Key to the adults of the most common forensic species of Diptera in South America

Flies (Diptera, blow flies, house flies, flesh flies, horse flies, cattle flies, deer flies, midges and mosquitoes) are among the four megadiverse insect orders. Several species quickly colonize human cadavers and are potentially useful in forensic studies. One of the major problems with carrion fly identification is the lack of taxonomists or available keys that can identify even the most common species sometimes resulting in erroneous identification. Here we present a key to the adults of 12 families of Diptera whose species are found on carrion, including human corpses. Also, a summary for the most common families of forensic importance in South America, along with a key to the most common species of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Fanniidae and to the genera of Sarcophagidae are provided. Drawings of the most important characters for identification are also included.

Three new cecidogenous Palaeomystella Fletcher (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae, Momphinae) associated with Melastomataceae in Brazil

Three new cecidogenous Palaeomystella Fletcher (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae, Momphinae), described herein, induce galls on stems and leaves of Melastomataceae species. They include: Palaeomystella tibouchinae sp. n., on Tibouchina barbigera (Naudin) Baillon, P. oligophaga sp. n., on Macairea radula (Bonpland) de Candolle and M. thyrsiflora de Candolle, and P. henriettiphila sp. n., on Henriettea succosa (Aublet) de Candolle. Adults, including male and female genitalia, larva, pupa, and galls are illustrated and described in detail.

Neolasioptera ramicola, a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) associated with Physalis angulata (Solanaceae)

Neolasioptera ramicola Maia, a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) that induces stem galls on Physalis angulata (Solanaceae) is described and illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female and gall) based on material from Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Asphondylia fructicola, a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) associated with Solanum sp. (Solanaceae) from Brazil

Asphondylia fructicola sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of the larva, pupa, male, female, and gall. This species induces galls on fruits of Solanum sp. (Solanaceae) in Amazonia, Brazil.

Pattern of attack of a galling insect reveals an unexpected preference-performance linkage on medium-sized resources

Pattern of attack of a galling insect reveals an unexpected preference-performance linkage on medium-sized resources. The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) predicts oviposition preference and higher offspring performance on longer and fast-growing shoots, and although several studies have tested its predictions, long-term studies concerning the patterns of host selection by galling species are still lacking. The PVH was tested in this study using Bauhinia brevipes (Fabaceae) as the host of a leaf gall midge, Asphondylia microcapillata (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) during three consecutive years. Shoots were collected from the same 80 plants between 2001 and 2003 and shoot length, number of healthy and galled leaves, gall number, and mortality factors were recorded. Nearly 600 galls were found on the 5,800 shoots collected. Medium-sized shoots supported from 46 to 70% of all galls, with greater gall survival rate in 2002 and 2003. A decrease in parasitism rate coupled with an increase in gall predation lead to a constant similar gall survivorship rate in all years (x = 22.7%). Although gall abundance varied among years (122 in 2001, 114 in 2002 and 359 in 2003) preference for longer shoots was not observed because the percentage of galled shoots and galled leaves were higher on medium shoot length classes in all years. The observed distribution of gall abundance and galled shoots were always greater than the expected distribution on medium shoot length classes. These findings do not support the PVH, and show that A. microcapillata can maximize the female preference and larval performance on medium-sized shoots of B. brevipes.

A new species of Bruggmanniella (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini) associated with Doliocarpus dentatus (Dilleniaceae) in Brazil

Bruggmanniella doliocarpi, a new galling species associated with Doliocarpus dentatus (Dilleniaceae) is described and illustrated (male, female, pupa, larva and gall) based on material from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species is compared to the other known Neotropical species. This is the first report of Bruggmanniella for Minas Gerais and in association with Dilleniaceae.

Cannabis use trajectories among Swiss adolescents

Introduction: Swiss data indicate that one fifth of current 16-20 yearold cannabis users do not use tobacco and seem to do better than those smoking both substances. The aim of this research is to assess the substance use trajectories of cannabis users who do not use tobacco and those who use both substances from age 17 to age 23. Methods: Using data from the TREE longitudinal data base, 328 out of 1796 youth 18.3%; 45% females) who smoked cannabis only (Group CAN; N = 46; 36% females) or concurrently with tobacco (Group CANTAB; N = 284; 46% females) at T1 (2001; age 17) were followed at T4 (2004; age 20) and T7 (2007; age 23). Two additional outcome groups were included at T4 and T7: those using only tobacco (Group TOB) and those not using any of these substances (Group NONE). Data were analyzed separately by gender. Results: Females in group CAN at T1 were as likely to be in group TOB (35%) or NONE (35%) at T4 and the percentages increased to 41% and 47%, respectively, at T7. Males in group CAN at T1 were more likely to be in group TOB at T4 (33%) and T7 (61%) than in group NONE (23% and 15%, respectively). Females in group CANTOB at T1 were mainly in group TOB at T4 (52%) and T7 (61%), while males in CANTOB at T1 remained mainly in the same group at T4 (75%) and T7 (61%). Only 10% of females and 5% of males in group CANTOB at T1 were in group NONE at T4 and 15% and 12%, respectively, at T7. Conclusions: Adolescents using only cannabis are globally less likely to continue using cannabis in young adulthood than those using both substances, although a fair percentage (specially males) switch to tobacco use. This result confirms previous research indicating that nicotine dependence and persistent cigarette smoking may be the main public health consequences of cannabis use. A gender difference arises among those using tobacco and cannabis at age 17: while females become mainly tobacco smokers, the majority of males continue to use both substances. Although these results could be explained by a substitution effect, teenagers using both substances seem to have gone beyond the experimentation phase and should be a motive for concern.

The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere. Specific amino acids in the HLA-B peptide binding groove, as well as an independent HLA-C effect, explain the SNP associations and reconcile both protective and risk HLA alleles. These results implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major factor modulating durable control of HIV infection.

El género Apiococcus Hempel (Hemiptera, Eriococcidae), con redescripción de dos especies

The genus Apiococcus Hempel (Hemiptera, Eriococcidae), with redescription of two species. Apiococcus Hempel is a genus from Brazil composed of four gall-inducing species. The adult females of two species, Apiococcus globosus Hempel and A. singularis Hempel, from Brazil, are redescribed and illustrated. Keys to the species of the genus and their galls are given.

Insect galls of restinga areas of Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Insect galls of restinga areas of Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This study carried out an insect gall inventory in restinga areas of Ilha da Marambaia, in the municipality of Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sampling was carried out monthly from April 2010 to March 2011 along the full extension of seven beaches. A total number of 147 gall morphotypes associated with 70 plant species were found, distributed in 33 plant families, and at least 54 genera. Myrtaceae was the botanical family with the highest richness of gall morphotypes and host species, followed by Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Sapindaceae, and Malpighiaceae. Most of the gall morphotypes occurred in leaves (78 morphotypes), 38 in stems, 14 in flowers, eight in buds and fruits, and one in adventitious roots. The galling insects belong to the five orders: Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, and Thysanoptera. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) was the most common galling taxon (78 morphotypes), represented by 87 species, being 78 gallers, seven inquilines and two predators. In addition to the gallers, parasitoids, inquilines, and predators were also found.

Description and life history of a new cecidogenous species of Palaeomystella Fletcher (Lepidoptera, Momphidae) from Brazil

ABSTRACTMale, female, pupa, and last-instar larva of Palaeomystella beckeri (Moreira and Basilio) a new species from the Atlantic forest, southern Brazil, are described and illustrated with the aid of optical and scanning electron microscopy. Larvae induce galls on apical branches of Tibouchina trichopoda (DC.) Baill. (Melastomataceae) within which pupation occurs. Gall description and preliminary data on life history are also provided.

Insect galls of a protected remnant of the Atlantic Forest tableland from Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil)

ABSTRACT Insect galls of a protected remnant of the Atlantic Forest tableland from Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil): Galling insects in Rio de Janeiro state are known by their great diversity, despite most of the surveys have been done in restinga. This paper investigated the insect galls from a remnant of Atlantic Forest located in São Francisco de Itabapoana municipality, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The galling insect fauna was surveyed from March, 2013 to April, 2014 at the Estação Ecológica Estadual de Guaxindiba. 143 gall morphotypes were found in 31 plant families, 60 genera and 82 species. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Sapindaceae were the main host families, being Trichilia, Tontelea and Eugenia the main host genera. Most galls occured on leaves, with globose shape, green and glabrous. Diptera (Cecidomyiidae), Hemiptera, and Lepidoptera were the inducing orders and the associated fauna comprised parasitoids (Hymenoptera), inquilines (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera: Coccoidea), successors (Psocoptera, Collembola and Acari), and predators (Pseudoscorpiones). Three plant genera and nine plant species are recorded for the first time as host of galls in Brazil. All the records are new to the municipality, and the distribution of 15 galling species is extended to the North of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Extraits divers.

Contient : Extraits de chartes et de manuscrits, parmi lesquels on remarque les suivants : ; Chartes de Saint-Crépin de Soissons (VIIIe-IXe siècle) ; Charte de Philippe-Auguste pour l'abbaye de Sarlat, 1181 (Delisle, Actes de Philippe-Auguste, n° 19) ; Lettres de Philippe-Auguste aux nobles de Poitou, pour les mander à l'expédition d'Angleterre, d'après un ms. de l'abbaye du Jard ; Lettres relatives aux affaires d'Avignon (1470-1472) ; Notice de la fondation da l'église de Nogaro, en 1061-1062 (Bréquigny, Table chronologique, t. II, p. 83) ; Acte d'émancipation de Raoul, fils de Raoul de Cournand (1245), d'après un vidimus de 1259 ; Visio Wettini, d'après un ms. de Cl. Dupuy collationné avec un ms. de Besly ; Notes concernant sainte Wilgeforte ; Lettre de M. Boileau, doyen de Sens [à Baluze] (21 juin 1684) ; Extraits de mss. liturgiques du chapitre de Sens ; Lettre de Raban Maur au chorévêque Regimbaldus ; collation d'un ms. d'Ant. Faure ; Extraits des « Constitutiones episcopatus Sutrini », ms. appartenant au cardinal Casanata ; Extrait d'un ms. d'Orléans (aujourd'hui Bibl. nat., nouv. acq. lat. 1632 ; cf. (Delisle, Cat. des fonds Libri et Barrois, p. 111) ; Extraits d'un sacramentaire de l'église de Lyon, faits par Baluze en novembre 1673 ; Extraits d'un pontifical de l'église de Reims ; Extraits d'un pontifical de l'église de Reims, de la main d'Adrien de Valois ; Autres extraits d'un pontifical de Sens ; Formules de serments « ex veteri codice Remensi Nicolai Fabri. » ; Extraits d'un pontifical de l'église de Reims ; Extraits d'un ms. de Saint-Gall (sans doute ms. 446), collationnés par Baluze en 1674 ; Ordo romanus, extraits faits d'après deux mss. de Saint-Gall ; Ordo romanus, extraits faits d'après un ms. de Cahors ; « Benedictiones, » tirées d'un ms. de Saint-Hilaire-en-Carcassès ; Extraits du De confessione verae fidei [Liber precum], de Marcellinus et Faustinus, faits par Baluze en décembre 1673, d'après un ms. de Saint-Gall (ms. 190) ; « Ex homiliis incerti auctoris qui aevo Karoli M. floruit, » d'après un ms. de Saint-Gall ; Homélies tirées d'un ms. de l'église de Lyon ; Poenitentia laicorum, de Fulbert de Chartres (Migne, Patr. lat., t. CXLI, col. 339) ; Extraits d'un pénitentiel, d'après un ms. de Saint-Arnoul de Metz ; Extraits d'un ms. de l'Oratoire de Troyes, contenant un recueil de canons ; Extraits des Decrétales du Pseudo-Isidore, d'après un ms. de Saint-Gall (ms. 670) ; Copie de deux martyrologes, envoyée par Baluze à d'Achery (cf. note au f. 185) ; le second (f. 210), tiré d'un ms. de Saint-Gall (sans doute le ms. 914), de la main de Baluze, en juin 1674 ; Extraits du De miseria humanae conditionis, d'Innocent III ; Dédicace, par Calixte II, de l'église du Ronceray d'Angers (Hist. de France, t. XIV, p. 199) ; Lettre de Charlemagne relative aux travaux de Paul Diacre (Migne, Patr. lat., t. XCV, col. 1159) ; Bulles et actes pontificaux divers : ; Bulles d'Eugène III (24 avril 1146) et d'Anastase IV (25 avril 1154) pour les églises de la province de Bordeaux (Jaffé, Regesta, nos 8910 et 9876) ; Bulle de Benoit XI portant révocation des collations de bénéfices faites par Boniface VIII (6 novembre 1303) ; Bulle d'Innocent VI pour la prédication d'une croisade contre les Grandes Compagnies (1361), d'après un ms. de Saint-Victor ; Bulle de Clément VII pour le monastère de Coiroux (6 juillet 1393) ; Lettres de Julien [de la Rovere], cardinalévêque d'Ostie, pour Antoine Galvan, seigneur de « Chausenejoulx » (15 février 1486) ; Bulle de Pie V pour Hugues de Vermondot, abbé de La Valette (23 avril 1571) ; Signature en cour de Rome pour Jean du Peyron, sacristain du monastère d'Obazine (17 février 1587) ; Bulle de Clément VIII pour Pierre Pandinhe, abbé de Bonneval (4 janvier 1596) ; Bulle du même pour Léger, abbé de Dalon (12 juin 1600) ; Bulles du même pour Jean de Montroux, abbé de Bonaigue (1601) ; Bulle d'Alexandre III pour l'église de Toulouse, 8 juillet 1162 [Jaffé, n° 10739) ; Bref de N. S. P. le pape Alexandre VII, envoyé à M. l'abbé comte de Richelieu, au sujet de son voyage d'Allemagne (23 mars 1664) ; imprimé de 4 pages in-fol ; Lettres de Philippe le Bel portant convocation d'Etats à Tours (25 mars 1307) ; Lettre de Dom Claude Estiennot à Baluze (Rome, 1er mai 1696) ; Lettre de l'empereur Léopold Ier à Charles II, roi d'Espagne (Vienne, 20 janvier 1696) ; Lettres de l'inquisiteur général de Portugal, portant condamnation des Acta sanctorum des Bollandistes (24 janvier 1696) ; Lettres des inquisiteurs d'Aragon portant même condamnation (19 novembre 1695) ; Extraits de la vie de saint Géraud d'Aurillac ; Instructions données à ceux qui visitent des églises ; Extraits d'un évengéliaire donné par la comtesse. Mathilde à l'abbaye de Padolirone ; Extrait du récit de la translation des reliques de saint Thomas d'Aquin à Toulouse, en 1368, par Raimond Hugues (Bibl. hag. lat. n° 8161), d'après un ms. des Dominicains de Toulouse ; Extraits d'un recueil de formules appartenant à Fr. Pithou (cf. Zeumer, Formulae, p. 597) ; Note sur la fuite d'Ant. Muret à Toulouse, en 1554 ; Sommaire des thèses d'Et. Baluze pour le grade de bachelier en droit canon (3 septembre 1665) ; « Harangue de M. Talon, avocat général, au lit de justice du Roy, tenu au Parlement de Paris, le mecredi XVe janvier 1648. » ; Notes sur l'histoire d'Espagne, envoyées à Baluze ; Lettres (1380-1383), relatives à Simon de Cramaud, plus tard évêque de Carcassonne ; Mémoire sur les affaires d'Italie (26 mars 1669), en italien ; Eloge de Louis XIV : paraphrase, en vers latins, du Psaume CXLIII ; Eloge de Colbert, par M. Boyer ; original ; Lettres de Pierre de Saint-Martial, archevêque de Toulouse, pour l'Hôpital Saint-Jacques de ladite ville (1391) ; Extraits d'un bréviaire ms. de Limoges ; Extraits des registres du Parlement de Toulouse ; Notes pour l'établissement du texte des lettres de Pierre de Blois ; Note sur les affaires de Roussillon ; Instructions données par Henri d'Orléans, [marquis de Rothelin], à ses fils ; « Sirventes de Arnaud Maziere, 1283 », et pièces relatives à Frothaire, archevêque de Bourges ; Notes extraites des archives de Carcassonne, envoyées à Baluze par Guillaume Besse ; Anagramme sur le nom de famille [Ruspiliosus] du pape Clément IX ; placard gravé de 1668

EXTRAITS HISTORIQUES.

Contient : Extraits du Miroir historial, de Jean de Noyal, abbé de Saint-Vincent de Laon [Molinier, Sources, n° 3101] ; « Extrait de l'histoire ms. de Gaston, comte de Foix, par Guillaume Le Seur, communiqué par M. Doihenard, qui en a l'original. » ; Pièces relatives à La Rochelle (1407-1498), extraites des registres du Trésor des chartes ; Lettre de Raimbaud, archevêque d'Arles, au pape Alexandre II, et bulle de celui-ci, concernant l'église de Barjols [Albanès, Gall. Christ. noviss., Arles, col. 173, nos 422 et 423] ; Charte de Raimond, comte de Saint-Gilles, pour l'église d'Arles. 1105 [ibid., col. 187, n° 464]

Population-based registration of phenotypic anatomic and familial data for melanoma: results from a Swiss multicentric study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: A multicentric study was set up to assess the feasibility for Swiss cancer registries of actively retrieving 3 additional variables of epidemiological and a etiological relevance for melanoma, and of potential use for the evaluation of prevention campaigns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The skin type, family history of melanoma and precise anatomical site were retrieved for melanoma cases registered in 5 Swiss cantons (Neuchâtel, St-Gall and Appenzell, Vaud and Wallis) over 3 to 6 consecutive years (1995-2002). Data were obtained via a short questionnaire administered by the physicians - mostly dermatologists - who originally excised the lesions. As the detailed body site was routinely collected in Ticino, data from this Cancer Registry were included in the body site analysis. Relative melanoma density (RMD) was computed by the ratio of observed to expected numbers of melanomas allowing for body site surface areas, and further adjusted for site-specific melanocyte density. RESULTS: Of the 1,645 questionnaires sent, 1,420 (86.3%) were returned. The detailed cutaneous site and skin type were reliably obtained for 84.7% and 78.7% of questionnaires, and family history was known in 76% of instances. Prevalence of sun-sensitive subjects and patients with melanoma affected first-degree relatives, two target groups for early detection and surveillance campaigns were 54.1% and 3.4%, respectively. After translation into the 4th digit of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, the anatomical site codes from printed (original information) and pictorial support (body chart from the questionnaire) concurred for 94.6% of lesions. Discrepancies occurred mostly for lesions on the upper, outer part of the shoulder for which the clinician's textual description was "shoulder blade". This differential misclassification suggests under-estimation by about 10% of melanomas of the upper limbs and an over-estimation of 5% for truncal melanomas. Sites of highest melanoma risk were the face, the shoulder and the upper arm for sexes, the back for men and the leg for women. Three major features of this series were: (1) an unexpectedly high RMD for the face in women (6.2 vs 4.2 in men), (2) the absence of a male predominance for melanomas on the ears, and (3) for the upper limbs, a steady gradient of increasing melanoma density with increasing proximity to the trunk, regardless of sex. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The feasibility of retrieving the skin type, the precise anatomical location and family history of melanoma in a reliable manner was demonstrated thanks to the collaboration of Swiss dermatologists. Use of a schematic body drawing improves the quality of the anatomical site data and facilitate the reporting task of doctors. Age and sex patterns of RMD paralleled general indicators of sun exposure and behaviour, except for the hand (RMD=0.2). These Swiss results support some site or sun exposure specificity in the aetiology of melanoma.