Additional Specimens Research Articles

Suggestions for repairing various defects in the NSM strengthening mechanism with hybrid rebars for RC beams: Experimental and numerical study

NSM bars enhance flexural strength of RC components but degrade ductility and transform the failure mechanism from ductile flexure to brittle shear. Failure due to debonding and other causes still has an impact on the strengthening system's efficiency. The focus of this research will be on how successful hybrid steel-CFRP/GFRP rebar strengthening is in enhancing the overall behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under flexure. Six rectangular RC beams were cast and strengthened using various semi-NSM procedures (120 mm width by 300 mm depth by 3000 mm length), then tested to failure in four-point bending tests. The beams were classified into four categories: (I) control beam, (II) strengthening with mild steel bar, (III) strengthening with mild steel-CFRP/GFRP hybrid rebars, and (IV) strengthening with high tensile steel-CFRP/GFRP hybrid rebars. To enhance the overall behaviour of RC beams, particularly beam ductility, and to avoid corrosion, FRP confinement was utilized in association with steel bars. End anchoring with strengthening rebars aims to limit unexpected de-bonding of NSM bars at higher loads, resulting in superior flexural performance of the RC members. In compared to the others, strengthening with mild steel-GFRP rebars enhances ductility and beam stiffness. This study also suggests and validates a 3D numerical model to simulate the performance and failure of NSM Strengthening mechanism with hybrid rebars for RC beams using the finite element (FE) software “ANSYS”. Regarding the behaviour of load-deflection, moment-curvature, load-crack width, and mode of failure, the FE results were accurate representations of the experimental results. An additional FEM specimen was examined to corroborate the effect of the experimental parameters.

Diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Adults Substantially Increases When Adding Sputum, Saliva, and Serology Testing to Nasopharyngeal Swab RT-PCR.

Nearly all existing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence estimates are based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing of nasal or nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. Adding testing of additional specimen types to NP swab RT-PCR increases RSV detection. However, prior studies only made pairwise comparisons and the synergistic effect of adding multiple specimen types has not been quantified. We compared RSV diagnosis by NP swab RT-PCR alone versus NP swab plus saliva, sputum, and serology. This was a prospective cohort study over two study periods (27 December 2021 to 1 April 2022 and 22 August 2022 to 11 November 2022) of patients aged ≥ 40years hospitalized for acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Louisville, KY. NP swab, saliva, and sputum specimens were collected at enrollment and PCR tested (Luminex ARIES platform). Serology specimens were obtained at acute and convalescent timepoints (enrollment and 30-60-day visit). RSV detection rate was calculated for NP swab alone and for NP swab plus all other specimen type/test. Among 1766 patients enrolled, 100% had NP swab, 99% saliva, 34% sputum, and 21% paired serology specimens. RSV was diagnosed in 56 (3.2%) patients by NP swab alone, and in 109 (6.2%) patients by NP swab plus additional specimens, corresponding to a 1.95 times higher rate [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62, 2.34]. Limiting the comparison to the 150 subjects with all four specimen types available (i.e., NP swab, saliva, sputum, and serology), there was a 2.60-fold increase (95% CI 1.31, 5.17) compared to NP swab alone (3.3% versus 8.7%). Sensitivities by specimen type were: NP swab 51%, saliva 70%, sputum 72%, and serology 79%. Diagnosis of RSV in adults was several-fold greater when additional specimen types were added to NP swab, even with a relatively low percentage of subjects with sputum and serology results available. Hospitalized RSV ARI burden estimates in adults based solely on NP swab RT-PCR should be adjusted for underestimation.

Influence of waste foundry sand on microstructural and mechanical behavior of self consolidated concrete filled steel columns

The impacts of leftover foundry sand on steel sections filled with high strength Self-Consolidated Concrete (SCC) were investigated and addressed in this study. 24 steel sections were examined under progressive axial pressure to establish the optimal proportion of leftover foundry sand, a byproduct. 24 samples were divided into 12 columns with eight circular cross sections of 50 mm in radius and 500 mm in length, and eight additional specimens with square sections of 500 mm in length and 100 mm on each side. Additional 12 columns with eight circular specimens measuring 50 mm in radius and 1000 mm in height and eight square specimens measuring 100 mm on each side and 1000 mm in length. The twelve sections can be divided into hollow steel sections and SCC filled sections. The predicted outcome from the studies show that the capability of carrying axial loads and ductility of the SCC-filled steel sections are affected by the use of leftover foundry sand. Additionally, the steel section parts serve as external reinforcement to promote lateral stability and decrease local buckling. The square sections use 25% less steel than the circular sections. By substituting leftover foundry sand for some of the cement, SCC mixes are made. In this project, steel sections filled with self-consolidated concrete were made using varying amounts of leftover foundry sand, including 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20%. According to the analysis, steel columns with leftover foundry sand have a higher ultimate load than standard concrete, which results in a 12% reduction in construction costs. The work offers a remedy for efficient byproduct management that lessens environmental risk and creates an atmosphere that is eco-friendly.

Application of a deep learning image classifier for identification of Amazonian fishes.

Given the sharp increase in agricultural and infrastructure development and the paucity of widespread data available to support conservation management decisions, a more rapid and accurate tool for identifying fish fauna in the world's largest freshwater ecosystem, the Amazon, is needed. Current strategies for identification of freshwater fishes require high levels of training and taxonomic expertise for morphological identification or genetic testing for species recognition at a molecular level. To overcome these challenges, we built an image masking model (U-Net) and a convolutional neural net (CNN) to classify Amazonian fish in photographs. Fish used to generate training data were collected and photographed in tributaries in seasonally flooded forests of the upper Morona River valley in Loreto, Peru in 2018 and 2019. Species identifications in the training images (n = 3068) were verified by expert ichthyologists. These images were supplemented with photographs taken of additional Amazonian fish specimens housed in the ichthyological collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. We generated a CNN model that identified 33 genera of fishes with a mean accuracy of 97.9%. Wider availability of accurate freshwater fish image recognition tools, such as the one described here, will enable fishermen, local communities, and citizen scientists to more effectively participate in collecting and sharing data from their territories to inform policy and management decisions that impact them directly.

Is Santaniella a ranunculid? Reassessment of this enigmatic fossil angiosperm from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian, Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte, Brazil) provides a new interpretation.

The Lower Cretaceous Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte (CKL) preserves a rich flora that includes early angiosperms from northern Gondwana. From this area, the recently described fossil genus Santaniella was interpreted as a ranunculid (presumably Ranunculaceae). However, based on our examination of an additional specimen and a new phylogenetic analysis, we offer an alternative interpretation. The new fossil was collected from an active quarry for paving stones in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. We assessed support for alternative phylogenetic hypotheses using a combined analysis of morphological data and DNA sequence data using Bayesian inference. We used a consensus network to visualize the posterior distribution of trees, and we used RoguePlot to illustrate the support for alternative positions on a scaffold tree. The new material includes a flower-like structure not present in the original material and also includes follicles preserved at early stages of development. The flower-like structure is a compact terminal cluster of elliptical sterile laminar organs surrounding internal filamentous structures that occur on flexuous axes. Phylogenetic analyses did not support the fossil placement among eudicots. Instead, Santaniella appears to belong in the magnoliid clade. The presence of seeds in a marginal-linear placentation and enclosed in a follicle supports the fossil as an angiosperm. However, even though most characters are clearly recognizable, its combination of characters does not provide strong support for a close relationship to any extant order of flowering plants. Its position in the magnoliid clade is intriguing and, based on plicate carpels, it is definitely a mesangiosperm.

Notes on mammals collected on the 1885 Geographical Society of Australasia’s Expedition to New Guinea

In 1885 the Geographical Society of Australasia sent the steam launch Bonito to chart the Fly and Strickland Rivers (now in Western Province, Papua New Guinea). The Expedition spent five months in New Guinea with the primary objectives of survey and biological exploration. The type locality of the murid rodent Melomys muscalis froggatti Troughton, 1937, described from a single specimen obtained during the Expedition, is localized to the region of the base camp at Observation Bend, Strickland River, based on the original Expedition maps and the unpublished diary reminiscence of the collector W. W. Froggatt. A review of the mammal collection obtained during that Expedition has not been reported previously, perhaps due to the poor surviving documentation. Several months after the Expedition returned to Sydney, Australian Museum curator E. P. Ramsay prepared a list of 22 mammal specimens received by the Museum. Twenty specimens attributed to the Expedition were not entered into the collection registers until 1913, half of which are likely to be incorrectly associated with the Expedition. Most specimens were registered with very limited data about collection date and locality. Of the 22 specimens originally received by Ramsay, eight rodents and two flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) have not been located in the Collection, but might remain unrecognized as specimens with no data. It is possible that additional mammal specimens were sent by the Geographical Society of Australasia to other institutions at the conclusion of the Expedition.

Extinct but not entirely: A new occurrence of the critically endangered Squatina squatina (Linnaeus, 1758) stresses the urgency of its conservation in the Adriatic sea

The common angel shark (Squatina squatina), a critically endangered species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, has been extirpated and considered locally extinct in the Adriatic Sea due to historical intense targeted fisheries. Sighting and catches of the species are indeed currently occasional in the area. Here, we present a new record of a juvenile of common angel shark in the central Adriatic Sea and we review 135 additional specimens documented in the area since 2000s, after 40-years of no sightings. According to previous findings, our evidence suggest that the central Adriatic Sea may be a relevant habitat for early life stages of common angel shark. Due to the serious threatened status of the species, we stress the importance of urgent conservation actions needed in the Adriatic Sea.

A New Ant Species of Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Strumigenys is one of the largest genera of ants, and one of the few which has received relatively recent global taxonomic treatment at the species level. Despite this, many new species continue to be found in most biogeographic regions. Strumigenys flavianae sp. nov. is described based on material collected in Viçosa, in the state of Minas Gerais, among secondary growth remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Three workers of this new taxon are known, and the lack of additional specimens in the main ant collections harboring Atlantic Forest ants indicates its rarity. Strumigenys flavianae can be differentiated from all Neotropical Strumigenys for its overall slenderness, flagellate and wire-like pilosity, extremely long head, large and medially notched subpetiolar spongiform tissue and a mostly reticulate pleura. The new species is distinct from all other species found in the Atlantic Forest. It has similarities to some Amazonian species in the hyphata-group (S. cincinnata and S. hyphata) and the probatrix-group (S. doryceps), while still having significant differences relative to both. Therefore, a new species group was created to account for the new species.

Breast-Conserving Surgery Margin Guidance Using Micro-Computed Tomography: Challenges When Imaging Radiodense Resection Specimens.

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is an integral component of early-stage breast cancer treatment, but costly reexcision procedures are common due to the high prevalence of cancer-positive margins on primary resections. A need exists to develop and evaluate improved methods of margin assessment to detect positive margins intraoperatively. A prospective trial was conducted through which micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with radiological interpretation by three independent readers was evaluated for BCS margin assessment. Results were compared to standard-of-care intraoperative margin assessment (i.e., specimen palpation and radiography [abbreviated SIA]) for detecting cancer-positive margins. Six hundred margins from 100 patients were analyzed. Twenty-one margins in 14 patients were pathologically positive. On analysis at the specimen-level, SIA yielded a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 42.9%, 76.7%, 23.1%, and 89.2%, respectively. SIA correctly identified six of 14 margin-positive cases with a 23.5% falsepositive rate (FPR). Micro-CT readers achieved sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV ranges of 35.7-50.0%, 55.8-68.6%, 15.6-15.8%, and 86.8-87.3%, respectively. Micro-CT readers correctly identified five to seven of 14 margin-positive cases with an FPR range of 31.4-44.2%. If micro-CT scanning had been combined with SIA, up to three additional margin-positive specimens would have been identified. Micro-CT identified a similar proportion of margin-positive cases as standard specimen palpation and radiography, but due to difficulty distinguishing between radiodense fibroglandular tissue and cancer, resulted in a higher proportion of falsepositive margin assessments.

A New Rhynchosaur Taxon from the Popo Agie Formation, WY: Implications for a Northern Pangean Early-Late Triassic (Carnian) Fauna

New discoveries in the lower Popo Agie Formation (lower carbonate unit) of central Wyoming necessitated a reevaluation of USNM 494329 from the same unit, the only known hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur in western North America. Well known from Gondwanan deposits, hyperodapedontines appear to be restricted to the Carnian age (Late Triassic), with the exception of Teyumbaita in the earliest Norian age (Late Triassic) of Brazil. Initially assigned to c.f. ‘Hyperodapedon’ sanjuanensis, our phylogenetic analyses reject this hypothesis, in support of a sister relationship between USNM 494329 (Beesiiwo cooowuse, gen. et. sp. nov.) and Oryctorhynchus bairdi forming an early-diverging clade that is only distantly related to ‘H.’ sanjuanensis. Five additional specimens recovered from the lower Popo Agie are described. Three are referred to B. cooowuse, and another two are placed closer to Hyperodapedon and the remainder of Hyperodapedontinae. Our analysis demonstrates potential temporal distinction between a grade of earliest-diverging hyperodapedontines (including all Wyoming taxa) and a exclusively Late Carnian, Southern Pangaean hyperodapedontine clade (including ‘H.’ sanjuanensis). We consider the lower Popo Agie Formation to represent the first nonmarine Late Triassic unit of Western North America that can be confidently restricted to the Carnian age.

The phylogenetic relationship among two species of genus Nebo (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) from Saudi Arabia and Middle East

BackgroundThe genus Nebo has been identified as a medically important scorpion species distributed across Arabia and the Middle East. However, its taxonomic status remains unclear.AimThe molecular phylogeny of two Nebo species from Saudi Arabia and comparative sequences from Palestine is presented based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene.MethodologyScorpion specimens were collected from two different localities, mainly the Southern part of Saudi Arabia. Then, DNA was extracted, amplified using invertebrate universal primers, and sequenced to identify the COI gene. The obtained sequences were analyzed, and phylogenetic trees based on maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, and Bayesian inference were constructed.ResultsThe inferred phylogeny indicates the monophyletic status of the family Diplocentridae and its subfamily Nebinae and Diplocentrinae. Also, the phylogenetic analyses support the existence of interspecific and intraspecific variations among/ within Nebo hierichonticus and Nebo yemenensis which may indicate distinct species.ConclusionFurther morphological studies with additional specimens from the Arabian Peninsula may reveal possible undiscovered and cryptic species.

Lectotypification and an Emended Description of Rosa ×fernaldiorum

The recently named nothospecies Rosa ×fernaldiorum was incorrectly described as a hybrid between R. carolina and R. nitida. We show that the proper hybrid formula is R. nitida × R. palustris. The purported holotype was found to consist of three specimens mounted on two sheets; we here choose a lectotype from this material, correct the hybrid formula, provide a more complete description than in the original place of publication, and cite additional specimens.

Description of a new genus and new species of deep-water stenopodid shrimp from the western Atlantic, with remarks on Odontozona Holthuis, 1946 and Richardina A. Milne-Edwards, 1881 (Decapoda: Stenopodidea)

A new genus, Jogoya, gen. nov., is established for a new species of stenopodid shrimp, Jogoya alucia sp. nov., the holotype and single specimen of which was collected during a manned submersible dive in the Bahamas in 2019, and two additional specimens collected during earlier expeditions, one also from the Bahamas and one from Anguilla. The new genus appears to occupy an intermediate position between Richardina A. Milne-Edwards, 1881 and Odontozona Holthuis, 1946. Jogoya gen. nov. is characterised by the presence of unusually large spines on the cervical cincture of the carapace, a feature shared with a species originally described as Odontozona foresti Hendrickx, 2002 and herein tentatively transferred to Jogoya gen. nov., as Jogoya foresti (Hendrickx, 2002), comb. nov. The most conspicuous morphological difference between J. alucia sp. nov. and J. foresti is in the armature of the posterior half of the carapace, with the latter species having a post-cervical cincture armed with strong spines, which is absent in the new species. The two species of Jogoya gen. nov. also differ greatly by their colour patterns.

Multi-Body 3D-2D Registration for Robot-Assisted Joint Reduction: Preclinical Evaluation in the Ankle Syndesmosis.

Existing methods to improve the accuracy of tibiofibular joint reduction present workflow challenges, high radiation exposure, and a lack of accuracy and precision, leading to poor surgical outcomes. To address these limitations, we propose a method to perform robot-assisted joint reduction using intraoperative imaging to align the dislocated fibula to a target pose relative to the tibia. The approach (1) localizes the robot via 3D-2D registration of a custom plate adapter attached to its end effector, (2) localizes the tibia and fibula using multi-body 3D-2D registration, and (3) drives the robot to reduce the dislocated fibula according to the target plan. The custom robot adapter was designed to interface directly with the fibular plate while presenting radiographic features to aid registration. Registration accuracy was evaluated on a cadaveric ankle specimen, and the feasibility of robotic guidance was assessed by manipulating a dislocated fibula in a cadaver ankle. Using standard AP and mortise radiographic views registration errors were measured to be less than 1 mm and 1° for the robot adapter and the ankle bones. Experiments in a cadaveric specimen revealed up to 4 mm deviations from the intended path, which was reduced to <2 mm using corrective actions guided by intraoperative imaging and 3D-2D registration. Preclinical studies suggest that significant robot flex and tibial motion occur during fibula manipulation, motivating the use of the proposed method to dynamically correct the robot trajectory. Accurate robot registration was achieved via the use of fiducials embedded within the custom design. Future work will evaluate the approach on a custom radiolucent robot design currently under construction and verify the solution on additional cadaveric specimens.

In-vitro performance of subtractively and additively manufactured resin-based molar crowns

PurposeTo compare the in-vitro performance and wear behavior of additively or subtractively fabricated resin-based composite molar crowns for temporary and permanent application. Materials and methodsIdentical molar crowns (n = 8 per group) were manufactured from materials for temporary or permanent application (3x temporary additive fabrication, 3x additive permanent fabrication, 1x temporary subtractive fabrication, 1x permanent subtractive fabrication). All crowns were adhesively bonded (Calibra Universal, Dentsply Sirona, USA) on standardized resin-based composite molars (FDI 46, P Pro temporary Crown & Bridge). Thermal cycling and mechanical loading (2 × 3000 × 5°C/55 °C, 2min, H20 dist., 1.2 × 106 force 50N) were performed and fracture force was determined (v = 1 mm/min, Z010, Zwick, Germany). Mean wear, maximum wear, and roughness were investigated on polished (P1200) specimens (n = 8 per group, d = 8 mm) in a pin-on-block test (50N; 120000 cycles; 1.6Hz; H2O). Statistics were performed by using one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc-tests, and Pearson-correlation (α = 0.05). ResultsAll crowns survived TCML without failures. Fracture forces ranged from 1362.4 ± 182.4N to 2354.1 ± 373.3N for the additive temporary crowns, from 1680.4.4 ± 525.1N to 2601.6 ± 403.7N for the additive permanent crowns, and reached values of 2988.5 ± 604.7N for subtractive temporary crowns and 3092.0 ± 307.6 N for subtractive permanent crowns. Significant (p < 0.001) differences were identified between the various additively manufactured systems, but not for the subtractively fabricated systems (p = 0.673). Mean wear of the additive temporary crowns ranged between 114.5 ± 25.8 μm and 163.8 ± 21.4 μm without significant differences (p = 0.061). Mean wear of the additive permanent crowns ranged between 120.0 ± 27.5 μm and 171.3 ± 31.8 μm with significant differences (p = 0.004). No statistically significant differences were identified between temporary and permanent subtractively manufactured specimens, with mean wear ranging between 140.5 ± 51.1 μm and 176.6 ± 26.8 μm (p = 0.673). Maximum wear of additive temporary specimens ranged between 221.4.5 ± 53.3 μm and 322.1 ± 50.6 μm; significant differences were identified between the groups (p = 0.016). Maximum wear of additive permanent specimens ranged between 246.3 ± 47.3 μm and 337.4 ± 61.4 μm, and significant differences were identified between the groups (p = 0.006). Mean wear of the subtractive group (permanent and temporary) showed no differences in maximum wear from 277.9 ± 79.7.1 μm to 316.4 ± 58.1 μm (p = 0.288). Ra roughness ranged from 0.7 ± 0.2 μm to 3.6 ± 1.3 μm with significant differences (p < 0.001) and Rz reference between 65.9 ± 26.2 μm and 16.8 ± 6.3 μm. ConclusionTemporary and permanent molar crowns provided at least acceptable in-vitro performance and fracture force for clinical mid-term application. Laboratory wear stability of the resin-based materials appeared sufficient, but should be verified under clinical conditions.

Stilobezzia Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Brazilian Amazon: three new species, redescription of S. (Stilobezzia) maculata Lane and new records

Three new species of Stilobezzia Kieffer, 1911 are described and illustrated from the Brazilian Amazon, two in the nominotypical subgenus Stilobezzia: S. (Stilobezzia) brasiliensis n. sp. and S. (Stilobezzia) campinaranensis n. sp., and one in the subgenus Acanthohelea: S. (Acanthohelea) medialuna n. sp. We also redescribe and re-illustrate S. (Stilobezzia) maculata Lane based on the examination of type material and additional specimens. In addition, S. (Eukraiohelea) proxima Cazorla & Felippe-Bauer, S. (Eukraiohelea) quasielegantula Cazorla & Felippe-Bauer, S. (Stilobezzia) chaconi Macfie, S. (Stilobezzia) glauca Macfie, and S. (Stilobezzia) maculata are recorded for the first time from the state of Amazonas, northern Brazil. The number of Stilobezzia species in Brazilian Amazon increases from 11 to 19.

Effect of reinforced recycled sawdust-fibers additive on the performance of ecological compressed earth bricks

This study assesses the potential of waste wood sawdust, as a construction material additive, on the mechanical, thermal and physicochemical properties of compressed earth bricks. Following X-Ray Diffraction and Fluorescence analysis, the used raw clay material, retrieved from Ifrane, Morocco, was found to be of type Illite, with a prominent SiO2 content, 59.60%, making it a suitable construction material. Multiple waste additive proportions were analyzed (0%, 1%, 3%, 7%, 15% and 20%), by weight, at different sizes: small size: (δ ≤ 0.5 mm), medium size: (0.5 mm < δ ≤ 1 mm), and large size: (1 mm < δ ≤ 3 mm). The incorporation of higher recycled sawdust waste additive content at larger sizes produced bricks with higher porosity levels. This resulted in manufacturing lightweight brick structures, below the 1.70 g/cm3 permissible limit, with higher water absorption rates. Improvements in compressive strength in prepared samples were observed with the incorporation of smaller additive sizes. In fact, 3% additive specimens recorded a 6.05 MPa at larger sizes, compared to 7.69 MPa with smaller additive sizes, reflecting a 22% mechanical compressive strength gain. Produced samples manifested enhanced thermal performances with the use of the sawdust waste additive in the 60% and 36% range for thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, respectively; in addition to recording prominent energy savings in terms of thermal heating and cooling loads, with energy gains in the 50% interval. Theoretical models were developed to test the accuracy of the experimental findings. An obtained good correlation coefficient, very close to 1, corroborated the accuracy of the collected findings.

Effect of whitening products on sound enamel and on artificial caries lesions during a cariogenic challenge.

To investigate the effect of fluoride-containing whitening products on sound enamel and on artificial caries lesions during a cariogenic challenge. Bovine enamel specimens (n = 120) with three areas [non-treated sound enamel (NSE), treated sound enamel (TSE), and treated artificial caries lesion (TACL)] were randomly assigned to the four groups: whitening mouthrinse (WM: 2.5% hydrogen peroxide-100ppm F-), placebo mouthrinse (PM: 0% hydrogen peroxide-100ppm F-), whitening gel (WG: 10% carbamide peroxide-1130ppm F-), and deionized water (negative control; NC). The treatments (2min for WM, PM, and NC, and 2h for WG) were carried out during a 28-day pH-cycling model (6 × 60min demineralization/day). Relative surface reflection intensity (rSRI) and transversal microradiography (TMR) analyses were performed. Fluoride uptake (surface and subsurface) was measured in additional enamel specimens. For TSE, a higher value of rSRI was observed in WM (89.99% ± 6.94), and a greater decrease in rSRI was observed for WG and NC, and no sign of mineral loss was verified for all groups (p > 0.05). For TACL, rSRI significantly decreased after pH-cycling for all experimental groups with no difference between them (p < 0.05). Higher amounts of fluoride were found in WG. WG and WM exhibited intermediate values of mineral loss, similar to PM. The whitening products did not potentialize the enamel demineralization under a severe cariogenic challenge, and they did not exacerbate mineral loss of the artificial caries lesions. Low concentrated hydrogen peroxide whitening gel and mouthrinse containing fluoride do not intensify the progression of caries lesions.

Mordellistenaplatypoda, a new species of tumbling flower beetle from the island of Ischia in Italy (Coleoptera, Mordellidae).

Mordellistena A. Costa, 1854, the most species-rich genus of tumbling flower beetles comprises more than 800 species worldwide and more than 150 reported from Europe. Here, a new species Mordellistena(s. str.)platypoda is described from the island of Ischia in Italy. The species hypothesis is based primarily on morphological characters which are visualised using scanning electron microscopy images, high-resolution photographs, and drawings. The species hypothesis is supported by analysis of a 658 bp fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Divergences in the COI gene are evaluated using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The species delimitation is assessed using Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) and Poisson Tree Processes (PTP) methods. Genetic distances are visualised using multidimensional scaling. Mordellistenaplatypoda Selnekovič, Goffová & Kodada, sp. nov. is recovered as a well-separated species by both molecular and morphological analyses. Our results show that M.platypoda Selnekovič, Goffová & Kodada, sp. nov. is most closely related to M.tarsata Mulsant, 1856, although the two species differ significantly in vestiture colouration, presence of lateral ctenidia on the third metatarsomere, and presence of sexual dimorphism on the protibia. The results indicate that such morphological differences, which were traditionally used to distinguish between species groups, may in fact be present between closely related species. Interestingly, examination of the numerous museum material did not reveal additional specimens of the new species, and therefore M.platypoda Selnekovič, Goffová & Kodada, sp. nov. is currently known only from the Italian island of Ischia.

Preliminary study on genetic differences between two species of finless porpoises, genus Neophocaena, with lack of genetic divergence between two subspecies of the narrow-ridged finless porpoise, N. asiaeorientalis: cytochrome b sequence analyses

Using samples from bycaught finless porpoises, cytochrome b sequences were analysed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The aims were to: (1) determine genetic divergences within the genus Neophocaena; (2) examine interspecific divergences between N. asiaeorientalis and N. phocaenoides; and (3) examine intraspecific divergence between N.a. asiaeorientalis and N.a. sunameri. For this purpose, complete cytochrome b sequences for 12 N.a. sunameri specimens, collected from fishery markets at Pohang in southeastern Korea, were obtained, and these sequences were compared to the corresponding partial (402bp) and complete (1,140bp) sequences of Neophocaena, obtained from GenBank. From a maximum likelihood tree with the partial sequences of the two Neophocaena species, two clades were detected, corresponding to the two species, with average genetic distance of 1.64%, four fixed site differences (1.00%), and a Gst value of 0.64, although we did not examine the specimens from Southeast Asia and contiguous South China Sea. Furthermore, from the complete sequences, we recognised a lack of genetic divergence between the two subspecies of N. asiaeorientalis, with a Gst value of 0.06 and two pairs of identical sequences between them, indicating that our results do not support current subspecies classification. Thus, we newly found that our cytochrome b sequencing results are useful for the examination of interspecific and intraspecific divergences in Neohpocaena, although further genetic analyses with additional specimens of Neophocaena across its distributional range are necessary to confirm the findings in this study.