Number Of Adult Individuals Research Articles

Brevipalpus yothersiBaker (Tenuipalpidae) development in sweet orange plants is influenced by previous mite infestation and the presence of shelters.

Citrus leprosis is the most important viral disease affecting citrus. The disease is caused predominantly by CiLV-C and is transmitted by Brevipalpus yothersi Baker mites. This study brings some insight into the colonization of B. yothersi in citrus [(Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae)] previously infested by viruliferous or non-viruliferous B. yothersi. It also assesses the putative role of shelters on the behavior of B. yothersi. Expression of PR1 and PR4 genes, markers of plant defense mechanisms, were evaluated by RT-qPCR to correlate the role of the plant hormonal changes during the tri-trophic virus-mite-plant interplay. A previous infestation with either non-viruliferous and viruliferous mites positively influenced oviposition and the number of adult individuals in the resulting populations. Mite populations were higher on branches that had received a previous mite infestation than branches that did not. There was an increase in the expression of PR4, a marker gene in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway, in the treatment with non-viruliferous mites, indicating a response from the plant to their feeding. Conversely, an induced expression of PR1, a marker gene in the salicylic acid (SA) pathway, was observed mainly in the treatment with viruliferous mites, which suggests the activation of a plant response against the pathogen. The earlier mite infestation, as well as the presence of leprosis lesions and a gypsum mixture as artificial shelters, all fostered the growth of the B. yothersi populations after the second infestation, regardless of the presence or absence of CiLV-C. Furthermore, it is suggested that B. yothersi feeding actually induces the JA pathway in plants. At the same time, the CiLV-C represses the JA pathway and induces the SA pathway, which benefits the mite vector.

Distribution, ecology and status assessment of <i>Hydnocarpus longipedunculatus</i> Robi, Sasidh. & Jose (Achariaceae: Flacourtiaceae s.l.) – an endemic tree of the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Hydnocarpus longipedunculatus Robi., Sasidh. & Jose (Achariaceae: Flacourtiaceae s.l.) is an endemic tree distributed in the Kerala part of the Southern Western Ghats, India. The population structure and diversity analysis along with demographical information enabled the understanding of the distribution pattern, age classes/ontogeny, Importance Value Index (IVI), number of adult individuals, saplings and seedlings of the species in the forest landscape. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of the species were found out as per IUCN guidelines. The small population size, extremely low number of seedlings, lesser extent of occurrence and area of occupancy along with lower IVI values were the major impediments of the species. We suggest the inclusion of the species in the IUCN endangered category as it meets the threshold under criterion ‘D’. The baseline study recommends immediate conservation measures including protection of the natural habitats of the species.Â

Insulin Injection-Related Skin Lipodystrophies: Blemish or Pathology?

The number of adult individuals with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (DM) is steadily increasing worldwide. The main local complications of insulin injection are lipohypertrophies (LHs), i.e., subcutaneous nodules consisting of aggregates of macro-adipocytes and fibrin. These nodules result from errors repeatedly made by patients while injecting insulin. Despite being very common, LH lesions/nodules due to incorrect insulin injection techniques are often flat and hardly visible and thus require thorough deep palpation examination and ultrasonography (US) for detection. Identifying LHs is crucial, especially in elderly and frail subjects, because they may eventually result in poor diabetes control due to associated unpredictable insulin release patterns. Raising awareness of the adequate detection of LHs and their clinical consequences is crucial and urgent. A call to action is required on this topic at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate education.

Coupled morphologic and demographic responses of Opeas striatissimum (Gastropoda: Subulinidae) to latest Pleistocene to early Holocene climate fluctuations

In this paper, we report late Pleistocene to Holocene changes in the shell size and age structure of the gastropod, Opeas striatissimum, in two loess profiles in the Chinese Loess Plateau, spanning the past 27 ka. During the interval of ~17–8 ka, in response to climatic warming, we observed marked increases in shell dimensions and a more diverse age structure (age classes), as well as a ~20% increase in the number of adult individuals. Shell growth and enhanced survival from juvenile to adult, in turn, resulted in an increase in the population size, which reached a maximum during the interval ~8–3 ka, corresponding to the Holocene Climatic Optimum. We also observed an abrupt decrease in shell height and related significant decreases in the total number of individuals of Opeas striatissimum and adult individuals at the time of the Younger Dryas cold climatic event. We suggest that the observed morphologic and demographic changes observed for Opeas striatissimum reflect changes in the growing season, linked to changes in monsoon rainfall and climate stability, in response to climate fluctuations from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Our study provides a long-term perspective that helps refine mechanistic population models of invertebrates in the face of future climate change.

Injury Rate of the Bronze Age Population from the Lower Volga Area

Introduction. The research objective is to determine and analyze data on traumatic phenomena found in the bones of the Bronze Age population originating from the burial sites of the Lower Volga area. Methods. The identification of traumatic injuries in anthropological materials was based on the works and recommendations in the field of special traumatology and pathology used in forensic medicine and bioarchaeological reconstructions. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-dimensional methods and nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis criteria. Analysis. The study of paleoanthropological materials of the Early Bronze Age shows that injuries are found only on skulls. The total injuries of the adult population in the group are at the level of 15.2%. Of the 5 injuries on the bones of the Early Bronze Age, 1 belongs to a woman and 4 – to men. Severe injuries are discovered in adult individuals. General injuries are not numerous and reach 24.8%. In the series of the Late Bronze Age, injuries on the bone remains of children are also not detected. The frequency of occurrence of traumatic objects on anthropological materials of II millennium BC is insignificant, only 18 cases, which is 16.1% of the total number of adult individuals. Results. In the studied series, sex dimorphism and differences in the nature of distribution of injuries between groups of different ages are not statistically revealed, which indicates similar social roles of the male and female population in the Bronze Age. No injuries are detected in children. The frequency of perimortem injuries is extremely low. Non-lethal (uniform, with traces of healing) injuries on the skull bones and postcranial skeleton dominate in the series, which indicates a similar level of technological development and medical knowledge in the Bronze Age population. Injuries of the Bronze Age of the Lower Volga region can be described as every day or civilian trauma due to the development of labor production or social tension in the groups.

Earthworm species and density in semi-natural grasslands on rice paddy levees in Japanese satoyama.

Earthworms contribute to the sustainability of food webs in the semi-natural grasslands of levees at paddy margins, which are typical components of satoyama, the traditional agricultural landscapes of Japan. Thus far, few studies have focused on earthworm fauna of paddy levees in satoyama. In this study, we investigated earthworm fauna and regional and monthly changes in earthworm density. We found at least 11 species of earthworms living within levees on Sado Island, central Japan. Two endogeic species, Amynthas corticis (Megascolecidae) and Eisenia japonica (Lumbricidae), were dominant in terms of number of adult individuals; these two species appeared in all study regions. We also estimated an average of ~57.4 individuals/m2 for all stages of earthworms in levees, suggesting that rice paddy levees have relatively-high earthworm density. However, such tendencies differed depending on the region. In addition, monthly changes in density were observed in the topsoil of the levees. Our results imply that differences in earthworm assemblages amongst regions and months may influence the availability of food resources for various animals inhabiting satoyama.

SPECIFIC AND POPULATION ADAPTATION OF CIRCULAR NEMATODES

The seasonal and perennial age structure of the population was studied in detail using the example of an oat nematode. The release of larvae from cysts into the soil with different intensities occurs practically throughout the entire vegetation period of host plants. Therefore, the age structure of the population changed with a certain cyclical nature and successive dominance of individual phases of development. At the beginning of May, diapausing larvae of the second age dominated in the age structure. In the first decade of June, a significant part of the population remained in anabiosis (36%) with a high proportion of parasitic larvae of the third (21%) and fourth (16%) ages, and later in the structure of the population an increase in the number of adult individuals: females and males occurred. After the formation of eggs, females eventually died off and turned into cysts - a stage of rest. It was also established that despite the optimal abiotic conditions and the presence of forage plants, part of the oat nematode population remained in diapause for many years, remaining an insurance fund for the survival of the species. The cyst nematode diapause should be divided into physiological — genetically fixed adaptation of the organism to experiencing cyclical adverse conditions and physical — induced by the short-term effect of meteorological factors. In whole, the general patterns of seasonal dynamics of the release of larvae from cysts were also observed when growing unresponsive crops of the crop rotation or keeping the experimental plots under clean steam. However, when activated by optimal hydrothermal conditions, and when growing insensitive crops with root secretions, the second instar larvae emerge from cysts, on average, 1.5–2 times less than the stimulating effect of typical host plants.

Bemisia tabaci MED Population Density as Affected by Rootstock-Modified Leaf Anatomy and Amino Acid Profiles in Hydroponically Grown Tomato.

Bemisia tabaci is one of the most devastating pests in tomato greenhouse production. Insecticide resistance management for B. tabaci requires a novel approach that maximizes non-chemical methods for pest control. The aim of this study was to test the effects of rootstocks on B. tabaci populations in hydroponically grown tomato plants. In order to contribute to the better understanding of the mechanisms defining the attractiveness of plant to the aerial pest, the effects of rootstocks on leaf anatomy and the amino acid composition of phloem sap were assessed. A two-factorial experimental design was adopted using cultivars (rootstock cultivars and Clarabella) grown as either non-grafted or grafted with cultivar Clarabella as a scion. The rootstock cultivars included Arnold, Buffon, Emperador, and Maxifort. A reduction in B. tabaci density was observed using all rootstock cultivars. The number of adult individuals per leaf was 2.7–5.4 times lower on rootstock cultivars than on Clarabella. The number of large nymphs per square centimeter was at least 24% higher on non–grafted Clarabella compared with all other treatments. The leaf lamina thickness and mesophyll thickness were lower in self-grafted Clarabella than in non-grafted or in one grafted on rootstock cultivars; however, the extent of this reduction depended on the rootstock. The leaves with thinner laminae were generally less attractive to B. tabaci. Eighteen amino acids were detected in the exudates of phloem sap. In all treatments, the most abundant amino acid was γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), followed by proline, serine, alanine, and histidine. The scion cultivar Clarabella was the most attractive to B. tabaci and had a higher content of leucine than did rootstock cultivars, and a higher content of lysine compared to Buffon and Maxifort. The features modified by rootstock such are changes in leaf anatomy can affect the attractiveness of plants to B. tabaci. Thus, the grafting of tomato could constitute a valuable tool in an integrated management strategy against this aerial pest.

Effects of land use and landscape patterns on Orthoptera communities in the Western Siberian forest steppe

Across Western Siberia, land use has changed substantially since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991: large cropland areas were abandoned and livestock numbers declined. In recent years these trends have partly been reversed, and an intensification of agricultural management has been observed that is still ongoing. We evaluated the impact of land use, as well as effects of landscape patterns and vegetation structure on Orthoptera communities and discuss them as drivers of community composition, species richness and abundance. We sampled Orthoptera using a box-quadrat on ancient grassland, ex-arable grassland (both including different management types: unmanaged, grazed and mown) and cereal fields. Landscape heterogeneity and composition strongly affected species richness and abundance of Orthoptera. Both were higher in grassland than in cropland, but did not differ significantly between ex-arable and ancient grasslands or different management practices. An Indicator Species Analysis revealed differentiation of Orthoptera communities between all management types. On croplands, the number of adult individuals and nymphs was influenced by the proportion of grassland in the surrounding landscape and tillage practices. Conservation tillage is most likely the key factor allowing Orthoptera to reproduce on croplands. After up to 24 years of succession, Orthoptera communities of ex-arable grasslands can be considered as completely recovered, as differences to ancient grasslands were minimal. Besides the continuation of low-intensity management, conservation strategies for this region should consider landscape composition and support habitat heterogeneity like ecotones with hemi-boreal forests in grassland-dominated landscapes.

Normative need in relation to perceived oral health among institutionalized adults of South India: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The number of adult individuals living alone is rising worldwide, especially in India, and their oral health-related quality of life is an increasing public health concern. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the impact of periodontal status and dental caries experience on perceived oral health among institutionalized adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among institutionalized adults in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Self-perceived oral health was assessed using Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Clinical examination was done for recording the periodontal status and dental caries according to the World Health Organization criteria (1997). Results: A total of 328 subjects were included with a mean age of 69.7 years. The mean GOHAI score of dentate participants was 48.24 (standard deviation [SD] 5.93). The overall prevalence of periodontal disease in the present study was 89.09% and mean caries experience was 10.85 (SD 9.36). There was a negative correlation between GOHAI scores and periodontal status and dental caries experience among the study participants. Conclusion: Low oral health, self-perception is directly correlated with a worse oral health; hence, perceived oral health can be a surrogate measure for clinical oral examination.

Utilizing heavy metal-laden water hyacinth biomass in vermicomposting.

We studied the efficiency of water treatment by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu), as well as a possibility of using water hyacinth biomass obtained during treatment for vermicomposting by Eisenia fetida and the vermicompost quality in a model experiment. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in the trials with water hyacinth decreased within 35 days. We introduced water hyacinth biomass to the organic substrate for vermicomposting, which promoted a significant weight gain of earthworms and growth in their number, as well as a 1.5- to 3-fold increase in coprolite production. In the trial with 40 % of Eichhornia biomass in the mixture, we observed a 26-fold increase in the number and a 16-fold weight gain of big mature individuals with clitellum; an increase in the number of small individuals 40 times and in the number of cocoons 140 times, as compared to the initial substrate. The utilization of water hyacinth biomass containing heavy metals in the mixture led to a 10-fold increase in the number of adult individuals and cocoons, which was higher than in control. We found out that adding 10 % of Eichhornia biomass to the initial mixture affected slightly the number of microorganisms and their species diversity in the vermicompost. Adding Eichhornia biomass with heavy metals reduced the total number of microorganisms and sharply diminished their species diversity. In all trials, adding water hyacinth in the mixture for vermicomposting had a positive impact on wheat biometric parameters in a 14-day laboratory experiment, even in the trial with heavy metals.

Two roads to two sexes: unifying gamete competition and gamete limitation in a single model of anisogamy evolution

Recent studies have revealed the importance of self-consistency in evolutionary models, particularly in the context of male–female interactions. This has been largely ignored in models of the ancestral divergence of the sexes, i.e., the evolution of anisogamy. Here, we model the evolution of anisogamy in a Fisher-consistent context, explicitly taking into account the number of interacting individuals in a typical reproductive group. We reveal an interaction between the number of adult individuals in the local mating group and the selection pressures responsible for the divergence of the sexes. The same underlying model can produce anisogamy in two different ways. Gamete competition can lead to anisogamy when it is relatively easy for gametes to find each other, but when this is more difficult and gamete competition is absent, gamete limitation can provide another route for anisogamy to evolve. In line with earlier models, organismal complexity favors anisogamy. We argue that the early contributions of Kalmus and Scudo, largely dismissed as group selectionist, are valid under certain conditions. Linking their work with the contributions of Parker helps to explain why precisely males keep producing more sperm than can ever lead to offspring: sperm could evolve to provision zygotes but this brings little profit for the effort required, because sperm would have to be equipped with provisioning ability before it is known which sperm will make it to the fertilization stage. This insight creates a logical link between paternal care under uncertain paternity (where again investment is selected against when some investment never brings about genetic benefits) and gamete size evolution.

Estrutura e distribuição espacial de Trichilia elegans A. Juss. (Meliaceae) em uma floresta sem idecídua no Pantanal da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Trichilia elegans A. Juss. is a widely distributed species that occurs from Venezuela to Uruguay and constitutes a common component of seasonal forests. Even though the studies on the Pantanal flora started last century, researches on the structure and spatial distribution of tree species are still rare. This work aimed at identifying the pattern of spatial distribution and the diametric distribution of T. elegans and verifying whether there is a correlation between the number of young individuals and the number of adult individuals in a semi-deciduous forest of the Pantanal da Nhecolândia. We sampled 50 plots of 200 m2 each and registered the young and adult individuals in each one of them. To identify the pattern of spatial distribution, we used the Morisita Index (MI) and the variance/mean ratio (R). The linear correlation coefficient was used to verify whether there is a correlation between populations of the juveniles and adults. We found 218 young and 78 adult individuals. Young and adult individuals presented gregarious spatial distribution, and the young ones (MI = 2.32; R = 5.49) were more gregarious than the adults (MI = 1.88; R = 2.05). The linear correlation coefficient found (r = 0.60) demonstrated that the density of young individuals is highly correlated with the density of adult individuals.

Saguaro (Carnegiea Gigantea) Densities and Reproduction Over the Northern Sonoran Desert

Casual observations suggest that saguaro populations are densest in southeastern Arizona, although data have not been collected and no study has been done to address this topic. In addition, the topic of reproductive density has similarly never been addressed. Saguaro reproductive output is directly related to the number of adult individuals and the number of branches in the area. Thirty saguaro populations over their U.S. range were sampled to consider two variables: population density and reproductive stem density. Stepwise regression using climate and vegetation (e.g., availability of nurse plants) to predict density yielded tree + Ambrosia cover and maximum July precipitation. Nurse cover, however, is also influenced by summer rain. The partial correlation results suggest that high saguaro densities are linked with high quality nurse cover (i.e., not Larrea tridentata) in addition to summer rainfall. Total cover and mean annual precipitation are the best predictors of reproductive stem density. Mean annual precipitation may be a good predictor of reproductive stem density, because population density is linked with summer rain while branching is linked with winter rain. The plots were also divided into climatic regions. One-way ANOVA shows that the northeast (high winter precipitation) and west (dry) have lower saguaro densities than the southeast (high summer precipitation), while the northeast and southeast both have very high reproductive stem densities relative to the west. The warmer west is less susceptible to periodic freezing mortality, while previous work has shown that the southeast generally regenerates more successfully. Thus in the colder northeast, which is also outside of the primary summer rain and best nurse plant belt, low density populations seem to be maintained only with high reproductive density.

Rearing density effect on the production performance of the edible snail Helix aspersa Müller in indoor rearing

Six different indoor rearing densities (250 to 500 animals per m 2 ) were tested. Three repeats were carried out for each density. The following were recorded: feed intake, weight and number of adult individuals (animals with a reflected peristome), non-adult weight at the end of the experiment, and mortality. A simplified calculation of gross margin is also presented. It was observed that, at low densities, the animals consumed more, were bigger and more of them became adults. How- ever, the total amount of biomass produced is greater at higher densities. If the breeder merely fattens the snails, then the gross margin is maximal at a density of 250 animals per m 2 . If the breeder fattens and cooks his own produce, then the gross margin is maximal at high densities. Compared to the mixed rearing method currently used, the performances observed in this indoor rearing experiment could be improved further (particularly in terms of the percentage of adult animals obtained).

Iatrogenic creation of false childhood sexual abuse memories: Controversy, dynamics, fantasy, and reality

This paper examines the phenomenon of False Memory Syndrome (FMS). In the last decade there has been an increase in the number of adult individuals who report childhood sexual abuse only to recant their allegations. Recanters and the falsely accused are specifying that therapeutic interventions by trusted and, at times, well intentioned therapists facilitated their false memories. The theory of repression, reliability of memory, recovery techniques, and characteristics of therapist and clients are explored. This paper also discusses a number of cases that have been filed, and some guidelines for therapists who work or plan to work in the recovery of repressed memories.

Growth, egg production, and population density of the spider, Nephila clavata in relation to food conditions in the field

SummaryField studies were carried out to clarify the growth pattern, egg production and changes in the population density of the spider, Nephila clavata, in relation to food conditions. Larger individuals, which might have consumed more amount of food, became gravid earlier (early October), but even smaller ones also became gravid by early November. The difference of body size in mature females was greater than those reported in other species. The rate of growth and the fecundity were greater in the plot where food was more abundant, and the number of individuals in the early part of the development period in the following year was also greater in that plot. Although the population densities in the early part of the development period differed considerably between the two study plots, the difference became obscure after September when almost all spiders had matured. This suggests that the number of adult individuals had little relation to that of juveniles.

A Fast and Easy Method for Chromosome Karyotyping in Adult Teleosts

Although both methods are employed with varying success, each suffers from disad­vantages when large numbers of well-spread metaphases are desired from a large sample of adult individuals. For example, tissue squashes· often result in low numbers of poorly spread mitotic preparations and in addition require some degree of manipulatory dexterity. Cell cul­ture techniques, on the other hand, while pro­viding excellent spread numbers and resolution of chromosome detail, require laboratory skills and equipment not always available. Moreover, the cost of cell culture procedures necessary for karyotyping a large sample of adult fish would preclude its use in all but very specialized lab­oratories. At the Davis trout genetics laboratory, the possibility of using karyotypic differences as racial and/or species markers among salmonid fish is being pursued. Since a large number of adult individuals are examined, ~rnate meth­ods of chromosome karyotyping have been sought which are both inexpensive and simple in design and execution. The procedure de­scribed below has satisfied both criteria, and is currently employed as the sole method of chro­mosome karyotyping at the Davis laboratory. MATERIALS AND METIIODS

Ecology of Some Experimental Populations of the Landsnail Cepaea Nemoralis (L). I. Adult Numbers and Adult Mortality

The fluctuation in the number of adult individuals in a series of eight experimental populations of the landsnail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) is described. Adult mortality was large compared with what is known about other populations of Cepaea and mainly caused by predation by the songthrush Turdus ericetorum. Mortality was not density-dependent. The older the adults, the lower were their chances to survive, both because the thrushes selected for age and, possibly, because of a chalk shortage which lead to cannibalism. Reasons are given why it is thought that adult mortality, although it will affect fluctuations in numbers, may be unimportant relative to effects of other processes in the population.

SOCIAL MODIFICATIONS RELATED TO RARENESS IN ANT SPECIES

In the evolution of true sociality in insects, one potentially disadvantageous side effect is the reduction of the effective population size. As a result of sociality, the reproductive individuals are longer lived and the populations more stable, but these features have been achieved by converting most of the adult population into the sterile supporting worker caste. In the case of the social Hymenoptera, the effective size of a discrete population is clearly not the same as the number of adult individuals. It must be derived in relation to the existing nest queens and the males (mostly no longer living) that contributed, during the nuptial flights, to the sperm now living in the spermathecae of the queens. In population genetics the effective population size, N, is defined (cf. Li, 1955, p. 320) as the equivalent "ideal" population containing N breeding individuals, half of them females and half males, mating at random. The variance of the random deviation of gene frequencies is therefore p (1 p) /2N; and the rate of loss of heterozygosis 1/2N. When the N breeding individuals are not evenly divided between the sexes, N is less than N. Where No and N1 are the numbers of female and male parents respectively,