Fungus-growing termites efficiently decompose plant litter through their symbiotic relationship with basidiomycete fungi of the genus Termitomyces. Here, we investigated phenol-oxidizing enzymes in symbiotic fungi and fungus combs (a substrate used to cultivate symbiotic fungi) from termites belonging to the genera Macrotermes, Odontotermes, and Microtermes in Thailand, because these enzymes ar...

As naval operations move into coastal waters, the possible impact of sporadic blooms of bioluminescent organisms on clandestine operations is of increasing concern. One such bloom­ forming light producer is the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. This native-American comb jelly was first introduced into the Black Sea in 1982 where it caused the total collapse of the local fisheries. It has recently b...

This paper presents the design and implementation of sharpening of maximally flat cascaded integrator comb compensation filters. The modified sharpened cascaded integrator comb compensation filter is used to improve magnitude response and gain. For wide-band compensation fourth-order linear phase filters is considered. The decimation factor of CIC filter is D and number of adders are depends up...

In spite of the diversity of possible biological forms observed in nature, a limited range of morphospace is frequently occupied for a given trait. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this bias in the distribution of phenotypes including selection, drift, and developmental constraints. Despite extensive work on phenotypic bias, the underlying developmental mechanisms explaining why...

Phragmatobia Stephens is briefly reviewed and a diagnosis is provided. The South American species currently placed in Phragmatobia Stephens are revised to two new genera, Andesobia Schmidt and De Freina, gen. n., and Patagobia Schmidt and De Freina, gen. n. (subtribe Spilosomina). Both Andesobia and Patagobia exhibit adaptations to high altitude habitats, including micropterous females in Andes...

In preparation for the new edition of the identification keys of rove beetles of Central Europe (Volume 4 of the "Die Käfer Mitteleuropas"), the following systematic problems affecting the Central European fauna of the tribe Staphylinini are addressed: phylogeny-based, new concepts for the subtribes Quediina and Amblyopinina; status of the subtribe Tanygnathinina; systematic position of the gen...

A grapevine leafminer found recently in table grape orchards and vineyards in the Paarl region (Western Cape, South Africa) is described as Holocacistacapensis sp. n. It has also been found on native Rhoicissusdigitata and bred on that species in the laboratory. It is closely related to Holocacistasalutans (Meyrick, 1921), comb. n. (from Antispila), described from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, but w...

A highly innovative miniature silicon comb to sense differential microphone diaphragm has been developed that is highly stable when subjected to various bias voltages [1]. The bio-inspired microphone diaphragm consists of a 1 mm by 2 mm stiffener-reinforced plate fabricated out of phosphorous-doped polysilicon that is supported on a central hinge [2,3,4]. Interdigitated comb fingers are formed ...

.............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Materials and methods .................