The Black-winged Spiny Katydidnew species of Pemba Walker, 1870 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae: Teleutiini) from the Brazilian Floodplain Paleo-Vrzea Forest.

The reproductive tract of female Cardisoma guanhumi was macroscopically and microscopically described. The stages of sexual maturation were defined and related to gonad coloration and to the degree of development of the germ cells, including oogonia (diameter 14.17 ± 0.97 µm), forming nests in the germ zone; pre-vitellogenic oocytes (PVO, 51.02 ± 2.90 µm) of a basophilic nature, with one or two nucleoli; vitellogenic oocytes (VO, 110.93 ± 7.04 µm) of acidophilic nature; mature oocytes (MO, 237.52 ± 13.54 µm), revealing the chorion; and atretic oocytes (AO). Follicular cells were found close to germ cells. The following gonad development stages were identified: immature (translucent color, germ zone containing oogonia, and peripheral maturation zone with PVO); maturing (color ranging from yellow to dark brown; maturation zone with VO); mature (dark brown color; predominance of MO in maturation zone); spawning (dark brown or yellow color, containing oocytes in early atresia, stage observed in ovigerous females); and resting (translucent to yellow color, thick gonad wall, and residual AO).

A mutant M47286 with a stunted growth, low fertility and dark-brown phenotype was identified from a T-DNA-tagged rice mutant library. This mutant contained a copy of the T-DNA tag inserted at the location where the expression of two putative tryptophan decarboxylase genes, TDC-1 and TDC-3, were activated. Enzymatic assays of both recombinant proteins showed tryptophan decarboxylase activities that converted tryptophan to tryptamine, which could be converted to serotonin by a constitutively expressed tryptamine 5' hydroxylase (T5H) in rice plants. Over-expression of TDC-1 and TDC-3 in transgenic rice recapitulated the stunted growth, darkbrown phenotype and resulted in a low fertility similar to M47286. The degree of stunted growth and dark-brown color was proportional to the expression levels of TDC-1 and TDC-3. The levels of tryptamine and serotonin accumulation in these transgenic rice lines were also directly correlated with the expression levels of TDC-1 and TDC-3. A mass spectrometry assay demonstrated that the darkbrown leaves and hulls in the TDC-overexpressing transgenic rice were caused by the accumulation of serotonin dimer and that the stunted growth and low fertility were also caused by the accumulation of serotonin and serotonin dimer, but not tryptamine. These results represent the first evidence that over-expression of TDC results in stunted growth, low fertility and the accumulation of serotonin, which when converted to serotonin dimer, leads to a dark brown plant color.

The Pararchaeidae, a family of cryptic spiders known only from Australia and New Zealand, is revised. Six new genera: Anarchaea, gen. nov., Flavarchaea, gen. nov., Forstrarchaea, gen. nov., Nanarchaea, gen. nov., Ozarchaea, gen. nov., Westrarchaea, gen. nov., and 24 new species are described, 23 from mainland Australia and one from New Zealand. Anarchaea, gen. nov. from eastern Australia contains four species: A. corticola (Hickman, 1969), comb. nov. (type species), A. falcata, sp. nov., A. raveni, sp. nov. and A. robusta (Rix, 2005), comb. nov. Flavarchaea from eastern, southern and south-western Australia contains seven species: F. anzac, sp. nov., F. badja, sp. nov., F. barmah, sp. nov., F. hickmani (Rix, 2005), comb. nov., F. lofty, sp. nov., F. lulu (Rix, 2005), comb. nov. (type species) and F. stirlingensis, sp. nov. Forstrarchaea is represented only by the type species F. rubra (Forster, 1949), comb. nov. from New Zealand. Nanarchaea from eastern Australia contains two species: N. bryophila (Hickman, 1969), comb. nov. and N. binnaburra (Forster, 1955), comb. nov. (type species). Ozarchaea from Australia and New Zealand contains 16 species: O. bodalla, sp. nov., O. bondi, sp. nov., O. daviesae, sp. nov., O. forsteri, sp. nov., O. harveyi, sp. nov., O. janineae, sp. nov., O. ornata (Hickman, 1969), comb. nov. (type species), O. platnicki, sp. nov., O. saxicola (Hickman, 1969), comb. nov., O. spurgeon, sp. nov., O. stradbroke, sp. nov., O. valida, sp. nov., O. waldockae, sp. nov., O. werrikimbe, sp. nov., O. westraliensis, sp. nov. and O. wiangarie, sp. nov. Pararchaea Forster, 1955 is represented only by the type species P. alba Forster, 1955 from New Zealand. Westrarchaea, endemic to south-western Western Australia, contains three species: W. pusilla, sp. nov., W. sinuosa, sp. nov. (type species) and W. spinosa, sp. nov. A morphological cladistic analysis of the Pararchaeidae supported monophyly of the genera. Natural history information is summarised for each species where known, and the moulting behaviour, mating behaviour and egg sac of a pararchaeid species are described for the first time.

BackgroundUruguay, a South American country of 3.4 million inhabitants that has already banned tobacco advertising, prohibited such terms as light, mild and low-tar and required graphic warnings covering 80% of...

1.Neochildia new genus is established on the basis of the presence of two separate and complete copulatory apparatuses, each with an eversible penis which has a crown of muscle fibers attached about half way along it. The type species, Neochildia fusca, although it has been used in a number of studies at the Marine Biological Laboratory and has previously been identified as Childia groenlandica, cannot be included in the genus Childia which is characterized by two copulatory organs but which is without any signs of eversible penes and has instead a bundle of cuticular stylets.2. The anatomy and histology of N. fusca is described in detail. The most conspicuous field characteristic is the dark brown color which is unusual among acoels, and, indeed, among smaller Turbellaria in general.3. The habitat of the new species is sand or sandy mud along marsh streams or in the bottom of associated shallow bays. The known distribution is from New Jersey to Maine along the East Coast of the U. S.4. The life history involves the following annual cycle: an overwintering of mature or nearly mature animals subtidally or in the deeper waters of the marsh streams, an early spawning in May or June followed by a die-off of the over wintering animals, the maturing and spawning of the next generation from July to September and the overwintering of animals derived apparently from both the summer generations.5. The food of young animals consists almost entirely of diatoms, but after the first few weeks they become highly carnivorous and are found to contain mostly copepods and other crustacea as well as worms and other Turbellaria.6. Mating behavior is described and the conclusion is reached that sperm are deposited as a packet on the surface of the partner, not hypodermically injected. The very short contact between animals, the soft nature of the penes and the presence of masses of sperm entering through the epidermis in sections support this conclusion. Some evidence is presented that suggests that eggs are laid through the mouth.

Electrochemical preparation of donor-acceptor type conjugated polymer films: Effect of substitute units on electrochromic performance

Influence of microstructure on firing colour of clays

The present study was made to verify the effect of leaf area and time of immersion of the base of the cuttings in water, and to analyse the secondary metabolites content of two Mikania species (Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata). In the first experiment, the following leaf area were tested: 0, 5, 25, 50 and 100 cm2. In the second experiment, it was tested 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours of immersion in water. For both experiment, it was used cuttings 12 cm long and 0.7 to 1.0 cm wide, taken from the median part of the branches. The experiments were designed in completely randomized blocks, with four replications and twenty cuttings per plot. The evaluation was made, respectively, 75 and 90 days after the installation of the experiments. The increase of the leaf area caused increase in the root number, mass and volume, and a decrease in the mortality of the two species cuttings, with a larger increase of the roots number, volume, and fresh and dry mass for M. laevigata than for M. glomerata. The water immersion time did not affect any of the measured variables. M. glomerata presented positive results for coumarins, steroids/triterpenoids, saponin and volatile acids, dark green color, sweetened aromatic scent, bitter flavour, pH 6.5 and dry residue of 14.85% for the hidroalcoholic extract and dark brown color, sweetened herbaceous scent, bitter flavour, pH 5.0 and dry residue of 8.93% for the aqueous extract. M. laevigata presented positive results for coumarins, steroids/triterpenoids, aminogroups, tannins and saponins, dark green color, sweetened aromatic scent, bitter flavour, pH 6.0 and dry residue of 6.94% for the hidroalcoholic extract and dark brown color, sweetened herbaceous scent, bitter flavour, pH 5.5 and dry residue of 11.61% for the aqueous extract. For both species the results, in general, is according to these in the literature. Based in the studies it can be concluded that M. laevigata and M. glomerata have similar chemical composition. For the propagation by cuttings, it can be recommended a leaf area of 100 cm2 (two intact leaves) and that the immersion time in water does not affect the behavior of the cuttings.

Visando a obtenção de subsídios técnicos à produção em escala comercial do guaco, o objetivo geral do presente estudo foi otimizar o processo de propagação via estaquia do guaco, e os objetivos específicos foram analisar fitoquimicamente a possibilidade do uso de Mikania laevigata como sucedânia de Mikania glomerata, determinar a área foliar, o tempo de imersão em água, o substrato e o sistema de irrigação mais indicados na estaquia de guaco e comparar agronomicamente o rendimento a campo das duas espécies. Foram realizado três experimentos de estaquia, para verificar o efeito da área foliar, do tempo de imersão da base da estaca em água e da interação substrato x sistema de irrigação na estaquia das duas espécies de guaco. No primeiro experimento, foram testadas as seguintes áreas foliares: 0, 5, 25, 50 e 100cm2. No segundo experimento, testou-se os substratos casca de arroz carbonizada, areia e solo, cada qual sob dois diferentes sistemas de irrigação (nebulização ou rega manual). No terceiro experimento, testou-se 0, 3, 6, 12 e 24 horas de imersão em água. Para todos os experimentos, utilizou-se estacas com 12 cm de comprimento, diâmetro de 0,8 a 1,0 cm, retiradas da parte mediana dos ramos; o delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e vinte estacas por parcela. A avaliação foi feita, respectivamente, 75, 60, e 90 dias após a instalação dos experimentos. O aumento da área foliar causou aumento no enraizamento e decréscimo na mortalidade das duas espécies, cabendo ressaltar que M. glomerata apresentou menor desenvolvimento que M. laevigata. Quanto à interação substrato x sistema de irrigação, constatou-se que, de modo geral, tanto para M. glomerata quanto para M. laevigata, o substrato casca de arroz carbonizada sob rega manual apresentou melhores resultados. O tempo de imersão da base da estaca em água não afetou significativamente, para ambas as espécies, nenhuma das variáveis. No estudo visando comparar o rendimento a campo das duas espécies, foram plantas mudas na Fazenda Experimental do Cangüiri da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), em 25/11/98, em covas espaçadas de 1,0 m na linha e de 2,0 m na entrelinha, com condução em espaldeira com fios a 0,8, 1,2 e 1,6 m de altura. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições e três plantas por parcela. A ocorrência de uma forte geada no inverno de 1999 causou a morte das plantas de M. glomerata. O rendimento de M. laevigata, avaliado 17 meses após o plantio, resultou em 501,5 g de matéria seca/planta. Também foi realizada a avaliação e comparação fitoquímica dos metabólitos secundários das duas espécies, no Laboratório de Fitoquímica da Faculdade de Farmácia da UFPR, utilizando os extratos hidroalcoólico e aquoso obtidos a partir de folhas e ramos estabilizados e triturados de plantas coletadas na Fazenda Experimental do Cangüiri da UFPR. Foram testados no extrato hidroalcoólico: características organolépticas, % de extrato seco, alcalóides, cumarinas, flavonóides, antraquinonas, esteróides/triterpenóides, aminogrupos e leucoantocianidinas; no extrato aquoso: características organolépticas, % extrato seco, taninos, glicosídeos cianogenéticos, saponinas, antocianidinas, ácidos fixos e voláteis e aminogrupos. M. glomerata apresentou resultados positivos para: cumarinas, esteróides/triterpenóides, saponinas e ácidos voláteis; cor verde escura, odor aromático adocicado, sabor amargo, pH 6,5 e resíduo seco de 14,85% para o extrato hidroalcoólico e cor marrom escuro, odor herbáceo adocicado, sabor amargo e pH 5,0 e resíduo seco de 8,93% para o extrato aquoso. M. laevigata apresentou resultados positivos para: cumarinas, esteróides/triterpenóides, aminogrupos, taninos e saponinas; cor verde escura, odor aromático adocicado, sabor amargo, pH 6,0 e resíduo seco de 6,94% para o extrato hidroalcoólico e cor marrom escura, odor herbáceo adocicado, sabor amargo, pH 5,5 resíduo seco de 11,61% para o extrato aquoso. Para ambas as espécies, os resultados, de modo geral, coincidem com os encontrados na literatura. Com base nestes estudos, conclui-se que: é possível a utilização de M. laevigata como sucedânea de M. glomerata; na propagação via estaquia de guaco, recomenda-se área foliar de 100 cm2 e uso da casca de arroz carbonizada, sob rega manual, como substrato; não houve influência do tempo de imersão da base da estaca em água; M. glomerata apresentou menor tolerância ao frio que M. laevigata, sendo que esta apresentou produção de 501,5 g de matéria seca/planta.

Two species of goby belonging to the genus Astrabe are described from Japan as new species, A. flavimaculata and A. fasciata. A. flavimaculata is distinguishable from A. lactisella, the type species and hitherto the only known species of the genus, in that it has no protrusion on the upper posterior part of the dermal fold along the upper margin of the eye, fewer scales in a longitudinal row, predorsal scales, scales on the belly, a narrower white transverse band across the base of the pectoral fins, and in life yellow markings on a dark brown ground colour except for the white transverse band across the base of the pectoral fins. A. fasciata is distinguishable from A. lactisella in that it has fewer scales in a transverse row, a narrower scaled area on the lateral side of the body, a narrower white transverse band across the base of the pectoral fins, and a white transverse band across the anterior part of the 1st dorsal fin extending to the ventral side of the body.

Na Amazônia brasileira são registradas dezenove espécies de Leptophlebiidae, distribuídas em dez gêneros. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma lista de todos os gêneros de Leptophlebiidae ocorrentes na Região Neotropical, o numero de espécies de cada gênero no Brasil e um catálogo das espécies registradas na Amazônia brasileira.

Complexities of cuticular pigmentation in insects

Bothrops atrox Snakebite: How a Bad Decision May Lead to a Chronic Disability: A Case Report

To assess the spatial distribution of TB and malaria incidence, as well as their spatial association with each other, regardless of environmental and socio-economic factors commonly reported as determinants of both disease rates among the municipalities of Amazonas State, Brazil between 2012 and 2015. Through an ecological approach considering municipalities of Amazonas, Brazil, as unit of analysis, a negative binomial regression model was used to assess association between malaria and TB rates, in which the dependent variable was the average municipal tuberculosis incidence rate. Positive associations of overall malaria (β=0.100 [CI=0.032, 0.168], P=0.004), P.vivax malaria (β=0.115 [CI=0.036, 0.195], P=0.005), and P.falciparum malaria (β=0.389 [CI=-0.0124, 0.791], P=0.057) with TB rates were found, regardless of the sociodemographic factors included in the study. In the Brazilian Amazon, TB and malaria are spatially associated. Therefore, it is very likely that co-infections also occur in this region, regardless of the HIV status.

Iris color and incident cataract and cataract surgery: The Blue Mountains Eye Study