Trichodina centrostrigeata Basson, Van As et Paperna, 1983 from Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) and O. niloticus (Linnaeus) from different host populations from Argentina, Mexico and South Africa was reviewed. Although T. centrostrigeata has a distinct denticle structure that makes morphological taxonomic inferences uncomplicated, variation of the denticles within and among individuals and populations were still observed. While traditional taxonomy of mobilines is heavily reliant on morphometrics, and recently even more so on molecular analysis, this paper proposes the use of geometric morphometry, specifically elliptical Fourier analysis, to address morphological conflicts that arise when comparing different populations. By applying this technique, combined with traditional taxonomy, it was found that T. centrostrigeata in this study can be grouped into two separate morphotypes, the first (type a) from aquaculture farms in Argentina and Mexico and the second (type b) from a natural habitat in Glen Alpine Dam, South Africa. This study supports the validity of geometric morphometry as an additional technique to distinguish not only between species but also evolutionary plasticity of the same species from different localities and habitats.
The growth parameters of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis-B (Okamoto), were studied under laboratory conditions. The highest mortality was recorded in the immature stages (instars 1st, 2nd, 3rd and pupae) of C. nipponensis fed on the eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (37.26%). The sex ratios (proportion of female to male) when reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica and an artificial diet with ginger were 0.93 : 1.00 and 0.87 : 1.00, respectively. The maximum life spans of females reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica and an artificial diet with ginger were 63 and 64 days, respectively. The females reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica produced the highest number of eggs (10.4) on the fifth day of oviposition, whereas on the artificial diet with ginger it was 9.26 on the eighth day of oviposition. The net reproductive rate (Ro) and maximum gross reproductive rate (GRR) of C. nipponensis fed on the eggs of C. cephalonica were 69.50 and 223.10 females per female per generation, respectively, whereas for the artificial diet with ginger they were 117.24 and 236.89 females per female per generation, respectively. Mean generation time (T) was 37.06 and 48.16 for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) was 0.11 and 0.09 females per female per day for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.12 and 1.11 females per female per day for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The population doubling time (DT) was 6.05 days on the diet of eggs of C. cephalonica and 7.00 on the artificial diet with ginger., Shafique A. Memon, Dzolkhifli Omar, Rita Muhamad, Ahamd S. Sajap, Norhayu Asib, Arfan A. Gibal., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Objectives. Neuropsychological tests employ several cognitive functions to a different extent. Thus, factor structures of various neuropsychological batteries and their analyses show both similarities and discrepancies. The study explores the Czech comprehensive neuropsychological battery for SuperAgers (older people with excellent cognition) from the cross-sectional and longitudinal point of view in respect to its factor structure and its stability over time. Sample and settings. The study sample consisted of 361 healthy older adults (age 60–94) assessed in years 2012 and 2015 with cognitive tests battery. Statistical analyses. Data were analyzed with confirmatory factor and invariance analyses over time using multiple competing theory-driven models of cognition based on previous studies consisting of 1–5 factors. Results. The results show that the best fitting model consists of four factors: verbal memory, attention/working memory, executive functions, and language. The results also suggest that the four factorial structure of cognition in healthy older people was the most stable. This reflects their cognitive functioning and highlights the need to identify the SuperAgers on the basis of performance in multiple cognitive domains. The authors propose that these four domains should be taken into account for identifying SuperAgers and that comparing competing models should be a standard procedure in future studies.Limitations. The visuospatial or nonverbal memory factors were not represented in our study with relevant tests. Our sample consisted of healthy older adults. and Cíle. Neuropsychologické testy sledují v různé míře řadu kognitivních funkcí. Faktorové struktury různých neuropsychologických baterií a jejich analýzy tak vykazují jak podobnosti, tak 49Metodické studie/rozdíly. Studie zkoumá českou komplexní neuropsychologickou baterii pro SuperAgery (starší osoby s vynikajícími kognitivními schopnostmi) z průřezového a longitudinálního hlediska s ohledem na její faktorovou strukturu a její stabilitu v čase. Soubor. Soubor tvořilo 361 zdravých starších osob (ve věku 60–94 let), které byly v letech 2012 a 2015 hodnoceny pomocí baterie kognitivních testů. Statistické analýzy. Data byla analyzována konfirmační faktorovou analýzou a analýzou invariance v čase s využitím několika konkurenčních modelů kognice založených na teoriích vycházejících z předchozích studií a sestávajících z 1-5 faktorů. Výsledky. Výsledky ukazují, že nejlepší model se skládá ze čtyř faktorů: verbální paměť, pozornost/pracovní paměť, exekutivní funkce a jazyk. Tento model kognice byl také nejstabilnější. Model odráží kognitivní funkce zdravých seniorů a zdůrazňuje potřebu identifikovat SuperAgery na základě výkonu ve více kognitivních oblastech. Autoři navrhují, aby tyto čtyři domény byly brány v úvahu při identifikaci SuperAgerů a aby porovnávání konkurenčních modelů bylo standardním postupem v budoucích studiích. Omezení. Ve studii nebyly zastoupeny faktory vizuálně-prostorové funkce nebo neverbální paměti s příslušnými testy. Vzorek tvořili zdraví starší dospělí.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) belongs to cardiac disorders characterized by impaired closure of mitral leaflets. We studied adolescent group of patients with MVP suffering from symptomatology that cannot be explained by mitral regurgitation alone. Several studies suggested that symptoms can be explained by autonomic, in particular sympathetic-linked dysfunction. Thus, we assessed non-invasive sympathetic indices of blood pressure and heart rate variability and electrodermal activity (EDA). Fifty-three adolescents with MVP (age: 15.1±0.4 years) and 43 healthy age- and gender-matched adolescents (age: 14.9±0.4 years) were examined. Blood pressure, heart rate and EDA were continuously recorded during 6-min rest. Evaluated parameters were: low frequency band of systolic blood pressure variability, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, mean RR interval, cardiac sympathetic indices: symbolic dynamics (0V%), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), pre-ejection period (PEP), and EDA. Our findings revealed significantly higher systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure values, shortened mean RR interval, increased 0V%, and shortened LVET in MVP patients vs. controls (p=0.028, p<0.001, p=0.002, p<0.001, p=0.050, p<0.001; respectively). Our study revealed enhanced cardiovascular sympathetic regulation in adolescent MVP patients. We suggest that evaluation of noninvasive sympathetic parameters could represent potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of cardiovascular complications associated with MVP already at adolescent age.
Two new microleafhopper genera of Empoascini within the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Condensella Xu, Dietrich & Qin gen. n., based on the type species C. filamenta Xu, Dietrich & Qin sp. n., and Endogena Xu, Dietrich & Qin gen. n., based on the type species E. flava Xu, Dietrich & Qin sp. n., are described from southern China and Thailand. Male habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of the two new species are provided. Comparative notes on related genera are provided. Phylogenetic relationships and the status of genus groups within the tribe are also discussed., Ye Xu, Christopher H. Dietrich, Wenhui Zhao, Daozheng Qin., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Taxonomic issues within Trypanorhyncha, e.g., the inaccurate light microscopic visualisation of the hook patterns, are solvable by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). We applied CLSM imaging to study Trygonicola macropora (Shipley et Hornell, 1906) and Dollfusiella michiae (Southwell, 1929) from Neotrygon caeruliopunctata Last, White et Séret from Bali, Indonesia. To illustrate the strength and limitations of CLSM, images of Otobothrium cysticum (Mayer, 1842) and Symbothriorhynchus tigaminacantha Palm, 2004, both permanent mounts from a collection, were also processed. The CLSM created image stacks of many layers, and edited with IMARIS Software, these layers resulted in three-dimensional images of the armature patterns and internal organs of both species. BABB (benzylalcohol and benzylbenzuolate) clearing was applied to T. macropora. We conclude that trypanorhynch cestodes stained with Mayer-Schuberg's acetic carmine permanently mounted in Canada balsam are suitable for CLSM, allowing detailed analyses of museum type-material as well as freshly collected and processed worms. BABB resulted in imaging the testes in detail, suggesting other stains to be used for CLSM in trypanorhynch cestode research. Application of CLSM for studies of other cestode groups is highly recommended.
Mitochondrial retrograde signaling is a pathway of communication from mitochondria to the nucleus. Recently, natural mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) polymorphisms (haplogroups) received increasing attention in the pathophysiology of human common diseases. However, retrograde effects of mtDNA variants on such traits are difficult to study in humans. The conplastic strains represent key animal models to elucidate regulatory roles of mtDNA haplogroups on defined nuclear genome background. To analyze the relationship between mtDNA variants and cardiometabolic traits, we derived a set of rat conplastic strains (SHR-mtBN, SHR-mtF344 and SHR-mtLEW), harboring all major mtDNA haplotypes present in common inbred strains on the nuclear background of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The BN, F344 and LEW mtDNA differ from the SHR in multiple amino acid substitutions in protein coding genes and also in variants of tRNA and rRNA genes. Different mtDNA haplotypes were found to predispose to various sets of cardiometabolic phenotypes which provided evidence for significant retrograde effects of mtDNA in the SHR. In the future, these animals could be used to decipher individual biochemical components involved in the retrograde signaling.