188 research outputs found
Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic
No full textSeiter, Michael, Schramm, Frederic D., Schwaha, Thomas (2018): Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. Zootaxa 4438 (2): 349-361, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.
FIGURE 8 in Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic
No full textFIGURE 8. Map of the island Hispaniola showing the known localities of the three Charinus species. (A) General overview of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (B) Details of the records of Charinus dominicanus (triangle) and Charinus bahoruco (rectangle). Previously known records (Armas & Pérez 2001; Teruel 2016) are labeled in grey. (C) Details of the Charinus magua sp. nov. locality (star) in the Monseñor Nouel province.Published as part of Seiter, Michael, Schramm, Frederic D. & Schwaha, Thomas, 2018, Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, pp. 349-361 in Zootaxa 4438 (2) on page 359, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/129486
FIGURE 6 in Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic
No full textFIGURE 6. Adult female paratype specimen of Charinus magua sp. nov. A–D Left pedipalp. A, B Pedipalp patella, tibia, tarsus and claw, dorsal and ventral view, respectively. C, D Pedipalp trochanter and femur, dorsal and ventral view, respectively. E Front part of carapace, dorsal view. Note the frontal process and the single seta behind the lateral eyes. F Ventral view of the prosoma. Scale bars: A–E 0.25 mm; F 0.5 mm.Published as part of Seiter, Michael, Schramm, Frederic D. & Schwaha, Thomas, 2018, Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, pp. 349-361 in Zootaxa 4438 (2) on page 357, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/129486
Charinus Simon 1892
No full textKey to the species of the genus Charinus in the Dominican Republic 1. Tritosternum barely reaches the base of the pedipalp coxae, pedipalp femur ventrally with 3 spines, lateral eyes well developed.................................................................................................... 2 - Tritosternum surpasses the base of the pedipalp coxae, pedipalp femur ventrally with 2 spines, lateral eyes less developed................................................................................................. C. magua 2. Leg I with 33 tarsal articles, pedipalp patella dorsally with 3 spines.................................. C. dominicanus - Leg I with 37 tarsal articles, pedipalp patella dorsally with 3–4 spines................................... C. bahorucoPublished as part of Seiter, Michael, Schramm, Frederic D. & Schwaha, Thomas, 2018, Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, pp. 349-361 in Zootaxa 4438 (2) on page 358, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/129486
Charinus magua Seiter & Schramm & Schwaha 2018, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Charinus magua</i> sp. nov. <p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2264F1DC-62EA-45C9-B51C-917061EBF673</p> <p> <b>Type material:</b> One adult male (Holotype, NHMW 29153) Subida a Casabíto, Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, N19°1.643' W70°22.762', 382 m a.s.l., <i>leg</i>. Seiter, Schramm, Nigl & Teruel, September 2016; one adult female + two protonymphae (Paratype, NHMW 29154), Subida a Casabíto, Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, N19°01.581' W70°28.828'; 795 m a.s.l., <i>leg</i>. Seiter, Schramm, Nigl & Teruel, September 2016; two subadult specimens (Paratype, NHMW 29155), same data as NHMW 29154; one adult female (Paratype, NHMW 29156), same data as holotype.</p> <p> <b>Comparative diagnosis:</b> <i>Charinus magua</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is unique by the following combination of characters: Pedipalp femur ventrally with 2 spines (Fv; <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> bear 3), pedipalp patella dorsally with 3 spines (Pd; <i>C. dominicanus</i> bears 3 and <i>C. bahoruco</i> bears 3–4). Carapace with median eyes absent, lateral eyes reduced (in <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> median eyes also absent but lateral eyes well developed), frontal process large and prominent in females, less pronounced in the holotype male (in <i>C. dominicanus</i> not visible and in <i>C. bahoruco</i> it is only slightly visible in males from above). Cheliceral claw with 2–4 teeth. Tritosternum cylindrical and elongated (double in length compared to <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i>), trito-, tetra- and pentasternum with 2, 1 and 1 pair of setae, respectively. Leg I with 21–22 tibial and 37–38 tarsal articles (in <i>C. dominicanus</i> 21/33 and in <i>C. bahoruco</i> 21/37). First (proximal) tarsal segment of leg I about five times longer than the second (comparable in <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i>). Leg IV with trisegmented basitibia, tarsomer II of legs II–IV with a pale but complete translucent membranous ring (similar to <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i>). Distitibia of leg IV with 16 trichobothria (similar to <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i>) with <i>bc</i> closer to <i>bf</i> than to <i>sbf</i> (similar in <i>C. bahoruco</i>, <i>bc</i> closer to s <i>bf</i> than to <i>bf</i> in <i>C. dominicanus</i>). Female gonopods cushion-like with lateral projections directed backwards, projections not sclerotized. See Table 1 for a comparison of major and most deviating characters among all known Caribbean and Central American <i>Charinus</i> species.</p> <p> <b>Etymology:</b> The species is named after the historical Taíno chiefdom of Maguá which included the region that is now the Dominican province of Monseñor Nouel. The name Maguá is used as a noun in apposition.</p> <p> <b>Description of male holotype:</b> <i>Color in life</i> (Fig. 1): uniformly yellowish to brownish, pedipalps and legs slightly darker, chelicera and tips of pedipalps reddish, opisthosomal tergites greenish, whitish intersegmental membranes between sternites and tergites.</p> <p> <i>Pedipalps</i> (Fig. 2): all segments densely covered by minute granules and short setae except for the distal tarsus and claw. <i>Trochanter</i> (Fig. 2C, E, D) densely covered with large setae, a single large seta on the anterodorsal margin, a single well pronounced (long and thick) anteroventral spine covered with 12 large setae, one single spine on the inner surface of the trochanter facing the pedipalp femur. <i>Femur</i> (Fig. 2C, D) dorsally with three large primary spines (Fd-1> Fd-2> Fd-3), each spine with one seta located half-way to the tip; externally five large setiferous tubercles, the two most basal ones very close to each other, almost aligned with the primary spines; ventrally with two large primary spines (Fv-1> Fv-2) and two setiferous tubercles anteriorly of Fv-1 and posteriorly of Fv-2, respectively, aligned in one row; seven setae of various size on the apical margin. <i>Patella</i> (Fig. 2 A, B) dorsally with three large spines (Pd-1> Pd-2> Pd-3), each spine harboring at least one seta (up to three), one large prominent setiferous tubercle between Pd-1 and the distal margin, one small bifid setiferous tubercle after Pd-3; several smaller setae on the dorsal margin of the pedipalp patella; ventrally with two large primary spines (Pv-1> Pv-2) without subdivisions; three small setae aligned with the primary spines in between, with three large setiferous tubercles and several small setae on the ventral surface of the pedipalp patella. <i>Tibia</i> (Fig. 2A, B) dorsally with two long spines, Td-1 twice as long as Td-2 (Td-1> Td-2); nine setiferous tubercles and several small setae between the spines and on the dorsal margin of the pedipalp tibia; ventrally with one single large spine and one setiferous tubercle close to the base of Tv-1; several small setae on the ventral margin of the pedipalp tibia. <i>Tarsus</i> (Fig. 2A, B) dorsally with two long spines with Bd-1 more than twice as long as Bd-2 (Bd1> Bd-2); several small setae on the dorsal margin of the pedipalp tarsus; ventrally spineless with several small setae on the ventral margin of the pedipalp tarsus; cleaning organ well developed. <i>Claw/ Posttarsus</i> (Fig. 2A, B) moderately long, sharp and evenly curved inwards.</p> <p> <i>Carapace</i> (Fig. 3F, I): cordiform, 1.23 times wider than long, with minute granules on the surface and scattered with few setulae all over; frontal process less developed (however large and prominent in the female paratypes; in males of <i>C. dominicanus</i> the frontal process is not visible and in males of <i>C. bahoruco</i> only slightly visible from above (Fig. 3D, E, G, H)), frontal margin wide and convex with eight thick but short setae facing forward; median eyes absent, lateral eyes less developed and unpigmented (compare to the more developed lateral eyes in <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> (Fig. 3D, E)) with a single seta on their posterior margin.</p> <p> <i>Sternum</i> (Fig. 3C): sternites all moderately sclerotized and very densely granulose; tritosternum long, twice as long as wide, (compare to the short tritosterna in <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> (Fig. 3A, B)) apically narrow with a pair of thick (macrosetae) apical and a pair of thick basal setae, an additional pair of thin setae located in between the two pairs of thick setae; tetrasternum and pentasternum wider than long with large median pairs of macrosetae.</p> <p> <i>Chelicera</i> (Fig. 4F): basal segment with four internal teeth, the most distal tooth bicuspid (less separated than in <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> (Fig. 4D, E)), the proximal cusp shorter, basal segment with a single vestigial external tooth; claw with 2–4 flat crenulations.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Fig. 4C, 5E, F): all slender and long, femora densely covered with minute tubercles and setae of various size, arolium present on all walking legs; leg I flagellum with 21–22 tibial and 37–38 tarsal articles; first tarsal segment about five times longer than second (Fig. 5F), tarsomer II of legs II–IV with a pale but complete translucent membranous ring (Fig. 5E) (similar to <i>C. dominicanus</i> and <i>C. bahoruco</i> (Fig. 5A, C)); leg IV with trisegmented basitibia, trichobothrium <i>bt</i> in the middle of the distal pseudo-article of basitibia of leg IV; 16 trichobothria on the distitibia of leg IV with <i>bc</i> closer to <i>bf</i> than to <i>sbf</i> (Fig. 5C) (similar trichobothriotaxy in <i>C. bahoruco,</i> in <i>C. dominicanus bc</i> closer to s <i>bf</i> than to <i>bf</i> (Fig. 5A, B)).</p> <p> <i>Male reproductive organ:</i> large genital operculum, posterior margin rounded with several setae on its margin; spermatophore organ wider than long, soft with sclerotization (semicircle form) at the border of fistula and lobus lateralis primus; from dorsal view lobus dorsalis and lobus lateralis primus narrow, the latter one being broader, lobus dorsalis secundus small; from ventral view lobus dorsalis primus and lobus dorsalis secundus prominent, larger than lobus dorsalis, processus internus tapered, lamina medialis small but present.</p> <p> <b>Description of female paratypes</b> (Fig. 6): very similar to holotype male; frontal process visible from above; genital operculum small and narrow with several small setae on its posterior margin; female gonopods cushion-like with lateral projections directed backwards, projections not sclerotized; gonopod with a flat thin apex, posteriorly forming an apical sharp edge, atrium of the gonopod large.</p> <p> <b>Measurements (in mm):</b> male holotype (NHMW 29153): Carapace length/width (1.99/2.45), pedipalp femur length (0.98), pedipalp patella length (1.32), pedipalp tibia length (0.72), pedipalp tarsus and claw length (0.87); female paratype (NHMW 29154): Carapace length/width (1.69/2.13), pedipalp femur length (0.90), pedipalp patella length (0.95), pedipalp tibia length (0.63), pedipalp tarsus and claw length (0.65).</p> <p> <b> The cerotegument ultrastructure of known Dominican <i>Charinus</i></b> (Fig. 7): In <i>Charinus</i> species from the Dominican Republic the carapace is covered by regular spherical globules which commonly range from ~2–3 µm in diameter. With a diameter of ~2–2.5 µm <i>Charinus magua</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has the smallest globules. In <i>Charinus bahoruco</i> these structures have a diameter of ~2.5–2.9 µm and in <i>Charinus dominicanus</i> of ~3–3.2 µm. The globule surface of <i>C. bahoruco</i> and <i>C. dominicanus</i> resemble each other and correspond to the same granular type whereas the globule surface of <i>C. magua</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> shows a particle network with nanopores.</p> <p> <b>Natural habitat and distribution</b> (Fig. 1E–F, 8): The two known localities in the Monseñor Nouel province are situated between 382 and 795 m above sea level and represent the highest altitude record for <i>Charinus</i> from Hispaniola. All specimens were found underneath various-sized stones, partially buried in the soil and in part densely covered with wet and dry leaf litter. Both locations harbor a small waterway. At the same location <i>Phrynus longipes</i> Pocock, 1894 and another undescribed phrynid whip spider species were also found.</p>Published as part of <i>Seiter, Michael, Schramm, Frederic D. & Schwaha, Thomas, 2018, Description of a new Charinus species (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from the Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic, pp. 349-361 in Zootaxa 4438 (2)</i> on pages 350-358, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.9, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1294861">http://zenodo.org/record/1294861</a>
Modulation of ion channels by natural products - identification of hERG channel inhibitors and GABAA receptor ligands from plant extracts
No full textIon channels are expressed in virtually all cell types in the human body and are involved in various physiological processes. Hence, it is not surprising that ion channels play an important role in modern drug discovery. Lead compounds are nowadays routinely tested against a panel of ion channels to evaluate selectivity and potential off-target activities.
The human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel, a voltage-gated potassium channel, is the currently most critical antitarget with respect to cardiac safety. Inhibition of the hERG channel can prolong the QT interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and, as a consequence, lead to life-threatening arrhythmia. Considering the daily intake of plant-derived foods and herbal products, surprisingly few natural products have been tested for hERG blocking properties. In the course of an interdisciplinary hERG project, a selection of widely used herbal drugs and dietary plants was screened by means of a two-microelectrode voltage-clamp assay with Xenopus oocytes. Moderate hERG block was observed for the traditional Chinese herbal drug Coptidis rhizoma and black pepper fruits, and successfully tracked by HPLC-based activity profiling to dihydroberberine and piperine, respectively. The hERG blocking activity of cinnamon, guarana, and nutmeg, in contrast, was attributed to tannins. Our screening data suggest that major European medicinal plants and frequently consumed food plants are associated with a low risk for hERG inhibition. However, the case of Coptidis rhizoma pointed towards a need for a more thorough assessment of herbal drugs of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Subsequent screening of a plant-derived alkaloid library led to the identification of several potent hERG blockers. Further investigations are certainly warranted to assess the cardiac safety profile of these alkaloids.
Dehydroevodiamine (DHE), a major bioactive constituent of the traditional Chinese herbal drug Evodiae fructus, has been previously shown to inhibit several cardiac ion currents in vitro. For further evaluation of its in vivo pharmacological and toxicological properties, gram amounts of DHE were needed. Since DHE is not commercially available, we developed an efficient method for its gram-scale isolation from a crude Evodia extract. Our approach is based on a combination of cation-exchange chromatography and preparative RP-HPLC. Moreover, the DHE content in commercially available Evodia products was assessed by HPLC-PDA analysis. A daily intake of up to mg amounts of DHE was calculated from recommended doses of these products. We also devised a procedure for the production of DHE-depleted Evodia products, should DHE indeed turn out to be toxicologically relevant.
The gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, a ligand-gated chloride channel, mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS), and is thus a clinically important drug target. In the search for positive α1β2γ2S GABAA receptor modulators of plant origin, we investigated an extract of Curcuma kwangsiensis rhizomes. HPLC-based activity profiling was used in combination with a two-microelectrode voltage-clamp assay on Xenopus oocytes to identify the active constituents. Targeted isolation afforded a series of 11 structurally related labdane diterpenoids, including four new natural products. Structure elucidation was achieved by comprehensive analysis of HR-ESI-TOF-MS and NMR data. The absolute configuration of the compounds was assigned by electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The highest GABAA receptor modulating activity was observed for zerumin A.
From a more general perspective, this study demonstrates that HPLC-based activity profiling is an effective strategy to characterize bioactive compounds in crude natural extracts
Systematics Of The Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta): A Critical Assessment Based On rbcL Sequence Analyses
No full textPublished in Journal of Phycology, 2004; 40 (1): 138-159 at www.interscience.wiley.comGeneric concepts in the economically important agarophyte red algal family Gracilariaceae were evaluated based on maximum parsimony, Bayesian likelihood, and minimum evolution analyses of the chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene from 67 specimens worldwide. The results confirm the monophyly of the family and identify three large clades, one of which corresponds to the ancestral antiboreal genera Curdiea and Melanthalia, one to Gracilariopsis, and one to Gracilaria sensu lato, which contains nine distinct independent evolutionary lineages, including Hydropuntia. The species currently attributed to Hydropuntia comprise a single wellsupported clade composed of two distinct lineages. The two most basal clades within Gracilaria sensu lato deserve generic rank: a new genus centered around G. chilensis Bird, McLachlan et Oliveira and G. aff. tenuistipitata Chang et Xia and a resurrected Hydropuntia encompassing primarily Indo-Pacific (G. urvillei [Montagne] Abbott, G. edulis [S. Gmelin] P. Silva, G. eucheumatoides Harvey, G. preissiana [Sonder] Womersley, and G. rangiferina [Ku¨tzing] Piccone) and western Atlantic species (G. cornea J. Agardh, G. crassissima P. et H. Crouan in Maze´ et Schramm, G. usneoides [C. Agardh] J. Agardh, G. caudata J. Agardh, and G. secunda P. et H. Crouan in Maze´ et Schramm). Cystocarpic features within the Gracilaria sensu lato clades appear to be more phylogenetically informative than male characters. The textorii-type spermatangial configuration is represented in two distinct clusters of Gracilaria. The rbcL genetic divergence among the Gracilariaceae genera ranged between 8.46% and 16.41%, providing at least 2.5 times more genetic variation than does the 18S nuclear rDNA. rbcL also resolves intrageneric relationships, especially within Gracilaria sensu lato. The current number of gracilariacean species is underestimated in the western Atlantic because of convergence in habit and apparent homoplasy in vegetative and reproductive anatomy.Carlos Frederico D. Gurgel and Suzanne Frederic
Geologic response to hurricane impact on low-profile Gulf Coast barriers.
No full textVertical aerial photography obtained in 1976 and again 9 days after hurricane Frederic made landfall in September 1979 combined with multiple reconnaissance overflights and ground surveys provided the data base for determination of shoreline erosion and the distribution of hurricane scour and sedimentary deposits. Erosion of the Gulf beach at Dauphin Island proved to follow a predictable pattern controlled by nearshore bathymetry whereas retreat of the shoreline of the Mississippi Sound margin was an unexpected occurrence, apparently due to a hydraulic jump as washover currents entered the deep water of Mississippi Sound. Large-scale sediment redistribution on Dauphin Island proper was a consequence of the storm surge flood, However, the ebb surge was responsible for the reopening of 3 inlets across Little Dauphin Island.-from Author
Insertion and deletion tolerance of point processes
No full textWe develop a theory of insertion and deletion tolerance for point processes. A process is insertion-tolerant if adding a suitably chosen random point results in a point process that is absolutely continuous in law with respect to the original process. This condition and the related notion of deletion-tolerance are extensions of the so-called finite energy condition for discrete random processes. We prove several equivalent formulations of each condition, including versions involving Palm processes. Certain other seemingly natural variants of the conditions turn out not to be equivalent. We illustrate the concepts in the context of a number of examples, including Gaussian zero processes and randomly perturbed lattices, and we provide applications to continuum percolation and stable matching
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