Application of an image and environmental sensor network for automated greenhouse insect pest monitoring

This work presents an automated insect pest counting and environmental condition monitoring system using integrated camera modules and an embedded system as the sensor node in a wireless sensor network. The sensor node can be used to simultaneously acquire images of sticky paper traps and measure temperature, humidity, and light intensity levels in a greenhouse. An image processing algorithm was applied to automatically detect and count insect pests on an insect sticky trap with 93% average temporal detection accuracy compared with manual counting. The integrated monitoring system was implemented with multiple sensor nodes in a greenhouse and experiments were performed to test the system’s performance. Experimental results show that the automatic counting of the monitoring system is comparable with manual counting, and the insect pest count information can be continuously and effectively recorded. Information on insect pest concentrations were further analyzed temporally and spatially with environmental factors. Analyses of experimental data reveal that the normalized hourly increase in the insect pest count appears to be associated with the change in light intensity, temperature, and relative humidity. With the proposed system, laborious manual counting can be circumvented and timely assessment of insect pest and environmental information can be achieved. The system also offers an efficient tool for long-term insect pest behavior observations, as well as for practical applications in integrated pest management (IPM).     

"Aachen 3-D-finger". Development of a 3-D-digitizer for use in dental, oral and maxillary treatment

The "AACHEN 3D Finger" is a three-dimensional measuring system for use in all fields of dentistry. The system can equally as well be installed on a plane table, as fixed to the head of a patient. The measuring device is computer-assisted, and is able to localize, register and calculate any combination of points in the oral and maxillofacial area. The reference system can be changed at any time. The "AACHEN 3D Finger" can be used as a computer-a ded system in dentistry as well as in implantology or dental and maxillofacial surgery.     

Model-based development of neuroprosthesis for paraplegic patients.

In paraplegic patients with upper motor neuron lesions the signal path from the central nervous system to the muscles is interrupted. Functional electrical stimulation applied to the lower motor neurons can replace the lacking signals. A so-called neuroprosthesis may be used to restore motor function in paraplegic patients on the basis of functional electrical stimulation. However, the control of multiple joints is difficult due to the complexity, nonlinearity, and time-variance of the system involved. Furthermore, effects such as muscle fatigue, spasticity, and limited force in the stimulated muscle further complicate the control task. Mathematical models of the human musculoskeletal system can support the development of neuroprosthesis. In this article a detailed overview of the existing work in the literature is given and two examples developed by the author are presented that give an insight into model-based development of neuroprosthesis for paraplegic patients. It is shown that modelling the musculoskeletal system can provide better understanding of muscular force production and movement coordination principles. Models can also be used to design and test stimulation patterns and feedback control strategies. Additionally, model components can be implemented in a controller to improve control performance. Eventually, the use of musculoskeletal models for neuroprosthesis design may help to avoid internal disturbances such as fatigue and optimize muscular force output. Furthermore, better controller quality can be obtained than in previous empirical approaches. In addition, the number of experimental tests to be performed with human subjects can be reduced. It is concluded that mathematical models play an increasing role in the development of reliable closed-loop controlled, lower extremity neuroprostheses.     

The expected extinction time of a population within a system of interacting biological populations

The quasi-stationary distribution of a population within a system of interacting populations is approximated by a stochastic logistic process. The parameters of this process can be expressed in the parameters of the full system. Using the diffusion approximation, an expression for the expected extinction time is derived from this logistic process. Since the expected extinction time is expressed in the parameters of the full system, the effect of these parameters on the extinction risk can be easily evaluated, which may be of use for studies in ecology, conservation biology and epidemiology. The outcome is compared with simulation results for the case of a prey-predator system.     

用于蛋白质间相互作用研究的新型双杂交系统

近年来,一些不依赖于转录因子活性的新型双杂交系统相继建立,如分离的泛素系统、蛋白质片段互补分析、阻遏物重构分析和SOS恢复系统等。同利用转录因子活性的酵母双杂交系统相似,这些方法也利用了一些活性蛋白的结构与功能特点来研究蛋白质间相互作用,这些活性蛋白不是转录因子,但也可在结构上进行分离可通过重构使其生物活性得以恢复。由于这些新型双杂交系统的各自特点,使得它们成为酵母双杂交系统的有益补充和研究蛋白质间相互作用的有力工具。     

ML—2型心电导联转换仪的研制及其实践效果

目的：市售SYD－4228生理学学生实验系统没有配置心电图导联电缆及导联选择装置,不能进行观察心电图的实验,为此研制本心电导联转换仪。方法：设计并制作兼容网络与导联输入电缆,组装成新型的转换仪。结果：本转换仪配合SYD系统在高血钾实验中使用,满足了SYD系统进行心电图实验的需要。结论：本转换仪既适用于SYD系统,也适用于各型心电图机,可以同步对比观察不同导联的心电图。     

分室培养装置在丛枝菌根真菌研究中的应用及其发展

重点围绕玻璃珠分室培养系统、H形分室培养系统、根排斥室培养系统、供体自养植物的双分室体外培养系统、丛枝菌根(AM)真菌与普通植物根器官的双重培养系统、AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养系统、AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根双重培养的改良分室单胞培养系统等7个不同的分室培养装置, 对AM真菌的培养类型及其应用进行了系统的评述。其中, 采用玻璃珠分室培养装置易于将AM真菌与培养基质分开, 能获得大量纯净的AM真菌繁殖体, 用于研究AM真菌对矿质元素和微量元素的吸收, 具有不可替代的作用。H形分室培养系统和根排斥室(RECs)培养系统均能够获得连续的、可切断的共生菌根网络(CMNs), 可用于研究植物-植物、植物-昆虫之间化感作用产生的信息交流。供体自养植物的双分室培养系统有益于研究AM真菌对宿主植物在单作和混作条件下生长效应的影响。AM真菌与植物根器官的双重培养系统为研究AM真菌的侵染过程及生理、生化特性提供了极大的方便, 同时为纯培养研究提供了重要的理论依据。AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养体系可以获得AM真菌纯净菌体, 是研究AM真菌遗传、生理、生化等特性的理想方法。以AM真菌与Ri T-DNA转型根的双重单胞无菌培养系统为基础, 可以在菌丝生长室置换培养基、在根室中补充适量碳源, 并多次收获AM真菌繁殖体。转型根改良双重培养系统是提高AM真菌孢子接种剂产量的有效方法。综上所述, AM真菌的分室培养系统已经取得显著进展, 为开展个体、种群、群落等不同层次的菌根生态学研究提供了依据。     

接合转移诱动系统在遗传分析和体内基因操作中的应用

接合转移诱动系统在遗传分析和体内基因操作中的应用赵巍,张成刚,蔺继尚（中国科学院沈阳应用生态研究所,１１００１５）细菌间ＤＮＡ的转移主要有转化、转导、接合和原生质体融合等几种形式。接合是通过供体菌和受体菌完整细胞间的直接接触,而传递大段ＤＮＡ的方法,...     

An extendable modular endoprosthetic system for bone tumour management in the leg

A modular endoprosthetic system has been developed at the Groningen University Hospital and the University of Twente. The system can bridge a defect resulting from the resection of a malignant bone tumour which has developed around the knee joint of a child. Since the other healthy leg continues to grow, the system includes an element whose length can be adjusted non-invasively by using an external magnetic field. In addition to this lengthening element, there are one hip and two knee components, connectors of various lengths, and fixation elements. The paper describes the elements of the modular endoprosthetic system. Tables are created by means of which the elemental composition of such an endoprosthesis can be determined for each individual patient.     

Emergence of complex behaviour from simple circuit structures

The set of (feedback) circuits of a complex system is the machinery that allows the system to be aware of the levels of its crucial constituents. Circuits can be identified without ambiguity from the elements of the Jacobian matrix of the system. There are two types of circuits: positive if they comprise an even number of negative interactions, negative if this number is odd. The two types of circuits play deeply different roles: negative circuits are required for homeostasis, with or without oscillations, positive circuits are required for multistationarity, and hence, in biology, for differentiation and memory. In non-linear systems, a circuit can positive or negative (an 'ambiguous circuit', depending on the location in phase space. Full circuits are those circuits (or unions of disjoint circuits) that imply all the variables of the system. There is a tight relation between circuits and steady states. Each full circuit, if isolated, generates steady state(s) whose nature (eigenvalues) is determined by the structure of the circuit. Multistationarity requires the presence of at least two full circuits of opposite Eisenfeld signs, or else, an ambiguous circuit. We show how a significant part of the dynamical behaviour of a system can be predicted by a mere examination of its Jacobian matrix. We also show how extremely complex dynamics can be generated by such simple logical structures as a single (full and ambiguous) circuit.     

The signaling network of tumor invasion

The ability of a cell to invade its surroundings is an important hallmark of malignant tumors and results from aberrant cell signaling mechanisms. The signal transduction that leads to tumor invasion can be broken down into major pathways. Even though the pathway systems are distinct in themselves, none of these pathways operate independently when it comes to transmitting signals that culminate in an invasive phenotype. That is, the malignant change in one receptor not only leads to malignant changes directly downstream but can also affect the molecules of many other pathways. Three major pathway systems involved in tumor invasion are discussed in this review: the integrin system, the insulin-like growth factor system, and the Rho family GTPases. Here we see that although the individual signaling systems can each contribute to invasion, each system is networked to others and should not be considered isolated. Each system is first reviewed as independent contributors to an invasive phenotype and then discussed in the context of interacting pathways that collectively result in tumor invasion.     

Self-organization at the origin of life

The concept of an (M,R) system with organizational invariance allows one to understand how a system may be able to maintain itself indefinitely if it is coupled to an external source of energy and materials. However, although this constitutes an important step towards understanding the difference between a living and a non-living system, it is not clear that an (M,R) system with organizational invariance is sufficient to define a living system. To take a further step towards defining what it means to be alive it is necessary to add to a simple (M,R) system some property that represents its identity, and which can be maintained and modified in subsequent generations.     

Creation of an experimental rearing environment for microbiome animal research using an individually ventilated cage system and bioBUBBLE enclosure

To avoid microbial contamination risk, vinyl film isolators are generally used in animal microbiome experiments involving germ-free (GF) mice and/or gnotobiotic (GB) mice. However, it can take several months to gain expertise in operating the isolator competently. Furthermore, sterilization and sterility testing, which are essential for isolator preparation, can take more than 20 days. Hence, we built an experimental rearing environment that combines an individual ventilation cage system and a bioBUBBLE clean room enclosure to easily set up an experimental animal microbiome environment for animal facilities. In this work, a three-step evaluation was conducted. First, we examined whether GF mice can be maintained in this rearing environment without bacterial contamination. Next, we examined whether GF and GB mice can be maintained without cross-contamination in one individual ventilation cage rack. Finally, we tested whether GF mice can be maintained in a biological safety cabinet controlled by negative pressure. In our series of experiments, no microbial contamination occurred over more than 3 months. These results indicated that our rearing system that combines the individual ventilation cage and bioBUBBLE systems can be used not only for experiments with GF mice but also for Biosafety Level 2 experiments that handle bacteria. Our system can mitigate various disadvantages of using vinyl film isolators. In conclusion, we established an experimental method with improved working time and efficiency compared with those of the previous vinyl isolator method.     

Development of an anhydrotetracycline-inducible gene expression system for solvent-producing Clostridium acetobutylicum: A useful tool for strain engineering

Clostridium acetobutylicum is an important solvent (acetone-butanol-ethanol) producing bacterium. However, a stringent, effective, and convenient-to-use inducible gene expression system that can be used for regulating the gene expression strength in C. acetobutylicum is currently not available. Here, we report an anhydrotetracycline-inducible gene expression system for solvent-producing bacterium C. acetobutylicum. This system consists of a functional chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene promoter containing tet operators (tetO), Pthl promoter (thiolase gene promoter from C. acetobutylicum) controlling TetR repressor expression cassette, and the chemical inducer anhydrotetracycline (aTc). The optimized system, designated as pGusA2-2tetO1, allows gene regulation in an inducer aTc concentration-dependent way, with an inducibility of over two orders of magnitude. The stringency of TetR repression supports the introduction of the genes encoding counterselective marker into C. acetobutylicum, which can be used to increase the mutant screening efficiency. This aTc-inducible gene expression system will thus increase the genetic manipulation capability for engineering C. acetobutylicum.     

Helium Tracer Tests for Assessing Contaminant Vapor Recovery and Air Distribution During In Situ Air Sparging

Helium tracer tests are used as an alternative to soil-gas pressure measurements to assess the effectiveness of soil vapor extraction (SVE) systems for capturing contaminant vapors liberated by in situ air sparging (IAS). The tracer approach is simple to conduct and provides more direct and reliable measures than the soil-gas pressure approach. The tracer test described here can be used to both determine SVE system capture efficiency and to evaluate air distribution during IAS pilot tests. The tests can also be conducted on operating, full-scale systems to confirm system performance. In addition, the tests can be easily repeated, which allows system parameters to be modified and the impact of those modifications to be quickly assessed. Whether used alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools, helium tracer tests provide an important measure of IAS system performance.     

Synthesis of 32P-labelled protein probes using a modified thioredoxin fusion protein expression system in Escherichia coli

The thioredoxin fusion protein expression system from invitrogen was modified so that 32P-labelled recombinant proteins can be easily obtained in large quantities for functional studies. Proteins that are prone to form the inclusion bodies can be functionally expressed as thioredoxin fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. After expression, the recombinant proteins can be easily phosphorylated with 32P-gamma ATP and the 32P-labelled protein can be obtained functionally via a mild proteolytic digestion to cleave off the thioredoxin moiety. A deletion construct of the Ah receptor nuclear translocator protein was used as an example to illustrate how this protein expression system works.     

A method for the automated long‐term monitoring of three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus shoal dynamics

This paper describes and evaluates a flexible, non‐invasive tagging system for the automated identification and long‐term monitoring of individual three‐spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus. The system is based on barcoded tags, which can be reliably and robustly detected and decoded to provide information on an individual's identity and location. Because large numbers of fish can be individually tagged, it can be used to monitor individual‐ and group‐level dynamics within fish shoals.     

Peptide B induction of bag-cell activity in Aplysia: localization of sites of action to the cerebral and pleural ganglia

The bag cells of the marine mollusc Aplysia are model neuroendocrine cells involved in the initiation of egg laying and its associated behaviors, but the natural stimulus triggering bag-cell activity is not known. The atrial gland of A. californica, an exocrine organ in the reproductive tract, contains two structurally related peptides (A and B) which can induce an afterdischarge in vitro, and these peptides can be used to probe the central nervous system for sites where extrinsic excitatory input onto the bag-cell system might occur. These sites were identified in a series of lesion and ablation experiments. The entire central nervous system was removed from an animal and placed in a chamber with two compartments which could be independently perfused, allowing peptides (atrial gland extract or purified peptide B) to be selectively applied to specific regions of the nervous system while bag-cell activity was monitored using extracellular suction electrodes. Afterdischarges were consistently and reliably induced when peptides were applied to the cerebral ganglion, the pleural ganglia, the cerebropleural connectives, or the rostral 10-15% of the pleurovisceral connectives, provided that an intact neuronal pathway connected the site of peptide application with the bag cells. In contrast, afterdischarges were never observed when peptides were selectively applied to the buccal or pedal ganglia and only rarely observed when applied to the abdominal ganglion and caudal pleurovisceral connectives. These results support the hypothesis that bag-cell processes and/or neuron(s) presynaptically excitatory to the bag cells are located in the pleural and cerebral ganglia and narrow the region of the central nervous system where the critical initiator element(s) can be identified.     

Identification of gene products programmed by restriction endonuclease DNA fragments using an E. coli in vitro system.

DNA restriction enzyme fragments have been used to programme the synthesis of polypeptides in an in vitro system without apparent loss in fidelity compared with supercoiled templates. The system is extremely sensitive, less than 1 microgram of DNA can be used to direct the synthesis of 35S-labelled polypeptides of sufficiently high specific activity such that products can be identified by SDS-PAGE after a few hours autoradiography. The ability to analyse fragments can be used to readily assign specific proteins to small regions of the coding template, to identify cloned gene products distinct from those of the vector, and to identify cloned genes expressed from their own promoters. The in vitro system can be used successfully with bacterial DNA from other species and efficient extracts can be prepared from any E. coli K-12 strain, which should greatly facilitate the purification of factors controlling the expression of specific genes by complementation assay.