Physiological and behavioral effects of coniferyl benzoate on avian reproduction

Various plant secondary metabolites related to cinnamic acid are of interest because of their repellency to birds and their occurrence in ecologically important food items. Coniferyl benzoate (CB), a phenylpropanoid ester that occurs in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is of particular ecological interest because of its effect on ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) feeding behavior and its possible influence on the population dynamics of this bird. During detoxification processes, CB and other analogous compounds are metabolized into by-products, such as ferulic acid (FA), that can cause anti-reproductive effects. We tested whether consumption of CB produces antire-productive effects similar to FA using male and female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) as avian models for ruffed grouse. The parameters we investigated included: the production, morphology, and development of eggs; reproductive characteristics influenced by estrogen; serum prolactin levels; and male reproductive behavior. Dietary CB did not produce antireproductive effects similar to FA at intake levels that Japanese quail and ruffed grouse would freely consume. Consumption of CB by Japanese quail significantly reduced egg production and body mass but did not affect male reproductive performance. Coniferyl benzoate's effect on egg production may be explained by lower energy acquisition and retention rather than endocrine changes per se. Contrary to previous reports, it is unlikely that FA, or similar compounds act directly as estrogen mimics or antagonists. Although, CB did reduce egg production in quail, it is unlikely that it would affect egg production in wild ruffed grouse. Detoxification costs and the effects of CB on nutrient utilization may explain why ruffed grouse avoid high dietary levels of CB.     

Algal phagostimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods

Methanol extracts of the green algaUlva pertusa contain four kinds of glycerolipids that are active as feeding-stimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods. These compounds are digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), 1,2-diacylglycerly-4-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (DGTH), 1-monoacylglyceryl-4'-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (MGTH), and 6-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). The various gastropods exhibit marked specificity, however, as young abaloneHaliotis discus respond to DGDG and DGTH at minute dosages of 20–30 g/sample zone, but do not respond to 300 g of SQDG, which is a phagostimulant for two other kinds of gastropods,Turbo comutus andOmphalius pfeifferi.Chemical Studies on Phagostimulants for Marine Gastropods. Part VI. For Part V, see Sakata et al. (1986b).     

Responses to prey chemicals by a lacertid lizard,Podarcis muralis: Prey chemical discrimination and poststrike elevation in tongue-flick rate

The ability to discriminate prey chemicals from control substances and the presence of a poststrike elevation in tongue-flicking (PETF) rate are experimentally demonstrated in the lacertid lizard,Podarcis muralis, The tongue-flick attack score, a composite index of response strength, was significantly higher in response to integumental chemicals from cricket than to cologne or distilled water. The cricket chemicals additionally elicited a significantly greater rate of tongue-flicking and higher proportion of attacks by the lizards than did control stimuli. PETF combined with apparent searching movements strongly suggest the presence of strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS). Experimental evidence indicates that both PETF and SICS occur in insectivorous representatives of three families of actively foraging autarchoglossan lizards, suggesting their widespread occurrence in such lizards. The adaptive roles of chemosensory behavior in the foraging behavior of P.Muralis are discussed. It is proposed that these lizards may form chemical search images and that PETF and SICS may have been present in the lacertilian ancestors of snakes.     

The chemical feeding ecology ofNeodiprion dubiosus schedl,N. rugifrons midd., andN. lecontei (Fitch) on jack pine (Pinus banksiana lamb.)

Two monophagous sawflies,Neodiprion dubiosus andN. rugifrons, actively avoid feeding on the current season's needles of jack pine,Pinus banksiana, while the polyphagousN. lecontei feeds indiscriminately on foliage of all age classes. Bioassay studies with needle extracts indicate thatN. dubiosus andN. rugifrons larval feeding preference is governed by a group of tricyclic diterpene resin acids. Resin acids commonly occur in needles of all ages; however, levopimaric, palustric, dehydroabietic, and neoabietic acids were at higher concentrations in the new needles.N. dubiosus was significantly deterred from feeding on 1-year-old foliage when treated with the pure resin acids, palustric and levopimaric, at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml MeOH.N. rugifrons larvae were deterred from feeding by pure dehydroabietic, neoabietic, and palustric acids at 1.0 mg/ml MeOH.     

Allelochemical resistance of bald cypress,Taxodium distichum,heartwood to the subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus

The heartwood of bald cypress,Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich., resisted feeding attack by the Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Hexane-extracted heartwood, however, was consumed at > 12 times the amount of sound heartwood eaten. A bioassay usingT. distichum sapwood as a feeding substrate was employed to assess the antitermitic activity of successive hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of heartwood shavings and isolates derived from the active hexane extract. Two fractions, eluted from the crude hexane extract by liquid chromatography, significantly reduced termite feeding compared to the parent extract, while a third fraction was less active than the original hexane extract. Each fraction contained one major component. All three components were structurally related diterpenes. The two most active heartwood constituents were identified by GC-MS and NMR as ferruginol and manool, while the third and least active, but most prevalent, compound in heartwood was identified as nezukol. Results of bioassays suggest that these allelochemicals act principally as feeding deterrents with accompanying termite mortality due to starvation.     

液压系统进、旁油路联合调速回路分析

在定量液压泵供油的系统中给出进、旁油路联合调速的回路,通过对2种进、旁油路联合调速的定量分析,推导出理论计算依据,得出这2种进、旁油路联合调速的调速特点。     

多重链路网络分区与QoS度量两级并行QoSR算法

在多重链路上联网络环境下,采用并行路由搜索的思想寻找最优路径,能够获得较好的路径寻优结果,并且算法的时间复杂度较低.给出一种两级并行QoSR算法,将多重链路环境按一定规则划分为若干分区,为每个分区分配一定数量的QoS度量并行处理器和1个分区处理器,在各个分区分别采用QPAS算法,由QoS度量并行处理器并行计算出各分区内的QoS度量Pareto最佳路径,最终由分区处理器调用最短路径并行算法完成分区间代价最小路径的计算.     

基于单片机的在线颗粒分析仪智能控制系统设计

针对国内粉末生产过程中粒度分布检验的滞后性,提出了在线颗粒分析仪智能控制系统设计。通过控制采样速度和喂料速度实现样品的在线分析,并实现分析数据的实时采集和传输,实现在线监控。实验结果表明,该系统测试范围达到4-300μm,可持续工作8小时,延时小于1分钟,测试准确度,重复性均达到在线控制的需要。     

现代化小型冷床上料装置结构设计分析及计算

近年来，由于轧钢工艺趋向于采用无扭轧制等先进技术，使轧制速度迅速提高，对冷床高速上料装置提出了更高的要求。冷床高速上料装置是冷床设计中的难点，也是关键设备，它的设计质量与安装精度直接决定着产品的最终质量。本文对冷床高速上料装置进行了结构分析与计算，对冷床的设计、维护有一定的指导意义。     

黄金珠粒振动给料工位预测控制设计

本文通过对黄金自动配重系统中珠粒振动给料工位的研究，实现了振动给料过程的数学模型、特点分析，基于理想模型的预测控制策略的提出、设计和算法实现，以及实验数据、仿真数据的对比分析，系统达到了用户的预期要求，配重过程快速、稳定、可靠，配重结果计量准确、精度高。该系统的研制完成，极大的降低了工人的劳动强度，提高企业的生产效率，为企业实现生产过程的全面自动化、信息化奠定良好的基础。