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Petropedetes johnstoni (Boulenger, 1888 ��� 1887 ���) Figs. 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, 4, 5, 7g Cornufer johnstoni Boulenger, 1888 ��� 1887 ���, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1887: 564 Tympanoceros newtonii du Bocage, 1895, J. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat. Lisboa, Ser.2, 3: 270 Petropedetes johnstoni ��� Boulenger, 1900. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1900: 439 Material examined. BM 1947.2. 7.44 (holotype, described as Cornufer johnstoni), subadult male, Cameroon (��� Cameroons ���), Rio del Rey, coll. H.H. Johnston; MSNG 29890 (5 males, 2 females), Equatorial Guinea, Bioko, Musola, app. 500-800 m a.s.l., I-III. 1902, coll. L. Fea; MSNG 50032 (female and tadpole), app. 500- 700 m a.s.l., other data as MSNG 29890; ZFMK 87709 (male), Cameroon, Campo region, Nkoelon, app. 125 m a.s.l., 30.X. 2007, coll. J.A.M. Wurstner & M.F. Barej; ZFMK 87710 (female), 26.X. 2007, other data as for ZFMK 87709. Diagnosis. A medium sized Petropedetes; slender body shape; tympanum round, distinctly smaller than eye diameter (smallest distinct tympanum in the genus); characters of breeding males: tympanic papilla present (papilla slim, compared to other larger Petropedetes), papilla close to the upper border of tympanum; forearm hypertrophy weakly developed; carpal spike present; spinosities on upper arm, throat and breast; few minuscule spines on supratympanal gland; femoral glands brightly orange, prominent and very large; webbing rudimentary. Description. Medium sized Petropedetes with slender body shape; both sexes almost equally large (SUL in males: 28.5���45.6 mm, females: 28.1���47.8 mm); mean head width in males about 41 % of SUL, in females about 38 %; snout rounded to slightly pointed in lateral view; canthus rostralis sharp; loreal region concave; eye diameter about 1.5 times eye-narial distance; nose closer to snout-tip than to eye; distinct round tympanum smaller than eye in both sexes (tympanum / eye in males: 0.49���0.63; in females: 0.45���0.48; Fig. 1 a); tympanic papilla of breeding males close to upper border of tympanum, comparatively slim; supratympanic fold distinct; fingers slender with T-shaped fingertips; relative length of fingers: III> IV> II> I; manual subarticular tubercles single; palmar tubercle and thenar tubercle present; manual webbing absent; forearm hypertrophy weakly developed; carpal spikes present in males; spinosities on upper arm, throat and breast; few minuscule spines on supratympanal gland; back skin granular, beset with small warts; fewer larger warts arranged in more or less longitudinal rows; flanks with few large warts; ventral skin smooth; mean femur length in males 53 % of SUL, in females about 51 %, mean tibia length in both sexes 61 % of SUL; mean foot length in males 79 % of SUL, in females 78 %; pedal subarticular tubercles single; hind limbs slender; femoral glands very large in males, larger and more prominent in males than in females (femoral gland / femur length in males: 0.28���0.46, in females: 0.25���0.27; Fig. 2 a); relative length of toes: IV> III> V> II> I; webbing rudimentary: 1 (1) 2 (1 - 1) 3 (2 - 2) 4 (3 - 3) 5 (2). According to Amiet (1973) the tympanic papilla is shorter than the tympanum diameter and thickened at its tip. This character is hard to verify in preserved specimens, as the papilla is then often shrunken (M.F. Barej pers. obs.). Amiet (1983) remarked that skin on throat and basis of the arms is smooth, showing no trace of spinosities. This observation is not consistent with the MSNG material. The most detailed description referring to ��� P. johnstoni ��� has been published by Parker (1936). However, this was based on specimens which have later been recognized as a new species, P. parkeri (Amiet 1983). Coloration. Dorsum brownish with small dark spots, marking larger warts; colour on flanks as on back, often with larger spots than on back (Fig. 1 a); iris speckled with gold and silver; throat marbled blackish; belly whitish with minuscule dark speckles (recognizable only under the microscope); upper and lower legs dorsally with large almost bar like dark spots; femoral glands brightly orange in males. Coloration in preservation: as in life, but colours pale. Boulenger (1888) mentioned a dark inter-orbital bar. In the material examined this bar was often incomplete. Tadpole description. The MSNG collection comprises one tadpole (MSNG 50032) collected by L. Fea in March 1902 at Musola (500���700 m) on Bioko. The tadpole (Gosner stage 41) has already fully developed hind limbs with rudimentary webbing. The vent tube is regressed. It had a body length of 11.3 mm (total length 26.3 mm) and long hind legs (18.6 mm), its femoral glands were already 1.8 mm long. As from Bioko, no other Petropedetes species with rudimentary webbing is known (P. cameronensis possesses half-webbed feet) we believe that it is safe to assume that the tadpole is a P. johnstoni. Its body is broad and slightly flattened; flanks not parallel but slightly convex; nostrils closer to eye than to snout tip; tail axis long and very muscular; no tail fins visible; end of tail shrunken, in life probably pointed; keratodont formula: 3 + 3 // 1 + 1: 2; the upper three rows interrupted by the upper jaw sheath (Fig. 3 a). The body shape and tooth formula corresponds to the most advanced P. palmipes tadpoles (Lamotte et al. 1959) and data on P. cameronensis (Schi��tz 1966). Natural history. P. johnstoni inhabits lowland forest and in contrast to other species occurs in areas without flowing water (Amiet 1983; own data). According to Gartshore (1986) this species inhabits littoral forests. In contrast, Fea (in du Bocage 1903) finds the species at a river with rapids, overgrown by vegetation. The call is very characteristic and can be heard from far (du Bocage 1903). Amiet (1989, 1991) finds an egg clutch on a large leaf in the forest, some centimetres above the ground. A male was sitting close to the clutch during daytime. Because of the absence of an open water source he assumed that the tadpoles of P. johnstoni are terrestrial (Amiet 1989, 1991). Lawson (1993) reports Petropedetes clutches in the centre of leaf whorls, deposited at least 75 m away from the next water source. Tadpoles started to hatch after about two weeks. Lawson (1993) assigns these clutches to what he termed ��� P. newtonii ��� (described as a new species below). However, according to Amiet���s (1989, 1991) and our own observations this behaviour much better fits to the sympatric P. johnstoni. Distribution. An exact type locality of P. johnstoni has not been given by Boulenger (1888). However, due to the title of the publication it has always been regarded as ���Rio del Rey, Cameroon ���. Amiet (1983) points out that this region corresponds to a creek of the river Ndian in western Cameroon, close to the Nigerian border. P. johnstoni is a typical lowland species and is known from Victoria (= Limbe) and Bibundi (Werner 1898; Andersson 1907; Amiet 1983) in western Cameroon and further localities in the lowland of the Biafra Bay down to southern Cameroon (Amiet 1983). P. johnstoni has also been reported from Bioko (du Bocage 1895 a, 1895 b, 1903; Boulenger 1906; Mertens 1965; Weinberg 2008; Fig. 4). J.P. Vande weghe photographed a Petropedetes with a tympanum smaller than the eye and a tympanic papilla in Langou�� Bai, eastern Gabon (Fig. 7 g). This would be the first record of the species in Gabon. As no voucher is available this record still needs to be confirmed and the taxonomic status of the population requires further study. Genetics. A genetic comparison of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene (611 bp, including gaps) using a calculation of the uncorrected p-distances gave the following results for Petropedetes johnstoni: interspecific comparison between P. johnstoni and all other Central African Petropedetes taxa ranged between 3.85 %- 9.03 %, while the intraspecific variation within P. johnstoni was much lower at 0.17 % (N= 2) (Table 4). Systematic remarks. Boulenger (1888) states that the holotype of Cornufer (Petropedetes) johnstoni is a female specimen. However, according to Parker (1936) the determination of the sex of the holotype���s sex is wrong and it indeed is a subadult male of a size, where it is not distinguishable from subadult females. Parker���s correction has been later adopted by Amiet (1983). The holotype, showing the size, the large femoral glands and the lateral aspect of the head is shown in Fig. 5. By the end of the 19 th century Tympanoceros newtonii has been described by du Bocage (1895 a) from the Island Fernando Po (= Bioko). The type of Tympanoceros newtonii deposited in the Mus��e Bocage in Lisbon, is lost (Perret 1976). In contrast to the type of Cornufer johnstoni, the holotype of Tympanoceros newtonii must have been a male in breeding condition. The description of a second specimen form Bioko has been supplemented by an illustration of a male with well developed papilla (du Bocage 1895 b). Both descriptions agree, among other characters, in rudimentary webbing, occurrence of a conical papilla on the tongue, and black bars on the limbs; but differ in the tympanum size. While the tympanum of C. johnstoni is given as half the diameter of the eye, it has been stated as equal to three-quarters of the eye for T. newtonii. However, this difference might be due to different methods of measuring the eye diameter. Another difference between the two descriptions concerns the tibiotarsal articulation. It is said to just reach the snout in the description of C. johnstoni (Boulenger 1888), while it is given to exceed the snout by four to five millimetres in T. newtonii (du Bocage 1895 a). Although this difference appears crucial, the examination of this character state in seven specimens of P. ��� newtonii ��� from Bioko revealed very variable results, ranging from articulation reaching the snout-tip to exceeding the snout-tip by some millimetres. Werner (1898) reports P. johnstoni from Victoria, Cameroon. These frogs possess a small tympanum and their tibiotarsal articulations extend beyond the snout. In 1900 Boulenger synonymised Tympanoceros and Cornufer with Petropedetes and provided the first key to the three species, known at that time. This key was based on the development of webbing and tympanum size. According to Boulenger (1900) the tympanum reaches half the size of the eye in P. johnstoni and more than half the eye diameter in P. newtonii. The differentiation of the species in Boulenger���s (1900) key was based on specimens collected by Mr. Bates on the Benito River (= River Mbini or Woleu River, today Equatorial Guinea) and not from Fernando Po. In this paper Boulenger (1900) describes the tympanum as being even larger than the eye. Subsequently this statement has been adopted by later authors. Amiet (1983) gives a relation of tympanum to eye size of 100.00���120.00% typical for ��� P. newtonii ��� and 58.18 ���75.00% in P. johnstoni. A second diagnostic character presented by Boulenger (1900) is the development of a tympanic papilla in males of ��� P. n e w t o n i i ���; a character obviously unknown at that time in P. johnstoni; e.g. Werner (1898) likewise describes males of that species without tympanic papillae. The occurrence of males��� secondary sexual characters like tympanic papillae and the bony carpal spikes in P. johnstoni was first reported by Andersson (1907). Unfortunately Andersson���s (1907) specimens from Bibundi on the foot of Mt. Cameroon, were destroyed during World War II (F. Geller-Grimm, Museum of Wiesbaden, pers. comm.). Another character believed to distinguish ��� P. newtonii ��� and P. johnstoni was the position of the tympanic papilla (Amiet 1983). According to Amiet the papilla is positioned close to the upper tympanic border in P. parkeri and P. johnstoni, but is positioned more centrally in ��� P. newtonii ��� (Amiet 1983). However, the papilla of the holotype from Bioko has been described as being close to the upper tympanic border and likewise illustrated for a second specimen of T. newtonii (du Bocage 1895 a, 1895 b). du Bocage���s (1895 b) drawing is thus more similar to P. johnstoni than to ��� P. newtonii ��� as defined by Amiet (1983). It is hence plausible to assume that the morphological similarities between C. johnstoni and T. newtonii have been simply overseen due to the fact that Boulenger���s (1888) holotype of C. johnstoni does not possess the characteristic seasonal traits of breeding males and consequently never has been associated with du Bocage��� (1895 a) holotype of T. newtonii. Furthermore Boulenger���s (1900) wrong assignment of specimens from the Benito River (Equatorial Guinea) to P. newtonii from Bioko led to the fact that a wrong diagnostic character for P. newtonii (tympanum larger than the eye) has been adopted in subsequent literature. As P. johnstoni from Bioko and the mainland are morphologically indistinguishable, we herein place P. newtonii into the synonymy with the older name P. johnstoni: Tympanoceros newtonii du Bocage, 1895 = Petropedetes johnstoni (Boulenger, 1888 ��� 1887 ���) new synonym. Hence, P. ��� newtonii ��� (sensu Amiet 1983) on the mainland of western Central Africa requires a new scientific name (see below). Bioko is located only 32 km from mainland Africa and is separated by shallow water (et al. 1998). The fauna of Bioko is of continental origin, comprising various faunal elements, like chameleons, lacertids and anurans, being present on the mainland and Bioko, but not occurring on other islands of the Cameroon volcanic line (Jones 1994; Jesus et al. 2005; Weinberg 2008). In contrast, the islands S��o Tom�� and Pr��ncipe in the Gulf of Guinea are seperated by a depth of more than 1800 m and are inhabited by their own endemic fauna with a deviating origin (Loumont 1992; Drewes & Stoelting 2004; Measey et al. 2007). Hence, the occurrence of the same Petropedetes species on Bioko and the mainland seems possible. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that molecular investigations comparing P. johnstoni from Bioko with those from the mainland may reveal differences on the species level. For example Bioko is inhabited by its own subspecies of the Cameroon toad (Amietophrynus camerunensis poensis), with longer extremities, toes and fingers (Perret 1966). On the other hand specimens of Hyperolius ocellatus from Bioko and adjacent mainland are currently regarded as belonging to one subspecies, different to those from south of the Sanaga River (Perret 1975). If future investigations would reveal that specimens from Bioko do belong to a separate evolutionary lineage, the name P. newtonii would be available for the island populations. As herein defined, P. johnstoni is easily differentiated from other Central African congeners by its rudimentary webbing. P. palmipes and P. perreti are both fully webbed, P. c a m e ro n e n s i s and P. juliawurstnerae sp. nov. are half-webbed. The presence of a distinct tympanum and a tympanal papilla distinguishes P. johnstoni from P. cameronensis and P. palmipes, which lack these characters. The small but distinct tympanum and the large femoral glands differentiate P. johnstoni from P. euskircheni sp. nov., P. parkeri and P. v u l p i a e sp. nov., species with reduced webbing. Furthermore P. johnstoni seems to be strictly restricted to lowland localities in coastal areas, whereas other species live in more mountainous areas and further away from the coast. Etymology. This species has been named by Boulenger (1888) to honour Mr. Henry Hamilton Johnston, who collected the type specimen., Published as part of Barej, Michael F., R��del, Mark-Oliver, Gonwouo, Legrand Nono, Pauwels, Olivier S. G., B��hme, Wolfgang & Schmitz, Andreas, 2010, Review of the genus Petropedetes Reichenow, 1874 in Central Africa with the description of three new species (Amphibia: Anura: Petropedetidae), pp. 1-49 in Zootaxa 2340 on pages 4-13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193288, {"references":["Boulenger, G. A. (1888) A list of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Mr. H. H. Johnston on the Rio del Rey, Cameroons District, W. Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, 1888, 564 - 565.","Boulenger, G. A. (1900) A list of the batrachians and reptiles of the Gaboon (French Congo), with descriptions of new genera and species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1900, 433 - 456.","Amiet, J. - L. (1973) Caracteres diagnostiques de Petropedetes perreti, nov. sp. et notes sur les autres especes camerounaises du genre (Amphibiens Anoures). Bulletin de l'Institut Francais d'Afrique Noire, Serie A, 35, 462 - 474.","Amiet, J. - L. 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Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 42, 157 - 172 + 2 plates.","Mertens, R. (1965) Die Amphibien von Fernando Poo. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage, 16, 14 - 29.","Weinberg, J. (2008) Bioko Island amphibians. available from http: // www. jessicaweinberg. com / doc / biokoamphibians. pdf (assessed: 26 May 2009).","Perret, J. - L. (1976) Revision des amphibiens africains et principalement des types, conserves au Musee Bocage de Lisbonne. Arquivos do Museu Bocage, 6, 15 - 34.","Jones, P. J. (1994) Biodiversity in the Gulf of Guinea: an overview. Biodiversity and Conservation, 3, 772 - 784.","Rohling, E. J., Fenton, M., Jorissen, F. J., Bertrand, P., Ganssen, G. & Caulet, J. P. (1998) Magnitudes of sea-level lowstands of the past 500,000 years. Nature, 394, 162 - 165.","Jesus, J., Harris, D. J. & Brehm, A. (2005) Phylogeography of Mabuya maculilabris (Reptilia) from Sao Tome Island (Gulf of Guinea) inferred from mtDNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37, 503 - 510.","Loumont, C. (1992) Les amphibiens de Sao Tome et Principe: revision systematique, cris nuptiaux et caryotypes. Alytes, 10, 37 - 62.","Drewes, R. C. & Stoelting, R. E. (2004) The California Academy of Science Gulf of Guinea Expedition (2001) II. Additions and corrections to our knowledge of the endemic amphibians of Sao Tome and Principe. Proceedings of the California Academy of Science, 55, 573 - 587.","Measey, G. J., Vences, M., Drewes, R. C., Chiari, Y., Melo, M. & Bourles, B. (2007) Freshwater paths across the ocean: molecular phylogeny of the frog Ptychadena newtoni gives insight into amphibian colonization of oceanic islands. Journal of Biogeography, 34, 7 - 20.","Perret, J. - L. (1966) Les amphibiens du Cameroun. Zoologische Jahrbucher (Abteilung fur Systematik, Okologie und Geographie der Tiere), 8, 289 - 464.","Perret, J. - L. (1975) Les sous-especes d' Hyperolius ocellatus Gunther (Amphibia Salientia). Annales de la Faculte de Sciences du Cameroun, 20, 23 - 31."]}

This graduation thesis contains an economic analysis of the BM MOTO, s.r.o. corporate entity. The aim is to perform a detailed analysis of its financial health in relation to an undergone investment as well as recommend a set of changes that would lead to an improvement of its financial performance. The thesis is divided into two main parts, the first of which being the methodological part, where all the applied models and processes are mentioned and explained. The second part applies these models on the chosen company. The second part is founded predominantly on accounting statements and also makes use of a bulk of internal data. The thesis also contains a detailed analysis of both absolute and relative indicators. Amongst the applied models belong the Du Pont analysis, the analysis of the Economic Value Added (EVA), bankruptcy and creditworthy models and an inter industry comparative analysis. The conclusion summarizes and evaluates all the results and presents an appropriate recommendation.

In order to elucidate the mechanisms by which intraduodenal hydrochloric acid (HCl) and soybean extract influence exocrine pancreatic secretion in the young ruminant, we conducted experiments repeatedly on six conscious calves with and without blockade of the extrinsic and intrinsic neural pathways. In the absence of blockade, each of the two stimuli increased the juice volume, the HCl effect being far stronger than that of soybean extract. Intrinsic cholinergic blockade by atropinization blocked the stimulatory work of soybean extract on pancreatic secretion and on HCl-stimulated protein but had a weak effect on the amount of juice evoked by HCl. Temporary vagal blockade by chilling virtually abolished the excitatory effects of both soybean extract and HCl. With or without blockade, duodenal HCl resulted in a noteworthy increase in plasmal secretin and a slight increase in cholecystokinin (CCK). With alimentary proteins, acidification of the duodenum was responsible for both the composition and secretion of pancreatic juice in young calves, generally via neural pathways. Atropine-sensitive nerves of the pancreas totally regulate the intestinal phase of pancreatic juice secretion allied with intraduodenal protein, whereas HCl-dependent excitation of the exocrine pancreas takes place partly via atropine-resistant nerves. However, as hardly any pancreatic juice was secreted independently of the vagi, the vagi are deemed to govern all the postprandial regulatory mechanisms of the exocrine pancreas in the young calf.

Antibacterial activity of pancreatic juice in the pig (n = 8) was investigated during early postnatal development and in cattle (n = 6) receiving a different feeding regimen. For pancreatic juice collection, a catheter was surgically implanted in the pancreatic duct. Reintroduction of pancreatic juice was achieved through a T-shaped cannula in the duodenum. Pancreatic juice was collected for 30 min in all cases. In piglets, collections were carried out at 2, 5-6, and 7-10 wk of age, and in cattle, after a standard meal, 48 h starvation, and following 24 h intraduodenal glucose infusion. Antibacterial activity was tested on Micrococcus Pyogenes strain ATTC 6538P by disc agar diffusion technique using nonactivated pancreatic juice, before and after heat treatment for 15 min at 65 and 100 degrees C, respectively. Piglets showed a significant rise in antibacterial activity of pancreatic juice after weaning. In cattle, 48 h of starvation resulted in a marked suppression of antibacterial activity. This activity was found to be normal after a standard meal and comparable to that after 24-h intraduodenal glucose infusion. Heating of pancreatic juice to 65 degrees C caused a 35% increase in the antibacterial potency, whereas heating to 100 degrees C completely abolished it. Additionally, dilution of pancreatic juice to 1:10 did not affect antibacterial potency.

Zusammenfassung Der Einflus von Sekretin und von Cholecystokinin Oktapeptid (CCK8) auf den exokrinen Pankreas wahrend einer vagalen Kalteblockierung beim praruminanten Kalb Sechs 5-Tage alte praruminante Kalber erhielten auf chirurgischem Wege ein Pankreas-Katheter und eine Jejunal-Kanule, um die Rolle der extrinsischen vagalen Innervation auf die Sekretin- und CCK8-beeinfluste exokrine Pankreasfunktion zu ermitteln. Zur zeitweisen, reversiblen Kalteblockierung wurden Hitzesensoren in die Vagi bilaterale eingesetzt. Die kurzzeitige, reversible Blockierung der extrinsischen vagalen Innervation fuhrte zu einem signifikanten Anstieg des Pankreassaftvolumens mit erhohten Protein- und Trypsin-Gehalten. Die Kalteblockierung unterbindet den stimulatorischen Effekt von Sekretin auf die exokrine Pankreassekretion und unterdruckt zur gleichen Zeit die Wirkung von CCK8 und CCK8 + Sekretin. Aus den Ergebnissen last sich ableiten, das die Wirkung von Sekretin auf den exokrinen Pankreas von der extrinsischen vagalen Innervierung abhangig ist. Dagegen erweist sich CCK8 teilweise als unabhangig davon, obwohl sich die Wirkung durch ihre Gegenwart potenziert.

Zusammenfassung Der Effekt einer reversiblen vagalen Kalteblockierung und einer Atropinisierung auf die exokrine Pankreasfunktion von Kalbern bei Flussigfutterung Die exokrine Pankreassekretion wurde an 6 Kalbern bei Flussigfutterung unter Atropin-Infusion und vagaler Kalteblockade wahrend der Aufzuchtphase untersucht. Bei normaler Futterverdauung wurde ein deutlicher Anstieg der Pankreassaftsekretion, der sekretierten Proteinmenge und der Trypsinaktivitat beobachtet. Diese Parameter fielen nach der Verdauung wieder ab. Diese cephaline Phase der exokrinen Pankreassekretion konnte bei vagaler Kalteblockade nicht beobachtet werden. Gleiche Ergebnisse, mit Ausnahme eines leichten Anstiegs des Pankreassaftvolumens, wurden nach Atropininfusion ermittelt. Aus den Ergebnissen wird gefolgert, das die cephaline Phase der exokrinen Pankreassaftsekretion durch eine parasympathische Innervation gesteuert wird. Der Atropin-resistente Stoffwechselweg beeinflust dabei in dieser Phase die Regulation des ausgeschiedenen Pankreassaftvolumens.

Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung der exokrinen Pankreasfunktion bei Kalbern mit Kanulen im Pankreasgang wahrend der Trankeperiode bis zum Beginn des Wiederkauens Um die postnatale exokrine Pankreasfunktion zu erfassen, erhielten sechs Bullkalber drei Tage nach der Geburt eine Kanule in den Pankreasgang und eine reentrant-Kanule in das Jejunum. Es konnte uber den gesamten Versuch (bis 10 Wochen) keine Stimulierung der exokrinen Pankreasfunktion 3 Stunden postprandial beobachtet werden. Bei 3–6 Wochen alten Tieren lag die Proteinausscheidung uber dem Pankreassaft und die Trypsinaktivitat vor der Mahlzeit und 3 Stunden postprandial hoher als bei bis zu 3 Wochen alten Tieren. Diese Tendenz setzte sich bei 7–10 Wochen alten Kalbern fort. Ein signifikanter Anstieg der gemessenen Parameter wurde wahrend der Futterung von flussigem Futter bei noch nicht wiederkauenden Tieren beobachtet. Die hormonelle Stimulierung durch Injektion von CCK-8 und Sekretin fuhrte zur Erhohung des Pankreasflusses, der Protein- und Trypsinausscheidung. Die groste Stimulierung der Pankreassekretion durch Futterzufuhr oder hormonelle Stimulation wurde im Alter bis 3 Wochen festgestellt. Aus den Ergebnissen last sich schliesen, das die exokrine Pankreasfunktion abhangig von der Ration und der Vormagenentwicklung ist. Der Abfall der Pankreassaftsekretion nach den ersten 3 Lebenswochen, das Fehler der postprandialen Stimulierung, der Verlust der cephalischen Phase der Pankreassekretion bei der Entwicklung des Wiederkauens und die Fahigkeit (schon in der ersten Lebenswoche) auf eine hormonelle Stimulierung zu reagieren ist typisch fur diese Tierspezies.

Tato práce si klade za cíl zhodnotit finanční situaci společnosti Subterra a.s. v letech 2002 až 2006. Ukazuje její podrobný vývoj a snaží se předpovědět její možný stav v blizké budoucnosti. Vlastní práce se skládá z úvodu, představení společnosti, metodologie, aplikační části a závěru, ve kterým je konečné hodnocení.

Four calves were prepared surgically to investigate the exocrine pancreatic function in chronic experiments. Cooling devices were implanted on both vagi for temporary, reversible, thermal blockade of the conductivity in the nerves. Cooling of the vagi caused significant decreases of volume, total protein content and trypsin activity in pancreatic juice. All of these variables recovered to the control level immediately after the cooling. Results presented indicate an important role of vagally driven information on the exocrine pancreatic secretion in calves.

We describe two new species of puddle frogs, genus Phrynobatrachus, from the south-western Republic of the Congo. One of them, P. horsti sp. nov., occurs also in neighbouring Gabon and is morphologically most similar to the Cameroonian P. ruthbeateae. It differs from the latter species by smaller males with longer thighs and shanks. The new species comprises various colour morphs but always has less conspicuous black borders between flanks and belly than P. ruthbeateae. The distinct and large black axillary blotch of P. ruthbeateae is either much smaller in P. horsti sp. nov., or broken into numerous irregularly shaped smaller dots. Similarly, a black transversal line at the anterior ventral border of thighs and the black face mask is less distinct and irregularly delimitated in P. horsti sp. nov. when compared to P. ruthbeateae. The mean genetic difference in the sampled region of the 16S rRNA gene between P. horsti sp. nov. and 40 other western African congeners range from 3.66-18.10%. The second new species, P. mayokoensis sp. nov., differs from all other known congeners by the combination of a compact and warty body, the absence of a spiny eyelid tubercle and pedal webbing, a conspicuous black triangle on throat and anterior part of the belly, and a distinct large red blotch on the anterior-proximal surface of the thighs. It exhibited a mean genetic difference in the 16S rRNA to 40 other western African congeners ranging from 1.34-16.98%. The genetically most similar sequence stems from a GenBank entry of a Gabonese frog, determined as P. ogoensis. A comparison of the new species with P. ogoensis syntypes confirmed their specific distinctiveness, most convincingly underlined by the absence of pedal webbing in the new species and the pronounced pedal webbing in P. ogoensis. The GenBank entry thus most likely is based on a misidentification and P. mayokoensis sp. nov. may also occur in neighbouring Gabon. The discovery of the two new frog species is further evidence of the huge gap in our knowledge concerning the species richness in the Guineo-Congolian rainforests.

The monotypic genus Trichobatrachus, with its sole representative, the hairy frog, Trichobatrachus robustus Boulenger, 1900, could be considered one of the most well-known frogs of Africa. Despite its broad recognition and the fact that it is considered wide-spread and locally common (Amiet & Burger 2004), surprisingly little is known about the actual distribution and the specific occurrence patterns of the species. It was originally described by Boulenger (1900) from the Benito River, previously erroneously stated to be located in Gabon. However, Lotters et al. (2001) clarified that the type locality was actually situated in Equatorial Guinea, then part of French Congo, and subsequently provided the first confirmed country record for Gabon. Hairy frogs were previously included in the herpetofaunal lists of Cameroon (Parker 1936; Perret & Mertens 1957), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Laurent 1956), and Nigeria (Schiotz 1963). More recently published accounts list them for Cameroon (Euskirchen et al. 1999; Herrmann et al. 2005; Gonwouo & Rodel 2008), Equatorial Guinea (De la Riva 1994; Lasso et al. 2002), Gabon (Lotters et al. 2001; Rodel & Pauwels 2003; Burger et al. 2004; Pauwels & Rodel 2007; Bell et al. 2011), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, Fretey et al. 2011), and speculate about their potential occurrence in Congo and the Cabinda enclave of Angola (Amiet & Burger 2004). The DRC record so far represented the most southerly distribution, while the most northerly account comes from the Adamaoua Province of northern Cameroon (Tadpole voucher MHNG-AMP/ERPI-1035.006 from Benoue source, Northern cliff Ngaoundere, Adamaoua, Cameroon/Adamaoua Province, cf. Perret 1966). Specimens stored in the collection at the Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren (RMCA) under collection numbers RMCA B 90060.0004-11 confirm the occurrence of the species in Congo. To our knowledge, these specimens represent yet unpublished first country records.

The influence of CCK-A receptor antagonism on pancreatic exocrine secretion and duodenal EMG, and the mechanism(s) involved in CCK-induced pancreatic secretion were studied in conscious calves. Seven 1-week-old calves were fitted with a pancreatic duct catheter, duodenal cannula and duodenal electrodes. Pancreatic exocrine secretion and duodenal EMG were studied following intraduodenal CCK-A receptor antagonist (Tarazepide), intravenous atropine, and intravenous or intraduodenal CCK-8 administrations. Tarazepide decreased duodenal electric activity, reduced interdigestive pancreatic secretion, especially protein; reduced cephalic and early postprandial (milk) induced secretion of bicarbonate and protein. Pancreatic protein secretion to intravenous CCK-8 was little affected by atropine, but was significantly reduced by Tarazepide±atropine; in contrast, protein secretion to intraduodenal CCK-8 was abolished by Tarazepide or atropine. We conclude that pre- and especially early postprandial pancreatic secretion are partly controlled via CCK-A (mainly mucosal) mediated mechanisms.

International audience

We describe and compare the tadpoles of nine Leptodactylodon species from Cameroon. The tadpoles of Leptodactylodon bicolor, L. mertensi, L. ovatus, L. perreti and L. ventrimarmoratus are herein reinvestigated, partly based on larger series than previously available. In addition we present first descriptions for the tadpoles of L. boulengeri, L. erythrogaster, L. ornatus, and L. cf. polyacanthus. The morphology of these exotrophic, lotic and neustonic tadpoles is discussed in comparison with other stream-dwelling tadpoles. Based on the assumed biology of these tadpoles, living in interstices of gravel or debris, the functioning of several special morphological features, in particular the funnel-mouth of Leptodactylodon tadpoles, are interpreted.

BACKGROUND: Higher-level systematics in amphibians is relatively stable. However, recent phylogenetic studies of African torrent-frogs have uncovered high divergence in these phenotypically and ecologically similar frogs, in particular between West African torrent-frogs versus Central (Petropedetes) and East African (Arthroleptides and Ericabatrachus) lineages. Because of the considerable molecular divergence, and external morphology of the single West African torrent-frog species a new genus was erected (Odontobatrachus). In this study we aim to clarify the systematic position of West African torrent-frogs (Odontobatrachus). We determine the relationships of torrent-frogs using a multi-locus, nuclear and mitochondrial, dataset and include genera of all African and Asian ranoid families. Using micro-tomographic scanning we examine osteology and external morphological features of West African torrent-frogs to compare them with other ranoids. RESULTS: Our analyses reveal Petropedetidae (Arthroleptides, Ericabatrachus, Petropedetes) as the sister taxon of the Pyxicephalidae. The phylogenetic position of Odontobatrachus is clearly outside Petropedetidae, and not closely related to any other ranoid family. According to our time-tree estimation Odontobatrachus has been separated from other frog lineages since the Cretaceous (90.1 Ma; confidence interval: 84.2-97.1 Ma). Along with this molecular evidence, osteological and external diagnostic characters recognize West African torrent-frogs as distinct from other ranoids and provide strong support for the necessity of the recognition of a new family of frogs. This is the only endemic vertebrate family occurring in the Upper Guinea biodiversity hotspot. CONCLUSION: Based on molecular and morphological distinctiveness, the West African torrent-frog Odontobatrachus natator is allocated to a newly described anuran family. The discovery of an endemic vertebrate family in West Africa highlights the Upper Guinean forests as an outstanding, but highly endangered biodiversity hotspot.

We describe a new small Phrynobatrachus species from western Nigeria, the eastern-most part of the Upper Guinea bio-diversity hotspot. The new species exhibits a combination of unique morphological characters and a belly without pattern.Morphologically it is characterised by small size, compact roundish body with a round and short snout, large eyes, absenceof an eyelid cornicle, presence of a conspicuous row of warts with pores on the upper mandible, absence of discs on toeand finger tips, well developed webbing, larger warts on forehead and inter-orbital space and a pair of, sometimes indis-tinct, elongated chevron like ridges on the back. Analysis of mitochondrial 16S rRNA revealed that the new species differsfrom 33 other West and Central African species of the genus by a minimum distance of 6.6%. Genetically the new speciesis most similar to Phrynobatrachus ghanensis, P. guineensis and P. phyllophilus, all being endemic to the western part of the Upper Guinea forest zone.

Wheat straw (WS) and triticale straw (TS) were treated with 2- and 4%-NaOH and/or 300- and 600-kGy radiation doses (accelerated electrons) for improvement of the nutritional value of these feeds. Beside the chemical composition of straws, the nylon bag rumen disappearance of dry matter and crude fibre was estimated. NaOH did not influence the chemical composition of straws, while irradiation significantly reduced the level of crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) proportionally to the dose. The level of nitrogen free extractives (NFE) and alpha-linked glucose polymers pronouncedly increased in the radiated straws. NaOH treatment raised potential rumen degradability of DM and irradiation did so in the case of potential as well as effective degradability. It was not able to prove the summarized influence of both treatments on DM and CF rumen degradability of the straws. The dynamics of the rumen disappearance of DM was different in the straws.

Amietophrynus superciliaris is known to occur in rain forests from West Africa to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. We herein present morphological and molecular data indicating the existence of three distinct taxa. The name A. superciliaris superciliaris is restricted to toads from the western Lower Guinean Forest (eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon). We resurrect A. s. chevalieri for the Upper Guinean forest (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana) and describe a new species occurring in the eastern part of the Lower Guinean Forest (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo). Amietophrynus channingi sp. nov. from eastern Lower Guinean Forest differs from both other taxa by its brownish lateral coloration (reddish-purple in the other taxa). The new species differs morphologically from western Lower Guinean A. s. superciliaris by a less pointed eyelid process, a dark coloured posterior abdominal region and a dark coloured vertebral line (both absent in A. s. superciliaris), the shape of the parotid glands (bulged and rounded at the posterior tip in the new species, slender drop shaped and pointed at the posterior tip in A. s. superciliaris), and juvenile interorbital markings (V-shaped in the new species, usually interrupted and broken in A. s. superciliaris). Amietophrynus channingi sp. nov. differs from the Upper Guinean A. s. chevalieri by the presence of an eyelid process (absent in A. s. chevalieri), presence of a dark vertebral line and a pair of dark spots on the posterior part of the back (both absent in A. s. chevalieri). The Upper Guinean A. s. chevalieri differs from western Lower Guinean A. s. superciliaris by the absence of an eyelid process, a dark coloured posterior abdominal region (absent in A. s. superciliaris) and lacking a pair of dark spots in the posterior part of the back (present in A. s. superciliaris). The new species differs from both other taxa by 2.2–2.8% in the investigated 16S rRNA gene. West African and western Central African populations differ by only 0.9–1.1% in 16S rRNA, lacking any intra-taxon variation within each clade, and are cautiously regarded as subspecies although the genetic distinction is mirrored by strong morphological differences and distinct geographic distribution which may support its elevation to species status once that more comprehensive data become available. A key to the taxa of the A. superciliaris-species complex is provided.