Evolution of the zygomasseteric construction in Rodentia,as revealed by a geometric morphometric analysis of the mandible of Graphiurus (Rodentia,Gliridae)

Graphiurus is a peculiar taxon among the monophyletic Gliridae (order Rodentia) in showing hystricomorphy of the zygomasseteric architecture of the skull [large infraorbital foramen (IOF), and correlative muscular arrangements). We analysed 34 extant genera taken from two groups of sciurognath rodents that share a large IOF (hystricomorph and myomorph) using elliptical Fourier transform in order to appraise whether this feature of cranial morphology was also accompanied by similar changes in mandible shape. The mandible of Graphiurus is distinct from those of all other hystricomorph sciurognath rodents in showing a more elongated coronoid process and a shorter angular process. Thus, two distinct zygomasseteric organizations (i.e. myomorphy and hystricomorphy of graphiurines) are associated with a similar mandible shape characterized by a well‐developed coronoid process. Results show that hystricomorphy of graphiurines was achieved convergently with other hystricomorph rodents. Protrogomorphy is the plesiomorphic condition in Gliridae and hystricomorphy is an autapomorphic feature of Graphiurus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 807–821.     

Rapid calculation of the solution scattering profile from a macromolecule of known structure

If one expands the structure factor equation in spherical coordinates, rotational averaging of the molecular Fourier transform, which leads directly to the solution scattering profile, is greatly simplified. It becomes a projection in the polar and azimuthal angular variables. The profile is given by I(R) = 1/2 infinity sigma n = 0 n sigma m = 0 epsilon mNm,n magnitude of Gm,n(R) 2 where Gm,n(R) = sigma jfjYm,n(theta j, phi j)jn(2 pi rjR) The index j runs over all atoms; r, theta, phi are atomic coordinates and epsilon and N are constants; the Ym,n are complex spherical harmonics, and jn are spherical Bessel functions; R = 2 sin theta/lambda. The effects of solvent have been modeled by subtracting from each protein atom a properly weighted water. Hydrogens have been included by using scattering curves fj derived from the spherical averaging of protein atoms with their attached hydrogens. This approach may also be satisfactory for neutron scattering. Published scattering profiles for lysozyme and BPTI have been accurately matched in less than one-tenth the time required by other methods. Separate, adjustable temperature factors for the protein, solvent waters, and bound waters are used, and appear to be needed. In the case of BPTI, as suggested by NMR observations, the observed diffraction pattern was much better accounted for by including only 4 tightly bound waters rather than the roughly 60 seen by crystallography.     

Sexual dimorphism in the otolith shape of shi drum,Umbrina cirrosa (L.), in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Fish size–otolith size relationships

Little is known about possible differences in sagitta otolith size and shape between sexes of the shi drum, Umbrina cirrosa, and relationships between their body and otolith size. Thus, this study aimed to fill this knowledge gap via examination of 414 sagittal otoliths from 108 male (total length 13.8–26.8 cm) and 99 female (13.5–26.7 cm) U. cirrosa caught between May 2017 and April 2018 in gillnets set at a depth of ~15 m in Mersin Bay, Eastern Mediterranean Sea. No statistical differences were observed between the shape indices of the left-sided and right-sided sagitta. However, there were significant differences in the size and shape of otoliths between males and females. The slopes of allometric power functions from otolith width × fish sizes gave significant differences between males and females (ANCOVA, P < 0.05). The relationship for length × weight of otoliths from both males and females showed isometric growth, whereas the relationship of otolith width × otolith weight showed positive allometry. Negative allometric growth was observed for the relationship otolith length × otolith width. In summary, this study revealed the presence of sexual dimorphism in the otolith shape of U. cirrosa, and the data on regression relationships of fish-otolith sizes can be used to estimate fish size from U. cirrosa otolith sizes.     

水果形状的傅里叶描述子研究

水果的形状是水果分级的重要指标之一。本文研究了不规则物体形状的数学描述方法,认为在水果的分级过程中采用曲线拟合的方法来描述水果的形状是不合适的;提出了仅需利用物体的边界信息求物体的形心坐标和描述果形的新方法;发现用Fourier描述子的前4个谐波分量的变化特性就能较好地代表水果的形状,用前15个谐波分量来描述形状则可以达到相当高的精度。而且傅立叶描述子可以进行平移、旋转和缩放,并具有很强的水果外形重建功能,是一描述水果形状的非常有效的方法。