Predicting Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) populations and associated grain damage in smallholder farmers’ maize stores: A machine learning approach

Prostephanus truncatus is a notorious pest of stored-maize grain and its spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa has led to increased levels of grain storage losses. The current study developed models to predict the level of P. truncatus infestation and associated damage of maize grain in smallholder farmer stores. Data were gathered from grain storage trials conducted in Hwedza and Mbire districts of Zimbabwe and correlated with weather data for each site. Insect counts of P. truncatus and other common stored grain insect pests had a strong correlation with time of year with highest recorded numbers from January to May. Correlation analysis showed insect-generated grain dust from boring and feeding activity to be the best indicator of P. truncatus presence in stores (r = 0.70), while a moderate correlation (r = 0.48) was found between P. truncatus numbers and storage insect parasitic wasps, and grain damage levels significantly correlated with the presence of Tribolium castaneum (r = 0.60). Models were developed for predicting P. truncatus infestation and grain damage using parameter selection algorithms and decision-tree machine learning algorithms with 10-fold cross-validation. The P. truncatus population size prediction model performance was weak (r = 0.43) due to the complicated sampling and detection of the pest and eight-week long period between sampling events. The grain damage prediction model had a stronger correlation coefficient (r = 0.93) and is a good estimator for in situ stored grain insect damage. The models were developed for use under southern African climatic conditions and can be improved with more input data to create more precise models for building decision-support tools for smallholder maize-based production systems.     

Bioinformatic characterization of the extracellular lipases from Kluyveromyces marxianus

Lipases are hydrolytic enzymes that break the ester bonds of triglycerides, generating free fatty acids and glycerol. Extracellular lipase activity has been reported for the nonconventional yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, grown in olive oil as a substrate, and the presence of at least eight putative lipases has been detected in its genome. However, to date, there is no experimental evidence on the physiological role of the putative lipases nor their structural and catalytic properties. In this study, a bioinformatic analysis of the genes of the putative lipases from K. marxianus L-2029 was performed, particularly identifying and characterizing the extracellular expected enzymes, due to their biotechnological relevance. The amino acid sequence of 10 putative lipases, obtained by in silico translation, ranged between 389 and 773 amino acids. Two of the analysed putative proteins showed a signal peptide, 25 and 33 amino acids long for KmYJR107Wp and KmLIP3p, and a molecular weight of 44.53 and 58.23 kDa, respectively. The amino acid alignment of KmLIP3p and KmYJR107Wp with the crystallized lipases from a patatin and the YlLip2 lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica, respectively, revealed the presence of the hydrolase characteristic motifs. From the 3D models of putative extracellular K. marxianus L-2029 lipases, the conserved pentapeptide of each was determined, being GTSMG for KmLIP3p and GHSLG for KmYJR107Wp; besides, the genes of these two enzymes (LIP3 and YJR107W) are apparently regulated by oleate response elements. The phylogenetic analysis of all K. marxianus lipases revealed evolutionary affinities with lipases from abH15.03, abH23.01, and abH23.02 families.     

井下套管阀研究及室内试验

随着欠平衡钻井技术的深入研究和推广应用,全过程欠平衡钻井技术已成为研究热点。除了常规的欠平衡装备外,全过程欠平衡钻井还需配备井下套管阀,为此,研制了一种双液控井下套管阀。为检验该阀的使用可靠性,进行了全面的室内试验和测试,试验内容包括压力密封能力,高压、有流动情况下阀板关闭的动作准确性,模拟现场阀板下憋压时打开阀板的作业程序,检测在各种密封压力时阀的微泄漏量。试验结果表明,该阀达到设计要求,能够满足全过程欠平衡作业的工艺要求。     

欠平衡钻井过程中的井控新设备

文章简述了欠平衡钻井中不压井操作的设备和方法,介绍了威得福公司的井下套管阀和海底泥浆举升钻井工业联合项目在深水钻井中研发的新钻杆阀在欠平衡钻井中的应用。通过在钻杆上安装钻杆阀和在套管上安装套管阀解决接单根及起下钻操作时因压井可能破坏欠平衡状态的问题,使全过程的欠平衡钻井得以实现。     

数控机床逐点比较法插补直线分析

通过分析四方向逐点比较法的基本原理及基本特点说明其插补精度比较低的原因,提出提高插补精度的方法——八方向逐点比较插补法。     

CD++: a toolkit to develop DEVS models

The features of a toolkit for modeling and simulation based on the DEVS formalism are presented. The tool is built as a set of independent software pieces running on different platforms. Not only are the main characteristics of the environment presented, a focus on its use is also considered by inclusion of application examples for a variety of problems. Many models can be defined in an automated fashion, simplifying the construction of new models and easing their verification. The use of this formal approach has allowed the development of safe and cost‐effective simulations, significantly reducing development time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A place for Bobo in play therapy.

Some therapists hold that the Bobo and other aggressive toys should be excluded from the playroom as they elicit acting-out behavior that is transferred to the world outside the playroom. However, many therapists view the inclusion of these items as imperative elements that facilitate positive growth and maturation in the child. Interviews with authorities in the field of play therapy support the position that the inclusion of the Bobo is not only useful, but a therapeutic necessity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Issues in nonlinear stochastic grey box identification

Grey box identification refers to the practice of identifying dynamical systems in model structures exploiting partial prior information. This contribution reviews a method for stochastic grey box identification and surveys experiences and lessons of applying it to a number of industrial processes. Issues to be addressed include advantages and costs of introducing stochastics into the model, the question of what contribution must be expected from the model designer as opposed to what can be formalized in computer algorithms, and an outlook on future plans to resolve present shortcomings.     

提高大直径井眼机械钻速的几项措施

随着我国西部地区石油勘探开发的进展，5000－7000m的深探井所钻数量不断增多，套管程序增加，特别是大尺寸井眼所钻深度明显加大。由于国产大尺寸钻头结构单一、型号少，破岩机械能量和水力能量不足，在易斜井段目前尚无可靠的防斜保直措施，以及钻井液性能不适宜等原因，大尺寸井眼的钻这远远低于215．9mm井眼的钻速。据此，提出了几项可以提高大尺寸井眼钻速的措施：增加大尺寸钻头的种类，采用阶梯式扩眼钻头，强化钻井参数和水力参数，选用中速动力钻具，改善钻井液性能以及采用冲击旋转钻具等。