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A new encyrtid parasitoid PsyllaephagusramamurthyiHayat sp. nov. is described from the specimens collected from the psyllids in Assam, India. These psyllids were observed inducing galls on Litsea monopetala. The type specimens are deposited in the National Pusa Collection, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and the Insect Collections, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.

Infective endocarditis continues to pose major challenges in diagnosis and management despite advances in understanding the epidemiology, microbiology, and pathology of the disease. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of diagnosis, microbiology, and treatment of infective endocarditis, particularly as they are influenced by case definitions.

In this study it was hypothesized that elite butterfly performance is characterized by wave motions with particular frequency, amplitude, and phase characteristics. Particular emphasis was accorded the question of whether ‘waves’ travel along the body during the butterfly stroke. Selected body landmarks and the center of mass (CM) of eight elite males and eight elite female swimmers were quantified. Fourier analysis was conducted to determine the frequency, amplitude, and phase characteristics of the vertical undulations of the vertex of the head, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. The differences in phase between these landmarks for the first (H1) and second (H2) Fourier frequencies were investigated to establish whether waves travelled along the body in a caudal direction. The absolute average velocity of H1 wave travel from vertex to ankle was found to be a mean of 0.34 m s−1 faster than the forward velocity of the CM for the male swimmers and 0.17 m s−1 faster for the female swimmers. There was a very strong relationship (p<0.01) between velocity of H1 wave travel and CM velocity. There was no evidence to suggest that elite swimmers timed their actions to minimise vertical CM displacement to reduce mechanical work. In fact, the phase relationships among adjacent segments suggested that energy gained by raising the CM was transmitted caudally and contributed to a propulsive ‘whip-like’ action.

Corynebacterium ulceransis a gram-positive zoonotic rod that is most typically known as the causative agent in infections of cattle, other domestic animals, and nonhuman primates. However, infection in humans has been described, and extrapharyngeal manifestations seem to be of increasing concern. Some strains of C. ulceransproduce the diphtheria toxin, which can potentially lead to severe systemic illness and possibly, death. A dermonecrotic toxin with phospholipase D activity is also produced by most C. ulceransstrains. We describe a case of persistent cutaneous infection secondary to C. ulceransand discuss the importance of accurate identification of Corynebacteriumspecies involved in skin and soft tissue infections, the need for assessment of toxin production, and the appropriate treatment response.

We present 2 patients with cutaneous Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensisinfection who had recurrence of disease after completing standard courses of sodium stibogluconate but were cured upon subsequent treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. Amphotericin B may be an excellent agent for the treatment of clinically resistant or relapsed cutaneous leishmaniasis; the optimal dose and duration of therapy remain uncertain and will require further study.