Talar trochlear morphology may not be a good skeletal indicator of locomotor behavior in humans and great apes

To reconstruct locomotor behaviors of fossil hominins and understand the evolution of bipedal locomotion in the human lineage, it is important to clarify the functional morphology of the talar trochlea in humans and extant great apes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the interspecific-differences of the talar trochlear morphology among humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans by means of cone frustum approximation to calculate an apical angle and geometric morphometrics for detailed variability in the shape of the talar trochlea. The apical angles in gorillas and orangutans were significantly greater than those in humans and chimpanzees, but no statistical difference was observed between humans and chimpanzees, indicating that the apical angle did not necessarily correspond with the degree of arboreality in hominoids. The geometric morphometrics revealed clear interspecific differences in the trochlear morphology, but no clear association between the morphological characteristics of the trochlea and locomotor behavior was observed. The morphology of the trochlea may not be a distinct skeletal correlate of locomotor behavior, possibly because the morphology is determined not only by locomotor behavior, but also by other factors such as phylogeny and body size.

A new species of the genus Stiltoblosyrus Davidian, 2020 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from China

A new species Stiltoblosyrus serratulus Davidian, sp. nov. is described from Sichuan Province of China. It is the northernmost species of the genus Stiltoblosyrus (Davidian, 2020). From all of the congeners it easily differs in row of large and stout spines at the inner side of hind tibia of the male. New species closely related to S. laticollis Davidian, 2020 and S. brevicornis Davidian, 2020 in size of the process at the inner apical angle of hind tibia of the male, which is distinctly shorter than 2nd segment of hind tarsus. Colour illustrations of habitus and important morphological characters are presented.

From Bend to Splay Dominated Elasticity in Nematics

In the past decade, much evidence has been provided for an unusually low cost for bend deformations in the nematic phase of bent-core mesogens and bimesogens (liquid crystal dimers) having a bent shape on average. Recently, an analogous effect was observed for the splay mode of bent-core mesogens with an acute apical angle. Here, we present a systematic computational investigation of the Frank elastic constants of nematics made of V-shaped particles, with bend angles ranging from acute to obtuse. We show that by tuning this angle, the elastic behavior switches from bend dominated (K33>K11) to splay dominated (K11>K33), with anomalously low values of the splay and the bend constant, respectively. This is related to a change in the shape polarity of particles, which is associated with the emergence of polar order, longitudinal for splay and transversal for bend deformations. Crucial to this study is the use of a recently developed microscopic elastic theory, able to account for the interplay of mesogen morphology and director deformations.

Predictors of calcification distribution in severe tricuspid aortic valve stenosis

We investigated aortic valve calcification (AVC) distribution and predictors for leaflet calcification patterns in patients with severe tricuspid aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Patients undergoing routine multi-sliced computed tomography (MSCT) for procedural planning were enrolled. MSCT data were transferred to a dedicated workstation for evaluation (3mensio Structural Heart™, Pie Medical Imaging BV, Maastricht, The Netherlands) and analyzed. Participants were separated into asymmetrical (AC) and symmetrical (SC) leaflet calcification and potential predictors for calcification distribution were identified with univariate and multivariate regression analysis. 567 Participants with severe tricuspid AS were divided into asymmetrical (AC, n = 443; 78.1%) and symmetrical (SC, n = 124; 21.9%) AVC. In AC, the non-coronary cusp was the most calcified cusp (n = 238; 57.7%). SC is more common in females (AC/SC: 49.2% vs. 67.7%; p < 0.0001). AVC was more severe in patients with AC, who also have larger aortic root dimensions. Multivariate analysis depicted, inter alia, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification < 25 Agatston units (OR 1.81 [1.09–3.00], p = 0.021), a mean pressure gradient < 36 mmHg (OR 1.77 [1.03–3.05], p = 0.039), and an annulo-apical angle > 67° (OR 1.68 [1.00–2.80], p = 0.049) as predictors for SC, although with only moderate predictive value. Data from this retrospective analysis indicate that SC occurs more frequently in females. The cumulative leaflet calcification burden is higher in patients with AC, who also present with larger aortic root dimensions. The predictive value for prominent calcification of different aortic valve cusps in AC patients was only low to moderate.Trial registration number: NCT01805739.

The arboreal microsnail Pupisoma dioscoricola (C. B. Adams, 1845) from West Bengal, India: morphology, plant preferences and distribution

The microsnails (Mollusca: Gastropoda), featured by miniscule size (adult shell size < 5mm), are little explored among the Indian terrestrial malacofauna. In the present study, the morphological features, host plant preference and predicted distribution of the arboreal microsnail Pupisoma dioscoricola (C. B. Adams, 1845) (Gastropoda: Valloniidae) are characterized from West Bengal, India. The shell features were highly correlated and showed a positive correlation with body weight. The apical angle of the shell of P. dioscoricola was negatively correlated with shell height and body weight and revealed a typical value, indicative of the arboreal adaptations. The toothless pupa snail P. dioscoricola exhibited a greater preference for the mango tree over China rose, Bengal quince, Indian mahogany and coconut as a host plant. The results of the species distribution modelling suggested that cultivated or managed vegetation and annual precipitation might be the most influential factors for its distribution. Although the present study is a pioneer effort to describe the plant preferences and the morphological features of the microsnail P. dioscoricola, further studies should be carried out to decipher the functional roles and conservation management of such an apparently cryptic organism.

Echocardiography assessment of the left ventricle apical morphology and dynamics in patients with unexplainable deep T-wave inversion and apical wall thickness<15 mm

Background: There exists a group of patients with the same ECG characteristics as typical apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) but fails to reach the diagnostic criteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the apical morphological and dynamical features of this type of patients using echocardiography.Methods:A total of 30 subjects with unexplainable T-wave inversion (TWI) on ECG and apical myocardium thickness <15 mm by echocardiography were recruited. The apical morphological and dynamic features included the left ventricular (LV) apical-to-basal posterior wall thickness ratio (ABR), apical angle (apA) and its percentage change in cardiac cycle, peak blood flow velocity at the apical cavity (Vap) and its ratio to the velocity at LV outflow tract (Vap/VLVOT). The results were compared to those from 32 patients with typical AHCM, 44 with essential hypertension and 43 healthy controls.Results: Compared to healthy controls and hypertension patients, the suspected AHCM group had a significantly higher ABR (1.37±0.23 vs. 0.75±0.08 and 0.75±0.11, P<0.001), lower apAs, higher percent change of apA (74±23% vs. 16±8% and 28±13%, P<0.001) and higher Vap/VLVOT (0.5±0.3 vs. 0.3±0.1 and 0.3±0.1, P<0.05). Patients with typical AHCM had similar apAs and its change and significantly higher ABR (1.85±0.42, P<0.001) and Vap/VLVOT (0.8±0.5, p=0.009) than the suspected AHCM group.Conclusion: Apical morphology and dynamic features of subjects with TWI and LV apical thickness <15 mm were significantly different from healthy controls and hypertension patients, but shared similarities with typical AHCM patients. The results suggest this suspected group may be in an early stage or exhibit a mild phenotype of AHCM. With careful assessment and additional quantitative measurements, it is possible to detect this suspected AHCM group using echocardiography.

Campanellula herishtensis n. sp. (Foraminifera; Orbitolinidae?) from the upper Aptian (Lower Gargasian) of Central Iran

The new orbitolinid foraminifer Campanellula herishtensis n. sp. is described from the upper Aptian (Gargasian) of the Yazd Block, Central Iran. Campanellula herishtensis n. sp. occurs within a small interval of the Herisht section near Ardakan, displaying more or less uniform microfacies types (foraminiferal wackestones/packstones). The Iranian form differs from Campanellula capuensis De Castro (upper Hauterivian – lower Barremian of Italy, and Algeria), the only species described of the genus so far, in size and morphology (shape, apical angle). The generic assignment of the new taxon is discussed including also the genus Orbitolinopsis Henson. The suprageneric placement of Campanellula within the Orbitolinidae according to current classifications (but contrasting the original description) still remains doubtful.

Experimental Study on Crushing Resistance of Square CFRP Frusta under Axial Loading

Fibre-reinforced composite materials and structures have been extensively used as energy dissipating components in industries. The crashworthiness of square and circular CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) tubes have been widely studied. This paper investigates the deformation and energy absorption of square CFRP frusta under axial quasi-static crushing. The effects of various geometry parameters such as height-to-mean width (H/B) and thickness-to-mean width (t/B) ratios on the crushing resistance for square CFRP frusta with an apical angle of 10 ° have been examined experimentally. Finally the crashworthiness metrics of square CFRP frusta and square tube are compared and evaluated. The results show that the experimentally observed deformation mode of CFRP square frusta can be classified into three types, namely progressive folding collapse; splaying crushing mode characterized by a combination of progressive splaying and transverse shearing failure; and transition mode respectively. The initial peak force, mean crushing force and energy absorption of square CFRP frusta deformed in splaying mode increase with the increasing of wall thickness and width. For the desirable progressive splaying mode, three energy dissipated mechanisms have been identified as crack propagation, transverse shearing and friction energy.