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Bentholebouria colubrosa gen. n. et sp. n. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) is described in the wenchman, Pristipomoides aquilonaris, from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and new combinations are proposed: Bentholebouria blatta comb. n., Bentholebouria longisaccula comb. n., Bentholebouria rooseveltiae comb. n., and Bentholebouria ulaula comb. n. The new genus is morphologically similar to Neolebouria, but with a longer cirrus sac, entire testes, a rounded posterior margin with a cleft, and an apparent restriction to the deepwater snappers. Morphologically, the new species is closest to B. blatta from Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus off New Caledonia but can be differentiated by the nature of the internal seminal vesicle (2-6 turns or loops rather than constrictions), a longer internal seminal vesicle (occupying about 65% rather than 50% of the cirrus sac), a cirrus sac that extends further into the hindbody (averaging 136% rather than 103% of the distance from the posterior margin of the ventral sucker to the ovary), and a narrower body (27% rather than 35% mean width as % of body length). A Bayesian inference analysis of partial sequence of the 28S rDNA from Neolebouria lanceolata, Cainocreadium lintoni, Hamacreadium mutabile, Opecoeloides fimbriatus, Podocotyloides brevis, the new species, and previously published comparable sequences from 10 opecoelid species revealed two clades. One clade includes deep-sea (more or equal 200 m) and freshwater fish opecoelids + Opecoeloides Bremser, and a second clade included those opecoelids from shallow-water marine, perciform fishes.

During a survey on the myxosporean fauna of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio in China, a species of Myxobolus, that did not conform to any known species was found. The species is characterised by the presence of round to ellipsoidal plasmodia of 2.6-4.0 mm in diameter in the palate of host. Mature spores are obovate in frontal view and lemon-shaped in lateral view, with the following range, mean and standard deviation of dimensions: 10.8-12.8 µm (11.7 +/- 0.4 microm) long, 8.2-9.9 microm (8.9 +/- 0.4 µm) wide and 6.0-7.5 microm (6.8 +/- 0.3 µm) thick. Two polar capsules are pyriform, 4.0-5.5 microm (4.8 +/- 0.3 microm) long by 2.9-3.6 microm (3.0 +/- 0.2 microm) wide. Polar filaments are coiled, with 5 to 6 turns. A small proportion of spores possesses a short caudal process. Scanning electron microscopy revealed discoid spores with a low sutural ridge and middle bulge. The small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of this species did not match any available sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetically, this species is sister to M. nielii and M. hearti in a Henneguya-Myxobolus clade with robust support. Given the morphological and molecular differences between this species and other Myxobolus species, we propose the name Myxobolus oralis sp. n. for this parasite from gibel carp.

The effects of salinity (400 mM NaCl) on growth, biomass partitioning, photosynthesis, and leaf ultrastructure were studied in hydroponically grown plants of Aeluropus littoralis (Willd) Parl. NaCl produced a significant inhibition of the main growth parameters and a reduction in leaf gas exchange (e.g. decreased rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance). However, NaCl salinity affected neither the composition of photosynthesis pigments nor leaf water content. The reduction in leaf gas exchange seemed to correlate with a decrease in mesophyll thickness as well as a severe disorganisation of chloroplast structure, with misshapen chloroplasts and dilated thylakoid membranes. Conspicuously, mesophyll chloroplasts were more sensitive to salt treatment than those of bundle sheath cells. The effects of NaCl toxicity on leaf structure and ultrastructure and the associated physiological implications are discussed in relation to the degree of salt resistance of A. littoralis.

A report on the synthesis and characterization of nanoscale zero-valent iron in the presence of natural zeolite as a stabilizer is presented. This novel adsorbent (Ze-nZVI) was synthesized by the sodium borohydride reduction method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the stabilized nZVI particles were uniformly dispersed across the zeolite surface without obvious aggregation. The synthesized Ze-nZVI material was then tested for the removal of nitrate from aqueous solution. The effect of various parameters on the removal process, such as initial concentration of nitrate, contact time, initial pH, and Ze-nZVI dosage, was studied. Batch experiments revealed that the supported nZVI materials generally have great flexibility and high activity for nitrate removal from aqueous solution. The nitrogen mass balance calculation showed that ammonium was the major product of nitrate reduction by Ze-nZVI (more than 84% of the nitrate reduced); subsequently the natural zeolite in Ze-nZVI removed it completely via adsorption. The kinetic experiments indicated that the removal of nitrate followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The removal efficiency for nitrate decreased continuously with an increase in the initial solution pH value and Ze-nZVI dosage but increased with the increase in the initial concentration of nitrate. The overall results indicated the potential efficacy of Ze-nZVI for environmental remediation application.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, the following nine species of Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) are described from female worms parasitizing marine perciform fishes belonging to six families off the northern coast Australia (near Darwin): Philometra australiensis sp. n. from the swimbladder of the king threadfin Polydactylus macrochir (Polynemidae); P. epinepheli from the operculum of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Serranidae); Philometra johnii from the gonad of the croaker Johnius sp. (Sciaenidae); P. macrochiri sp. n. from the sensory fin of P. macrochir; P. zabidii sp. n. from the ovary of the ninespine batfish Zabidius novemaculeatus (Ephippidae); Philometra sp. 1 and Philometra sp. 2 from the ovary of the Spanish flag snapper Lutjanus carponotatus (Lutjanidae) and the silver grunt Pomadasys argenteus (Haemulidae), respectively; Philometroides eleutheronemae from the ovary of the fourfinger threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Polynemidae); and Spirophilometra endangae from the pectoral fins of E. coioides. The new species P. australiensis is characterized mainly by the structure of the cephalic end, 14 minute cephalic papillae, absence of caudal projections and body length of gravid female (67 mm), P. macrochiri by the presence of a conspicuously large anterior oesophageal bulb, 14 very small cephalic papillae and the truncated posterior end of body without any caudal projections, whereas P. zabidii is characterized by the presence of distinct caudal projections, the number (14) and larger size and arrangement of cephalic papillae, a poorly developed anterior oesophageal inflation, the body length (114 mm) and the host family (Ephippidae). All above-mentioned species were recorded from Australian waters for the first time.

Fil: Menoret, Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina

The microstructural characteristics were evaluated of two types of Italian Farro (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) with spring and autumn growth habits, the former with a vitreous tendency and the latter with a floury tendency. Common wheat flours and grains (Triticum aestivum) were used as controls. Protein fractions such as glutenin and gliadin were extracted from Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum flours and studied by SDS-PAGE in order to make a comparison between the electrophoretic analyses and microstructural studies which were conducted on the same samples using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM and Cryo-SEM). The results obtained by SDS-PAGE showed that the gliadin patterns of both emmer samples were similar, while the common wheat gliadins showed a band at 90 kDa that was not present in the gliadin fraction of emmer. When the glutenin patterns were analysed, the autumn emmer did not show the low molecular weight protein bands (16-23 kDa) whilst spring emmer wheat appeared more similar to common wheat. Regarding the microstructural characteristics of the kernels, spring (vitreous tendency) emmer showed starch granules covered by protein to a higher extent than autumn emmer. These differences were also observed in flours. The gluten of spring emmer wheat was observed as a homogeneous structure showing similarities with common wheat gluten, while autumnal emmer gluten appeared more heterogeneous and lacking in structure.

This study describes the proteocephalidean tapeworm Pseudocrepidobothrium chanaorum sp. n. (Proteocephalidae: Proteocephalinae), which was found in the intestine of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum (Eigenmann et Eigenmann) from the Colastine River, a tributary of the Parana River. The new species differs from the two other species of the genus, P. eirasi (Rego et de Chambrier, 1995) and P. ludovici Ruedi et de Chambrier, 2012, parasites of Phractocephalus hemioliopterus (Bloch et Schneider) from the Amazon River in Brazil, in having fewer proglottides (4-8 without ventral appendages vs 7-12 with ventral appendages and 20-36 without ventral appendages, respectively), a smaller scolex (350-450 microm wide vs 495-990 microm and 515-1 020 microm wide, respectively), in the total number of testes (21-25 vs 21-51 and 37-79, respectively), a cirrus-sac usually directed anteriorly if the vagina is posterior to the cirrus-sac vs transversely situated in the known species. The study of the tegumental surface of Pseudocrepidobothrium spp. revealed the presence of four types of microtriches: papilliform, acicular and capilliform filitriches, and gladiate spinitriches. The three species have a similar microthrix pattern, with minor differences on the immature proglottis surface. Pseudocrepidobothrium chanaorum sp. n. is the ninth proteocephalid reported from P. reticulatum.

The effects of high power ultrasound of 24 kHz and ultrasound bath of 24 kHz frequency on the textural and pasting properties of corn starch suspensions was examined. Suspensions were treated with different intensities and treatment times (15 min and 30 min) using an ultrasound probe set and bath. The treatments with high power ultrasound probes caused a significant lowering of the starting gelatinisation temperatures of corn starch. The ultrasound treatment caused disruption of starch granules by cavitational forces and made the granules more permeable to water. The highest viscosity was observed for the treatment with 300 W probe. A significant increase in solubility in water (20 deg C) was observed, being caused by the disruption of starch granules and molecules by ultrasound treatment. When applying more powerful ultrasound, starch granules, specifically in the amorphous region, are much more mechanically damaged. The texture profile analyses of the starch gel prepared from the suspensions that had been treated with ultrasound probe presented higher hardness and higher values of adhesiveness and cohesiveness when compared with untreated suspensions or those treated with ultrasound bath. Micrography showed an obvious impact of ultrasound on the structure of starch granules. Ultrasound treatment ruptures and mechanically damages the starch granules causing collapse of cavitation bubbles which induces high pressure gradients and high local velocities of the liquid layers in their vicinity.

Chloromyxum leydigi Mingazzini, 1890, the type species of Chloromyxum Mingazzini, 1890, is redescribed based on material found in the gall bladder of the cartilaginous fish Torpedo marmorata Risso collected from the Portuguese Atlantic coast and its sporogonic development is described. Plasmodia and mature spores were floating free in the bile. Plasmodia are polysporic and highly polymorphic in shape and organization. Mature spores are spherical to subspherical with a pointed anterior end, measuring 12.3 +/- 0.5 microm in length and 9.0 +/- 0.5 microm in width. The spore wall is composed of two asymmetric shell valves, each bearing 4-5 elevated surface ridges. A bundle of 40-50 tapering caudal filaments extends from the basal portion of the shell valves. Four pyriform equal-sized polar capsules, measuring about 5.3 x 3.2 microm, are observed at the same level in the anterior pole of the spores, each containing a polar filament coiled in 8-9 (rarely 10) turns. Spore morphology, tissue tropism, host species and sequences of the SSU rRNA gene supported species identification. Since its discovery, this species has been dubiously reported from several cartilaginous hosts, namely due to the poor description of its features.