The lost hyena from Paciano (Umbria, Italy) reconsidered

We redescribe and revise the taxonomic attribution of a lost hyena hemimandible recovered from Paciano (Umbria, Italy), originally reported in the early 1900s, by comparing it with relevant samples of Pliocene, Pleistocene, and extant species. The mandible of the Paciano hyena was initially attributed to Hyaena striata (= Hyaena hyaena) and subsequently listed as a record of the giant hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris, but is here assigned to another “bone-cracking” hyena, the Pliocene-Early Pleistocene Pliocrocuta perrieri. The Paciano hyena contributes to the discussion on the relationships and turnover between Pl. perrieri and P. brevirostris. On the one hand, the two species are very similar in craniodental morphology; their isolated remains are often separated by size; and P. brevirostris is thought to derive from a large-sized population of Pl. perrieri. On the other, a larger size is not an aspect to disregard in hyenas as it usually correlates with the acquisition or better development of “bone-cracking” features; remains attesting the co-occurrence of Pl. perrieri and P. brevirostris are known from some sites dated at around 2.0–1.8 Ma; and the observed size differences between the two species exceed those recorded between extant and (at times) sympatric species. Therefore, taken alone the competition with P. brevirostris does not explain the extinction of Pl. perrieri, but considering it together with the concurrent spread and resulting peak of carnivoran diversity in Late Villafranchian faunas might. Pliocrocuta perrieri was outcompeted by its larger descendent in scavenging carcasses, while other carnivorans limited its options to deviate to other resources or adopt a different feeding behavior (e.g., active hunting). The case of Paciano is also significant in that it offers an example of the importance and feasibility of reconsidering historical collections, even when the original material is lost entirely. In general, the seek for “novelty” that permeates current scientific literature ensues in few descriptions or reconsiderations of historical samples, especially if the new examinations confirm old results, but we emphasize the significance of such efforts in making old data truly available for the scientific community. In addition, the hyena from Paciano has a biochronological and stratigraphic value, confirming the occurrence in western Umbria of a depositional cycle older than the late Early Pleistocene one (well represented by the rich assemblages from Pietrafitta and Selvella; Farneta Faunal Unit)

Effectiveness Some Plant Extracts of Third Instar Nymphs Nezara viridula L. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Attack on String Bean Pod

The objective of this research wa to examine effectiveness of several plant extracts against of Thrid Instar Nymphs N. viridula on string bean pod. The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of plant Pests, Faculty of Agriculture Pattimura University. The experimental method was a completely randomized design with five different treatments included A (garlic extract 15%), B (citronella extract 15%), C (neem leaf extract 15%), D (neem oil 2,5 %), E (Diazinon 600 EC 0,15%), and one control. Observations were made on the Early toxicity symptoms, cumulative mortality, and mortality rate of Thrid Instar Nymphs N. viridula The results showed that the application of garlic extract cumulative mortality 80%, mortality rate 5.11 hours kills 50% of test insects, citronella extract cumulative mortality 100%, mortality rate 0.98 hours kills 76.7% of test insects, neem leaf extract mortality cumulative 100% with a mortality rate of 0.86 hours, neem oil cumulative mortality of 66.67%, mortality rate of 9.72 hours killing 53.33% of test insects, and Diazinon 600 EC cumulative mortality of 100%, mortality rate of 0.80 hours killing 93.3%. Several plant extracts applied to Thrid Instar Nymphs N. viridula were very effective. Especially the treatment of neem leaves with a cumulative mortality of 100% with a mortality rate of 0.86 hours and citronella with a cumulative mortality of 100%, a mortality rate of 0.98 hours killed 76.7% of the test insects

Synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from Monte Argentario (Early Pleistocene, Italy)

We describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from Monte Argentario, Italy (Early Pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). Propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to Acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the Old World Plio-Pleistocene. The analysis of images and 3D models obtained through synchrotron microtomography – here applied for the first time on a Plio-Pleistocene carnivoran – reveals a mosaic of cheetah-like and Panthera-like features, with the latter justifying previous attributions of the fossil to the extinct Eurasian jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis. Similarly, we reassign to A. pardinensis some other Italian materials previously referred to P. gombaszoegensis (sites of Pietrafitta and Ellera di Corciano). The recognition of Panthera-like characters in A. pardinensis leads to reconsidering the ecological role of this species, whose hunting strategy was likely to be different from those of the living cheetah. Furthermore, we hypothesise that the high intraspecific variation in body size in A. pardinensis can be the result of sexual dimorphism, as observed today in all large-sized felids

3D Survey in Extreme Environment: The Case Study of LaetoliHominin Footprints in Tanzania

Many cultural assets are in risky situations and they are destined to disappear. Sometimes problems are caused bythe anthropic component (e.g. wars) or by natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and landslides). At other times thecause of deterioration is due to the slow and inexorable action of atmospheric agents and other natural factorspresent in extreme areas, where preservation of Cultural Heritage is more complex.This contribution deals with 3D documentation of paleontological excavations in extreme contexts that arecharacterized by unfavorable climatic conditions, limited instrumentation and little time available. In particular, thecontribution is focused on the search for a good working procedure which, despite the problems mentioned above,can lead to valid results in terms of accuracy and precision, so that subsequent scientific studies are notcompromised. The proposed case study concerns the recent discovery of fossil footprints at the Site S in Laetoli,within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the newdiscovery of Site S it was necessary to implement a 3D survey operative protocol with limited equipment and in avery short time. The 3D models, obtained through the “Structure from Motion” (SfM) technique and topographicsupport, were used to perform morphological and morphometric investigations on the new footprints. Through theanalysis it was possible to estimate height and weight of the footprint makers (hominins of the speciesAustralopithecus afarensis). The collected evidence supports marked intraspecific variation in this species, pointingout the occurrence of a considerable difference in size between sexes and suggesting inferences on reproductivebehavior and social structure of these ancient bipedal hominins.The contribution shows how important is to obtain good 3D documentation, even in extreme environment, in orderto reach reliable results for scientific analysis

High-resolution, high-contrast ultrasound imaging using a prototype dual-frequency transducer: In vitro and in vivo studies

With recent advances in animal models of disease, there has been great interest in capabilities for high-resolution contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. Microbubble contrast agents are unique in that they scatter broadband ultrasound energy because of their nonlinear behavior. For optimal response, it is desirable to excite the microbubbles near their resonant frequency. To date, this has been challenging with high-frequency imaging systems because most contrast agents are resonant at frequencies in the order of several megahertz. Our team has developed a unique dual-frequency confocal transducer which enables low-frequency excitation of bubbles near their resonance with one element, and detection of their emitted high-frequency content with the second element. Using this imaging approach, we have attained an average 12.3 dB improvement in contrast-to-tissue ratios over fundamental mode imaging, with spatial resolution near that of the high-frequency element. Because this detection method does not rely on signal decorrelation, it is not susceptible to corruption by tissue motion. This probe demonstrates contrast imaging capability with significant tissue suppression, enabling high-resolution contrast-enhanced images of microvascular blood flow. Additionally, this probe can readily produce radiation force on flowing contrast agents, which may be beneficial for targeted imaging or therapy

Frozen in the Ashes

Fossil footprints are very useful palaeontological tools. Their features can help to identify their makers and also to infer biological as well as behavioural information. Nearly all the hominin tracks discovered so far are attributed to species of the genus Homo. The only exception is represented by the trackways found in the late 1970s at Laetoli, which are thought to have been made by three Australopithecus afarensis individuals about 3.66 million years ago. We have unearthed and described the footprints of two more individuals at Laetoli, who were moving on the same surface, in the same direction, and probably in the same timespan as the three found in the 1970s, apparently all belonging to a single herd of bipedal hominins walking from south to north. The estimated stature of one of the new individuals (about 1.65 m) exceeds those previously published for Au. afarensis. This evidence supports the existence of marked morphological variation within the species. Considering the bipedal footprints found at Laetoli as a whole, we can hypothesize that the tallest individual may have been the dominant male, the others smaller females and juveniles. Thus, considerable differences may have existed between sexes in these human ancestors, similar to modern gorillas

Quantification of Microvascular Tortuosity during Tumor Evolution Using Acoustic Angiography

The recent design of ultra-broadband, multi-frequency ultrasound transducers has enabled high sensitivity, high-resolution contrast imaging, with very efficient suppression of tissue background using a technique called acoustic angiography. Here we perform the first application of acoustic angiography to evolving tumors in mice predisposed to develop mammary carcinoma, with the intent of visualizing and quantifying angiogenesis progression associated with tumor growth. Metrics compared include vascular density and two measures of vessel tortuosity quantified from segmentations of vessels traversing and surrounding 24 tumors and abdominal vessels from control mice. Quantitative morphological analysis of tumor vessels demonstrated significantly increased vascular tortuosity abnormalities associated with tumor growth with the distance metric elevated approximately 14% and the sum of angles metric increased 60% in tumor vessels versus controls. Future applications of this imaging approach may provide clinicians a new tool in tumor detection, differentiation, or evaluation, though with limited depth of penetration using the current configuration