Cryptic species in tropic sands--interactive 3D anatomy, molecular phylogeny and evolution of meiofaunal Pseudunelidae (Gastropoda, Acochlidia)

Towards realistic estimations of the diversity of marine animals, tiny meiofaunal species usually are underrepresented. Since the biological species concept is hardly applicable on exotic and elusive animals, it is even more important to apply a morphospecies concept on the best level of information possible, using accurate and efficient methodology such as 3D modelling from histological sections. Molecular approaches such as sequence analyses may reveal further, cryptic species. This is the first case study on meiofaunal gastropods to test diversity estimations from traditional taxonomy against results from modern microanatomical methodology and molecular systematics

Wireless distance estimation with low-power standard components in wireless sensor nodes

In the context of increasing use of moving wireless sensor nodes the interest in localizing these nodes in their application environment is strongly rising. For many applications, it is necessary to know the exact position of the nodes in two- or three-dimensional space. Commonly used nodes use state-of-the-art transceivers like the CC430 from Texas Instruments with integrated signal strength measurement for this purpose. This has the disadvantage, that the signal strength measurement is strongly dependent on the orientation of the node through the antennas inhomogeneous radiation pattern as well as it has a small accuracy on long ranges. Also, the nodes overall attenuation and output power has to be calibrated and interference and multipath effects appear in closed environments. Another possibility to trilaterate the position of a sensor node is the time of flight measurement. This has the advantage, that the position can also be estimated on long ranges, where signal strength methods give only poor accuracy. In this paper we present an investigation of the suitability of the state-of-the-art transceiver CC430 for a system based on time of flight methods and give an overview of the optimal settings under various circumstances for the in-field application. For this investigation, the systematic and statistical errors in the time of flight measurements with the CC430 have been investigated under a multitude of parameters. Our basic system does not use any additional components but only the given standard hardware, which can be found on the Texas Instruments evaluation board for a CC430. Thus, it can be implemented on already existent sensor node networks by a simple software upgrade.Comment: 8 pages, Proceedings of the 14th Mechatronics Forum International Conference, Mechatronics 201

How to describe a cryptic species? Practical challenges of molecular taxonomy

Background: Molecular methods of species delineation are rapidly developing and widely considered as fast and efficient means to discover species and face the `taxonomic impediment' in times of biodiversity crisis. So far, however, this form of DNA taxonomy frequently remains incomplete, lacking the final step of formal species description, thus enhancing rather than reducing impediments in taxonomy. DNA sequence information contributes valuable diagnostic characters and - at least for cryptic species-could even serve as the backbone of a taxonomic description. To this end solutions for a number of practical problems must be found, including a way in which molecular data can be presented to fulfill the formal requirements every description must meet. Multi-gene barcoding and a combined molecular species delineation approach recently revealed a radiation of at least 12 more or less cryptic species in the marine meiofaunal slug genus Pontohedyle (Acochlidia, Heterobranchia). All identified candidate species are well delimited by a consensus across different methods based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Results: The detailed microanatomical redescription of Pontohedyle verrucosa provided in the present paper does not reveal reliable characters for diagnosing even the two major clades identified within the genus on molecular data. We thus characterize three previously valid Pontohedyle species based on four genetic markers (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, nuclear 28S and 18S rRNA) and formally describe nine cryptic new species (P. kepii sp. nov., P. joni sp. nov., P. neridae sp. nov., P. liliae sp. nov., P. wiggi sp. nov., P. wenzli sp. nov., P. peteryalli sp. nov., P. martynovi sp. nov., P. yurihookeri sp. nov.) applying molecular taxonomy, based on diagnostic nucleotides in DNA sequences of the four markers. Due to the minute size of the animals, entire specimens were used for extraction, consequently the holotype is a voucher of extracted DNA ('DNA-type'). We used the Character Attribute Organization System (CAOS) to determine diagnostic nucleotides, explore the dependence on input data and data processing, and aim for maximum traceability in our diagnoses for future research. Challenges, pitfalls and necessary considerations for applied DNA taxonomy are critically evaluated. Conclusions: To describe cryptic species traditional lines of evidence in taxonomy need to be modified. DNA sequence information, for example, could even serve as the backbone of a taxonomic description. The present contribution demonstrates that few adaptations are needed to integrate into traditional taxonomy novel diagnoses based on molecular data. The taxonomic community is encouraged to join the discussion and develop a quality standard for molecular taxonomy, ideally in the form of an automated final step in molecular species delineation procedures

Undersized and underestimated: 3D visualization of the Mediterranean interstitial acochlidian gastropod Pontohedyle milaschewitchii (Kowalevsky, 1901)

AbstractPontohedyle milaschewitchii (Kowalevsky, 1901) is one of the most common mesopsammic opisthobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and has been considered as a comparably well-described acochlidian species. However, data on its complex internal anatomy were fragmentary and little detailed due to inadequate methodology available, and contradictory between different sources. The present study redescribes all major organ systems of P. milaschewitchii in full detail by three-dimensional reconstruction from serial semithin sections using AMIRA software. The prepharyngeal central nervous system (cns) of P. milaschewitchii is highly concentrated and shows a euthyneurous and epiathroid condition. Contrary to earlier reports, the cerebral and pleural ganglia are not fused. Aggregations of precerebral accessory ganglia can be grouped into three complexes supplied by distinct cerebral nerves. Rhinophoral ganglia with thin, double cerebro-rhinophoral connectives are described for the first time in acochlidians. A Hancock's organ is present in the form of a conspicuous, curved fold in the epidermis posterior to the oral tentacles. Cerebral nervous features and sensory structures are discussed comparatively. Our study confirms P. milaschewitchii as having the male genital opening in an unusual position above the mouth. Homology of the ciliated vas deferens of the gonochoristic and aphallic P. milaschewitchii with that of hermaphroditic acochlidian species with cephalic male genitals is discussed. The radula formula of P. milaschewitchii is 41–54×1-1-1, i.e. the single lateral teeth are broad and, contrary to previous descriptions, undivided. SEM examination of the body wall of entire specimens revealed a special and constant ciliary pattern. Providing a novel additional set of characters for taxonomic and phylogenetic purposes, external SEM examination is suggested as the standard method for describing acochlidian species in the future

Frictional magnetodrag between spatially separated two-dimensional electron systems: Coulomb versus phonon mediated electron-electron interaction

We study the frictional drag due to Coulomb and phonon mediated electron-electron interaction in a double layer electron system exposed to a perpendicular magnetic field. Within the random phase approximation we calculate the dispersion relation of the intra Landau level magnetoplasmons at finite temperatures and distinguish their contribution to the magnetodrag. We calculate the transresistivity $\rho_{Drag}$ as a function of magnetic field $B$, temperature $T$, and interlayer spacing $\Lambda$ for a matched electron density. For $\Lambda =200$ nm we find that $\rho_{Drag}$ is solely due to phonon exchange and shows no double-peak structure as a function of $B$. For $\Lambda =30$ nm, $\rho_{Drag}$ shows the double-peak structure and is mainly due to Coulomb interaction. The value of $\rho_{Drag}$ is about 0.3 $\Omega$ at T=2 K and for the half-filled second Lanadau level, which is about 13 times larger than the value for $\Lambda =200$ nm. At lower edge of the temperature interval from 0.1 to 8 K, $\rho_{Drag}/ T^{2}$ remains finite for $\Lambda =30$ nm while it tends to zero for $\Lambda =200$ nm. Near the upper edge of this interval, $\rho_{Drag}$ for $\Lambda =30$ nm is approximately linear in $T$ while for $\Lambda =200$ nm it decreases slowly in $T$. Therefore, the peak of $\rho_{Drag}/ T^{2}$ is very sharp for $\Lambda =200$ nm. This strikingly different magnetic field and temperature dependence of $\rho_{Drag}$ ascribe we mainly to the weak screening effect at large interlayer separations.Comment: replaced with revised versio

Exchange and correlation effects on the plasmon dispersions and the Coulomb drag in low-density electron bilayers

We investigate the effect of exchange and correlation (xc) on the plasmon spectrum and the Coulomb drag between spatially separated low-density two-dimensional electron layers. We adopt a new approach, which employs dynamic xc kernels in the calculation of the bi-layer plasmon spectra and of the plasmon-mediated drag, and static many-body local field factors in the calculation of the particle-hole contribution to the drag. The spectrum of bi-layer plasmons and the drag resistivity are calculated in a broad range of temperatures taking into account both intra- and inter-layer correlation effects. We observe that both plasmon modes are strongly affected by xc corrections. After the inclusion of the complex dynamic xc kernels, a decrease of the electron density induces shifts of the plasmon branches in opposite directions. And this is in stark contrast to the tendency obtained within the RPA that both optical and acoustical plasmons move away from the boundary of the particle-hole continuum with a decrease in the electron density. We find that the introduction of xc corrections results in a significant enhancement of the transresistivity and qualitative changes in its temperature dependence. In particular, the large high-temperature plasmon peak that is present in the random phase approximation is found to disappear when the xc corrections are included. Our numerical results at low temperatures are in good agreement with the results of recent experiments by M. Kellogg {\it et al.}, Solid State Commun. \textbf{123}, 515 (2002).Comment: 28 pages, 15 figure

Clinical Implementation of DPYD Pharmacogenetic Testing to Prevent Early-Onset Fluoropyrimidine-Related Toxicity in Cancer Patients in Switzerland.

The implementation of pharmacogenetic testing into clinical practice has been a slow process so far. Here, we review the implementation of pre-treatment testing of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) risk variants to prevent early-onset fluoropyrimidine (FP)-related toxicity in cancer patients in Switzerland based on data of a large Swiss diagnostic center. In January 2017, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health introduced the reimbursement of DPYD testing by the compulsory health insurance in Switzerland based on evidence for the clinical relevance of DPYD-risk variants and the cost-effectiveness of pre-treatment testing, and on the availability of international guidelines. However, we did not observe a strong increase in DPYD testing at our diagnostic center from 2017 to 2019. Only a low number of DPYD-testing requests (28-42 per year), concerning mostly retrospective investigations of suspected FP-toxicity, were received. In contrast, we observed a 14-fold increase in DPYD testing together with a strong shift from retrospective to pre-treatment test requests upon the release of recommendations for DPYD testing prior to FP-treatment in April 2020 by the European Medicines Agency. This increase was mainly driven by three geographic regions of Switzerland, where partner institutions of previous research collaborations regarding FP-related toxicity are located and who acted as early-adopting institutions of DPYD testing. Our data suggest the important role of early adopters as accelerators of clinical implementation of pharmacogenetic testing by introducing these policies to their working environment and educating health workers from their own and nearby institutions

On the origin of Acochlidia and other enigmatic euthyneuran gastropods, with implications for the systematics of Heterobranchia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A robust phylogenetic hypothesis of euthyneuran gastropods, as a basis to reconstructing their evolutionary history, is still hindered by several groups of aberrant, more or less worm-like slugs with unclear phylogenetic relationships. As a traditional "order" in the Opisthobranchia, the Acochlidia have a long history of controversial placements, among others influenced by convergent adaptation to the mainly meiofaunal habitats. The present study includes six out of seven acochlidian families in a comprehensive euthyneuran taxon sampling with special focus on minute, aberrant slugs. Since there is no fossil record of tiny, shell-less gastropods, a molecular clock was used to estimate divergence times within Euthyneura.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our multi-locus molecular study confirms Acochlidia in a pulmonate relationship, as sister to Eupulmonata. Previous hypotheses of opisthobranch relations, or of a common origin with other meiofaunal Euthyneura, are clearly rejected. The enigmatic amphibious and insectivorous Aitengidae <it>incerta sedis </it>clusters within Acochlidia, as sister to meiofaunal and brackish Pseudunelidae and limnic Acochlidiidae. Euthyneura, Opisthobranchia and Pulmonata as traditionally defined are non-monophyletic. A relaxed molecular clock approach indicates a late Palaeozoic diversification of Euthyneura and a Mesozoic origin of the major euthyneuran diversity, including Acochlidia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study shows that the inclusion of small, enigmatic groups is necessary to solve deep-level phylogenetic relationships, and underlines that "pulmonate" and "opisthobranch" phylogeny, respectively, cannot be solved independently from each other. Our phylogenetic hypothesis requires reinvestigation of the traditional classification of Euthyneura: morphological synapomorphies of the traditionally defined Pulmonata and Opisthobranchia are evaluated in light of the presented phylogeny, and a redefinition of major groups is proposed. It is demonstrated that the invasion of the meiofaunal habitat has occurred several times independently in various euthyneuran taxa, leading to convergent adaptations previously misinterpreted as synapomorphies. The inclusion of Acochlidia extends the structural and biological diversity in pulmonates, presenting a remarkable flexibility concerning habitat choice.</p

The unique deep sea-land connection: interactive 3D visualization and molecular phylogeny of Bathyhedyle boucheti n. sp (Bathyhedylidae n. fam.)-the first panpulmonate slug from bathyal zones

The deep sea comprises vast unexplored areas and is expected to conceal significant undescribed invertebrate species diversity. Deep waters may act as a refuge for many relictual groups, including elusive and enigmatic higher taxa, but the evolutionary pathways by which colonization of the deep sea has occurred have scarcely been investigated. Sister group relationships between shallow water and deep sea taxa have been documented in several invertebrate groups, but are unknown between amphibious/terrestrial and deep-sea species. Here we describe in full and interactive 3D morphoanatomical detail the new sea slug species Bathyhedyle boucheti n. sp., dredged from the continental slope off Mozambique. Molecular and morphological analyses reveal that it represents a novel heterobranch gastropod lineage which we establish as the new family Bathyhedylidae. The family is robustly supported as sister to the recently discovered panpulmonate acochlidian family Aitengidae, which comprises amphibious species living along the sea shore as well as fully terrestrial species. This is the first marine-epibenthic representative among hedylopsacean Acochlidiida, the first record of an acochlidian from deep waters and the first documented panpulmonate deep-sea slug. Considering a marine mesopsammic ancestor, the external morphological features of Bathyhedyle n. gen. may be interpreted as independent adaptations to a benthic life style in the deep sea, including the large body size, broad foot and propodial tentacles. Alternatively, the common ancestor of Bathyhedylidae and Aitengidae may have been a macroscopic amphibious or even terrestrial species. We hypothesize that oophagy in the common ancestor of Aitengidae and Bathyhedylidae might explain the impressive ecological and evolutionary flexibility in habitat choice in the Acochlidiida

Contribution of soft-bodied meiofaunal taxa to Italian marine biodiversity

Meiofauna includes an astonishing diversity of organisms, whose census is far from being complete. Most classic ecological studies have focused on hard-bodied Ecdysozoan taxa (notably Copepoda and Nematoda), whose cuticle allows determination at species-level after fixation, rather than soft-bodied, Spiralian taxa, which most often lose any diagnostic feature in fixed samples. Yet, metabarcoding studies have recently revealed a species-richness of softbodied taxa comparable, and in cases superior, to that of Copepoda and Nematoda together. However, given objective difficulties inherent to their study, which necessarily has to be performed on living individuals, and their limited utilisation for ecological and applicative research, taxonomic expertise on soft-bodied organisms has declined over the years, and diversity of these phyla in most areas of the world is presently completely unknown. Here we present an expert-based survey of current knowledge on the composition and distribution of soft-bodied meiofaunal taxa in Italy, with special references to the predominantly or exclusively meiobenthic phyla Gastrotricha, Gnathostomulida, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Xenacoelomorpha, and macrofaunal taxa with conspicuous meiofaunal representatives (Annelida, Mollusca and Nemertea). A total of 638 described species have been reported from Italian coasts; furthermore, the existence of a large number of undescribed species is mentioned. Knowledge of Annelida, Gastrotricha, and Rotifera appears particularly detailed, placing Italy among the best-known country worldwide. In contrast, knowledge of Platyhelminthes and Xenacoelomorpha appears patchy, and limited to few areas. Sampling effort has been uneven, with most species recorded from the Tyrrhenian Sea, while large sections of the Adriatic and Ionian seas have been poorly explored. Results highlight the role that Marine Biological Stations, notably the Zoological Station “Anton Dohrn” in Naples, have had in promoting the study of soft-bodied taxa in Ital