Utilizing Colored Pheromones and Helping Ants for Wireless Mesh Networks Routing

Improving routing algorithm performance not only leads to appreciate the quality of data transmission, but also increases the speed of data transfer. In this paper we propose a hybrid method which is a combination of traffic classification by the help of colored pheromones and helping ants method in the intermediate nodes. This combination increases the convergence speed and decreases the delay and Jitter in the network. Also we compare the obtained results with two known routing algorithms that are based on the ant colony.

Control Effect and Cost Evaluation of Different Sex Pheromones and Trapping Lamps against Spodoptern litura,Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera in Tobacco

[ Objective] The aim was to study the control effect of different sex pheromones and trapping lamps against main pests in tobacco. [ Method] Control effect of sex pheromone of different matrix lures and Jiaduo trapping lamp against Spodoptern litura, Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera in tobacco in Teng- chong of Yunnan were determined and compared, and the control cast was evaluated. [Result] The use of insect sex pheromones and insecticidal light traps had certain effect against S. litura and H. armiger. The trapping effect of sex pheromone traps was better than that of Jiaduo trapping lamp, and the PVC matrix lure had better performance than rubber matrix lure, which had strongest capturing capacity, continuous control effect and significant effort against S. litura. The traps with different settled densities and hanging heights also had different trapping effect against S. litura and H. armiger, and the hanging height of 100 - 150 cm from ground was the best; as the cost was considered, the cast of the area with low density of traps was the lowest, which was reduced by over 44% than conventional chemical control area. [ Conclusion] It is safe and effective to use sex pheromone and insecticidal light traps to control S. litura and H. armigera, and it is a green environmental protection biological physical control technology, having extended application prospect in large area.

Synthesis of the Stereoisomers of the Sex Pheromones of the Southern Corn Rootworm

A simple and efficient asymmetric synthesis of the sex pheromone of the southern corn rootworm is discribed. The key step is the asymmetric Michael addition of enoylsultam with virtually complete asymmetric induction( e.e. %>99%)

Control Effects of Different Densities of Chemical Pheromones against Tobacco Cutworm Moth ( Spodoptera litura)

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the most suitable density of chemical pheromone to control Spodoptera litura in tobacco fields. [ Method ] Sixteen traps （ 4 lines x 4 rows） were placed according to the specifications of 25. 8 m ×25.8 m （ 15. 0 trap/hm2 ）, 31. 6 m× 31.6 m （ 10.0 trap/hm2 ） and 36.5 m × 36.5m （ 7.5 trap/hm2 ）. Meanwhile, a control area larger than 2 hm2 was set up with three repetitions. [ Result] Without consideration of impact of wind direc- tion, the amount of trapping moth increased with the increasing controlled area of single trap, but difference of trapping amount of moth was not significant under three different density treatments. Three placement densities could effectively control S. liture in tobacco fields, thereby reduce the use of pesticides and protect the natural enemies and reduce the control cost. [Conclusion] The suitable density of chemical pheromone traps to control S. litura was 31. 6 m x31. 6 m （10.0 trap/hm2 ）.

Pheromones in Human Urine: A Study

The present study was conducted to understand if pheromone or any similar substance was present in human semen and whether it could be recognized by smell. One hundred and fifty two subjects of either sex participated in this study. The study lasted for one month. They were to identify urine by smell. Daily first urine sample was submitted by five male and five female subjects for this study. Menstrual status of female subjects was recorded. Many distinguished the smell of urine of male from that of female. Interestingly male subjects recognized the smell of female urine of ovulation day. Reason may be pheromone. A woman may be releasing maximally pheromone on this day. This supports the theory of pheromone which attracts a man to a woman on her ovulation day.

Identification of an odorant receptor responding to sex pheromones in Spodoptera frugiperda extends the novel type-I PR lineage in moths

moths,pheromone receptors(PRs)are crucial for intraspecific sexual communication between males and females.Moth PRs are considered as an ideal model for studying the evolution of insect PRs,and a large number of PRs have been identified and functionally characterized in different moth species.Moth PRs were initially thought to fall into a single monophyletic clade in the odorant receptor(OR)family,but recent studies have shown that ORs in another lineage also bind type-I sex pheromones,which indicates that type-I PRs have multiple independent origins in the Lepidoptera.In this study,we investigated whether ORs of the pest moth Spodoptera frugiperda belonging to clades closely related to this novel PR lineage may also have the capacity to bind type-I pheromones and serve as male PRs.Among the 7 ORs tested,only 1(SfruOR23)exhibited a male-biased expression pattern.Importantly,in vitro functional characterization showed that SfruOR23 could bind several type-I sex pheromone compounds with Z-9-tetradecenal(Z9-14:Ald),a minor component found in female sex pheromone glands,as the optimal ligand.In addition,SfruOR23 also showed weak responses to plant volatile organic compounds.Altogether,we characterized an S.frugiperda PR positioned in a lineage closely related to the novel PR clade,indicating that the type-I PR lineage can be extended in moths.

Moth sex pheromones affect interspecific competition among sympatric species and possibly population distribution by modulating pre-mating behavior

Premating behaviors mediated by pheromones play pivotal roles in animal mating choices.In natural populations of the striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis and the rice leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis in the rice field habitat,we discovered that Z11-16:Ald,a major component of the C.suppressalis pheromone,modulated the premating behavior of C.medinalis.Z11-16:Ald evoked a strong olfactory response in male antennae and strongly inhibited the sex pheromone trapping of male C.medinalis in the field.The functions of three C.medinalis sex pheromone receptor genes(CmedPR1–3)were verified through heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes.CmedPR1 responded to Z11-18:OH and Z11-18:Ald,as well as the interspecific pheromone compound Z11-16:Ac of sympatric species;CmedPR2 responded to Z13-18:OH and Z13-18:Ald,as well as the sex pheromone compounds Z11-16:Ald and Z9-16:Ald of sympatric species;and CmedPR3 responded to Z11-18:OH and Z13-18:OH,as well as the interspecific pheromones Z11-16:OH,Z9-16:Ald,Z11-16:Ac,and Z11-16:Ald of sympatric species.Thus,CmedPR2 and CmedPR3 share the ligand Z11-16:Ald,which is not a component of the C.medinalis sex pheromone.Therefore,the sex pheromones of interspecific species affected the input of neural signals by stimulating the sex pheromone receptors on the antennae of male C.medinalis moths,thereby inhibiting the olfactory responses of the male moths to the sex pheromones.Our results demonstrate chemical communication among sympatric species in the rice field habitat,the recognition of intra-and interspecific sex pheromones by olfactory receptors,and how insect premating behaviors are modulated to possibly affect resource partitioning.

Pheromones emitted by both female and male moths regulate coordination between the sexes for Agriphila aeneociliella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The complex and efficient sex pheromone communication system in insects is essential for reproduction and for reproductive isolation of species.In moths,sex pheromone communication starts with male attraction to compounds emitted by females;only a few species act in the reverse.However,how the pheromones that are emitted by both sexes co-regulate and coordinate mate finding and mating remains unknown.Here,we identified both the male and female pheromones of Eastern Grass Veneer moth,Agriphila aeneociliella(Lepidoptera:Crambidae),and demonstrated their efficiency in manipulating behavioral responses of the opposite sex.Combining data from analysis of gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,and olfactory behavior assays,the female pheromone of A.aeneociliella was identified as(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienal and(Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate,while the male pheromone was determined to be 1-nonanal.Both the 2 individual components of the female pheromone and their binary mixture were significantly attractive to males,and the 1-nonanal male pheromone induced strong electrophysiological responses in females and induced attraction of females in a Y-tube olfactory test.Depending on the concentration of 1-nonanal,its addition to the binary mixture of the female pheromone either enhanced(10^(−3) or 10^(−2)μg/μL)or reduced(1μg/μL)the aphrodisiac effect of the mixture on males.In wind-tunnel bioassays,different concentrations of pheromones,including the binary mixture of female pheromone and the mixture of male and female pheromones,had significant effects on male behavior.Our findings suggested that the blend of both female and male pheromones plays a significant role in the sexual communication system in some moths.

Effects of bark beetle pheromones on the attraction of Monochamus alternatus to pine volatiles

We evaluated the attraction ofMonochamus alternatus Hope （Coleoptera： Cerambycidae）, Dryocoetes luteus Blandford and Orthotomicus erosus Wollaston （Coleoptera： Curculionidae： Scolytinae） to multiple-funnel traps baited with the pine volatiles, ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene and the bark beetle pheromones, ipsenol and ipsdienol. M. alternatus were attracted to traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene but not those baited with ipsdienol and ipsenol. Ipsdienol and ipsenol decreased catches ofM. alternatus in traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene. Traps baited with either binary combinations of ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene or ipsdienol and ipsenol were attractive to D. luteus and O. erosus. The addition of ipsenol and ipsdienol to traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene synergized attraction of O. erosus but not D. luteus .

Target detection for multi-UAVs via digital pheromones and navigation algorithm in unknown environments

Coordinating multiple unmanned aerial vehicles(multi-UAVs)is a challenging technique in highly dynamic and sophisticated environments.Based on digital pheromones as well as current mainstream unmanned system controlling algorithms,we propose a strategy for multi-UAVs to acquire targets with limited prior knowledge.In particular,we put forward a more reasonable and effective pheromone update mechanism,by improving digital pheromone fusion algorithms for different semantic pheromones and planning individuals’probabilistic behavioral decision-making schemes.Also,inspired by the flocking model in nature,considering the limitations of some individuals in perception and communication,we design a navigation algorithm model on top of Olfati-Saber’s algorithm for flocking control,by further replacing the pheromone scalar to a vector.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can yield superior performance in terms of coverage,detection and revisit efficiency,and the capability of obstacle avoidance.

SYNTHESES OF INSECT PHEROMONES BY PHASE TRANSFER CATALYTIC WITTIG REACTION

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONWittig reaction has been widely used in the syntheses of insect pheromones. However, the conventional route is not suitable for large-scale syntheses because it is hard to operate. The successful application of phasc transfer catalysis makes the operation of Wittig reaction markedly convenient. At prcsent more investigations on PTC Wittig reaction have bccn reported. But almost all arc on the PTC

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PBP1 and PBP3 mutagenesis induced significant reduction in electrophysiological response to sex pheromones in male Chilo suppressalis

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are thought to bind and transport sex pheromones onto the olfactory receptors on the dendrite membrane of olfactory neurons, and thus play a vital role in sex pheromone perception. However, the function of PBPs has rarely been demonstrated in vivo.In this study, two PBPs (PBP1 and PBP3) of Chilo suppressalis, one of the most notorious pyralid pests, were in vivo functionally characterized using insects with the PBP gene knocked out by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. First, through direct injection of PBP-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, a high rate of target-gene editing (checked with polled eggs) was induced at 24 h after injection, 21.3% for PBPl-sgRNA injected eggs and 19.5% for PBP3-sgRNA injected eggs. Second, by an in-crossing strategy, insects with mutant PBP1 or PBP3 (both with a premature stop codon) were screened and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G3 generation. Third, the mutant insects were measured for electroantennogram (EAG) response to female sex pheromones. As a result, both PBP mutant males displayed significant reduction in EAG response, and this reduction in PBP1 mutants was higher than that in PBP3 mutants, indicating a more important role of PBP1. Finally, the relative importance of two PBPs and the possible off target effect induced by sgRNA-injection are discussed. Taken together, our study provides a deeper insight into the function of and interaction between different PBP genes in sex pheromone perception of C. suppressalis, as well as a valuable reference in methodology for gene functional study in other genes and other moth species.

Endocrine pheromones couple fat rationing to dauer diapause through HNF4αnuclear receptors

Developmental diapause is a widespread strategy for animals to survive seasonal starvation and environmental harshness.Diapaused animals often ration body fat to generate a basal level of energy for enduring survival.How diapause and fat rationing are coupled,however,is poorly understood.The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans excretes pheromones to the environment to induce a diapause form called dauer larva.Through saturated forward genetic screens and CRISPR knockout,we found that dauer pheromones feed back to repress the transcription of ACOX-3,MAOC-1,DHS-28,DAF-22(peroxisomalβ-oxidation enzymes dually involved in pheromone synthesis and fat burning),ALH-4(aldehyde dehydrogenase for pheromone synthesis),PRX-10 and PRX-11(peroxisome assembly and proliferation factors).Dysfunction of these pheromone enzymes and factors relieves the repression.Surprisingly,transcription is repressed not by pheromones excreted but by pheromones endogenous to each animal.The endogenous pheromones regulate the nuclear translocation of HNF4αfamily nuclear receptor NHR-79 and its co-receptor NHR-49,and,repress transcription through the two receptors.The feedback repression maintains pheromone homeostasis,increases fat storage,decreases fat burning,and prolongs dauer lifespan.Thus,the exocrine dauer pheromones possess an unexpected endocrine function to mediate a peroxisome-nucleus crosstalk,coupling dauer diapause to fat rationing.

Analysis of sleep in individual Drosophila melanogaster reveals a self-regulatory role for cuticular hydrocarbons pheromones

It is well established that pheromones are used by insects to transmit infor-mation between individuals.However,research has revealed that individual insects can be both the sender and the receiver of some pheromonal signals.It is therefore interesting to consider whether the pheromonal state of an individual insect can exert an effect on itself.In this study,we monitored the sleep activity of single flies exhibiting a mutation that leads to pheromonal deficiency and found that cuticular hydrocarbons(CHs)exerted self-regulatory effects on the amount of sleep experienced by these flies.To identify the physiological significance of this mechanism,we compared the amounts of sleep in in-dividual young flies and individual old flies(flies are known to sleep less as they get older)and compared this data with young and old flies exhibiting mutations that lead to CH reception defects.The differences in the amount of sleep experienced by young and old mutant flies were significantly lower than those of the control flies.Our data show that hydrocarbon signals produced by the cuticle in Drosophila can be self-perceived and regulate the amount of sleep acquired in a maturation-dependent manner.

Dynamic Frontier-Led Swarming:Multi-Robot Repeated Coverage in Dynamic Environments

A common assumption of coverage path planning research is a static environment.Such environments require only a single visit to each area to achieve coverage.However,some real-world environments are characterised by the presence of unexpected,dynamic obstacles.They require areas to be revisited periodically to maintain an accurate coverage map,as well as reactive obstacle avoidance.This paper proposes a novel swarmbased control algorithm for multi-robot exploration and repeated coverage in environments with unknown,dynamic obstacles.The algorithm combines two elements:frontier-led swarming for driving exploration by a group of robots,and pheromone-based stigmergy for controlling repeated coverage while avoiding obstacles.We tested the performance of our approach on heterogeneous and homogeneous groups of mobile robots in different environments.We measure both repeated coverage performance and obstacle avoidance ability.Through a series of comparison experiments,we demonstrate that our proposed strategy has superior performance to recently presented multi-robot repeated coverage methodologies.

Analysis of sex pheromone production and field trapping of the Asian corn borer(Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée)in Xinjiang,China

Identifying the sex pheromone systems of local pest populations facilitates their management,especially for moth species that show significant geographic variation in sex pheromone communication.We investigated the pheromone production and behavioral responses of the Asian corn borer(Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée;ACB)in Xinjiang,China.The ACB produces three compounds:(Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate(Z12-14:Ac)and(E)-12-tetradecenyl acetate(E12-14:Ac)which are two sex pheromone compounds,and n-tetradecyl acetate(14:Ac)which has variable roles in mediating behavioral responses.The ratios of these three compounds produced in female gland are geographically distinct among different populations.Quantitative analysis of pheromone production showed that the proportions of Z12-14:Ac in the E/Z isomers(i.e.,Z and E12-14:Ac)and the proportions of 14:Ac in the ternary blend respectively averaged 60.46%(SD=5.26)and 25.00%(SD=7.37),with their probabilities normally or near-normally distributed.Trapping experiments in a cornfield indicated that deploying the E/Z isomers and the three compounds in rubber septa close to their gland ratios yielded the most captured males,while other ratios that deviated from the gland ratios showed reduced field captures.The ternary blend was significantly more attractive to males than the E/Z isomers in the field,indicating a functional role of 14:Ac as the third pheromone component used by the local population.Additionally,the dose-response test demonstrated that the application of the three compounds at dosages between 200 and 350μg attracted significantly more males compared to other dosages.Therefore,the characterization of this local ACB pheromone system provides additional information about its geographic variation and serves as a basis for optimizing the pheromone-mediated control of this pest in Xinjiang.

Development of a high-efficiency sex pheromone formula to control Euproctis pseudoconspersa

The tea tussock moth(Euproctis pseudoconspersa)is one of the most destructive chewing pests in tea plantations and causes a serious allergic reaction on the skin of tea plantation workers.The sex pheromone components of its Japanese population were first identified as 10,14-dimethylpentadecyl isobutyrate(10Me14Me-15:iBu)and 14-methylpentadecyl isobutyrate(14Me-15:iBu),with a stereogenic center.Only 10Me14Me-15:iBu has been identified in the Chinese E.pseudoconspersa population.However,field tests have shown that 10Me14Me-15:iBu cannot meet the demand of effective pest control in China.To develop a high-efficiency E.pseudoconspersa sex pheromone formula,electroantennogram(EAG)recordings of(S)-and(R)-enantiomers of 10Me14Me-15:iBu and 14Me-15:iBu were obtained in the present study.The results demonstrated that the EAG responses of male antennae to(R)-enantiomers were significantly higher than responses to the(S)-enantiomers,and 14Me-15:iBu also elicited EAG activity.Field tests showed that the catch numbers of male moths by(R)-enantiomers were significantly higher(P<0.05)than those of(S)-enantiomers.Addition of 14Me-15:iBu significantly increased the catch numbers of both the(S)-and(R)-enantiomers.The efficient pheromone formula containing 0.75 mg(R)-10Me14Me-15:iBu and 0.1 mg 14Me-15:iBu showed significantly higher attractiveness than commercial pheromone products.Our study demonstrated that(R)-10Me14Me-15:iBu was the major sex pheromone component of E.pseudoconspersa,and 14Me-15:iBu might be the minor sex pheromone component.Furthermore,a high-efficiency sex pheromone formula for E.pseudoconspersa control was defined in this study.

Efficient Optimal Routing Algorithm Based on Reward and Penalty for Mobile Adhoc Networks

Mobile adhoc networks have grown in prominence in recent years,and they are now utilized in a broader range of applications.The main challenges are related to routing techniques that are generally employed in them.Mobile Adhoc system management,on the other hand,requires further testing and improvements in terms of security.Traditional routing protocols,such as Adhoc On-Demand Distance Vector(AODV)and Dynamic Source Routing(DSR),employ the hop count to calculate the distance between two nodes.The main aim of this research work is to determine the optimum method for sending packets while also extending life time of the network.It is achieved by changing the residual energy of each network node.Also,in this paper,various algorithms for optimal routing based on parameters like energy,distance,mobility,and the pheromone value are proposed.Moreover,an approach based on a reward and penalty system is given in this paper to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms under the impact of parameters.The simulation results unveil that the reward penalty-based approach is quite effective for the selection of an optimal path for routing when the algorithms are implemented under the parameters of interest,which helps in achieving less packet drop and energy consumption of the nodes along with enhancing the network efficiency.

Evaluation of trap effi ciency for the Asian longhorned beetle,Anoplophora glabripennis

The Asian longhorned beetle(ALB),Anoplophora glabripennis,is a well-known stem borer with high polyphagous properties causing frequent outbreaks in northeast China.An attractant-based trap is needed to improve the sensitivity,reliability,and effi ciency for detection of the beetle.In this study,the eff ects of attractants,trap types and color synergy of a trapping system were evaluated.Attractant blends comprised of the male-produced,two-component pheromone plus plant volatiles were used in the fi eld in Hengshui city.Plant volatiles(e.g.,1-pentanol,and 2-pentanol)in combination with male pheromones increased the mean number of trapped ALB compared to the pheromone alone.Males responded better than females to traps baited with plant volatiles alone,whereas traps emitting plant volatiles plus pheromone,regardless of trap type,captured more females than males.The ALB-trapping effi ciency of a modifi ed fl ight intercept panel trap was more than ten times as high as a woodborer panel trap and 1.2 times a fl ight intercept panel trap.The 1-pentanol and 2-pentanol attractants alone or in combination with male-produced pheromone were more eff ective for monitoring ALB than common lures.In laboratory Y-tube olfactometer experiments,the color brown was better at increasing attraction of both males and females to 1-pentanol,2-pentanol,1-pentanol+pheromone,and 2-pentanol+pheromone compared to the clear-glass control arm.The fi ndings provide a reliable and eff ective trap system to monitor ALB infestations.

Pheromone Monitoring in the Granaries of Uzbekistan

The pheromonitoring of pest insects population was carried out in the granary conditions. The results of pheromonitoring let us detect the pest insect’s location at lowest abundance, while visual inspections are not effective, and to determine the data of effective location in granary, proportions traps and pheromone preparative dose. The aggregation pheromone of the synthetic analogue Sitophilus weevils had been carried out, according to the general procedure for preparation of aldol product. Especially for increasing attractiveness of pheromone traps, different types of food baits were tested. The results were observed with using of germinated wheat grains moisten by wheat germ oil. The corn oil was more attractive and effective for attractiveness of whole pest insects in granary. The wheat germ oil and burdock oil was preferred, as food bait, especially for weevils. The special perforated construction of the pheromone trap for pest insects usage has been developed and recommended for storage areas. In a condition of granary, successful testing of pheromone monitoring makes it possible to establish the timing and necessity of quantitative chemical treatments.