Functional subcaste discrimination (foragers and brood-tenders) in the antCamponotus vagus scop.: polymorphism of cuticular hydrocarbon patterns

In the antCamponotus vagus, when selected foragers that had been earlier removed from the foraging arena and brood-tenders that had been earlier removed from the nest were placed together in a foraging arena, most of the brood-tenders and only a few of the selected foragers were carried back to the nest by nonselected foragers. We hypothesize that cuticular hydrocarbons serve as a cue that allows foragers to discriminate between members of their own subcaste and brood-tenders. It has been established that the proportions of certain hydrocarbons, which are the same regardless of the colony studied, vary from one worker subcaste to another and thus constitute a specific chemical signature. These hydrocarbons belong to a wide range of chemical families (alkanes, monomethylalkanes, and dimethylalkanes). The greatest differences between the two subcastes were observed on the thorax of workers. Principal component analyses performed on the hydrocarbons (or hydrocarbon combinations) corresponding to the 45 main peaks in the cuticular profiles of the head and thorax of brood-tenders and foragers of several colonies show that there exist quantitative differences between the various signatures that characterize the colony, the worker subcastes, and the various body parts within the same species, which can be classified in a hierarchy where the differences between worker subcastes are less pronounced than those between body parts or between colonies.     

Oscillation conditions of A FIR waveguide laser

We consider the oscillation conditions of a FIR waveguide laser from a microwaves point of view. We compare our theorical results with experimental curves founded in the literature.     

Species identification of meat products by ELISA

ELISA methods used in this study are proved to detect low contents of animal species (pork, beef, sheep and poultry), even in highly processed foods. They present the advantages of being robust, cheap and easy to perform. Nevertheless, F factors, determining the threshold values of the test, need to be validated for each species.     

A non-parametric method for estimating enthalpy-temperature functions of shape-stabilized phase change materials

A method for thermodynamic characterization of shape-stabilized phase change materials (PCM) based on one-single sample and one-single experiment has been proposed. The simplicity of the experimental device is comparable to that of the T-History method. However, instead of simple energy balances as in T-History method, a numerical heat transfer model is used to retrieve the whole set of parameters/functions characterizing the PCM from temperature measurements at one-single point within the PCM. An efficient inversion technique has been proposed for that. Its most striking feature is that it allows non-parametric identification of the enthalpy-temperature function in an easy way. Such a function is retrieved by solving a problem of nonhomogeneous heat source term estimation by inversion of a linear heat conduction model.     

3种锆合金的高温氧化行为

对Zr-A和Zr-B锆合金在700-1200℃的O_2中进行了等温氧化实验,观察了合金的氧化动力学行为和基体微观结构演变,并与低Sn的Zr-4合金作了对比.结果表明,700—1200℃氧化时,3种锆合金的动力学曲线基本服从抛物线规律,Zr-B合金在700℃氧化1200 s后速率出现转折;800℃时Zr-A和Zr-B合金的氧化速率出现转折;1000℃时3种合金动力学曲线由抛物线变为近似直线;1100℃以上氧化时,动力学曲线呈抛物线规律,未出现转折.在1100℃以上氧化时,合金成分对3种合金的高温氧化性能影响甚微.依据氧化增重数据得到了3种合金在700—1200℃氧化反应的抛物线速率常数K_p的表达式.     

VUV spectroscopy and low temperature thermoluminescence of LSO:Ce and YSO:Ce

Radioluminescence and UV-excited photoluminescence spectra, photoluminescence time profiles, thermoluminescence glow curves and gamma-excited energy spectra (determining scintillation light yields) of several Lu₂SiO₅:Ce and Y₂SiO₅:Ce samples were recorded. The results are analyzed with attention focused on possible correlations between trap distributions, VUV responses, and light yields. The aspect of two distinct sites occupied by Ce³⁺ ions is also discussed.     

Behavior of RC columns strengthened with different CFRP systems under eccentric loading

The present study investigates the performance of eccentrically loaded columns externally strengthened with different carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems. The 10 specimens were representative-scale square columns made of normal-strength concrete with substandard (internal) reinforcement details that were designed to represent old building structural columns. Eight columns were upgraded by four types of commercially available systems of external reinforcement, using plates, unidirectional or bi-directional composite fabrics. It was considered necessary to get information on a wide spectrum of carbon fiber-reinforcement systems in order to provide a satisfactory set of experimental data for validating future suitable retrofitting design methods. Experimental results presented in this paper show that a significant improvement of the strength capacity, deformation capacity and ductility of columns can result of the CFRP application, but the observed gains strongly depend on the reinforcement systems.     

The use of marketing techniques to facilitate acceptance of prevention programs: Case example.

There is a growing interest in marketing in contemporary psychology, but the application of marketing has largely been limited to remediative services. However, marketing techniques have considerable potential for facilitating the acceptance of prevention programs. A case example illustrates the use of market assessment as information for the marketing of preventive parenting programs for fathers, working parents, single parents, and stepparents. Three hundred parents were surveyed via a questionnaire that taped seven areas: general family concept; family communication and the balancing of family roles; previous service use; interest in participating in parent programs; factors bearing on the decision to participate; responsiveness to various forms of advertising; and demographics. The results are discussed in terms of how they influenced the shaping of four elements of the "marketing mix": product, price, place, and promotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)