Notes on Eastern North American Butterflies

Editor’s Note (Harry Pavulaan). New natural history elements and distribution records of several eastern North American butterflies are reported. While diversity and distribution of butterflies in the eastern United States are commonly believed to be fully known, the findings presented here show that much is yet to be learned of our butterfly fauna. Includes: 1. Pages 1-3 Lethe eurydice and L. appalachia Larvae (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) Eat Their Shed Cuticle (Exuvia) Soon after Molting in Vermont, USA by David J. Hoag Abstract Larvae of Lethe eurydice and L. appalachia were observed eating their newly shed cuticle (exuvia). Further studies are needed to examine the extent of this unique dietary habit within the Satyrinae. 2. Page 4 Virginia state record of Phyciodes phaon (W. H. Edwards, 1864) (Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae) by Harry Pavulaan Abstract A state record specimen of Phyciodes phaon, originally reported by the author in the Virginia Butterfly Bulletin (Pavulaan, 2000), is illustrated for the first time with a view of location collected. 3. Pages 5-13 Butterflies of the Potomac River Woodlands in Leesburg, Loudoun Co., Virginia: A Depauperate Fauna? by Harry Pavulaan Abstract Butterfly observations made over a 16-year period (2005-2020) in the deciduous woodland habitat along the Potomac River in Leesburg, Virginia reveal a depauperate butterfly fauna in a region otherwise known for its rich butterfly diversity. While the forest canopy contains a high diversity of deciduous tree species, and patches of understory shrubs show limited variety, the herb flora of the forest floor is severely lacking due to uncontrolled deer browsing, poor soil conditions and prolonged annual summer droughts. The butterfly fauna is summarized here. 4. Page 14 Limenitis a. arthemis (White Admiral) in Coastal Southeastern Virginia by Brian Taber Abstract Limenitis a. arthemis is reported from coastal southeastern Virginia for the first time. 5. Pages 15-16 Three Species of the Pearly-Eye Genus Enodia (Hübner, 1819) Observed Together in Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia by Kenneth Lorenzen Abstract Butterflies of the Pearly-eye group of satyrs (genus Enodia) are rarely observed together at the same site at the same time. This report documents an occurrence of Enodia anthedon, E. portlandia, and E. creola together at a location near Jamestown, Virginia, United States. Editor’s note: Enodia is now recognized as a subgenus of Lethe. 6. Pages 17-19 Atlides halesus (Cramer, 1777) (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) and American Mistletoe in Northern Virginia by Harry Pavulaan and Richard D. Ullrich Abstract Atlides halesus halesus (Great Purple Hairstreak) is documented from three sites in western Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The host American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is widespread in this area, forming dense infestations on trees which certainly supports a resident population of the butterfly as evidenced by several records over a 13-year span

The Effect of Rapid Chilling of Pork Carcasses during the Early Postmortem Period on Fresh Pork Quality

The objective was to investigate the effects of blast chilling on pork quality in cuts from the Longissimus thoracic et lumborum (LM), Psoas major (PM), Semimembranosus (SM; both superficial [SMS] and deep [SMD] portions) and the Triceps brachii (TB). Forty carcasses (10 carcasses per replication) were split and sides were assigned to either blast chill (BC, –32°C for 90 min, followed by spray chill at 2°C for 22.5 h) or conventional chill (CC, spray chilled at 2°C for 24 h) regimens. The LM from BC sides had lower (P \u3c 0.05) temperature at 2 h postmortem (CC 21.8°C, BC 9.7°C), 4 h (CC 13.3°C, 3.8°C BC), 22 h (CC 4.2°C, BC 1.4°C), and 30 h (CC 0.4°C, BC –0.2°C). The LM pH in BC sides was higher at 4 h (CC 6.09, BC 6.34), 22 h (CC 5.81, BC 5.89), and 30 h (CC 5.68, BC 5.74) postmortem. The BC resulted in higher (P \u3c 0.05) 30 h postmortem pH in the SM compared to the CC regime (CC 5.68, BC 5.74). The BC sides had increased (P \u3c 0.05) purge in the PM (CC 0.48%, BC 0.74%) and increased (P \u3c 0.05) cook loss in chops from the LM (CC 22.37%, BC 24.24%). The PM from BC sides were more juicy (CC 7.50, BC 8.30), less chewy (CC 2.80, BC 2.10), and more tender (CC 7.90, BC 8.60). Chops from the LM of BC sides had greater Warner-Bratzler shear force (CC 2.00, BC 2.30). Color was affected in the SM with BC sides showing darker color score (CC 3.00, BC 3.20) and redder Hunter a value (CC 16.35, BC 16.02). Chilling treatment did not affect sarcomere length in the LM. Treatment did not affect postmortem proteolysis in any cut. The response to chilling regimen is different across different muscles which may be caused by location, rate of chilling, and fiber type

Survey of hormone activities in municipal biosolids and animal manures.

ABSTRACT: The potential exists for natural or synthetic hormonal chemicals present in agricultural fertilizers to be transferred to adjacent aquatic environments in order to alter endocrine function in exposed wildlife. Recombinant yeast and mammalian cell line (BG1Luc4E 2 ) assays were used to screen crude organic extracts of municipal biosolids and animal manures for estrogen-, androgen-, and progesterone receptor gene transcription activities. Of the biosolid extracts, those samples that had undergone aerobic digestion had no or minimal estrogen-and no androgen receptor gene transcription activities. In contrast, those biosolid samples that had undergone anaerobic digestion had much higher estrogen-and, for all but one site, androgen receptor gene transcription activities. Extracts prepared from animal manure samples had variable levels of androgen-and estrogen receptor gene transcription activities, which may be related to the type, sex, age, and reproductive status of the animals. The diet and treatment of animals with hormone implants also appeared to be factors influencing hormone activity in animal manure. Progesterone receptor gene transcription activity was observed for only one chicken litter sample. Overall, results of this study suggest that in vitro bioassays can be used to survey and detect hormone activity in municipal biosolids and animal manures. Furthermore, results of these assays can be used to develop 216 practices that will minimize the potential environmental endocrine-disrupting effects of these substances

Definitions and reliability assessment of elementary ultrasound lesions in giant cell arteritis: a study from the OMERACT Large Vessel Vasculitis Ultrasound Working Group

Objectives: To define the elementary ultrasound (US) lesions in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and to evaluate the reliability of the assessment of US lesions according to these definitions in a web-based reliability exercise. Methods: Potential definitions of normal and abnormal US findings of temporal and extracranial large arteries were retrieved by a systematic literature review. As a subsequent step, a structured Delphi exercise was conducted involving an expert panel of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) US Large Vessel Vasculitis Group to agree definitions of normal US appearance and key elementary US lesions of vasculitis of temporal and extracranial large arteries. The reliability of these definitions on normal and abnormal blood vessels was tested on 150 still images and videos in a web-based reliability exercise. Results: Twenty-four experts participated in both Delphi rounds. From originally 25 statements, nine definitions were obtained for normal appearance, vasculitis and arteriosclerosis of cranial and extracranial vessels. The 'halo' and 'compression' signs were the key US lesions in GCA. The reliability of the definitions for normal temporal and axillary arteries, the 'halo' sign and the 'compression' sign was excellent with inter-rater agreements of 91-99% and mean kappa values of 0.83-0.98 for both inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities of all 25 experts. Conclusions: The 'halo' and the 'compression' signs are regarded as the most important US abnormalities for GCA. The inter-rater and intra-rater agreement of the new OMERACT definitions for US lesions in GCA was excellent

Pulmonary responses of asthmatic and normal subjects to different temperature and humidity conditions in an environmental chamber

Determining the possible adverse health effects of air pollutants can be complicated by differences in the environmental conditions of temperature and humidity. To evaluate the potentially confounding effects of differences in temperature and humidity, we exposed 8 normal male subjects and 8 male subjects with asthma to the extremes in temperature and humidity that could be maintained in an environmental chamber. We performed serial pulmonary function tests for these subjects before and during 6 hr exposure periods on 5 separate occasions: cold, dry (10°C, 10% relative humidity); cold, humid (10°C, 50% relative humidity); normal ambient (22°C, 40% relative humidity); hot, dry (37°C, 15% relative humidity); and hot, humid (37°C, 60% relative humidity). The exposure period included a 12 min exercise on a cycle ergometer. We found no significant change in spirometry, airways resistance, or diffusing capacity for either group of subjects at rest alone over the 6 hr period of exposure for any exposure condition. However, there were changes in spirometry and airways resistance as a result of the 12 min period of exercise. The subjects with asthma had significant decreases in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (20–21%) and increases in specific airways resistance when exercising in conditions of cold and dry, cold and humid, and hot and dry. The normal subjects had an average increase in FEV 1 of approximately 6% when exercising in the hot and humid conditions. We found significant correlations for the changes in FEV 1 with the water content of the exposure conditions for both groups of subjects. We also found that the work performance (expressed as the external work performed divided by the oxygen consumed) was decreased for the subjects in both groups at the conditions of the higher temperature (37°C) compared with the lower temperature (10°C). These results confirm that controlling for the conditions of temperature and humidity is essential in chamber studies, field studies, or epidemiologic evaluations determining the adverse effect of an air pollutant.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41344/1/408_2004_Article_BF00164755.pd

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

The Effect of Rapid Chilling of Pork Carcasses during the Early Postmortem Period on Fresh Pork Quality

The objective was to investigate the effects of blast chilling on pork quality in cuts from the Longissimus thoracic et lumborum (LM), Psoas major (PM), Semimembranosus (SM; both superficial [SMS] and deep [SMD] portions) and the Triceps brachii (TB). Forty carcasses (10 carcasses per replication) were split and sides were assigned to either blast chill (BC, –32°C for 90 min, followed by spray chill at 2°C for 22.5 h) or conventional chill (CC, spray chilled at 2°C for 24 h) regimens. The LM from BC sides had lower (P P P P This article is published as Blakely, A., K. J. Prusa, C. A. Fedler, G. B. Sherrard, E. M. Steadham, K. J. Stalder, C. L. Lorenzen, E. Huff-Lonergan, and S. M. Lonergan. 2019. The Effect of Rapid Chilling of Pork Carcasses during the Early Postmortem Period on Fresh Pork Quality. Meat and Muscle Biology 3:424-432. doi: 10.22175/mmb2019.07.0023.</p

A density-based enrichment measure for assessing colocalization in single-molecule localization microscopy data

Dual-color single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) provides unprecedented possibilities for detailed studies of colocalization of different molecular species in a cell. However, the informational richness of the data is not fully exploited by current analysis tools that often reduce colocalization to a single value. Here, we describe a tool specifically designed for determination of co-localization in both 2D and 3D from SMLM data. The approach uses a function that describes the relative enrichment of one molecular species on the density distribution of a reference species. The function reframes the question of colocalization by providing a density-context relevant to multiple biological questions. Moreover, the function visualize enrichment (i.e. colocalization) directly in the images for easy interpretation. We demonstrate the approach’s functionality on both simulated data and cultured neurons, and compare it to current alternative measures. The method is available in a Python function for easy and parameter-free implementation