scholarly journals From Toad to Frog: Description and Reattribution of the Mummified Holotype of Bufo servatus, an Eocene Anuran from France, Based on Micro-CT Examination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Lemierre ◽  
Annelise Folie ◽  
Salvador Bailon ◽  
Ninon Robin ◽  
Michel Laurin
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Grande Coupure ◽  
Using Data

In the XIXth century, natural mummies of amphibians were discovered in the Quercy Phosphorites. The specific collection site has never been formally reported, which hampered precisely dating these specimens. The name Bufo servatus was erected for one these mummies, based on the external morphology of the specimen.The tomography of similarly preserved specimens, originating from this same unknown site, revealed almost complete preserved skeletons, preserved soft-tissues and gut contents. We analyze here the holotype of Bufo servatus using CT-scanning in order to investigate its potentially preserved internal features. As for the previous specimen, a subcomplete articulated skeleton was identified. Surprisingly, this skeleton is almost identical to that of Thaumastosaurus gezei, an Eocene anuran from Western Europe, to which other specimens from this mummy series were previously assigned. Few differences between the specimen skeletons highlight ontogenetic and intraspecific variations, making T. gezei a junior synonym of B. servatus, creating the new combination Thaumastosaurus servatus. Given its association with previously described Quercy specimens, this redescribed anuran is probably from the same time interval as T. gezei. Previous phylogenetic analyses have assigned T. servatus to Ranoides, with natatanuran affinities. Using data from this newly described specimen, we test here further its taxonomic affinities. Our analyses confirm this position, and formally identify T. servatus as a Natatanuran member of Pyxicephalidae (currently endemic of Equatorial Africa) and more precisely, a stem-Pyxicephalinae. This result confirms the origin of Thaumastosaurus, a member of the African herpetofauna occupying Western Europe before the Grande Coupure at the Eocene/Oligocene transition.

scholarly journals Habitat Partitioning and Overlap by Large Lacertid Lizards in Southern Europe

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Daniel Escoriza ◽  
Félix Amat
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Probabilistic Methods ◽  
Climate Niche ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Occupancy Patterns ◽  
Lacertid Lizards

South-western Europe has a rich diversity of lacertid lizards. In this study, we evaluated the occupancy patterns and niche segregation of five species of lacertids, focusing on large-bodied species (i.e., adults having >75 mm snout-vent length) that occur in south-western Europe (Italian to the Iberian Peninsula). We characterized the niches occupied by these species based on climate and vegetation cover properties. We expected some commonality among phylogenetically related species, but also patterns of habitat segregation mitigating competition between ecologically equivalent species. We used multivariate ordination and probabilistic methods to describe the occupancy patterns and evaluated niche evolution through phylogenetic analyses. Our results showed climate niche partitioning, but with a wide overlap in transitional zones, where segregation is maintained by species-specific responses to the vegetation cover. The analyses also showed that phylogenetically related species tend to share large parts of their habitat niches. The occurrence of independent evolutionary lineages contributed to the regional species richness favored by a long history of niche divergence.

Generic classification of some more hyphomycetes with solitary conidia borne on phialides

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1570-1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Gams ◽  
K O'Donnell ◽  
H -J Schroers ◽  
M Christensen
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
28S Rdna ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
28S Rdna Sequences ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Morphological Species

Unlike most phialide-producing fungi that liberate a multiplicity of conidia from each conidiogenous cell, only single conidia are formed on phialide-like conidiogenous cells in Aphanocladium, Verticimonosporium, and some species of Sibirina. A group of isolates obtained from soil of native Artemisia tridentata (sagebrush) grassland in Wyoming and from desert soil in Iraq is compared with these genera and classified as a fourth genus, Stanjemonium, honouring Stanley J. Hughes. Phylogenetic analyses of partial nuclear small- (18S) and large-subunit (28S) rDNA sequences indicate that Stanjemonium spp. form a monophyletic group with Emericellopsis. Sequences from the nuclear 18S and 28S rDNA were too conserved to resolve morphological species of Stanjemonium; however, phylogenetic analysis of b-tubulin and translation elongation factor 1a gene exons and introns resolved all species distinguished morphologically. Numerous conidiogenous cells or denticles are scattered along the cells of aerial hyphae in Aphanocladium and Stanjemonium spp., very rapidly collapsing into denticles in the former, somewhat more persistent and leaving broad scars in the latter. In Cladobotryum-Sibirina and Verticimonosporium spp., conidiogenous cells are discrete in terminal and intercalary whorls; phialides of the latter taxon are particularly swollen. The taxonomy of Aphanocladium is not yet resolved. Two species are recognized in Verticimonosporium. Three new species of Stanjemonium are described, and one new combination from Aphanocladium is proposed, along with one new species of Cladobotryum.Key words: Aphanocladium, Cladobotryum, conidiogenesis, hyphomycetes, molecular phylogeny, phialide, Stanjemonium, systematics, Verticimonosporium.

scholarly journals Hubungan Perilaku Perdagangan Investor Dengan Volume Perdagangan Di Bursa Efek Indonesia

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghazali Syamni
Keyword(s):  
Trading Volume ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Order Pattern ◽  
Over Time

This paper examines the relationship of behavior trading investor using data detailed transaction history-corporate edition demand and order history in Indonesia Stock Exchange during period of March, April and May 2005. Peculiarly, behavior placing of investor order at trading volume. The result of this paper indicates that trading volume order pattern to have pattern U shape. The pattern happened that investors have strong desires to places order at the opening and close of compared to in trading periods. While the largest orders are of market at the opening indicates that investor is more conservatively when opening, where many orders when opening has not happened transaction to match. In placing order both of investor does similar strategy. By definition, informed investors’ orders more large than uninformed investors. If comparison of order examined hence both investors behavior relatively changes over time. But, statistically shows there is not ratio significant. This implies behavior trading of informed investors and uninformed investors stable relative over time. The result from regression analysis indicates that informed investors to correlate at trading volume in all time intervals, but not all uninformed investors correlates in every time interval. This imply investor order inform is more can explain trading volume pattern compared to uninformed investor order in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Finally, result of regression also finds that order status match has greater role determines trading volume pattern intraday especially informed buy match and informed sale match. While amend, open and withdraw unable to have role to determine intraday trading volume pattern.

scholarly journals VIRTOPSY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
J. Frishons ◽  
V. Novotny ◽  
P. Rejtar ◽  
P. Hejna ◽  
M. A. Kislov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Aviation Accidents ◽  
Conventional Autopsy ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Postmortem computer tomography (CT) came into practice of forensic medicine in the 1990s and has later been complemented with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A pioneer virtual autopsy was conducted in Germany in 1983. In the Czech Republic, this examination was first performed in 1993.A typical examination requires about 30 min, with the most resource-demanding stage being the image data rendering. CT was shown to better capture skeletal structures, while MRI contrasting is superior in terms of visualising soft tissues. In the Czech Republic, CT-based virtopsy is legislated mandatory to document deaths inflicted by gunshots, road traffic and aviation accidents, high falls, occupational and explosive-related injuries, thermal and mechanical traumas, strangulation, drowning as well as to examine unidentified or decomposing bodies, deceased children and adolescents aged under 18.CT scanning prior to conventional autopsy provides a forensic expert with guidance to reveal pathologies non-invasively in particular regions that are difficult to dissect or access. The advantage of virtopsy is the objective acquisition of data that can be re-examined, reinterpreted or juxtaposed with the results of conventional autopsy and easily recovered for possible further expertise. 

Provocation and the Strategy of Terrorist and Guerrilla Attacks

2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Model ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Model Specification ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Specification Tests ◽  
State Response ◽  
Target Theory ◽  
Response Groups ◽  
Using Data ◽  
State Responses

AbstractViolent nonstate groups are usually weaker than the states they target. Theory suggests that groups carefully condition their choice of tactics on anticipated state response. Yet scholars know very little about whether and how groups strategically plan attacks in anticipation of state response. Scholars do not know if and under what conditions groups employ violent tactics to provoke or avoid a forceful state response, although extant theory is consistent with both possibilities. Relatedly, there is little systematic evidence about why groups choose terrorist or guerrilla tactics and how this choice relates to anticipated state response. I develop a theoretical and empirical model of the interaction between groups and states that generates unique evidence on all three fronts. Using data on attacks in Western Europe from 1950 to 2004, I show that guerrilla attacks are sometimes associated with provoking forceful state response, whereas terrorist attacks are generally associated with avoiding forceful response. Groups effectively choose their tactics to avoid forceful state responses that are too damaging for themselves but provoke forceful responses that disproportionately harm civilians. These findings survive several robustness and model specification tests.

Niveoporofomes (Basidiomycota, Fomitopsidaceae) in Tropical Africa: Niveoporofomes oboensis sp. nov. and N.widdringtoniae comb. nov., two species from Afromontane Forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cony Antonio Decock ◽  
Leif Ryvarden ◽  
Mario Amalfi
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Brown Rot ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Tropical Africa ◽  
Multiple Loci ◽  
Afromontane Forests

Abstract During a survey of polypores in the montane forest of the Ôbo de São Tomé National Park, in the western African, equatorial island of São Tomé, a specimen that was, a priori, related to Fomitopsis, based on the gross morphology of the basidiome and a brown rot, showed deviating features including subglobose basidiospores with a large gutta, what pointed toward Niveoporofomes. Phylogenetic inferences based on multiple loci dataset (ITS-nLSU-nSSU-tef1-rpb2) confirmed these affinities, and Niveoporofomes oboensis is described as new. The species is compared to Fomitopsis widdringtoniae, known from southeast Africa, which is characterized also by subglobose basidiospores; hence, the new combination N. widdringtoniae is proposed. The new combination Niveoporofomes globosporus (basionym Trametes globospora) is also proposed based on phylogenetic analyses. A key to the species of Fomitopsis, Niveoporofomes, Rhodofomes, and Rhodofomitopsis in Tropical Africa is presented.

Two new phyllocoptine species and new records of eriophyoid mites (Eriophyidae, Phyllocoptinae) from Crimea, with evaluation of the phylogenetic position of the new taxa using GenBank data

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
Philipp Chetverikov ◽  
Pavel Klimov ◽  
Viktoria Yu. Letukhova ◽  
Géza Ripka ◽  
Sarah Zukoff
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
Eriophyoid Mites

We describe two new species and report new occurrences for six species of eriophyid mites (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) in Crimea: Abacarus denticulifer n. sp. from Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Poaceae), Aceria aculiformis Sukhareva 1986 from Melica ciliata L. (Poaceae), Aceria peucedani (Canestrini 1891) from Seseli tortuosum L. (Apiaceae), Anthocoptes recki (Bagdasarian 1972) n. comb. (from Tegonotus) from Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) (Anacardiaceae), Epitrimerus inulae Farkas 1963 from Inula germanica L. (Asteraceae), Phyllocoptes sanctus n. sp. from Potentilla recta subsp. obscura (Willd.) (Rosaceae), Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus Chetverikov 2019 (in Chetverikov et al. 2019) from Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), Tegoprionus dentatus (Nalepa 1891) from Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae). For an Indian phyllocoptine mite species associated with Apluda mutica L. (Poaceae), a new combination was proposed: Abacarus muticus (Sur & Chakrabarti 2017) n. comb. (from Mesalox). Mitochondrial COI and D2 28S rDNA sequences of three phyllocoptine species from Crimea were obtained: A. denticulifer n. sp. (GenBank accession numbers MK415989 and MK408623), P. bilobospinosus (MK408624), and P. sanctus n. sp. (MK415988 and MK408622). Comparison of all COI and D2 28S sequences of Eriophyoidea from GenBank showed that sequences JF920111 and JF920110 Aceria tulipae are identical to JF920101 Aceria tosichella, and D2 28S sequence KP297379 Tegolophus sp. is identical to KM111079 Shevtchenkella sp., which indicates either one or more misidentifications or sample contamination. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (a) confirmed the morphology-based assignment of A. denticulifer n. sp. to the Abacarus hystrix s.l. species complex, (b) supported the monophyly of Abacarus hystrix s.l., (c) revealed that the genera Phyllocoptes, Epitrimerus, and Calepitrimerus are paraphyletic, and (d) indicated that Phyllocoptini (including P. sanctus n. sp.), which are associated with Rosaceae and Caprifoliaceae, are monophyletic. The position of P. bilobospinosus was uncertain in all analyses. Based on the results of our study, it is recommended that descriptions of new species in large, putatively paraphyletic genera of Eriophyoidea include comparisons with mite species associated with the same plant family. Our work also provides new evidence that a species in a large complex of cryptic species could have evolved a distinct morphology if it is associated with an endemic plant host restricted to a geographically isolated area.

scholarly journals Completeness metrics and the quality of the sauropodomorph fossil record through geological and historical time

Paleobiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Mannion ◽  
Paul Upchurch
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Historical Time ◽  
Rock Outcrop ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Fossil Remains

Despite increasing concerns about the effect of sampling biases on our reading of the fossil record, few studies have considered the completeness of the fossil remains themselves, and those that have tend to apply non-quantitative measures of preservation quality. Here we outline two new types of metric for quantifying the completeness of the fossil remains of taxa through time, using sauropodomorph dinosaurs as a case study. The “Skeletal Completeness Metric” divides the skeleton up into percentages based on the amount of bone for each region, whereas the “Character Completeness Metric” is based on the number of characters that can be scored for each skeletal element in phylogenetic analyses. For both metrics we calculated the completeness of the most complete individual and of the type specimen. We also calculated how well the taxon as a whole is known from its remains. We then plotted these results against both geological and historical time, and compared curves of the former with fluctuations in sauropodomorph diversity, sea level, and sedimentary rock outcrop area. Completeness through the Mesozoic shows a number of peaks and troughs; the Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) is the interval with highest completeness, whereas the mid-to-Late Cretaceous has completeness levels that are consistently lower than the rest of the Mesozoic. Completeness shows no relationship to rock outcrop area, but it is negatively correlated with sea level during the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous and correlated with diversity in the Cretaceous. Completeness of sauropodomorph type specimens has improved from 1830 to the present, supporting the conclusions of other recent studies. However, when this time interval is partitioned, we find no trend for an increase in completeness from the 1990s onward. Moreover, the 2000s represent one of the poorest decades in terms of average type specimen completeness. These results highlight the need for quantitative methods when assessing fossil record quality through geological time or when drawing conclusions about historical trends in the completeness of taxa. The new metrics may also prove useful as sampling proxies in diversity studies.

scholarly journals Global, regional, and national burdens of bladder cancer in 2017: estimates from the 2017 global burden of disease study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairong He ◽  
Hongjun Xie ◽  
Yule Chen ◽  
Chengzhuo Li ◽  
Didi Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bladder Cancer ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Global Burden Of Disease ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Disease Study

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and mortality of bladder cancer (BCa) using data obtained in the Global Burden of Disease study performed in 2017 (GBD 2017). Methods Data on BCa for 2017, including prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), were obtained from GBD 2017 at the global, regional, and national levels. We also analyzed the association of BCa burden with the country development level. Results There were 2.63 million BCa cases estimated from the GBD 2017 data, with 200,000 persons dying of BCa, resulting in 3.60 million DALYs in 2017. The age-standardized prevalence (ASP) of BCa was 32.91/100,000 persons, and age-standardized death rate (ASDR) was 2.57/100,000 persons. The ASP and ASDR of BCa were higher in males than in females, and higher in people older than 60 years. The ASP and ASDR of BCa were higher in Western Europe and Central Europe than in South Asia, Andean Latin America, and Central Latin America, and higher in countries with a higher sociodemographic index (SDI). Correlation analysis identified that the ASP and ASDR of BCa were positively correlated with the country SDI (P < 0.0001 and ρ = 0.68 for ASP, and P = 0.0048 and ρ = 0.20 for ASDR). In addition, 33.72% deaths and 36.80% DALYs caused by BCa could be attributed to smoking globally. Conclusion The prevalence and mortality of BCa were very high in 2017, especially in high-SDI countries. Smoking-cessation strategies should be strengthened to control the burden associated with BCa.

A minimalist macroparasite diversity in the round goby of the Upper Rhine reduced to an exotic acanthocephalan lineage

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (8) ◽  
pp. 1020-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwendoline M. David ◽  
Cybill Staentzel ◽  
Olivier Schlumberger ◽  
Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot ◽  
Jean-Nicolas Beisel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Nucleotide Diversity ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Haplotype Diversity ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Molecular Barcoding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Upper Rhine ◽  
Invasion Corridor

AbstractThe round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a Ponto-Caspian fish considered as an invasive species in a wide range of aquatic ecosystems. To understand the role that parasites may play in its successful invasion across Western Europe, we investigated the parasitic diversity of the round goby along its invasion corridor, from the Danube to the Upper Rhine rivers, using data from literature and a molecular barcoding approach, respectively. Among 1666 parasites extracted from 179 gobies of the Upper Rhine, all of the 248 parasites barcoded on the c oxidase subunit I gene were identified as Pomphorhynchus laevis. This lack of macroparasite diversity was interpreted as a loss of parasites along its invasion corridor without spillback compensation. The genetic diversity of P. laevis was represented by 33 haplotypes corresponding to a haplotype diversity of 0·65 ± 0·032, but a weak nucleotide diversity of 0·0018 ± 0·00015. Eight of these haplotypes were found in 88·4% of the 248 parasites. These haplotypes belong to a single lineage so far restricted to the Danube, Vistula and Volga rivers (Eastern Europe). This result underlines the exotic status of this Ponto-Caspian lineage in the Upper Rhine, putatively disseminated by the round goby along its invasion corridor.

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