A new microbothriid monogenean Dermopristis pterophilus n. sp. from the skin of the Critically Endangered green sawfish Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851 (Batoidea: Pristidae) in Western Australia

A new microbothriid monogenean Dermopristis pterophilus n. sp. is described from the skin of the Critically Endangered green sawfish Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851 in the Ashburton River delta, northern Western Australia. Analyses of the 28S ribosomal DNA marker and the molecular barcoding markers Histone 3 and Elongation Factor 1 α confirmed position among the Microbothriidae, with close affinity to the only other sequenced representative of Dermopristis Kearn, Whittington and Evans-Groing, 2010. The new species is morphologically consistent with the concept of Dermopristis; it has two testes, lacks a male copulatory organ and has a simple haptor. It is smaller than its two congeners D. paradoxus Kearn, Whittington and Evans-Gowing, 2010 and D. cairae Whittington and Kearn, 2011 and is most similar to the former, distinguished only in that it lacks the strong, transverse, parallel ridges on the ventral body surface that characterise that species. It is more easily distinguished from D. cairae, differing in body shape, possession of a seminal receptacle, and relative position and size of the haptor. It may further differ from both species by fine details of the gut diverticula, although these details are difficult to ascertain. Spermatophores were observed in the new species, similar to those previously reported for D. cairae. The new species exhibits site attachment preference: infections were greatest on and immediately adjacent to the host pelvic fins (including male reproductive organs, i.e. claspers), moderate in proximity to the dorsal and pectoral fins, few on the caudal fin and peduncle, and infrequently, isolated worms occurred elsewhere on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body. There was no incidence of infection on the head (including rostrum). We presume D. pterophilus is restricted to P. zijsron and thus likely faces the same threat of extinction

A context model for semantic mediation in Web services composition

This paper presents a context-driven approach that aims at supporting semantic mediation between composed Web services. Despite the widespread adoption of Web services by the IT community, innovative solutions are needed in order to overcome the challenging issue that relates to the semantic disparity of exchanged data. Indeed, there is a lack of means for interpreting these data according to the contextual requirements of each Web service. The context-driven approach suggests two steps. The first step consists of developing a model for anchoring context to data flowing between Web services. In the second step, we use this model to support the semantic mediation between Web services engaged in a composition. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006

Roadside vegetation management final report for the period July 1986 to June 1991 (FHWA-OK-91-10) 2147

The information contained within this report addresses: (1) Research -- involving the use of herbicides and plant growth regulators for roadside vegetation management; (2) Maintenance -- implementing research results into an operational phase of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) maintenance program; and (3) Training -- conducting pesticide applicator certification programs and providing continuing educational programs for these certified applicators. The following are recommendations and/or conclusions based upon the research results. (1) Roundup rates may be reduced from 0.75 to 0.62 lb. ai./A in the western and central portions of Oklahoma while maintaining 90% control of johnsongrass. In the eastern one-third of the state, rates of Roundup should be maintained at 0.75 lb. ai./ A to achieve the 90% level of control. (2) When applied at equal rates, SC-0224 and Roundup provide equal con tro l of johnsongrass. (3) The additive Frigate, significantly increases the activity of Roundup and Roundup plus Oust treatments. (4) A single application of Arsenal applied at 1.2 lb. ai. in combination with Oust at 0.047 lb. ai. applied in 40 gallons of water per acre will effectively control bermudagrass encroachment into paved roadside shoulders and seams when applied in late May or June to actively growing bennudagrass. (5) Musk this tle can be effectively controlled with Transline at 0.125 to 0.25 lb. ai. in 25 to 50 gallons of water per acre applied during March through April when thistle plants are actively growing and prior to bolti ng (flowering). (6) Vision, a plant growth regulator, applied under an EUP label suppresses of bermudagrass growth along roadsides. S everal larg e-scale demonstrations were initiated throughout the duration of this project and are described as follows: Musk thistle control with Transline; johnsongrass control with Roundup+ Oust and/or Frigate; c on trol of Kudzu with Arsenal; bermudagrass encroachmen t control with Arsenal; silver bluestem control with Roundup, alone, or in combination with Oust and/or Frigate; bermudagrass canopy height su ppression with Vision or Poast plus a crop oil. Training activities included certification of 59 1 new ODOT herbi cide applicators and providing continuing educational programs for 1354 ODOT certified applicators.Final Report July 1986-June 1991N

Roadside vegetation management final report for the period December 1991 to September 1996 (FHWA-ODOT-96-05) 2187

The infonnation contained within this report addresses: (1) Research - involving the use of experimental, newly labeled and traditionally available herbicides in combination with mowing for roadside vegetation management; (2) Maintenance implementation of research results into an operational phase of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation ·s (ODOT) maintenance program. as well as performing on-site visits, telephone and written consultation to ODOT personnel; and (3) Training - conducting pesticide applicator certification programs, and providing continuing education programs for these certified applicators. The following are conclusions based on our research: (1) Campaign herbicide or Roundup plus 2,4-D may be used postemergence in place of atrazine or diuron applied pre-emergence for the control of winter annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. Tlllling of herbicide application is critical. (2) Ammonium sulfate may be added to either Campaign herbicide or the combination treatment of Roundup + 2,4-D amine to i?lprove control of winter annual weeds. This product addition may allow end users to reduce use rates of these herbicides. (3) Primo plus Oust may be used for temporary growth and seedhead suppression of common bermudagrass on roadsides; additional product labeling will be required to implement this treatment into the maintenance phase of ODOTs vegetation management'program. (4) The product Plateau., when combined with Roundup, will provide an acceptable level of both seedling and rhizome johnsongrass control (minimum of 80% control) in common bermudagrass roadsides with potential to reduce phytotoxicity as compared to the traditional Oust plus Roundup herbicide treatment. Several research plot tours, meetings, sprayer calibration workshops, musk thistle head weevil collection/release days as well as herbicide/fertilizer demonstrations were conducted throughout the duration of this project in order to implement current research information into an operational phase of ODOTs roadside vegetation management program. Training achievements included the execution of 12 pesticide applicator certification schools resulting in 146 new herbicide applicators becoming certified. A total of 68 continuing education programs were conducted with 2, 795 ODOT certified applicators attending over a 5 year period. Numerous training information sheets were developed and provided to applicators during workshops.Final Report, December 1991-September 1996N

Roadside vegetation management guidelines

Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) i s a collective process that uses the most appropriate scientifically-based vegetation management techniques to meet the department' s goals in both an environmentally and economically sound manner. IRVM recognizes that every component of a program can be greatly dependent upon the other components. Whether cultural, chemical or biological, all components are used to manipulate the roadside plant community during a short period of time but with longterm goals. If the guidelines in this manual are followed, they will help ensure that the department is accountable and that goals are met as efficiently and economically as possible.N

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of mesenchymal stem cells in myocardial infarction

Background - We investigated the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MR-MSCs) in a swine myocardial infarction (MI) model. Methods and Results - Adult farm pigs (n=5) were subjected to closed-chest experimental MI. MR-MSCs (2.8 to 16×107 cells) were injected intramyocardially under x-ray fluoroscopy. MRIs were obtained on a 1.5T MR scanner to demonstrate the location of the MR-MSCs and were correlated with histology. Contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrated successful injection in the infarct and serial MSC tracking was demonstrated in two animals. Conclusion - MRI tracking of MSCs is feasible and represents a preferred method for studying the engraftment of MSCs in MI

Testing Logselfsimilarity of Soil Particle Size Distribution: Simulation with Minimum Inputs

Particle size distribution (PSD) greatly influences other soil physical properties. A detailed textural analysis is time-consuming and expensive. Soil texture is commonly reported in terms of mass percentages of a small number of size fractions (typically, clay, silt and sand). A method to simulate the PSD from such a poor description or even from the poorest description, consisting in the mass percentages of only two soil size fractions, would be extremly useful for prediction purposes. The goal of this paper is to simulate soil PSDs from the minimum number of inputs, i.e., two and three textural fraction contents, by using a logselfsimilar model and an iterated function system constructed with these data. High quality data on 171 soils are used. Additionally, the characterization of soil texture by entropy-based parameters provided by the model is tested. Results indicate that the logselfsimilar model may be a useful tool to simulate PSD for the construction of pedotransfer functions related to other soil properties when textural information is limited to moderate textural data

Native electrospray mass spectrometry approaches to probe the interaction between zinc and an anti-angiogenic peptide from histidine-rich glycoprotein

This work was supported by the BBSRC (grant ref. BB/J006467/1 and CASE studentship to E.M.M.) and the British Heart Foundation (grant ref. PG/15/9/31270 and FS/15/42/31556).Zinc modulates the biological function of histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) through binding to its His-rich region (HRR). The Zn2+-binding properties of a 35 amino-acid biologically-active peptide mimic of the HRR, HRGP330, were investigated using dissociative mass spectrometry approaches in addition to travelling-wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS). Native mass spectrometry confirmed zinc binding to HRGP330; however, broadening of the 1H NMR resonances upon addition of Zn2+ ions precluded the attainment of structural information. A complementary approach employing TWIM-MS indicated that HRGP330 has a more compact structure in the presence of Zn2+ ions. Top-down MS/MS data supported a metal-binding-induced conformational change, as fewer fragments were observed for Zn2+-bound HRGP330. Zn2+-bound fragments of both N-terminal and C-terminal ends of the peptide were identified from collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron transfer dissociation/proton transfer reaction (ETD/PTR) experiments, suggesting that multiple binding sites exist within this region of HRG. The combination of mass spectrometry and NMR approaches provides new insight into the highly dynamic interaction between zinc and this His-rich peptide.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe