Revisión del género Venustoraphidia Aspöck & Aspöck, 1968 de la Península Ibérica (Insecta, Raphidioptera)

To date, this genus was represented by only two species from Europe: Venustoraphidia nigricollis (Albarda, 1891), known from Central and Eastern Europe, and its vicariant Venustoraphidia renate (Aspöck & Aspöck, 1974), known from the Peloponnese. The genus is new to the Iberian Peninsula fauna, where it is represented by a third and new vicariant species of V. nigricollis on the other side of the Mediterranean: Venustoraphidia conviventibus n. sp. We record all the bibliographical references related to Venustoraphidia genus, and known data on the external morphology, genitalia, biology, juvenile stages, phaenology and distribution of the two previously known species. A key for the identification of the aforementioned species, including the new species present in the Iberian Peninsula is provided. Finally, a brief bio-geographical analysis is performed on the distribution of these three species based on paleo-climatic elements and the presumptive bi-directional isolation to the east/west of central European elements, leaving isolated populations in the Peloponnese Peninsula, on the other side of the Corinthian Isthmus, and in the Iberian Peninsula, beyond the Pyrenees.Se revisa el género Venustoraphidia Aspöck & Aspöck, 1968 de la Península Ibérica. Hasta la fecha, este género sólo estaba representado por dos especies conocidas de Europa: Venustoraphidia nigricollis (Albarda, 1891) de Europa central y oriental, y su vicariante Venustoraphidia renate (Aspöck & Aspöck, 1974) del Peloponeso. El género es nuevo para la Península Ibérica, donde está representado por una tercera y nueva especie, vicariante de V. nigricollis al otro lado del Mediterráneo: Venustoraphidia conviventibus n. sp. Se anotan todas las referencias bibliográficas del género Venustoraphidia, así como los datos conocidos sobre la morfología externa, genital, biología, estadios juveniles, fenología y distribución de las dos especies de este género anteriormente conocidas. Se incluye una clave de identificación de las especies citadas, incluyendo la nueva especie presente en la fauna de la Península Ibérica. Para concluir se realiza un somero análisis biogeográfico sobre la distribución de estas tres especies en base a datos paleo-climáticos y a un presunto aislamiento bidireccional hacia el este/oeste de elementos centroeuropeos, quedando aisladas poblaciones en la Península del Peloponeso, al otro lado del istmo de Corinto, y en la Península Ibérica, al otro lado de los Pirineos

Revisión del género Harraphidia Steinmann, 1963 con la descripción de dos nuevas especies de la península Ibérica y de Marruecos (Insecta, Raphidioptera)

A taxonomical review of the genus Harraphidia Steinmann, 1963 is made. Up to now this genus included two species: its type species Harraphidia harpyia Steinmann, 1963, known from Morocco, and Harraphidia laufferi (Navás, 1915), known from the Iberian Peninsula. For this last species the subgenus Flavoraphidia H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1968 is reconsidered and two new combinations Harraphidia (Flavoraphidia) laufferi n. comb. and Harraphidia (Harraphidia) harpyia Steinmann, 1963 n. comb. are proposed. Two new species: Harraphidia (Harraphidia) subdesertica Monserrat & Papenberg n. sp. and Harraphidia (Harraphidia) divergens Monserrat & Papenberg n. sp. are described from Spain and Morocco. All known bibliographical references to these species are reviewed, and a diagnosis and a subgenera –and species– keys are included and new data on their external morphology, genitalia, biology, phaenology and geographical distribution are given. The generally accepted view that this order of insects requires spending a period at temperature below or close to 0ºC during its preimaginal development is amplified to 8ºC as the minimum annual temperature for the pre-imaginal development in some S./S.E. Iberian species. A brief bio-geographical analysis of the distribution of these species is also undertaken, suggesting a possible bidirectional flow of elements between Europe and Africa during the Eocene and the Miocene.Se realiza una revisión taxonómica del género Harraphidia Steinmann, 1963. Hasta la fecha este género incluía dos especies: su especie tipo Harraphidia harpyia Steinmann, 1963, conocida de Marruecos, y Harraphidia laufferi (Navás, 1915), conocida de la Península Ibérica. Para esta última especie se reconsidera la validez del subgénero Flavoraphidia n. stat. H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1968 como subgénero de Harraphidia y se propone Harraphidia (Flavoraphidia) laufferi n. comb. y Harraphidia (Harraphidia) harpyia Steinmann, 1963 n. comb. como nuevas combinaciones. Harraphidia (Harraphidia) subdesertica Monserrat & Papenberg n. sp. y Harraphidia (Harraphidia) divergens Monserrat & Papenberg n. sp. se describen como nuevas especies de España y de Marruecos. Se anotan todas las referencias bibliográficas existentes sobre cada una de ellas, se incluye una diagnosis y una clave de identificación de estos subgéneros y especies y se describen nuevos datos sobre su morfología externa, genital, biología, fenología y distribución. Se amplia en este orden de insectos la exigencia, comúnmente aceptada, de que requieren temperaturas inferiores o próximas a 0ºC durante su desarrollo pre-imaginal, confirmándose la presencia de especies en el S./S.E. Ibérico que se desarrollan en medios donde la temperatura anual no desciende de 8ºC. Se realiza un somero análisis biogeográfico sobre la distribución de estas especies en base a presunto flujo bi-direccional de elementos entre Europa y África durante el Eoceno y el Mioceno

Revisión del género Phaeostigma Navás, 1909 de la Península Ibérica (Insecta, Raphidioptera)

The genus Phaeostigma Navás, 1909 in the Iberian Peninsula is revised. At present the genus was only represented in the Iberian Peninsula by the species Phaeostigma (Ph.) notata (Fabricius, 1781), and now the species Phaeostigma (Phaeostigma) italogallica (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1976) is recorded for the first time from Spain. All bibliographical references of Phaeostigma s.l., Phaeostigma s. str., Phaeostigma (Ph.) notata and Phaeostigma (Ph.) italogallica are considered, and all known information on their external and genital morphology, biology, phenology, inmature stages and distribution is also noted. An identification key of the two species listed in the Iberian Peninsula is also included, and a brief biogeographical analysis on the distribution of these two species based on an alleged flow of elements from Europe to the Iberian Peninsula through the Pyrenees is suggested.Se revisa el género Phaeostigma Navás, 1909 de la Península Ibérica, lugar donde, hasta la fecha, solo estaba representado por la especie Phaeostigma (Ph.) notata (Fabricius, 1781). Ahora se cita por primera vez la especie Phaeostigma (Phaeostigma) italogallica (H. Aspöck & U. Aspöck, 1976) en España. Se anotan todas las referencias bibliográficas del género Phaeostigma s.l., de Phaeostigma s.str., de Phaeostigma (Ph.) notata y de Phaeostigma (Ph.) italogallica, así como los datos conocidos sobre su morfología externa, genital, biología, estadios juveniles, fenología y distribución. Se incluye una clave de identificación de las dos especies citadas en la Península Ibérica. Para concluir se realiza un somero análisis biogeográfico sobre la distribución de estas dos especies en base a un presunto flujo unidireccional de elementos desde Europa a la Península Ibérica a través de los Pirineos

The experimental-methodical geophysical studies in the RV POSEIDON cruise 405

The main results of experimental and methodological geophysical studies in the 405th cruise of the NIS "Poseidon" from 8 to 22 December 2010 in the northwestern part of the Black Sea are presented. The purpose of the POS-405 cruise is the testing of new geophysical equipment developed within the framework of the SUGAR target project. The new multi-beam sounder SBE 3050 Multibeam company ELAC Nautik was installed on the NIS "Poseidon" during the last stay of the ship in dry dock. The sounder is able to record the water column and display gas bubbles on the display screen using the image viewer (WCI). In comparison with the bathymetric map of the canyon, the Danube test gave a positive result. For the first time, a new deep-seated, towed multichannel streamer was deployed. With the help of a deep-water winch, the first seismic signals were completed and recorded. After replacing the members of the scientific crew, a new electromagnetic system with a controlled source (CSEM) was tested. For the first time a 1000 m long receiver was towed. Due to weather conditions (wind of more than 25 m / s), the Poseidon VAT 3.5 days out of 15 workers was in a storm situation. These limitations prevented intensive tests of towed instruments. By agreement with the Institute of Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, electromagnetic research was conducted for 15 days using an innovative method for analyzing spontaneous electromagnetic radiation (ASEMI)

No association between CTNNBL1 and episodic memory performance

Polymorphisms in the gene encoding catenin-β-like 1 (CTNNBL1) were recently reported to be associated with verbal episodic memory performance—in particular, delayed verbal free recall assessed between 5 and 30 min after encoding—in a genome-wide association study on healthy young adults. To further examine the genetic effects of CTNNBL1, we tested for association between 455 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near CTNNBL1 and 14 measures of episodic memory performance from three different tasks in 1743 individuals. Probands were part of a population-based study of mentally healthy adult men and women, who were between 20 and 70 years old and were recruited as participants for the Berlin Aging Study II. Associations were assessed using linear regression analysis. Despite having sufficient power to detect the previously reported effect sizes, we found no evidence for statistically significant associations between the tested CTNNBL1 SNPs and any of the 14 measures of episodic memory. The previously reported effects of genetic polymorphisms in CTNNBL1 on episodic memory performance do not generalize to the broad range of tasks assessed in our cohort. If not altogether spurious, the effects may be limited to a very narrow phenotypic domain (that is, verbal delayed free recall between 5 and 30 min). More studies are needed to further clarify the role of CTNNBL1 in human memory

The experimental-methodical geophysical studies in the RV POSEIDON cruise 405

Наведено основні результати експериментально-методичних геофізичних досліджень у 405-му рейсі НДС “Посейдон” з 8 по 22 грудня 2010 р. у північно-західній частині Чорного моря. Мета круїзу POS-405 — дослідження нового геофізичного обладнання, розробленного в межах цільового проекту “SUGAR”. Нову систему багатопроменевого ехолоту SBE 3050 Multibeam компанії ELAC Nautik було встановлено на НДС “Посейдон” під час останньої стоянки корабля в сухому доці. Ехолот здатний записувати водну товщу та відображувати газові бульбашки на екрані дисплея за допомогою переглядача зображень (WCI). У ході зіставлення з батиметричною картою каньйону Дунаю тестування дало позитивний результат. Вперше було розгорнуто новий глибинний буксируваний багатоканальний стример. За допомогою глибоководної лебідки були завершені і записані перші сейсмічні сигнали. Після заміни членів наукового екіпажу було випробувано нову електромагнітну систему з контрольованим джерелом (CSEM). Вперше буксировано приймач завдовжки 1000 м. У зв’язку з погодними умовами (вітер силою понад 25 м/с) НДС “Посейдон” 3,5 дні з 15 робочих перебував у штормовому положенні. Ці обмеження не дали змоги провести інтенсивні випробування буксированих приладів. За домовленістю з Інститутом геофізики НАН України протягом 15 днів було проведено електромагнітні дослідження за інноваційним методом аналізу спонтанного електромагнітного випромінювання (АСЕМВ).Представлены основные результаты экспериментально-методических геофизических исследований в 405-м рейсе НИС "Посейдон" с 8 по 22 декабря 2010 г. в северо-западной части Черного моря. Цель круиза POS-405 - испытание новой геофизической аппаратуры, разработанной в рамках целевого проекта "SUGAR". Новая система многолучевого эхолота SBE 3050 Multibeam компании ELAC Nautik была установлена на НИС "Посейдон" во время последней стоянки корабля в сухом доке. Эхолот способен записывать водную толщу и отображать газовые пузырьки на экране дисплея с помощью программы просмотра изображений (WCI). В ходе сопоставления с батиметрической картой каньона Дуная тестирование дало положительный результат. Впервые был развернут новый глубинный буксированный многоканальный стример. С помощью глубоководной лебедки были завершены и записаны первые сейсмические сигналы. После замены членов научного экипажа была испытана новая электромагнитная система с контролируемым источником (CSEM). Впервые буксировался приемник длиной 1000 м. В связи с погодными условиями (ветер силой свыше 25 м/с) НДС "Посейдон" 3,5 дня из 15 рабочих находился в штормовом положении. Эти ограничения не дали возможности провести интенсивные испытания буксированных приборов. По договоренности с Институтом геофизики НАН Украины на протяжении 15 дней проводились электромагнитные исследования с помощью инновационного метода анализа спонтанного электромагнитного излучения (АСЭМИ)

Longitudinal dopamine D2 receptor changes and cerebrovascular health in aging

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectional studies suggest marked dopamine (DA) decline in aging, but longitudinal evidence is lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate within-person decline rates for DA D2-like receptors (DRD2) in aging and examine factors that may contribute to individual differences in DRD2 decline rates. METHODS: We investigated 5-year within-person changes in DRD2 availability in a sample of older adults. At both occasions, PET with 11C-raclopride and MRI were used to measure DRD2 availability in conjunction with structural and vascular brain integrity. RESULTS: Longitudinal analyses of the sample (baseline: n = 181, ages: 64-68 years, 100 men and 81 women; 5-year follow-up: n = 129, 69 men and 60 women) revealed aging-related striatal and extrastriatal DRD2 decline, along with marked individual differences in rates of change. Notably, the magnitude of striatal DRD2 decline was ∼50% of past cross-sectional estimates, suggesting that the DRD2 decline rate has been overestimated in past cross-sectional studies. Significant DRD2 reductions were also observed in select extrastriatal regions, including hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Distinct profiles of correlated DRD2 changes were found across several associative regions (ACC, dorsal striatum, and hippocampus) and in the reward circuit (nucleus accumbens and OFC). DRD2 losses in associative regions were associated with white matter lesion progression, whereas DRD2 losses in limbic regions were related to reduced cortical perfusion. DISCUSSION: These findings provide the first longitudinal evidence for individual and region-specific differences of DRD2 decline in older age and support the hypothesis that cerebrovascular factors are linked to age-related dopaminergic decline

Lifetime determination of excited states in Cd-106

Two separate experiments using the Differential Decay Curve Method have been performed to extract mean lifetimes of excited states in 106 Cd. The inedium-spin states of interest were populated by the Mo-98(C-12, 4n) Cd-106 reaction performed at the Wright Nuclear Structure Lab., Yale University. From this experiment, two isomeric state mean lifetimes have been deduced. The low-lying states were populated by the Mo-96(C-13, 3n)Cd-106 reaction performed at the Institut fur Kernphysik, Universitat zu Koln. The mean lifetime of the I-pi = 2(1)(+) state was deduced, tentatively, as 16.4(9) ps. This value differs from the previously accepted literature value from Coulomb excitation of 10.43(9) ps

MicroRNA-138 is a potential regulator of memory performance in humans

Genetic factors underlie a substantial proportion of individual differences in cognitive functions in humans, including processes related to episodic and working memory. While genetic association studies have proposed several candidate "memory genes," these currently explain only a minor fraction of the phenotypic variance. Here, we performed genome-wide screening on 13 episodic and working memory phenotypes in 1318 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II aged 60 years or older. The analyses highlight a number of novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with memory performance, including one located in a putative regulatory region of microRNA (miRNA) hsa-mir-138-5p (rs9882688, P-value = 7.8 x 10(-9)). Expression quantitative trait locus analyses on next-generation RNA-sequencing data revealed that rs9882688 genotypes show a significant correlation with the expression levels of this miRNA in 309 human lymphoblastoid cell lines (P-value = 5 x 10(-4)). In silico modeling of other top-ranking GWAS signals identified an additional memory-associated SNP in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of DCP1B, a gene encoding a core component of the mRNA decapping complex in humans, predicted to interfere with hsa-mir-138-5p binding. This prediction was confirmed in vitro by luciferase assays showing differential binding of hsa-mir-138-5p to 3' UTR reporter constructs in two human cell lines (HEK293: P-value = 0.0470; SH-SY5Y: P-value = 0.0866). Finally, expression profiling of hsa-mir-138-5p and DCP1B mRNA in human post-mortem brain tissue revealed that both molecules are expressed simultaneously in frontal cortex and hippocampus, suggesting that the proposed interaction between hsa-mir-138-5p and DCP1B may also take place in vivo. In summary, by combining unbiased genome-wide screening with extensive in silico modeling, in vitro functional assays, and gene expression profiling, our study identified miRNA-138 as a potential molecular regulator of human memory function