A comparison of techniques used to study the morphology of final instar larvae of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

Abstract. The morphology of the head sclerites of final instar larvae of aphid parasitoids prepared from cast larval skins and excised heads of whole larvae are compared, using both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Remarkable differences in the apparent shape of head sclerites, particularly mandibles, were found. Some of these differences are probably due to a consistent dorso-ventral flattening of the head during moulting, observed in cast skin preparations, whereas excised heads tend to flatten antero-posteriorly. The importance of these findings for understanding the three-dimensional shape of final instar mandibles and for the study of larval morphology and taxonomy of Hymenoptera is discussed     

Improved expansion of T cells in culture when isolated with an equipment-free,high-throughput,flow-through microfluidic module versus traditional density gradient centrifugation

Background

The isolation of lymphocytes – and removal of platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs) – from an initial blood sample prior to culture is a key enabling step for effective manufacture of cellular therapies. Unfortunately, currently available methods suffer from various drawbacks, including low cell recovery, need for complex equipment, potential loss of sterility and/or high materials/labor cost.

Herbivory patterns in mature sugar maple: variation with vertical canopy strata and tree ontogeny

1. Although leaf morphology and chemistry show profound changes as trees age, the consequences of such changes to herbivory have received little attention, particularly late in the ontogeny of canopy trees. 2. Using a mobile aerial lift for canopy access, patterns of leaf damage were evaluated in canopy‐dominant mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) trees ranging from ～20 to 70 cm in diameter, corresponding to an age range of ～40–180 years. 3. Herbivore damage patterns varied in relation to both vertical canopy position (among upper‐, mid‐, and lower‐canopy positions) and with tree size. Damage types attributable to herbivores active on leaf surfaces, including leaf skeletonizers and leaf cutters (both principally Lepidoptera), and leaf stippling inducers (Hemiptera) showed decreases with tree size, and with increasing height in the canopy. In contrast, leaf damage from the most abundant gall‐forming arthropod in the system, the eriophyid mite Vasates aceriscrumena, increased markedly with tree size. 4. The results indicate that herbivory patterns vary with both canopy stratum and with tree size in sugar maple, and that the relative strength of vertical stratification and tree ontogeny effects are similar in magnitude. The predominant patterns are of a decrease in herbivory with increasing height in the canopy and with tree size, but certain galling arthropods exhibit the reverse trends.     

Habitat Use of Western Spotted Skunks and Striped Skunks in Texas

ABSTRACT Little information on foraging habitats of sympatric species of skunks in Texas, USA, is available. We compared 11 western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis) and 10 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) using radiotelemetry data to assess habitat use during foraging at broad levels of selection in a fragmented habitat. Western spotted skunks used areas with more large mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) trees than did striped skunks and randomly selected points. Striped skunk habitat use was not different from randomly chosen locations. Contrary to previous research, both species appear to avoid agricultural habitat. A habitat management plan may be difficult to implement for striped skunks in Texas because they did not favor any available habitat. Conservation of western spotted skunks in west-central Texas should focus on areas with older mesquite trees, areas that are now often brush controlled for management of livestock.     

亚甲基蓝/光化学法辅助治疗慢性牙周炎对牙龈卟啉单胞菌的影响

目的研究亚甲基蓝/光化学法辅助治疗慢性牙周炎对牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Porphyromonas gingivalis,Pg)检出率的变化。方法经伦理委员会同意后,本研究拟筛选出45例慢性牙周炎患者(每位患者经过详细牙周检查及X线检查后确认为牙周炎,有4个以上≥5 mm的牙周袋并分布在2个以上口腔区域),随机分3组:其中A组在SRP之后接受1次PERIOWAVE光化学治疗,B组在SRP后接受1次PERIOWAVE治疗以及在6周后再一次接受光化学治疗,而SRP组仅接受SRP治疗,各组患者取治疗前后相同4个位点龈下菌斑,聚合酶链式反应(Poly-merase chain reaction,PCR)检测Pg,观察Pg菌的检出率,采用卡方检验,并计算χ2值。结果 SRP组、A组、B组3组各组治疗后均较治疗前检出率降低(P<0.001),A组与SRP组治疗后比较差异无统计学意义[A组:40%(24/60),SRP组:45%(27/60),χ2=1.4815,P>0.05],B组与SRP治疗后比较检出率降低[SRP组:45%(27/60),B组:20%(12/60)χ2=8.547,P<0.01];B组与A组治疗后比较检出率降低[A组:40%(24/60),B组:20%(12/60),χ2=5.7143,P<0.05]。结论亚甲基蓝/光化学法辅助治疗慢性牙周炎后牙龈卟啉单胞菌的检出率较治疗前降低;结合临床试验结果,尚可认为2次激光疗效较1次激光好。     

The effect of fire and permafrost interactions on soil carbon accumulation in an upland black spruce ecosystem of interior Alaska: implications for post‐thaw carbon loss

High‐latitude regions store large amounts of organic carbon (OC) in active‐layer soils and permafrost, accounting for nearly half of the global belowground OC pool. In the boreal region, recent warming has promoted changes in the fire regime, which may exacerbate rates of permafrost thaw and alter soil OC dynamics in both organic and mineral soil. We examined how interactions between fire and permafrost govern rates of soil OC accumulation in organic horizons, mineral soil of the active layer, and near‐surface permafrost in a black spruce ecosystem of interior Alaska. To estimate OC accumulation rates, we used chronosequence, radiocarbon, and modeling approaches. We also developed a simple model to track long‐term changes in soil OC stocks over past fire cycles and to evaluate the response of OC stocks to future changes in the fire regime. Our chronosequence and radiocarbon data indicate that OC turnover varies with soil depth, with fastest turnover occurring in shallow organic horizons (～60 years) and slowest turnover in near‐surface permafrost (>3000 years). Modeling analysis indicates that OC accumulation in organic horizons was strongly governed by carbon losses via combustion and burial of charred remains in deep organic horizons. OC accumulation in mineral soil was influenced by active layer depth, which determined the proportion of mineral OC in a thawed or frozen state and thus, determined loss rates via decomposition. Our model results suggest that future changes in fire regime will result in substantial reductions in OC stocks, largely from the deep organic horizon. Additional OC losses will result from fire‐induced thawing of near‐surface permafrost. From these findings, we conclude that the vulnerability of deep OC stocks to future warming is closely linked to the sensitivity of permafrost to wildfire disturbance.     

Comparison of leaf processing rates under different temperature regimes in three headwater streams

1. We studied the effects of different temperature regimes on leaf litter processing in three forested Appalachian headwater streams of different pH (mean pH = 4.2, 6.5, 7.5).
2. We compared leaf breakdown rates, microbial biomass and macroinvertebrate shredder density and biomass between two 12-week processing periods (October–January and November–February) in each stream. Leaf processing rates were calculated both as k (day^–1) and k _d (degree day^–1).
3. There were no significant differences in processing rates ( k day^–1) between the two study periods for any leaf species in any stream. The average difference in temperature between the two study periods was 175 degree days. Shredder density was significantly higher during the earlier study period on 40% of the sample dates, but shredder biomass was not significantly different between the two study periods. ATP concentration was significantly higher during the early study period for 60% of the sample dates.
4. More significant differences in these variables (shredder density and biomass, ATP concentration) were seen among the three study streams than between the two study periods. This indicates that in this study other factors, particularly stream pH, contributed more to processing rate variation than did differences in thermal regime.     

Microsatellite isolation from four avian species comparing two isolation techniques

Microsatellites are continuing to increase in popularity for genetic studies. A major drawback, however, is they often need to be isolated de novo. The traditional method (shotgun cloning) generally results in thousands of recombinant clones, which are then screened by Southern hybridization. Results are typically around 2% positive for mammals, but less than 0.4% for birds. Shotgun cloning is therefore generally not an effective method for isolating microsatellites from avian genomes. Several alternative methods have been developed, but the decision as to which method to use is often arbitrary. Here we present results for two microsatellite isolation techniques from four avian species.