Stridulation and hearing in the noctuid mothThecophora fovea (Tr.)

Summary MaleThecophora fovea (Tr.) (Noctuidae) sing continuously for several minutes by rubbing the 1. tarsal segment of the metathoracic leg against a stridulatory swelling on the hindwing. In Northern Yugoslavia (Slovenia) the males emerge in late October and start stridulating about a week later when the females emerge.The sounds are pulse trains consisting of 10–12 ms long sound pulses with main energy around 32 kHz and a PRR of 20 pulses/s. The mechanics of the sound producing apparatus was studied by activating the stridulatory swelling with short sound impulses. The impulse response of the swelling was recorded by laser vibrometry and amplitude spectra of the vibrations showed maximum velocities between 25 and 35 kHz. Hence, it seems likely that the stridulatory swelling is driven as a mechanical oscillator with a resonance frequency which determines the carrier frequency of the sounds.Audiograms of both males and females showed peak sensitivities at 25–30 kHz. The median threshold at the BF was 36 dB SPL. The peak intensity of the sound pulses was 83 dB SPL at 1 m, which should enable the moths to hear each other at distances of around 30 m. Therefore sound production inT. fovea might function in long distance calling. It is argued thatT. fovea can survive making such a noise in spite of being palatable to bats because it flies so late in the year that it is temporally isolated from bats.Abbreviations PRR pulse repetition rate - SPL sound pressure level - BF best frequency     

Uraninschwellen des Protoplasmas der BraunalgeStypocaulon scoparium

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Dissimilation curves as a simple method for the characterization of growth of plant cell suspension cultures

A simple non-invasive method for the characterization of growth of a plant cell suspension in a single culture flask is given. The dissimilation of sugars by a cell-culture causes a loss of weight of the contents of the culture flask, and can therefore be used to follow the growth in that single culture flask. Because a correction for water evaporation is necessary, accurate results can only be obtained when a stable closure is used (e.g. Silicosen T-type plugs). The dissimilation curves obtained in this way were correlated to the concentration of sugars in the medium, the dry weight and the fresh weight. From these correlations the amount of intracellularly stored carbohydrates could be estimated. Rate constants for CO₂-diffusion were determined for different types of closure. These values allowed the estimation of CO₂ levels inside the culture flasks from the dissimilation curves (CO₂ release curves). The dissimilation curves obtained using this method can easily be related to other types of growth curves. Different growth-phases can be clearly distinguished, e.g. lag-phase, exponential growth-phase and stationary-phase.     

Nonlinear autoregressive analysis of the 3/s ictal electroencephalogram: implications for underlying dynamics

 In a previous study, nonlinear autoregressive (NLAR) models applied to ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in six patients revealed nonlinear signal interactions that correlated with seizure type and clinical diagnosis. Here we interpret these models from a theoretical viewpoint. Extended models with multiple nonlinear terms are employed to demonstrate the independence of nonlinear dynamical interactions identified in the ‘NLAR fingerprint’ of patients with 3/s seizure discharges. Analysis of the role of periodicity in the EEG signal reveals that the fingerprints reflect the dynamics not only of the periodic discharge itself, but also of the fluctuations of each cycle about an average waveform. A stability analysis is used to make qualitative inferences concerning the network properties of the ictal generators. Finally, the NLAR fingerprint is analyzed in the context of Volterra-Weiner theory. Received: 6 April 1994/Accepted in revised form: 18 November 1994     

DARPins recognizing the tumor-associated antigen EpCAM selected by phage and ribosome display and engineered for multivalency

Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) represent a novel class of binding molecules. Their favorable biophysical properties such as high affinity, stability and expression yields make them ideal candidates for tumor targeting. Here, we describe the selection of DARPins specific for the tumor-associated antigen epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), an approved therapeutic target on solid tumors. We selected DARPins from combinatorial libraries by both phage display and ribosome display and compared their binding on tumor cells. By further rounds of random mutagenesis and ribosome display selection, binders with picomolar affinity were obtained that were entirely monomeric and could be expressed at high yields in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. One of the binders, denoted Ec1, bound to EpCAM with picomolar affinity (K_d = 68 pM), and another selected DARPin (Ac2) recognized a different epitope on EpCAM. Through the use of a variety of bivalent and tetravalent arrangements with these DARPins, the off-rate on cells was further improved by up to 47-fold. All EpCAM-specific DARPins were efficiently internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis, which is essential for intracellular delivery of anticancer agents to tumor cells. Thus, using EpCAM as a target, we provide evidence that DARPins can be conveniently selected and rationally engineered to high-affinity binders of various formats for tumor targeting.     

Digital transformation—life cycle assessment of digital services,multifunctional devices and cloud computing

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment -     

Bird diversity and endemism along a land‐use gradient in Madagascar: The conservation value of vanilla agroforests

Land‐use change is the most important driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and particularly so in the tropics, where natural habitats are transformed into large‐scale monocultures or heterogeneous landscape mosaics of largely unknown conservation value. Using birds as an indicator taxon, we evaluated the conservation value of a landscape mosaic in northeastern Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot and the center of global vanilla production. We assessed bird species richness and composition by conducting point counts across seven prevalent land‐use types (forest‐ and fallow‐derived vanilla agroforests, woody and herbaceous fallow that are part of a shifting cultivation system, rice paddy, forest fragment and contiguous old‐growth forest). We find that old‐growth forest had the highest species richness, driven by a high share of endemics. Species richness and community composition in forest‐derived vanilla agroforest were similar to forest fragment, whereas fallow‐derived vanilla agroforest was most comparable to woody fallow. The open land‐use types herbaceous fallow and rice paddy had fewest species. Across forest fragments, vanilla agroforests, and woody fallows, endemic bird species richness was positively correlated to landscape‐scale forest cover. We conclude that both fallow‐ and forest‐derived vanilla agroforests play an important but contrasting role for bird conservation: Fallow‐derived agroforests are less valuable but take fallow land out of the shifting cultivation cycle, possibly preventing further degradation. Conversely, forest‐derived agroforests contribute to forest degradation but may avoid total loss of tree cover from forest fragments. Considering the land‐use history of agroforests may thus be a promising avenue for future research beyond the case of vanilla. Abstract in Malagasay is available with online material