Male european corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), antennal responses to analogs of its sex pheromone

Experiments were conducted to (1) determine whether the electroantennogram (EAG) can detect differences among the responses of antennae from males derived from the three strains ofOstrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and (2) characterize the EAG responses of each strain to isomeric forms of the natural pheromone, (E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol acetate (TDA), and analogs possessing differences in the terminal alkyl group, cyclopropyl (CPA), ortert-butyl (TBA).EAG responses differed among the strains in two ways: (1) Antennae fromZZ males always produced an EAG to (Z)-TDA with an extended duration of response. This signature EAG response was found to be unique to the antennal response ofZZ males to (Z)-TDA, thus providing a relatively easy method of distinguishing liveZZ males fromEE orZE males. Correlated with this longer EAG response was a longer disadaptation time, i.e., the EAG response ofZZ antennae disadapted more slowly (ca. 10 min) than the response ofEE antennae. (2) Strain differences in the relative EAG amplitudes to isomers and analogs were observed at the stimulus amounts eliciting the peak EAG amplitude as follows: TDA CPA > TBA forZZ males and both isomers; TDA > CPA TBA and CPA TDA > TBA forEE males and theE andZ isomers, respectively; CPA > TBA TDA forZE males and both isomers. Dose—response relationships were seen for all compounds if amplitude (peak height) of the EAG was used as a measure of response. However, if width of the EAG at half the peak height (peak width) was used, then only theZZ antennal response to (Z)-TDA resulted in a meaningful dose-response relationship. For all strains, the EAG amplitudes elicited by theZ isomers of any of the tested compounds were greater than those elicited by the correspondingE isomers. Therefore, correlations between the relative EAG and upwind flight responses were observed in theZZ (r = 0.86) andZE (r = 0.80) strains but were not correlated in theEE strain (r = 0.18). Temporal studies showed that adaptation, not postexcision deterioration, was responsible for the observed decreases in the EAG amplitude after repetitive stimulation or after stimulation with amounts in a descending order. Disa-daptation required at least 20 min for a moderate dose (10 g for 1 sec). Developmental studies showed that antennae from 2-day-old adults had the greatest EAG response.     

双子表面活性剂合成及在酒精废液处理中应用

合成了4种碳链长度的酯基阳离子双子表面活性剂,并作为絮凝剂对干法工艺处理的玉米酒精糟废液进行了絮凝处理实验。絮凝后对废液的透光率及COD进行了测定,考察了在不调节pH值及室温条件下与双子表面活性剂、淀粉阳离子、壳聚糖阳离子对比絮凝处理效果,双阳离子表面活性剂好于淀粉阳离子、壳聚糖阳离子的絮凝能力;同时考察了酯基阳离子双子表面活性剂碳链长度对絮凝效果的影响,碳链长度对COD去除率的高低顺序为C14>C16>C12>C10。实现了不用碱中和废液而直接进行絮凝处理的工艺改造。     

利用玉米秸秆制备高吸水树脂

将玉米秸秆预处理后与丙烯酸接枝共聚制备高吸水性树脂,采用单因素实验确定了合成条件中各因素的最佳水平:θ=45℃,引发剂中过硫酸钾用量为单体质量的0.8%,交联剂N,N-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBAM)用量为单体质量的0.6%,m(AA)∶m(玉米秸秆)=8∶1,丙烯酸中和度为70%,t=4 h。对最佳条件下制备的树脂进行了性能测试,对秸秆预处理前后及产物进行了扫描电镜分析。结果表明,该树脂具有良好的吸水、保水性能,吸水率最高达到291 g.g-1,吸盐水率达到49 g.g-1。     

微粒群优化和区域生长结合的彩色图像分割算法

提出了一种微粒群优化和区域生长相结合的彩色图像分割算法,以彩色图像直方图中自适应搜索到的峰值作为像素种子。由于搜索像素种子点是按密度进行,计算量小,大幅度提高了算法的计算速度,同时克服了传统区域生长方法不能自动选择种子且容易导致过分割的局限性。实验表明：该方法提高了图像分割速度,并可以准确地分割出目标,是一种有效的图像分割方法。     

化学综合性实验的设计与探讨

根据我院综合与设计性实验的课程设置情况,提出玉米须黄酮、多糖的提取、鉴别与含量测定为主题开设的综合设计性实验,此实验的开出不仅可以提高学生在有机化学、分析化学、天然药物化学、药物分析等方面的综合实验技能,将理论与实践有机地结合起来,巩固了课堂所学的理论知识,同时还可以培养学生科研创新的意识并能很好的利用"废物"。     

新型就仓干燥技术处理高水分玉米种子的实仓应用效果分析

应用低温缓速均匀通风基本原理设计的设备系统,对堆高2 m的58 t散装高水分玉米种子(籽粒,入仓平均水分20.2%)进行就仓干燥处理.经过累计301.5 h的间断式处理,按预定降水目标12.5%,结果以40多个固定和临时取样点的跟踪检测,实际降低到平均12.4%(最高12.9%,最低11.7%);对水分检测结果的离散性分析表明,在无霉变、无损伤、无抛洒、不影响种子活性的前提下,能够达到精确控制调节粮食水分的要求.     

Biodiesel development from high acid value polanga seed oil and performance evaluation in a CI engine

Non-edible filtered high viscous (72 cSt at 40 °C) and high acid value (44 mg KOH/gm) polanga (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) oil based mono esters (biodiesel) produced by triple stage transesterification process and blended with high speed diesel (HSD) were tested for their use as a substitute fuel of diesel in a single cylinder diesel engine. HSD and polanga oil methyl ester (POME) fuel blends (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) were used for conducting the short-term engine performance tests at varying loads (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). Tests were carried out over entire range of engine operation at varying conditions of speed and load. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were calculated from the recorded data. The engine performance parameters such as fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust emissions (CO, CO₂, HC, NO_x, and O₂) were recorded. The optimum engine operating condition based on lower brake specific fuel consumption and higher brake thermal efficiency was observed at 100% load for neat biodiesel. From emission point of view the neat POME was found to be the best fuel as it showed lesser exhaust emission as compared to HSD.     

Fractionation of transgenic corn for recovery of recombinant enzymes

Two germ-separation methods, dry-milling and density separation by flotation, were evaluated for recovering recombinant β-glucuronidase (rGUS) that accumulated primarily in the germ of transgenic corn. The dry-milling process consisted of (i) seed tempering, (ii) degerming with a horizontal-drum degermer/dehuller, (iii) particle size fractionation with standard sieves, (iv) germ and endosperm separation by roller milling and sifting, and (v) removal of hulls by aspiration. Sieves nos. 5, 6, and 7 retained the majority of germ, and subfractions from these sieves were pooled as a germ-rich fraction. Mass balances showed that the germ-rich fraction, which constituted 17% of the total dry-milled corn weight, contained 49% of rGUS activity and 64% of the total recoverable oil. Germ fractionation by flotation was tested as a proof-of-concept method aimed at separating corn fractions based on their difference in specific gravity (sp gr). The process consisted of impact-grinding of corn kernels followed by density separation using 1.15 or 1.3 specific gravity sodium nitrate solution. The oil-containing germ fraction floated, whereas the heavier endosperm fraction sedimented. The flotation method was simpler and resulted in higher enzyme recovery, that is, the germ-rich fraction was 20% (w/w) of the initial corn weight, and accounted for 80% of rGUS activity and 77% of total oil. The sodium nitrate solution did not have an adverse effect on the enzyme activity.     

Chinese melon (Momordica charantia L.) seed: Composition and potential use

Chinese melon (Momordica charantia L.), also known as bitter gourd, is a tropical crop, grown throughout Asian countries for use as food and medicinals. In 1993, four cultivars of Chinese melon were grown in Mississippi and the seeds were collected. Oil contents of the seeds ranged from 41 to 45% and the oils contained 63–68% eleostearic acid and 22–27% stearic acid. Industrially important tung oil, a “fast-drying oil” used in paints and varnishes, contains 90% eleostearic and 2–3% stearic acid. The ratio of stearic to eleostearic in Chinese melon seed oil is ten times greater than that in tung oil. The higher ratio should reduce the rate of drying and crosslinking and could be advantageous in the paint industry. The defatted meals contained 52–61% protein and would be a good source of methionine.     

Toxicokinetics of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) in the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)

2,4-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), the major hydroxamic acid present in corn, and its tritiated derivative, were prepared synthetically for use in the determination of the toxicokinetics of this insect deterrent in the European corn borer (ECB),Ostrinia nubilalis. In growth studies with DIMBOA (0, 0.05, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/g diet), the mean time to pupation and adult emergence were significantly lengthened by an increase in concentration. Pupal and adult weights, for both female and male, decreased with an increase in concentration. Increased larval and pupal mortality occurred at the highest concentration of DIMBOA. DIMBOA, at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.5 mg/g diet, resulted in a decrease in the number of egg masses produced per female, and at 0.5 mg/g diet, in a decrease in the number of eggs per egg mass. Larvae fed from the neonate stage on a diet containing 0.2 mg [³H]- + [¹H]DIMBOA/g diet showed an increase in the content of label from fourth to fifth instar, but levels declined at pupation and emergence. A large amount of the labeled compounds was excreted by the insect in the pupal case. In dose-related studies, both uptake and excretion increased with an increase in concentration of DIMBOA (0.05, 0.2, 0.4 mg/g diet), while a body burden (concentration in the tissues/concentration in the frass) of approximately 0.25 was maintained for all concentrations. At the highest dose of DIMBOA (0.4 mg/g), the ECB increased consumption, possibly to compensate for the toxic effects of the compound. In topical application studies, elimination of the labeled compound in the frass was rapid, reaching 65% by 4 hr and 88% by 48 hr. Accumulation of label in tissues other than hemolymph was low. The results show that the ECB does possess adaptive mechanisms to deal with the effects of this host-derived compound.