The monotypic genus Paracyriothasastes Breuning, 1978 was established for Cereopsius marmoreus Pascoe, 1857 from Malaysia. Uraechoides Breuning, 1981 was established for Uraechoides vivesi Breuning, 1981 also from Malaysia, and is currently composed of the type species and U. taomeiae Hayashi, Nara Yu, 1995, the latter from China (Taiwan) (Tavakilian Chevillotte 2020).
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic properties are useful options for prophylactic and therapeutic applications against gastrointestinal diseases. The safety of probiotics should, however, be verified before incorporation into food or drinks. The present study had encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum LAB12 within microcapsules that could withstand extremely high temperature (up to 100 °C) during pelletisation. The microencapsulated LAB12 were then tested for their acute (single dosing) and sub-chronic (a 90-day feeding) toxicity. For acute toxicity study, six male Sprague-Dawley rats were being administered with a single dose of freeze-dried microencapsulated LAB12 at 11 log CFU/kg BW through oral gavage. No clear treatment-related effects were observed after 14 days. For sub-chronic toxicity study, rodents were randomly divided into four groups (6 rats/sex/group) and treated with 0, 8, 9 and 10 log CFU/kg BW of microencapsulated LAB12 in pellet form. No mortality or treatment-related findings were observed in terms of clinical body weight, water intake, or food consumption. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed in blood and tissue samples. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for microencapsulated LAB12 was 2.5 × 1010 CFU/kg BW for both genders. These results imply that LAB12 are likely non-pathogenic and non-toxic.
The fauna of plant bug subfamily Isometopinae in Taiwan and Japanese Southwest (Nansei) Islands is reviewed. Twenty-five species are recognized, including two new species of Myiomma Puton, M. austroccidens sp. nov. and M. kentingense sp. nov., which are herein diagnosed and described. In addition, Isometopus yehi Lin, 2004 is synonymized with I. bipunctatus Lin; Isometopidea yangi Lin is transferred to Kohnometopus; and a substitute name, Alcecoris linyangorum, is proposed for A. formosanus (Lin Yang) (= a junior secondary homonym of Alcecoris formosanus Lin). An annotated checklist, with updated distributional record and biological information, is provided for all treated taxa. A new tribe Sophianini is proposed for two genera, Alcecoris and Sophianus, characterized principally by the conspicuously modified antennal structures. An additional new species, Alcecoris cochlearatus sp. nov., found during examination of related Oriental specimens, is described from the Malay Peninsula.
Drepanosticta emtrai sp. nov. is described from Vietnam (holotype male Ha Tinh Province, 9 vi 2015, to be deposited in RMNH). The new species is allied to D. carmichaeli (Laidlaw, 1915) and a number of other species of Drepanosticta including D. vietnamica Asahina, 1997. New illustrations of the paratype of D. vietnamica are provided and the species is discussed. The Drepanosticta carmichaeli-group, to which the above mentioned species belong, is defined and discussed.
A new species of the genus Tropidophorus is described from Putai, upper Baleh, Kapit districts, Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). Tropidophorus sebi sp. nov. is diagnosable from congeners from Borneo by the combination of the following characters: head shields present, dorsal and lateral scales smooth; parietal scales in two pairs; supraciliaries eight; supraoculars four; supralabials seven; infralabials four; postmental undivided; longitudinal scale rows 58; ventrals 53; transverse scale rows at midbody 34; subcaudals 98; preanals enlarged, single; and subdigital lamellae of Toe IV 19. In addition, we determine the phylogenetic position of this species within the Tropidophorus group based on mitochondrial markers, and present a key to identification of the known Bornean species in the genus.
This paper presents a taxonomic revision of 28 described species of the genus Sirthenea Spinola, 1837 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental, Palearctic, Oceanian and Australian zoogeographical regions. The following new synonymies are proposed: Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903 = S. rapax Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. leonina Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. bequaerti Schouteden, 1913, syn. nov. = S. leontovitchi Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov.; Sirthenea picescens Reuter, 1887 = S. atrocyanea Horváth, 1909, syn. nov.; S. rodhaini Schouteden, 1913 = S. collarti Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov. = S. angolana Villiers, 1958, syn. nov.; S. flavipes (Stål, 1855) = S. clavata Miller, 1948, syn. nov. = S. bharati Sucheta Chopra, 1988, syn. nov. = S. koreana Kerzhner Lee, 1996 syn. nov. = S. melanota Cai Lu, 1990, syn. nov. = S. nigripes Murugan Livingstone, 1990, syn. nov.; S. obscura (Stål, 1866) = S. glabra (Walker, 1873), syn. nov. A neotype is designated for S. picescens Reuter, 1887. Three species, S. erythromelas (Walker 1873), S. fulvipennis (Walker, 1873) and S. sobria (Walker, 1873), are excluded from the genus Sirthenea. Two new species from the Oriental Region, S. kali sp. nov. (India) and S. setosa sp. nov. (Malaysia) are described. Identification keys are provided for the subgenera and species from each zoogeographical region treated. Drawings of dorsal habitus and genitalic structures, drawings and images of selected morphological characters, and distribution maps of all valid species are presented.
Three species new to science of the Gryllid subfamilies Gryllinae and Pteroplistinae are described from Brunei: (1) Mimicogryllus splendens Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov., (2) Pteroplistes bruneiensis Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov., and (3) Tembelingiola belaitensis Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov. A new species of cricket of the subfamily Phaloriinae is also described from Sandakan, eastern Sabah: Vescelia sepilokensis Tan, Gorochov, Japir Chung, sp. nov.
The 'Cephennomicrus group' of Cephenniini includes nine genera distributed mostly in SE Asia (but with some species known also from other continents, except for the Americas). Four new Oriental species are described: Cephennococcus penangensis sp. n. (W Malaysia), Cephennomicrus matangensis sp. n. (E Malaysia), Cephennomicrus selangorensis sp. n. (E Malaysia), and Trurlia nova sp. n. (E Malaysia). Cephennomicrus selangorensis is unique in having the pronotum in both sexes with broad lateral impressions demarcated from the disc by a sharp ridge, a modification slightly similar to that of only one (Australian) congener.
Seven new species of the genus Deltoplastis Meyrick are described: D. acutangulata Wang et Yu, sp. nov., D. anatoliana Wang et Park, sp. nov., D. multidentalis Wang et Yu, sp. nov. and D. similihoristis Wang et Yu, sp. nov. from China; D. aculeata Wang et Yu, sp. nov. and D. spatuliunca Wang et Yu, sp. nov. from Malaysian Borneo; and D. ovidiscalis Park et Wang, sp. nov. from Vietnam. Deltoplastis horistis (Meyrick, 1910) is newly recorded in China and its female is described for the first time. Images of adults and genitalia of the new species are provided.
The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS) was established to assess women's breast size dissatisfaction and breasted experiences from a cross-national perspective. A total of 18,541 women were recruited from 61 research sites across 40 nations and completed measures of current-ideal breast size discrepancy, as well as measures of theorised antecedents (personality, Western and local media exposure, and proxies of socioeconomic status) and outcomes (weight and appearance dissatisfaction, breast awareness, and psychological well-being). In the total dataset, 47.5 % of women wanted larger breasts than they currently had, 23.2 % wanted smaller breasts, and 29.3 % were satisfied with their current breast size. There were significant cross-national differences in mean ideal breast size and absolute breast size dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small (η2 = .02-.03). The results of multilevel modelling showed that greater Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness, lower Western media exposure, greater local media exposure, lower financial security, and younger age were associated with greater breast size dissatisfaction across nations. In addition, greater absolute breast size dissatisfaction was associated with greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction, poorer breast awareness, and poorer psychological well-being across nations. These results indicate that breast size dissatisfaction is a global public health concern linked to women's psychological and physical well-being.
The glandulariine genus Siamites is amongst the rarest Oriental ant-like stone beetles. To date, only three species have been known, distributed in Thailand and Vietnam. A new species, S. sarawakensis sp. n. is described here, based on a male specimen collected in Sarawak, East Malaysia. This finding extends the known range of Siamites over 1200 km southeastward.
The crab spider genus Angaeus Thorell, 1881 currently contains 10 described species (Benjamin 2013; WSC 2017). All species of the genus are restricted to tropical Asia. The aim of this correspondence is to illustrate and describe a new species of the genus characterized by a number of features previously found in the genera Angaeus, Borboropactus Simon, 1884, Epidius Thorell, 1877 and Geraesta Simon, 1889. The most unusual feature is the elongated tibia of the male palp that was previously thought to be diagnostic of Epidius (Figs 1, 2, 8; character 1 in Benjamin 2011; Benjamin 2017). However, the new species lacks tibial macrosetae (Figs 1, 2, 8) and lacks a flexibly attached MA, both also being characteristics of Epidius (characters 2 and 18 in Benjamin 2011). Furthermore, this new species differs considerably in general appearance from all known species of Epidius.
The genus Anipocregyes Breuning, 1939 is reviewed. Cristipocregyes rondoni Breuning, 1965, Metipocregyes rondoni Breuning, 1965, and Mesosa (Perimesosa) seminivea Breuning, 1965 are transferred to the genus Anipocregyes, and Setomesosa rondoni Breuning, 1968 is synonymized with A. seminivea comb. nov. As a result, two genera, Cristipocregyes Breuning, 1965 and Setomesosa Breuning, 1968, are synonymized with Anipocregyes. Metipocregyes rondoni Breuning, 1965 becomes a secondary homonym and Anipocregyes albifrons nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name. Anipocregyes kawakamii sp. nov. and A. wakabayashii sp. nov. are described from Borneo. All the seven known species of Anipocregyes are illustrated with their male genitalia (except for A. laosensis) and a key to the species is provided.
Organothrips stongensis sp. n. is described from Malaysia based on two males. These are sharply bicolored in contrast to other males in this genus, and a key is provided to males of the four known species of this genus. Organothrips was not previously known in Malaysia. Watanabeothrips yasuakii Okajima is also a first record from Malaysia, and differences between these females and the holotype decription are discussed.
Drepanosticta rahmani sp. nov. (holotype ♂, steep tributary to stream in hills between Baling and Gulai, north west Kedah, Malaysia, 15 xi 2016, leg. R.A. Dow, to be deposited in the Natural History Museum, London) is described from both sexes.
Protein hydrolysates and bioactive peptides from various protein sources have demonstrated their effectiveness for the prevention of illness and the improvement of symptoms from several diseases. In particular, the use of microalgae to generate bioactive peptides has received a growing interest because of their potential to be cultivated on non-arable land and high nutritional value. However, scant research is available on the toxicity of peptide-based preparations. The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity of microalgal protein hydrolysates (MPH) from one marine species of microalgae (Bellerochea malleus) to determine the feasibility of their use for functional food applications. Results showed that the oral administration of MPH at three doses (D1, 100 mg kg-1 BW; D2, 400 mg kg-1 BW; and D3, 2000 mg kg-1 BW) to male Wistar rats did not induce any adverse effects or mortality up to13 days of treatment. Data analysis of relative organ weights and biochemical and hematological parameters did not show any significant differences between control and treated groups at the three doses investigated. Data from histopathological observations did not reveal any signs of major toxicity at the doses D1 and D2. However, mild signs of inflammation and necrosis were observed in the kidney of rats fed MPH at D3. All together, these results reveal the overall safety of MPH and provide new evidence for advocating their use for functional food or nutraceutical applications.
Up to date, Eutheimorphus Franz & Lbl included a sole species known from a holotype male collected in Sabah, Borneo. An occurrence of this enigmatic and extremely rare genus in Thailand is reported, and Eutheimorphus thailandicus sp. n. is described. Among diagnostic characters are unique grooves on the head and a symmetrical (in contrast to strongly asymmetrical in E. paradoxus Franz & Lbl) set of endophallic sclerites.
Taxonomic, diagnostic and faunistic data for 30 species of three genera (Agaricochara Kraatz, 1856 (one species), Gyrophaena Mannerheim, 1830 (27 species) and Sternotropa Cameron, 1920 (two species) of the subtribe Gyrophaenina Kraatz, 1856 of Kunashir Island (Kuril Islands, Far Eastern Russia) are provided. All these species are recorded from Kunashir and Kuril Islands, and the genera Agaricochara and Sternotropa from Russia, for the first time. Eleven new species are described and illustrated: Agaricochara verrucosa Enushchenko, sp. nov., G. (s.str.) ainuorum Enushchenko, sp. nov., G. (s.str.) rama Enushchenko, sp. nov., G. (s.str.) robertopacei Enushchenko, sp. nov., G. (s.str.) semenovi Enushchenko, sp. nov., G. (s.str.) volkeri Enushchenko, sp. nov., Sternotropa aiaia Enushchenko, sp. nov. and S. kamuy Enushchenko, sp. nov. from Kunashir Island, G. (s.str.) kerzhneri Enushchenko, sp. nov. and G. (s.str.) melanoceta Enushchenko, sp. nov. from Maritime Province and Kunashir Island, and G. (s.str.) rebrievi Enushchenko, sp. nov. from Khabarovsk Territory, Maritime Province and Kunashir Island. Three species of Gyrophaena are redescribed and illustrated: G. (s.str.) anastasiarum Glotov, 2022, G. (s.str.) bernhaueri Jakobson, 1909, and G. (s.str.) plutenkoi Glotov, 2014. Besides that, 18 species of the genus Gyrophaena were recorded from the mainland provinces of Far Eastern Russia, including description of G. (s.str.) frolovi Enushchenko, sp. nov. from Amur Area, Khabarovsk Territory and Maritime Province. Based on the study of the types and additional material, the following new synonymies are established: G. (s.str.) bihamata Thomson, 1867 = G. guttula Pace, 2010 syn. nov., G. (s.str.) cariniventris Cameron, 1933 = G. monospina Pace, 2003 syn. nov., G. (s.str.) gonggamontis Pace, 2010 = G. (s.str.) aedugena Enushchenko, 2011 syn. nov., G. (s.str.) harmandi Fauvel, 1901 = G. alexandrovi Bernhauer, 1939 syn. nov., G. (s.str.) taeniae Pace, 2007 = G. ashei Kim & Ahn, 2009 syn. nov., G. (s.str.) permixta Pace, 2003 = G. bifurcata Assing, 2005 syn. nov., and G. (s.str.) zhagaensis Pace, 2003 = G. peniculi Pace, 2007 syn. nov. Habitus, aedeagi, apical abdominal segments and spermathecae of several little-known species of Gyrophaenina are illustrated. A key to species of the bihamata group of Gyrophaena is presented. Several species are recorded for the first time from certain regions: G. (s.str.) bernhaueri, G. (s.str.) cariniventris, G. (s.str.) deprehendens Pace, 2007, G. (s.str.) discoidea Pace, 2003, G. (s.str.) harmandi, G. (s.str.) pasniki Assing, 2005, G. (s.str.) permixta, G. (s.str.) schuelkei Pace, 2003, G. (s.str.) taeniae, G. (s.str.) taiwanova Pace, 2007, G. (s.str.) torta Assing, 2005, G. (s.str.) triquetra Weise, 1877, G. (s.str.) williamsi A. Strand, 1935, G.(s.str.) yotsudeba Cameron, 1933, G. (s.str.) zhagaensis and G. (Phaenogyra) tetracuspidata Assing, 2005 from Russia, G. (s.str.) joyi Wendeler, 1924, G. (s.str.) obsoleta Ganglbauer, 1895, G. (s.str.) orientalis A. Strand, 1938, G. (s.str.) pseudonana A. Strand, 1939, G. (s.str.) pulchella Heer, 1839 and G. (Phaenogyra) strictula (Erichson, 1839) from Far Eastern Russia, G.(s.str.) gonggamontis from Zabaykalsky Krai, Jewish Autonomous Area, Sakhalin Area and Mongolia, G. (s.str.) rugipennis Mulsant & Rey, 1861 from Zabaykalsky Krai, Khabarovsk Territory and Sakhalin Area, G. (s.str.) congrua Erichson, 1837 from Amur Area, Khabarovsk Territory and Sakhalin Area, G. (s.str.) kaunshanchiensis Pace, 2007 from Khabarovsk Territory and Sakhalin Area, G. (s.str.) pseudonitidula Semenov, 2015 from Sverdlovsk, Irkutsk and Amur areas, G. (s.str.) affinis Mannerheim, 1830, G. (s.str.) congrua Erichson, 1837 and G. (s.str.) poweri Crotch, 1867 from Amur Area and Khabarovsk Territory, and G. (s.str.) anastasiarum and G. (s.str.) plutenkoi from Sakhalin Area. In general, based on the published and new data, 53 species of four genera of Gyrophaenina are known from Far Eastern Russia: Agaricochara (one species), Encephalus Stephens, 1832 (one species), Gyrophaena (49 species) and Sternotropa (two species). The composition of the fauna and zoogeographic and bionomical features of Gyrophaenina of Kunashir Island and Far Eastern Russia are briefly discussed. Besides that, we noted the richness of the fauna of Kunashir in comparison with adjacent territories.
Grain weight is a major component of rice grain yield and is controlled by quantitative trait loci. Previously, a rice grain weight quantitative trait locus (qGW6) was detected near marker RM587 on chromosome 6 in a backcross population (BC2F2) derived from a cross between Oryza rufipogon IRGC105491 and O. sativa cv. MR219. Using a BC2F5 population, qGW6 was validated and mapped to a region of 4.8 cM (1.2 Mb) in the interval between RM508 and RM588. Fine mapping using a series of BC4F3 near isogenic lines further narrowed the interval containing qGW6 to 88 kb between markers RM19268 and RM19271.1. According to the Duncan multiple range test, 8 BC4F4 near isogenic lines had significantly higher 100-grain weight (4.8 to 7.5% over MR219) than their recurrent parent, MR219 (P < 0.05). According to the rice genome automated annotation database, there are 20 predicted genes in the 88-kb target region, and 9 of them have known functions. Among the genes with known functions in the target region, in silico gene expression analysis showed that 9 were differentially expressed during the seed development stage(s) from gene expression series GSE6893; however, only 3 of them have known functions. These candidates provide targets for further characterization of qGW6, which will assist in understanding the genetic control of grain weight in rice.
A preponderance of evidence from systematic reviews supports the effectiveness of weight-bearing exercises on bone mass accrual, especially during the growing years. However, only one systematic review (limited to randomized controlled trials) examined the role of physical activity (PA) on bone strength. Thus, our systematic review extended the scope of the previous review by including all PA intervention and observational studies, including organized sports participation studies, with child or adolescent bone strength as the main outcome. We also sought to discern the skeletal elements (eg, mass, structure, density) that accompanied significant bone strength changes. Our electronic-database, forward, and reference searches yielded 14 intervention and 23 observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We used the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool to assess the quality of studies. Due to heterogeneity across studies, we adopted a narrative synthesis for our analysis and found that bone strength adaptations to PA were related to maturity level, sex, and study quality. Three (of five) weight-bearing PA intervention studies with a strong rating reported significantly greater gains in bone strength for the intervention group (3% to 4%) compared with only three significant (of nine) moderate intervention studies. Changes in bone structure (eg, bone cross-sectional area, cortical thickness, alone or in combination) rather than bone mass most often accompanied significant bone strength outcomes. Prepuberty and peripuberty may be the most opportune time for boys and girls to enhance bone strength through PA, although this finding is tempered by the few available studies in more mature groups. Despite the central role that muscle plays in bones' response to loading, few studies discerned the specific contribution of muscle function (or surrogates) to bone strength. Although not the focus of the current review, this seems an important consideration for future studies.