Support for (Z)-11-Hexadecanal as a Pheromone Antagonist in Ostrinia nubilalis: Flight Tunnel and Single Sensillum Studies with a New York Population

The flight-tunnel response of male Z-strain European corn borer moths (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, from a population in New York State (USA), was significantly antagonized by addition of 1% (Z)-11-hexadecanal (Z11-16:Ald) to their sex pheromone (a 97:3 mix of (Z)- and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate [Z/E11-14:OAc]). The level of antagonism was equivalent to that observed for the previously identified ECB antagonist, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc), and supports a recent report showing that Z11-16:Ald, a minor pheromone component of the Noctuid moth, Sesamia nonagrioides, caused antagonism of ECB pheromone communication in sympatric populations in the Iberian Peninsula. Single-sensillum recordings from ECB antennae, which included cross-adaptation experiments, showed that the same olfactory receptor neuron processing Z9-14:OAc inputs was responsible for detecting Z11-16:Ald, and that this neuron was not responsive to two other aldehydes, (Z)-9-tetradecanal (Z9-14:Ald) and (Z)-9-hexadecanal (Z9-16:Ald), found in other moth sex pheromones. Our results show that the antagonism is not confined to one geographic region, is specific for Z11-16:Ald, and that antagonist pathways might have the potential for processing a number of structurally similar compounds.     

食品检测用副溶血性弧菌标准物质的制备和评价

该研究制备并检测了不含基质的副溶血性弧菌标准物质。用质谱、生化、16S RNA基因序列测定3种方法对菌株CMCC20030分别确认种属。先采用冷冻干燥技术制备800个样品[103 CFU/样品(20 μL)]。然后随机抽取20个样品进行均匀性检验;再将样品存放25、37 ℃分别在1、3、5、7 d取出进行运输稳定性检验,将样品存放4 ℃分别于7、14、28 d进行短期保藏性检验,将样品存放-20 ℃分别于14、28、60 d的保藏稳定性检验。组织5家实验室对样品进行协同标定。最后用食品基质检测使用效果。菌株CMCC20030经3种方法均鉴定为副溶血性弧菌。均匀性检验中,F样品=1.930,小于FINV（0.05,19,20）。稳定性检验中,于-20 ℃保藏60 d、4 ℃保存28 d、25 ℃保藏7 d和37 ℃保藏3 d后,活菌含量103 CFU/样品。协同标定实验中,5家实验室结果均为103 CFU/样品。使用效果实验中,20种食品基质加入样品后均可以检出,本底对照均未检出。制备的不含基质的副溶血性弧菌样品满足标准物质要求,可依据不同目的灵活使用。     

Short communication: Jersey × Holstein crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for body weight, body condition score, fertility, and survival during the first three lactations

Crossbred cows (n=80) resulting from the use of Jersey (JE) semen on their pure Holstein (HO) dams were compared with pure HO cows (n=77) for body weight, body condition score, fertility, and survival during their first 3 lactations. Cows were in 2 research herds of the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to June 2008. The JE × HO crossbred cows had significantly less body weight during the first (-56 kg), second (-67 kg), and third (-82 kg) lactations than pure HO cows. However, JE × HO cows had significantly greater body condition score during the first (2.94 vs. 2.84), second (2.97 vs. 2.84), and third (2.99 vs. 2.87) lactations than pure HO cows. For fertility, JE × HO cows had fewer days to first breeding during the first (-10.6d), second (-8.4d), and third (-12.3d) lactations than pure HO cows. Crossbred cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for number of services during first lactation; however, JE × HO cows had significantly fewer services (2.2) than pure HO cows (2.7) during the second lactation. Also, JE × HO cows had significantly fewer days open than pure HO cows in the first (-24 d), second (-42 d), and third (-42 d) lactations. For survival, JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for percentage of cows calving a second time; however, a tendency existed for a higher percentage of JE × HO cows (63.8%) than pure HO cows (49.4%) to calve a third time, and a higher percentage of JE × HO cows calved a third time within 28, 34, and 40 mo of first calving than pure HO cows.     

Research on parametric design method for energy efficiency of green building in architectural scheme phase

Based on a large number of researches and engineering practices both domestic and overseas, it is shown that the building parameters to be determined during scheme phase can exert a great effect on the building energy consumption. In this paper, through a combination of the popular design method of building parameterization at present and the design goal of energy saving during the scheme phase, the author carries out researches on the design methods and tool development which are applicable to parameterization of building energy saving in this stage. In connection with the characteristics of both modeling process of parameterization and energy saving design, and by means of steady calculation as well as simulation, this paper establishes an simplified model to calculate the overall energy consumption of air-conditioning, heating, lighting and equipments, and ultimately gives suggestions on design of scheme for energy saving by optimization with the genetic algorithm (GA). On the basis of the model, a software platform is developed by computer language QT and openGL interface and is oriented to the design users and sets up the MMI (human–computer interaction) software interface for parameterization of building energy saving, which achieves automatic modeling of parameterization and promotes research on practical design cases.     

Crossbreds of Jersey x Holstein compared with pure Holsteins for production, fertility, and body and udder measurements during first lactation

Jersey × Holstein crossbreds (J×H; n = 76) were compared with pure Holsteins (n = 73) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production; conception rate; days open; proportion of cows pregnant within fixed intervals postpartum; and body and udder measurements during first lactation. Cows were housed at 2 research locations of the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to May 2005. The J×H were mated to Montbeliarde sires, and Holstein cows were mated to Holstein sires. Best Prediction was used to determine actual production (milk, fat, and protein) for 305-d lactations with adjustment for age at calving, and records less than 305 d were projected to 305 d. The J×H (274 kg) and pure Holsteins (277 kg) were not significantly different for fat production, but J×H had significantly less milk (7,147 vs. 7,705 kg) and protein (223 vs. 238 kg) production than pure Holsteins. The J×H had significantly fewer days open than pure Holsteins (127 vs. 150 d). Also, a significantly greater proportion of J×H were pregnant at 150 and 180 d postpartum than pure Holsteins (75 vs. 59% and 77 vs. 61%, respectively). The J×H had significantly less body weight (60 kg) at calving, but significantly greater body condition (2.80 vs. 2.71). Furthermore, J×H had significantly less udder clearance from the ground to the bottom of the udder than pure Holsteins (47.7 vs. 54.6 cm), and greater distance between front teats (15.8 vs. 14.0 cm) than pure Holsteins during first lactation.     

Large‐eddy simulations of wind‐farm wake characteristics associated with a low‐level jet

In this study, we performed a suite of flow simulations for a 12‐wind‐turbine array with varying inflow conditions and lateral spacings, and compared the impacts of the flow on velocity deficit and wake recovery. We imposed both laminar inflow and turbulent inflows, which contain turbulence for the Ekman layer and a low‐level jet (LLJ) in the stable boundary layer. To solve the flow through the wind turbines and their wakes, we used a large‐eddy simulation technique with an actuator‐line method. We compared the time series for the velocity deficit at the first and rear columns to observe the temporal change in velocity deficit for the entire wind farm. The velocity deficit at the first column for LLJ inflow was similar to that for laminar inflow. However, the magnitude of velocity deficit at the rear columns for the case with LLJ inflow was 11.9% greater because of strong wake recovery, which was enhanced by the vertical flux of kinetic energy associated with the LLJ. To observe the spatial transition and characteristics of wake recovery, we performed statistical analyses of the velocity at different locations for both the laminar and LLJ inflows. These studies indicated that strong wake recovery was present, and a kurtosis analysis showed that the probability density function for the streamwise velocity followed a Gaussian distribution. In a quadrant analysis of the Reynolds stress, we found that the ejection and sweep motions for the LLJ inflow case were greater than those for the laminar inflow case.     

Incentives of carbon dioxide regulation for investment in low-carbon electricity technologies in Texas

This paper compares the incentives a carbon dioxide emissions price creates for investment in low carbon dioxide-emitting technologies in the electricity sector. We consider the extent to which operational differences across generation technologies – particularly, nuclear, wind and solar photovoltaic – create differences in the incentives for new investment, which is measured by the operating profits of a potential entrant. First, astylized model of an electricity system demonstrates that the composition of the existing generation system may cause electricity prices to increase by different amounts over time when a carbon dioxide price is imposed. Differences in operation across technologies therefore translate to differences in the operating profits of a potential entrant. Then, a detailed simulation model is used to consider a hypothetical carbon dioxide price of $10–$50 per metric ton for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. The simulations show that, for the range of prices considered, the increase in electricity prices is positively correlated with output from a typical wind unit, but the correlation is much weaker for nuclear and photovoltaic. Consequently, a carbon dioxide price creates much stronger investment incentives for wind than for nuclear or photovoltaic technologies in the Texas market.     

Life after Y2K: Not Your Father's Electricity Business

As the industry advances to a fully competitive marketplace, the head of American Electric Power argues that merger-review processes must be streamlined, investor-owned utilities should no longer be disadvantaged versus government-supported alternatives, the restructuring debate should not be unnecessarily complicated by environmental riders, and fuel diversity will be a critical generation strategy.     

Impact of accessibility and chemical composition on cell wall polysaccharide degradability of maize and lucerne stems

Although lignification of forages is generally accepted as limiting cell wall degradability, prediction of degradation from cell wall composition is often difficult when forages are of similar maturity. It has been proposed that rumen microbe accessibility to potentially degradable cell walls is limited by the presence of non‐disrupted cells in forage particles with lignified middle lamella/primary walls acting as barriers to microbial access. We tested this accessibility hypothesis by evaluating the impact of reducing particle size of maize and lucerne stems to the level of individual cells by ball‐milling, in order to eliminate accessibility as a limiting factor. While cell wall concentration and composition were not influenced by ball‐milling compared with grinding to pass a 1 mm screen in a cyclone‐type mill, degradability of total cell wall polysaccharides was dramatically increased. However, only those polysaccharides (cellulose and xylan) which are most abundant in cell types with lignified middle lamella/primary and secondary walls increased in degradability owing to particle size reduction. Degradability of pectins, which are abundant in non‐lignified tissues in lucerne, did not respond to ball‐milling. Contrary to our expectations, ball‐milled forages showed fewer correlations for cell wall composition with degradability than observed for the larger‐particle‐size grinding treatment. Many components of the cell wall were correlated with polysaccharide degradation for the cyclone‐ground samples; however, the results were inconsistent as to which cell wall components were correlated with degradation among and within forages. This observation does not clarify the role of cell wall chemical structure as a limiting agent to wall degradation in the absence of accessibility barriers, but this study does provide support for the hypothesis that lignified middle lamella/primary walls act as barriers to microbial access for degradation. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prevention of irreversible chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage in young women with lymphoma by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist in parallel to chemotherapy

To examine whether the concomitant administration of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) during combination chemotherapy to young women with lymphoma may facilitate preservation of gonadal function, a prospective clinical protocol was undertaken in 18 cycling women with lymphoma, aged 15-40 years. Thirteen patients suffered from Hodgkin disease (HD) and 5 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After informed consent a monthly injection of depot D-TRP6-GnRHa was administered for a maximum of 6 months starting prior to chemotherapy. Most of these patients (15/18) were treated with the MOPP/ABV(D) combination chemotherapy followed by mantle field irradiation in 10 patients. Hormonal profile [luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol, testosterone, progesterone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, prolactin] was taken before the GnRHa/chemotherapy co-treatment, and monthly thereafter until resuming spontaneous ovulation and menses. This group of prospectively treated lymphoma patients was compared to a matched control group of 18 women (aged 17-40 years) who have been treated with chemotherapy, mostly MOPP/ABV (14/18), with (11) or without (7) mantle field radiotherapy. Fourteen had Hodgkin's and four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Gonadal function was determined clinically, hormonally (LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone), and sonographically. Two of the patients in each group died from refractory disease. Of the remaining 16 patients, 15 (93.7%) resumed spontaneous ovulation and menses within 3-8 months of termination of the combined chemotherapy/GnRHa co-treatment. In contrast, only seven (39%) of the 18 similarly treated patients in the control group (chemotherapy without GnRHa) resumed ovarian cyclic activity (regular menses). The other 11 experienced premature ovarian failure (POF) (61%). Out preliminary data suggest a possible significant protective effect of GnRHa co-treatment with chemotherapy from irreversible ovarian damage (POF).