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.     

Crossing the Border: From Keto- to Imine Reduction in Short-Chain Dehydrogenases/Reductases

The family of NAD(P)H-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) comprises numerous biocatalysts capable of C=O or C=C reduction. The highly homologous noroxomaritidine reductase (NR) from Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus and Zt_SDR from Zephyranthes treatiae, however, are SDRs with an extended imine substrate scope. Comparison with a similar SDR from Asparagus officinalis (Ao_SDR) exhibiting keto-reducing activity, yet negligible imine-reducing capability, and mining the Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Engineering Database indicated that NR and Zt_SDR possess a unique active-site composition among SDRs. Adapting the active site of Ao_SDR accordingly improved its imine-reducing capability. By applying the same strategy, an unrelated SDR from Methylobacterium sp. 77 (M77_SDR) with distinct keto-reducing activity was engineered into a promiscuous enzyme with imine-reducing activity, thereby confirming that the ability to reduce imines can be rationally introduced into members of the “classical” SDR enzyme family. Thus, members of the SDR family could be a promising starting point for protein approaches to generate new imine-reducing enzymes.     

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.     

基于宏观经济结构合理化的宁夏水资源合理配置

本文分析了宁夏目前经济结构下水资源利用效率及产出效益，研究在一定经济发展水平下，当资源配置最优时，最优的经济均衡增长途径。区域最优经济结构是由国民经济各部门相互依存的关联关系技术矩阵所决定的，其均衡增长率和均衡增长产出结构分别等于非负矩阵的弗罗比尼斯特征根和相对应的弗罗比尼斯向量。本文根据联合国经济发展统计数据，分析出宁夏未来调整第一产业与第二产业结构的比例，认为应适当减少宁夏高耗水水稻种植面积，逐渐把农业用水量向工业用水量转移。转变经济增长方式，从水资源的高效利用及配置出发走内涵式、节水型的社会发展道路，以解决宁夏水资源严重不足的问题。     

数据库新技术浅析

介绍了数据库技术的发展及现状，数据库技术与多学科技术的有机结合，根据数据库技术的延伸与发展，论述了数据库建设中应注意的几个问题。     

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.     

苏里格低渗强非均质性气田开发技术对策探讨

鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格气田储集层具有低渗、强非均质性、中强压敏的特点，气井产能低，稳产期短。根据单井模拟及生产动态分析，气井低产量生产可以降低压敏效应的影响，加强气井低产量生产阶段的管理，有利于合理利用地层能量，提高井控外围低渗区储量动用程度；分层压裂、多层合采可以在纵向上充分动用气井控制储量，增加气井最终累计产气量和稳产时间；地质研究与地震相结合，是提高储集层预测精度和钻井成功率的技术关键；降低成本，争取优惠政策也是提高经济效益的有效途径。     

氧气合理利用决策支持系统和空分装置操作仿真系统

分析了钢铁企业空分系统能源管理的特点 ,并开发出降低空分能耗的应用软件 :氧气合理利用决策支持系统和空分装置操作仿真系统。前者可为决策者提供全面的辅助决策信息和决策支持以降低氧气放散 ,实现氧气的合理利用 ;后者既可实现空分装置运行操作的仿真 ,也可实现空分装置的仿真实验和仿真操作 ,为实施空分装置的节能优化运行提供技术支持     

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)