Den site selection of ringtails (Bassariscus Astutus) in West Central Texas

Research was conducted to determine ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) den site preferences in west central Texas. From August 2008 ‐ November 2009, 13 ringtails (8 females; 5 males) were captured and radio‐collared in Tom Green and Irion Counties, Texas. Ringtails were found using owl nest boxes and natural dens at the study site. Two hundred and eighty‐six dens were located, of which 105 were unique. Thirtyseven instances of den site co‐occupancy by multiple ringtails were recorded. Dataloggers were used to characterize thermal profiles of known dens and controls from October 2008 – October 2009. Den selection for male and female ringtails revealed nest box preference more frequently in the winter (80%) followed by spring (77%), fall (67%), and summer (30%). Den types (nest boxes, below‐ground dens, above‐ground dens) selected were significantly different (χ2=45.3, df=6, P<0.000). Seasonal den type selection was significant for female (χ2=37.0, df=6, P<0.000) and male ringtails (χ2=22.5, df=6, P<0.001)

Steinernema bertusi n. sp. (Rhabditida : Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa

Two isolates of Steinernema bertusi n. sp. were separately recovered from Tito, Mpumalanga, and Port Edward, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. In this paper, we describe the isolates as a new entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species using molecular and morphological methodologies. The new species belongs to the cameroonense -clade, which consists of nematodes only isolated from the African continent. Steinernema bertusi n. sp. is characterised by having the longest infective juvenile (IJ) for this clade at 716 (628-814) μ m. The IJ is further characterised by a body diam. of 32 (28-36) μ m and the pattern for the arrangement of the lateral ridges from head to tail is 2, 4, 5, 4, 2. The first-generation male spicule and gubernaculum length is 82 (72-88) μ m and 63 (54-72) μ m, respectively. Only 25% of the second-generation males possess a mucron. The first-generation females of S. bertusi n. sp. have a slightly protruding vulva, with double-flapped epiptygmata and a mucron at the posterior end. The new EPN species is most closely related to S. sacchari and is the sixth species to be included in the cameroonense -clade.https://brill.com/view/journals/nemy/nemy-overview.xmlhj2020Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Zoology and Entomolog

Steinernema fabii n. sp. (Rhabditida : Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema fabii n. sp., was isolated by trapping with wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae from soil in an Acacia mearnsii plantation in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The new species is morphologically characterised by the length of the infective juvenile (IJ) of 641 (590-697) μm, by a tail length of 58 (52-64) μm, ratio a = 24 (21-41), H% = 53 (37-61) and E% = 93 (83-105). The pattern of the lateral field of the IJ of the new species is 2, 5, 2 ridges (3, 6, 3 incisures). The male of the first generation can be recognised by the long spicule of 90 (79-106) μm and gubernaculum of 66 (56-77) μm; D% = 64 (52-75) and GS% = 73 (63-86). The first generation female can be recognised by a protruding vulva, with a short double flapped epiptygmata and the lack of a postanal swelling, while the second generation differs with a post anal swelling and conical and sharply pointed tail. Analysis of DNA sequences for the ITS and D2D3 gene regions showed S. fabii n. sp. to differ from all other Steinernema species and to belong to a new monophyletic group, the ‘Cameroonian’ clade, consisting of S. cameroonense, S. nyetense, S. sacchari and S. fabii n. sp., all from the African continent. This group is closely related to species in the feltiaekraussei- oregonense Clade III.The Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), the University of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation (NRF).http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/156854112018-02-28hb2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsZoology and Entomolog

Talin is required for integrin-mediated platelet function in hemostasis and thrombosis

Integrins are critical for hemostasis and thrombosis because they mediate both platelet adhesion and aggregation. Talin is an integrin-binding cytoplasmic adaptor that is a central organizer of focal adhesions, and loss of talin phenocopies integrin deletion in Drosophila. Here, we have examined the role of talin in mammalian integrin function in vivo by selectively disrupting the talin1 gene in mouse platelet precursor megakaryocytes. Talin null megakaryocytes produced circulating platelets that exhibited normal morphology yet manifested profoundly impaired hemostatic function. Specifically, platelet-specific deletion of talin1 led to spontaneous hemorrhage and pathological bleeding. Ex vivo and in vitro studies revealed that loss of talin1 resulted in dramatically impaired integrin αIIbβ3-mediated platelet aggregation and β1 integrin–mediated platelet adhesion. Furthermore, loss of talin1 strongly inhibited the activation of platelet β1 and β3 integrins in response to platelet agonists. These data establish that platelet talin plays a crucial role in hemostasis and provide the first proof that talin is required for the activation and function of mammalian α2β1 and αIIbβ3 integrins in vivo

Radiogenic and Muon-Induced Backgrounds in the LUX Dark Matter Detector

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment aims to detect rare low-energy interactions from Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The radiogenic backgrounds in the LUX detector have been measured and compared with Monte Carlo simulation. Measurements of LUX high-energy data have provided direct constraints on all background sources contributing to the background model. The expected background rate from the background model for the 85.3 day WIMP search run is $(2.6\pm0.2_{\textrm{stat}}\pm0.4_{\textrm{sys}})\times10^{-3}$~events~keV$_{ee}^{-1}$~kg$^{-1}$~day$^{-1}$ in a 118~kg fiducial volume. The observed background rate is $(3.6\pm0.4_{\textrm{stat}})\times10^{-3}$~events~keV$_{ee}^{-1}$~kg$^{-1}$~day$^{-1}$, consistent with model projections. The expectation for the radiogenic background in a subsequent one-year run is presented.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures / 17 images, submitted to Astropart. Phy