scholarly journals The wing phalanges (Phalanx proximalis digiti majoris) of European Accipitriformes and Falconiformes

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-106
Author(s):  
Ida Horváth ◽  
Jenő Eugen Kessler ◽  
Tibor Pecsics

Abstract The authors compared the first phalanx of the second wing finger of 33 European diurnal raptors. The importance of studying this bone lies in the fact that, although it has diagnosable characteristics, it was practically neglected by osteologists and paleontologists. Thus, fossil materials can be identified through them, as well as those from owl pellets. The comparison was made possible by the comparative avian skeleton collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. In a preliminary investigation we examined the morphological diversity of the first phalanx of the second wing finger among the different species. We used principal component (PC) analyses on measurements. The PC described the curvature of the anterior surface of the bone and the relative size of the distal and proximal epiphyses. The principal component analysis showed slightly overlapping in shape between the taxons but the accipitriform and falconiform birds diverged in the morphospace. The attributes and geometry of the first phalanx of the second wing finger reflects more on taxonomic background than flying behaviour. The avian wing is a complex and highly modulable structure, therefore, probably body mass and size affect flying performance than the other morphological features of this bone. The text is supplemented by 6 figures and one size table.

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1172-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Miele ◽  
Luiz Antenor Rizzon

The purpose of this paper was to establish the sensory characteristics of wines made from old and newly introduced red grape varieties. To attain this objective, 16 Brazilian red varietal wines were evaluated by a sensory panel of enologists who assessed wines according to their aroma and flavor descriptors. A 90 mm unstructured scale was used to quantify the intensity of 26 descriptors, which were analyzed by means of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The PCA showed that three important components represented 74.11% of the total variation. PC 1 discriminated Tempranillo, Marselan and Ruby Cabernet wines, with Tempranillo being characterized by its equilibrium, quality, harmony, persistence and body, as well as by, fruity, spicy and oaky characters. The other two varietals were defined by vegetal, oaky and salty characteristics; PC 2 discriminated Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Arinarnoa, where Pinot Noir was characterized by its floral flavor; PC 3 discriminated only Malbec, which had weak, floral and fruity characteristics. The other varietal wines did not show important discriminating effects.


2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1151-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Juskovic ◽  
P. Vasiljevic ◽  
V. Randjelovic ◽  
V. Stevanovic ◽  
Branka Stevanovic

Daphne malyana Blecic (Thymeleaceae) is an endemic species of the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, distributed in the mountains, canyons and gorges of N. Montenegro, E. Bosnia and W. Serbia. The comparative morphoanatomic investigations have included four distantly separated populations of the species D. malyana, i.e. two from Serbia, from the ravines of Sokoline and Vranjak on Mt. Tara, and two from Montenegro, in the canyons of the Tara and Piva rivers. Comparative morphoanatomical studies have shown the presence of general adaptive characteristics of a specific, conservative xeromorphic type, slightly differing in each population. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of 20 morphoanatomical characteristics of the leaves and stems have shown a clear distinction between the populations from the river Piva canyon (Montenegro) and those from the Sokoline ravine (Serbia), on one side, and those of Vranjak gorge (Serbia) and of the river Tara canyon (Montenegro) on the other side. It may be assumed that the mild morphological variability of the isolated populations of the Balkan endemic species D. malyana in the canyons and gorges seem to have been affected by the microclimate conditions in their habitats.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-158
Author(s):  
Bixuan Cheng ◽  
Chao Yu ◽  
Heling Fu ◽  
Lijun Zhou ◽  
Le Luo ◽  
...  

AbstractRosa x odorata (sect. Chinenses, Rosaceae) is an important species distributed only in Yunnan Province, China. There is an abundance of wild variation within the species. Using 22 germplasm resources collected from the wild, as well as R. chinensis var. spontanea, R. chinensis ‘Old Blush’ and R. lucidissima, this study involved morphological variation analysis, inter-trait correlation analysis, principal component analysis and clustering analysis based on 16 morphological traits. This study identified a high degree of morphological diversity in R. x odorata germplasm resources and the variation coefficients had a distribution range from 18.00 to 184.04%. The flower colour had the highest degree of variation, while leaflet length/width had the lowest degree of variation. Inter-trait correlation analysis revealed that there was an extremely significant positive correlation between leaflet length and leaflet width. There was also a significant positive correlation between the number of petals and duration of blooming, and the L* and a* values of flower colour were significantly negatively correlated. Principal component analysis screened five principal components with the highest cumulative contribution rate (81.679%) to population variance. Among the 16 morphological traits, style length, sepal width, flower diameter, flower colour, leaflet length and leaflet width were important indices that influenced the morphology of R. x odorata. This study offers guidance for the further development and utilization of R. x odorata germplasm resources.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4861 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-443
Author(s):  
CAROLINA PIRES ◽  
MARCELO WEKSLER ◽  
CIBELE R. BONVICINO

The region of Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is one of the most important karstic areas of the Brazilian Quaternary due to the faunistic diversity of living and extinct forms. Among them, some taxa remain poorly studied, as is the case of Calomys anoblepas Winge 1887. Despite the recent allocation of the taxon within Juliomys, its description and morphological analysis are condensed, based on comparative few specimens and on few informative characters. In this study, we investigate characters proposed to distinguish species of Juliomys, and reevaluate the taxonomic status of the fossil Juliomys anoblepas. We analyzed 80 cranio-dental morphological characters in 233 specimens represented by the four species currently recognized: J. pictipes (Osgood 1933), J. rimofrons Oliveira & Bonvicino 2002, J. ossitenuis Costa, Pavan, Leite & Fagundes 2007, and J. ximenezi Christoff, Vieira, Oliveira, Gonçalves, Valiati & Tomasi 2016. We also performed principal component analysis on eight craniodental measurements available for the J. anoblepas hypodigm. The review of morphological systems and the evaluation of the characters used in the literature revealed that there are no diagnostic characters in the anterior portion of the skull and in the molar series of Juliomys, being difficult to differentiate the fossil from the other living species. Only six qualitative characters were variable and applicable to the hypodigm of J. anoblepas. Characters are polymorphic, invariable, or the fossil is not sufficiently complete to determinate its states. The taxon could not be morphometrically differentiated from J. pictipes and J. ossitenuis. Based on the results presented herein, we consider J. anoblepas as a nomen dubium and restrict its name to the taxon’s hypodigm. 


1976 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 598-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Lucas ◽  
Sidney Grown ◽  
Peter Stringer ◽  
Saradha Supramaniam

SummaryThe UCLS questionnaire, in a form modified to include a measure of syllabus-boundness, and a questionnaire to measure psychiatric symptomatology (the MHQ) were administered to two groups of students, one seeking help for emotional problems, the other a control group. Groups were compared on tests, test findings were inter-correlated, and scores were related to academic success. The UCLSQ is confirmed as a reliable research instrument. Principal component analysis again indicates a separation of psychoneurotic and motivational components of study difficulty. Syllabus-boundness (‘Sylbism’) emerges as a relatively independent trait, with a significant negative relationship to work satisfaction in both groups. MHQ, scores again show a positive correlation between phobic anxiety and academic attainment for patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toivo Aavik ◽  
Jüri Allik

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the variety of value describing words and interrelation of value categories in the Estonian language. To accomplish this aim, a psycholexical approach was adopted, during which a set of 560 value‐related words was selected from the Estonian Orthological Dictionary and the results were compared with the Schwartz Values Survey (SVS). When principal‐component analysis was applied on the self‐ratings of a reduced list of 78 value‐related words, six factors emerged and were labelled as benevolence, self‐enhancement, broadmindedness, hedonism, conservatism, and self‐realization. However, all these themes are interrelated and load on a singular secondary dimension. The constructs measured by SVS and the value categories in Estonian were only partially interchangeable; moderate correlations imply an imperfect correspondence: each theme was related to many categories on the other questionnaire. However, a significant general structure refers to the same two‐dimensional level of higher‐order values described by Schwartz in 1992. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


2021 ◽  
pp. 74-89
Author(s):  
Imen Zaghbib ◽  
Soumaya Arafa ◽  
Hassouna Mnasser

The effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) treatments on the colour and textural properties of sardine surimi (Sardina pilchardus) were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied in order to investigate their effects and to determine the optimum whitening agents used. Addition of CaCO3 and H2O2 significantly improved whiteness of surimi in comparison to NaHCO3 treatments (p < 0.05). Some textural damage and a reduction in WHC values were observed for surimi treated withH2O2 and NaHCO3 (p < 0.05). PCA biplot showed that 1.5% CaCO3 tended to result in improved whiteness, WHC and textural properties since 1.5% CaCO3 sample sits closer to these functional properties vector lines than the other treatments. Whereas, 2.5% H2O2 had positively affected only the whiteness parameter. Results indicated that treating mince with the appropriate type and concentration of whitening agent can improve the functional properties of surimi, particularly from fish species with darker meat such as sardine. Aims: In order to improve whiteness and functional properties of sardine surimi (Sardina pilchardus), the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) treatments were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied in order to investigate their effects and to determine the optimum whitening agents used. Study Design: Experimental Research Design Place and Duration of Study: Research Unit “Biopreservation and Valorisation of Agro-Food Products” of the Higher Graduate School of Food Industry of Tunisia. The study was conducted in 3 months. Methodology: Sardine surimi samples were prepared with different treatments at different concentrations: calcium carbonate (CaCO3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Proximate composition, total pigment, whiteness, water holding capacity and textural properties were investigated. Optimal levels of each whitening agent were determined using PCA. Results: Addition of CaCO3 and H2O2 significantly improved whiteness of surimi in comparison to NaHCO3 treatments (p < 0.05). Some textural damage and a reduction in WHC values were observed for surimi treated withH2O2 and NaHCO3 (p < 0.05). PCA biplot showed that 1.5% CaCO3 tended to result in improved whiteness, WHC and textural properties since 1.5% CaCO3 sample sits closer to these functional properties vector lines than the other treatments. Whereas, 2.5% H2O2 had positively affected only the whiteness parameter. Conclusion: Results indicated that treating mince with the appropriate type and concentration of whitening agent can improve the functional properties of surimi, particularly from fish species with darker meat such as sardine.


HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1205-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Ehlenfeldt ◽  
James J. Polashock ◽  
Allan W. Stretch ◽  
Matthew Kramer

Mummy berry disease of blueberry has two distinct phases: a blighting phase that infects emerging shoots and leaves early in the spring and a flower infection phase that ultimately leads to infected (mummified) fruit. Cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) genotypes that are resistant to one phase are not necessarily resistant to the other phase. The resistance of cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) genotypes to each phase of the disease is different. A large number of cultivars were screened for resistance to each phase. Cultivar standards (cultivars with well-documented responses to the disease) were used in the screening to evaluate long-term variation and aid comparisons across years. Using nine standards for the blight phase, 125 cultivars were tested and ranked for relative resistance using a ranking system based on resampling and principal component analysis. Similarly, using six standards for the flower/fruit infection stage, 110 blueberry cultivars were tested and ranked for relative resistance. Cultivar rankings show that lowbush cultivars and other types possessing high percentages of lowbush germplasm are generally more resistant to both phases of the disease. Among highbush cultivars, Bluejay is reliably resistant to both phases. Documentation of resistance to each phase will allow selection of cultivars for planting in affected areas and will facilitate the development of breeding strategies to produce cultivars with superior resistance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1300800
Author(s):  
Ken Tanaka ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
Yasuhiro Tezuka ◽  
Shiro Watanabe ◽  
Nobuo Kawahara ◽  
...  

In the present study, the chemical composition of water extracts of Chinese and Vietnamese cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) were compared using multivariate analysis of LC-MS data. By principal component analysis of the LC-MS data, 6 compounds, cinnzeylanine (1), cinnzeylanol (2), anhydrocinnzeylanol (3), cinncasinol A (4), epicatechin (5) and procyanidin B2 (6), were identified as the marker compounds to characterize Chinese and Vietnamese cassia. It was clarified that Chinese cassia contains relatively larger amounts of epicatechin and procyanidin B2. On the other hand, Vietnamese cassia is characterized by a relatively larger amount of diterpenes. As catechin derivatives and diterpenes have different types of activity, it is important to choose the cassia that best suits the product for which it is to be used, whether in food or in herbal medicine.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4786 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-600
Author(s):  
PETER GYULAI ◽  
AIDAS SALDAITIS

The genus Leucapamea was erected by Sugi (1982). The most recent revision of the genus was provided by Zilli et al. (2009), and include descriptions of five new species. Leucapamea species are diagnosed by the whitish ground colour of forewings and the very long, sword-like superior saccular process. Leucapamea is distinguished from the related genus Lateroligia Zilli, Fibiger & Ronkay, 2005 by the triangular cucullus having only a slight ventral extremity and the presence of the strong cornutus in the vesica. Thirteen species of Leucapamea have been described (Zilli et al. 2009), four of which are endemic to Taiwan, two to Japan, and the other species distributed from the northern Pacific to Southern China and Vietnam. Following research in Sichuan during the last years, an additional species is described and diagnosed here.Abbreviations for personal and institutional collections used herein are as follows: AFM = Alessandro Floriani (Milan, Italy); ASV = Aidas Saldaitis (Vilnius, Lithuania); HNHM = Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest, Hungary); PGM = collection of Péter Gyulai (Miskolc, Hungary); GYP = genitalia slide of P. Gyulai; RL = genitalia slide of L. Ronkay. 


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