Identification of the female-produced sex pheromone of the scarab beetle,Hoplia equina

Hoplia equina LeConte (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) is a beetle pest of cranberry beds in Massachusetts. Larvae feed on the roots of the cranberry plant, reducing yield as well as vine density. The female sex pheromone was identified as 2-tetradecanone. There were eight compounds found in the airborne volatiles collected from females that elicited antennal responses from males. Of the eight compounds tested (nonanal, decanal, dodecanal, 2-dodecanone, 2-tridecanone, 2-tetradecanone, 2-pentadecanone, and 2-hexadecanone), 2-tetradecanone was the only one that attracted male beetles in the field. Combining any of the other seven antennally active compounds with 2-tetradecanone did not increase male capture.     

A priority queue in which initialization and queue operations takeO(loglogD) time

Many computer algorithms have embedded in them a subalgorithm called a priority queue which produces on demand an element of extreme priority among elements in the queue. Queues on unrestricted priority domains have a running time of (nlogn) for sequences ofn queue operations. We describe a simple priority queue over the priority domain {1,,N} in which initialization, insertion, and deletion takeO(loglogD) time, whereD is the difference between the next lowest and next highest priority elements in the queue. In the case of initialization,D=(N). Finding a least element, greatest element, and the neighbor in priority order of some specified element take constant time. We also consider dynamic space allocation for the data structures used. Space can be allocated in blocks of size (N ^1/p ), for small integerp. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants MCS 77-21092 and MCS 80-002684.     

Texture analysis of poly-adenylated mRNA staining following global brain ischemia and reperfusion

Texture analysis provides a means to quantify complex changes in microscope images. We previously showed that cytoplasmic poly-adenylated mRNAs form mRNA granules in post-ischemic neurons and that these granules correlated with protein synthesis inhibition and hence cell death. Here we utilized the texture analysis software MaZda to quantify mRNA granules in photomicrographs of the pyramidal cell layer of rat hippocampal region CA3 around 1 h of reperfusion after 10 min of normothermic global cerebral ischemia. At 1 h reperfusion, we observed variations in the texture of mRNA granules amongst samples that were readily quantified by texture analysis. Individual sample variation was consistent with the interpretation that animal-to-animal variations in mRNA granules reflected the time-course of mRNA granule formation. We also used texture analysis to quantify the effect of cycloheximide, given either before or after brain ischemia, on mRNA granules. If administered before ischemia, cycloheximide inhibited mRNA granule formation, but if administered after ischemia did not prevent mRNA granulation, indicating mRNA granule formation is dependent on dissociation of polysomes. We conclude that texture analysis is an effective means for quantifying the complex morphological changes induced in neurons by brain ischemia and reperfusion.     

New Bounds on the Size of Optimal Meshes

The theory of optimal size meshes gives a method for analyzing the output size (number of simplices) of a Delaunay refinement mesh in terms of the integral of a sizing function over the input domain. The input points define a maximal such sizing function called the feature size. This paper presents a way to bound the feature size integral in terms of an easy to compute property of a suitable ordering of the point set. The key idea is to consider the pacing of an ordered point set, a measure of the rate of change in the feature size as points are added one at a time. In previous work, Miller et al. showed that if an ordered point set has pacing ?, then the number of vertices in an optimal mesh will be O(?^dn), where d is the input dimension. We give a new analysis of this integral showing that the output size is only θ(n+nlog?). The new analysis tightens bounds from several previous results and provides matching lower bounds. Moreover, it precisely characterizes inputs that yield outputs of size O(n).     

A Computer-Based Brain Stimulation System to Investigate Sensory Prostheses for the Blind and Deaf

Electrical stimulation of the visual cortex of the brain results in punctate photic sensations called ``phosphenes.' This suggests the concept of producing artificial vision for the blind by implanting arrays of electrodes, producing scoreboard-like displays. Electrical stimulation of the cochlea, VIIIth nerve, and auditory cortex produces analogous auditory sensations called ``audenes,' which might be used to provide artificial hearing for the deaf.     

Engineering better wheelchairs to enhance community participation.

With about 2.2 million Americans currently using wheeled mobility devices, wheelchairs are frequently provided to people with impaired mobility to provide accessibility to the community. Individuals with spinal cord injuries, arthritis, balance disorders, and other conditions or diseases are typical users of wheelchairs. However, secondary injuries and wheelchair-related accidents are risks introduced by wheelchairs. Research is underway to advance wheelchair design to prevent or accommodate secondary injuries related to propulsion and transfer biomechanics, while improving safe, functional performance and accessibility to the community. This paper summarizes research and development underway aimed at enhancing safety and optimizing wheelchair design.     

球化处理对氢化脱氢钛粉特性及其注射成形喂料流变性能的影响

氢化脱氢(HDH)钛粉形状不规则、流动性较差,不利于注射成形和提高其制品性能。本文通过PCS系统对HDH钛粉末进行球化处理,考察了球化处理对HDH钛粉特性及其注射成形喂料流变性能的影响。结果表明:球化处理后的HDH钛粉末变为近球形,粉末的流动性显著提高,其注射成形喂料的流变性能得到明显改善;同时,球化处理后钛粉的烧结组织明显细化,致密度大幅度提高。     

Comparison of Oxygen Transfer Parameters Determined from the Steady State Oxygen Uptake Rate and the Non-Steady-State Changing Power Level Methods

In this study, a laboratory scale Univ. of Cape Town enhanced biological phosphorus removal process was operated under controlled conditions at a solids retention time of 15 days. Results are presented for the process performance and oxygen transfer parameters determined by applying the steady state oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and the changing power level (CPL) techniques, as per ASCE standard guidelines. The testing periods were temporally separated to eliminate interference of the tests. During the application of the CPL method, the sludge volume index gradually increased and higher values of the oxygen transfer rate and alpha were measured, in comparison to the data from the steady state OUR method, under similar process performance. Furthermore, the mass transfer rate decreased as the CPL method of testing continued. In contrast, the oxygen transfer parameters remained uniform during the time when the OUR method was applied. The data indicated that the CPL method resulted in higher and variable oxygen transfer parameters, even though the process performance remained unchanged. Therefore, a more rigorous evaluation of the CPL method is recommended to clarify the validity of the test.     

Obituaries: Leo Joseph Postman (1918-2004).

Presents the obituary of Leo Joseph Postman, one of the most prolific psychologists of the last century. With over 250 publications to his credit, Postman died on April 22, 2004, of heart failure in Marblehead, Massachusetts, at the age of 85. His life and career accomplishments are discussed. Postman is best known for his interests in perception, serial learning, memory, and interference theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)