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We assessed the fish diversity of the Ogooué and Sébé rivers in and around the Rapids of Mboungou Badouma and Doumé Ramsar site in Gabon. The ichthyofauna of this region has not been extensively sampled in over 150 years, yet encompasses one the most important type localities for fishes in Central Africa. We sampled a total of 31 sites and collected nearly 3000 fish specimens representing 97 species. Nine species appeared to be new to science, and one catalyzed the recent description of a new genus of mormyrid fishes.

Extensive surveillance networks, or the Internet-enabled global surveillance societies (GSS), know no political borders. This paper turns to a country well acquainted with surveillance and censorship as well as a country engaged in frequent protest – China – to discuss what rhetorical devices citizens imbricated in the GSS can deploy to create practices of resistance. We ask the following question herein: what rhetorical devices are citizens imbricated in the GSS deploying to create practices of resistance and how can a networked approach to activism aid in thwarting surveillance? We think through these examples using Deleuze’s concept of the assemblage and propose that creativity in the form of collective authorship, working under the cover of the commonplace, and organizing rhizomatically across wild public screens all prove to be useful tools for protestors surrounded by surveillance.

The identity, density and spatial and temporal distribution of fish larvae and eggs were investigated in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean. Due to scarcity of previous studies taxonomic level was restricted to families. Twenty six fish families were identified and two more could not be identified. Fish larvae and eggs have a patchy spatial distribution. Temporal distribution suggest a definite influence of seasonality on fish larvae ensembles with the transition time into the dry season (December) correlating to the highest abundance in numbers and biomass of fish larvae and eggs.

Voluntary sector advice agencies play, for many in the UK, a key role in accessing and understanding public services. As such, whilst fiercely ‘independent’, their relationship to the welfare state is a complex and conflicted one. Presenting data from participant observation, interviews and focus groups with advisers and managers within the Citizens Advice Service, this paper explores this relationship by focusing on two particular areas of the service; the voluntary provision of advice, and the different funding streams that enable this provision. The paper draws upon assemblage theory, focusing as it does upon elements of an organisation in their ongoing practices and relationships; a processual approach that allows us to reflect upon the broader implications of our ethnographic data. Whilst this approach was motivated by our interest in how the Citizens Advice service endures, we conclude by reflecting upon the ‘fragile futures’ of advice in the context of aggressive budget cuts and the welfare reform agenda.

Este texto fornece uma visão geral de como os estudos de tecnologia lítica abordaram o tópico de encontrar e interpretar o trabalho de crianças em conjuntos líticos. Centra-se em exemplos de contextos escandinavos e europeus. Uma seleção de estudos publicados é apresentada. Métodos utilizados em estudos de tecnologia lítica e os resultados desses estudos são discutidos. Conquistas feitas e obstáculos que ainda precisam ser resolvidos por pesquisas futuras são também discutidos.

BackgroundGiardia duodenalis is a common human intestinal parasite worldwide, and the causative agent of diarrhea, with the severity of disease ranging from asymptomatic to intense and debilitating infection. G. duodenalis is known to consist of eight genetically distinct assemblages, named from A to H. No data available on the genotypes and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis circulating in Qatar.MethodsWe genotyped 54 human Giardia isolates, collected from asymptomatic immigrants in Qatar, using a multilocus genotyping (MLGs) tool. We also investigated relationships between the subjects’ genotypes and their demographic data.ResultsGenomic DNA from 54 isolates were tested by PCR and sequence analysis at three loci: glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), β-giardin (bg) and triose phosphate (tpi)). Assemblage A was identified in nine (16.67%), assemblage B in thirty (55.55%), and a mixture of assemblages A+B in fifteen (27.78%) isolates. All assemblage A isolates, genotyped in different loci, were assigned to sub-assemblage AII, and six of them had MLGs AII-1 while one new MLG was identified in two isolates. Sequences of assemblage B isolates have high level of genetic diversity and high presence of heterogeneous peaks, especially within the gdh gene. No significant associations between genotypes and the immigrants’ demographic data were found due to the extensive number of new variants.ConclusionsMLGs was used herein to genotype 54 immigrant Giardia isolates. The high level of genetic variability found in our isolates hampered MLGs determination, more investigations are now required to consolidate our findings, and to enable a comprehensive understanding of the diversity within G. duodenalis assemblage B isolates.

Peat bogs of Europe are ecosystems with very specific extremely environmental conditions. Among peat bog water bodies are lakes, streams and hollows, which are characterized by strongly acidic and mineral poor water. However, the diversity of the inhabitants of the peat water environment is very poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the water beetle diversity and species composition in the peat bog of Belarus. In total, 45 species of water beetles belonging to 3 families (Gyrinidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae) were sampled by entomological net. Among them specialised tyrphophilous species were Hydroporus erythrocephalus, H. incognitus, H. melanarius, H. obscurus, H. tristis, Ilybius aenescens, Rhantus sututellus, Enochrus affinis, E. ochropterus. A rather high diversity was recorded (Shannon index H’= 2.037–2.912). The highest diversity for water beetles was in lakes.

Background: Giardia duodenalis is a common human intestinal parasite worldwide, and the causative agent of diarrhea, with the severity of disease ranging from asymptomatic to intense and debilitating infection. G. duodenalis is known to consist of eight genetically distinct assemblages, named from A to H. No data available on the genotypes and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis circulating in Qatar. Methods: We genotyped 54 human Giardia isolates, collected from asymptomatic immigrants in Qatar, using a multilocus genotyping (MLGs) tool. We also investigated relationships between the subjects' genotypes and their demographic data. Results: Genomic DNA from 54 isolates were tested by PCR and sequence analysis at three loci: glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), β-giardin (bg) and triose phosphate (tpi)). Assemblage A was identified in nine (16.67%), assemblage B in thirty (55.55%), and a mixture of assemblages A+B in fifteen (27.78%) isolates. All assemblage A isolates, genotyped in different loci, were assigned to sub-assemblage AII, and six of them had MLGs AII-1 while one new MLG was identified in two isolates. Sequences of assemblage B isolates have high level of genetic diversity and high presence of heterogeneous peaks, especially within the gdh gene. No significant associations between genotypes and the immigrants' demographic data were found due to the extensive number of new variants. Conclusions: MLGs was used herein to genotype 54 immigrant Giardia isolates. The high level of genetic variability found in our isolates hampered MLGs determination, more investigations are now required to consolidate our findings, and to enable a comprehensive understanding of the diversity within G. duodenalis assemblage B isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 25 Maltese employees with physical or sensory impairments shared their experiences regarding access and use of various technologies at work, first via focus groups and individual interviews, and then through observation sessions at their workplace. The research initially rested on the premise that disabled people face various barriers related to the access and use of technology in their employment, that are not directly ensuing from their impairments. It then built on this premise by applying concepts from new materialisms in an attempt to broaden the notions proposed by the social model of disability. Through the use of vignettes, this paper shows how enabling technologies form part of assemblages, networks and entanglements of people, things and affects to produce consequences that are conducive to or limiting of dis/ability. This article is about people with physical or sensory impairments and how they use technology at their place of work. Research participants describe many difficulties they have in order to obtain and use technology at work. Difficulties using technology at work are not only due to financial, physical or attitudinal barriers but also due to difficulties that have to do with impairment such as pain and fatigue. It is difficult to understand how barriers to obtaining and using technology in work produce disability because they are entangled with many other factors, human and non-human. Stories presented show that people, things, places and feelings, can all equally produce ability or disability in the workplace depending on how they interact together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rocky outcrops influence both micro and macro habitat for plants and animals by increasing the availability and predictability of food, providing shelter, and unique microclimatic conditions. Objective: We describe the bat assemblage in three isolated rocky outcrops and their surrounding pediments, adding new data about trophic guilds and roosts. Methods: We surveyed the bat fauna of Paraje Tres Cerros, Corrientes Province, Argentina, exploring 13 sites during 26 field trips, using mist nets and search of roosts. We made an accumulation species curve and calculate inventory completeness. The similarity and composition of different habitats was compared by a Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and an ANOSIM test. Results: We reported 13 species, with a completeness inventory of the 80 % (Jacknife1), corresponding to the families Vespertilionidae, Molossidae and Phyllostomidae. The insectivorous bats were the best represented guild. We found nine types of roost for eight species in different sites. The analysis expressed low differences in the species composition between both types of habitats in the area. Conclusions: The rocky outcrops and their pediments are important ecosystems for the conservation and diversity of the bats in the region, since their assemblages are regionally unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we 'plug in' ideas from post-qualitative thinking to read empirical material from Erasmus+ project, Open School Doors, and mobilise new ways of conceptualising teachers' work with newly arrived families. Driven by commitments to inclusion and social justice teacher participants described tacit, in-the-moment, knowledge-making, that felt contingent and risky, as they sought to respond to encounters with families that demanded compassionate action but pushed them beyond the threshold of professional certainty and the would-be neutralities of 'professional' identities. We understand these affective responses to the work of teaching as 'abductive' moments of breakdown, rupture and estrangement, that draw attention to the always already becoming nature of professional practice. We put to work the concepts of entanglement, assemblage and rhizomes to make use of 'abductive' moments as productive opportunities for exploration of teachers' messy, implicated, intra-relatedness to their practice worlds and to imagine models of professional learning that promote connection and knowledge-in-the-making as ethical, 'response-able' post/rhizo-professional alternative to linear forms of professional learning. Our discussion is embedded in a specific context but has important broader implications for the design of teacher education as preparation for complex anticipated working lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The diversity and species composition of the water beetles in peat bog lakes, streams and hollows in Belarus were studied. In total, 45 species of water beetles belonging to 3 families (Gyrinidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae) were sampled by entomological net. Hydroporus tristis, Ilybius aenescens, Enochrus affi nis, and E. ochropterus are the most abundant species A rather high diversity was recorded (Shannon-Wienner diversity index H' = 2.037-2.912). Shannon-Wienner indexes indicated higher values in the lakes, whereas the lowest values in the hollows were recorded. In addition, in hollows water beetle species composition was the most different from the other peat bog water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcifying organisms such as benthic foraminifera are susceptible to changes in ocean pH and alkalinity. Responses to these changes include variations in mortality, calcification rates or assemblage composition, which have been observed in field and experimental studies. Here we applied a growth experiment with benthic foraminiferal propagules under different pH conditions to gather insights into the effect of pH on the composition of grown assemblages. A homogeneous propagule assemblage from a local mudflat in Corfu Island (Greece) was exposed to a range of pH conditions (6.5, 7.2, 7.8 and 8.5) for 5 weeks. In a second experiment, the assemblages were first exposed to low and subsequently to high conditions for a total of 8 weeks. After termination of the experiments, we recorded high survivability and growth throughout the treatments. Analysis of the assemblage composition of the first experiments revealed a shift from porcelaneous dominated taxa in the higher pH treatments to an assemblage with higher numbers of agglutinated taxa in the lower pH treatments. Soft-shelled monothalamous species were common throughout. The second experiment revealed assemblages that were significantly dominated by porcelaneous taxa with monothalamous taxa being almost absent. The results of this study are congruent with other observations on changing assemblage compositions with changing pH from both laboratory and field studies. The fast response of the assemblages through activation of potentially dormant propagules adds insights into the mechanisms behind seasonal composition changes in naturally variable environments such as river estuaries. They also shed new light on possible effects of continuous decreases in ocean pH on shallow-water foraminiferal assemblages in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops a 'spatio-political' structural typology of (national and international) political systems, based on the arrangement of homogeneous or heterogeneous political centers and peripheries in layered political spaces. I then apply this typology to Eurocentric political systems from the high middle ages to today. Rather than see no fundamental change across nearly a millennium (the system remained anarchic) or a singular modern transition (with several centuries of fundamental structural continuity on either side), I depict a series of partial structural transformations on time scales of a century or two. I also recurrently step back to consider the nature and significance of such structural models; why and how they explain. International systems, I try to show, do not have just one or even only a few simple structures; their parts are arranged (structured) in varied and often complex ways. Structural change therefore is common and typically arises through the interaction and accumulation of changes in intertwined elements of interconnected systems (not from radical innovations or dramatic changes in core principles). And structural models, I argue, explain both continuity and change not by identifying causes (or mechanisms) but through configurations; the organization of the parts of a system into a complex whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giardia intestinalis continues to be one of the most encountered parasitic diseases around the world. Although more frequently detected in developing countries, Giardia infections nonetheless pose significant public health problems in developed countries as well. Molecular characterisation of Giardia isolates from humans and animals reveals that there are two genetically different assemblages (known as assemblage A and B) that cause human infections. However, the current molecular assays used to genotype G. intestinalis isolates are quite controversial. This is in part due to a complex phenomenon where assemblages are incorrectly typed and underreported depending on which targeted locus is sequenced. In this review, we outline current knowledge based on molecular epidemiological studies and raise questions as to the reliability of current genotyping assays and a lack of a globally accepted method. Additionally, we discuss the clinical symptoms caused by G. intestinalis infection and how these symptoms vary depending on the assemblage infecting an individual. We also introduce the host-parasite factors that play a role in the subsequent clinical presentation of an infected person, and explore which assemblages are most seen globally.

Human interactions with machines, including computers, consoles, smart devices and robots, are becoming more and more a part of everyday life. However, human–machine relations are often regarded as problematic for people, their interpersonal communication and human society more broadly. This paper provides an analysis of the characteristics that constitute ‘play’ in relation to video games and interactions with robots, arguing it is possible to position time spent on play with machines as valuable in itself, without requiring the outcomes more traditionally regarded as productive. Much of what is valuable in play can be seen to develop from embodied processes of communication within which humans and machines encounter and respond to one other. These encounters are often shaped by stories about the capabilities of machines and humans, while the interactions themselves go on to provoke new narratives. Although human–machine interaction can be theorized as ‘cyborg’ or ‘hybrid’, this paper argues that adopting the idea of the ‘assemblage’ is a better way recognize the flexibility of bringing disparate humans and machines together, whether in relation to playing a game or playing music. In rethinking the value of play, this paper emphasizes how people’s time spent interacting, whether with video games or robots, provides opportunities for them to learn more about themselves and others.

Giardia duodenalis is an enteric protozoan parasite commonly found in humans and many other animals around the world. The parasite is grouped into genetically related strains called assemblages which display differing degrees of host specificity. Although mixed assemblage infections have been documented the full extent of the occurrence and importance of mixed infections remains to be characterized as current sequencing technologies lack the sensitivity to readily detect mixed infections. Here we have developed a next generation amplicon sequencing (NGS) protocol and analysis pipeline for detecting Giardia assemblages using the beta-giardin gene. NGS was validated using 37 isolates that included Giardia muris and six assemblages (A-F) of Giardia duodenalis obtained from seven different hosts. NGS was compared to traditional PCR and direct Sanger sequencing for its ability to detect Giardia species, assemblages, and mixed assemblage infections. We demonstrate that NGS works as well as PCR and Sanger sequencing for assemblage detection as the same assemblage was observed in all samples by both methods. NGS has the further benefit of detecting mixed assemblage infections, low abundance assemblages, and intra-assemblage variation in samples which would have been missed using direct Sanger sequencing alone. NGS represents a powerful new tool for exploring Giardia infections not only in infected hosts but also in environmental specimens which may aide in understanding Giardia epidemiology.

Human infections with gut protozoan parasites are neglected and not targeted by specific control initiatives, leading to a knowledge gap concerning their regional diversity and epidemiology. The present study aims to explore Giardia duodenalis genetic diversity and assess the epidemiologic scenario of subclinical infections in different Brazilian biogeographic regions. Cross-sectional surveys (n = 1334 subjects) were conducted in four municipalities in order to obtain fecal samples and socioenvironmental data. Microscopy of non-diarrheal feces and nucleotide sequencing of a β-giardin gene fragment were performed. From a total of 51 samples that could be sequenced, 27 (52.9%) β-giardin sequences were characterized as assemblage A and 24 (47.1%) as assemblage B. In the Amazon, assemblage B was the most frequently detected, predominantly BIII, and with two novel sub-assemblages. Assemblage A predominated in the extra-Amazon region, with five novel sub-assemblages. Prevalence reached 17.8% (64/360) in the Amazon, 8.8% (48/544) in the Atlantic Forest, 7.4% (22/299) in Cerrado and 2.3% (3/131) in the Semiarid. People living in poverty and extreme poverty presented significantly higher positivity rates. In conclusion, subclinical giardiasis is endemic in Brazilian communities in different biogeographic regions, presenting high genetic diversity and a heterogeneous genotypic distribution.

The relationships between shore fish assemblages from habitats neighboring coral reefs have received little attention in the Indo-Pacific. The present study is based on the extensive sampling (539,000 fish; 898 taxa) of three fish assemblages: reefs, mangroves, and soft-bottoms in a large bay of New Caledonia. Species area curves indicate that sampling was nearly exhaustive in all three habitats (262 species in mangroves, 342 on soft-bottoms, 594 on reefs). Combinations of life-history traits were used as proxies of ecological functions. The species and functional overlaps were highest between soft-bottoms and mangroves and lowest between mangroves and reefs. These overlaps were lower than most recent studies in the Indo-Pacific, a result probably linked to the extent of the sampling in the present study. The life-history traits of species found exclusively in one habitat as opposed to several habitats were not a random selection within the species pool. Overlapping species were mostly large species that fed on nekton, large invertebrates, or plankton; exclusive species were mostly sedentary, solitary, and of small size, except for plankton-feeding species, which mostly had large home ranges and formed large schools. Herbivores were seldom found in several habitats. Functional redundancy was correlated to species richness, and was highest in reef fish assemblages. Functions common to several habitats had very seldom the same relative redundancy, implying that these functions had not the same importance for each assemblage. Functions exclusive to one habitat generally had low redundancy. These functional attributes and species overlap suggest that these three assemblages have a low level of interaction, despite the fact that they share extensive boundaries. These findings may have important applications in the management of shore fish assemblages.

Copyright of Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura is the property of Revista Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From a perspective akin to the New materialism field, our analysis is more interested in the textile materialization processes, rather than their materiality. This entails an understanding of the fibers in their fluid condition, as a material that is constantly developing and in permanent dialogue, through mediation networks, with humans and other-than-humans. We intend to assemble, under a common perspective, different methodological approaches that are generally not articulated in research, as well as different scales of perception of the material. A multitemporal vision is included, which seeks to rescue the persistent points and connections between different pasts. These proposals were applied to depositional pre-Hispanic contexts belonging to a sector of Puna de Antofagasta de la Sierra (NW of Catamarca, Argentina). The textile pieces under analysis display particular space-time associations, which refer to the 6th-7th and 14th-15th centuries of the Christian Era, approximately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surge of oil palm production in the Neotropics has become a major concern about the potential impacts on biodiversity. In the Colombian Orinoquia, which has shown a massive landscape transformation due to the growth of oil palm plantations, the effects of oil palm agriculture on bats in this region have not been studied up to date. To understand the impact of habitat conversion on bat diversity, we characterised bat assemblages in secondary forest and palm plantations in the Colombian Llanos foothills (Meta, Colombia). We captured 393 individuals (forest = 81, plantation = 312) of 18 species and 3 families. The forest cover presented three exclusive species while the plantation had five. Species diversity (q1) and evenness (J') were higher in the forest compared to the plantation. These differences derived from the increase in abundances of generalist species (Artibeus sp., Carollia spp.) in the plantation. Despite the habitat simplification caused by oil palm plantations, this monoculture provides a cover that is used by some bats, decreasing their risk of predation and allowing movement between patches of forest habitat as steppingstones. Maintaining forest cover in agricultural landscapes favours diversity by generating a "spillover effect" of the forest towards plantations, which in the case of some bats contributes to the reduction of species isolation and the maintenance of ecosystem services provided by them. It is important to improve management practices of oil palm plantations to minimise negative impacts on biodiversity, considering the expansion of this productive system and the scarcity of protected areas in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community assembly (CA) is a topic of growing interest in ecology due to global change, among other reasons. A review of the latter 20 years in plankton CA studies suggests some advancements and drawbacks. Most works deal with groups of same trophic level species and overlook food webs, except the proposal of the PEG model. Phytoplankton has focused the most on theoretical grounds of CA: (i) to find species associations and establish their templates (condition and resource matrices) in order to define assembly rules, (ii) to set the main assembling mechanisms arising from mean-trait studies and environmental constraints, and (iii) to debate on the predictable ability of that view. After the last decade of advancements, CA future will certainly foster not only by considering classical ecological mechanisms (abiotic selection, biotic interactions, history), but also by including evolutionary and metacommunity (i.e. regional) processes. Massive DNA metabarcoding of taxa, incorporation of novel traits (such as the proportional growth rate), consideration of non-dominant species and experimentation on templates and trajectories will certainly tune up and widen our view of CA, a topic very earlier tackled successfully by Colin Reynolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saeculum - Revista de História (0104-8929) is the property of Saeculum - Revista de Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Rio Negro Province in Argentina has a long history in terms of territorial ordening, which dates back to the forced inorporation of their lands and population. Since 1879-1884 military campaigns, the national state -and provincial state since 1955 -have regulated the access to land through their legislative instruments. On one hand, the provincial laws express certain spacial organization logic, which is modified according to different circumstances. On the orher side, civil agents dispute these meanings through various visibility strategies, which are also historically reconfigured. Therefore, we have stratification lines which impose signifiers, but also assemblages that create lines of flight, through which the multiplicity of social relations is transformed. In this framework, I will analyze the Land Law 279, in comparison to the law project which tends to replace it since 2016, with a parallel approach to the Indigenous Law 2287. Through this way, I will inquire into this disputed logics in terms of different territorialization projects that coexist in the provincial political scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In der Archäologie wird Migration hauptsächlich mit menschlicher Mobilität in Verbindung gebracht. Die Mobilität von Ideen und Objekten wird hingegen als Diffusion oder Transfer beschrieben. Diese kategoriale Trennung wird in Frage gestellt und stattdessen ein alternatives Modell zu Migrationen angeboten, das sich auf die gegenseitige Abhängigkeit von Menschen, Ideen und Objekten konzentriert und nach ihren ‚Wanderungen' gefragt. Am Beispiel des spätkaiserzeitlich-frühvölkerwanderungszeitlichen Fenstergefäßes von Coswig (Sachsen-Anhalt) werden die Komplexität der aufgetretenen Verflechtungen, aber auch die Vorteile der Perspektive integrativer ‚Mensch-Objekt-Wanderungen' diskutiert. Ausgehend vom Verständnis von ‚Mensch-Objekt-Wanderungen' als Assemblagen wird demonstriert, welche Perspektiven ein solcher Ansatz des Neuen Materialismus für die archäologische Betrachtung von Migrationen bieten kann. In archaeology, migration is mostly associated with human mobility; diffusion and transfer with the mobility of ideas and objects. I would like questioning this categorical separation and instead offer an alternative model to migrations, which focuses on the interdependence of people, ideas and objects and asks about their „wayfarings". Using the example of the window vessel from Coswig (Saxony-Anhalt) of the Late Roman Iron Age/Early Migration Period, I discuss the complexity of the entanglements that have taken place, but also the advantages of the perspective of integrative „human-object wayfare". Based on the understanding of „human-object wayfare" as assemblages, I demonstrate the perspectives that such an approach of New Materialism can offer for the archaeological consideration of migrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pristine peat bogs have a large area in Belarus compared to other Central European countries. Accordingly, ancient and almost intact Belarusian peatlands are valuable for the synecological investigations. The goal of this study was to assess the diversity of leaf beetles in seven main peat bog habitats and to examine environmental factors affecting them. In total, 44 leaf beetles' species were recorded. The results showed a low diversity, evenness and species' richness of Chrysomelidae. The lagg zone and sites covered by scrubs, excluding dome, support higher alpha diversity. Beta diversity analysis revealed a clear separation among the leaf beetles' assemblages of the seven habitats. The primary differences in the assemblages reflect the presence of species trophically associated with sedges (Plateumaris discolor) and ericaceous dwarf scrubs (Lochmaea suturalis, Altica longicollis, Cryptocephalus labiatus). Moreover, the modelling results (GLM) indicated that a scrub cover strongly influenced leaf beetle species' richness and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary rivers are dynamic freshwater ecosystems, supporting unique and often highly diverse terrestrial communities in the riparian habitats during the flowing phase. However, studies investigating the differences in orthopteran and cockroach (Insecta: Orthoptera, Blattodea) assemblages between riparian and adjacent upland habitats are scarce, despite their abundance and functional importance in terrestrial ecosystems. Orthopterans and cockroaches were sampled in 2014 at 72 sites along the temporary Krčić River (SE Croatia) in two habitat types—riparian and karst, using pitfall traps. Abundance, taxa richness, true diversity and conservation value of ground-dwelling orthopterans and cockroaches were significantly higher in the karst than in the riparian habitat. This result can be ascribed to significant differences in environmental factors: soil temperature, air humidity and vegetation structure, namely tree, shrub and herb layer abundances. Most assemblage parameters and spatial distribution of ground-dwelling orthopteran and cockroach taxa were driven by higher soil temperature and less developed tree layer in the karst, both groups preferring open habitats. Karst sites with a well-developed shrub layer and herb layer had the highest conservation value for rare ground-dwelling orthopterans (e.g. Paramogoplistes novaki) and locally rare cockroaches (e.g. Ectobius balcani), respectively. Nevertheless, densely vegetated riparian sites also harboured some locally valuable species (e.g. Troglophilus cavicola). This study highlights the importance of open karst habitats in promoting the diversity of ground-dwelling orthopterans and cockroaches, and contributes to the understanding of key environmental factors driving their habitat choice, as a prerequisite for efficient conservation and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the perception that mega-urban projects are the epitome of neoliberal governance, in China they are initiated by the state as a state development strategy, which represents a new governance mode of 'state entrepreneurialism'. The market is used as a new governance mechanism to mobilize the resources of multiple actors. Consequently, the delivery of mega-urban projects is neither driven by market actors nor controlled by the state alone. Mega-urban projects are the sites where governance innovation is experimented upon. Focusing on Lingang in Shanghai, the paper reveals that a horizontal networked mode of governance has emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis infect the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans. Both parasite groups are distributed worldwide and cause significant economic losses in animal productivity. Infected hosts presenting with and without clinical manifestations can eliminate infective forms of these protozoa, which are particularly important to One Health. Compared to the published research on cattle, relatively few studies have examined the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in buffaloes. This short review describes the global occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in buffaloes, including the molecular techniques employed for the identification of species/assemblages and genotypes of these protozoa. Genetic analyses of isolates of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. from various sources (environmental, animal, and human) have been performed to investigate their epidemiology. In buffaloes, the species Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium ryanae, Cryptosporidium bovis, and Cryptosporidium suis-like have been characterized, as well as assemblages A and E of G. duodenalis. We demonstrate that buffaloes can be infected by species of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis assemblages with zoonotic potential. Epidemiological studies that utilize molecular biology techniques represent an important resource for efforts to control and prevent the spread of these protozoans.

The ecological significance of marine planktonic cyanobacteria in mangrove ecosystems is not well understood from the context of community structure and functions. In this study, members of the marine planktonic cyanobacterial communities were elucidated based on 16S rRNA sequencing (clone libraries and Illumina sequencing) and microscopic approaches from the Sundarbans Biological Observatory Time Series (SBOTS) stations Stn1 and Stn 3 located in and around Mooriganga estuary, Indian Sundarbans over 6 months representing monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2012. In total 222 sequences were marine planktonic cyanobacteria-like and were dominated by three major clades of Synechococcus-like 16S rRNA sequences (160 sequences). There was clear dominance of Synechococcus sp. KORDI-78 like sequences (71 sequences) in both monsoon and post-monsoon seasons from the study area. Although in very low numbers, other cyanobacterial sequences showing taxonomic affiliation with members of Chroococcales, Pleurocapsales, Oscillatoriales, and Stigonematales were also encountered. The presence of some of the representative genera belonging to the above Orders were reconfirmed by bright field microscopy from both stations of SBOTS. Presence of four novel clades of planktonic cyanobacteria were also confirmed from the study area based on molecular phylogeny thereby indicating unexplored cyanobacterial diversity is high in Sundarbans. Illumina sequencing undertaken for both stations of SBOTS in one of the monsoon months of 2014 (July) revealed low abundance of cyanobacteria-like sequences (2349 out of 4,276,863 pair-end reads) and dominance of KORDI-78 like sequences. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that dissolved nutrients, transparency and salinity influenced the observed marine planktonic cyanobacterial assemblages of Sundarbans. There was overall dominance of Synechococcus-like 16S rRNA sequences confirming the importance of small-sized picocyanobacterial cells and their role in export of carbon in mangrove ecosystems.

Background: Very few studies have determined the prevalence and assemblage distribution of Giardia lamblia in South Africa. The present study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of G. lamblia infection and the spread of the various assemblages in two communities in South Africa - Giyani, Limpopo province (rural community) and Pretoria Guateng province (urban community). Methods: Prevalence was determined by immunological and molecular methods analyzing a total of 516 stool samples collected from patients visiting different health centres in Giyani and Pretoria. For immunological assays, samples were screened by ELISA to detect G. lamblia antigen. Furthermore, a semi nested PCR amplifying the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene was used to differentiate between the two most common human assemblages (A and B). Findings: Of the 516 participants, 40 (7.75%) were identified as positive by ELISA. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the stool texture and Giardia infection (ᵡ2 = 10.533; p = .005). G. lamblia was significantly associated with watery stool types in females p = .008. Furthermore, a significant association was also noticed between the origin of samples (ᵡ2 = 9.725; p = .002). No significant correlation between age and gender was noted. Regarding the age groups, most people who were infected were between 3 and 20 years. A statistically significant association was seen (p = .001) with the distribution of the pathogen with the stool type. The prevalence of Giardia infection was higher in watery stool samples (71.4%) in Giyani region (rural) whereas in Pretoria, high prevalence was found in loose stool samples (6.2%). Generally, the distribution was statistically significant in the stool type collected for the study (p = .005). Genotyping revealed more G. lamblia assemblage B (17.8%) than assemblage A (1.7%). Furthermore, 21.0% of the samples exhibited single infection while 4.2% had mixed infections. Assemblage B was more common in Giyani than in urban Pretoria. Conclusions: The study confirms Giardia as an important cause of diarrhea in the concerned communities with people in rural areas more at risk compared to those in urban areas with higher prevalence among younger patients. Therefore, health education campaigns should target young age groups.

ABSTRACT Fungi underpin almost all terrestrial ecosystem functions, yet our understanding of their community ecology lags far behind that of other organisms. Here, red paddy soils in subtropical China were collected across a soil depth profile, comprising 0-to-10-cm- (0-10cm-), 10-20cm-, and 20-40cm-deep layers. Using Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, distance-decay relationships (DDRs), and ecological models, fungal assemblages and their spatial patterns were investigated from each soil depth. We observed significant spatial variation in fungal communities and found that environmental heterogeneity decreased with soil depth, while spatial variation in fungal communities showed the opposite trend. DDRs occurred only in 0-10cm- and 10-20cm-deep soil layers, not in the 20-40cm layer. Our analyses revealed that the fungal community assembly in the 0-10cm layer was primarily governed by environmental filtering and a high dispersal rate, while in the deeper layer (20-40cm), it was primarily governed by dispersal limitation with minimal environmental filtering. Both environmental filtering and dispersal limitation controlled fungal community assembly in the 10-20cm layer, with dispersal limitation playing the major role. Results demonstrate the decreasing importance of environmental filtering and an increase in the importance of dispersal limitation in structuring fungal communities from shallower to deeper soils. Effectively, “everything is everywhere, but the environment selects,” although only in shallower soils that are easily accessible to dispersive fungal propagules. This work highlights that perceived drivers of fungal community assembly are dependent on sampling depth, suggesting that caution is required when interpreting diversity patterns from samples that integrate across depths. IMPORTANCE In this work, Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing of the ITS region was used to investigate the spatial variation and assembly mechanisms of fungal communities from different soil layers across paddy fields in subtropical China, and the results demonstrate the decreasing importance of environmental filtering and an increase in the importance of dispersal limitation in structuring fungal communities from shallower to deeper soils. Therefore, the results of this study highlight that perceived drivers of fungal community assembly are dependent on sampling depth and suggest that caution is required when interpreting diversity patterns from samples that integrate across depths. This is the first study focusing on assemblages of fungal communities in different soil layers on a relatively large scale, and we thus believe that this study is of great importance to researchers and readers in microbial ecology, especially in microbial biogeography, because the results can provide sampling guidance in future studies of microbial biogeography.

Seabird distributions are determined by physical and biological factors operating at variable scales and levels of ecological organization. Accordingly, changes in the composition of the marine avifauna often correspond to large-scale (macro-mega) shifts in water mass properties. Yet, few studies have addressed biogeographical patterns across multiple current systems, spanning from highly productive to oligotrophic waters. In this study, we characterize the at-sea assemblages of nesting seabirds across the Eastern South Pacific Ocean (ESPO), a vast region spanning from the Humboldt Current to the South Pacific Gyre. Employing multivariate techniques, we first identify four distinct species assemblages and then relate their distributions to the underlying environmental conditions. Our results show that Julian day, depth, sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS), and chlorophyll-α concentration are the most important factors explaining the distribution patterns of these assemblages. Moreover, environmental conditions also explain overall seabird abundance and species richness, two community-level characteristics indicative of ocean productivity. Seabird abundance was best explained by four variables, associated with onshore–offshore gradients (distance to the coast, ocean depth), and the influence of coastal upwelling (mean mixed layer depth, SSS). Richness was best explained by seasonality (Julian day) and by the presence of water mass boundaries (SST coefficient of variation). Our findings underscore the importance of environmental factors structuring the distribution and biogeography of seabirds across gradients of ocean productivity and water mass properties. Understanding the environmental drivers of seabird abundance and richness in the ESPO will inform the prioritization and design of effective marine conservation measures in this poorly studied region.

Fragmented data are so far available on genotype diversity of G. duodenalis in wildlife in different countries in Europe, in particular, in Italy. In the present study, G. duodenalis sequences obtained from different Italian wild animals [12 porcupines (Hystrix cristata), 4 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 1 wolf (Canis lupus italicus), 6 Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra)] were compared with those available from wild host species in Europe to add new data on the geographic distribution of Giardia assemblages/sub-assemblages and their transmission patterns among natural hosts. Thirty-eight sequences were obtained by MLG analysis (SSU-rRNA, bg, gdh, and tpi genes) and subsequently compared by phylogenetic and network analyses with those from wild species monitored in the last decades in Europe. The results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic (A-AI, A-AII from wild boar; B from porcupine) and host-adapted (D from wolf; E, A-AIII from chamois) assemblages and sub-assemblages and represent the first report for Italian wild boar. The analysis did not find any evidence of spatial or host segregation for specific genetic variants, mostly shared between different hosts from different European countries. However, conflicting evidence was found in genotypic assignment, advocating for data improvement and new genomic approaches.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are the object of numerous studies spanning from (palaeo)environmental reconstructions to biomonitoring; however, the establishment of a procedure to standardize these studies remains a recent achievement. Not all studies based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages adopt the same methodology, which potentially hinders the use and comparison of samples prepared prior to the creation of a standard protocol or, indeed, without the knowledge of it. One of the main issues is to understand and possibly quantify the influence of different size fractions on foraminiferal biodiversity and richness. In this study, we analyzed benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the west coast of Shetland (Scotland), which were deliberately prepared without following the standard procedure, and were instead picked from the size fractions 63–150 μm and >150 μm. Based on assemblage composition, biodiversity indices and multivariate analyses of the data, we assessed the quality and precision of the environmental information that could be extrapolated from these samples. We found that general biodiversity trends remain the same regardless of size fraction, whereas the assemblage internal composition is significantly different between size fractions, with the small fraction retaining a greater degree of environmental sensitivity. We recommend compiling the two sample sets to produce a more holistic and detailed picture of environmental change and generate high-resolution environmental reconstructions. Nevertheless, we conclude that benthic foraminiferal assemblages picked from the large size fraction (>150 μm) still provide useful information on prevailing environmental conditions and remain useful for an overview of environmental change in these coastal settings.

The aim of this research was to study the biodiversity of cyanobacteria and microalgae in hydro-terrestrial habitats from the area of Hornsund fjord (Svalbard archipelago). This research is particularly important, because hitherto no complex research (including all taxonomic groups) has previously been conducted on the cyanobacterial and microalgal flora in Arctic water ecosystems. The research was conducted during the summer seasons of 2011 and 2013. Shannon’s diversity index was used to describe species diversity and evenness. Data on cyanobacteria and microalgae were analyzed using the MVSP and PCA. Additionally, a basic analysis of the physicochemical properties of water in the studied ecosystems was performed. A total of 506 taxa were noted in the studied hydro-terrestrial habitats. The most numerous group was cyanobacteria, constituting 35% of all recorded taxa. Ochrophyta and Chlorphyta were almost equally numerous (percentage again as for cyanobacteria). Nineteen types of assemblages were noted in all studied hydro-terrestrial habitats. The diversity of cyanobacteria and microalgae and the assemblages formed by them were used to determine the characteristics of the studied ecosystems. Each type of water ecosystem was represented by specific phycoflora and assemblages. Ecological parameters along with biological data (the diversity of cyanobacteria and microalgae) allowed us to sort the studied hydro-terrestrial habitats by similarity. Our analyses clearly distinguished water ecosystem groups differing in species composition determining their trophic status. The research shows the usefulness of cyanobacteria and microalgae diversity defined by the Shannon-Weaver index for characterizing bodies of water and determining the trophic status of these habitats.

A monitoring programme was established to collect plankton samples and information of environmental variables over the shelf off the island of Gran Canaria during 2005 and 2006. It produced a detailed snapshot of the composition and seasonal assemblages of the decapod larvae community in this locality, in the subtropical waters of the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic), where information about crustacean phenology has been poorly studied. The larval community was mainly composed of benthic taxa, but the contribution of pelagic taxa was also significant. Infraorders Anomura (33.4%) and Caridea (32.8%) accounted for more than half the total collected larvae. High diversity, relatively low larval abundance throughout the year and weak seasonality characterized the annual cycle. However, in relation to the temporal dynamics of temperature, two distinct larval assemblages (cold and warm) were identified that correspond to periods of mixing and stratification of the water column. The results also indicate that larval release times and durations in the subtropical waters are earlier and longer than at other higher latitudes in the NE Atlantic. We detected the presence of larvae of six species that have not yet been reported from the Canary Islands (Pandalina brevirostris, Processa edulis, Necallianasa truncata, Parapenaeus longirostris, Crangon crangon, Nematopagurus longicornis). Finally, this study provides a baseline for future comparisons with respect to fishery pressure and climate variability in this subtropical region.

In the context of globalisation and privatisation, an emerging body of literature has applied the concept of an ‘assemblage’ to international relations and security studies. This article will argue that an assemblage framework provides the best means for understanding the complex configuration of cyber security actors, given that contemporary cyber security practices do not conform to the traditional public-private and global-local distinctions used in security studies and International Relations literature. With the configuration of cyber security actors, and the relationships between them in constant flux, an assemblage framework provides a means for understanding the contested, dynamic and diachronic nature of contemporary cyber security provision. While the concept of security assemblages is favoured in this article, the process and context in which the term has traditionally been used cannot be blindly imposed on the issue of cyber security. This article will therefore propose a different model of how cyber security assemblages have developed and explain the implications this has on contemporary security dynamics.

Abstract Background Giardia duodenalis is a parasitic protist that infects a large number of species, being localized in the small intestine. Two of the eight recognized assemblages have zoonotic potential, but studies regarding their distribution in less important pet or farm species are scarce. Of these species, the long-tailed chinchilla is a host for Giardia spp., although data on the spread of infection and assemblages involved are confined. The present work aimed to determine the prevalence of Giardia infection and assemblage identification in farmed chinchillas in Romania. A total of 341 fecal samples were collected from 5 farms and microscopically examined using flotation test based on saturated sodium chloride solution. DNA from all positive samples was extracted and identified by PCR targeting the gdh gene. Results The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 55.7% (190/341); there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.25) in prevalence between young animals (58.8%) and adults (52.6%). Assemblages B (151/190), D (33/190) and E (6/190) were identified. Among assemblage B, sub-assemblages BIII (6/151) and BIV (145/151) were determined. Conclusions This study demonstrates that Giardia spp. infection is highly prevalent in farmed chinchillas from Romania, and the sub-assemblages identified are potentially zoonotic.

Nearly 20,000 adult caddisfly specimens were collected during May through September 2010–2014 from approximately weekly ultraviolet light samples of Fairbanks Creek in northern Lower Michigan. Detrended correspondence analysis determined four distinct seasonal assemblages corresponding to spring (May to late June), summer (late June to late July), late summer (late July to early September), and autumn (early to late September). Of the 109 total species caught, 5 indicated the spring assemblage, 13 the summer assemblage, 1 the late summer assemblage, and 4 the autumn assemblage. Species richness, specimen abundance, and number of unique species were highest during the summer. Most summer samples contained ∼50% of all species caught during the year; whereas the spring and autumn assemblage contained a smaller but unique fauna, and the late summer assemblage was characterized by a decreasing richness of summer species. Pollution tolerance and shredder to filtering collector ratio metrics varied by factors of 5–30x; both were highly dependent on the abundance of particular species. Overall mean values of all metrics varied seasonally but not annually. The specific date of peak species richness varied based on annual weather, but occurred at a similar degree-day value for all 5 years. These results suggest the importance of sampling within a season when comparing streams for biological monitoring purposes. Moreover, they confirm the comparability of samples taken from different years, provided such samples are collected during the same season.