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We describeBulungu palaragen. et sp. nov., a new fossil peramelemorphian (bandicoot), based on a single well-preserved skull and additional dental specimens from Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene (Faunal Zones A–C) limestone deposits at the Riversleigh World Heritage Property, Queensland, and two dental specimens from the Early–Middle Miocene Kutjamarpu Local Fauna, South Australia. This is the first fossil peramelemorphian species to be reported from more than a single fossil fauna, with its inferred distribution extending from north-western Queensland (modern latitude ∼19°S) to north-eastern South Australia (modern latitude ∼28°S). The presence ofBulungu palarain Riversleigh Faunal Zones A, B and C and in the Kutjamarpu Local Fauna supports the current interpretation that these faunas span similar ages, namely Late Oligocene–Middle Miocene. Phylogenetic analyses of an expanded 74 morphological character dataset using maximum parsimony and Bayesian approaches, both with and without a molecular scaffold, consistently placeBulunguand the Oligo-Miocene formsGaladiandYaralaoutside crown-group Peramelemorphia. These analyses also fail to support a close relationship between the PlioceneIschnodon australis(previously considered the oldest known representative of the extant peramelemorphian family Thylacomyidae) and the modern thylacomyid genusMacrotis. With an estimated body mass of ∼130 g,Bulungu palarais smaller than any known Recent bandicoot from Australia, although some modern New Guinean species are similar in size. The small size and craniodental morphology ofB. palarasuggest that it was predominantly or exclusively insectivorous, perhaps ecologically similar to small New Guinean dasyurids such asMurexechinus melanurus.Together with the small-bodied (< 100 g), insectivorousYarala burchfieldiand large-bodied (∼900 g), faunivorousGaladi speciosus,Bulungu palarademonstrates that Oligo-Miocene Australian peramelemorphians filled ecological niches that today are mostly occupied by dasyurids, and that a major faunal turnover event occurred at some point after the Middle Miocene. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:18955DCC-DB8C-4216-AF38-921E1E5C1F79 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) nanocomposite films were produced using the solvent casting method, and morphological, thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. Biocompatibility was evaluated by using human bone cells, performing adhesion and proliferation studies. The role of single-walled nanotube incorporation and functionalization on PLLA bio-polymers was investigated. Pristine (SWNTs) and carboxylated (SWNTs-COOH) carbon nanotubes were considered in order to control the interaction between PLLA and nanotubes. SWNTs and SWNTs-COOH showed a good dispersion in the polymer matrix and improved the PLLA crystallinity. Thermal, morphological and dynamic-mechanical analyses revealed that carboxylic groups on the tube sidewalls increased compatibility between PLLA and nanostructures. Mechanical properties demonstrated an enhancement related to introduction and functionalization of carbon nanotubes. Biological investigations showed osteoblasts cultured on PLLA/SWNTs-COOH nanocomposites has higher cell adhesion and proliferation than osteoblasts cultured on PLLA and PLLA/SWNTs nanocomposites. These studies suggest that combination of biodegradable polymers and SWNTs opens a new perspective in the self-assembly of nanomaterials and nanodevices for biomedical applications with tunable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 by 22 prototypical inducers was evaluated in the Fa2N-4 immortalized human hepatic cell line. To facilitate this a duplex one-step quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay for CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 and a substrate cassette allowing simultaneous monitoring of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 activity were developed. CYP1A2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and activity were induced by the prototypical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand β-naphthoflavone (Emax = 217- and 11-fold, respectively, and EC50 = 8 µM). CYP3A4 mRNA and activity were induced by the prototypical pregnane X receptor (PXR) ligands, rifampicin (Emax = 36- and 6-fold, respectively, and EC50 = 4 µM) and phenobarbital (Emax = 12- and 4-fold, respectively, and EC50 = 205 µM). No induction of CYP2B6 was detected with several prototypical constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) ligands. A large mRNA-activity Emax ratio was observed for some time-dependent inhibitors of CYP3A4, whereas EC50 determinations appeared to be independent of the endpoint. In conclusion, Fa2N-4 cells are a good surrogate for primary human hepatocytes for assessing AhR and PXR-mediated CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 induction, respectively, but not for CAR-mediated CYP2B6 induction. The sensitive and selective methodologies presented in this paper afford maximal data generation and enhanced throughput capability and are readily transferable to primary human hepatocytes or alternate cellular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical damage, which reduces seed quality characteristics, refers to the physical injuries caused on seed during handling, harvesting, and conditioning. In maize (Zea mays L.) susceptibility to mechanical damage depends on genetic and environmental factors. The development of inbred lines with high seed quality and broad adaptability is essential in a breeding program. The objective of this study is to quantify the genotypic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment (GE) interaction effects on the mechanically damaged seed quality of experimental maize inbred lines. Nine lines were tested in six environments defined by the location-seed-shape combinations. Each sample was artificially injured (damage treatment). Seed quality was measured by both the saturated cold test and fast green test. Statistical analyses were performed using AMMI model and results were displayed in GE biplots. Variability due to GE interaction was smaller than or equal to the variability among genotypes. The variation between environments was not always the most important, explaining between 19% and 58% of the total variation. The biplot analysis of susceptibility to mechanical damage evaluated by the fast green test gave evidence that particular patterns can be mainly associated with seed shape, and the biplot of vigor evaluated by the saturated cold test had a tendency to group the environments with the localities. These types of associations suggest some predictability of genotype-by-environment interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical damage, which reduces seed quality characteristics, refers to the physical injuries caused on seed during handling, harvesting, and conditioning. In maize (Zea mays L.) susceptibility to mechanical damage depends on genetic and environmental factors. The development of inbred lines with high seed quality and broad adaptability is essential in a breeding program. The objective of this study is to quantify the genotypic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment (GE) interaction effects on the mechanically damaged seed quality of experimental maize inbred lines. Nine lines were tested in six environments defined by the location-seed-shape combinations. Each sample was artificially injured (damage treatment). Seed quality was measured by both the saturated cold test and fast green test. Statistical analyses were performed using AMMI model and results were displayed in GE biplots. Variability due to GE interaction was smaller than or equal to the variability among genotypes. The variation between environments was not always the most important, explaining between 19% and 58% of the total variation. The biplot analysis of susceptibility to mechanical damage evaluated by the fast green test gave evidence that particular patterns can be mainly associated with seed shape, and the biplot of vigor evaluated by the saturated cold test had a tendency to group the environments with the localities. These types of associations suggest some predictability of genotype-by-environment interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical models exist to describe the pharmacokinetic changes caused by time-dependent inhibition (TDI) and these have been reported to predict accurately for several marketed drugs. However, their robustness using in-depth, carefully controlled pre-clinical studies has yet to be established. In the current study, the isolated perfused rat liver was employed to investigate the effects of TDI under carefully controlled conditions. A five-compartmental model was used to describe the observed data and bring context to in vitro TDI data ( k inact and K I ). Co-administration of midazolam with troleandomycin, mifepristone, erythromycin and the discovery compound, AZ-X, increased midazolam area under the curve (AUC) 3.2-, 2.5-, 1.6- and 1.0-fold, respectively, compared with AUC increases of 1.8-, 1.4-, 1.2- and 1.1-fold predicted by the model. These experimental findings, whilst modest in overall effect, support the use of this model in the rat and it is proposed that projections can be made for the likely clinical impact of novel time-dependent inhibitors in man based on predicted human pharmacokinetics and TDI potency determined in vitro . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the potential of the use of natural fibers as reinforcements in polymers. Assessment of the processing behavior and final properties of natural fibers with polymeric matrices; Evaluation of the benefits of using physical and chemical treatments for the improvement of fiber-matrix interaction and composite mechanical properties; Use of the natural fibers for automotive applications.

The Pliocene fossil record of Australia has revealed the oldest known occurrences of modern peramelemorphian (bandicoot and bilbies) genera such asPerameles, cf.Peroryctes, andChaeropus. Recent phylogenetic analyses based on morphology have questioned the previously accepted understanding about generic relationships of some of these Pliocene taxa. These doubts limit our ability to develop independent divergence models based on molecular data because they depend on fossil records in order to calibrate minimum rates of change. Hence, there is a need to critically review the Pliocene fossil record. To this end, we have examined Pliocene specimens of peramelemorphians in museum collections across Australia and performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis based on dental and cranial morphology to review and accordingly revise subfamilial taxonomy. As part of this revision, we describe here two new species, one from the Chinchilla Local Fauna (LF) in Queensland (Perameles wilkinsonorum, sp. nov.) and one from both the Big Sink LF in the Wellington Caves area and the Bow LF in New South Wales (Silvicultor karae, gen. et sp. nov.). We reassign the two ‘Peroryctes’ species from Hamilton LF, Victoria, to a new genus (Silvicultor). We summarize the distribution of peramelemorphians during the Pliocene and show how climate change appears to have shaped their subsequent Quaternary distribution. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free atwww.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Travouillon, K. J., J. Louys, G. J. Price, M. Archer, S. J. Hand, and J. Muirhead. 2017. A review of the Pliocene bandicoots of Australia, and descriptions of new genus and species. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1360894. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of Oligo-Miocene kangaroo (Macropodiformes), Cookeroo, and two new species, Cookeroo bulwidarri and C. hortusensis, are described from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northern Australia. Species of Cookeroo are distinguished from other basal macropodids by possessing a unique combination of characters including an expanded masseteric canal confluent with the mandibular canal that extends to below m1, a sinuous i1 with enamel on the buccal surface only and with dorsal and ventral flanges present, a dentary with a marked inflection of the ventral border below m3, bilophodont molars, and an elongate third premolar. We assess the phylogenetic relationships of the genus using a combination of two previously published morphological matrices. Our analysis recovers Cookeroo species as early-branching members of a clade that also contains macropodines, sthenurines, and lagostrophines. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E32B7E60-80B0-4A0E-BBE2-E3CA66F41D2F SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP. Citation for this article: K. Butler, K. J. Travouillon, G. J. Price, M. Archer, and S. J. Hand. 2016. Cookeroo, a new genus of fossil kangaroo (Marsupialia, Macropodidae) from the Oligo-Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland, Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1083029. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT——Cranial and dental remains of the middle to early late Miocene macropodid kangaroo,Ganguroo robustiter, sp. nov., are described. Postcranial remains ofG. robustiterwere previously described as referable toG. bilamina.Ganguroo robustiteris more robust (approximately 20% larger) and more derived thanG. bilaminaandG. bites, in having a larger m4, a well-developed posterolingual ridge and lingual cingulum on P3, a longer P3/p3, and no stylar cusp C on M3–M4. We used previously published data matrices to analyze the phylogenetic relationship ofG. robustiter. Both phylogenetic analyses, using craniodental and postcranial characters, placeG. robustiterwithin Macropodidae, as the sister taxon to sthenurines and macropodines. Species ofGangurooare not found to be monophyletic despite their extreme similarity in character scores. This may be due to the large amount of missing data forG. bilaminaandG. bitesfor which no postcranial remains have been identified. Phylogenetic results are ambiguous, recovering unresolved trees with low bootstrap values, but the generic assignment of these taxa is maintained because they are remarkably similar. Species ofGanguroomay represent a phyletic lineage, with species increasing in size and losing cusp/cuspids on their premolars through time, which appears to coincide with a broader record of changing vegetation and climates through the middle Miocene. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D0B542BE-C673-4260-8381-8B163A35AC36 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA——Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]