Behavioral and Sublethal Effects of Structurally Related Lower Terpenes onMyzus persicae

The sesquiterpenes farnesol, caryophyllene oxide, and 2,10-bisaboladien-1-one (patent #9602748) and the monoterpenes citronellol and geraniol were tested for settling inhibition and chronic effects on the aphidMyzus persicae by means of an improved leaf-disk assay. Of these compounds, geraniol, famesol, and the natural bisabolene significantly inhibit settling in choice tests. Furthermore, application of the bisabolene to intactCapsicum annuum leaves did not cause phytotoxicity, but did affect the insects' probing behavior by decreasing the probing activity and the number of intracellular punctures. Both compounds significantly decreased offspring production. Of the compounds tested, the natural product bisabolene could be a promising lead for future development of aphid control agents.     

Selective lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis impair cognitive flexibility.

The authors tested the hypothesis that the cholinergic nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) is involved in solving problems requiring cognitive flexibility. Rats with 192 IgG-saporin lesions of the NBM were assessed for perseveration (i.e., cognitive inflexibility) in the serial reversal of an operant discrimination and during subsequent extinction testing. It was hypothesized that the NBM lesion and control groups would not differ in the acquisition of the initial, simple discrimination, because this task does not demand cognitive flexibility. In contrast, it was hypothesized that the NBM lesion group would show perseveration during serial reversal and extinction testing. Results generally supported these hypotheses, suggesting that the NBM plays an important role in mediating cognitive flexibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Learning techniques to train neural networks as a state selectorfor inverter-fed induction machines using direct torque control

Neural networks are receiving attention as controllers for many industrial applications. Although these networks eliminate the need for mathematical models, they require a lot of training to understand the model of a plant or a process. Issues such as learning speed, stability, and weight convergence remain as areas of research and comparison of many training algorithms. This paper discusses the application of neural networks to control induction machines using direct torque control (DTC). A neural network is used to emulate the state selector of the DTC. The training algorithms used in this paper are the backpropagation, adaptive neuron model, extended Kalman filter, and the parallel recursive prediction error. Computer simulations of the motor and neural-network system using the four approaches are presented and compared. Discussions about the parallel recursive prediction error and the extended Kalman filter algorithms as the most promising training techniques is presented, giving their advantages and disadvantages     

Electrochemical and surface analysis study of copper corrosion protection by 1-propanethiol and propyltrimethoxysilane: A comparison with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane

The inhibition of Cu corrosion by 1-propanethiol (1-PT) and propyltrimethoxysilane (PTS) molecules, in 0.100 mol L^–1 KCl solution, was investigated and compared to 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). Corrosion inhibition was studied as a function of the 1-PT and PTS concentration in ethanol, between 1.0 × 10^–7 mol L^–1 and 1.0 × 10^–2 mol L^–1. Inhibition efficiency was calculated from Tafel plots in 0.100 mol L^–1 KCl solution. It improved with an increase in 1-PT or PTS concentration. The maximum efficiency was obtained at a 1-PT or PTS concentration of 1.0 × 10^–3 mol L^–1 or 1.0 × 10^–5 mol L^–1, respectively. Adsorption of 1-PT and PTS on copper followed a Langmuir behaviour. Potentiostatic polarization measurements indicated that 1-PT and PTS are mixed anodic/cathodic inhibitors, in the presence of dissolved oxygen. When the inhibitor exposure time of the pretreated Cu surface in 0.100 mol L^–1 KCl solution was varied, a loss on the corrosion inhibition efficiency was observed for the three (MPS, PTS and 1-PT) compounds. However, the 1-PT compound maintained excellent protection in the first 12 h of exposure to a 0.100 mol L^–1 KCl solution; afterwards, there was a significant loss in the inhibition efficiency. Surface analysis studies with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the inhibitors modified the Cu surface.     

Isolation of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis from vegetables collected in markets of an endemic region in Peru

Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis are protozoan pathogens that cause prolonged diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while the exact mechanisms of transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis have not been fully determined. Humans appear to be the sole host for the latter and a distinct seasonality has been observed in endemic areas around the world. Samples of vegetables were collected at several small markets in a periurban slum in Peru during the seasons of high and low incidence. The vegetables were washed, the supernatants were collected and centrifuged, and the pellets were resuspended in a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate. Pellets were examined using direct microscopic observation, acid-fast staining, and immunofluorescent assays for C. parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Samples were collected during three time periods: the season of low incidence, the beginning of the season of high incidence, and end of the season of high incidence. Of the total vegetables examined, 14.5% contained C. parvum oocysts and 1.8% had Cyclospora oocysts. Thus, market vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can be transmitted. Our study also suggests that washing vegetables does not completely remove Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts.     

School location methodology in urban areas of developing countries

This study is concerned with the location of primary public schools. The public system should have the capacity to satisfy all the demand, although students may choose between public and private schools if they can afford the corresponding costs. A number of factors, such as questionable education quality, limited capacity, poor location and social preferences, secure a participation of about 30% to the private school system. The purpose of this study is both the evaluation of the existing public school network and a relocation proposal. The result of the former was the identification of areas with shortage and excess in school offer. The latter suggests school relocation using capacitated and uncapacitated models. ArcView, a software of the geographic information system (GIS) family, was employed, allowing the efficient handling of large problems and improving the presentation and evaluation of the findings. This methodology was applied to the primary public school network in the area of Vitoria, a state capital located in the southeast region of Brazil with about 300,000 inhabitants. Finally, the practical use of this study and its importance for planning purposes are discussed.     

Tuning the stator resistance of induction motors using artificialneural network

Tuning the stator resistance of induction motors is very important, especially when it is used to implement direct torque control (DTC) in which the stator resistance is a main parameter. In this paper, an artificial network (ANN) is used to accomplish tuning of the stator resistance of an induction motor. The parallel recursive prediction error and backpropagation training algorithms were used in training the neural network for the simulation and experimental results, respectively. The neural network used to tune the stator resistance was trained on-line, making the DTC strategy more robust and accurate. Simulation results are presented for three different neural-network configurations showing the efficiency of the tuning process. Experimental results were obtained for one of the three neural-network configurations. Both simulation and experimental results showed that the ANN have tuned the stator resistance in the controller to track actual resistance of the machine     

An analysis of automatic teller machine usage by older adults: a structured interview approach

Sex differences in the activity of aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19) in the rat brain have been reported during pre- and postnatal development. It is unclear, however, whether these differences are reflected by corresponding differences in specific mRNA levels. To address this question, we have examined aromatase mRNA levels in specific regions of male and female rat brains by means of in situ hybridization (ISH). At prenatal stages of development, i.e. at gestational day 18 (GD18) and GD20, aromatase mRNA was detected in several preoptic, hypothalamic and limbic brain regions. Semiquantitative analysis of aromatase mRNA did not reveal sex differences in any of these regions. In contrast, clear-cut sex differences were determined at postnatal day (PN) 2; male animals expressed significantly more aromatase mRNA in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST) and the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN). Smaller but still significant differences (females > males) were obtained in the medial preoptic area (MPO). At PN6, sex differences of aromatase mRNA signals (males > females) were still present in the BST, but were no longer detectable in the SDN and the MPO. At PN15 and in adult animals, aromatase mRNA levels were similar in BST and medical amygdaloid nucleus of male and female rats. Since aromatase mRNA expression decreases during postnatal development, no ISH signals could be detected anymore in MPO, SDN and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Our results are consistent with the concept that differential regulation of aromatase mRNA expression might be important for the establishment of different neuronal circuitry in male and female animals.