Leptogenys ants (hymenoptera: formicidae; ponerinae)of Sabah

The study was aimed at assessment the leptogenys ants of Sabah both from the existing records and several collection sentres in Sabah. Specimens examined were from BORNEENSIS. Institute for Tropical Biology and Consevation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah; insect collection centre of forest research centre, sepilok; and entomologicalmuseum, Sabah parks. Apart from meseum specimen examination, collections were also carried out at Universiti Malaysia Sabah hill, poring hot spring, sepilok forest reserve, sapulut forest reserve, Kalabakan forest reserve and Tawau hills Park by the use of manual sampling, winkler's sampling and baited pitfall traps. A total of 797 individuals of leptogenys ants which consist of 29 species have been identified from BORNEENSIS, insect collection of forest research centre,Sepilok; and entomological museum, Sabah parks. Most of the leptogenys collections were found in BORNEENSIS (562 individuals; 21 species), followed by Sandakan (131 individuals;10 species) and Sabah parks (104 individuals; 13 species).Number of unnamed leptogenys specimens was highest in BORNEENSIS collection (10 species),followed by Sabah Parks (9 species) and Sepilok (2 species)

Preliminary study on assessment and taxonomic status of pseudophyllinae bush-crikets (orthoptera:tettigoniidae) from Malaysia.

This paper reports the preliminary finding on the assessment and taxonomic status of pseudphyllinae bush-crikets from Malaysia. A total of 61 species were recorded, of which 45 species belong to 21 genera are from Peninsular Malaysia, while 29 species belong to 17 genera are from Sabah and Sarawak. A list of pseudophyllinae bush-crikets from Malaysia is provided to highlight the records for both Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak

Logging cuts the functional importance of invertebrates in tropical rainforest

Invertebrates are dominant species in primary tropical rainforests, where their abundance and diversity contributes to the functioning and resilience of these globally important ecosystems. However, more than one-third of tropical forests have been logged, with dramatic impacts on rainforest biodiversity that may disrupt key ecosystem processes. We find that the contribution of invertebrates to three ecosystem processes operating at three trophic levels (litter decomposition, seed predation and removal, and invertebrate predation) is reduced by up to one-half following logging. These changes are associated with decreased abundance of key functional groups of termites, ants, beetles and earthworms, and an increase in the abundance of small mammals, amphibians and insectivorous birds in logged relative to primary forest. Our results suggest that ecosystem processes themselves have considerable resilience to logging, but the consistent decline of invertebrate functional importance is indicative of a human-induced shift in how these ecological processes operate in tropical rainforests

Diagnostic evaluation of paediatric autoimmune lymphoproliferative immunodeficiencies (ALPID): a prospective cohort study

Background Lymphoproliferation and autoimmune cytopenias characterise autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. Other conditions sharing these manifestations have been termed autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome-like diseases, although they are frequently more severe. The aim of this study was to define the genetic, clinical, and immunological features of these disorders to improve their diagnostic classification. Methods In this prospective cohort study, patients were referred to the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency in Freiburg, Germany, between Jan 1, 2008 and March 5, 2022. We enrolled patients younger than 18 years with lymphoproliferation and autoimmune cytopenia, lymphoproliferation and at least one additional sign of an inborn error of immunity (SoIEI), bilineage autoimmune cytopenia, or autoimmune cytopenia and at least one additional SoIEI. Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome biomarkers were determined in all patients. Sanger sequencing followed by in-depth genetic studies were recommended for patients with biomarkers indicative of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, while IEI panels, exome sequencing, or genome sequencing were recommended for patients without such biomarkers. Genetic analyses were done as decided by the treating physician. The study was registered on the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00011383, and is ongoing. Findings We recruited 431 children referred for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome evaluation, of whom 236 (55%) were included on the basis of lymphoproliferation and autoimmune cytopenia, 148 (34%) on the basis of lymphoproliferation and another SoIEI, 33 (8%) on the basis of autoimmune bicytopenia, and 14 (3%) on the basis of autoimmune cytopenia and another SoIEI. Median age at diagnostic evaluation was 9·8 years (IQR 5·5–13·8), and the cohort comprised 279 (65%) boys and 152 (35%) girls. After biomarker and genetic assessments, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome was diagnosed in 71 (16%) patients. Among the remaining 360 patients, 54 (15%) had mostly autosomal-dominant autoimmune lymphoproliferative immunodeficiencies (AD-ALPID), most commonly affecting JAK-STAT (26 patients), CTLA4-LRBA (14), PI3K (six), RAS (five), or NFκB (three) signalling. 19 (5%) patients had other IEIs, 17 (5%) had non-IEI diagnoses, 79 (22%) were unresolved despite extended genetics (ALPID-U), and 191 (53%) had insufficient genetic workup for diagnosis. 16 (10%) of 161 patients with a final diagnosis had somatic mutations. Alternative classification of patients fulfilling common variable immunodeficiency or Evans syndrome criteria did not increase the proportion of genetic diagnoses. Interpretation The ALPID phenotype defined in this study is enriched for patients with genetic diseases treatable with targeted therapies. The term ALPID might be useful to focus diagnostic and therapeutic efforts by triggering extended genetic analysis and consideration of targeted therapies, including in some children currently classified as having common variable immunodeficiency or Evans syndrome