Underwater space suit pressure control regulator

A device is reported for regulating the pneumatic pressure in a ventilated space suit relative to the pressure imposed on the suit when being worn by a person underwater to simulate space environment for testing and experimentation. A box unit located on the chest area of the suit comprises connections for suit air supply and return lines and carries a regulator valve that stabilizes the air pressure differential between the inside and outside of the suit. The valve and suit pressure is controlled by the suit occupant and the valve includes a mechanism for quickly dumping the suit pressure in case of emergency. Pressure monitoring and relief devices are also included in the box unit

Attractant pheromone for nearctic stink bug Euschistus obscurus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): insight into a Neotropical relative.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-11T16:58:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ID9741.pdf: 430707 bytes, checksum: f7f5a625fa84b7e9e7a89d7c3879aa86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1997-04-30bitstream/item/178413/1/ID-9741.pd

Characterisation of different GLRaV-3 variant infections by determining virus concentration ratios and miRNA expression profiles

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is present in all grape-growing regions of the world and is considered the most significant grapevine viral disease. Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is considered the primary cause of GLD and in South African vineyards five genetic variant groups (I, II, III, VI and VII) have been confirmed. Biological distinctions between GLRaV-3 variants have not been fully validated. By characterising virus concentration and stress-responsive microRNA expression in GLRaV-3 infected plants, this study aimed to glean a better understanding of the possible biological distinctions between GLRaV-3 variants. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was utilised for virus concentration ratio (VCR) determination and miRNA quantitation in GLRaV-3 positive and negative grapevines grown under greenhouse and field conditions. This study found statistically significant differences in VCRs in plants singly infected with different GLRaV-3 variants. Interestingly, no difference in mean VCRs were observed between data sets, despite notable differences in plant age, duration of GLRaV-3 infection, scion/rootstock combination and growing conditions. Several miRNAs showed statistically significant expression modulation between infected and healthy samples. miRNA expression between data sets varied substantially and a greater overall miRNA response was observed in plants with more established GLRaV-3 infections. The lack of significant differences in mean VCRs between data sets, coupled with the consistent modulation of certain miRNAs in plants that have likely been infected for longer is a promising result. This finding could indicate that successful inhibition of further virus replication by plant defence mechanisms occurred, and that these miRNAs are implicated in this response

Identification of male-specific volatiles from Neartic and Neotropical stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae).

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What determines auditory similarity? The effect of stimulus group and methodology.

Two experiments on the internal representation of auditory stimuli compared the pairwise and grouping methodologies as means of deriving similarity judgements. A total of 45 undergraduate students participated in each experiment, judging the similarity of short auditory stimuli, using one of the methodologies. The experiments support and extend Bonebright's (1996) findings, using a further 60 stimuli. Results from both methodologies highlight the importance of category information and acoustic features, such as root mean square (RMS) power and pitch, in similarity judgements. Results showed that the grouping task is a viable alternative to the pairwise task with N > 20 sounds whilst highlighting subtle differences, such as cluster tightness, between the different task results. The grouping task is more likely to yield category information as underlying similarity judgements

Evaluation of Skylab (EREP) data for forest and rangeland surveys

The author has identified the following significant results. Four widely separated sites (near Augusta, Georgia; Lead, South Dakota; Manitou, Colorado; and Redding, California) were selected as typical sites for forest inventory, forest stress, rangeland inventory, and atmospheric and solar measurements, respectively. Results indicated that Skylab S190B color photography is good for classification of Level 1 forest and nonforest land (90 to 95 percent correct) and could be used as a data base for sampling by small and medium scale photography using regression techniques. The accuracy of Level 2 forest and nonforest classes, however, varied from fair to poor. Results of plant community classification tests indicate that both visual and microdensitometric techniques can separate deciduous, conifirous, and grassland classes to the region level in the Ecoclass hierarchical classification system. There was no consistency in classifying tree categories at the series level by visual photointerpretation. The relationship between ground measurements and large scale photo measurements of foliar cover had a correlation coefficient of greater than 0.75. Some of the relationships, however, were site dependent

Randomized, open-label, phase 1/2a study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of intraventricular sustained release nimodipine for subarachnoid hemorrhage (NEWTON [Nimodipine Microparticles to Enhance Recovery While Reducing Toxicity After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage])

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—: We conducted a randomized, open-label, phase 1/2a, dose-escalation study of intraventricular sustained-release nimodipine (EG-1962) to determine safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and clinical effects in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS—: Subjects with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage repaired by clipping or coiling were randomized to EG-1962 or enteral nimodipine. Subjects were World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade 2 to 4 and had an external ventricular drain. Cohorts of 12 subjects received 100 to 1200 mg EG-1962 (9 per cohort) or enteral nimodipine (3 per cohort). The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose. RESULTS—: Fifty-four subjects in North America were randomized to EG-1962, and 18 subjects were randomized to enteral nimodipine. The maximum tolerated dose was 800 mg. One serious adverse event related to EG-1962 (400 mg) and 2 EG-1962 dose-limiting toxicities were without clinical sequelae. There was no EG-1962-related hypotension compared with 17% (3/18) with enteral nimodipine. Favorable outcome at 90 days on the extended Glasgow outcome scale occurred in 27/45 (60%, 95% confidence interval 46%–74%) EG-1962 subjects (5/9 with 100, 6/9 with 200, 7/9 with 400, 4/9 with 600, and 5/9 with 800 mg) and 5/18 (28%, 95% confidence interval 7%–48%, relative risk reduction of unfavorable outcome; 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04–2.03; P=0.027) enteral nimodipine subjects. EG-1962 reduced delayed cerebral ischemia (14/45 [31%] EG-1962 versus 11/18 [61%] enteral nimodipine) and rescue therapy (11/45 [24%] versus 10/18 [56%]). CONCLUSIONS—: EG-1962 was safe and tolerable to 800 mg, and in this, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage population was associated with reduced delayed cerebral ischemia and rescue therapy. Overall, the rate of favorable clinical outcome was greater in the EG-1962-treated group. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01893190

Attractant Pheromone of the Neotropical Species Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood) (Heteroptera: Alydidae).

The Neotropical broad-headed bug, Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood), is adapted to various leguminous crops and is considered a pest in common bean and soybean. The chemical communication of this species was studied in order to identify an attractant pheromone. Males and females of N. parvus produce several short-chain esters and acids, and their antennae showed electrophysiological responses to ?ve of these compounds, three common to both sexes (hexyl butanoate, 4-methylhexyl butanoate, and hexyl hexanoate), and two female-speci?c compounds (4-methylhexyl pentanoate and hexyl pentanoate). Both aeration extracts of females and a solution containing ?ve synthetic compounds mimicking the natural blend were attractive to males and females N. parvus in a laboratory bioassay. Aspects of the chemical ecology of the broad-headed bugs and the possibility to use pheromone-baited traps in the ?eld for monitoring are discussed