scholarly journals Anatomical location of Periglischrus iheringi(Acari: Spinturnicidae) associated with the great fruit-eating bat (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Almeida ◽  
Nicolau Serra-Freire ◽  
Adriano Peracchi

Spinturnicid mites are ectoparasites that infest the wings of bats, and species of the genus Periglischrus Kolenati, 1857 are associated exclusively with bats of the family Phyllostomidae. We tested the hypothesis that a long-term evolutionary association led P. iheringi to choose very specific wing locations to infest the great fruit-eating bats, Artibeus lituratus. Seven anatomical wing regions and the uropatagium from 140 bats were analyzed and a total of 78 parasites were collected. Periglischrus iheringi had a significant preference for the plagiopatagium and dactylopatgium major wing regions (i.e., large, proximal regions) and infestation was directly correlated to area (r=0.9744). However, other factors may also influence mite choice, such as higher and more stable temperature and humidity, vascularization and lower risk of displacement.

2020 ◽  
pp. jeb.237289
Author(s):  
Charlie Woodrow ◽  
Kevin A. Judge ◽  
Christian Pulver ◽  
Thorin Jonsson ◽  
Fernando Montealegre-Z

The use of acoustics in predator evasion is a widely reported phenomenon amongst invertebrate taxa, but the study of ultrasonic anti-predator acoustics is often limited to the prey of bats. Here, we describe the acoustic function and morphology of a unique stridulatory structure in the relict orthopteran Cyphoderris monstrosa (Ensifera, Hagloidea): the Ander's organ. This species is one of just eight remaining members of the family Prophalangopsidae, a group with a fossil record of over 90 extinct species widespread during the Jurassic. We reveal that the sound produced by this organ has the characteristics of a broadband ultrasonic anti-predator defence, with a peak frequency of 58±15.5 kHz and a bandwidth of 50 kHz (at 10 dB below peak). Evidence from sexual dimorphism, knowledge on hearing capabilities and assessment of local predators, suggest the signal likely targets ground-dwelling predators. Additionally, we reveal a previously undescribed series of cavities underneath the organ that likely function as a mechanism for ultrasound amplification. Morphological structures homologous in both appearance and anatomical location to the Ander's organ are observed to varying degrees in 4 of the 7 other extant members of this family, with the remaining 3 yet to be assessed. Therefore, we suggest that such structures may either be more widely present in this ancient family than previously assumed, or have evolved to serve a key function in the long-term survival of these few species, allowing them to outlive their extinct counterparts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalitha Vivekanandan ◽  
Roxanne Gekonge Mandere ◽  
Sivakumar Thangavel

Background: Constipation is a common, predominant, chronic gastrointestinal functional disorder. The drugs available to treat constipation are limited because of their side effects in long term use. So we need of efficacious drug to treat constipation. Sapindus emarginatus Vahl belongs to the family Sapindaceae, commonly known as soapnut. Traditionally used for the antipruritic, antifertility, constipation, and anti-inflammatory agents. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the laxative activity of hydroethanolic pericarp extract of Sapindus emarginatus (HESE) in animal models. Methods: The saponin content in extract was measured by gravimetric analysis. The laxative activity of hydroethanolic pericarp extract of Sapindus emarginatus is evaluated by the weight of feces matter, charcoal meal hyperperistalsis test, and loperamide induced constipation model. Results: The saponin content of the soapnut pericarp was 13.48 % and the extract was found to be 11.92 %. The results obtained from these models showed a significant dose-dependent increase in fecal weight, peristalsis index, and moisture content compared to control animals. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the oral administration of HESE showed a significant laxative activity by using different animal models. The presence of triterpene saponins is responsible for this activity. Further studies are needed to confirm their mechanism behind the laxative effect. The administration of extract was found to be a valid candidate in constipation therapy.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2794 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBIN KUNDRATA ◽  
LADISLAV BOCAK

Pseudothilmanus Pic, 1918 is redescribed and two species, P. alatus Pic, 1918 and P. marginatus Pic, 1918, are placed in the genus. The subgenus Drilothilmanus Pic, 1918 is synonymized with the nominotypical genus on the basis of low morphological divergence and redundancy in classification. Pseudothilmanus is newly classified in the family Rhagophthalmidae, in contrast to the original placement in Drilidae. Diagnostic characters for Pseudothilmanus and both species placed within the genus are illustrated.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110223
Author(s):  
Jahanzaib Haider ◽  
Abdul Qayyum ◽  
Zalina Zainudin

This study analyzes the leverage policies of the family and non-family firms of eight East Asian Economies (Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan) by using combined data of 690 family and non-family firms with 3,224 firm–years over the period 2006–2010. This study has used an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for analyzing the data for the first question, while for the second question, logit regression has been used as the dependent variable (a binary variable). Prior research on family and non-family firms has revealed that family firms issue less (high) debt than non-family firms. Our analysis on a sample of East Asian Economies discloses that family firms have significantly different leverage levels than non-family firms, but their signs are not consistent. On the contrary, when the owner works as CEO/Chairman or member of the Board of Directors, then the family firms issue less debt than the non-family firms. Besides that, this study adds a new question that has not been addressed in the prior studies. The new question has focused on the speed of leverage adjustment. It is found that family firms and non-family firms regarding their debt maturity structure (short-term debt and long-term debt), the speed of leverage adjustments, and their decision to issue securities (i.e., debt vs. equity) are not significantly different. This study concluded that though family firms have a strong influence on each economy, but in South-East Asian countries, leverage policies of the family firms are not much different than that of non-family firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Te-Sheng Chang ◽  
Yao-Hsu Yang ◽  
Wei-Ming Chen ◽  
Chien-Heng Shen ◽  
Shui-Yi Tung ◽  
...  

AbstractIt remains controversial whether entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with different clinical outcomes for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to compare the long-term risk of ETV versus TDF on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in CHB patients from a large multi-institutional database in Taiwan. From 2011 to 2018, a total of 21,222 CHB patients receiving ETV or TDF were screened for eligibility. Patients with coinfection, preexisting cancer and less than 6 months of follow-up were excluded. Finally, 7248 patients (5348 and 1900 in the ETV and TDF groups, respectively) were linked to the National Cancer Registry database for the development of HCC or ICC. Propensity score matching (PSM) (2:1) analysis was used to adjust for baseline differences. The HCC incidence between two groups was not different in the entire population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.02, p = 0.078) and in the PSM population (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.65–1.06, p = 0.129). Among decompensated cirrhotic patients, a lower risk of HCC was observed in TDF group than in ETV group (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.30–0.98, p = 0.043, PSM model). There were no differences between ETV and TDF groups in the ICC incidence (HR 1.84; 95% CI 0.54–6.29, p = 0.330 in the entire population and HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.31–3.52, p = 0.954 in the PSM population, respectively). In conclusion, treatment with ETV and TDF showed a comparable long-term risk of HCC and ICC in CHB patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii352-iii352
Author(s):  
Hung Tran ◽  
Robert Cooper

Abstract PURPOSE To describe decreased growth velocity with long term use of BRAFV600e and MEK inhibition in a patient with anaplastic ganglioglioma. RESULTS 4-year-old patient was found to have a 6 x 4.6 x 5 cm mass in the hypothalamus. Pathology consistent with anaplastic ganglioglioma and chromosomal microarray revealed a BRAFV600e mutation. Patient started on dabrafenib and trametinib and tumor decreased 85% after 3 months. She is stable without significant toxicities 39 months on therapy, and is now 8 years old. Patient had been growing at the 25% for weight and 12% for height but is now 65% for weight and 0.5% for height. It is difficult to tease out the relationship between the tumor, the location of the tumor, and the BRAF and MEK inhibitors and their effect on growth. Discussions with the family and endocrinology are ongoing but being <1% for height will lead to decrease in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Further follow-up study is needed to determine if this is truly a long-term toxicity, or if this may just be a direct result of the location of the tumor. Would supplementation with growth hormone in this patient lead to losing control of a high grade tumor, or would it simply replace a hormone that is not produced?


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Winkler ◽  
Brian E. Potter ◽  
Dwight F. Wilhelm ◽  
Ryan P. Shadbolt ◽  
Krerk Piromsopa ◽  
...  

The Haines Index is an operational tool for evaluating the potential contribution of dry, unstable air to the development of large or erratic plume-dominated wildfires. The index has three variants related to surface elevation, and is calculated from temperature and humidity measurements at atmospheric pressure levels. To effectively use the Haines Index, fire forecasters and managers must be aware of the climatological and statistical characteristics of the index for their location. However, a detailed, long-term, and spatially extensive analysis of the index does not currently exist. To meet this need, a 40-year (1961–2000) climatology of the Haines Index was developed for North America. The climatology is based on gridded (2.5° latitude × 2.5° longitude) temperature and humidity fields from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. The climatology illustrates the large spatial variability in the Haines Index both within and between regions using the different index variants. These spatial variations point to the limitations of the index and must be taken into account when using the Haines Index operationally.


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