Complete Row Research Articles

The Stream Tadpoles ofRhinella rumbolli(Anura: Bufonidae)

The Rhinella veraguensis group is likely a paraphyletic assemblage that contains 16 species of Andean toads. To date, descriptions are available for larval stages of only three species, all of which possess a distinct sucker in the abdominal region. In this study, we describe the tadpoles of Rhinella rumbolli, a medium-sized Salta Toad typical of forest streams in northwestern Argentina. Thirty-three larvae (Gosner Stages 32–36) were processed for studies of the external morphology, buccal cavity, and musculoskeletal system. These larvae show a mosaic of features, some typical of the genus and some others unique to the R. veraguensis group. Several character states are specific to R. rumbolli, namely the lack of an abdominal sucker, 2–4 lingual papillae, and the absence of adrostral cartilages. Some traits are frequent in other stream tadpoles such as the muscular tail, large oral disc with complete labial rows, and the wide and robust anterior neurocranium. Bufonid tadpoles exhibit an extraordinary variation in ecology, such as preferred microhabitat, and the diversity within the family is exemplified within the genus Rhinella. Further comparative morphological and developmental studies, framed in the context of phylogenetic hypotheses, are needed in order to explore the pattern variation in different clades and to discuss character evolution and form–function relationships.

Optical RAM Row Access With WDM-Enabled All-Passive Row/Column Decoders

In this letter, we present new architectural perspectives in optical static RAM configurations by exploiting the wavelength dimension in address domain. We present a 2 × 4 optical RAM row decoder (RD) that relies its operation on an all-passive wavelength-selective filtering matrix ( λ-matrix), receiving WDM-formatted address bits (Wordline) as input. The 2 × 4 RD is followed by an semiconductor optical amplifier Mach-Zehnder interferometer access gate and a column decoding unit to provide complete optical RAM row access. Proof-of-concept experimental verification of a 2 × 4 optical RAM RD is shown at 10 Gb/s, providing error-free operation with a peak power penalty lower than 0.2 dB.

Krobia petitella, a new species of cichlid fish from the Berbice River in Guyana (Teleostei: Cichlidae).

Krobia petitella, new species, is described from the Berbice River drainage of northeastern Guyana. It is distinguished from all other described species of Krobia (K. guianensis Regan, K. itanyi Puyo and K. xinguensis Kullander) as well as the closely related 'Aequidens' potaroensis and 'A'. paloemeuensis by tubed scales of the upper lateral line extending caudally into a line bisecting the lateral band blotches posterior to the mid-lateral spot. Krobia petitella n. sp. can be further diagnosed by the anterior lateral band spots lying immediately ventral to the upper lateral line, instead of being separated from the upper lateral line by a complete row of scales in all other species. Additionally, K. petitella n. sp. possesses a unique lateral coloration pattern formed by the combination of six vertical bars and four lateral band spots (vs. K. itanyi 5 bars/3 or 4 spots, K. guianensis 5/5, K. xinguensis 7/6, 'Aequidens' potaroensis 6/6, 'A'. paloemeuensis 5/5). The presence of Krobia petitella n. sp. in reaches of the Berbice River drainage in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region provides a novel locality for the genus in the Guianas and suggests the Berbice River has been isolated from the rest of nearby Guianese basins, particularly the Essequibo and the Corantijn.

A new Nematocharax species from the middle Contas River basin, Northeastern Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

Nematocharax costai, new species is described from the Contas river basin, northeastern Brazil. The new species is included in the genus Nematocharax by possessing elongated branched dorsal-, anal- and pelvic-fin rays; two rows of pre-maxillary teeth in adults and practically complete row of teeth along the free ventral maxillary border. It differs from N. venustus, unique congener, by the number of maxillary teeth in adult males; absence of hooks and spinules on dorsal and pelvic fins; reduced number of anal-fin rays with spinules; presence of a long dark pink horizontal mark on caudal peduncle; number of supraneurals and pelvic-fin filament yellow.

Accounting for variation in designing greenhouse experiments with special reference to greenhouses containing plants on conveyor systems

BackgroundThere are a number of unresolved issues in the design of experiments in greenhouses. They include whether statistical designs should be used and, if so, which designs should be used. Also, are there thigmomorphogenic or other effects arising from the movement of plants on conveyor belts within a greenhouse? A two-phase, single-line wheat experiment involving four tactics was conducted in a conventional greenhouse and a fully-automated phenotyping greenhouse (Smarthouse) to investigate these issues.Results and discussionAnalyses of our experiment show that there was a small east–west trend in total area of the plants in the Smarthouse. Analyses of the data from three multiline experiments reveal a large north–south trend. In the single-line experiment, there was no evidence of differences between trios of lanes, nor of movement effects. Swapping plant positions during the trial was found to decrease the east–west trend, but at the cost of increased error variance. The movement of plants in a north–south direction, through a shaded area for an equal amount of time, nullified the north–south trend. An investigation of alternative experimental designs for equally-replicated experiments revealed that generally designs with smaller blocks performed best, but that (nearly) trend-free designs can be effective when blocks are larger.ConclusionsTo account for variation in microclimate in a greenhouse, using statistical design and analysis is better than rearranging the position of plants during the experiment. For the relocation of plants to be successful requires that plants spend an equal amount of time in each microclimate, preferably during comparable growth stages. Even then, there is no evidence that this will be any more precise than statistical design and analysis of the experiment, and the risk is that it will not be successful at all. As for statistical design and analysis, it is best to use either (i) smaller blocks, (ii) (nearly) trend-free arrangement of treatments with a linear trend term included in the analysis, or, as a last resort, (iii) blocks of several complete rows with trend terms in the analysis. Also, we recommend that the greenhouse arrangement parallel that in the Smarthouse, but with randomization where appropriate.

Broad-sense heritability in mixed models for grapevine initial selection trials

This work addresses to the genetic analysis and selection in populations where the whole genotypic value is transmitted through generations, using grapevine yield data as a case study. Several models were applied to different types of data sets. The individual and mean year yield and the balanced and unbalanced data resulting from various experimental designs (completely randomized, randomized complete block and row–column) were used. The aims of present work were to study: (1) the applicability of a generalised measure of broad-sense heritability to evaluate the success of the genotypic selection and compare it with the classical approach; and (2) the effect of different models on the accuracy and precision of the genotypic variance component and on the generalised broad-sense heritability estimates. The results showed that the computation of a measure of generalised broad-sense heritability is very feasible and useful for evaluating the efficiency of genotypic selection. In this study, 88 % of the fitted models did not comply with the standards for applying the classical concept of heritability. The differences between both the classical and generalised broad-sense heritability estimates increased with the complexity of the model. Higher broad-sense heritability estimates were consistently obtained with the mean years. The most accurate and precise estimates of the genetic parameters were obtained with the spatial models. Finally, the genotypic variance component of yield and the generalised broad-sense heritability were consistently significant for all grapevine varieties.

An identification key to species in the mali complex of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) with descriptions of three new species

The Aphelinus mali complex consists of eleven described species. Monophyly of this complex is well supported by a combination of traits: (1) a single complete row of setae proximal to the linea calva of the fore wing, with a few additional setae in the angle between this row and the marginal vein; (2) linea calva open (no setae at its posterior edge); (3) head and body dark except for parts of the metasoma; (4) meso- and metacoxae dark; (5) metafemur pale, (6) metatibia dark. Species within the complex have been distinguished by color and shape of antennal segments (particularly the third funicular segment), color of legs and metasoma, and relative length of ovipositor versus mesotibia. We provide a key for identifying species in the mali complex, and describe three new species, Aphelinus glycinis sp. n., Aphelinus rhamni sp. n., and Aphelinus coreae sp. n. from material in laboratory cultures originally reared from soybean aphid in China and Korea as candidates for biological control of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines.

Dental abnormalities of the southern thorny skate Amblyraja doellojuradoi (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae)

Teeth morphology has been widely used in taxonomic, biological and fossil teeth studies of Chondrichthyes. Herein, dental abnormalities in Amblyraja doellojuradoi are described. Almost 10% of 182 specimens sampled presented any of these types of dental anomalies: (1) an additional incomplete tooth row between two complete rows, (2) an increasing tooth base size and division of its cusps until the complete splitting of teeth in the same row, and (3) an irregular tooth arrangement on the right side of the lower jaw. Possible causes producing these malformations such as mutation, damage by feeding or reproductive behavior are discussed.

Anti-Codes in Terms of Berlekamp's Switching Game

We view a linear code (subspace) $C\leq\mathbb{F}_{q}^n$ as a light pattern on the \(n\)-dimensional Berlekamp Board $\mathbb{F}_{q}^n$ with $q^n$ light bulbs. The lights corresponding to elements of $C$ are ON, the others are OFF. Then we allow axis-parallel switches of complete rows, columns, etc. We show that the dual code $C^\perp$ contains a vector $v$ of full weight, i.e. $v_1,v_2,\dots,v_n\neq0$, if and only if the light pattern $C$ cannot be switched off. Generalizations of this allow us to describe anti-codes with maximal weight $\delta$ in a similar way, or, alternatively, in terms of a switching game in projective space. We provide convenient bases and normal forms to the modules of all light patterns of the generalized games. All our proofs are purely combinatorial and simpler than the algebraic ones used for similar results about anti-codes in $\mathbb{Z}_k^n$. Aside from coding theory, the game is also of interest in the study of nowhere-zero points of matrices and nowhere-zero flows and colorings of graphs.

Resultados funcionales tras la reparación artroscópica de roturas masivas del manguito rotador: influencia de la aplicación de plasma rico en plaquetas asociado a fibrina

Objective The aim of this work is to investigate whether the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with a high fibrin content in the repair area of massive rotator cuff tears treated using arthroscopic techniques improves the functional results and decreases the number of re-tears. Material and method This prospective, randomised study included 28 patients (20 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 65 years (range: 53 to 78) and diagnosed with a massive rotator cuff tear (two tendons affected, >5 cm). A complete single row arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff was performed on all patients. A concentrate of platelet rich plasma with a high fibrin content was applied to the osteotendinous transition area in 14 patients after the operation, whilst in the other 14 patients the repair was performed without any growth factor support. The functional results were evaluated with the Constant scale, as well as an arthro-MRI to check the integrity of the repaired tendon one year after the operation. Results There were no complications or repeat operations in any of the two groups. The pre-operative Constant results improved 30 points in the group without PRP and 26 points in the group with PRP, with no significant differences between both groups. In the arthro-MRI study, integrity of the repair was observed in 9 (32%) patients, whilst 4 had a contrast leak and 15 a clear re-tear. No differences were found in the number of re-tears between the group in which the platelet-rich plasma was applied and in the one where it was not applied. Conclusions The arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears gives clinically satisfactory results, despite a high rate of new tears. The application of platelet-rich plasma did not improve the clinic results or decrease the number of re-tears.

Colorings and Nowhere-Zero Flows of Graphs in Terms of Berlekamp's Switching Game

We work with a unifying linear algebra formulation for nowhere-zero flows and colorings of graphs and matrices. Given a subspace (code) $U\leq{\mathbb{Z}_k^n}$ – e.g. the bond or the cycle space over ${\mathbb{Z}}_k$ of an oriented graph – we call a nowhere-zero tuple $f\in{\mathbb{Z}_k^n}$ a flow of $U$ if $f$ is orthogonal to $U$. In order to detect flows, we view the subspace $U$ as a light pattern on the $n$-dimensional Berlekamp Board ${\mathbb{Z}_k^n}$ with $k^n$ light bulbs. The lights corresponding to elements of $U$ are ON, the others are OFF. Then we allow axis-parallel switches of complete rows, columns, etc. The core result of this paper is that the subspace $U$ has a flow if and only if the light pattern $U$ cannot be switched off. In particular, a graph $G$ has a nowhere-zero $k$-flow if and only if the ${\mathbb{Z}}_k$-bond space of $G$ cannot be switched off. It has a vertex coloring with $k$ colors if and only if a certain corresponding code over ${\mathbb{Z}}_k$ cannot be switched off. Similar statements hold for Tait colorings, and for nowhere-zero points of matrices. Studying different normal forms to equivalence classes of light patterns, we find various new equivalents, e.g., for the Four Color Problem, Tutte's Flow Conjectures and Jaeger's Conjecture. Two of our equivalents for colorability and existence of nowhere zero flows of graphs include as special cases results by Matiyasevich, by Balázs Szegedy, and by Onn. Alon and Tarsi's sufficient condition for $k$-colorability also arrives, remarkably, as a generalized full equivalent.

New species of Sangiorgioichthys Tintori and Lombardo, 2007 (Neopterygii, Semionotiformes) from the Anisian of Luoping (Yunnan Province, South China)

We report on a new species of the neopterygian genus Sangiorgioichthys Tintori and Lombardo, 2007, from middle Anisian (Pelsonian) deposits in South China (Luoping County, Yunnan Province). Sangiorgioichthys was previously known from a single species, S. aldae, from the late Ladinian of the Monte San Giorgio (Italy and Switzerland). The recognition of the new species helped to improve the diagnosis of the genus, which is mainly characterized by the presence of broad posttemporal and supracleithral bones, one or two suborbital bones occupying a triangular area ventral to the infraorbital bones and lateral to the quadrate, and elongate supramaxilla fitting in a an excavation of the dorsal border of the maxilla. Sangiorgioichthys sui n. sp. differs from the type species in having two pairs of extrascapular bones, the medial pair usually fused to the parietals, maxilla with a complete row of small conical teeth, long supramaxilla, more than half of the length of the maxilla, only two large suborbital bones posterior to the orbit, and flank scales with finely serrated posterior borders. With the discovery of S. sui n. sp., the number of fish genera shared by the Anisian/Ladinian deposits in the Alps and the Anisian deposits in South China increases, including not only the cosmopolitan Birgeria and Saurichthys, but also, among others, the subholosteans Colobodus (so far only in Panxian), Luopingichthys (so far only in Luoping), Peltopleurus, Habroichthys, and the very specialized neopterygians Placopleurus and Marcopoloichthys (only in Luoping). Therefore, although several fish taxa remain to be studied in the Chinese faunas, the so far available evidence indicates close biogeographic relationship between the Middle Triassic marine faunas of the Western Tethys region.

Functional results after arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears; influence of the application platelet-rich plasma combined with fibrin

Objective The aim of this work is to investigate whether the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with a high fibrin content in the repair area of massive rotator cuff tears treated using arthroscopic techniques improves the functional results and decreases the number of re-tears. Material and method This prospective, randomised study included 28 patients (20 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 65 years (range: 53 to 78) and diagnosed with a massive rotator cuff tear (two tendons affected, >5 cm). A complete single row arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff was performed on all patients. A concentrate of platelet rich plasma with a high fibrin content was applied to the osteotendinous transition area in 14 patients after the operation, whilst in the other 14 patients the repair was performed without any growth factor support. The functional results were evaluated with the Constant scale, as well as an arthro-MRI to check the integrity of the repaired tendon one year after the operation. Results There were no complications or repeat operations in any of the two groups. The pre-operative Constant results improved 30 points in the group without PRP and 26 points in the group with PRP, with no significant differences between both groups. In the arthro-MRI study, integrity of the repair was observed in 9 (32%) patients, whilst 4 had a contrast leak and 15 a clear re-tear. No differences were found in the number of re-tears between the group in which the platelet-rich plasma was applied and in the one where it was not applied. Conclusions The arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears gives clinically satisfactory results, despite a high rate of new tears. The application of platelet-rich plasma did not improve the clinic results or decrease the number of re-tears.

A New Species of Anomiopsyllus Baker, 1904 (Insecta: Siphonaptera), and Noteworthy Records of Fleas from Nelson's Woodrat, Neotoma nelsoni (Rodentia: Cricetidae), in the Oriental Basin, Mexico

We report the first record of ectoparasites from Nelson's woodrat, Neotoma nelsoni, a rare, endemic mammal of east-central Mexico. We also describe a new flea species of Anomiopsyllus (A. perontesis n. sp.), which presents a complete row of bristles on sternum IX and 3 blunt spines on movable process; provide a new country record for the flea Stenistomera alpina (Baker, 1985); and report a new host record for the flea Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood, 1875). A taxonomic key for the new species is included.

Bump and Trench Modifications to Film-Cooling Holes at the Vane-Endwall Junction

The endwall of a first-stage vane experiences high heat transfer and low adiabatic effectiveness levels because of high turbine operating temperatures and formation of leading edge vortices. These vortices lift the coolant off the endwall and pull the hot mainstream gases toward it. The region of focus for this study is the vane-endwall junction region near the stagnation location where cooling is very difficult. Two different film-cooling hole modifications, namely, trenches and bumps, were evaluated to improve the cooling in the leading edge region. This study uses a large-scale turbine vane cascade with a single row of axial film-cooling holes at the leading edge of the vane endwall. Individual hole trenches and row trenches were placed along the complete row of film-cooling holes. Two-dimensional semi-elliptically shaped bumps were also evaluated by placing the bumps upstream and downstream of the film-cooling row. Tests were carried out for different trench depths and bump heights under varying blowing ratios. The results indicated that a row trench placed along the row of film-cooling holes showed a greater enhancement in adiabatic effectiveness levels when compared to individual hole trenches and bumps. All geometries considered produced an overall improvement to adiabatic effectiveness levels.

Ulminium diluviale Unger : historique de la découverte et nouvelle étude

A fossil tree was discovered during the 16th century at Jáchymov (Bohemia). The wood was first named by Unger, in 1842, Ulminium diluviale. But it belongs to the Lauraceae family and Felix, in 1883, named it Laurinoxylon diluviale. The authors give the history and the geological setting of the area and describe the anatomy of the wood. The diagnosis of the genus Laurinoxylon Felix, 1883. is emended as follows: heteroxylous fossil wood with average sized solitary vessels or in radial groups; perforation plates simple and sometimes scalariform; intervascular pits alternate and moderately large; thyloses present. Paratracheal parenchyma. Uni to five seriate rays, slightly heterocellular and less than 1 mm high; ray-vessel pits large often stretched. Libriform or with radial pits fibres. Oil cells or mucilage (idioblasts) present. The diagnosis of the species Laurinoxylon diluviale (Unger) Felix, 1883. is also emended. Heteroxylous fossil wood with distinct growth rings; late wood poorly developed with vessels of diameter distinctly smaller as compared to the early wood and with smaller diameter fibres. Diffuse to semiporous vessels, solitary or in radial groups of two to seven , nine to 16 pores/mm 2; tangential diameter 100 to 154 μm in early wood and 44 to 72 μm in late wood; vessel length 300 to 550 μm; perforation plates simple and scalariforme (6–12 bars); intervascular pits alternate, rounded (diameter 7–10 μm) or elliptic (long axes × short axes: 10–15 μm × 7–10 μm); thylosis present. Paratracheal parenchyma in more or less complete rows (1–2 cells wide) around the vessels. Heterocellular rays (1–(3) rows of upright cells), of one to five, more frequently three to four cells wide (80%); two to 36 cells high (60 to 820 μm); six to seven rays per tangential millimetre; vessels-rays pits sometimes large, stretched horizontally to vertically. Fibres of 15 to 25 μm in diameter; cell walls of 2–3 μm thick; pits not seen. Oil cells (idioblasts) at the ray margins; 27–60 μm in tangential diameter; 50–80 μm in radial diameter; 72–140 μm high; density of zero to 18 per transversal square millimetres depending on the observed area.

MOTION-INDUCED ILLUSORY CONTOURS: PRIORITY OF GLOBAL ASPECTS ON MOTION PERCEPTION1

The present work deals with the perception of illusory surfaces assessed by the apparent motion of equal, parallel, and equidistant vertical stripes. Particularly, the influence of a reduction in length of one single stripe was studied. Two alternative perceptions were reported by participants: (a) the stripes seemed to move in a plastic (nonrigid) fashion, or (b) an apparent illusory rectangle was perceived in motion at the top of a complete row of stripes, which appeared to move in a rigid fashion in the opposite direction. In both perceptions, the single shorter stripe lost its identity and was absorbed by the global pattern of stripes in motion. The tendency to maintain identity seems to regard first of all the whole structure. It was found that these perceptions depended on the velocity of presentation of stripes and on the size of the shorter stripe.

Motion-Induced Illusory Contours: Priority of Global Aspects on Motion Perception

The present work deals with the perception of illusory surfaces assessed by the apparent motion of equal, parallel, and equidistant vertical stripes. Particularly, the influence of a reduction in length of one single stripe was studied. Two alternative perceptions were reported by participants: (a) the stripes seemed to move in a plastic (nonrigid) fashion, or (b) an apparent illusory rectangle was perceived in motion at the top of a complete row of stripes, which appeared to move in a rigid fashion in the opposite direction. In both perceptions, the single shorter stripe lost its identity and was absorbed by the global pattern of stripes in motion. The tendency to maintain identity seems to regard first of all the whole structure. It was found that these perceptions depended on the velocity of presentation of stripes and on the size of the shorter stripe.

Higher Spin Alternating Sign Matrices

We define a higher spin alternating sign matrix to be an integer-entry square matrix in which, for a nonnegative integer $r$, all complete row and column sums are $r$, and all partial row and column sums extending from each end of the row or column are nonnegative. Such matrices correspond to configurations of spin $r/2$ statistical mechanical vertex models with domain-wall boundary conditions. The case $r=1$ gives standard alternating sign matrices, while the case in which all matrix entries are nonnegative gives semimagic squares. We show that the higher spin alternating sign matrices of size $n$ are the integer points of the $r$-th dilate of an integral convex polytope of dimension $(n{-}1)^2$ whose vertices are the standard alternating sign matrices of size $n$. It then follows that, for fixed $n$, these matrices are enumerated by an Ehrhart polynomial in $r$.

Genetic identification of Conger myriaster leptocephali in East China Sea

A subsample of Conger leptocephali collected in the East China Sea (ECS) was genetically analyzed and most were found to be the larvae of Conger myriaster the most commercially important marine eel species in East Asia. However, these leptocephali (22.3–74.0 mm total length [TL]) did not have a complete row of lateral pigmentation, like the leptocephali of this species are commonly known to have when they are collected over the continental shelf or in coastal waters as they recruit. These leptocephali were in the western edge of the Kuroshio Current and the mixing zone over the shelf in the northern part of the ECS, and two smaller leptocephali (22.3, 46.5 mm TL) were collected to the south of the Ryukyu Islands. This evidence of an ontogenetic change in the presence of lateral pigmentation of C. myriaster indicates that previous efforts to determine the spawning area and recruitment patterns based on only morphological examination of Conger leptocephali in the region must be reconsidered. New research efforts based on genetic identification methods are needed to understand the spawning ecology and recruitment of this important fishery species.