Morphology of the pretarsus of the sawflies and horntails (Hymenoptera: 'Symphyta')

The pretarsal structures have been studied in representatives of 13 families of 'Symphyta' by means of light microscopy. The pretarsal sclerites (manubrium, planta, and unguitractor) vary in shape among different families. The shape of the manubrium is triangular in representatives of Xyelidae and Orussidae and bifurcated in those of Tenthredinoidea. For representatives of Siricomorpha, an elongated shape of the manubrium is typical with such variations, as distally expanded, proximally expanded, clavate, spear-shaped. Plantae of different Symphyta vary in shape and level of sclerotization. In representatives of Siricidae, the female manubrium and arolium are significantly reduced, and arcus and dorsal plates are completely absent. Siricid males possess all pretarsal sclerites and a well-developed arolium. Auxiliary sclerites are absent in representatives of Orussidae. Trichoid sensilla are absent on the plantae in representatives of Cephidae and Orussidae. Other studied Symphyta possess two trichoid sensilla on the planta. Representatives of all investigated families bear two campaniform sensilla on the manubrium, with the exception of Siricidae having three sensilla. Kinematics of the pretarsus with bifurcated manubrium are modeled and discussed.     

Study of nucleotide sequences of nifH genes in methanotrophic bacteria

Using a previously developed primer system, nifH gene fragments 450 nucleotides long were amplified, cloned, and sequenced for representatives of nitrogen-fixing methanotrophic bacteria of the genera Methylococcus, Methylocystis and Methylosinus. Fragments of nifH genes were also detected and sequenced in representatives of the genera Methylomonas and Methylobacter, which were not considered diazotrophs until recently. Phylogenetic analysis revealed remoteness of nifH genes sequences of methanotroph types I and II. At the same time, close relationship was found between nifH of type I methanotrophs and representatives of gamma-proteobacteria and between nifH genes of type II methanotrophs and representatives of alpha-proteobacteria. The results obtained in this study are in good accordance with the data of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence comparison with the only exception of Methylococcus capsulatus strains, whose nifH genes proved to be closely related to nifH genes of Methylocystis and Methylosinus representatives. Our findings extend the database of primary sequences of nifH genes and allow the contribution of methanotrophs to the process of nitrogen fixation to be estimated.     

Dramaturgical study of meetings between general practitioners and representatives of pharmaceutical companies

ObjectivesTo examine the interaction between general practitioners and pharmaceutical company representatives.DesignQualitative study of 13 consecutive meetings between general practitioner and pharmaceutical representatives. A dramaturgical model was used to inform analysis of the transcribed verbal interactions.SettingPractice in south west England.Participants13 pharmaceutical company representatives and one general practitioner.ResultsThe encounters were acted out in six scenes. Scene 1 was initiated by the pharmaceutical representative, who acknowledged the relative status of the two players. Scene 2 provided the opportunity for the representative to check the general practitioner''s knowledge about the product. Scene 3 was used to propose clinical and cost benefits associated with the product. During scene 4, the general practitioner took centre stage and challenged aspects of this information. Scene 5 involved a recovery strategy as the representative fought to regain equilibrium. In the final scene, the representative tried to ensure future contacts.ConclusionEncounters between general practitioners and pharmaceutical representatives follow a consistent format that is implicitly understood by each player. It is naive to suppose that pharmaceutical representatives are passive resources for drug information. General practitioners might benefit from someone who can provide unbiased information about prescribing in a manner that is supportive and sympathetic to the demands of practice.

What is already known on this topic

Pharmaceutical representatives influence physicians'' prescribing in ways that are often unacknowledged by the physicians themselvesMeetings with pharmaceutical representatives are associated with increased prescribing costs and less rational prescribing

What this study adds

Meetings between pharmaceutical representatives and general practitioners follow a consistent format that is implicitly understood by each playerGeneral practitioners may cooperate because representatives make them feel valued     

Chronological Changes in Japanese Physicians' Attitude and Behavior Concerning Relationships with Pharmaceutical Representatives: A Qualitative Study

Background

Recent qualitative studies indicated that physicians interact with pharmaceutical representatives depending on the relative weight of the benefits to the risks and are also influenced by a variety of experiences and circumstances. However, these studies do not provide enough information about if, when, how and why their attitudes and behaviors change over time.

Methods and Findings

A qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews was conducted on 9 Japanese physicians who attended a symposium on conflicts of interest held in Tokyo. Interviews were designed to explore chronological changes in individual physicians'' attitude and behavior concerning relationships with pharmaceutical representatives and factors affecting such changes. Their early interaction with pharmaceutical representatives was passive as physicians were not explicitly aware of the meaning of such interaction. They began to think on their own about how to interact with pharmaceutical representatives as they progressed in their careers. Their attitude toward pharmaceutical representatives changed over time. Factors affecting attitudinal change included work environment (local regulations and job position), role models, views of patients and the public, acquisition of skills in information seeking and evidence-based medicine, and learning about the concepts of professionalism and conflict of interest. However, the change in attitude was not necessarily followed by behavioral change, apparently due to rationalization and conformity to social norms.

Conclusions

Physicians'' attitudes toward relationships with pharmaceutical representatives changed over time and factors affecting such changes were various. Paying attention to these factors and creating new social norms may be both necessary to produce change in behavior consistent with change in attitude.     

Genomic polymorphism of isolates of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora ramorum</Emphasis> from Polish ornamental nurseries compared with other European and North American isolates

We undertook an analysis of the genomic relationships between 15 isolates of Phytophthora ramorum Werres, de Cock et Man in't Veld, obtained from symptomatic plants growing in Polish ornamental nurseries, and 2 representatives of the European population and 3 of the North American population. Dendrograms were generated by UPGMA based on 786 amplification products obtained in ISSR-PCR reactions. The representatives of the European population and 13 of the "Polish" isolates formed a common cluster. The other 2 "Polish" isolates, which were found in 1998, and the 3 American representatives formed 2 separate clusters. There was no observed link between genomic distance on the basis of polymorphism and the origin of the isolates from plant species.     

Interactions with the pharmaceutical industry: experiences and attitudes of psychiatry residents,interns and clerks.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the type and number of interactions of psychiatry residents, interns and clerks with sales representatives of pharmaceutical companies and the attitudes of physicians-in-training toward these interactions. DESIGN: Survey conducted with the use of a self-report questionnaire. SETTING: Seven teaching hospitals affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. PARTICIPANTS: All 105 residents, interns and clerks training in psychiatry at the seven teaching hospitals between October 1993 and February 1994 were eligible; 74 completed questionnaires, for a response rate of 70%. One respondent was excluded from the analysis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of personal meetings and "drug lunches" attended, number of drug samples and promotional items received and estimated value of gifts received by each physician-in-training during a 1-year period as well as attitudes of residents, interns and clerks about interactions with pharmaceutical representatives. RESULTS: Median number of personal meetings reported was 1 (range 0 to 35), of drug lunches attended was 10 (range 0 to 70), of promotional items received was 2 (range 0 to 75) and of drug samples received was 1 (range 0 to 20). Trainees'' median estimate of the value of gifts received was $20 (range $0 to $800 Fewer than one third felt that pharmaceutical representatives were a source of accurate information about drugs; however, 71% (52/73) disagreed with the statement that representatives should be banned from making presentations. Although only 15% (11/73) felt they had sufficient training about meeting with pharmaceutical representatives, 34% (25/73) felt that discussions with representatives would have no impact on their prescribing practices, and 56% (41/73) felt that receiving gifts would have no impact on prescribing. Fewer than half said they would maintain the same degree of contact with representatives if they did not receive promotional gifts. The more money and promotional items a physician-in-training had received, the more likely he or she was to believe that discussions with representatives did not affect prescribing (p < 0.05). Clerks, interns and junior (first-year and second-year) residents attended two to three times more drug lunches than senior (third-year and fourth-year) residents, and significantly more junior than senior residents felt that pharmaceutical representatives have a valuable teaching role. Junior residents were three times more likely than senior residents to have received drug samples. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between pharmaceutical representatives and psychiatry residents, interns and clerks are common. The physicians-in-training perceive little educational value in these contacts and many, especially clerks, interns and junior residents, disavow the potential of these interactions to influence prescribing. Therefore, supervisors of postgraduate medical training programs may wish to provide instruction concerning potential conflicts of interest inherent in these types of interactions.     

Prism Size in Tooth Enamel of Some Late Cretaceous Mammals and Its Value in Multituberculate Taxonomy

Teeth from specified members of the two suborders of Late Cretaceous Multituberculata and two Late Cretaceous therians were studied. The enamel was prismatic on all teeth. In the therian representatives and the representatives of the suborder Ptilodontoidea of the Multituberculata, the prism diameters and densities per unit area were similar to those of recent mammals. In the representatives of the suborder Taeniolabidoidea the prisms were very large and their density per unit area was 5 to 8 times lower than in recent mammals. It is suggested that gigantoprismatic enamel is a characteristic of Taeniolabidoidea and could be used as a taxonomic criterion in multituberculate systematics.     

The role of nongovernmental organizations in the response to the AIDS epidemic

The main trends in the activities of the Public Movement "Faith, Hope, Love", organized by an initiative group of specialists in public health, law, public order maintenance, as well as volunteers, in June 1996 are presented. The main aspects of the activities of this non-governmental organization are the prevention of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among vulnerable groups of the population (female sex workers, injecting drug users, street children, representatives of sexual minorities); educational activities on the problems of the prevention of drug addiction and AIDS/STD among adolescents and young people; rendering psychological assistance to the vulnerable groups of the population; practical assistance to street children. Approaches and methods used in the work on AIDS/STD prevention among vulnerable groups of the population are as follows: active involvement of the representatives of vulnerable groups in preventive work, the creation of the possibility of contacts with specialists for representatives of vulnerable groups by opening confidence rooms, mutual assistance centers, provision with individual preventive remedies, active involvement of representatives of government structures in the realization of the projects carried out by the Movement, etc.     

Effect of high contents of dietary animal-derived protein or carbohydrates on canine fecal microbiota

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Considerable evidence suggests that food impacts both the gastro-intestinal (GI) function and the microbial ecology of the canine GI tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of high-carbohydrate (HC), high-protein (HP) and dry commercial (DC) diets on the canine colonic microbiota in Beagle dogs. Diets were allocated according to the Graeco-Latin square design. For this purpose, microbial DNA was isolated from faecal samples and separated by density gradient centrifugation, resulting in specific profiling based on the guanine-cytosine content (%G+C). In addition, 16S rRNA gene amplicons were obtained from the most abundant %G+C peaks and analysed by sequence analysis, producing a total of 720 non-redundant sequences (240 sequences per diet). RESULTS: The DC diet sample showed high abundance of representatives of the orders Clostridiales, Lactobacillales, Coriobacteriales and Bacteroidales. Sequence diversity was highest for DC diet samples and included representatives of the orders Lactobacillales and Bacteroidales, which were not detected in samples from the HP and HC diets. These latter two diets also had reduced levels of representatives of the family Lachnospiraceae, specifically Clostridial cluster XIVa. The HC diet favoured representatives of the order Erysipelotrichales, more specifically the Clostridial cluster XVIII, while the HP diet favoured representatives of the order Fusobacteriales. CONCLUSIONS: This study detected Coriobacteriales in dog faeces, possibly due to the non-selective nature of the %G+C profiling method used in combination with sequencing. Moreover, our work demonstrates that the effect of diet on faecal microbiota can be explained based on the metabolic properties of the detected microbial taxa.     

Comparative copepodid development in Tisbidimorpha sensu Lang, 1948 (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) and its bearing on phylogenetic considerations

The postembryonic development of five representatives of Tisbidimorpha Lang, 1948 is described and discussed in the light of the phylogenetic relationships among the taxa. The copepodids of Scutellidium hippolytes, Tisbe gracilis, Drescheriella glacialis (all 3 belonging to Tisbidae), Tegastes clausi (Tegastidae), and Alteutha interrupta (Peltidiidae) are compared. Copepodids of Tegastidae and Peltidiidae are described for the first time. Copepodid synapomorphies support the close relationship of the 3 representatives belonging to Tisbidae on the one hand and the representatives of both, Tegastidae and Peltidiidae on the other hand. S. hippolytes exhibits copepodid characters which are peculiar for Scutellidium.     

Pharmacology and toxicology of pahayokolide A, a bioactive metabolite from a freshwater species of Lyngbya isolated from the Florida Everglades

The genus of filamentous cyanobacteria, Lyngbya, has been found to be a rich source of bioactive metabolites. However, identification of such compounds from Lyngbya has largely focused on a few marine representatives. Here, we report on the pharmacology and toxicology of pahayokolide A from a freshwater isolate, Lyngbya sp. strain 15-2, from the Florida Everglades. Specifically, we investigated inhibition of microbial representatives and mammalian cell lines, as well as toxicity of the compound to both invertebrate and vertebrate models. Pahayokolide A inhibited representatives of Bacillus, as well as the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, the compound also inhibited several representatives of green algae that were also isolated from the Everglades. Pahayokolide A was shown to inhibit a number of cancer cell lines over a range of concentrations (IC50 varied from 2.13 to 44.57 microM) depending on the cell-type. When tested against brine shrimp, pahayokolide was only marginally toxic at the highest concentrations tested (1 mg/mL). The compound was, however, acutely toxic to zebrafish embryos (LC50=2.15 microM). Possible biomedical and environmental health aspects of the pahayokolides remain to be investigated; however, the identification of bioactive metabolites such as these demonstrates the potential of the Florida Everglades as source of new toxins and drugs.     

Trachylina: The Group That Remains Enigmatic Despite 150 Years of Investigations

Trachylina is a group of cnidarians, a subclass of Hydrozoa. Despite the low species diversity of this group, its representatives are characterized by diversity of life cycles. Trachylina have populated various environments, from deep ocean to fresh water ecosystems. Polyps of Trachylina are either very small or absent in the life cycle, which distinguishes this group from the majority of other Hydrozoa. Trachylina are also highly diverse and have a number of features that are unusual for cnidarians. A number of representatives of this group are characterized by a small number of cells at the embryonic and larval stages. This phenomenon is well known for the representatives of phylogenetically distant taxa—Nematoda and Chordata (Tunicata). In addition, the development of Trachylina is characterized by a number of evolutionary changes that, apparently, make it possible to accelerate the formation of the definitive stage (medusa). Paradoxically, there is no one species among the representatives of this group that is studied in more or less detail. The purpose of our review is to summarize the scanty information on the Trachylina ontogeny and to demonstrate the importance of studying the ontogeny of this group for understanding the general rules of the evolution of development and life cycles of Metazoa.     

Protein structure,electron transfer and evolution of prokaryotic photosynthetic reaction centers

Photosynthetic reaction centers from a variety of organisms have been isolated and characterized. The groups of prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms include the purple bacteria, the filamentous green bacteria, the green sulfur bacteria and the heliobacteria as anoxygenic representatives as well as the cyanobacteria and prochlorophytes as oxygenic representatives. This review focuses on structural and functional comparisons of the various groups of photosynthetic reaction centers and considers possible evolutionary scenarios to explain the diversity of existing photosynthetic organisms.Abbreviations BChl bacteriochlorophyll - Chl chlorophyll - Rb Rhodobacter - Rp Rhodopseudomonas     

Selective isolation of members of the Streptomyces violaceoruber clade from soil

Large numbers of filamentous actinomycetes which formed distinctive red coloured colonies were isolated from three out of four composite soil samples using a medium designed to be selective for members of the Streptomyces violaceoruber clade, a taxon which includes the model organisms "Streptomyces coelicolor" A3(2) and "Streptomyces lividans" 66. The isolation medium, dextran-histidine-sodium chloride-mineral salts agar supplemented with antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics, also supported the growth of representatives of the S. violaceoruber clade. One hundred and ninety one representatives of the isolates that produced red colour colonies on the isolation medium were distributed into four colour groups based on their ability to form distinctive pigments and morphological properties typical of members of the S. violaceoruber clade, an assignment that was confirmed by corresponding 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies. The selective isolation and characterisation procedures used in the present investigation provide a practical means of determining the taxonomic diversity, geographical distribution and roles of representatives of the S. violaceoruber clade in natural habitats.     

Structure and localization of sensilla on antennae of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Structure of antenna segments and ultrastructure of antennal sensillae in representatives of 28 caddisfly families from both modern suborders were studied by electron and light microscopy methods. On Trichoptera antennae, 16 types of sensillae were found, some of them being described for the first time. Morphological peculiarities of cuticular ultrastructures on the antennal surface demonstrate essential differences in structure both at the family level and at the lower taxonomic levels. Specialized sensory fields structurally different from the remaining antennal surface were revealed on antennal flagellae in representatives of the Phryganeina suborder. A new classification of sensillae based on the structure of their cuticular section is proposed.     

Review of paleontological data on the evolution of aquatic beetles (Coleoptera)

Paleontological data on the evolution of aquatic beetles are reviewed. A total of 37 beetle families are regarded as aquatic; five of them are extinct; three other extinct families could have had aquatic larvae; seven families are not known from the fossil record. The earliest records of fossil representatives of Recent families of aquatic beetles are given. The geological distribution of extinct families is reviewed, and the data on the modes of life of their representatives and on their evolution are provided. The new name Coleocatiniidae nom. nov. is proposed for Catiniidae Ponomarenko, 1968, a junior homonym of Catiniidae Embelton, 1901 (Crustacaea, Copepoda).     

Evolution of proteins of macroglobulin family

The first representatives of proteins of the macroglobulin family appeared 500–700 million years ago. At present representatives of this family have been revealed in crustaceans, molluscs, fish, amphibians, reptiles, ticks, insects, birds, and mammals, the macroglobulin family in blood of some species being represented simultaneously by several proteins that have different molecular weight and partly duplicate functions of each other. In different species, they are present as monomers, dimers, or tetramers. The distinguishing feature of each protein subunit is the presence of a “trap” with cyclic thioether on the bottom and of a sufficiently large hydrophobic area. All representatives are able to form complexes with different regulatory substances through covalent or hydrophobic bonds, which allows them to perform a wide range of regulatory functions. The ancient origin, evolutionary conservatism, widespread presence, and a diversity of regulatory functions permit proteins of the macroglobulin family to be considered as the main regulatory biomolecules of organism fluid media.     

Quantitative evaluation of the genetic divergence of amphibian taxa of different rank by the spectra of total proteins and nonspecific esterases

Based on the PAAG disc-electrophoretic spectra of water-soluble total proteins (Pr) and non-specific esterases (Est) from several types of tissues in representatives of Urodela (Triturus vulgaris vulgaris, T. v. lantzi, T. cristatus, T. montandoni, T. dobrogicus) and Anura amphibians (Rana ridibunda, R. lessonae, R. temporaria, R. arvalis; Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Bombina bombina; Xenopus laevis, X. borealis; Hymenochirus boettgeri), mean genetic distances (D = -ln[2i/(2i + d)], where i is the number of fractions identical and d is the number of fractions different by Rf-bands, were estimated within and between taxa of intra-, inter-, and superspecific ranks. The most stable estimates were obtained for Pr and Est spectra of skeletal muscles and eyes. In most cases, the spectra of tissues of the digestive system gave higher D values than those of the other organs. The levels of intraspecific differentiation by D (both Pr and Est) were higher in the studied representatives of the order Urodela, probably due to their lower migration ability and more conservative choice of water-bodies for spawning than in the representatives of the other order; the same trend is true for the interspecific differentiation by Pr spectra. Est, on the contrary, gave lighter interspecific differentiation level in Anura than in Urodela, evidently due to the prevalence of sympatric species pairs able to hybridize among the studied representatives of the latter order.     

黔南紫云、晴隆晚石炭世及早二叠世四射珊瑚

通过对黔南地区晚石炭世及早二叠世早期四射珊瑚的研究,建立4个四射珊瑚组合,自下而上：1）Antheria-Pseudotimania组合;2）Nephelophyllum-Eokepingophyllum组合;3）Parawentzellophyllum-Kepingophyllum组合;4）Anfractophyllum组合。组合1、2以Cyathopsidae科分子和Kepingophyllidae科的原始分子为主;组合3以Kepingophyllidae科的典型分子为代表;组合4以Kepingophyllidae的进化型分子为特征。文中描述四射珊瑚9新种及1未定种。     

Power and Control in Interactions Between Journalists and Health-Related Industries: The View From Industry

The mass media is a major source of health information for the public, and as such the quality and independence of health news reporting is an important concern. Concerns have been expressed that journalists reporting on health are increasingly dependent on their sources—including representatives of industries responsible for manufacturing health-related products—for story ideas and content. Many critics perceive an imbalance of power between journalists and industry sources, with industry being in a position of relative power, however the empirical evidence to support this view is limited. The analysis presented here—which is part of a larger study of industry-journalist relationships—draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with representatives of health-related industries in Australia to inductively examine their perceptions of power relations between industry and journalists. Participants painted a picture in which journalists, rather than themselves, were in a position to control the nature, extent, and outcome of their interactions with industry sources. Our results resonate with the concept of “mediatisation” as it has been applied in the domain of political reporting. It appears that, from the perspective of industry representatives, the imposition of media logic on health-related industries may inappropriately influence the information that the public receives about health-related products.