Evidence of different thermoregulatory mechanisms between two sympatric Scarabaeus species using infrared thermography and micro-computer tomography

In endotherms insects, the thermoregulatory mechanisms modulate heat transfer from the thorax to the abdomen to avoid overheating or cooling in order to obtain a prolonged flight performance. Scarabaeus sacer and S. cicatricosus, two sympatric species with the same habitat and food preferences, showed daily temporal segregation with S. cicatricosus being more active during warmer hours of the day in opposition to S. sacer who avoid it. In the case of S. sacer, their endothermy pattern suggested an adaptive capacity for thorax heat retention. In S. cicatricosus, an active ‘heat exchanger’ mechanism was suggested. However, no empirical evidence had been documented until now. Thermographic sequences recorded during flight performance showed evidence of the existence of both thermoregulatory mechanisms. In S. sacer, infrared sequences showed a possible heat insulator (passive thermal window), which prevents heat transfer from meso- and metathorax to the abdomen during flight. In S. cicatricosus, infrared sequences revealed clear and effective heat flow between the thorax and abdomen (abdominal heat transfer) that should be considered the main mechanism of thermoregulation. This was related to a subsequent increase in abdominal pumping (as a cooling mechanism) during flight. Computer microtomography scanning, anatomical dissections and internal air volume measurements showed two possible heat retention mechanisms for S. sacer; the abdominal air sacs and the development of the internal abdominal sternites that could explain the thermoregulation between thorax and abdomen. Our results suggest that interspecific interactions between sympatric species are regulated by very different mechanisms. These mechanisms create unique thermal niches for the different species, thereby preventing competition and modulating spatio-temporal distribution and the composition of dung beetle assemblages.

Intra-population variation and geographic correlation in Canthon humectus hidalgoensis using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy

In some cases external morphology is not sufficient to discern between populations of a species, as occurs in the dung beetle Canthon humectus hidalgoensis Bates; and much less to determine phenotypic distances between them. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy show several advantages over other identification techniques (e.g. morphological, genetic, and cuticular hydrocarbons analysis) due to the non-invasive manner of the sample preparation, the relative speed of sample analysis and the low-cost of this technology. The infrared spectrum obtained is recognized to give a unique ‘fingerprint’ because vibrational spectra are specific and unique to the molecular nature of the sample. In our study, results showed that proteins, amino acids and aromatic ethers of insect exocuticle have promising discriminative power to discern between different populations of C. h. hidalgoensis. Furthermore, the correlation between geographic distances between populations and the chemical distances obtained by proteins + amino acids + aromatic ethers was statistically significant, showing that the spectral and spatial information available of the taxa together with appropriated chemometric methods may help to a better understanding of the identity, structure, dynamics and diversity of insect populations.

Ascobolus castaneus; Ascobolaceae

Ascobolus castaneus Teng, determined by S.C. Teng

School of Nursing Class of 2007

Top Row: Alexis Adamjee, Jennifer Ahlquist, Crista Andress, Dawn Arringdale, Freda Ayensu, Genevieve Balangero, Maureen Berlucchi, Amanda Bevier, Nina Bibicoff, Rachel Black, Denise Black, Jackie Braun, Kristen Bryant, Betty Burgner, Julie Butchart, Nicholas Cameron, Jessica Carver, Christine Cha, Kelly Clement

Row 2: Lauren Cochran, Kathleen Connell, Amanada Cooperwasser, Lindsay Cousino, Lindsey Evans, Stephen Kilijanczyk, Kathryn Evans, Kathryn Bucrek, Ida Elise Broadwater, Renee Havey, Sharon Warner, Katie Darnell, Katrina DeWitt, Kolleen Kowalske, Keather Rechtweg, Kristen Cowan, Alison Damioli, Dinah Denton, Melinda Dobie

Row 3: Rosemarie Donnelly, Kelly Doyle, Deanna Dusseau, Jacqueline Elegant, Ashley Faulk, Kristin Ferszt, Christine Catalan, Sarah Borgstadt-Smith, Paul Holtz, Tracy Jakubiec, Chemari Justice, Patricia Oppenheim, Kelly Fleming, Melissa Foster, Emily French, Tracy Gallo, Kathie Garrett, Jacqueline Garry

Row 4: Monique Gennari, Megan Gerlinger, Deborah Glazer, Terah Griggs, Edward Grosser, Kristy Haigh, Amanda Halbert, Jennifer Hammer, Emily Harris, Erin Harris, Elizabeth Hassenrik, Elizabeth Heinbeck

Row 5: Brianna Hirsch, Jessica Hoffman, Heather Hoffner, Bridget Holtz, Melissa Housefield, Sarah Hudson, Kathy Huffnagle, Hilary Hunt, Ashley Jannesen, Lauren Jarvis, Sarah Jarvis, Younhee Jee

Row 6: Ruth Jensen, Janet Wilson Johnston, Brandi Josephs, Amy Kangwankij, Julie Kramb, Dianna Krankurs, Allan Kucab, Kimberly Lai, Sarah Layher, Erin Layher, Dung Le, Hedy Leiter

Row 7: Lauren Loftus, Michael Long, Caroline Loukotka, Shoshana Love, Norma Martinez, Kristen McElreath, Lindsi McErlean, Renee McGlone, Lynne McIntosh, Ian McLelland, Ashley Mester, Anika Meyers

Row 8: Elizabeth Miles, Sarah Miller, Juliana Moore, Nicole Nastanski, Sarah Neighbours, Emily Newman, Judith Lynch-Sauer, Patricia Coleman-Burns, Judith Wismont, Kathleen Potempa, Carol Loveland-Cherry, Carolyn Sampselle, Joanne Pohl, Katie Pace, Bethany Panyard, sejal Patel, Chelsea Patnoude, Amy Jo Perry, Joseph Piotrowski

Row 9: Kate Pittel, Natalie Podolsky, Jessica Pollman, Nicole Pratt, Laura Ready, Amanda Retzbach, Katie Richards, Nicole Rico, April Robertson, Meighan Robinson, Stephanie Robinson, Talia Roesner, Autumn Romanowski, Anne Sage, Sally Scharg, Melissa Schultz, Renee Shelton, Natalie Sherry

Row 10: Rebecca Siereveld, Karen Simon, Emily Sosnowski, Elissa Stier, Darcy Stoll, Nicole Sukich, Erin Sykes-Miller, Tami Szuba, John Tallman, Michelle Taylor, Ashley Thelen, Gina Thomas, Rachel Tovian, Yuanyuan Wan, Nicole Young

Tunable compensation of second and third order dispersion by non-uniformly strained chirped fibre Bragg grating

A novel fibre grating device is demonstrated with tuneable chromatic dispersion slope. The tuning range is 70 to 190 ps/nm and 0 to 25 ps/nm2 for the second and third order dispersion, respectively.

Experimental observation of autosoliton propagation in a dispersion-managed system guided by nonlinear optical loop mirrors

Observation of autosoliton propagation in a dispersion-managed optical transmission system controlled by in-line nonlinear fiber loop switches is reported for what is believed to be the first time. The system is based on a strong dispersion map with large amplifier spacing. Operation at transmission rates of 10 and 40 Gbits/s is demonstrated. ©2004 Optical Society of America.

All-Raman amplified transmission at 40 Gbit/s in standard single mode fibre

We investigate a 40 Gbit/s all-Raman amplified standard single mode fibre (SMF) transmission system with the mid-range amplifier spacing of 80-90 km. The impact of span configuration on double Rayleigh back scattering (DRBS) was studied. Four different span configurations were compared experimentally. A transmission distance of 1666 km in SMF has been achieved without forward error correcting (FEC) for the first time. The results demonstrate that the detrimental effects associated with high pump power Raman amplification in standard fibre can be minimised by dispersion map optimisation. © 2003 IEEE.

A Hard Bargain? A cost-benefit analysis of an improved cookstove program in India

In developing countries, access to modern energy for cooking and heating still remains a challenge to raising households out of poverty. About 2.5 billion people depend on solid fuels such as biomass, wood, charcoal and animal dung. The use of solid fuels has negative outcomes for health, the environment and economic development (Universal Energy Access, UNDP). In low income countries, 1.3 million deaths occur due to indoor smoke or air pollution from burning solid fuels in small, confined and unventilated kitchens or homes. In addition, pollutants such as black carbon, methane and ozone, emitted when burning inefficient fuels, are responsible for a fraction of the climate change and air pollution. There are international efforts to promote the use of clean cookstoves in developing countries but limited evidence on the economic benefits of such distribution programs. This study undertook a systematic economic evaluation of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves to rural households in India. The evaluation examined the effect of different levels of subsidies on the net benefits to the household and to society. This paper answers the question, “Ex post, what are the economic benefits to various stakeholders of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves?” In addressing this question, the evaluation used empirical data from India applied to a cost-benefit model to examine how subsidies affect the costs and the benefits of the biomass improved cookstove and the electric improved cookstove to different stakeholders.

Determination of 210Po content of vietnamese tobacco samples

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. In recent years, numerous countries have initiated the prohibition of smoking in restaurants, workplaces and public spaces. The Vietnamese government intends to follow the precautions against public smoking as well. Over and above the number of some hazardous chemical components found in tobacco, ²¹⁰Po isotope content could enhance the probability of the development of lung cancer. In this study 14 Vietnamese tobacco products (commercial cigarettes and pipe tobacco) ²¹⁰Po activity concentration were determined using PIPS semiconductor alpha spectrometry. The results showed that the 210Po activity concentration of the investigated samples varied between 7.40 ± 1.09 - 128.64 ± 11.22 mBq g^-1. The average ²¹⁰Po content of commercial cigarettes was 15.5 mBq g^-1, whilst the average of pipe tobacco was 20.4 mBq g^-1. To estimate the risk of inhalation of ²¹⁰Po isotopes originating as a result of smoking, dose estimations were carried out. © Versita Sp. z o.o.

Messkonzept und Methodik zur Konfiguration und zum Nachweis

Radio Frequenzidentifikation (RFID) auf Basis pas-siver Transponder im Ultra-High-Frequenzbereich (UHF) findet in der Logistik immer häufiger Anwen-dung. Zur Ausschöpfung der Potenziale dieser AutoID-Technologie wird vorausgesetzt, dass die Identifikation der Waren und Güter zuverlässig erfolgt. Dies gestaltet sich aufgrund von Umgebungseinflüssen auf das elek-tromagnetische Lesefeld, das die passiven Transponder zur Identifikation mit Energie versorgt, oftmals sehr schwierig. Die Kenntnis der elektromagnetischen Feld-stärkeverteilung im Raum kann somit als Grundlage für die Bewertung der zuverlässigen Erfassung durch RFID-Installationen herangezogen werden. Das im Bei-trag vorgestellte Messkonzept mit Methodik zeigt eine Möglichkeit zur schnellen Erfassung der Lese-feldausprägung auf, um anhand der Ergebnisse die Kon-figuration dieser Systeme zu erleichtern.