Notes on Cynipid Galls, Ground Beetles and Ground-dwelling Spiders Collected at Fort Severn, Ontario

A brief collecting trip to Fort Severn, Ontario (55°59' N, 87°38' W), in May 2001 revealed galls of three species of cynipid wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on the wild rose Rosa acicularis. Roses and cynipid galls occur along the banks of the Severn River above the tree line because of clay deposits, heat, and rafts of vegetation carried north by the river. Ground beetles and spiders were collected with pitfall traps. Our identification of 15 species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), two of them new records for Ontario, and 11 species of ground spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae), all new records for northwestern Ontario, indicates that the invertebrate fauna in the area has been poorly studied. Roads and trails away from Fort Severn, regularly scheduled airline service, and convenient accommodations make the area ideal for biological studies.Une brève sortie de prélèvement à Fort Severn, en Ontario (55° 59' de lat. N., 87° 38' de long. O.), effectuée en mai 2001 a révélé l'existence de galles de trois espèces de cynips du rosier (hyménoptères: cynipidés) sur le rosier aciculaire Rosa acicularis. On trouve ce dernier et les galles du rosier le long des rives de la Severn au-dessus de la limite forestière en raison des dépôts d'argile, de la chaleur et de la végétation flottante que transporte la rivière en direction du Nord. On a prélevé des carabes et des araignées terricoles à l'aide de pièges à fosse. Notre identification de 15 espèces de carabes (coléoptères: carabidés), dont deux représentaient deux nouvelles espèces pour l'Ontario, et de 11 espèces d'araignées terricoles (aranéides: lycosidés), dont toutes étaient nouvelles pour le nord-ouest de l'Ontario, révèle que la faune invertébrée de la région n'a pas encore fait l'objet d'une étude approfondie. Les routes et les pistes menant à l'extérieur de Fort Severn, le service régulier de transport aérien et l'hébergement à proximité font de la région un emplacement idéal pour des études biologiques

SARS-CoV-2 Variants Are Selecting for Spike Protein Mutations That Increase Protein Stability

The emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2 with mutations in their spike protein are a major cause for concern for the efficacy of vaccines and control of the pandemic. We show that mutations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are selecting for amino acid changes that result in a more thermodynamically stable protein than expected from background. We suggest that the computationally efficient analysis of mutational stability may aid in early screening of variants

GALL INDUCTION BY PEGOMYA CURTICORNIS (STEIN) (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE) WITHIN THE ROOTS OF SPURGES EUPHORBIA VIRGATA WALDST. AND KIT. AND E. ESULA L. (EUPHORBIACEAE)

The anthomyiid fly Pegomya curticornis (Stein), introduced into Alberta from Europe for the biocontrol of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.), normally induces simple galls on subterranean stems. Here we describe the anatomy of galls collected in Europe that had been induced by P. curticornis on horizontal roots of spurges. Four mature galls were found on the roots of E. virgata Waldst. and Kit. and 10 on the roots of E. esula. Tissues of the root galls were composed of gall parenchyma that had proliferated from feeding sites near the outside edge of secondary xylem. It is assumed that some larvae inadvertently tunnel beyond the base of stems into the roots and that similar galls will form on Alberta spurge

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND GALL INDUCTION BY PEGOMYA CURTICORNIS AND PEGOMYA EUPHORBIAE (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE) WITHIN THE STEMS OF LEAFY SPURGE (EUPHORBIA × PSEUDOVIRGATA) (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia × pseudovirgata [Schur]) is an herbaceous perennial and serious weed of European origin that has been accidently introduced into North America. The European anthomyiid flies Pegomya curticornis (Stein) and Pegomya euphorbiae (Kieffer) are found on several spurge species in Europe and also attack leafy spurge. The two flies induce identical galls on the subterranean stems of their host plants, and the shoots wilt and die. Eggs are laid on the shoot tip, and the larvae bore into the stem by eating pith which is later replaced by callus. This is a rare example of an insect with both boring and gall-inducing feeding strategies. Galls are induced when larvae feed on the ring of vascular tissue. There is no proliferation of nutritive cells but instead thick layers of gall parenchyma are produced. The vascular connections are broken at the gall level and concentric vascular bundles appear in the cortical and gall parenchyma. After pupation an inner periderm differentiates around the chamber surfac

Computational Saturation Screen Reveals the Landscape of Mutations in Human Fumarate Hydratase

Single amino acid substitutions within protein structures often manifest with clinical conditions in humans. The mutation of a single amino can significantly alter protein folding and stability, or change protein dynamics to influence function. The chemical engineering field has developed a large toolset for predicting the influence of point mutations with the aim of guiding the design of improved and more stable proteins. Here, we reverse this general protocol and adapt these tools for the prediction of damaging mutations within proteins. Mutations to fumarate hydratase (FH), an enzyme of the citric acid cycle, can lead to human diseases. The inactivation of FH by mutation causes leiomyomas and renal cell carcinoma by subsequent fumarate buildup and reduction in available malate. We present a scheme for accurately predicting the clinical effects of every possible mutation in FH by adaptation to a database of characterized damaging and benign mutations. Using energy prediction tools Rosetta and FoldX coupled with molecular dynamics simulations, we accurately predict individual mutations as well as mutational hotspots with a high disruptive capability in FH. Furthermore, through dynamic analysis, we find that hinge regions of the protein can be stabilized or destabilized by mutations, with mechanistic implications for the functional ability of the enzyme. Finally, we categorize all potential mutations in FH into functional groups, predicting which known mutations in the human population are loss of function, therefore having clinical implications, and validate our findings through metabolomics data of characterized human cell lines

Pre-harvest lumber value recovery modeling: integrating sawline laser-scanning with an enhanced forest inventory

Supply chain management research in forestry is becoming increasingly important in the forest sector worldwide. Predicting lumber value recovery from pre-harvest forest inventory forms an important aspect of forestry supply chain management research. The purpose of this research was to conduct a case study for tracking a stud sawmill's supply chain in Ontario's boreal forest from pre-harvest forest inventory through to green lumber value recovery (GLVR)

All work and no pay: consequences of unpaid work experience in the creative industries

This research note evaluates the benefits and pitfalls of unpaid work as an entry route into employment in the creative industries and investigates the consequences of this practice for those who already work in the sector. Based on a qualitative study of perspectives of stakeholders in unpaid work, this article argues that the social capital thesis, often used as a rationale for unpaid work, inadequately explains the practice of unpaid work experience, primarily because it does not take cognisance of the consequences of this practice for other people working in the sector. The study also highlights methodological issues that need to be considered in the future. As well as the importance of a plurality of stakeholder perspectives, the study emphasizes the need to consider the perspectives of those who are excluded from unpaid work and those who are potentially displaced by it