A cryptic intermediate in the evolution of chameleon tongue projection

Summary An incipient form of tongue projection occurs inPhrynocephalus helioscopus, a generalized agamid lizard. We argue that this condition represents a functional intermediate between typical lingual prehension and chamaeleontid tongue projection, and that tongue projection evolved in chameleons by augmentation of ancestral mechanisms still operating in related, generalized lizards.     

Parthenogenetic reptiles: New subjects for laboratory research

Summary Problems preventing establishment of laboratory colonies of parthenogenetic lizards have been solved. Now, productive colonies of these lizards, which have remarkably little genetic variation, can be readily established and used not only for research on parthenogenesis but also for many kinds of experiments for which reptile systems are desirable. Research colonies can provide valuable specimens while reducing the exploitation of natural populations.We thank José P. O. Rosado and George W. Foley for technical assistance and Richard G. Zweifel for specimens, ideas and support.     

On genetic variability in a population of the widespread geckoHemidactylus brooki

Summary An electrophoretic investigation of 22 gene loci in a local sample of a widespread and ecologically extremely versatile gecko species has shown a low degree of heterozygosity, as is average in lizards and other vertebrates.     

Effect of splenectomy on the in-vitro migration inhibition response to sheep erythrocytes in the lizard,Calotes versicolor

Summary Splenectomy completely erased the PFC response to SRBC in lizards. In contrast, it has very little effect on the degree of MI to all doses ranging from 10⁴ to 10⁹, excepting the lowest dose, 10³ SRBC.Supported by PL-480 (NIH) research grant, No. 01-077.Grateful to Madurai University for the award of Studentship during the tenure of the work and to Dr P. W. Askenase for the gift of capillaries used in this study.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of an SRIF-like system in the brain of the reptile: Lacerta muralis Laur

Summary The distribution of an SRIF-like substance in the brain of normal lizards (Lacerta muralis Laur.) has been determined. SRIF is shown to be present in neural cell bodies in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the hypothalamo-hypophysial tractus and the median eminence.Contrat INSERM, No. 74.1.444.35.     

A cryptic intermediate in the evolution of chameleon tongue projection

An incipient form of tongue projection occurs in Phrynocephalus helioscopus, a generalized agamid lizard. We argue that this condition represents a functional intermediate between typical lingual prehension and chamaeleontid tongue projection, and that tongue projection evolved in chameleons by augmentation of ancestral mechanisms still operating in related, generalized lizards.     

Antigonadotrophic effect of melatonin in male lizards (Callisaurus draconoides)

Summary Results of a preliminary experiment indicate that injections of melatonin elicit testicular regression in male lizards having maximally recrudesced gonads at the outset of study.Supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (No. BMS74-04861), the American Philosophical Society (Penrose Fund), and the Biomedical Research program at Colorado State University.     

The evolutionary history ofDrosophila buzzatii. V. Differential survivorship onOpuntia betweenD. buzzatii andD. serido

Summary Survival time ofDrosophila buzzatii adults on anOpuntia (prickly pear) medium was significantly longer than that of its nearest relativeD. serido. A significant difference was also found betweenD. buzzatii adults from two experimental populations, one of them fed onOpuntia rots for more than two years and another one kept on standardDrosophila medium for the same period of time. These results suggest that adult selection may be taking place in cactiphilicDrosophila in their natural habitats and could be responsible for the niche differentiation betweenD. buzzatii andD. serido.This work has been supported by the Comisión Asesora de investigación Científica y Técnica, Spain, by funds to project 4514/79 awarded to the third author.     

The portraiture of the honourable Robert Boyle,F.R.S.

“To whom is the Consecration of Medal, Stature or even Pyramid more jusly due, than to … the late Illustraious Boyle? … for the happy Improvement of Otto Guericks Magdeburg Exhausterm and for his Profound and Noble Researches into all the abstruser Parts and Recesses of the most useful Philosophy … I have named the Illustrious Boyle, and fix his Trophy here.”

John Evelyn, Numismata, 1697.

     

Astragalin ausPodophyllum peltatum L. undP. emodi Wall.

Summary A yellow flavonoid pigment, which occurs as a companion of the lignan glycosides inPodophyllum peltatum L. andP. emodi Wall. has been identified as astragalin (=kaempferol-3-glucoside).

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18. Mitt. über mitoschemmende Naturstoffe. 17. Mitt.:E. Schreier, Helv. chim. Acta47, 1529 (1964).     

Toxic substances produced byFusarium. III. Production and screening of phytotoxic substances ofF. oxysporum f. sp.carthami responsible for the wilt disease of safflowerCarthamus tinctorius Linn.

Summary Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.carthami, a causative agent for the wilt disease of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn.), has been shown to produce diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin, fusaric acid and lycomarasmin in artificial media. These substances produced disease syndromes, similar to those seen after the natural infection, when administered in healthy plants. Diacetoxyscirpenol and T-2 toxin have been detected in diseased safflower plants after inoculating with the wilt pathogen. This study is the first demonstration of vivotoxicity of diacetoxyscirpenol.     

Der Briefwechsel von E. S. von Fedorow und A. Schoenflies, 1889–1908

Ohne Zusammenfassung Vorgelegt von B. L. van der Waerden Herrn Professor I. I. Schafranovsky, Berginstitut Leningrad, in Dankbarkeit gewidmet     

A. A. Markov's work on probability

Communicated by H. Freudenthal     

Comparative evaluation of 7 helminth antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.)

Summary 112 sera from Europeans with parasitologically proven helminthiasis were tested in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.) against 6 crude extracts of various helminths (2 of adult worms:Dipetalonema viteae, Fasciola hepatica; 3 of eggs:Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis, Schistosoma mansoni; and ofEchinococcus granulosus scolices) and against bovine hydatid fluid. Each serum was tested simultaneously at a fixed dilution of 1:160 against all antigens. Extensive cross-reactions were observed, leading to the conclusion that non-purified helminth antigens, even in combination, are of limited value for reliable serodiagnosis in E.L.I.S.A.     

Charakterisierung der Geisseln und des Flagellins vonListeria monocytogenes. I. Immunologische Untersuchungen

Summary It is possible to show only H-antibodies in a latex test with a purified flagella suspension ofListeria monocytogenes. An antigen community betweenStaphylococcus aureus and flagella ofListeria could be excluded.     

Purothionins inAegilops-Triticum spp.

Resumen EnTriticum durum Desf. (genomiosAB), el genomioA controla la sintesis de purotionina y el genomioB la de purotionina . Las especies diploides del grupoAegilops-Triticum sintetizan ó, pero no las dos. En numerosos aloploides de este grupo se observa la pérdida de la actividad sintética para la purotionina correspondiente a uno de los genomios.     

Mikrobiologische Spaltung razemischer Steroide. Synthese vond-Aldosteron

Summary A racemic intermediate in the total synthesis ofd, l-aldosterone, thed, l-20-oxo-pregnene derivative I, was converted by incubation with a mold hydroxylating in the 21-position into thed-20-oxo-21-hydroxy-pregnene derivative II, whereas thel-antipode of the starting material remained unchanged. This stereospecific microbiological reaction, comprising a separation of racemic modifications, represents the last remaining step in the synthesis of naturald-aldosterone.Other microbiological conversions of racemic steroids, dehydrogenation and hydrogenation, were also shown to proceed only with thed-enantiomer, leaving thel-form of thed, l-substrate intact.The advantages of this new microbiological method for the resolution of racemic modifications during the total synthesis of steroids are discussed.     

P.S. Laplace's work on probability

Taken together with my previous articles [77], [80] devoted to the history of finite random sums and to Laplace's theory of errors, this paper sheds sufficient light on the whole work of Laplace in probability. Laplace's theory of probability is subdivided into theory of probability proper, limit theorems and mathematical statistics (not yet distinguished as a separate entity). I maintain that in its very design Laplace's theory of probability is a discipline pertaining to natural science rather than to mathematics. I maintain also the idea that the so-called Laplacian determinism was no hindrance to applications of his theory of probability to natural science and that one of his utterances in this connection could have well been made by Maxwell's contemporaries.Two possible reasons why the theory of probability stagnated after Laplace's work are singled out: the absence of new fields of application and, also, the insufficient level of mathematical abstraction used by Laplace. For all his achievements, I reach the general conclusion that he did not originate the theory of probability as it is now known. Dedicated to the memory of my Father, Boris A. Sheynin (1898–1975), the first generation of the Russian revolution Cette inégalité [Lunaire] quoique indiquée par les observations, était négligée par le plus grand nombre des astronomes, parce qu'elle ne paraissait pas résulter de la théorie de la pesanteur universelle. Mais, ayant soumis son existence au Calcul des Probabilités, elle me parut indiqués avec une probabilité si forte, que je crus devoir en rechercher la cause.(P. S. Laplace (Théor. anal. prob., p. 361))     

Developmenal studies inDrosophila. X. developmental eletrophoretic pattern of salivary gland unspecific proteins inD. pallidipennis

Résumé Les protéines présentes dans les glandes salivaires deDrosophila pallidipennis ont été analysées grâce à une technique de microélectrophorèse discale. Les variations observées pendant le développement de la larve et de la jeune pupe on été comparées avec celles deDrosophila pseudoobscura. II semble que certaines variations soient le résultat de phénomènes communs à toutes les espèces du genreDrosophila.

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Supported in part by grants No. GM-16 736-03 and No. FR-05 426-09 from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The author was a holder of a University of Texas predoctoral fellowship during the course of this investigation.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids inDanaus plexippus L. andDanaus chrysippus L.

Summary Danaus plexippus L. andDanaus chrysippus L. have been found to store pyrrolizidine alkaloids obtained from adult food plants and it is suggested that the alkaloids contribute to the unpalatability of the butterflies to potential predators.Acknowledgment. We thank Dr.C. C. J. Culvenor for rearing some of the butterflies andJ. M. Smith for plant collection. The plants were identified by the national Herbarium, Melbourne.