Many arthropods possess escape-triggering neural mechanisms that help them evade predators. These mechanisms are important neuroethological models, but they are rarely investigated using predator-like stimuli because there is often insufficient information on real predator attacks. Locusts possess uniquely identifiable visual neurons (the descending contralateral movement detectors, DCMDs) that...

The locust descending contralateral motion detector (DCMD) responds to movements anywhere within a wide visual field, but responds most strongly to the images of approaching objects. It has been claimed that the response peaks before the end of an approach movement, providing a signal that anticipates collision. However, we find that when the locust eye is presented with appropriate computer-ge...

The lobula giant motion detector (LGMD) in the locust visual system is a wide-field, motion-sensitive neuron that responds vigorously to objects approaching the animal on a collision course. We investigated the computation performed by LGMD when it responds to approaching objects by recording the activity of its postsynaptic target, the descending contralateral motion detector (DCMD). In each a...

• OMW catalytic wet peroxidation & water recovery by membrane distillation is studied. Higher fluxes and rejection of contaminants achieved upon oxidation OMW. Several parameters for safe discharge were met after the integrated process. The retentate stream may be recirculated treated initial step. degradation organic matter present in olive mill wastewater (OMW) studied integration (CWPO) dire...

• VEDCMD has higher water flux than DCMD and PEDCMD. • Higher flux with vacuum applied may be partially due to lower membrane compaction. • Higher flux with vacuum applied may be partially due to lower membrane air pressure. • Pressure differences due to vacuum or pressure enhancement has a minimal effect on flux. a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Low water flux in membrane distillation (MD...

A locust can make a tasty morsel for a hungry predator, so being able to notice potentially dangerous looming objects and trigger the correct response could save a locust’s life. In locusts, a visual neuron called the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) spikes in response to looming objects and could therefore be the trigger for escape responses. Tomas Money and colleagues at Quee...

In this paper, we present an analog VLSI (aVLSI) architecture that implements a functional model of the locust descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) neuron, based on recently published results. We describe its architecture and analog circuits that implement its critical computational modules. We also provide an analytical closed-form solution for some of the circuits proposed and ve...

The lobula giant movement detector (LGMD) in the locust visual system and its target neuron, the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD), respond to approaching objects looming on a collision course with the animal. They thus provide a good model to study the cellular and network mechanisms underlying the sensitivity to this specific class of behaviorally relevant stimuli. We determin...

To recover gold, this work used a novel direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) reactor with a hybrid electrolytic process. Analytical results demonstrate that permeate flux increased as feed -2 -1 temperature and feed flow rate increased. Permeate flux increased from 2.8 to 17.6 kg m h when -2 -1 temperature increased from 30 to 70 °C, and increased from 9.2 to 19.9 kg m h when the feed fl...