Zur Evolution der Geschlechtsbestimmung beiCylisticus convexus (Deg.) (Crust. Isop.)

Summary In two strains ofC. convexus, an Isopod which is known to be sex-determined by a polygenic system, monofactorial sex determination has been found. This is considered to be the result of an evolutionary step from polygenic to gonosomal sex determination within the species.     

Alkaloide ausSchizozygia caffaeoides (Boj.) Baill.

Summary FromSchizozygia caffaeoides (Boj.) Baill. (Apocynaceae), one major and ten minor new alkaloids have been isolated and characterised. Most of them are N-acylindoline derivatives, partly with the hitherto unknown 5,6-methylendioxyindoline system. Some possible correlations between these alkaloids are discussed.

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Den Herren Dres.H. Fritz, R. W. Schmid undH. Wagner und ihren Mitarbeitern danken wir für Spektren und Mikroanalysen.     

La formule chromosomique deBlaps mortisaga L. (Col. Tenebr.)

Summary A study has been made of the chromosomes ofBlaps mortisaga L. The diploid number is 36. There are four sex-chromosomes which form a single configuration at the first division of maturation and disjoin so that three pass to one pole and the fourth to the other. A further study will be made on the female to indentify the type of the sex-chromosomes.     

La vitellogenesi inArbacia lixula eSphaerechinus granularis (Echin. Echin.)

Summary The researches carried out both under the light and electron microscopes permitted us to ascertain that, in EchinodermataArbacia lixula andSphaerechinus granularis, yolk globules form by aggregation of ribonucleoproteic particles. It appears that the globules themselves in the first stage of their formation show such physico-chemical conditions as to condition the precipitation of silver in the method used to reveal Golgi apparatus.     

Aufruf des international council of scientific unions (I.C.S.U.)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Instructions to collectors: John Walker (1973) and Robert Jameson (1817); with biographical notes on James Anderson (LL.D.) and James Anderson (M.D.)

Five recently discovered letters written by James Ferguson, FRS (1710–1776) while he was on a lecture tour in 1771 add substantially to what was previously known about his activities at that time. Together with newspaper advertisements and other correspondence, they not only enable his itinerary to be reconstructed in also reveal some of his own thoughts at the time and the difficulties that he had to contend with. On this particular tour, Ferguson was away from his London base for at least seven months, visiting Birmingham, Kidderminster, Worcester, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheadle (Staffs.), and Derby. During this period he delivered his course of 12 lectures on Experimental Philosophy at least eight times. Amongst the people that he met were Matthew Boulton, Josiah Wedgwood, and John Whitehurst, as well as the recipient of the letters, James Beresford of Bewdley, Worcestershire.

In this paper the opportunity has been taken to present also an outline of the gradual evolution of Ferguson's lecturing career, leading up to his situation in the 1770s, as much of the relevant source material now available was unknown to his nineteenth-century biographer, Ebenezer Henderson.     

Juvenile hormone-initiated sexual maturity in males ofPterostichus nigrita F. (Col. Carab.)

Résumé Les journées courtes (short-day) induisent la maturité sexuelle chez les mâles dePterostichus nigrita. L'influence de la journée courte peut être remplacée par une injection d'un hormone juvénil synthétique.     

Cactaceae alkaloids VIII. N-methyl-4-methoxyphenethylamine fromLepidocoryphantha runyonii (Br. and R.) Backbg.

Zusammenfassung N-Methyl-4-methoxyphenäthylamin wird zum ersten Mal in der Natur vorkommend, in der KakteeLepidocoryphantha runyonii nachgewiesen.

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This investigation was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council. Mass spectrometric facilities were provided by Drs. J. E. Lindgren and B. Holmstedt. The technical assistance of Miss K. Olofsson and U. Svensson is appreciated.     

Differences of the nucleolus in 2 species ofAmyclina (Moll. Gast.)

Summary TwoAmyclina species were examined concerning the more significant anatomo-morphological differences and the different cytological aspects in the nucleoli of growing oocytes.     

Primary nucleolus and amphinucleoli in the oocytes ofPatella coerulea L. (Moll. Gast.)

Summary Electron microscope observations show in the primary nucleolus some granulations with dimensions less (70 Å) than those of the amphinucleoli (90 Å). Even though the primary nucleolus has a high RNA content, this has not a very active turnover except at the periphery, probably in relation to the emission of daughter-nucleoli. The amphinucleoli, even though they do not have RNA which is cytochemically discloseable, possess, however, RNA at a very high rate of turnover.     

Activity of precocene analogs onLocusta migratoria migratorioides (R. and F.)

Summary Several analogs of precocene have been synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of juvenile hormone onLocusta migratoria. Only 5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene was active; its ED₅₀ and LD₅₀ were measured and compared to those of precocene I and II.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Ministère de l'Education du Québec. We are grateful to Gaston Grégoire for rearing the insects.     

Production of ergotamine by a strain ofClaviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.

Riassunto Un ceppo diClaviceps purpurea indicato con la sigla 275 F.I. produce in coltura sommersa 1100–1500g/ml di una miscela di alcaloidi peptidici costituita principalmente da ergotammina (80%). Sono riportati i terreni colturali, le condizioni di coltura e l'andamento di una tipica fermentazione.     

Identification and electroantennographic activity of sex-specific geranyl esters in an abdominal gland of femaleAgriotes obscurus (L.) andA. lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera,Elateridae)

Summary Both geranyl hexanoate and geranyl octanoate were identified by GC/MS as the major volatiles in a hitherto uncharacterized abdominal gland in females inAgriotes obscurus. Only geranyl octanoate was found inA. lineatus. In EAG tests performed onA. obscurus males, geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate elicited the strongest antennal responses.Financial assistance was donated by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation and the Axel and Margaret Ax: son Johnson Foundation. We thank B Baur for statistical advice.     

The intersubgeneric crossing of Chrysocarabus (s. str.) auronitens Fabr. X Chrysocarabus (Chrysotribax) hispanus Fabr. (Coleoptera, Carab.)]

In the limits of the intersubgeneric crossing Chrysocarabus (s. str.) auronitens Fabr. X Chrysocarabus (Chrysotribax) hispanus Fabr., the results change with the subspecies of Cc. auronitens: positive only up to F1, but very little productive with a. festivus Dej. and a. auronitens Fabr., negative with a. subfestivus Oberth. and a. cupreonitens Chevr.     

A new tryptophan derived alkaloid fromEvodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. et Hook

Summary The first tryptophan-derived indolopyridoquinazoline alkaloid has been isolated from the fruits ofEvodia rutaecarpa (Jussieu) Bentham et Hook. Its structure is deduced on the basis of spectral data and enantioselective synthesis. The compound has been assigned the absolute configuration (7S,13bS)-7-carboxy-8,13,13b,14-tetrahydro-14-methylindolo[2,33,4]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolin-5(7H)-one.