Search Results (182)

Recent work demonstrated that Cicindelidia hemorrhagica (LeConte) inhabiting geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) possess morphological traits that reduce internal heat load when exposed to bottom-up thermal stress. To investigate whether this pattern extends to other tiger beetle species occupying diverse environments, we quantified the internal abdominal temperatures of six species differing in habitat preference and putative thermal adaptation. Using a water-bath system that simulated surface heating, we compared the temperature differential (ΔT) between beetle-loaded and bare thermocouples across multiple temperatures. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the influence of location and species on internal temperature. Across all experimental temperatures, C. hemorrhagica exhibited the greatest ΔT values, indicating the lowest internal temperatures relative to the thermal environment, regardless of whether individuals originated from YNP or non-thermal Idaho habitats. In contrast, the warm-resilient Cicindela repanda (Dejean) and non-warm-adapted C. longilabris (Say) showed the smallest ΔT values and therefore the highest internal temperatures. Ventral abdominal coloration—ranging from bright red (C. sedecimpunctata (Klug)) to dark blue-green (C. oregona (Dejean))—did not correlate with internal temperatures, suggesting that it is a poor predictor of heat absorbance or reflectance under bottom-up heat exposure. These results indicate that C. hemorrhagica is uniquely effective at limiting internal heat gain from surface heating, and that it may possess a preadaptive morphological mechanism facilitating thermal resistance in geothermal habitats. Full article

Pontia edusa is a nectar-feeding butterfly widely distributed in Europe, northwestern India, Siberia, North Africa (extending to Ethiopia), and most regions of China; however, detailed information on the fine morphology of its proboscis remains limited. In this study, scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the external morphology, zonal organization, and sensilla composition of the adult proboscis, and sexual differences in selected morphological parameters were statistically analyzed. The proboscis consists of a pair of elongated maxillary galeae that interlock via dorsal and ventral legulae to form a continuous food canal. Based on structural variation in the dorsal legulae, the proboscis can be divided into three zones. Zone 1 is characterized by tightly interlocked legulae and serrated external ridges; Zone 2 shows enlarged interlegular gaps and gradual modification of external surface ornamentation; and Zone 3 lacks dorsal legulae and bears flake-like bumps. Three major types of sensilla were identified on the proboscis, including sensilla chaetica, basiconica, and styloconica, comprising six subtypes in total. The sensilla chaetica subtype sc2, restricted to the ventral surface of the proximal proboscis, represents a previously unreported morphological feature for P. edusa. These results provide a detailed morphological framework for the proboscis of P. edusa and expand the comparative basis for evaluating structural diversity and regionalization patterns of the proboscis in flower-visiting pierid butterflies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma (SSSDH) is a rare and severe condition that causes rapid neurological decline. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) presents similarly but is more common, and surgical management differs because SSSDH requires an intradural approach. Few studies have assessed the reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features used to distinguish SSSDH from SSEH in patients requiring surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 patients who underwent surgical evacuation of spinal hematomas at two institutions (2015–2025). Definitive hematoma location was determined intraoperatively. Four MRI features—shape (crescentic vs. biconvex), location (ventral vs. dorsal), craniocaudal length (<5 vs. ≥5 segments), and spinal region—were independently evaluated by two reviewers. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was assessed using agreement rate and Cohen’s kappa (κ) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: Among 27 cases, three (11.1%) were SSSDH and 24 were SSEH. Hematoma location, length, and spinal region demonstrated perfect inter- and intra-rater agreement (κ = 1.00). For hematoma shape, intra-rater agreement was good (96.2%, κ = 0.84; 95% CI 0.52–1.00), whereas inter-rater agreement was poor to fair (84.6%, κ = 0.26; 95% CI −0.25–0.77). Notably, two of the three SSSDHs demonstrated a biconvex configuration, and 83.3% of SSEHs also exhibited a biconvex morphology. Conclusions: MRI features such as hematoma location, extent, and spinal level were highly reproducible, whereas hematoma shape showed limited reliability. Although ventral hematomas most strongly suggest SSSDH, atypical SSEH presentations occur. When dorsal exposure reveals no epidural hematoma, intradural exploration should be promptly considered. Full article

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a multifactorial disease process that encompasses diverse symptoms ranging from issues with storage and sensation to impaired emptying of the bladder. Furthermore, symptoms tend to worsen with age and other comorbidities and in men can also be influenced by changes to the prostate, making diagnosis and treatment difficult to manage. Environmental factors are thought to contribute to disease risk. In mice, previous work has found that developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is capable of altering voiding function in offspring. However, the effects of PCB exposure in adulthood instead of development are not well known. Whether changes in voiding are a consequence of early or later life exposures remains an important area of study, as environmental chemicals and exposures can occur across the lifespan and can be mitigated. Here, we test whether PCB exposure in adulthood alters voiding or prostate morphology in male mice. C57Bl/6J adult male mice were exposed to the human-relevant MARBLES PCB mixture (0, 0.1, 1, and 6 mg/kg/d) orally daily for two months. Lower urinary tract function was then assessed through urodynamic testing including void spot assay, uroflowmetry, and anesthetized cystometry. Prostate lobes were collected for histology. The only change to voiding function was a reduction in void duration in the 6 versus 1 mg/kg/d PCB group but not to the vehicle control. Prostate, seminal vesicle, and testes wet weights were unchanged. However, PCB exposure reduced the number of Ki67-positive proliferating cells in the anterior and ventral prostate lobes only at the 1 mg/kg/d dose, with no change to caspase 3-positive cells or smooth muscle thickness. Together, these data indicate that 2-month exposure to PCBs in adult mice has little impact on voiding but is a sufficient exposure to produce changes in cell proliferation in the prostate. The mechanistic impacts of these changes remains to be investigated but could help better understand individual risk for LUTD. Full article

Background/Objectives: The L5–S1 segment presents unique characteristics that make surgical access challenging in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) procedures. Variability in bony and neural anatomy may restrict transforaminal and extraforaminal approaches, yet few studies have combined cadaveric dissection with radiologic analysis to define relevant morphology in L5–S1 approaches. The purpose of the study is to characterize anatomical and radiological features of the lumbosacral region relevant to MISS planning and execution. Methods: Twelve Thiel-embalmed donor bodies underwent CT imaging (lumbopelvic region) followed by posterior dissection. Bony landmarks were used to obtain bilateral anatomical measurements. Qualitative anatomical analysis included iliolumbar ligament morphology and extraforaminal access feasibility. CT-based morphometrics included L5 transverse process (TP) length; maximal and minimal distances between L5 TP and sacral ala; extraforaminal area bounded by L5 TP, L5–S1 facet (zygapophyseal) joint, and sacral ala; iliac crest-based approach angle to the L5–S1 intervertebral disc (IVD); minimal distance between this approach vector and the ventral ramus of the fifth lumbar spinal nerve (VRL5); facet angulation; and iliac crest height. Results: No left–right asymmetry was detected. Except for L5 TP length, all anatomical measurements obtained directly in the donor bodies differed significantly between sexes. A direct IVD access with a uniportal endoscopic working tube was feasible in 25% of cases. On CT analysis, the maximal and minimal distances between the L5 TP and sacral ala were 11.1 (4.0) mm and 5.6 ± 2.9 mm, with a mean extraforaminal area of 202.0 ± 45.9 mm². The mean approach angle was 35.2 ± 5.0°, and an extraforaminal corridor to L5–S1 IVD was feasible in 75% of donated bodies. The median minimal distance between the approach vector and the VRL5 was 5.0 (7.1) mm, with frequent overlap. Conclusions: The results of this study reveal that the L5–S1 segment shows substantial interindividual morphologic variability, compromising the feasibility of transforaminal and extraforaminal MISS approaches, and highlight the need for individualized preoperative planning, neural identification and/or bony resection to create a safe working corridor. Full article

The genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 of the family Scincidae currently includes 50 species. However, due to challenges in sample collection, the taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus remain poorly resolved. This study conducted a taxonomic study of the genus Scincella based on three mitochondrial gene fragments (12S, 16S, COI) combined with morphological comparisons. The results indicated the specimens collected in Heishui County, Sichuan Province, China, represented a previously undescribed species. This new taxon is formally described as Scincella heishuiensis sp. nov. Phylogenetically, the new species is most closely related to S. wangyuezhaoi, which is another species recently described in Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. As a new species, the uncorrected genetic distance between this new species and its closest relative within the genus, as calculated based on 16S rRNA, is 5.45%. The new species can be distinguished from other closely related species by the following morphological characters: (1) 4 dorsal scale rows between dorsolateral stripes; (2) 5–7 superciliary; (3) 28 midbody scale-rows; (4) 24–25 gulars; (5) during the breeding season, the ventral scales and preanal exhibit a reddish-brown color; and (6) a black lateral stripe extends from behind the eye to the posterior third of the tail near the cloaca. In the phylogenetic analysis, the new species and S. wangyuezhaoi form an independent lineage, distinctly separate from all other taxa included in the study. The new species has currently been recorded and discovered in Heishui County in Sichuan Province, China. This description thus increases the number of members in the genus Scincella in China to 17 species. Full article

To date, radiographically identifying the bony landmarks relevant to diagnosing the complete C6 aplasia of the caudal lamina ventralis (C6 aCLV4) has not been described. Furthermore, a gross study has identified C6 aCLV4 as the main correlation between transposition of the CLV from C6 to C7, where coinciding neck pain was commonly reported. This study aimed to identify C6 aCLV4 in radiographs, where the outcome might benefit equine practitioners in isolating neck pain. Initially, the relevant bony landmarks were radiographically determined from a normal C6 by applying a lateral 30° dorsal–ventral oblique view. From here, the caudal border of the transverse process (TP) projecting from the vertebral body became the defining point of reference due to the image clearly demarcating the adjacent CLV. In C6 aCLV4 cases, the CLV is completely aplastic caudal to the TP. Twenty mixed-breed horses (13 males/7 females) aged 3–22 years radiographically demonstrated a C6 aCLV4, which was confirmed by their corresponding gross morphology. During this process three anomalous variations became apparent—in the longus colli muscle, C7 foramen transversarium, and vertebral artery. Therefore, this study demonstrates effective techniques for identifying C6 aCLV4 in horses, where the results might assist veterinarians in diagnosing neck pain while providing anatomical clarity. Full article

A supplemental description of Lamproglena barbicola Fryer, 1961 is provided based on specimens collected from the gills of Labeobarbus altianalis (Boulenger, 1900) from the Nyando River, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, using an integrated approach of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular analysis (18S, 28S rDNA, and cox1 gene regions). Morphologically, the specimens conform to L. barbicola and closely resemble Lamproglena hoi Dippenaar, Luus-Powell & Roux, 2001; however, SEM revealed a previously undescribed feature on the uniramous antennule in L. barbicola, namely indistinctly three-segmented, tapering from a broad base to the apex, basal segment much longer than distal, comprising 14 setae of varying sizes, ventral laterally, absence of distinctive anterior fringe of setae on the antennule, as well as several characters that differentiate L. barbicola from L. hoi, including 5 setae at the basal endopod of leg one, five cuticular protuberances in the oral region, 19 setae on the basal antennular segment, and 10 setae on the distal segment, with 1 seta on each ramus. The phylogenetic analysis confirms L. barbicola as a sister taxon of L. hoi, supporting their close relationship. The genetic divergence presented as the uncorrected genetic p-distances between L. barbicola and L. hoi are 23.1% and 0.45% for cox1 and 28S rDNA regions, respectively, with observed nucleotide differences of 145 and 3 bp between the sequences, respectively. There was no interspecific variability detected in the 18S rDNA sequences. This study provides novel molecular sequences and the first high-resolution SEM images, which reveal additional taxonomic features for L. barbicola, establishing a robust reference for future identification. Full article

Anatomical variations of the caudal ventral lamina of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6), referred to as equine caudal cervical morphologic variations (ECCMV), and radiographic modelling of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJ) are commonly identified in sport horses, yet their interrelationship and relevance for athletic performance remain controversial. This retrospective observational study aimed to determine the prevalence of ECCMV and APJ modelling in a clinically sound warmblood sport horse population, to evaluate a potential association and to assess if ECCMV affects competition performances. Records of 200 warmbloods, presented for pre-purchase examination between 2020 and 2024 were reviewed: the predominant breed was Hanoverian (n = 131), followed by Oldenburg (n = 27) and Holsteiner (n = 22), including 127 geldings, 61 mares and 12 stallions with a median age of 5. ECCMV was diagnosed on latero-lateral radiographs if the caudal ventral lamina of C6 was uni- or bilaterally absent, and APJ modelling at C6/C7 was graded as either normal or mild or moderate to severe. Competition placings and lifetime earnings of each horse were collected from the German National Equestrian Federation database. ECCMV was found in 30% of horses and APJ modelling in 32.5% (mild 26.5%, moderate/severe 6%). There was no significant association between the presence of ECCMV, APJ alterations and competition results, but horses with ECCMV were less likely to exhibit radiographic changes in the adjacent APJ compared to those with a normal C6 morphology (23.3% vs. 36.4%). In conclusion, ECCMV is a common anatomical variation in clinically sound warmbloods, neither predisposing them to APJ modelling nor limiting athletic performance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Injuries to spinal ventral roots induce complex retrograde reactions that compromise motoneuron survival, synaptic organization, and glial responses, ultimately limiting the potential for regeneration. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a crucial modulator of neuroprotective processes, primarily through the activation of CB1 and CB2. However, the individual and combined contributions of these receptors to post-injury spinal responses remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of selective blockade of CB1 and CB2 receptors in a murine model of ventral root crush (VRC). Methods: Female C57BL/6JUnib mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of the CB1 antagonist AM-251 and/or the CB2 antagonist AM-630 (1 mg/kg) for 14 days post-lesion. At 28 days after injury, spinal cords were analyzed for motoneuron survival (Nissl staining), glial responses (immunohistochemistry for GFAP and Iba-1), and synaptic coverage (immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin). Results: Selective blockade of CB2 receptors led to a marked reduction in motoneuron survival, enhanced microglial activation-associated morphology (morphological classification and Sholl analysis), and decreased synaptic coverage. CB1 blockade produced milder, context-dependent effects. Dual blockade exacerbated all outcomes, indicating complementary CB1/CB2 functions in the spinal microenvironment. Conclusions: Under the conditions tested, CB2 signaling is necessary for motoneuron preservation, limiting microglial activation-associated morphology, and maintaining synaptic coverage after VRC. The knowledge of specific actions of CB1 and CB2 provides mechanistic insight into the neuroprotective potential of endocannabinoid signaling and reinforces its therapeutic relevance for motoneuron preservation and functional recovery after axotomy. Full article

The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is an economically significant aquaculture species in Asia, with skin coloration being a key quality attribute affecting consumer choice and commercial value. This study integrated morphological, biochemical, and proteomic approaches to investigate chromatophore characteristics, pigment composition, and diurnal body color variation in the large yellow croaker. Colorimetric analysis showed the highest yellowness, redness, and lightness values in ventral skin, followed by caudal skin, with dorsal skin showing the least yellowness. Three major chromatophores were identified: melanophores, xanthophores, and iridophores. Xanthophores were abundant in ventral and caudal skin, showing larger size and deeper pigmentation ventrally, while melanophores dominated dorsally and iridophores were mainly on scales. Skin and fins were key sites for carotenoid deposition, with lutein as the predominant carotenoid. Esters of lutein and zeaxanthin were the main contributors to yellow coloration in fish. A strong positive correlation was found between skin yellowness and total carotenoid content (R = 0.91, p < 0.05). The aggregation and dispersion of xanthosomes within xanthophores appeared to be the key driver behind the light-influenced diurnal body color variation. Proteomic analysis revealed motor proteins (such as KIF21, DYNC1L1, and MYO9) and pathways related to intracellular granule movement were probably related to the pigment transport in chromatophores of large yellow croaker. In addition, tubulin dynamics also appeared to participate in pigment translocation. This study is helpful to understand the pigmentary basis of this important farmed sea fish and provides a foundation for improving the golden color traits and further molecular research on diurnal color changes in large yellow croaker. Full article

The Sakhalin pine sawyer, Monochamus saltuarius Gebler, 1830 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a newly discovered insect vector of the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China. Despite its ecological importance, the detailed morphology of its sensory systems remains largely unexplored. This study presents comprehensive ultrastructural analysis of the compound eyes and stridulatory organs in adult M. saltuarius, with a focus on sexual differences. Our morphometric results revealed pronounced sexual dimorphism: males possessed significantly larger compound eyes in terms of total area and perimeter. Furthermore, all three types of ommatidial facets (hexagonal, pentagonal, and quadrilateral) exhibited significantly greater area, perimeter, and diameter in males. Interestingly, while the total number of ommatidia and the counts within the dorsal and ventral eye regions showed no significant sexual difference, they were strongly positively correlated with body length in both sexes. Regarding the stridulatory organs, key morphological features including the transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, and width of the lateral sulcus of the stridulatory file were also significantly greater in males. In contrast, no sexual dimorphism was detected in the width or density of the stridulatory teeth. These findings collectively indicate a significant investment in sexually dimorphic sensory organs in M. saltuarius, which we hypothesize is closely linked to sex-specific behavioral roles, particularly in active mate searching, courtship displays, and intrasexual competition. This research provides a crucial morphological foundation for understanding the species’ visual and acoustic communication, supporting future work on its sensory ecology and the development of behavior-based control strategies for pine wilt disease. Full article

Larimichthys crocea and Larimichthys polyactis, two commercially and ecologically important sciaenid species, are often morphologically confused (especially at the juvenile stage or for incomplete specimens), leading to limitations in traditional morphological taxonomic methods for accurate identification. Otoliths, as stable hard tissues with species-specific morphological characteristics, serve as an ideal tool for species discrimination. To investigate the efficacy of landmark-based methods in extracting morphological information from different surfaces of sagittal otoliths, this study analyzed six surfaces (medial, lateral, dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior) of left otoliths from two sciaenid species using geometric morphometrics. We collected 487 sagittal otolith samples from sciaenids in the Zhoushan Islands of the East China Sea (Larimichthys polyactis: 277 specimens; Larimichthys crocea: 210 specimens). Landmark coordinates were extracted using tps-series software, and morphological differences were quantified through principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis, and thin-plate spline visualizations. Key results include: relative warp PCA showed cumulative contributions of PC1 + PC2 at 52.48% (medial), 52.87% (lateral), 71.29% (dorsal), 63.7% (ventral), 64.8% (anterior), and 67.85% (posterior), effectively discriminating species with Type I/III landmarks demonstrating highest contributions; centroid size analysis revealed significantly larger values in L. crocea across all surfaces (most pronounced on medial surface: F = 183.450, p < 0.05); discriminant analysis achieved peak cross-validated success on the medial surface (98.6% for L. polyactis, 95.2% for L. crocea), with other surfaces ranging from 79.6–83.6%. This confirms that multi-surface landmark analysis effectively captures morphological divergence, with the medial surface providing optimal species discrimination. The established method provides a reliable supplementary tool for the taxonomy of L. crocea and L. polyactis, and offers scientific support for fisheries resource survey, population dynamic monitoring, and conservation of these sciaenid species. Full article

We describe a new species of Desmoscolex collected from subtidal muddy sediments off Jindo Island, on the southern margin of Korea’s west coast. Desmoscolex (Desmoscolex) curuvus sp. nov. is distinguished by 17 main rings, a 9/8 somatic setal arrangement, subdorsal setae with a slightly swollen and hollow distal end, an oval head with laterally extended foreign material, a rounded amphidial fovea confined within the head region, and broad cephalic setae bearing a fine central canal with lateral membranes. The terminal ring is strongly bent ventrally. Females exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, including a pair of dorsal setae on the thirteenth main ring and a thicker terminal ring (maximum width 25–26 μm in males and 24–31 μm in females). High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed a distinctive lip-region ultrastructure composed of a tuberculate membrane and six fragment-like membranous elements, representing a rare configuration within the genus. By documenting a new species possessing membranous structures in the cephalic setae and providing detailed ultrastructural characterization of the lip region, this study offers important new evidence for refining species delimitations in Desmoscolex. These findings underscore the diagnostic value of lip-region morphology and highlight the need for targeted sampling and further ultrastructural analyses to better resolve the hidden morphological diversity of the genus, particularly in the underexplored northwestern Pacific. Full article

The taxonomy of Tettigometra Latreille, 1804 s.l. (Hemiptera, Tettigometridae, Tettigometrini) has long remained unstable due to weak diagnostic characters, conflicting interpretations, and frequent misidentifications. Based on extensive examination of the illustrated literature and major museum collections, a new generic framework is proposed, relying primarily on comparative analyses of male genital morphology (particularly the mediodorsal aedeagal process and paired ventral anal processes) while external morphology alone is shown to be unreliable for stable delimitation. In discussing the need for a taxonomy that is both phylogenetically grounded and operational, allowing reliable identifications, preserving compatibility with past determinations despite the lack of molecular evidence, and remaining flexible enough to accommodate future results, we recognize two informal taxonomic groups and fourteen genera. The tettigometrinan group includes Tettigometra, Brachyceps, Metroplaca, Mimarada, Mediodentometragen. nov., and Persiametragen. nov.; the apexometrinan group includes Apexometragen. nov., Erratometragen. nov., Eurychila, Hystrigonia, Micracanthometragen. nov., Mitricephalus, Stirometra, and Macrometrina. Following a conservative and operational taxonomic approach, we refrained from describing new species or accepting unsubstantiated synonymies, preferring to retain potentially distinct forms as provisionally valid species pending molecular confirmation. Each taxon is listed with its taxonomic and nomenclatural status, diagnosis, species composition, and distribution. Problematic taxa and misapplied names are clarified, and a key to genera is provided. Full article