Functional Morphology

A primary requirement of the mammalian skull is to exert forces on different foods and to resist the forces imposed on it during feeding. Skull shape patterns within and among mammals are generally well known, but the biomechanical relevance of this variation remains limited for some groups. By integrating geometric morphometric and biomechanical analyses, we test the hypothesis that skull shape in peccaries reflects biomechanical attributes to generate and dissipate powerful forces, presumably in response to tough foods. We obtained skull shape and size from 213 specimens of the three living peccary species and estimated bite force, bite stress at molars, bending and shear stress on the mandibular corpus, and condylar stress. We found larger estimated bite forces, greater resistance to bending loads, and lower stress emerging from the larger muscle attachment areas and shorter and deeper mandibular corpora for both Pecari tajacu and Tayassu pecari relative to Parachoerus wagneri. Peccaries (P. tajacu and T. pecari) with more powerful biomechanical attributes feed mainly on tougher foods (e.g., palm fruits). These results support the hypothesis that species eating tough foods tend to have a feeding morphology mechanically adapted to stronger bites and greater biting resistance, which must be closely reflected in their craniomandibular shape. Um requerimento primário do crânio de um mamífero é exercer forças em diferentes alimentos e resistir às forças impostas nele durante a alimentação. Os padrões de forma do crânio dentro e entre mamíferos são geralmente bem conhecidos, entretanto a relevância biomecânica desta variação permanece limitada a alguns grupos. Integrando análises de morfometria geométrica e de biomecânica nós testamos a hipótese de que a forma do crânio de tayassuídeos reflete atributos biomecânicos para gerar e dissipar forças de grande magnitude, tal como em resposta à alimentos duros. Nós obtivemos a forma e o tamanho do crânio de 213 espécimes das três espécies de tayassuídeos viventes e estimamos a força de mordida e o stress nos molares, no corpo mandibular e no côndilo. Nós encontramos maiores forças de mordida e de resistência e baixo stress emergindo de áreas mais amplas de inserção muscular e de corpos mandibulares mais curtos e altos de Pecari tajacu e Tayassu pecari em relação a Parachoerus wagneri. Tayassuídeos (P. tajacu and T. pecari) com atributos biomecânicos mais poderosos se alimentam principalmente de alimentos duros (por exemplo, frutos de palmeiras). Estes resultados suportam a hipótese de que espécies que se alimentam de alimentos duros tendem a apresentar uma morfologia do aparato alimentar mecanicamente adaptada a mordidas fortes e grande resistência de mordida, que deve estar intimamente associada as suas formas craniomandibulares.

The molar of Stegodon from the Pliocene Yaoroshi Formation in Akiruno City, Tokyo, is described as S. miensis Matsumoto, based on morphological characteristics and dimensional characters of the specimen. The present specimen of S. miensis from the Yaoroshi Formation is shown to represent the uppermost-known horizon of the species.

A b s t r a c t An isolated humerus, attributed to a dicynodont therapsid and identified as aff. Dinodontosaurus, from the Lower Keuper (Middle Ladinian, Middle Triassic) of southwestern Germany is redescribed. An additional but smaller humerus that is similar in morphology might pertain to the same taxon. Several morphological features preclude an identification of the material as either aff. Dinodontosaurus, a dicynodont, or even a synapsid. The deltopectoral crest shows a number of tubercles, probably for muscle attachment. The supinator process is strongly developed and clearly offset from the rest of the bone. The distal articulation facet is very narrow transversely. There is no foramen entepicondyloideum. The ectepicondyle has a deeply concave distal surface, at least in the large and presumably adult specimen. An alternative identification for the two humeri proves difficult, as they do not agree with any other known tetrapod from the Lower Keuper. They bear close resemblanc...

Evolution of the coiled ammonoid conch from the uncoiled bactritid conch was probably coupled with changes in manoeuvrability and swimming velocity. The gradual transformation of uncoiled to coiled ammonoid conchs has essential functional consequences. The radical change in conch geometry during phylogeny but also in ontogeny of early ammonoids implies a shift of the aperture from an original roughly downward, via a downward oblique and an upward oblique to an upward orientation, presuming a neutrally buoyant condition of the ammonoid animal. Similar trends were reconstructed for the three main ammonoid lineages in the Middle Devonian, the agoniatitid, the anarcestid, and the tornoceratid lineages. This allowed an increase in manoeuvrability and in the maximum horizontal swimming speed.

This article adopts a comparative approach to examine the concept of the holy bread in Byzantine theology, known as Eulogia, and the notion of Baraka in Islamic mysticism, particularly in the works of Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabī. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between matter and the Word within these two religious traditions and to explain their role in shaping the religious understanding of the world. In both traditions, bread is regarded not merely as physical nourishment but as a vessel for the manifestation of the divine Word and the transmission of sacred grace. In the Eucharistic rite, Eulogia serves as the bearer of the Logos and a sign of the real presence of Christ in material existence, reinforcing the idea of divine indwelling in the world. In Islamic mysticism, bread symbolizes divine mercy (al-Raḥma) and the Breath of the Merciful (Nafas al-Raḥmānī), from which blessing, meaning, and spiritual life emanate. This research, based on an analysis of primary Byzantine and Islamic texts and theological, exegetical, and mystical sources, seeks to propose a shared model for understanding the sanctification of matter through the divine Word. The study employs conceptual analysis, hermeneutical interpretation, and comparative methodology to deepen the comprehension of the matter-Word connection in religious traditions.

Diffuse neuroendocrine system (DNES) cells regulate homeostasis via neurocrine, endocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Extensive effects of peptide hormones and biogenic amines necessitate studying of DNES cell biology in aging. In this connection, the functional morphology of gut neuroendocrine cells (NEC), proliferative activity and apoptosis of mucous epithelial cells in aging have been studied. The study was performed on BALB/c-nu mice of 4, 21 and 34 months of age. NEC, proliferative activity and apoptosis of mucous epitheliocytes in stomach and duodenum have been studied by histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometrical methods. The total number of NEC shows an increasing trend with advancing age. However, the different types of NEC elicit differential patterns. The total number of epithelial cell nuclei does not show any statistically significant difference during aging. The proliferative activity of mucous epitheliocytes also shows no difference among the three animal gr...

The genus Spalacopus includes only one species, S . cyanus , endemic to central Chile and one of the species best adapted to a subterranean lifetyle in the family Octodontidae.  It is a member of the lineage consisting in Octodontomys as a sister clade containing Octodon and of a clade represented by Spalacopus and Aconaemys .  Although the external and cranio-dental morphology have been well studied, little is known of the postcranial morphology of S .  cyanus .  Because of the peculiarities of its lifestyle and locomotion among the members of the family, it is interesting to characterize details of the morphology of the postcranial skeleton of this species and to infer their functional aspects of the morphology.  Twenty-nine specimens with postcranial material stored in two collections were studied: Museo de La Plata (MLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Coleccion de Mamiferos del Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas (UACH), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia,...

Biotic interactions are considered as major drivers of evolutionary changes, but their identification in the fossil record is extremely rare and controversial. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we report evidence of a biotic interaction between an echinoderm host and its symbiont, probably a parasitic epibiont, from the Cambrian Wuliuan Stage of Australia. The echinoderm plates bear external outgrowths with a median pit at their distal end. These unusual structures have not been previously documented from Cambrian echinoderms and their lack of consistency across various morphological parameters, supports the interpretation that a biotic interaction generated these unique structures. Perturbations in plate microstructure and the overproduction of skeletal material in specific regions, together with reduced size, negatively impact the host's growth suggesting a parasitic interaction. This reaction by the echinoderm host may represent the progressive embedment of the invasive epibiont. This record represents the oldest evidence of parasitism among deuterostomes.

The basal hadrosauroid Tethyshadros insularis from the uppermost Cretaceous of NE Italy lived on an island of the European archipelago in the Tethys Ocean. The tail of this dinosaur presents several apomorphic traits respect to the tails of other coeval hadrosauroids of the archipelago and of hadrosauroids in general. The estimated total length of the tail of the holotypic specimen shows that the tail was long, accounting for at least 56% of the total body length, relatively stiff and deep proximally, whereas it was whip-like distally. The reconstruction of the tail musculature by comparison with that of living archosaurs and other dinosaurs suggests that the posterior shift of the first haemapophysis affected the size and shape of the M.m. caudofemorales with important consequences on the locomotion of T. insularis. Somewhat peculiar stance and gait for this dinosaur are suggested also by limb features. The posterior shift of the vent and consequent longer distal tract of the intes...

The origin of ichthyosaurs (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria), a major group of secondarily marine amniotes of the Mesozoic, is discussed from a purely anatomical and constructional morphological viewpoint. Whereas most Mesozoic marine reptile groups, particularly thalattosaurs, sauropterygians, and placodonts, are likely to be closely related forms within the Neodiapsida, which may form a monophylum (Enaliosauria), ichthyosaurs possibly do not form a part of it. An alternative hypothesis proposed here is that the closest known relatives of ichthyosaurs are owenettids, a low diversity group of small, lizard-like non-neodiapsid, procolophonomorph reptiles that existed from the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic. Arguments for and against such a scenario are discussed, and shared derived characters of procolophonomorphs, particularly owenettids, and ichthyosaurs are identified. Under this scenario, the supratemporal fenenstra of ichthyosaurs developed independently and convergently to that of neodiapsids, as did the upper temporal fenestrae of araeocelids, Orovenator and other taxa (including some owenettid procolophonians). Possible objections to the procolophonomorph hypothesis are also discussed. A novel evolutionary scenario for the development of the uniquely constructed ichthyosaur rostrum, and an explanation for the observed differences to enaliosaurian rostra is provided, as is a scenario for the loss of the ectopterygoid and particularly the configuration of the ichthyosaurian temporal region, occiput and other cranial peculiarities of the group. They can be interpreted as a result of different evolutionary pathways enforced by phylogenetic morphological constraints that have their reason in the divergent morphology of potential ancestral taxa. Deriving ichthyosaurs from procolophonomorphs eliminates problems encountered with numerous structural peculiarities in the cranial skeleton of ichthyosaurs that were hitherto difficult to explain under the neodiapsid hypothesis. If ichthyosaurs are closely related to owenettids, their ghost-lineage does not extend much further than the latest Permian, and they may have had their origin in Gondwana, just as it would be the case under the neodiapsid hypothesis. This is in line with the fossil record of the group and its explosive adaptive radiation during the Early Triassic. Despite phenetic similarities in the cranial and postcranial skeleton, neither mesosaurs nor hupehsuchids are considered here as closely related to ichthyosaurs. Hupehsuchids are more likely neodiapsid ichthyosaur-mimics that form part of the enaliosaurian radiation, although the group is still too little known to make a definite statement. Ichthyosaurs can be regarded as diapsids, if a wider concept of Diapsida (the last common ancestor of Petrolacosaurus, Passer, and all of its descendants) is employed, which is proposed here. Although recent phylogenetic work on basal reptiles has called for abandoning the term 'Diapsida' altogether, I advocate for it being retained. The results of the present study therefore provide a compromise solution between apparently irreconcilable concepts of ichthyosaur ancestry previously proposed.

In this paper, we characterize the morphology of the disk-integrated phase functions of satellites and rings around the giant planets of our Solar System. We find that the shape of the phase function is accurately represented by a logarithmic model Surfaces and Interiors of Planets and Satellites, Academic, edited by A. Dollfus). For practical purposes, we also parametrize the phase curves by a linear-exponential model (Kaasalainen et al., 2001, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 70, 529-543) and a simple linear-by-parts model (Lumme and Irvine, 1976, Astronomical Journal, 81, 865-893), which provides three morphological parameters : the amplitude A and the Half-Width at Half-Maximum (HWHM) of the opposition surge, and the slope S of the linear part of the phase function at larger phase angles. Our analysis demonstrates that all of these morphological parameters are correlated with the single scattering albedos of the surfaces. By taking more accurately into consideration the finite angular size of the Sun, we find that the Galilean, Saturnian, Uranian and Neptunian satellites have similar HWHMs ( 0.5 o ), whereas they have a wide range of amplitudes A. The Moon has the largest HWHM (∼2 o ). We interpret that as a consequence of the "solar size bias", via the finite size of the Sun which varies dramatically from the Earth to Neptune. By applying a new method that attempts to morphologically deconvolve the phase function to the solar angular size, we find that icy and young surfaces, with active resurfacing, have the smallest values of A and HWHM, whereas dark objects (and perhaps older surfaces) such as the Moon, Nereid and Saturn's C ring have the largest A and HWHM. Comparison between multiple objects also shows that Solar System objects belonging to the same planet host have comparable opposition surges. This can be interpreted as a "planetary environmental effect" that acts to modify locally the regolith and the surface properties of objects which are in the same environment.

Bevezetés: Jelen előadásunk célja graftok szilárdágtani vizsgálatának elvégzése, továbbá azok változása gamma-besugárzás hatására. Módszerek: A 24 órán belül elhalálozott, tumor és fertőzésmentes 14 kadáverből 140 graftot vettünk ki (Achilles ín, Tibialis anterior ín, Peroneus longus ín, Quadriceps ín, Semitendinosus+Gracilis inak). Ezt követően -78 C fokra hűtöttük, és ezen a hőmérsékleten tároltuk az oltványokat, majd szakítószilárdságukat vizsgáltuk INSTRON 8872 típusú szakítógép és speciális rögzítéstechnika segítségével. A graftokat statikus és dinamikus (50N -200N közötti feszítés, 1000 cikluson keresztül, 2Hz-es frekvenciával) biomechanikai teszteknek vetettük alá. Összehasonlítottuk a különböző graftokat, hogy hogyan változik a szakítószilárdságuk 22 kGy gammasugárzás hatására. Eredmények: A tibialis anterior és a peroneus longus ín staikus és dinamikus vizsgálatánák eredményei 22 kGy besugárzás után jobb eredményeket mutattak, mint a semitendinosus + gracilis, achilles és a quadriceps inakból készített graftok. A különbség nem volt szignifikáns. Következtetés: A napjainkban használt graftokkal, mint a hamstring inak, BTB, valamint a quadriceps ín, az irodalomban korábban közölt szilárdságtani eredményeket mértünk. Vizsgálataink kimutatták, hogy az achilles, peroneus longus, tibialis anterior inak is legalább ilyen, ha nem még jobb biomechanikai tulajdonsággal rendelkeznek, azonban funkciójuk fontossága miatt autograftként való felhasználásukat akadályozza. Továbbá látható az is, hogy a 22 kGy gamma-sugárzás nem változtatja meg számottevően a graftok biomechanikai tulajdonságait.

Fossil gibbons are exceedingly rare, with much of the hylobatid fossil record and, consequently, hylobatid evolutionary history remaining unknown. Kapi ramnagarensis was described as a stem hylobatid on the basis of an isolated lower right M 3 from ~13.0e12.5 Ma deposits surrounding Ramnagar (J&K), India. This interpretation was recently challenged, with alternative hypotheses suggesting that it is instead a stem catarrhine or a strangely derived pliopithecoid that has converged on hylobatid morphology. A series of morphological features were said to distinguish Kapi from fossil and extant hylobatids; notably, however, none of these features were examined or compared using quantitative analyses. Here, we further examine the dental morphology of Kapi, providing quantitative analyses to critically evaluate the hypothesis that Kapi represents a stem catarrhine or pliopithecoid rather than a stem hylobatid. Results demonstrate that none of the claimed differences between Kapi and hylobatids hold up under closer scrutiny, and multivariate discriminant analyses taking size and shape into account strongly support Kapi as a hylobatid with high posterior probabilities. Although only represented by a single lower molar, Kapi remains the most compelling candidate for the earliest known hylobatid in the fossil record and thus likely documents the simultaneous arrival of lesser and great apes to Asia during the Middle Miocene.

The fossil record of 'lesser apes' (i.e. hylobatids = gibbons and siamangs) is virtually non-existent before the latest Miocene of East Asia. However, molecular data strongly and consistently suggest that hylobatids should be present by approximately 20 Ma; thus, there are large temporal, geographical, and morphological gaps between early fossil apes in Africa and the earliest fossil hylobatids in China. Here, we describe a new approximately 12.5-13.8 Ma fossil ape from the Lower Siwaliks of Ramnagar, India, that fills in these long-standing gaps with implications for hylobatid origins. This ape represents the first new hominoid species discovered at Ramnagar in nearly a century, the first new Siwalik ape taxon in more than 30 years, and likely extends the hylobatid fossil record by approximately 5 Myr, providing a minimum age for hylobatid dispersal coeval to that of great apes. The presence of crown hylobatid molar features in the new species indicates an adaptive shift to a more frugivorous diet during the Middle Miocene, consistent with other proposed adaptations to frugivory (e.g. uricase gene silencing) during this time period as well.

The evolution of bipedalism in the hominin lineage has shaped the posterior human calcaneus into a large, robust structure considered to be adaptive for dissipating peak compressive forces and energy during heel-strike. A unique anatomy thought to contribute to the human calcaneus and its function is the lateral plantar process (LPP). While it has long been known that humans possess a plantarly positioned LPP and apes possess a more dorsally positioned homologous structure, the relative position of the LPP and intraspecific variation of this structure have never been quantified. Here, we present a method for quantifying relative LPP position and find that, while variable, humans have a significantly more plantar position of the LPP than that found in the apes. Among extinct hominins, while the position of the LPP in Australopithecus afarensis falls within the human distribution, the LPP is more dorsally positioned in Australopithecus sediba and barely within the modern human range of variation. Results from a resampling procedure suggest that these differences can reflect either individual variation of a foot structure/function largely shared among Australopithecus species, or functionally distinct morphologies that reflect locomotor diversity in Plio-Pleistocene hominins. An implication of the latter possibility is that calcaneal changes adaptive for heel-striking bipedalism may have evolved independently in two different hominin lineages.

Members of the Asteroidea (phylum Echinodermata), popularly known as starfish or sea stars, are ecologically important and diverse members of marine ecosystems in all of the world's oceans. We present a comprehensive overview of diversity and phylogeny as they have figured into the evolution of the Asteroidea from Paleozoic to the living fauna. Living post-Paleozoic asteroids, the Neoasteroidea, are morphologically separate from those in the Paleozoic. Early Paleozoic asteroid faunas were diverse and displayed morphology that foreshadowed later living taxa. Preservation presents significant difficulties, but fossil occurrence and current accounts suggests a diverse Paleozoic fauna, which underwent extinction around the Permian-Triassic interval was followed by re-diversification of at least one surviving lineage. Ongoing phylogenetic classification debates include the status of the Paxillosida and the Concentricycloidea. Fossil and molecular evidence has been and continues to be part of the ongoing evolution of asteroid phylogenetic research. The modern lineages of asteroids include the Valvatacea, the Forcipulatacea, the Spinlosida, and the Velatida. We present an overview of diversity in these taxa, as well as brief notes on broader significance, ecology, and functional morphology of each. Although much asteroid taxonomy is stable, many new taxa remain to be discovered with many new species currently awaiting description. The Goniasteridae is currently one of the most diverse families within the Asteroidea. New data from molecular phylogenetics and the advent of global biodiversity databases, such as the World Asteroidea Database (. org/Asteroidea/) present important new springboards for understanding the global biodiversity and evolution of asteroids.

Divovski Theropods Istre There are already countless scientific and popular articles and books about carnivorous, predatory, bipedal dinosaurs, called theropods (Theropoda), and many films have also been made. New scientific discoveries continue to be made. In the last two or three decades, much has been written about how birds evolved from a group of maniraptor theropods (Maniraptora). There are more and more newly discovered fossils that prove that birds are actually direct descendants, that is, an evolutionary branch of this group of dinosaurs. If we think that dinosaurs are extinct, we should know that there are currently about 10,500 species of birds in the world. Scientists discovered very early on the morphological similarity of the legs and footprints of theropods with those of birds. There are many such three-toed or four-toed traces from the Mesozoic period in Istria as well. Theropods have been a fairly common topic both in my illustrated articles and on my posters and paintings for books and museums. I have published most articles on this topic in "ŽIT", but also in American, British, Japanese and Croatian magazines and newspapers, as well as online. And yet, the year 2010 was a turning point for my work, when I myself began to actively search for dinosaur traces and describe them. Before that, I mostly just went around and looked at the traces that other scientists had already discovered and explored at well-known sites and museums.

In this paper I describe the jaw adductor musculature in colubrid snakes that formerly belonged to the genus Elaphe Fitzinger. The group studied shows a high level of homoplasy, and particular lineages exhibit a mixture of advanced and primitive characters. The presence of the levator anguli oris in this group is questioned.

Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos is one of numerous metriorhynchid crocodylomorph species known from the Oxford Clay Formation of England (Callovian-Oxfordian; Middle-Late Jurassic). This taxon is of evolutionary importance, as it is the oldest and most basal known macrophagous metriorhynchid. It has a mosaic of plesiomorphic and derived feeding related characteristics, including: teeth with microscopic, poorly formed and non-contiguous denticles; increased tooth apicobasal length; ventrally displaced dentary tooth row (increased gape); reduced dentary tooth count; and a proportionally long mandibular symphysis. However the type specimen, and current referred specimens, all lack a preserved cranium. As such, the craniofacial morphology of this taxon, and its potential feeding ecology, remains poorly understood. Here we describe two skulls and two lower jaws which we refer to T. lythrodectikos. Previously these specimens were referred to 'Metriorhynchus' brachyrhynchus. They share with the T. lythrodectikos holotype: the in-line reception pits on the dentary, dorsal margin of the surangular is strongly concave in lateral view, and the most of the angular ventral margin is strongly convex. Based on our description of these specimens, the skull of T. lythrodectikos has three autapomorphies: very long posterior processes of the premaxilla terminating in line with the 4th or 5th maxillary alveoli, deep lateral notches on the lateral surface of the maxillary with reception pits for dentary teeth, and the premaxilla forms the anterior margin of the first maxillary alveoli. Our description of the cranial anatomy of Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos confirms that some macrophagous characteristics evolved during the Middle Jurassic, and were not exclusive to the clade Geosaurini. Moreover, the skulls further highlight the mosaic nature of Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos and wide-gape macrophagous evolution in Geosaurinae.

and Nanotechnologies algorithm was tested on Nissl-stained cortical slices of the BA4 Human area, 10 m thick, acquired as a meander of tiles (3,000 images for a slice of medium size) at 40x magnification, which gives a resolution of 0.264 micron/pixel. Preliminary results on cortical lamination of Human BA4 area are reported. This method is the first automated algorithm for the analysis of a large high-resolution cortical slice.

In multicellular organisms, relations among parts and between parts and the whole are contextual and interdependent. These organisms and their cells are ontogenetically linked: an organism starts as a cell that divides producing non-identical cells, which organize in tri-dimensional patterns. These association patterns and cells types change as tissues and organs are formed. This contextuality and circularity makes it difficult to establish detailed cause and effect relationships. Here we propose an approach to overcome these intrinsic difficulties by combining the use of two models; 1) an experimental one that employs 3D culture technology to obtain the structures of the mammary gland, namely, ducts and acini, and 2) a mathematical model based on biological principles. The typical approach for mathematical modeling in biology is to apply mathematical tools and concepts developed originally in physics or computer sciences. Instead, we propose to construct a mathematical model based ...

Biomimetic research has drawn inspiration from the knowledge acquired from the diverse morphologies and specialized functions of hymenopteran ovipositors. For example, the morphology of the honeybee stinger was used to create surgical needles that reduce insertion forces, minimize tissue damage, and increase precision. Similarly, the reciprocating drilling mechanisms observed in wood-boring hymenopterans inspired the development of steerable probes for neurosurgery, offering improved control and reduced trauma during penetration. Despite these advances, the ovipositors of sawflies, which promise intricate cutting mechanisms, have remained poorly studied in biomimetics. Unlike wood-boring species, most sawflies typically cut through soft plant tissues using their saw-like ovipositors, which could inspire new designs for precise cutting and sawing devices. This review advocates the need for further research into the structure, mechanical properties and functional principles of sawfly ovipositors to fully exploit their potential in bio-inspiration. We highlight the lack of detailed mechanical studies connecting ovipositor morphology to cutting efficiency and substrate interactions. Understanding these relationships could uncover new principles for engineering applications, such as medical or industrial cutting tools.

El guaraní paraguayo es una lengua de gran vitalidad que, como producto de su oficialización en Paraguay, ha accedido a nuevos ámbitos de uso, lo que ha resultado en notables innovaciones léxicas. En este trabajo presentamos un panorama y discusión de los neologismos en la lengua con el foco puesto en los mecanismos de formación de palabras y los tipos de desplazamientos semánticos más frecuentes. Más precisamente, analizamos múltiples neologismos de ámbitos que han visto el surgimiento de ítems léxicos nuevos (salud, educación, medios y tecnología) y otros campos semánticos menores. Asimismo, abordamos la pregunta sobre la representación lexicográfica de los neologismos, para lo que incluimos un relevamiento que observa la medida y los modos en los que los neologismos se registran en los diccionarios.

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar la categoría de diminutivo en la lengua pilagá y variedades del qom de la familia guaycurú del Gran Chaco, utilizando datos inéditos registrados por Salvador Bucca en la década de 1960 en comunidades de Formosa (1961 y 1964), Chaco (1963 y 1968) y Salta (1964 y 1978) así como estudios posteriores de otros lingüistas que abarcan la década de los 90 y los dos primeros decenios del 2000. El diminutivo en estas lenguas comprende recursos morfológicos y sintácticos que involucran diversas clases de palabras y abarca un amplio repertorio de significados que van desde rasgos de tamaño a afecto emocional. Se realiza un análisis comparativo de tres tipos de expresión del diminutivo en ambas lenguas, en particular, a) el sufijo -ole(k), que se añade a sustantivos, pronombres personales, adjetivos y, de manera excepcional, a verbos y adverbios, b) el sufijo/clítico -taeʔ / =tʔae, que ocurre en frases nominales, ligado al demostrativo, y c) el compuesto nominal con el término inalienable -qoʕot ~ -kʔoʕot ‘hijo’. Se observa que estos tres mecanismos tienen distintos grados de difusión y productividad, y que algunos de ellos podrían ser innovaciones de las últimas décadas.

The morphology of the proximal carpals (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum) are linked to the range of motion (ROM) at the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints. While the relationship between ROM and habitual locomotor mode is well established, it has yet to be investigated whether relative patterns of internal bone architecture reflect the kinematics and kinetics at the proximal row. As internal bone is known to model its structure to habitually incurred forces, internal architecture has the potential to provide insight into how joints have been loaded during the lifetime of an individual. Using a broad sample of extant great apes and humans (n=177 total bones), this study investigates whether relative differences in the bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) and degree of anisotropy (DA) across the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum correlate with the presumed force transfer and biomechanics of the hominoid wrist. Results reveal that broad patterns in BV/TV and DA differentiate hominoids by their predominant locomotor mode. The human pattern suggests the lunate may be the most highly strained bone within the proximal row. Both knuckle-walking taxa (Gorilla, Pan) exhibited similar architectural patterns suggesting they are adapted to resist similar forces in this region of the wrist.

Podobně uvádí Duden (Duden 1998: 335) pro němčinu, že proces adjektivizace participií spočívá na "Bedeutungsdifferenzierung, inhaltlicher Verselbstständigung oder dem Wegfall der übrigen Konjugationsformen des entsprechenden Verbs". 41 Poměrně jednoduché je oddělit případy, ve kterých má slovo jiný význam než sloveso, od kterého bylo odvozeno, a případy, kdy se používá v přeneseném významu (např. сказать понимающим тоном). Problematické z tohoto hlediska jsou ve všech třech jazycích (minulá) příčestí trpná, která mají zároveň i rezultativní význam. 42 Kalakuckaja pro ruštinu uvádí, že z činných příčestí častěji 40 Např. АГ ( § 1579) uvádí: "в тех случаях, когда причастие представляет действие как признак, свойство, в его отвлечении от временной приуроченности, создаются условия для развития у причастий адъективных значений."S tím, že tyto tvary stále zůstávají příčestím.

The South American weakly electric knifefish (Apteronotidae) produce highly diverse and readily quantifiable electrocommunication signals. The electric organ discharge frequency (EODf) and EOD modulations (chirps and gradual frequency rises) vary dramatically across sexes and species, presenting an ideal opportunity to examine the proximate and ultimate bases of sexually dimorphic behavior. We complemented previous studies on the sexual dimorphism of apteronotid communication signals by investigating electric signal features and their hormonal correlates in Apteronotusbonapartii, a species which exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in snout morphology. Electrocommunication signals were evoked and recorded using a playback paradigm and were analyzed for signal features including EOD frequency and the structure of EOD modulations. To investigate the androgenic correlates of sexually dimorphic EOD signals, we measured plasma concentrations of testosterone and 11‐ketotestosterone. A. bonap...

In community ecology, the knowledge of abiotic factors, that determine intraspecific variability in ecophysiological and functional traits, is important for addressing major questions, such as plant community assembly and ecosystem functioning. Mangroves have several mechanisms of resistance to salinity and most species exhibit some xeromorphic features in order to conserve water. Leaf area and stomatal density play an important role in maintaining water balance, and gas exchange is regulated by their aperture and density, two traits that vary intraspecifically in response to environmental conditions, such as water stress and salinity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of salinity on stomatal density, leaf area and plant size in R. mangle and we tested for associations among the three variables, across three sites along a natural salinity gradient in the Xel-Há Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico. We hypothesized that high salinity sites would produce smaller plants, with smaller leave...

The present article aims to historicise the theoretical embedding (Moulines, 2011) of the ontogenetic scheme of psychic development proposed by Senet (1911) in the Ameghinian anthropogenetic retrodiction (1884, 1906, 1907, 1909), as an exemplary casuistry of Kuhnian adjustment and precision of a disciplinary paradigm-matrix in which the extension of the intentional applications of the Darwinian-decimononic problem-solving model to

Objectives: This research examines whether the distribution of trabecular bone in the proximal capitates of extant hominids, as well as several fossil hominin taxa, is associated with the oblique path of the midcarpal joint known as the dart-thrower's motion (DTM). Materials and Methods: We analyzed proximal capitates from extant (Pongo n = 12; Gorilla n = 11; Pan n = 10; fossil and recent Homo sapiens n = 29) and extinct (Australopithecus sediba n = 2; Homo naledi n = 1; Homo floresiensis n = 2; Neandertals n = 3) hominids using a new canonical holistic morphometric analysis, which quantifies and visualizes the distribution of trabecular bone using relative bone volume as a fraction of total volume (rBV/TV). Results: Homo sapiens and Neandertals had a continuous band of high rBV/TV that extended across the scaphoid, lunate, and hamate subarticular regions, but other fossil hominins and extant great apes did not. A. sediba expressed a distinct combination of human-like and Pan-like rBV/TV distribution. Both H. floresiensis and H. naledi had high rBV/TV on the ulnar-side of the capitate but low rBV/TV on the radial-side. Conclusion: The proximal capitates of H. sapiens and Neandertals share a distinctive distribution of trabecular bone that suggests that these two species of Homo regularly load(ed) their midcarpal joints along the full extent of the oblique path of the DTM. The observed pattern in A. sediba suggests that human-like stress at the capito-scaphoid articular surface was combined with Pan-like wrist postures, whereas the patterns in H. floresiensis and H. naledi suggest their midcarpal joints were loaded differently from that of H. sapiens and Neandertals.

Morphological variation in the hominoid capitate has been linked to differences in habitual locomotor activity due to its importance in movement and load transfer at the midcarpal joint proximally and carpometacarpal joints distally. Although the shape of bones and their articulations are linked to joint mobility, the internal structure of bones has been shown experimentally to reflect, at least in part, the loading direction and magnitude experienced by the bone. To date, it is uncertain whether locomotor differences among hominoids are reflected in the bone microarchitecture of the capitate. Here, we apply a whole-bone methodology to quantify the cortical and trabecular architecture (separately and combined) of the capitate across bipedal (modern Homo sapiens), knuckle-walking (Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla sp.), and suspensory (Pongo sp.) hominoids (n = 69). It is hypothesized that variation in bone microarchitecture will differentiate these locomotor groups, reflecting differences in habitual postures and presumed loading force and direction. Additionally, it is hypothesized that trabecular
and cortical architecture in the proximal and distal regions, as a result
of being part of mechanically divergent joints proximally and distally, will differ across these portions of the capitate. Results indicate that the capitate of knuckle-walking and suspensory hominoids is differentiated from bipedal Homo primarily by significantly thicker distal cortical bone. Knuckle-walking taxa are further differentiated from suspensory and bipedal taxa by more isotropic trabeculae in the proximal capitate. An allometric analysis indicates that size is not a significant determinate of bone variation across hominoids, although sexual dimorphism may influence some parameters within Gorilla. Results suggest that
internal trabecular and cortical bone is subjected to different forces and functional adaptation responses across the capitate (and possibly other short bones). Additionally, while separating trabecular and cortical bone is normal protocol of current whole-bone methodologies, this study shows that when applied to carpals, removing or studying the cortical bone separately potentially obfuscates functionally relevant signals in bone structure.

Mis mayores agradecimientos van dirigidos a mi profesor y Director de Tesis, el doctor Eustaquio Barjau. Ha sido para mí un privilegio ser su alumna, tanto por sus ideas, como por su disposición e interés. Su propuesta inicial de escribir una tesis que pudiera, en cierto modo, relacionar la lingüística con aspectos cercanos a la filosofía, me entusiasmó desde el principio, porque refleja, de alguna manera, mi propia formación. Por ello, y, por su comprensión con respecto a fases irregulares de dedicación a esta tesis, ha sido muy fácil y agradable el trabajo conjunto. Agradezco también a Yolanda su ayuda, y a Mimi, los ánimos.

Mis mayores agradecimientos van dirigidos a mi profesor y Director de Tesis, el doctor Eustaquio Barjau. Ha sido para mí un privilegio ser su alumna, tanto por sus ideas, como por su disposición e interés. Su propuesta inicial de escribir una tesis que pudiera, en cierto modo, relacionar la lingüística con aspectos cercanos a la filosofía, me entusiasmó desde el principio, porque refleja, de alguna manera, mi propia formación. Por ello, y, por su comprensión con respecto a fases irregulares de dedicación a esta tesis, ha sido muy fácil y agradable el trabajo conjunto. Agradezco también a Yolanda su ayuda, y a Mimi, los ánimos.

Following recent advances in the morphological interpretations of the tegmen basal cell margins in the Paraneoptera, a standardized and homology-driven groundplan terminology for tegmina types, structures and vein patterns in Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha, including fossils, is proposed. Each term is listed with a morphological definition, compared and linked to the main systems of planthopper forewing description that have been reviewed. The importance of a standardized and homology-driven terminology is stressed to enhance the quality of data in taxonomic descriptions and to strengthen phylogenetic morphological analysis results. When the interpretation of the origin of vein branches is render difficult, a three-step strategy for pattern recognition of the vein is proposed based on two principles: (1) vein forks are more informative than topology of the vein branches: a search for homologous areas, the nodal cells in particular, must first guide the recognition rather the number of branches of a vein, and (2) minimum of ad hoc evolutionary events should be invoked in the understanding of a modified vein pattern. Examples of some conflicting interpretations of venation patterns in planthoppers are discussed within different families for both extant and extinct taxa. For the first time, the concept of brachypterism is defined in a nonrelative way independently from other structures, and the new one of hyperpterism is proposed; a reporting system is proposed for each of them.

In response to growing public perception of need for management of river, stream, and estuarine resources on Kauai's North Shore, funds were appropriated by the 1988 State Legislature to implement baseline studies of the Hanalei River estuary and other north shore rivers on ...

Summary Four populations of Acrobeloides nematodes were isolated from Tunisian soils. Based on morphological and morphometric data, two populations, TC9 and HWO, were identified as A. tricornis and the other two, TC7 and K18g, as A. bodenheimeri. Acrobeloides tricornis is distinguished from its closely related species by its high labial probolae with arcuate termini, inconspicuous post-uterine sac, and five lateral incisures, while A. bodenheimeri is distinguished from other acrobeloids by having a low and rounded labial probolae, distinct post-uterine sac, five lateral incisures, and vulva frequently with vaginal plug. The A. tricornis and A. bodenheimeri reported in this study are distinguished by the shape of labial probolae (high with acute distal part vs low and rounded), post-uterine sac (inconspicuous vs distinct), position of the reproductive system with respect to the intestine (sinistral vs dextral), vulva with vaginal plug (present vs absent) and some morphometric charact...

The functional morphology and ultrastructure of the digestive tract (including mouthparts) of cultured phyllosomas from the palinurid lobster Panulirus japonicus and the scyllarid lobster Ibacus ciliatus were examined by light and electron microscopy. The morphology of the phyllosomal inner mouthparts differs from that of the adults and that of nephropid larvae in that the paired paragnaths and labrum in phyllosomas are well-developed, and form a semi-enclosed chamber. The paragnaths are probably used to masticate relatively large, but soft-bodied prey items, and to control the amount of material ingested into the semi-enclosed chamber where mastication by the mandibles occurs. Tegumental glands are packed densely within the paragnaths and labrum, and probably lead to pores present on the surface of the paragnaths. In all phyllosomal stages of I. ciliatus and the first seven stages of P. japonicus, the proventriculus is a straight tube having no functional gastric mill or cardio-pyloric valve, but spines and a filter-press (gland-filter) are well developed. These findings suggest that the major function of the phyllosomal proventriculus is the filtering of food particles previously masticated by the mouthparts. From ultrastructural observations of both species, it is concluded the final phase of absorption is intracellular, occurring mainly within the R-cells (resorption cells), which are the most abundant cell type in the walls of the midgut gland. Amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids are selectively transported from the lumen of the midgut gland across the apical cell membrane to enter the R-cells where they are stored in vacuoles. The contents of these vacuoles are then metabolised intracellularly.

or even larger. In medical research such devices are used on a regular basis and might be especially useful in assessing bone alterations due to microgravity exposure. However, the amount of data to be assessed after data acquisition is huge. Powerful data visualization methods often greatly facilitate quantitative analysis and understanding of the results. A typical workflow consists of several steps:

In vivo muscle architectural parameters can be calculated from the fiber tracts using magnetic resonance (MR) tractography. However, the reconstructed tracts may be unevenly distributed within the muscle volume and there lacks commonly used metric to quantitatively evaluate the validity of the tracts. Our objective is to measure forearm muscle architecture by uniformly sampling fiber tracts from the candidate streamlines in MR tractography and validate the reconstructed fiber tracts qualitatively and quantitatively. We proposed farthest streamline sampling (FSS) to uniformly sample fiber tracts from the candidate streamlines. The method was evaluated on the MR data acquired from 12 healthy subjects for 17 forearm muscles and was compared with two conventional methods through uniform coverage performance. Anatomical correctness was verified by: 1) visually assessing fiber orientation, 2) checking whether architectural parameters were within physiological ranges and 3) classifying architectural types. The proposed FSS yielded optimal uniform coverage performance among the three methods (P < 0.05). FSS reduced the sampling of long tracts (10% fiber length reduction, P < 0.05), and the estimated architectural parameters were within the physiological ranges (P < 0.05). The tractography visually matched cadaveric specimens. The architectural types of 16 muscles were correctly classified except for the palmaris longus, which exhibited a linear arrangement of fiber endpoints (R-2 = 0.95 +/- 0.02, P < 0.001). The proposed FSS method reconstructed uniformly distributed fiber tracts and the anatomical correctness of the reconstructed tracts was verified. The novel methods allow for accurate in vivo muscle architectural measurement, which was demonstrated through the characterization of architectural properties in human forearm muscles.

This study involved the use of 25 male camels (Camelus dromedarius) and 25 male cattle (Zebu type) each within the ages of 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 7 years, which were purchased from Sokoto Municipal Modern abattoir. The length, circumference and weight of the triceps brachii and biceps brachii muscles showed increased values along chronological age advancement of the animals, more especially in the camel with highest morphometric values obtained from the triceps brachii muscle of camel aged 7 years, this could be an advantage and potential for more meat production in the camel. The gross morphologic appearances of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii as observed in the study agreed with the normal (anatomic) morphology. However it was observed that there was no tensor fasciae antebrachii muscle lining the caudal border of the long head of triceps brachii in the camel while this was evident in the cattle. The observed bulky triceps brachii in the camel could have tak...

The feet are the only contact between the body and the substrate in limbed animals and as such they provide a crucial interface between the animal and its environment. This is especially true for bipedal and arboreal species living in a complex three-dimensional environment that likely induces strong selection on foot morphology. In birds, foot morphology is highly variable, with different orientations of the toes, making it a good model for the study of the role of functional, developmental, and phylogenetic constraints in the evolution of phenotypic diversity. Our data on the proportions of the phalanges analyzed in a phylogenetic context show that two different morphological patterns exist that depend mainly on habitat and toe orientation. In the anisodactyl foot, the hallux is the only backward-oriented toe and is enlarged in climbing species and reduced in terrestrial ones. Moreover, a proximo-distal gradient in phalanx size is observed depending on the degree of terrestriality. In the two other cases (heterodactyl and zygodactyl) that have two toes that point backward, the hallux is rather small in contrast to the other backward-pointing toe, which is enlarged. The first pattern is convergent and common among tetrapods and follows rules of skeletal development. The second pattern is unique for the clade and under muscle-morphogenetic control. In all cases, the functional result is the same tool, a pincer-like foot.

The endemic Australian stiletto fly genus Laxotela Winterton & Irwin is revised with four new species described: L. citriterminalis sp. n., L. genalis sp. n., L. kimseyorum sp. n. and L. malleensis sp. n. Laxotela malleensis sp. n. was initially discovered based on images posted on the social platform iNaturalist, resulting in this collaboration to describe it formally. Additionally, L. atmis (Winterton, 2009) comb. n. is transferred from Neodialineura Mann, 1928. All of the previously described species are diagnosed in light of the morphological diversity found in the genus and a revised key to all 13 species of Laxotela is presented.

Males. of two species of Xyonysius court females both before and during copulation. Courtship during copulation ("copulatory courtship") is more elaborate, and differs between the two species. Male genital sclerites are moved in ways suggesting that they stimulate females during copulation. It is argued that copulatory courtship may be under sexual sclcction by cryptic female choice.

The male genitalia of many animal groups have elaborate and species-specific forms. One hypothesis to explain why this is so is that male genitalia function as stimulatory devices that are under sexual selection by cryptic female choice. This report is based on a videotaped observation of a single male of an unidentified species of Tipula (Bellarina) from San José Province, Costa Rica. A male crane fly stridulated (produced vibrations) during copulation using sustained and stereotyped movements of file and scraper structures on his genitalia. Males of related species have similar file and scraper structures on their genitalia, suggesting that they probably also stridulate during copulation.

Researchers from Vienna, Joachim Matzinger and Stefan Schumacher, have troubled traditional Albanians by pouring cold water on their theory that the Albanian language has its roots in Ancient Illyria. Like a pair of detectives who hardly know Gege Albanian, they are trying to reconstruct the origin of Albanian with the 1972 standard. Scientifically, this is laughable.!!!