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The objective of this study was to assess how exposure to ergot alkaloids during 2 stages of gestation alters fetal growth, muscle fiber formation, and miRNA expression. Pregnant ewes (n = 36; BW = 83.26 ± 8.14 kg; 4/group; 9 groups) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 tall fescue seed treatments [endophyte-infected (E+) vs. endophyte-free (E−)] fed during 2 stages of gestation (MID, days 35 to 85 vs. LATE, days 86 to 133), which created 4 possible treatments (E−/E−, E+/E−, E−/E+, or E+/E+). Ewes were individually fed a total mixed ration containing E+ or E− fescue seed according to treatment assignment. Terminal surgeries were conducted on day 133 of gestation for the collection of fetal measurements and muscle samples. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial with fescue treatment, stage of gestation, and 2-way interaction as fixed effects. Fetuses exposed to E+ seed during LATE gestation had reduced (P = 0.0020) fetal BW by 10% compared with E− fetuses; however, fetal body weight did not differ (P = 0.41) with E+ exposure during MID gestation. Fetuses from ewes fed E+ seed during MID and LATE gestation tended to have smaller (P = 0.058) kidney weights compared with E− fetuses. Liver weight was larger (P = 0.0069) in fetuses fed E− during LATE gestation compared with E+. Fetal brain weight did not differ by fescue treatment fed during MID (P = 0.36) or LATE (P = 0.40) gestation. The percentage of brain to empty body weight (EBW) was greater (P = 0.0048) in fetuses from ewes fed E+ fescue seed during LATE gestation, which is indicative of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Primary muscle fiber number was lower (P = 0.0005) in semitendinosus (STN) of fetuses exposed to E+ during MID and/or LATE gestation compared with E−/E−. miRNA sequencing showed differential expression (P < 0.010) of 6 novel miRNAs including bta-miR-652_R+1, mdo-miR-22-3p, bta-miR-1277_R-1, ppy-miR-133a_L+1_1ss5TG, hsa-miR-129-1-3p, and ssc-miR-615 in fetal STN muscle. These miRNA are associated with glucose transport, insulin signaling, intracellular ATP, hypertension, or adipogenesis. This work supports the hypothesis that E+ tall fescue seed fed during late gestation reduces fetal weight and causes asymmetrical growth, which is indicative of IUGR. Changes in primary fiber number and miRNA of STN indicate that exposure to E+ fescue fed during MID and LATE gestation alters fetal muscle development that may affect postnatal muscle growth and meat quality.

Key to males for the higher taxa and genera of Plokiophilidae 1. Tarsi 3-segmented; shape of pygophore variable; cuneus present or absent.............. 2 – Tarsi 2-segmented; pygophore always tubular; hemelytron with a distinct cuneus (Plokiophilinae: Plokiophilini)......................................................... 5 2. Pygophore at least weakly flattened dorsoventrally, broader at base than at apex, parameres with a strong angle, lying on dorsal surface of pygophore in repose; macrochetae absent from vertex and frons and from anterolateral angles of pronotum; antennal segment 1 short, length less than interoccular distance; fossula spongiosa absent on all legs; cuneus present or absent (Heissophilinae)............................................... 3 – Pygophore tubular, of similar diameter over entire length, parameres nearly straight, needlelike, and surrounded by pygophore except at apex; macrochetae present on head and on anterolateral angle of thorax; antennal segment 1 very long, equal to or greater than width of head including eyes; fossula spongiosa present on fore- and middle tibiae; cuneus present (Plokiophilinae: Lipokophilini)................................. Lipokophila Štys 3. Head tubular in dorsal view, necklike behind eyes; membrane of hemelytron without evidence of veins; cuneus present.................................... Pavlostysia Popov – Head not distinctly tubular in form, without neck behind eyes, posterior margin of eye very close to pronotal collar; membrane of hemelytron with three or four free veins; cuneus absent........................................................................ 4 4. Apex of paramere directed anteromedially; membrane of hemelytron with three weakly developed free veins......................... Montheithophila Schuh, Štys, and Cassis, Published as part of Schuh, Randall, Štys, Pavel, Cassis, Gerasimos, Lehnert, Margaret, Swanson, Dustin & Bruce, Terri, 2015, New genera and species of Plokiophilidae from Australia, Fiji, and Southeast Asia, with a revised classification of the family (Insecta: Heteroptera: Cimicoidea), pp. 1 in American Museum Novitates 2015 (3825) on page 1, DOI: 10.1206/3825.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5367975

Heissophila macrotheleae Schuh Heissophila macrotheleae Schuh, 2006: 637 (n. sp.). DISCUSSION: Since the publication of the original description of this taxon, additional specimens have become available through the generosity of Peter Schwendinger. Although the specimens from East Kalimantan Province, Borneo, occur some distance from all other known localities for Heissophila macrotheleae, we can detect no differences that allow us to treat this material as belonging to a separate species. We have not included unique specimen identifiers for this material. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: THAILAND: Chiang Mai Prov.: Chang Dao Distr.; Doi Chang Dao, limestone cliff between entrances of Chiang Dao Cave and Sua Dao Cave, 19° 23′,33″ N 98° 55′ 56″ E, 450 m, in webs of Macrothele sp., 27 Dec 2008, P. Schwendinger, TH-07/21: 10 &male;, 15 &female; (AMNH, Geneva). INDONESIA: East Kalimantan Prov.: Bukit Bangkirai Forest, ca. 30 km N of Balikpapan, 1° 01′ 55″ S 116° 52′ 21″ E, 120 m, primary forest, 8 Oct 2008, P. Schwendinger, IND-08/17: 4 &male;, 1 &female;, 1 nymph (AMNH, Geneva)., Published as part of Schuh, Randall, Štys, Pavel, Cassis, Gerasimos, Lehnert, Margaret, Swanson, Dustin & Bruce, Terri, 2015, New genera and species of Plokiophilidae from Australia, Fiji, and Southeast Asia, with a revised classification of the family (Insecta: Heteroptera: Cimicoidea), pp. 1 in American Museum Novitates 2015 (3825) on page 1, DOI: 10.1206/3825.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5367975, {"references":["Schuh, R. T. 2006. Heissophila macrotheleae, a new genus and new species of Plokiophilidae from Thailand (Hemiptera, Heteroptera), with comments on the family diagnosis. Denisia 19: 637 - 645."]}

Monteithophila fijiensis Schuh, Štys, and Cassis, new species DIAGNOSIS: Recognized by the features listed in the generic description, the partially castaneous coloration with a pale antennal segment 1 and most of legs, and its occurrence in Fiji. Distinguished from M. queenslandana by the more intensely castaneous coloration and relatively larger eyes in that species, as well as its occurrence in northeastern Australia. DESCRIPTION: Thorax, including pronotum, scutellum, coxae, and antennal segments 2–4 largely castaneous; hemelytron not as heavily castaneous as in M. queenslandana. Head, antennal segment 1, and remaining leg segments pale or nearly so (fig. 6). Eyes apparently smaller in M. fijiensis than in M. queenslandana (see also Discussion below). Measurements, holotype female: total length 2.33, length head 0.26, length pronotum 0.34, width head 0.32, interocular distance 0.18, width pronotum 0.56. ETYMOLOGY: Named for its occurrence in Fiji. DISCUSSION: Our description of this taxon is based on a single adult female from Fiji; we have also seen two middle-instar nymphs. The female appears to be somewhat teneral, judging from the transparency of the cuticle on the head and abdomen, which may influence our conclusions concerning the size of the eyes, a perception that may be further influenced by observation of the specimen in alcohol as opposed to being pinned and dry. We have chosen to leave the available specimen in alcohol rather than dry mount it, because we believe most necessary observations of morphology would be impaired when dealing with a dry-mounted specimen. One of us (P. Štys) remembers having examined two additional specimens whose color was metallic dark blue-violet, similar to the various metallic Chrysomelidae or Cydnidae of the genus Canthophorus Mulsant and Rey, involving sclerotized parts of the dorsum, head, pronotum, scutellum, corium, clavus, the suggestion of which can be seen in figure 6., Published as part of Schuh, Randall, Štys, Pavel, Cassis, Gerasimos, Lehnert, Margaret, Swanson, Dustin & Bruce, Terri, 2015, New genera and species of Plokiophilidae from Australia, Fiji, and Southeast Asia, with a revised classification of the family (Insecta: Heteroptera: Cimicoidea), pp. 1 in American Museum Novitates 2015 (3825) on page 1, DOI: 10.1206/3825.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5367975

Limited information is available on the presence of microplastics in freshwater systems, and even less is known about the toxicological implications of the exposure of aquatic organisms to plastic particles. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of microplastic ingestion on the freshwater amphipod, Hyalella azteca. Hyalella azteca was exposed to fluorescent polyethylene microplastic particles and polypropylene microplastic fibers in individual 250-mL chambers to determine 10-d mortality. In acute bioassays, polypropylene microplastic fibers were significantly more toxic than polyethylene microplastic particles; 10-d lethal concentration 50% values for polyethylene microplastic particles and polypropylene microplastic fibers were 4.64 × 104 microplastics/mL and 71.43 microplastics/mL, respectively. A 42-d chronic bioassay using polyethylene microplastic particles was conducted to quantify effects on reproduction, growth, and egestion. Chronic exposure to polyethylene microplastic particles significantly decreased growth and reproduction at the low and intermediate exposure concentrations. During acute exposures to polyethylene microplastic particles, the egestion times did not significantly differ from the egestion of normal food materials in the control; egestion times for polypropylene microplastic fibers were significantly slower than the egestion of food materials in the control. Amphipods exposed to polypropylene microplastic fibers also had significantly less growth. The greater toxicity of microplastic fibers than microplastic particles corresponded with longer residence times for the fibers in the gut. The difference in residence time might have affected the ability to process food, resulting in an energetic effect reflected in sublethal endpoints

Escherichia coli is used intensively for recombinant protein production, but one key challenge with recombinant E. coli is the tendency of recombinant proteins to misfold and aggregate into insoluble inclusion bodies (IBs). IBs contain high concentrations of inactive recombinant protein that require recovery steps to salvage a functional recombinant protein. Currently, no universally effective method exists to prevent IB formation in recombinant E. coli. In this study, DNA microarrays were used to compare the E. coli gene expression response dynamics to soluble and insoluble recombinant protein production. As expected and previously reported, the classical heat-shock genes had increased expression due to IB formation, including protein folding chaperones and proteases. Gene expression levels for protein synthesis-related and energy-synthesis pathways were also increased. Many transmembrane transporter and corresponding catabolic pathways genes had decreased expression for substrates not present in the culture medium. Additionally, putative genes represented over one-third of the genes identified to have significant expression changes due to IB formation, indicating many important cellular responses to IB formation still need to be characterized. Interestingly, cells grown in 3% ethanol had significantly reduced gene expression responses due to IB formation. Taken together, these results indicate that IB formation is complex, stimulates the heat-shock response, increases protein and energy synthesis needs, and streamlines transport and catabolic processes, while ethanol diminished all of these responses.