Improved recycling with life cycle information tagged to the product

Rising demand for product means that the recycling of materials is now more important than ever, saving a lot of energy embedded in materials, thus reducing CO₂ emissions. Providing relevant information can raise the recycling efficiency, which is too low at present.A Recycling Information Matrix (RIM) concentrating on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is suggested in order to facilitate and improve materials recycling. Each RIM focuses on a recycling target, and for each type of product a WEEE vector is constructed. The WEEE vector contains nine hexadecimal numbers where core-recycling info is stored.The WEEE vector can provide direct recycling information escorting the product. Another possibility is to individually identify every single product via RFID technology, giving the potential to look for relevant recycling information in databases. This offers the opportunity to add waste-handling information after the product has entered the market. This would be useful, for example, in tracking substances regarded as non-toxic at time of production which might later be proven to be the opposite.This paper is based on study visits at recycling facilities in Sweden and on many student EcoDesign projects including disassembly of consumer products. Research is done on a focused disassembly of dishwashers and on a polymer recycling experiment at a recycling plant for freezers and refrigerators. Possible escort memories are also studied, especially Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID).     

Isolines as a new tool to assess the energy costs of the production and distribution of multiple sources of seafood

Consumer-based ocean conservation efforts focus attention on seafood that is produced in an “eco-friendly” manner. However, many species can be produced either in aquaculture operations or harvested within wild capture fisheries, and each mode of production differs in their environmental impacts as well as their energy requirements. Complicating the assessment of eco-friendly seafood is the fact that seafood is a global commodity, the suppliers of which utilize a variety of methods to distribute the product from producer to consumer (e.g. ship, truck, airplane). Like the modes of production, these various modes of distribution differ in their energy intensity. This analysis assesses the overall energy requirements of production and distribution (E_P&D) of seafood to evaluate how the energy costs of distribution influence the total energy cost of seafood produced by different methods. This paper develops the concept of energy isolines as a tool to assess E_P&D. Isolines are a graphical method to succinctly integrate multiple distance assessments so that the best sourcing option can be determined. The isolines are then used to assess how the energy cost of distribution functions as a component of the overall energy cost, and how this influences the E_P&D of a product originating from two different sources with inherently different energy costs of production. Using scallops and salmon as examples, this analysis has revealed that an “eco-friendly” seafood commodity (one produced with less energy) produced far from its destination market could have a higher total E_P&D compared to a local, less “eco-friendly” product (that takes more energy to produce). Finally, this paper evaluates strategies to minimize the overall E_P&D of seafood. Overall, further work on energy audits of seafood focused the need to maintain a global perspective to determine seafood with the lowest overall energy cost of production and distribution.     

A One-Year Survey of Norovirus in UK Oysters Collected at the Point of Sale

Contamination of bivalve shellfish, particularly oysters, with norovirus is recognised as a food safety risk and a potential contributor to the overall burden of gastroenteritis in the community. The United Kingdom (UK) has comprehensive national baseline data on the prevalence, levels, and seasonality of norovirus in oysters in production areas resulting from a previous two-year study (2009–2011). However, previously, data on final product as sold to the consumer have been lacking. As part of a wider project to establish the overall burden of foodborne norovirus in the UK, this study aimed to address this data gap. A one-year survey of oysters collected from the point-of-sale to the consumer was carried out from March 2015 to March 2016. A total of 630 samples, originating in five different European Union Member States, were collected from 21 regions across the UK using a randomised sampling plan, and tested for norovirus using a method compliant with ISO 15216-1, in addition to Escherichia coli as the statutory indicator of hygiene status. As in the previous production area study, norovirus RNA was detected in a high proportion of samples (68.7%), with a strong winter seasonality noted. Some statistically significant differences in prevalences and levels in oysters from different countries were noted, with samples originating in the Netherlands showing lower prevalences and levels than those from either the UK or Ireland. Overall, levels detected in positive samples were considerably lower than seen previously. Investigation of potential contributing factors to this pattern of results was carried out. Application of normalisation factors to the data from the two studies based on both the numbers of norovirus illness reports received by national surveillance systems, and the national average environmental temperatures during the two study periods resulted in a much closer agreement between the two data sets, with the notably different numbers of illness reports making the major contribution to the differences observed in norovirus levels in oysters. The large majority of samples (76.5%) contained no detectable E. coli; however, in a small number of samples (2.4%) levels above the statutory end product standard (230 MPN/100 g) were detected. This study both revealed the high prevalence of norovirus RNA in oysters directly available to the UK consumer, despite the high level of compliance with the existing E. coli-based health standards, while also highlighting the difficulty in comparing the results of surveys carried out in different time periods, due to variability in risk factors.     

The effect of spindle speed,feed-rate and machining time to the surface roughness and burr formation of Aluminum Alloy 1100 in micro-milling operation

This paper describes the characteristics and the cutting parameters performance of spindle speeds (n, rpm) and feed-rates (f, mm/s) during three interval ranges of machining times (t, minutes) with respect to the surface roughness and burr formation, by using a miniaturized micro-milling machine. Flat end-mill tools that have two-flutes, made of solid carbide with Mega-T coated, with 0.2 mm in diameter were used to cut Aluminum Alloy AA1100. The causal relationship among spindle speeds, feed-rates, and machining times toward the surface roughness was analyzed using a statistical method ANOVA. It is found that the feed-rate (f) and machining time (t) contribute significantly to the surface roughness. Lower feed-rate would produce better surface roughness. However, when machining time is transformed into total cut length, it is known that a higher feed-rate, that consequently giving more productive machining since produce more cut length, would not degrade surface quality and tool life significantly. Burr occurrence on machined work pieces was analyzed using SEM. The average sizes of top burr for each cutting parameter selection were analyzed to find the relation between the cutting parameters and burr formation. In this research, bottom burr was found. It is formed in a longer machining time compare the formation of top burr, entrance burr and exit burr. Burr formation is significantly affected by the tool condition, which is degrading during the machining process. This knowledge of appropriate cutting parameter selection and actual tool condition would be an important consideration when planning a micro-milling process to produce a product with minimum burr.     

The power and pain of market-based carbon policies: a global application to greenhouse gases from ruminant livestock production

The objectives of this research are to assess the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of carbon policies applied to the ruminant livestock sector [inclusive of the major ruminant species—cattle (Bos Taurus and Bos indicus), sheep (Ovis aries), and goats (Capra hircus)]—with particular emphasis on understanding the adjustment challenges posed by such policies. We show that market-based mitigation policies can greatly amplify the mitigation potential identified in marginal abatement cost studies by harnessing powerful market forces such as product substitution and trade. We estimate that a carbon tax of US$20 per metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent emissions could mitigate 626 metric megatons of CO₂ equivalent ruminant emissions per year (MtCO₂-eq year^?1). This policy would also incentivize a restructuring of cattle production, increasing the share of cattle meat coming from the multiproduct dairy sector compared to more emission intensive, single purpose beef sector. The mitigation potential from this simple policy represents an upper bound because it causes ruminant-based food production to fall and is therefore likely to be politically unpopular. In the spirit of the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC 2015), which expresses the ambition of reducing agricultural emissions while protecting food production, we assess a carbon policy that applies both a carbon tax and a subsidy to producers to manage the tradeoff between food production and mitigation. The policy maintains ruminant production and consumption levels in all regions, but for a much lower global emission reduction of 185 MtCO₂-eq year^?1. This research provides policymakers with a quantitative basis for designing policies that attempt to trade off mitigation effectiveness with producer and consumer welfare.     

Experimental Evaluation of Cutter Orientation When Ball Nose End Milling Inconel 718™

High-speed machining (HSM), specifically end milling and ball end cutting, is attracting interest in the aerospace industry for the machining of complex 3D aerofoil surfaces in titanium alloys and nickel-based superalloys. Following a brief introduction on HSM and related aerospace work, the paper reviews published data on the effect of cutter/workpiece orientation, also known as engagement or tilt angle, on tool performance. Such angles are defined as ±β_fN and ±β_f.Experimental work is detailed on the effect of cutter orientation on tool life, cutting forces, chip formation, specific force, and workpiece surface roughness when high-speed ball end milling Inconel 718™. Dry cutting was performed using 8 mm diameter PVD-coated solid carbide cutters with the workpiece mounted at an angle of 45° from the cutter axis.A horizontal downward (-β_fN) cutting orientation provided the best tool life with cut lengths ∼50% longer than for all other directions (+β_fN, +β_f, and –β_f). Evaluation of cutting forces and associated spectrum analysis of results indicated that cutters employed in a horizontal downward direction produced the least vibration. This contributed to improved workpiece surface roughness, with typical mean values of ∼0.4 μm Ra as opposed to ∼1.25 μm Ra when machining in the vertical downward (–β_f) direction.     

KOH对富铁富硫酸盐酸性环境中生物成因次生铁矿物合成的影响

生物成因次生铁矿物的高效合成对处理以富铁富硫酸盐为典型环境特征的酸性矿山废水具有重要的工程指导意义.本研究通过细菌培养实验,在富铁富硫酸盐环境(改进型9K液体培养基)中,考察了KOH对嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌(A.ferrooxidans)催化合成次生铁矿物过程中体系p H、Fe2+氧化率、总Fe沉淀率及次生铁矿物矿相的影响.结果表明,A.ferrooxidans在改进型9K培养基(对照处理)中培养72 h后,p H从原始的2.50下降至2.34,而在对照处理分别加入3.3、6.7与13.4 mmol·L-1KOH的处理体系中培养72 h后,p H却分别降低至2.27、2.15与2.10.同时,KOH的加入能够在一定程度上加速Fe2+的氧化速率及总Fe的沉淀效率.例如,培养至24 h,加入3.3、6.7和13.4 mmol·L-1KOH的处理体系较对照体系Fe2+氧化率分别提高了12.1%、20.3%和23.2%.培养至72 h,加入3.3、6.7和13.4 mmol·L-1KOH的处理体系较对照体系总Fe沉淀率分别增加了26.0%、60.4%和71.8%.通过分析加入6.7 mmol·L-1KOH或3.3 mmol·L-1K2SO4处理体系上述参数的变化情况,可以得出,KOH加速体系酸化、提高Fe2+氧化率及总Fe沉淀率是K+与OH-联合作用所致.本研究不同体系所得次生铁矿物均为黄铁矾与施氏矿物共存的混合物,然而,KOH引入的K+或OH-均有利于体系无定型施氏矿物向晶型黄铁矾类矿物转化.研究结果可为次生铁矿物生物合成及其在酸性矿山废水治理领域的应用提供必要的参数支撑.     

Tests of models of cloudwater deposition to forest canopies using artificial and living collectors

Mechanistic cloud deposition models are very useful in the routine quantification of cloudwater deposition to forest canopies. In order to test, in a natural field situation, several assumptions in these models, a passive string cloudwater collector, a small artificial tree, and a living Norway spruce were exposed to cloudwater on a raised platform at the summit (elevation, 1686 m) of Whitetop Mountain, Virginia over a 5 month period. Cloudwater collection rates by these three collectors were used to examine relationships between these rates and measured values for two important meteorological variables in the models, liquid water content and wind speed, the product of which is the horizontal cloudwater flux. Collection rates for all three collectors were predicted moderately well by horizontal cloudwater flux (R² ranged from 0.54 to 0.73; p<0.0001) across all hours of observation, but were least strongly related when liquid water content was low, probably because of various measurement uncertainties under this condition. For all three collectors, simple linear regressions using the horizontal water flux to predict collection rates were not appreciably improved by inclusion of a cloudwater collection efficiency term or by conversion to binomial or curvilinear models. Cloudwater collection efficiency for all three collectors was related to the logarithm of horizontal water flux, as predicted by the models, only when this relationship was analyzed within individual cloud events. Between individual cloud events, collection efficiency varied across a wide range (0.12–0.50 for the spruce tree), with efficiencies much higher during events of short duration. Cloudwater collection efficiency was often lower than predicted by cloud deposition models, possibly because the models use wind speed measurements which do not take into account reductions in wind speed occurring within needle clusters on branches. Collection rates for all three collectors correlated highly with each other (R² ranged from 0.72 to 0.88; p<0.0001), as well as with a mature red spruce canopy. It was concluded that either the string collector or an artificial tree such as the one used in this study would serve as a good surrogate collector for living spruce tree crowns.     

Development of vermicast from sludge and powdered oyster shell

Soil acidification is one of the rising land degradation issues facing world agriculture. The risk of acidification is currently being assessed as part of agriculture productivity and sustainable theme. This study was conducted to produce a new vermicomposting cast as a recycling resource derived from municipal sewage sludge and waste oyster shell. The earthworm, Eisenia Andrei, was fed under different conditions. The most suitable mixture was 77:23 w/w% of sewage sludge and waste oyster shell. Powdered oyster shell (POS) sludge blend provided a stable pH, due to its buffering capacity during vermiculture because of the Ca²⁺ and OH^? release effect. The vermicast products fulfilled the cast standards of Korea Ministry of Environment for all the parameters such as moisture content, pH, salinity, organic carbon, TKN, Phosphate, and heavy metals. Slowly released organic matter when added to soil improves the capacity of the soil to hold nutrients for plants, improve soil aeration for roots, and improves soil drainage. This product will be an addition to already-commercialized sludge vermicast as a higher value product.     

MODIS 3 km气溶胶光学厚度产品检验及其环境空气质量指示

分析了MODIS C006 3 km卫星遥感气溶胶产品的算法流程,并与AERONET观测数据进行对比验证,综合新疆阿克苏地区地面空气子站1年的颗粒物质量浓度(PM10)、环境气象资料(能见度、湿度等),评估了该高分辨率气溶胶产品的精度和稳定性.分析表明,MODIS 3 km AOD与AERONET地基AOD(Issyk-Kul)的相关系数(r)达到0.8836,满足期望误差要求,但存在高估;研究区AOD和PM10存在同步变化趋势,新疆阿克苏市区2个空气子站PM10质量浓度与AOD的相关系数(r)均大于0.55,直接对比的相关性好于类似研究;经高度订正和湿度订正后AOD-PM10的相关系数和拟合优度均有所提高,标准误差和变异系数均下降,但提升并不明显.这一相关性结果与研究区本底气象环境条件有关.MODIS 3 km AOD的季平均结果表明,阿克苏地区AOD存在显著的季节性变化,春季明显高于其他季节,主要城市春季平均AOD在1.5以上,夏季和秋季AOD均值基本介于0.6~0.7之间,阿克苏市主城区夏秋季AOD季均值仍在1.0以上,反映人口集聚、城市交通工业发展等大气人为污染的增加导致AOD的增高.结果表明,MODIS C006 3 km AOD产品质量稳定,其月、季平均等长时间尺度结果有更好的空间覆盖,可满足区域环境空气质量评估的需要.     

Solid state fermentation of lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A by using a novel solid state fermentation reactor system

A new solid state fermentation reactor (SSFR) for solid substrate was used for the production of lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A using Bacillus subtilis RB14-CS. Solid state fermentation (SSF) is the technique of cultivation of microorganisms on solid and moist substrates in the absence of free water. SSF has shown much promise in the development of several bioprocesses and products because of their several advantages like absence of free water that allows simplified downstream processing and low cost. SSFR allows agitation of the SSF culture with improved temperature control and air supply. Interestingly, when okara, the widely available waste product from the tofu industries, was used as the solid substrate for the SSFR, no iturin A production was observed. However, without agitation, production of iturin A was observed in the SSFR but the production level remained low. The low production of iturin A was found to be due to the heat generation and excess temperature rise inside the reactor system during the fermentation process. Maintaining the temperature within a range of 25–30°C, production of iturin A was significantly improved in the SSFR. This was comparable to the laboratory scale production, and signifies the potential application of the SSFR for SSF.     

Size-dependent measurement of aerosol photoemission from particles in diesel exhaust

The size dependence of the photoelectric yield is investigated for particles in the exhaust of an oil burner and a diesel engine. This experiment yields information on the relative concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on particles of different sizes. For the particles produced by the oil burner the PAH concentration is proportional to β(D)/D², where βD is the attachment coefficient and D the particle diameter. This is expected when the PAH concentration is controlled by diffusion flux to the particles. With diesel particles, however, the PAH concentration per unit particle surface is much higher with smaller particles than can be explained by the diffusion model.     

Individual lifetime pollen and nectar foraging preferences in bumble bees

Foraging specialization plays an important role in the ability of social insects to efficiently allocate labor. However, relatively little is known about the degree to which individual bumble bees specialize on collecting nectar or pollen, when such preferences manifest, and if individuals can alter their foraging preferences in response to changes in the colony workforce. Using Bombus impatiens, we monitored all foraging visits made by every bee in multiple colonies and showed that individual foragers exhibit consistent lifetime foraging preferences. Based upon the distribution of foraging preferences, we defined three forager types (pollen specialists, nectar specialists, and generalists). In unmanipulated colonies, 16–36?% of individuals specialized (≥90?% of visits) on nectar or pollen only. On its first day of foraging, an individual’s foraging choices (nectar only, pollen only, or nectar and pollen) significantly predicted its lifetime foraging preferences. Foragers that only collected pollen on their first day of foraging made 1.61- to 1.67-fold more lifetime pollen foraging visits (as a proportion of total trips) than foragers that only collected nectar on their first foraging day. Foragers were significantly larger than bees that stayed only in the nest. We also determined the effect of removing pollen specialists at early (brood present) or later (brood absent) stages in colony life. These results suggest that generalists can alter their foraging preferences in response to the loss of a small subset of foragers. Thus, bumble bees exhibit individual lifetime foraging preferences that are established early in life, but generalists may be able to adapt to colony needs.     

Transport and deposition of indoor radon decay products—II. Influence of environmental conditions

The effects of indoor radon decay product behavior on overall concentrations have generally been characterized using uniformly-mixed models, mathematical formulations based on steady-state macroscopic mass-balances, assuming uniform concentrations within the enclosure. The uniformly-mixed model parameterizes the deposition process as a constant volumetric removal rate, given different values for the free and attached progeny. The model requires prior knowledge of the deposition rates, and assumes them to be constant, independent of environmental conditions, and identical for all decay products. There has generally been little agreement regarding the actual values of the deposition rates, and the uncertainty in these required values presents an important limitation.In response to the limitations of existing mass-balance models, an indoor radon mass-transport model, RADTRAN, was developed using a microscopic mass-balance. Deposition by molecular diffusion is accounted for through boundary conditions, and deposition velocity is calculated based on the concentration distribution near the wall. Parametric sensitivity studies using RADTRAN examined the sensitivity of the deposition of radon decay products to several factors: the size of the free progeny (measured by its diffusivity, D^f), particle concentration (using the attachment rate, X), and air motion. Deposition is described in terms of the deposition velocities of the free and attached progeny, u^f and u^a. The development of RADTRAN is described in a companion paper. This paper presents the results of the parametric sensitivity studies examining the influence of environmental conditions on radon progeny deposition. Results primarily focus on the influence on the free mode of the first radon decay product, ²¹⁸Po. RADTRAN is also used to examine the variations of deposition velocity between the decay products.     

Different patterns of oviposition learning in two closely related ectoparasitoid wasps with contrasting reproductive strategies

Many parasitoid wasps learn host-associated cues and use them in subsequent host-searching behavior. This associative learning, namely “oviposition learning,” has been investigated in many studies. However, few studies have compared multiple species, and no comparative study has previously been conducted on ectoparasitoid species. We compared the effects of oviposition learning on host preference and offspring sex ratio in two closely related ectoparasitoid wasps with contrasting reproductive strategies, Anisopteromalus calandrae (r-strategist) and its sibling species (K-strategist). Using two bruchine hosts, Callosobruchus chinensis and Callosobruchus maculatus larvae infesting the cowpea Vigna unguiculata, oviposition choice experiments were performed at high and low host densities. In both species, no conspicuous effect on the offspring sex ratio was detected, but effects on host preference were found to differ between the species. In A. calandrae, the effects were detected only at high host density, suggesting that oviposition learning plays a role in host discrimination from a short distance but not from a long distance. In the sibling species, those effects were not detected in any of the cases, suggesting the absence of oviposition learning. These results are compatible with those of previous comparative studies of endoparasitoid wasps in that few lifetime oviposition experiences and/or low reward per foraging decision result in low or absent oviposition learning ability. This finding may indicate that ecological traits contributing to learning ability are similar between endoparasitoid and ectoparasitoid wasps. Thus, our species comparison of ectoparasitoids provides another model system for investigating learning and memory dynamics in parasitoid wasps.     

氮磷比对蛋白核小球藻和塔玛亚历山大藻种间竞争的影响

通过单独培养和共同培养的方法,以Na NO3和KH2PO3为氮源和磷源,研究了氮磷比(4、6、9、10、13、16、22、36和91)对蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)和塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)生长和种间竞争的影响,并对其作用机制进行了探讨.结果表明:在单独培养模式下,蛋白核小球藻在N/P为4~22时生长适宜,N/P22时生长受抑制,而塔玛亚历山大藻在N/P为4和6时生长适宜,N/P6时生长受抑制;在共同培养模式下,蛋白核小球藻具有竞争优势,而塔玛亚历山大藻的生长受抑制,且N/P为13和16时蛋白核小球藻种群竞争优势最明显;蛋白核小球藻和塔玛亚历山大藻的培养滤液对彼此生长均未产生抑制作用,由此推测,两种微藻的种间竞争主要以资源利用性竞争为主.结果可为开发利用饵料藻进行赤潮生物防控提供一些理论依据.     

Size-dependent measurement of aerosol photoemission from particles in diesel exhaust

The size dependence of the photoelectric yield is investigated for particles in the exhaust of an oil burner and a diesel engine. This experiment yields information on the relative concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on particles of different sizes. For the particles produced by the oil burner the PAH concentration is proportional to β(D)/D², where β(D) is the attachment coefficient and D the particle diameter. This is expected when the PAH concentration is controlled by diffusion flux to the particles. With diesel particles, however, the PAH concentration per unit particle surface is much higher with smaller particles than can be explained by the diffusion model.     

A2O工艺活性污泥中可培养丝状细菌的多样性

活性污泥法是应用最广泛的污水处理方法之一,但是由于丝状菌过度繁殖而引发的污泥膨胀是制约其发展的重大难题.本研究从A2O工艺城市污水处理系统的膨胀期活性污泥中分离培养出17株丝状细菌.对各菌株进行了16S rDNA测序和系统发育树分析,结果表明,这些分离的可培养丝状细菌均属于链霉菌属;利用rep-PCR指纹图谱技术进一步分析了所得菌种属内多样性,显示出活性污泥中链霉菌存在丰富的多样性.由于这些可培养丝状细菌与引起污泥膨胀的优势丝状菌(微丝菌)生理特征差别较大,不会在污水处理系统中过度繁殖,本研究向活性污泥中投加一定量的链霉菌分离菌株,发现部分菌株对污泥的沉降性能有明显改善作用,为污泥膨胀的防控提供了新的思路.     

Energy based phenomenological model for optimizing the sheared edge in the trimming of steels

Attributes related to the dimensional quality of hot rolled steels are very important in commercial sectors that make direct use of this product, because delay or equipment damage can be avoided when forming in downstream operations. In this research, the steel sheet edge trimming process and its relationship with the defect known as broken edge is experimental and numerically studied. The type of material, horizontal clearance between knives and the energy spent during the cutting process are analyzed in detail. A metal-mechanical study is carried out for obtaining a microstructural hardness and flow stress characterization. Consequently, the edge trimming process is FEM simulated and its results in relation to knife penetration and shear stress lead to determining the energy spent during the cutting process. A mathematical model is determined under the consideration that minimum energy gives the optimum cutting conditions. The model proposes a reliable value for the horizontal clearance (H_c), between knives, taking as the principal factors: energy consumed during the edge trimming process, sheet thickness (T_h), carbon content (C) and/or its ultimate tensile strength, expressed as: H_c = α + βT_h − γC. A comparison of the recommended numerical results with the best practical conditions is carried out and a high coincidence is successfully found. This model is expected to be easily adopted as a tool where operators can adjust and control the parameters of process, and then, as a result, produce a sheet without edge trimming defects as well as a reduction in efficiency costs.     

Gustatory receptor neuron responds to DEET and other insect repellents in the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Three gustatory receptor neurons were characterized for contact chemoreceptive sensilla on the labella of female yellow-fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti. The neuron with the smallest amplitude spike responded to the feeding deterrent, quinine, as well as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide and other insect repellents. Two other neurons with differing spikes responded to salt (NaCl) and sucrose. This is the first report of a gustatory receptor neuron specific for insect repellents in mosquitoes and may provide a tool for screening chemicals to discover novel or improved feeding deterrents and repellents for use in the management of arthropod disease vectors.