Sayrevilleinae Legalov,a newly recognised subfamily of fossil weevils (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea, Attelabidae) and the use of synchrotron microtomography to examine inclusions in amber

Two genera of extinct weevils, Sayrevilleus Gratshev & Zherikhin from Cretaceous New Jersey amber and Baltocar Kuschel from Eocene Baltic amber, are recognized as close relatives based on similarities revealed by the use of synchrotron tomography and the availability of new amber inclusions. The subfamily Sayrevilleinae Legalov stat. nov. is characterized by possessing mandibles with an external cutting edge and an inner blunt edge. The subfamily is placed in the family Attelabidae (s.l.), although some characters also suggest a possible relationship with the ‘higher weevils’ comprising Caridae, Brentidae, and Curculionidae. Sayrevilleus is transferred from the tribe Auletini of Rhynchitinae to Sayrevilleinae, and Sayrevilleus grimaldii Gratshev & Zherikhin is redescribed. Baltocar Kuschel is transferred from Caridae to Sayrevilleinae and revised, its type species, Baltocar succinicus (Voss), is redescribed and three new species, Baltocar groehni Riedel sp. nov. , Baltocar hoffeinsorum Riedel sp. nov. , and Baltocar subnudus Riedel sp. nov. are described based on eight well‐preserved inclusions. The genera Orapauletes Legalov and Zherichiniletes Legalov previously assigned to Sayrevilleini are regarded as Curculionoidea incertae sedis. The Sayrevilleinae were distributed over areas of North America and Europe at least since the Late Cretaceous (c. 90 Mya) and were probably relatively diverse until the Eocene (c. 44 Mya). It is speculated that they became extinct through competition with Curculionidae, which used a similar oviposition strategy. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 773–794.     

Insecticide susceptibility status in Mexican populations of Stegomyia aegypti (= Aedes aegypti): a nationwide assessment

In Mexico, mosquito vector‐borne diseases are of public health concern as a result of their impact on human morbidity and mortality. The use of insecticides against adult mosquitoes is one of the most common ways of controlling mosquito population densities. However, the use of these compounds has resulted in the development of insecticide resistance. The aim of this study was to estimate susceptibility to six pyrethroids, two carbamates and two organophosphates in Mexican populations of Stegomyia aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (= Aedes aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes. Bottle insecticide susceptibility tests, with 1 h exposure, were performed on adult mosquitoes from 75 localities across 28 states. At 30 min of exposure, the proportion of fallen mosquitoes was recorded. After 60 min of exposure, mosquitoes were recovered in non‐treated containers and mortality was determined at 24 h after the set‐up of the experiment. In general, the carbamate insecticides represented the most effective group in terms of the proportion of mosquitoes fallen at 30 min (72–100%) and 24‐h mortality (97–100%). High and widespread resistance to pyrethroids Types I and II and, to a lesser extent, to organophosphates was observed. Insecticide susceptibility among and within states was highly variable.     

A Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Theobroma cacao Somatic Embryogenesis

This study describes the somatic embryogenesis of Theobromacacao L. with a scanning electron microscope. It revealed earlydevelopmental stages as globular and incipient heart-shaped.Morphological abnormalities, such as the occurrence of threeand four cotyledons and round or long forms of embryoids witha long and thin or short and thick stalk-like structure whichseems to equate to a suspensor, were also observed. A suspensorwas found in some embryoids. cacao, Theobroma cacao, embryoids, somatic embryogenesis, SEM     

Metaphors of Hierarchy in a Mayan Ritual

Conventional actions denoting differences in rank are considered a central part of a Mayan ritual honoring a local saint and provide the basis for the formal analysis presented here. The ritual elements—acts drawn from daily etiquette and other ritual contexts—are combined in a way consistent with classic theories of ritual. While providing the basis for a formal argument, ways of designating rank order are not treated as "empty ritual": they pose a moral problem for the participants that contributes to the meaning of the ritual itself.     

Molecular diversity and genetic relationships in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Secale</Emphasis>

The objective of this study was to quantify the molecular diversity and to determine the genetic relationships among Secale spp. and among cultivars of Secale cereale using RAPDs, ISSRs and sequence analysis of six exons of ScMATE1 gene. Thirteen ryes (cultivated and wild) were genotyped using 21 RAPD and 16 ISSR primers. A total of 435 markers (242 RAPDs and 193 ISSRs) were obtained, with 293 being polymorphic (146 RAPDs and 147 ISSRs). Two RAPD and nine ISSR primers generated more than 80% of polymorphism. The ISSR markers were more polymorphic and informative than RAPDs. Further, 69% of the ISSR primers selected achieved at least 70% of DNA polymorphism. The study of six exons of the ScMATE1 gene also demonstrated a high genetic variability that subsists in Secale genus. One difference observed in exon 1 sequences from S. vavilovii seems to be correlated with Al sensitivity in this species. The genetic relationships obtained using RAPDs, ISSRs and exons of ScMATE1 gene were similar. S. ancestrale, S. kuprijanovii and S. cereale were grouped in the same cluster and S. segetale was in another cluster. S. vavilovii showed evidences of not being clearly an isolate species and having great intraspecific differences.     

Nitrate and Ammonium Assimilation by Roots of Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedlings as Investigated by In Vivo 15N-NMR

¹⁵N-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to study nitrogenassimilation in apices of maize roots in vivo, perfused eitherwith ¹⁵NO     

The distribution of cofilin and DNase I in vivo

Actin is the principal component of the cytoskeleton, a structure that can be disassembled and reassembled in a matter of seconds in vivo. The state of assembly of actin in vivo is primarily regulated by one or more actin binding proteins (ABPs). Typically, the actions of ABPs have been studied one by one, however, we propose that multiple ABPs, acting cooperatively, may be involved in the control of actin filament length. Cofilin and DNase I are two ABPs that have previously been demonstrated to form a ternary complex with actin in vitro. This is the first report to demonstrate their co-localisation in vivo, and differences in their distributions. Our observations strongly suggest a physiological role for higher order complexes of actin in regulation of cytoskeletal assembly during processes such as cell division.