A bioassay system for collecting volatiles while simultaneously attracting tephritid fruit flies

A bioassay system was developed that permits the testing of various substrates for biological activity in a flight tunnel, while simultaneously collecting a portion of the volatiles from the attractive source for subsequent chemical identification and quantification. Bioassays of the response of virgin female Caribbean fruit flies,Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to volatiles released by calling males were conducted in a greenhouse under natural light cycles and fluctuating environmental conditions, similar to those in the field. Using this system, the periodicity of response of the female flies between 1300 and 1845 hr (EST) was tested. Fifty to 75% response occurred between 1700 and 1845 hr. Male pheromone release was greatest between 1500 and 1800 hr. Videotaped records of insects, taken between 1700 and 1800 hr as flies approached and entered the traps, were analyzed to interpret the communicative role of the volatiles released. Significantly more flies landed on and entered the pheromone-emitting trap than the control trap. There was no difference in the amount of time spent on the trap face, an indication that volatiles were attractants. The system described should be of general utility in determination of the attraction of pest fruit flies to suspected attractants.     

The alcoholysis of cellulose

The alcoholysis of cellulose in solutions of sulfuric acid in ethanol and n-butanol is described; emphasis is placed on the reactions of a cellulose that is 97% disordered, as measured by an infrared-deuteration technique, but the reactions of several partially ordered celluloses are also investigated. Alcoholysis produces only very slight increases in hydrogen-bond order, and the rate of reaction is roughly related to the degree of hydrogen-bond disorder in the starting material. The reactivity of the 97% disordered cellulose is dependent upon the method of freeing the film from the non-aqueous media used in its preparation. This variable reactivity is not associated with differences in hydrogen-bond order or in the surface area of internal voids, capillaries, etc., as measured by nitrogen sorption and a nonswelling oxidation technique, but could be due to the existence of a very fine pore structure in some of the films.     

Sintering,fracture and oxide films

Observations of fractured necks in sintered copper powders show that a homogeneous bond is not obtained across the whole neck diameter. A neutral atmosphere produces a central region which fails in a ductile manner and a surrounding annulus which fails in a brittle manner. The presence of an oxide film on the particles is considered to be the cause and the present work shows that under certain conditions, the assumption made by many authors that the neck is homogeneous across its width, is incorrect.     

Cervical length at 23 weeks of gestation: relation to demographic characteristics and previous obstetric history

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility of introducing routine measurement of cervical length at 23 weeks of gestation, to establish the distribution of cervical lengths in a routine population of singleton pregnancies and to examine the relation between cervical length and demographic characteristics and previous obstetric history. METHODS: Cervical length was measured by transvaginal sonography at 23 weeks of gestation in women with singleton pregnancies attending for routine antenatal care. The distribution of cervical lengths was established and the significance of differences in median cervical length between subgroups according to maternal age, ethnic origin, maternal ponderal index, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, drug abuse and previous obstetric history was calculated. In addition, 100 women were asked to complete a questionnaire aimed to assess the degree of discomfort, pain or embarrassment caused by the scan. In 100 pregnancies, cervical length was measured in each patient by two of four operators to determine intraobserver and interobserver variabilities. RESULTS: During the study period, 2702 (80%) of the 3358 women attending for a 23-week scan agreed to participate in the study and, in all cases, the cervical length was measured successfully. The median cervical length was 38 mm and in 1.6% of cases the length was 15 mm or less. More than 90% of the women reported that the procedure was associated with no or only mild discomfort and embarrassment, whilst 85% found the ultrasound scan to be equally or less uncomfortable than a speculum examination. Measurement of cervical length was highly reproducible and, on 95% of occasions, the difference between two measurements by the same observer and by two observers was < or = 3.5 mm and < or = 4.2 mm, respectively. Cervical length was significantly shorter in women of Afro-Caribbean origin compared to Caucasians, those aged less than 20 years, those with a low ponderal index, those with a history of previous miscarriage or preterm delivery and in drug abusers. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length is highly reproducible and it is associated with a minimal degree of discomfort to the patients. At 23 weeks, the median cervical length is 38 mm and, in 1.6% of the population, the length is 15 mm or less. There is an association between cervical length and demographic characteristics and previous obstetric history.     

Physical activity and women in the United States: an overview of health benefits, prevalence, and intervention opportunities

Despite decades of physical activity research and interventions conducted on men, very little is known about the patterns of physical activity among US women. Rates from several national surveys show much lower rates of physical activity for women than for men. Among women, rates may vary by socioeconomic status. Studies relating physical activity and experience with heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and mental health are discussed. Interventions in the workplace and the community may increase the level of physical activity among US women. A history of not participating in exercise and lack of time for this activity appear to be important constraints for many women. The Surgeon General's Report on physical activity sanctioned future research on specific groups, such as women. Applied research coupled with community and workplace policies that support women's efforts to be more physically active may decrease the rates of some chronic diseases in this population.     

The UK-Belgium No. 5 Optical Fiber Submarine System

This paper describes the main current features of the system to be provided for the UK-Belgium no. 5 optical link. It gives the requirements, route details, and brief system parameters, and it outlines supervisory provision and system planning.     

Type B CTD Proteins Secreted by the Type IX Secretion System Associate with PorP-like Proteins for Cell Surface Anchorage

The Bacteroidetes type IX secretion system (T9SS) consists of at least 20 components that translocate proteins with type A or type B C-terminal domain (CTD) signals across the outer membrane (OM). While type A CTD proteins are anchored to the cell surface via covalent linkage to the anionic lipopolysaccharide, it is still unclear how type B CTD proteins are anchored to the cell surface. Moreover, very little is known about the PorE and PorP components of the T9SS. In this study, for the first time, we identified a complex comprising the OM β-barrel protein PorP, the OM-associated periplasmic protein PorE and the type B CTD protein PG1035. Cross-linking studies supported direct interactions between PorE-PorP and PorP-PG1035. Furthermore, we show that the formation of the PorE-PorP-PG1035 complex was independent of PorU and PorV. Additionally, the Flavobacterium johnsoniae PorP-like protein, SprF, was found bound to the major gliding motility adhesin, SprB, which is also a type B CTD protein. Together, these results suggest that type B-CTD proteins may anchor to the cell surface by binding to their respective PorP-like proteins.