Aerobiology of Vigo, North-Western Spain: atmospheric pollen spectrum and annual dynamics of the most important taxa, and their clinical importance for allergy

Vigo is a city located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Influenced by the Atlantic climate, it is surrounded by a Eurosiberian-type vegetation, modified by the introduction of forestry and ornamental species. Different ruderal vegetation types, resulting from human influence, grow in the area. The study of the pollen content of the air of Vigo started in 1989, with a Cour trap. Average results for the period 1989–1995 are presented in this paper, together with the lowest and highest values found. The representativeness of the mean values is analysed by calculating the coefficient of variation of the data series. Most pollen types in the atmosphere of Vigo are from tree species (54.2%); an important proportion comes from herb species (43.9%) and very few (1.8%) correspond to shrub species. A total of 73 different pollen types have been identified. The most abundant, listed in decreasing order of mean annual values for the period, are:Pinus (25.1%), Poaceae (21.1%), Urticaceae (14.6%),Quercus (8.5%),Castanea (3.7%),Betula (3.6%),Eucalyptus (3.4%),Plantago (3.2%),Alnus (2.1%), Cupressaceae (2.1%), Oleaceae (1.6%;Olea 1.3%),Platanus (1.3%),Rumex (1.3%), Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae (1.0%), Ericaceae (0.8%), Asteraceae (0.6%;Artemisia 0.1% andTaraxacum type 0.2%) andMercurialis (0.5%). A pollen calendar showing the annual dynamics of all these pollen types is presented in this paper. A parallel study of the clinical importance of respiratory allergies in Vigo was also conducted. From a sample of 2750 patients, 87.2% suffered from rhinoconjunctivitis, 26.0% of these due to pollen, and 78.3% from asthma, 17.2% due to pollen. The pollen types responsible for these allergies, listed in decreasing order, are: Poaceae (78%),Parietaria (12%),Chenopodium (11%),Plantago (9%), Oak (4%),Artemisia (3%),Pinus (3%),Eucalyptus (3%),Olea (2%),Platanus (2%),Castanea (2%),Taraxacum (2%),Rumex (2%),Betula (1%),Cupressus (1%) andMercurialis (1%).     

白毫早茶园3种害虫与其捕食性天敌的数量、时间和空间关系

为了合理利用和保护天敌进行卵形短须螨、双斑长跗萤叶甲和假眼小绿叶蝉的综合防治,用灰色系统分析方法和生态位分析法对合肥地区白毫早茶园3种主要害虫与其捕食性天敌在数量、时间、空间等方面关系进行分析,利用害虫与天敌关系密切指数之和综合评判9种天敌与3种害虫关系密切的前四位天敌。2015年卵形短须螨的前四位天敌是鳞纹肖蛸(5.3079)、三突花蟹蛛(5.1716)、锥腹肖蛸(4.8367)和草间小黑蛛(4.7869);2016年前四位天敌依次是三突花蟹蛛(5.3975)、鳞纹肖蛸(4.9414)、茶色新圆蛛(4.8757)、锥腹肖蛸(4.6815)。对两年结果综合分析,卵形短须螨的前四位天敌依次是三突花蟹蛛(10.5691)、鳞纹肖蛸(10.2493)、茶色新圆蛛(9.6353)和锥腹肖蛸(9.5182)。2015年双斑长跗萤叶甲的前四位天敌依次是锥腹肖蛸(5.6926)、异色瓢虫(5.6976)、八斑球腹蛛(5.5101)和斜纹猫蛛(5.4552);2016年依次是茶色新圆蛛(5.2909)、锥腹肖蛸(5.2710)、鳞纹肖蛸(5.1063)和斜纹猫蛛(5.0703)。对两年结果综合评判,双斑长跗萤叶甲的前四位天敌是锥腹肖蛸(10.9636)、茶色新圆蛛(10.6578)、异色瓢虫(10.7580)和鳞纹肖蛸(10.5437)。2015年假眼小绿叶蝉的前四位天敌依次是锥腹肖蛸(5.3614)、粽管巢蛛(5.2259)、斜纹猫蛛(5.1300)和茶色新圆蛛(4.7472);2016年是锥腹肖蛸(5.2666)、粽管巢蛛(5.2561)、草间小黑蛛(4.9376)和斜纹猫蛛(4.8335)。对两年结果综合评判,假眼小绿叶蝉的前四位天敌依次是锥腹肖蛸(10.6280)、粽管巢蛛(10.4820)、斜纹猫蛛(9.9635)和茶色新圆蛛(8.6137)。该研究结果为白毫早茶园3种害虫防治时合理保护和利用自然界的天敌的种类提供了科学依据。     

Evaluation of species composition and seasonal dynamics of mosquito larvae in the Košice Basin during 2010 and 2011

In six sites in the Ko?ice Basin we collected 17,520 larvae of 15 mosquito species during the seasons (April–August) of 2010 and 2011. They were: Aedes vexans (Meigen, 1830), Ae. cinereus (Meigen, 1818) [or Ae. rossicus (Dolbeskin, Gorickaja & Mitrofanova, 1930], Ochlerotatus geniculatus (Olivier, 1791), Oc. refiki (Medschid, 1928), Oc. rusticus (Rossi, 1790), Oc. sticticus (Meigen, 1838), Oc. punctor (Kirby, 1837), Oc. cataphylla (Dyar, 1916), Oc. cantans (Meigen, 1818)[or Oc. annulipes (Meigen, 1830)], Oc. communis (De Geer, 1776), Oc. flavescens (Müller, 1764), Oc. leucomelas (Meigen, 1804), Culiseta annulata (Schrank, 1776), Culex pipiens (L., 1758) [or Cx. torrentium (Martini, 1925)] and Anopheles maculipennis s.l. The objective of the present research was to identify the mosquito larvae species diversity and compare their distribution and density in urban and suburban localities of the monitored territory.     

A taxonomic revision of Labiostrongylus (Labiostrongylus) (Yorke & Maplestone, 1926) and Labiostrongylus (Labiomultiplex) n. subg. (Nematoda: Cloacinidae) from macropodid and potoroid marsupials

The morphological characters used to differentiate species in the genus Labiostrongylus Yorke & Maplestone, 1926, parasitic in macropodid and potoroid marsupials, are discussed. The genus is divided into three subgenera Labiostrongylus (Labiostrongylus), L. (Labiomultiplex) n. subg. and L. (Labiosimplex) n. subg. on the basis of the presence or absence of interlabia and the morphology of the oesophagus. A key to the subgenera is given and a detailed revision of two of the subgenera is presented. Keys to each of the subgenera are given, the species discussed being: L. (L.) labiostrongylus) (type-species) (syn. L. (L.) insularis, L. (L.) grandis, L. (L.) macropodis sp. inq. and L. (L.) nabarlekensis n. sp., in the subgenus Labiostrongylus, and L. (Lm.) eugenii, L. (Lm.) novaeguineae, L. (Lm.) onychogale, L. (Lm.) uncinatus, L. (Lm.) billardierii n. sp., L. (Lm.) constrictis n. sp., L. (Lm.) kimberleyensis n. sp., L. (Lm.) thylogale n. sp., and L. (Lm.) potoroi, n. sp., in the subgenus Labiomultiplex.     

On the composition of talassobathyal ichthyofauna and commercial productivity of Mozambique Seamount (the Indian Ocean)

Ichthyofauna of the Mozambique Seamount of the Indian Ocean, judging from the results of YugNIRO from the 1970s to the 1980s numbers about 130 species of bathyal and bathyal-pelagic fish that belong to 44 families. Most species belong to the families Macrouridae (16), Alepocephalidae (14), Ophidiidae (13), Squalidae (8), and Gempylidae (6). Among them, the greatest numbers and prospects of commercial importance, as over other seamounts, have about ten species: Centroscymnus coelolepis (Somniosidae), Etmopterus granulosus (Etmopteridae), Diastobranchus capensis and Synaphobranchus oregoni (Synaphobranchuidae), Alepocephalus australis, A. productus, and Rouleina attrita (Alepocephalidae), Cetonurus globiceps (Macrouridae), and Allocyttus verrucosus (Oreosomatidae); to the number of potential items of fishery one can also assign Hydrolagus africanus (Chimaeridae), Chlamydoselachus anguinus (Chlamydoselachidae), Apristurus indicus (Scyliorhinidae), Halosaurospis microchir (Halosauridae), Bathytyphlops marionae (Ipnopidae), Coelorhinchus acanthiger, and Coryphaenoides striatura (Macrouridae), Antimora rostrata (Moridae), Lamprogrammus niger and Selachophidium guentheri (Ophidiidae), and Holostethus atlanticus (Trachichthyidae). Pelagic deep-water fish (Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Myctophidae, etc.) apparently do not form aggregations having a commercial importance.     

Structure and bonding of gold(I) and gold(III) nucleosides studied by 197Au Mössbauer spectroscopy

¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectra of the series of complexes of gold(I), Au(nucl)₂Cl and gold(III), Au(nucl)Cl₃, Au(nucl - H⁺)Cl₂ and Au(nucl)₂Cl₃ were measured at 4.2 K, (nucl = nucleoside, e.g. guanosine(guo), inosine(ino), triacetylguanosine-(trguo) and triacetylinosine(trino)). It is concluded from the spectra that the gold(I) nucleosides have linear ClAuN coordination, with one coordinated nucleoside molecule per gold(I) ion, bound via the N(7) atom. The σ-donor strength of the guo ligand is somewhat higher than that of the ino ligand. The complexes Au(ino)Cl₃ and Au(guo)Cl₃, in the series Au(nucl)Cl₃, have significantly higher IS and QS values than the corresponding complexes with the triacetylnucleosides, Au(trino)Cl₃ and Au(trguo)Cl₃. This may be explained by a weak O(6)-interaction with gold(III), in a nearly trigonal bipyramidal configuration in the former case and by the presence of the strongly electron withdrawing acetyl groups in the latter, which reduces the donor strength of their N(7) atoms. The complexes of the Au(nucl - H⁺)Cl₂ series all appear to have a polymeric structure. The gold(III) ion is bound to the N(7) atom and the O(6) or the N(1) atom of the nucleosides. Finally, the Mössbauer spectra of the series Au(nucl)₂)Cl₃ can only be explained by assuming approximately octahedral AuN₂Cl₄ structures, with bridging chlorine atoms.     

Italian Dermestidae: notes on some species and?an?updated checklist (Coleoptera)

An up-to-date checklist of the Italian Dermestidae is provided. The presence of 95 species in Italy is confirmed, while further 5 species (Dermestes (Dermestes) vorax Motschulsky, 1860, Thorictuspilosus Peyron, 1857, T. wasmanni Reitter, 1895, Attagenus (Attagenus) simonis Reitter, 1881 and Globicornis (G.) breviclavis (Reitter, 1878)) and 1 subspecies (A. (A.) tigrinus pulcher Faldermann, 1835) are excluded from the Italian fauna.Attagenus (Attagenus) calabricus Reitter, 1881 and A. (A.) lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856 are for the first time recorded from Abruzzi and Tuscany respectively; A. (A.) silvaticus Zhantiev, 1976 is recorded for the first time from mainland Italy (Apulia); Anthrenus (Anthrenus) angustefasciatus Ganglbauer, 1904 is new to northern Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), central Italy (Tuscany), Apulia and Basilicata; A. (A.) munroi Hinton, 1943 is new to central Italy (Elba Island); A. (A.) delicatus Kiesenwetter, 1851 is for the first time recorded from Apulia; Globicornis (Globicornis) fasciata (Fairmaire & Brisout de Barneville, 1859) is new to southern Italy (Basilicata); G. (Hadrotoma) sulcata (C.N.F. Brisout de Barneville, 1866) is for the first time recorded from central Italy (Abruzzi), Campania and Sicily, whileTrogoderma inclusum LeConte, 1854 is new to Apulia.Seven species (Dermestes (Dermestes) peruvianus Laporte de Castelnau, 1840, D. (Dermestinus) carnivorus Fabricius, 1775, D. (Dermestinus) hankae Háva, 1999, D. (Dermestinus) intermedius intermedius Kalík, 1951, D. (Dermestinus) szekessyi Kalík, 1950, Anthrenus (Anthrenops) coloratus Reitter, 1881 and Trogodermaangustum (Solier, 1849)) recently recorded from Italy (without further details) are discussed.The lectotype and a paralectotype are designated forAttagenus (A.) calabricus Reitter, 1881 from Calabria.Attagenus pellio (Linnaeus, 1758) var. pilosissimus Roubal, 1932 is removed from synonymy with A. (A.) pellio and recognized as a valid species (stat. prom.); it is known from Lombardy, Apulia and Calabria.     

Chemical composition and mosquito repellency of essential oil of Conyza newii propagated in different geographical locations of Kenya

Previously, essential oil of Conyza newii (Asterale: Asteracea, Oliv. & Hiern) growing in the northern part of West Pokot (35°E, 1°N) of Kenya was shown to be highly repellent [RD₅₀ = 8.9 × 10^?5 mg/cm², 95% confidence interval (CL)] to Anopheles gambiae s.s. Fumigant toxicity of the oil to the mosquito was also demonstrated. The major constituents of the oil were found to be monoterpenoids, including (S)‐(‐)‐perillyl alcohol, (S)‐(‐)‐perillaldehyde, geraniol, (R)‐(+)‐limonene, trans‐β‐ocimene and 1,8‐cineol. In this study, the chemical composition and repellency of essential oils of the plant seedlings collected from West Pokot (35°E, 1°N) and propagated in seven different geographical regions of Kenya [West Pokot (35°E, 1°N), Kilome (37°E, 1°S), Naivasha (36°E, 0°), Webuye (34°E, 1°N), Nyakach (34°E, 0°), Kericho (35°E, 0°) and Nairobi (36°E, 1°S)] were compared. There were significant variations (P < 0.01, 95% CL) in the relative proportions of the six constituents and this was reflected in the repellency of the essential oils (P < 0.01, 95% CL). Higher repellency of the oil was associated with greater proportions of (S)‐(‐) perillyl alcohol, (S)‐(‐)‐perillaldehyde and geraniol, and lower repellency was associated with an increased proportion of (R)‐(+)‐limonene. The results suggest significant epigenetic (chemotypic) variations in the repellency and composition of C. newii essential oils growing in different regions of Kenya.     

Enantioselective Uptake and Degradation of the Chiral Herbicide Dichlorprop [(RS)-2-(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid] by Sphingomonas herbicidovorans MH

Sphingomonas herbicidovorans MH was able to completely degrade both enantiomers of the chiral herbicide dichlorprop [(RS)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid], with preferential degradation of the (S) enantiomer over the (R) enantiomer. These results are in agreement with the recently reported enantioselective degradation of mecoprop [(RS)-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid] by this bacterium (C. Zipper, K. Nickel, W. Angst, and H.-P. E. Kohler, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:4318–4322, 1996). Uptake of (R)-dichlorprop, (S)-dichlorprop, and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was inducible. Initial uptake rates of cells grown on the respective substrate showed substrate saturation kinetics with apparent affinity constants (K_t) of 108, 93, and 117 μM and maximal velocities (V_max) of 19, 10, and 21 nmol min⁻¹ mg of protein⁻¹ for (R)-dichlorprop, (S)-dichlorprop, and 2,4-D, respectively. Transport of (R)-dichlorprop, (S)-dichlorprop, and 2,4-D was completely inhibited by various uncouplers and by nigericin but was only marginally inhibited by valinomycin and by the ATPase inhibitor N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimine. Experiments on the substrate specificity of the putative transport systems revealed that (R)-dichlorprop uptake was inhibited by (R)-mecoprop but not by (S)-mecoprop, (S)-dichlorprop, or 2,4-D. On the other hand, the (S)-dichlorprop transport was inhibited by (S)-mecoprop but not by (R)-mecoprop, (R)-dichlorprop, or 2,4-D. These results provide evidence that the first step in the degradation of dichlorprop, mecoprop, and 2,4-D by S. herbicidovorans is active transport and that three inducible, proton gradient-driven uptake systems exist: one for (R)-dichlorprop and (R)-mecoprop, another for (S)-dichlorprop and (S)-mecoprop, and a third for 2,4-D.     

Monogènes Dactylogyridae parasites de Cyprinidae du genreBarbus d'Afrique du Nord

Resumé Quinze nouvelles espèces de Monogènes Dactylogyridae sont décrites chez quinze espèces deBarbus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) appartenant aux sous-genresB. (Barbus) etB. (Labeobarbus) en Afrique du Nord. Les barbeaux examinés proviennent des différents bassins hydrographiques du Maroc et d'une localité nommée Hamman Bourgiba en Tunisie. Dans cette dernière région, le genreBarbus n'est représenté que par une seule espèce:Barbus (B.) callensis. Au Maroc, on en dénombre actuellement quatorze dont quatre appartiennent au sous-genreLabeobarbus: il s'agit deBarbus (L.) fritschii; B. (L.) harteti; B. (L.) paytonii etB. (L.) reinii. Les dix espèces appartenant au sous-genreBarbus sont:Barbus (B.) figuiensis; B. (B.) ksibi; B. (B.) lepineyi; B. (B.) magniatlantis; B. (B.) massaensis; B. (B.) moulouyensis; B. (B.) nasus; B. (B.) pallaryi; B. (B.) setivemensis etB. (B.) issenensis.Chaque sous-genre possède son propre pool parasitaire, à l'exception deDactylogyrus marocanus n. sp., recontré sur des espèces appartenant aux deux sous-genres (B. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) reinii, B. (L.) nasus, B. (B.) setivimensis, B. (B.) ksibi). Sur les cinqDactylogyrus parasitant lesLabeobarbus, trois présentent une spécificité stricte vis à vis de leur hôte. Il s'agit deDactylogyrus reinii n. sp. surB. (L.) reinii; D. volutus n. sp. etD. zatensis n. sp. surB. (L.) fritschii. Les espècesD. oumiensis n. sp. etD. kulindrii n. sp. présentent une spécifité stenoxène et parasitent respectivementB. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) reinii etB. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) reinii.Nous avons recontré neufDactylogyrus chez les poisson-hôtes appartenent au sous-genreBarbus. Six d'entre eux ont une spécificité oïoxène; ce sont:D. guirensis n. sp.,D. atlasensis n. sp. etD. draaensis n. sp. surB. (B.) pallaryi; D. borjensis n. sp. surB. (B.) nasus etD. heteromorphus n. sp. etD. tunisiensis n. sp. surB. (B.) callensis. Les trois autres parasites ont un spectre d'hôtes plus large. Il s'agit deD. ksibii n. sp. recontré chezB. (B.) ksibi, B. (B.) setivimensis etB. (B.) magniatlantis; D. ksibioïdes n. sp. recontré chezB. (B.) setivimensis etB. (B.) moulouyensis. L'espèceD. fimbriphallus n. sp. stenoxène, se recontre chez les poisson-hôtes du versant Sud de l'Atlas et de la façade méditerranéenne à savoir:B. (B.) figuiensis, B. (B.) lepineyi, B. (B.) massaensis, B. (B.) moulouyensis, B. (B.) pallaryi etB. (B.) issenensis.Le rôle des Dactylogyridae en tant que marqueurs biogéographiques, phylogénétiques et taxonomiques est discuté à partir de la composition spécifique des communautés de Monogènes rencontrés et de leurs différents types morphologiques.

---

Fifteen new species of the Dactylogyridae (Monogenea) parasitic on fifteen species of barbels (Barbus) from North Africa (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) are described. The fishes studied belong to two subgenera,B. (Labeobarbus) andB. (Barbus), collected from various hydrographical basins of Morocco and from the Hamman Bourgiba locality in Tunisia. In the latter area, the genusBarbus is represented by onlyBarbus (Barbus) callensis. In Morocco, fourteen species are listed, four of which belong to the subgenusLabeobarbus; these areBarbus (L.) fritschii; B. (L.) harteti; B. (L.) paytonii andB. (L.) reinii. The other ten species belong to the subgenusBarbus: these areBarbus (B.) figuiensis; B. (B.) ksibi; B. (B.) lepineyi; B. (B.) magniatlantis; B. (B.) massaensis; B. (B.) moulouyensis; B. (B.) nasus; B. (B.) pallaryi; B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) issenensis. Each of the two subgenera has its unique parasitic fauna, except forDactylogyrus marocanus n. sp. collected on species belonging to both subgenera (B. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) reinii, B. (B.) nasus, B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) ksibi). Of the five monogeneans found onLabeobarbus, three appear to be specific to one host: they areDactylogyrus reinii n. sp. onB. (L.) reinii, andD. volutus n. sp. andD. zatensis n. sp. onB. (L.) fritschii. D. kulindrii n. sp. parasitisedB. (L.) reinii andB. (L.) fritschii; andD. oumiensis n. sp. occurred onB. (L.) reinii, B. (L.) paytonii andB. (L.) harteti. NineDactylogyrus species were found in fishes belonging to the subgenusBarbus. Six of them have an oïoxenous specificity: these areD. guirensis n. sp.,D. atlasensis n. sp. andD. draaensis n. sp. onB. (B.) pallaryi; D. borjensis n. sp. onB. (B.) nasus andD. heteromorphus n. sp. andD. tunisiensis n. sp. on(B.) callensis. These other three have a wider range of hosts: they areD. ksibii n. sp. collected fromB. (B.) ksibi, B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) magniatlantis, andD. ksibioïdes n. sp. found onB. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) moulouyensis. D. fimbriphallus n. sp. is a characteristic parasite of fishes from the southern side of the Atlas mountains and the Mediterranean coast (B. (B.) figuiensis, B. (B.) lepineyi, B. (B.) massaensis, B. (B.) moulouyensis, B. (B.) pallaryi andB. (B.) issenensis).The role of dactylogyrids as biogeographical phylogenetic and taxonomic indicators is discussed in relation to the specific structure of the monogenean communities and the different morphological types found.

     

Synthesis of phosphopeptides by the Multipinast method: Evaluation of coupling methods for the incorporation of Fmoc- Tyr(PO3Bzl,H)-OH,Fmoc- Ser(PO3Bzl,H)-OH and Fmoc- Thr(PO3Bzl,H)-OH

Summary The efficiency of various coupling methods for the incorporation of the three monobenzyl phosphorodiesterprotected derivatives, Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃Bzl,H)-OH, Fmoc-Ser(PO₃Bzl,H)-OH and Fmoc-Thr(PO₃Bzl,H)-OH, was examined through the test synthesis of Ala-Ser-Gln-Gly-Xxx(PO₃H₂)-Leu-Glu-Asp-Pro-Ala-NH₂ (Xxx=Tyr, Ser, Thr) using the Multipin method of multiple peptide synthesis. The coupling methods examined were (1) PyBrop/DIEA; (2) BOP/HOBt/NMM; (3) BOP/HOBt/DIEA; (4) HBTU/HOBt/DIEA; (5) HATU/HOAt/DIEA; (6) HATU/DIEA; (7) DIC/HOBt; (8) DIC/HOBt/DIEA; (9)DIC/HOAt; (10) DIC/HOAt/DIEA. While all four DIC-based coupling procedures resulted in incomplete incorporation, both the HBTU/HOBt/DIEA and HATU/HOAt/DIEA coupling procedures provided most efficient incorporation of the three Fmoc-Xxx (PO₃Bzl,H)-OH derivatives. In the subsequent synthesis of the α-helical Tyr(P)-peptide, Glu-Thr-Gly-The-Lys-Ala-Glu-Leu-Leu-Ala-Lys-Tyr(PO₃H₂)-Glu-Ala-Thr-His-Lys-NH₂, analysis of the crude peptide by electrospray MS confirmed that several residue deletions had occurred but that complete incorporation of the Tyr(P)-residue had been accomplished using HBTU/HOBt/DIEA coupling of Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃Bzl,H)-OH. Multipin is a trademark of Chiron Technologies Pty. Ltd., Clayton, Victoria, Australia.     

Further study on the phylogeny,taxonomy and distribution of the genus Veturius Kaup in Central and South America (Coleoptera: Passalidae)

This study provides data on the phylogeny, taxonomy and distribution of 14 known and five new species of the Neotropical genus Veturius Kaup (Proculini), belonging to various subgenera and species groups: V. (Veturius) latissimus n. sp. (Colombia, Central Andes) and V. (V.) calimanus n. sp. (Pacific slope of the Occidental Cordillera) are separated from V. (V.) caquetaensis Boucher, 1988, which seems restricted to the Amazonian slope of the Oriental Cordillera (Caquetá, Putumayo); V. (V.) sinuatomarginatus Luederwaldt, 1941 (Costa Rica), n. syn. of V. sinuatocollis Kuwert, 1890; V. sinuatocollis aculeatus Luederwaldt, 1941 (syntype from Costa Rica); V. (V.) aspina Kuwert, 1898 (located in Occidente of Ecuador, Guayaquil); V. (V.) yahua Boucher, 2006 (located in Occidente of Ecuador, Pichincha and SW Colombia, Nariño); V. (V.) guntheri Kuwert, 1898 (located in Peru, SE Puno and Colombia, W Putumayo); V. (V.) cephalotes (Le Peletier & Serville, 1825) (citation from Guyana); V. (V.) sinuatus (Eschscholtz, 1829) (previous synonymy); V. (V.) libericornis Kuwert, 1891 (located in Peru, Cuzco); V. (V.) lepidus Fonseca, 1999 (revision; located in Colombia, Amazonas, Putumayo and Peru, Loreto); V. (V.) transversus (Dalman, 1817) [syntype; previous synonymy of V. trituberculatus (Eschscholtz, 1829) with V. assimilis (Weber, 1801) and located in Brazil, Mato Grosso]; V. (V.) sinuosus (Drapiez, 1820) (corrected reference for Colombia); V. (Publius) crassus (Smith, 1852) (new syntype); V. (P.) danieli Boucher, 2006 (holotype deposit); V. (P.) vazdemelloi Boucher, n. sp. (Andes of Ecuador, Azuay); V. (Ouayana) unicornis Gravely, 1918 (located in Colombia, E Vaupés); V. (O.) costaianus Boucher, n. sp. (Venezuela, Amazonas, NW Pacaraima Massif); Ticoisthmus Boucher, n. subg., for the species group of V. (O.) laevior (Kaup, 1868), of southern Central America; and V. (T.) brachypterus Boucher, n. sp. (Costa Rica, Sierra Talamanca). Ticoisthmus is considered the sister group of Ouayana. It belongs to the Meso-American low mountain dispersion pattern and demonstrates, especially in the genus Veturius, but also more generally in the Neotropical passalids, the hot-spot characteristics, with diversity and endemism, of the narrow land between the Depression of Nicaragua and the Isthmus of Panama.     

The coordination chemistry of N-(2-aminophenyl)- and N-(3-aminophenyl)quinoline-2′-carboxamide; two potentially tridentate ligands containing secondary amide and N-donor groups

New complexes of the general formulae Co(o-LH)₂X₂ (XCl, NCS), Co(o-LH)₂Br₂·EtOH (EtOHethanol), M(o-LH)(NO₃)₂ (MCo, Ni), Ni(o-LH)₂X₂ (XCl, Br, NCS), Cu(o-L)X (XCl, Br), Zn(o-LH)X₂ (XCl, Br), Pd(o-L)Cl, Pt(o-LH)₂Cl₂·H₂O, M(m-LH)Cl₂·nH₂O (MCo, Ni, Pd; n=0, 0.5, 1), Cu(m-LH)Cl₂·EtOH, M(m-LH)₂Cl₂·nH₂O (MCo, Zn, Pt; n=0, 1), M(m-LH)Br₂ (MCu, Zn), M(m-LH)₂Br₂ (MCo, Ni), Co(m-LH)(NCS)₂ and Co(m-LH)₂(NCS)₂, where o-LH=N-(2-aminophenyl)quinoline-2′-carboxamide and m-LH=N-(3-aminophenyl)quinoline-2′-carboxamide, have been prepared. The complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, X-ray powder patterns, thermogravimetric analyses, magnetic moments and spectral (¹H NMR, IR, and electronic) studies. Copper(II) and palladium(II) promote amide deprotonation at nearly acidic pH on coordination with o-LH. A variety of stereochemistries is assigned for the complexes prepared. The deprotonated copper(II) and the nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes of m-LH appear to be polymeric. The neutral amide group of the ligands is coordinated to the metal ions through oxygen, while N(amide)-coordination is observed for the deprotonated complexes. Coordination of the secondary amide group is not observed for Zn(m-LH)₂Cl₂, Pd(m-LH)Cl₂·0.5H₂O and platinum(II) complexes. The neutral ligand o-LH shows bidentate N(ring), O-behaviour, while the anion o-L⁻ exhibits tridentate N,N,N-coordination. m-LH acts as a monodentate, bidentate and tridentate ligand depending on the metal ion, the anion and the preparative conditions.     

Revision and new data of the ammonite family Pseudotissotiidae in the Iberian Trough, Spain

The ammonites assigned to the family Pseudotissotiidae of the Wiedmann (Tübingen, Germany) and Goy, Carretero and Meléndez (Madrid, Spain) collections obtained from the Iberian Trough have been revised. New, mainly lower Turonian, specimens of the species Pseudotissotia sp., Choffaticeras (Choffaticeras) quaasi (Peron, 1904), C. (C.) pavillieri (Pervinquière, 1907), C. (C.) segne (Solger, 1903), C. (C.) sinaiticum (Douvillé, 1928), C. (Leoniceras) luciae (Pervinquière, 1907), C. (L.) barjonai (Choffat, 1898), Wrightoceras llarenai (Karrenberg, 1935), W. munieri (Pervinquière, 1907), W. submunieri Wiedmann, 1975b, and Donenriquoceras forbesiceratiforme Wiedmann, 1960, have been also presented. In addition, we designate and refigure the lectotype of Pseudotissotia (Leoniceras) alaouitense Basse, 1937, and refigure the lectotype of P. barjonai Choffat, 1898. Studies on the morphologies and the geographical and temporal distributions of all of these species have led to the identification of several phylogenetic relationships between them, and to distinguish four main phases in the evolution of the family, characterized by the successive dominance of Choffaticeras (Choffaticeras), Choffaticeras (Leoniceras), Donenriquoceras and Wrightoceras with Donenriquoceras.     

Electrochemical and Thermodynamic Properties of Ln(III) (Ln?=?Eu,Sm, Dy,Nd) in 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide Ionic Liquid

The electrochemical behavior and thermodynamic properties of Ln(III) (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy, Nd) were studied in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid (BmimBr) at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode in the range of 293–338 K. The electrode reaction of Eu(III) was found to be quasi-reversible by the cyclic voltammetry, the reactions of the other three lanthanide ions were regarded as irreversible systems. An increase of the current intensity was obtained with the temperature increase. At 293 K, the cathodic peak potentials of −0.893 V (Eu(III)), −0.596 V (Sm(III)), −0.637 V (Dy(III)) and −0.641 V (Nd(III)) were found, respectively, to be assigned to the reduction of Ln(III) to Ln(II). The diffusion coefficients (D _o), the transfer coefficients (α) of Ln(III) (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy, Nd) and the charge transfer rate constants (k _s) of Eu(III) were estimated. The apparent standard potential (E ⁰*) and the thermodynamic properties of the reduction of Eu(III) to Eu(II) were also investigated.     

Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence Genes, and Genetic Lineages of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in Healthy Dogs in Tunisia

Nasal swabs of 100 healthy dogs were obtained in 2011 in Tunisia and tested for Staphylococcus pseudintermedius recovery. Antimicrobial resistance profile and virulence gene content were determined. Multilocus-sequence-typing (MLST) and SmaI-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were investigated. S. pseudintermedius was recovered in 55 of the 100 tested samples (55 %), and one isolate per sample was further studied. All 55 S. pseudintermedius isolates were susceptible to methicillin (MSSP) but showed resistance to the following antimicrobials (% resistant isolates/resistance gene): penicillin (56.4/blaZ), tetracycline (40/tetM), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (23.7), fusidic acid (9), kanamycin (3.7/aph(3´)-Ia), erythromycin-clindamycin (1.8/erm(B)), streptomycin (1.8/ant(6)-Ia), chloramphenicol (1.8) and ciprofloxacin (1.8). The following toxin genes were identified (% of isolates): lukS/F-I (98.2), expA (5.5), se-int (98.2), sec _canine (1.8), siet (100), sea (5.5), seb (3.6), sec (10.9), sed (54.5), sei (5.5), sej (29.1), sek (3.6), ser (9.1), and hlg _v (38.2). Ten different sequence-types were detected among 11 representative MSSP isolates: ST20, ST44, ST69, ST70, ST78, ST100, ST108, ST160, ST161, and ST162, the last three ones revealing novel alleles or allele combinations. Eleven different PFGE-patterns were identified in these isolates. The nares of healthy dogs could be a reservoir of antimicrobial resistant and virulent MSSP, highlighting the presence of the recently described exfoliating gene expA and several enterotoxin genes.     

New Isopropyl Chromone and Flavanone Glucoside Compounds from the Leaves of Syzygium cerasiforme (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry and Their Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Production

A new isopropyl chromone ( 1 ) and a new flavanone glucoside ( 2 ) together with eleven known compounds ( 3–13 ) were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium cerasiforme (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry. Their structures were elucidated as 5,7-dihydroxy-2-isopropyl-6,8-dimethyl-4H-chromen-4-one ( 1 ), 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone 7-O-β-D-(6′′-O-galloylglucopyranoside) ( 2 ), strobopinin ( 3 ), demethoxymatteucinol ( 4 ), pinocembrin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 5 ), (2S)-hydroxynaringenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 6 ), afzelin ( 7 ), quercetin ( 8 ), kaplanin ( 9 ), endoperoxide G3 ( 10 ), grasshopper ( 11 ), vomifoliol ( 12 ), litseagermacrane ( 13 ) by the analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and CD spectral data. Compounds 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 and 10 inhibited NO production on LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 12.28±1.15, 8.52±1.62, 7.68±0.87, 9.67±0.57, and 6.69±0.34 μM, respectively, while the IC₅₀ values of the other compounds ranging from 33.38±0.78 to 86.51±2.98 μM, compared to that of the positive control, N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA) with an IC₅₀ value of 32.50±1.00 μM.     

Human-mediated introgression of exotic chukar (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes) genes from East Asia into native Mediterranean partridges

Mediterranean red-legged (Alectoris rufa) and rock (Alectoris graeca) partridge populations are affected by genetic pollution. The chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), a species only partly native to Europe, is the most frequently introgressive taxon detected in the genome of hybrid partridges. Both theoretical (evolutionary) and practical (resources management) matters spur to get insight into the geographic origin of the A. chukar hybridizing swarm. The phenotypic A. rufa populations colonizing the easternmost part of the distribution range of this species, the islands of Elba (Italy) and Corsica (France), were investigated. The analysis of both mitochondrial (mtDNA: Cytochrome-b gene plus Control Region: 2,250 characters) and nuclear (Short Tandem Repeats, STR; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA, RAPD) genomes of 25 wild (Elba) and 20 captive (Corsica) partridges, disclosed spread introgression of chukar origin also in these populations. All mtDNA haplotypes of Elba and Corsica partridges along with those we obtained from other A. rufa (total, n = 111: Italy, Spain, France) and A. graeca (n = 6, Italy), were compared with the mtDNA haplotypes of chukars (n = 205) sampled in 20 countries. It was found that the A. chukar genes detected in red-legged (n = 43) and rock partridges (n = 4) of Spain, France and Italy as well as in either introduced (Italy) or native (Greece, Turkey) chukars (n = 35) were all from East Asia. Hence, a well-defined geographic origin of the exotic chukar genes polluting the genome of native Mediterranean A. rufa and A. graeca (inter-specific level) as well as A. chukar (intra-specific level), was demonstrated.     

A quantitative study of the biotransformation of insulin-enhancing VO2+ compounds

Potentiometric (pH titrations) and spectroscopic (electron paramagnetic resonance) methods have been used to determine the thermodynamic stability constants of the various VO²⁺ complexes formed after the interaction of four insulin-enhancing vanadium compounds, [VO(6-mepic)₂], cis-[VO(pic)₂(H₂O)], [VO(acac)₂], and [VO(dhp)₂], where 6-mepic, pic, acac, and dhp indicate the deprotonated forms of 6-methylpicolinic acid, picolinic acid, acetylacetone, and 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinone, with high molecular mass [human serum apotransferrin (hTf) and human serum albumin (HSA)] and low molecular mass (lactate) components of blood serum. In particular, log β values for the formation of (VO)hTf (13.0 ± 0.5), (VO)₂hTf (25.5 ± 0.5), (VO)HSA (9.1 ± 1.0), (VO) ₂ ^d HSA (20.9 ± 1.0), cis-VO(dhp)₂(hTf) (25.5 ± 0.6), cis-VO(dhp)₂(HSA) (25.9 ± 0.6), (VO)hTf(lact) (14.5 ± 0.8), (VO)₂hTf(lact)₂ (28.5 ± 0.8), (VO)hTf(pic) (15.6 ± 0.8), and (VO)₂hTf(pic)₂ (30.4 ± 0.8) were determined. The values of the stability constants were used to compare the calculated composition of ternary and quinary systems with that recently proposed by some of us through electron paramagnetic resonance and density functional theory methods (Sanna et al. in Inorg. Chem. 49:174–187, 2010) and to predict the distribution of VO²⁺ ion in blood serum when one of the four insulin-enhancing vanadium compounds studied, [VO(carrier)₂], is administered.     

Prognostic Significance of KIT Mutations in Core-Binding Factor Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The prognostic significance of KIT mutations in core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML), including inv(16) and t(8;21) AML, is uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of KIT mutations on the complete remission (CR) and relapse rates and overall survival (OS) of CBF-AML. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched and relevant studies were included. Negative effect was indicated on relapse risk of CBF-AML (RR [relative risk], 1.43; 95%CI [confidence interval], 1.20–1.70) and t(8;21) AML (RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.31–2.21), not on OS of CBF-AML (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.97–1.23), CR (OR [odds ratio], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.52–1.74), relapse risk (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.90–1.41) or OS (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90–1.18) of inv(16) AML. Subgroup analysis of t(8,21) AML showed negative effect of KIT mutations on CR (OR, 2.03; 95%CI: 1.02–4.05), relapse risk (RR, 1.89; 95%CI: 1.51–2.37) and OS (RR, 2.26; 95%CI: 1.35–3,78) of non-Caucasians, not on CR (OR, 0.61; 95%CI: 0.19–1.95) or OS (RR, 1.12; 95%CI: 0.90–1.40) of Caucasians. This study indicates KIT mutations in CBF-AML to be included in the initial routine diagnostic workup and stratification system of t(8,21) AML. Prospective large-scale clinical trials are warranted to evaluate these findings.