Sampling for sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) among prairie dog colonies on ranches with histories of vesicular stomatitis in new Mexico and Colorado.

The possible presence of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) among colonies of Gunnison's prairie dogs, Cynomys gunnisoni Baird, was investigated on or near ranches with histories of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in domestic livestock in the mid-Rio Grande River Valley, NM, and west-slope region of Colorado. Sampling was conducted at six locations, three in each region, using three methods: standard down-draft suction/light traps, up-draft suction/light traps (both supplemented with CO2), and burrow-emergence traps. Two male and four female sand flies, Lutzomyia apache, Young and Perkins were recovered from prairie dog colony and sand-sagebrush association habitats on a cattle ranch in Socorro County, NM. Sand flies were captured only in up-draft suction/light traps. This record is of interest for the following reasons: (1) sand flies have not been reported from the Rio Grande River Valley of New Mexico, (2) sand flies are biological vectors of VS viruses in other areas, (3) the mid-Rio Grande River Valley has been a focus of VS virus activity in domestic livestock during recent outbreaks, and (4) the source of vesicular stomatitis viruses that infect livestock in the western United States is unknown, but may involve introductions of virus from Mexico or an endemic cycle maintained by vector insects.

Informal and incidental learning with patients who use continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Adults learn continuously from the complex interplay of experiences in their day-to-day lives. This article reports on qualitative research conducted with 8 individuals with a diagnosis of end stage renal disease (ESRD) (6 women, 2 men) who were using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Interviews with each individual in his or her home focussed on how the participants made sense and learned from their experiences. The authors examined the data to determine the informal and incidental learning in the patients' homes, as well as the conditions that supported or limited this learning. Learning themes included understanding of medical and professional language, trusting their own experience, and living on the border of life and death. Barriers to learning included a diminished sense of personhood and the low literacy level of participants. Aspects of informal and incidental learning theory (Watkins & Marsick, 1992) are used to examine the informal learning that occurred. The authors acknowledge the adult learning implications and urge nurses to examine informal learning more closely.

Reflex modification by acoustic signals in newborn infants and in adults.

This research asked whether the reflexive eyeblink elicited by a tap to the glabella (the flat region of skin between the eyebrows) is modified by acoustic signals which either precede or accompany the tap. Five experiments employing identical reflex modification procedures on neonates and adults suggest developmental differences in processing auditory stimuli. Neonates failed to exhibit reflex inhibition by either prior acoustic or tactile stimuli. Adults exhibited robust reflex inhibition to these same stimuli. Neonates, however, exhibited reliable reflex augmentation when mild (70 dB re: 0.0002 dyne/cm2) tones were presented simultaneously with the tap. For adults, tone intensities of at least 90 dB were necessary to obtain reliable reflex augmentation. The developmental processes implied by these findings are discussed.

Comparative evaluation of four registered acaricides for field control of northern fowl mites on caged laying hens.

Carbaryl and tetrachlorvinphos provided longer lasting control of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), than did coumaphos or malathion when the materials were applied to caged laying hens as aqueous sprays. The average duration of residual control was ca. 5 weeks for carbaryl, 4.3 weeks for tetrachlorvinphos, 3.5 weeks for coumaphos, and 2 weeks for malathion. No presumptive evidence of northern fowl mite resistance to carbaryl or tetrachlorvinphos was encountered. In contrast, malathion often failed to produce satisfactory control, and difficulty with adequate dispersion of coumaphos wettable powder was noted.