BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

The Annona fruit borer, Cerconota anonella, causes significant damage to the fruits of Annona squamosa (custard apple) and A. muricata (soursop). The methods currently available for the control of this pest are costly and new techniques, possibly involving the use of pheromones for trapping or disrupting the mating cycle of the insect are required. In order to provide the basic information required for the development of new control systems, the reproductive behaviour of the moth was observed under laboratory conditions. The calling and courtship behaviours exhibited by virgin females and males of C. anonella commenced at the eighth hour of the scotophase and continued for a 3.5-h period. Males were attracted by conspecific females as young as 1 d old, and showed a courtship behaviour composed of three steps: antennation, wing fanning and short flights. Mating mainly occurred when both males and females were between 2 and 5 d old, but maximum activity was observed on the third day after emergence. Receptive females elevated their wings, showing their abdomens where the abdominal hairpencils were already exposed. As part of the courtship repertoire and immediately prior to copula, males performed pronounced sideways movements of their abdomens, a behaviour that appears to be exclusive to C. anonella. EthologyEthology 112 (2006) 971-976 ª 2006 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin Reproductive Behaviour of Cerconota anonella E. L. da Silva et al.

This work presents a comparative study of dihydrated and anhydrous forms of potassium croconate crystals by vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetry. These compounds have different colors (dihydrated is orange, and dehydrated is yellow) due to the presence of coordinated water molecules. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the unit cell of the yellow compound is smaller than that of the orange analogue, suggesting that the croconate ion layers are more closely bonded in this salt. The loss of water is reversible due to the potassium cation size which is intermediate between small (Li+ and Na+) and large (Rb+ and Cs+) alkaline metal ions. However, the hydrated compound (orange) is more stable, and with a small quantity of water the yellow compound is quickly converted to the orange compound. A diagnostic feature of the Raman spectrum for the orange (hydrated) and yellow (anhydrous) analogues is the singlet at 1240 cm(-1) in the former, assigned to a nu(CC) + delta(CCC) + nu(CO) + beta(CO) mode of E'2 symmetry, which splits in the yellow form to a doublet at 1256 and 1232 cm(-1).

Introduction: Knowing which physiological variables predict running performance could help coaches to optimize training prescription to improve running performance. Objective: The present study investigated which physiological respiratory responses could predict 3000-m running performance. Methods: Seventeen amateur runners (29.82±7.1years; 173.12±9.0cm; 64.59±9.3kg) performed a maximal graded running test on a treadmill. The ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were assessed, as well as the respective velocities (vVT, vRCP, vVO2max). After 72 to 96 hours the runners performed the 3000-m running field test. The relationships between variables were performed using Pearson product momentum correlations. Thereafter, simple and multiple regression models were applied. The significance level adopted was 5% (p<0.05). Results: The majority of physiological responses were positive and well related to each other (r≥0.70; p<0.05). Despite vVT, vRCP, and vVO2max demonstrating a higher and inverse relationship with 3000-m time (r=-0.92; r =-0.96; r =-0.89; p<0.05), the multiple regression model indicated that vRCP and vVO2max are the best variables to predict 3000-m performance in experienced amateur road runners (R2=0.94). The equation proposed by the model was: 3000-m(s)=1399.21–[31.65*vRCP(km.h-1)]–[12.06*vVO2max (km.h-1)]. Conclusion: The vRCP and vVO2max may be used to predict 3000-m performance using only a maximal running test on a treadmill. In practical terms, coaches and physical conditioners can use performance in the 3000-m to select different exercise running intensities to prescribe exercise training intensities.