Basal Piece Research Articles

A Rare Neurological Sequela: Pontine Infarct Conducing to Millard-gubler Syndrome

Background: Ventral Pontine Syndrome, likewise called Millard Gubler Syndrome (MGS) or Facial abducens hemiplegia disorder is a neurodegenerative problem that is described by one-sided lesions influencing the basal piece of the caudal pons including fascicles of the abducens and the facial nerves and the pyramidal lot filaments. Clinical findings incorporate fringe Facial Nerve Paralysis and neuromuscular shortcoming or loss of motion of at least one appendage. This is an exceptionally uncommon condition assessed to influence 1 out of 10, 00, 000. Men (aged 40-60 years) are bound to foster the condition than ladies.
 Case Nuances: A 45-year-old male patient had intensely passed a-sided facial droop 4 days prior to presenting with weakness on the left half of his upper and lower appendages. He, along with his attender likewise referenced that he had recently had a 2-minute loss of cognizance, discombobulation, and vertical shifting of the right eye both when he lost his consciousness. He had low serum Vitamin D and was determined to have Millard Gubler Condition as an Infarct in the pontine locale was recognized in imaging, and was dealt with restoratively and with Non-intrusive treatment.
 Discussion: Millard-Gubler disorder might cause cerebellar ataxia if the paramedian pontine dead tissue region somewhat expands horizontally, influencing the centre cerebellar peduncles. Detached pontine localized necrosis might have decent progress whenever analyzed and overseen early.
 Conclusion: MGS is typically found in instances of brainstem cancers, drain, tuberculoma, parasitic contamination, Ischemic stroke secondary to impediment of the basilar supply route, and injury.

A new species of the genus Euboeus Boieldieu, 1865 from Northern Iran (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini).

A new tenebrionid species of the genus Euboeus Boieldieu, 1865, E. kandovanensis sp. n., is described from Alborz Province, Iran. It was collected in high mountains at an altitude of near 3.000 m. The new species belongs to the species-group huedepohli and the subgroup huedepohli within this group, which unites high mountain species with rugosity on the basal piece (dorsal surface) of the aedeagus. Euboeus kandovanensis sp. n. is most similar to E. huedepohli (Kulzer, 1964) and E. kasatkini Nabozhenko, 2022 and differs in the shape of the pronotum, the sculpture of the prothoracic hypomera, the structure of the metatibiae in both sexes, and the structure of the aedeagus.

Bringing order to a complex system: phenotypic and genotypic evidence contribute to the taxonomy of Tityus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) and support the description of a new species.

We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis including a survey for overlooked phenotypic characters. Based on both analysis and characters a new cave-dwelling species is described: Tityus (Tityus) spelaeussp. nov. from the Russão II cave, Posse, state of Goiás, Central Brazil. Characters such as the glandular regions of the female pectinal basal piece and basal middle lamellae of pectines, and the distribution of the ventral setae of telotarsi I–IV proved to be useful to constructing the taxonomy of species and species groups of Tityus. The new species is a member of the Tityustrivittatus species-group of Tityus (Tityus) and can be readily recognized by the immaculate coloration pattern and the more developed glandular region on the female pectinal basal piece. In addition, we provide a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships observed within Tityus, on the relevance of the new phenotypic characters to the modern taxonomy of the genus Tityus, and to the records of Brazilian cave scorpions.

Pygidiapion De Sousa amp; Mermudes, a new genus of Apioninae (Brentidae: Apioninae: Apionini) associated with Fabaceae from Brazil, with the description of a new species and transfer of Apion zikani Heller, 1922.

The genus Pygidiapion De Sousa Mermudes gen. n., described and illustrated here, includes two species from Brazil: the type-species Pygidiapion zeppelinii De Sousa Mermudes sp. n. (type-locality: João Pessoa, Paraiba state), which develops in flower buds of Pterocarpus violaceus Vogel (Fabaceae); and Pygidiapion zikani (Heller, 1922) comb. n. (from Apion) (type-locality: Passa Quatro, Minas Gerais state), which develops in flower buds of Dalbergia foliolosa Benth. (Fabaceae). Pygidiapion is defined by the following set of characters: rostrum of males with two elongate longitudinal and punctate latero-ventral sulci; hind wings with small radial window; hypomeral lobes divided by median suture and sternellum distinctly exposed; meso- and metatibiae mucronate; pygidium of the apionine incomplete type; and tegminal plate fused with basal piece. Pygidiapion zeppelinii is diagnosed by: meso- and metatibiae mucronate; pygidium distinctly modified, with deep transverse dorsal sulcus, medially deeper and rounded, and proximal marginal rim angulate (apical flange), corresponding to the distal margin, which is emarginate; tegminal plate fused to basal piece, apical portion of parameroid lobes weakly notched medially, each side of suprafenestral plate with five macrochaetae, fenestral width 1.25 times length, separated by about 3.2 times fenestral width, linea arquata visible, prostegium protruding medially, tegminal apodeme 0.76 as long as basal piece, with apex narrow and rounded. Pygidiapion zikani is distinguished from P. zeppelinii by smaller size; head, rostrum and antennae brownish; scutellum subquadrate; and by association with Dalbergia spp. (Fabaceae). Association principally with the papilionoid group of Fabaceae suggest allocation of the new taxon to the subtribe Oxystomatina.

Hydrochus spanglerorum n. sp., a remarkable, highly derived species from Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae).

A new species of Neotropical Hydrochus, H. spanglerorum n. sp., is described, based on specimens collected in Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname. The new species has unusual external and male genitalia morphology, which are described, discussed and illustrated. Among other unusual characters, the males have markedly pitted and iridescent femora, and the male genitalia have the parameres and basal piece fused, and the aedeagus dorsal basal lobe located near the distal end of the male genitalia.

A New Genus and Species of Darkling Beetles of the Tribe Blaptini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Afghanistan and Taxonomic Changes in the Tribe

A new genus and species Medvedevia glebigen. et sp. n. of the tribe Blaptini is described from eastern Nuristan, Afghanistan. The new genus belongs to the subtribe Blaptina. It is closely related to the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775, which is evidenced by its body shape, structure of tarsomeres, and presence of the mucron. Medvedeviagen. n. differs from all Blaptini in the following characters: very wide mentum concealing the base of the labium and maxillae; not beaded pronotum; very wide processes of the mesoventrite and of abdominal ventrite 1; unusual structure of the aedeagus (basal piece is weakly C-curved, parameres are deeply cleft). New synonymy is established: subtribe Blaptina Leach, 1815 = Dilina Ren in Ren et al., 2016, syn. n.

A New Species of Vindex Kaup (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Passalidae: Passalinae: Proculini) from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Vindex chimalapensis Ariza-Marín, Reyes-Castillo, Moctezuma & Sánchez-Huerta, a new species, is described from the cloud forest in Oaxaca, México. Vindex chimalapensis is like V. sculptilis Bates in the form of lateral elytral punctures and glabrous epipleura, but has dorsal punctures in the pronotum and the form of the aedeagus differs on the basal piece. Male genitalia, female genitalia, and head are shown in photographs. Vindex chimalapensis is the only species known from this genus with dorsal punctures on the pronotum. Ecology, distribution, and biogeography of Vindex and the Mountain Mesoamerican distribution pattern are discussed, with emphasis on V. chimalapensis.

Nueva especie de passalus (MITRORHINUS) kaup, 1871 (coleoptera: scarabaeoidea: passalidae) del extremo oeste de la amazonia brasileña

Passalus (Mitrorhinus) nodifer sp. nov., del extremo occidental de la Amazonía brasileña en el estado de Acre se describe e ilustra. La nueva especie puede ser reconocida por la cabeza con el único tubérculo secundario conspicuo y fuerte; quillas frontales rectas y bien marcadas; mandíbulas con dos dientes apicales; edeago con parameros reducidos con margen apical grande y redondeada y pieza basal con una muesca profunda en forma de V en la región medial.

A new species of Tityus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from El Edén Cave, Colombia.

A new scorpion species, Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov., is herein described based on male and female specimens collected in El Edén Cave and its vicinities (Tolima department, Colombia). The new species, which becomes the first scorpion described from a Colombian cave, is probably a eutroglophile or subtroglophile element; however, additional studies are needed to determine the degree of association of the species to the cave. Among other features, the new species is characterized by having a relatively thin body, a yellow-to-chestnut coloration, sternites IV to VI with visible lateral longitudinal carinae, and the basal piece of the middle lamella of the pectines dilated in male and female.

Synopsis of the genus Amphicoma Latreille (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae) of Taiwan with special reference to the male genitalia

The three Amphicoma species, including Amphicoma lalashanensis n. sp., from Taiwan are reviewed with diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, distributional data and natural history of each species. The analysis of new sets of characters on the genital capsule, flagellum articulating to temones and basal piece extension of the male genitalia were found to be helpful in delimitating the three Amphicoma species in addition to the previously established diagnostic paramere characters. Two other undocumented character states on median lobe of the male genitalia are also discussed.

The male postabdomen of the “ancestral” archostematan beetle Tetraphalerus bruchi Heller, 1913 (Ommatidae) and its phylogenetic significance

External and internal features of the male postabdomen of Tetraphalerus bruchi were examined with a broad spectrum of morphological techniques and are described in detail. The conditions found in males of Tetraphalerus are compared to those in other archostematan beetles and members of other coleopteran suborders. The far-reaching reduction of the sternite I, structural modifications of sternite II, the retracted condition of the terminal segments, and ventromedially fused apodemes arising from the anterior margin of tergite IX are likely autapomorphies of Coleoptera. The male postabdomen of Tetraphalerus is less derived than in most other groups of Coleoptera. The sclerotized elements are symmetrical. In contrast to earlier statements on the archostematan male genital apparatus a distinctly developed, sclerotized basal piece is present. The aedeagus is trilobed and all elements of the copulatory apparatus are distinct. The muscular equipment is simple and moderately developed. All muscles (except the transverse muscles 61 and 62) occur pairwise and symmetrically. The distinct increase of the number of postabdominal muscles in representatives of the higher lineages of Coleoptera is likely linked with a torsion of the copulatory apparatus, which also results in asymmetries of the sclerotised parts. The testes of Tetraphalerus are long, multi-coiled tubes like in other archostematans, Myxophaga (Torridincola) and Adephaga. The presence of a deep notch on the parameres is a synapomorphy of Tetraphalerus and Omma. Curved parameres, a shortened distal portion, and a distinctly shortented penis are potential synapomorphies of Omma rutherfordi and Omma mastersi. The large size of the sclerotized part of the phallobase (‘basal piece’) and the division of the sclerotization of sternum IX are potential groundplan autapomorphies of Archostemata, with secondary modification of the latter feature in Cupedidae. The reduced condition of the sclerotization of sternum VIII is an apomorphic condition which has likely evolved independently in Tetraphalerus and Paracupes. Further anatomical investigation of the male genital apparatus of Coleoptera and holometabolous insects in general is required for a reliable morphological and phylogenetic interpretation. Concerning the presence or absence of particular sclerotizations (e.g., ‘basal piece’ of phallobase) histological section series and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy can add more precise information to what can be observed using permanent preparations of macerated specimens.

Revised taxonomy and redescription of two species of the Peripatidae (Onychophora) from Brazil: a step towards consistent terminology of morphological characters

Based on the supposed quadrangular shape of the basal pieces of dorsal primary papillae, several species of the “Caribbean group” of the neotropical Peripatidae, including Macroperipatus acacioi and M. machadoi, were assigned to Macroperipatus. So far, the quadrangular shape of dermal papillae was confirmed only for M. torquatus, the type species of the genus. Previous observations revealed that the putatively quadrangular shape reported from other species of the “Caribbean group” might be a fixation artefact. Hence, detailed reinvestigations of all putative Macroperipatus species are required to clarify their taxonomy. In the present study, two species of the “Caribbean group”, M. acacioi and M. machadoi, are analyzed and redescribed, based on type material and topotype specimens collected at the corresponding type localities. The original descriptions of both species are complemented with data obtained from scanning electron microscopy, in addition to conventional morphological methods. The quadrangular bases of primary papillae are shown to be absent from M. acacioi and M. machadoi, thus suggesting that these two species are not closely related to M. torquatus. The new data instead suggest that these two species are representatives of Epiperipatus: E. acacioi comb. nov. and E. machadoi comb. nov.. The present study highlights the use of scanning electron microscopy for clarifying the taxonomy and phylogeny of the neotropical Peripatidae. It also reveals gaps in taxon sampling and problems regarding the ambiguous terminology of morphological characters used for describing the anatomy of peripatids. An attempt is made towards a consistent terminology for species (re)descriptions and studies of onychophoran anatomy and phylogeny.

Dendroidopsis and Frontodendroidopsis: Two New Asian Genera of Fire-Colored Beetles (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with Descriptions of Two New Species of Dendroidopsis, and Lectotype Designations for Dendroides assamensis Blair and Pseudopyrochroa binhana Pic

Dendroidopsis and Frontodendroidopsis, two new Asian genera of pyrochroine Pyrochroidae, are described. Males of both new genera exhibit striking similarities to Dendroides Latreille (compound eyes and antennae). However, the cranial apparatus and male genitalia suggest affinities with the Asian genus Pseudopyrochroa. Elongate parameres in conjunction with a shortened basal piece, enlarged compound eyes, and strongly pectinate antennae are putitive synapomorphies for males of Dendroidopsis; a unique cranial modification, enlarged compound eyes, and strongly pectinate antennae with an elongate antennal pedicel are putitive synapomorphies for Frontodendroidopsis. Dendroidopsis consists of the Indian D. assamensis (Blair), formerly assigned to Dendroides, the Vietnamese D. binhana (Pic), transferred from Pseudopyrochroa Pic, and two new species: D. robusticornis (Malaysia) and D. sumatrensis (Indonesia: Sumatra). Frontodendroidopsis is monotypic, consisting solely of the Japanese F. ocularis (Lewis), originally assigned to Dendroides and more recently attributed to Pseudodendroides Blair. Status of the type series for both Dendroides assamensis Blair and Pseudopyrochroa binhana Pic is discussed; lectotypes are proposed for both to help insure nomenclatural stability for these poorly known species.

Different roles of feeding and protection in diel microhabitat choice of sexes in Idotea baltica.

In Idotea baltica, a marine isopod that lives and feeds on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus, microhabitat choice differs between sexes so that males are found more often than females on the light-coloured and exposed apical parts of the alga. We investigated how the requirements of avoiding visual predators and feeding were related to microhabitat choice in relation to diurnal and life-cycle stage in males and females. Faced with a choice between an apical and a basal piece of the alga, females spent more time than males on the basal piece, but this difference was not due to food choice. Faced with a choice between a dark, concealing and a light, exposing background, the preference for a dark background was stronger at day than at night, and stronger in females than in males. This suggests that a sex difference in the importance of avoiding visual predators can explain the sex difference in microhabitat choice. Further, the preference for a dark background and night feeding both increased with age, suggesting that feeding is increasingly subordinated to the need to avoid visual predators. Our experiment found no effect of the presence of the opposite sex on microhabitat choice. Our results support the hypothesis that the sexes trade off feeding against predation risk differently, presumably because growth is more important to males than to females, which have more to gain by protection and therefore spend more time on the lower parts of the alga.

Cell sorting during the regeneration of Hydra from reaggregated cells

The role of cell sorting in the reorganization of Hydra cell reaggregates was studied. We quantitatively labeled ectodermal and endodermal cells by incubating whole animals in fluorescent beads or by injecting the beads into the gastric cavity. Beads were stably incorporated into the cells by phagocytosis. Our data show that dramatic cell sorting processes drive the formation of ectoderm and endoderm within the first 12 hr of reaggregation. After the ectoderm is established, no further rearrangement could be observed. We also tested the ability of cells to sort out with respect to their original position in Hydra by dissociating labeled apical and basal pieces of Hydra and measuring the clumping of labeled cells during reorganization. There was no increase in the clumping of cells during reorganization indicating that cell sorting is not involved in the formation of early activation centers. There was also no preferential incorporation of apically derived (presumptive head) tissue into tentacles that subsequently formed, indicating that after dissociation into single cells there is no predisposition of erstwhile presumptive head tissue to form heads.

Microamputation of somatic embryos of the domestic carrot reveals apical control of axis elongation and root regeneration

Abstract Somatic heart- and torpedo-stage embryos of the domesticated carrot, Daucus carota L., were severed at their midlengths to produce two halves termed apical and basal pieces. These pieces may be grafted or kept separate. Grafted embryos developed normally, with the exception that they tended to mature earlier than uncut control embryos. If kept separate, the apices grew at rates similar to grafted apices, while the basal ends, behaving as if they had been released from an inhibition of growth, rapidly elongated and matured (e.g. produced root hairs and a root cap) 3–4 days earlier than uncut controls. Grafted embryos treated with the transport inhibitor TIBA (2,3,5triiodobenzoic acid) had basal sections that behaved as if the sections had been kept separate. Additionally, resupplying IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) via a novel wick-bridge forced isolated basal pieces to behave as if the embryo apex were present. This apparent inhibition of root growth by the apex appears to be controlled by either the polar transport of auxin, and/or the accumulation of auxin at the root end. These experiments suggest that polar auxin transport has a greater influence on root, rather than on apex, development in these embryos.

The application of scanning electron microscopy to the systematics of the neotropical Peripatidae (Onychophora)

The taxonomy of the New World Peripatidae is poorly known both because of their rarity and difficulty in the determination of specimens. The distribution of papillae on the dorsal integument is an important taxonomic; character but is difficult to interpret under the light microscope. In this study the integument of a range of New World onychophoran species was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-one species were examined. Three species of Peripatopsidae were also studied for comparison. This technique revealed (a) the pattern of distribution of papillae on the integument, and (b) the morphology of the papillae. A pattern of three smaller papillae between two large was common to many species. Differences observed in some species were probably modifications of this basic pattern. There was interspecific variation in the number of scales in the apical and basal pieces of the papillae. The specimens examined fell into two main groups: (1) species with more than three scale ranks in the apical piece (Oroperipatus and Peripatus) and (2) species with three or fewer scale ranks (Epiperipatus, Macroperipatus and others). The results thus support a distinction between Epiperipatus and Peripatus. However Macroperipatus is shown not to be a natural group. The relationships of some species which did not fit into this pattern are discussed. This paper shows scanning electron microscopy to be a potentially useful technique in a revision of the New World Peripatidae.

Functional morphology of the pedicellariae of the asteroid Marthasterias glacialis (Echinodermata)

Marthasterias glacialis bears two kinds of pedicellariae. The straight pedicellariae are single and occur everywhere on the asteroid body surface except in the ambulacral groove. The crossed pedicellariae are clustered on mobile structures (the rosettes) build around marginal and abactinal spines. Basically, each pedicellaria has a head and a stalk. A skeleton occurs only in the pedicellarial head. It consists of two valves and a basal piece. Muscular bundles are anchored on these skeletal ossicles. The straight pedicellariae have two pairs of adductor muscles (the inner and the outer adductors) and one pair of abductor muscles, these latter being weakly developed. Longitudinal muscle fibers occur all along the stalk of straight pedicellariae. The crossed pedicellariae have two pairs of adductor muscles (the distal and the proximal adductors) and two pairs of abductor muscles (the distal and the proximal abductors). The proximal adductors of crossed pedicellariae are homologous to the stalk muscles of straight pedicellariae. The pedicellariae are able to react to direct and indirect tactile stimuli. There is a great deal of individual variation among pedicellarial responses. Moreover, the reactions occur at random and lack coordination. The seemingly aberrant behavior of the pedicellariae is interpreted as a preventive activity that protects the asteroid body surface against unwanted materials and organisms.

— Zur Morphologie und Funktion des — Helodiden-Aedoeagus (Col.)1

AbstractThe structure and function of the aedeagus were investigated in 9 genera of the family Helodidae, most thoroughly in Helodes and Cyphon. On the basis of this investigation, the different types of tegmen and penis represented within the family are described. The tegmen of the Helodidae, which is either entirely devoid of a sclerotized "basal piece" or possesses only rudiments of such, may be divided into three main types; in addition there are a few quite aberrant cases. The penis (median lobe), more interesting from the standpoint of comparative morphology, is extremely diversified. A separation between two main types could however be maintained: one represented by genus Helodes alone, the other by all remaining genera. The Helodes type is more primitive, though at the same time rather specialized in certain details. The second penis type is still more specialized. Its main characteristic is a separate triangular sclerite (a "trigonium") situated ventrally in the distal part of penis. In certain genera it is cleft medially into a pair of moveable appendages ("prosthemata"). A splitting of the penis apex into two lobes ("parameroids") occurs in most species of Helodes, but also among the majority of remaining genera. The evolution of the penis from a supposed primitive initial form towards the Helodes type on one side and the highly specialized type represented by certain species of Cyphon on the other, is outlined and discussed. The importance of a gradual change of the copulatory method for this evolution is particularly stressed. The morphology of the aedeagus as basis for the systematics of the Helodidae is briefly treated. The investigation was also extended to cover representatives of other families, generally regarded as related to the Helodidae. Most of them possess an aedeagus of a rather primitive trilobed type. Deviating from this pattern are the Dascillidae, with the penis completely cleft into one dorsal and one ventral sclerite, and also the Psephenidae. In this family, the penis is supplied with a separate sclerite, apparently homologous with the "trigonium" of the Helodidae and with a similar evolution.

Cephalic and pharyngeal structures in microfilariae revealed by staining.

(1) Staining methods using paraldehyde-fuchsin, chrome-haematoxylin, and alcian blue or astra blue following oxidation, have demonstrated the shape of the hook and other structures on the cephalic space of microfilariae. These structures are described for three species of the genus Brugia, B. malayi, B. pahangi and B. patei, and are compared with the related structures found in the genera Wuchereria, Loa, Cardiofilaria, Onchocerca, Mansonella, Dipetalonema and Litomosoides.(2) In Brugia the hook of the microfilaria is V-shaped and is supported basally by a pair of transverse basal pieces which are closely associated with an oral ring. Similar structures are found in the microfilariae of Wuchereria and Loa except that in Loa the hook is supported below by a semi-circular arch. In Brugia there is a row of three spines transversely on the cephalic space opposite the hook complex, the spines being markedly shorter in B. patei than in the other two species; in Wuchereria there is a single transverse row of four spines, and in Loa there are two or three transverse rows of spines, No spines arranged opposite the hook complex were observed in the other genera. The hook and associated structures in Cardiofilaria are similar in arrangement to those of Loa, and the small structures in Mansonella can possibly be derived from a similar arrangement. In Onchocerca the hook has the appearance of a broad plate and in Dipetalonema perstans part of the surface of the cephalic space appears to be involved with the small pointed “hook”. In Litomosoides the tip of the cephalic space is covered by a helmet-like structure carrying a pointed beak-like projection.(3) It is suggested, from their staining reactions, that the cephalic structures of microfilariae are particularly rich in disulphide bonds, suggesting the presence of cystine.(4) The staining methods also demonstrate an internal thread of tissue in microfilariae which extends in Brugia from the tip of the cephalic space back to the innen korper. A similar thread is present in the microfilaria of Wuchereria, Loa, Cardiofilaria and Mansonella but was not observed in the other genera, although a short thread of tissue was stained in the cephalic space in Onchocerca and Litomosoides. In Brugia, the buccal capsule, the pharynx and the pharyngo-intestinal valve develop around the pharyngeal thread of the microfilaria. The extreme end of the thread, around which the pharyngo-intestinal valve develops, differs in its staining reactions from the rest of the thread.(5) The staining reactions of the pharyngeal thread in the microfilaria of Brugia show resemblances to those of “elastic” fibres in other invertebrates and oxytalan fibres of vertebrates. The pharyngeal thread appears to contain an acid mucopolysaccharide component.(6) The possible functions of the cephalic and pharyngeal structures in the microfilariae are discussed briefly.(7) A staining routine for demonstrating the structures described in this paper is given in an appendix.