On the placement of the Baltic amber harvestmanGonyleptes nemastomoides Koch & Berendt, 1854, with notes on the phylogeny of Cladonychiidae (Opiliones, Laniatores, Travunioidea)

The Baltic amber (Palaeogene: Eocene) harvestman Gonyleptes nemastomoides Koch & Berendt, 1854 (Arachnida: Opiliones), currently misplaced at both the genus and family level, is transferred to the extant family Cladonychiidae and assigned to a new genus, Proholoscotolemon n. gen. The families Gonyleptidae and Phalangodidae are hereby removed from the known harvestman fossil record. Although the type specimen of G. nemastomoides is poorly preserved, the form of the diagnostic hind tarsal claw is clearly visible and indicates that the genus is distinct from, and relatively basal to, the only extant European cladonychiid genus, Holoscotolemon Roewer, 1915. Analysis of the claw morphology of extant cladonychiids, using evidence from ontogeny and outgroup comparison, suggests a transformation series in which the plesiomorphic condition (present in the eastern Nearctic genera Erebomaster Cope, 1872 and Theromaster Briggs, 1969) is a multi-pronged, narrowly forked claw with a long base, while the apomorphic condition (found in Holoscotolemon) is a bipronged, widely forked claw with a short base. Der Weberknecht Gonyleptes nemastomoides Koch & Berendt, 1854 (Arachnida: Opiliones) aus dem Baltischen Bernstein (Paläogen: Eozän) wird derzeit weder auf Gattungs- noch auf Familien-Ebene richtig zugeordnet. Er wird hiermit in die auch heute noch verbreitete Familie Cladonychiidae und die neue Gattung, Proholoscotolemon n. gen. versetzt. Für die Weberknecht-Familien Gonyleptidae und Phalangodidae gibt es somit keine fossilen Belege mehr. Obwohl das Typusexemplar von G. nemastomoides schlecht erhalten ist, ist die Form der diagnostisch wichtigen 4. Tarsalkrallen klar erkennbar. Sie zeigt an, dass die neue Gattung deutlich von der einzigen rezenten europäischen Cladonychiidae-Gattung Holoscotolemon Roewer, 1915 abweicht und im Verhältnis hierzu ursprünglicher ist. Die Analyse der Krallen-Morphologie von lebenden Cladonychiidae, bei Berücksichtigung der Ontogenie und Vergleich mit Außengruppen, deutet auf eine Entwicklungs-Reihe hin, in welcher der plesiomorphe Zustand (vorhanden in den ost-nearktischen Gattungen Erebomaster Cope, 1872 und Theromaster Briggs, 1969) durch eine schmale, mehrfach gezackte und eng gegabelte Kralle mit einer langen Basis gekennzeichnet ist. Der apomorphe Zustand (vorhanden in Holoscotolemon) ist demgegenüber eine zweizackige, breit gegabelte Kralle mit einer kurzen Basis. doi:10.1002/mmng.200410005</a

Additional observations on the nesting behavior of \u3ci\u3eMiscophus (Nitelopterus) californicus\u3c/i\u3e (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

Close-up photographs of nest entry, nest closure and prey transport taken on sandy coastal back dunes in Santa Barbara County, CA by Alice J. Abela substantiate and enhance written descriptions of these nesting be­havior components in Miscophus californicus (Ashmead) [=M. laticeps (Ashmead)] (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Dictynidae (Dictyna Sundevall or Emblyna Chamberlin) is introduced as a new host family and host spider leg amputation is revealed for the first time for this small miscophine wasp. Miscophus (Nitelopterus) californicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) is a small (4.5–7.0 mm) Nearctic miscophine wasp that ranges from California and Arizona north to southern Alberta and Saskatchewan (M. Buck, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB, 2020 pers. comm.). This species is extremely common in California with larger black individuals inhabiting relict sand dunes along the Pacific Coast (Wasbauer 1978). The females excavate short shallow burrows in friable soil and hunt various tiny spiders which they immobilize with a sting in the cephalothorax. They transport the prey forward in flight or on the ground, depending on its relative size and weight, and return periodically to an open or closed nest entrance holding the spider face forward and venter to venter. They release the prey on the ground in that position, enter the burrow, pull the spider inside, and, after several spiders are deposited within and oviposition on a single prey occurs, close the burrow and entrance with loose soil. The nesting behavior of Miscophus californicus [as M. laticeps (Ashmead)] was studied in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA by Kurczewski et al. (2012) to clarify variation in previous reports on this species. Voucher specimens from this study were collected from coastal sand dunes in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, CA, deposited in the University of California–Davis R.M. Bohart Insect Museum, and identified as M. laticeps by L.S. Kimsey, University of California–Davis. This study was basically in agreement with that on M. californicus by Powell (1967) and in disagreement with the study of M. laticeps by Cazier and Mortenson (1965). Miscophus laticeps is a heretofore previously unpublished synonym of M. californicus in Joanne Slansky Wasbauer’s (1978) Ph. D. Thesis from the University of California–Davis (L.S. Kimsey, University of California–Davis, Davis, CA, 2020 pers. comm.)

Natriumphosphat enthaltende Darmreinigungsmittel - eine Gefahr für die Niere?

Bowel preparations containing Sodium phosphate – a risk for renal damage? - There are several well-documented cases of acute irreversible renal failure involving renal calcium phosphate deposits after the use of bowel preparations containing sodium phosphate (e.g., Colophos®). - Neither randomised clinical nor epidemiological studies have established an association between sodium phosphate use and renal damage in patients without preexisting renal dysfunction. - However, it is likely that patients with preexisting renal dysfunction and other risk factors were not sufficiently represented and analysed in these studies, and may be at increased risk of (further) renal damage through sodium phosphate. - Recommendations for clinical practice: 1. Routine determination of renal function through GFR estimation before prescription of bowel cleansing preparations containing sodium phosphate. 2. If sodium phosphate is administered, sufficient hydration is crucial: 2 L of fluids should be consumed with each 90 ml bottle of Colophos®. 3. Sodium phosphate should not be used in patients with preexisting renal dysfunction (GFR <60 ml/min), and in those with other risk factors (heart failure, concomitant use of ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and diuretics, preexisting dehydration and electrolyte disorders, old age). Bowel preparations containing polyethylene glycol (e.g., Cololyt®) should be given to these patients

O rodu kosaca Lola Kratochvil (Opiliones: Laniatores)

The species Lola insularis Kratochvíl, the sole representative of the genus, is redescribed on the basis of recently collected adult specimens. As the holotype is apparently lost, a neotype is designated from this new material. The previously unknown male and the genitalia of both sexes are described and illustrated for the first time. The genus appears distinct from the known phalangodid genera in both genitalic and somatic characters. Although the relationship of Lola Kratochvíl to other genera is not clear, it resembles in some characters both the Palearctic genus Ausobskya Martens and the Nearctic genera Sitalcina Banks, Texella Goodnight & Goodnight, and Phalangodes Tellkampf.Na temelju nedavno sakupljenih odraslih primjeraka ponovno je opisana vrsta Lola insularis Kratochvíl, jedini predstavnik roda. Buduci da je holotip izgubljen, iz novoprikupljenog materijala uspostavljen je neotip. Po prvi puta je opisan i ilustriran dosad nepoznati muzjak, kao i gra|a spolnih organa oba spola. Rod Lola pokazuje znatnu razliku u odnosu na poznate rodove porodice Phalangodidae, kako po građi genitalija, tako i po tjelesnoj građi. Iako srodnost roda Lola Kratochvíl s ostalim rodovima nije jasna, po nekim osobinama ovaj rod podsjeća na palearktički rod Ausobskya Martens, kao i na nearktičke rodove Sitalcina Banks, Texella Goodnight & Goodnight i Phalangodes Tellkampf

Spider genus Zorocrates

44 p. : ill., maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-44).The spider genus Zorocrates is revised, and comprises at least 31 species found from the southern United States south to Central America; it provides a notable example of the loss of a functional cribellum within a relatively small (but seemingly monophyletic) group of species. Two specific names are removed from synonymy: Z. gnaphosoides O. P.-Cambridge and Z. mordax O. P.-Cambridge (from Z. fuscus Simon and Z. mistus O. P.-Cambridge, respectively). Two other specific names are newly synonymized: Z. isolatus Gertsch and Davis, with Z. unicolor (Banks), and Z. petersi Kraus, with Z. gnaphosoides O. P.-Cambridge. Males are newly described for Z. badius Simon and Z. pictus Simon; females are newly described for Z. karli Gertsch and Riechert. Twenty new species are described from Texas and Mexico

New genus Malagiella.

86 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 26 cm.A new oonopid genus endemic to Madagascar, Malagiella, is proposed and its 10 constituent species newly described and illustrated: M. ambalavo ([male]), M. andringitra ([male, female]), M. fisheri ([m, f]), M. goodmani ([f]), M. nikina ([f]), M. ranavalona ([f]), M. ranomafana ([m, f]), M. toliara ([m, f]), M. valterova ([m, f]), and M. vohiparara ([m, f]). Malagiella is most similar to the Asian genus Camptoscaphiella in both somatic and genitalic features, but differs in some important characters. Unlike Camptoscaphiella, the Malagiella male has a palpal bulb completely fused with the tarsus and a sternum bearing stiff bristles; the female has a round copulatory opening and bifid 4th claws. The species may be recognized by the genitalia. Male palpi are fairly uniform, but differ in segment proportion and details of the embolus complex, which consists of a broad dorsal embolus connected to a laminar ventral prong. Female genitalia are more variable, especially in the curvature of the receptaculum, which spans the range from nearly straight to widely sinuous and occurs in mirror-image versions having opposite coiling. These torsional variants, with females having either left- or right-handed receptacula, probably occur in all species, although they are not evident in species with straight receptacula and (obviously) unknown in species represented by singleton female specimens. Malagiella species are very diverse somatically, ranging from dark, big, and large-eyed species to pale, small, and reduced-eyed ones. Our preliminary clustering uses mostly these somatic features, with some genitalic support, to identify three species groups: ranomafana, vohiparara, and toliara. Other genitalic characters that suggest different groupings are discussed

New genus Molotra

69 p. : ill. (some col.), col. map ; 26 cm.A new oonopid genus endemic to Madagascar, Molotra, is proposed and its six included species are newly described and illustrated: M. molotra, the type species, M. ninae, M. katarinae, M. suzannae, M. tsingy, and M. milloti. Molotra is defined on the basis of its unusual genitalia. The male has the palpal bulb terminating in broad, liplike lobes, unlike any previously described in Oonopidae. The female is equally unusual in lacking an apparent receptaculum, although the genitalia otherwise resemble those of silhouettelloid genera. The species of Molotra form three distinct groups based on somatic and genitalic characters. The M. molotra group includes four large, strongly spined species. The remaining two are morphologically distinct and known only from males. M. tsingy is a small species with unusual palpi that are complex, contorted, and with a resting position along the sternocoxal boundary, instead of an anterior sternal cavity. M. milloti is a very bristly species that differs somatically from other Molotra but has genitalia similar to the M. molotra group. Molotra is known only from Madagascar where the three species groups are strongly disjunct. The M. molotra group occurs in higher elevation forests (1000-1300 m) in northeastern Madagascar, M. tsingy is from low elevation karst (150 m) of the southwest, whereas M. milloti is from a coastal locality in the northwest

The Impact of Glucuronidation on the Bioactivation and DNA Adduction of the Cooked-Food Carcinogen 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine in vivo

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the glucuronidation of many different chemicals. Glucuronidation is especially important for detoxifying reactive intermediates from metabolic reactions, which otherwise can be biotransformed into highly reactive cytotoxic or carcinogenic species. Detoxification of certain food-borne carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HAs) is highly dependent on UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most mass abundant carcinogenic HA found in well-done cooked meat, is extensively glucuronidated by UGT1A proteins. In humans, CYP1A2 catalyzed N-hydroxylation and subsequent UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation is a dominant pathway in the metabolism of PhIP. Therefore, changes in glucuronidation rates could significantly alter PhIP metabolism. To determine the importance of UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation in the biotransformation of PhIP, UGT1A proficient Wistar and UGT1A deficient Gunn rats were exposed to a single 100 {micro}g/kg oral dose of [{sup 14}C]-PhIP. Urine was collected over 24 h and the PhIP urinary metabolite profiles were compared between the two strains. After the 24 h exposure, livers and colon were removed and analyzed for DNA adduct formation by accelerator mass spectrometry. Wistar rats produced several PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronides that accounted for {approx}25% of the total amount of recovered urinary metabolites. In the Gunn rats, PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronides were reduced by 68-92%, compared to the Wistar rats, and comprised only 4% of the total amount of recovered urinary metabolites. PhIP-DNA adduct analysis from the Gunn rats revealed a correlation between reduced PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronide levels in the urine and increased hepatic DNA adducts, compared to the Wistar rats. These results indicate that UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation of PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP is an important pathway for PhIP detoxification. Failure to form glucuronide conjugates results in increases in PhIP bioactivation and DNA adduct formation, which can potentially lead to increases in tumor formation. Therefore, diminished UGT1A activity could pose a significant risk for the development of certain cancers from exposure to PhIP

Determination of the Tissue Distribution and Excretion by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of the Nonadecapeptide 14C-Moli1901 in Beagle dogs after Intratracheal Instillation

Administration of {sup 14}C-Moli1901 (duramycin, 2622U90), a 19 amino acid polycyclic peptide by intratracheal instillation (approximately 100 {micro}g) into the left cranial lobe of the lung of beagle dogs resulted in retention of 64% of the dose in the left cranial lobe for up to 28 days. In this study, we used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to quantify Moli901 following administration of only 0.045 {micro}Ci of {sup 14}C-Moli901 per dog. Limits of quantitation of AMS were 0.03 (urine) to 0.3 (feces) ng equiv. Moli1901/g. Whole blood and plasma concentrations of {sup 14}C were &lt;5ng/ml at all times after the dose. Concentrations of {sup 14}C in whole blood and plasma declined over the first day after the dose and rose thereafter, with the rise in plasma concentrations lagging behind those in whole blood. During the first 3 days after the dose, plasma accounted for the majority of {sup 14}C in whole blood, but after that time, plasma accounted for only 25-30% of the {sup 14}C in whole blood. Tissue (left and right caudal lung lobe, liver, kidney, spleen, brain) and bile concentrations were low, always less than 0.25% the concentrations found in the left cranial lung lobe. Approximately 13% of the dose was eliminated in urine and feces in 28 days, with fecal elimination accounting for about 10% of the dose. The data presented here are consistent with that obtained in other species. Moli1901 is slowly absorbed and excreted from the lung, and it does not accumulate in other tissues. Moli1901 is currently in the clinic and has proven to be safe in single dose studies in human volunteers and cystic fibrosis patients by the inhalation route. No information on the disposition of the compound in humans is available. This study in dogs demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining that information using {sup 14}C-Moli1901 and AMS