Genetic characterization,pathogenicity and benomyl susceptibility of Lecanicillium fungal isolates from Argentina

The aim of this study was to investigate biological and molecular characteristics of Lecanicillium strains isolated from Hemipteran hosts in Argentina. Morphology‐based taxonomic characterization together with molecular taxonomy based on rRNA operon internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitochondrial nad1 gene, and nuclear ef1a gene sequences resulted in the assignment of nine out of ten isolates to the Lecanicillium lecanii sensu lato complex. However, whereas several isolates were thus unequivocally characterized as Lecanicillium muscarium or Lecanicillium longisporum, species assignment was not possible for three isolates that might represent a new species within the L. lecanii s.l. complex. We found two group‐I introns on 18S and 28S rRNA gene on only one isolate. Pathogenicity tests were conducted against the peach aphid using conidial suspensions (1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml), and the Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the survival of Myzus persicae. Lecanicillium longisporum CEP 155 and L. muscarium CEP 182 were significantly more pathogenic to M. persicae than all the Lecanicillium isolates causing aphid mortalities >85%. Determination of susceptibility to the benzimidazole fungicide benomyl revealed important differences between Lecanicillium strains. The inhibitory effect of benomyl appeared less pronounced for the L. muscarium fungal isolates than for those belonging to a different taxon. Based in our results, the best candidate strain as microbial biological control agent against M. persicae is L. muscarium CEP 182. However, further research under field conditions in greenhouses should be done in order to confirm the compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi and fungicides within an IPM strategy.     

A machine vision system to predict individual cow feed intake of different feeds in a cowshed

Data on individual feed intake of dairy cows, an important variable for farm management, are currently unavailable in commercial dairies. A real-time machine vision system including models that are able to adapt to multiple types of feed was developed to predict individual feed intake of dairy cows. Using a Red-Green-Blue-Depth (RGBD) camera, images of feed piles of two different feed types (lactating cows' feed and heifers' feed) were acquired in a research dairy farm, for a range of feed weights under varied configurations and illuminations. Several models were developed to predict individual feed intake: two Transfer Learning (TL) models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), one CNN model trained on both feed types, and one Multilayer Perceptron and Convolutional Neural Network model trained on both feed types, along with categorical data. We also implemented a statistical method to compare these four models using a Linear Mixed Model and a Generalised Linear Mixed Model, showing that all models are significantly different. The TL models performed best and were trained on both feeds with TL methods. These models achieved Mean Absolute Errors (MAEs) of 0.12 and 0.13 kg per meal with RMSE of 0.18 and 0.17 kg per meal for the two different feeds, when tested on varied data collected manually in a cowshed. Testing the model with actual cows’ meals data automatically collected by the system in the cowshed resulted in a MAE of 0.14 kg per meal and RMSE of 0.19 kg per meal. These results suggest the potential of measuring individual feed intake of dairy cows in a cowshed using RGBD cameras and Deep Learning models that can be applied and tuned to different types of feed.     

APP and APLP2 are essential at PNS and CNS synapses for transmission, spatial learning and LTP

Despite its key role in Alzheimer pathogenesis, the physiological function(s) of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its proteolytic fragments are still poorly understood. Previously, we generated APPsα knock-in (KI) mice expressing solely the secreted ectodomain APPsα. Here, we generated double mutants (APPsα-DM) by crossing APPsα-KI mice onto an APLP2-deficient background and show that APPsα rescues the postnatal lethality of the majority of APP/APLP2 double knockout mice. Surviving APPsα-DM mice exhibited impaired neuromuscular transmission, with reductions in quantal content, readily releasable pool, and ability to sustain vesicle release that resulted in muscular weakness. We show that these defects may be due to loss of an APP/Mint2/Munc18 complex. Moreover, APPsα-DM muscle showed fragmented post-synaptic specializations, suggesting impaired postnatal synaptic maturation and/or maintenance. Despite normal CNS morphology and unaltered basal synaptic transmission, young APPsα-DM mice already showed pronounced hippocampal dysfunction, impaired spatial learning and a deficit in LTP that could be rescued by GABA(A) receptor inhibition. Collectively, our data show that APLP2 and APP are synergistically required to mediate neuromuscular transmission, spatial learning and synaptic plasticity.     

Relationships between anthropometric, body composition and bone mineral parameters in 7-8-year-old rhythmic gymnasts compared with controls

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between specific anthropometric (9 skinfolds, 13 girths, 8 lengths and 8 breadths), body composition (body fat %, fat free mass [FFM], fat mass [FM]) parameters and bone mineral parameters (bone mineral density [BMD], bone mineral content [BMC) in young rhythmic gymnasts and same age controls. Eighty nine 7-8-year-old girls participated in this study and were divided to the rhythmic gymnast's (n = 46) and control (n = 43) groups. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (FFM, FM, body fat %, BMD and BMC). Body fat % and FM were lower and BMD and BMC values at lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck were higher in rhythmic gymnasts compared with controls. All measured skinfold thicknesses were thicker in controls. In girths, lengths and widths there were only few significant differences between the groups. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that skinfold thicknesses (supraspinale and medial calf) influenced L2-L4 BMD only in controls 38.2% (R2x100). Supraspinale and iliac crest skinfold thicknesses characterised L2-L4 BMC 43.9% (R2x100). Calf girths influenced BMD in L2-L4 52.3% (R2x100) in controls. BMC in L2-L4 was dependent only on mid-thigh girths 35.9% (R2x100). BMD in L2-L4 was dependent on tibiale-laterale height 30.0% (R2x100). Biiliocristal breadths together with sitting height characterised BMC in L2-L4 BMD 62.3% (R2x100). In conclusion, we found that the relationships between anthropometry, body composition and bone parameters in young rhythmic gymnasts are weak. In control group first of all lower body anthropometric parameters significantly correlated with BMD and BMC in spine.     

Which plant traits predict species loss in calcareous grasslands with extinction debt?

Aim Habitat loss and degradation pose a major threat to biodiversity, which can result in the extinction of habitat characteristic species. However, many species exhibit a delayed response to environmental changes because of the slow intrinsic dynamics of populations, resulting in extinction debt. We assess directly the changes in habitat characteristic species composition by comparing historical (1923) and current inventories in highly fragmented grasslands. We aim to characterize the species that constitute extinction debt in European calcareous grasslands. Location Europe, Estonia, 59–60° N, 24–25° E. Methods We related eleven life‐history traits and selected habitat preferences to local extinctions of populations in grasslands where extinction debt has been largely paid. Traits were chosen to describe species dispersal and persistence abilities and were quantified from databases. Results The studied grasslands have lost 90% of their area and 30% of their characteristic plant populations in 90 years. Species more prone to local population extinction were characterized by shorter life span, self‐pollination, a lack of clonal growth, fewer seeds per shoot, lower average height, lower soil nitrogen preference and higher requirements for light, indicating a limited ability to tolerate the range of changes in biotic and abiotic conditions of the sites. Locally extinct populations were also characterized by wind‐dispersed seeds, lower seed weight and lower terminal velocity of seeds, suggesting that species strategies for long‐distance dispersal are not favoured in highly fragmented landscapes. Thus, both increased habitat isolation and decreased habitat quality are important in determining local population extinction. Main conclusions Populations more prone to local extinction were characterized by a number of life‐history traits, demonstrating a greater extinction risk for species with poorer abilities for local persistence and competition. Our results can be applied to less degraded grasslands where the extinction debt is not yet paid to determine those species most susceptible to future extinction.     

Ectomycorrhizas of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coltricia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coltriciella</Emphasis> (Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota) on Caesalpiniaceae,Dipterocarpaceae and Myrtaceae in Seychelles

Ectomycorrhizal fungi, especially basidiomycetes, have repeatedly evolved from saprotrophic ancestors. Using rDNA internal transcribed spacer and large subunit sequences, we demonstrate that four species of Coltricia and Coltriciella form ectomycorrhiza with the native Vateriopsis seychellarum (Dipterocarpaceae) and Intsia bijuga (Caesalpiniaceae) as well as the introduced Eucalyptus robusta (Myrtaceae) in Seychelles. Coltricia and Coltriciella species share a thin, orange-brown to dark brown mantle and extremely thick, clampless hyphae. Phylogenetic analyses placed Coltriciella monophyletic within Coltricia. This study provides further evidence that fruiting habit on dead wood does not indicate saprotrophic lifestyle.     

The phylogeny and taxonomy of genera Cystoderma and Cystodermella (Agaricales) based on nuclear ITS and LSU sequences

Species delimitation in Cystoderma and Cystodermella was evaluated based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences as well as morphological data. Two species of Cystoderma are synonymised with C. carcharias and three species with C. jasonis, distinguishing the synonymised taxa as varieties of these accepted species. Analyses of partial LSU rDNA sequences revealed Cystoderma and Cystodermella as distinct monophyletic genera, with Ripartitella representing a well-supported sister group of the latter. Phaeolepiota aurea represents either an unsupported sister group or member of Cystoderma in the phylogenies based on LSU and ITS sequences rDNA data, respectively. The tribe Cystodermateae sensu Singer did not appear monophyletic according to analyses of LSU sequences. On the basis of these data, the phylogenetic relationships among most of the analyzed genera could not be resolved unequivocally.     

Gene localization for an autosomal dominant familial periodic fever to 12p13.

We report gene localization in a family with a benign autosomal dominant familial periodic fever (FPF) syndrome characterized by recurrent fever associated with abdominal pain. The clinical features are similar to the disorder previously described as familial Hibernian fever, and they differ from familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in that FPF episodes usually do not respond to colchicine and FPF is not associated with amyloidosis. Frequent recombination with the marker D16S2622, <1 Mb from FMF, at 16p13.3, excluded allelism between these clinically similar conditions. Subsequently, a semiautomated genome search detected linkage of FMF to a cluster of markers at 12p13, with a multipoint LOD score of 6.14 at D12S356. If penetrance of 90% is assumed, the FPF gene maps to a 19-cM interval between D12S314 and D12S364; however, if complete penetrance is assumed, then FPF maps to a 9-cM region between D12S314 and D12S1695. This interval includes the dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy locus, which, with FPF, gave a maximum two-point LOD score of 3.7 at a recombination fraction of 0. This is the first of the periodic-fever genes, other than FMF, to be mapped. Positional candidate genes may now be selected for mutation analysis to determine the molecular basis for FPF. Together with the recent identification of the defective gene in FMF, identification of a gene for FPF might provide new insights into the regulation of inflammatory responses.     

A technique for characterizing the development of rhythms in bird song

The developmental trajectory of nervous system dynamics shows hierarchical structure on time scales spanning ten orders of magnitude from milliseconds to years. Analyzing and characterizing this structure poses significant signal processing challenges. In the context of birdsong development, we have previously proposed that an effective way to do this is to use the dynamic spectrum or spectrogram, a classical signal processing tool, computed at multiple time scales in a nested fashion. Temporal structure on the millisecond timescale is normally captured using a short time Fourier analysis, and structure on the second timescale using song spectrograms. Here we use the dynamic spectrum on time series of song features to study the development of rhythm in juvenile zebra finch. The method is able to detect rhythmic structure in juvenile song in contrast to previous characterizations of such song as unstructured. We show that the method can be used to examine song development, the accuracy with which rhythm is imitated, and the variability of rhythms across different renditions of a song. We hope that this technique will provide a standard, automated method for measuring and characterizing song rhythm.