Rileyella petauri gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pentastomida: Cephalobaenida) from the lungs and nasal sinus of Petaurus breviceps (Marsupialia: Petauridae) in Australia

A new cephalobaenid pentastome, Rileyella petauri gen: nov., sp. nov. from the lungs and nasal sinus of the petaurid marsupial, Petaurus breviceps, is described. It is the smallest adult pentastome known to date, represents the first record of a mammal as the definitive host of a cephalobaenid and may represent the only pentastome known to inhabit the lungs of a mammal through all its instars, with the exception of patent females. Adult males, non-gravid females and nymphs moulting to adults occur in the lungs; gravid females occur in the nasal sinus. R. petauri is minute and possesses morphological features primarily of the Cephalobaenida but the glands in the cephalothorax and the morphology of the copulatory spicules are similar to some members of the remaining pentastomid order, the Porocephalida. This unusual combination of features distinguish the new genus from other genera in the Cephalobaenida. The occurrence of only seven fully-formed larvae in eggs in the uterus, each representing about 10% of the length of the patent female, and her presence in the nasal sinus of a dependent juvenile P. breviceps (36 gm) implies a direct life cycle.     

Patterned protein films on poly(lipid) bilayers by microcontact printing

The use of polymerized lipid bilayers as substrates for microcontact printing (muCP) of protein films was investigated. We have previously shown that vesicle fusion of bis-SorbPC, a dienoate lipid, on glass and silica substrates, followed by redox-initiated radical polymerization, produces a planar supported lipid bilayer (PSLB) that is ultrastable(1a) [Ross, E. E.; Rozanski, L. J.; Spratt, T.; Liu, S.; O'Brien, D. F.; Saavedra, S. S. Langmuir 2003, 19, 1752] and highly resistant to nonspecific adsorption of dissolved proteins [Ross, E. E.; Spratt, T.; Liu, S.; Rozanski, L. J.; O'Brien, D. F.; Saavedra, S. S. Langmuir 2003, 19, 1766].(1b) Here we demonstrate that muCP of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto a dried poly(bis-SorbPC) PSLB from a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp produces a layer of strongly adsorbed protein, comparable in surface coverage to films printed on glass surfaces. Immobilization of proteins on poly(PSLB)s has potential applications in biosensing, and this work shows that direct muCP of proteins is a technically simple approach to create immobilized monolayers, as well as multilayers of different proteins.     

Cavichia, a replacement generic name for Caragonia takiya, Cavichioli & Mejdalani (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Cavichia nom. nov. is proposed for Caragonia Takiya, Cavichioli & Mejdalani, 2003 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), preoccupied by Caragonia Gemminger & Harold, 1870 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).     

性信息素大面积诱捕法防治东北越冬代水稻二化螟

2002年和2003年,在吉林省柳河县绿色大米生产基地,开展了应用性信息素诱捕法防治越冬代水稻二化螟Chilo suppressalis的试验。与对照区相比,2002年和2003年两年诱捕区诱蛾量分别下降84.54%和83.75%,雌虫交配率分别下降54.10%和47.67%; 同时,诱杀区二化螟卵孵化率下降25.50%,卵块密度也显著降低。2002年二化螟雌雄性比由对照区的1.14上升为诱捕区的3.96,而 2003年由1.12上升到3.84;诱杀区二化螟幼虫为害率,无论是枯鞘、枯心,还是白穗,也较之对照区显著下降,造成稻谷产量损失也明显降低。通过上述一系列评价指标表明性信息素诱捕法能有效控制东北越冬代水稻二化螟,可为东北绿色大米的可持续生产提供技术支持。     

Mapping of conformational epitopes of monoclonal antibodies against Escherichia coli penicillin-binding protein 1B (PBP 1B) by means of hybrid protein analysis: implications for the tertiary structure of PBP 1B.

We have analyzed the location of the epitope areas of the four monoclonal antibody groups against penicillin-binding protein 1B (PBP 1B; T. den Blaauwen, F. B. Wientjes, A. H. J. Kolk, B. G. Spratt, and N. Nanninga, J. Bacteriol. 171:1393-1401). They could be specified by studying monoclonal antibody binding patterns to amino- and carboxy-terminal truncated PBP 1B molecules. Monoclonal antibodies against conformational epitopes, with the exception of one epitope area, did not recognize PBP 1B molecules that had not been translocated across the membrane. Apparently, translocation is required for PBP 1B to fully obtain its native conformation.     

Life history and pathogenesis of Gallegostrongylus australis (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) in muridae

Gallegostrongylus australis Spratt, Haycock & Walter, 2001 (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) developed in Deroceras panormitanum, Lehmannia nyctelia, L. flava and Milax gigates (Gastropoda). The first moult occurred at 18-19 days after infection (DAI) and the second moult at 28 DAI. Larvae were infective to experimental murid definitive hosts at 35 DAI. In experimentally infected Rattus fuscipes larvae moulted L3-4 at 3 DAI and L4-5 at 6-7 DAI. Patency in R.fuscipes, R. lutreolus, R. norvegicus and R. rattus occurred 27-64 DAI and duration varied from 7-392 days. Histopathological changes in the lungs of R. lutreolus and development of debilitating clinical signs, in contrast to R. fuscipes, suggests that the former host-parasite relationship may be the more recent one but other traits suggest the opposite. Patent infections were established in some wild R. rattus and some laboratory R. norvegicus but not in wild M. domesticus, laboratory M. musculus, rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, and marsupial bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus.     

The Banded Elm Bark Beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in North America: a taxonomic review and modifications to the Wood (1982) key to the species of Scolytus Geoffroy in North and Central America

In 2003, an Asian bark beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), the banded elm bark beetle, was detected for the first time in North America. This paper modifies the Wood (1982) key to the species of Scolytus Geoffroy to enable identification of Scolytus schevyrewi in North and Central America. Variation of diagnostic characters in Scolytus schevyrewi is discussed.     

Relationships of abscised cotton fruit to boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding, oviposition, and development

Abscised cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., fruit in field plots planted at different times were examined to assess adult boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), use of squares and bolls during 2002 and 2003 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Although boll abscission is not necessarily related to infestation, generally more bolls abscised than squares and abundances of fallen bolls were not related to the planting date treatments. During 2003, fallen squares were most abundant in the late-planted treatment. Although large squares (5.5-8-mm-diameter) on the plant are preferred for boll weevil oviposition, diameter of abscised squares is not a reliable measurement because of shrinkage resulting from desiccation and larval feeding. Fallen feeding-punctured squares and bolls were most abundant in late plantings but differences between fallen feeding-punctured squares versus fallen feeding-punctured bolls were found in only one treatment in 2003. During the same year, fallen oviposition-punctured squares were more numerous in the late-planted treatment than in the earlier treatments. Treatment effects were not found on numbers of oviposition-punctured bolls, but fallen oviposition-punctured squares were more common than bolls in the late-planted treatment compared with earlier treatments each year. Dead weevil eggs, larvae, and pupae inside fallen fruit were few and planting date treatment effects were not detected. Living third instars and pupae were more abundant in fallen squares of the late-planted treatment than in the earlier treatments and bolls of all three treatments. This study shows that fallen squares in late-planted cotton contribute more to adult boll weevil populations than bolls, or squares of earlier plantings.     

Ichneumonids of the subfamily Tanychorinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia

A new species, Tanychora loki, sp. nov., and a new genus and species, Megachora sibirica gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia. The genus Tanychora Townes, 1973 is divided into two genera: Tanychora s. str., composed of T. petiolata Townes, 1973 (type species), T. sinensis Zhang, 1991, and T. loki sp. nov., and Amplicella, gen. nov., composed of A. sessilis (Townes, 1973) (type species), A. exquisite (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003), A. beipiaoensis (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003), and A. spinata (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003). The frequency of occurrence of ichneumonids in the principal Cretaceous localities of central and northern Asia is calculated.     

Corrections and additions to the Dumontiidae Santos-Flores &; Dodson, 2003 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anomopoda), and implications for anomopod phylogeny

The presumed sixth limb of Dumontia Santos-Flores & Dodson, 2003 is shown to correspond to the inner part of the fifth limb. Comparison of the latter structure within the order increases the similarity between the Dumontiidae and the Daphniidae (plus Moinidae), but important similarities with the Radopoda remain. The relationship between a ‘‘daphniid line’’ and radopods needs further attention. Handling editor: K. Martens     

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) collected with malaise trap in the Center-West of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The aim of this paper was to verify the sand fly species collected with Malaise trap in the cities of Divinópolis and Pedra do Indaiá, both located in Minas Gerais state. Collections were carried out between November 2003 and October 2004. Thirty two specimens were captured belonging to seven species: Pintomyia monticola (Costa Lima), Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho), Pintomyia christenseni (Young & Duncan), Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes), Sciopemyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte), Pintomyia pessoai (Coutinho & Barretto) and Psathyromyia aragaoi (Costa Lima).     

Gastric Bypass as Treatment for Obesity: Trends,Characteristics, and Complications

Objective: This paper describes national trends in gastric bypass procedures from 1998 through 2003 and explores the demographic and health profile of those who receive this procedure. Short‐term outcomes such as length of stay and in‐hospital complication rates are also examined. Research Methods and Procedures: Data on obese hospital inpatients who had gastric bypass were obtained from the 1998 to 2003 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Gastric bypass was reported for an estimated 288,000 discharges during the 6‐year study period. Trends within the 6‐year period were tested using weighted regression. Characteristics of gastric bypass patients were compared with those of other inpatients using a χ² test of independence and the two‐sided t test. Results: The estimated number of hospital discharges with gastric bypass increased significantly, from 14,000 in 1998 to 108,000 in 2003. During this period, the average length of stay declined by 56% from 7.2 to 3.2 days. Gastric bypass patients were primarily women (84%), 25 to 54 years of age (82%), and privately insured (76%). A 1 in 10 complication rate was found for discharges with gastric bypass. Discussion: Gastric bypass procedures in the United States have increased rapidly since 1998, whereas the average hospital stay has decreased. The decreasing length of stay needs to be evaluated in conjunction with potential complication rates and the permanent change in anatomy and lifestyle that must accompany this procedure. Monitoring trends in use of this procedure is important, especially if reimbursement policies change and the epidemic of obesity continues.     

New species and records of mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae,Johnstonianidae, Microtrombidiidae,Trombidiidae) from Moldova and Ukraine

Abrolophus crimensis sp. n., Valgothrombium melindae sp. n. from Ukraine, Moldoustium baltiensis gen. n., sp. n. from Moldova and Ukraine and Podothrombium dbrenitum sp. n. from Moldova are described. Rudaemannia rudaensis (Haitlinger), Trombidium dacicum (Feider) are new for the fauna of Moldova, Grandjeanella multisetosa Zhang et Goldarazena, Leptus (Leptus) trimaculatus (Hermann), Erythraeus (Zaracarus) preciosus Goldarazena et Zhang, E. (E.) kuyperi (Oudemans), Balaustium nikae Haitlinger, Johnstoniana eximia (Berlese) are new to the fauna of Ukraine, Hauptmannia brevicollis Oudemans, H. wratislaviensis Haitlinger, Abrolophus pseudolongicollis kiejstuti Haitlinger, Charletonia krendowskyi (Feider), Allothrombium fuliginosum (Hermann), A. triticium Zhang, Trombidium holosericeum (L.) and Podothrombium proti Haitlinger are new to the fauna of Moldova and Ukraine. The following new synonyms and new combination are proposed: Canpicatrombium Haitlinger, 2003 syn. n. = Valgothrombium Willmann, 1940, Leptus (Leptus) echinopus Beron, 1975 syn. n. = L. (L.) trimaculatus (Hermann, 1804), Valgothrombium mallorcensis (Haitlinger, 2003) comb. n., Podothrombium proti Haitlinger, 1994 is not synonym of P. filipes (C.-L. Koch, 1837).     

An investigation on the antioxidant status of the invasive alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman, et Boudouresque (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta)

Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is a potential invader of the Mediterranean Sea and 11 Mediterranean countries are under threat from this alga. In the present study, in order to investigate seasonal changes in the antioxidant status of C. racemosa var. cylindracea, antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were determined in C. racemosa var. cylindracea samples, which were collected in May 2003, September 2003, December 2003, and March 2004 from Turkish coastlines. SOD and CAT activities showed similar trends. These enzymes increased from May to December, then sharp decreases were observed. On the other hand, GSH-Px enzyme activities showed a fluctuation between May 2003 and March 2004. In contrast to increases in SOD and CAT activities up to December 2003, LPO level decreased in this period. No significant correlation was observed between antioxidant status and solar radiation. In conclusion, the antioxidant status of C. racemosa var. cylindracea is strictly not affected by both solar radiation and seawater temperature; however, the growth of epiphytes on fronds may change antioxidant status. Further investigations are strongly warranted to understand the contributions of non-enzyme-based antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C.     

Historical biogeography of Hexabathynella , a cosmopolitan genus of groundwater Syncarida (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Hexabathynella is the only cosmopolitan genus of the order Bathynellacea (Crustacea). The known species number 18, found in Europe (9), Africa (1), South America (2), North America (3) and Australia and New Zealand (3). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the least derived species are those from South America and the most derived those from the Iberian Peninsula, North America and Australia. The five species with the most plesiomorphic characters occur in salt or brackish water, which supports a marine origin for the genus. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses suggest that the distribution of the genus can be explained by dispersion and a double vicariant biogeographical model based on plate tectonics and the evolution of the Tethys during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78 , 457–466.     

基于熵权的北京城市生态系统健康模糊综合评价

采用基于熵权的模糊数学评价方法,借助于相对隶属度的概念评价了北京城市生态系统在某一特定时间内(1996~2003年)的相对健康状态。方法避免了主观判断城市生态系统健康标准的不确定性。评价结果表明:(1)1996~2003年,北京市相对健康状态整体呈上升趋势,最优年为2003年,最差年为1996年;(2)按照最大隶属度原则,人类健康要素的最大隶属度0.967(2002),生物群落的最大隶属度1.000(2003),社会的最大隶属度1.000(2003),经济的最大隶属度0.938(2003),人工环境的最大隶属度1.000(2003),自然环境的最大隶属度0.795(1998),自然与社会经济的相互作用的最大隶属度0.916(2002),对区域的影响的最大隶属度1.000(1996)。各评价要素的最大隶属度主要集中于2003年,其概率为37.5%。     

Pheromone-based mating disruption of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in California vineyards

Experiments were conducted to test a mating disruption program for the mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in California vineyards. The sprayable, microencapsulated formulation of the racemic sex pheromone lavandulyl senecioate was applied with an air-blast sprayer, using three and four applications in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Mating disruption was combined with an application of buprofezin (2004) in June. Compared with a no-pheromone control, there were significantly lower season-long trap catches of adult males, season-long mealybug densities (2003 only), and crop damage in mating disruption plots. The amount of mealybug reduction and mechanisms that resulted in lower crop damage in mating disruption plots is discussed. In samples taken during the growing season (April to September), mealybug density was only 12.0 +/- 15.6 and 31.1 +/- 11.6% lower in the mating disruption plots than in control plots in 2003 and 2004, respectively. In the mating disruption treatment, mealybug egg production was significantly lower (2003 only), as were the proportion of ovisacs and crawlers produced. There was no treatment impact on percentage of parasitism. Mealybug density influenced treatment impact. In 2004, vines were categorized as having low, medium, or high mealybug densities during a preapplication survey. After treatment application, mealybug density was reduced by 86.3 +/- 6.3% on vines in the low mealybug density category, but it was unchanged on vines in the high density category. Another factor that reduced treatment impact was the relatively short effective lifetime of the sprayable formulation.     

Prophenoloxidase (proPO) activation in Manduca sexta: an analysis of molecular interactions among proPO, proPO-activating proteinase-3, and a cofactor

Proteolytic activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) is an integral part of the insect immune system against pathogen and parasite infection. This reaction is mediated by a proPO-activating proteinase (PAP) and its cofactor in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95 (1998) 12220; J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 3552; Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 33 (2003) 1049). The cofactor consists of two serine proteinase homologs (SPHs), which associate with immulectin-2, a calcium-dependent lectin that binds to lipopolysaccharide (Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 33 (2003) 197). In order to understand the auxiliary effect of SPH-1 and SPH-2 in proPO activation, we started to investigate the molecular interactions among proPO, PAP-3, and the proteinase-like proteins. M. sexta SPH-1 and SPH-2 were purified from hemolymph of prepupae by hydroxylapatite, gel filtration, lectin-affinity, and ion exchange chromatography. They existed as non-covalent oligomers with an average molecular mass of about 790 kDa. MALDI-TOF mass fingerprint analysis revealed a new cleavage site in SPH-1 before Asp85. The PAP cofactor did not significantly alter Michaelis constant (KM) or kcat of PAP-3 towards a synthetic substrate, acetyl-Ile-Glu-Ala-Arg-p-nitroanilide, but greatly enhanced proPO activation by PAP-3. The apparent KM for proPO was determined to be about 9.4 microg/ml, close to its estimated concentration in larval hemolymph. In the presence of excess proPO and a set amount of PAP-3, increasing levels of phenoloxidase (PO) activity were detected as more SPHs were added. Half of the maximum proPO activation occurred when the molar ratio of PAP-3 to SPH was 1:1.4. Gel filtration experiments suggested that proPO, PAP-3, and the cofactor formed a ternary complex.     

A morphological phylogeny for four families of amblyceran lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae, Boopiidae, Laemobothriidae, Ricinidae)

The suborder Amblycera (Insecta: Phthiraptera) comprises seven recognized families of parasitic lice. Three of these families (the Menoponidae, Laemobothriidae and Ricinidae) are present on a wide range of avian hosts. The four remaining families are restricted to a small section of mammals (the Boopiidae are parasites of Australian and New Guinean marsupials, and the Gyropidae, Trimenoponidae and Abrocomophagidae parasitize South and Central American rodents). This study uses a morphological approach to examine the evolutionary relationships between the genera from four amblyceran families: the Menoponidae, Boopiidae, Laemobothriidae and Ricinidae. Genera are represented by exemplars and a total of 44 louse taxa and one outgroup taxon were included. A cladistic analysis of 147 unordered characters recovered six equally parsimonious trees. Bootstrap, jackknife and Bremer support analyses were undertaken to assess the level of support for each resolved node in the strict consensus topology. Strong support was found for deep branch relationships between the families and in some cases for supra-generic groupings within families. The clades present in the strict consensus tree are discussed with reference to supra-generic and interfamily relationships, character choice, morphological convergence and host distribution. This study is the first phylogeny presented solely for amblyceran genera.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 138 , 39–82.