The taxonomy of Galium crespianum J.J. Rodr. (Rubiaceae), a Balearic Islands endemic revisited

Galium crespianum J.J. Rodr. is a perennial plant inhabiting cliffs and crevices on the Balearic Islands. Although it was described from the mountains of Mallorca, several populations from the islands of Eivissa and Formentera have been traditionally considered as belonging to the same species. A careful comparison of specimens from the western and eastern Balearics revealed several discriminant features in gross morphology (robustness and habit of the stems, presence or absence of hairs at the internodes and leaves, waxiness of stems and leaves, shape of the inflorescence, flower colour and scent) and stem anatomy. In addition, several mutations in the ribosomal ITS sequences distinguished western and eastern plants. It is proposed that the plants from Eivissa and Formentera previously subsumed under G. crespianum be recognized at the specific level as G. friedrichii N. Torres, L. Saez, Mus & Rossello nom. nov. The new species is tetraploid (2n = 44) and shares morphological features with G. crespianum or with several taxa in the G. glaucum complex from the south east Iberian peninsula, to which it is most probably related.     

On the associations between Haplosyllis (Polychaeta, Syllidae) and gorgonians (Cnidaria, Octocorallaria), with the description of a new species

The present paper includes a morphological, ecological and biological updating of the three gorgonian associated species of Haplosyllis (Polychaeta, Syllidae) known to date: H. chamaeleon (symbiont with Paramuricea clavata in the Mediterranean), H. anthogorgicola (symbiont with Anthogorgia bocki in the Japanese seas) and H. villogorgicola , a new species living symbiotically with Villogorgia bebrycoides which is only known from Tenerife (Canary Islands, Eastern Central Atlantic). The new species is described on the basis of ecological, morphological, morphometric and statistical analysis of relevant characteristics. Each host colony harboured about 15 pale-yellowish worms, whose cryptic colouration mimicked that of the host. They occurred either on the host branches or partly hidden inside cavities formed by the fusion of two branches. The new species is characterized by the presence of simple chaetae with clearly bidentate tips all along the body, the presence of gland pore aggregates distributed in two lateral rows and two ventral patches on each palp and the absence of ciliary tufts on the pharyngeal papillae. H. villogorgicola sp. nov. is closely related to H. chamaeleon . Thus, it is compared with two populations of this species collected in the north-west and south-west Mediterranean. Stolons of H. chamaeleon are re-described as tetracerous and a peculiar posterior end regeneration process occurring in adult worms during the stolon formation is described. H. anthogorgicola is also re-described, with particular emphasis on its appendage and chaetal arrangements. The main features of the three associations are discussed in light of the current knowledge on symbiotic polychaetes, particularly cnidarian-associated syllids.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 77 , 455–477.     

Seed micromorphology in the genus Neotinea Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae, Orchidinae)

The ultrastructure of testa seed in the genus Neotinea (Orchidaceae, Orchidinae) was examined for the first time. The morphology of the seed and of the anticlinal and periclinal walls was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative data concerning the length and width of the seed and embryo, seed and embryo volume, free air space, and number of cells along the longitudinal axis are presented. In all species, the seeds are fusiform in shape with transverse ridges on the inner periclinal walls. This ornamentation pattern is characteristic for the genus Neotinea . It is a good diagnostic value supporting the monophyly of this genus, which has recently been proposed by several authors.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 133–140.     

Revision of the species group Napaeus variatus (Gastropoda,Pulmonata, Buliminidae) from the Canary Islands,with description of five new species*

The Napaeus variatus (Webb & Berthelot, 1833) species group from the Canary Islands is reviewed from literature information, types, other museum specimens, and newly collected material. Anatomy data is newly provided for six species. Five new species are described: N. elegans and N. esbeltus from Tenerife, N. orientalis and N. beguirae from La Gomera, and N. exilis from Gran Canaria. Eight species lack a diverticulum and are referred to the subgenus Napaeus (Napaeus) Albers, 1850, whereas five species are provided with a diverticulum and arc referred to Napaeus (Napaeinus) Hesse, 1933. Four species cannot be assigned to a subgenus due to a lack of information. Keys of species from the different islands are provided.     

Geographical and seasonal influences on the distribution of fungal endophytes in Quercus ilex

A systematic survey of the endophytic assemblages of Quercus ilex in central Spain has been performed, with the goal of evaluating the importance of geographical and seasonal factors on these fungal communities. Four sampling sites were selected; one of them was sampled twice, in the spring and the autumn. The collected plant material consisted of bark, twigs and leaves from eight trees per site. Fungal strains were isolated with the use of a surface-sterilization method with sodium hypochlorite. A total of 2921 fungal strains grouped into 149 'species' or morphological types were recovered. The 10 dominant species, with isolation frequencies >1.5%, were Pyrenochaeta sp., Periconiella anamorph of Biscogniauxia mediterranea (De Not.) Kuntze, Pseudonectria sp., Cryptosporiopsis quercina Petrak, Alternaria alternata (Fr:) Keissl., two undetermined coelomycetes, Penicillium funiculosum Thom, Diplodia mutila Fr. apud Mont. and Ascochyta sp. Medians of fungal species per tree were significantly different among the sampled sites. The isolation frequencies of the dominant species, as well as other less frequent species, were significantly dependent on the sampling site. The degree of endophytic infection and the diversity of fungal species were significantly higher in the spring. The frequencies of all dominant species at one of the sites depended significantly on the season, except for C. quercina , Acremonium sclerotigenum (F & V Moreau ex Valenta) Gams. and D. mutila . Cluster analysis of the whole endophytic mycoflora of the sampled trees suggested that the geographical factor affects the endophytic distribution patterns more significantly than the seasonal factor.     

Arterial autografts in microvascular surgery

The use of autogenous arterial grafts for long arterial defects in replantation or tissue transfer is recommended. Some grafts are taken from the superficial temporal artery, but the majority are taken from the subscapular arterial tree. The match which can be achieved to vessels in the hand, both proximally and distally, is far superior to that with reversed vein grafts.     

Gliridae (Rodentia,Mammalia) with a simple dental pattern: a new genus and new species from the European Early and Middle Miocene

A new genus of Gliridae, Simplomys gen. nov. is proposed. It contains glirids with a simplified dental pattern from the European Early and Middle Miocene. Simplomys gen. nov. includes several species originally described as Pseudodryomys such as Simplomys simplicidens, Simplomys robustus, Simplomys julii, and Simplomys aljaphi. In addition, a new species, Simplomys meulenorum sp. nov. , is proposed from the Spanish Miocene. The species of this genus share not only a very reduced and simplified dental morphology, but also unique dental proportions that clearly separate them from any other genera of Gliridae. Simplomys gen. nov. is recorded in most of the fossil faunas from the Early and Middle Miocene of the Iberian Peninsula, and shows the maximum diversity in this area during Mammal Neogene Zones MN 3 and MN 4. The genus has been also recorded in other European countries such as France, Germany, and Switzerland, conferring to this very characteristic taxon an important role for biochronological correlations within the European continent. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 622–652.     

Early microsurgical reconstruction of complex trauma of the extremities

Five hundred and thirty-two patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction following trauma to their extremities. They were divided into three groups for the purpose of review. Group 1 underwent free-flap transfer within 72 hours of the injury, group 2 between 72 hours and 3 months of the injury, and group 3 between 3 months and 12.6 years, with a mean of 3.4 years. The results were analyzed with respect to flap failure, infection, bone-healing time, length of hospital stay, and number of operative procedures. The flap failure rate was 0.75 percent in group 1, 12 percent in group 2, and 9.5 percent in group 3 (p less than 0.0005 early versus delayed; p less than 0.0025 early versus late). Postoperative infection occurred in 1.5 percent of group 1, 17.5 percent of group 2, and 6 percent of group 3. Bone-healing time was 6.8 months in group 1, 12.3 months in group 2, and 29 months in group 3. The average length of total hospital stay was 27 days for group 1, 130 days for group 2, and 256 days for group 3. The number of operations averaged 1.3 for group 1, 4.1 for group 2, and 7.8 for group 3.     

Biological age and tempos of aging in women over 60 in connection with their morphofunctional characteristics

Background

The study of aging processes and the changes in morphological, physiological, and functional characteristics that are associated with aging is of great interest not only for researchers, but also for the general public. The aim of the present paper is to study the biological age and tempos of aging in women older than 60 years, including long-lived females (over 90-years-old), and their associations with morphofunctional characteristics.

Results

Somatic traits, body mass components, and functional characteristics were investigated in 119 elderly (between 60 and 74-years-old) and long-lived (over 90-years-old) women in Tiraspol. With the special PC software ‘Diagnostics of Aging: BioAge’ (National Gerontological Center, Moscow, Russia) the biological age and tempos of aging were evaluated in the study participants. The results show close connections between morphofunctional changes, particularly in body mass components, and biological age. The software demonstrated its validity in the estimation of biological age in the group of elderly women. In the homogenous (according to their chronological age) group of women, three subgroups were separated with different tempos of aging: those with lower rates of aging (biological age less than chronological age by two years or more); those consistent with their chronological age, and those with accelerated tempos of aging (biological age higher than chronological age by two years or more).

Conclusions

Morphofunctional characteristics in the studied groups of women demonstrate the trends of age-involutive changes which can be traced through all groups, from those with slow rates of aging, to those with average rates, to those with accelerated tempos of aging, and finally in long-lived women. The results of comparative analysis show that women with accelerated aging are characterized with such traits as lower skeletal muscle mass, lower hand grip strength, and higher metabolic rate. Canonical discriminant analysis revealed a number of morphofunctional characteristics which differentiate the early-aging women from women with average rates of aging: higher BMI values, excessive fat mass, lower skeletal muscle mass and low values of hand grip strength. Thus the presence of such characteristics in elderly women can be considered as additional risk factor towards the early onset of the aging process.