Host-plant green-leaf volatiles synergize the synthetic sex pheromones of the corn earworm and codling moth (Lepidoptera)

Summary The capture of adult male moths in female sex pheromone traps of two key agricultural pests, the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and the codling moth (Cydia pomonella), is enhanced or synergized by a certain group of host-plant volatiles, the green-leaf volatiles (GLVs). Since female adults of both species call and release their sex pheromones while perched upon the leaves of their host-plants, the volatile constituents from the leaves of a number of host-plants were compared. Sex pheromone traps containing one of the prominent leaf volatiles of certainH. zea hosts, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, not only significantly increased the capture ofH. zea males but were preferred over traps baited only with sex pheromone. Similarly, traps baited with synthetic sex pheromome ofC. pomonella plus a blend of GLVs captured significantly more males than traps baited only with sex pheromone. Since male moths are not captured in traps baited only with these GLVs, it appears that these GLVs act as pheromone synergists which increase or enhance the attraction or arrestment of male moths in pheromone traps.     

A comparative study of aggressiveness in eastern North American field cricket species (genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gryllus</Emphasis>)

To understand the variation in aggressiveness and factors important for contest outcome, we quantified and compared agonistic interactions of four field cricket species in eastern North America: Gryllus fultoni (Orthoptera; Gryllidae), G. vernalis, G. pennsylvanicus, and G. rubens. The most aggressive behavior that we observed, the grapple, was frequently displayed in agonistic trials of G. pennsylvanicus and G. rubens. By contrast, we never observed this behavior in trials involving G. fultoni and G. vernalis. Consequently, species was the only significant variable affecting the variation in aggressiveness, whereas size difference, age difference, and contest duration had no significant effect. In species with high levels of aggressiveness, G. pennsylvanicus and G. rubens, the factors that might be indicative of resource holding potential such as size or age difference seemed to be significant for contest outcome. In species with low levels of aggressiveness, G. fultoni and G. vernalis, however, there were indications that contest outcomes were determined by aggressiveness itself rather than the size and age differences between opponents. Markov chain analyses revealed that the difference in aggressiveness between species with high and low levels of aggressiveness lay in a sequence of escalating behaviors: antennal fencing, mandible flare, and grapple. The escalated state of aggressiveness characterized by this behavioral sequence in G. pennsylvanicus and G. rubens seems to be the ancestral state in the North American Gryllus phylogeny. We argue that the loss of a tendency to use burrows in G. fultoni and G. vernalis might be related to low levels of aggressiveness in these species.     

工业化规模生物堆修复焦化类PAHs污染土壤的效果

现场建立处理能力为450 m3工业化规模的生物堆对焦化类PAHs污染土壤进行为期8个月的修复,运行过程中控制土壤C∶N∶P=100∶10∶1、水分10%～20%(质量百分比)、堆内氧气不低于7%(体积百分比)。结果表明:O2与CO2浓度呈负相关。系统连续运行时,微生物数量增加至107数量级,高出自然状态下土壤中微生物数量1～2个数量级。除NO3-在运行后期显著增加外,其余土壤因子均无明显变化。PAHs的降解主要出现在前6个月,之后进入"拖尾"阶段,土壤中各PAH浓度基本不再降低。运行结束后,堆体0.5 m处土壤中含2、3、4、5和6个苯环PAHs的降解率分别介于56.3%～99.5%、34.8%～71.6%、30.7%～40.6%、28.6%～39.2%和39.3%,16种PAHs的平均去除率为65.1%。1.5 m处土壤中含2、3、4、5和6个苯环PAHs的降解率分别介于50.9%～99.8%、57.7%～60.9%、55.9%～63.0%、27.3%～57.1%和52.2%,16种PAHs的平均去除率为71.4%。     

Removal characteristics of CO2 using aqueous MEA/AMP solutions in the absorption and regeneration process

The carbon dioxide (CO2) removal efficiency, reaction rate, and CO2 loading into aqueous blended monoethanolamine (MEA) + 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) solutions to enhance absorption characteristics of MEA and AMP were carried out by the absorption/regeneration process. As a result, compared to aqueous MEA and AMP solutions, aqueous blended MEA+AMP solutions have a higher CO2 loading than MEA and a higher reaction rate than AMP. The CO2 loading of rich amine of aqueous 18 wt.% MEA+12 wt.% AMP solution was 0.62 mol CO2/mol amine, which is 51.2% more than 30 wt.% MEA (0.41 mol CO2/mol amine). Consequently, blending MEA and AMP could be an effective way to design cousidering economical efficiency and used to operate absorber for a long time.     

Electrochemical Detection of Pathogen Infection Using Cell Chip

The immobilized cell using self-assembled synthetic oligopeptide was applied to the electrochemical detection of pathogen infection. Thin films based on cysteine-terminated synthetic oligopeptides were fabricated for the immobilization of HeLa cell on gold (Au) substrate. Layer formation and immobilization of the cell were investigated with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experimental results showed that the thin film of cysteine-terminated synthetic oligopeptide was successfully fabricated and it could be applied for the immobilization of HeLa cells. The adhered living cell was exposed to E. coli O157:H7, which induced the change of SPR angle and electrochemical impedance signal. The proposed cell immobilization method using self-assembly technique can be applied to construct the cell microarray for on-site pathogen monitoring.     

Using multivariate statistical methods to assess the groundwater quality in an arsenic-contaminated area of Southwestern Taiwan

Groundwater is a major water resource in Southwestern Taiwan; hence, long-term monitoring of water quality is essential. The study aims to assess the hydrochemical characteristics of water in the arsenic-contaminated aquifers of Choushui River alluvial fan and Chianan Plain, Taiwan using multivariate statistical methods, namely, factor analysis (FA), cluster analysis (CA), and discriminant analysis (DA). Factor analysis is applied to reveal the processes controlling the hydrochemistry of groundwater. Cluster analysis is applied to spatially categorize the collected water samples based on the water quality. Discriminant analysis is then applied to elucidate key parameters associated with the occurrence of elevated As concentration (>10 μg L(-1)) in groundwater. Major water types are characterized as Na-Ca-Cl and Na-Mg-Cl in the Choushui River alluvial fan and Chianan Plain, respectively. Inorganic species of arsenic (As), particularly As(III), prevail in these two groundwater catchments, and their levels are higher in the Chianan Plain than in the Choushui River alluvial fan. Through FA, three factors, namely, the degree of salination, As reduction, and iron (Fe) reduction, are determined and denoted irrespective of some differences between the factorial compositions. Spatial distribution patterns of factors As reduction and Fe reduction imply that the redox zonation is delineated by As- and Fe-dominance zones separately. The results of CA demonstrate that three main groups can be properly explained by the factors extracted via FA. Three- (Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and NH (4) (+) ) and four-parameters (Fe(2+), Fe(3+), NH (4) (+) , and Ca(2+)) derived from discriminant analysis for Choushui River alluvial fan and Chianan Plain are elucidated as key parameters affecting the distribution of As-contained groundwater. The analytical results indicate that the reductive dissolution of Fe minerals is prerequisite for the mobilization of As, whereas the shift of redox condition from Fe- to As-reducing leads to the accumulation of dissolved As in this area.     

A Statistical Sediment Yield Prediction Model Incorporating the Effect of Fires and Subsequent Storm Events1

Abstract: Alluvial fans are continuously being developed for residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural uses in southern California. Development and alteration of alluvial fans need to consider the possibility of mud and debris flows from upstream mountain watersheds affected by fires. Accurate prediction of sediment yield (or hyper‐concentrated sediment yield) is essential for the design, operation, and maintenance of debris basins to safeguard properly the general populace. This paper presents a model for the prediction of sediment yields that result from a combination of fire and subsequent storm events. The watersheds used in this analysis are located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in southern California. A multiple regression analysis is first utilized to establish a fundamental statistical relationship for sediment yield as a function of relief ratio, drainage area, maximum 1‐h rainfall intensity and fire factor using 45 years of data (1938‐1983). In addition, a method for multi‐sequence sediment yield prediction under fire conditions was developed and calibrated using 17 years of sediment yield, fire, and precipitation data for the period 1984‐2000. After calibration, this model was verified by applying it to provide a prediction of the sediment yields for the 2001‐2002 fire events in southern California. The findings indicate a strong correlation between the estimated and measured sediment yields. The proposed method for sequence sediment yield prediction following fire events can be a useful tool to schedule cleanout operations for debris basins and to develop an emergency response strategy for the southern California region where plentiful sediment supplies exist and frequent fires occur.     

Societal individualism–collectivism and uncertainty avoidance as cultural moderators of relationships between job resources and strain

The job demands–resources model is a dominant theoretical framework that describes the influence of job demands and job resources on employee strain. Recent research has highlighted that the effects of job demands on strain vary across cultures, but similar work has not explored whether this is true for job resources. Given that societal characteristics can influence individuals' cognitive structures and, to a lesser extent, values in a culture, we address this gap in the literature and argue that individuals' strain in reaction to job resources may differ across cultures. Specifically, we theorize that the societal cultural dimensions of individualism–collectivism and uncertainty avoidance shape individual‐level job resource–strain relationships, as they dictate which types of resources (i.e., individual vs. group preference‐oriented and uncertainty‐reducing vs. not) are more likely to be valued, used, or effective in combating strain within a culture. Results revealed that societal individualism–collectivism and uncertainty avoidance independently moderated the relationships between certain job resources (i.e., job control, participation in decision making, and clear goals and performance feedback) and strain (i.e., job satisfaction and turnover intentions). This study expands our understanding of the cross‐cultural specificity versus generalizability of the job demands–resources model.