Pseudolunularia gen.n. (Cheilostomata), a IunuIitiform bryozoan from the Indo-West Pacific

A new genus of anascan lunulitiform bryozoan, Pseudolunularia . is introduced for two new species, P. enigma and P. unguis . It is inferred that live colonies both possess basal rhizoids and are supported and stabilized by elongate avicularian mandibles. The autozooids, brooding zooids and avicularia of both species bear a striking resemblance to a parallel pair of species belonging to the genus Lunularia, L. repandus and L. cupulus .     

DO CONSTANT ENVIRONMENTS PROMOTE COMPLEXITY OF FORM?: THE DISTRIBUTION OF BRYOZOAN POLYMORPHISM AS A TEST OF HYPOTHESES

The distribution of cheilostome bryozoans on the Caribbean reefs of Panama was surveyed to test the hypothesis that physically constant environments favor increased morphologic complexity, expressed as the number of zooid types within a colony. The proportion of species within defined grades of complexity did not vary significantly with locality, depth, or substratum. Some differences were found in grade-specific ecological success, measured by colony abundance and spatial cover, but these were not consistently related to habitat type. There was no inverse correlation between morphologic complexity and range of distribution: morphologically specialized cheilostomes were not more stenotopic than generalized forms. Patterns of distribution and total space occupation indicate a sensitivity to local habitat conditions, but relative success of species was not correlated with level of polymorphism. In a bryozoan fauna from Florida, the frequency of polymorphic species was weakly associated with constancy of habitat. In estuaries, polymorphic cheilostomes are almost absent at salinities below 18‰, but this pattern is strongly confounded taxonomically. All species tolerant of low salinities are encrusting anascans; within this group, polymorphism does not decrease significantly with declining salinity. Bryozoan faunas from different biogeographic zones may vary in frequency of avicularian polymorphism, but not along a simple latitudinal cline. These large-scale comparisons may be strongly biased historically and taxonomically. The distribution of cheilostome polymorphism on a local and geographic scale provides no evidence for a causal relationship between habitat constancy and morphologic specialization at the zooidal level. This is in striking contrast to the strong habitat dependence of colony form, which suggests that selective processes may operate differently at the zooidal and colonial levels.     

Calcite and aragonite distributions in the skeletons of bimineralic bryozoans as revealed by Raman spectroscopy

Abstract. Bryozoans are among a diverse range of invertebrates capable of secreting calcium carbonate skeletons. Relatively little is known about biomineralization in bryozoans, despite the importance of understanding biomineralization processes for nanotechnology and the threats imposed by ocean acidification on organisms having calcareous skeletons. Ten species of cheilostome bryozoans that are reported to have bimineralic skeletons of calcite and aragonite are studied here using Raman spectroscopy. This technique allowed identification of the two mineral phases at submicron spatial resolution, allowing the distributions of calcite and aragonite within bryozoan skeletons to be determined with unprecedented precision. Confirming previous findings based on the use of chemical stains, most of the bimineralic species analyzed exhibited a calcitic skeletal framework, composed of basal, vertical, and inner frontal walls, having aragonite deposited subsequently onto the outer surfaces of the frontal walls. In one species ( Odontionella cyclops ), aragonite formed the superstructure above the autozooids, and in two others, traces of aragonite were detected on the undersides of the frontal shields. Using Raman spectroscopy, it was possible for the first time to determine the mineralogy of small-scale structures, including orificial rims, condyles and hinge teeth, avicularian pivotal bars and rostra, and ascopore rims and sieve plates. Even when surrounded by aragonitic frontal shields, these structures were found typically to be calcitic, the two exceptions being the aragonitic avicularia of Stylopoma inchoans and O. cyclops . Unexpectedly, the first-formed part of the basal wall at the distalmost growing edge of Pentapora foliacea was found to consist mainly of aragonite. This may point to a precursory phase of biomineralization comparable with the unusual mineralogies identified previously in the earliest-formed skeletons of members of some other invertebrate phyla.     

The cDNA sequence of a neutral horseradish peroxidase

A cDNA clone encoding a horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) peroxidase has been isolated and characterized. The cDNA contains 1378 nucleotides excluding the poly(A) tail and the deduced protein contains 327 amino acids which includes a 28 amino acid leader sequence. The predicted amino acid sequence is nine amino acids shorter than the major isoenzyme belonging to the horseradish peroxidase C group (HRP-C) and the sequence shows 53.7% identity with this isoenzyme. The described clone encodes nine cysteines of which eight correspond well with the cysteines found in HRP-C. Five potential N-glycosylation sites with the general sequence Asn-X-Thr/Ser are present in the deduced sequence. Compared to the earlier described HRP-C this is three glycosylation sites less. The shorter sequence and fewer N-glycosylation sites give the native isoenzyme a molecular weight of several thousands less than the horseradish peroxidase C isoenzymes. Comparison with the net charge value of HRP-C indicates that the described cDNA clone encodes a peroxidase which has either the same or a slightly less basic pI value, depending on whether the encoded protein is N-terminally blocked or not. This excludes the possibility that HRP-n could belong to either the HRP-A, -D or -E groups. The low sequence identity (53.7%) with HRP-C indicates that the described clone does not belong to the HRP-C isoenzyme group and comparison of the total amino acid composition with the HRP-B group does not place the described clone within this isoenzyme group. Our conclusion is that the described cDNA clone encodes a neutral horseradish peroxidase which belongs to a new, not earlier described, horseradish peroxidase group.     

Review of the genus Isodemis Diakonoff (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) from China, with description of three new species

The genus Isodemis Diakonoff, 1952 in China is reviewed, with seven species recognized. Three new species are described: Isodemis quadratasp. n., Isodemis guangxiensissp. n. and Isodemis hainanensissp. n. The female of Isodemis stenotera Diakonoff, 1983 is described for the first time. Variation within Isodemis illiberalis (Meyrick, 1918) and Isodemis stenotera is briefly discussed. Images of the adults and genitalia are provided, along with a key to the described species.     

First record of Balcha Walker (Hymenoptera,Eupelmidae) in South Korea with the description of one new species

The genus Balcha Walker (Eupelmidae) is recorded for the first time in South Korea, with one newly described species and one newly recorded species. Both sexes of Balcha opaca Fusu sp. n. are described, and the presumed male of B. dictyota Gibson is described for the first time. The newly described species is peculiar in having a comparatively darker and less shiny mesoscutum. In other species of the genus the mesoscutum has brilliant metallic colours that contrast with dorsal dark bands along areas of much finer sculpture.     

A case of trisomy 22 with a probable Robertsonian translocation 21/22

Summary A 2-year-old girl with a probable trisomy-22 translocation is described. The principal clinical symptoms described by the authors who have reported cases with proved trisomy 22 are presented. A probable 46, XX,-21,+t(21q;22q) karyotype was established in the patient. The proband's clinical picture is compared with other trisomy 22 cases described in the literature. The incidence of this trisomy among the human population is discussed.     

A revision of the genus Telomerina Roháček (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae)

Abstract. The genus Telomerina Roháč;ek (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is revised to include twelve species: five Palaearctic, five Nearctic, one Holarctic and one cosmopolitan. The five Neartic species, chillcotti, orpha, submerda, carta and pengellyi are described as new. The male of T.eburnea Roháček is described; T.gracilipennis (Spuler) is synonomized with T.flavipes (Meigen) and T.antonini Roháček is synonomized with T.levifrons (Spuler). The larva and pupa of T.flavipes are described. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus is presented along with a discussion of its zoogeography.     

A Redescription of Adult Phyllodistomum umblae (Fabricius) (Digenea, Gorgoderidae) from Salvelinus alpinus (L.) in Norway

Phyllodistomum umblae (Fabricius, 1780), originally described on the basis of specimens recovered from the ureter of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus in Drangedalen, Norway, is here redescribed with both light (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) from material obtained from the type host and type locality. This species has been overlooked in general text-books of this century, e.g. those of Dawes and Yamaguti, but was discussed by Nybelin in a paper in 1926 in which he suggested its conspecificity with P. conostomum Olsson. The dimensions, shapes, position and arrangement of the internal structures and selected size ratios are described and illustrated with LM-pictures. The SEM-investigation reveals the tegumental microstructure, and special emphasis is given to the arrangement of papillae. The body papillae comprise: (a) constant numbers in a constant bilateral arrangement; (b) a variable number in an orientated bilateral concentration called rows; (c) regional concentrations; (d) randomly distributed ones. This system and its variability are described and figured. Four types of papillae, and their distribution as seen by SEM, are described. These results are compared with the results from other SEM–investigations on gorgoderids.     

A new mermithid species (Nematoda) from chironomid imagos eclosing from Lake Ozawindib in northern Minnesota

Hydromermis biesboeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) is described from the hemocoel of imagos of chironomid host species eclosing from Lake Ozawindib in northern Minnesota in July and August 2008 and 2009. The new species is distinguished from the other 28 described species in the genus by terminal mouth, wide oval (male) and long oval (female) amphids with a dorsal commissure, tapered and rounded posterior ends, split base of the spicule, short protractor muscles in males, and by females having an S-shaped vagina with equal-length terminal limbs. The new species represents the 10th Hydromermis mermithid species described, or reported, from the region and the second from Lake Ozawindib.     

New land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Miocene of Africa

The described fossil testudinids from the Miocene of Africa are reviewed. Geochelone stromeri sp. nov . is described from Lower Pliocene (Langebaanweg) and Miocene (Namib) specimens. Kinixys erosa , an extant species, is reported from Songhor Hill. Chersina sp. is reported from Arrisdrift. Impregnochelys pachytectis gen. et sp. nov . is described from Rusinga Island, Kenya, and is unique in having the anterior shell opening orientated ventrally and in having struts on the internal surface of the neurals, but shares with Kinixys a unique epiplastron shape, a high number of axillary scutes and unique orientation of the head of the femur.     

An off-line system for in-time analysis of cardiac catheterization data and for establishment of a cardiological database for retrospective studies.

The system described may be divided in two major parts: (i) automatic analysis of cardiac catheterization data running off-line on a Siemens 305 computer; (ii) storage and retrieval of the results from these analyses and additional data from related departments (thoracic surgery, internal medicine and clinical physiology) in a cardiological database on an IBM 370/155 computer. The first part is described with special regard to (i) operation and control during the phases of data collection, pre-processing, processing and storage of results; (ii) the presentation of the results in a complete and readable form and (iii) the modular design of the software. The results of an evaluation of the computer methods versus manual methods are also presented. The second part has been described with regard to the type of data entered in the cardiological database. The structure of the database and the programs used for storage and retrieval have not been described in detail in the present publication.     

Two new species of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae & Rhopalopsyllidae) from Chile

Agastopsylla guzmani n. sp. (Ctenophthalmidae) and Delostichus degus n. sp. (Rhopalopsyllidae) are described. A key is proposed for the genus Agastopsylla; for the genus Delostichus, a brief comparison is made with D. incisus and D. ojedai described after the issue of the Catalogue of Smit (1987).     

2,3-diphosphoglycerate mutase: Its demonstration by electrophoresis and the detection of a genetic variant

A method is described for detecting the electrophoretic pattern of the enzyme 2,3-diphosphoglycerate mutase (2,3-DPGM) after starch gel electrophoresis. In addition, a genetic variant found in a Canadian Eskimo family is described. The pattern of this (presumably) heterozygous phenotype is consistent with a dimeric structure of the enzyme.This work was supported by PHS grant AM 09745.     

Y-190, a DNA probe for the sensitive detection of Y-derived marker chromosomes and mosaicism

Summary A DNA probe (Y-190) is described that specifically hybridizes with repeated DNA sequences in the short arm of the human Y chromosome. The suitability of Y-190 to detect Y-derived DNA is shown in two patients with a 45,X/46,X+marker earyotype and in a third patient previously described as having a 45,X karyotype.     

An automated method for rapid determination of diffusion coefficients via measurements of boundary spreading

The use of a simple device by which a layer of solvent may be deposited onto a solution of an optically absorbing solute in a cylindrical quartz tube, without substantial mixing of solution and solvent, is described. The spreading of the boundary thus formed may be monitored as a function of time using an automated absorbance scanning device previously described [A. K. Attri and A. P. Minton (1983) Anal. Biochem. 133, 142-152]. A semiautomatic procedure for determining the diffusion coefficient from the time dependence of the shape of the boundary is described and is particularly well-suited for real-time data analysis with a laboratory microcomputer. The diffusion coefficients of several proteins have been measured using the technique reported, and the results are generally in good agreement with values reported in the literature. The feasibility of using this technique in combination with a previously described method for measuring the sedimentation coefficient [A. K. Attri and A. P. Minton (1984) Anal. Biochem. 136, 407-415] to rapidly determine the molecular weight of a protein is established.     

A taxonomic revision of the pipunculid fly genus Chalarus Walker, with particular reference to the European fauna

Twenty-one species of Chalarus Walker are described from Europe, 11 of them new. The puparial remains of 15 species are described. Type material of all previously described Chalarus species except C. velutinus (Macquart, 1835) was examined. The status of C. holosericeus (Meigen, 1824) is revised, and exiguus (Haliday, 1833) is confirmed as a valid species. Lectotypes are designated for C. holosericeus and C. spurius (Fallén, 1816). Five species-groups are tentatively proposed. Separate keys to females and males are given. The status of Chalarus species described from outside Europe is discussed, and two of these, C. kamijoi Morakote, in Morakote & Hirashima (1990) and C. konishii Morakote, in Morakote & Hirashima (1990), are synonymized with fimbriatus Coe and exiguus (Haliday) respectively. The functional significance of some taxonomic characters, particularly of the eyes and ovipositor, is discussed.