Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a tree-fruit (see overleaf, page 2) native to the southeastern region of the United States. Kentucky State University serves as the USDA-National Clonal Germplasm Repository for pawpaw, therefore assessing genetic diversity across the pawpaw's native range is a high priority. Pawpaw is usually found in large patches as an understory tree and root suckering likely occurs. To determine if native pawpaw patches are clonal, DNA was extracted from leaf samples collected from trees in six native patches in three counties in central Kentucky. Two ISSR-PCR primers yielded three polymorphic and six monomorphic markers in the six patches. Three patches did not display any polymorphic markers in each patch, suggesting they were clonal. However, three other patches did show polymorphic markers within each patch, indicating these patches were not clonal and contained trees of at least two genotypes within each patch. This study suggests that to assess the genetic diversity of a pawpaw patch or local population, more intensive sampling strategies will be required.

A survey of host trees infested with eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum, Viscaceae) at General Burnside State Park in Pulaski County, Kentucky, was made in late 2008 and early 2009. It is the only island state park in Kentucky, and consists of 174.0 ha in the middle of Lake Cumberland, adjacent to the city of Burnside. A total of 244 mistletoe-infested trees from nine tree species in eight families were found. Prunus serotina, Juglans nigra, and Ulmus americana were the most common host trees. Mistletoe infestation had a greater occurrence in older, full-crowned canopy trees of open, exposed sunny habitats.

An examination of leaf beetle specimens (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the largest beetle collections in Kentucky, recent inventory work in state nature preserves and other protected areas, and a review of the literature revealed thirty species of the tribes Galerucini and Luperini (Subfamily Galerucinae) present in Kentucky, thirteen of which are previously unreported for the state. Distribution maps and label data are presented for the thirty Kentucky species including spatial (state and Kentucky county records), temporal (years and months of collection in Kentucky), and plant association information. The following species are reported from Kentucky for the first time: Derospidea brevicollis (LeConte), Monocesta coryli (Say), Trirhabda canadensis (Kirby), Galerucella nymphaeae (L.), Ophraella americana (F.), Ophraella cribrata (LeConte), Acalymma gouldi Barber, Acalymma vinctum (LeConte), Phyllecthris dorsalis (Olivier), Phyllecthris gentilis LeConte, Phyllobrotica limbata (F.), Phyllobrotica stenidea Schaeffer, and Metroidea brunnea (Crotch).

An examination of leaf beetle specimens (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the largest beetle collections in Kentucky, recent inventory work in state nature preserves and other protected areas, and a review of the literature revealed eighty-four species of the tribe Alticini (Subfamily Galerucinae) present in Kentucky, forty-five of which are unreported previously for the state. Distribution maps and label data are presented for the eighty-four Kentucky species including spatial (state and Kentucky county records), temporal (years and months of collection in Kentucky), and plant association information. The following species are reported from Kentucky for the first time: Blepharida rhois (Forster), Luperaltica senilis (Say), Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze), Ceraltica insolita (Melsheimer), Glyptina brunnea Horn, Glyptina cyanipennis (Crotch), Glyptina spuria LeConte, Longitarsus acutipennis Blatchley, Longitarsus arenaceus Blatchley, Longitarsus melanurus (Melsheimer), Longitarsus pratensis (Panzer), Longitarsus testaceus (Melsheimer), Systena frontalis (F.), Systena hudsonias (Forster), Altica chalybea Illiger, Altica knabii Blatchley, Altica litigata Fall, Orthaltica copalina (F.), Orthaltica melina Horn, Epitrix humeralis Dury, Margaridisa atriventris (Melsheimer), Mantura floridana Crotch, Chaetocnema fuscata R. White, Chaetocnema quadricollis Schwarz, Disonycha admirabila Blatchley, Disonycha alternata (Illiger), Disonycha arizonae Casey, Disonycha caroliniana (F.), Disonycha fumata fumata (LeConte), Disonycha leptolineata Blatchley, Lupraea picta (Say), Parchicola iris (Olivier), Parchicola tibialis (Olivier), Capraita circumdata (Randall), Capraita scalaris (Melsheimer), Capraita sexmaculata (Illiger), Capraita subvittata (Horn), Kuschelina fimbriata (Forster), Kuschelina gibbitarsa (Say), Kuschelina miniata (F.), Kuschelina perplexa (Blake), Kuschelina suturella (Say), Dibolia sinuata Horn, Pseudodibolia opima (LeConte), and Psylliodes punctulatus Melsheimer.

Students at nine colleges in Andhra Pradesh, India, were surveyed for size and gender composition of families in their parental, present, and projected generations. These data were used to calculate average family size, secondary sex ratios (males:100 females), impact of genders of existing children within families on eventual family size, and independence of sex ratios of successive births. For the parental, present, and projected generations, average number of children were 4.27, 2.99 and 2.10, and sex ratios were 101, 87, and 99; respectively. Gender differences, both in combinations and permutations, of existing children influenced parents' decisions to have additional children. Although son preference was evident, more families stopped having children with two, three, or four when both genders were present than when existing children were of same gender, including the all son combination. The most desired family consisted of two children, both genders, with the male born first. Realization of the average number of children (2.10) in families of the projected generation would result in a more stabilized population. Observed and expected combinations of genders in families with 2, 3, 4, and 5 children in the present generation differed significantly indicating a lack of independence. Also, the lack of independence was supported by significant negative correlations between gender compositions of successive births within families.

Human fertility and sex ratio of China's population have attracted the interest of demographers and other scholars since the early twentieth century. The present study was initiated in 2008 to investigate recent changes in family sizes and sex ratios. Survey data were obtained from students enrolled at three universities located in Shenyang, China, (41.8 N, 123.4 E). Each student respondent supplied information on the number of children and gender composition for the parental, present, and projected generations. Average numbers of children were 4.5, 1.6, and 1.7, and secondary sex ratios (males∶100 females) were 101.2, 108.3, and 107.1 for parental, present, and projected generations; respectively. In the parental generation, four children per family occurred most frequently, whereas in the present generation one child families were most frequent. In the projected generation, the most desired family consisted of two children with both sexes present and the male being born first. Binomial distribution and correlation analyses for the present generation demonstrated highly significant differences (P < 0.01) between observed and expected combination of sexes in two-child families. The response to China's One Child Family Planning Policy has resulted in an unmatched one generation reduction in family size from 4.5 to 1.6 children. These results indicated that there may be a waning of the historically strong son preference.

An improved route to substituted cyclopenta[c]thiophenes was accomplished by treating 1,3-dimethyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene-5-one (1) with alkyl Grignard reagents to obtain the 5-alkyl-1,3-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophenes, 5-methyl-1,3-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene (2) and 5-ethyl-1,3-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene (3), in good yield (60% and 65%, respectively). An important cyclopenta[c]thiophene precursor, 5-carbomethoxy-5-phenylsulfonyl–1,3-dimethyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene (9) was synthesized, in an alternate route, by treating 3,4-bis(chloromethyl)-2,5-dimethylthiophene (7) with methyl phenyl sulfonyl acetate (8).

The DNA barcoding initiative is an international effort to collect standardized DNA sequences from each Eukaryotic species to facilitate taxonomy and specimen identification. DNA barcoding experiments, because they are not technically difficult, are well suited to being used as investigative research experiences in a teaching laboratory. We have implemented a DNA barcoding exercise for our first year “Undergraduate Experience” students in which participants catch arthropods from our university field station, the Upper Green River Biological Preserve. The arthropod specimens were brought to the laboratory, mounted, photographed, and identified via keys and field guides based on morphological characters. This identification served as a working hypothesis for the identity of each specimen. A single leg was removed from each specimen, DNA was extracted, and a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I gene was PCR amplified and sequenced. Then, using bioinformatics tools, the sequence for each specimen was compared to those in the Barcode of Life and Genbank nucleotide databases. A second species diagnosis based on DNA sequence matches was determined, which could be compared to the original morphological identification, serving as a test of that hypothetical species identity. In its first semester of implementation, 28 arthropod barcodes were produced, which will be augmented by the work of future classes.

Because of increased technology access and convenience, as well as potentially lower costs, distance education and internet courses are becoming more commonplace in higher education. As the popularity of these remote modes of instruction increases, it is important to carefully consider to what extent pre-service teachers can be adequately prepared for their role as educators via the internet compared with pre-service teachers that complete their degrees traditionally. An examination of the science education literature demonstrates serious research gaps regarding the long-term preparation of educators through online courses. The purpose of this paper was to provide a critical perspective on the teaching of undergraduate science methods courses online from the viewpoint of the students' opinions provided through course evaluations. Areas of interest included the dichotomy theory vs. practice, the role of field experiences, students' perceived satisfaction with online courses, inquiry, and the difficulties of valid assessment.