First evidence of terrestrial ambrein formation in human adipocere

To date, the only known occurrence of ambrein, an important perfumery organic molecule, is in coproliths found in about one in a hundred sperm whales. Jetsam ambergris coproliths from the whale are also found occasionally on beaches worldwide. Here we report on the surprising occurrence of ambrein in human adipocere. Adipocere is a waxy substance formed post-mortem during incomplete anaerobic decomposition of soft tissues. Adipocere samples obtained from grave exhumations were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition to the typical fatty acids of adipocere, lesser amounts of ambrein were identified in the samples, in abundances similar to those of the major accompanying faecal steroids. The distribution of these compounds suggests that ambrein was produced post-mortem during the microbial decomposition of faecal residues and tissues. It is assumed that the adipocere matrix of saturated fatty acidsaided the preservation of ambrein over extended periods of time, because adipocere is stable against degradation. The association of ambrein formation in ageing faecal material, under moist, oxygen-depleted conditions, now requires more attention in studies of other mammalian and geological samples. Indeed, ambrein and its transformation products may be useful novel chemical indicators of aged faecal matter and decomposed bodies.

The Role of Cholesterol in Assessing the Condition of the Surgical Patients

Summary Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance that always takes part in building each cell in the human body. The role of cholesterol in the normal functioning of the human body has been known for a long time, however, it is mainly due to its elevated levels and the health risk of it. It is less well known that low serum cholesterol levels are associated with serious health problems. When it comes to intensive care unit (ICU) patients, hypocholesterolemia may indicate infectious complications, impaired hepatic synthesis, significant bodily injury. Surgical patients are judged for operative trauma and perioperative stress, as well as for the resuscitation process.

Two amazing new species of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) fromColombia: Calloconophora estellae sp. nov. and Problematode robertoi sp. nov.

Two new species of treehoppers are described from Colombia: Calloconophora estellae sp. nov. and Problematode robertoi sp. nov. The first from the Western foothills of the Cordillera Occidental, and Eastern foothills of the North of the Cordillera Central toward the Magdalena Medio region. Problematode robertoi sp. nov. is described from highlands, nearby Los Nevados National Natural Park. Description of the nymphs, notes on their biology, and comments about the taxonomic position and distribution of each species are included. This is the first record of a Calloconophora species secreting a waxy substance on branches close to eggs and/or nymphs, and the first record of the genus Problematode in Colombia (previously only known from Venezuela). Additionally, based on characters of a late-instar nymph exuviae, the position of Problematode within the Membracidae subfamilies is discussed.

Corroboreethrips, a new genus of minute apterous thrips (Insecta : Thysanoptera : Phlaeothripinae) from the bark of Australian Acacia trees

Six new species are described in the new genus Corroboreethrips: C. kallus, sp. nov., C. siagonus, sp. nov., C. stomius, sp. nov., C. subsolanus, sp. nov., C. suspectus, sp. nov. and C. zophus, sp. nov. They all live in cavities beneath thin, split bark of slender branches on particular Acacia tree species in arid parts of Australia, and two species-pairs show a vicariant distribution between Queensland and Western Australia. In life, adults of these minute black, wingless thrips are remarkable in appearance, decorated with irregular rows of tiny white dots, the product of numerous short, stout dorsal setae coated with a white waxy substance. The structure of the antennae of these species is unique within the Phlaeothripidae, with segments VII and VIII short and forming a small style that is closely joined to segment VI, segment III produced basally into a sleeve around the pedicel, and segment II strongly asymmetric. The mouth cone varies in length among the six species more than in any other known thrips genus. In two species it is relatively short, extending to the fore coxae, but in two others it extends as far as the hind coxae and is thus relatively longer than in any other phlaeothripid.

Emendations and Interpretations in the Greek Anthology

Gow and Page are of the opinion that Planudes’ àένναος in the fifth line of this epigram may be not his conjecture but the true reading, and reject Jacobs' commonly received emendation àєί λáνος, with κηρο in the following line. But I have no doubt that for the two words μέν àλανóς (the μέν is unobjectionable but not obligatory) we should read μєμαλαγαγμένος for ó μєμαλαγαγμένος κηρóς is the regular gloss1 on the waxy substance called μàλθα or μàλθα which was used in Athens—at the time of Sophocles himself2—particularly for spreading on wooden writing-tablets. It was surmised by Schwabe that μàλθη had been the word glossed in Ael. Dion.Two entries in Pollux are especially important for establishing the use ofmaltha. In 10. 58–9, describing it as ό ένών т πινακίδί κηρϳς, he quotes passages from Herodotus (7. 239), Cratinus (fr. 204), and Aristophanes (fr. 157) referring to the soft wax which could easily be scraped from writing-tablets to erase writing. In 8. 16 he says it is the wax spread on the dicasts’ πινáκιον тιμηтικóν, from scratching on which the ‘long line’ of condemnation it will be remembered that Athenian philheliasts got wax under their finger-nails (Ar. Vesp. 108 and schol.).

Termite-Repellent Activity and Chemical Composition of West Indian Mahogany Wood, (Swietenia Mahagoni Jacq.) with Special Reference to the P2 Fraction

1. Serial extraction of West Indian mahogany wood with selective solvents was performed. 2. The petroleum ether extract was the only fraction to exhibit promising termite-repellent activity. 3. Mahogany blocks subjected to petroleum ether extraction became susceptible to termite attack. 4. A waxy substance (P2 fraction) separated from the petroleum ether extract at times showed high termite-repellent activity. The termite-repellent principle in the P2 fraction seems to be a labile one, as the termite-repellent activity varied greatly from batch to batch. 5. The P2 fraction is a mixture of two major components and of at least a third minor one. As far as we have been able to determine this mixture, at the elemental level, contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only, while esters have been the only compounds definitely characterized at the structural level.