Evidence that Cerambycid Beetles Mimic Vespid Wasps in Odor as well as Appearance

We present evidence that cerambycid species that are supposed mimics of vespid wasps also mimic their model’s odor by producing spiroacetals, common constituents of vespid alarm pheromones. Adults of the North American cerambycids Megacyllene caryae (Gahan) and Megacyllene robiniae (Forster) are conspicuously patterned yellow and black, and are believed to be mimics of aculeate Hymenoptera, such as species of Vespula and Polistes. Adult males of M. caryae produce an aggregation-sex pheromone, but both sexes produce a pungent odor when handled, which has been assumed to be a defensive response. Headspace aerations of agitated females of M. caryae contained 16 compounds with mass spectra characteristic of spiroacetals of eight distinct chemical structures, with the dominant compound being (7E,2E)-7-ethyl-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane. Headspace samples of agitated males of M. caryae contained five of the same components, with the same dominant compound. Females of M. robiniae produced six different spiroacetals, one of which was not produced by M. caryae, (2E,7E)-2-ethyl-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, and five that were shared with M. caryae, including the dominant (2E,8E)-2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane. The latter compound is the sole spiroacetal produced by both males and females of a South American cerambycid species, Callisphyris apicicornis (Fairmaire & Germain), which is also thought to be a wasp mimic. Preliminary work also identified spiroacetals of similar or identical structure released by vespid wasps that co-occur with the Megacyllene species.     

Retinal light damage vs. normal aging of rats: altered morphology, intermediate filament expression, and nuclear organization of Müller (glial) cells

In retinal light damage, degeneration of photoreceptors results in alterations of glial (Müller) cells. In particular, Müller cells show signs of gliosis such as thickening of their stem processes, and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) which is normally not detectable by immunocytochemistry. We were interested in a quantification of these morphological alterations, and in possible effects of an application of free radical scavengers (Ginkgobiloba extract EGb 761). For this purpose, we studied Müller cells in retinae of albino rats exposed to enhanced illumination for 24 months, a procedure which causes a complete loss of photoreceptor cells. The cells were labeled by (i) bulk filling with the fluorescent dye, Procion yellow, and by (ii) immunocytochemical demonstration of vimentin and GFAP. One group of rats was fed daily with EGb 761 during the last 8 months of life when the remaining photoreceptors (about 50%) died. The retinae were compared with retinae from 3 months-old albino rats, serving as normal young controls, and with retinae from 24 month-old pigment rats, representing normal aging processes. As age-related changes of the ultrastructure of glial cell (astrocytic) nuclei have been described in the literature, the organization of Müller cell nuclei was also studied by an argyrophilic stain, and by electron microscopy. We found that in the thin light-damaged retinae, Müller cells were shorter but thicker than in age-matched control retinae. The volumes of their vitread stem processes were almost unchanged. Müller cells were GFAP-immunoreactive in the light-damaged retinae but not in the controls. The application of EGb 761 prevented the expression by Müller cells of (detectable levels of) GFAP. By contrast, in retinae from EGb 761-treated animals the volumes of the vitread stem processes were significantly increased in comparison to untreated animals. The number of nuclear organization regions was significantly enhanced in Müller cell nuclei from light-damaged untreated albino rats, as compared with the young controls. Application of EGb 761 prevented much of this increase. Thus, exogeneous free radical scavengers do not prevent the occurrence of an reactive hypertrophy but inhibit the expression of "pathological marker molecules", and the (accompanying) signs of enhanced nuclear activity.     

Decomposition of a class of linear electrical networks for calculation of total power

A new method of decomposition of linear electrical networks for calculating total power is presented. By an iterative procedure, on the basis of decomposition of the electrical network, the branches containing power sources (voltage and/or current) are selected first until the remaining network becomes passive. Then, one calculates the power dissipated by the decomposed networks supplied by the corresponding power sources. Total power dissipated by impedances of the starting networks is equal to the sum of powers dissipated by impedances of the decomposed networks, under the condition that all impedances Z of the network are either resistive \({\text{Im}}(Z)=0\) or reactive \({\text{Re}}(Z)=0\) or mutually equal.     

Special issue section of clean technology and environmental policy dedicated to SDEWES 2020 conferences

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy -     

Paramagnetic,NIR‐luminescent Nd3+‐ and Gd3+‐doped fluorapatite as contrast agent for multimodal biomedical imaging

Combining near infrared (NIR) luminescence and magnetic resonance (MR) contrasts in a crystal host is highly desirable for contrast agents in biomedical imaging technology, as it will enable multimodal imaging processes. In the present work, biocompatible luminescent and paramagnetic fluorapatite (FAp) nanoparticles were prepared via doping with neodymium (Nd³⁺) and gadolinium (Gd³⁺), respectively. While Nd³⁺‐doped FAp (Nd:FAp) exhibits dopant concentration‐dependent photoluminescence (PL) in the NIR spectral region, Gd³⁺‐doped FAp (Gd:FAp) shows paramagnetic behavior and strong transverse relaxation effects resulting in MR contrastive properties. Remarkably, multimodal co‐doped FAp (Nd:Gd:FAp) nanoparticles combine both properties in 1 single crystal enabling luminescence as well as MR contrast.     

5G mobile terminals with advanced QoS-based user-centric aggregation (AQUA) for heterogeneous wireless and mobile networks

In this paper we present an advanced QoS provisioning module with vertical multi-homing framework for future fifth generation (5G) mobile terminals with radio network aggregation capability and traffic load sharing in heterogeneous mobile and wireless environments. The proposed 5G mobile terminal framework is leading to high performance utility networks with high QoS provisioning for any given multimedia service, higher bandwidth utilization and multi-RAT capabilities. It is using vertical multi-homing and virtual QoS routing algorithms within the mobile terminal, that is able to handle simultaneously multiple radio network connections via multiple wireless and mobile network interfaces. Our 5G proposal is user-centric, targeted to always-on connectivity, maximal network utilization, maximal throughput, seamless handovers and performances improvement by using vertical multi-homing, as well as session continuity. The performance of our proposed mobile terminal framework for 5G is evaluated using simulations and analysis with multimedia traffic in heterogeneous mobile and wireless scenarios with coexistence of multiple radio access technologies, such as 3G, 4G as well as future 5G radio access networks.     

Fast image processing for optical metrology utilizing heterogeneous computer architectures

Industrial image processing tasks, especially in the domain of optical metrology, are becoming more and more complex. While in recent years standard PC components were sufficient to fulfill the requirements, special architectures have to be used to build high-speed image processing systems today. For example, for adaptive optical systems in large scale telescopes, the latency between capturing an image and steering the mirrors is critical for the quality of the resulting images. Commonly, the applied image processing algorithms consist of several tasks with different granularities and complexities. Therefore, we combined the advantages of multicore CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs to build a heterogeneous image processing pipeline for adaptive optical systems by presenting new architectures and algorithms. Each architecture is well-suited to solve a particular task efficiently, which is proven by a detailed evaluation. With the developed pipeline it is possible to achieve a high throughput and to reduce the latency of the whole steering system significantly.     

Influence of kinematics and abrasive configuration on the grinding process of glass

The micro- and macro-kinematics performed by the abrasives play a key role during the grinding of brittle materials. The present work intends to evaluate the influence of the abrasive configuration and the trajectory of the abrasive tool on the grinding process of glass. For this purpose, two different arrangements of abrasive pins were tested under three different kinematic curves: two epitrochoidal and one hypotrochoid. Grinding tests were carried out on commercial glass tiles, using 1 h of grinding time and water as lubricant. Computational simulations were used to quantify the spatial distribution of abrasive contacts over the sample surface, including the scratching orientation of each abrasive contact. The amount of material removed from the surface due to the grinding was measured by contour profilometry. By assembling the results from both experiments and simulations the average removal rate of the grinding process were determined and mapped for the entire abraded surface. The effect of the abrasive configuration was found to be either minimized or maximized according to the kinematics chosen, and differences of up to 30% were detected.     

Different Approaches to the Investigation and Testing of the Ni-Based Self-Fluxing Alloy Coatings—A Review. Part 2: Microstructure,Adhesive Strength,Cracking Behavior,and Residual Stresses Investigations

After presenting general facts about Ni-based self-fluxing alloy coatings and describing the wear and corrosion studies in Part 1, Part 2 of the article deals with the review and systematization of the investigations on behavior of these coatings exposed to external mechanical loading (cracking behavior, adhesive strength, fatigue), residual stresses, and microstructure (particle state, phases, porosity, dilution, dissolution) considering the period from 2000 to 2013. The following deposition technologies are included: flame spraying, high-velocity oxy/air fuel spraying, detonation gun spraying, electric arc spraying, plasma spraying, plasma-transferred arc welding, and laser cladding. In addition to the review of investigations on microstructure and effects of external loading and residual stresses, reference is also given to papers describing the application of the Ni-based self-fluxing coatings, as well as to those in which these coatings were used as a reference material or an addition to obtain a composite coating.     

Biomonitoring of mercury in polluted coastal area using transplanted mussels

The Kastela Bay is heavily polluted with inorganic mercury originated from direct discharges from the chlor-alkali plant, which operated in the period from 1950 to 1990. Even though the plant was closed 15 years ago, elevated levels of total mercury are still evident in surface sediments of the bay. In order to assess the availability of remobilized mercury to marine organisms, cultured mussels (M. galloprovincialis) were transplanted from pristine area to Kastela Bay, in the period from September 2000 to March 2001. Mussel samples were collected for the analysis of THg and MeHg in whole soft tissue, gills and digestive gland. Surface sediments and suspended matter were collected for the analysis of THg. Digestive gland was the target organ for the accumulation of THg, while concentrations of MeHg were similar in all analyzed tissues. The percentage of MeHg in mussel tissues (4-27%) was characteristic for the areas contaminated with inorganic mercury. A significant negative correlation was observed between the THg concentration in the tissues and the percentage of MeHg. Concentrations of THg in mussel tissues, which were decreasing from the source of contamination in an anticlockwise direction towards the exit of the bay, were significantly positively correlated to THg content in sediment and suspended particles. Spatial distribution of mercury species (THg and MeHg) in different environmental compartments was in accordance with the prevailing circulation in the bay. Data obtained through 6 months of biomonitoring experiment indicated that digestive gland was more sensitive indicator of THg concentrations in the environment than the whole organism or gills. As for MeHg, all tissues were equally suitable as biomonitors of MeHg concentrations in the environment.