Cardinal Process Research Articles

Clarifying the mechanism of actions of suppressor, brightener and sodium chloride in acid copper electrodeposition: A multidisciplinary approach for a many variable problem

Acid copper (AC) electrodeposition still a cardinal process for many fields, from electronic to decorative industries. Moreover, AC electroplating is a necessary step for Ni-free production cycles which are trending given the increased awareness of the toxicity of Ni2+ salts. State-of-the-art AC baths are formulated with a set of three organic additives, which are needed to achieve coatings with proper mechanical and optical features. However, despite the widespread use of these substances, their mechanism of action and the role of NaCl during the deposition are not clearly defined. A multidisciplinary approach has been employed to obtain insights on the mechanism of action of the organic additives on the Cu surface. This approach is based on electron microscopy electrochemical analysis supported by X-ray based techniques and computational calculations and simulations. An electrical field was included in molecular dynamics to delve the interactions between active species within the electrodeposition.

Mitophagy Decreases in the Peripheral Vestibular System of Aged C57BL/6J Mice.

Mitophagy is a cardinal process for maintaining healthy and functional mitochondria. A decline in mitophagy has been associated with age-related pathologies. We aimed to investigate mitophagy changes in age-related balance problems using an animal model. C57BL/6J mice were divided into young (1 month old) and aged (12 months old) groups. Balance performance, mitochondrial DNA integrity, ATP content, mitophagic process, and mitophagy-related genes and proteins were investigated in both groups. Balance and motor performance were reduced in the aged group. Mitochondrial DNA integrity and ATP content, and mRNA levels of PINK1, Parkin, BNIP3, AMBRA1, MUL1, NIX, Bcl2-L-13, Atg3, Atg5, Atg12, and Atg13 in the vestibule were significantly lower in aged mice compared with those in young mice. The protein levels of PINK1, Parkin, BNIP3, LC3B, and OXPHOS subunits were significantly decreased in the aged vestibule. Mitophagosome and mitophagolysosome counts and the immunohistochemical expression of Parkin and BNIP3 were also decreased in the saccule, utricle, and crista ampullaris in the aged group. A general decrease in mitophagy with aging might be attributed to a decrease in cellular function in the aged vestibule during the development of age-related balance problems.

Enhancer promoter interactome and Mendelian randomization identify network of druggable vascular genes in coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disorder, which is partly heritable. Herein, we implemented a mapping of CAD-associated candidate genes by using genome-wide enhancer-promoter conformation (H3K27ac-HiChIP) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). Enhancer-promoter anchor loops from human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC) explained 22% of the heritability for CAD. 3D enhancer-promoter genome mapping of CAD-genes in HCASMC was enriched in vascular eQTL genes. By using colocalization and Mendelian randomization analyses, we identified 58 causal candidate vascular genes including some druggable targets (MAP3K11, CAMK1D, PDGFD, IPO9 and CETP). A network analysis of causal candidate genes was enriched in TGF beta and MAPK pathways. The pharmacologic inhibition of causal candidate gene MAP3K11 in vascular SMC reduced the expression of athero-relevant genes and lowered cell migration, a cardinal process in CAD. Genes connected to enhancers are enriched in vascular eQTL and druggable genes causally associated with CAD.

Iberirhynchiidae nueva familia de rinconélidos ancistrorhynchoideos (braquiópodos) del Ordovícico Medio al Devónico Inferior de Euroamérica y Gondwana

Se propone la nueva Familia Iberirhynchiidae (Ancistrorhynchoidea), para rinconélidos anteriormente incluidos en Trigonirhynchiidae (Rhynchotrematoidea), pero con seudoseptalio, cubierto o no por un conectivo, formado por la unión de las placas crurales con un tabique medio dorsal constituido por láminas superpuestas de concha secundaria, en lugar del típico septo medio trigonirínquido, con finas láminas de calcita granular (mediotest) en la región axial, sobre las que van apareciendo hacia delante láminas de concha secundaria. Se redescribe la especie-tipo de Iberirhynchia, I. santaluciensis, a partir de una numerosa muestra de ejemplares posiblemente topotípicos, varios especimenes de diferentes localidades asturianas y leonesas, y de otra pequeña muestra de material original prestado por el Rijksmuseum van Geologie en Mineralogie de Leiden, Holanda. En esta redescripción se abordan y se resuelven, hasta donde resulta posible, diferentes problemas relacionados con la naturaleza, procedencia y actual lugar de depósito del holotipo y demás tipos de la especie. Se aportan también diferentes observaciones paleoecológicas que muestran el desarrollo alométrico de la concha que, con la edad, crece más en grosor que en longitud. La relativa escasez de epizoos y de señales de reparación de las conchas, indica un medio marino relativamente tranquilo y estable. Hasta ahora, la única especie del género es la tipo, I. santaluciensis. Las formas denominadas Iberirhynchia nargis e Iberirhynchia sp. son verdaderos trigonirínquidos, con septalio convencional, no cubierto.

Innovation Management in Family Health Clinics in Israel: The Contribution of Customer Needs’ Assessment

In recent decades, the concept of innovation has become a vital and cardinal process in any organization that strives for renewal, remaining relevant in an era with quick and tremendous changes. It is considered to be a critical component of productivity and competitive survival in healthcare as well. It is also important concept in the public health nursing. The public family health clinics are central axis of the preventive care provided to young families in Israel. This article presents a process of assessing the needs of parents of children aged 3-6, from the family health clinics (FHCs) in accordance with a changing reality as a key to defining necessary innovation to be implemented in FHCs services. Objective: To explore parents' needs from FHC and define means of narrowing the gap between the needs of young families and the services currently provided. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 18 families that received treatment at FHC in Tel Aviv and the central Israel regions. Results: Data revealed the contribution of an in-depth costumer needs’ assessment to the required service innovation. Parents noted the importance of a personalized service adjusted to their unique family needs, as opposed to generalized instructions. Conclusions: The findings provide further insight into various aspects that may help public health managers to improve the service in terms of attitude, professional service and added value at each encounter. Additional consideration and efforts should be given to Service marketing methods as well.

Middle Devonian uncinuloids (Brachiopoda, Rhynchonellida) from North Africa and Central Europe

The paper includes a taxonomic revision of four externally similar Middle Devonian rhynchonellide species from northwestern Africa (Maider, Tindouf Syncline) and Central Europe (Eifel, Bergisches Land, Holy Cross Mts.), considered in recent papers as representatives of Kransia Westbroek, 1967 or Nalivkinaria Rzhonsnitskaya, 1968. All four possess a septalium and a multilamellate cardinal process, the assignment to Nalivkinaria , having a bifid cardinal process, is therefore clearly inappropriate. Lebanzuella ? issoumourensis (Drot, 1971) is present in the Givetian of Africa; two subspecies, L. ? issoumourensis issoumourensis from Jbel Issoumour and L. ? issoumourensis smarensis ssp. nov. from Western Sahara, are distinguished by their biometric characteristics. The other two species are included in Kransia ( Fatimaerhynchia ) subgen. nov. differing from Kransia ( K. ) in the presence of a septalium; the occurrence of such a variable structure is considered to be justification for distinction at the subgenus level. Kransia ( Fatimaerhynchia ) goldfussii (Schnur, 1853) is an Eifelian species. Kransia ( Fatimaerhynchia ?) aff. goldfussii from the Givetian of Bilveringsen is a separate species (larger, more transverse, more strongly ornamented), which is not described because of insufficient material. Kransia ( Fatimaerhynchia ) signata (Schnur, 1851) is present in the Middle Devonian of Jbel Issoumour, the middle Eifelian of the Eifel and the (upper?) Givetian of the Holy Cross Mountains.

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE SILURIAN AFRO-SOUTH AMERICAN BRACHIOPODS ANABAIA , HARRINGTONINA AND CLARKEIA : NEW INSIGHTS FROM THEIR ONTOGENY

Hundreds of specimens of the rhynchonellide brachiopod Clarkeia antisiensis (d’Orbigny) recovered from the stratotype of the Tarabuco Formation of Bolivia form a complete series of growth stages providing a good opportunity for reconstructing its ontogenetic development. The fact that juvenile specimens of C. antisiensis are nearly indistinguishable from adult individuals of Harringtonina australis Boucot strongly suggests that Clarkeia evolved from Harringtonina by the heterochronic process of peramorphosis. On the other hand, adult specimens of both the Brazilian Anabaia paraia Clarke and the Precordilleran specimrens of Anabaia never exceed the youngest ontogenetic stage of Harringtonina australis, to which share small hinge plates supported by a septalium-like structure and absence of cardinal process. The overlap of adult morphology of Anabaia with the juvenile morphology of Harringtonina australis allows interpreting this succession as an evolutionary lineage showing increasingly more peramorphic characters. This hypothesis is supported by the correlation between the stratigraphic record of taxa and the inferred developmental sequence being Anabaia the oldest member (Early Silurian), Harringtonina australis the intermediate form (Wenlock-Ludlow), and Clarkeia antisiensis the youngest (Pridoli). This interpretation raises a systematic problem because the leptocoeliids Anabaia and Harringtonina are currently classified within the superfamily Uncinuloidea whereas Clarkeia is placed among the Rhynchotrematoidea. If the hypothesis is proven, these superfamilies, as presently constituted, would be polyphyletic groups.

Shell Interior of Semiplanella carinthica Sarytcheva et Legrand-Blain (Brachiopoda, Productida)

The interior of the dorsal valve of Semiplanella carinthica Sarytcheva et Legrand-Blain, 1977 is described. The location of the bases of brachial loops and adductor muscles is reconstructed. The unusual arrangement of the adductor scars and brachial loops developed in the result of their rotation that was caused by a strong torsion of the shell and necessity to raise the anterior shell margin over the valve bottom. Similarly structured brachial loops and partly cardinal process is known for Beleutella Litvinovich, 1967 and possibly Talasoproductus Litvinovich et Vorontsova, 1983. These three genera are suggested to be united into a new tribe Semiplanellini tribe nov. of the subfamily Gigantoproductinae.

The PUFFinCA scale: development of an instrument for evaluating the primary care functions of family physicians in childhood asthma.

AimTo develop the Primary care fUnctions oF Family physicians in Childhood Asthma (PUFFinCA) scale for evaluating the cardinal process functions of primary care services (accessibility, comprehensiveness, continuity and coordination) provided by family physicians (FPs) in the management of childhood asthma. BACKGROUND: In the literature on the functions of primary care, there is no assessment tool focusing on children with asthma. Primary care assessment scales adapted to various languages are not suitable to adequately address the needs of special patient groups, such as children with asthma. METHODS: In this methodological study, the instrument development process was completed in four stages: establishing the pool of items, evaluating the content validity, applying the scale and statistical analysis. The scale was applied to 320 children who had asthma and received care in the clinic of the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Pulmonology at Ege University School of Medicine, Turkey. The Cronbach's α and Spearman-Brown coefficient were calculated to determine the reliability of the scale. Principal component analysis was used to determine the construct validity of the scale.FindingsThe PUFFinCA scale was found to have four-factor structure and 25 items. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.93. It has been determined that the reliability was excellent and the item-total correlation coefficients were >0.30 each. The factors were titled FP's 'functions of accessibility, first contact and continuity', 'functions of coordination and comprehensiveness of health services related to asthma management', 'provision of preventive care related to asthma' and 'provision of services for paid vaccinations'.

Origination and diversification of Devonian ambocoelioid brachiopods in South China

The superfamily Ambocoelioidea is an important group of the Brachiopoda in the Devonian, both globally and in South China. In the Devonian, this group is also most diverse compared with that in other periods. Based on features of cardinal process and cruralium, three types of cardinalia are recognised, including Ambocoelia-type, Emanuella-type, and Rhyncospirifer-type. Our study shows that the Rhynchospirifer-type cardinalia is a distinct character that distinguishes them from the rest of the Ambocoeliidae; therefore, the Rhynchospiriferinae is re-elevated to the family rank. Guangxiispirifer of the previous Ambocoeliinae is reassigned to the Rhynchospiriferidae while Ambothyris, Choperella, Crurispina, Diazoma, Emanuella, Ilmenia, Ilmospirifer, Ladjia, Moravilla, and Zhonghuacoelia of the previous Rhynchospiriferinae are transferred to the Ambocoeliidae (= previous Ambocoeliinae). Three earliest ambocoelioids in South China are Ambothyris, Amboglossa, and Prolazutkinia in the upper Emsian; their emergences were likely associated with the global Upper Zlichov Event. The upper Emsian occurrences of Amboglossa and Prolazutkinia are their FADs (first appearance datum) globally. These two genera probably gave rise to the Rhynchospiriferidae and the Lazutkiniidae, respectively. After an initial gradual increase in generic richness, the Ambocoelioidea reached the highest diversity (10 genera including four endemic genera) in the late Eifelian and Early Givetian in South China. From then on, the diversity gradually decreased till the end of the Devonian (two genera) and was least affected by the Frasnian–Famennian Event. The Ambocoelioidea is a strongly facies-controlled group. Their temporal and spatial distributions show a close relationship with sea level changes. Ambocoeliids and rhynchospiriferids were adapted to different environments. The former inhabited deeper and partly dysoxic environments, therefore showed greater capabilities to migrate and survive extinctions. On the other hand, the rhynchospiriferids dwelled in a reef-related, high energy, and oxic environments, which were probably more sensitive to environmental changes; they also showed high diversity and endemism and more easily experienced rapid and regional extinctions. Three species representing the three types of cardinalia, Ambocoelia yidadeensis sp. nov., Ambothyris panxiensis, and Rhynchospirifer sp., are described.

Eressella, a new uncinuloid brachiopod genus from the Middle Devonian of Europe and Africa

Eressella , a new genus of rhynchonellide brachiopods belonging to the superfamily Uncinuloidea Rzhonsnitskaya, 1956, is described with Rhynchonella coronata Kayser, 1871, as the type and only species. It is characterised by a dorsibiconvex profile with a resupinate ventral valve, costae rounded posteriorly, but acute and developing ventrally directed spur-like protuberances anteriorly, small dental cavities, cardinal process multilobed posteriorly and massive anteriorly, and the presence of a septalium and thick dorsal median septum. Given the present state of flux in the systematics of the superfamily, it is conventionally placed within the family Uncinulidae Rzhonsnitskaya, 1956, although similarities with the subfamily Betterbergiinae Savage, 1996 and the family Eucharitinidae Sartenaer, 2015 are also noted. Eressella coronata , hitherto the only representative of the genus, is known from the Eifel Hills (Eifelian, mainly middle Eifelian), from central Poland (especially from the Eifelian of the Holy Cross Mts.), and from the Moroccan Anti-Atlas (late Eifelian to early Givetian, details uncertain).

To the revision of the Upper Ordovician Bilobia Cooper (Strophomenida, Brachiopoda)

The diagnosis and species composition of Bilobia Cooper, 1956 (family Leptestiidae, Strophomenida, Brachiopoda) are specified based on literary data and collection from the Leningrad Region. In particular, the cardinal process with cleft shaft and trifid myophore and denticles along the area of ventral valve are adduced to the diagnosis. A new species, B. alichovae sp. nov., from the Sandbian Stage of the Leningrad Region is established.

Plectorthoid brachiopods from the Lower Ordovician of north-western Argentina; phylogenetic relationships with Tarfaya Havlíček and the origin of heterorthids

The re-study of species previously attributed to the genus Nanorthis from the Tremadocian of north-western Argentina has led to the recognition of the new genera Gondwanorthis (type species Nanorthis calderensis Benedetto), to which the Iranian species Nanorthis bastamensis Ghobadi Pour, Kebriaee-Zadeh & Popov is also referred, and Lampazarorthis (type species Eoorthis bifurcata Harrington), which includes Nanorthis brachymyaria Benedetto and Lampazarorthis alata sp. nov. New extensive collections from the Cordillera Oriental support reassignment of the upper Tremadocian species Nanorthis purmamarcaensis to the genus Tarfaya. The species Nanorthis carinata Laurie, from Tasmania, is reassigned here to Tarfaya. According to the present taxonomic revision, Nanorthis is not cosmopolitan but is a pan-tropical genus, confined to Laurentia, the Laurentian-derived Precordillera terrane, and probably to Baltica, Siberia and Kazakhstanian terranes, whereas Gondwanorthis and Tarfaya are Gondwanan and peri-Gondwanan endemic taxa. Cladistic analysis of early orthoids, plectorthoids and dalmanelloids, including those recorded from mid to high latitude Gondwana successions, portrays Gondwanorthis and Lampazarorthis as a sister group basal to the tarfayid + heterorthid clade, whereas the South American and North African Incorthis appears as a basal member of this clade. Morphological and stratigraphical evidence provided in this study, along with the results of the cladistic analysis, supports the view that heterorthids could have arisen from the tarfayids by the end of Floian. The enlargement and incipient bilobation of the cardinal process in Tarfaya grandis leaves this species as a potential ancestor of Tissintia, which occurs in Darriwilian beds of the Central Andean Basin (Bolivia), but could have been present in this basin since the late Floian. We speculate that punctae in the Heterorthidae evolved independently from a Tarfaya-like ancestor, and that the transition from an impunctate to a punctate shell may have occurred repeatedly through rhynchonelliform evolution.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FFE818F6-FA92-4B26-AE76-077617C3D9EA

Palaeobiology of Silurian Leptaeninae (Brachiopoda) from Gotland, Sweden

Leptaenine brachiopods are common and widespread on Gotland. Lepidoleptaena poulseni and Leptaena rhomboidalis retained a functional apical pedicle throughout ontogeny, and both had strong adductor muscles and robust ornamentation, allowing them to occupy shallow water and high energy environments. A pedicle-shortening muscle is present within the pedicle tube of Leptaena rhomboidalis. Leptaena sperion, L. depressa visbyensis, and L. depressa lata inhabited low energy environments, retaining very slender pedicles. L. depressa depressa and L. parvorugata atrophied the pedicle early and then lived ambitopically in deeper water. The presence or absence of the apical pedicle strongly influenced the cardinal process morphology. Leptaenine shells had a small gape. The lophophore was simple, similar to productids and Leptaenoidea. In closed valves, the inner epithelium of leptaenine trails remained exposed to the sea. This was probably important in gas exchange. The life position of pedically attached species was with the disc vertical. Some ambitopic specimens may have retained a similar attitude. Shells of L. depressa depressa and Lepidoleptaena poulseni commonly are encrusted by epibionts, apparently without problems for larger shells. Small shells are shown to have been killed by bryozoan epizoans. Repaired shell damage is rare on the disc but is common along the commisure.

A new, unusual rhynchonellide with a strophic shell from the Silurian of Iran

A new, unusual rhynchonellide brachiopod Jafarirhynchus alatus assigned to the newly established family Jafarirhynchidae is described from the Silurian (Telychian) of the Boghu Mountains in east-central Iran. It forms a low diversity association with the spiriferide Striispirifer? ocissimus, which exhibits well preserved calcified brachial supports. A strophic shell, well-developed ventral interarea and liberosessile mode of life make this taxon unique among Palaeozoic rhynchonellide brachiopods. In spite of a superficial similarity to spiriferides and the atrypide family Davidsonioidea, Jafarirhynchus retains the typical rhynchotrematoid cardinalia with a septalium supported by the median septum, a septiform cardinal process and long, raduliform crura. It is considered as an offshoot of the local lineage, which includes two successive species of Stegocornu (family Rhynchotrematidae) which proliferated in Central Iran and adjacent Afghanistan during Aeronian time.

The earliest known strophomenoids (Brachiopoda) from early Middle Ordovician rocks Of South China

AbstractThe upper Daguanshan Formation (middle Expansograptus hirundo graptolite biozone, Dapingian, early Middle Ordovician) of the Shuanghe area, Changning County, southern Sichuan Province, contains three new genera and species of strophomenoids: Ochyromena plana, Shuangheella elongata, and Primotimena globula, which are attributed to the Strophomenidae, Rafinesquinidae and Glyptomenidae respectively. These are the earliest known strophomenoids from the South China palaeoplate, and also the oldest rafinesquinid and glyptomenid brachiopods worldwide. Global review of the superfamily Strophomenoidea of Middle Ordovician age suggests that the first diversity peak at the species level occurred in late Darriwilian (Llanvirn) time, mainly as a result of the rapid diversification of the family Strophomenidae. The first appearance datum (FAD) of strophomenoids and their possible westward dispersal were from North China (latest Floian) and/or South China (early Dapingian), through the Chu‐Ili terrane of Kazakhstan, Iran, and Baltica (early Darriwilian), to Avalonia and Laurentia (late Darriwilian). This points to the existence of early diversification hotspots of the strophomenoid superfamily in the North and South China palaeoplates during the early Middle Ordovician in generally shallow water (corresponding to BA2) environments. The high degree of similarity in the external morphology and ventral interior of the three new genera indicates that the early diversification of strophomenoids began with differentiation of the cardinalia, especially in the configuration of the bilobed cardinal process, a key evolutionary novelty for the strophomenoids.

Two‐week interval optical coherence tomography: Imaging evidence on neointimal coverage completion after implantation of the endeavor zotarolimus‐eluting stent

To obtain imaging evidence by 2-week optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the completion of neointimal coverage (NIC; the percentage of stent strut coverage and thickness of the formed neointima) completion after implantation of the Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent (E-ZES). Despite the fact that NIC is a cardinal process in the pathomechanism of late stent thrombosis, little imaging information is available on morphological changes thereof on a short-time interval basis. 27 Japanese patients with stable angina pectoris and de novo native coronary artery lesions were enrolled, and 27 lesions (30 implantations) were examined. OCT was performed at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 after E-ZES implantation. NIC was examined using cross-sectional OCT images obtained at the 1.0-mm intervals. In total, 621 cross-sectional OCT images, which depicted 7,747 stent struts, were analyzed. The mean percentages of stent strut coverage at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 after E-ZES implantation were 12.3, 70.4, 67.9, 86.0, and 99.2%, respectively; a marked increase was found between weeks 2 and 4. The mean thicknesses of the formed neointima were 40.2, 52.1, 48.1, 86.5, and 146.2 μm at respective weeks, with the high-signal and thick neointima (146 µm) at week 10. An intracoronary thrombus was detected in only one stent at week 4. The full circumferential coverage of the vessel wall by the high-signal neointima was found at as early as week 10 after E-ZES implantation, imparting a surrogate index for vascular healing by NIC.

New brachiopod subfamily Anechophragmiinae (Strophomenida) from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region

A new strophomenid subfamily Anechophragmiidae is distinguished based on the peculiarities of cardinalia. The strophomenids of this subfamily lack cardinal process at all developmental stages; their socket ridges accrete and form a high plate, which closes the pedicle opening. Two genera are referred to the subfamily: Anechophragma Neuman, 1976 and Biseptata gen. nov. with new species B. briani sp. nov. from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region. The shell structure, exterior, endoskeleton and ontogeny of A. rarum and B. briani were studied in detail due to the excellent preservation of the material. Two species are referred to Anechophragma: A. rarum Neuman, 1976 and A. alexandrae (Andreev, 1993).

Formation of cardinal process in Ordovician strophomenids

The cardinalia of strophomenids Lynnica fragilis gen. et sp. nov. and Sowerbyella (Sowerbyella) liliifera Opik, 1930 from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region are described in detail for different developmental stages. The study has revealed that the cardinal process of S. liliifera is bilobed unifid and the cardinal process of L. fragilis is bilobed trifid. L. fragilis gen. et sp. nov. is described.

Evolution of the Late Ordovician plaesiomyid brachiopod lineage in Laurentia

Multivariate analysis of 197 well-preserved specimens among 11 species of late Late Ordovician (Katian and Hirnantian) plaesiomyid brachiopods from North America revealed two trends of morphological changes: (1) increasing globosity and dorsal convexity from the early to late Katian, and (2) coarser, but fewer ribs in species from the paleoequatorial intracratonic seas compared with species from the mid- to high-tropical pericratonic shelves and platforms. Another notable change, albeit not quantified, was the enlargement of cardinal process in plaesiomyids from early to late Katian, characterized by a predominantly trilobed cardinal process in the intracratonic species versus a bilobed cardinal process in pericratonic species. Increases in dorsal convexity and shell globosity are interpreted to have allowed for development of a larger lophophore, improving the capacity and efficiency of filter feeding and gas exchange. Smaller but more frequently bifurcating ribs would have led to more numerous setae near the margin of the shell, resulting in increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Increased size and number of lobes of the cardinal process would have allowed for larger diductor muscles to open a larger, heavier shell. In this study, two new species, Plaesiomys periosa sp. nov. and Plaesiomys lenzi sp. nov., are proposed, and two existing species are transferred from Dinorthis to Plaesiomys.