How do biting disease vectors behaviourally respond to host availability?

BACKGROUND: Ecological theory predicts a diverse range of functional responses of species to resource availability; but in the context of human blood consumption by disease vectors, a simplistic, linear response is ubiquitously assumed. A simple and flexible model formulation is presented that extends the Holling's Types to account for a wider range of qualitatively distinct behaviours, and used to examine the impact of different vector responses to the relative availability of multiple blood-host species. RESULTS: Epidemiological models of falciparum malaria, Chagas disease and Lyme disease demonstrate that the standard, often implicit, assumption of a linear functional response can lead to spurious under- or over-estimates in disease transmission potential, across a full range of pathogen life-cycles. It is shown how the functional response in vector biting can augment disease intervention outcomes. Interactions between vector biting behaviour and uneven pathogen transmission probabilities between alternative hosts, as is the case for Chagas disease, can render infection more resilient to control. CONCLUSIONS: Both the novel response formula and the nested vector-borne disease structure offer a flexible framework that can be applied to other vector-borne diseases in assessing the role of this newly identified aspect of biting behavioural ecology

Benchmarking matching color in composite restorations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the color samples (A2, A3 and B1) of three different brands of resin composites using dentine masses. 135 discs were prepared (5 plates for each thickness, color and brand of composite material). A colorimetric evaluation, using white and black background, was performed just after preparation. The color was measured corresponding to "Vita" scale and ΔL, Δa, Δb and ΔE values were calculated using a spectrophotometer. The results showed that Value, Chroma and Hue often differ even if the same commercial color and same thickness is used. In conclusion, this study showed that the perfect aesthetics restoration is possible combining individual abilities, experience and correct techniques

RF Transport Electromagnetic Properties of CVD Graphene from DC to 110 MHz

We report measurement of the radio-frequency (RF) transport electromagnetic properties of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) graphene over the DC to 110 MHz frequency range at room temperature. Graphene on Si/SiO2 substrate was mounted in a shielded four terminal-pair (4TP) adaptor which enabled direct connection to a calibrated precision impedance analyser for measurements. Good agreement is observed for the DC four-probe resistance and the 4TP resistance at 40 Hz, both yielding R ~ 104 {\Omega}. In general the apparent graphene channel electromagnetic properties are found to be strongly influenced by the substrate parasitic capacitance and resistance, particularly for high-frequencies f > 1 MHz. A phenomenological lumped-parameter equivalent circuit model is presented which matches the frequency response of the graphene 4TP impedance device over approximately seven decades of the frequency range of the applied transport alternating current. Based on this model, it is shown for the first time, that the intrinsic graphene channel resistance of the 4TP device is frequency-independent (i.e. dissipationless) with RG ~ 105 {\Omega} or sheet resistance of approximately 182 {\Omega} / sq. The parasitic substrate impedance of the device is found shunt RG with RP ~ 2.2 {\Omega} in series with CP ~ 600 pF. These results suggest that our new RF 4TP method is in good agreement with the conventional DC four-probe method for measuring the intrinsic sheet resistance of single-atom thick materials and could potentially open up new applications in RF electronics, AC quantum Hall effect metrology and sensors based on graphene 4TP devices operating over broad range of frequencies.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Comparison between three glass fiber post cementation techniques

The aim of this experimental study was to compare the traditional cement systems with those of the latest generation, to assess if indeed these could represent of viable substitutes in the cementation of indirect restorations, and in the specific case of endodontic posts

Comparison of two different debonding techniques in orthodontic treatment

The purpose of this research is to investigate whether and how the adhesive bond failure site varied in relation to the material used for the orthodontic bonding and debonding technique applied

OTOLITH MASS ASYMMETRY IN CARANGOIDES CAERULEPINNATUS (RÜPPELL, 1830) (FAMILY: CARANGIDAE) COLLECTED FROM THE SEA OF OMAN

The sagittae mass asymmetry was studied in the teleost Carangoides caeruleopinnatus. The value of the asymmetry was calculated as the difference between the mass of the right and left paired otoliths, divided by average otolith mass. The results show that the absolute value of X in C. caeruleopinnatus does not depend on fish length and otolith growth rate, as it does in other symmetrical fish species. However, the absolute value of otolith mass difference increases with the fish length. The value of x falls between -0.2 and +0.2