Azygosporus gen. nov., a synapmorphic clade in the family Ancylistaceae

The fungal genus Conidiobolus sensu lato was delimited into four genera based on morphology and phylogeny. However, the taxonomic placement of C. parvus has not been determined until now. Here, we show that C. parvus belongs to a distinct lineage based on mitochondrial (mtSSU) and nuclear (TEF1 and nrLSU) phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses further revealed a new species as sister to C. parvus. We identified a synapomorphy uniting these lineages (azygospore production) that was not observed in other allied genera of the family Ancylistaceae, and erected a new genus Azygosporusgen. nov. for this monophyletic group, with a new combination, A. parvuscomb. nov. as the type species. Within Azygosporus, the novel species A. macropapillatussp. nov. was introduced from China based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, which is characterized by its prominent basal papilla, in comparison to other closely related species, measuring 7.5–10.0×5.0–10.0 µm. Our study resolved the phylogenetic placement of C. parvus and improved the taxonomic system of the Ancylistaceae family.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of four species of praying mantises (Dictyoptera, Mantidae) with ribosomal second structure, evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses

Praying mantises are distributed all over the world. Though some Mantodea mitogenomes have been reported, an evolutionary genomic and phylogenetic analysis study lacks the latest taxonomic system. In the present study, four new mitogenomes were sequenced and annotated. Deroplatys truncate, D. lobate, Amorphoscelis chinensis and Macromantis sp. belong to Deroplatyidae, Amorphoscelidae and Photinaidae family, respectively. Our results indicated that the ATP8 gene may be lost in D. truncate and D. lobata mt genome, and four tRNA genes have not been found in D. truncate, D. lobata and Macromantis sp. A dN/dS pair analysis was conducted and it was found that all genes have evolved under purifying selection. Furthermore, we tested the phylogenetic relationships between the eight families of the Mantodea, including 35 species of praying Mantis. Based on the complete mitochondrial genome data, it was also suggested as sister to Deroplatyidae + Mantidae, Metallyticus sp., the only representative of Metallyticidae, is sister to the remaining mantises. Our results support the taxonomic system of Schwarz and Roy and are consistent with previous studies.

Assessment of HiTOP Constructs Across the Population: A Commentary on the HiTOP Measure Development Project

The set of articles in this issue demonstrates the promise of the HiTOP collaborative effort in advancing a viable alternative dimensional taxonomy of psychopathology. Besides transcending the limitations of our current taxonomic system and categorical diagnoses, the potential contributions of HiTOP should extend to also critically examining long-standing notions of psychopathology and mental wellness, evaluating the ability of symptom measures to capture the various manifestations of disorder in the population, and questioning the emphasis on predominant Western cultural norms as a basis for our definitions of psychopathology and their measurement. This commentary addresses the extent to which the implementation of the measurement studies featured in the special issue centered these goals, drawing on the work of scholars from within and outside the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology, some who have taken a critical view of these fields. The hope is that we work to challenge some basic assumptions and increase self-reflection, with an eye toward reducing bias and mental health disparities.

Spectral properties of near-Earth objects with low-Jovian Tisserand invariant

ABSTRACT The near-Earth objects with low-Jovian Tisserand invariant (TJ) represent about 9 per cent of the known objects orbiting in the near-Earth space, being subject of numerous planetary encounters and large temperature variations. We aim to make a spectral characterization for a large sample of NEOs with TJ ≤ 3.1. Consequently, we can estimate the fraction of bodies with a cometary origin. We report new spectral observations for 26 low-TJ NEOs. The additional spectra, retrieved from different public data bases, allowed us to perform the analysis over a catalogue of 150 objects. We classified them with respect to Bus-DeMeo taxonomic system. The results are discussed regarding their orbital parameters. The taxonomic distribution of low-TJ NEOs differs from the entire NEOs population. Consequently, TJ ∼ 3 can act as a composition border too. We found that 56.2 per cent of low-TJ NEOs have comet-like spectra and they become abundant (79.7 per cent) for TJ ≤ 2.8. 16 D-type objects have been identified in this population, distributed on orbits with an average TJ = 2.65 ± 0.6. Using two dynamical criteria, together with the comet-like spectral classification as an identification method and by applying an observational bias correction, we estimate that the fraction of NEOs with a cometary nature and H ∈ (14, 21) mag has the lower and upper bounds (1.5 ± 0.15) and (10.4 ± 2.2) per cent. Additionally, our observations show that all extreme cases of low-perihelion asteroids (q ≤ 0.3 au) belong to S-complex.

Voltammetric Electrochemical Sensor for Phylogenetic Study in Acer Linn.

Acer Linn. is a highly divergent species morphology in the maple family (Aceraceae). It is one of the genera facing a very difficult taxonomic situation. The phylogeny of the genus and the taxonomic system under the genus remain unclear. The use of electrochemical fingerprints for plant phylogenetic study is an emerging application in biosensors. In this work, leaves of 18 species of Acer Linn. with an exo-taxa were selected for electrochemical fingerprint recording. Two different conditions were used for improving the data abundance. The fingerprint of all species showed a series of oxidation peaks. These peaks can be ascribed to the oxidation of flavonols, phenolic acids, procyanidins, alkaloids, and pigments in plant tissue. These electrochemical fingerprints can be used for the identification of plant species. We also performed a phylogenetic study with data from electrochemical fingerprinting. The phylogenetic tree of Acer is divided into three main clades. The result is in full agreement with A. shangszeense var. anfuense, A. pictum subsp. mono, A. amplum, A. truncatum, and A. miaotaiense, belonging to the subsection Platanoidea. A. nikoense and A. griseum were clustered together in the dendrogram. Another group that fits the traditional classification results is in the subsection Integrifolia.

Asteroid taxonomy using neural networks

<p>We explore the performance of neural networks in automatically classifying asteroids into their taxonomic spectral classes. We particularly focus on what the methodology could offer the ESA Gaia mission. We constructed an asteroid dataset that can be limited to simulating Gaia samples. The samples were fed into a custom-designed neural network that learns how to predict the samples’ spectral classes and produces the success rate of the predictions. The performance of the neural network is also evaluated using three real preliminary Gaia asteroid spectra.</p> <p>The overall results show that the neural network can identify taxonomic classes of asteroids in a robust manner. The success in classification is evaluated for spectra from the nominal 0.45–2.45 µm wavelength range used in the Bus-DeMeo taxonomy, and from a limited range of 0.45–1.05 µm following the joint wavelength range of Gaia observations and the Bus-DeMeo taxonomic system. The obtained results indicate that using neural networks to execute automated classification is an appealing solution for maintaining asteroid taxonomies, especially as the size of the available datasets grows larger with missions like Gaia.</p>

Lignification of xylem of different birch species during introduction in the Nizhny Novgorod region

Интродукция как одна из традиционных в лесном хозяйстве сфер практической деятельности сохраняет свою актуальность и на современном этапе. Обладая широким спектром полезных признаков и свойств, представители рода берёза (Betula L.) подвергаются разноплановым исследованиям. Цель данного исследования являлось получение сравнительной оценки различных видов, входящих в таксономическую систему рода берёза, по степени лигнификации ксилемы. Объектом исследования служили посадки 10 видов берёзы, представленных в интродукционной коллекции ботанического сада Нижегородского государственного университета им. Н.И. Лобачевского. Предметом исследования являлась изменчивость степени лигнификации ксилемы у интродуцированных и аборигенного видов берёзы. Первичной единицей выборки в опыте принят однократный учет временных препаратов поперечных срезов из средней части годичного прироста, которые после окрашивания и фиксации визировали с помощью микроскопа Микмед-2. Одревеснение клетчатки в стенках клеток ксилемы выявляли с помощью качественной реакции флороглюцина на лигнин. Дополнительно был произведен опытный анализ сроков опадания листвы у исследуемых объектов. В ходе анализа степени лигнификации клеток ксилемы в годичных побегах видов берёзы, в пределах опытного участка, установлена их неоднородность по значениям изучаемых показателей вне зависимости от видовой принадлежности. Минимальное число неодревесневших клеток ксилемы свидетельствовало о большей степени подготовленности растений к неблагоприятному зимнему периоду и более раннему опаданию листвы. Различия проявились на выровненном экологическом фоне в условиях Нижегородской области и подтверждены результатами однофакторного и двухфакторного дисперсионного анализа. Introduction as one of the traditional areas of practical activity in forestry remains relevant at the present stage. Having a wide range of useful features and properties, representatives of the genus birch (Betula L.) are subject to diverse research. The purpose of this study was to obtain a comparative assessment of various species included in the taxonomic system of the genus birch, according to the degree of lignification of xylem. The object of the study was the planting of 10 species of birch presented in the introduction collection of the Botanical garden of Nizhny Novgorod state University. N.I. Lobachevsky. The subject of the study was the variability of the degree of xylem lignification in introduced and native birch species. The primary sampling unit in the experiment was a one-time recording of temporary preparations of cross-sections from the average part of the annual growth, which, after staining and fixation, were viewed using a Micmed-2 microscope. Lignification of fiber in the walls of xylem cells was detected using a qualitative reaction of phloroglucin to lignin. Additionally, an experimental analysis of the timing of leaf fall in the studied objects was performed. During the analysis of the degree of lignification of xylem cells in annual shoots of birch species within the experimental area, their heterogeneity in the values of the studied indicators was established, regardless of the species. The minimal number of non-woody xylem cells indicated that the plants were more prepared for the unfavorable winter period and earlier leaf fall. The differences were revealed against a leveled environmental background in the Nizhny Novgorod region and were confirmed by the results of one-factor and two-factor analysis of variance.

Indigenous biosystematics of yams (Dioscorea spp.) in Southwest Ethiopia: folk taxonomy, ethnolinguistic analysis, and folk descriptors

Background In Southwest Ethiopia, various plant species are coexisting in wild and cultivated forms. This provides an ideal setting for studying folk biosystematics of neglected species. One of such species is the Dioscorea species, in which we studied to assess the commonly applied folk wisdom of identifying, naming, and classifying yams by Sheko and Bench farmers. Methods This study was conducted in Bench-Maji and Sheka Zones using 272 farmers. Data on the lists of local names and system of folk taxonomy; the inherent logic, etymons, and consistency of names; and the folk descriptors and other criteria involved in taxonomy were collected. Data were collected by establishing participatory research appraisal tools, i.e., informant interviews and researcher direct observation. Results The result suggests that there exists a well-developed folk taxonomic system in Sheko and Bench. This is evident in the recognition of four distinct folk ranks: sub-variety, variety, supra-variety, and folk generic. Taxa assigned to each ranks have distinct features that mark them as members of a separate categories. Farmers over-differentiate 58 individual taxa at the intraspecific levels. Of these, 37 represented varietal taxa while the rest are sub-varietal taxa. Structurally, over 78% of the varieties are labeled with unitary names while all the sub-varieties consisted of binomial names. Farmers used a total of 26 characters and 74 character states for identifying the different taxa. More than 84% of these refer to aspects of plant characteristics. Tuber characters played a key role in the local identification of varietal and sub-varietal taxa while contexts and gender played a key role in the recognition of supra-variety groups. Conclusions This study documented a great wealth of knowledge on indigenous biosystematics of yams, constitutes an essential step towards setting development priorities aimed at in situ conservation. The study clearly demonstrated the value of folk biosystematics for assessing the actual extent and spatial dynamics of yam diversity in traditional farming.