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Aureobasidium pullulans, formulated commercially as Blossom Protect, has become a highly successful biological material for fire blight suppression in apple and pear. This material, which is composed of viable spores of two strains of A. pullulans, attained this status with minimal prior knowledge that yeasts could be used effectively for this purpose. In early orchard trials, it was observed that mixing A. pullulansin spray tanks with a low pH buffer enhanced disease suppression from very good to outstanding. Prevention of fire blight by Blossom Protect requires that A. pullulanscolonizes most of the flowers on a tree with populations that exceed 1 × 104CFU/flower. A. pullulanscolonizes floral stigmas similar to bacteria used to suppress fire blight biologically; however, unlike these bacteria, the yeast also colonizes the hypanthial surface within the floral cup, which is where the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovorainfects the host. In combination with the buffer, colonization activity by A. pullulanson the hypanthium reduces pH of the floral cup and strongly induces host defense genes in hypanthial tissue. A specific risk from use of A. pullulansfor fire blight control is a potential to contribute to ‘russeting’ of developing fruitlets. Russeting risk from use of Blossom Protect has been lessened by reformulation of the companion buffer and by use of conventional or organically-approved fungicides in late and post-bloom periods. In large-scale apple production, particularly organic orchards, the use of Blossom Protect requires integration with other sprays that are required for managing crop load and suppression of fungal diseases such as apple scab.

Axon Enterprise, Inc. has developed a new concept Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW), the T10. Instead of the traditional high-voltage, electrically paired 2- or 4-probe design, the new CEW uses a lower-voltage, variable waveform, floating probe polarity, independently targeted 10-probe design. With this design, electrical connections can occur between any probes. With 10 probes independently targeted and deployed, field efficacy is purportedly expected to be higher than the traditional CEW designs. Additionally, the new CEW uses an ignitable primer system to propel the probes instead of the compressed gas in prior weapons. This, along with other incremental design changes such as thinner wires and a redesigned probe, purportedly will afford better accuracy at longer distances and better probe adherence. With the possibility of up to 10 probes on target (the current firmware limits the total connections between probes to 4), the possibility of anterior–posterior transthoracic connections, probes potentially rapidly alternating polarity, a waveform that varies with load, and with higher velocity probes, this new CEW presents new areas for safety study. The authors used their previously published human physiology methodology to study 8-s exposures using different numbers of probes (up to 6; maximum 4 connections between probes) and connection locations. In our study, venous blood was drawn pre-exposure, immediately post-exposure, at 1 h and at 24-h post-exposure. Blood variables studied included potassium, pH, lactate, troponin, CK, and catecholamines. EKGs were done immediately pre- and post-exposure and continuous spirometry was performed. There were 27 subjects in our study. There were no clinically significant blood marker changes except for modest changes in pH and lactate and catecholamines immediately post-exposure consistent with prior weapons and rises in CK which were similar to prior multi-shot weapons. The spirometry data had mixed results. There were no dysrhythmias, ectopy, or ischemic changes on any EKGs although chest exposures were not done.

Conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) have been used by law enforcement agencies worldwide to control and restrain potentially violent persons. As new generations of these weapons are developed, effectiveness and safety need to be evaluated. The new TASER 10 uses an independently targeted probe scheme with floating polarities so that any two probes can form a connection. This is in contrast to older generation weapons, which used paired probes with fixed take-off angles. The expectation is with up to a maximum of 10 shots and independent targeting; the weapon will have a greater effectiveness. In this pilot study, we used our previously published, standardized methodology for measurement of CEW effectiveness on motivated human volunteers for several objectives: (1) to directly compare the effectiveness of the waveform on human subjects to an older generation weapon (the TASER 7), (2) to more broadly compare it to historical controls, and (3) to look at various probe configurations to determine their comparative effectiveness. The task at hand was to reach a suspended martial arts dummy 12 ft (3.65 m) away while being exposed (under power) to the electrical waveform of the TASER devices in various dart configurations. Several intervention groups were examined. We used video review with our standard methodology to rate goal achievement and limb capture. The results demonstrate that the TASER 10 has similar ability to induce neuromuscular incapacitation as the TASER 7. Additionally, the ability of the TASER 10 to place multiple darts on a specific target area to create the desired probe spread is a technological advantage over previous models. This, together with the floating polarity probes, promise to make the TASER 10 potentially more effective and flexible in the field.

Objective:The objectives of this study are to use network analysis to describe the pattern of neonatal transfers in California, to compare empirical sub-networks with established referral regions and to determine factors associated with transport outside the originating sub-network.Study design:This cross-sectional database study included 6546 infants <28 days old transported within California in 2012. After generating a graph representing acute transfers between hospitals (n=6696), we used community detection techniques to identify more tightly connected sub-networks. These empirically derived sub-networks were compared with state-defined regional referral networks. Reasons for transfer between empirical sub-networks were assessed using logistic regression.Results:Empirical sub-networks showed significant overlap with regulatory regions (P<0.001). Transfer outside the empirical sub-network was associated with major congenital anomalies (P<0.001), need for surgery (P=0.01) and insurance as the reason for transfer (P<0.001).Conclusion:Network analysis accurately reflected empirical neonatal transfer patterns, potentially facilitating quantitative, rather than qualitative, analysis of regionalized health care delivery systems.

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Optical and spin properties of individual GaAs droplet dots in AlGaAs barriers are studied in photoluminescence experiments at 4K. First we report strong mixing of heavy hole-light hole states. Using the neutral and charged exciton emission as a monitor we observe the direct consequence of quantum dot symmetry reduction in this strain free system. By fitting the polar diagram of the emission with simple analytical expressions obtained from k•p theory we are able to extract the mixing that arises from the heavy-light hole coupling due to the geometrical asymmetry of the quantum dot. Second we report optical orientation experiments. Circularly polarized optical excitation yields strong circular polarization of the resulting photoluminescence. Optical injection of spin polarized electrons into a GaAs dot gives rise to dynamical nuclear polarization that considerably changes the exciton Zeeman splitting (Overhauser shift). We show that the created nuclear polarization is bistable and present a direct measurement of the build-up time of the nuclear polarization in a single GaAs dot in the order of one second.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated in tumor promotion. In this study, we investigated the effect of the hepatic tumor promoters lindane and phenobarbital (PB) on the PG metabolism of Kupffer cells in vitro and in vivo, in particular on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX), the leading enzyme in prostanoid synthesis. Exposure of primary cultures of Kupffer cells to lindane for 1 h stimulated the production of the PGs PGE₂ and PGD₂ markedly (up to 50-fold) and that of PGF_2α by >3-fold. This effect was accompanied by an increase in the COX-2 protein, as demonstrated by western blotting. Similarly, PB, which shares several effects with lindane in rat liver, also clearly induced COX-2. Lindane and PB affected the PG synthesis in vitro and in vivo in Kupffer cells of rats that had been treated with the two compounds for 56 days. Kupffer cells, which were isolated at days 2, 5 and 56 of the treatment, showed a significant increase in the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein. Total COX activity was increased ~2-fold and 3- to 5-fold in Kupffer cell homogenates of PB- and lindane-treated animals, respectively, compared with the untreated controls. These results suggest that paracrine mechanisms may contribute to the tumor-promoting activity of lindane and PB, stimulating the production of PGs by Kupffer cells.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated in tumor promotion. In this study, we investigated the effect of the hepatic tumor promoters lindane and phenobarbital (PB) on the PG metabolism of Kupffer cells in vitro and in vivo, in particular on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX), the leading enzyme in prostanoid synthesis. Exposure of primary cultures of Kupffer cells to lindane for 1 h stimulated the production of the PGs PGE(2) and PGD(2) markedly (up to 50-fold) and that of PGF(2alpha) by >3-fold. This effect was accompanied by an increase in the COX-2 protein, as demonstrated by western blotting. Similarly, PB, which shares several effects with lindane in rat liver, also clearly induced COX-2. Lindane and PB affected the PG synthesis in vitro and in vivo in Kupffer cells of rats that had been treated with the two compounds for 56 days. Kupffer cells, which were isolated at days 2, 5 and 56 of the treatment, showed a significant increase in the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein. Total COX activity was increased approximately 2-fold and 3- to 5-fold in Kupffer cell homogenates of PB- and lindane-treated animals, respectively, compared with the untreated controls. These results suggest that paracrine mechanisms may contribute to the tumor-promoting activity of lindane and PB, stimulating the production of PGs by Kupffer cells.

Toughness and mechanical property data are presented for a carboxyl-terminated acrylonitrile butadiene (CTBN) rubber-modified epoxy resin in the temperature range 20 to - 110° C. A toughening model based on ultimate strain capability and tear energy dissipation of the rubber, present as dispersed microscopic particles in an epoxy matrix, is used to explain the suppression of composite toughness (GIc) below - 20° C. The toughness loss is attributed to a glass transition in the rubber particles, and to a secondary transition in the epoxy resin, both occurring in the range - 40 to - 80° C. Strain-tofailure and modulus measurements on bulk rubber-epoxy compounds, formulated to simulate rubber particle compositions, confirm a decrease in rubber ductility coincident with the onset of composite toughness loss. An increase in rubber tear energy associated with its transition to a rigid state can explain the observation that even at low temperatures composite toughness generally remains significantly higher than that of pure epoxy. Although the low-temperature epoxy transition reduces molecular mobility in the matrix phase, residual ductility in, and energy dissipation by, the rubber particles determine the extent of composite toughness suppression. The low-temperature data bear out the particle stretching-tearing model for toughening.

Es wurde die Thrombocytenfunktion bei intravenöser, intraamnialer und extraamnialer Anwendung von PgF2a bei abgestorbener Gravidität, therapeutischem Abort und Geburtseinleitung untersucht. Die Kontrollgruppen erhielten Oxytocin i.v. (abgestorbene Gravidität und Geburtseinleitung). Bei i.v. Anwendung von PgF2a fand sich eine Normalisierung der gesteigerten spontanen Thrombocytenaggregation und eine signifikante Verminderung der ADP- und Kollagen-induzierten Thrombocytenaggregation. Die Desaggregation war in diesen Gruppen verstärkt. Die anderen Gruppen, die PgF2a erhielten, zeigten keine signifikanten Veränderungen der Plättchenfunktion.

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Aus einem großen Kollektiv werden 94 Satellitenbilder mit einer typischen Nebelverteilung ausgewählt, kartographisch aufbereitet und digitalisiert. Dieses Datenmaterial wird nicht nur benützt, um wetterlagenabhängige Mittelkarten der Nebelverteilung zu entwerfen, es erlaubt auch wesentliche Rückschlüsse auf die Dynamik der Nebel- und Kaltluftkörper im schweizerischen Alpenvorland. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse werden in ein empirisches Modell umgesetzt, mit dem sich für den Folgetag die Nebelobergrenze und damit grob auch die flächenhafte Nebel- und Kaltluftverteilung vorhersagen läßt.

The outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae grown in a rabbit peritonitis model in the presence or absence of cephalosporins were investigated. Six high-molecular-weight OMPs (Mr 69,000 to 83,000) were induced under iron-depleted conditions in vitro. Three of these proteins (the 69,000-Mr protein [69K protein] and the 70K and 78K proteins) and trace amounts of the 73K and 75K proteins were induced in the OM of bacteria infecting the peritoneal cavity of rabbits. Addition of iron either to the growth medium in vitro or to the peritoneum in vivo repressed the expression of these proteins. Cephaloridine had no significant effect on the OMP profiles. An additional 56,000-Mr protein was observed in the OM of bacteria cultivated in vivo in the presence of CGP 17520 and also to a lesser extent in vivo under conditions of iron excess. A difference in recognition of OM antigens between cells grown in vitro and in vivo was observed by immunoblotting techniques. The 26K, 27.5K, and 28.5K antigens present in the OM of cells grown in vitro (but not in vivo) were recognized by antibodies raised against bacteria cultivated in vitro under conditions of iron depletion, but were not recognized by antisera raised against bacteria harvested directly from infections. Antisera raised against a nonencapsulated K. pneumoniae strain caused no agglutination of encapsulated K. pneumoniae grown in vivo in the absence of cephalosporins. Rapid agglutination was observed with this antiserum when the same encapsulated strain was grown in vivo in the presence of either cephalosporin, indicating less occlusion of critical antigens by the capsule.

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From four years of data provided by the Ion Composition Instrument on ISEE-3, we have derived flux ratios of minor elements in the solar wind and found He/O = 75 ± 20 and Ne/O = 0.17 ± 0.02. These results are compared with recent solar energetic particle composition data and photospheric values, and they are discussed in the light of theoretical models of ionization and acceleration of heavy ions in the solar chromosphere and corona.

We have analysed and compared, by in situ hybridisation, the effects of exogenously applied TGF-βs on expression of endogenous TGF-β mRNAs in partial thickness thermal wounds in old and young mice. Although injury induced the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in the epidermis and dermis at the wound margins, expression of TGF-β2- or TGF-β3-mRNA was not detected. Biopsies taken 24 hours following injury revealed a focally clustered distribution of TGF-β1 hybridisation signals in the dermis, the number of positive cells and expression levels being reduced in old mice. Topical application of all three TGF-β isoforms enhanced TGF-β1 mRNA expression in the dermis of old and young mice. In biopsies taken three days following injury, TGF-β1 hybridisation signals were most prominent in the regenerating epidermis although at this timepoint differences in expression levels between treated and non-treated animals were less pronounced.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press

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In cases of missed abortion and missed labor, labor was induced by PGF2α i.a., i.v. and by oxytocin infusion. Platelet function (methods of Born and Breddin), the coagulation system and fibrinolysis have been studied within the three groups.Using PGF2α i.v., the initially increased platelet aggregation showed a tendency to become normal. There was no manifestation of activation of the coagulation system. Fibrinolytic activity showed a slight increase during PGF2α i.v.No essential changes in platelet function, coagulation and fibrinolytic system were found after i.a. injection of PGF2α.When inducing labor by oxytocin i.v., both the coagulation and the fibrinolytic system were slightly activated and platelet aggregation increased.The results and their clinical importance for hemostasis as well as therapeutic consequences are discussed.

We examined the influence of several pharmacokinetic parameters on cure rates in rabbits with experimental pneumococcal meningitis. When the duration of treatment was kept constant, cure rates improved as the individual dose of ampicillin was increased. On the other hand, when four doses of ampicillin at 60 mg/kg of body weight, producing peak concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of approximately 40 times the MBC, were administered at intervals of 24 instead of 4 h and the duration of therapy was thus prolonged from 12 to 72 h, cure rates also increased (85 versus 25%; P less than 0.01). These high cure rates were achieved even though bacterial titers in CSF 24 h after the first dose had reached levels similar to those present at the beginning of therapy. Cure in these animals was explained by the fact that the second ampicillin dose reduced bacterial titers in CSF significantly more than did the first dose (5.2 versus 2.5 log10 CFU/ml; P less than 0.02). The clinical relevance of these observations remains to be determined.

Rabbits with established staphylococcal endocarditis, injected twice at an interval of 2 h with either 0.5 mg of cloxacillin per kg or saline, were sacrificed 2.5 h after the second injection. Vegetations were excised, weighed, and cultured, and ultrathin sections were prepared and examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Several affected valves were examined histologically. Concentrations of cloxacillin in serum were determined 1 and 3 h after dosage. Staphylococci grown on membranes placed on agar containing 0.09 micrograms of cloxacillin per ml and in broth at the same cloxacillin concentration (one-third of the MIC) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The mean numbers of CFU per gram of vegetations from control and treated rabbits were 2.28 X 10(10) and 1.31 X 10(10), respectively. Vegetations of treated rabbits contained staphylococci of normal size and form as well as organisms two to six times larger than normal with multiple cross walls. Larger bacterial cells were usually located in areas close to blood; cells of normal size were usually embedded in fibrin. The structures of these staphylococci and those grown on membranes in the presence of 0.09 micrograms of cloxacillin per ml were comparable but were different from those grown in broth containing this concentration of cloxacillin. Concentrations of cloxacillin in serum were 0.166 micrograms/ml at 1 h and 0.286 micrograms/ml at 3 h after dosage. The similarities in ultrastructure between staphylococci in vegetations of treated rabbits and staphylococci grown on membranes suggest that the vegetations contained approximately 0.09 micrograms of cloxacillin per g. Thus, antibiotic penetration from blood into vegetations and diffusion into fibrin were limited.

Mass spectra in the range 2 ? M/Q ? 3 provided by a high resolution mode of the ISEE-3 Plasma Composition Experiment were evaluated for three selected periods during early 1980. The observed Ne/O ratios are compatible with estimated solar abundance ratios. In two of the three periods, the He/Ne-ratios agree with the Apollo foil results. Freezing-in temperatures for oxygen are similar to those obtained by other groups. Possible reasons for an unexpectedly high flux at M/Q = 2.4 are discussed.

We have used our newly described mouse tissue chamber model [1], to investigate the process of IL-1 production in more detail. The inflammatory reaction in the tissue surrounding the implanted chambers was investigated histologically and by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The inflammatory response included influx of leucocytes into the granuloma surrounding the tissue chamber, expression of IL-1β on macrophages present in the inflamed tissue and an increase in the mRNA coding for IL-1β and IL-6 proteins in the granuloma. The effects of three anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs, prednisolone, indomethacin and cyclosporin A, on IL-1β and PGE2 production in zymosan andBordetella-pertussis-vaccine (BPV)-challenged tissue chambers were also examined. Oral treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporin A of zymosan-challenged animals showed a dose-dependent reduction of IL-1β concentrations, but no effect of indomethacin. Both prednisolone and indomethacin dose-dependently reduced PGE2 concentrations to control levels, while cyclosporin A was effective only at the highest dose tested (100 mg/kg/day p.o.). In drug-treated BPV-challenged animals, prednisolone and cyclosporin A also showed a dose-dependent reduction of IL-1β, while indomethacin was again ineffective. Prednisolone and indomethacin also dose-dependently reduced the PGE2 concentrations to control levels, whereas cyclosporin A was effective only at the highest dose tested (100 mg/kg/day p.o.).

A simple and reliable animal model to quantify interleukin-1 (IL-1) production at a site of inflammation has been developed and characterised. This model involves the subcutaneous implatation of sterile TeflonR chambers (30 mm × 10 mm diameter) into the backs of mice. After 14 days, a straw coloured transudate fluid was present in the lumen of the implanted chamber which was withdrawn for the determination of baseline measurements of various inflammatory parameters. A localised chronic inflammatory response was then induced in the chambers by injection of 1% zymosan orBordetella pertussis vaccine (BPV) (in presensitised animals). The local inflammatory reaction in the chamber, over a 30 day time course, was characterised by leucocyte infiltration, and marked increases in protein, prostaglandin E2, IL-1 and IL-6 concentrations in the chamber fluid. A rapid increase in plasma concentrations of the acute-phase reactant serum amyloid P (SAP) also occurred. This model allows repeated samples to be obtained from the same animal for the assessment of inflammatory parameters and may be useful for investigating the mechanisms controlling the production of IL-1 during the inflammatory responsein vivo.

We examined the effect of azithromycin (CP-62,993), a new oral macrolide-like antibiotic, alone and in combination with rifampin, as treatment for experimental staphylococcal osteomyelitis. Clindamycin was used as a comparison drug. Rats (n = 10 to 15 per group) were infected by direct instillation of Staphylococcus aureus into the tibial medullary cavity. After 10 days, 21-day treatments with azithromycin (50 mg/kg of body weight, once daily, by the oral route), rifampin (20 mg/kg, once daily, subcutaneously), or clindamycin (90 mg/kg, three times daily, by the oral route) were started. The drugs were used singly or in combination (azithromycin plus rifampin or clindamycin plus rifampin). Peak azithromycin concentrations in bone were > 30 times higher than levels in serum, but the drug had little effect on final bacterial titers (5.13 +/- 0.46 log10 CFU/g of bone; for controls, 6.54 +/- 0.28 log10 CFU/g). Clindamycin was more active than azithromycin (3.26 +/- 2.14 log10 CFU/g of bone; 20% of sterilized bones), but rifampin was the most active single drug (1.5 +/- 1.92 log10 CFU/g; 53% of sterilized bones). Therapy with rifampin or clindamycin alone was associated with the emergence of resistance. Rifampin plus azithromycin (0.51 +/- 1.08 log10 CFU/g of bone; 80% of sterilized bones) and rifampin plus clindamycin (0.87 +/- 1.34 log10 CFU/g of bone; 66% of sterilized bones) were the most active regimens. Thus, azithromycin is ineffective as a single drug for the treatment of experimental staphylococcal osteomyelitis, despite high levels in bone that markedly exceeded the MIC, but it may be an attractive partner drug for rifampin.

Handheld conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) have been used 3.9 million times in the field in 107 countries. Prospective studies (including over 40 k uses of force) find a 65% reduction in subject injuries versus batons, manual control, and “pepper” spray. There is a 2/3 reduction in fatal shootings when CEW usage is not overly restricted. USA-derived data suggest that the temporal subject fatality rate with resistant arrest is ≈ 1:1000 without a CEW and ≈ 1:3000 with the CEW. UK data suggest 85% compliance with simply the threat of a CEW. There have been 18 deaths from falls (16 brain injuries and 2 cervical fractures) and 8 deaths from fume ignition. These 26 deaths provide a fatality risk of 6.7 per million [95% CI 4.5–9.8]. There are 20 cases of unilateral blindness from a probe eye penetration. There were also 4 cases of non-fatal major burns and 1 of permanent brain damage from a fall. These 25 injuries provide a risk of 6.4 per million [(95% CI 4.3–9.5]. The risk of electrocution is very low since present CEWs satisfy the IEC 60335 electric fence limit of 2.5 W and the ANSI-CPLSO-17 limits of 125 μC per pulse with a normalized aggregate current of 2.2 mA. Arrest-related death anecdotes alleging an electrocution all fail several diagnostic tests for an electrocution. While reducing subject injury and death by about 2/3, CEW usage has an overall major complication rate of 13.1 per million field uses [95% CI 9.9–17.2], primarily from falls, fires, and eye injuries.

The efficacies of the quinolones ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin alone and in combination with rifampin were compared with those of vancomycin alone and in combination with rifampin in a rat model of chronic osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Neither the quinolones nor vancomycin alone was effective in reducing titers of organisms in bone after therapy, while rifampin alone was effective. All combination regimens with rifampin were more effective than the regimen with rifampin alone was, although these differences did not achieve statistical significance. Rifampin-resistant isolates were detected rarely. Quinolone-rifampin combination regimens may offer a nonparenteral option for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

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Laboratory techniques were developed to screen insecticides for activity as larvicides against stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), and horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.). With these techniques, the susceptibilities of immature, laboratory-reared stable and horn flies to selected insecticides in the larval medium were determined. For stable flies, the LC50 was lower for an IGR, diflubenzuron, and an avermectin, MK-933 (at least 80% of 22,23-dihydro-5-O-demethylavermectin Ala and not more than 20% 22,23-dihydro-5-O-demethyl-25-de(l-methylpropyl)-25-(l-methylethyl)avermectin Ala), than for the other materials tested. For horn flies, the LC50 was lower for methoprene and MK-933 than for the other materials.

A colony of horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), was established from field-collected, resistant flies. Changes in resistance levels were monitored under a regimen with and without insecticide pressure. The colony remained closed with no introduction of susceptible flies. In the absence of permethrin pressure, resistance levels dropped to 2.5 times from an initial level of 17 times at LC50 and remained at that level from generation 12 through 33. In the presence of various insecticide pressure regimens, resistance increased to 500 times at LC90, by generation 86. In a separate study, susceptible colony flies were subjected to permethrin pressure, with first resistance evident in generation 16 and increasing to > 100 times at LC90 in generation 88.

In 1972, the daily variation in degradable lesions caused by Neoschongastia americana (Hirst) on turkeys was highly correlated statistically with rainfall and high soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm. Therefore, an equation was derived and used to predict degradable lesions per turkey on range turkeys. Predictions of mite damage to turkeys made 5 days in advance in 1974 with this equation were within 1 degradable lesion per turkey of the actual counts. Turkeys on a 10 yr old range averaged more lesions/bird than those on a 1 yr old range; turkeys on a new range had substantially fewer lesions than those on older ranges. Water applications to small turkey pens suppressed larval infestations by ca. 50%.

The developmental period of Neoschoengastia americana (Hirst) in wooden boxes in the field and in the laboratory required a minimum of 65 days. Rainfall increased the time required to complete a generation, but soil temperature at a depth of 15 cm had no apparent effect on it. Adult mites overwintered and produced F1 larvae through 3 summers (2 years).

A stochastic model for describing the development of immature stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), was based on 2 quantities, physiological age and physiological development. Physiological age was computed from a cumulative function of minimum development time, which was expressed as a function of temperature. Physiological development was defined as the minimum physiological age required for development to any specific stage transition. Physiological development for each stage transition, including instars, was measured and determined to be essentially constant regardless of temperature. The random variation in development of stable flies was described by a random function of physiological age and physiological development. The function permits the distribution of either variable to be determined for fixed values of the other variable. The effects of environmental factors other than temperature may be described by changing the parameters of the distribution.

Development times of the egg, larval, and pupal stages of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) were shorter at 29.4°C than at 23.9°C. At 35°C, development time of the egg and early larval stage was shorter than at 23.9°C and 29.4°C, but the 3rd instar and pupal development were longer. Pupal yield was highest at 29.4°C. Adult emergence ranged from 95% at 23.9°C to 13% at 35°C. Egg hatch and adult eclosion data have a distinctly sigmoid-shaped relationship. Each stage of development required a constant part of the total development time for a given temperature.