Unkreaktion mit Befreiungsruf beim Weibchen der KreuzkröteBufo calamita

Summary The release call which is uttered by Bufo in connection with specific movements can also be evoked in the ofBufo calamita. This is indicative of homology of the male release call and the usually silent release movements of the .

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Mit Unterstützung des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

Analyse des akustischen Geschlechtererkennungsmechanismus (Befreiungsrufe) bei Kröten (GenusBufo)

Summary The release calls of male European toads (B. bufo L.,B. calamita Laur.,B. viridis Laur.) have been described and recorded in the form of spectrograms and oscillograms. While only 1 type of release call is uttered byB. bufo, inB. viridis andB. calamita 2 and 3 types respectively were found. The latter 2 species show a close relationship,B. calamita being the most highly developed toad in Europe.     

Cytogénétique desLeggada: (1) La formule chromosomique deMus (Leggada)bufo Th., (2) Nouvelles données sur la délétion portant sur le bras court d'unX chezMus (Leggada)triton Th

Summary The author treats 2 topics connected with his studies on the cytogenetics of the African pigmy-mice. (1)Mus (Leggada) bufo Th. shows the primitive complement already detected in other species or subspecies (minutoides ssp ₁,indutus, tenellus, setulosus): 2N=36,N.F.=36, sex chromosomesPR. (2) The deletion of the short arm of oneX-chromosome (X _dc ) was previously observed as heterozygous mutation by 4 in a sample of 7 and 5 . A more important sample (18 , 21 ) gives the following results: 11 X-X, 10 X-X _dc , 18 X-Y. The occurrence of X _dc -X _dc and of X _dc -Y is also very improbable. It is not easy to understand how the chromosomeX _dc may persist in the population if the complementsX _dc -X _dc andX _dc -Y are lethal, which seems to result from these observations.     

Can we predict the mating pattern ofDrosophila females from the sperm length distribution in males?

Summary In order to test the validity of the prediction of the mating pattern of females from the sperm length distribution in males, three species ofDrosophila were analysed. Males in the three species are equally polygynous but females differ in the level of polyandry. A low recurrence polyandry is observed in the sperm dimorphic speciesD. affinis while a high recurrence polyandry is observed in the sperm monomorphic speciesD. latifasciaeformis andD. littoralis. These results are consistent with the hypothesis proposed previously that sperm dimorphism in males can only be maintained by a selective alternative in females (i.e. facultative female polygamy), whereas a stricter mating system (e.g., obligatory polyandry) should only result in sperm monomorphism irrespective of the absolute value of sperm length.     

The chromosome complement ofNasalis larvatus (Wurm 1781)

Riassunto I cromosomi diNasalis larvatus presentano un numero diploide di 2n=48. Il cariotipo presenta moite similitudini con quello delle altreColobinae e con leHylobatinae.

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Supported in part by a grant from the Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche No. 7854/H.     

Der Mathematiker Abraham de Moivre (1667–1754)

Summary Before examining de Moivre's contributions to the science of mathematics, this article reviews the source materials, consisting of the printed works and the correspondence of de Moivre, and constructs his biography from them.The analytical part examines de Moivre's contributions and achievements in the study of equations, series, and the calculus of probability. De Moivre contributed to the continuing development from Viète to Abel and Galois of the theory of solving equations by means of constructing particular equations, the roots of which can be written in the form . He also discovered the reciprocal equations. In the course of this work de Moivre discovered an expression equivalent to (cos +i sin ) ⁿ =cos n +i sin n and, following Cotes, he succeeded in expressing the nth roots of unity in trigonometric form.In the theory of series, de Moivre developed a polynomial theorem encom-passing Newton's binomial theorem and, in particular, a theorem of recurrent series useful in the calculus of probability.The demands of the calculus of probability led de Moivre to an approximation for the binomial coefficients for large values of n. The interaction between de Moivre and James Stirling, particularly in regard to the asymptotic series for log (n!), is treated at length. This work supplied the foundation for de Moivre's limit theorem for the binomial distribution.The calculus of probability, which occupied him from 1708 onward, became in time ever more the center of de Moivre's inquiries. Proceeding from contemporary collections of gambling exercises, de Moivre, by introducing an explicit measure of probability for the so-called Laplace experiments, found the beginnings of a theory of probability. De Moivre expanded the classic application of probability calculus to games of chance by addressing himself to the problem of annuities and by adopting Halley's work with its conception of Probability of life. De Moivre was the first to publish a mathematically formulated law for the decrements of life derived from mortality tables.

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Abkürzungen a.a.O. am angegebenen Ort = Verweis auf das nach Verfassern alphabetisch geordnete Literaturverzeichnis. Eine vor a.a.O. in runden Klammern angegebene Zahl kennzeichnet die entsprechende Nummer der im Literaturverzeichnis aufgeführten Arbeiten eines Autors. - AC Ars conjectandi = Jakob Bernoulli (4) a.a.O. - AE Acta Eruditorum - a.S. alter Stil⁴⁷ - BM Bibliotheca Mathematica - DMV Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung - JL Journal Literaire - MA Miscellanea Analytica, London 1730 - n.S. neuer Stil⁴⁷ - PT Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London - r.F. rekurrente Folge - r.R. rekurrente Reihe - SMA Miscellaneis Analyticis Supplementum, London 1730 - v. veröffentlicht (nur im Briefverzeichnis verwendet) Prof. Dr. Kurt Vogel zum 80. Geburtstag Vorgelegt von J. E. Hofmann     

On the host-symbiont-cycle of a leafhopper (Euscelis plebejus) endosymbiosis

Summary In the host-symbiont-cycle ofEuscelis plebejus and its bacterial symbionts each of both symbionts (a and t) appears in an infection form during the intraovarial transmission (adult female) as well as during the entrance into the mycetocytes (embryo) and in a vegetative form during the remaining time of the cycle.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to ProfessorK. Sander, whom I thank for helpful discussions.     

The identification of ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) in 3 species of molluscs (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

Summary Ecdysterone has been identified in the schistosomiasis vectorBiomphalaria glabrata Say and inHelix aspersa Müller as well as inLymmaea stagnalis L. by chromatography, bioassay, radioimmunoassay, derivatization and by mass spectroscopy. Analysis of the food, faeces and hepatopancreas suggest that the sterol is derived from the diet. The probable function of ecdysterone in relation to calcification of the shell is discussed in this paper.We wish to thank Professor P. Karlson and Dr J. Koolman (Phillips University, Marburg-Lahn, FRG) for providing facilities for RIA. The initial study was begun at the University of Sussex and continued at the Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, while D.L.W. was supported by the Ministry of Overseas Development. London and the Medical Research Council of Great Britain (grant G974/525/T). We thank Mr P. Mellon for the mass spectrum and Dr G.B. Russell for his interest in the earlier part of this study. We also thank Professor E. Scherer and Dr Q. Uwe (University of Essen, FRG) for their help in the irradiation ofL. stagnalis.Gauss Str. 82, D-4630 Bochum 5 (Federal Republic of Germany). Research results usingL. stagnalis were submitted for the Philips Europa Wettbewerb für junge Forscher und Erfinder (1979) in a thesis entitled Zur Frage der Existenz von Steroiden und Gonadoliberin bei der Grossen Schlammschnecke (Lymmaea stagnalis L.): ein Beitrag zur Evolution der Insekten- und Wirbeltierhormone.     

Artbastarde in der GattungTilapia (Cichlidae,Teleostei) und ihr Verhalten

Summary The young ofTilapia mossambica (mouth-brooder) show a characteristic contact-behaviour, which is related to the behaviour of the mother fish, who takes them back into the mouth cavity in cases of disturbance. This contacting is lacking in the young ofTilapia tholloni (substrate spawner). Contacting, as studied in our experiments with models, is genetically determined and is dominant over thetholloni pattern in the crossT. mossambica ×T. tholloni .     

Identification of (3R,4R)-gD 1(6) as an isolation artefact of cannabinoid acids formed by callus cultures ofCannabis sativa L

Summary For the first time we have isolated a major psychoactive cannabinoid, (3R, 4R)- ¹⁽⁶⁾-tetrahydrocannabinol3 from callus cultures ofCannabis sativa L.3 was obtained as an artefact of the actually formed (3R, 4R)- ¹-tetrahydrocannabinol-3- and/or 5-carboxylic acids1 and2 by subjecting the culture material to a decarboxylation step prior to extraction. No attempt was made to isolated acids1 and2. The identity of3 was confirmed by comparison with an authentic sample of (3R, 4R)- ¹-tetrahydrocannabinol. Culture conditions, isolation procedure and identification of the cannabinoid are described.Acknowledgment. The authors are greatly indebted to Dr W. Heller and Dr G. Schroeder-Frey for deriving the callus cultures from seedlings ofC. sativa and to Prof. N. Amrhein for valuable gifts of culture media and growth regulators.     

W chromosome in the Indian water snake (checkered keel back)Natrix piscator (colubridae)

Zusammenfassung Die diploide Chromosomenzahl beider Geschlechter beträgt 40: 10 Macrochromosomen und 30 Microchromosomen. Die GeschlechtschromosomenZZ () undZW () sind cytologisch erkennbar.     

Artificial triploid hybrids by interspecific mating ofOdontophrynus (Amphibia,anura)

Résumé Des hybrides triploïdes ont été obtenus par croisement deOdontophrynus cultripes, amphibien diploïde, avecO. americanus, tétraploide. Les hybrides interspécifiques présentent normalement 33 chromosomes dans les cellules somatiques. Les hybridesO. cultripes ×O. americanus sont plus viables que lesO. americanus ×O. cultripes .

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This work was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. GM-14577-02 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and by Fundo de Pesquisas do Instituto Butantan.     

Nouvelles données sur la cytogénétique et la spéciation des Leggada (Mammalia-Rodentia-Muridae)

Summary To the 237 pigmy-mice studies in his previous papers, the author brings new data concerning the cytogenetics of 25 Leggada. One first set of 12 mice from Nigeria belongs to the same polymorphic series containing themusculoides from the Ivory Coast and the Central African Republic.A small sample from Ippy (Central African Republic), although the individuals are morphologically all alike and referable tomusculoides, shows an amazing diversity: /259.2N=28, N.F.=36, sex chromosomes of the translocated type (TR). We meet here a new robertsonian combination in the polymorphic series, 34/33/32/31 ... 28/... 22/... 19/18./260.2N=32, N.F.=36, sex chromosomesTR. Both big biarmed autosomes are metacentric — submetacentric with a centromeric index of about 0.25 by the typicalmusculoides having the same diploid number./261.2N=19, N.F.=36, sex chromosomesX/Y ₁ Y ₂. The first occurrence of such sex chromosomes by the Leggada. By themusculoides from Rhodesia we were dealing with the typeX ₁ X ₂ /Y. /262.2N=18, N.F.=36, sex chromosomesX/X. Very likely the female of /261.In the complexminutoides-musculoides, we meet many different caryotypes and it is obvious that the chromosomal mutations play here the part of a primary factor of isolation, previous to the gene mutations which later will allow the taxonomic determination of the species actually in statu nascendi.     

Regulation of enzymes of ethanol metabolism in yeast (Rhodotorula gracilis)

Summary The three enzymes of ethanol metabolism alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA synthetase in the obligate aerobic yeastRhodotorula gracilis are repressed by glucose and induced by C₂ metabolic fuels with a regulatory pattern indicating a correlation in the control mechanisms. To try an identification of the molecular signals involved in the transmission of the inducing stimulus, experiments were carried out by blocking with 2 mM pyrazole the ethanol acetaldehyde metabolic step. Results indicate that ethanol is not specifically required as a molecular signal for induction.This work was supported by a grant from the Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Volatiles from clover headHypera meles (Fab.) and alfalfaH. postica (Gyllenhal) weevils: search for pheromones

Summary Volatile fractions of the clover head,Hypera meles (Fab.), and alfalfa,Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), weevils contained three of four boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis (Boh.), pheromone components, (Z)-3,3-dimethylcyclohexane ^1,-ethanol and (Z)- and (E)-3,3-dimethylcyclohexane-^1,-acetaldehyde. Also found were eight oxygenated monoterpenes, previously identified as precursors and intermediates of the boll weevil pheromones.     

Transfer of cantharidin (1) during copulation from the adult male to the femaleLytta vesicatoria (‘Spanish flies’)

Summary Adult males of the spanish flyLytta vesicatoria (Meloidae, Coleoptera) are able to biosynthesize cantharidin (1) in copula after injection of E, E-11-(³H,¹⁴C)-farnesol and 2-¹⁴C-methylfarnesoate. During mating, the cantharidin biosynthesized in the males is transferred to the females, who are unable to biosynthesize cantharidin from any terpenoid precursors. After injection of (³H,¹⁴C)-cantharidin into males during copulation, more than 10% is transferred into the female sex organs. Males injected with 2-(³H,¹⁴C)-mevalonate 24–30 h prior to copulation transferred 93–98% of the biosynthesized cantharidin to the females during mating. After mating, the males continue to produce cantharidin. It seems that in the male the biosynthesis of cantharidin is stimulated during copulation.III. Communication on the Biosynthesis of Cantharidin; II. Communication¹⁶.Dedicated to ProfessorKurt Mothes' (Halle/Saale, DDR) 75th birthday, 4.11.1975. J. R. Sierra, Thesis in preparation University Zürich. J. R. S. thanks the Eidgenössischen Stipendienkommission für ausländische Studierende for a fellowship.Research supported by the Schweizerische Nationalfonds.     

Ultrastruktur der Symbionten in Ovozyten vonOrnithodorus moubata,Murray (Ixodoidea:Argasidae) nach simultaner Glutaraldehyd-Osmiumfixierung und Nachbehandlung mit Uranylacetat (Triple-Fixation)

Summary The nucleoplasm of rickettsia-like microorganisms living in the oocytes of the soft tickOrnithodorus moubata is preserved by TF (triple-fixation) in a fine fibrillary form, resembling the results obtained by the standard-method for DNA-containing plasms.

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Die Arbeit wurde vom Schweiz. Nationalfonds unterstützt.

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Frau S.Latscha-Stoller möchte ich für ihre unentbehrliche technische Mitarbeit meinen besten Dank aussprechen.     

Synthesis von (±)-B-Homoöstron

Summary (±)-B-Homoestrone and its derivatives, a hitherto unknown class of compounds, were synthetized from 3-methoxybenzosuberone as the starting material. Introduction of the asymmetric centers could be achieved with a high degree of stereoselectivity; the correct, estrone-like relative configuration of these centers was demonstrated by X-ray crystallographical analysis, carried out on a single crystal of (±)17-acetoxy-3-methoxy-B-homoestra-1, 3, 5(10)-triene.     

Lauterzeugung und Schallwahrnehmung bei der Languste (Palinurus vulgaris)

Summary The sounds produced by the Spiny Lobster,Palinurus vulgaris, and their origin are briefly described. One animal reacted clearly to similar artificial sound stimuli, in some cases even vocally. Elimination of both statocysts had no influence on these reactions.     

Cardenolide glycosides from the adults and eggs ofChrysolina fuliginosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Besides the known sarmentogenin 3-O--D-allopyranoside (1) and digitoxigenin-3-O-[-D-xylopyranosyl-(14)-2, 3-di-O-acetyl--D-allopyranoside] (4), four new cardiac glycosides (2, 3, 5 and6) have been isolated from the defensive glands of adults ofChrysolina fuliginosa. The structures of the new compounds were determined by¹H NMR at 600 MHz and FABMS. Compounds1–6, present in the adults ofC. fuliginosa, have also been identified in the eggs.