Mosquito and West Nile virus surveillance in northeast Montana,U.S.A., 2005 and 2006

Mosquito and West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance was conducted on a national wildlife refuge in northeast Montana in 2005 and 2006, during which outbreaks of WNV in a colony of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin) (Pelecaniformes: Pelecanidae) resulted in juvenile mortality rates of ～ 31%. Both years, floodwater species Ochlerotatus dorsalis (Meigen) (Diptera: Culicidae), Aedes vexans (Meigen) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Ochlerotatus flavescens (Muller) (Diptera: Culicidae) comprised 78% of the total collection and heightened host‐seeking activity was observed from mid‐June to mid‐July. Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) was most active from mid‐July to mid‐August and comprised 18% of the collection in 2005 and 20% in 2006. However, fewer than 10% of the Cx. tarsalis females collected in 2006 were obtained adjacent to the pelicans' nesting grounds. Minimum infection rates per 1000 Cx. tarsalis tested for WNV were 1.36 in 2005 and 1.41 in 2006. All pools in which WNV was detected in 2006 were composed of females collected 10 km from the nesting grounds. Substantial juvenile pelican mortality in 2006 despite reductions in the population of the primary vector and in mosquito infection rates near the colony suggests that the methods used to detect the introduction of WNV were too coarse and that amplification of the virus within the colony may reflect causes other than mosquito infection.     

Marfella CG,Ohkawa Y,Coles AH,Garlick DS,Jones SN,Imbalzano AN. 2006. Mutation of the SNF2 family member Chd2 affects mouse development and survival. J Cell Physiol 209:162–171.

The original article to which this erratum refers was published in J Cell Physiol 2006; 209:162–171.     

Richard H. Osborne: Richard H. Osborne,retiring editor: An appreciation, 1977

Secrets of the Savanna: Twenty‐Three Years in the African Wilderness Unraveling the Mysteries of Elephants and People. Mark and Delia Owens. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006     

Nest architecture of Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Nine nests of Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 were excavated between 2006 and 2007 at the UNESP university campus in Rio Claro, SP, southeastern Brazil. The P. striata population was larger in the two nests excavated in the months of August and November, 2006. The nests of this species are simple and poorly elaborated, with chambers and tunnels close to the ground surface. P. striata places the pupae in chambers isolated from the other individuals. The lack of chambers with the specific purpose of conditioning food and garbage underscores the simplicity of these nests.     

A new polypterid fish: Polypterus faraou sp. nov. (Cladistia, Polypteridae) from the Late Miocene, Toros-Menalla, Chad

Polypterus faraou sp. nov. (Cladistia, Polypteridae) from the Late Miocene of Toros-Menalla (western Djourab, Chad) is described on the basis of a subcomplete articulated skeleton preserved in three dimensions. This is the first time such a complete fossil polypterid skeleton has been described. It is the only verifiable fossil record for the genus Polypterus . P. faraou closely resembles P. bichir and P. endlicheri , extant fish found in the Chad–Chari system. Intrarelationships among the polypterids are not yet resolved: however, P. faraou shows a primitive shape of the body and a primitive shape of the opening of the lateral line on the scales, similar to that of three living species ( P. bichir , P. endlicheri and P. ansorgii ).  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 227–237.     

Erratum to H. Frederik Nijhout,et al. Epigenetics Volume 1, Issue 2; pp. 81-87.

In the paper, Long-Range Allosteric Interactions between the Folate and Methionine Cycles Stabilize DNA Methylation Reaction Rate, by H. Frederik Nijhout, Michael C. Reed, David F. Anderson, Jonathan C. Mattingly, S. Jill James and Cornelia M. Ulrich (Epigenetics 2006; 2:81-87), an eqution was misprinted on page 86 of the appendix. The corrected equations can be found in the online pdf.     

Genetic Analysis of Norovirus GII.4 Variant Strains Detected in Outbreaks of Gastroenteritis in Yokohama,Japan, from the 2006-2007 to the 2013-2014 Seasons

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, both in sporadic cases and outbreaks. Since the 1990s, the emergence of several GII.4 variants has been reported worldwide. To investigate the epidemic status of NoV, 6,724 stool samples collected from outbreaks in Yokohama, Japan, from the 2006–2007 to 2013–2014 seasons were assessed for NoVs. We genotyped one specimen from each GII outbreak and conducted a sequence analysis of the VP1 gene for several GII.4 strains. Of the 947 NoV outbreaks during our study, GII was detected in 835, and GII.4 was the predominant genotype of GII. Five different GII.4 variants, Yerseke 2006a, Den Haag 2006b (2006b), Apeldoorn 2007, New Orleans 2009, and Sydney 2012, were detected. During this study period, the most prevalent variant of GII.4 was 2006b, and in each individual season, either 2006b or Sydney 2012 was the predominant variant. Out of the 16 detected 2006b strains, 12 had some amino acid substitutions in their blockade epitope, and these substitutions were concentrated in three residues. Two of the 2006b strains detected in the 2012–2013 season had a S368E substitution, which is consistent with the amino acid residues at same site of NSW0514 (Sydney 2012 prototype). Among the 16 detected strains of Sydney 2012, a phylogenetic analysis showed that all five strains detected in Yokohama during the 2011–2012 season clustered away from the other Sydney 2012 strains that were detected in the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 seasons. These five strains and other Sydney 2012 strains in Yokohama had a few amino acid differences in the blockade epitopes compared with NSW0514. The amino acid substitutions observed in this study provide informative data about the evolution of a novel GII.4 variant.     

Unification of the genera Nonlabens, Persicivirga, Sandarakinotalea and Stenothermobacter into a single emended genus, Nonlabens, and description of Nonlabens agnitus sp. nov

Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that a bacterial isolate, designated JC2678(T), represents a distinct phyletic line within the suprageneric monophyletic clade containing the genera Nonlabens, Persicivirga, Stenothermobacter and Sandarakinotalea. The polyphasic data presented in this study demonstrated that the members belonging to the Nonlabens-like clade overall constitute a single genus. Therefore, it is proposed to transfer the members of genera Persicivirga O'Sullivan et al. 2006, Stenothermobacter Lau et al. 2006 and Sandarakinotalea Khan et al. 2006 to the genus Nonlabens Lau et al. 2005. Thus, P. dokdonensis (Yoon et al. 2006) Nedashkovskaya et al. 2009, P. ulvanivorans Barbeyron et al. 2010, P. xylanidelens O'Sullivan et al. 2006, Sandarakinotalea sediminis Khan et al. 2006 and Stenothermobacter spongiae Lau et al. 2006 should be transferred to Nonlabens dokdonensis comb. nov., Nonlabens ulvanivorans comb. nov., Nonlabens xylanidelens comb. nov., Nonlabens sediminis comb. nov. and Nonlabens spongiae comb. nov., respectively. In addition, strain JC2678(T) (=KACC 14155(T)=JCM 17109(T)) is proposed to constitute a novel species belonging to the genus Nonlabens with the name of Nonlabens agnitus sp. nov.     

Biological notes on a fungus-growing ant, Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Attini) attacked by a diverse community of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae)

A number of wasps in the family Diapriidae, subfamily Diapriinae (Proctotrupoidea), are parasitoids that specialize on ant larvae. These wasps are abundant and diverse in the Neotropics, but little is known about their biology. We studied parasitism rates by an array of diapriine wasps that attack the larvae of fungus-growing ants, Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki, in a single population (near Gamboa, Panamá). Relatively little is known about the biology and natural history of these ants, so we also present data on colony size and nest architecture. We excavated 136 colonies in central Panamá from June to September 2006, and 20 nests from July 2009. We reared six wasp morphotypes; two of them in the genus Mimopriella Masner and Garcia, one Oxypria Kieffer, two Szelenyiopria Fabritius and one Acanthopria Ashmead. The mean intensity of larval parasitism per ant colony was 33.9% (2006), and its prevalence across all ant populations was 27.2% (2006 and 2009). Parasitism rates were not positively correlated with host colony size. A single case of super-parasitism was documented in which two Oxypria males were reared from the same host larva.     

Stefan Moeller,Zbigniew Drzazga,Zbigniew Pakulski,K. Micha Pietrusiewicz,Helmut Duddeck, “The dirhodium‐method in the determination of absolute configurations of phospholene chalcogenides,” Chirality (2006)

The original article to which this erratum refers was published in Chirality Chirality(2006) .     

Treasurer's Report for Financial Year 2005: Prepared by Marta L. Wayne, Treasurer

Society's total assets as of 22 May 2006:

• Cash accounts: $399,732.69
•      

Resonance light scattering technique for the determination of proteins with Congo red and Triton X‐100. Xia Wu,Shuna Sun,Changying Guo,Jinghe Yang,Changxia Sun,Chengrong Zhou and Tao Wu. Luminescence Vol. 21 No. 1, 2006, pages 56–61.

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Luminescence Vol. 21 No. 1, 2006, pages 56–61.     

A new species of Magnolia sect. Tulipastrum (Magnoliaceae) from Fujian, China

Magnolia polytepala Law, R.Z. Zhou & R.J. Zhang sp. nov. (Magnoliaceae) a new species from Fujian, south-east China, is described and illustrated. The species was found growing only in the evergreen broad-leaved forests of Mount Wuyishan at altitudes of 500–1200 m. Notes are also presented on the phenology and conservation status of the new species. It is closely related to Magnolia liliiflora Desr., but differs from the latter in its stunted habit (less than 2 m tall) and tepals, which are more numerous (12–16) and not contorted at the base.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 289–292.     

Coralslurrinella hongkonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium in the family Psychromonadaceae, isolated from the coral Platygyra carnosus

A novel bacterial strain, JLT2006^T, was isolated from the scleractinian coral Platygyra carnosus, located in Hong Kong, China. Cells of this strain were Gram-negative, rod-shaped or oval-shaped and motile by the means of polar flagella. They formed faint-yellow, round colonies on marine agar medium. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain JLT2006^T belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria and was most closely related to Alteromonas-like bacteria of the genera Psychromonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Moritella, Shewanella and Ferrimonas, with less than 93 % sequence similarity. The predominant fatty acids were identified as C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c (23.0 %), C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c (18.2 %) and C16:0 (16.4 %). The quinone was menaquinone-7 (100 %). The polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipid, glycolipid and lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 40.3 mol%. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as the physiological and biochemical features that separate the strain JLT2006^T from other recognized bacteria, a novel species of a new genus with the name Coralslurrinella hongkonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JLT2006^T (=JCM 18796^T = CGMCC 1.10992^T).     

Jack GD,Mead EA,Garst JF,Cabrera MC,DeSantis, AM,Slaughter SM,Jervis J,Brooks AI,Potts M,Helm RF. Long term metabolic arrest and recovery of HEK293 spheroids involves NF‐κB signaling and sustained JNK activation,Journal of Cellular Physiology (2006) 206(2) 526–536

The original article to which this erratum refers was published in Journal of Cellular Physiology J Cell Phys (2006) 206(2) 526–536 .     

Measurement of N2 fixation in 30 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes under field conditions in Ghana, using the15N natural abundance technique

In 2005 and 2006, 30 and 15 cowpea genotypes were respectively evaluated for plant growth and symbiotic performance at Manga in Northern Ghana, in order to identify N₂-fixing potential of these cowpea genotypes as source of N for cropping systems. The results showed differences in biomass production by the 30 or 15 cowpea genotypes. In 2005, cultivars Fahari, Mchanganyiko, IT97K-499-39, IT93K-2045-29 and IT84S-2246 produced the most shoot biomass, while Apagbaala, Brown Eye, ITH98-46, Vita 7 and Iron Grey produced the least. Of the 15 genotypes tested in 2006, cv. TVu11424 produced the largest amount of biomass, and ITH98-46, the least. Isotopic analysis of¹⁵N in plant parts also revealed significant differences in δ¹⁵N of the cowpea genotypes studied. As a result, the percent N derived from fixation (% Ndfa) also differed among the cowpea genotypes tested in 2005, with only 5 out of the 30 cultivars obtaining over 50% of their N from symbiotic fixation. Whether expressed as mg N.plant^?1 or kg N.ha^?1, the levels of N₂ fixation by the cowpea genotypes varied considerably during 2005 and 2006, with values of N contribution ranging from 14.1 kg N.ha^?1 by cv. TVu1509 to 157.0 kg N.ha^?1 by IT84S-2246 in 2005. The amounts of N-fixed in 2006 ranged from 16.7 kg N.ha^?1 by cv. ITH98-46 to 171.2 kg N.ha^?1 by TVu11424, clearly indicating genotypic differences in symbiotic N yield. Re-evaluating 15 out of the 30 cowpea genotypes for N₂ fixation in 2006, revealed higher % Ndfa values (>50%) in all (15 cowpea genotypes) relative to those tested in 2005, indicating greater dependence on N₂ fixation for their N nutrition even though, the actual amounts of fixed-N were lower in 2006. This was due, in part, to reduced plant biomass as a result of very late sampling in 2006, close to physiological maturity (72 DAP in 2006 vs. 46 DAP in 2005) when considerable leaf matter was lost. The amount of N-fixed in 2006 can therefore be considered as being under-estimated.     

Micropropagation of a medicinal plant, Plantago major L.

An efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for an important medicinal plant, Plantago major L. For this purpose, it is recommended to culture shoot-tips on modified MS medium [412.5 mg dm-3 NH4NO3 and 340 mg dm-3 KH2PO4] supplemented with 50 g dm-3 glucose and 0.5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. Maximum rooting frequency was obtained at 1 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Statement of retraction. Cardioprotective effect of resveratrol via HO-1 expression involves p38 map kinase and PI-3-kinase signaling, but does not involve NFkB

Free Radical Research, October 2006; 40(10): 1066-1075 (Received 30 March 2006) The Editor, Editorial Board and Publisher of Free Radical Research hereby retract the following article from publication in the journal: SAMARJIT DAS, CESAR G. FRAGA & DIPAK K. DAS. 2006. Cardioprotective effect of resveratrol via HO-1 expression involves p38 map kinase and PI-3-kinase signaling, but does not involve NFkB. Free Radical Research, October 2006; 40(10): 1066-1075. This article has been found to contain fabricated data during a research misconduct investigation by the University of Connecticut Health Center. Specifically, the institution has determined that images appearing in Figure 4 of that paper contain instances of data fabrication. As a consequence, and as per accepted best practice, the article is withdrawn from all print and electronic editions.     

Nematodes from saline and freshwater lakes of the Vestfold Hills,East Antarctica,including the description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypodontolaimus antarcticus</Emphasis> sp. n.

The invertebrate fauna of many Antarctic ice-free areas, even those close to permanent research stations, can be poorly known. Here we describe some nematodes from freshwater and saline, marine-derived lakes of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. The freshwater lakes contained the widespread East Antarctic endemic species, Plectus frigophilus Kirjanova, 1958. The saline lakes were inhabited by two recently described species, Halomonhystera halophila Andrássy, 2006 and Halomonhystera continentalis Andrássy, 2006, and by a new species described in this report, Hypodontolaimus antarcticus sp. n. Originally marine but now brackish Highway Lake contained a nematode fauna with both freshwater and marine-derived components. The nematode fauna of Antarctica now consists of 54 named species, 22 of which are found in East Antarctica.     

A strong Madagascan rainforest MDE and no equatorward increase in species richness: re-analysis of 'The missing Madagascan mid-domain effect', by Kerr J.T., Perring M. & Currie D.J. (Ecology Letters 9:149-159, 2006)

By reanalysing inaccurately presented data of Kerr et al. (2006) , we refute their claims that area-corrected species richness of endemic Madagascan birds and mammals increases toward the Equator and is best explained by environmental factors, and that the rainforest mid-domain effect (MDE) Lees et al. (1999) demonstrated is artefactual.