Comparison of cleaning methods for delicate insect specimens for scanning electron microscopy.

The objective of the present study was to compare cleaning methods for delicate insect specimens for investigations with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As typical specimens we used aquatic larvae of mosquitoes, springtails, larvae of mayflies and caterpillars because they are very fragile and large parts of their body consist of soft tissue. Additionally their cuticle is very often covered with dirt, soil particles or other materials.

The larval head of Exechia (Mycetophilidae) and Bibio (Bibionidae) (Diptera).

Exechia and Bibio have retained several plesiomorphic groundplan features of Diptera and Bibionomorpha, including a fully exposed and sclerotized head capsule, the transverse undivided labrum, the absence of movable premandibles, and undivided mandibles without combs. The fusion of the hypostomal bridge with the head capsule and largely reduced antennae are derived features shared by both taxa. The absence of teeth at the anterior hypostomal margin is a potential autapomorphy of Bibionomorpha.

Improved pacemaker pulse detection: clinical evaluation of a new high-bandwidth electrocardiographic system.

Background: This study compares the pacemaker pulse detection performance of the new high-bandwidth (hi-fi) electrocardiographic (ECG) acquisition system to a conventional system in a prospective clinical evaluation.

Methods: Electrocardiograms from 88 subjects with implanted pacemakers were recorded using different pacemaker programmed outputs and with different noise levels. Each ECG was recorded simultaneously from both systems.

dOr83b--receptor or ion channel?

Odorant signals are detected by binding of odor molecules to odorant receptors. These belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. They in turn couple to G proteins, most of which induce cAMP production.

Drosophila odorant receptors are both ligand-gated and cyclic-nucleotide-activated cation channels.

From worm to man, many odorant signals are perceived by the binding of volatile ligands to odorant receptors that belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. They couple to heterotrimeric G-proteins, most of which induce cAMP production. This second messenger then activates cyclic-nucleotide-gated ion channels to depolarize the olfactory receptor neuron, thus providing a signal for further neuronal processing.