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An updated list of the genus Hypena Schrank (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) from Korea with five additional records to the fauna
No full textThe paper provides the updated checklist of the genus Hypena Schrank from Korea. This genus is one of the largest genera within the Noctuoidea comprising more than 680 species worldwide and the genus is the monophyletic group based on the morphological characters. The external examination along with the genitalia examination and DNA barcoding could reveal the diversity of the genus in Korea.In this study, we examined a total of 192 specimens and barcoded 16 species and listed a total of 29 species of Hypena including five new additions, Hypena tamsi Filipjev (1927), Hypena obacerralis Walker (1859), Hypena pulverulenta Wileman (1911), Hypena perspicua Leech (1900) and Hypena mandarina Leech (1900) to the Korean fauna. We provided the detailed distribution of each species of the genus across South Korea and the photographs of adults and genitalia. In addition, the monophyly of the genus was also confirmed using two outgroup species of Herminiinae. This study significantly contributes to the knowledge of erebid fauna in Korea and the phylogenetic relationship amongst the species of the genus
Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. IV. Three new Anoplodesmus Pocock, 1895 in northern Vietnam (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with notes on its phylogenetics
No full textThree new Anoplodesmus species are described from northern Vietnam, namely A. lobus sp. nov., A. bilobus sp. nov., and A. gladius sp. nov. All three species belong to the A. elongissimus group, showing the relatively to extremely long gonopod solenophore. The phylogenetic relationships among Anoplodesmus species and other sulciferinin genera are also discussed
Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
No full textPolyclads are a diverse group of marine free-living flatworms, with some species adapted to life in floating Sargassum mats. Recent studies suggest that, rather than being inherently pelagic, these flatworms should be classified as "clinging fauna", as they rely on floating substrates for habitat.This study documents, for the first time, the occurrence of Gnesioceros sargassicola and Chatziplana grubei in Sargassum along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. High-definition photographs of whole mounts and histological sections are provided for both species, along with detailed observations of their reproductive structures and 28S rDNA barcodes. These findings underscore the importance of exploring the fauna associated with Sargassum, contributing to a better understanding of polyclad distribution and raising the number of recorded species for Colombia to 26
Molecular and acoustic evidence for large-scale underestimation of frog species diversity on New Guinea
No full textSpecies are fundamental units in biology; however, information on species diversity and distribution remain scarce for most taxonomic groups, especially in tropical rainforests. Such knowledge gaps are particularly acute in amphibians, the most threatened group of vertebrates, in which new species continue to be described at a high rate. Herein, using molecular-based approaches, we provide estimates for species diversity of frogs (Anura) in New Guinea and nearby islands, one of the biologically most diverse regions of the world. We first characterised taxonomic and geographic sampling for all available mitochondrial DNA sequences from native frog species. This led us to identify important molecular sampling gaps in the western half of New Guinea that we partially filled by adding 534 new sequences (16S rRNA). Large territories remain uncharted, particularly in the westernmost part of the central cordillera of New Guinea. Using our 16S rRNA dataset, we then delimited Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs), a subset of which was bioacoustically analysed. From a total of 369 delimited MOTUs, we found that 190 could not be assigned to any taxon. Amongst these, 123 are represented by specimens collected in the western half of New Guinea and 19 were supported as distinct by bioacoustics, confirming that this portion of the island is home to many unrecognised species. Based on the estimated level of undescribed diversity in taxa and areas for which data are available, we extrapolate that New Guinea and neighbouring islands could host 800–1,200 frog species, with only 560 species described to date. Highlights We assembled the most comprehensive molecular dataset to date (16S rRNA) for frogs from New Guinea and neighbouring islands. We delimited 190 candidate species, of which 19 are supported by available bioacoustic data. We estimated the actual number of frog species on New Guinea and neighbouring islands to be between 800 and 1,200. Parts of New Guinea exhibit species-diversity levels comparable to similarly sized regions in Amazonia and Madagascar. Most unrecognised frog taxa in the region are likely confined to restricted geographical areas and, thus, likely sensitive to both land use and climate change
First report of Halomicrobium mukohataei in Mexico and its biological activity
No full textHaloarchaea produce metabolites of biotechnological importance and grow in hypersaline environments such as coastal lagoons, marine solar salterns, natural brines, and salt lakes. Haloarchaeal compounds from hypersaline environments in Mexico have been scarcely studied. This research aimed to identify a haloarchaea isolate and evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of the culture’s biomass pigments (BPs) and supernatant pigments (SPs). One extremely halophilic archaeal strain designated AS8 was isolated from brine samples of the Bahía de Lobos coastal lagoon, Sonora, and identified as Halomicrobium mukohataei based on analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. The SPs showed the best free radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS assays, with 74 and 67% inhibition values, respectively. The extracts also showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with inhibition halos between 7 to 17 mm. Cytotoxic activity of extracts using nauplii of Artemia salina showed CL50 850 µg/mL to SPs and > 1000 µg/mL to BPs. This work represents the first isolation study of H. mukohataei from Bahía de Lobos lagoon. Likewise, H. mukohataei is an alternative source of natural pigments with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties, which have potential in biomedical applications and the development of new drugs
Publishers’ and editors’ perceptions of equity, diversity, and inclusion: A cross-sectional study of European Association of Science Editors’ community
No full textBackground: Scholarly settings lack racial, ethnic, sex, gender, geographic, and linguistic diversity. Despite initiatives to promote more inclusive scholarly com-munities, the extent of implementation of policies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) remains low.Objectives: The objective is to survey the perceptions and opinions of journal editors and other stakeholders with reference to policies related to EDI and relevant prac-tices in their journals and organizations.Methods: We sent out, through email, a link to a survey with 16 Likert-scale items and 8 open-ended questions in English to assess the perceptions of EDI. Questions were generated based on discussions at meetings of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE) EDI Committee in November and December 2023. The survey was available from 8 to 30 January 2024. Snowball sampling was used among members of EASE and those of related professional organizations recruited through social networks.Results: Of the total of 232 participants, 129/232 (56%) responded on behalf of jour-nals and 103/232 (44%) on behalf of organizations. Most (72%) considered EDI to be important or very important for their journal or organization, and even more (76%) wanted examples of existing policies and guidelines for implementing EDI. Exactly 50% (27/54) reported that their organizations have no published EDI policies, and 59% (54/91) reported the absence of an EDI statement.Conclusion: Although the survey showed wide support for EDI within journals and organizations, efforts to develop EDI policies and statements have been limited, as reflected in the responses that welcomed guidance on EDI. This suggests a need for increased awareness and knowledge-sharing about EDI policies and practices, as well as concrete actions to create a more diverse scholarly community
Two new genera of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) from Baja California, Mexico, with a regional key to the genera of Melanoplinae
No full textBaja California, a 1,300 km long peninsula, exhibits considerable ecological diversity, encompassing coastal chaparral, coniferous forests, low desert scrub, and tropical deciduous forests. The region’s ecological complexity reflects its biogeographic history, marked by separation from mainland Mexico 5.5 million years ago. Survey efforts have documented an impressive 4,000 plants, and insect efforts have targeted bees, weevils, ants, and blow flies. Grasshoppers, in contrast, remain underexplored. The present study expands on expeditions from the 1970s to 2010s that focused on the peninsula’s Orthoptera. Two new genera are established—Bajatettix and Ozmacris—and a key to the genera of the Melanoplinae of the peninsula is provided. This study highlights the importance of understanding Baja California’s grasshopper diversity to support conservation initiatives and future ecological studies
Brain age as an imaging-based diagnostic and treatment biomarker of neurodegenerative disorders
No full textIn the proposed project, we expect to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases by establishing a new biomarker based on deep learning and big data outputs. We will use brain age, a neuroimaging-derived marker of brain health which has previously rarely been tested longitudinally, but not in neurodegenerative disorders. The analyses will help to assess treatment response as well as stratifying and sub-typing neurodegenerative disease, based on brain structural characteristics in addition to multiple other markers of disease expression
А rare case of alcohol septal ablation and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patient with Anderson-Fabry disease
No full textБолестта на Андерсон-Фабри е рядко генетично заболяване на натрупването, предавано чрез Х-хромозомата с множество прояви от различни органи и системи. Дебюта на заболяването обикновено е в детска възраст като определящи за клиничния ход и прогноза са засягането на сърце, бъбреци и мозък. Сърдечното засягане се изразява в развитие на хипертрофична кардиомиопатия, проводни нарушения, по-рядка изява са клапните засягания. Сред пациентите с хипертрофична кардиомиопатия около 0,5-1% се дължат на болестта на Anderson-Fabry. Представяме клиничен случай на мъж, диагностициран с болест на Андерсон-Фабри по повод бърза прогресия на бъбречно заболяване, довело до краен стадий на бъбречна недостатъчност и наложило диализно лечение, мозъчно-съдови инциденти и хипертрофична кардиомиопатия. При пациента е успешно проведена бъбречна трансплантация, прилагано е системно ензимозаместващо лечение, но въпреки това сърдечното увреждане прогресира, наложило поставянето на имплантируем кардиовертер дефибрилатор (ICD) и извършване на алкохолна септална аблация на първи септален клон, поради висок подклапен градиент. Anderson-Fabry disease is a hereditary, X-linked disorder with multiorgan impairment. The debut of the disease is usually in childhood, the clinical course and the prognosis are determined by the degree of the heart, kidney and brain dysfunction. Cardiac involvement includes the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, conduction disorders and less common - valvular disease. Among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, about 0.5-1% are due to Anderson-Fabry disease. We present a clinical case of a man diagnosed with Anderson-Fabry disease, the clinical suspicion of which was raised based on rapid progression of renal disease, lead to end-stage kidney failure, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The patient underwent a successful kidney transplantation, and systemic treatment with enzyme replacement therapy, but despite this, the cardiac involvement progressed, necessitating the placement of an ICD and alcohol septal ablation of the first septal branch due to a severe subvalvular gradient
Phylogenetic analysis of Betta coccina complex (Teleostei, Osphronemidae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra Island with descriptions of two new species
No full textThe Betta coccina complex is a diverse taxonomic group of fighting fish widely distributed in isolated islands in Southeast Asia. This genus is an ideal model for investigating freshwater fish evolutionary patterns and historical biogeography in the Malay Archipelago. In this study, based on principal component analysis of morphological traits, taxonomic diagnoses, and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, two new species are described from Sumatra Island, Betta iaspis sp. nov. and Betta mulyadii sp. nov. The former has a distinctive black anal fin with a few red patches on the posterior half, while the latter is red and unspotted throughout, distinguishing them with their five or six subdorsal scales from other members of the Betta coccina complex. Phylogenetic analysis of the Betta coccina complex based on Cyt b further suggests that the speciation and present distributional pattern of this complex cannot be explained simply by the current geographic isolation of the Strait of Malacca, but by the connection-isolation scenario in the Pleistocene biogeographic context in Sundaland. This metapopulation of extant Betta species suggests a potential radiative evolution before the Last Glacial Maximum. These findings advance our understanding of the taxonomy and biogeographic evolution of Betta species in Southeast Asia