First Record of the Mosquitoes \u3ci\u3eAedes Dupreei Psorophora Horrida,\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ePsorophora Mathesoni\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Culicidae) in St. Joseph County, Indiana

(excerpt) Adult females of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) dupreei (Coquillett), Psorophora (lanthinosoma) horrida (Dyar and Knab), and Psorophora (Janthinosoma) mathesoni (Belkin and Heinemann) were collected on 18 and 19 June 1981, in an oak woodlot in South Bend, Indiana

A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis of the West Nile Virus Epidemic

We present a model for the growth of West Nile virus in mosquito and bird populations based on observations of the initial epidemic in the U.S. Increase of bird mortality as a result of infection, which is a feature of the epidemic, is found to yield an effect which is observable in principle, viz., periodic variations in the extent of infection. The vast difference between mosquito and bird lifespans, another peculiarity of the system, is shown to lead to interesting consequences regarding delay in the onset of the steady-state infection. An outline of a framework is provided to treat mosquito diffusion and bird migration.Comment: 12 pages, 9 postscript figure

The impact of low erythrocyte density in human blood on the fitness and energetic reserves of the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Background Anaemia is a common health problem in the developing world. This condition is characterized by a reduction in erythrocyte density, primarily from malnutrition and/or infectious diseases such as malaria. As red blood cells are the primary source of protein for haematophagous mosquitoes, any reduction could impede the ability of mosquito vectors to transmit malaria by influencing their fitness or that of the parasites they transmit. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of differences in the density of red blood cells in human blood on malaria vector (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto) fitness. The hypotheses tested are that mosquito vector energetic reserves and fitness are negatively influenced by reductions in the red cell density of host human blood meals commensurate with those expected from severe anaemia. Methods Mosquitoes (An. gambiae s.s.) were offered blood meals of different packed cell volume(PCV) of human blood consistent with those arising from severe anaemia (15%) and normalPCV (50%). Associations between mosquito energetic reserves (lipid, glucose and glycogen)and fitness measures (reproduction and survival) and blood meal PCV were investigated. Results The amount of protein that malaria vectors acquired from blood feeding (indexed by haematin excretion) was significantly reduced at low blood PCV. However, mosquitoes feeding on blood of low PCV had the same oviposition rates as those feeding on blood of normal PCV, and showed an increase in egg production of around 15%. The long-term survival of An. gambiae s.s was reduced after feeding on low PCV blood, but PCV had no significant impact on the proportion of mosquitoes surviving through the minimal period required to develop and transmit malaria parasites (estimated as 14 days post-blood feeding). The impact of blood PCV on the energetic reserves of mosquitoes was relatively minor. Conclusions These results suggest that feeding on human hosts whose PCV has been depleted due to severe anaemia does not significantly reduce the fitness or transmission potential of malaria vectors, and indicates that mosquitoes may be able exploit resources for reproduction more efficiently from blood of low rather than normal PCV

Behavioral Ecology of Two Teal Species (Blue-Winged Teal, Anas discors, and Green-Winged Teal, Anas crecca) Overwintering in Marshes of Coastal Louisiana, USA

Feeding and other dominant activities of Blue-winged Teal (BWT, Anas discors) and Green-winged Teal (GWT, Anas crecca) were compared from October 1987 to March 1988 in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Three observation towers were constructed near similar intermediate marsh habitats in areas where BWT and GWT concentrated for feeding. These observation towers allowed activities of the two species to be compared throughout the nonbreeding season. Although BWT and GWT often fed together, time spent in various activities differed. Feeding was the most frequent activity of both BWT(64.5%) and GWT (55.3%), but BWT spent more time feeding (P \u3c 0.01) and alert (P \u3c 0.05), but spent less (P \u3c 0.01) time resting than GWT. Within each species there were differences in activity budgets among daily time blocks and among months, but few differences among the three habitats studied. Temperature and light intensity were correlated with resting (+), feeding (-), locomotion (-), and preening (+). Daily and monthly activity budgets of BWT and GWT were similar, as were ingested foods, suggesting that these two species used the study areas primarily for foraging, and left the areas for other activities. Predation and diminished resources during late winter may have affected activities of BWT and GWT as well

Behavioral Ecology of Two Teal Species (Blue-Winged Teal, Anas discors, and Green-Winged Teal, Anas crecca) Overwintering in Marshes of Coastal Louisiana, USA

Feeding and other dominant activities of Blue-winged Teal (BWT, Anas discors) and Green-winged Teal (GWT, Anas crecca) were compared from October 1987 to March 1988 in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Three observation towers were constructed near similar intermediate marsh habitats in areas where BWT and GWT concentrated for feeding. These observation towers allowed activities of the two species to be compared throughout the nonbreeding season. Although BWT and GWT often fed together, time spent in various activities differed. Feeding was the most frequent activity of both BWT(64.5%) and GWT (55.3%), but BWT spent more time feeding (P \u3c 0.01) and alert (P \u3c 0.05), but spent less (P \u3c 0.01) time resting than GWT. Within each species there were differences in activity budgets among daily time blocks and among months, but few differences among the three habitats studied. Temperature and light intensity were correlated with resting (+), feeding (-), locomotion (-), and preening (+). Daily and monthly activity budgets of BWT and GWT were similar, as were ingested foods, suggesting that these two species used the study areas primarily for foraging, and left the areas for other activities. Predation and diminished resources during late winter may have affected activities of BWT and GWT as well

The Neglected Arboviral Infections in Mainland China

The major arboviral diseases in mainland China include Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (also known as Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever), and tick-borne encephalitis. These and other newly found arbovirus infections due to Banna virus and Tahyna virus contribute to a large and relatively neglected disease burden in China. Here we briefly review the literature regarding these arboviral infections in mainland China with emphasis on their epidemiology, primary vectors, phylogenetic associations, and the prevention programs associated with these agents in China

Encephalopathic Presentation of West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease Confounded by Concomitant History of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal

West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) is a rare and severe manifestation of West Nile virus (WNV) infection that occurs in less than 1% of infected persons. It should be considered in patients who present with fever, neurological symptoms, and a history of recent outdoor activity where mosquitoes were active. This article highlights a case of a 55-year-old man whose history and symptoms of WNND were confounded with an alternate diagnosis, acute alcohol withdrawal. An overview of WNV infections, and important historical clues and objective findings characteristic of neuroinvasive disease, is discussed to increase readers\u27 knowledge of WNV and awareness of when to consider WNND in the diagnostic differential

Quantifying the pathway and predicting spontaneous emulsification during material exchange in a two phase liquid system

Kinetic restriction of a thermodynamically favourable equilibrium is a common theme in materials processing. The interfacial instability in systems where rate of material exchange is far greater than the mass transfer through respective bulk phases is of specific interest when tracking the transient interfacial area, a parameter integral to short processing times for productivity streamlining in all manufacturing where interfacial reaction occurs. This is even more pertinent in high-temperature systems for energy and cost savings. Here the quantified physical pathway of interfacial area change due to material exchange in liquid metal-molten oxide systems is presented. In addition the predicted growth regime and emulsification behaviour in relation to interfacial tension as modelled using phase-field methodology is shown. The observed in-situ emulsification behaviour links quantitatively the geometry of perturbations as a validation method for the development of simulating the phenomena. Thus a method is presented to both predict and engineer the formation of micro emulsions to a desired specification

PRECARIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHO FEMININO: a realidade das mulheres no mundo do trabalho

Abordagem sobre a precarização do trabalho feminino no contexto a reestruturação produtiva do capital. Enfatiza as desigualdades históricas construídas entre o masculino e o feminino e a divisão sexual do trabalho e as incidências desses processos na inserção e realidade das mulheres no mundo do trabalho. Destaca que a intensificação de mudanças nas formas contemporâneas de organização da produção, tem gerado um contexto onde as condições de trabalho tornam-se cada vez mais flexíveis. Ressalta, nesse sentido, o aumento da precarização dos postos de trabalho, evidenciado na instabilidade dos empregos, na informalização, no trabalho subcontratado e em tempo parcial, e, ainda, na perda de direitos e garantias trabalhistas historicamente construídas. Conclui que essas mudanças têm repercutido fortemente sobre a classe trabalhadora, adquirindo grande peso na inserção e condições de trabalho do segmento feminino, pois são as mulheres que mais sofrem com todo esse processo.Palavras-chave: Reestruturação produtiva, precarização, trabalho feminino.