Evidence for sperm limitation in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

Reproductive success of female blue crabs may be limited by the amount of sperm received during the female\u27s single, lifetime mating. Sperm must be stored in seminal receptacles until eggs are produced and fertilized months to years after mating. Further, intense fishing pressure impacts male abundance, male size and population sex ratio, which affect ejaculate quantity. We measured temporal variation in seminal receptacle contents in relation to brood production for two stocks differing in both fishing pressure on males and latitudinal effects on reproductive season: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia, experienced intensive fishing and relatively short reproductive season; and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, experienced lower exploitation and longer reproductive season. Nearly all (\u3e98%) females were mated, and mating prevalence did not vary among sites during 1996. Seminal receptacle weight declined markedly for 2 mo following mating as seminal fluid disappeared to leave only spermatophores for long-term storage, which suggests that seminal fluid serves as a short-term sperm plug. Seminal receptacle weight in upper Chesapeake Bay declined by 31 % from 1992-1999, indicating that females received smaller ejaculates. In 1996, seminal receptacle contents were highest (3.75 g wet wt, 2.3 x 10(3) mug DNA, 1.2 x 10(9) sperm) in Florida, but were significantly lower by: 25% for weight and 50% for sperm number at the upper Chesapeake Bay site; and 30% for weight and 65% for sperm number at lower Chesapeake Bay sites. Generally, females receive 2-3 x 10(3) spermatophores and 10(8)-10(9) sperm cells for a full ejaculate, whereas females produce ca. 3 x 10(6) eggs per brood. Chesapeake Bay females appear to live about 3.5 yr, producing 1-3 broods (up to 9 x 10(6) eggs) per year and up to 6-7 broods (2.1 x 10(7) eggs) per lifetime. In contrast, Florida crabs produced up to 6-7 broods (2.1 X 101 eggs) per year. and up to 18 broods (5.4 x 10(7) eggs) per lifetime. In Florida, last broods produced by lab-held females were often infertile, indicating that females became sperm limited at the end of their lifetime. Experiments showed that male mating history affected female reproductive success, with females mated late in a sequence having only one third the brood hatching success of females mated early in the sequence. Sperm : egg ratios were estimated at 100: 1 to 400:1 for the first brood but only about 20:1 or 30:1 for maximum lifetime broods over 2 seasons, suggesting that about 67 x 10(6) sperm are used per brood of 3 x 10(6) eggs. A model of brood production and sperm depletion in blue crabs indicates that sperm limitation may be common in Florida as females age, and in Chesapeake Bay as a result of fishery-induced reductions in initial quantities of sperm transferred at mating

Wild Bumblebee (Bombus) Diversity and Nosema (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) Infection Levels Associated with Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) Production and Commercial Bumblebee Pollinators

The primary objective was to determine if the prevalence of Nosema bombi infection is higher for wild bumblebees (Bombus spp.) caught in lowbush blueberry growing areas with a history of commercial bumblebee use than for bumblebees caught in areas without a history of commercial bumblebee use. Additionally, we wished to determine relative Bombus species abundances and diversity in blueberry growing regions. Over two years we caught, identified to species, and dissected 767 bumblebees. Light microscopy revealed overall infection levels of 5.48%. The history of commercial bumblebee use had no relation to infection levels. Bumblebee species diversity and field location had significant relationships to infection (r 2 adjusted = 0.265; species diversity F (1,22) = 6.848, P = 0.016; field region F (1,22) = 5.245, P = 0.032). The absence or presence of one species, Bombus terricola, appears to determine the relationship between species diversity and infection. The data show B. terricola decline in sampled regions and almost half of the collected B. terricola were infected with Nosema. The commercial species, B. impatiens, shows an increase in abundance, but with a 6.9% proportion infection. Molecular confirmation of the infecting species was ambiguous, suggesting a need for future clarification of the infecting species

Seasonal cell differentiation and olfactory potency of secretions by the anal glands of male peacock blenny Salaria Pavo

The current study shows cytological differences between the anal glands of pre-spawning and spawning peacock blennies Salaria pavo. The cytological differences in the anal gland coincide with higher olfactory potency of their secretions in spawning males, suggesting that seasonal differentiation of cell clusters secreting neutral mucins is related to the production and release of the putative sex pheromone

2011 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

The 2011 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Mechanisms through which wild blueberries affect functional characteristics of the arterial wall related to endothelial dysfunction in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats 2. Do wild blueberries affect high blood lipids, high blood glucose and obesity as related to the Metabolic Syndrome? 3. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2011 4. IPM strategies, 2011 5. Biology and ecology of pest insects, 2011 6. Biology and ecology of beneficial insects, 2011 7. Pesticide residues on lowbush blueberry, 2011 8. Maine wild blueberry –mummy berry research and extension 9. Valdensinia leaf spot – Education, control and research – 2011 10. Effect of soil pH on nutrient uptake 11. Evaluation of several growth regulators for stimulating lowbush blueberry rhizome production 12. Evaluation of the effects of Gypsum (CaSO4) on wild blueberry fruit Ca concentration 13. Fall application of tribenuron methyl for bunchberry control in wild blueberries, 2009-2011 – effects of fall versus spring pruning on cover and yield in the crop year (final report) 14. Wild Blueberry Extension Education Program in 2011 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY: 15. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 2 of a four-year study – experimental design 16. The effects of different agronomic practices on the composition and quality of wild blueberries 17. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 2 of a four-year study, blueberry quality from the first harvest year 18. Food safety- Prevalence study of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) 19. Abundance of insect pest species and natural enemies in lowbush blueberry fields maintained under different management practices 20. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 2 of a four-year study, disease management results 21. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 2 of a four-year study, weed management results 22. Systems approach to improving sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 1 of a four-year study, preliminary soil health and chemistry results 23. Management effects on the phosphorus chemistry of wild blueberry barrens soil 24. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, preliminary economic comparison 2010-2011 25. Transition to organic production Year 2: Evaluation of gypsum and bone char 26. The effect of field management, forest edge composition, and field location on insect-mediated ecosystem services (scavenging/predation) (ancillary study) 27. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields (ancillary study) 28. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production – Ancillary land-leveling study, year 1 (ancillary study) 29. Effects of compost and mulch on soil health and soil nutrient dynamics in wild blueberry (ancillary study

Weighted parsimony phylogeny of the family Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes)

The family Characidae, including more than 1000 species, lacks a phylogenetic diagnosis, with many of its genera currently considered as incertae sedis. The aims of the present study are to propose a phylogenetic diagnosis and to assess higher-level relationships of and within Characidae. In this regard, 360 morphological characters are studied for 160 species of Characidae and related families. Phylogenetic analyses under implied weighting and self-weighted optimization are presented, exploring a broad range of parameters. The analysis under self-weighted optimization is innovative for this size of matrices. Familial status of Serrasalmidae is supported, and Acestrorhynchidae and Cynodontidae are included in a monophyletic Characidae. Engraulisoma taeniatum is transferred from Characidae to Gasteropelecidae. Thus constituted, the monophyly of Characidae is supported by seven synapomorphies. A new subfamily, Heterocharacinae, is proposed, and the subfamilies Aphyocharacinae, Aphyoditeinae, Characinae, Gymnocharacinae, and Stevardiinae are redefined. The Glandulocaudinae are included in Stevardiinae together with remaining members of ‘‘clade A’’ (sensu Malabarba and Weitzman, 2003. Comun. Mus. Ciênc. Tecnol. PUCRS, Sér. Zool. 16, 67–151.) and the genera Aulixidens and Nantis. Most incertae sedis genera are assigned, at least tentatively, to a phylogenetically diagnosed clade.Fil: Mirande, Juan Marcos. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

2012 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

The 2012 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Do wild blueberries alleviate risk factors related to the Metabolic Syndrome? 2. Development of effective intervention measures to maintain and improve food safety for wild blueberries 3. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2012 4. Development and implementation of a wild blueberry thrips IPM program, 2012 5. IPM 6. Biology of blueberry and pest insects, 2012 7. Biology of beneficial insects and blueberry pollination, 2012 8. Pesticide residues on lowbush blueberry, 2012 9. Maine wild blueberry –mummy berry research and extension 10. Efficacy of Apogee growth regulator for stimulating rhizome growth into bare spots in wild blueberry fields 11. Velpar by Matrix pre and post-emergence applications - demonstration plots 12. Wild blueberry Extension Education Program in 2012 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY: 13. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Three of a four-year study – experimental design 14. Food safety- Prevalence study of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) 15. Abundance of insect pest species and natural enemies in lowbush blueberry fields maintained under different management practices 16. Input Systems Study: Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 3 of a four-year study, disease management results 17. Plant productivity, Year Three of a four-year study 18. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Three of a four-year study, weed management results 19. Effects of organic and conventional management systems on the phosphorus solubility of lowbush blueberry barren soils 20. Systems approach to improving sustainability of wild blueberry production – soil health and chemistry measures 21. Evaluation of fungicides for control of mummy berry disease (ancillary study) 22. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production – Ancillary land-leveling study, Year Two of a four-year study (ancillary study) 23. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields – 2012 results from the 2011 trial (ancillary study) 24. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields – 2012 trial (ancillary study) 25. Evaluation of herbicides for control of fineleaf sheep fescue for grass control in wild blueberries (ancillary study) 26. Pre-emergence application timing and rate of Alion and Sandea in combination with Velpar or Sinbar on weed control and injury to wild blueberry (ancillary study) 27. Compost and mulch effects on soil health and nutrient dynamics in wild blueberry (ancillary study

Dysautonomia rating scales in Parkinson's disease: Sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation—

Upper and lower gastrointestinal dysautonomia symptoms (GIDS)—sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and often socially as well as physically disabling for patients. Available invasive quantitative measures for assessing these symptoms and their response to therapy are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, can cause patient discomfort and present patients with risk. The Movement Disorders Society commissioned a task force to assess available clinical rating scales, critique their clinimetric properties, and make recommendations regarding their clinical utility. Six clinical researchers and a biostatistician systematically searched the literature for scales of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation, evaluated the scales' previous use, performance parameters, and quality of validation data (if available). A scale was designated “Recommended” if the scale was used in clinical studies beyond the group that developed it, has been specifically used in PD reports, and clinimetric studies have established that it is a valid, reliable, and sensitive. “Suggested” scales met at least part of the above criteria, but fell short of meeting all. Based on the systematic review, scales for individual symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation were identified along with three global scales that include these symptoms in the context of assessing dysautonomia or nonmotor symptoms. Three sialorrhea scales met criteria for Suggested: Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS), Drooling Rating Scale, and Sialorrhea Clinical Scale for PD (SCS-PD). Two dysphagia scales, the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) and Dysphagia-Specific Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL), met criteria for Suggested. Although Rome III constipation module is widely accepted in the gastroenterology community, and the earlier version from the Rome II criteria has been used in a single study of PD patients, neither met criteria for Suggested or Recommended. Among the global scales, the Scales for Outcomes in PD-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) and Nonmotor Symptoms Questionnaire for PD (NMSQuest) both met criteria for Recommended, and the Nonmotor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) met criteria for Suggested; however, none specifically focuses on the target gastrointestinal symptoms (sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation) of this report. A very small number of rating scales have been applied to studies of gastrointestinal-related dysautonomia in PD. Only two scales met “Recommended” criteria and neither focuses specifically on the symptoms of sialorrhea, dysphagia, and constipation. Further scale testing in PD among the scales that focus on these symptoms is warranted, and no new scales are needed until the available scales are fully tested clinimetrically. © 2009 Movement Disorder SocietyPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62130/1/22260_ftp.pd

2013 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

The 2013 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Development of effective intervention measures to maintain and improve food safety for wild blueberries 2. Do wild blueberries alleviate risk factors related to the Metabolic Syndrome? 3. Wild Blueberry consumption and exercise-induced Oxidative Stress: Inflammatory Response and DNA damage 4. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2013 5. Pesticide residues on wild blueberry, 2013 6. Biology of pest insects and IPM, 2013 7. Biology of blueberry, beneficial insects, and blueberry pollination 8. Biology of spotted wing drosophila, 2013 9. Maine wild blueberry –mummy berry research and extension 10. Evaluation of fungicides for control of mummy berry on lowbush blueberry (2013) 11. Wild blueberry Extension Education Program in 2013 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY: 12. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Four of a four-year study – experimental design 13. Food safety- Prevalence study of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) 14. Agronomic input effects on sensory quality and chemical composition of wild Maine blueberries 15. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year four of a four-year study – reports from Frank Drummond 16. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 4 of a four-year study, disease management results 17. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Four of a four-year study, weed management results 18. Phosphorus and organic matter interactions on short-range ordered minerals in acidic barren soils 19. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, preliminary economic comparison for 2012-13 20. Ancillary projects in disease research (ancillary study) 21. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production – Ancillary land-leveling study, Year Three of a four-year study (ancillary study) 22. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields – 2013 results from the 2012 trial (ancillary study) 23. Evaluation of herbicides for 2012 prune year control of fineleaf sheep fescue in wild blueberries – 2013 crop year results (ancillary study) 24. 2012 pre-emergence application timing and rate of Alion and Sandea in combination with Velpar or Sinbar – 2013 yields (ancillary study) 25. Pre-emergence Sinbar combinations for weed control in a non-crop wild blueberry field – 2012-2014 (ancillary study) 26. Evaluation of three pre-emergence herbicides alone and in combination with Velpar or Sinbar for effects on wild blueberry productivity and weed control (ancillary study) 27. Post-harvest control of red sorrel in a non-crop blueberry field, 2012-2014 (ancillary study) 28. Compost and mulch effects on soil health and nutrient dynamics in wild blueberry (ancillary study) 29. Evaluation of conventional and organic fertilizers on blueberry growth and yield (ancillary study

Energy Sorghum : An alternative energy crop A Handbook

Increasing world market prices for fossil fuels, driven by limited reserves, growing demand and instability in producing regions, now render renewable fuels economical. Such fuels are also a pathway to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating climate change. The transport sector which is almost totally dependent on fossil fuels, particularly for powering personal vehicles and trucks, is the most concerned sector. Biofuels, defined as solid, liquid or gas fuels derived from biomass, are today the only direct substitute for fossil fuels on a significant scale particularly in transport sector. Biofuels are considered environmentally friendly because the CO2 emissions they produce during combustion is balanced by the CO2 absorbed by the plants growth. To be a viable substitute for fossil fuels, an alternative fuel should not only have superior environmental benefits over the fossil fuels it substitutes, be economically competitive with it, and be available in sufficient quantities to make meaningful impact on energy demand, but it should also provide a net energy gain over the energy invested to produce it and have minimal effect on food security... {This handbook was elaborated in the framework of the SWEETFUEL project (grant agreement number 227422), supported by the European Commission