For the Life of the World? And of the Church too! Quality of Ethics as a Diagnostic Key for the Orthodox Church

This article attempts an overall assessment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate document on Orthodox social ethics, For the Life of the World, articulated along three dimensions: a) Radicalism, in terms of the radical reminders on Orthodox morality that the document succeeds in highlighting, b) Pervasiveness, with regard to the question on how the principles exposed in the document are (or should be) valid across all local Orthodox Churches, and c) Consistency, as the inner harmony between these principles and other aspects of Orthodox ecclesiastical life. It is opined that this document is of historical significance and that it can be of great benefit for the entire Church, if applied. Amidst an advanced modernity and on a critical crossroad with post-modernity, a renewal of Orthodox social ethics that both takes under consideration scientific findings and speaks a contemporary ‘language’ that faces subjectivity seriously, was especially necessary. Hereafter, what is at stake is the degree this document will be disseminated, accepted and influential.

New species, new records and notes of Afrotropical Chaetophora Kirby & Spence, 1817 (Coleoptera: Byrrhidae: Syncalptinae)

Three new species of Chaetophora Kirby & Spence, 1817 (Coleoptera: Byrrhidae: Syncalptinae) are described: C. morettoi sp. nov., C. milesi sp. nov. & C. smithi sp. nov. from Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Zambia respectively. C. medleri Johnson 1978 is redescribed with additional faunistic records. Morphological features of C. russelli (Fiori, 1978) are also discussed. A diagnostic key to currently known species of Afrotropical Chaetophora is provided.

Barrier Island Sediments Reveal Storm Surge and Fluvial Flood Events in the Past Centuries at Thua Thien Hue, Central Vietnam

Sedimentary evidence of storms and fluvial floods (FFs) is crucial for a better understanding of such events in coastal zones. In this study, we analyzed the sedimentary characteristics of the coastal storm and FF deposits at the Hoa Duan barrier, Thua Thien Hue, central Vietnam. Analyses of the sedimentary structures and properties (grain size distribution, composition, roundness, and sphericity) and loss on ignition revealed that the storm sediments were comprised of coarser grains with a low organic and carbonated content, and with sedimentary structures, including parallel and inclined landward lamination, multiple sets of normal and reverse grading, mud rip-up clasts, and sharp and erosional contacts (both top and bottom) with finer-grain layers. Conversely, the FF sediments had only fine to very fine grains, with dominant high organic and carbonate contents, and only exhibited sedimentary structures of sharp erosional top and bottom contacts with coarser-grained layers. The clearest differentiation to distinguish coastal storm layers from inland FF layers was obtained by plotting the mean grain size against the sorting. The results of optically stimulated luminescence dating suggested that two storm layers and one FF layer were deposited during the last 130 ± 10 years. Moreover, two layers were deposited by storms and one by a FF prior to that (>130 ± 10 years). The identification of the sedimentary diagnostic key of these two hazards can help to improve the understanding of the geomorphological evolution of the studied site and the other parts of this coastal region in order to remind the coastal community to prepare for future coastal hazards well.

New species of primitive oribatid mite of the family Haplochthoniidae (Acari, Oribatida) from southeastern Iran

Haplochthoniidae is a small family within the superfamily Cosmochthonioidea and consists of only two genera and 17 species. In this paper a new species, Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) longiapophysus sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on adult specimens sampled from soil in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran. The new species is characterised by very long prominent rostral apophyses; blade-like prodorsal and notogastral setae; genital plates with six and anal and adanal plates each with four pairs of setae, an1, ad1 and ad2 thicker than other ano-adanal setae; epimeral setation 3-2-2-3; solenidion φ of tibiae I very long, solenidion ω of tarsi I longer than famulus, seta d longer than solenidion on tibiae II and III. The new species is morphologically very similar to Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) sanctaeluciae Bernini, 1973, however, the most significant differences between them is in the morphology of rostral apophyses and number and size of genital setae. The family Haplochthoniidae is recorded for the first time from Sistan and Baluchestan province. An updated diagnostic key to the adults of known species of Haplochthonius (Haplochthonius) is given.

Molecular phylogenetics and taxonomic reassessment of the widespread agamid lizard Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata, Agamidae) across South Asia

The genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Agamidae: Draconinae) is highly diverse, with species occurring in South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Most species of the subfamily except C. versicolor have narrow geographic distributions. Calotes versicolor is distributed from western Iran in the west to south China and Indonesia in the east and has been introduced to parts of Africa and North America. The species has had a complicated taxonomic history; multiple species and subspecies related to C. versicolor were described from India and adjoining regions, which were synonymized in subsequent revisions. However, a study of Burmese C. versicolor yielded two new species, C. htunwini and C. irawadi, indicating that C. versicolor is a species complex. Such integrative taxonomic studies have not been carried out in India, the supposed type locality of C. versicolor. Hence, we studied C. versicolor sensu lato from the Indian subcontinent and generated sequences of mitochondrial 16S and COI fragments from tissues sampled from multiple localities in the region, including the type localities of its synonyms. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four well-supported, deeply-divergent lineages, supported by morphological data. These lineages represent (i) C. versicolor sensu stricto, from South India and parts of the east coast, (ii) C. irawadi sensu lato from northeast India and Southeast Asia, (iii) a synonym from the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains which we resurrect here, and (iv) a subspecies from Pakistan which we elevate to species level. We provide re-descriptions for the resurrected or elevated species, and a diagnostic key to the species of the C. versicolor complex. The study shows that C. versicolor sensu stricto is endemic to parts of southern and eastern India, and not widely distributed, though it may have been introduced to other parts of the world.

Diagnostic Key Points and Surgical Management of Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Retrospective Study

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a fatal disease with a high mortality rate that can be easily misdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to improve the diagnostic rate of NF and overall survival. We conducted a single-center, retrospective, noncontrolled study involving 36 patients who were admitted to our department between December 2017 and October 2019, and summarized the diagnostic key points and timing of surgical treatment. All patients were diagnosed at our department and underwent multiple courses of treatment. The records included information regarding underlying diseases, bacterial culture results, laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC) score, number of procedures, and type of antibiotics. All 36 cases of NF were cured and showed good patient condition on follow-up; the mean number of surgeries was three, and the mean duration of hospitalization was 37 days (range, 21-83 days). The LRINEC scores of 16 patients were ≥8 points. Seventeen patients with underlying diabetic disease had higher inflammatory index scores than those without diabetes. The LRINEC scores of patients with ( n = 17) and without ( n = 19) DM were 7.40 ± 2.99 and 3.80 ± 2.39, respectively ( P < .01). Cases of NF that were treated with early incision and surgical abscess drainage required fewer surgeries and a shorter length of hospitalization. Thus, surgeons should be more aware of NF and aim to make an early and accurate diagnosis using various approaches. Complete surgical debridement plays an essential role in NF treatment, and diabetes mellitus is a significant adverse factor that exacerbates the severity of NF. Negative-pressure techniques are useful in cases involving nonanaerobic infections and cause minimal complications.

Two new and two known species of the genus Paraoxydirus Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1978 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Western Ghats of India

Summary Two new and two known species of the genus Paraoxydirus Jairajpuri and Ahmad, 1978 are described and illustrated from Western Ghats of India. P. vulvalpapillatus n. sp. is characterized by having large sized body (L = 4.6 – 4.8 mm); lip region continuous with completely amalgamated lips; amphidial fovea cup – shaped; 5 – 6 μm long odontostyle; 11 – 13 μm long odontophore; pharyngeal expansion about 28 – 36 % of neck length; transverse vulva; vulval papillae conspicuous; males with 46 – 54 μm long spicules; 11 – 14 continuous ventromedian supplements and long filiform tail similar in both sexes. P. indicus n. sp. is characterized by having large sized body (L = 4.0 – 4.8 mm); lip region poorly offset with amalgamated lips; amphidial fovea cup-shaped; 7 – 8 μm long, robust odontostyle; 17 – 18 μm long odontophore; pharyngeal expansion about 32 – 40 % of neck length; 21 – 26 μm long cardia; longitudinal vulva; 748 – 894 μm long filiform tail; males with 45 – 54 μm long spicules and 12 – 15 continuous ventromedian supplements. P. gigas Jairajpuri, 1964 and P. novus Jairajpuri, 1965 are redescribed based on specimens collected from several localities. A diagnostic Key and compendium to the identification of its eight valid species is provided.

Afrotropical species of the genus Sculptolobus Yang, van Achterberg & Chen (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae)

A review of the Afrotropical species of the genus Sculptolobus Yang, van Achterberg &amp; Chen, 2008 is presented. One species, S. lelejisp. nov., and one subspecies, S. lembaensis hartenissp. nov., are described. New combinations are proposed for S. bipustulatus (Szépligeti, 1913), comb. nov., S. lembaensis (Cameron, 1912), comb. nov., S. somnialis (Szépligeti, 1913), comb. nov., S. suavis (Szépligeti, 1918), comb. nov., and S. subellipticus (Granger, 1949), comb. nov. Lectotypes are designated for S. lembaensis and S. suavis. For all species descriptions and illustrations are provided together with a diagnostic key.

Redescriptions of North American Epidamaeus (Acari, Oribatida, Damaeidae) species proposed by N. Banks, H.E. Ewing, A.P. Jacot, and J.W. Wilson

Early American acarologists proposed several species that have been recombined to the oribatid mite genus Epidamaeus (Damaeidae), but none has been redescribed to modern standards. These include E. puritanicus (Banks, 1906), E. michaeli (Ewing, 1909), E. globifer (Ewing, 1913), E. florida (Wilson, 1936), E. olitor (Jacot, 1937), and E. craigheadi (Jacot, 1939). We redescribe and illustrate these species, based on available type specimens and other material in various collections, and give an indication of their overall distributions. Juvenile instars are at least partly described for all except E. florida and E. olitor. Since these six collectively include the most encountered Epidamaeus species in the eastern USA, a diagnostic key is presented that also includes E. arcticola (Hammer, 1952), which is reliably recorded from eastern North America (New Hampshire) for the first time. A neotype is selected for E. michaeli, which is considered a senior subjective synonym of E. canadensis (Banks, 1909) [new syn.]. Synonymy of E. puritanicus with E. grandjeani (Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957) is rejected.

Celiac disease: non-carious lesions of the teeth

The high prevalence of non-carious manifestations in patients with celiac disease is described by numerous authors, who are considered as a diagnostic key to atypical forms of celiac disease. The manifestations closely associated with celiac disease include: defects in tooth enamel, pathological tooth abrasion, as a violation of the mineralization of dental crowns, and morphofunctional defects in the hard tissues of the teeth.Materials and methods. We examined 45 patients aged 23 to 36 years with a diagnosis of celiac disease, established on the basis of the results of clinical anamnestic, genetic, instrumental studies, morphological study of a biopsy specimen of the intestinal mucosa.Result. Examination of the dentition of the patients showed that 100% of the examined had pathological abrasion of tooth enamel. Crowded teeth were found in 32 patients. Partial symmetric congenital adentia was diagnosed in 5 patients.Conclusion. The revealed dentoalveolar anomalies can be attributed to oral manifestations of celiac disease, which is a diagnostic criterion for suspected disease.