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Three new species of Polycarpaea from Vietnam, Polycarpaea vanphongensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh are described and illustrated based on evidence of molecular sequence data from two markers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and rps16) and combined morphological characteristics. Polycarpaea vanphongensis is closely related to Polycarpaea gaudichaudi Gagnep., Polycarpaea arenaria (Lour.) Gagnep., Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh but differs by its stem glabrous, leaf ovate to elliptic, glabrous, ovary oblong ovoid, base obtuse, apex attenuate, capsule oblong void, 3.8 mm long. Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh differs from the three species mentioned above by its stem being densely villous, leaf spathulate, ciliate, ovary ovoid, base acute, apex obtuse, capsule ovoid, 1.2 mm long. Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh is most similar to Polycarpaea lignosa Gagnep., but differs in having leaf oblong or linear, sparse ciliate, sepal and petal apex deeply concaved or slightly bifid, ovary ovoid, ovoid, 0.8-1.0 mm long. Furthermore, the achievements of analysis using molecular data on the systematic positions of 7 other species are results that have not been in previous molecular analyses.

The study focuses on identifying and understanding the ecological dynamics of Triatoma breyeri in Bolivia. Morphological identification and molecular analysis using gene fragments (COI, CytB and 16S) confirms T. breyeri's presence and its relation to other species. The species has been consistently found in the Estancia-Mataral-La Palma region since 2010 but has not spread to other regions in Bolivia. The region of occurrence is a small characteristic dry inter-Andean valley. A MaxEnt model suggests part of the Bolivian Montane Dry Forest ecoregion serves as a unique habitat within its range. The infrequent presence in Bolivia and the distance from its main range in Argentina suggest recent accidental introduction, possibly through human transport. Further research is needed to comprehend its persistence in this small area of Bolivia.

We know a great deal about children’s first steps into reading. Here, we explore how they become more sophisticated readers, learning to read complex words. Theoretical accounts predict that one key factor is morphological awareness, or awareness of the minimal units of meaning in language. And yet empirical studies have yet to clarify whether morphological awareness has a stronger relation to the development of reading skill for words with multiple morphemes in particular (i.e., morphological decoding) or to the reading of a whole range of words. We examined this question in this study by contrasting the role of morphological awareness in the development of morphological decoding and of broader word reading skill. Participants were 197 English-speaking children who were followed from Grade 3 to 4. We conducted longitudinal analyses that included stringent autoregressive controls to capture the determinants of gains over time, as well as controls for vocabulary and phonological awareness. Structural equation modeling (SEM) path analysis with this set of controls revealed that morphological awareness predicted significant unique gains in morphological decoding from Grade 3 to 4 with no such unique contributions to broader word reading skill. These findings clarify the role of morphological awareness in supporting children in developing the ability to read morphologically complex words, supporting a more targeted role for morphology in theories of word reading development.

Annelid disparity has resulted in morphological-based classifications that disagree with phylogenies based on Sanger sequencing and phylogenomic analyses. However, the data used for the latter studies came from various sources and technologies, involved poorly occupied matrices and lacked key lineages. Here, we generated a new Illumina-based data set to address annelid relationships from a fresh perspective, independent from previously generated data and with nearly fully occupied matrices. Our sampling reflects the span of annelid diversity, including two symbiotic annelid groups (Myzostomida and Spinther) and five meiofaunal groups once referred to as part of Archiannelida (three from Protodrilida, plus Dinophilus and Polygordius). As well as the placement of these unusual annelids, we sought to address the overall phylogeny of Annelida, and provide a new perspective for naming of major clades. Our results largely corroborate the phylogenomic results of Weigert et al. (2014; Illuminating the base of the annelid tree using transcriptomics. Mol Biol Evol. 31:1391-1401), with “Magelona + Owenia” and Chaetopteridae forming a grade with respect to all other annelids. Echiura and Sipuncula are supported as being annelid groups, with Sipuncula closest to amphinomids as sister group to Sedentaria and Errantia. We recovered the three Protodrilida terminals as sister clade to Phyllodocida and Eunicida (=clade Aciculata). We therefore place Protodrilida as part of Errantia. Polygordius was found to be sister group to the scaleworm terminal and the possibility that it is a simplified scaleworm clade, as has been shown for the former family Pisionidae, is discussed. Our results were equivocal with respect to Dinophilus, Myzostomida, and Spinther possibly owing to confounding long-branch effects.

Potamobates Champion, 1898 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) heretofore included 18 species distributed from southern Mexico to Peru. They display a distinct morphology, especially regarding the projections of abdominal segment VIII. Specific identification and delimitation are difficult, and the genus lacks a thorough revision and evaluation of inter- and intraspecific variation. Here, we revise Potamobates, redescribe and/or illustrate known species, and describe P. molanoi Floriano and Moreira, sp. nov. and Brailovskybates Floriano and Moreira, gen. nov. The new genus is erected for P. thomasi Hungerford, 1937 and is characterized by the following features: (1) abdomen elongated, longer than the mesothorax; (2) abdominal spiracles positioned at the center of the segments; (3) male abdominal segment VIII without projections; (4) male pygophore and proctiger not rotated in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body; (5) female abdominal tergum VIII subequal in length and width; (6) and posterior margin of female abdominal sternum VII not produced medially, with a pair of lateral projections.

In this study, we aimed to clarify the taxonomic status of Belonidae species distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea by conducting detailed genetic and morphological markers. A total of 550 needlefish samples were caught between January 2022 and January 2024. The data set used in the study contains a total of 171 sequences for the COI gene and 120 sequences for the 12s rRNA gene from different Belonidae species, including data from GenBank. Systematic analysis of needlefish species was investigated by using sequencing of mtDNA COI and 12s rRNA gene regions and morphological characters in the Turkish Marine Waters. A separate analysis of the two mitochondrial genes supported by morphological characters revealed that each species is grouped within itself. The genetic and morphological analyses showed that Belone belone acus and Belone belone euxini which are considered as the subspecies of Belone belone are not subspecies of the genus Belone and should be considered at the species level, Belone belone. Belone svetovidovi is also considerably different from Belone belone and should be considered as a different species. T. acus imperialis, which is thought to be distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, is not a subspecies of Tylosorus acus and should be revised as Tylosorus imperialis which genetically differs from Tylosorus acus and also other Tylosorus species at the species level.

Skilled reading comprehension is an important goal of educational instruction and models of reading development. In this study, the authors investigated how core skills surrounding morphemes, that is, the minimal units of meaning in language, support the development of reading comprehension. The authors specifically contrast the roles of morphological awareness and morphological analysis; the first refers to the awareness of and ability to manipulate morphemes in language, and the second refers to the use of morphemes in inferring the meaning of unfamiliar morphologically complex (multimorphemic) words. The authors evaluated these morphological skills in 197 English-speaking students who were followed from grade 3 to grade 4; the analyses used stringent autoregressor controls to home in on predictors of gains over time. In addition to morphological awareness and morphological analysis, the authors assessed students’reading comprehension and controls for word reading, vocabulary, phonological awareness, nonverbal ability, and age. Multivariate autoregressive path analysis revealed that morphological analysis, but not morphological awareness, predicted gains in reading comprehension. Morphological awareness, for its part, predicted gains in morphological analysis. Taken together, the findings allude to a developmental trajectory whereby students’use of morphemes to infer the meanings of unfamiliar complex words supports the development of reading comprehension over time. The development of this skill, in turn, appears to be supported by a more general awareness of morphemes in language. These findings contribute to theory and reading instruction by clarifying the ways in which morphological skills support the development of students’ reading comprehension.

Evolutionary morphologists frequently wish to understand the extent to which organisms are integrated, and whether the strength of morphological integration among subsets of phenotypic variables differ among taxa or other groups. However, comparisons of the strength of integration across datasets are difficult, in part because the summary measures that characterize these patterns (RV coefficient and rPLS) are dependent both on sample size and on the number of variables. As a solution to this issue, we propose a standardized test statistic (a z-score) for measuring the degree of morphological integration between sets of variables. The approach is based on a partial least squares analysis of trait covariation, and its permutation-based sampling distribution. Under the null hypothesis of a random association of variables, the method displays a constant expected value and confidence intervals for datasets of differing sample sizes and variable number, thereby providing a consistent measure of integration suitable for comparisons across datasets. A two-sample test is also proposed to statistically determine whether levels of integration differ between datasets, and an empirical example examining cranial shape integration in Mediterranean wall lizards illustrates its use. Some extensions of the procedure are also discussed.

Recently, organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites being the future in electronic applications. In this paper, we have investigated hybrid nanocomposite zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc)/zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO). ZnPc/ZnO hybrid nanocomposites were prepared with different ratios (wt/wt) (1/0), (0/1), (0.75/0.25), (0.5/0.5), (0.25/0.75), and, deposited on glass substrates by spin coating technique. X-Ray diffraction investigate the structural of ZnPc/ZnO thin films and studied the morphological properties using field emission scan electron microscopy, the surface of ZnPc/ZnO hybrid nanocomposites shows the presence of nanorod-like structures represented the organic material (ZnPc) and spherical nanoparticles for (ZnO), that is depending on the ratio of the blend. In ratio (0.5/0.5) we get the preferred homogeneous surface between like-nanorod and spherical shapes were show various properties from pure compounds which used to prepare the blend. The distribution of ZnO nanoparticles on ZnPc particles nanorods led to the disappearance feature of ZnO morphological characterize and ZnPc decorated was dominated on the hybrid nanocomposite structure.

The genomic knowledge of Euterpe edulis populations with morphological and genetic variations is relevant to species preservation, management, conservation, and improvement. This study aimed to identify genomic differences related to the morphological variants of Euterpe edulis in Espírito Santo (ES). We used 114 Euterpe edulis individuals, which represent different morphotypes, named: Santa Marta, Hybrid_EO (Vargem Alta); Euterpe espiritosantensis (Santa Teresa), Tiller (Guarapari); Possible hybrid (Fundão); characteristic of E. edulis (E. edulis_RN, E. edulis_MI, E. edulis_GUA, and E. edulis_ALE). The study also included 35 individuals from divergent genetic groups in natural populations from the southeast, north, south, and center‐west Brazil (Federal District). After filtering, 5319 SNPs were used in the genetic diversity and structure. Groups of SNPs differentiating morphotypes were identified and subjected to functional annotation analysis using as reference the Elaeis guineensis genome. Orthology and abundance analysis by Gene Ontology were made. Individuals of Hybrid_EO displayed the highest genetic diversity (He = 0.23). The other morphotypes displayed He between 0.107 (E. espiritosantensis) and 0.197 (E. edulis_RN). The inbreeding coefficient (Fis) varied between 0.024 (E. edulis_RN) and 0.255 (Hybrid_EO). Genetic variation was 42.99% between morphotypes and 57.00% within morphotypes. A k = 4 with individuals with slight admixture was identified. The morphotype E. espiritosantensis was more differentiated. The possible hybrid and progenitor morphotype grouped with E. oleraceae and E. precatoria species in the phylogenetic tree. Alignment of the 1627 SNPs in the Elaeis guinensis genome highlighted 767 aligned sequences in genic regions, of which 195 were in coding regions. The annotation of SNPs for the Hybrid_EO and Tiller morphotypes demonstrated different alleles for genes related to response to stress and environmental stimuli. The identification of common GOs indicates a common genetic background, while the presence of SNPs with differentiating genotypes suggests specific adaptations to different environmental conditions. This study investigates genomic differences among distinct morphotypes of Euterpe edulis in Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil, using a dataset of 5319 high‐quality SNPs.