Morphogenesis of the freshwater ciliate Neokeronopsis spectabilis (Kahl 1932) Warren et al., 2002, based on a China population (Ciliophora: Urostylidae)

The morphogenesis of the stichotrichous ciliate, Neokeronopsis spectabilis, collected from a freshwater pond near Harbin, north China, was observed following protargol impregnation. The overall morphogenetic events are characterized by: (1) the new oral primordium originates in association with the transverse cirri; (2) the proter's undulating membrane anlage is formed following the dedifferentiation of the parental endoral and paroral membranes, while the old adoral zone of membranelles is retained; (3) the fronto-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen originate independently on the right of the proter's undulating membrane anlage; (4) the left and right marginal cirri are derived from new anlagen that originate within the old marginal rows; (5) the generation of the dorsal kineties is of the "two-group-mode" with fragmentation and hence an oxytrichid pattern; and (6) similar to that in oxytrichids, the caudal cirri are formed at the posterior ends of the rightmost and two leftmost kineties of the group 1. Some new morphological data for N. spectabilis are also presented and the systematic position of the genus Neokeronopsis is briefly discussed. We conclude that its position among the urostylids is peripheral and that it very likely represents an intermediate form between the oxytrichids and urostylids.     

Pigeon homing and magnetic fields: a response to Luschi et al. (1996)

This paper comments on an article ''Pigeon homing: evidence against reliance on magnetic information picked up en route at release sites'' by P. Luschi, C. del Seppia, E. Crosio and F. Papi, which appeared in this journal. It is pointed out that the particular effects which these authors show to be stress-induced artefacts are restricted to their specific strain of homing pigeons. The same effects could not be observed in pigeons from two other lofts: a difference in response that was shown to have a genetic base. In view of this, conclusions drawn from the results of Luschi et al. must be restricted to their own findings; they cannot be generalized to the other findings which indicate the use of magnetic outward journey information in young homing pigeons.     

Internet addiction and sleep quality: a response to Jahan et al. (2019)

Sleep and Biological Rhythms -     

Avoiding the fate of Troy: response to Arlettaz et al

We agree entirely with Arlettaz et al. that we face an environmental crisis of extraordinary proportions. However, their analysis of how to respond perfectly illustrates our point. In particular, we would transpose their statement 'Although we agree that communication strategies must accommodate human psychology to succeed, we believe that neglecting or euphemizing the dramatic impact that humans have on the biosphere, just through fear of the Cassandra syndrome when addressing an inconvenient truth, is not an acceptable alternative discourse.' to 'Although acknowledging the dramatic impact humans exert on the biosphere, there is no acceptable alternative discourse; to adopting communication strategies that accommodate human psychology.'     

Elective, non-therapeutic ventilation: a reply to Browne et al., "The ethics of elective (non-therapeutic) ventilation

Browne, Gillett and Tweeddale propose that the use of non-therapeutic elective ventilation (EV) to secure transplantable organs is ethically indefensible. Their argument centres around several propositions: that explicit patient consent for EV is essential, but since it is not included in the consent process for donation from the patient, using it constitutes assault; that inferring consent for EV from the consent to donate itself is ethically and logically indefensible; and that explicit consent from next-of-kin should neither be sought nor honoured in view of the stress EV may cause to staff and families. This article examines their reasoning and suggests that it is fatally flawed. It argues further that in most cases of donation, not using EV may itself be unethical.     

Anatomy of Tunga trimamillata Pampiglione et al., 2002 (Insecta, Siphonaptera, Tungidae) and developmental phases of the gravid female

This paper deals with some internal anatomical features observed in histological sections and freshly dissected mounts of Tunga trimamillata, a Siphonaptera recently discovered in Andean regions of Ecuador from several mammals, including man. It was possible to study in males and also non-gravid and gravid females, the location and anatomy of several organs not previously described for this species: the testes, epididymis, ganglia, Malpighian tubules, eyes, rectal ampulla with one of its pads and structures which could be interpreted as midgut diverticula, whose presence has not been recorded in the Siphonaptera. The process of neosomy in the female during pregnancy is illustrated by photographs of the consecutive developmental phases, taken at the stereomicroscope. Furthermore, some details of the exoskeleton, spermatheca during different phases of pregnancy of the gravid female and the presence of a foreign body (parasite?) within the haemocoel have been displayed in specimens cleared with Hoyer's medium.