On the head morphology of Grylloblattodea (Insecta) and the systematic position of the order,with a new nomenclature for the head muscles of Dicondylia

External and internal head structures of adults of Galloisiana yuasai (Grylloblattodea) are described. The results are compared with conditions found in representatives of other lower neopteran lineages, notably in Austrophasma and Karoophasma (both Mantophasmatodea). Sutures and ridges of the head capsule are discussed. A new nomenclature for head muscles is presented for the entire Dicondylia (= Zygentoma + Pterygota). Galloisiana (like its sister taxon Grylloblatta) is mostly characterized by plesiomorphic features, such as the largely unspecialized orthopteroid mouthparts, the multisegmented filiform antennae, the presence of trabeculae tentorii, the absence of muscles associated with the antennal ampullae, the presence of musculus stipitalis transversalis (0mx11) and the presence of musculus tentoriofrontalis anterior (0te2). Autapomorphies of Grylloblattodea are: (i) compound eyes composed of only 60 ommatidia or less; (ii) a lacinia with a proximal tooth; (iii) a rounded submentum; (iv) loss of musculus craniohypopharyngealis (0hy3); and (v) loss of musculus labroepipharyngealis (0lb5). The phylogenetic evaluation of 104 characters of the head yields a branching pattern with Grylloblattodea as a sister group of Mantophasmatodea in clade Xenonomia. Putative synapomorphies of both taxa are: (i) a distinct angle (more than 60°) between the submentum and the mentum; (ii) posteriorly oriented labial palpi; (iii) a flat and lobe‐like hypopharynx with a suspensorium far ventrad of the anatomical mouth opening; (iv) loss of musculus tentorioparaglossalis (0la6); and (v) a connection between the antennal ampulla and the supraoesophageal ganglion containing nuclei. Xenonomia is placed in a clade with the two dictyopteran terminals. Another monophyletic group is Embioptera + Phasmatodea. Most branches of the single tree obtained in our analysis are weakly supported. The results clearly show that more data and a much broader taxon sampling are required to clarify the phylogenetic interrelationships of the lower neopteran orders. However, our results narrow down the spectrum of possible solutions, and represent a starting point for future phylogenetic analyses, with an extensive concatenated dataset.     

Aspiration cytodiagnosis of pancreatic endocrine tumours

We have reviewed fine needle aspirates from 11 patients with pancreatic endocrine tumours and evaluated the diagnostic criteria as well as those proposed in the literature in an attempt to formulate reliable criteria for the cytological diagnosis of these tumours. As expected, no single criterion was reliable for diagnosis: however, cells with rounded or polygonal rather than a columnar shape, cytoplasmic granularity, and eccentricity of round or oval nuclei with a finely stippled, evenly distributed chromatin pattern were features which taken together, usually enabled one to make a reliable diagnosis. A striking feature of the smears was the cellular monotony and absence of pleomorphism of the tumour cells. Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy identified tumour products and confirmed the diagnosis.     

A Fossil Myxomycete Plasmodium from Eocene-Oligocene Amber of the Dominican Republic

ABSTRACT The first known fossil slime mold with part of the plasmodium preserved, from Eocene-Oligocene amber of the northern Dominican Republic, is described here. We assign it to the myxomycetes on the basis of its cytoplasmic structure. The paleoecological and evolutionary importance of this fossil is briefly discussed.     

Selective <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> Methylation of Rat Chromatin Associated Historie after Partial Hepatectomy

IT is thought that chromosomal proteins may be involved in the control of genetic activity^1,2, but certain facts about their metabolism in mammals^3–5 and insects^6,7 indicate that de novo synthesis of histones may not be an important determinant in the modulation of genetic activity.     

The Development of Protein Bodies in the Storage Tissues1

Homogenates of the developing endosperms of maize, wheat, andbarley and of developing cotyledons of peas have been separatedon sucrose density gradients. Protein bodies have been recognizedby their content of storage proteins, their density, and theirappearance under the electron microscope. The distribution ofthe endoplasmic reticulum was followed by measuring NADH-cytochromec reductase. Glutamate dehydrogenase, catalase, and triose phosphatedehydrogenase—respectively marker enzymes for mitochondria,microbodies, and plastids—were also present in the gradients.Differences were found between the different species with respectto the association between the endoplasmic reticulum and thestorage proteins. There was no evidence for any vacuolar markerenzymes associated with the cereal protein bodies. The proteinbodies of wheat and barley appear to be similar to each otherbut differ from maize in that the latter have much more endoplasmicreticulum associated with them. In contrast the protein bodiesof peas co-sediment with vacuolar marker enzymes.     

The Influence of Sowing Depth and Seed Size on Seedling Emergence Time and Relative Growth Rate in Spring Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

The effects of seed size and sowing depth on the time of seedlingemergence and on the growth of spring cabbage studied in greenhouseand field experiments. Seed size had little effect on seedlingemergence time, but plants derived from large seeds were largerthan those from small seeds. Increased sowing depth delayedseedling emergence and reduced seedling relative growth rate(RGR). To our knowledge, these effects of sowing depth on RGRindependent of inter-plant competition have not been reportedpreviously for any species. Sowing depth had no effect on thenet assimilation rate (NAR) of seedlings, indicating that thelower RGR of seedlings from deep sowings was associated witha low light interception by small cotyledons which in turn resultedfrom disproportionately low partitioning of assimilates to thecotyledons during pre-emergence growth in favour of producinghypocotyls of greater length. Brassica oleracea, specific leaf area, growth analysis, dry matter partitioning, light interception, cabbage, seed size, sowing depth, seedling emergence time, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate     

Induced carbon reallocation and compensatory growth as root herbivore tolerance mechanisms

Upon attack by leaf herbivores, many plants reallocate photoassimilates below ground. However, little is known about how plants respond when the roots themselves come under attack. We investigated induced resource allocation in maize plants that are infested by the larvae Western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. Using radioactive ¹¹CO₂, we demonstrate that root‐attacked maize plants allocate more new ¹¹C carbon from source leaves to stems, but not to roots. Reduced meristematic activity and reduced invertase activity in attacked maize root systems are identified as possible drivers of this shoot reallocation response. The increased allocation of photoassimilates to stems is shown to be associated with a marked thickening of these tissues and increased growth of stem‐borne crown roots. A strong quantitative correlation between stem thickness and root regrowth across different watering levels suggests that retaining photoassimilates in the shoots may help root‐attacked plants to compensate for the loss of belowground tissues. Taken together, our results indicate that induced tolerance may be an important strategy of plants to withstand belowground attack. Furthermore, root herbivore‐induced carbon reallocation needs to be taken into account when studying plant‐mediated interactions between herbivores.