Brown Markings Research Articles

A new species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Lai Chau Province, Vietnam.

The genus Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) was originally described, based on the type species from Sarawak (Malaysia), Leptobrachella mjöbergi Smith. The taxa in the group were previously classified into different genera, i.e, Paramegophrys Liu; Leptolalax Dubois; Lalax Delorme, Dubois, Grosjean & Ohler; and Lalos Dubois, Grosjean, Ohler, Adler & Zhao. However, Yuan et al. synonymised Leptolalax with Leptobrachella in 2017. Members of Leptobrachella inhabit the forest floor and rocky streams in hilly evergreen forests. They are widely distributed from southern China and Myanmar through mainland Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia and the island of Borneo. However, the species diversity of the genus was indicated to be underestimated by phylogenetic analyses and a series of new species have been discovered recently. In Vietnam, 34 species of Leptobrachella are currently known and 75% (or 24 species) have been described or newly recorded from the country since 2010. We describe a new species, Leptobrachellahuynhi sp. nov., from Sin Ho District, Lai Chau Province. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by genetic divergences ranging from 3.62 to 18.51% (16S rRNA gene) and morphological differences: size medium (SVL 37.8-40.2 mm in adult females); head longer than wide; tympanum distinct; skin on entire dorsum shagreened; toes without webbing and with narrow lateral fringes; supratympanic ridge slightly rough with few nodules; dorsum grey-brown with indistinct dark brown markings; an interorbital region with a stacking double Y-shaped marking; centre of belly creamy-white, outer edges of belly brown with small whitish spots; iris copper. The new species is the 35th species of the genus Leptobrachella known from Vietnam.

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Uncovers Critical Genes and Pathways Involved in Soybean Response to Soybean Mosaic Virus

Background: Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a globally prevalent and detrimental virus that belongs to the Potyvirus genus. Pathogenic viruses of this genus are typically linear in shape, with dimensions ranging between 630 and 750 nm, and are composed of single-stranded RNA and proteins. We have developed an SMV-resistant soybean line, Dongnong 93-046, which has no significant changes in disease resistance identification in the adult plants and has neat grains with no obvious brown or black markings. To explore the defense mechanisms of soybean against SMV, we performed comparative transcriptomic sequencing of the leaves between the Dongnong 93-046 inoculated with SMV at 8 h (T) and the non-inoculated control (C) on the HiSeq2000 platform. In addition, we performed non-targeted metabolomic sequencing of leaves from the treatment and control groups. Results: We identified a total of 41,189 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 9809 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) met the criteria of |Log2FC (Fold Change)| ≥ 1 and adjusted p-value ≤ 0.001. Among the 41,189 DEGs identified, 9196 exhibited FPKM values greater than 10. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the 9809 DEGs revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in resistance-related pathways such as plant–pathogen interaction, linoleic acid metabolism, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and plant hormone signaling transduction. Functional analysis using MapMan software identified multiple DEGs that were associated with pathways such as jasmonate synthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) using the differential metabolites and the 9196 DEGs revealed a strong correlation between gene clusters within the Turquoise module and the content of jasmonate-related metabolites. Further functional enrichment analysis of the 894 genes within the gene clusters showed a significant and repeated enrichment of pathways related to plant–pathogen interaction, linoleic acid metabolism, and plant hormone signaling transduction. Subsequent focused pathway analysis identified key genes involved in plant hormone signaling transduction pathways, such as the jasmonate ZIM domain protein Glyma.16G010000, the gene Glyma.01G235600 encoding the essential diterpene reductase required for jasmonate synthesis in the jasmonate biosynthesis pathway, and the transcription factor Glyma.02G232600 involved in the plant–pathogen interaction pathway, among others. This study provides a theoretical framework for understanding the resistance mechanism of soybean cultivar Dongnong 93-046 against the SMV N1 strain, offers potential gene resources for breeding soybean varieties with resistance to SMV, and paves the way for new strategies to control SMV infection, enhance resistance, and improve crop yield and quality.

Two new hypogean species of the genus Triplophysa (Osteichthyes, Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae) from Guizhou Province, Southwest China, with underestimated diversity.

Two new species of the genus Triplophysa from southwestern Guizhou Province, China, are described. These are Triplophysaziyunensis Wu, Luo, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. and Triplophysayaluwang Lan, Liu, Zhou & Zhou, sp. nov. from Maoying Town, Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, China. Triplophysaziyunensis Wu, Luo, Xiao & Zhou, sp. nov. is distinguished from other hypogean species of the genus Triplophysa by having a combination of the following characteristics: body naked, scaleless, pigmented markings on surface of body, except ventral; eyes reduced, diameter 2.4-4.9% of head length; pelvic-fin tip extending to anus; tip of pectoral fin not reaching pelvic fin origin; anterior and posterior nostrils closely set, with anterior nostril elongated to a barbel-like tip; tip of outrostral barbel extending backward, not reaching anterior margin of the eye; lateral line complete; posterior chamber of air bladder degenerated; and fin differences. Triplophysayaluwang Lan, Liu, Zhou & Zhou, sp. nov. is distinguished from other hypogean species of the genus Triplophysa by having a combination of the following characteristics: body naked, scaleless, with irregular pale and dark brownish brown markings, except ventrally; eyes reduced, diameter 4.6-6.1% of head length; pelvic-fin tip reaching anus; tip of pectoral fin not reaching to pelvic fin origin; anterior and posterior nostrils closely set, with anterior nostril elongated to a barbel-like tip; tip of outrostral barbel extending backward, not reaching to anterior margin of the eye; lateral line complete; posterior chamber of air bladder degenerated; and fin differences. Mitochondrial Cyt b revealed relatively small genetic differences, 1.4-2.0%, between the two new species and close relatives. Nuclear gene RAG1 indicated that the two new species possessed unique haplotypes with multiple linking mutations. This study emphasizes the importance of utilizing nuclear genes to identify new species in rapidly speciation cave species, with small genetic differences due to mitochondrial introgression occurring interspecies.

Analisis Kadar Zat Warna Tartrazin pada Makanan dan Minuman dengan Metode Spektrofotometri UV-Vis

Tartrazine is a yellow dye that is included in synthetic dyes. Tartrazine is used to give a yellow color to the product so that it looks attractive. The maximum limit of tartrazine addition set by the Indonesian government is no more than 100 mg / Kg for food and 70 mg / Kg for soft drinks. This study aims to determine the content of tartrazine dye in food and beverage samples. Identification of tartrazine content was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively on 6 samples. The test results were analyzed using One Way-ANOVA. Qualitative identification was carried out by organoleptic testing, dye testing and testing with Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The organoleptic results on the 6 samples produced a yellow color with an average sweet fruit aroma. The color test results showed a reddish brown color. In the TLC test with n-butanol eluent: glacial acetic acid: Water (2:2:1) showed the presence of Rf close to standard tartrazine, this was also supported by the presence of a reddish brown mark after being sprayed with FeSO4 spot detector. Quantitative identification with UV-Vis Spectrophotometry produced a maximum wavelength of tartrazine at 427 nm with an average level in sample A of 23.61 mg/Kg, sample B 30.89 mg/Kg, sample C 0.63 mg/Kg, sample D 0.053 mg/Kg, sample E 12.46 mg/Kg and sample F 5.432 mg/Kg. The results of the study showed the presence of tartrazine content in all samples and entered the safe level category according to the specified limits. Data analysis provided significant differences in levels in each sample studied with a value of ? 0.05.

Sinobdella longitubulus, a new species of spiny eel (Pisces, Mastacembelidae) from the Zhu-Jiang Basin, with a note on the type locality of S. sinensis (Bleeker, 1870)

The spiny eel genus Sinobdella belongs to the family Mastacembelidae of the order Synbranchiformes. Kottelat and Lim (1994) utilised Rhynchobdella sinensis as the type species to propose the genus. Currently, it contains a single species widespread in eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam. Sinobdella longitubulus, a new species of spiny eel, is here described from the Xi-Jiang of the Zhu-Jiang Basin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China. It differs from the single congeneric species S. sinensis in having a more or less white-brown reticulated pattern on the flank, two tubular anterior nostrils longer than or equal to the rostral appendage, an anal fin heavily mottled with dark brown markings and white spots and bearing a narrow white distal margin; shorter pre-anal length; and fewer abdominal vertebrae. The validity of this new species is corroborated by its monophyly recovered in a COI gene-based phylogenetic analysis and its significant sequence divergence with S. sinensis. A note on the type locality of S. sinensis is also given; its type specimen is possibly from mountain streams of Jiangxi Province, in the lower Chang-Jiang Basin.

A new species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from southwest Yunnan, China.

A new species of gekkonid, Hemiphyllodactylusgengmaensissp. nov., is described based on six specimens from Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County, Yunnan, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a significant genetic divergence of greater than 9.7% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene and a combination of the following characters: a maximum SVL of 43.24mm; 8 or 9 chin scales; six circumnasal scales; 2 or 3 internasal scales; 9-11 supralabial scales; 8 or 9 infralabial scales; 11-18 dorsal scales; 8-10 ventral scales; a manual lamellar formula of 5-5-5-4 or 5-6-5-4 and a pedal lamellar formula of 5-5-6-5; 20-25 precloacal and femoral pore-bearing scales contiguous in males; dark postorbital stripes or striping on body; dark dorsal transverse blotches present; and a brown postsacral mark bearing anteriorly projecting arms. The discovery of this new species brings the number of Hemiphyllodactylus species in China to 15.

Two new species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from Cao Bang Province, Vietnam.

Two new species, Leptobrachella phiaoacensis sp. nov. and Leptobrachella phiadenensis sp. nov., are described from Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam based on genetic divergence and morphological differences. Leptobrachella phiaoacensis sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: size medium (27.833.3 mm in five adult males and 31.541.8 mm in five adult females); head longer than wide; tympanum distinct; dorsal skin shagreened with fine tubercles; toes webbing rudimentary, with narrow lateral fringes; supratympanic fold edged by a distinct black line; the presence of a dark brown triangle in interorbital region and a W-shaped marking in scapular region; belly from pinkish white to white with dark brown specking on belly periphery; iris bicolored copper in upper part, fading to silvery grey in lower part. Leptobrachella phiadenensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: size medium (27.628.6 mm in two adult females); head wider than long; tympanum distinct; skin on dorsal head and body rough with warts, tubercles and dermal ridges; toes webbing rudimentary, with narrow dermal fringes; supratympanic fold orange; dorsal surface of head and body with some large dark brown markings, a dark brown triangle in interorbital region, edged in white; flank light brown with some dark flecks; belly white with dark specking on outer margins; iris bicolored, copper in upper part, fading to silvery grey in lower part. In terms of genetic distance, the two new species differ from each other and other congeners for which comparable sequences are available by at least 3.7% (16S rRNA gene). Recognition of these new species brings the total number of known species in the genus Leptobrachella from Vietnam to 34.

A new species of the genus Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from Guangxi, China.

A new species of Leptobrachella, L.wumingensissp. nov., was described from the Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Wuming District, Nanning City, Guangxi, China based on morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S mtDNA fragments revealed that the new species is closely related to L.damingshanensis. Uncorrected p-distances between the new species and all homologous DNA sequences available for the 16S gene of Leptobrachella are greater than 7.1%. Morphologically, L.wumingensissp. nov. differs from its congeners in several ways, including a medium body size (SVL 26.0-26.7 mm in males, 30.6-34.8 mm in females), lack of toe webbing and lateral fringes, shagreened and granular dorsal surface, pale brown dorsum with darker brown markings, iris bicolored, with the upper half copper and fading to silver in the lower half, and the presence of small irregular black spots and tangerine tubercles on the flanks. Furthermore, we found the new species to have two types of advertisement calls and relatively high dominant frequencies, making it distinct from its congeners.

The polymorphism of vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from Indonesia with morphology-based cladistic

Wasps in the family of Vespidae often have a yellowish black color with white or brown markings, but some species have variations in their markings and coloring. There is limited information available about the distribution of these marking patterns within the Vespidae Family. To clarify their taxonomic status, this study aims to examine the marking patterns of Vespid wasps that are widely distributed in the Indonesian Archipelago and to explore correlations with their biogeographical distribution patterns. In this study, specimens from three different locations (Bandung, Sumedang, and Purworejo) and specimens from the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB) were examined. A total of 31 individuals from five different species were analyzed based on their morphological features. The data collected was coded and analyzed using cladistic methods, and the results were used to create cladogram trees for each of the five species i.e., Phimenes flavopictus, Polistes stigma, Apodynerus troglodytes, Vespa affinis, and Vespa velutina, showing their biogeographical distribution. The cladistic analysis in this study showed the relationships between the different species based on their morphological characteristics. The arrangements of the clades were determined using the Euclidean method in R studio. The results showed that P. flavopictus has two clades based on the marking patterns on their thorax and abdomen, while the other species i.e., Po. stigma, V. affinis, V. velutina, and A. troglodytes have three clades based on their coloring and marking patterns on all segments. The distribution of the Vespidae species appears to be scattered, with their patterns randomly distributed among locations.

Identification and Morphometric Analysis of Octopus (Cephalopods) from Coastal Area Gugop Pulo Breuh, Aceh Besar

Octopus is a commodity that has important economic value and high export value. Gugop Distric is one of the producers of octopus in the form of fresh products and processed products developed by Kube Mangat. It is said that the octopus species in Indonesia are dominated by Octopus cyanea, but there is no scientific certainty for the type of octopus in this Gugop village. This study aimed to identify morphometric analysis is for octopus. This research conducted in May-July 2022. Information on octopus resources in Aceh is still limited. Information about octopus biology needs to be known as basic information in octopus resource management. A total of 35 octopus samples were obtained, there are 5 key characteristics in Octopus cyanea including ocellus, bluish-white spots, brown markings all over the body, diamond-shaped papillae on the neck and head. The presence of false eye spots indicating that this species is Octopus cyanea. The size trend based on the total length of the octopus showed 6 classes with the highest total in the 68-72 cm category, namely 9 individuals. These results indicate that the octopus caught is still in a suitable size for capture feasibility and has entered the reproductive period.

George Lindbeck: A Biographical and Theological Introduction by Shaun C. Brown

Reviewed by: George Lindbeck: A Biographical and Theological Introduction by Shaun C. Brown Mark Mattes George Lindbeck: A Biographical and Theological Introduction. By Shaun C. Brown. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade, 2022. xii + 170 pp. George Lindbeck (1923–2018) was one of the most important North American Lutheran theologians and ecumenists of the last century. This slender volume, authored by a Christian Church/Disciples of Christ minister, is a highly accessible introduction to Lindbeck's life and work. He presents Lindbeck's contributions through seven motifs: Lindbeck as (1) a Lutheran, (2) a student, (3) a medievalist (an Aquinas scholar), (4) an observer of the Second Vatican Council, (5) a participant in Lutheran–Roman Catholic Dialogue, (6) a "post-liberal" for whom truth is grounded not in experience but instead in adherence to the grammar of faith, and (7) an "Israelologist" who advocated for a continuity between the church and ancient Israel. This book is suitable for those seeking a basic introduction to Lindbeck and to the theological and ecumenical currents that influenced him. Brown notes that Lindbeck was influenced by confessional Lutherans such as Krister Skydsgaard, Peter Brunner, Edmund Schlink, and Arthur Carl Piepkorn. That said, Lindbeck eschewed "denominational Lutherans," who he claimed disassociated Lutheranism from the wider Catholic heritage. He favored a "corrective view of the Reformation," in which Lutheranism is a "reform movement within the Catholic Church" (6). For Lindbeck, the Augsburg Confession agrees, since it is an ecumenical document seeking rapprochement, as much as possible with Rome. Likewise, he accused denominational Lutherans of having a "docetic understanding of the church," unable to appreciate the diachronic continuity of the church across the ages or a synchronic, visible Christian unity between different [End Page 208] confessional traditions (12). For Lindbeck, Luther himself was no denominational Lutheran. He noted that neither of Luther's catechisms "explicitly mention justification by faith alone, total depravity, predestination, or the relation of law and gospel" (14). That said, Lindbeck disagreed with Roman Catholic theologians who urged that Protestants "return" to the Roman Catholic fold on Roman Catholic terms. Instead, Lindbeck favored a convergence of the two traditions as the way to express a future union (36). As a scholar of Aquinas, Lindbeck affirmed that, just like Luther and other magisterial Protestants (42), Aquinas confessed grace alone, rejected semi-Pelagianism, and acknowledged that God alone saves. Thomas did not use the phrase "justification by grace" but Lindbeck sees this as something "more terminological than real" (43). Conversely, Luther did not argue for a "purely external or extrinsic imputation of righteousness" as claimed by some later Lutherans (97). Justification is no mere declaration of forgiveness. Instead, faith unites believers with Christ and transforms them. So, for Lindbeck, there is more shared turf between Aquinas and Luther than what many would think. Lindbeck was postliberal in that he opposed the Liberal Protestant tradition of grounding religious truth in the depths of human spirituality or ethics. Instead, following the lead of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, faith communities have various languages of faith and spirituality. "Meaning is constituted by the uses of a specific language rather than being distinguishable from it" (116). Lindbeck's work is not only ecumenical but also interreligious, particularly because it articulates a relationship between the church and the Jewish tradition. Lindbeck sees the church as "simply Israel in the time between the times," that is, between the first and second comings of Christ. Given his intertextuality, in which it is scripture that sets the terms for experience rather than vice versa, the church should understand its identity from the Bible. Indeed, the church should "claim to be Israel without replacing the Jews" as the messianic people of God (139). This book is a handy reference for students and pastors, a worthy invitation to the thought of George Lindbeck. [End Page 209] Mark Mattes Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press and Lutheran Quarterly, Inc.

Plant Leaf Disease Detection using Machine Learning

Abstract: A crucial component of describing plants for tracking plant growth is plant phenotyping. In this research, an effective method for identifying healthy, damaged, or infected leaves utilising image processing and machine learning approaches is presented. Many illnesses deplete the chlorophyll of brown or black markings appear on the leaf area of the leaves. They can be found out utilising machine learning methods for classification, feature extraction, picture preprocessing, and image segmentation. Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) is used for feature extraction. One of themachine learning techniques used for classification is called the Support Vector Machine (SVM). When compared to the SVM method, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) produced better recognition accuracy. Finding disease on crops is a crucial responsibility in agricultural techniques.

A new species of Andean frog of the genus Phrynopus (Anura: Strabomantidae) from southeastern Peru.

The Cordillera de los Andes is one of the most important regions for biodiversity. Among amphibians, many endemic species of terrestrial-breeding frogs have recently been discovered. Herein we describe Phrynopus sancristobali from the Andes of southeastern Peru based on molecular and morphological data. The new species is known from the ecotone between humid puna and montane forest at 3910 m a.s.l. on the left side of the Apurímac Valley in the Department of Ayacucho. The new species differs from congeners by having dorsum bearing pustules and light brown with dark brown reticulations surrounding the areolas, and coloration consisting of flanks golden brown with gray or dark brown marks, palms pale orange, soles deep orange, toes IV and V dark brown in dorsal and ventral view, belly cream to yellow with gray to light brown marks, and groin and throat deep orange. The snout-vent length (SVL) is 20.7 and 22.2 in two females, and 19.5 mm in one male. According to our phylogeny inferred using Maximum Likelihood with a concatenated dataset of three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes, P. sancristobali is sister taxon of P. apumantarum, recently described from Department Huancavelica. Our description extends the known geographic range of Phrynopus 73 km to the south, and P. sancristobali is the only species in the genus known to occur south of the Mantaro River, whose deep valley is hypothesized to be a biogeographic barrier for high-Andean organisms. The discovery of P. sancristobali confirms the high levels of endemism and beta diversity of Phrynopus in the moist puna grasslands and montane forests of the high Andes of Peru, and suggests that further work will reveal the presence of additional species in southern Peru.

Leaf Disease Detection System

Abstract: Agricultural productivity is something on which economy highly depends. This is the one of the reasons that disease detection in plants plays an important role in agriculture field, as having disease in plants are quite natural. If proper care is not taken in this area then it causes serious effects on plants and due to which respective product quality, quantity or productivity is affected. For instance a disease named little leaf disease is a hazardous disease found in pine trees in United States. Detection of plant disease through some automatic technique is beneficial as it reduces a large work of monitoring in big farms of crops, and at very early stage itself it detects the symptoms of diseases i.e. when they appear on plant leaves. This paper introduces an efficient approach to identify healthy and diseased or an infected leaf using image processing and machine learning techniques. Various diseases damage the chlorophyll of leaves and affect with brown or black marks on the leaf area. These can be detected using image prepossessing, image segmentation. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is one of the machine learning algorithms is used for classification. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) resulted in a improved accuracy of recognition compared to the SVM approach.

Race, Politics, and Nation in Albion W. Tourgée's American Historical Novels Series: The Example of Hot Plowshares

Race, Politics, and Nation in Albion W. Tourgée's American Historical Novels Series: The Example of <i>Hot Plowshares</i>

Morphology of Immature Stages and Adults of Helicoverpa Armigera

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a highly polyphagous insect pest of worldwide occurrence, including India. In the present study, a detailed morphological assessment of H. armigera showed the following: typically dome-shaped egg with ribbed surface; larva having coriaceous skin, biordinal crochets and 11 primary setae on the prothoracic segment; pupa adecticous and obtect with prominent posterior tip cremaster; and adult forewings characterized by the presence of 7-8 black spots along the apical margin and a reniform shaped brown marking, more prominent on the underside. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism in the colour of vestiture and forewings. The genitalic traits like the presence of usually 12 or less sets of cornuti in aedeagus, apically broadened harpe having length ranging between 4.5 to 4.9 mm and a single lobe at the base of everted vesica in males, and four distinct signa on bursa copulatrix in females, also distinguishes it from other congeneric species.

Morphology and FTIR Characteristics of the Alluvial Diamond from the Yangtze Craton, China

A total of 48 natural alluvial diamonds from the Yangtze Craton, China, also called Hunan diamonds, were studied using morphology and IR spectroscopy. These diamond samples, collected downstream of the Yuan River, Hunan Province, with unknown host-rock source(s), were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Most Hunan diamonds are monocrystal forms of octahedra, tetrahexahedra (THH) and dodecahedra; octahedral–rhom-dodecahedral transitional behaviors and irregular forms are also visible. Trigons and tetragons, terraces and shield-shaped laminae are surface features that frequently indicate dissolution and reabsorption; green and brown spots, network patterns, and other mechanical abrasion marks are typical evidence of long-time deposition and transportation of Hunan diamonds. The main types of Hunan diamonds are type IaAB and type Ⅱa. Diamond samples have a wide range of total nitrogen content (Ntot) from 196–1094 ppm. Two populations are distinguished by two-peak distribution models of NA (A-center concentrations) and %B (proportion of aggregated nitrogen). Hunan diamonds are low in structure hydrogen (0.03–4.67 cm−1, mostly below 1 cm−1) and platelets (0.23–17 cm−1, mostly below 2 cm−1). Moreover, there is a significant positive correlation between the hydrogen correlation peak and Ntot, which is similar to Argyle diamonds. The temperature conditions of the diamond formation have been estimated at 1075–1180 °C, mainly conforming to the kimberlite diamond range. Besides, some samples with slightly higher temperatures are close to the ultramafic-related Juina diamonds. Therefore, the FTIR characteristics analysis and comparison indicate the multiple sources of Hunan diamonds.

Description of the Himalayan newt Tylototriton verrucosus (Urodela: Salamandridae) in northern Thailand with its phylogenetic relationships, distribution, and conservation status

Herein, we provided a morphological description combined with a phylogenetic analysis of the northernmost Thai Tylototriton population, which was found in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park (DPHPNP), Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. Three adult males were collected from a small breeding pond during our survey in July 2020. Based on molecular (two specimens) and morphological (three specimens) evidence, all three specimens from DPHPNP were identified as Tylototriton verrucosus Anderson, 1871, and were characterized by having a blackish background, orange to light orange brown color markings, segmented vertebral ridge, prominent rib nodules ranging from 13–15 warts, and rough skin with granules. Hence, this second record of T. verrucosus populations in Thailand confirms a range extension of this species in northern Indochina. Additionally, the morphological variation and conservation status are discussed for the populations from Thailand.

Further evidence for the capacity of mirror self-recognition in cleaner fish and the significance of ecologically relevant marks.

An animal that tries to remove a mark from its body that is only visible when looking into a mirror displays the capacity for mirror self-recognition (MSR), which has been interpreted as evidence for self-awareness. Conservative interpretations of existing data conclude that convincing evidence for MSR is currently restricted to great apes. Here, we address proposed shortcomings of a previous study on MSR in the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, by varying preexposure to mirrors and by marking individuals with different colors. We found that (1) 14/14 new individuals scraped their throat when a brown mark had been provisioned, but only in the presence of a mirror; (2) blue and green color marks did not elicit scraping; (3) intentionally injecting the mark deeper beneath the skin reliably elicited spontaneous scraping in the absence of a mirror; (4) mirror-naive individuals injected with a brown mark scraped their throat with lower probability and/or lower frequency compared to mirror-experienced individuals; (5) in contrast to the mirror images, seeing another fish with the same marking did not induce throat scraping; and (6) moving the mirror to another location did not elicit renewed aggression in mirror-experienced individuals. Taken together, these results increase our confidence that cleaner fish indeed pass the mark test, although only if it is presented in ecologically relevant contexts. Therefore, we reiterate the conclusion of the previous study that either self-awareness in animals or the validity of the mirror test needs to be revised.

Thraulodes Ulmer 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Esprito Santo state, Brazil.

Based on material collected during the past 10 years in the State of Esprito Santo and adjacent areas in Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, we identified three species of the genus Thraulodes: T. itatiajanus Traver Edmunds, for which we present new records and description of the female imago; T. luisae Souto, Da-Silva Nessimian, first recorded for the state and for which we describe the nymphal stage; and T. alegre sp. nov., described based on male and female imago. The main diagnostic characteristics of the new species are: color of abdominal terga IVI whitish translucent, terga IIVI with subrectangular dark brown mark near posterior margin and with midway spot; styliger plate triangular and whitish; penes light yellow, with lateral pouch and penes spines long and tapered, with robust bases.