Combined Effects of Elevated Co2 and Herbivore Damage on Alfalfa and Cotton

We examined herbivore-induced responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under different CO2 conditions. Plants were grown under ambient (350 ppm) or elevated (700 ppm) CO2 levels, and were either damaged or undamaged by Spodoptera littoralis larvae. At harvest, growth of undamaged (control) plants was determined, and foliar chemical composition of both undamaged and damaged plants was analyzed. Cotton grew faster overall and showed a greater increase in growth in response to CO2 enrichment than did alfalfa. Elevated CO2 levels increased starch and decreased nitrogen levels in damaged alfalfa and undamaged cotton plants. Alfalfa saponin levels were significantly increased by elevated CO2 and damage. Regarding specific saponins, medicagenic acid bidesmoside (3GlcA,28AraRhaXyl medicagenate) concentrations were reduced by high CO2, whereas zanhic acid tridesmoside (3GlcGlcGlc,23Ara,28AraRhaXylApi Za) levels were unaffected by the treatments. Soyasaponin I (3GlcAGalRha soyasapogenol B) was only detected in minute amounts. Alfalfa flavonoid analyses showed that total flavonoid levels were similar between treatments, although free apigenin increased and apigenin glucoside (7-O-[2-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranozyl (1-->2)-O-8-D-glucuronopyranozyl]-4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranozide apigenin) decreased in CO2-enriched plants. In cotton, herbivore damage increased levels of total terpenoid aldehydes, gossypol, hemigossypolone, the heliocides H1 and H4, but not H2 and H3, whereas CO2 enrichment had no effect. These results demonstrate that combined effects of CO2 and herbivore damage vary between plant species, which has implications for the competitive balance within plant communities.     

Facilitating energy savings with programmable thermostats: evaluation and guidelines for the thermostat user interface

Thermostats control heating and cooling in homes – representing a major part of domestic energy use – yet, poor ergonomics of these devices has thwarted efforts to reduce energy consumption. Theoretically, programmable thermostats can reduce energy by 5–15%, but in practice little to no savings compared to manual thermostats are found. Several studies have found that programmable thermostats are not installed properly, are generally misunderstood and have poor usability. After conducting a usability study of programmable thermostats, we reviewed several guidelines from ergonomics, general device usability, computer–human interfaces and building control sources. We analysed the characteristics of thermostats that enabled or hindered successfully completing tasks and in a timely manner. Subjects had higher success rates with thermostat displays with positive examples of guidelines, such as visibility of possible actions, consistency and standards, and feedback. We suggested other guidelines that seemed missing, such as navigation cues, clear hierarchy and simple decision paths.

Practitioner Summary: Our evaluation of a usability test of five residential programmable thermostats led to the development of a comprehensive set of specific guidelines for thermostat design including visibility of possible actions, consistency, standards, simple decision paths and clear hierarchy. Improving the usability of thermostats may facilitate energy savings.     

Corporate-internal vs. national standard – A comparison study of two ergonomics evaluation procedures used in automotive manufacturing

Manufacturing corporations sometimes use corporate-internal procedures to evaluate and monitor the ergonomic status of the workplace. This article describes an industrial case study in the Swedish automotive sector, where an internally developed evaluation procedure was compared with a procedure based on a Swedish national standard provision.It was found that the national standard procedure tended to give more severe ratings and statistical support shows that the two evaluation procedures are not equivalent. The ability of the methods to identify body segments at risk was also compared.The quantitative comparison was followed up with interviews, where the influence of professional tasks and objectives became evident, as well as the fact that evaluation criteria are quantified differently by the two procedures. The main finding is that unforeseen differences in analysis procedure, criteria of acceptability and levels of detail can cause use-related difficulties for different professional groups when methods are used interchangeably.

Relevance to industry

Industrial corporations wishing to monitor ergonomics consistently are advised by the authors to ensure that ratings from internal evaluations are interpreted the same way by all involved personnel, and that they at least have criteria levels equivalent to those of a national standard.     

Role of Charge Traps in the Performance of Atomically Thin Transistors

Transient currents in atomically thin MoTe₂ field‐effect transistors (FETs) are measured during cycles of pulses through the gate electrode. The curves of the transient currents are analyzed in light of a newly proposed model for charge‐trapping dynamics that renders a time‐dependent change in the threshold voltage as the dominant effect on the channel hysteretic behavior over emission currents from the charge traps. The proposed model is expected to be instrumental in understanding the fundamental physics that governs the performance of atomically thin FETs and is applicable to the entire class of atomically thin‐based devices. Hence, the model is vital to the intelligent design of fast and highly efficient optoelectronic devices.     

简便设计电子镇流器的积木式构件

前言 本文介绍一种新的高压集成电路(HVIC)--IR2520D.这种新的HVIC在减少元件数量和降低电路复杂程度上有所突破,从而使设计者在保持低成本和小型化的同时,能够让镇流器满足欧洲地区新的需求.本文分析了几种关于这种HVIC的电路及应用,如小型一体化紧凑型荧光灯或没有功率因数校正的小型镇流器、使用无源功率因数校正的电子镇流器和使用有源功率因数校正的电子镇流器.     

Interfacial reactions in Al/SiC composites produced by low pressure plasma spray

Metal matrix composite tapes, reinforced by long silicon carbide fibres produced by low pressure plasma spray are characterised by the scarce presence of reaction compounds at the fibre/matrix interface. However, a complete and comprehensive investigation of the dissolution, diffusion and chemical reaction phenomena taking place in the interfacial area during the deposition is most important for the evaluation of the adhesion strength between the reinforcement and the base material and, consequently, of the mechanical behaviour of the material. In the case of interest for the present paper, the characterisation of the interface has been carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X ray difraction analysis. Moreover, the quality of the fibre/matrix interface of the Al/SiC composites was evaluated by means of push-out tests, aimed to the identification of the transmission mechanism of the load from the matrix to the fibre, and to quantify the adhesion strength.Paper presented at the AIM National Conference on Metal Matrix Composites, Milan, Italy, April 1992.     

Ionic liquid-based extraction and separation trends of bioactive compounds from plant biomass

Ionic liquids have been projected as the best solvent for extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from various origins. This review offers a collection of the published results, using ionic liquids for the extraction and purification of biomolecules. Ionic liquids have been studied as solvents, co-solvents and supported materials for separation of bioactive compounds. The ionic liquids-based extraction procedures were previously reported, such as ionic liquids-based solid-liquid extraction, liquid-liquid extraction and ionic liquids-modified materials are reviewed and compared to their performance. In this review, the main activities and future challenges are discussed, with major gaps identified using ionic liquids in extraction procedures and by advancing few steps to overcome these drawbacks.

Abbreviation: [(HSO₃)C₄MIM]⁺: 1-(4-sulfonylbutyl)-3-methylimidazolium; [(C₆H₃OCH₂)₂im]⁺: 1,3-dihexyloxymethylimidazolium; [C_nC₁MIM]⁺: 1-alkyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium; [C_nMIM]^{+; [Cn, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12]}: 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium; [C_nC₁pyr]⁺: 1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium; [C_nim]⁺: 1-alkylimidazolium; [C_npyr]⁺: 1-alkylpyridinium; [aC_nim]⁺: 1-allyl-3-alkylimidazolium; [C₇H₇MIM]⁺: 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium; [C₄(C₁C₁C₁Si)im]⁺: 1-butyl-3-trimethylsilylimidazolium; [(HOOC)C₂MIM]⁺: 1-carboxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium; [(OH)C_nMIM]⁺: 1-hydroxyalkyl-3-methylimidazolium; [(C₂H₅O)₃SiC₃MIM]⁺: 1-methyl-3-(triethoxy)silypropyl imidazolium; [(NH₂)C₃MIM]⁺: 1-propylamine-3-methylimidazolium; [C_wH_xN_yO_z]⁺: Chirally functionalized methylimidazolium; [P_{10(3OH)(3OH)(3OH)}]⁺: Decyltris(3-hydrox- ypropyl) phosphonium; [N_111(2OH)]⁺: N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium (cholinium); [N_00nn]⁺: N,N-dialkylammonium; [N_0nn(2OH)]⁺: N,N-dialkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium; [C₁₀C₁₀C₁gluc]⁺: N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-d-glucaminium; [N_11(2(O)1)0]⁺: N,N-dimethyl(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium; [N_{11(2OH)(C7H7)}]⁺: N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium; [P₆₆₆₁₄]⁺: Trihexyltetradecylph- osphonium; [P_i(444)1]⁺: Triisobutyl (methyl) phosphonium; P.minus: Polygonum minus; NPs: Nanoparticle; ZnO : Zinc oxide nanoparticles ; Ni NPs: Nickel nanoparticles; MO: Methyl orange; UAE: Ultrasonic-assisted extraction; LLE: Liquid-liquid extraction; ABS: Aqueous biphasic system ; [Ace]^?: Acesulfamate; [Ala]^?: alalinate; [TMPP]^?: bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate; : ; [NTf₂]^?: bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide; [[Br]^–]: [Br]omide; [Calc]: calkanoate; [Cl]^–: chloride; [Bz]^?: benzoate; [PF₆]^?: hexafluorophosphate; [HSO₄]^?: hydrogenosulfate; [OH]^?: hydroxide; I^–: iodide; [Lac]^?: lactate; [NO₃]^?: nitrate; [[Cl]O₄]^?: perchlorate; [Phe]^?: phenilalaninate; [BF₄]^?: tetrafluoroborate; [SCN]^?: thiocyanate; [C(CN)₃]^?: tricyanomethanide; [CF₃CO₂]^?: trifluoroacetate; [CF₃SO₃]^?: trifluoromethanesulfonate; [FAP]^?: tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate; ILs: Ionic liquids; Ag NPs: Silver nanoparticle; Cu NPs: Copper nanoparticle; MB: Methylene blue; MR: Methyl red ; MAE: Microwave-assisted extraction; SLE: solid-liquid extraction.     

Use of formal ontologies as a foundation for inventive design studies

The paradigm change that rules our industry (currently evolving under the quality paradigm) requires an enterprise to organize innovation in a pragmatic way. Beyond theoretical discourses around the necessity for innovation, methods and tools, based on theories should now be translated into engineering practices to be efficiently applied. One of the consequences of this necessary evolution is that R&D departments (and especially project teams), familiar with methods and tools inherited from quality area, are pushed toward changes in their practices sometimes far from their respective cultures. Software tools for accompanying this evolution are needed. This article proposes the use of ontologies as a base to the development of those software tools. Formalization of the main concepts concerning inventive design is provided by the use of formal ontologies. The tools already developed assist the expert in the conduction of an inventive design study, from problem formulation to the proposal of solution concepts.