Flight movement and spatial distribution of immunomarked thrips in onion, potato, and tomato

The objective of this work was to evaluate the spatial distribution of thrips in different crops, and the correlation between meterological parameters and the flight movements of this pest, using immunomarking. The experiment was conducted in cultivated areas, with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and onion (Allium cepa); and non-cultivated areas, with weedy plants. The areas with tomato (100 days), potato (20 days), and weeds were sprayed with casein, albumin, and soy milk, respectively, to mark adult thrips; however, the areas with onion (50 days) and tomato (10 days) were not sprayed. Thrips were captured with georeferenced blue sticky traps, transferred into tubes, and identified by treatment area with the Elisa test. The dependence between the samples and the capture distance was determined using geostatistics. Meteorlogical parameters were correlated with thrips density in each area. The three protein types used for immunomarking were detected in different proportions in the thrips. There was a correlation between casein-marked thrips and wind speed. The thrips flew a maximum distance of 3.5 km and dispersed from the older (tomato) to the younger crops (potato). The immunomarking method is efficient to mark large quantities of thrips.

DBS in Dystonia and Other Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders.

OPINION STATEMENT: The diagnosis and appropriate treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders require a work up of potentially reversible metabolic, infectious and structural disorders as well as side effects of current medication. In pharmacoresistant movement disorders with a disabling impact on quality of life, deep brain stimulation (DBS) should be considered. At different targets, DBS has become an established therapy for Parkinson's disease (GPi-STN), tremor (VIM) and primary dystonia (GPi) with reasonable perioperative risks and side effects, established guidelines and some clinical and radiological predictive factors. In contrast, for other hyperkinetic movement disorders, including secondary dystonia, Gilles de la Tourette, chorea and ballism, only few data are available. Definite targets are not well defined, and reported results are of less magnitude than those of the recognized indications. In this expanding therapeutical field without worked out recommendations, an individual approach is needed with DBS indication assessment only after rigorous multidisciplinary scrutiny, restricted to expert centres.

Assessing functional relations in single-case designs: Quantitative proposals in the context of the evidence-based movement

In the context of the evidence-based practices movement, the emphasis on computing effect sizes and combining them via meta-analysis does not preclude the demonstration of functional relations. For the latter aim, we propose to augment the visual analysis to add consistency to the decisions made on the existence of a functional relation without losing sight of the need for a methodological evaluation of what stimuli and reinforcement or punishment are used to control the behavior. Four options for quantification are reviewed, illustrated, and tested with simulated data. These quantifications include comparing the projected baseline with the actual treatment measurements, on the basis of either parametric or nonparametric statistics. The simulated data used to test the quantifications include nine data patterns in terms of the presence and type of effect and comprising ABAB and multiple baseline designs. Although none of the techniques is completely flawless in terms of detecting a functional relation only when it is present but not when it is absent, an option based on projecting split-middle trend and considering data variability as in exploratory data analysis proves to be the best performer for most data patterns. We suggest that the information on whether a functional relation has been demonstrated should be included in meta-analyses. It is also possible to use as a weight the inverse of the data variability measure used in the quantification for assessing the functional relation. We offer an easy to use code for open-source software for implementing some of the quantifications.

Open Device Lab: movement to improve web and app experience

We present here the first part of the literature review regarding our study object, the Open Device Labs. The research on ODLs emerges from the observation of worldwide non-profit movement, which, through mutual collaboration, information and devices sharing, proposes a final improvement on user’s experience with the web and app.

We want Moshiach now! : understanding the Messianic message in the Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement

Då man rör sig i New York eller Jerusalem är det inte ovanligt att man stöter på judiska "missionärer" - ett fenomen som annars är ovanligt inom judendomen - och får ett traktat i sin hand som säger "Moshiach är här" eller "Welcome Moshiach". Det är den ultra-ortodoxa rörelsen Chabad-Lubavitch som har blivit känd för sitt utåtriktade missionsarbete och för att ha proklamerat sin ledare, Rabbi Schneerson som messias. Trots att han har varit död sedan 1994 och man från judiskt håll säger att en messias inte kan dö, lever förväntningarna på Rabbi Schneerson kvar inom rörelsen. Den akademiska forskningen har gjort gällande att denna messiastro, som tar sig ett så aktivt uttryck, är en produkt av den existentiella hopplöshet som lägrade sig över det judiska samfundet i och med Förintelsen, därför att väntan på messias omedelbara ankomst ingav livshopp. Dessutom har forskningen från ett religionssociologiskt perspektiv frågat hur en religiös rörelse överlever en så stor besvikelse som att ens ledare inte uppfyller de profetior som talats ut. Avhandlingen "We Want Moshiach NOW!" ifrågasätter den tidigare forskningen genom att påvisa de starka messianska förväntningar som fanns redan på 1700-talet vid rörelsens tillkomst. Avhandlingen tar upp vilka förväntningar som framkommer i det litterära verket "Tanja", författad av rörelsens grundare, och jämför dem med den moderna litteraturen. I "Tanja" ges även förklaringsmodeller till varför en person som man trodde var messias inte är det. Avhandlingens tes är att forskningen inte har beaktat utsagorna i "Tanja" tillräckligt mycket då man försökt förstå den samtida messiastron och de uttryck den tar.