The occurrence of Phytophthora syringae in fallen apple leaves

Fallen apple leaves from orchards at East Malling Research Station contained oospores of Phytophthora syringae , often in large numbers. Oospores identical in appearance were also observed in pear leaves but their incidence was less than in apple. The colonisation of fallen leaves by P. syringae is considered the principal means of inoculum accumulation in orchard soil and therefore of great importance in the epidemiology of the fruit rot caused by this fungus.     

The effects of weather conditions on the movements and activity of badgers (Meles meles) in a suburban environment

This study provides quantitative data relating short-term fluctuations in local weather conditions to various measures of badger activity. These relationships were examined on a yearly, quarterly and monthly basis using behavioural data collected from 65 animals radio-tracked for a total of 518 nights in the suburbs of north-west Bristol. The yearly pattern of badger activity was reflected in a strong positive correlation between activity and daylength; in addition, moonlight and the absence of cloud cover were shown to restrict both the speed of travel and nightly range size, and to delay emergence. Looking at the data on a quarterly basis, activity increased with increasing temperature in the spring and autumn. Heavy rain reduced above-ground activity in the autumn, and in the winter speed of travel increased with wind speed. Nutritionally stressed adult females showed an increase in activity during the shorter summer nights. However, in general, changes in badger activity could not be readily predicted on the basis of the weather variables measured. The significance of these relationships is discussed in the light of the behaviour of badgers living in suburban Bristol.     

Meta-analysis of the literature on diagnostic accuracy of SPECT in parkinsonian syndromes

Background  

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. One of the most widely used techniques to diagnose PD is a Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT) scan to visualise the integrity of the dopaminergic pathways in the brain. Despite this there remains some discussion on the value of SPECT in the differential diagnosis of PD. We did a meta-analysis of all the existing literature on the diagnostic accuracy of both pre- and post-synaptic SPECT imaging in the differential diagnosis of PD.     

Cryptic diversity within the Moroccan endemic day geckos Quedenfeldtia (Squamata: Gekkonidae): a multidisciplinary approach using genetic,morphological and ecological data

Quedenfeldtia (Boettger, 1883) is a genus of diurnal geckos, endemic to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, with two species being recognized: Quedenfeldtia moerens and Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus. Quedenfeldtia moerens is found across a wide variety of habitats, from sea level to 3000 m a.s.l., whereas Q. trachyblepharus occupies exclusively high mountain regions reaching up to 4000 m a.s.l. This differentiation, offers an interesting model for study biogeographical patterns and evolutionary scenarios in a North African endemic. Analysis of two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and ND4) and four nuclear (ACM4, MC1R, PDC, and Rag1) DNA markers revealed high genetic variation, consistent with other recent phylogeographical studies, and with the two currently described species. However, within each species, a subdivision into two groups with geographical consistence was found. Multivariate morphological analyses confirmed the existence of two main phenotypes, whereas ecological niche modelling identified various environmental variables associated with the distribution of each species, and helped to predict occurrences outside the confirmed ranges. The results obtained in the present study indicate the possible existence of additional ‘cryptic’ species within this genus, a condition found in many North African reptiles, and particularly common in geckos. In general, North African montane fauna appears to reflect the occurrence of diverse palaeoendemics, as seen in Central Africa Mountain systems, rather than the pattern of recent postglacial recolonization observed in Europe. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ?? , ??–??.     

Neither genetic nor observational data alone are sufficient for understanding sex-biased dispersal in a social-group-living species

Complex sex-biased dispersal patterns often characterize social-group-living species and may ultimately drive patterns of cooperation and competition within and among groups. This study investigates whether observational data or genetic data alone can elucidate the potentially complex dispersal patterns of social-group-living black and white colobus monkeys ( Colobus guereza , 'guerezas'), or whether combining both data types provides novel insights. We employed long-term observation of eight neighbouring guereza groups in Kibale National Park, Uganda, as well as microsatellite genotyping of these and two other neighbouring groups. We created a statistical model to examine the observational data and used dyadic relatedness values within and among groups to analyse the genetic data. Analyses of observational and genetic data both supported the conclusion that males typically disperse from their natal groups and often transfer into nearby groups and probably beyond. Both data types also supported the conclusion that females are more philopatric than males but provided somewhat conflicting evidence about the extent of female philopatry. Observational data suggested that female dispersal is rare or nonexistent and transfers into neighbouring groups do not occur, but genetic data revealed numerous pairs of closely related adult females among neighbouring groups. Only by combining both data types were we able to understand the complexity of sex-biased dispersal patterns in guerezas and the processes that could explain our seemingly conflicting results. We suggest that the data are compatible with a scenario of group dissolution prior to the start of this study, followed by female transfers into different neighbouring groups.     

Estimating ancestral distributions of lineages with uncertain sister groups: a statistical approach to Dispersal–Vicariance Analysis and a case using Aesculus L. (Sapindaceae) including fossils

Abstract We propose a simple statistical approach for using Dispersal–Vicariance Analysis (DIVA) software to infer biogeographic histories without fully bifurcating trees. In this approach, ancestral ranges are first optimized for a sample of Bayesian trees. The probability P of an ancestral range r at a node is then calculated as where Y is a node, and F(r_Y ) is the frequency of range r among all the optimal solutions resulting from DIVA optimization at node Y, t is one of n topologies optimized, and Pt is the probability of topology t. Node Y is a hypothesized ancestor shared by a specific crown lineage and the sister of that lineage “x”, where x may vary due to phylogenetic uncertainty (polytomies and nodes with posterior probability <100%). Using this method, the ancestral distribution at Y can be estimated to provide inference of the geographic origins of the specific crown group of interest. This approach takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty as well as uncertainty from DIVA optimization. It is an extension of the previously described method called Bayes‐DIVA, which pairs Bayesian phylogenetic analysis with biogeographic analysis using DIVA. Further, we show that the probability P of an ancestral range at Y calculated using this method does not equate to pp*F(r_Y ) on the Bayesian consensus tree when both variables are <100%, where pp is the posterior probability and F(r_Y ) is the frequency of range r for the node containing the specific crown group. We tested our DIVA‐Bayes approach using Aesculus L., which has major lineages unresolved as a polytomy. We inferred the most probable geographic origins of the five traditional sections of Aesculus and of Aesculus californica Nutt. and examined range subdivisions at parental nodes of these lineages. Additionally, we used the DIVA‐Bayes data from Aesculus to quantify the effects on biogeographic inference of including two wildcard fossil taxa in phylogenetic analysis. Our analysis resolved the geographic ranges of the parental nodes of the lineages of Aesculus with moderate to high probabilities. The probabilities were greater than those estimated using the simple calculation of pp*F(r_y) at a statistically significant level for two of the six lineages. We also found that adding fossil wildcard taxa in phylogenetic analysis generally increased P for ancestral ranges including the fossil's distribution area. The ΔP was more dramatic for ranges that include the area of a wildcard fossil with a distribution area underrepresented among extant taxa. This indicates the importance of including fossils in biogeographic analysis. Exmination of range subdivision at the parental nodes revealed potential range evolution (extinction and dispersal events) along the stems of A. californica and sect. Parryana.     

THE POTASSIUM UPTAKE OF LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS

SUMMARY: A reproducible flame speetrophotometric method for the determination of the potassium uptake of Lactobacilius acidophilus is described. The potassium uptake curve was characteristic and had a coefficient of variation between replicate samples at peak uptake of approximately 2%. Two general applications of the technique have been demonstrated: the evaluation of the toxicity of an inhibitory substance (fluoride as sodium fluoride), and determination of the effect of the interaction of L. acidophilus and L. casei in a mixed culture.     

Stoichiometry of the Ribulose-1, 5-Bisphosphate Oxygenase Reaction

Fraction I protein from leaves of Spinacia oleracea was purifiedto electrophoretic homogeneity using ammoniumsulphate fractionation,ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purifiedprotein exhibited a 280 nm/260 nm ratio of 1.81 and a sedimentationcoefficient of 20.6S. The stoichiometry of the ribulose-l, 5-bisphosphateoxygenase reaction was determined for O2 consumption and phosphoglycolicand phosphoglyceric acid production. For every 0.87 ±0.07 µmol O2 consumed there were 0.83 ± 0.04 µimolphosphoglycolic acid and 0.87 ± 0.13 µmol phosphoglycericacid produced. Hydroxylapatite column chromatography was foundto be effective in the purification of glycolic acid oxidase.