Drumming behavior is described for the first time in 16 North American species of Plecoptera, and signals of a 17th species, Isogenoides zionensis, are further detailed. The effective distance over which drumming signals may be transmitted was tested for four communication modes. Results indicate that substratum vibrations are far superior to sound in the transmission of drumming signals, and that dense substrates such as rocks are poor channels for signal transfer. Long communication periods between stonefly pairs of Taeniopteryx burksi resulted in some alterations from initial signaling characteristics.

Four species of net-spinning caddisflies, Hydropsyche simulans Ross, Cheumatopsyche lasia Ross, Cheumatopsyche campyla Ross and Chimarra obscura (Walker) are common in the regulated portions of the Brazos River. Hydropsyche simulans spun capture nets with the largest meshdimensions; the two Cheumatopsyche species' nets had the next largest meshes, and Chimarra obscura spun nets with the smallest dimensions. Cheumatopsyche lasia and C. campyla constructed nets with similar sized meshes. The number of individuals m~2 and standing crop biomass were not significantly different among low, medium, and high velocities. Early hydropsychid instars fed on detritus while later instar H. simulans and C. campyla had larger proportions of animal material. Guts of later instar C. lasia individuals had a greater percentage of algae and diatoms.

Article on nutrient-deprivation autophagy factor-1 (NAF-1) and biochemical properties of a novel cellular target for anti-diabetic drugs.

Article on the draft genome sequence of Cupriavidus sp. strain SK-4, a di-ortho-substituted biphenyl-utilizing bacterium isolated from polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated sludge.

Article on enhanced characteristics of genetically modified switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for high biofuel production.

Article on elemental concentrations in the seed of mutants and natural variants of Arabidopsis thaliana grown under varying soil conditions.

Article on an anthraquinone derivative, emodin sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis through the induction of death receptors and downregulation of cell survival proteins.

Article on oleanolic acid and its synthetic derivatives for the prevention and therapy of cancer with preclinical and clinical evidence.

Article on the characterization of an isoflavonoid-specific prenyltransferase from Lupinus albus.

Article on an integrative analysis of transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) suggesting new metabolic control mechanisms for monolignol biosynthesis.

Article on the enhanced characteristics of genetically modified switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for high biofuel production.

The purpose of this project is to produce a complete and thorough notebook that may be used to supplement laboratory coursework. Its intent is to be used primarily by the students to aid them in understanding background information and the proper laboratory procedures involved in various types of experiments. The laboratory notebook is a summation of all the experiments and procedures used in the six-credit hour Advanced Microbial and Molecular Biology (BIOL 5160) course offered during the summer semester at the University of North Texas. This class is a team taught effort by Professors O'Donovan and Kunz. The course is constructed as an intensive practice exercise to teach the student about gene mutations, biosynthetic pathways, preparation and analysis of plasmid DNA, and many other topics included in the notebook.

Article on evidence that mono-ADP-ribosylation of CtBP1/BARS regulates lipid storage.

Article on an intimate collaboration between peroxisomes and lipid bodies.

Article on bacterial communities of the coronal sulcus and distal urethra of adolescent males.

The activity of plant 9-lipoxygenases (LOXs) influences the outcome of Arabidopsis thaliana interaction with pathogen and insects. Evidence provided here indicates that in Arabidopsis, 9-LOXs facilitate infestation by Myzus persicae, commonly known as the green peach aphid (GPA), a sap-sucking insect, and infection by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. in comparison to the wild-type plant, lox5 mutants, which are deficient in a 9-lipoxygenase, GPA population was smaller and the insect spent less time feeding from sieve elements and xylem, thus resulting in reduced water content and fecundity of GPA. LOX5 expression is induced rapidly in roots of GPA-infested plants. This increase in LOX5 expression is paralleled by an increase in LOX5-synthesized oxylipins in the root and petiole exudates of GPA-infested plants. Micrografting experiments demonstrated that GPA population size was smaller on plants in which the roots were of the lox5 mutant genotype. Exogenous treatment of lox5 mutant roots with 9-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid restored water content and population size of GPA on lox5 mutants. Together, these results suggest that LOX5 genotype in roots is critical for facilitating insect infestation of Arabidopsis. in Arabidopsis, 9-LOX function is also required for facilitating infection by F. graminearum, which is a leading cause of Fusarium head …

Article on the genetic manipulation of a vacuolar H+ -PPase and salt tolerance to yield enhancement under phosphorous-deficient soils.

This article discusses geminivirus-mediated delivery of florigen. Florigen acts as a general growth hormone, advancing determinate growth. The findings extend our understanding of florigen as a general growth hormone and could benefit crop management techniques.

Article presenting evidence from GFP fusion experiments that the MtENOD8 protein contains at least three symbiosome targeting domains, including its N-terminal signal peptide (SP).

Article discussing the microbial communities in male first catch urine and how these are highly similar to those paired in urethral swab specimens.

Article discussing Tracembler, a software for in-silico chromosome walking in unassembled genomes.