Oviposition decisions in the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): effects of seed size on superparasitism

The seed parasite Callosobruchus maculatus generally disperses eggs uniformly among seeds. We used cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) of two class sizes (large and small) to test predictions based on a simple resource threshold model that females will distribute eggs among seeds in a manner that maximizes the amount of resources allocated to each offspring. When females were presented with multiple seeds of the same size, they tended to distribute their eggs relatively uniformly among seeds (I?0.27 where I is the variance/mean ratio, and I=1 reflects a random Poisson distribution). However, when seeds varied in size females distributed their eggs in a manner that maximized the amount of resources per offspring; females distributed eggs as predicted by seed differences in mass rather than as predicted by seed differences in surface area. Therefore, females must evaluate the relative quantity of resources available inside of a seed more accurately than if they compared the ratio of surface areas between seeds of varying size. Instead, females must either use cues other than surface area when estimating seed mass, or must have the ability to extrapolate non-linearly from surface area to seed mass. Females with higher egg loads (4-d-old females) laid more eggs when presented with seeds, but did not distribute their eggs less uniformly, than females with lower egg loads (1-d-old females), indicating that high egg load does not reduce female sensitivity to seed size and the presence of conspecific eggs.     

Spectral induced polarization signatures of hydroxide adsorption and mineral precipitation in porous media

The spectral induced polarization (SIP) technique is a promising approach for delineating subsurface physical and chemical property changes in a minimally invasive manner. To facilitate the understanding of position and chemical properties of reaction fronts that involve mineral precipitation in porous media, we investigated spatiotemporal variations in complex conductivity during evolution of urea hydrolysis and calcite precipitation reaction fronts within a silica gel column. The real and imaginary parts of complex conductivity were shown to be sensitive to changes in both solution chemistry and calcium carbonate precipitation. Distinct changes in imaginary conductivity coincided with increased hydroxide ion concentration during urea hydrolysis. In a separate experiment focused on the effect of hydroxide concentration on interfacial polarization of silica gel and well-sorted sand, we found a significant dependence of the polarization response on pH changes of the solution. We propose a conceptual model describing hydroxide ion adsorption behavior in silica gel and its control on interfacial polarizability. Our results demonstrate the utility of SIP for noninvasive monitoring of reaction fronts, and indicate its potential for quantifying geochemical processes that control the polarization responses of porous media at larger spatial scales in the natural environment.     

Phosphate sorption approach for determining phosphorus requirements of wheat in calcareous soils

Five field experiments involving P application rates from 0 to 66 kg P ha^–1 were conducted on irrigated wheat at Tandojam, Pakistan. The soils belonged to two great soil groups, Torrifluvent and Camborthid. All soils were calcareous. Olsen-P contents ranged from 3.5 to 6.3 mg P kg^–1. Phosphate sorption curves were developed for soils from control (no P) plots at each site. Concentrations of P in solution established by fertilization in the field as estimated from the sorption curves ranged from 0.008 to 0.16mg P L^–1. Actual grain yields were converted to relative grain yields and plotted against corresponding concentrations of P in solution. Yield response to P application was obtained in each experiment. Control plot yields ranged from 57 to 89% of maximum yield of respective experiments. Phosphorus requirements of wheat were 0.032 mg L^–1 for 95% yield as determined from a composite yield response curve. Predicted quantities of P required to attain 0.032 mg P L^–1 ranged from 18 to 29 kg P ha^–1. The results of the study suggest that the P sorption approach can be used as a rational basis for making P fertilizer recommendations for various soil-crop combinations.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of some polyurethane-acrylic copolymer interpenetrating polymer networks

Dynamic mechanical properties have been investigated for interpenetrating-network systems based on polyol-cured polyurethanes (PU) and 2 to 1 n-butyl acrylate-n-butyl methacrylate (Ac) networks. The systems were formed simultaneously (SIN) from all of the precursors and reactants for both networks in the same vessel, and sequentially (SIPN) by swelling a precured PU with the reactants that will form the Ac network. If the Ac network is formed after gelation of the PU, the IPNs are transparent and appear to have single T (tan δ_max) between those of the homonetworks; visible-phase separation occurs if the Ac is intentionally polymerized prior to PU gelation. Damping curves were lower and broader and the T (tan δ_max) and rubber moduli were higher for the SIN than for the SIPN systems. Up to 65 percent Ac, the T (tan δ_max) data for both SIN and SIPN fit the Gordon-Taylor equation if a T (tan δ_max) for the Ac homonetwork 7°C higher than observed is used, suggesting a higher crosslink density for the Ac network under these conditions. The differences in properties of the SIN and SIPN are assumed to be dependent on sample homogeneity and upon the presence of a tin catalyst in the SIN preparation. This can result in limited Ac-network formation and consequent phase separation before PU gelation has occurred, and the catalyst may also increase the extent of interaction, such as grafting or hydrogen-bond formation between the networks.     

Burner Rig Hot Corrosion of Silicon Carbide and Silicon Nitride

A number of commercially available SiC and Si₃N₄ materials were exposed to 1000°C for 40 h in a high-velocity, pressurized burner rig as a simulation of an aircraft turbine environment. Na impurities (2 ppm) added to the burner flame resulted in molten Na₂SO₄ deposition, attack of the SiC and Si₃N₄, and formation of substantial Na₂O. x (SiO₂) corrosion product. Room-temperature strength of the materials decreased as a result of the formation of corrosion pits in SiC and grain-boundary dissolution and pitting in Si₃N₄.     

Polychromatic Dyeing

The history and development of the ICI polychromatic dyeing process are outlineed The basic mechanics of the process and the applicator and its essential principles are described. The factors governing the control and reproduction of patterns are described, together with dye-fixation procedures. Reference is made to several important applications of this coloration technique, which is also compared with conventional pad-dyeing and textile-printing methods.     

Infrared laser ablation of polymers

Ablation produced by 10.6 μm laser irradiation of eleven polymers is reported. Polymers which formed a carbonaceous residue were found to have much higher ablation energies than cleanly ablating polymers. All non-char forming polymers studied had observed laser ablation energies in the range 3.4-3.9 KJ/g except for poly (α-methylstyrene) which had a value of 2.4 KJ/g. The low value forpoly (α-methylstyrene) is attributed to an exceptionally efficient depolymerization. The observed ablation energy of poly (methyl methacrylate) was found to decrease with increasing irradiance up to about 15 watts/cm², reaching a constant value of 3.5 KJ/g at irradiances between 20 and 2600 watts/cm². The proposed process of laser ablation is one that involves random fragmentation resulting from the accumulation of vibronic energy.     

A reproducible and high-throughput HPLC/MS method to separate sarcosine from α- and β-alanine and to quantify sarcosine in human serum and urine

While sarcosine was recently identified as a potential urine biomarker for prostate cancer, further studies have cast doubt on its utility to diagnose this condition. The inconsistent results may be due to the fact that alanine and sarcosine coelute on an HPLC reversed-phase column and the mass spectrometer cannot differentiate between the two isomers, since the same parent/product ions are generally used to measure them. In this study, we developed a high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method that resolves sarcosine from alanine isomers, allowing its accurate quantification in human serum and urine. Assay reproducibility was determined using the coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in serum aliquots from 10 subjects and urine aliquots from 20 subjects across multiple analytic runs. Paired serum/urine samples from 42 subjects were used to evaluate sarcosine serum/urine correlation. Both urine and serum assays gave high sensitivity (limit of quantitation of 5 ng/mL) and reproducibility (serum assay, intra- and interassay CVs < 3% and ICCs > 99%; urine assay, intra-assay CV = 7.7% and ICC = 98.2% and interassay CV = 12.3% and ICC = 94.2%). In conclusion, this high-throughput LC-MS method is able to resolve sarcosine from α- and β-alanine and is useful for quantifying sarcosine in serum and urine samples.