Notas nomenclaturales sobre anfibios actuales y fósiles

A review of extinct and living amphibians known from fossils (Allocaudata, Anura and Caudata) has revealed several cases that require nomenclatural changes in order to stabilize the taxonomy of the group. Nomenclatural changes include homonym replacements, corrections of spelling variants and authorships, name availabilities, and in particular, the proposal of new combinations. These changes will allow the incorporation of some palaeontological taxa to the current evolutionary models of relationship of modern forms based on molecular phylogenies. Rana cadurcorum for Rana plicata Filhol, 1877, Rana auscitana for Rana pygmaea Lartet, 1851, and Rana sendoa for Rana robusta Brunner, 1956. Anchylorana Taylor, 1942 is considered a new synonym of Lithobates Fitzinger, 1843. New combinations proposed are: Anaxyrus defensor for Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi for Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis for Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus for Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis for Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons for Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus for Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni for Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis for Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi for Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius for Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella for Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus for Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae for Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus for Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei for Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus for Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis for Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus for Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi for Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani for Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani for Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi for Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi for Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis for Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica for Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana for Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca for Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, and Pseudepidalea stranensis for Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. The names Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, and Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 are nomenclaturally deemed unavailable. The family name based on Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 is Scapherpetidae and not Scapherpetonidae nor Scapherpetontidae.Una revisión de anfibios extintos y actuales en estado fósil (Allocaudata, Anura y Caudata) ha permitido detectar diversos casos que precisan cambios nomenclaturales a fin de estabilizar la taxonomía del grupo. Los cambios nomenclaturales incluyen homonimias, correcciones de variantes gramaticales y autorías, disponibilidad de nombres, y en especial la propuesta de nuevas combinaciones, necesarias para ajustar algunos taxones paleontológicos a los modelos de relaciones evolutivas entre formas vivientes, fundamentados en filogenias moleculares. Las nuevas combinaciones que se proponen son: Anaxyrus defensor para Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi para Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis para Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus para Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis para Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons para Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus para Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni para Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis para Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi para Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius para Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella para Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus para Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae para Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus para Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei para Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus para Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis para Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus para Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi para Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani para Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani para Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi para Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi para Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis para Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica para Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana para Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca para Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, y Pseudepidalea stranensis para Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. Los nombres Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, y Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 se consideran nomenclaturalmente no disponibles. El nombre de familia basado en Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 es Scapherpetidae y no Scapherpetonidae ni Scapherpetontidae

An internet-based intervention for depression in primary care in Spain: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Depression is the most prevalent cause of illness-induced disability worldwide. Face-to-face psychotherapeutic interventions for depression can be challenging, so there is a need for other alternatives that allow these interventions to be offered. One feasible alternative is Internet-based psychological interventions. This is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention on depression in primary health care in Spain. Objective: Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of a low-intensity therapist-guided (LITG) Internet-based program and a completely self-guided (CSG) Internet-based program with improved treatment as usual (iTAU) care for depression. Methods: Multicenter, three-arm, parallel, RCT design, carried out between November 2012 and January 2014, with a follow-up of 15 months. In total, 296 adults from primary care settings in four Spanish regions, with mild or moderate major depression, were randomized to LITG (n=96), CSG (n=98), or iTAU (n=102). Research completers at follow-up were 63.5%. The intervention was Smiling is Fun, an Internet program based on cognitive behavioral therapy. All patients received iTAU by their general practitioners. Moreover, LITG received Smiling is Fun and the possibility of psychotherapeutic support on request by email, whereas CSG received only Smiling is Fun. The main outcome was the Beck Depression Inventory-II at 3 months from baseline. Mixed-effects multilevel analysis for repeated measures were undertaken. Results: There was no benefit for either CSG (B coefficient=-1.15; P=.444)] or LITG (B=-0.71; P=.634)] compared to iTAU, at 3 months. There were differences at 6 months iTAU vs CSG (B=-4.22; P=.007); iTAU vs LITG (B=-4.34; P=.005)] and 15 months iTAU vs CSG (B=-5.10; P=.001); iTAU vs LITG (B=-4.62; P=.002)]. There were no differences between CSG and LITG at any time. Adjusted and intention-to-treat models confirmed these findings. Conclusions: An Internet-based intervention for depression combined with iTAU conferred a benefit over iTAU alone in the Spanish primary health care system

Do trauma cue exposure and/or PTSD symptom severity intensify selective approach bias toward cannabis cues in regular cannabis users with trauma histories?

Trauma cue-elicited activation of automatic cannabis-related cognitive biases are theorized to contribute to comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and cannabis use disorder. This phenomenon can be studied experimentally by combining the trauma cue reactivity paradigm (CRP) with cannabis-related cognitive processing tasks. In this study, we used a computerized cannabis approach-avoidance task (AAT) to assess automatic cannabis (vs. neutral) approach bias following personalized trauma (vs. neutral) CRP exposure. We hypothesized that selective cannabis (vs. neutral) approach biases on the AAT would be larger among participants with higher PTSD symptom severity, particularly following trauma (vs. neutral) cue exposure. We used a within-subjects experimental design with a continuous between-subjects moderator (PTSD symptom severity). Participants were exposed to both a trauma and neutral CRP in random order, completing a cannabis AAT (cannabis vs. neutral stimuli) following each cue exposure. Current cannabis users with histories of psychological trauma (n = 50; 34% male; mean age = 37.8 years) described their most traumatic lifetime event, and a similarly-detailed neutral event, according to an established interview protocol that served as the CRP. As hypothesized, an AAT stimulus type x PTSD symptom severity interaction emerged (p = .042) with approach bias greater to cannabis than neutral stimuli for participants with higher (p = .006), but not lower (p = .36), PTSD symptom severity. Contrasting expectations, the stimulus type x PTSD symptoms effect was not intensified by trauma cue exposure (p = .19). Selective cannabis approach bias may be chronically activated in cannabis users with higher PTSD symptom severity and may serve as an automatic cognitive mechanism to help explain PTSD-CUD co-morbidity.</p

Using Heavy Quark Spin Symmetry in Semileptonic BcB_c Decays

The form factors parameterizing the B_c semileptonic matrix elements can be related to a few invariant functions if the decoupling of the spin of the heavy quarks in B_c and in the mesons produced in the semileptonic decays is exploited. We compute the form factors as overlap integral of the meson wave-functions obtained using a QCD relativistic potential model, and give predictions for semileptonic and non-leptonic B_c decay modes. We also discuss possible experimental tests of the heavy quark spin symmetry in B_c decays.Comment: RevTex, 22 pages, 2 figure

Memoria de trabajo en niños de educación infantil con y sin bajo rendimiento matemático

This study aims to explore working memory in preschool children with and without low mathematical performance. The sample consisted of 255 children aged 5-6 years, to whom were administered neuropsychological tests of working memory and TEDI-MATH to estimate the mathematical performance. The results highlight the capacity of verbal working memory to significantly differentiate groups of children with and without problems in 8 of the 9 analyzed mathematical domains. This factor together with visuospatial working memory differentiate the group of children at risk for mathematical learning disabilities.Este estudio se propone analizar la memoria de trabajo en niños de Educación Infantil con y sin bajo rendimiento matemático. La muestra estaba compuesta de 255 niños de 5 a 6 años, a los que se les aplicó pruebas neuropsicológicas de memoria de trabajo y el TEDI-MATH para estimar el rendimiento matemático. Los resultados destacan la capacidad de la memoria de trabajo verbal para diferenciar significativamente los grupos de niños con y sin dificultades en 8 de los 9 dominios matemáticos analizados. Este mismo factor junto con la memoria de trabajo viso-espacial estática diferencian al grupo de niños con riesgo de aprendizaje de las matemáticas

La fauna del pleistoceno inferior de la sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia)

El yacimiento kárstico cuaternario de la Sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia) ha proporcionado una amplia lista faunística constituida por 53 especies repartidas entre gasterópodos, miriápodos, anfibios, reptiles, aves y mamíferos. En el conjunto de los gasterópodos destaca Palaeoglandina, un género que se extingue en el resto de Europa durante el Plioceno y que se mantiene como relicto en el Pleistoceno de la Península Ibérica. Dos de las especies de aves determinadas, Gypaetus barbatus y Gerontieus eremita, y una de las serpientes, Elaphe cf. E. sealaris, apenas se hallan representadas en el registro fósil. Hay además varias especies de aves cuya aparición en Quibas supone la primera cita en el Pleistoceno inferior de la Península Ibérica. Entre los mamíferos posee una especial relevancia la presencia del cercopitécido Macaca sylvanus. La asociación de los taxones Arvieola deuealíon, Castillomys rivas rivas, Elíomys intermedius, Equus altidens y Capra sp. aff. C. alba permite la correlación con Plines 1, Orce 3 y Venta Micena, entre otros. El yacimiento de Quibas puede situarse, por tanto, antes del final del Pleistoceno inferior, con una antigüedad entre 1.3 y 1 Ma. Por lo que se refiere a las condiciones paleoclimáticas, podemos inferir a partir de la asociación faunística un régimen xerófilo, muy semejante al actual en el área geográfica, aunque quizás con valores de humedad y temperatura algo superiores. El entorno de la cavidad kárstica estaba formado por roquedo calcáreo con áreas abiertas de matorral, pero en las proximidades se desarrollaron humedales y zonas arboladas, como así lo atestigua la presencia de aves y micromamíferos típicos de estos hábitats.The Quaternary karstic site of Sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia, Spain) has provided a wide faunallist with 53 species distributed among gastropods, myriapods, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Especially interesting among the gastropods is Palaeoglandina that became extinct in Europe during the Pliocene. It remains as a relict genus in the Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Two of the birds, Gypaetus barbatus and Geronticus eremita, and a snake, Elaphe cf. E. sealaris, are scarcely represented in the fossil record. For several birds, it is the first record in the Lower Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Among the mammals, the presence of the Cercopithecine Macaca sylvanus is especially relevant. The assemblage of the taxa Arvicola deucalion, Castillomys rivas rivas, Eliomys intermedius, Equus altidens and Capra sp. aff. C. alba allows the correlation with Plines 1, Orce 3 and Venta Micena, among other sites. Therefore Quibas can be clated before the end of Lower Pleistocene, between 1.3 and 1 Ma. A dry paleoclimatic regime, very similar to the current climate in the geographical area, though perhaps slightly wetter and warmer, can be inferred from the faunal assemblage. The environment of the karstic cavity was a rocky place with open brushwood areas, but in the proximities there were wetlands and woodlands, as can be inferred from the presence of birds and micromammals characteristic of these [email protected] [email protected]

Learning categories with spiking nets and spike timing dependent plasticity

An exploratory study of learning a neural network for categorisation shows that commonly used leaky integrate and fire neurons and Hebbian learning can be effective. The system learns with a standard spike timing dependent plasticity Hebbian learning rule. A two layer feed forward topology is used with a presentation mechanism of inputs followed by outputs a simulated ms. later to learn Iris flower and Breast Cancer Tumour Malignancy categorisers. An exploration of parameters indicates how this may be applied to other tasks

A review of Neusibatrachus wilferti, an Early Cretaceous frog from the Montsec Range, Northeastern Spain

Neusibatrachus wilferti is an anuran from the late Berriasian–early Valanginian fossiliferous lacustrine limestones that are exposed in the eastern part of the Montsec Range, province of Lleida, Spain. It was originally described by Seiffert in 1972 and its phylogenetic position has since been discussed. Neusibatrachus has been considered an undeterminable fossil, an abnormal individual, or a primitive palaeobatrachid. Here we redescribe the only available specimen, and clarify features, such as absence of palatines, nine presacrals, and procoelous vertebral centra, that have been the subject of previous debates. We consider the specimen to be a postmetamorphic individual and make developmental interpretations of some of its characters. In particular, we provide evidence of a living anuran (Rana iberica) that resembles Neusibatrachus in the development of intervertebral articulations. Neusibatrachus is considered a valid genus, which differs from other anurans, except for the pipoids, in the joint presence of an azygous frontoparietal and a parasphenoid lacking the subotic alae, although it differs from the pipoids in having nine presacral vertebrae. Morphological evidence indicates that Neusibatrachus is related to Xenoanura, the pipoid branch in the living Amphibia Tree of Life based on molecular data. Moreover, it might be a member of the pipoid clade proper, which presently includes the Pipidae, Rhinophrynidae, and several fossil taxa, including the Palaeobatrachidae, although the evidence is not conclusive

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