scholarly journals A global phylogenetic regionalisation of vascular plants reveals a deep split between Gondwanan and Laurasian biotas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelino Carta ◽  
Lorenzo Peruzzi ◽  
Santiago Ramirez Barahona

Existing global regionalisation schemes for plants consider the compositional affinities among biotas, but these have not considered phylogenetic information explicitly. Incorporating phylogenetic information may substantially advance our understanding of the relationships among regions and the synopsis of biogeographical schemes, because phylogeny captures information on the evolutionary history of taxa. Here, we present the first phytogeographical delineation of the global vascular flora based on the evolutionary relationships of species. We analysed 8,738,520 geographical occurrence records for vascular plant species together with a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree including 67,420 species. We estimated species composition within 200x200 km grid cells across the world, and used a metric of phylogenetic beta diversity to generate a phylogenetic delineation of floristic regions. We contrasted these results with a regionalisation generated using a taxonomic beta diversity metric. We identified 16 phylogenetically distinct phytogeographical units, deeply split into two main clusters that broadly correspond to the Laurasia-Gondwana separation. Our regionalisation broadly matches currently recognized phytogeographical classifications, but also highlights that the Gondwanan area is split into a large Holotropical cluster and an Australian-NeoZelandic-Patagonian cluster. In turn, we found that the northernmost and southernmost units have the most evolutionarily distinct vascular plant assemblages. In contrast, taxonomic dissimilarity returned a regionalisation composed of 23 units with a high degree of shared taxa between Laurasian and Gondwanan areas, with no clear split among their biotas. The integration of phylogenetic information provided new insights into the historical relationships among phytogeographical units, enabling the identification of three large, clearly differentiated biotas, here referred to as kingdoms: Holarctic, Holotropical, and Austral. Our regionalization scheme provides further evidence for delineating transition zones between the Holarctic and Holotropical kingdoms. The latitudinal patterns of evolutionary distinctiveness of vascular plant assemblages are consistent with recent evidence of higher and more recent diversification of flowering plants outside tropical regions.

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme W. Dean ◽  
Peter W. Wolnizer ◽  
Frank L. Clarke

A major, unique accounting archival source, the R.J. Chambers Collection comprises both hard copy and, utilizing cutting-edge search technology, internet accessible materials. From his academic beginnings, Chambers was an orderly person, an archivist of the extensive and varied evidence that underpinned his proposals for accounting reform. Opening research areas for accounting biography, the development of accounting thought, the history of accounting institutions, prosopography, public sector accounting history, and comparative international accounting history are foremost amongst the myriad justifications for seeking to unravel the accounting history “lodes” in archives such as the Goldberg, Chambers, and Briloff Collections [Potter, 2003]. The archiving of the meticulously kept Chambers papers from 1947–1999 provides an opportunity for unfolding the background to events previously withheld from accounting history scholars. Professional episodes in relation to inflation accounting, standard setting, proposals to reform accounting education, and the like that appeared prima facie to be worth investigating are now open to scrutiny from a different angle, with a different type of evidence available in this Collection. This Collection provides a high degree of archival provenance. In particular, it represents an orderly retention of past documentation of what Chambers wrote, and perhaps uniquely for accounting historians, received; thus, providing an extensive window from which to examine the disorderly present environment of acounting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-218
Author(s):  
Marta Brandão Calçada ◽  
Luís Fernandes ◽  
Rita Soares Costa ◽  
Sara Montezinho ◽  
Filipa Martins Duarte ◽  
...  

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are the most recently approved drug class for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Although they are largely well-tolerated, their intake has been associated with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in some rare cases. We report the case of a 70-year-old male with type 2 diabetes and no history of DKA, who started therapy with empagliflozin one day before presenting with acute pancreatitis and laboratory findings consistent with euglycemic DKA. SGLT2i can induce euglycemic DKA from the first dose. Given the atypical presentation, a high degree of clinical suspicion is required to recognize this complication.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Oyende ◽  
J Jackman

Abstract Introduction Streptococcal myositis is a rare form of infectious myositis caused by Lansfield A beta-haemolytic streptococci. It is characterised by rapidly spreading inflammation that can result in severe systemic toxicity and necrosis of the affected tissue if not diagnosed and aggressively treated. Presentation We report a case of a 42-year-old male who presented with a one-week history of worsening right axillary swelling that progressed to painful swelling of his arm. Inflammatory markers were significantly elevated with a white cell count of 17 ×109/L and C-reactive protein of 212 mg/L. On examination, a fluctuant axillary swelling was appreciated, and a decision was made for incision and drainage under general anaesthetic. Intraoperative aspiration of his arm revealed copious purulent fluid prompting intraoperative orthopaedic consult and exploration of the anterior compartment in which there was extensive involvement of the biceps muscle. The microbiological analysis revealed gram-positive cocci in chains, and microbiology advice sought for tailoring of antibiotic regimen. He has recovered well. Discussion Though uncommon, the emergency general surgeon should have a high degree of suspicion when evaluating soft tissue infections to avert potentially disastrous outcomes. Conclusion Early diagnosis, aggressive management with high-dose intravenous antibiotics, and surgical debridement are principles to treat this rare, life-threatening infection.


Author(s):  
Eric Helleiner

Abstract As the global crisis triggered by the COVID-19 virus unfolded, The Economist magazine published a cover in May 2020 titled “Goodbye globalization: the dangerous lure of self-sufficiency.” The title summed up well the new political interest in the ideology of national economic self-sufficiency in the pandemic context. Unfortunately, contemporary textbooks in the field of international political economy (IPE) say little about this kind of “autarkic” thought. No survey of the history of autarkic thought exists even within specialist IPE literature or in the fields of intellectual history and the history of economic thought. Filling this gap in existing scholarship, this article highlights a rich history of autarkic thought that includes the ideas of famous thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Johann Fichte, Mohandas Gandhi, and John Maynard Keynes. Three core rationales for a high degree of national self-sufficiency have been advanced in the past: (1) insulation from foreign economic influence, (2) insulation from foreign political and/or cultural influence, and (3) the promotion of international peace. At the same time, considerable disagreements have existed among autarkists about some of these rationales and their relative importance, as well as about the precise meaning of national self-sufficiency. These disagreements stemmed not just from differences in their specific goals but also from the different conditions across time and space in which autarkic thought was developed. In addition to improving understanding of the autarkic ideological tradition, this article contributes to emerging scholarship attempting to overcome Western-centrism in IPE scholarship as well as literature exploring the new politics of de-globalization in the current era.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 635-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Kirby ◽  
Wolfgang Stephan

Abstract We surveyed sequence variation and divergence for the entire 5972-bp transcriptional unit of the white gene in 15 lines of Drosophila melanogaster and one line of D. simulans. We found a very high degree of haplotypic structuring for the polymorphisms in the 3′ half of the gene, as opposed to the polymorphisms in the 5′ half. To determine the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for this pattern, we sequenced a 1612-bp segment of the white gene from an additional 33 lines of D. melanogaster from a European and a North American population. This 1612-bp segment encompasses an 834bp region of the white gene in which the polymorphisms form high frequency haplotypes that cannot be explained by a neutral equilibrium model of molecular evolution. The small number of recombinants in the 834bp region suggests epistatic selection as the cause of the haplotypic structuring, while an investigation of nucleotide diversity supports a directional selection hypothesis. A multi-locus selection model that combines features from both-hypotheses and takes the recent history of D. melanogaster into account may be the best explanation for these data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. e231694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Ross Powers ◽  
Mark Anthony Diaz ◽  
Julio C Mendez

A 25-year-old Filipino woman living in the USA was evaluated for a 5-month history of left eye pain and a subsequent orbital mass. Histopathological analysis of the lacrimal mass showed a mixed inflammatory process with necrotising granulomas and positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She was treated with antituberculosis therapy, with resolution of symptoms. Tuberculosis dacryoadenitis is extremely rare in the USA and other developed countries. It requires a high degree of clinical suspicion with special attention to the patient’s history to make the correct diagnosis. It can be treated successfully with antituberculosis therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003126
Author(s):  
Ricardo Aguas ◽  
Lisa White ◽  
Nathaniel Hupert ◽  
Rima Shretta ◽  
Wirichada Pan-Ngum ◽  
...  

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on multiple levels of society. Not only has the pandemic completely overwhelmed some health systems but it has also changed how scientific evidence is shared and increased the pace at which such evidence is published and consumed, by scientists, policymakers and the wider public. More significantly, the pandemic has created tremendous challenges for decision-makers, who have had to implement highly disruptive containment measures with very little empirical scientific evidence to support their decision-making process. Given this lack of data, predictive mathematical models have played an increasingly prominent role. In high-income countries, there is a long-standing history of established research groups advising policymakers, whereas a general lack of translational capacity has meant that mathematical models frequently remain inaccessible to policymakers in low-income and middle-income countries. Here, we describe a participatory approach to modelling that aims to circumvent this gap. Our approach involved the creation of an international group of infectious disease modellers and other public health experts, which culminated in the establishment of the COVID-19 Modelling (CoMo) Consortium. Here, we describe how the consortium was formed, the way it functions, the mathematical model used and, crucially, the high degree of engagement fostered between CoMo Consortium members and their respective local policymakers and ministries of health.


2013 ◽  
Vol 137 (11) ◽  
pp. 1560-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Zhou ◽  
Diana Bell ◽  
L. Jeffrey Medeiros

Context.—Myeloid sarcoma of the head and neck region can pose diagnostic challenges because of the low frequency of myeloid sarcoma and the potential for tumors of almost any lineage to occur in the head and neck. Objective.—To study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of myeloid sarcoma in the head and neck region and to review the differential diagnosis. Design.—We searched for cases of myeloid sarcoma involving the head and neck region for a 24-year period at our institution. The medical records and pathology slides were reviewed. Additional immunohistochemical stains were performed. Results.—We identified 17 patients, age 17 to 85 years. Most tumors involved the oral cavity. Myeloid sarcoma was the initial diagnosis in 9 patients (53%); the remaining 8 patients (47%) had a history of bone marrow disease. Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies specific for lysozyme, CD43, and CD68 were highly sensitive for diagnosis but were not specific. By contrast, assessment for myeloperoxidase in this study was less sensitive but more specific. We also used antibodies specific for CD11c and CD33 in a subset of cases, and these reagents seem helpful as well. Conclusions.—The clinical presentation of myeloid sarcoma involving the head and neck, particularly the mouth, is often nonspecific, and a high degree of suspicion for the possibility of myeloid sarcoma is needed. Immunohistochemistry is very helpful for establishing the diagnosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-109
Author(s):  
Meng-Chuan Lu ◽  
Chih-Jen Yang ◽  
Shih-Hung Tsai ◽  
Chih-Chieh Hung ◽  
Sy-Jou Chen

Introduction: Cupping therapy has been widely performed in oriental countries and considered a safety alternative to relieve pain. Here, we report a rare complication from abdominal cupping. Case presentation: A 49-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of left upper quadrant abdominal pain after cupping therapy 3 days earlier. His abdomen was soft but appeared a localized rebounding tenderness. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed intraperitoneal hemorrhage originated from the left upper quadrant of the omentum. Discussion: Several mechanisms are proposed for the development of intraperitoneal hemorrhage after cupping therapy, including the tensile stress generated by cupping that facilitates the disruption of omentum vessels, strong negative pressure generated by cupping that suppresses blood supply to the cup-applied sites causing adjacent tissue ischemia, and subsequent vascular extravasation. Treatment for intraperitoneal hemorrhage depends on clinical conditions. Stable patients can be managed conservatively, whereas surgery is reserved for those with continuous bleeding and hypovolemic shock. Conclusion: Cupping therapy complicated with omentum bleeding can present insidiously until peritoneal irritation developed by intraperitoneal hemorrhage. A comprehensive history taking and a high degree of vigilance are crucial to diagnose early patients with this rare complication.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256685
Author(s):  
Subhronil Mondal ◽  
Hindolita Chakraborty ◽  
Sandip Saha ◽  
Sahana Dey ◽  
Deepjay Sarkar

Studies on the large-scale latitudinal patterns of gastropod drilling predation reveal that predation pressure may decrease or increase with increasing latitude, or even show no trend, questioning the generality of any large-scale latitudinal or biogeographic pattern. Here, we analyze the nature of spatio-environmental and latitudinal variation in gastropod drilling along the Indian eastern coast by using 76 samples collected from 39 locations, covering ~2500 km, incorporating several ecoregions, and ~15° latitudinal extents. We find no environmental or latitudinal gradient. In fact, drilling intensity varies highly within the same latitudinal bin, or oceanic sub-basins, or even the same ecoregions. Moreover, different ecoregions with their distinctive biotic and abiotic environmental variables show similar predation intensities. However, one pattern is prevalent: some small infaunal prey taxa, living in the sandy-muddy substrate—which are preferred by the naticid gastropods—are always attacked more frequently over others, indicating taxon and size selectivity by the predators. The result suggests that the biotic and abiotic factors, known to influence drilling predation, determine only the local predation pattern. In the present case, the nature of substrate and prey composition determines the local predation intensity: soft substrate habitats host dominantly small, infaunal prey. Since the degree of spatial variability in drilling intensity within any time bin can be extremely high, sometimes greater than the variability across consecutive time bins, temporal patterns in drilling predation can never be interpreted without having detailed knowledge of the nature of this spatial variability within a time bin.


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