Generic Characters Research Articles

Collective self-caging of active filaments in virtual confinement

Motility coupled to responsive behavior is essential for many microorganisms to seek and establish appropriate habitats. One of the simplest possible responses, reversing the direction of motion, is believed to enable filamentous cyanobacteria to form stable aggregates or accumulate in suitable light conditions. Here, we demonstrate that filamentous morphology in combination with responding to light gradients by reversals has consequences far beyond simple accumulation: Entangled aggregates form at the boundaries of illuminated regions, harnessing the boundary to establish local order. We explore how the light pattern, in particular its boundary curvature, impacts aggregation. A minimal mechanistic model of active flexible filaments resembles the experimental findings, thereby revealing the emergent and generic character of these structures. This phenomenon may enable elongated microorganisms to generate adaptive colony architectures in limited habitats or guide the assembly of biomimetic fibrous materials.

The clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of dedifferentiated central chondrosarcoma in extremities

ObjectiveThis study was to analyze the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of dedifferentiated central chondrosarcomas (DCCS) in extremities.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 49 patients (27 males, 22 females) who underwent surgical treatment between January 2001 and March 2023 in our institution. All patients were diagnosed with dedifferentiated central chondrosarcomas by needle biopsy or postoperative histopathological examination. The general characters, treatment and clinical outcomes were recorded in the follow-up and all surgical-related complications that occurred were recorded in this study. Overall, these data were used to analyse the prognostic factors of DCCS.Results49 patients were included in this retrospective study and there were no patients lost in the follow-up period. The median diagnosis age of all patients was 57 years old (ranging from 17 to 87) and the median follow-up time was 34 months (range, 1-289). The average tumor size was 9.6 ± 2.4 cm (3.0-15.5). Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 34 and 23 months, respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS were 87.8% (95% CI 77.6%-98.0%), 71.4% (35/49), 28.6% (14/49) and 18.4% (9/49). And the 1-year, 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year PFS were 75.5% (95% CI 63.6%-87.4%), 49.0% (35/49), 26.5% (14/49) and 16.3% (9/49). Multiple variate analyses indicated metastasis, pathological fracture, Enneking staging and surgical margin were independent prognostic factors in extremity dedifferentiated central chondrosarcomas.ConclusionsDedifferentiated central chondrosarcomas in extremities still had a grave prognosis. Metastasis, pathological fracture, Enneking staging, and surgical margin were independent risk factors for prognosis.Evidence levelIV Therapic.

Engineering model for seismic analysis of flexible rail‐bound structures with uplift

AbstractIn this paper, a highly simplified two‐dimensional three‐mass oscillator model is presented, which reproduces the typical behaviour of flexible structures of large mobile equipment transverse to the rail under seismic excitation. The typical rocking motion of the machine found in previous investigations, which is reproduced in the simplified analytical model, is taken into account together with the characteristic properties of the load‐bearing structure of the complete model. The three‐mass oscillator model is designed in such a way that it is able to provide information about uplift, rocking and tilting as a function of the model parameters and the excitation. A novel approach for the coefficient of restitution is derived, which takes into account the impact of wheel on rail and at the same time includes the stiffness of the subsoil. Also, a non‐linear ground stiffness could be captured with this approach, and thus the influence of the ground could be investigated. This approach is of generic character, so it may be useful to a wide range of other engineering fields than mobile equipment as well. Structural parameters are determined for a range of bucket wheel machines and stackers, producing rocking and tilting spectra under sinusoidal excitations and generating tilting delimitations under seismic excitations. Using a numerical beam‐mass model corresponding to the engineering model, the simplified multi‐mass model can be validated.

Piecing together the taxonomic puzzle: Generic delimitation in the Stoebe clade of Cape daisies (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) and a synopsis of the species

The Stoebe clade is a Cape-centred lineage comprising ca. 70 species, currently in eight genera. Despite recent generic taxonomic changes, many generic characters are ambiguous, and generic circumscription is likely to remain unstable in the absence of a robust species-level phylogeny. Here, we present a hypothesis of species relationships in the clade, based on parsimony and Bayesian analyses of DNA sequence and morphological characters, in order to assess generic monophyly. The trees based on morphology alone and plastid sequences alone are poorly resolved, with few well-supported nodes, while those based on nuclear sequences alone are better resolved. There is no evidence of phylogenetic conflict, and concatenation of all three data sources produces a well-resolved tree with many highly-supported nodes. We show that none of the currently-accepted genera are monophyletic, with the exception of Muscosomorphe, which is supported as monospecific. Amphiglossa species are recovered in two separate clades, requiring the resurrection of the genus Pterothrix to house ten of the twelve species. All the characters used to circumscribe the remaining genera, such as the possession of ray florets, are shown to be homoplasious. As a result, these remaining genera (Dicerothamnus, Disparago, Elytropappus, Myrovernix, Seriphium, and Stoebe) are here synonymised with Stoebe. The main morphological synapomorphy for this enlarged concept of Stoebe is the aggregation of the tiny capitula into conflorescences with varying degrees of complexity and congestion. The proposed taxonomy for the Stoebe clade comprises just four genera: Amphiglossa, Muscosomorphe, Pterothrix, and Stoebe. We present the new combinations, keys and generic descriptions, as well as keys to the species.

Common Pteridophytes of Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) Part II : Athyriaceae

The general characters of the family, genus and species alongwith their keys for identification have been presented. Six species of Athyrium, namely Athyrium flabellulatum, A. foliolosum, A. pectinatum, A. rupicola, A. schimperi, A. setiferum and A. strigillosum; two species of Deparia, namely Deparia boryana and D. japonica and two species of Diplazium, namely Diplazium esculentum and D. maximum of family Athyriaceae have been dealt with.

To the knowledge of the subtribe Pericalina Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiinae), with description of new genus, new subgenus and species from Oriental region

A new genus Acoptodera gen. n. is described to place Coptodera piligera Chaudoir, 1883 previously attributed to genus Trichocoptodera Louwerens, 1958, as well as new subgenus Pericalocephala subgen. n. to place remarkable new species from Vietnam: Acoptodera (Pericalocephala) paradoxa sp. n. By the presence of hairs on head, pronotum and elytra, new genus is similar with Trichocoptodera Louwerens, 1958, but can be easely distinguished by flattened pronotum with wide lateral margins and by rounded elytra with serrate edges and fringe of setae on the sides. The status and characters of genera thought to be near relatives of Coptodera genus-group, are briefly discussed. Images of habitus and genitalia are provided.

Admiration in adolescents’ judgments on situations involving hurting

This article aims to characterize judgments about situations that involve causing harm and investigate whether judgments of situations in which participants' idols differed from judgments made for episodes involving generic characters. The research used two questionnaires: the sociodemographic questionnaire and the questionnaire on the interference of admiration in judgments about causing harm, applied to 63 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years old. A coding system was developed based on the participants' responses, guided by the principles of Social Domain Theory, going through a rigorous process of dialogical reliability between researchers specialized in the subject. This coding system resulted in the following analysis categories: moral concern (justice, empathy, differences, and moral intervention), conventional concern (social expectation, legislation, religion, parental authority, and conventional intervention), concern with the situation (situational) and in others (it depends, and without justification). Additionally, a quantitative analysis was conducted using the method of dialogical reliability to map the presence of the five criteria of the moral domain: concern for others, adherence to the rule, generalization of the rule, independence from authority, and universalization of the rule, aiming to determine which elements hindered or facilitated the categorization of responses within the moral domain. The comparison between judgments involving generic characters and idols was conducted using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests to ascertain the presence of significant differences between the judgments. The results indicated that admiration did not interfere with judgments in three of the four situations (accidental harm, psychological harm, and benefit), suggesting that the majority of adolescents judged situations with justifications that did not consider concern for causing harm to others. Further research needs to be conducted to investigate why there are few moral responses in judgments about different situations involving harm.

New species of the plant bug genus Neolygus Knight from Japan, Taiwan and Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirini)

Ten new species of the Holarctic-Oriental mirine genus Neolygus Knight are documented, on the basis of specimens collected from eastern Asia and the Oriental Region: N. autumnus n. sp., N. chichibumontis n. sp., N. chikanoshima n. sp., N. hasegawai n. sp. and N. yonanus n. sp. (Japan); N. babai n. sp., N. formosaroseus n. sp., N. fuscovultus n. sp. and N. rufifemoratus n. sp. (Taiwan); and N. chaiyaphum n. sp. (Thailand). The generic characters are discussed, and a Japanese taxon, Neolygus tsugaruensis (Yasunaga, 1992), is herein proposed as a junior synonym of N. roseus (Yasunaga, 1991). Updated key to Japanese species and checklist of the Old World congeners are also provided.

Theory of Majorana-Type Heavy Ion Double Charge Exchange Reactions by Pion–Nucleon Isotensor Interactions

The theory of heavy ion double charge exchange (DCE) reactions proceeding by effective rank-2 isotensor interactions is presented. Virtual pion–nucleon charge exchange interactions are investigated as the source for induced isotensor interactions, giving rise to the Majorana DCE (MDCE) reaction mechanism. MDCE is of a generic character, proceeding through pairs of complementary (π±,π∓) reactions in the projectile and target nucleus. The dynamics of the elementary processes is discussed, where the excitation of pion–nucleon resonances are of central importance. Investigations of initial and final state ion–ion interactions show that these effects are acting as vertex renormalizations. In closure approximation, well justified by the finite pion mass, the second-order transition matrix elements reduce to pion potentials and effective two-body isotensor DCE interactions, giving rise also to two-body correlations in either of the participating nuclei. Connections to neutrinoless Majorana double beta decay (MDBD) are elucidated at various levels of the dynamics, from the underlying fundamental electro-weak and QCD scales to the physical scales of nuclear MDBD and MDCE physics. It is pointed out that heavy ion MDCE reactions may also proceed by competing electro-weak charge exchange processes, leading to lepton MDCE by electrons, positrons, and neutrinos.

Unveiling kiwifruit TCP genes: evolution, functions, and expression insights

ABSTRACT The TEOSINTE-BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLEFERATING-CELL-FACTORS (TCP) gene family is a plant-specific transcriptional factor family involved in leaf morphogenesis and senescence, lateral branching, hormone crosstalk, and stress responses. To date, a systematic study on the identification and characterization of the TCP gene family in kiwifruit has not been reported. Additionally, the function of kiwifruit TCPs in regulating kiwifruit responses to the ethylene treatment and bacterial canker disease pathogen (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, Psa) has not been investigated. Here, we identified 40 and 26 TCP genes in Actinidia chinensis (Ac) and A. eriantha (Ae) genomes, respectively. The synteny analysis of AcTCPs illustrated that whole-genome duplication accounted for the expansion of the TCP family in Ac. Phylogenetic, conserved domain, and selection pressure analysis indicated that TCP family genes in Ac and Ae had undergone different evolutionary patterns after whole-genome duplication (WGD) events, causing differences in TCP gene number and distribution. Our results also suggested that protein structure and cis-element architecture in promoter regions of TCP genes have driven the function divergence of duplicated gene pairs. Three and four AcTCP genes significantly affected kiwifruit responses to the ethylene treatment and Psa invasion, respectively. Our results provided insight into general characters, evolutionary patterns, and functional diversity of kiwifruit TCPs.

Rediscovery of the genus Saigonita Kiriakoff (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Agaristinae), with an updated checklist of Agaristinae from China

The enigmatic agaristine genus Saigonita Kiriakoff, 1971 is rediscovered and recorded from Hainan, Southern China for the first time. The adults are illustrated for the first time. The generic characters of Saigonita are also discussed and modified. An updated checklist of the members of Agaristinae from China is presented, and a new synonym is proposed: Cruriopsis funebris (Moore, 1872) = Callimorpha nigralba Fang, 2000, syn. nov.

Osteogenic differentiation of canine adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells on B‐TCP and B‐TCP/Collagen biomaterials

Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells that can differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and myogenic lineages. In orthopedics and traumatology, mesenchymal stem cells, combined with biomaterials, are used mainly for treating bone fractures and diseases in humans and animals. This study aims to promote the growth, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the adipose tissue of canines on B‐TCP (Beta‐tricalcium phosphate) and B‐TCP/Collagen biomaterials. MTT analysis was performed to test the cell adhesion and proliferation on B‐TCP and B‐TCP/Collagen biomaterials used to mimic the extracellular matrix of three‐dimensional bone tissue. Scanning electron microscope analysis was performed to show general surface characters of BTCP and B‐TCP /Collagen biomaterials. The osteoinductive capacities of the BTCP and B‐TCP/Collagen biomaterials were determined by alkaline phosphatase and Von Kossa stainings, and RT‐PCR analysis. The ALP activity of the B‐TCP/Col containing material was significantly higher than the B‐TCP in the early days. In terms of gene expression, there were no significant differences except 14thday SPARC gene expression. The results of Von Kossa staining indicated that BTCP/ Col has above the desired level degradation capacity. As a result of this research, although it is advantageous in terms of alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic gene expression compared to B‐TCP material, it is thought that B‐TCP/Collagen biomaterial should be developed for use in bone tissue engineering due to its high degradation property.

First mitogenomic characterization of Macromotettixoides (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae), with the descriptions of two new species.

Classification of species is commonly based on morphological, molecular, and distribution depending on the taxa. Macromotettixoides Zheng, Wei & Jiang, 2005 and Formosatettix Tinkham, 1937 are both wingless types of Tetrigidae with extremely similar morphological characteristics, and in the current taxonomic system they are placed in two different subfamilies, Metrodorinae and Tetriginae, respectively. It is difficult to clearly identify the species of these two genera by morphological characteristics, and molecular data is often needed to assist identification. Here, the complete mitogenomes of two new species were sequenced and assembled, with that of Macromotettixoidesorthomargina. Molecular data of species of Formosatettix were used to test the monophyly of Macromotettixoides and to re-assess the generic characters, and also to test whether Macromotettixoides belongs to the Asian Metrodorinae or Tetriginae. Furthermore, mitochondrial characteristics were analyzed and the phylogeny of the Tetrigidae reconstructed based on mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs). The results indicated that the two new species were clustered with Macromotettixoides rather than Formosatettix, and the anterior margin of the fastigium and pronotum of the two new species usually had the humeral angle different from that of Formosatettix. Therefore, after integrating morphological and molecular data, the two new species were placed in the genus Macromotettixoides, M.maoershanensissp. nov. and M.brachycornasp. nov. Finally, a phylogenetic reconstruction supported Macromotettixoides being assigned to Tetriginae rather than Metrodorinae, in contrast to the previous classification of this genus.

The Pylus complex sensu Opitz revisited (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Korynetinae): non-homogeneity of its genera addressed by alternative species-assignment hypothesis.

Apparent superficial non-homogeneity of species assigned to the genera Apopylus Kolib, Fallopylus Opitz and Pylus Newman prompted reassessment of genus characters and species assignment of those genera plus Parapylus Blackburn and Pseudopylus Opitz, all of which were defined by Opitz (2015) primarily on the number of tibial spurs. Morphological investigation resulted in discovery of suites of correlating character state pairs providing more robust evidence for monophyly of the genera under study than tibial spurs alone. On this basis, genus definitions were revised, and species assigned accordingly to the newly defined genera. Taxonomic changes proposed include synonymy of Fallopylus Opitz, 2012 new synonym and Pseudopylus Opitz, 2012 new synonym with Pylus Newman, 1841, plus the following new combinations: Apopylus astrictus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus creperus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus leptofustus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Apopylus redactus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Pylus apterus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Pseudopylus); Pylus cavus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Fallopylus); Pylus cruslumus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Apopylus); Pylus kolibaci (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Apopylus); Pylus nactus (Opitz, 2015) new combination (transferred from Apopylus). Pylus okei Elston, 1929 and Pylus pallipes Macleay, 1872 are returned to their original combinations from Apopylus and Fallopylus respectively. In addition to evidence for the monophyly of genera being based on more robust lines of morphological evidence, the newly defined genera are also more obviously homogenous, with superficially similar looking insects now grouped together.

Gas adsorption meets deep learning: voxelizing the potential energy surface of metal-organic frameworks

Intrinsic properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), such as their ultra porosity and high surface area, deem them promising solutions for problems involving gas adsorption. Nevertheless, due to their combinatorial nature, a huge number of structures is feasible which renders cumbersome the selection of the best candidates with traditional techniques. Recently, machine learning approaches have emerged as efficient tools to deal with this challenge, by allowing researchers to rapidly screen large databases of MOFs via predictive models. The performance of the latter is tightly tied to the mathematical representation of a material, thus necessitating the use of informative descriptors. In this work, a generalized framework to predict gaseous adsorption properties is presented, using as one and only descriptor the capstone of chemical information: the potential energy surface (PES). In order to be machine understandable, the PES is voxelized and subsequently a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) is exploited to process this 3D energy image. As a proof of concept, the proposed pipeline is applied on predicting CO2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\hbox {CO}_{2}}$$\\end{document} uptake in MOFs. The resulting model outperforms a conventional model built with geometric descriptors and requires two orders of magnitude less training data to reach a given level of performance. Moreover, the transferability of the approach to different host-guest systems is demonstrated, examining CH4\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\hbox {CH}_4}$$\\end{document} uptake in COFs. The generic character of the proposed methodology, inherited from the PES, renders it applicable to fields other than reticular chemistry.

Comparative analysis of organelle genomes provides conflicting evidence between morphological similarity and phylogenetic relationship in diatoms

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are abundant phytoplankton groups in marine environments, which contribute approximately 20% of global carbon fixation through photosynthesis. Moreover, diatoms exhibit the highest species diversity (approximately 18,000 diatom species) among marine photosynthetic eukaryotes, which were identified by morphological characteristics. Molecular phylogenetic analyses could shed new insights into the evolutionary relationships of diverse diatom species. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of diatom species still remains unclear because the available molecular data are insufficient compared with their high species diversity. Furthermore, several novel diatom species were reported from field samples with no molecular evidence. In particular, the phylogenies of diatom species constructed using organelle genomes revealed that several diatom genera are paraphyletic with high supporting values. We constructed high-resolution phylogenetic trees of diatom species using organelle genomes (plastids and mitochondria) and compared the morphologies in several paraphyletic diatom genera. Especially, the clades Nitzschia and Thalassiosira include several different diatom genera with high phylogenetic supports. Our study demonstrated that some morphological characteristics (e.g., genus characters) of several diatom genera could not represent current genus boundaries. Based on the results, we highlight the necessity for taxonomic reinvestigation. To reestablish this in diatoms, it will be essential to incorporate more genome data from a broader range of taxon samples, along with a comparison of morphological characteristics.

Comparative morphology of the genera with perpendicular parameres in Anomalini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) allows revalidation of the endemic Mexican genus Lamoana Casey, 1915 stat. rev.

The endemic Mexican genus Lamoana Casey, 1915 stat. rev. is revalidated through a comparative morphological analysis of both male genitalia and somatic characters of all genera with perpendicular parameres. A comparative study and general description of the basic patterns in the morphology of the genitalia for the American genera are provided. A full redescription of the genus and a redescription of L. villosella (Blanchard, 1851) comb. rev. is provided herein, with the addition of generic and specific diagnostic characters and data about its geographical distribution. Further, possible relationships at generic level among American genera are provided. With this study, the number of Anomalini genera known for America and Mexico is now elevated to 17 and 14, respectively.

Taxonomy of the Family Teneriffiidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Anystoidea): Generic Synonymies with the Key to World Species of the Family

The family Teneriffiidae Thor has an equivocal and patchy generic history due to a lack of proper diagnostic character/s, causing the addition of an over-sufficient number of genera (i.e., nine) for the 28 described species. The present study aimed to resolve those taxonomic uncertainties related to generic divisions and species assignments by thoroughly reviewing all the published literature of the family, identifying key diagnostic character/s for generic divisions while debating on previously used morphological features. In the present research, only two genera, Teneriffia Thor and Parateneriffia Thor, are considered valid genera in the family Teneriffiidae, based on the absence and presence of palpgenu oncophysis, respectively. The previously used other generic diagnostic characters such as coxal setal formula, pectination strength of leg claws, absence or presence of genital papillae, genital discs, and pedal solenidion have been argued for their inconsistencies. A total of four species were synonymized with the closely related species, while additional notes for six poorly described species are given. Moreover, the key to the genera and species of the family Teneriffiidae is provided.

Grias portillae (Lecythidaceae): A new tree species from northwestern Ecuador

Grias portillae, a new tree species of Lecythidaceae from the evergreen lower montane Andean slopes at environs of Lita, in northwestern Ecuador, is here described and illustrated. It is characterized by the leaf blades with short-caudate apex, flowers with dark-purple petals, androecium creamish-white, fused in a developed staminal tube, stamens 18–21, arranged in one level on top of rim, and anthers with expanded, cucullate connectives with lateral flaps that encloses most of the thecae. Grias portillae is assessed provisionally as Endangered, and an updated key to all species of this genus is provided. The presence of colleters on the margins of the leaves is reported here for the first time as a new generic character in Grias.

Dipole instability in molecules irradiated by XUV pulses

We study the response of small covalent molecules to XUV laser pulses. The theoretical description relies on a real-time and real-space Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) approach at the level of the local density approximation complemented by an efficient self-interaction correction. We observe the development of a dipole instability well after the laser pulse has died out. We find that this instability mechanism is robust with respect to ionic motion, to a wide variety of laser characteristics and to the inclusion of incoherent correlations at the level of a relaxation time ansatz. To rule out any potential numerical effects, we use two independent computational implementations of the TDDFT approach. A comparison of the various laser parameters together with the widely used model approach consisting in an instantaneous hole excitation shows the generic character of this instability in terms of the level depletion of a deep lying electron state. An experimental verification of the phenomenon is proposed in terms of a time-resolved measurement of the photoelectron spectrum.