A revision of the genus Paronthobium from New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Epilissini)

A revision of the New Caledonian genus Paronthobium Paulian 1984 is presented. Anonthobium Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Paronthobium Paulian 1984 after evaluating the diagnostic characters originally introduced by Paulian to separate them. Upon examination of the type specimens, Onthobium caledonicum Paulian 1935 is separated from O. simplex Fauvel 1903 and restored as valid. Anonthobium moui Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Anonthobium micros Paulian 1984. Fifteen new species are described: P. adio n. sp., P. daghfousi n. sp., P. dierkensi n. sp., P. farino n. sp., P. iac n. sp., P. julieni n. sp., P. memaoya n. sp., P. minutum n. sp., P. nasutum n. sp., P. orientale n. sp., P. peckorum n. sp., P. petchecara n. sp., P. subdentatum n. sp., P. taom n. sp. and P. tchingou n. sp. The genus Paronthobium is now composed of 22 species. Illustrations of parameres and of male protibiae are provided for each species. Distribution maps and a key to species are given.     

The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.     

A New Ichnospecies of Arthrophycus from the Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian of Northwest Argentina: Implications for the Arthrophycid Lineage and Potential in Ichnostratigraphy

A new ichnospecies of Arthrophycus Hall 1852, A. minimus , is described from Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian, shallow-marine strata of northwest Argentina. This new ichnospecies consists of small, long, regularly annulated hypichnial elements displaying subcircular to squarish cross-section and a ventral median groove. Side branches are occasionally present, but palmate, fan-like structures and scribbling patterns are absent. We adopt a relatively narrow diagnosis of Arthrophycus , suggesting that roughly annulated, cylindrical structures should not be included in this ichnogenus, unless other diagnostic features (i.e., squarish cross-section, median groove, zipper-like annulations) are also present. Arthrophycus is a common ichnotaxon in Ordovician-Silurian shallow-marine siliciclastic environments. Post-Paleozoic occurrences are removed from Arthrophycus . Arthrophycus has been proposed as a biostratigraphic index fossil in Ordovician-Silurian rocks. The presence of A. minimus in the Santa Rosita Formation of northwest Argentina indicates that Arthrophycus ranges at least from the Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian with probable representatives in the Lower Cambrian and, therefore, its biostratigraphic utility is extended. Arthrophycus minimus represents the first Cambrian occurrence exhibiting not only fine, diagnostic morphologic features, but also the classical Arthrophycus behavioral pattern in dense monoichnospecific assemblages. The exploratory behavioral pattern displayed by A. minimus is simpler than that of the younger ichnospecies, particularly A. brogniartii, A. alleghaniensis, and A. lateralis . This is consistent with the basal position of A. minimus within the arthrophycid lineage.     

A model of cell firing patterns during epileptic seizures

A simplified model is presented of the dynamics of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the cerebral cortex. A key feature of the model is that neurons may cease to fire when strongly depolarized (spike inactivation). Computer simulations for different parameters reveal five classes of solutons: a) steady states in which neither excitatory nor inhibitory cells are active, b) steady states in which one or both types of cells fire repetitively, c) states in which one type of cell fluctuates rapidly between bursts of action potentials and inactivity due to strong depolarization, d) rhythmic activity in which both types of cells fire in unison followed by a period of spike inactivation and e) states similar to d but in which the inhibitory cells never produce action potentials. Solutions b, c, d, and e qualitatively resemble the different firing patterns observed during experimental seizures. It is shown that changes in those parameters that are functions of potassium concentration can induce changes in the type of solution. It is therefore proposed that the increase in extracellular potassium concentration during seizures may be responsible for the progressive changes observed in firing patterns and particularly for the transition from tonic to clonic patterns. A method is also outlined for testing the predictions of the model.     

Nomenclatural changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithospermum</Emphasis> (Boraginaceae) and related taxa following a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships

Lithospermum (Boraginaceae) comprises approximately 40 species in both the Old and New Worlds, with a center of diversity in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Using ten cpDNA regions, a phylogeny of Lithospermum and related taxa was reconstructed. Lithospermum (including New World and Old World species) and related New World members of Lithospermeae form a monophyletic group, with Macromeria, Onosmodium, Nomosa, Lasiarrhenum, and Psilolaemus nested among species of Lithospermum. New World Lithospermeae also is a monophyletic group, with Eurasian species of Lithospermum sister to this group. Because Lithospermum is not monophyletic without the inclusion of the other New World genera, species from these genera are transferred to Lithospermum, and appropriate nomenclatural changes are made. New combinations are Lithospermum album, Lithospermum barbigerum, Lithospermum dodrantale, Lithospermum exsertum, Lithospermum helleri, Lithospemum leonotis, Lithospermum notatum, Lithospermum oaxacanum, Lithospermum pinetorum, Lithospermum rosei, Lithospermum trinverium, and Lithospermum unicum; new names are Lithospermum chiapense, Lithospermum johnstonii, Lithospermum macromeria, Lithospermum onosmodium, Lithospermum rzedowskii, and Lithospermum turneri.     

Phylogenetic relationships of species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoroegneria</Emphasis> (Poaceae: Triticeae) and related genera inferred from nuclear rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequences

To evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of species in Pseudoroegneria and related genera, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were analyzed for eighteen Pseudoroegneria (St), two Elytrigia (E ^e St), two Douglasdeweya (StP), three Lophopyrum (E ^e and E ^b ), three Agropyron (P), two Hordeum (H), two Australopyrum (W) and two Psathyrostachys (Ns) accessions. The main results were: (i) Pseudoroegneria gracillima, P. stipifolia, P. cognata and P. strigosa (2x) were in one clade, while P. libanotica, P. tauri and P. spicata (2x) were in the other clade, indicating there are the differentiations of St genome among diploid Pseudoroegneria species; (ii) P. geniculata ssp. scythica, P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera, Elytriga caespitosa and Et. caespitosa ssp. nodosa formed the E ^e St clade with 6-bp indel in ITS1 regions; and (iii) Douglasdeweya wangii, D. deweyi, Agropyron cristatum and A. puberulum comprised the P clade. It is unreasonable to treat P. geniculata ssp. scythica and P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera as the subspecies of P. geniculata, and they should be transferred to a new genus Trichopyrum, which consists of species with E ^e St genomes. It is also suggested that one of the diploid donor of D. wangii and D. deweyi is derived from Agropyron species, and it is reasonable to treat tetraploid species with StP genomes into Douglasdeweya.     

Revision of the genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelinae: Adoretini) endemic to Madagascar

Summary. The Adoretini of the Malagasy endemic genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 is revised. Fourteen new species and one new subspecies are described and compared with their most closely related species: A. constricta n. sp., A. cuccodoroi n. sp., A. flava n. sp., A. liliae n. sp., A. marginata n. sp., A. peyrierasi n. sp., A. pseudoconstricta n. sp., A. pseudoflava n. sp., A. pseudostrigata n. sp., A. recta n. sp., A. robusta n. sp., A. sogai n. sp., A. vadoni n. sp., A. viettei n. sp. and A. vittaticollis flavipes n. ssp. The synonymy between Adoretus strigatus Waterhouse 1878, and Pseudadorodocia aenigma Arrow 1901, is confirmed. Thus, based on the results of this study, the genus Adorodocia includes 16 species, and one of them is represented by two subspecies. Diagnostic characters to separate the species in the genus deal mostly with the shape of parameres, color of body and legs, shape of pronotum and female eighth tergite, setation of pronotum and elytra. Key to species, diagnoses and distribution for each species are provided. Endophallus and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time for this genus.     

Comparison of Soybean Tissue Extracted with Different Solvents

The enantioselective hydrolysis of (R,S)-3-acetoxymethyl-7,8-difluoro-2,3-dihydro-4H-[1,4]benzoxazine (I) with enzymes was investigated. Optically active I and its hydrolyzate, 7,8-difluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxymethyl-4H-[1,4]benzoxazine (II), are the intermediates for preparing optically active ofloxacins, whose racemate is known to be an excellent antibacterial agent. Lipoprotein lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (LPL Amano 3) was found to predominantly hydrolyze (S)-I, giving (R)-I in 54% e.e. and (R)-II in 44% e.e. On the other hand, lipase from Candida cylindracea was found to predominantly hydrolyze (R)-I, giving (S)-I in 24% e.e. and (S)-II in 20% e.e. Since, the optical purities of I and II thus obtained were not particularly high, these optically active I and II were converted into 3-acetoxymethyl-7,8-difluoro-2,3-dihydro-4-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-4H-[1,4]benzoxazine (IV). After recrystallizing IV from ethyl acetate-hexane, (S)- and (R)-II were obtained with high enantiomeric excess by removing the crystallized racemic IV and subsequently hydrolyzing the resulting optically active IV with alkali. The reduction of II afforded 7,8-difluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-4H-[1,4]benzoxazine (III), for which the optical purity was estimated to be >96%e.e. by HPLC analysis. (R)- and (S)-ofloxacin were prepared from (R)- and (S)-III with retention of their configuration.     

Transfers to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Simsia</Emphasis> and description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Davilanthus</Emphasis>, a new genus of Asteraceae (Heliantheae)

Taxonomic changes are made to reflect a reassessment of morphology based on the results of molecular phylogenetic studies. A new genus, Davilanthus, is described to include six species that collectively form the sister group to Simsia, and includes the following species transferred from Viguiera: Davilanthus davilae, Davilanthus hidalgoanus, Davilanthus hypargyreus, Davilanthus huajuapanus, Davilanthus purpusii, and Davilanthus sericeus. Three species formerly placed in Viguiera ser. Grammatoglossae are transferred to Simsia: Simsia benziorum, Simsia ovata, and Simsia rhombifolia.     

Adherence ofMycobacterium leprae to the nasal mucosa is influenced by surface integrity and viability

The intranasal route is one of the main routes of Mycobacterium leprae infection and there is paucity of information regarding the mode of spread of the pattern. The adherence of M.leprae to the nasal mucosa, its trapping within the sinuses of the head, and its fate after entry into the host was studied using mouse model. A comparison of the adherence profile of M. leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed that while larger numbers of M. tuberculosis were demonstrated within lungs, greater numbers of M.leprae were present within the sinuses of the head. Adherence of M.leprae to the nasal mucosa was dependent on surface integrity since opsonization and heat killing resulted in decreased numbers of M.leprae in the nasal sinuses and a greater amount entering the lungs. The adherence appeared to the independent of the viability of the bacilli, as similar numbers of formalin-fixed, rifampicin-treated and viable M.leprae entered the lungs in the initial stages. However the numbers of rifampicin-treated M. leprae in the nasal sinuses were 12-fold lower than the numbers of viable M.leprae. These results indicated that both viability and surface integrity were important in the entry of M.leprae and it’s consequent dissemination.     

Miscellaneous mistletoe notes, 48–60: Descriptions of twelve new species of Loranthaceae and Viscaceae

Twelve new South American species of Loranthaceae (Aetanthus, Cladocolea, Oryctanthus, and Struthanthus) and Viscaceae (Dendrophthora and Phoradendron) are described and illustrated: Aetanthus trifolius, Cladocolea rostrifolia, Dendrophthora lanceolata, Dendrophthora rotundata, Dendrophthora tenuis, Dendrophthora werffii, Oryctanthus minor, Phoradendron pascoi, Phoradendron vasquezianum, Struthanthus apiculatus, Struthanthus schultesii, and Struthanthus sessiliflorus. Additionally, Cladocolea alternifolia, previously thought to be probably extinct, is reported to occur on Ilha Grande, just west of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.     

基本药物制度实施与乡镇卫生院补偿机制转变

目的 了解乡镇卫生院各项收支及药品补偿状况,探讨基本药物制度实施后,取消药品加成对乡镇卫生院的影响。方法 收集华东三省49家乡镇卫生院财务及药品收支数据,对定量资料进行统计分析。结果 乡镇卫生院主要的补偿渠道依然是药品收入,乡镇卫生院收入增长主要归因于增加药品收入。在财政补助收入大幅增加的情况下,乡镇卫生院对药品收入的依赖程度有所降低。结论 基本药物制度的实施对乡镇卫生院的平稳运行有影响,可采取加强财政补助、建立综合补偿机制、遏制药品价格虚高等措施保证乡镇卫生院在改革中的平稳运行。     

Six new species of Rhamnocercus Monaco,Wood & Mizelle, 1954 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) infecting the gills from South American sciaenid fishes

A parasitological survey searching diplectanids (Monogenea: Diplecatnidae) infesting the gills of marine fishes from South America was carried out during the 2019–2020 period. The gills of four sciaenid species, 2 Cheilotrema fasciatum Tschudi, 1 smalleye croaker Nebris microps Cuvier, 2 royal highhat Pareques lanfeari (Barton), and 1 minor stardrum Stellifer minor (Tschudi), were sampled. Six new species of Rhamnocercus Monaco, Wood & Mizelle, 1954 were described: Rhamnocercus chacllae n. sp. and Rhamnocercus chaskae n. sp. from P. lanfeari, Rhamnocercus fasciatus n. sp. from C. fasciatum, Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. from N. microps, and Rhamnocercus rimaci n. sp. and Rhamnocercus tantaleani n. sp. from S. minor. Rhamnocercus chacllae n. sp. can be differentiated from its congeners by its L-shaped male copulatory organ (MCO) and by having an anteromedial slight notch at ventral bar. Rhamnocercus chaskae n. sp. differs from the other species of the genus by its long and straight MCO with bifid distal end and by having haptoral accessory spines at level of ventral bar with quadrifid distal portion. Rhamnocercus fasciatus n. sp. is characterized by possessing a straight and long MCO with truncated distal end, haptoral accessory spines at level of ventral bar with bifid distal portion, dorsal bars with a knob at lateral extremity, and a large vagina with bell-shaped. Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. differs from all congeners mainly by having a short and straight MCO with the distal end of internal tube spatulate and uncovered by external tube. Rhamnocercus rimaci n. sp. is can be distinguished from all other species of Rhamnocercus by having an almost J-shaped MCO with the distal end of external tube slight expanded and the distal end of internal tube narrow and uncovered by external tube. Rhamnocercus tantaleani n. sp. is mainly characterized by its MCO, which is tubular and straight, having the distal end of external tube bifurcated (right branch well-expanded and left branch narrow) and the distal end of internal tube enveloped by left branch of the external tube. This is the first data on the parasites of P. lanfeari, a little known, but popular fish in local markets from Peru. Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. is the first described species of Rhamnocercus in Brazil. The present finding brings to 12, the number of known species of Rhamnocercus. A key to Rhamnocercus species is provided.

     

猫爪草中的脂肪酸类化合物

为了解小毛茛(Ranunculus ternatus Thunb.)的化学成分,采用色谱技术从其干燥块根猫爪草中分离纯化得到5个脂肪酸类化合物,经波谱分析,他们的结构分别鉴定为(R)-3-hydroxy-11-methoxy-11-oxoundecanoic acid(1)、十六烷酸(2)、棕榈酸乙酯(3)、已二酸(4)和硬脂酸(5)。其中,化合物1为新化合物,这些成分对耐药结核分枝杆菌(耐INH+RFP)有一定的体外抑制活性。     

The BglG group of antiterminators: a growing family of bacterial regulators

The product of the bglG gene of Escherichia coli was among the first bacterial antiterminators to be identified and characterized. Since the elucidation ten years ago of its role in the regulation of the bgl operon of E. coli,a large number of homologies have been discovered in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Often the homologues of BglG in other organisms are also involved in regulating β-glucoside utilization. Surprisingly, in many cases, they mediate antitermination to regulate a variety of other catabolic functions. Because of the high degree of conservation of the cis-acting regulatory elements, antiterminators from one organism can function in another. Generally the antiterminator protein itself is negatively regulated by phosphorylation by a component of the phosphotransferase system. This family of proteins thus represents a highly evolved regulatory system that is conserved across evolutionarily distant genuses.     

Three new species of Philocorydoras Suriano, 1986 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) infecting the gills of callichthyids (Actinopterygii: Callichthyidae) from the Peruvian Amazonia

During a research on gill ectoparasites of callichthyids fishes from the Peruvian Amazonia, the following monogenoideans were found: Philocorydoras peruensis n. sp. from Corydoras splendens (Castelnau); Philocorydoras multiradiatus n. sp. and Philocorydoras jumboi n. sp. from Brochis multiradiatus (Orcés, V.). All new species described herein are mainly differentiated from their congeners based on the morphology of the copulatory complex. In P. peruensis n. sp. the cirrus is “J”-like shaped tube slightly tilted to one side, while in P. jumboi n. sp. is “J”-like shaped tube in a straight position and in P. multiradiatus n. sp. the cirrus is an arced tube with inflated base and distally narrow. Brochis (Orcés, V.) represents a new genus hosting species of Philocorydoras. All new species presented in this work represent the first species of Philocorydoras reported for Peru.