Olfaction in the female sheep botfly

The nasal botfly Oestrus ovis (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha: Oestridae) is a myiasis-causing insect species, which affects the health of sheep, goats and humans. Gravid females are viviparous and larviposit into the animal’s nostrils. Host-searching and larvipositing flies are visually guided and influenced by climatic conditions, whereas olfaction seemed to play no role in this process. However, here, we show that the antennae of adult O. ovis female flies are relatively small but well developed and inhabited by several types of olfactory sensilla. Further, we show that the antennal lobes of this species receive input from antennal afferents and consist of a clearly defined glomerular organisation. We also give the first evidence of the fly’s ability to detect several synthetic odour compounds. Our findings provide a morpho-functional basis for future investigations on olfactory-mediated behaviour of this insect pest.     

Influence of physical properties of solid biomass fuels on the design and cost of storage installations

The aim of this work consists on determining biomass fuels properties and studying their relation with fixed and variable costs of stores and handling systems. To do that, dimensions (length and diameter), bulk density, particle density and durability of several brands and batches of wood pellets and briquettes were tested, according to international standards. Obtained results were compared with those in literature. Bulk density tests were applied for several other biomass fuels too, and later used to determinate which ones of all the biomass-fuels tested are economically more profitable for a typical transport/store system made of a screw conveyor and a concrete bunker silo.     

Biophysical markers for abnormal placentation: first and/or second trimester

Placental development is a major cause of a successful pregnancy, and in the presence of placental dysfunction, there is a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Doppler technology can be used for screening and detecting the more common pregnancy-associated diseases like preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, and perinatal loss. In this review, the biophysical markers are discussed in the light of the latest information that appeared in the medical literature. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.