199,844 research outputs found
SMBH mass function from velocity dispersion and luminosity
No full textBlack-hole masses are tightly correlated with the stellar velocity dispersion of host galaxies, and slightly less-well correlated with the bulge luminosities; the M• -σ relation predicts fewer massive black holes than does the M• -L relation.
This is because the L-σ in currently available black-hole samples is inconsistent with that in the samples from which the distributions of L or σ are based. This suggests that current black-hole samples are biased and that the M• -σ and M• -L relations currently in the literature are also biased from their intrinsic values. Our analysis suggests that the bias in the M• -σ relation is likely to be small, whereas the M• -L relation is biased towards predicting more massive black holes for a given luminosity
On the Inconsistency between the Black Hole Mass Function Inferred from M•-σ and M•-L Correlations
No full textBlack hole masses are tightly correlated with the stellar velocity dispersions of the bulges which surround them and slightly less well correlated with the bulge luminosity. It is common to use these correlations to estimate the expected abundance of massive black holes. This is usually done by starting from an observed distribution of velocity dispersions or luminosities and then changing variables. This procedure neglects the fact that there is intrinsic scatter in these black hole mass-observable correlations. Accounting for this scatter results in estimates of black hole abundances which are larger by almost an order of magnitude at masses >109 Msolar. Including this scatter is particularly important for models which seek to infer quasar lifetimes and duty cycles from the local black hole mass function. However, even when scatter has been accounted for, the M•-σ relation predicts fewer massive black holes than does the M•-L relation. This is because the σ-L relation in the black hole samples currently available is inconsistent with that in the SDSS sample from which the distributions of L or σ are based: the black hole samples have smaller L for a given σ, or larger σ for a given L. The σ-L relation in the black hole samples is similarly discrepant with that in other samples of nearby early-type galaxies. This suggests that current black hole samples are biased: if this is a selection rather than a physical effect, then the M•-σ and M•-L relations currently in the literature are also biased from their true values
Copelatus deccanensis Sheth & Ghate & Hájek 2018, sp. nov.
No full textCopelatus deccanensis sp. nov. (Figs 1–2, 17–18) Type locality. India, Maharashtra, Pune district, ca. 4 km SSW of Lonavala village, Bhushi dam, 18°43.2-4′N, 73°23.7-24.0′E, ca. 640 m a.s.l. Type material. Holotype ♂ (NMPC), labelled: "INDIA W, 24.–28.ix.2005, / Maharashtra st., 4 km S of / Lonavala, Bhushi dam env., / 500 m, J.Bezděk leg. [printed] // HOLOTYPE / COPELATUS / deccanensis sp. nov. / S. Sheth et al. det. 2016 [red label, printed]". Paratypes: 14♂, 13♀, same label data as holotype (BMNH, JSCL, NHMW, NMPC, UWPC, ZSMG); 10♂, 10♀, labelled: "INDIA occ. Maharashtra st. / Bhushi Dam env. 24–28.ix. / 4 km S of Lonavala 2005 / leg.F.&L.Kantner 500 m [printed]" (NMPC, SMNS); 1♂, 1♀, labelled: "INDIA W, 7.–11.x.2005 / Maharashtra state, / 40 km W of Pune, / Mulshi env. / J. Bezděk leg. [printed]" (NMPC); 1♂, 2♀, labelled: "INDIA, Maharashtra / Pune Distr., Mulshi at / Mulshi Lake, 7–8 X 2005 / at light, leg. L. Borowiec [printed]" (NMPC); 3♀, labelled: "INDIA occ., 7–11.x.2005 / Maharashtra state / MULSHI env.F.Kantner leg. / 40 km W of Pune [printed]" (SMNS); 1♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Tamhini, Kalubai Mandir / 18°27′38.95″N, 73°24′41.89″E, 570m / 27.VIII.2013 / coll. S. D. Sheth [printed]" (HVGC); 4♂, 7♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Tamhini, 18°26′41.50″N, 73°25′39.72″E, 625m / 29.X.2014 / coll. S. D. Sheth [printed]" (HVGC); 2♂, 1♀, labelled: "INDIA, Maharashtra / TAMHINI / 18°23′54.6″N 73°23′47.3″E / 29.x.2014 [printed]" (HVGC); 1♂, 1♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Tamhini, Dongerwadi stream / 18°27′38.95″N, 73°24′41.89″E, 570m / 1.X.2015 / coll. S. D. Sheth [printed]" (HVGC); 7♂, 6♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Harishchandragad fort / 19°23′26.37″N, 73°46′15.09″E, 1213m / 20.X.2013 / S.D. Sheth leg. [printed]" (HVGC, NMPC); 4♂, 5♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Alanggad fort / 19°34′59.88″N, 73°39′39.26″E, 1175m / 9.I.2014 / coll. N. Modak [printed]" (HVGC); 2♂, 2♀, labelled: "India / Maharashtra st., / Madangad fort / 19°35′23.48″N, 73°38′57.63″E, 1151m / 10.I.2014 / coll. N. Modak [printed]" (HVGC); Each paratype provided with the respective red printed label. Description of male holotype. Habitus (Fig. 1) elongate oblong oval, nearly parallel sided with continuous outline, broadest in 1/3 of elytral length, slightly convex. Dorsal surface shiny. Coloration. Head rufous, darker (almost blackish) around eyes and medially between eyes, lighter on clypeus, labrum and medially on vertex. Pronotum rufous, infuscate on disc, lighter laterally. Elytra testaceous, somewhat darker in striae; numerous dark punctures present along basal and apical parts of elytral striae 1–5, and along sides of elytra. Ventral part rufous; abdomen dark. Appendages testaceous. Head. Moderately broad, ca. 0.7× width of pronotum, transversely elliptical. Labrum emarginate medially. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly concave. Antennae with antennomeres slender, club-shaped, antennomere I longest. Eyes emarginate anterolaterally. Reticulation consisting of fine, well impressed isodiametric polygonal meshes. Numerous short, deep and isolated strioles present between eyes. Punctation double; several large setigerous punctures present in fronto-clypeal depressions, frontal depressions at level of anterior margin of eyes, and in depressions along inner margin of eyes; very fine and sparsely distributed punctures placed among meshes of microreticulation. Pronotum. Transverse, broadest at posterior angles. Anterior angles acute, posterior angles rectangular. Sides slightly and evenly curved, with lateral beading very thin and indistinct. Anterior margin straight, posterior margin nearly straight with only indistinct sinuation medially. Reticulation similar to that of head, but slightly less impressed. Disc of pronotum with numerous deep irregular strioles of variable length. Punctation double; row of coarse setigerous punctures presents along anterior margin, basal margin (except medially), and laterally close to sides; fine punctures placed among meshes of microreticulation, denser than on head. Scutellar shield broadly triangular. Elytra. Elytral striation consisting of twelve discal striae: stria 1 shorter, ending at ca. 4/5 of elytral length; stria 2 longest; striae 7, 9 and 12 shorter apically, ending at ca. 3/4–4/5 of elytral length; stria 11 shortest, beginning more posteriorly than other striae and present only in basal third of elytral length. Surface reticulation consisting of fine, shallowly impressed isodiametric polygonal meshes. Punctation double; few large setigerous punctures present along elytral striae, but predominantly along lateral margin of elytra; very fine, sparsely distributed punctures placed among meshes of microreticulation, similar to those on pronotum. Legs. Protibia modified, angled near base, distinctly broadened anteriorly, club shaped. Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1–3 distinctly broadened, ventrally with adhesive setae. Ventral side. Prosternum sinuate anteriorly, obtusely keeled medially. Prosternal process shortly lanceolate, in cross-section convex, apex obtuse; process distinctly bordered laterally; reticulation almost effaced except some superficial meshes apically. Metaventrite with microsculpture consisting of polygonal meshes; numerous short, oblique, deep strioles present laterally but absent medially; lateral parts of metaventrite ('metasternal wings') tongue-shaped, slender. Metacoxal lines well impressed, nearly complete—absent only close to metaventrite. Metacoxal plates covered with long, deep longitudinal strioles; reticulation consisting of extremely elongate, longitudinal polygonal meshes. Metacoxal processes rounded and incised at posterior margin. Abdominal ventrites I–II with longitudinal strioles; ventrites III–IV with oblique strioles laterally. Tuft of setae present antero-medially on ventrites III–V; ventrite VI with setigerous punctures laterally on either side. Abdominal reticulation consisting of elongate polygonal meshes, longitudinal on ventrites I–II, oblique on ventrite III and transverse on ventrites IV– VI. Punctation consisting of fine, sparsely distributed punctures. Male genitalia. Median lobe in lateral aspect broad in basal 3/4, then narrowing to pointed apex; almost evenly curved except at base (Fig. 17). A fold present till subapical region. Parameres 'D'-shaped, apex very narrow and long; apical lobe long (Fig. 18). Female. Females do not differ in external morphology from male except for nearly straight, apically less broadened protibia, and slender pro- and mesotarsi without adhesive setae. Additionally, we have studied two females with elytral stria 11 absent, thus they have only eleven striae on each elytron. Variability. The specimens of the type series vary in coloration, especially infuscation of head and pronotum (from rufous to nearly black) and elytra (from testaceous to reddish brown). A form with longitudinal striolation on elytra occurs in both males and females of this species (Fig. 2): strioles long, often confluent, distinctly less impressed than striae; present between all striae, but missing in apical fourth of elytral length. Striolate form differs from the typical specimens also in strioles on the pronotum, which are usually longer and denser than those in nonstriolate form. Measurements (N = 31). TL: 5.3–6.9 mm (holotype: 6.1 mm); Tl-h: 4.8–6.4 mm (holotype: 4.9 mm); MW: 2.0–3.0 mm (holotype: 2.7 mm). Differential diagnosis. Based on the presence of 11–12 dorsal elytral striae and absent submarginal stria, the new species can be classified within the Copelatus nigrolineatus species group sensu Guéorguiev (1968). This group so far contains only five species (Nilsson & Hájek 2018): C. flavicans Guignot, 1952 and C. luctuosus Guignot, 1939 occurring in the Neotropical region, C. nigrolineatus Sharp, 1882 from Australia, C. zimmermanni Gschwendtner, 1934 distributed in China and Japan, and C. schuhi Hendrich & Balke, 1998 known so far only from Maharashtra (India). The new species differs from C. schuhi by its large size, 5.3–6.9 mm (body length ranges between 4.0– 4.5 in C. schuhi); elytral striae extending apically (elytral striae are missing the in apical third in C. schuhi); pale basal transverse elytral band absent (broad and distinct pale band present in C. schuhi); and the different shape of the median lobe, which is in lateral view, broad in the basal 3/4, then narrowing to a pointed apex (Fig. 17), and almost evenly curved except at the base (median lobe of C. schuhi is unevenly curved in lateral view, its outer margin is slightly sinuate; subapically broad; abruptly pointed at apex, see Fig. 19). Etymology. The new species is named after the Deccan plateau, a large volcanic basalt plateau in southern India, which covers most of the territory of Maharashtra state. Mani (1974) referred to Maharashtra as the 'Deccan Lavas Country'. The specific epithet is an adjective in the nominative case. Collecting circumstances. This species appears to inhabit isolated, clean water bodies. The specimens were collected in a side pool of a stream (Fig. 40), an ephemeral puddle with decaying leaves (Fig. 41) and muddy substrate, in remnant pools with pebbles as substrate formed in drying streams (Fig. 39); also in nearly permanent man-made tanks and small puddles (Fig. 42) on basaltic rocks. The physicochemical parameters of water bodies range as follows: pH: 6.2 to 9.0, temperature 18 to 25 0C and salinity 23 to 115 ppm. Distribution. The species was found in Pune, Nashik, Ahemadnagar districts of Maharashtra (Fig. 45). Collected within an altitude range of 500–1,215 m a.s.l.Published as part of Sheth, Sayali D., Ghate, Hemant V. & Hájek, Jiří, 2018, Copelatus Erichson, 1832 from Maharashtra, India, with description of three new species and notes on other taxa of the genus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), pp. 235-260 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on pages 237-243, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/145854
Copelatus maushomi Sheth & Ghate & Hájek 2018
No full textCopelatus maushomi s p. nov. (Figs 4, 21–22) Type locality. India, Maharashtra, 120 km NE of Mumbai, Igatpuri environment, 19°42.3′N, 73°33.1′E, 600 m a.s.l. Type material. Holotype ♂ (NMPC), labelled: "INDIA occ. centr. / MAHARASHTRA prov. / 120 km NE of MUMBAI / IGATPURI env., 600m [printed] // INDIA 2002 Expedition / 19°42.17′N, 73°33.06′E / 1. – 12. VIII. 2002 / P.Šípek & M.Fikáček leg. [printed] // HOLOTYPE / COPELATUS / maushomi sp. nov. / S. Sheth et al. det. 2016 [red label, printed]" (NMPC). Paratypes: 4♂, 1♀ same data as holotype (LHCM, NMPC, ZSMG). Each paratype is provided with the respective red printed label. Description of male holotype. Habitus (Fig. 4) elongate oblong oval, nearly parallel sided; outline not continuous as pronotal posterior corners protrude; broadest in basal third of pronotum; very slightly convex. Dorsal surface matt due to dense striolation. Coloration. Dorsally almost uniformly testaceous; head slightly darker than pronotum and elytra, infuscate posterior to eyes; pronotum indistinctly infuscate on disc; elytra laterally and apically somewhat paler; appendages testaceous. Ventral part testaceous to brownish. Head. Moderately broad, ca. 0.6× width of pronotum, almost semicircular. Labrum medially emarginate. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly concave. Antennae with antennomeres slender, club-shaped, antennomere I longest. Eyes emarginate anterolaterally, small, eye width only ca. 0.1× width of head. Reticulation consisting of well impressed polygonal meshes; meshes slightly larger in anterior region. Rather long, longitudinal or oblique strioles present between eyes and on vertex. Punctation double; several large setigerous punctures present in fronto-clypeal depressions, frontal depressions at level of anterior margin of eyes, and in depressions along inner margin of eyes; very fine and sparsely distributed punctures placed among meshes of microreticulation, punctures denser posteriorly. Pronotum. Transverse, broadest in basal third. Anterior angles acute, posterior angles rectangular. Sides largely and evenly curved, with lateral beading very thin and indistinct. Anterior margin straight, posterior margin sinuate. Surface reticulation consisting of polygonal meshes, similar to that of head, but slightly less impressed. Disc of pronotum completely longitudinally striolate; strioles mostly long, well impressed, rarely confluent; few short, shallow strioles present between long strioles. Punctation double; row of coarse setigerous punctures present along anterior margin, basal margin (except medially), and laterally close to sides; fine punctures placed among meshes of microreticulation. Scutellar shield broadly triangular. Elytra. Elytral striation consisting of nine complete shallow discal striae; striae almost imperceptible due to dense striolation of elytra. Strioles very long, rarely confluent. Surface reticulation consisting of fine, shallowly impressed isodiametric polygonal meshes. Punctation consisting of setigerous punctures only, few punctures present along elytral striae, but predominantly apically and along lateral margin of elytra; fine punctures, due to dense striolation not perceptible. Legs. Protibia modified, angled near base, distinctly broadened anteriorly, club shaped. Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1–3 distinctly broadened, with four rows of adhesive setae on their ventral side. Ventral side. Prosternum sinuate anteriorly, obtusely keeled medially. Prosternal process shortly lanceolate, in cross-section convex, apex rounded; distinctly bordered laterally; reticulation or punctation absent. Metaventrite with microsculpture consisting of polygonal meshes; punctation imperceptible. Lateral parts of metaventrite ('metasternal wings') tongue-shaped, slender. Metacoxal lines well impressed, incomplete—absent in anterior fourth. Metacoxal plates covered with deep, longitudinal or oblique strioles; reticulation consisting of elongate, longitudinal polygonal meshes. Punctation on metacoxae absent. Metacoxal processes rounded and incised at posterior margin. Abdominal ventrites I–II with longitudinal strioles; ventrites III–IV with oblique strioles laterally, absent medially. Abdominal reticulation consisting of elongate polygonal meshes, longitudinal on ventrites I–II, oblique on ventrite III and transverse on ventrites IV–VI. Punctation consisting of fine punctures medially, and larger and deeper punctures laterally. Male genitalia. Median lobe in lateral aspect almost evenly curved; narrowing from base to pointed apex; broadest in middle (Fig. 21). A fold present till subapical region. Parameres more or less 'D'-shaped, slightly sinuate on outer margin, apex very narrow and long; apical lobe club-shaped (Fig. 22). Female. Females do not differ in external morphology from male except for nearly straight, apically less broadened protibia, and slender pro- and mesotarsi without adhesive setae. Variability. All specimens of the type series are rather uniform and vary only in extent of infuscation of head and pronotum. Measurements (N=5). TL: 4.6–5.0 mm (holotype: 4.8 mm); Tl-h: 4.2–4.5 mm (holotype: 4.4 mm); MW: 2.0– 2.1 mm (holotype: 2.0 mm). Differential diagnosis. Based on the presence of nine dorsal striae on the elytra, the new species can be tentatively classified within the Copelatus consors species group sensu Guignot (1961). This group so far contains eighteen species: 11 in the Afrotropical and seven in the Nearctic region (Nilsson & Hájek 2018). Copelatus maushomi sp. nov. does not seem to be related to any species of the C. consors group. With small eyes, pronotum distinctly broader than elytra, and elytra with dense striolation, the new species has very unique appearance within all known Copelatus species. The shape of the male median lobe suggests that the species may be related to Indian species of the C. nigrolineatus group— C. deccanensis sp. nov. and C. schuhi. Etymology. The species is named after the 'maushom'—a local name for the monsoon, indicating that the specimens were collected at the beginning of the monsoon season. The name is a noun in the genitive case. Collecting circumstances. The specimens were collected in small deep pools in a stony stream below a table mountain (Fig. 44). The place was visited at the beginning of the monsoon. Sudden large amount of water could have brought the specimens to the normal stream from less accessible habitat, e.g. wet gravels on the stream bottom or other interstitial water habitats (M. Fikáček, pers. comm. 2017). Distribution. The species is so far known only from the type locality (Fig. 45).Published as part of Sheth, Sayali D., Ghate, Hemant V. & Hájek, Jiří, 2018, Copelatus Erichson, 1832 from Maharashtra, India, with description of three new species and notes on other taxa of the genus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae), pp. 235-260 in Zootaxa 4459 (2) on pages 244-245, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/145854
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Discussion: Sheth, H.C. Plume-related regional pre-volcanic uplift in the Deccan Traps: Absence of evidence, evidence of absence
No full textSheth misreads key aspects of my earlier comment. For the record: I consider ‘uplift’ an issue central to the plume debate. I reiterate; uplift ‘remains a polemic issue’, (i.e. worthy of discussion). Word limits preclude the desired detailed dialogue, but some important issues are raised below.
I entirely agree that concerted field work is necessary, but both this paper and Sheth (2005) offer little new field data, and instead rely largely upon an interpretation of previous authors’ information. Such retrospectives do not permit the reader to evaluate the relative merits of plume versus non-plume models, and so cannot materially progress debate.
The argument regarding southward (not eastward, as suggested by Sheth) younging of the main Deccan edifice remains robust. Three independent lines of geological evidence support this interpretation: Two independent lines are usually deemed sufficient to indicate a scientific ‘truth’.
Sheth concludes, logically, that Western Ghats is the product of post-Deccan denudational processes. This particular interpretation has long been available (e.g. Widdowson and Cox, 1996; Widdowson, 1997; Gunnell and Fleitout, 1998; Widdowson and Mitchell, 1999). Given this issue is not in dispute, why raise it here?
Sheth asserts that Cox’s (1989) plume-head drainage idea is problematic. Perhaps, but the fact that radial drainage patterns do occur in key CFBPs remains a valid, if inexplicable (?) observation. Cox’s idea was superseded by arguments provided in Widdowson and Cox (1996), Widdowson (1997; see fig. 14), and AFTA data (Gunnell et al., 2003), and so becomes irrelevant for contending pre-eruptive uplift.
Sheth argues, correctly, that the nature of the pre-Deccan palaeosurface holds important clues regarding pre-eruptive uplift in the DVP (Jerram and Widdowson, 2005). Much of this surface remains buried by the Deccan lavas, and is both inaccessible and unknowable. It only becomes exposed around the northern and eastern periphery of the main lava pile. Such peripheral localities, including many of those described by Sheth, were hundreds of kilometres from the Deccan eruptive loci. If any uplift did occur here, it would have been minimal at such large distances from the focus of putative plume head uplift, and thus consistent with that affecting the Dongargaon basin, for example (Tandon, 2002; Samant and Mohabey 2005).
The pre-eruptive palaeosurface has been significantly modified by the crustal loading of the Deccan edifice, and in its western extensions suppressed far below datum. Thus, the gross form and elevation of this basement – basalt contact is largely an artefact of post-eruptive flexural adjustment. Nevertheless, Sheth argues that this highly modified surface reveals a ‘peneplain’, and that its preservation as such precludes significant fluvial incision. Possibly: But peneplains are the consequence of erosion, and the classical, albeit obsolete, Davisian model requires regional uplift as a trigger for peneplanation to proceed. Etchplanation is more appropriate to the development of the pre-Deccan surface (e.g. Büdel, 1982). Here, thick alteration mantles accumulate through tropical weathering of surfaces exposed during prolonged periods of tectonic stability. If, as Sheth requires, such conditions had characterised the pre-Deccan land surface, then the widespread absence of deep weathering mantle preserved beneath the lava units may instead indicate that this landscape had been thoroughly stripped prior to DVP eruptions. Etchplain stripping may be achieved through widespread fluvial erosion induced by regional uplift (Borger and Widdowson, 2001).
Offshore sedimentary records in the Krishna, Godavari, and Narmada-Tapti basins, all reveal significant increases in Late Cretaceous depositional flux (Halkett et al. 2001): these data are consistent with pre-eruptive regional erosion of peninsular India – starting with the stripping of an easily erodable weathering mantle perhaps?
If pre-eruptive (plume-driven?) uplift had occurred in pre-Deccan peninsular India, what might then be recorded in the erosional and sedimentary chronologies of the DVP peripheral regions? Removal of any easily erodable weathering mantle, perhaps; minimal changes in elevation, possibly; development of shallow basins receiving fine clastic input from the plume-uplift effects hundreds of kilometres away - may be. This interpretation of the available infra- and intra-trappean sedimentary (i.e. Lameta Beds) data is equally plausible using the same compendium of field evidence provided by Sheth. Accordingly, I offer a modified, précis version of Sheth’s own summary:
‘Any original flatness and elevation of the pre-Deccan landscape has been significantly modified by syn- and post-eruptive isostatic adjustment deriving, initially, from the loading of the DVP edifice, and subsequently by denudational unloading. The occurrence of a stripped, pre-eruptive etchplain, together with associated offshore sedimentological data, are consistent with those phenomena predicted had a large plume head upwelled beneath India during the Late Cretaceous.
Post-Deccan uplift has elevated both the pre-Deccan, and post-Deccan surfaces. This uplift of the Western Ghats is not related to a putative Deccan plume: it is not domal, occurs beyond the limits off the Deccan lava cover, and represents a later, denudationally-driven, uplift (Widdowson, 1997). Thus, the easterly drainage of the Indian peninsula is not plume-related dome flank drainage, and is largely antecedent to denudational uplift effects’.
To summarise, of those observations described by Sheth, most, if not all, can equally and adequately be explained by the passage of India over a static, spatially restricted, mantle melting anomaly during the Late Cretaceous: For want of a better term, and until consensus offers me a better alternative, I will continue to call this anomaly, sensu lato, a ‘mantle plume’. I end by reiterating the rationale to my initial comment: The challenge to Sheth remains to deliver us an alternative, ‘non plume’, model that can better explain the Deccan CFBP
The Mount Pavagadh volcanic suite, Deccan Traps: geochemical stratigraphy and magmatic evolution
No full textThe patterns of eruption and dispersal of flood basalt lavas on the surface, or as magmas in dykes and sills within the crust, determine the volcanological and stratigraphic development of flood basalt provinces. This is a geochemical and Sr-isotopic study of lavas of varied compositions that outcrop around Mount Pavagadh (829 m), Deccan Traps, an important outlier north of the main basalt outcrop. Most of the similar to 550-m thick exposed section at Pavagadh is made up of subalkalic basalts rich in the incompatible elements (particularly Nb, Ba, and Sr). Picrite and rhyolite-dacite flows also occur, the latter capping the sequence. The relatively high initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios (up to 0.7083) and chemical characteristics of the rhyolitic rocks of Pavagadh are consistent with a small but significant involvement of the granitic basement crust in their genesis. An assimilation-fractional crystallization (AFC) model involving the picrite lava and either a southern Indian or a western Indian granite as the contaminant explains the geochemical and Sr-isotopic variation in the basalts and the rhyolites quite well. A systematic comparison of the basaltic lavas (with binary plots, normalized multielement patterns, and discriminant function analysis) to the well-established lava stratigraphy of the Western Ghats, 400-500 km to the south, precludes any chemical-genetic relationships between the two. Basalts exposed in sections closer to Pavagadh ((similar to) 150-200 km), in the Toranmal, Navagam, and Barwani-Mhow areas, have several flows with some similar chemical characteristics. However, the Pavagadh sequence is significantly different from all of these sequences geochemically, petrogenetically, and in magnetic polarity, to be considered independently built. This result is significant in terms of eruptive models for the Deccan Traps, as it is increasingly apparent that there were separate but possibly coeval eruptive centers with their own distinctive chemistries developed in various areas of this vast province
Cosmology with massive neutrinos II: on the universality of the halo mass function and bias
No full textWe use a large suite of N-body simulations to study departures from universality in halo abundances and clustering in cosmologies with non-vanishing neutrino masses. To this end, we study how the halo mass function and halo bias factors depend on the scaling variable sigma(2) (M, z), the variance of the initial matter fluctuation field, rather than on halo mass M and redshift z themselves. We show that using the variance of the cold dark matter rather than the total mass field, i.e., sigma(2)(cdm) (M, z) rather than sigma(2)(m) (M, z), yields more universal results. Analysis of halo bias yields similar conclusions: when large-scale halo bias is defined with respect to the cold dark matter power spectrum, the result is both more universal, and less scale- or k-dependent. These results are used extensively in Papers I and III of this series
Coelostoma nostocinum Sheth & Ghate & Fikáček 2020, sp. nov.
No full textCoelostoma (s. str.) nostocinum sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B069E8DC-6096-4292-B70D-93D6C5CB7337 Fig. 5 A–K Differential diagnosis Coelostoma nostocinum sp. nov. is characterized by smaller body size, by which it especially resembles C. vividum. Its male genitalia with the triangular median lobe easily distinguish it from all species except C. fallaciosum and C. aeneolum. The species may be distinguished from C. fallaciosum by its much shorter median lobe (compared to parameres) with straight lateral margins (concave in C. fallaciosum) and wider apex, and by the more or less symmetrically pointed apex of the paramere (strongly asymmetrical in C. fallaciosum). Coelostoma nostocinum sp. nov. is very similar to C. aeneolum, but may be distinguished from it by its (1) smaller body size (3.5–4.5 mm, compared to 4.6 mm in C. aeneolum), (2) larger aedeagus (0.7 mm, compared to 0.4 mm in C. aeneolum), (3) relatively longer apodemes of the median lobe (longer than half of the length of the apical triangular part of the median lobe, compared to much shorter than half the length in C. aeneolum) and (4) paramere distinctly concave on outer margin subapically and pointed apically (compared to evenly arcuate on whole outer margin and more less rounded apically in C. aeneolum). Etymology The species name refers to the finding of the holotype of this species in association with Nostoc Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault (see Biology). Material examined Holotype INDIA • ♂; “ GOA province, 30 km S of MARGAO (Madgaon), Palolem env., INDIA 2002 exped; 15º00.47ʹN 74º01.56ʹE ” [15º00ʹ38.37ʺ N, 74º01ʹ23.76ʺ E]; 0–20 m a.s.l.; 12–14 Aug. 2002; P. Šípek and M. Fikáček leg; found in Nostoc -like algae; NMPC. Paratypes INDIA – Goa • 11 specs; same collection data as for holotype; NMPC • 2 specs; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH • 1 spec; same collection data as for holotype; UASB 01923074 • 1 spec; same collection data as for holotype; ZSI • 3 specs; “ 30 km S of Margao, Palolem env.; 15º00.47ʹ N, 74º01.56ʹ E ” [15º00ʹ38.37ʺ N, 74º01ʹ23.76ʺ E]; 0–20 m a.s.l.; 12–14 Aug. 2002; M. Fikáček and P. Šípek leg.; NMPC. – Maharashtra • 1 ♂, 33 specs; “ 4 km W of Lonavala, Bushi dam env.” [Bhushi dam]; [18º45ʹ22.31ʺ N, 73º24ʹ32.95ʺ E]; 500 m a.s.l.; 24–28 Oct. 2005; J. Bezděk leg.; at light; NMPC • 3 specs; same collection data as for preceding; SMNS • 1 ♂, 1 spec.; “ 4 km S of Lonavala, Bushi dam env.” [Bhushi dam]; [18º43ʹ24.35ʺ N, 73º23ʹ49.43ʺ E]; 500 m a.s.l.; 12–15 Oct. 2005; J. Bezděk leg.; NMPC • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; NCBS BL020 • 2 ♂♂, 3 specs; Lonavala, 80 km E of Bombay; [18º45ʹ21.96ʺ N, 73º24ʹ32.40ʺ E]; [630 m a.s.l.]; 13 Sep. 1991; R. Schuh leg.; NHMW. – Karnataka • 1 spec.; Udipi distr., E of Bhatkal, Kollur; [13º51ʹ48.71ʺ N, 74º48ʹ37.46ʺ E]; [80 m a.s.l.]; 26–29 May 2006; Z. Kejval leg.; UASB 01923075. – Kerala • 6 specs; Cardamon Hills, 50 km NW of Pathanamhitta, Pambaiyar River; 9º25ʹ N, 77º05ʹ E; 300 m a.s.l.; 6–9 May1994; Z. Kejval leg.; at light; NHMW • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; NMPC. Description FORM AND COLOUR. Body length 3.3–4.5 mm (3.8 mm in holotype), body width 2.2–2.5 mm (2.4 mm in holotype). Body oval in dorsal view, moderately convex in lateral view. Head black, dark brown clypeus; pronotum and elytra uniformly dark brown to black; ventral surface pale to dark brown. Femora and tarsi yellowish brown, tibia dark reddish brown, tarsi pale brown. Mouth parts and antennae yellowish, antennal club brown. HEAD. Dorsal punctation dense, consisting of simple punctures without associated ridges; trichobothria present; surface between punctures smooth. Anterior margin of clypeus non-arcuate. Eyes large, interocular distance ca 4.0 × the width of one eye in dorsal view; eye emarginate anteriorly. Labrum moderately sclerotized, largely exposed anterior of clypeus. Antenna with 9 antennomeres, club loosely segmented. Second maxillary palpomere markedly wide. PROTHORAX. Pronotum bisinuate anteriorly, anterolateral corners obtuse; posterior margin moderately bisinuate, posterolateral corners rectangular. Anterior and lateral margins with distinct bead not extending to posterior margin. Pronotal punctation finer than on head, consisting of simple punctures without associated ridges; surface between punctures smooth. Prosternum nearly straight on anterior margin, gently carinate mesally. MESOTHORAX. Elytral punctation dense and moderately coarse, consisting of punctures without transverse ridges. Weakly developed series of impressed punctures present along suture and laterally. Sutural stria well impressed, present in apical half, extends beyond middle; lateral elytral margins with sculpture. Mesoventral plate as long as wide, arrowhead-shaped, bluntly pointed anteriorly, posteriorly widely attached to metaventrite. METATHORAX. Metaventrite raised medially, completely glabrous on median elevation, lateral portions pubescent. Anterior metaventral process narrowly projecting between mesocoxae; posterior process bifid. Wings well-developed (macropterous). LEGS. Profemur with dense pubescence except in apical fifth; mesofemur and metafemur with sparsely arranged short setae only. ABDOMEN. All ventrites densely pubescent. First ventrite without carina. Posterior margin of last ventrite entire, without stout spines mesally. AEDEAGUS (Fig. 5 J–K). 0.7 mm long. Median lobe broad at base, slightly tapering towards widely rounded apex; gonopore situated at apex, widely semicircular. Parameres longer than median lobe; weakly arcuate on outer margin, narrowed in apical fourth; apex bluntly pointed; inner margin of parameres with long setae. Phallobase small, slightly wider than long. Variation Specimens from Maharashtra are slightly smaller than those from more southern areas. The aedeagus varies slightly in the shape of the parameres, the apical part of which is slightly wider in the specimens from Kerala; in all other aspects these specimens agree with those from Goa and hence we consider them conspecific. Remarks Coelostoma nostocinum sp. nov. and C. aeneolum are very similar in all characters including the morphology of the male genitalia, and both species seem to have very similar (and overlapping) distribution ranges. We were hence working with the hypothesis that they may be conspecific for some time, with the observed variation in body size and aedeagus morphology being an intraspecific variation. The examination of all available material, however, indicates that this is not the case, and that we really have two distinct morphotypes without intermediate characters: the species with larger body and smaller aedeagus with more or less rounded apices of parameres (C. aeneolum) and the smaller species with larger aedeagus with narrower and apically pointed paramere (C. nostocinum sp. nov.). Based on the material examined, both morphotypes are constant in the characters listed in the differential diagnosis across the distribution range (i.e., from Maharashtra to Kerala in both). For these reasons, we are treating them as separate species, with the smaller species described here as C. nostocinum sp. nov. Biology The specimens from Goa were collected under ‘ballsʼ of Nostoc blue-green algae growing on wet sandy places on rock cliffs at the sea coast. Specimens from Maharashtra were collected at light. Distribution Only known from the western coast of India and adjacent parts of the Western Ghats Mts, from Maharashtra to Kerala.Published as part of Sheth, Sayali D., Ghate, Hemant V. & Fikáček, Martin, 2020, Review of Coelostoma of the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) Part 1: Coelostoma s. str. and Holocoelostoma, pp. 1-32 in European Journal of Taxonomy 690 on pages 12-14, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.690, http://zenodo.org/record/396178
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
Contribution of JAM-1 to epithelial differentiation and tight-junction biogenesis in the mouse preimplantation embryo
No full textWe have investigated the contribution of the tight junction (TJ) transmembrane protein junction-adhesion-molecule 1 (JAM-1) to trophectoderm epithelial differentiation in the mouse embryo. JAM-1-encoding mRNA is expressed early from the embryonic genome and is detectable as protein from the eight-cell stage. Immunofluorescence confocal analysis of staged embryos and synchronized cell clusters revealed JAM-1 recruitment to cell contact sites occurred predominantly during the first hour after division to the eight-cell stage, earlier than any other TJ protein analysed to date in this model and before E-cadherin adhesion and cell polarization. During embryo compaction later in the fourth cell cycle, JAM-1 localized transiently yet precisely to the apical microvillous pole, where protein kinase C (PKC) and PKC are also found, indicating a role in cell surface reorganization and polarization. Subsequently, in morulae and blastocysts, JAM-1 is distributed ubiquitously at cell contact sites within the embryo but is concentrated within the trophectoderm apicolateral junctional complex, a pattern resembling that of E-cadherin and nectin-2. However, treatment of embryos with anti-JAM-1-neutralizing antibodies indicated that JAM-1 did not contribute to global embryo compaction and adhesion but rather regulated the timing of blastocoel cavity formation dependent upon establishment of the trophectoderm TJ paracellular seal
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