance between die exit and solidification point [1]. The polymer material is exposed to a rapidly growing deformation rate over a large range of deformation within a short time of about 100 milliseconds. Simultaneously an extreme cooling occurs with cooling rates of about 1000 K/s. For this reason only a few polymer materials are usable for this kind of polymer processing with sufficient take-up speeds. Most polymers show a fiber break in the molten state either by brittle cohesive rupture or ductile failure when approaching critical conditions of deformation. The rheological behaviour of a polymer melt at the critical conditions of deformation in the fiber forming process can not be predicted by means of usual rheological material functions. This paper reports the attempt to find out material functions, which describe the critical deformation states of the melt spinning process. The established material functions are compared with the results of spinning experiments to estimate their practicality.

Leaf surface structures enable the endemic Namib desert grass Stipagrostis sabulicola to irrigate itself with fog water

The Namib grass Stipagrostis sabulicola relies, to a large degree, upon fog for its water supply and is able to guide collected water towards the plant base. This directed irrigation of the plant base allows an efficient and rapid uptake of the fog water by the shallow roots. In this contribution, the mechanisms for this directed water flow are analysed. Stipagrostis sabulicola has a highly irregular surface. Advancing contact angle is 98° ± 5° and the receding angle is 56° ± 9°, with a mean of both values of approximately 77°. The surface is thus not hydrophobic, shows a substantial contact angle hysteresis and therefore, allows the development of pinned drops of a substantial size. The key factor for the water conduction is the presence of grooves within the leaf surface that run parallel to the long axis of the plant. These grooves provide a guided downslide of drops that have exceeded the maximum size for attachment. It also leads to a minimum of inefficient drop scattering around the plant. The combination of these surface traits together with the tall and upright stature of S. sabulicola contributes to a highly efficient natural fog-collecting system that enables this species to thrive in a hyperarid environment.

MEASURE IT, IMPROVE IT: the Safer Patients Initiative and quality improvement in subcutaneous insulin therapy for hospital in-patients

AIMS

NHS Tayside, UK, identified risks with subcutaneous insulin therapy for hospital in-patients: overlooked abnormal blood glucose readings; prescription errors and failure to administer insulin. Involvement in the Safer Patients Initiative provided opportunities to use different methods of quality improvement, to create a process that facilitated prevention, detection and mitigation of diabetes management problems for in-patients requiring subcutaneous insulin therapy. The aim was to explain these methods, their use and results obtained.

METHODS

A failure modes effect analysis identified present risks in the process of subcutaneous insulin therapy. In response, an evidence-based care cluster was developed and used to design a new insulin prescribing chart. The chart was introduced and modified using small tests of change [plan-do-study-act cycles (PDSAs)]. Compliance data on completing the actions required by the chart were gathered (small-scale audits), and results displayed (process run charts) to those delivering care.

RESULTS

Practice improved over the 9 months: patient identification: 97-100%; identification of insulin device 11-100%; insulin administration 75-95%; hypoglycaemic control 85-94%. The chart prompted compliance with the evidence base, identified trouble-shooting actions to mitigate arising problems and presented opportunities to educate non-specialist staff.

CONCLUSION

Using these methods ensured changes were evidence-based, posed negligible risk to patients and provided a set of tasks against which compliance could be measured to assess changes to practice. Implementation through PDSAs allowed the chart to be adjusted to fit the context and meet the needs of those using it, while preserving the evidence base.

Sexual dimorphism in the attachment ability of the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to rough substrates

Many representatives of the beetle family Chrysomelidae exhibit a distinctive sexual dimorphism in the structure of adhesive tarsal setae. The present study demonstrates the influence of surface roughness on the friction force of Leptinotarsa decemlineata males and females. The maximum friction force of individual beetles was measured on epoxy resin surfaces (smooth and with asperities ranging from 0.3 to 12.0 microm) using a centrifugal force tester. On the smooth surface, no considerable differences between males and females were found, whereas on rough surfaces, females attached significantly (up to two times) stronger than males. Clawless beetles generated lower forces than intact ones, but demonstrated similar differences between males and females. The results indicate that the female adhesive system has its main functional trait in a stronger specialisation to rough plant surfaces whereas the adhesive system of males possess a certain trade-off between attachment to rough plant surfaces during locomotion on vegetation and to the smooth surface of the female elytra, while mating.

Treatment of acute puerperal metritis with flunixin meglumine in addition to antibiotic treatment

The objective of this field trial was to evaluate effects of a single administration of 2.2 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of flunixin meglumine (FM) in addition to a systemic antibiotic treatment in cows with acute puerperal metritis (APM). Outcome variables tested were proportion of cows with a fever, prevalence of chronic endometritis 18 to 22 and 32 to 35 d in milk (DIM), and reproductive performance measures in the current lactation. In addition, serum concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen were analyzed. Daily milk yield within 6 d after the first treatment was recorded. Cows were examined 4 to 5 DIM by rectal palpation and vaginoscopy, and rectal temperature was measured. Fetid vulvar discharge and a body temperature > or = 39.5 degrees C were signs of APM. Cows with APM were treated in the reference group with 1.0 mg/kg of BW of ceftiofur on 3 to 5 consecutive days (CEF, n = 119). In the study group, cows received the same antibiotic treatment as in CEF and 2.2 mg/kg of BW of FM on treatment d 1 (CEF + FM, n = 119). Blood samples were collected 4, 6, and 10 DIM and analyzed for concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen. A group of cows without APM remained untreated and served as controls (n = 9). There were no significant differences between CEF and CEF + FM in the proportion of cows with fever 1 d after the first treatment (33.6 vs. 46.2%), milk yield per milking 10 DIM (7.5 +/- 0.3 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.3 kg in primiparous, 9.6 +/- 0.4 vs. 10.6 +/- 0.4 kg in multiparous cows), prevalence of chronic endometritis 32 to 35 DIM (64.3 vs. 52.2%), and in reproductive performance (31.5 vs. 34.3% conception to first AI, 58.0 vs. 54.6% pregnancy rate, 107.8 +/- 36.9 vs. 101.6 +/- 41.4 d open). Compared with the control, CEF and CEF + FM had significantly greater concentrations of haptoglobin (1.1 +/- 0.28 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.06 and 1.8 +/- 0.07 mg/mL at 4 DIM; 0.3 +/- 0.15 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.06 and 1.2 +/- 0.07 mg/mL at 10 DIM) and fibrinogen (2.2 +/- 0.17 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.14 and 3.7 +/- 0.13 g/L at 4 DIM; 1.9 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.1 and 3.0 +/- 0.13 g/L, respectively, at 10 DIM) on all test days. The additional treatment with FM had no effect on these acute phase proteins. In conclusion, the single administration of 2.2 mg/kg of BW of FM in addition to a systemic antibiotic treatment of cows having APM did not result in beneficial effects on clinical cure, milk yield within 6 d after the first treatment, or reproductive performance.

Maximum-likelihood estimation of Mueller matrices

We show that the method of maximum-likelihood estimation, recently introduced in the context of quantum process tomography, can be applied to the determination of Mueller matrices characterizing the polarization properties of classical optical systems. Contrary to linear reconstruction algorithms, the proposed method yields physically acceptable Mueller matrices even in the presence of uncontrolled experimental errors. We illustrate our method with the case of an unphysical measured Mueller matrix taken from the literature.

Experimental demonstration of fractional orbital angular momentum entanglement of two photons

The singular nature of a noninteger spiral phase plate allows easy manipulation of spatial degrees of freedom of photon states. Using two such devices, we have observed very high-dimensional spatial entanglement of twin photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

Cellular injuries upon exposure of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus to high-intensity ultrasound

AIMS

To examine cellular injuries occurring in cells of Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Gram-positive bacteria) in response to a high-intensity ultrasound treatment using classical plate count technique and flow cytometry.

METHOD AND RESULTS

According to plate count results, E. coli (D-value 8.3 min) was far more sensitive than L. rhamnosus (D-value 18.1 min) in their response to the ultrasound intensity applied (20 kHz, 17.6 W). The dye precursor carboxyfluorescein diacetate (cFDA) could freely diffuse across the cytoplasmic membrane of intact cells of Gram-positive bacteria L. rhamnosus, resulting in its intracellular enzymatic conversion and emission of green fluorescence. In contrast, the presence of an outer membrane on E. coli, which represents the class of Gram-negative bacteria, apparently disabled the penetration of viability marker cFDA. Ultrasound application on E. coli yielded in an increasing population with disintegrated outer membrane, which allowed penetration of cFDA and its intracellular enzymatic conversion as well as accumulation. In both organisms evaluated only a small population was labelled by propidium iodide upon exposure to ultrasound for up to 20 min. Within the experimental conditions investigated ultrasound did not considerably affect the cytoplasmic membrane, although according to plate count results viability loss occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The results compiled suggest, that ultrasound induced cell death, which may not be related to membrane damage.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Limitation on the use of bacteriocins, which are aimed on destabilization of cytoplasmic membrane but inhibited by the outer membrane, could be overcome by ultrasound-assisted physical disruption of the outer membrane.

Biomechanical properties of quadruple tendon and patellar tendon femoral fixation techniques

Two femoral fixation techniques for quadruple hamstring tendon grafts were compared under cyclic loading with the patellar tendon: the rectangular inserted pin (TransFix) and biodegradable interference screw fixation of the quadruple tendon and titanium interference screw fixation of the middle third of the patellar tendon. Porcine specimens were mounted onto a tension load machine, and the tendon-fixation-femur-complex was tested for stiffness, displacement during 800 cycles of loading between 50 and 250 N and ultimate tension load. TransFix fixation showed the greatest stiffness at 183.6 N/mm ( P<0.05). The least displacement under cyclic loading was observed for the titanium interference screw followed by the TransFix and biodegradable interference screw ( P<0.01). The ultimate tension load was greatest for the TransFix fixation at 1303+/-282 N, followed by patellar tendon fixation with 763+/-103 N and the biodegradable interference screw fixation with 480+/-133 N ( P<0.001). To reduce initial elongation of the graft and displacement at the fixation site, preconditioning of both the tendon and tendon-fixation complex is especially important when using quadruple tendons. TransFix fixation provides better stability and greater stiffness and pull-out strength than the other techniques. This finding is of clinical relevance to surgeons of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Differences in intravenous and subcutaneous application of recombinant human erythropoietin: a multicenter trial

The aims of this clinical study were to compare the maintenance doses for intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (SC) administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and to investigate whether there is any difference in the increase of the packed cellular volume (PCV) per week under i.v. and SC administration of rhEPO from two production sites (Genetics Institute, Cambridge, USA; and Boehringer Mannheim, Penzberg, Germany). A total of 90 patients suffering from end-stage renal disease were included in the study. All patients had already been treated for at least 6 months with chronic hemodialysis. The study was carried out as a randomized, multicenter parallel group comparison study with a 1-week pretreatment phase, a subsequent 8-week double-blind phase, and a final open phase. The final open phase consisted of a correction phase and a maintenance phase. The production site had no influence on the PCV increase per week, and there were no differences with respect to tolerability. The median rhEPO dose required to maintain the target PCV of 30 to 35 vol.% was 33 U/kg body weight three times a week in the i.v. group compared with 22 U/kg in the SC group (i.e., an average of 30% less with SC administration). Development or aggravation of hypertension under rhEPO therapy was observed, especially during the correction phase and more frequently in the SC group than in the i.v. group. During the maintenance phase, there was no essential difference between the two groups.

Arbovirus infections in several Ontario mammals, 1975-1980

Serological studies for arboviruses were conducted on 725 animal sera collected in 22 Ontario townships between 1975 and 1980 including 44 coyote (Canis latrans), 277 red fox (Vulpes vulpes), 192 raccoon (Procyon lotor) and 212 striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Hemagglutination inhibition antibodies to two flaviviruses, namely St. Louis encephalitis and Powassan were found in 50% of coyote, 47% of skunk, 26% of fox and 10% of raccoon sera. Similarly, hemagglutination inhibition antibodies to a California serogroup virus, snowshoe hare, were found in 12% of fox, 7% of skunk, 7% of raccoon and 5% of coyote sera. No antibodies were detected to two alphavirus, namely eastern equine encephalitis and western equine encephalitis, antigens. This study affirms the endemic presence of Powassan and snowshoe hare virus and further delineates the scope of St. Louis encephalitis activity in Ontario.

Mass spectroscopy of natural products. III--Mass spectrometric comparison of lysergic acid and 9,10-dihydrolysergic acid

The influence of the 9,10-double bond in the ergoline skeleton on the fragmentation behaviour of lysergic acid and 9,10-dihydrolysergic acid is discussed. The main fragmentation pathways were determined using high resolution mass spectrometry and metastable ion studies. The 70 eV electron impact spectra are compared with the 12 eV electron impact spectra and the negative ion mass spectra (2--4 eV).

Negative ion mass spectroscopy of natural products. VIII. alpha-Amino acids

The negative ion mass spectra (2-4 eV) of twenty free alpha-amino acids have been investigated and compared with the respective low voltage positive ion mass spectra (6-16 eV). The important fragmentation processes are discussed.