The taxonomic position of the genus Heydenia (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales) based on molecular and morphological data

Molecular and morphological data indicate that the genus Heydenia is closely related to the cleistothecial ascomycete Orbicula (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales). Observations on the disposition and the immediate surroundings of immature spores within the spore capsule suggest that the Heydenia fruiting bodies are teleomorphs producing early evanescent asci in stipitate cleistothecia. The once advocated identity of Heydenia with Onygena is refuted on molecular grounds. Onygena arietina E. Fischer is transferred to Heydeni

Taxon-specific PCR primers to detect two inconspicuous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from temperate agricultural grassland

Taxon-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers enable detection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) in plant roots where the fungi lack discriminative morphological and biochemical characters. We designed and validated pairs of new PCR primers targeted to the flanking regions of the variable domain 1 of the nuclear ribosomal large subunit RNA gene to specifically detect Acaulospora paulinae and an undescribed member of the Diversisporaceae. These two fungal taxa, sporulating late in soil-trap cultures and showing small, faintly coloured spores and weakly staining intraradical structures, were frequently found in roots of Trifolium repens from a high-input agricultural grassland. The newly developed PCR primers may thus enable studies on two inconspicuous AMF taxa that appear to have been overlooked in previous molecular AMF community analyses and for which no specific PCR primers have been publishe

Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Arco to Crane 138kV Transmission Line Oryx Crane Tap Project, Crane County, Texas

Oncor Electric Delivery LLC (Oncor) contracted with HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to conduct an intensive cultural resources survey for the Arco to Crane Tap Project. The proposed project consists of the construction of approximately one mile (mi; 1.6 kilometers [km]) of a 138 kV tap from the existing Arco to Crane transmission line to the new Oryx Crane substation within a 100-foot (ft) (30.48-meter [m]) wide corridor, in Crane County, Texas (Figure 1-1). This survey was conducted by HDR on behalf of Oncor to identify cultural resources within the APE. The purpose of the archaeological survey was to determine the presence/absence of cultural resources within the Area of Potential Effects (APE), defined as the 1-mi (1.6-km) long, 100-ft (30.48-m) wide corridor for a total of 12.12 acres (4.9 hectares), and to evaluate identified resources for their eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or as a designated State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 8414. The survey was led by project manager Clayton Tinsley, accompanied by archaeologist Amy Leuchtmann, on May 8, 2018, and resulted in a total of 4 person-hours. HDR conducted an intensive archaeological survey with pedestrian walkover within the entire 1-mi (1.6-km) APE. Due to the high ground surface visibility (averaging approximately 90 percent) within the APE, shovel testing was not employed with the exception of one judgmental shovel test within a dune formation. No cultural resources were observed during the survey. No further archaeological investigations are recommended within the APE. In the event that any archaeological deposits are encountered during construction, work should cease, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) should be notified

Pharmacological targeting of age-related changes in skeletal muscle tissue

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in older individuals and is a strong predictor of disability and death. Because of the ongoing demographic transition, age-related muscle weakness is responsible for an alarming and increasing contribution to health care costs in Western countries. Exercise-based interventions are most successful in preventing the decline in skeletal muscle mass and in preserving or ameliorating functional capacities with increasing age. However, other treatment options are still scarce. In this review, we explore currently applied nutritional and pharmacological approaches to mitigate age-related muscle wasting, and discuss potential future therapeutic avenues

Variation of Insect Attracting Odor in Endophytic Epichloë Fungi: Phylogenetic Constrains Versus Host Influence

Odor is a key trait for pollinator attraction in flowering plants, and many studies have investigated odor evolution in the light of pollinator selection by emphasizing the importance of the plant phylogenetic history. By contrast, little is known on the evolution of odors in fungus-insect interactions. In this study, profiles of three volatile compounds that are emitted by grass-inhabiting Epichloë fungi (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota) and that have a confirmed or likely role in the attraction of gamete-transferring Botanophila flies were investigated. We collected headspace samples from stromata of six European Epichloë species (including various host races) that originated from different locations in Switzerland, France, Poland, and UK for conducting gas chromatography analyses. Odor profiles exhibited considerable variation, but profiles of most species overlapped and did not discriminate at the species level. The exception was Epichloë festucae, which had a profile dominated by methyl (Z)-3-methyldodec-2-enoate. Based on an Epichloë phylogeny, there was some hierarchical structuring regarding levels of chokol K, another confirmed Botanophila attractant. However, patterns of odor profiles appeared to be largely dependant on particular Epichloë-host associations. The observed variation may be the result of complex selective pressures imposed by Botanophila gametic vectors, local environment, and mycoparasite

Ecological role of volatiles produced by Epichloë: differences in antifungal toxicity

Species of Epichloë (Ascomycota, Clavicipitaceae) are endophytic symbionts of pooid grasses. Sexual reproduction of the fungus depends on gamete-transferring Botanophila flies, which in earlier studies were shown to be specifically attracted by the fungal volatiles chokol K and methyl (Z)-3-methyldodec-2-enoate. As several Epichloë volatiles are known to have antimicrobial properties, it was hypothesised that the original function of insect-attracting volatiles is microbial deterrence. However, the origin of volatile compounds and their toxicity within an ecological context has not yet been clarified. We examined the inhibitory effect of chokol K and methyl (Z)-3-methyldodec-2-enoate on mycoparasites, plant pathogenic fungi and on Epichloë itself at ecologically relevant concentrations, and assessed volatile production in pure cultures of Epichloë on complex and defined media supplemented with inorganic sources of carbon and nitrogen. Chokol K reduced the spore germination of all tested fungi, whereas methyl (Z)-3-methyldodec-2-enoate had no inhibitory effect. Moreover, only chokol K was produced in culture, confirming its fungal origin. Our findings are consistent with the proposed scenario that fungal volatile substances have followed an evolutionary pathway from defence to attractio

Botanophila-Epichloë Interaction in a Wild Grass, Puccinellia distans, Lacks Dependence on the Fly Vector

In grass-infecting Epichloë (Ascomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) fungi, the transfer of spermatia for fungal fertilization depends on an insect vector: flies of the genus Botanophila (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). The flies use the fungal stroma, a spore-producing fungal structure surrounding the grass inflorescence, for laying eggs and as a food source for both adults and larvae. This fly-fungus interaction is generally regarded as obligatory and mutualistic. Two Botanophila taxa were noted among four populations of the nonagricultural grass Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. that were infected with the fungus Epichloë typhina (Pers.) Tul. However, during the 7 yr of field observations, Botanophila flies were present every year in only one population of P. distans. The number of eggs per stroma ranged from zero to four and differed with year and site. Overall, eggs (or larvae) were observed on only 132 (19.2%) of the 687 stromata examined during the survey, with one (13.8%), two (4.5%), or more than two (0.9%) per stroma. However, 90.8% of the examined stromata were fertilized and produced perithecia, suggesting that other mechanisms or vectors of spermatia were responsible for fertilizatio

Oviposition Preference of Botanophila Flies (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) towards Stroma Size of Epichloë (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Hosts

Stromata of grass-infecting fungi from the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae: Ascomycota) serve as a food source and egg-laying surface for flies of genus Botanophila (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). Larger stromata should make it possible for flies to lay more eggs and provide more food to offspring. This hypothesis was tested in four different grass-fungus associations that occur in central Poland. In two of these associations, Epichloë bromicola on Elymus repens and Epichloë typhina on Puccinellia distans, flies showed a preference for longer stromata, and egg density on these stromata was significantly higher than in the other two associations. A negative correlation between egg density and offspring success was observed in only one association, E. bromicola-El. repens. However, offspring success in this association did not differ significantly from offspring success in associations with lower egg density on the stromata, in which flies showed no preference for the stroma length. Long-term observations (2000-2010) of fly-fungus interaction in the E. typhina-P. distans association showed that fly preference toward stroma length may vary over time but with no clear tendency. No significant correlations were found between the larval density on a stroma and either larval weight or mortality. The results of the current study question our assumptions that egg laying depends on the stroma length and the fate of eggs laid (i.e., their hatching success and the condition, in terms of weight and survival, of the larvae) on egg density. It is possible that flies choose stromata based on attributes other than siz

Finite-volume time-domain (FVTD) method and its application to the analysis of hemispherical dielectric-resonator antennas

©2003 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE. This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.In this paper, the finite-volume time-domain (FVTD) method is refined and applied to analyze a probe-fed hemispherical dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). To improve the applicability of the FVTD method to microwave problems, a new scheme is introduced taking advantage of the method's inherent flux separation into incoming and outgoing waves. A 3D simulation is performed using an unstructured tetrahedral mesh permitting precise modeling of curved surfaces and fine structures. The obtained results are compared to those from other methods.Dirk Baumann, Christophe Fumeaux, Pascal Leuchtmann, Rudiger Vahldieckhttp://www.mtt.org/symposia/ims/2003