Call Admission Control in Mobile and Wireless Networks

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Comparative field studies of various traps and attractants for the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in fall

Για την επιλογή της πλέον αποτελεσματικής παγίδας και ελκυστικού μεταξύ ορισμένων από τους τύπους παγίδων και ελκυστικών ουσιών που χρησιμοποιούνται σήμερα για την παρακολούθηση και καταπολέμηση της μύγας της Μεσογείου, Ceratitis capitata, (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), συγκρίθηκαν σε πορτοκαλεώνες επτά τύποι παγίδων (δύο τύπου MePhail, Υαλοπλαστική, χάρτινο-δίπτυχο, χάρτινος φάκελος-χαρτοπλαστική, διαφανής πλαστική φιάλη, παγίδα ξηρού τύπου), τέσσερα τροφικά ελκυστικά ( Dacus bait 100, Entomela 12SL, όξινο ανθρακικό αμμώνιο και το με κωδικό ZI), ένα ελκυστικό φύλου (Trimedlure) και ένας συνδυασμός τροφικού και ελκυστικού φύλου (Όξινο ανθρακικό αμμώνιο+Trimedlure). Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι μεταξύ των παγίδων τύπου MePhail δεν υπάρχουν σημαντικές διαφορές.Η παγίδα τύπου πλαστικής φιάλης απεδείχθη πολύ αποτελεσματική όταν πληρούται με το ZI (πρωτεϊνικό τροφικό ελκυστικό). Από τα δοκιμασθέντα ελκυστικά , τα πλέον αποτελεσματικά ήταν το ZI και το Entomela. Ο συνδυασμός ελκυστικών τροφής και φύλου δεν έδειξε σημαντική συνεργιστική δράση στην αποτελεσματικότητα της παγίδας. Τα αποτελέσματα επιτρέπουν μια καλύτερη επιλογή μεταξύ των παραπάνω τύπων παγίδων και ελκυστικών, για παρακολούθηση και καταπολέμηση της μύγας της Μεσογείου.To clarify questions regarding the effectiveness of the many different types of traps and semiochemicals used for the monitoring and the control of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Τephrititae), seven trap types, four food attractants, one sex attractant and a combination of food and sex attractant, were evaluated under field conditions in orange orchards in fall. No major differences were observed between trap designs resembling the original McPhail glass trap. The plastic bottle trap of 1,5L volume, with four side openings for one-way fly entrance, proved very efficient when filled with a proteinaceous food attractant Ζ1. From the attractants, two of them, Ζ1 and Entomela showed the best performance. The combination of food and a sex attractant showed no significant synergistic effects on trap efficiency. The findings allow a better choice among trap types and attractants, available today in the market, for Medfly monitoring and control

Microscale Discrete Element Method Simulation of the Carbon Black Aggregate Fracture Behavior in a Simple Shear Flow

The shear stress induced breaking behavior of carbon black (CB) aggregates during the manufacturing process of Li‐ion batteries is investigated via microscale discrete element method (DEM) simulations. The relevant range of shear stress is chosen according to a planetary mixer and cathode slurries with high solid content. Aggregates of different sizes and shapes are modeled using a self‐written algorithm based on the tunable dimension method. Then, suitable models are chosen for representing the solid bridges between the primary particles of the CB aggregates and relevant fluid forces. The results show a correlation between aggregate size and critical shear stress which is required to initiate aggregate fracturing. Furthermore, a change in aggregate shape is linked to applied stress and initial aggregate size and shape. Hence, a recommendation for an efficient disintegration of CB aggregates during the mixing process is made

Somatosensory phenomena elicited by electrical stimulation of hippocampus: Insight into the ictal network.

Up to 11% of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy experience somatosensory auras, although these structures do not have any somatosensory physiological representation. We present the case of a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy who had somatosensory auras on the right side of the body. Stereo-EEG recording demonstrated seizure onset in the left mesial temporal structures, with propagation to the sensory cortices, when the patient experienced the somatosensory aura. Direct electrical stimulation of both the left amygdala and the hippocampus elicited the patient's habitual, somatosensory aura, with afterdischarges propagating to sensory cortices. These unusual responses to cortical stimulation suggest that in patients with epilepsy, aberrant neural networks are established, which have an essential role in ictogenesis

Seed oil and seed oil byproducts of common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.): a new insight to plant-based sources rich in omega-3 fatty acids

In the present study, nutritional value, chemical composition and bioactive properties of purslane seeds, seed oils and seedcakes were examined. Data were analyzed by a one-way ANOVA, while means were compared with Tukey's HSD test. For seed oil extraction mechanical and ultrasound assisted methods were tested. Cold extraction methods (CE1 and CE2) resulted in higher oil yield (increased by 33.7% and 38.1%, respectively) comparing to hot extraction (HE) method. Seeds contained the highest amount of fats and energy (15.03 ± 0.06 g/100 g dry basis (db) and 459 ± 1 kcal/100 g db, respectively), while seedcakes from CE2 had the highest content in proteins and ash (31.20 ± 0.03 and 4.27 ± 0.06 g/100 g db, respectively). Seeds and seedcakes contained a balanced content of linoleic and α-linolenic acids (33.80–34.74% and 32.83–34.64%, respectively). HE and CE1 oils had slightly higher amounts of α-linolenic (39.67% and 39.57%, respectively) than linoleic acid (35.44% and 35.13%, respectively), whereas CE2 oils contained twice as much linoleic as α- linolenic acid (49.77% and 24.18%, respectively). In conclusion, the tested materials are good sources of omega- 6 and omega-3 fatty acids and proteins, while extraction method affected oil yield and fatty acids composition of seed oils.Agricultural Machinery, University of Thessaly, Greece, for providing the equipment and technical assistance for hot extraction of seed oils. We are also thankful to Mr. Tsolakidis C. (Giachanas - Cold Pressed Seed Oils S.A.; Evros, Greece) for providing the equipment and technical assistance for cold extraction of seed oils. The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019). L. Barros and A. Fernandes would like to thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for their contracts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bandwidth allocation in cooperative wireless networks: Buffer load analysis and fairness evaluation.

In modern cooperative wireless networks, the resource allocation is an issue of major significance. The cooperation of source and relay nodes in wireless networks towards improved performance and robustness requires the application of an efficient bandwidth sharing policy. Moreover, user requirements for multimedia content over wireless links necessitate the support of advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features. In this paper, a novel bandwidth allocation technique for cooperative wireless networks is proposed, which is able to satisfy the increased QoS requirements of network users taking into account both traffic priority and packet buffer load. The performance of the proposed scheme is examined by analyzing the impact of buffer load on bandwidth allocation. Moreover, fairness performance in resource sharing is also studied. The results obtained for the cooperative network scenario employed, are validated by simulations. Evidently, the improved performance achieved by the proposed technique indicates that it can be employed for efficient traffic differentiation. The flexible design architecture of the proposed technique indicates its capability to be integrated into Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols for cooperative wireless networks

Mortality and Effect on Growth of Artemia franciscana Exposed to Two Common Organic Pollutants

Acute toxicity and inhibition on growth of Artemia franciscana nauplii (Instar I-II) after exposure to the reference toxicants bisphenol a (BPA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were studied. LC50 values were calculated and differences in body growth were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure to the toxicants. The results indicated that BPA had lower toxicity than SDS. Development of the nauplii was clearly influenced by duration of exposure. Growth inhibition was detected for both toxicants. Abnormal growth of the central eye of several Artemia nauplii after 72 h of exposure to BPA was also detected. Our results indicate that growth inhibition could be used as a valid endpoint for toxicity studies

Leaching behaviour of pendimethalin causes toxicity towards different cultivars of Brassica juncea and Brassica campestris in sandy loam soil

An experiment was conducted at the farm of Zonal Adaptive Research Station, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal to evaluate the effect of pendimethalin on the yield, weed density and phytotoxicity in different varieties of rai (Brassica juncea) and yellow sarson (B. campestris var. yellow sarson) under higher soil moisture regime in Terai region of West Bengal. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at higher dose i.e. 1.0 kg/ha recorded higher plant mortality (30.92%) due to the presence of higher concentration of pendimethalin residue (0.292 µg/g) till the tenth day of crop age and consequently had the reduced yield (12.59 q/ha) than the dose of 0.7 kg/ha (13.33 q/ha) where plant mortality was only 12.62% due to comparatively lower level of pendimethalin residue (0.192 µg/g). Although the application of pendimethalin at the rate of 1.0 kg/ha was able to control weed more efficiently (18.96/m2) than the dose of 0.7 kg/ha (30.41/m2) and subsequent lower doses. The herbicide leached down to the root zone resulting in phytotoxicity towards crop. Yellow sarson group (Brassica campestris) showed more susceptibility than rai (Brassica juncea) group against pendimethalin application at higher doses

The effects of pesticide mixtures on degradation of pendimethalin in soils

Most agronomic situations involve a sequence of herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide application. On the other hand, use of pesticidal combinations has become a standard practice in the production of many agricultural crops. One of the most important processes influencing the behavior of a pesticide in the environment is its degradation in soil. It is known that due to several pesticide applications in one vegetation season, the pesticide may be present in mixtures with other pesticides or xenobiotics in soil. This study examines the role which a mixture of chemicals plays in pesticide degradation. The influence of other pesticides on the rate of pendimethalin (PDM) degradation in soil was measured in controlled conditions. Mixtures of PDM with mancozeb or mancozeb and thiamethoxam significantly influenced the degradation of pendimethalin under controlled conditions. The second type of mixtures, with metribuzin or thiamethoxam, did not affect the behavior of pendimethalin in soil. Also, we determined the influence of water content on the rate of pendimethalin degradation alone in two soils and compared it to the rate in three pesticide mixtures. We compared two equations to evaluate the predictors of the rate of herbicide dissipation in soil: the first-order kinetic and the non-linear empirical models. We used the non-linear empirical model assuming that the degradation rate of a herbicide in soil is proportional to the difference of the observed concentration of herbicide in soil at time and concentration of herbicide in the last day of measurement

Transgenic avidin maize is resistant to storage insect pests

Avidin is a glycoprotein found in chicken egg white, that sequesters the vitamin biotin. Here we show that when present in maize at levels of ≥100 p.p.m., avidin is toxic to and prevents development of insects that damage grains during storage. Insect toxicity is caused by a biotin deficiency, as shown by prevention of toxicity with biotin supplementation. The avidin maize is not, however, toxic to mice when administered as the sole component of their diet for 21 days. These data suggest that avidin expression in food or feed grain crops can be used as a biopesticide against a spectrum of stored-product insect pests