Out of Xanthopygus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): escape from polyphyly

Xanthopygus as currently defined is the largest genus in the subtribe Xanthopygina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) with 40 described species. However, the genus is poorly defined, morphologically heterogeneous and previous studies have questioned whether it is a natural group. A morphological (51 characters) Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed to test whether Xanthopygus is a monophyletic group. The analysis indicated that Xanthopygus was polyphyletic, and therefore species were split into four different genera. Xanthopygus nigricornis Scheerpeltz was transferred to Oligotergus as Oligotergus nigricorniscomb. nov. and Xanthopygus skalitzkyi (Bernhauer) was transferred to Styngetus as Styngetus skalitzkyicomb. nov. A new genus, Photinopygusgen. nov. was erected to accommodate the majority of the species previously in Xanthopygus and Xanthopygus sensu novo is used in a new restricted sense to accommodate the remaining species. Diagnostic features are provided to distinguish species in the genera Photinopygus and Xanthopygus from each other and all other Xanthopygina genera.

Life - History Studies on New Zealand Brachyura (Crustacea, Decapoda)

<p>1. Abbreviated or direct development is described in Pilumnus novaezelandiae Filhol, 1886 and P. lumpinus Bennett, 1964 (Xanthidae, Pilumninae) from New Zealand. Embryonic development is separated into Nauplius, Metanauplius, and embryonic Zoea stages. In P. novaezelandiae, larvae hatch at a Megalopa stage and are retained beneath the pleon of the female crab. The Megalopa larva and first five juvenile crab stages are described. In P. lumpinus emergent larvae are advanced, much-modified, and non-natatory Zoeae which are not retained by the parent. The Zoea and Megalopa larvae of this species are described. Abbreviated development has little phylogenetic significance among Brachyura, and has probably evolved as a response to habitat requirements of adult crabs. 2. A brief account is given of the systematics and distribution of the New Zealand xanthid crabs Heterozius rotundifrons A. Milne Edwards, 1867, Ozius truncatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834, and of Heteropanope (Pilumnopeus) serratifrons (Kinahan, xanthid Brachyura and to the Megalopa larvae of Heterozius rotundifrons and Ozius truncatus. Notes are given on the seasonal breeding cycle of Heterozius rotundifrons, and the pre-Zoea larva, two Zoea larval stages, and the Megalopa larva reared in the laboratory are described. Ozius truncatus possesses a pre-Zoea larva, four Zoea larval stages, and a Megalopa larva. These have been reared and are described. A key is given for the separation of the Zoea larval stages. The pre-Zoea larva and first stage Zoea larva of Heteropanope Pilumnopeus serratifrons are described. There are probably four zoeal stages in the larval development of this species. 3. The characters of Zoea larvae of the family Xanthidae described up of the present time are critically analysed and considered in relation to the status of currently accepted adult genera and species, the generic groupings used by Monod (1956), and the generic composition of the subfamilies proposed by Balss (1957). Xanthid Zoea larvae fall into two natural groups of genera based on larval characters, the most important being the length of the antennal exopod in relation to that of the spinous process. The first group is equivalent to the subfamily Xanthinae as reconstituted by Balss (1957), but there is no larval evidence suggesting that the "Panopean" genera should be separated from the "Xanthian" genera as suggested by Monod (1956). A second natural group is formed by larvae of the subfamily Menippinae as in Balss (1932, 1957), the subfamily Pilumninae of Balss (1957), and the genus Geryon. Larvae of genera in the subfamily Trapeziinae Miers should be removed from the section Hyperolissa and included in this second natural group. Zoea larvae described from the genera Heteropanope and Pilumnopeus form a separate branch of the second group. Zoea larval evidence does not support Monod's (1956) separation of Eriphia from the "Menippian" group of genera. 4. The first stage Zoea larva Hemiplax hirtipes (Jacquinot, 1853) is described, and present knowledge concerning larvae of crabs of the family Ocypodidae is summarized discussed. No diagnostic character is common to all ocypodid Zoea larvae, but affinities are shown with those of the families Hymenosomidae, Pinnotheridae, and Grapsidae. 5. Pre-Zoea and first stage Zoea larvae hatched from the grapsid crabs Leptograpsus variegatus (Fabricius, 1793), Planes marinus Rathbun, 1915, Hemigrapsus crenulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), H. edwardsi (Hilgendorf, 1882), Cyclograpsus lavauxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853, Helice crassa Dana, 1851, and Plagusia chabrus (Linnaeus, 1764) from New Zealand are described. A key is given for the separation of these larvae. Known Zoea larvae of the family Grapsidae show close affinities with those of the brachyrhynchous families Ocypodidae and Gecarcinidae, and fall into four groups based on larval characters. This system of larval classification agrees with the present arrangement of adult genera into subfamilies except for a division among larvae of the subfamilies Varuninae and Sesarminae. The length of larval life and larval dispersal probably has no bearing on the presence or absence of certain New Zealand species at the Chatham Islands.</p>

Life - History Studies on New Zealand Brachyura (Crustacea, Decapoda)

<p>1. Abbreviated or direct development is described in Pilumnus novaezelandiae Filhol, 1886 and P. lumpinus Bennett, 1964 (Xanthidae, Pilumninae) from New Zealand. Embryonic development is separated into Nauplius, Metanauplius, and embryonic Zoea stages. In P. novaezelandiae, larvae hatch at a Megalopa stage and are retained beneath the pleon of the female crab. The Megalopa larva and first five juvenile crab stages are described. In P. lumpinus emergent larvae are advanced, much-modified, and non-natatory Zoeae which are not retained by the parent. The Zoea and Megalopa larvae of this species are described. Abbreviated development has little phylogenetic significance among Brachyura, and has probably evolved as a response to habitat requirements of adult crabs. 2. A brief account is given of the systematics and distribution of the New Zealand xanthid crabs Heterozius rotundifrons A. Milne Edwards, 1867, Ozius truncatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834, and of Heteropanope (Pilumnopeus) serratifrons (Kinahan, xanthid Brachyura and to the Megalopa larvae of Heterozius rotundifrons and Ozius truncatus. Notes are given on the seasonal breeding cycle of Heterozius rotundifrons, and the pre-Zoea larva, two Zoea larval stages, and the Megalopa larva reared in the laboratory are described. Ozius truncatus possesses a pre-Zoea larva, four Zoea larval stages, and a Megalopa larva. These have been reared and are described. A key is given for the separation of the Zoea larval stages. The pre-Zoea larva and first stage Zoea larva of Heteropanope Pilumnopeus serratifrons are described. There are probably four zoeal stages in the larval development of this species. 3. The characters of Zoea larvae of the family Xanthidae described up of the present time are critically analysed and considered in relation to the status of currently accepted adult genera and species, the generic groupings used by Monod (1956), and the generic composition of the subfamilies proposed by Balss (1957). Xanthid Zoea larvae fall into two natural groups of genera based on larval characters, the most important being the length of the antennal exopod in relation to that of the spinous process. The first group is equivalent to the subfamily Xanthinae as reconstituted by Balss (1957), but there is no larval evidence suggesting that the "Panopean" genera should be separated from the "Xanthian" genera as suggested by Monod (1956). A second natural group is formed by larvae of the subfamily Menippinae as in Balss (1932, 1957), the subfamily Pilumninae of Balss (1957), and the genus Geryon. Larvae of genera in the subfamily Trapeziinae Miers should be removed from the section Hyperolissa and included in this second natural group. Zoea larvae described from the genera Heteropanope and Pilumnopeus form a separate branch of the second group. Zoea larval evidence does not support Monod's (1956) separation of Eriphia from the "Menippian" group of genera. 4. The first stage Zoea larva Hemiplax hirtipes (Jacquinot, 1853) is described, and present knowledge concerning larvae of crabs of the family Ocypodidae is summarized discussed. No diagnostic character is common to all ocypodid Zoea larvae, but affinities are shown with those of the families Hymenosomidae, Pinnotheridae, and Grapsidae. 5. Pre-Zoea and first stage Zoea larvae hatched from the grapsid crabs Leptograpsus variegatus (Fabricius, 1793), Planes marinus Rathbun, 1915, Hemigrapsus crenulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), H. edwardsi (Hilgendorf, 1882), Cyclograpsus lavauxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853, Helice crassa Dana, 1851, and Plagusia chabrus (Linnaeus, 1764) from New Zealand are described. A key is given for the separation of these larvae. Known Zoea larvae of the family Grapsidae show close affinities with those of the brachyrhynchous families Ocypodidae and Gecarcinidae, and fall into four groups based on larval characters. This system of larval classification agrees with the present arrangement of adult genera into subfamilies except for a division among larvae of the subfamilies Varuninae and Sesarminae. The length of larval life and larval dispersal probably has no bearing on the presence or absence of certain New Zealand species at the Chatham Islands.</p>

The Relationship of the Natural and the Social in Intragroup and Intergroup Relations in a Situation of Interethnic Conflicts

The problem of interethnic conflicts is currently one of the topics attracting the attention of researchers of various specialties – culturologists, anthropologists, historians, social psychologists and others. The purpose and main task of this study is to analyze from a philosophical point of view the dialectics of the natural and the social in ethnic relations and its manifestation in interethnic conflicts. Accordingly, the article uses dialectical and comparative approaches. The theoretical basis of the study is the author’s concept of the relationship between natural and social in society and a man, which made it possible to identify the structure of ethnic relations according to this criterion, to determine the differences between social-group and natural-group relations. Intragroup and intergroup relations, in which natural components prevail over social ones are designated by the concept of “natural-group relations” (NGR) introduced in the author’s methodology. The specific results of the research and the novelty are the discovery of the specificity of the manifestation of the patterns of natural group relations and the role of suggestion in interethnic conflicts. It is proved that the concept of “group centrism” is not enough for the analysis of groups, since it describes mainly the assessment of one’s group and its values, and the concept of “regularities of natural group relations” denotes the hierarchical structure of a group, mechanisms of forced identification (including by methods of education) and self-identification, intragroup and intergroup relationships, reasons for conformism, etc. The article proves that the symptoms of grouping thinking, which were identified by I. L. Janis in small closed groups, and which are a kind of (NGR) patterns, are manifested with some variations in large groups. It is concluded that authors studying group relations do not pay enough attention to the natural prerequisites for the formation of groups and grouping of thinking, the fact that, due to the need for survival, the desire to unite into groups, to form and protect the uniformity of thinking is inherent in our genetic programs and is supported by suggestion. he further part of the article is devoted to the analysis of two interethnic conflicts based on the developed methodology ‒ the Arab-Israeli and Uzbek-Kyrgyz and the forecast, as well as the possibility of overcoming them.

Out of Africa: A New Afrotheria Lineage Rises From Extinct South American Mammals

The South American native ungulates (SANUs) are usually overlooked in Eutherian phylogenetic studies. In the rare studies where they were included, the diversity of SANUs was underrated, keeping their evolutionary history poorly known. Some authors recognized the SANUs as a monophyletic lineage and formally named it Meridiungulata. Here, we recognized and defined a new supraordinal lineage of Eutheria, the Sudamericungulata, after performing morphological phylogenetic analyses including all lineages of SANUs and Eutheria. The SANUs resulted as non-monophyletic; thus, Meridiungulata is not a natural group; Litopterna and “Didolodontidae” are Panameriungulata and closer to Laurasiatheria than to other “Meridiungulata” (Astrapotheria, Notoungulata, Pyrotheria, and Xenungulata). The other “Meridiungulata” is grouped in the Sudamericungulata, as a new monophyletic lineage of Afrotheria Paenungulata, and shared a common ancestor with Hyracoidea. The divergence between the African and South American lineages is estimated to Early Paleocene, and their interrelationships support the Atlantogea biogeographic model. Shortly afterward, the Sudamericungulata explosively diversified in its four lineages. Confronting the Sudamericungulata evolutionary patterns and the Cenozoic natural events (such as tectonics and climatic and environmental changes, among others) helps to unveil a new chapter in the evolution of Gondwanan Eutheria, as well as the natural history of South America during the Cenozoic.

Model Selecting PSO-FA Hybrid for Complex Function Optimization

Swarm intelligence is inspired by natural group behavior. It is one of the promising metaheuristics for black-box function optimization. Then plenty of swarm intelligence algorithms such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and firefly algorithm (FA) have been developed. Since these swarm intelligence models have some common properties and inherent characteristics, model hybridization is expected to adjust a swarm intelligence model for the target problem instead of parameter tuning that needs some trial and error approach. This paper proposes a PSO-FA hybrid algorithm with a model selection strategy. An event-driven trigger based on the personal best update makes each individual do the model selection that focuses on the personal study process. By testing the proposed hybrid algorithm on some benchmark problems and comparing it with a simple PSO, the standard PSO 2011, FA, HFPSO to show how the proposed hybrid swarm averagely performs well in black-box optimization problems.

Systematic revision of the trans-Bassian moriomorphine genus Theprisa Moore (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The Australian genus Theprisa Moore, 1963, is taxonomically revised to comprise five species, two newly described: Theprisa darlingtoni Liebherr &amp; Porch, sp. nov. of Tasmania, and Theprisa otway Liebherr, Porch &amp; Maddison, sp. nov. from the Otway Ranges, Victoria. Two previously described species, T. australis (Castelnau) and T. montana (Castelnau), are distributed in the mountains of Victoria. The third previously described species, T. convexa (Sloane) is found in Tasmania. A lectotype is designated for T. convexa because the various syntypes are ambiguously labelled. Cladistic analysis based on morphological characters establishes monophyly of Theprisa relative to the Australian genera Sitaphe Moore and Spherita Liebherr. This and a second clade of Australian genera (Pterogmus Sloane, Thayerella Baehr, and Neonomius Moore) do not form a natural group, but are cladistically interdigitated among two monophyletic New Zealand lineages (Tarastethus Sharp, and Trichopsida Larochelle and Larivière) suggesting substantial trans-Tasman diversification among these groups. Hypothesized relationships within Theprisa are consistent with two bouts of speciation involving the Bass Strait; an initial event establishing T. convexa as adelphotaxon to the other four species, and a more recent event establishing the sister species T. darlingtoni and T. montana. Geographic restriction of T. otway to the Otway Ranges is paralleled by Otway endemics in several other carabid beetle genera, as well as by endemics in numerous other terrestrial arthropod taxa. Whereas these numerous Otway endemics support the distinctive nature of the Otway Range fauna, their biogeographic relationships are extremely varied, illustrating that the Otways have accrued their distinctive biodiversity via various means.

Local optimization on pure Gaussian state manifolds

We exploit insights into the geometry of bosonic and fermionic Gaussian states to develop an efficient local optimization algorithm to extremize arbitrary functions on these families of states. The method is based on notions of gradient descent attuned to the local geometry which also allows for the implementation of local constraints. The natural group action of the symplectic and orthogonal group enables us to compute the geometric gradient efficiently. While our parametrization of states is based on covariance matrices and linear complex structures, we provide compact formulas to easily convert from and to other parametrization of Gaussian states, such as wave functions for pure Gaussian states, quasiprobability distributions and Bogoliubov transformations. We review applications ranging from approximating ground states to computing circuit complexity and the entanglement of purification that have both been employed in the context of holography. Finally, we use the presented methods to collect numerical and analytical evidence for the conjecture that Gaussian purifications are sufficient to compute the entanglement of purification of arbitrary mixed Gaussian states.

Effect of Dietary Carotenoids on Reproducers of Amazon River Prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. Part 1: Metabolism, Morphometric / Zootechnical Indexes, Body Composition and Gametes

The inclusion of natural extracts and solution of synthetic astaxanthin in the Macrobrachium amazonicum diet were tested to verify their effect on performance, body indexes and total accumulation of astaxanthin in the reproductive tissues and gametes of this crustacean in comparison with newly captured wild animals. The experiment was randomized in blocks (five treatments with three replicates). Four groups were submitted, during 20 days, to diets in recirculation tanks: control diet (CONT); diet containing natural extract of “buriti” (CAR); diet with inclusion of natural “urucum” extract (BIXN), diet with synthetic astaxanthin (ASTX) and NATURAL group (not fed with ration). 180 prawns were used, with 60 males (6.08±1.96 g) and 120 females (4.55±1.03 g) distributed in five groups containing four males and eight females each. There were no significant differences in performance and body indexes. The number of released spermatozoids, live spermatozoids, body and egg pigmentation was higher in BIXN and ASTX treatments. The ASTX treatment was superior to the NATURAL group in the body pigmentation of females and eggs and release of spermatophores by males. These results demonstrate that the use of natural and artificial carotenoid pigments in the diet are beneficial for reproduction of M. amazonicum.

Knitting With and for Others: Repercussions on Motivation

Knitting is an activity that generates well-being and that can be undertaken in a group. It is characterized by the creation of a final piece, which may have different purposes. The aims of this study were to explore the effects of knitting in a natural group, as well as examining the impact that the purpose of the piece created might have on the motivation to knit. A mixed methodology was used with one group of knitters, under two conditions: knitting for oneself and for others. The data was collected through a volitional questionnaire, personal diaries and semi-structured interviews. The participants expressed that knitting gave them a sense of well-being and relaxation. Carrying out this activity in a group also enabled them to have the possibility of learning and teaching. Knitting for others is more meaningful than knitting for oneself because they knitted for people they cared for.