Investigation of the darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) specimens from the Natural History Museum Basel (Switzerland) resulted in the discovery of two new species of Afrotropical toktokkies (tribe Sepidiini). Both taxa provided novel morphological data which, in the light of previously acquired molecular evidence, challenged the taxonomic coherence of the genus Dichtha. To accommodate this information a new genus Bouchardium gen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe genus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Platynotini, Eurynotina) is revised. Two new species and one new synonymy are presented along with new diagnoses, descriptions, a distribution map, and key to species. The resulting species of are: , Koch (= Koch ), , Koch, and Fairmaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn many extreme arid ecosystems, insects constitute major faunal components and are key contributors in nutrient cycling. Previous research on xerophily in insects has focused on adult forms. This study investigates skeletomuscular and behavioural adaptations of the Kalahari sandworm beetle larvae (Gonopus tibialis Fabricius) for dwelling in the sand.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study of ancient DNA is revolutionizing our understanding of paleo-ecology and the evolutionary history of species. Insects are essential components in many ecosystems and constitute the most diverse group of animals. Yet they are largely neglected in ancient DNA studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To determine reference values and tolerance limits of between-side differences for the calibers of the common femoral artery (CFA), superficial femoral artery (SFA), popliteal artery (PA), dorsalis pedis artery (DPA), and posterior tibial artery (PTA).
Materials And Methods: Calibers of arteries, defined as the largest distance between internal hyperechogenic lines of the intima-media complex of the arterial wall, were measured during the diastole phase determined from echo-tracking B mode ultrasound scanning and grey-scale ultrasound in 228 healthy volunteers aged 18-81 years (43.1 ± 16.
The taxonomic concept of the genus Fåhraeus, 1870 is tested and revised based on newly identified material. The following new species are described: , , , and Kamiński. Wilke, 1925 is considered as a junior subjective synonym of Péringuey, 1899.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis catalogue includes all valid family-group (six subtribes), genus-group (55 genera, 33 subgenera), and species-group names (1009 species and subspecies) of Sepidiini darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae), and their available synonyms. For each name, the author, year, and page number of the description are provided, with additional information (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBased on the newly established synonymy of the type species (i.e., Menederopsis constrictus Koch, 1954 = Archinamaqua lyleae Schawaller, 2012 syn.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe genus Anaxius Fåhraeus, 1870 (Tenebrionidae: Helopinina) is revised to include seven Southern African species, four of which are new. A taxonomic treatment of the genus is provided including a morphological study, new species descriptions, keys, illustrations, and notes on species distributions. The following species are treated: Anaxius bloubergensis sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe tracheal (respiratory) system is regarded as one of the key elements which enabled insects to conquer terrestrial habitats and, as a result, achieve extreme species diversity. Despite this fact, anatomical data concerning this biological system is relatively scarce, especially in an ontogenetic context. The purpose of this study is to provide novel and reliable information on the post-embryonic development of the tracheal system of holometabolous insects using micro-computed tomography methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe genus Tragardhus Koch, 1956 (Pedinini: Melambiina) is revised to include nine Afrotropical species, five of which are new. A taxonomic treatment of the genus is provided including a morphological study, new species descriptions, keys, illustrations, and notes on species distributions. The following species are included: Tragardhus (Mitragardhus) nodosus Koch, 1956, T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree new species representing closely related genera of the trigonopoid Platynotina are described from the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in South Africa: Atrocrates kandai sp. nov., A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group is revised. Selinus parallelus Ancey, 1877, considered by some previous authors as incertae sedis Platynotina species, is transferred to the genus Quadrideres. Q.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The rs12526453 (C/G) is a single nucleotide polymorphism in an intron of the PHACTR1 gene (phosphatase and actin regulator 1). The C allele is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease in an unknown mechanism. We investigated its association with long-term overall mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated invasively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArthropod Struct Dev
May 2015
In recent years, μCT-based studies of the insect tracheal system have become an increasingly important area of research. Nevertheless, the methods proposed in previous research for investigating the respiratory system in the three-dimensional space were described and tested based on a relatively small number of specimens. Additionally, the individuals studied in all these cases represented only a single post-embryonic stadium - pupa or imago - of a particular insect species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOn the basis of a newly performed cladistic analysis a new classification of the representatives of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera, Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 sensu Iwan 2002a, is provided. Eleoselinus is described as a new genus. The genus Monodius, previously synonymized with Selinus by Iwan (2002), is redescribed and considered as a separate genus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. miRNA dysregulation has been associated with phenotypic changes, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Objectives: The aim of the study was to obtain a list of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to CVDs, with computationally predicted effect on miRNA binding sites, which would verify the hypothesis that miRNA dysregulation can lead to the development of CVDs.
A second species of the genus Kochogaster Kamiński et Raś (K. gerardi sp. n.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe taxonomic and distributional data concerning the representatives of the genus Anchophthalmops were revised. Lectotypes for Anchophthalmopsfoveipennis and A. ventralis were designated to fix the taxonomic status of these species.
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