A new genus and species of Scirtothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), with two new species of Scirtothrips, from Dipterocarp Forest canopy in Malaysia.

A new genus and three new species are described from the canopy of Dipterocarp forest in Pasoh Forest Research in Malaysia: Daunothrips gen. n., D. striatus sp. n., Scirtothrips convexum sp. n. and Scirtothrips longifacies sp. n. The morphological characters of these new members of the Scirtothrips genus-group are discussed and illustrated.

Studies on the genus Lefroyothrips, with new records from Malaysia, New Caledonia and a new species from Australia (Thysanoptera, Thripidae).

Six species are recognised in the genus Lefroyothrips, including one new species from Australia. The metascutal chaetotaxy of two of these species is unique amongst Thripidae. New distribution records given here indicate that four of the species are widely distributed: L. pictus across tropical Africa, L. lefroyi from northern India to Taiwan, L. fasciatus from Malaysia to northern Australia and New Guinea, and L. varatharajani from southern India to New Caledonia and northern Australia. An illustrated key is provided to the six known species in this genus.

Character state variation among species of Thrips genus (Thysanoptera) in Malaysia, with one new species and two new records.

Thrips korbuensis sp.n. is described from a high elevated area in Peninsular Malaysia. It shares many character states with Thrips coloratus but has 8-segmented antennae and abdominal segment VIII-X uniformly dark. It also shares some features with Thrips florum, and variation in some character states used to distinguish species in the Thrips hawaiiensis group are discussed. Two species, Thrips brevistylus and Thrips subnudula, are recorded for the first time from Malaysia, and an updated checklist is provided of 27 species of the genus Thrips recorded from Malaysia.

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy- report of a rare renal disease with serial biopsies.

INTRODUCTION: Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy or collagen type-III glomerulopathy is a rare glomerular disease characterised by the deposition of type III collagen fibres in the subendothelial space and mesangium of the glomerulus. CASE REPORT: Here, we present a case of collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy in a 49-year-old Indian female, the first to be reported from Singapore. Renal biopsy showed PAS (periodic acid-Schiff), silver and Congo red negative, amorphous extracellular material that expanded mesangial and subendothelial regions. Such materials were strongly positive for anti-collagen III immunofluorescent staining. Under electron microscopy, the mesangial and some subendothelial regions were greatly expanded by abundant collagen fibres which were different from normal collagen III fibres in both appearance and periodicity. DISCUSSION: The availability of past renal biopsies for reference offered insight into disease progression. From the initial diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis to eventually collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy over a time span of more than 10 years, this case highlights the gradual accumulation of collagen fibres in the glomeruli before classical features are apparent. It also emphasises the importance of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of this disease.

A new species of Tenothrips pollinating Dipterocarpus sublamellatus in Malaysia.

Tenothrips keruing sp. n. is described from Malaysia. This new species was taken from the flowers of Dipterocarpus sublamellatus (local name Keruing kerut) during the recent mass-flowering. The male of this species has a pair of stout setae on abdominal tergite IX, and there are no sternal pore plates. A key to species of Tenothrips from Indomalaysia is provided.

Merothripidae from Malaysia: Merothrips with one new species and two new species records.

The family Merothripidae is recorded for the first time from Malaysia. Three species of Merothrips, the largest genus in the family, are recorded here, with the description of Merothrips yii sp.n.

Autapomorphies in the generic classification of Plectrothripini (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with a new genus and a new record from Malaysia.

Bangithrips mei gen. et sp. n. is described from Peninsular Malaysia. The significance is discussed of outstanding structural autapomorphies that are commonly used in classifications of Thysanoptera. Argyrothrips ommatos described recently from northern Australia is recorded from Malaysia.

Organothrips stongensis sp. n. and Watanabeothrips yasuakii Okajima: new records from Peninsular Malaysia of Thysanoptera: Thripidae.

Organothrips stongensis sp. n. is described from Malaysia based on two males. These are sharply bicolored in contrast to other males in this genus, and a key is provided to males of the four known species of this genus. Organothrips was not previously known in Malaysia. Watanabeothrips yasuakii Okajima is also a first record from Malaysia, and differences between these females and the holotype decription are discussed.

Two new species of Scirtothrips genus-group (Thripidae) of Northern Peninsular Malaysia.

The survey of Thysanoptera in peninsular Malaysia has been concentrated largely in areas growing crops and flowers around Kuala Lumpur, and the Cameron Highlands, and there are few records of these insects from native forests particularly in the northern part of the country. The two species described here were collected during a recent visit to Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, in Perak State, part of the second largest forested area on the peninsular, and connected to the Bang Lang National Park, in Yala Province, Thailand. This forest has been well known as home to a number of endangered animals, including Malayan tigers and Asian elephants, as well as remarkable plant species such as Rafflesia with the world's largest flowers (Abdullah et al. 2011). Despite this, forest areas are facing a major challenge from the insatiable demand for timber, palm oil and minerals, with an 80% increase in deforestation rate in Malaysia between 1990 and 2005 (FAO 2010). Forested land in peninsular Malaysia has been estimated at 5.88 million-ha or 44% of total area, but the coverage of reserved virgin forest is about 0.40 % or 23,002-ha (Dahlan 2008).

A new species of Amalothrips Ananthakhrishnan from Malaysia, with first description of male.

Amalothrips noorazlani sp. n. is described from Malaysia based on both sexes, and a key is provided to the species of this genus. This is the first record of Amalothrips species outside India, and the first description of a male Amalothrips. The male has a pair of drepanae, the tergal posteromargin bears a toothed craspedum, but there are no sternal pore plates.

Genera of the Scirtothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) with a new species of Siamothrips from Malaysia.

The Scirtothrips genus-group is here considered to comprise 11 genera, and an identification key to these is presented. These genera are Ajothrips Bhatti, Anascirtothrips Bhatti, Biltothrips Bhatti, Cercyothrips Morgan, Drepanothrips Uzel, Ephedrothrips zur Strassen, Kenyattathrips Mound, Parascirtothrips Masumoto & Okajima, Scirtidothrips Hood, Scirtothrips Shull and Siamothrips Okajima. One genus, Sericopsothrips Hood, is considered a new synonym of Scirtothrips, with the only species now referred to as Scirtothrips palloris (Hood) comb.n. A second species in the genus Siamothrips is described from Malaysia as Siamothrips initium sp.n.

Species of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from bamboo in Malaysia, with one new species and six new records.

Nine species of Thripinae that inhabit bamboo are recorded from Malaysia. Clypeothrips idrisi sp.n. is described as a second species in the genus, and Trichromothrips bruncurrum Reyes is considered a syn.n. of Neocorynothrips asiaticus Ramakrishna & Margabandhu. Six species are newly recorded from Malaysia: N. asiaticus, Okajimaella tubercula, Simulothrips banpoti, Stenchaetothrips bambusicola, S. bambusae and S. spinalis. Seven species of Stenchaetothrips are now known from Malaysia. Illustrations and descriptions of each species are provided.

The genus Scirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Malaysia, with four new species and comments on Biltothrips, a related genus .

Species of the genus Scirtothrips are studied from Malaysia for the first time. Six species of this genus are here recorded from Malaysia: S. dobroskyi is newly recorded, and four new species: S. lantanae sp.n., S. lixinae sp.n., S. hitam sp.n. and S. malayensis sp.n. are described together with an illustrated identification key. Relationships were examined between S. dorsalis and the closely related S. hitam sp.n., based on the mitochondrial gene COI, and a redescription of the widespread pest species, dorsalis, is provided. Biltothrips minutus (Bhatti) is reported from Malaysia for the first time, and illustrations provided to distinguish this genus from Scirtothrips. 

A new genus of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) collected from Pandanus in Japan, Malaysia and Australia, with three new species.

Pandanothrips gen. n. is described, with three new species inhabiting Pandanus: P. ryukyuensis sp. n. from Japan, P. wangi sp. n. from Malaysia, and P. hallingi sp. n. from Australia. This new genus shows no relationship to Projectothrips Moulton, the only other Thripinae genus known to be associated with Pandanus. Pandanothrips is superficially similar to Danothrips Bhatti, a genus of leaf feeding thrips. The morphological relationships among these genera are discussed, and an illustrated key to the species of Pandanothrips is provided.

Arsenic hyperaccumulation by Pteris vittata and Pityrogramma calomelanos: a comparative study of uptake efficiency in arsenic-treated soils and waters.

This work comprised of the comparative study of arsenic (As) uptake efficiency by Pteris vittata and Pityrogramma calomelanos grown in (i) As amended soils (0-600 ppm) and (ii) As tainted water (40 ppb) using a new compact continuous flow phytofiltration system in a tropical greenhouse. The As hyperaccumulation efficiency was dependent on the growth medium for the two fern species. The highest level of As detected in the fronds of P. vittata was 19,300+/-190 ppm (dry weight basis) and 11,600+/-230 ppm for Pityrogramma calomelanos, after growing for 78 days in soils amended with As. In the compact continuous flow As phytofiltration system experiments, Pityrogramma calomelanos was found to perform better than P. vittata in phytofiltrating As contaminated water under waterlogged conditions. During the 167 h of phytofiltration experiment, the removal efficiency was approximately 99% and 67% for Pityrogramma calomelanos and P. vittata systems respectively, based on an initial 40 ppb As. Pityrogramma calomelanos also required a shorter acclimatization time than P. vittata under waterlogged conditions.

The detection of small relative simulated field defects using multifocal VEPs.

INTRODUCTION: The multifocal visual-evoked potential (mfVEP) has been widely used in the study of diseases of the visual system. However, the sensitivity of the mfVEP in the objective detection of relative field defects has not been determined. This study investigates variations in mfVEP responses while simulating relative field defects by using different luminous transmission masks [neutral density (ND) filters] on the stimulus pattern. METHODS: Simulated relative field defects with four different luminous transmissions were obtained by using 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 ND filters, 5 degrees in size, at two different retinal eccentricities (10 and 16 degrees) on a standard mfVEP dartboard stimulus. Eleven normal subjects were recruited for mfVEP measurements. The response amplitudes and latencies of the N1 and P1 of the mfVEP, with and without small simulated relative field defects, were compared. RESULTS: The mfVEP amplitudes of N1 and P1 decreased substantially when 0.6 and 0.8 ND filters were introduced. The effects were similar at both the 10- and 16-degree eccentricities but there was no change in latency with simulated field defects at either location. CONCLUSIONS: The mfVEP can detect a simulated relative field defect 5 degrees in size starting with 0.6 log unit reduction in luminance at both 10-degree and 16-degree eccentricities. This illustrates that the sensitivity of the mfVEP measurement is nearly comparable with that of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser.

Active finite element analysis of skeletal muscle-tendon complex during isometric, shortening and lengthening contraction.

An active finite element model was developed to predict the mechanical behaviors of skeletal muscle-tendon complex during isometric, shortening and lengthening contraction. The active finite element was created through incorporation of a user-defined material property into ABAQUS finite element code. The active finite element is controlled by a motor element that is activated by a mathematical function. The nonlinear passive behavior of the muscle was defined by the viscoelastic elements and can be easily altered to other properties by using other elements in the material library without the need of re-defining the constitutive relation of the muscle. The isometric force-length relationship, force-strain relations of the muscle-tendon complex during both shortening and lengthening contraction and muscle relaxation response were predicted using the proposed finite element model. The predicted results were found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. In addition, the stress distribution in the muscle-tendon complex during isometric, shortening and lengthening contractions was simulated. The location of the maximum stress may provide useful information for studying muscle damage and fatigue in the future.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning): implications for the medical practitioner.

The current century will bring tremendous changes to the science and the practice of medicine. This century will be acknowledged as the century of Biology as the fusion of molecular genetics and experimental embryology pushes the barriers of science beyond perimeters that we have thought existed, as much as the past century was the century of Physics, with all the exact scientific calculations and predictions, resulting in electricity, nuclear power and quantum physics. The first major breakthrough has been the pioneering work of Wilmut and Campbell, first with the birth of Megan and Moran in 1995 (1), followed by the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first reported mammalian clone from a fully differentiated adult cell, reported in July 1996 (2). However, current cloning techniques are an extension of over 40 years of research using nuclei derived from non-human embryonic and fetal cells. However, following the birth of Dolly, the prospects of cloning technology have extended to ethically hazier areas of human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. This review hopes to bring the reader closer to the science and the ethics of this new technology, and what the implications are for the medical practitioner.