A new freshwater halacarid mite, genus Peregrinacarus (Halacaridae, Acari) from the Falklands

Peregrinacarus falklandensis n. sp., a halacarid mite from an East Falkland creek, is described and illustrated. This is the second Peregrinacarus species to date. The other species, P. reticulatus Bartsch, is recorded from Marion Island, Indian Ocean. The two species differ in chaetotaxy of the legs. The presence of halacarids in freshwater of southern polar and adjacent regions is discussed.     

Patterns of Stove Use in the Context of Fuel–Device Stacking: Rationale and Implications

EcoHealth - The implementation of clean fuel and stove programs that achieve sustained use and tangible health, environmental, and social benefits to the target populations remains a key challenge....     

Comparison between total and ultrafiltrable serum zinc as test to diagnose zinc deficiency in infants and children

Total Serum Zinc (TSZn) and albumin were determined, and low molecular weight serum Zn measured by radiochemical Ultra-Filtration (UFSZn) in healthy Dutch infants and children, and in samples obtained from those with diseases that are expected to alter TSZn. Our control TSZn values, 10.2±3.5 μmol/L, were low compared to those reported in the literature. Variation in serum albumin could not explain this: No correlation of TSZn with serum albumin was found (p>0.5). Likely explanations are the nonfasting state and the stress owing to hospital surroundings at the time of sampling. A range of other influences not registered may be active and are discussed. No significant age-dependence was found (p<0.8). Boys over 9 yr of age showed higher TSZn compared with girls of the same age (p<0.08). In a separate experiment a 17% decrease in TSZn was demonstrated by food intake (eggs). These results support the opinion that TSZn is of little value to measure Zn status. There was no discrimination in TSZn between healthy subjects and patients. Our UFSZn values, 0.28±0.13 μmol/L in the controls as well as in the patients, were correlated with TSZn and therefore not a suitable alternative for the measurement of TSZn as parameter to determine the Zn status. The UFSZn was not correlated with serum albumin (p>0.7). UFSZn values were higher in infants (p<0.01), no sex dependence was found. We conclude that TSZn as well as UFSZn are of limited clinical relevance.     

Novel loci and a role for nitric oxide for seed dormancy and preharvest sprouting in barley

Barley is used for food and feed, and brewing. Nondormant seeds are required for malting, but the lack of dormancy can lead to preharvest sprouting (PHS), which is also undesired. Here, we report several new loci that modulate barley seed dormancy and PHS. Using genome‐wide association mapping of 184 spring barley genotypes, we identified four new, highly significant associations on chromosomes 1H, 3H, and 5H previously not associated with barley seed dormancy or PHS. A total of 71 responsible genes were found mostly related to flowering time and hormone signalling. A homolog of the well‐known Arabidopsis Delay of Germination 1 (DOG1) gene was annotated on the barley chromosome 3H. Unexpectedly, DOG1 appears to play only a minor role in barley seed dormancy. However, the gibberellin oxidase gene HvGA20ox1 contributed to dormancy alleviation, and another seven important loci changed significantly during after‐ripening. Furthermore, nitric oxide release correlated negatively with dormancy and shared 27 associations. Origin and growth environment affected seed dormancy and PHS more than did agronomic traits. Days to anthesis and maturity were shorter when seeds were produced under drier conditions, seeds were less dormant, and PHS increased, with a heritability of 0.57–0.80. The results are expected to be useful for crop improvement.