Prosorhynchus maternus sp. n. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

A new species, Prosorhynchus maternus sp. n., is described from the serranid fish Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch et Schneider) in the waters off New Caledonia. It belongs to a group of Prosorhynchus species from serranids in which the uterus is restricted to the postovarian region. Its distinguishing features include the vitellarium relatively distant from the rhynchus, the cirrus-sac relatively distant from the posterior testis, the distinctly pre-equatorial mouth and several other somatic ratios. New records of Prosorhynchus longisaccatus Durio et Manter, 1968 from Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson) and Prosorhynchoides lamprelli Bott et Cribb, 2005 from Caranx papuensis Alleyne et Macleay off New Caledonia are also included.     

The role of collinear interaction in dislocation-induced hardening

We connected dislocation-based atomic-scale and continuum models of plasticity in crystalline solids through numerical simulations of dislocation intersections in face-centered cubic crystals. The results contradict the traditional assumption that strain hardening is governed by the formation of sessile junctions between dislocations. The interaction between two dislocations with collinear Burgers vectors gliding in intersecting slip planes was found to be by far the strongest of all reactions. Its properties were investigated and discussed using a multiscale approach.     

Interfacial polygonal nanopatterning of stable microbubbles

Micrometer-sized bubbles are unstable and therefore difficult to make and store for substantial lengths of time. Short-term stabilization is achieved by the addition of amphiphilic molecules, which reduce the driving force for dissolution. When these molecules crystallize on the air/liquid interface, the lifetime of individual bubbles may extend over a few months. We demonstrated low gas-fraction dispersions with mean bubble radii of less than 1 micrometer and stability lasting more than a year. An insoluble, self-assembled surfactant layer covers the surface of the microbubbles, which can result in nanometer-scale hexagonal patterning that we explain with thermodynamic and molecular models. The elastic response of the interface arrests the shrinkage of the bubbles. Our study identifies a route to fabricate highly stable dispersions of microbubbles.     

Atmospheric deposition at Rothamsted,Saxmundham, and Woburn experimental stations,England, 1969–1984

The pH of precipitation, and the concentrations in precipitation and depositions by precipitation of H⁺, major cations, N, S, and chloride were measured in bulk collectors at three sites in Eastern England. The Rothamsted site is 100 km from the coast in a semi-urban environment. The Saxmundham site is 13 km and the Woburn site 120 km from the coast; both are in rural environments. Precipitation is acidic at all three sites, with a pH of 4.3 at Rothamsted and 5.0 at Saxmundham and Woburn at present, but the pH has been increasing. Precipitation chemistry is chiefly controlled by sea-salts (Na, Mg, Cl) and earth salts (K, Ca, Mg, NH4, N03). Sea-salts dominate near the coast at Saxmundham, but earth salts become much more important inland at Rothamsted and at Woburn. The concentration and deposition of non-sea Cl are increasing at Rothamsted and Saxmundham, those of non-sea SO₄-S are increasing at Woburn, and those of NO₃-N are increasing at all of the sites. Precipitation acidity is associated chiefly with non-sea SO₄, and only a little with NO₃ and non-sea Cl, at Rothamsted and Woburn. At Saxmundham, no correlation between acidity and anions is observed, presumably because of the overwhelming effect of sea-salts.     

Summary of Working Group Discussion and the Seminar

This composition collects the discussion conclusions of each group during the seminar.Each group discussion has a topic,and each group sends an expert giving a speech in the summary meeting to report the outcome of the discussion.All of the outcomes put forward the direction and methods in the development of industrialised housing in Chongqing,and also set up a basis for the work of the next stage of this project.     

Auranofin improves overall survival when combined with standard of care in a pilot study involving dogs with osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common paediatric primary bone malignancy. The major cause of death in osteosarcoma is drug‐resistant pulmonary metastasis. Previous studies have shown that thioredoxin reductase 2 is a driver of metastasis in osteosarcoma and can be inhibited by auranofin (AF). Moreover, studies have shown that AF significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in xenotransplant models. Here, we describe a phase I/II study of AF in canine osteosarcoma, a well‐recognized spontaneous model of human osteosarcoma. We performed a single‐arm multicentre pilot study of AF in combination with standard of care (SOC) (amputation + carboplatin). We recruited 40 dogs to the trial and used a historical SOC‐only control group (n = 26). Dogs >15 kg received 9 mg AF q3d PO and dogs <15 kg received 6 mg q3d. Follow‐up occurred over at least a 3‐year period. Auranofin plus SOC improved overall survival (OS) (P = .036) in all dogs treated. The improved outcome was attributable entirely to improved OS in male dogs (P = .009). At the time of writing, 10 dogs (25%) survive without measurable disease in the treatment group with survival times ranging between 806 and 1525 days. Our study shows that AF improves OS in male dogs when combined with SOC. Our findings have translational relevance for the management of canine and human osteosarcoma. Our data justify a larger multicentre phase 2 trial in dogs and a phase I/II trial in human patients with refractory disease at the time of initial surgery.     

Use of fluorescence indices as predictors of crop N status and yield for greenhouse sweet pepper crops

Precision Agriculture - To increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency and reduce water pollution from vegetable production, it is necessary to optimize N management. Fluorescence-based optical sensors...     

Bioencapsulation of Therapeutic Quantities of the Antibacterial Romet-30 in Nauplii of the Brine Shrimp Artemia and in the Nematode Panagrellus redivivus

Nauplii of the brine shrimp, Artemia , and cultures of the soil nematode, Panagrellus redivivus , were fed a suspension of the water-insoluble antibacterial Romet-30 (sulfadimethoxine plus ormetoprim) to determine if they could be used as a mechanism for delivery of the drug to larval penaeid shrimp.
Romet-30 was added to groups of brine shrimp nauplii and nematodes in 1 L beakers to achieve a concentration of 3 mg of drug per ml of seawater. After a 4 h uptake period, predetermined numbers of organisms were assayed for antibiotic content using the micro-plate diffusion method and a Romet-30 sensitive strain of Vibrio alginolyticus as the indicator. The resulting zones of inhibition were compared to that of a standard Kirby-Bauer sensitivity disc containing 25 μg of the drug that was placed on each plate as standard control. Negative controls consisted of equal numbers of nauplii and nematodes that were not exposed to the antibiotic. Artemia nauplii and nematodes accumulated approximately 0.1 μg of the drug per nauplius and approximately 0.25 μg per nematode. They exhibited no signs of toxicity from exposure to the drug and contained the antibiotic in sufficient quantity to provide a theoretical therapeutic dose of the drug when fed to penaeid larvae.
In subsequent tests, normal and diseased larval Penaeus stylirostris readily accepted Romet-30 enriched Artemia . Diseased larvae fed the drug in this manner exhibited a statistically greater overall survival and a greater survival to the post-larval stage by Student's t -test at the 5% significance level.     

Radula development in abalone Haliotis discus hannai from larva to adult in relation to feeding transitions

ABSTRACT: The radula morphology of Haliotis discus hannai was examined by scanning electron microscope from the larval to the adult stage. The radula of competent larvae contained 11–13 transverse rows of teeth after 6–7 days at 20°C. The number of rows increased to 25–30 during the first several days after settlement, but then remained approximately constant throughout the post-larval period, increasing again in abalone larger than 4 mm in shell length (SL). In post-larvae < ~1 mm SL, only two pairs of lateral teeth (L1, L2) were present in the larval radula. An additional three pairs of lateral teeth (L3–L5) were added progressively as post-larvae grew from 0.9 mm to 1.9 mm SL. Marginal teeth were added steadily from one pair in larvae to 30–40 pairs at 3–4 mm SL, 70–80 pairs in 30–40 mm juveniles, and 70–90 pairs in 90–100 mm adults. The serrations on the working edges of the rachidian (R) and lateral teeth became less pronounced as the abalone grew. Nearly all serrations disappeared from the rachidian (R) and inner lateral teeth (L1, L2) by ~2 mm SL, and from the outer lateral teeth (L3–L5) by 20 mm SL. For abalone larger than 1.5 mm SL, the L3–L5 teeth became longer and more pointed, which increased the space between adjacent rows of teeth. Post-larvae < 1 mm SL had highly curved teeth with clearance angles of approximately or less than zero, whereas larger abalone had positive clearance angles. These radula developments appear to be related to transitions in feeding habits from microbial to macroalgal diets.     

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis in Peninsular Malaysia were studied from 1975 to 1981. We compiled information collected from field surveys, interviews with people living near rhino areas, and the literature. Most potential rhino areas were surveyed on the ground to confirm the presence of animals, estimate numbers, and evaluate the status of the habitat. We confirmed that rhinos presently occur in ten isolated areas scattered throughout the Malay Peninsula. The number of rhinos is estimated at 50 to 75 animals with the Endau-Rompin (20–25), Taman Negara (8–12), and Sungai Dusun (4–6) areas containing the largest contiguous populations. The Sumatran rhino appears threatened with immediate extinction in Peninsular Malaysia. Excessive killing of rhinos because of the high commercial value of their body parts has greatly reduced numbers. Habitat destruction from logging and forest clearance has separated and isolated already small populations. We recommend that conservation efforts for this species in Malaysia be concentrated in the Endau-Rompin region because this population has the best chances for survival.