Analysis of electric and magnetic fields leaking from induction heaters

Results are presented of an investigation on electric and magnetic fields leaking from inductive (magnetic) heaters that are used for thermal processing of high-power electron tubes and lasers in an industrial plant. Measurements of electric and magnetic fields were done using both commercially available and laboratory-developed instrumentation. Isotropic H-field sensors were developed to allow quantitative evaluation of high-intensity magnetic fields. Ten induction heaters with nominal A.C. power ranging from 2.5 kW to 15 kW and operating at frequencies between 300 kHz and 790 kHz were surveyed. Electric field strengths up to 8 kV/m and magnetic field strengths up to 20 A/m were measured.     

THE EMBOLEMIDAE (HYMENOPTERA: CHRYSIDOIDEA) FROM CHINA*

Abstract This paper gives a systematic study on the Chinese Embolemidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea), which reports two genera and six species of the Chinese embolemids. Of which, Ampulicomorpha collinsi Olmi, 1995 and Embolemus krombeini Olmi, 1995 are new to China.     

Different isoforms and post-translational modifications of human salivary acidic proline-rich proteins

The human salivary acidic proline-rich proteins (aPRPs) complex was investigated by different chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches and the main aPRPs, namely PRP-1, PRP-2 and PIF-s (15,515 amu), Db-s (17,632 amu) and Pa (15,462 amu) proteins, were detected. All these isoforms are phosphorylated at Ser-8 and Ser-22 and have a pyroglutamic moiety at the N-terminus. Apart from Pa, all the other aPRPs undergo a proteolytic cleavage at Arg-106 residue (Arg-127 in Db-s protein), that generates the small PC peptide (4371 amu) and PRP-3, PRP-4, PIF-f (11,162 amu) and Db-f (13,280 amu) proteins, all of which were detected. With regard to the Pa protein, the main form detected was the dimeric derivative (Pa 2-mer, 30,922 amu) originated by a disulfide bond involving Cys-103 residue. Besides these known isoforms, several previously undetected aPRP derivatives were found (in minor amounts): (i) the triphosphorylated derivatives of PRP-1/PRP-2/PIF-s and Db-s, showing the additional phosphate group at Ser-17; (ii) the mono-phosphorylated forms at either Ser-22 or Ser-8 of PRP-1/PRP-2/PIF-s, PRP-3/PRP-4/PIF-f, Db-s and Db-f; (iii) a nonphosphorylated form of PRP-3/PRP-4/PIF-f; (iv) the triphosphorylated and diphosphorylated forms of Pa 2-mer. Moreover, minor quantities of PRP-3/PRP-4/PIF-f lacking the C-terminal Arg (11,006 amu), and of Pa 2-mer lacking the C-terminal Gln (30,793 amu) were found. By this approach the different phenotypes of PRH1 locus in 59 different subjects were characterized.     

A cascade of 24 histatins (histatin 3 fragments) in human saliva. Suggestions for a pre-secretory sequential cleavage pathway

The systematic search by tandem mass spectrometry of human saliva from four different subjects, of 136 possible fragments originated from histatin 3, allowed the detection of 24 different peptides. They include, with the exception of histatin 4, all the known histatin 3 fragments, namely histatins 5-12 and the peptides corresponding to 15-24, 26-32, 29-32 residues, and 13 new fragments corresponding to 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 5-13, 6-11, 6-13, 7-11, 7-12, 7-13, 14-24, 14-25, 15-25, and 28-32 residues of histatin 3. On the contrary, none of 119 possible fragments of histatin 1, including histatin 2, was detected. The results suggest that the genesis of histatin 3-related peptides, being under the principal action of trypsin-like activities, is probably not a random process but rather follows a sequential fragmentation pathway. Lack of detection of C-terminal fragments, with the exception of 26-32, 28-32, and 29-32 fragments, suggested that arginine 25 should be the first cleavage site, generating histatin 6 and 26-32 fragments. The genesis of 28-32 and 29-32 fragments and histatin 5 should implicate a subsequent exo-protease action. Similarly, lack of detection of fragments having Lys-5 and Arg-6 at the N terminus and Arg-25 at the C terminus strongly suggested that sequences KRKF (11-14 residues) and AKR (4-6 residues) should be the second and the third cleavage sites, respectively. Lys-17 and Arg-22 are not cleaved at all.     

Characterization of the human salivary basic proline-rich protein complex by a proteomic approach

Thirteen samples of human normal whole saliva were analyzed by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS to investigate the basic proline-rich protein complex. Between known basic-PRPs the P-B, P-C (or IB-8b), P-D (or IB-5), P-E (or IB-9), P-F (or IB-8c), P-H (or IB-4), IB-6, II-2, IB-1, and IB-8a glucosylated were identified, whereas the II-1, IB-7, PA, and D1-A peptides were not detected. Some detected masses not attributable to known basic-PRPs were putatively ascribed to II-2 and IB-1 nonphosphorylated, II-2 and IB-1 missing the C-terminal arginine residue, and the 1-62 fragment of IB-6, named P-J peptide. A correlation matrix analysis revealed a cluster of correlation among all the basic PRPs (apart from the P-B peptide) which is in agreement with their common parotid origin.     

First record of an indigenous South African parasitoid wasp on an imported biological control agent,the water hyacinth hopper

ABSTRACT

Water hyacinth, Pontederia crassipes (Martius) [≡Eichhornia crassip es (Martius) Solms-Laubach] (Pontederiaceae), is native to South America, but has expanded its range to many other regions of the world including South Africa. Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was released as a biological control agent and has established in several regions. Recently, the indigenous species Echthrodelphax migratorius Benoit, (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) was discovered in South Africa parasitising M. scutellaris. This newly discovered relationship might have repercussions for the efficacy of biological control of water hyacinth by the delphacid. The wasp may negatively impact M. scutellaris populations making it difficult for the agent to successfully manage the invasive weed. Contrarily, the parasitoid may be beneficial by keeping the M. scutellaris populations stable, serving as a natural enemy.     

The first record of Embolemidae (Hymenoptera Chrysidoidea) in the Rovno amber (Upper Eocene) of Ukraine: A male of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ampulicomorpha succinalis</Emphasis> brues

A male of Ampulicomorpha succinalis Brues (Hymenoptera Chrysidoidea: Embolemidae) from the Upper Eocene Rovno amber (34–37 Ma) is described for the first time.     

A new species of the genus Anteon Jurine (Hymenoptera,Dryinidae) from Laos

A new species of Anteon Jurine, 1807 is described from Laos, Houaphanh Province: Anteon holzschuhi sp. n. Morphologically the new species is similar to Anteon semipolitum Olmi, 2008, but it is distinguished by the sculpture of the face partly reticulate rugose and partly with deep punctures similar to areolae; in Anteon semipolitum the face is completely punctate and unsculptured among punctures. In addition, in the new species the distance from the outer edge of a lateral ocellus to the compound eye (OOL) is about 3.3 times as long as the distance between the inner edges of a lateral ocellus and the median ocellus (OL); in Anteon semipolitum OOL is less than twice as long as OL. Published identification keys to the Oriental species of Anteon are modified to include the new species.     

Revision of fossil species of Dryinus belonging to lamellatus group, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae)

Dryinus rasnitsynisp. n. is described from amber collected in the Dominican Republic. A revision and a key to the fossil Neotropical species of Dryinus Latreille, 1804 belonging to the lamellatus species group is presented.     

New Records of Upper Eocene Chrysidoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Basins of Styr and Stokhod Rivers (Rovno Amber)

Paleontological Journal - Three species of chrysidoid wasps, Palaeobethylus longicollis (Chrysididae), Dryinus wunderlichi and D. reifi (Dryinidae) are recorded for the first time for Rovno amber...