Observations of Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae) in Central Michigan

Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff colonized wind thrown timber in the moist floodplain habitats of Central Michigan. Single adult females constructed a complex gallery system consisting of phloem–sapwood interface tunnels and sapwood tunnels. An average of 24 progeny adults and a sex ratio of 14 females to 1 male were found in mature galleries after the first of September

Anurans, the Group of Terrestrial Vertebrates Most Vulnerable to Climate Change: A Case Study with Acoustic Monitoring in the Iberian Peninsula

We report preliminary analyses from an ongoing sound monitoring project that involves five species of anurans: two species of tree frogs in the genus Hyla (Hylidae) and three species of midwife toads in the genus Alytes (Discoglossidae) in the Iberian Peninsula. Each station was monitored with an automated recording system based on solid state recorders, coupled with programmable temperature and relative humidity probes. We present comparative data of vocal activity of two populations of Alytes cisternasii from thermal extremes of the species range using human detection and commercial automated sound recognition software. Parameters such as duration of reproductive season, preferred temperatures for calling activity and relation with relative humidity are discussed. We compare the performance of analysing the recordings between an automated system of detecting the presence of Alytes cisternasii calls and listening of the recordings by non-expert personnel.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia de España. Proyecto "Tempura

Distribution of raphespinal fibers in the mouse spinal cord

Background: Serotonergic raphespinal neurons and their fibers have been mapped in large mammals, but the non- serotonergic ones have not been studied, especially in the mouse. The present study aimed to investigate the termination pattern of fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei which also have serotonergic neurons by injecting the anterograde tracer BDA into them. Results: We found that raphespinal fibers terminate in both the dorsal and ventral horns in addition to lamina 10. There is a shift of the fibers in the ventral horn towards the dorsal and lateral part of the gray matter. Considerable variation in the termination pattern also exists between raphe nuclei with raphe magnus having more fibers terminating in the dorsal horn. Fibers from the adjacent gigantocellular reticular nucleus show similar termination pattern as those from the raphe nuclei with slight difference. Immunofluorescence staining showed that raphespinal fibers were heterogeneous and serotoninergic fibers were present in all laminae but mainly in laminae 1, 2, medial lamina 8, laminae 9 and 10. Surprisingly, immunofluorescence staining on clarified spinal cord tissue revealed that serotoninergic fibers formed bundles regularly in a short distance along the rostrocaudal axis in the medial part of the ventral horn and they extended towards the lateral motor neuron column area. Conclusion: Serotonergic and non-serotonergic fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei had similar termination pattern in the mouse spinal cord with subtle difference. The present study provides anatomical foundation for the multiple roles raphe and adjacent reticular nuclei play

Secret Codes: The Hidden Curriculum of Semantic Web Technologies

There is a long tradition in education of examination of the hidden curriculum, those elements which are implicit or tacit to the formal goals of education. This article draws upon that tradition to open up for investigation the hidden curriculum and assumptions about students and knowledge that are embedded in the coding undertaken to facilitate learning through information technologies, and emerging ‘semantic technologies’ in particular. Drawing upon an empirical study of case-based pedagogy in higher education, we examine the ways in which code becomes an actor in both enabling and constraining knowledge, reasoning, representation and students. The article argues that how this occurs, and to what effect, is largely left unexamined and becomes part of the hidden curriculum of electronically mediated learning that can be more explicitly examined by positioning technologies in general, and code in particular, as actors rather than tools. This points to a significant research agenda in technology enhanced learning

Nitrogen deposition alters nitrogen cycling and reduces soil carbon content in low-productivity semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems.

Anthropogenic N deposition poses a threat to European Mediterranean ecosystems. We combined data from an extant N deposition gradient (4.3–7.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) from semiarid areas of Spain and a field experiment in central Spain to evaluate N deposition effects on soil fertility, function and cyanobacteria community. Soil organic N did not increase along the extant gradient. Nitrogen fixation decreased along existing and experimental N deposition gradients, a result possibly related to compositional shifts in soil cyanobacteria community. Net ammonification and nitrification (which dominated N-mineralization) were reduced and increased, respectively, by N fertilization, suggesting alterations in the N cycle. Soil organic C content, C:N ratios and the activity of β-glucosidase decreased along the extant gradient in most locations. Our results suggest that semiarid soils in low-productivity sites are unable to store additional N inputs, and that are also unable to mitigate increasing C emissions when experiencing increased N deposition

Biogeochemical indicators of elevated nitrogen deposition in semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems

Nitrogen (N) deposition has doubled the natural N inputs received by ecosystems through biological N fixation and is currently a global problem that is affecting the Mediterranean regions. We evaluated the existing relationships between increased atmospheric N deposition and biogeochemical indicators related to soil chemical factors and cryptogam species across semiarid central, southern, and eastern Spain. The cryptogam species studied were the biocrust-forming species Pleurochaete squarrosa (moss) and Cladonia foliacea (lichen). Sampling sites were chosen in Quercus coccifera (kermes oak) shrublands and Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forests to cover a range of inorganic N deposition representative of the levels found in the Iberian Peninsula (between 4.4 and 8.1 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)). We extended the ambient N deposition gradient by including experimental plots to which N had been added for 3 years at rates of 10, 20, and 50 kg N ha(-1) year(-1). Overall, N deposition (extant plus simulated) increased soil inorganic N availability and caused soil acidification. Nitrogen deposition increased phosphomonoesterase (PME) enzyme activity and PME/nitrate reductase (NR) ratio in both species, whereas the NR activity was reduced only in the moss. Responses of PME and NR activities were attributed to an induced N to phosphorus imbalance and to N saturation, respectively. When only considering the ambient N deposition, soil organic C and N contents were positively related to N deposition, a response driven by pine forests. The PME/NR ratios of the moss were better predictors of N deposition rates than PME or NR activities alone in shrublands, whereas no correlation between N deposition and the lichen physiology was observed. We conclude that integrative physiological measurements, such as PME/NR ratios, measured on sensitive species such as P. squarrosa, can provide useful data for national-scale biomonitoring programs, whereas soil acidification and soil C and N storage could be useful as additional corroborating ecosystem indicators of chronic N pollution

The Amphibian Research in Sierra Norte Natural Park, sw. Spain

A nivel mundial, los anfibios están desapareciendo por causas muy diversas, algunas poco conocidas, como los efectos del cambio climático. Son, en general, especies muy sensibles a los cambios en el medio y, por tanto, resultan especialmente interesantes tanto para los investigadores como para todo aquel interesado en la conservación de la biodiversidad. Desde hace años, investigadores del CSIC y otros centros españoles (Universidad de Sevilla y Granada) y extranjeros (Universidad de Lisboa, Portugal, Universidad de Chile y la Universidad de Western Kentucky, USA) están realizando estudios sobre bioacústica, biología de la reproducción, variación geográfi ca y adaptaciones locales, morfología y dinámica poblacional de algunas especies presentes en el Parque Natural de la Sierra Norte. Los resultados más relevantes de tales estudios se resumen en estas páginas, incluyendo resultados preliminares de un proyecto nacional I+D+i, actualmente en marcha. Además, sus observaciones han permitido detectar y sugerir acciones que están permitiendo mejorar la conservación de algunas de estas poblaciones. Con ello esperamos contribuir a un mejor conocimiento y conservación de estas especies y su medio.Currently, there is a global decline of amphibians due to an array of different factors, including global warming. Amphibians are among the more sensitive vertebrate species to changes in the environment, what target them both for research and for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation. During the last decade, researchers from diff erent institutions, including CSIC, the University of Seville, the University of Granada, the University of Lisbon, the University of Chile, and Western Kentucky University, have conducted studies on population divergence and local adaptations, bioacoustics, reproductive biology, morphology, and population dynamics of some of the anuran species occurring in the Natural Park of Sierra Norte. In this paper, we summarize relevant results from these studies, including preliminary results from an ongoing I+D+i national project. These studies have already help us to detect and suggest some conservation actions for amphibians, which once implemented, will improve the conservation status of some of these amphibian populations. Our hope is to contribute to increase the knowledge and conservation of these species and their habitats

Unsettling boundaries in making a space for research

In engaging in research we draw upon and develop meanings and concepts that help to frame what we do, how we do it and the meaning we make of it. In the process of framing, we exclude other possibilities from our research practices. To do research then is to engage in the fashioning of conceptual boundaries. This article explores the dilemmas of boundary-making in the context of a research project aimed at exploring the border literacy practices of students in UK further education, those boundary crossing practices which relate to the everyday and more formal demands of the curriculum. This discussion is related to wider debates in the social sciences on the significance of boundaries and borders and their powerful effects on identities and actions

Targeting cancer metabolism: a therapeutic window opens

Genetic events in cancer activate signalling pathways that alter cell metabolism. Clinical evidence has linked cell metabolism with cancer outcomes. Together, these observations have raised interest in targeting metabolic enzymes for cancer therapy, but they have also raised concerns that these therapies would have unacceptable effects on normal cells. However, some of the first cancer therapies that were developed target the specific metabolic needs of cancer cells and remain effective agents in the clinic today. Research into how changes in cell metabolism promote tumour growth has accelerated in recent years. This has refocused efforts to target metabolic dependencies of cancer cells as a selective anticancer strategy.Burroughs Wellcome FundSmith Family FoundationStarr Cancer ConsortiumDamon Runyon Cancer Research FoundationNational Institutes of Health (U.S.