Phylogeny of Psephenidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea) based on larval, pupal and adult characters

Abstract.  We conducted the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Psephenidae, based on 143 morphological characters of adults, larvae and pupae and coded for 34 taxa, representing three outgroups and 31 psephenid genera, including four undescribed ones. A strict consensus tree calculated (439 steps, consistency index = 0.45, retention index = 0.75) from the two most-parsimonious cladograms indicated that the monophyly of the family and subfamilies is supported, with the exception of Eubriinae, which is paraphyletic when including Afroeubria . Here a new subfamily, Afroeubriinae ( subfam.n. ), is formally established for Afroeubria . The analysis also indicated that the 'streamlined' larva is a derived adaptive radiation. Here, suprageneric taxonomy and the evolution of some significant characters are discussed. Keys are provided to the subfamilies and genera of Psephenidae considering larvae, adults and pupae.     

A portable system for collecting anatomical joint angles during stair ascent: a comparison with an optical tracking device

Background

Assessments of stair climbing in real-life situations using an optical tracking system are lacking, as it is difficult to adapt the system for use in and around full flights of stairs. Alternatively, a portable system that consists of inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to collect anatomical joint angles during stair ascent. The purpose of this study was to compare the anatomical joint angles obtained by IMUs to those calculated from position data of an optical tracking device.

Methods

Anatomical joint angles of the thigh, knee and ankle, obtained using IMUs and an optical tracking device, were compared for fourteen healthy subjects. Joint kinematics obtained with the two measurement devices were evaluated by calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) and by calculating a two-tailed Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) between the two signals.

Results

Strong mean correlations (range 0.93 to 0.99) were found for the angles between the two measurement devices, as well as an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 4 degrees over all the joint angles, showing that the IMUs are a satisfactory system for measuring anatomical joint angles.

Conclusion

These highly portable body-worn inertial sensors can be used by clinicians and researchers alike, to accurately collect data during stair climbing in complex real-life situations.

     

Physiological responses to folate overproduction in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> WCFS1

Background  

Using a functional genomics approach we addressed the impact of folate overproduction on metabolite formation and gene expression in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. We focused specifically on the mechanism that reduces growth rates in folate-overproducing cells.     

Differential taphonomy of modern brachiopods (San Juan Islands, Washington State): effect of intrinsic factors on damage and community-level abundance

The differences in shell structure and population turnover between organic-poor, impunctate (Hemithiris) and organic-rich, punctate brachiopod (Terebratalia) in a mixed-bottom, siliciclastic setting (San Juan Islands, WA) lead to different taphonomic damage and fidelity with respect to community-level abundance in death assemblages. In comparing shell interiors of similar-sized specimens, Terebratalia is predominantly affected by fibre detachment and shows almost no microbioerosion at the SEM scale; whereas, Hemithiris shows less marked fibre detachment at the SEM scale and is more intensely affected by microbioerosion both at SEM and light microscope (LM) scales. Fibre detachment related to rapid, microbially-induced organic matter decay appears to be the main destructive process acting on Terebratalia. Higher bioerosion levels in Hemithiris at SEM and LM scales are probably related to a combination of a low maceration rate and a preferential settlement by borers. From their vastly different abundances in life assemblages it can be deduced that Terebratalia produces dead shells at a much higher rate than Hemithiris. Therefore, the proportion of altered Terebratalia, relative to Hemithiris, is expected to be decreased due to its higher production of recently dead cohorts. That Terebratalia is also characterized by high damage levels shows that differential population turnover alone is not responsible for the differences in taphonomic damage. This shows that organic-rich and organic-poor shells are characterized by differential post-mortem durability. Although very few Hemithiris are present in the life assemblages, high durability ensures its relative over-representation in death assemblages. Terebratalia is not strongly under-represented in death assemblages, despite its high destruction rate, because of large production of recently dead shells. Even with the biasing effect of differential durability, the good fidelity reported in previous live-dead studies can be enhanced by higher population turnover of numerically dominant taxa, leading to constant input of recently dead shells into death assemblages.     

CO2 enrichment reduces the relative contribution of latex and latex-related hydrocarbons to biomass in Euphorbia lathyris

The hypothesis that plants grown under elevated CO₂ allocate more carbon to the production of latex and C‐rich secondary compounds whereas nutrient addition counteracts this effect was tested. Two similar experiments were conducted in two different experimental facilities. In both facilities seedlings of Euphorbia lathyris were exposed to factorial combinations of two CO₂ concentrations and two levels of nutrient availability for 2 months. The CO₂ treatments and growth conditions differed substantially between these two experiments but treatment responses to elevated CO₂ and fertilizer addition were remarkably similar, underlining the robustness of our findings. Elevated CO₂ increased biomass to a greater extent in fertilized than in unfertilized plants and reduced the leaf biomass fraction by accelerating leaf senescence. Concentrations of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) increased in elevated CO₂. However, this apparent carbon surplus did not feed into the whole plant latex pool. The latex harvest per leaf (?25%) and the concentration of latex‐related hydrocarbons (?20%) even decreased under elevated CO₂ (both experiments P < 0.05). Fertilization reduced NSC concentrations (?25%) but neither affected latex yield per leaf nor the concentration of latex‐related hydrocarbons. It is concluded that latex and related hydrocarbons in CO₂‐enriched plants are a negligible sink for excess carbon irrespective of nutrient status and thus, vigour of growth.     

Impact of early applied upper limb stimulation: The EXPLICIT-stroke programme design

Background  

Main claims of the literature are that functional recovery of the paretic upper limb is mainly defined within the first month post stroke and that rehabilitation services should preferably be applied intensively and in a task-oriented way within this particular time window. EXplaining PLastICITy after stroke (acronym EXPLICIT-stroke) aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of post stroke upper limb recovery. Two randomized single blinded trials form the core of the programme, investigating the effects of early modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (modified CIMT) and EMG-triggered Neuro-Muscular Stimulation (EMG-NMS) in patients with respectively a favourable or poor probability for recovery of dexterity.     

Growth and reproductive responses to elevated CO2 in wild cereals of the northern Negev of Israel

How might wild relatives of modern cereals have responded to past, and how might they respond to future, atmospheric CO₂ enrichment under competitive situations in a dry, low‐nutrient environment? In order to test this, Aegilops and Hordeum species, common in semiarid annual grasslands of the Middle East, were grown in nine model ecosystems (400 kg each) with a natural matrix of highly diverse Negev vegetation established on native soil shipped to Basel, Switzerland. In a simulated, seasonally variable climate of the northern Negev, communities experienced a full life‐cycle in 280 (preindustrial), 440 (immediate future) and 600 ppm of CO₂ (end of the next century). Neither Aegilops (A. kotschyi and A. peregrina), nor Hordeum spontaneum showed a significant biomass response to CO₂ concentrations exceeding 280 ppm The reproductive output remained unaffected or even declined (A. peregrina) under elevated CO₂. Non‐structural carbohydrates in leaf tissues increased and N concentration decreased with increasing CO₂ concentration. N concentration, germination success and seedling development of newly formed grains were either unchanged or reduced in response to high CO₂ treatment of parent plants. In a separate fertilizer × CO₂ trial with A. kotschyi nested in smaller model communities, we found no effect of P addition, but a 2–3‐fold biomass increase by NPK addition compared to the unfertilized control. A significant stimulation of biomass by CO₂ enrichment (+ 44% between 280 and 600 ppm) was obtained only in the NPK treatment. These data suggest that increased CO₂ concentration had little direct effect on growth and reproduction in these ‘wild cereals’ in the recent past, and the same seems to hold for their future, except if N‐rich fertilizer is added.