Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Sources of Resistance to Common Bacterial Blight and Rust in Elite \u3ci\u3ePhaseolus vulgaris\u3c/i\u3e L. Germplasm

We studied leaf and pod reactions of 18 Phaseolus vulgaris germplasm lines (three temperate and 15 tropical) to four Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (XCP) (Smith) Dye strains and seven Uromyces appendiculatus (UA) (Pers.) Unger races. Line × XCP interaction was significant for leaf and pod reactions. The common bean lines XAN-159, BAC-6, and XAN-112 had the best combined leaf and pod resistance to XCP. Line × UA race interactions were significant ( P = 0.05). Lines IAPAR-14 and BAC-6 had the best combined resistance to XCP and UA

Combining ability of Phaseolus vulgaris L. for resistance to common bacterial blight

Many diseases limit dry bean and snap bean yields. Common bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, is one of the most serious bacterial diseases in dry bean and snap bean that cause crop losses. Since there is no satisfactory chemical control, the use of resistant cultivars is an important control measure. Genetic studies of resistance are important for choosing appropriate breeding methods. Combining ability was determined for disease resistance in three snap bean genotypes (Alessa, Hab 52 and Hab 198) and two dry bean genotypes (Bac-6 and A-794). Plants were inoculated with highly pathogenic isolate CNF 15, using a razor blade procedure in leaves and needle punctures in pods. They were evaluated 7 days after inoculation. Leaves were evaluated on a 1 to 5 scale and pods by lesion diameter. Diallel analysis was conducted using Griffing's model. General combining ability (GCA) was significant for both leaf and pod infection, whereas specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for disease reaction in pods. Bac-6 and A-794 were considered superior genotypes for leaf resistance. Nonadditive effects were predominant in pod reactions, and Alessa x Bac-6, Alessa x A-794 and Hab 52 x Bac-6 were the best combinations.<br>Entre as várias doenças que causam problemas às culturas do feijão-de-vagem e do feijão comum, uma das mais importantes é o crestamento bacteriano comum (CBB), causado pela bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, que pode ocasionar grandes perdas na produção. O controle químico não é eficiente, e entre as medidas de controle recomendadas, destaca-se a resistência genética. Estudos genéticos da resistência são básicos para a definição dos métodos de melhoramento a serem adotados para cada caso. Avaliou-se a capacidade de combinação de três genótipos de feijão-de-vagem (Alessa, Hab 52, Hab 198) e dois de feijão comum (Bac-6 e A-794) quanto à resistência ao CBB, em folhas e vagens. A análise dialélica foi feita utilizando-se o esquema de cruzamentos dialélicos segundo o método II, modelo I, de Griffing. Para inoculação nas folhas empregou-se o método das lâminas paralelas e, nas vagens, o inóculo foi depositado com auxílio de micropipeta. Utilizou-se o isolado bacteriano CNF 15, procedente da Embrapa-CNPAF. A reação ao CBB foi avaliada sete dias após a inoculação por meio de escala de notas de 1 (resistente) a 5 (suscetível) para folhas. Para as vagens, avaliou-se o tamanho da lesão em mm. A capacidade geral de combinação foi significativa para ambos os caracteres avaliados. Efeitos significativos para a capacidade específica de combinação foram observados para resistência ao CBB em vagens. Constatou-se que os efeitos de aditividade foram superiores aos de dominância para resistência em folhas, identificando-se os genótipos Bac-6, A-794 e Alessa como os mais promissores. Para resistência em vagens, os efeitos de dominância se sobrepuseram aos de aditividade, permitindo-se destacar as combinações Alessa x Bac-6, Alessa x A-794 e Hab 52 x Bac-6