Online control of wood peeling process: Acoustical and vibratory measurements of lathe checks frequency

In the course of most wood machining processes, operators are usually able to detect various problems simply by hearing the sound emitted by the process. This is especially true for wood peeling. Lathe checks formation has been identified as one of the typical situations that an experimented peeler can detect. Poplar and beech veneer samples have been produced on a laboratory microlathe, using working conditions deliberately favourable to checking. Forces, sound, and vibration levels were measured during the tests. The lathe check frequencies have been determined on both sound and vibration signals using a local Root Mean Square (RMS) averaging and a peak detection algorithm. This makes possible the evaluation of lathe checks distribution along the veneer length. The technique was validated by measuring the real veneer profile using a specific apparatus developed by IVALSA-CNR in Trento (Italy).     

Untersuchungen über Falterabundanzen des Bekreuzten TraubenwicklersLobesia botrana Schiff. im Weinbau

Zusammenfassung Im Jahr 1994 wurde eine bereits 1993 entwickelte und erprobte Fangvorrichtung eingesetzt, um Fragen zu Populationsdichtebewegungen beiL. botrana zu beantworten. Insbesondere wurden Untersuchungen zur Abundanzdynamik und zur absoluten Abundanz von Faltern beider Geschlechter durchgeführt. So konnten Verschiebungen im Geschlechterverhältnis während der Flugperiode nachgewiesen werden. Ursache dieser Geschlechterverschiebung waren unterschiedliche Entwicklungszeiten der Präimaginalstadien bei Männchen und Weibchen. Berechnungen zur absoluten Abundanz von Faltern der 2. Generation ergaben Gesamt-Falterdichten zwischen 33 und 209 Faltern pro 10 m². Die Anzahl der an Trauben abgelegten Eier je Falterweibchen betrug etwa 30. Für das Verhältnis zwischen Falterdichte und Ei- bzw. Larvendichte konnten Korrelationen errechnet werden. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen der ersten und zweiten Generation hinsichtlich des Massenwechsels war nicht feststellbar. Ein vorläufige Bestimmung der kritischen Falterdichte, die im Zusammenhang mit der Anwendung von Pheromonen zur Paarungsstörung von Interesse ist, konnte vorgenommen werden. Sie lag bei maximal 4 männlichen und 4 weiblichen Faltern pro 10 m².

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Investigations on abundances of the grape mothLobesia botrana Schiff. in viticulture

In 1994 a catching device, which had been developed and tested in 1993, was used for answering questions about population density movements inL. botrana. Investigations were focused on abundance dynamics and absolute abundances of moths of both sexes. Movements of the sex ratio are shown. These movements are due to different developmental periods of premature stages of males and females. Calculations on the absolute abundance of moths of the second generation amounted to densities between 33 and 209 moths per 10 m². The number of eggs laid on bunches of grapes equalled approximately 30 per female. The density of moths and densities of eggs and larvae correlated. Densities of first generation larval populations and second generation moths populations of the pest showed no correlation. A temporary determination of the critical density of moths, which is important for the application of pheromones in mating disruption, was achieved. The upper limit equalled 4 male and 4 female moths per 10 m².

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Mit 2 Abbildungen und 3 Tabellen     

Predispersal seed predation in Acacia macrostachya,its impact on seed viability,and germination responses to scarification and dry heat treatments

Predispersal seed predation among individual Acacia macrostachya trees over two sites in Burkina Faso was assessed. In addition, the effects of seed predation on seed viability; germination responses to scarification (mechanical, hot water at 60, 70 and 80°C, and sulphuric acid for 10, 20 and 30 min) and dry heat (at 60, 70 and 80°C for 15, 30 and 60 min each) treatments were investigated under laboratory conditions. The results indicated a large difference in predation intensity among individual trees, as well as between sites. Predispersal predation significantly decreased seed germination, particularly when the number of insect larvae per seed increased. Scarified and unscarified seeds germinated equally well, except for hot water treatments of high temperature. This indicates lack of physical dormancy and dispersed seeds can readily germinate provided that conditions for germination are conducive. Seeds exposed to dry heat treatments also germinated close to 97% under low intensity and short exposure times. This suggests that fire, under natural condition, plays a key role in triggering germination of A. macrostachya seeds.     

Antagonistic effect of indigenous skin bacteria of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) against Flavobacterium columnare and F. psychrophilum

Industrial fish production exposes fish to potentially stressful conditions, which in turn may induce infections by opportunistic pathogens. Probiotics appear to be a promising way to prevent opportunistic infections in aquaculture. In this study, we tested the inhibitory potential of endogenous bacterial communities found in the mucus of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) against two major pathogens Flavobacterium columnare and Flavobacterium psychrophilum. Nine bacterial strains were isolated from brook charr skin mucus and tested for potential antagonistic activity. Results from both agar diffusion assays and broth co-culture assays showed the presence of antagonism. We identified seven bacterial strains, collected from unstressed fish, which exerted strong antagonism against F. psychrophilum and/or F. columnare. These strains were mixed and used to treat columnaris disease in an in vivo experiment in which four distinct fish families were tested. This treatment resulted in a decrease of mortality (54-86%) across fish families indicating that candidates from the host microbiota are potentially suitable for probiotic development. This would allow for the efficient (ability to adhere and colonize the host mucus) and durable management (antagonistic effect against pathogens which would be harmless for the host and safe for its environment) of opportunistic diseases in aquaculture.     

From parasite genomes to one healthy world: Are we having fun yet?

In 1990, the Human Genome Sequencing Project was established. This laid the ground work for an explosion of sequence data that has since followed. As a result of this effort, the first complete genome of an animal, Caenorhabditis elegans was published in 1998. The sequence of Drosophila melanogaster was made available in March, 2000 and in the following year, working drafts of the human genome were generated with the completed sequence (92%) being released in 2003. Recent advancements and next-generation technologies have made sequencing common place and have infiltrated every aspect of biological research, including parasitology. To date, sequencing of 32 apicomplexa and 24 nematode genomes are either in progress or near completion, and over 600k nematode EST and 200k apicomplexa EST submissions fill the databases. However, the winds have shifted and efforts are now refocusing on how best to store, mine and apply these data to problem solving. Herein we tend not to summarize existing X-omics datasets or present new technological advances that promise future benefits. Rather, the information to follow condenses up-to-date-applications of existing technologies to problem solving as it relates to parasite research. Advancements in non-parasite systems are also presented with the proviso that applications to parasite research are in the making.