Male response to natural sex pheromone ofMigdolus fryanus westwood (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) females as affected by daily climatic factors

Males of the sugarcane borer,Migdolus fryanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), are attracted to females by means of a sex pheromone. Mating usually occurs during a few days from October to March under field conditions in São Paulo State, Brazil. This work reports on mating of this species as affected by daily climatic factors, during a single nuptial flight. Maximum male capture by the natural sex pheromone occurred from 1000 to 1100 AM at air and soil temperatures of 30.0°C and relative humidity of 57.0%. As these temperatures increased, females burrowed into the soil, as they are more sensitive to heat than males. Thus, it was concluded that sex pheromone-mediated mating in this cerambycid is directly affected by temperatures of air and soil.     

A socioeconomic model for managing water resources in Alicante,southeast Spain

The study analyzes variables that influence the water management model based on a simultaneous relationship between competing demands in the Marina Baja of Alicante, using a methodology that directly links together urban and irrigation demands, making them relevant to each other from a socioeconomic point of view. The paper identifies the relevant variables of this model and the agent behaviour in a closed and joint system. It also aims to demonstrate that by considering water demands for different yet simultaneous uses and regarding clean and reclaimed waters as integrated resources, the system could remain in equilibrium without external water supplies.     

A collaborative platform for cognitive decision making in the Knowledge Society

Two key aspects of the Knowledge Society are the interconnection between the actors involved in the decision making processes and the importance of the human factor, particularly the citizen’s continuous learning and education. This paper presents a new module devoted to knowledge extraction and diffusion that has been incorporated into a previously developed decision making tool concerning the Internet and related with the multicriteria selection of a discrete number of alternatives (PRIOR-Web). Quantitative and qualitative procedures using data and text mining methods have been employed in the extraction of knowledge. Graphical visualisation tools have been incorporated in the diffusion stage of the methodological approach suggested when dealing with decision making in the Knowledge Society. The resulting collaborative platform is being used as the methodological support for the cognitive democracy known as e-cognocracy.     

Asymptotic synchronization of the Colpitts oscillator

In this paper we deal with the observer-based asymptotic synchronization problem for a class of chaotic oscillators. Some results based on a differential algebraic approach are used in order to determine the algebraic observability of unknown variables. The strategy consists of proposing a slave system (observer) which tends to follow asymptotically the master system. The methodology is tested in the real-time asymptotic synchronization of the Colpitts oscillator by means of a proportional reduced order observer (PROO) of free-model type.     

Leucinosis--a case of congenital metabolic disease in a child

Trasditional Chinese medicine is based on inductive-synthetic reasoning with regard to all life processes, in contrast to the causal-analytic orientation in our Western medicine. This philosophical approach is based on a system of comparisons (equivalents), referred to as Yin and Yang. Vital functions are seen as "energizing" processes, whereby the acupuncture points and the system of meridians are seen as a means of regulation for this "energy". A disturbed balance in this energy results in illness. The therapy according to the acupuncture method is to acheive a balance in the disturbed flow of energy by means of acupuncture points. By utilizing biophysical methods of measurement, it is possible to prove that a change in this energy takes place. The complex active principle which results in the effectiveness of acupuncture includes neurophysiological, biochemical and biophysical functional processes.     

Observation of a half-quantum-flux periodicity pattern in an rf SQUID with small critical currents

We have found experimentally that rf SQUID's working in a nonhysteretic mode with small critical currents give exactly at resonance and at very low rf bias a triangular pattern with a period equal to half of one elementary quantum of magnetic flux. We discuss a possible explanation of this peculiar result.     

Accessory artificial circulation in complex treatment of experimental acute toxic pulmonary edema

In experiments on 50 dogs with toxic acute edema of the lung, induced with intravenous injection of 0.1% silver nitrate, the authors have studied the efficacy of accessory artificial circulation and "conservative" therapy. During the perfusion a discharge of the right portions, adequate extracorporeal gas metabolism, normalization of blood gas and acid-base balance were noted; an intensity of pulmonary edema is descreased. An intensive therapy for pulmonary edema was found to be more effective in association of "conservative" treatment with venoarterial perfusion and blood oxygenation.     

Nitrous oxide "analgesia": resemblance to opiate action

Nitrous oxide produced a dose-related "analgesia" in mice (median effective dose, 55 percent). The analgesia was evaluated by means of a phenylquinone writhing test. Narcotic antagonists or chronic morphinization reduced nitrous oxide analgesia. Either nitrous oxide releases an endogenous analgesic or narcotic antagonists have analgesic antagonist properties heretofore unappreciated.