Molecular phylogeny of deep-sea blind lobsters of the family Polychelidae (Decapoda: Polychelida), with implications for the origin and evolution of these "living fossils".

A comprehensive molecular analysis of the deep-sea blind lobsters of the family Polychelidae, often referred to as "living fossils", is conducted based on all six modern genera and 27 of the 38 extant species. Using six genetic markers from both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, the molecular phylogenetic results differ considerably from previous morphological analyses and reveal the genera Polycheles and Pentacheles to be para- or polyphyletic. As the splitting of Polycheles has strong support from both molecular and morphological data, two new genera, Dianecheles and Neopolycheles, are erected for those species excluded from the clade containing the type species of Polycheles. The pattern of polyphyly of Pentacheles, however, is not robustly resolved, so it is retained as a single genus. Fossil evidence suggests that fossil polychelids inhabited deep-sea environments as early as the Early to Middle Jurassic, demonstrating the enduring adaptation of extant polychelid species to the deep-sea. Time-calibrated phylogeny suggested that modern polychelids probably had an Atlantic origin during the Jurassic period. Since their emergence, this ancient lobster group has continued to diversify, particularly in the West Pacific, and has colonized the abyssal zone, with the deepest genus, Willemoesia, representing the more 'derived' members among extant polychelids. Differences in eye reduction among extant polychelid genera highlight the necessity for ongoing investigations to ascertain the relative degree of functionality of their eyes, if they indeed retain any function.

A new species of the deep-sea shrimp genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Decapoda: Caridea: Glyphocrangonidae) from the South China Sea off Pratas Island.

A new species of the deep-sea caridean genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, G. obtusis n.sp., is described and illustrated on the basis of the material collected in the South China Sea off the Pratas Island. It appears close to G. hakuhoae Takeda Hanamura, 1994 and G. robusta Komai, 2004 among the 93 described species in Glyphocrangon. From G. hakuhoae, the new species is distinguished by the rostrum with less developed convexity on the dorsolateral margin and lacking transverse septa, and the less elevated median carinae on the pleomeres 15. From G. robusta, the new species differs in lacking transverse septa at the rostrum, the fourth carina on the carapace with the two anterior parts unaligned and the posterior part divided into four lobes. Molecular genetic analysis using the barcoding segment of the mitochondrial COI gene supports the establishment of the new species.

Deep-sea clawed lobster Nephropsis stewarti Wood-Mason, 1872 species complex in the Indo-West Pacific (Crustacea, Decapoda, Nephropidae), with description of a new species.

Nephropsis stewarti Wood-Mason, 1872 is the most common species of the deep-sea clawed lobster genus Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872 in the Indo-West Pacific. Morphological comparisons and genetic analyses of extensive material referred to this lobster revealed the presence of three species. The three species differ mainly in body size, development of the intermediate carina on the carapace, position of the lateral pair of rostral teeth, whether the pleonal tergum is granulate, and the spination on the large chelipeds. Nephropsis stewarti is restricted to the western central Indian Ocean, and a neotype is selected to fix its identity. The name Nephropsis grandis Zarenkov, 2006 is revived with neotype selection for the large form found in the West Pacific and northwestern Australia. The smaller form from southern Taiwan and the Philippines is described as Nephropsis pygmaea sp. nov.

On the "Plesionika martia" (A. Milne-Edwards, 1883) species group in Indian waters.

Material of the "Plesionika martia" (A. Milne-Edwards, 1883) species group from India had been reported as either P. martia or P. semilaevis Bate, 1888. Recent collection, however, revealed that both P .martia and P. semilaevis occur in Indian waters. COI barcoding gene sequence comparisons of the Indian and topotypic material of the four known species of the "P. martia" group showed that the Andaman Sea specimen is most similar to the topotypic specimens of P. martia even though there is high genetic divergence between them. For P. semilaevis, large sequence divergence is found in the topotypic material from the Philippines while the Indian specimens are genetically similar to one of the topotypic specimens. The characteristics of the Indian material of both species are described and illustrated.

On the clawed lobsters of the genus Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872 recently collected from deep-sea cruises off Taiwan and the South China Sea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Nephropidae).

Recent deep-sea cruises using Taiwanese research vessels off Taiwan and in the South China Sea yielded seven species of the clawed lobster genus Nephropsis Wood-Mason, 1872. Four species are new records for Taiwan (Nephropsisacanthura Macpherson, 1990, N.holthuisi Macpherson, 1993, N.serrata Macpherson, 1993, and N.suhmi Bate, 1888) and three species are new records of Dongsha (under the jurisdiction of Taiwan) in the South China Sea (N.ensirostris Alcock, 1901, N.stewarti Wood-Mason, 1872, and N.suhmi). Altogether, five and four species of this genus are now known from Taiwan and Dongsha, respectively. The diagnostic characters and coloration are illustrated for most, if not all, of these species.

Obesity disproportionately impacts lung volumes, airflow and exhaled nitric oxide in children.

BACKGROUND: The current literature focusing on the effect of obesity and overweight on lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in children, particularly among healthy children of non-European descent, remains controversial. Furthermore, whether the relationship of obesity and overweight with lung function and FeNO in children is modified by atopy is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of excess weight on lung function parameters and FeNO among Asian children, with a particular focus on exploring the potential effect modification by atopy. METHODS: We investigated the effect of excess weight on lung function and FeNO in a population sample of 1,717 children aged 5 to 18 years and explored the potential modifying effect of atopy. RESULTS: There were positive associations of body mass index (BMI) z-score with forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% (FEF25-75) (all P<0.001), after controlling for confounders. The beta coefficient for FEV1 (0.084) was smaller than that for FVC (0.111). In contrast, a negative association was found between BMI z-score and FEV1/FVC ratio (P<0.001) and FeNO (P = 0.03). A consistent pattern of association for lung function variables was observed when stratifying by atopy. There was a negative association of BMI z-score with FeNO in atopic subjects (P = 0.006), but not in non-atopic subjects (P = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Excess weight disproportionately impacts lung volumes and airflow in children from the general population, independent of atopic status. Excess weight inversely affects FeNO in atopic but not in non-atopic children.

First record of the Nephropid genus Acanthacaris Bate, 1888 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Nephropidae) from Taiwan.

The giant deep-sea lobster genus Acanthacaris Bate, 1888 is reported for the first time from Taiwan. The single specimen with a total length of 36 cm was collected near a cold seep off southwestern Taiwan at about 1300 m deep and identified as A. tenuimana Bate, 1888.