Pair Of Stripes Research Articles

Distinctive color variation in Rhinolepadichthys geminus (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae) from Alor Islands, Indonesia: morphological and molecular insights.

Rhinolepadichthys geminus, one of three recently described species in the genus Rhinolepadichthys (previously known as Lepadichthys lineatus complex), is characterized by several distinct diagnostic morphological and color features, including a pair of yellow stripes on the body ventral midline. However, one of three specimens recently collected from the Alor Islands, Indonesia, possessed a yellow circular line, instead of a pair of yellow stripes, indicating that the latter were not an invariable feature. Morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the identity of the specimen and intraspecific significance of the color variation.

A new species of Epeorus (Caucasiron) (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) from Azerbaijan and Iran.

A new species, Epeorus (Caucasiron) hyrcanicussp. nov., is described based on larval morphology and molecular data (COI) containing sequences from all Caucasian Caucasiron species described to date. The species is distributed in the Hyrcanian forest of southeastern Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran. Based on our wide-range sampling, the new species is likely endemic to this area. The most pronounced larval morphological diagnostic characters are the coloration pattern of abdominal sterna (a pair of oblique stripes and stripe-like medio-lateral maculae) and terga (triangular medial maculae), poorly developed projection of the costal margin of gill plates III, presence of hair-like setae on the surface of abdominal terga, and relatively wide shape of gill plates VII (in natural position from ventral view). The diagnostic characters are compared to related species, and primary information to habitat is provided.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Gloydius (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with description of two new alpine species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

We provide a molecular phylogeny of Asian pit vipers (the genus Gloydius) based on four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, ND4, and cytb). Sequences of Gloydiushimalayanus, the only member of the genus that occurs south of the Himalayan range, are included for the first time. In addition, two new species of the genus Gloydius are described based on specimens collected from Zayu, Tibet, west of the Nujiang River and Heishui, Sichuan, east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The new species, Gloydiuslipipengi sp. nov., can be differentiated from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: the third supralabial not reaching the orbit (separated from it by a suborbital scale); wide, black-bordered greyish postorbital stripe extending from the posterior margin of the orbit (not separated by the postoculars, covering most of the anterior temporal scale) to the ventral surface of the neck; irregular black annular crossbands on the mid-body; 23-21-15 dorsal scales; 165 ventral scales, and 46 subcaudal scales. Gloydiusswildsp. nov. can be differentiated from its congeners by the narrower postorbital stripe (only half the width of the anterior temporal scale, the lower edge is approximately straight and bordered with white); a pair of arched stripes on the occiput; lateral body lakes black spots; a pair of round spots on the parietal scales; 21 rows of mid-body dorsal scales; zigzag dark brown stripes on the dorsum; 168–170 ventral scales, and 43–46 subcaudal scales. The molecular phylogeny in this study supports the sister relationship between G.lipipengisp. nov. and G.rubromaculatus, another recently described species from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, more than 500 km away, and indicate the basal position of G.himalayanus within the genus and relatively distant relationship to its congeners.

Two new Kukri Snake species (Colubridae: Oligodon) from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Mountain Range, and addition of O. ocellatus to the fauna of Thailand.

We describe two new Kukri snakes of the genus Oligodon from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Mountain Range, southern peninsular Thailand. Oligodon phangan sp. nov., endemic to Pha-Ngan Island, Surat Thani Province, is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 369.1 mm; 12 maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 163-166 ventrals; 33-42 divided subcaudals; a single anal; dorsal color brown with a pair of discreet paravertebral and lateral stripes; no dorsal or supracaudal bands, blotches or crossbars; background color of belly pinkish-orange; underside of tail immaculate. Oligodon promsombuti sp. nov., whose type-locality is Khao Phanom Wang, Surat Thani Province, is also found in Trang Province, and is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 552.7 mm; 12 maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 177 ventrals; 40 divided subcaudals; a single anal; deeply forked hemipenes lacking spines; dorsal color blackish brown with nearly indistinct paravertebral stripes; no dorsal or supracaudal blotches or crossbars; background color of belly ivory, heavily speckled with subrectangular blackish blotches. We tentatively allocate both new species to the informal Oligodon-cyclurus-group. They are the 5th and 6th Oligodon species endemic to Thailand. We add Oligodon ocellatus, so far known only from Cambodia, southern Laos and southern Vietnam, to the Thai fauna, based on a specimen from Chong Mek, Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Systematics of Calliophis intestinalis with the Resurrection of Calliophis nigrotaeniatus (Elapidae, Serpentes)

The red-bellied form of Calliophis intestinalis (Laurenti, 1768) sensu lato was originally reported from Pahang, west Malaysia. To determine the taxonomic status of this form, we examined the type specimens of Elaps sumatranus Lidth De Jeude, 1890, Calliophis intestinalis everetti (Boulenger, 1896), and Callophis furcatus var. nigrotaeniatus Peters, 1863. The results indicated that the red-bellied form of C. intestinalis should be named as Calliophis nigrotaeniatus comb. nov., whose valid species status was based on morphological and molecular analyses. We designate a lectotype and redescribe the species, which is genetically close to Calliophis bilineatus (Peters, 1881) from the Philippines, and is clearly distinguishable from other congeners by possessing a pair of gray or dark blue lateral stripes and by being bright red on the ventrum. Elaps sumatranus and C. i. everetti are relegated to subjective junior synonyms of C. nigrotaeniatus.

A new species of gecko of the genus Lygodactylus (Sauria: Gekkonidae)from southeastern Kenya.

A new species of gecko, Lygodactylus tsavoensis sp. nov., is described from Tsavo Conservation Area in southeastern Kenya. It is a member of the Lygodactylus picturatus group and is distinguished from other closely related species by its small size (maximum 35 mm SVL), five postpostmental scales, seven precloacal pores, and a distinctive color pattern. A pale Y-shaped mark on the crown continues along the vertebral midline to the tail base and is flanked by a pair of dark stripes. In addition to its morphological differences, the new species is genetically divergent from its most closely related congeners, L. keniensis and L. wojnowskii. The new species is widespread in the southern and southeastern arid lands within the Tsavo Conservation Area, mainly in Taita-Taveta, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River Counties. It is chiefly associated with bushland with short trees, including areas of anthropogenic influence.

Is There Any Hidden Symmetry in the Stripe Structure of Perovskite High-Temperature Superconductors?

Local and fast structural probes using synchrotron radiation have shown nanoscale striped puddles and nanoscale phase separation in doped perovskites. It is known that the striped phases in doped perovskites are due to competing interactions involving charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom. In this work, we show that two different stripes can be represented as a superposition of a pair of stripes, U(θ n) or D(θ n), characterized by perovskite tilts where one of the pair is rotated in relation to the other partner by an angle Δθ n = π/2. The spatial distribution of the U and D stripes is reduced to all possible maps in the well-known mathematical four-color theorem. Both the periodic striped puddles and random structures can be represented by using planar graphs with a chromatic number χ ≤ 4. To observe the colors in mapping experiments, it is necessary to recover variously oriented tilting effects from the replica. It is established that there is an interplay between the annihilation/creation of new stripes and ordering/disordering tilts in relation to the θ n angle in the CuO2 plane, where the characteristic shape of the stripes coincides with the tilting-ordered regions.

The contrast sensitivity function of a small cryptobenthic marine fish.

Spatial resolution is a key property of eyes when it comes to understanding how animals' visual signals are perceived. This property can be robustly estimated by measuring the contrast sensitivity as a function of different spatial frequencies, defined as the number of achromatic vertical bright and dark stripe pairs within one degree of visual angle. This contrast sensitivity function (CSF) has been estimated for different animal groups, but data on fish are limited to two free-swimming, freshwater species (i.e., goldfish and bluegill sunfish). In this study, we describe the CSF of a small marine cryptobenthic fish (Tripterygion delaisi) using an optokinetic reflex approach. Tripterygion delaisi features a contrast sensitivity that is as excellent as other fish species, up to 125 (reciprocal of Michelson contrast) at the optimal spatial frequency of 0.375 c/°. The maximum spatial resolution is instead relatively coarse, around 2.125 c/°. By comparing our results with acuity values derived from anatomical estimates of ganglion cells' density, we conclude that the optokinetic reflex seems to be adapted to process low spatial frequency information from stimuli in the peripheral visual field and show that small marine fish can feature excellent contrast sensitivity at optimal spatial frequency.

Proposal to measure the pair field correlator of a fluctuating pair density wave

I propose a method to directly measure the space and time dependence of the pair field correlator of a pair density wave. The method is based on two separate ideas. First, we adopt the solenoid insertion method of Kapon et al (2017) to provide the momentum in a tunnel junction. Second, we suggest the use of optimal or over-doped Bi-2201 films as a tunneling electrode with a known charge ordering wave-vector which can match the expected pair density wave wave-vectors we wish to study. The method is applicable to both fluctuating and ordered states. Potential applications are to the proposed stripe pair density wave order in LBCO and the possible pair density wave fluctuations at finite temperature or in high magnetic field in underdoped YBCO as well as other members of the Cuprate family.

A New Species of the <i>Gloydius strauchi</i> Complex (Crotalinae: Viperidae: Serpentes) from Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu, China

The Hengduanshan Mountains have long been recognized as one of the evolutionary radiation centers of the genus Gloydius . Here we describe a new species of the Gloydius strauchi complex, Gloydius angusticeps sp. nov. Shi, Yang, Huang, Orlov et Li, 2018, which has been discovered in the adjacent areas of Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu Province, at the elevation of 3150 – 3653 m near the Yellow River. The new species is different from congeneric species by the following characteristics: (i) long and narrow head; (ii) grayish brown body coloration (few variations); (iii) 4 to 6 rows of discrete dark brown spots (or Ч-shaped patterns on the back); (iv) a pair of round spots on the parietal scales; (v) a pair of arched stripes on the occiput; (vi) up to 21 rows mid-body dorsal scales. This study preliminary clarified the distribution pattern of the Gloydius strauchi complex in Qinghai and Sichuan Province. The discovery of this new species verifies the importance of the Hengduanshan Mountains as a biodiversity hotspot.

A New Species of the <i>Gloydius strauchi</i> Complex (Crotalinae: Viperidae: Serpentes) from Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu, China

The Hengduanshan Mountains have long been recognized as one of the evolutionary radiation centers of the genus Gloydius . Here we describe a new species of the Gloydius strauchi complex, Gloydius angusticeps sp. nov. Shi, Yang, Huang, Orlov et Li, 2018, which has been discovered in the adjacent areas of Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu Province, at the elevation of 3150 – 3653 m near the Yellow River. The new species is different from congeneric species by the following characteristics: (i) long and narrow head; (ii) grayish brown body coloration (few variations); (iii) 4 to 6 rows of discrete dark brown spots (or Ч-shaped patterns on the back); (iv) a pair of round spots on the parietal scales; (v) a pair of arched stripes on the occiput; (vi) up to 21 rows mid-body dorsal scales. This study preliminary clarified the distribution pattern of the Gloydius strauchi complex in Qinghai and Sichuan Province. The discovery of this new species verifies the importance of the Hengduanshan Mountains as a biodiversity hotspot.

Modulation of complex spike activity differs between zebrin-positive and -negative Purkinje cells in the pigeon cerebellum.

The cerebellum is organized into parasagittal zones defined by its climbing and mossy fiber inputs, efferent projections, and Purkinje cell (PC) response properties. Additionally, parasagittal stripes can be visualized with molecular markers, such as heterogeneous expression of the isoenzyme zebrin II (ZII), where sagittal stripes of high ZII expression (ZII+) are interdigitated with stripes of low ZII expression (ZII-). In the pigeon vestibulocerebellum, a ZII+/- stripe pair represents a functional unit, insofar as both ZII+ and ZII- PCs within a stripe pair respond best to the same pattern of optic flow. In the present study, we attempted to determine whether there were any differences in the responses between ZII+ and ZII- PCs within a functional unit in response to optic flow stimuli. In pigeons of either sex, we recorded complex spike activity (CSA) from PCs in response to optic flow, marked recording sites with a fluorescent tracer, and determined the ZII identity of recorded PCs by immunohistochemistry. We found that CSA of ZII+ PCs showed a greater depth of modulation in response to the preferred optic flow pattern compared with ZII- PCs. We suggest that these differences in the depth of modulation to optic flow stimuli are due to differences in the connectivity of ZII+ and ZII- PCs within a functional unit. Specifically, ZII+ PCs project to areas of the vestibular nuclei that provide inhibitory feedback to the inferior olive, whereas ZII- PCs do not. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Although the cerebellum appears to be a uniform structure, Purkinje cells (PCs) are heterogeneous and can be categorized on the basis of the expression of molecular markers. These phenotypes are conserved across species, but the significance is undetermined. PCs in the vestibulocerebellum encode optic flow resulting from self-motion, and those that express the molecular marker zebrin II (ZII+) exhibit more sensitivity to optic flow than those that do not express zebrin II (ZII-).

Three new species of Entomobrya (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from China

Three new species of Entomobrya Rondani, 1861 from China are described: E. leviseta sp. nov. and E. polychaeta sp. nov. from Shaanxi Province and E. dingi sp. nov. from Yunnan Province. This is the first report of Entomobrya from Shaanxi Province. Entomobrya leviseta sp. nov. is characterised by prelabral smooth chaetae on the labrum; E. polychaeta sp. nov. by three pairs of longitudinal dark blue stripes from Th. II to Abd. III and eight lateral mac on Abd. III; and E. dingi sp. nov. by only a little pigment on the body and 5 central mac on And. II & III. A key to all Chinese species of Entomobrya is given.

Topographic Organization of Inferior Olive Projections to the Zebrin II Stripes in the Pigeon Cerebellar Uvula.

This study was aimed at mapping the organization of the projections from the inferior olive (IO) to the ventral uvula in pigeons. The uvula is part of the vestibulocerebellum (VbC), which is involved in the processing of optic flow resulting from self-motion. As in other areas of the cerebellum, the uvula is organized into sagittal zones, which is apparent with respect to afferent inputs, the projection patterns of Purkinje cell (PC) efferents, the response properties of PCs and the expression of molecular markers such as zebrin II (ZII). ZII is heterogeneously expressed such that there are sagittal stripes of PCs with high ZII expression (ZII+), alternating with sagittal stripes of PCs with little to no ZII expression (ZII−). We have previously demonstrated that a ZII+/− stripe pair in the uvula constitutes a functional unit, insofar as the complex spike activity (CSA) of all PCs within a ZII+/− stripe pair respond to the same type of optic flow stimuli. In the present study we sought to map the climbing fiber (CF) inputs from the IO to the ZII+ and ZII− stripes in the uvula. We injected fluorescent Cholera Toxin B (CTB) of different colors (red and green) into ZII+ and ZII− bands of functional stripe pair. Injections in the ZII+ and ZII− bands resulted in retrograde labeling of spatially separate, but adjacent regions in the IO. Thus, although a ZII+/− stripe pair represents a functional unit in the pigeon uvula, CF inputs to the ZII+ and ZII− stripes of a unit arise from separate regions of the IO.

Cirrhilabrus shutmani, a new species of fairy wrasse from the Babuyan Islands, northern Philippines (Teleostei: Labridae).

Cirrhilabrus shutmani, new species, is described on the basis of four specimens from Didicas Volcano, Babuyan Islands, Cagayan province, northern Philippines. The holotype and three paratypes were collected at a depth of 50-70 m, along denuded rubble slopes. The new species belong to a complex consisting of C. blatteus, C. claire, C. earlei, C. jordani, C. lanceolatus, C. roseafascia, C. rubrisquamis and C. sanguineus. Aside from similar nuptial male colouration, the nine species share the following character combination: relatively short pelvic fins (not or barely reaching anal-fin origin, except for C. claire with relatively long pelvic fins); a pair of stripes on head (in both sexes); and, dorsal and anal fins without obvious stripes or spots. It differs from the other members of its group in lacking any stripes on the upper and lower body, and in having the following live colouration details: upper part of nape dusky red; dorsal and anal fin bright red with dusky markings; pelvic fins bright red, dusky anteriorly; caudal fin bright yellow basally with distal half bright red. We also present new distribution records for C. claire, C. earlei and C. lanceolatus, as well as a brief mention of a possibly new, related species from the Ogasawara Islands.

Inferior olivary projection to the zebrin II stripes in lobule IXcd of the pigeon flocculus: A retrograde tracing study.

Zebrin II (ZII; a.k.a. aldolase C) is expressed heterogeneously in Purkinje cells (PCs) such that there are sagittal stripes of high expression (ZII+) interdigitated with stripes of little or no expression (ZII-). The pigeon flocculus receives visual-optokinetic information and is important for generating compensatory eye movements. It consists of 4 sagittal zones based on PC complex spike activity (CSA) in response to rotational optokinetic stimuli. There are two zones where CSA responds best to rotation about the vertical axis (VA), interdigitated with two zones where CSA responds best to rotation about an horizontal axis (HA). These optokinetic zones relate to the ZII stripes in folium IXcd of the flocculus, such that an optokinetic zone spans a ZII+/- pair: the HA zones span the P5+/- and P7+/- ZII stripe pairs, whereas the VA zones correspond to ZII stripe pairs P4+/- and P6+/-. In the present study, we used fluorescent retrograde tracing to determine the olivary inputs to the ZII+ and ZII- stripes within the functional pairs. We found that separate but adjacent areas of the medial column of the inferior olive (mcIO) project to the ZII+ and ZII- stripes within each of the functional pairs. Thus, although a ZII+/- stripe pair represents a functional unit in the pigeon flocculus insofar as the CSA of all PCs in the stripe pair encodes similar sensory information, the olivary inputs to the ZII+ and ZII- stripes arise from different, although adjacent, regions of the mcIO.

Ridge and furrow pattern classification for acral lentiginous melanoma using dermoscopic images

Abstract Background/purpose The development of an automatic diagnostic algorithm using characteristics of dermoscopic findings in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) has been slow due to the rarity of melanoma in non-Caucasian populations. In this study, we present an automatic algorithm that can distinguish the “furrow” and “ridge” patterns of pigmentation on the palm and foot, and report its usefulness for the detection of ALM. Methods To distinguish between ALM and nevus, the proposed image analysis is applied. From a dermoscopic image, edges having the steepest ascent or descent are detected through Gaussian derivative filtering. The widths between edges are then measured and the brightness of each stripe is tagged. The dark area is tagged as black and the bright area is tagged as white. The ratio of widths of dark to bright is calculated at each stripe pair and the histogram of the width ratio in the dermoscopic image is generated. Results A total of 297 dermoscopic images confirmed by histopathologic diagnoses are classified. All of the melanoma dermoscopic images were classified correctly using the proposed algorithm, while only one nevus image was misclassified. The proposed method achieved a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 99.1%, an accuracy of 99.7%, and a similarity of 99.7%. Conclusion In this study, we propose a novel automatic algorithm that can precisely distinguish the “furrow” and “ridge” patterns of pigmentation on dermoscopic images using the width ratio of dark and bright patterns. It is expected that the proposed algorithm will contribute to the early diagnosis of ALM.

Extraction of 3D vortex structures from a turbulent puff in a pipe using two-color illumination and flakes

A novel visualization technique was proposed to extract the three-dimensional vortex structure of a turbulent puff, which is a local turbulence event that is observed in pipe flows at relatively low Reynolds numbers. The technique is based on multi-color illumination of microscopic flakes that are suspended in the flow, which makes structural visualization more informative than conventional monochrome approaches. A special optical arrangement of two laser sheets, colored green and blue, was established for the circular pipe. Based on an image analysis sequence, the internal structure of the puff is reconstructed as a cross-sectional temporal 3D image consisting of voxels with unicolor degrees between green and blue, where an individual single vortex is extracted as a pair of two-color stripes. This allows quantification of the azimuthal wavenumber of the vortical structure that characterizes the puff. The wavenumber results agreed well with the results of previous studies, thus supporting the applicability of the proposed visualization technique. .

Opposing motion inhibits responses of direction-selective ganglion cells in the fish retina.

Inhibitory influences in receptive fields (RFs) of the fish retinal direction-selective ganglion cells (DS GCs) were investigated. Responses of the fast retinal DS GCs were recorded extracellularly from their axon terminals in the superficial layer of tectum opticum of immobilized fish. The data were collected from two cyprinid species - Carassius gibelio, a wild form of the goldfish, and the barbel fish Labeobarbus intermedius. Visual stimuli were presented to the fish on the monitor screen within a square area of stimulation occupying approximately 11 × 11° of the visual field. DS GCs were stimulated by pairs of narrow stripes moving in opposing directions. One of them entered central (responsive) area of cell receptive field (RRF) from the preferred, and the other one from the null side. Stimuli merged at center of stimulation area, and subsequently moved away from each other. It was shown that the cell response evoked by the stripe coming from the preferred side of RF was inhibited by the stimulus coming from the opposite direction. In the majority of units recorded inhibitory effect induced by the null-side stimulus was initiated in the RF periphery. As a rule, inhibitory influences sent from the RF periphery were spread across the entire central area of RF. Modifications of the inhibitory influences were investigated throughout the whole motion of paired stimuli. Evident inhibitory effects mediated from the null direction were recorded during the approach of stimuli. When stripes crossed each other and moved apart inhibition was terminated, and cell response appeared again. Null-side inhibition observed in fish DS GCs is most likely induced by starburst-like amacrine cells described in morphological studies of different fish species. Possible mechanisms underlying direction selectivity in fish DS GCs are discussed.

Climbing fiber projections in relation to zebrin stripes in the ventral uvula in pigeons.

The cerebellum consists of sagittally oriented zones that are delineated by afferent input, Purkinje cell response properties, and the expression of molecular markers such as zebrin II (ZII). ZII is heterogeneously expressed in Purkinje cells such that there are parasagittal stripes of high expression (ZII+) interdigitated with stripes of little or no expression (ZII-). In pigeons, folium IXcd consists of seven pairs of ZII+/- stripes denoted P1+/- (medial) to P7+/- (lateral). In the present study we examined the climbing fiber input to the medial half of folium IXcd, the ventral uvula, which spans the medial two stripe pairs (P1+/- to P2+/-). Purkinje cells in the ventral uvula respond to patterns of optic flow resulting from self-motion through the environment along translational axes and their climbing fibers originate in the lateral half of the medial column in the inferior olive (mcIO). Using anterograde injections into this region of the mcIO, we found the following topographic relationship: climbing fibers from the caudal lateral mcIO were located in P1+ and medial P1- ZII stripes; climbing fibers from the rostral lateral mcIO were located in lateral P2+ and P2- ZII stripes, and climbing fibers from the middle lateral mcIO were located in lateral P1- and medial P2+ ZII stripes. These data complement our previous findings showing a topographic relationship between Purkinje cell responses to optic flow visual stimuli and ZII stripes. Taken together, we suggest that a ZII+/- stripe pair may represent a functional unit in the pigeon vestibulocerebellum.