The influence of roads on the fine-scale population genetic structure of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus)

Dengue is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries and is transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti. Mosquito movement can be affected by human-made structures such as roads that can act as a barrier. Roads can influence the population genetic structure of Ae. aegypti. We investigated the genetic structure and gene flow of Ae. aegypti as influenced by a primary road, Espana Boulevard (EB) with 2000-meter-long stretch and 24-meters-wide in a very fine spatial scale. We hypothesized that Ae. aegypti populations separated by EB will be different due to the limited gene flow as caused by the barrier effect of the road. A total of 359 adults and 17 larvae Ae. aegypti were collected from June to September 2017 in 13 sites across EB. North (N1-N8) and South (S1-S5) comprised of 211 and 165 individuals, respectively. All mosquitoes were genotyped at 11 microsatellite loci. AMOVA FST indicated significant genetic differentiation across the road. The constructed UPGMA dendrogram found 3 genetic groups revealing the clear separation between North and South sites across the road. On the other hand, Bayesian cluster analysis showed four genetic clusters (K = 4) wherein each individual samples have no distinct genetic cluster thus genetic admixture. Our results suggest that human-made landscape features such as primary roads are potential barriers to mosquito movement thereby limiting its gene flow across the road. This information is valuable in designing an effective mosquito control program in a very fine spatial scale

Chromosomes of Theridiidae spiders (Entelegynae): Interspecific karyotype diversity in Argyrodes and diploid number intraspecific variability in Nesticodes rufipes

Theridiidae is a derived family within the Araneoidea clade. In contrast to closely related groups, the 2n(male) = 20+X1 X 2 with acro/telocentric chromosomes is the most widespread karyotype among the theridiid spiders. In this work, the cytogenetic analysis of Argyrodes elevatus revealed original chromosome features different from those previously registered for Theridiidae, including the presence of 2n(male) = 20+X with meta/submetacentric chromosomes. Most individuals of Nesticodes rufipes showed family conserved karyotype characteristics. However, one individual had a 2n(male) = 24 due to the presence of an extra chromosome pair, which exhibited regular behavior and reductional segregation during meiosis. After silver staining, mitotic cells exhibited NORs localized on the terminal regions of the short arms of pairs 2, 3, and 4 of A. elevatus and on the terminal regions of long arms of pair 4 of N. rufipes. The comparative analysis with data from phylogenetically related species allowed the clarification of the origin of the interspecific and intraspecific chromosome variability observed in Argyrodes and in N. rufipes, respectively

Kriteria Lokasi Pembangunan Tower BTS (Base Transceiver System) di Kota Kediri

Infrastruktur telekomunikasi memiliki peran penting terhadap perkembangan ekonomi nasional. Menurut data Dirjen Pos dan Telekomunikasi pengguna seluler mengalami pertumbuhan rata-rata 31,9% pertahun dalam periode 2006-2010. Upaya untuk meningkatan layanan telekomunikasi di Kota Kediri memiliki masalah karena terdapat keberadaan menara yang mengganggu Kenyamanan masyarakat sekitarnya, lokasi yang melanggar aturan dan tower BTS yang tidak memiliki ijin. Perspektif pemilihan lokasi dari pemerintah dan operator memiliki perbedaan, sedangkan infrastruktur tersebut harus berada di lokasi yang strategis untuk mendapatkan hasil yang optimal. Oleh sebab itu, perlu adanya penelitian untuk merumuskan kriteria lokasi menurut stakeholder di Kota Kediri. Metode yang digunakan yakni analisis Delphi untuk menentukan faktor penentu lokasi. Kemudian setelah ditemukan faktor dilakukan pembobotan terhadap faktor dengan analisis AHP. Analisis terakhir yakni Perumusan kriteria dengan menggunakan Content Analysis. Dari analisis Delphi dihasilkan 20 faktor yang digunakan sebagai faktor penentu lokasi pembangunan tower BTS di Kota Kediri. Faktor tersebut yakni jarak terhadap konsumen, jumlah penduduk yang dilayani, luas jangkauan pelayanan, kualitas layanan, banyaknya permintaan, pertumbuhan penduduk, perilaku pelanggan, sikap masyarakat, banyaknya gedung tinggi, ketersediaan lahan, ruang udara, estetika lingkungan, berada dalam wilayah jangkauan sel, jarak dengan kegiatan sekitar, perencanaan tata ruang, biaya pajak, proses perijinan, terdapat akses jalan, biaya investasi, ketersediaan energi listrik. Dari masing-masing faktor tersebut, diperoleh 3 faktor dengan bobot tertinggi, yakni ketersediaan energi listrik (0,09934), sesuai dengan rencana tata ruang (0.09646), dan proses perijinan (0.09194). Ketiga faktor ini paling besar pengaruhnya terhadap pemilihan lokasi tower BTS di Kota Kediri. Dengan demikian diperoleh kriteria utama lokasi pembangunan tower BTS di Kota Kediri adalah tersedianya energi listrik dengan daya yang memadai untuk BTS, lokasi yang harus sesuai dengan rencana tata ruang, dan lokasi yang memenuhi semua proses perizinan. Dari penelitian ini didapatkan bahwa energi listrik yang memadai menjadi prioritas untuk memilih lokasi tower BTS

First Philippine record of the parasitoid, Comperiella sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae): A potential biocontrol agent against Aspidiotus rigidus (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. The encyrtid genus Comperiella Howard has so far not been reported in the Philippines, where there is currently an outbreak of the coconut scale insect Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne particularly in the southern parts of the island of Luzon and in some areas in Mindanao. Among Comperiella species, only C. unifasciata Ishii has been reported as a parasitoid of A. rigidus. We report not only new sightings of this parasitoid genus in the Philippines from surveys conducted in parts of the provinces of Laguna and Batangas, but also the discovery of a possibly new species that, like C. unifasciata, has been found to parasitize A. rigidus at a high rate. These findings have presented a potential of biological control against the coconut scale insect problem that has threatened the coconut industry in the country

Polymeric compositions of medical devices account for the variations in Candida albicans biofilm structural morphology

© 2020 Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection. The increase in the number of fungal infections has been associated with the prevalent use of medical devices. This study assessed the morphological structure of Candida albicans biofilms on the surfaces of medical devices using scanning electron microscopy and characterized the polymeric compositions of these medical devices using infrared spectroscopic study. Biofilms on the surfaces of these medical devices exhibited variations in morphological topographies ranging from the presence of ellipsoid and spherical yeast cells joining end to end, to the growth of pseudohyphae and hyphae formation with chains of cylindrical cells, and the formation of several microcolonies entrenched in a polymeric matrix. The differences in the spectroscopic profiles of the medical devices accounted for the variations in the structural morphology of these biofilms. Spectral studies on polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tube revealed sp3-CH stretching frequencies at 2959, 2926, and 2858 cm-1 with CCl stretching frequencies at 636 cm-1 and 693 cm-1. Silicone polymer containing medical devices had SiOSi and SiC stretching frequencies identified at 1096 cm-1 and 804 cm-1 for the silicone urinary catheter, while the stretching frequencies were identified at 1005 cm-1 and 862 cm-1 for the silicone nasogastric tube, respectively. Given the information on the variations in the morphological appearance of the biofilms on medical device surfaces, these differences on the polymeric compositions of the medical devices can provide explanations on the adhesion potential, biofilm formation, structural morphology, and subsequent susceptibility pattern of the sessile organism to antifungal drugs

Biological control of tropical soda apple (Solanaceae) in Florida: Post-release evaluation

The leaf feeding beetle Gratiana boliviana was released on tropical soda apple plants in Sumter County, FL., in 2006. The beetles significantly defoliated the plants over the period of the summers of 2006 and 2007, and became well established in the area

Susceptibility kinetic profile of Candida albicans biofilm on latex silicone surfaces with antifungal azoles

The present study examined the susceptibility profile of Candida albicans biofilm on latex silicone surfaces to antifungal azoles. Biofilms formed by C. albicans on latex silicone surfaces behaved in accordance with a second-order rate kinetic model. Nonadherent nonbiofilm C. albicans cells were initially susceptible to posaconazole, fluconazole, miconazole, and voriconazole. Biofilms formed by C. albicans on latex silicone surfaces remained susceptible to fluconazole, miconazole, and voriconazole, although a significant reduction in the zone of inhibition diameter was noted at 48-hour to 72-hour biofilm formation. The susceptibility kinetic profile of the fungal biofilm with posaconazole and voriconazole can be described using the zero-order rate kinetic model. Information obtained on these model biofilms with emphasis on susceptibility kinetic profile can possibly explain resistance of antifungal drugs and subsequent development of novel therapies for biofilm-based diseases. © 2018 Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection