Artificial neural network modeling of caste odor discrimination based on cuticular hydrocarbons in termites

Summary. Individuals in an insect colony need to identify one another according to caste. Nothing is known about the sensory process allowing nestmates to discriminate minute variations in the cuticular hydrocarbon mixture. The purpose of this study was to attempt to model caste odors discrimination in four species of Reticulitermes termites for the first time by a non-linear mathematical approach using an "artificial neural network" (ANN). Several rounds of testing were carried out using 1 – the whole hydrocarbon mixtures 2 – mixtures containing the hydrocarbons selected by principal component analysis (PCA) as the most implicated in caste discrimination. Discrimination between worker and soldier castes was tested in all four species. For two species we tested discrimination of four castes (workers, soldiers, nymphs, neotenics). To test cuticular pattern similarity in two sibling species (R. santonensis and R. flavipes), we performed two experiments using one species for training and the other for query. Using whole hydrocarbons mixtures, worker/soldier discrimination was always successful in all species. Network performance decreased with the number of hydrocarbons used as inputs. Four-caste discrimination was less successful. In the experiment with the sibling species, the ANN was able to distinguish soldiers but not workers. The results of this study suggest that non-linear mathematical analysis is a good tool for classification of castes based on cuticular hydrocarbon mixture. In addition this study confirms that hydrocarbon mixtures observed are real chemical entities and constitute a true chemical signature or odor. Whole mixtures are not always necessary for discrimination. Received 23 July 1998; accepted 9 October 1998.     

前驱物结晶体升华成膜法制备TiO2薄膜及其光催化性研究

采用“前驱物结晶体升华成膜法”工艺，使含钛前驱物结晶体草酸氧钛酸以升华的方式，均匀地在玻璃表面形成前驱物薄膜；经过热处理，制备出外观平整透明的玻璃基TiO2薄膜，其薄膜厚度为80-100nm，粒度≤50nm。初步研究了制备条件、薄膜性能和本工艺制备的玻璃基TiO2纳米薄膜对甲基对硫磷的光催化降解性能。     

GIS技术在区域土壤有机碳储量估算方面的应用--以柴达木盆地为例

目前在估算土壤有机碳储量方面的方法较多,并且都有其各自的特点所在。地理信息系统(GIS)技术作为当今一种在地学统计分析方面具有强大空间分析功能的计算机应用技术,在地学及相关研究领域得到了广泛的应用。文章首次尝试了利用该技术估算柴达木盆地土壤有机碳储量,该方法与其它计算方法相比,有简单、易操作、可视性好等优点。经计算,柴达木盆地的土壤有机碳储量约为62754.442 t,土壤平均碳面密度为6.105 kgm-2。     

Whitefly wax as a cue for phoresy in the broad mite, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyphagotarsonemus latus</Emphasis>(Acari: Tarsonemidae)

Summary. Broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) exhibits a specific phoretic relationship with whiteflies. Under field conditions most broad mites, caught in sticky traps, are attached to whiteflies. Under laboratory conditions, attachment occurs equally well in the dark and light. Mites do not differentiate between the sexes of their phoretic host Bemisia tabaci. However, mite attachment to B. tabaci is greatly diminished by washing the host with various organic solvents, chloroform in particular. The effect of whitefly waxy particles on broad mite behavior was studied using wax from the whitefly Aleyrodes singularis and from the mealybug Planococcus citri. Broad mites were not only attracted specifically to the A. singularis waxy particles-treated leaf areas but were also attached to leaf trichomes in this area. The results of this study suggests the importance of olfactory cues from the whitefly waxy particles in the recognition process of the phoretic host and/or the induction of the attachment behavior to whitefly legs or leaf trichomes.     

衍生化气相色谱法测定黄磷诱发氧化水中苯酚降解产物

利用衍生化气相色谱法对黄磷诱发氧化苯酚降解产物进行了研究，在磷酸存在下，以甲醇作酯类衍行生试剂，分别和ＳＥ－５２和ＨＰ－１７石英毛细管双柱结合ＧＣ－ＭＳ进行分离定性定量，黄磷诱发氧化苯酚降解产物以羧酸为主，在反应温度５０℃时，表现为一级反应特征，速率常数（Ｋ）：０．０７７ｍｉｎ＾－１，半衰期（ｔ１／２）：９．０ｍｉｎ。     

有机污染物在土壤中迁移转化的研究进展

从机理、实验和数值模拟方面,综述了近年来国内外土壤中有机污染物迁移转化过程的最新进展,重点介绍了处理耦合数学模型的的数值模拟方法,并结合土壤污染发展的特点,对今后有机污染的研究方向作了一般性探讨,提出了需要进一步解决的关键性问题。     

矿物包裹复合肥的缓释性研究

采用埋土试验法和微区试验方法,对矿物包裹复合肥料的缓释性进行了研究。结果表明,矿物包裹复合肥料的养分释放明显向后期延伸,矿物包裹复合肥料的肥效期可达120 d以上,比复混合肥料的肥效期至少延长80 d,有利于植物均衡吸收养分,其氮的利用效率比等养分复合肥高出38个百分点;其磷的利用效率比等养分复合肥高出11.5个百分点。     

Aristolochic acid content of South-East Asian troidine swallowtails (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and of Aristolochia plant species (Aristolochiaceae)

Summary. Analysis of South-East Asian troidine swallowtails revealed high variability in the content of aristolochic acids among individuals. The presence or absence of these compounds depends on the Aristolochia species available as food plant for the larvae. Only one plant species (Aristolochia philippinensis) contained a high concentration of aristolochic acids, while other species from various localities contained none or only marginal amounts. Whether aristolochic acids have a distinct function in chemical defense of these swallowtails is still an open question. Received 11 December 2000; accepted 4 August 2001.     

37个含硫芳香族化合物理化参数的相关性分析

本文对37个含硫(S,SO,SO_2)芳香族化合物的理化参数作了统计分析,在水解速率常数k与取代基常数之间建立了几个多元回归方程,并根据各化合物的因子得分和实验设计方法为生物试验挑选出了8个有代表性的化合物。     

Defensive secretion of a flightless grasshopper: Failure to prevent lizard attack

Summary We tested the role of a grasshopper defensive secretion in deterring lizard predation. Adults, but not young larvae, of the chemically defended lubber grasshopperRomalea guttata (=microptera) froth a volatile secretion when attacked by predators. The lizardAnolis carolinensis failed to strike juvenile lubbers (which lack secretion) in laboratory trials. Survivorship of palatable crickets loaded with secretion offered toA. carolinensis was not significantly different from survivorship of control crickets. In experiments designed to investigate if lizards learn an aversion to the secretion, striking times forSceloporus undulatus fed wax worms coated with secretion were not significantly different over three days of trials. Three primary conclusions are drawn from these data. First, the secretion may not be necessary for lubber protection from lizards. Second, lubber secretion does not appear to deter lizards from attacking or eating prey items. Third, lizards do not appear to develop an aversion to the secretion.