Systematics of African Amphicyonidae, with descriptions of new material from Napak (Uganda) and Grillental (Namibia)

[EN] The Early Miocene Napak XV locality (ca 20.5 Ma), Uganda, has yielded an interesting assemblage of fossils, including the very well represented amphicyonid Hecubides euryodon. The remarkable find of a nearly complete mandible, unfortunately with poorly preserved dentition, together with new dental remains allow us to obtain a better idea about the morphology and variability of this species. Additionally, we describe a newly discovered mandible of Hecubides euryodon from the Grillental-VI locality (Sperrgebiet, Namibia), which is the most complete and diagnostic Amphicyonidae material found in this area. Comparisons with Cynelos lemanensis from Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (France), the type locality, and with an updated sample of the species of amphicyonids described in Africa leads us to validate the genus Hecubides. Hecubides would be phylogenetically related to the medium and large size species of Amphicyonidae from Africa, most of them now grouped into the genera Afrocyon and Myacyon, both endemic to this continent.[ES] La localidad del Mioceno inferior de Napak XV (ca 20,5 Ma) ha suministrado un interesante conjunto de fósiles, entre los que el anficiónido Hecubides euryodon está bien representado. Es importante el hallazgo de una mandíbula bastante completa, aunque con dentición bastante deteriorada y nuevos materiales dentarios que nos permiten un mejor conocimiento de la morfología y variabilidad de esta especie. Adicionalmente, se describe una nueva mandíbula, también de Hecubides euryodon, procedente del yacimiento de Grillental-VI (Sperrgebiet, Namibia), que viene a ser el material más completo y diagnóstico de esta especie en este área. Comparaciones con Cynelos lemanensis de Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (Francia), localidad tipo de esta especie, y con los amphicyonidos descritos hasta el presente en Africa, nos conducen a validar el género Hecubides. Este género estaría relacionado filogenéticamente con las especies de talla media y grande de Amphicyonidae de África, la mayoría de ellas ahora agrupadas en los géneros Afrocyon y Myacyon, ambos endémicos de este continente.Project CGL2015-68333, MINECO (Spanish Government) and The Research Group BSCH-UCM 910607. A.V. is Research student in the CSIC program JAE-PRE_CP2011 (CSIC program “Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios”), cofunded by the European Social FundPeer reviewe

Taxonomic and palaeobiological implications of a large, pathological sabretooth (Carnivora, Felidae, Machairodontinae) from the Lower Pliocene of South Africa

Abstract:We describe the most complete postcranialremains of a pathological, large-bodied sabretooth from theLower Pliocene site of Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry (SouthAfrica). The skeleton consists of hind limb and vertebral ele-ments that exhibit distinctive exostoses, osteophytes andeburnation. We performed a quantitative morphologicalcomparison of the new postcranial remains found in Lange-baanweg, with other Neogene and Quaternary sabretoothand non-sabretooth felids, consisting of the generaAmphi-machairodus,Machairodus,Lokotunjailurus,Dinofelis,Pan-thera,HomotheriumandSmilodonfrom several sites inAfrica, Europe and North America, using principal compo-nent analysis and Mosimann transformations. Although thepathological deformation of the remains distorted some ofthe linear measurements, most of the analysed variables donot contain pathological features, and strongly indicate thatthe Langebaanweg sabretooth is morphologically closer toMachairodus aphanistusandLokotunjailurus emageritusthanit is toAmphimachairodus giganteus. This indicates that theremains could belong to an undetermined sabretooth speciesfrom the Langebaanweg locality. The observed pathologies inthe foot and lumbar spine are consistent with diagnostic cri-teria for severe osteoarthritis (due to maturity), which wouldhave limited limb mobility with severe consequences forhunting success

Taxonomy, Systematic and Paleobiology of the giant mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Neogene of Eurasia, North America and Africa

Tesis presentada en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, 30 de junio de 2017En esta Tesis Doctoral se realiza un estudio taxonómico, sistemático y paleobiológico de los mustélidos gigantes del Neógeno de Europa, Asia, Norte América y África. El objetivo general consiste en caracterizar su diversidad morfológica y taxonómica, mediante descripciones anatómicas, caracterizaciones biométricas, y estudios taxonómicos y sistemáticos de nuevo material fósil. Para ello se ha realizado descripciones y comparaciones completas, escaneos superficiales en tres dimensiones, estudios cladísticos, y análisis estadísticos—análisis jerárquicos de agrupación, análisis discriminantes y regresiones lineares. Se describe material nuevo de Megalictis ferox, y se revisa el material publicado de los géneros Megalictis, Aelurocyon y Paroligobunis del Mioceno inferior de América del Norte (Arikareense Ar3-4). Se sinonimiza Aelurocyon y Paroligobunis con Megalictis, argumentando la existencia de cuatro especies de Megalictis: M. frazieri, M. simplicidens, M. ferox y “M”. petersoni. Además se propone que los Oligobuninos son unos mustélidos troncales, que están más emparentados con los representantes actuales que con los otros musteloideos analizados. Así como una nueva interpretación paleobiológica para M. ferox, representando un ecomorfotipo análogo a las hienas actuales, en contraposición al tipo félido tradicionalmente relacionado con esta especie. Se reconoce el primer registro en la Península Ibérica de Iberictis buloti en el Mioceno inferior (MN4) de els Casots (Cuenca del Vallès-Penedès). Iberictis emerge como el representante más antiguo de los Gulonini —Iberictis, Plesiogulo y Gulo— cuyo origen ahora se sitúa en el Mioceno inferior. Nuestros resultados indican que Iberictis es el género hermano de Plesiogulo (forma gigante del Mioceno superior). Se determina la presencia de Eomellivora piveteaui en Cerro de los Batallones (Torrejón de Velasco, Madrid, España, Mioceno superior, MN10), precisando su diagnosis y ampliando su rango estratigráfico a la zona MN10. Se revisa el material de Eomellivora publicado hasta la fecha y se aceptan como especies válidas a E. piveteaui, E. wimani, E. ursogulo y E. hungarica. Se confirma, mediante un análisis cladístico, que Eomellivora es el taxón hermano del actual ratel, clasificándolo como Mellivorinae. Nuestros resultados prueban que E. piveteaui tuvo un antepasado común con el clado Turoliense-Ventiense E. wimani-E. ursogulo. La re-examinación de los fósiles de Hadrictis fricki del Vallesiense inferior (MN9) de Austria, conlleva a la sinonimia del género Hadrictis con Eomellivora. Eomellivora fricki sería la especie de Eomellivora más grande conocida, así como una de las más primitivas. Se determina como Mellivorinae al mustélido gigante africano Ekorus, siendo grupo hermano de Eomellivora. El gigantismo en musteloideos aparece muy pronto en la historia evolutiva del grupo, desarrollándose en distintas radiaciones independientes del Neógeno y Cuaternario. Después del estudio realizado en esta Tesis Doctoral, se propone dos definiciones para musteloideo gigante: (1)para formas extintas con representantes actuales que se puedan incluir en alguna subfamilia de Mustelidae, Ailuridae o Procionidae: taxones con una masa corporal estimada igual o mayor del doble de la masa de las formas vivas más grandes de su propia subfamilia; (2) para formas basales o con relaciones inciertas: taxones con una masa corporal estimada igual o mayor del doble de la masa del mustélido vivo terrestre más grande (Gulo 18 kg).In this PhD thesis we present a taxonomic, systematic and paleobiological study of giant mustelids from the Neogene of Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. The main objective is to characterize its morphological and taxonomic diversity through anatomical descriptions, biometric characterizations, and taxonomic and systematic studies of new fossils. For this purpose, complete descriptions and comparisons have been made with other taxa, such as threedimensional surface scans, cladistic studies, and statistical analysis —hierarchical clustering analysis, discriminant analysis and linear regression. New material of Megalictis ferox is described. We review the published material of Megalictis, Aelurocyon and Paroligobunis from the early Miocene of North America (Arikareean Ar3-4). Aelurocyon and Paroligobunis are synonymized with Megalictis. It is argued the existence of four species within Megalictis: M. frazieri, M. simplicidens, M. ferox and “M”. petersoni. Also we propose that the Oligobunines are stem mustelids, which are more related to the living representatives than to the other musteloids analyzed. A new paleobiological interpretation of M. ferox is proposed, which represents an ecomorfootype analogous to the extant hyenas, as opposed to the felid-type traditionally related to this species. We recognize the first record of Iberictis buloti in the Iberian Peninsula from the early Miocene (MN4) of els Casots (Vallès-Penedès Basin). Iberictis emerges as the oldest representative of the Gulonini —Iberictis, Plesiogulo and Gulo— whose origin is now situated in the early Miocene. Our results show Iberictis represents the sister genus of Plesiogulo (giant form of the late Miocene). We detect the presence of Eomellivora piveteaui in Cerro de los Batallones (Torrejón de Velasco, Madrid, Spain, Upper Miocene, MN10), improving its diagnosis and expanding its stratigraphic range to the MN10 zone. We review all fossils of Eomellivora published to date and accept as valid species to E. piveteaui, E. wimani, E. ursogulo and E. hungarica. We confirm by a cladistic analysis that Eomellivora represents the sister taxon of the living honey badger, classifying it as Mellivorinae. Our results prove that E. piveteaui had a common ancestor with the Turolian-Ventian E. wimani-E. ursogulo. The re-examination of the fossils of Hadrictis fricki from the early Vallesian (MN9) of Austria, leads us to the synonymy of the genus Hadrictis with Eomellivora. Eomellivora fricki represents the largest known species of Eomellivora, such as one of the most primitive one. We determine that the African giant mustelid Ekorus is also a mellivorine, and the sister group of Eomellivora. Gigantism in musteloids appears very early in the evolutionary history of the group and has occurred in several independent radiations from Neogene and Quaternary. We propose two definitions for giant musteloid: (1)for taxa with living representatives that can be included inside of some subfamily of Mustelidae, Ailuridae or Procionidae: musteloids with an estimated body mass equal to or greater than twice the mass of the largest living forms of their own subfamily; (2)For basal forms or with uncertain relationships: taxa with an estimated body mass equal to or greater than twice the mass of the largest terrestrial living mustelid (Gulo 18 kg).Fac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEunpu

Desarrollo de un prototipo de una unidad de control de fluído hídrico para un proceso de mezclado en una empresa embutidora

Proyecto de Graduación (Licenciatura en Ingeniería en Electrónica) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Escuela de Ingeniería Electrónica, 2019.The project will be published in the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, at the headquarters of San Carlos, in the first semester of 2019. In a combination with the company Cinta Azul Ltd., in San Antonio del Tejar located in Alajuela and which one was acquired by the multinational Cargill in 1999 where currently a large percentage of the sausages consumed in the country are produced. To produce sausages, the plant needs water as raw material, which must be transferred to a machine that is responsible for mixing it with other products to make a paste. In this process the water is carrying by a kind of "container" (see figure 1.1), which is filled manually and must be lifted until it gets empty. The current way of transporting the water generates inconveniences, mainly because it does not control in an efficient way the weight of the "container" filled with water and this generates waste of time, hydric resources and money. Affecting straight the operations of Cinta Azul plant. The project is focused on control the amount of hydric resource used to produce the paste necessary in the production of sausages by an electronic method which controls and manages the amount of water used. Also, this project allows the standardization of the dispensing water process to make the whole process more effectively than the techniques already used in the company. In addition, we seek to create a record of the weights into a database. This report shows the design process of the dosage control system and the registration of the amount of water applied in the process area through the electronic control system. The execution and the verification of its performance by simulations and tests in the cell FESTO present in the SIMTEC Laboratory at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, at the headquarters of San Carlos

Revelaciones. Dos ensayos sobre fotografía

Ficha técnica: Joan Fontcuberta y Xavier Antich Editorial Gustavo Gili Barcelona, 2020 144 pp. ISBN: 978-84-25232-96-

Langebaanweg's sabertooth guild reveals an African Pliocene evolutionary hotspot for sabertooths (Carnivora; Felidae)

Here, we describe and revise craniodental material from Langebaanweg 'E' Quarry (South Africa, early Pliocene, ∼5.2 Ma), which represents one of the largest and best-preserved collections of sabertooth felids from Mio-Pliocene deposits of Africa. Four taxa, including two new species, are recognized: Lokotunjailurus chinsamyae sp. nov., Adeilosmilus aff. kabir, Yoshi obscura, and Dinofelis werdelini sp. nov. The felid guild composition analyzed herein suggests the presence of a mosaic environment with open components in the region, and shows a potential relationship with that of Yuanmou, suggesting a similar environment and/or dispersal route/event. The reassessment of the rich early Pliocene felids from Langebaanweg is a step toward understanding the transition and evolution of the felids in the southern hemisphere during the late Miocene to early Pliocene

Schwannoma of the Colon

Schwannomas are neoplasms originating from Schwann cells, which are the cells forming nerve sheaths. These neoplasms generally involve peripheral nerves. They rarely affect the gastrointestinal tract and primary colon involvement is extremely rare. The objective of the present paper was to present a case of primary schwannoma of the sigmoid colon, unassociated with von Recklinghausen disease, that was histopathologically confirmed by means of an immunohistochemical panel. The patient was a 71-year-old woman who had had rectal bleeding when evacuating, with pain and tenesmus, for 4 months. She underwent colonoscopy, which identified a raised submucous lesion of 2.8 cm in diameter, located in the sigmoid colon, 30 cm from the anal margin. During examination, loop polypectomy with lesion excision was performed. Histopathological evaluation showed that this was a tumor of stromal origin. Its resection margins were compromised by neoplasia, and colon resection by means of videolaparoscopy was indicated. Conventional histopathological examination using the hematoxylin-eosin technique suggested that the neoplasm was of mesenchymal origin. An immunohistochemical panel was run for etiological confirmation, using anti-CD34 antibodies, desmin, cytokeratins (AE1/AE3), cKit, chromogranin and S-100 protein. The panel showed intense immunoexpression of S-100 protein. Investigation of the proliferative activity rate using Ki-67 antibodies showed that there was a low rate of mitotic activity, thus confirming the diagnosis of primary benign schwannoma of the colon. The patient's postoperative evolution was uneventful and she remains in good health, without signs of tumor recurrence, 15 months after surgical excision

A New Thaumastocyoninae (Amphicyonidae, Carnivora) from the Early Miocene of Tuchořice, the Czech Republic

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaNew Amphicyonidae fossil remains from the early Miocene site of Tuchořice (the Czech Republic) confirm the presence of a new Thaumastocyoninae taxon: Peignecyon felinoides n. gen. et n. sp. It is characterized by a peculiar combination of plesiomorphic and derived morphological traits. The new genus can be defined by a long and sharp mandible diastema, loss of mesial premolars (p2-p3), p4 with an inclined distally high main cuspid, moderate sectorial carnassial teeth, m1 with relict metaconid, and talonid and trigonid of similar width, and reduced M2 and m2. In the phylogenetic analysis the Thaumastocyoninae form a monophyletic group characterized by the start of the m2/M2 reduction, still moderate in Crassidia intermedia (von Meyer, 1849), but remarkable in the other species of the clade. Peignecyon felinoides already shows the advanced features defining the Thaumastocyoninae, and constitutes the sister group of the most specialized genera Tomocyon Viret, 1929b and Thaumastocyon Sthelin et Helbing, 1925. Consequently, it can be considered an excellent link between this group and the more primitive members of the tribe Ysengrini (Ysengrinia Ginsburg, 1966 and Crassidia Heizmannn et Kordikova, 2000). Peignecyon felinoides shows that the trend towards hypercarnivory had already emerged in the European early Miocene fauna, thus helping to understand the complex evolution of the Amphicyonidae during the Miocene

Professional Perspectives on the Influence of Instagram on Fashion Photography

[Resumen] Fenómenos como la aparición de Instagram y el avance de la tecnología han favorecido una democratización de la fotografía, en un mundo cada vez más visual. En este entorno, el papel de los fotógrafos profesionales requiere constante actualización, pues se impregna de tendencias que se exploran en las redes sociales hasta ser mayoritariamente aceptadas y demandadas por los usuarios. Instagram es, además, un foro en el que la industria de la moda, por su naturaleza visual, tiene un peso muy relevante. En este trabajo se indaga sobre las percepciones de los profesionales de la fotografía de moda acerca de la influencia de Instagram en su trabajo. Para ello, se recurre a una metodología cualitativa, la entrevista semiestructurada, a diez expertos con trayectoria contrastada en la profesión. Los resultados apuntan hacia algunos estilos muy marcados, como el predominio de los colores cálidos y la escenografía exterior, además de la hegemonía del formato vertical. Sin embargo, en líneas generales, los profesionales conservan sus propios cánones y estilo, sacando partido a la red, principalmente, para difundir su trabajo.[Abstract] The emergence of Instagram and advances in technology have democratised photography in what is an increasingly visual world. In this new environment, the role of professional photographers is constantly changing and evolving in response to trends on social media that have become accepted and expected by most users. Owing to its visual nature, the fashion industry has a very large presence on Instagram. This article explores the perceptions of professional fashion photographers regarding the influence of Instagram on their work. The study uses a qualitative methodology involving semi-structured interviews with ten experts with a proved track record in the sector. The results reveal a number of marked styles, such as the predominance of warm colours, external locations and vertical formats. In general terms, however, the professionals surveyed follow their own styles and canons, and use Instagram mainly to disseminate their work