scholarly journals Reverse chemical ecology approach for the identification of an oviposition attractant for Culex quinquefasciatus

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 714-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Moo Choo ◽  
Pingxi Xu ◽  
Justin K. Hwang ◽  
Fangfang Zeng ◽  
Kaiming Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Ecology ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Oviposition Attractant ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vector Management ◽  
Electroantennogram Recordings ◽  
Olfactory Proteins ◽  
Reverse Chemical Ecology

Pheromones and other semiochemicals play a crucial role in today’s integrated pest and vector management strategies. These semiochemicals are typically discovered by bioassay-guided approaches. Here, we applied a reverse chemical ecology approach; that is, we used olfactory proteins to lead us to putative semiochemicals. Specifically, we used 7 of the top 10 odorant receptors (ORs) most expressed in the antennae of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, and which are yet to be deorphanized. We expressed these receptors in the Xenopus oocyte recording system and challenged them with a panel of 230 odorants, including physiologically and behaviorally active compounds. Six of the ORs were silent either because they are not functional or a key odorant was missing. CquiOR36, which showed the highest transcript levels of all OR genes in female antennae, was also silent to all odorants in the tested panel, but yielded robust responses when it was accidentally challenged with an old sample of nonanal in ethanol. After confirming that fresh samples were inactive and through a careful investigation of all possible “contaminants” in the old nonanal samples, we identified the active ligand as acetaldehyde. That acetaldehyde is activating CquiOR36 was further confirmed by electroantennogram recordings from antennae of fruit flies engineered to carry CquiOR36. Antennae of female mosquitoes also responded to acetaldehyde. Cage oviposition and dual-choice assays demonstrated that acetaldehyde is an oviposition attractant in a wide range of concentrations and thus of potential practical applications.

A New Detector System For The HB5 Stem Instrument

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 134-135
Author(s):  
J.M. Cowley
Keyword(s):  
Dark Field ◽  
Detector System ◽  
Electron Holography ◽  
Small Specimen ◽  
Bright Field ◽  
Multiple Images ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diffraction Patterns ◽  
Operational Modes

The HB5 STEM instrument at ASU has been modified previously to include an efficient two-dimensional detector incorporating an optical analyser device and also a digital system for the recording of multiple images. The detector system was built to explore a wide range of possibilities including in-line electron holography, the observation and recording of diffraction patterns from very small specimen regions (having diameters as small as 3Å) and the formation of both bright field and dark field images by detection of various portions of the diffraction pattern. Experience in the use of this system has shown that sane of its capabilities are unique and valuable. For other purposes it appears that, while the principles of the operational modes may be verified, the practical applications are limited by the details of the initial design.

Understanding Limited Use of Amplification in Infants and Children Who Are Hard of Hearing

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. McCreery ◽  
Elizabeth A. Walker ◽  
Meredith Spratford
Keyword(s):  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
In Infants And Children

The effectiveness of amplification for infants and children can be mediated by how much the child uses the device. Existing research suggests that establishing hearing aid use can be challenging. A wide range of factors can influence hearing aid use in children, including the child's age, degree of hearing loss, and socioeconomic status. Audiological interventions, including using validated prescriptive approaches and verification, performing on-going training and orientation, and communicating with caregivers about hearing aid use can also increase hearing aid use by infants and children. Case examples are used to highlight the factors that influence hearing aid use. Potential management strategies and future research needs are also discussed.

scholarly journals Trends in Molecular Diagnosis and Diversity Studies for Phytosanitary Regulated Xanthomonas

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 862
Author(s):  
Vittoria Catara ◽  
Jaime Cubero ◽  
Joël F. Pothier ◽  
Eran Bosis ◽  
Claude Bragard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Diagnosis ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diversity Studies

Bacteria in the genus Xanthomonas infect a wide range of crops and wild plants, with most species responsible for plant diseases that have a global economic and environmental impact on the seed, plant, and food trade. Infections by Xanthomonas spp. cause a wide variety of non-specific symptoms, making their identification difficult. The coexistence of phylogenetically close strains, but drastically different in their phenotype, poses an added challenge to diagnosis. Data on future climate change scenarios predict an increase in the severity of epidemics and a geographical expansion of pathogens, increasing pressure on plant health services. In this context, the effectiveness of integrated disease management strategies strongly depends on the availability of rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic methods. The accumulation of genomic information in recent years has facilitated the identification of new DNA markers, a cornerstone for the development of more sensitive and specific methods. Nevertheless, the challenges that the taxonomic complexity of this genus represents in terms of diagnosis together with the fact that within the same bacterial species, groups of strains may interact with distinct host species demonstrate that there is still a long way to go. In this review, we describe and discuss the current molecular-based methods for the diagnosis and detection of regulated Xanthomonas, taxonomic and diversity studies in Xanthomonas and genomic approaches for molecular diagnosis.

scholarly journals Ring-Forming Polymerization toward Perfluorocyclobutyl and Ortho-Diynylarene-Derived Materials: From Synthesis to Practical Applications

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1486
Author(s):  
Eugene B. Caldona ◽  
Ernesto I. Borrego ◽  
Ketki E. Shelar ◽  
Karl M. Mukeba ◽  
Dennis W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Resistance ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Aryl Ether ◽  
Aromatic Rings ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Repeat Units ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Synthetic Routes ◽  
The Cost

Many desirable characteristics of polymers arise from the method of polymerization and structural features of their repeat units, which typically are responsible for the polymer’s performance at the cost of processability. While linear alternatives are popular, polymers composed of cyclic repeat units across their backbones have generally been shown to exhibit higher optical transparency, lower water absorption, and higher glass transition temperatures. These specifically include polymers built with either substituted alicyclic structures or aromatic rings, or both. In this review article, we highlight two useful ring-forming polymer groups, perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers and ortho-diynylarene- (ODA) based thermosets, both demonstrating outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, mechanical integrity, and improved processability. Different synthetic routes (with emphasis on ring-forming polymerization) and properties for these polymers are discussed, followed by their relevant applications in a wide range of aspects.

scholarly journals Sensing of Nickel(II) Ions by Immobilizing Ligands and Using Different SPEs

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Liliana Anchidin-Norocel ◽  
Sonia Amariei ◽  
Gheorghe Gutt
Keyword(s):  
Bismuth Oxide ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Cyclic Voltammogram ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Nickel Allergy ◽  
Nickel Ions ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Wide Range

The aim of this paper is the development of a sensor for the quantification of nickel ions in food raw materials and foods. It is believed that about 15% of the human population suffers from nickel allergy. In addition to digestive manifestations, food intolerance to nickel may also have systemic manifestations, such as diffuse dermatitis, diffuse itching, fever, rhinitis, headache, altered general condition. Therefore, it is necessary to control this content of nickel ions for the health of the human population by developing a new method that offers the advantages of a fast, not expensive, in situ, and accurate analysis. For this purpose, bismuth oxide-screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) and graphene-modified SPEs were used with a very small amount of dimethylglyoxime and amino acid L-histidine that were deposited. A potentiostat that displays the response in the form of a cyclic voltammogram was used to study the electrochemical properties of nickel standard solution with different concentrations. The results were compared and the most sensitive sensor proved to be bismuth oxide-SPEs with dimethylglyoxime (Bi2O3/C-dmgH2) with a linear response over a wide range (0.1–10 ppm) of nickel concentrations. Furthermore, the sensor shows excellent selectivity in the presence of common interfering species. The Bi2O3/C-dmgH2 sensor showed good viability for nickel analysis in food samples (cocoa, spinach, cabbage, and red wine) and demonstrated significant advancement in sensor technology for practical applications.

scholarly journals A Three-Pronged Approach to Studying Sublethal Insecticide Doses: Characterising Mosquito Fitness, Mosquito Biting Behaviour, and Human/Environmental Health Risks

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Mara Moreno-Gómez ◽  
Rubén Bueno-Marí ◽  
Miguel. A. Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Adult Mortality ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Environmental Health Risks ◽  
Vector Management ◽  
Sublethal Doses ◽  
Biting Behaviour

Worldwide, pyrethroids are one of the most widely used insecticide classes. In addition to serving as personal protection products, they are also a key line of defence in integrated vector management programmes. Many studies have assessed the effects of sublethal pyrethroid doses on mosquito fitness and behaviour. However, much remains unknown about the biological, physiological, demographic, and behavioural effects on individual mosquitoes or mosquito populations when exposure occurs via spatial treatments. Here, females and males of two laboratory-reared mosquito species, Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus, were exposed to five different treatments: three doses of the pyrethroid prallethrin, as well as an untreated and a negative control. The effects of each treatment on mosquito species, sex, adult mortality, fertility, F1 population size, and biting behaviour were also evaluated. To compare knockdown and mortality among treatments, Mantel–Cox log-rank tests were used. The results showed that sublethal doses reduced mosquito survival, influencing population size in the next generation. They also provided 100% protection to human hosts and presented relatively low risks to human and environmental health. These findings emphasise the need for additional studies that assess the benefits of using sublethal doses as part of mosquito management strategies.

scholarly journals Assessment of Linearization Approaches for Multibody Dynamics Formulations

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco González ◽  
Pierangelo Masarati ◽  
Javier Cuadrado ◽  
Miguel A. Naya
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical System ◽  
Multibody Dynamics ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Differential Algebraic Equations ◽  
Algebraic Equations ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Linearization Methods ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Way

Formulating the dynamics equations of a mechanical system following a multibody dynamics approach often leads to a set of highly nonlinear differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). While this form of the equations of motion is suitable for a wide range of practical applications, in some cases it is necessary to have access to the linearized system dynamics. This is the case when stability and modal analyses are to be carried out; the definition of plant and system models for certain control algorithms and state estimators also requires a linear expression of the dynamics. A number of methods for the linearization of multibody dynamics can be found in the literature. They differ in both the approach that they follow to handle the equations of motion and the way in which they deliver their results, which in turn are determined by the selection of the generalized coordinates used to describe the mechanical system. This selection is closely related to the way in which the kinematic constraints of the system are treated. Three major approaches can be distinguished and used to categorize most of the linearization methods published so far. In this work, we demonstrate the properties of each approach in the linearization of systems in static equilibrium, illustrating them with the study of two representative examples.

Periodic wavelet descriptor of plant leaf and its application in botany

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (06) ◽  
pp. 1550043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-Mao Zeng ◽  
Tong-Lin Zhu ◽  
Xue-Ying Zhuang ◽  
Ming-Xuan Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Shape Descriptor ◽  
Plant Leaf ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Periodic Wavelet ◽  
Plant Species Identification ◽  
Botanical Research ◽  
Wavelet Descriptor

Leaf is one of the most important organs of plant. Leaf contour or outline, usually a closed curve, is a fundamental morphological feature of leaf in botanical research. In this paper, a novel shape descriptor based on periodic wavelet series and leaf contour is presented, which we name as Periodic Wavelet Descriptor (PWD). The PWD of a leaf actually expresses the leaf contour in a vector form. Consequently, the PWD of a leaf has a wide range in practical applications, such as leaf modeling, plant species identification and classification, etc. In this work, the plant species identification and the leaf contour reconstruction, as two practical applications, are discussed to elaborate how to employ the PWD of a plant leaf in botanical research.

Long-offset moveout for VTI using Padé approximation

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. C219-C227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanjie Song ◽  
Yingjie Gao ◽  
Jinhai Zhang ◽  
Zhenxing Yao
Keyword(s):  
Padé Approximation ◽  
Pade Approximation ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Long Offset ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Isotropic Media ◽  
Transversally Isotropic ◽  
Error Accumulation ◽  
Anisotropy Parameters ◽  
Vti Media

The approximation of normal moveout is essential for estimating the anisotropy parameters of the transversally isotropic media with vertical symmetry axis (VTI). We have approximated the long-offset moveout using the Padé approximation based on the higher order Taylor series coefficients for VTI media. For a given anellipticity parameter, we have the best accuracy when the numerator is one order higher than the denominator (i.e., [[Formula: see text]]); thus, we suggest using [4/3] and [7/6] orders for practical applications. A [7/6] Padé approximation can handle a much larger offset and stronger anellipticity parameter. We have further compared the relative traveltime errors between the Padé approximation and several approximations. Our method shows great superiority to most existing methods over a wide range of offset (normalized offset up to 2 or offset-to-depth ratio up to 4) and anellipticity parameter (0–0.5). The Padé approximation provides us with an attractive high-accuracy scheme with an error that is negligible within its convergence domain. This is important for reducing the error accumulation especially for deeper substructures.

Valuing Streamflow Forecasts in Centrally Controlled Power Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Kern ◽  
Nathalie Voisin ◽  
Sean Turner ◽  
Hongxiang Yan ◽  
Konstantinos Oikonomou
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Electricity Markets ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Profit Maximization ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Marginal Value ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Streamflow Forecasts ◽  
Hydropower Production ◽  
Bulk Power

<p>Given the wide range of institutional and market contexts in which hydroelectric dams are operated, determining the value added from improvements in hydrologic forecasts is a challenge. Many previous examples of hydrologic forecasts being used to optimize hydropower production strategies at dams focus on a single reservoir system or watershed, with a key assumption that the marginal value of hydropower production is exogenously-defined (dams are ‘price takers’ in markets for electricity that exhibit no market power). In some cases, this may accurately reflect current institutional boundaries and decision making processes. However, with increased attention being paid to how more coordinated grid management strategies, including management of hydropower assets, could facilitate deep integration of renewable energy, it is critical to understand how the use of improved hydrologic forecasts could produce wider grid-scale benefits, including  lower costs and emissions. In this study, we quantify the value of streamflow forecasts to a centralized power system operator in charge of coordinating sub-weekly operations of hydropower assets, using the Western U.S. as a case study. We propagate flow forecasts through realistic models of reservoir operations and models of bulk power systems/wholesale electricity markets. Our results shed light on how the value of flow forecasts to grid operations can vary across regions and power systems. They also highlight the potential for conflicts between firm-specific objectives (profit maximization) and system-wide objectives (minimization of costs and emissions) when determining value added from hydrologic forecasts.  </p>

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