On four species of the genus Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967 (Araneae, Agelenidae) from Kenya

In the current study, three species reported from Kenya are transferred from Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 to Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967, i.e. M. fagei (Caporiacco, 1949), comb. n., M. nairobii (Caporiacco, 1949), comb. n. and M. zorica (Strand, 1913), comb. n. One new species M. nyeupenyeusi G.M. Kioko & S. Li, sp. n. is described

Observations on in vitro behaviour of the zygotic axes of fluted pumpkin

Fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f., is an important leaf and seed vegetable and a local medicinal plant across West Africa. Many biological constraints have become potent threats to the existence of the plant necessitating an urgent need to collect and conserve the existing narrow genetic diversity. However, conservation by seed storage is impossible because the seed is recalcitrant, that is desiccation- and chilling-sensitive. Micropropagation is the only immediate alternative option for the conservation of fluted pumpkin germplasm. In order to facilitate this, the behaviour of excised embryonic axes and shoot tips of fluted pumpkin under in vitro conditions were investigated. Systemic infection of seeds from field led to frequent and high microbial contamination in culture. There was interaction between the type of microbial contamination and the storage environment of seeds prior to excision of the axes. Axes greened under low light intensity and root growth was dependent on the orientation of the axes. In general, zygotic axes of the plant are easy to grow in vitro under a range of nutrient media and culture condition

Checklist of the spiders (Araneae) of Kenya

A checklist of 805 spider species and subspecies belonging to 57 families described and/or reported from Kenya up to 31 December 2018 is provided. Species distribution within Kenya is given according to counties and specific localities. A historical survey is provided and each record is presented in its original combination. The list is dominated by members of the families Salticidae and Linyphiidae (160 and 110 species, respectively). Eighteen families are represented by a single species. About 300 species are known exclusively from Kenya and 158 species are sub-endemics. Two hundred and forty two species are described from a single sex (159 females and 83 males) and 24 from juveniles. Nairobi County has the greatest number of records, five counties had a frequency of one, while nine counties had no collection records. There are two fossil spiders known from Kenya belonging to the family Oonopidae. One new combination is proposed: Hypsosinga holzapfelae (Lessert, 1936), comb. nov. (ex. Araneus Clerck, 1757).</p

Student levels of engagement in learning: A case study of Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa is currently faced with the challenge of undesirably low throughput rates in higher education. The need to keep students interested and motivated to succeed are key objectives of many lecturers and institutions. Empirical studies have shown that one of the factors influencing student success at university is student engagement. This paper presents lecturers’ and students’ perspectives on levels of student engagement in four (Engineering, Business, Applied Sciences, and Informatics and Design) of the six faculties at CPUT as well as factors that contribute to and constrain these levels of engagement in learning. Finally, the paper offers some practical strategies for promoting student engagement and success in learning

Checklist of the spiders (Araneae) of Kenya

A checklist of 805 spider species and subspecies belonging to 57 families described and/or reported from Kenya up to 31 December 2018 is provided. Species distribution within Kenya is given according to counties and specific localities. A historical survey is provided and each record is presented in its original combination. The list is dominated by members of the families Salticidae and Linyphiidae (160 and 110 species, respectively). Eighteen families are represented by a single species. About 300 species are known exclusively from Kenya and 158 species are sub-endemics. Two hundred and forty two species are described from a single sex (159 females and 83 males) and 24 from juveniles. Nairobi County has the greatest number of records, five counties had a frequency of one, while nine counties had no collection records. There are two fossil spiders known from Kenya belonging to the family Oonopidae. One new combination is proposed: Hypsosinga holzapfelae (Lessert, 1936), comb. nov. (ex. Araneus Clerck, 1757)

In vitro regeneration of recalcitrant embryonic axes: Effects on the biomass characteristics of resulting plants

In vitro regeneration of the embryonic axes of recalcitrant seeds is a necessary step in practices such as cryopreservation of zygotic germplasm, micropropagation, and the production of disease-free plants. As recalcitrant seeds usually harbour surface and tissue-borne microflora, axes used for in vitro culture are invariably subjected to decontamination treatments such as surface-sterilisation with antiseptic substances, treatment with surface- and systemic fungicides and antibiotics, and culturing on variously-modified media formulations. The effects of these treatments are usually evaluated only on the basis of the level of decontamination achieved, with little information available on how these decontamination treatments affect the establishment and/or biomass characteristics of the plants subsequently produced. This study investigated the effects of different in vitro culture media, surface-steriliants, phenolic-controlling compounds, systemic fungicides and antibiotics on biomass accumulation and partitioning of seedlings obtained from embryonic axes of Syzygium cordatum, a recalcitrant-seeded multipurpose tree species indigenous to eastern and southern Africa. Embryonic axes were found to be infected with tissue-borne fungi at harvest, and any development after in vitro culture depended on decontamination

On the species of the genus Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967 studied by Roewer (1955) from Africa (Araneae, Agelenidae)

Eleven species of the spider family Agelenidae Koch, 1837 are reviewed based on the type material and transferred from the genus Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 to Mistaria Lehtinen 1967. These species occur in various African countries as indicated and include: M. jaundea (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♂, Cameroon), M. jumbo (Strand, 1913), comb. nov. (♂♀, Central & East Africa), M. kiboschensis (Lessert, 1915), comb. nov. (♂♀, Central & East Africa), M. keniana (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Kenya), M. lawrencei (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Zimbabwe), M. longimamillata (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Mozambique), M. moschiensis (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Tanzania), M. mossambica (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Mozambique), M. nyassana (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, Malawi), M. teteana (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♂, Mozambique) and M. zuluana (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♀, South Africa)

Epidemiologia e etiologia das dermatofitoses em Goiânia, GO, Brasil Epidemiology and etiology of dermatophytosis in Goiânia, GO, Brazil

Os dermatófitos são um grupo de fungos taxonomicamente relacionados que têm a capacidade de invadir os tecidos queratinizados (pele, pêlo e unha) dos homens e animais produzindo infecções denominadas dermatofitoses. Com o intuito de avaliar a epidemiologia e etiologia das infecções causadas por estes fungos em Goiânia, GO, foram examinadas no Laboratório de Micologia do Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública da Universidade Federal de Goiás, de janeiro a dezembro de 1999, 1.955 amostras de indivíduos com suspeita clínica de dermatofitoses. Foram isolados 445 (22,8%) cepas de dermatófitos e identificados principalmente Trichophyton rubrum (49,4%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (30,8%) e Microsporum canis (12,6%). Quanto à localização das lesões, os membros inferiores, unhas dos pés e couro cabeludo foram as regiões mais acometidas. Neste estudo foram avaliados dados correlacionados a sexo, faixa etária, local das lesões e agente etiológico.<br>Dermatophytes are a group of closely related fungi that have the capacity to invade keratinized tissue (skin, hair, and nails) of humans and animals to produce infections called dermatophytosis. In order to review the etiology and epidemiology of dermatophytosis in Goiânia, GO, 1955 specimens with diagnostic suspicion of dermatophytic lesions, were collected from January to December, 1999, from the Mycology Laboratory in the Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás. A total of 445 (22.8%) samples were positive for dermatophytes and Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated species (49.4%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (30.8%) and Microsporum canis (12.6%). Concerning the location of the lesions, the inferior limbs, feet and nails together with tinea capitis were the most frequently found clinical pattern in the majority of patients. Correlation between sex, age, location of the lesions and etiologic agents is considered in the study