Ray Counts Research Articles

Callogobius liolepis Bleeker, a senior synonym of Gobiopsis aporia Lachner and McKinney (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiopsis).

Callogobius liolepis Bleeker in Koumans was briefly described from two specimens from Ambon. A later, more detailed description by Koumans was apparently based on Bleeker's unpublished description and specimens of C. okinawae (Snyder), considerably complicating the taxonomy of several species. Re-examination of the syntypes identifies C. liolepis as a species of the genus Gobiopsis Steindachner due to the absence of raised vertical ridges of papillae that characterise Callogobius and the presence of barbels in a pattern unique among gobiids to a subset of Gobiopsis. Gobiopsis liolepis (Bleeker) is determined as the senior synonym of G. aporia Lachner and McKinney based on the absence of head pores combined with the presence of a series of tightly spaced papillae over the eye, lateral scale counts of 36-42, pectoral-fin ray counts of 20-21, dorsal-fin ray counts VI+I,10 and anal-fin ray counts of I,9. The larger syntype is designated the lectotype and the smaller the paralectotype. Specimens identified as C. liolepis in museums or the literature are likely referable to C. okinawae (Snyder) or C. bifasciatus (Smith).

Review Of Stiphodon (Gobiidae: Sicydiinae) From Western Sumatra, With Description Of A New Species

Three Stiphodon species are found on the western slope of Sumatra, Indonesia. They include a new species, S. maculidorsalis, distinguished from its congeners by second dorsal- and pectoral-fi n ray counts (usually I, 9 and 15, respectively) and relatively high premaxillary teeth counts, pointed fi rst dorsal fi n of male, scalation on dorsum of head and trunk, black spots scattering dorsally on head and trunk of male and female, broad black bands on distal part of second dorsal fi n and dorsal part of caudal fi n of male, fi ne black spots on pectoral-fi n rays of male, and dusky transverse bars laterally on trunk and tail of female. The other two species are S. ornatus and S. semoni; the latter is fi rst reported from this region, expanding the westernmost limit of the range of this widespread species. These three species appear to form the major components of the Stiphodon gobies in the aquarium trade.

Kanekonia leichhardti, a new species of velvetfish (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Aploactinidae) from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia)

Kanekonia leichhardti, new species, is described from three specimens dredged on soft bottom in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. It is distinguished from its three congeners by a combination of mostly smooth skin with minute, sparsely distributed velvety scales, long snout, narrow head and body, slightly notched predorsal profile, low anal-fin ray and lateral-line tube count, and distinctive configuration of the interorbital ridges (interorbital ridges not prominently sculptured, converging anteriorly to form an inverted Y shape, the symphysis above a vertical from the middle of the eye, and continuing as a single ridge to the base of the first dorsal-fin spine). The species appears to be rare and possibly endemic to the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Wide-ranging surveys conducted with similar gear on the north-west shelf of Western Australia and coastal and inter-reef soft bottom habitats from Torres Strait south throughout the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef have failed to collect any further specimens.

A new species of the Genus Microbrotula (Teleostei: Bythitidae) from Cenderawasih Bay, New Guinea, Indonesia

Following the recent revision of Microbrotula (Schwarzhans & Nielsen, 2011), an additional nine specimens of the vivi-parous genus Microbrotula (Teleostei: Bythitidae), all caught in the Cenderawasih Bay, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indone-sia, were made available to us. These specimens represent a new species described here as M. geraldalleni. It belongs tothe group of species with 6 caudal and 14 pectoral fin rays and is closest to M. greenfieldi, differing in the higher dorsaland anal fin ray counts (68–73 and 61–65 vs. 62–70 and 58–61, respectively), the presence of 3 posterior mandibular pores(vs. none), 2–3 preopercular pores (vs. none), a connected squamation over the head including cheek, opercle and occiput(vs. 3 separated scale patches) and with a unique scale-less triangular window just above the opercle. Microbrotula geraldalleni may be endemic to the Cenderawasih Bay.

Revision of Hastatobythites and Saccogaster (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with three new species and a new genus

Material of three similar and probably related genera of the viviparous ophidiiform family, Bythitidae, has been studied.The monotypic Hastatobythites is only known from the original two specimens; re-examination of the paratype and infor-mation of the holotype clearly demonstrates the validity of the genus. The revision of Saccogaster (Cohen & Nielsen1972) was based on 15 specimens. Since then 29 additional specimens have been collected representing 11 species, threeof which are here described: S. brayae, horrida and nikoliviae. Three of the 11 Saccogaster species, S. melanomycter, S.normae and S. rhamphidognatha, differ so much from the remaining eight that a new genus, Parasaccogaster, is de-scribed. The main diagnostic characters used for the three genera are: A pair of spines on frontal plate behind eyes, spineson snout, length of gill filaments on anterior arch, number and length of developed gill rakers, size of gill opening, thick-ness of skin, head pores, otolith morphology, color marks on head, neuromasts on head and head morphometrics, fin ray counts.

Investigation of I-125 Uptake in Five Different Plants

Background: Radioiodine 125I is an environmental contaminant that humans may consume in edible plants. The characteristics of 125I in plants are poorly understood. Objectives: This study examined 125I concentrations in the edible parts of five types of plants from different locations on farms with a similar climate. Near Zahedan, Iran. Materials and Methods: The experiments used a mini-column approach in which more realistic conditions than those of the batch-sorption technique were maintained. Twenty sub-samples from the leaves and stems of five different plants (sugar beet, turnip, alfalfa, oat and bamboo) were obtained, and 445 Bq of 125I was added to the plants. Results: Immediately, and after one month, 500 g of each wet plant sub-sample was placed in a test tube, and the 125I contents of the stem and leaves were measured for 20 s by a gamma ray counting machine. The 125I concentration either increased or was reduced in the edible parts of the plants. More radioactive adsorption occurred in the leaves than in the stems in all cases. Conclusion: Radioiodine concentrations depended upon the type of plant. Such knowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of radioiodine adsorption in plants is essential for estimating the behavior of the iodide group, especially the transfer of 129Ito other systems.

A new species of cave catfish from Brazil, Trichomycterus rubbioli sp.n., from Serra do Ramalho karstic area, São Francisco River basin, Bahia State (Silurifomes: Trichomycteridae)

Trichomycterus rubbioli, herein described, is a new species from the limestone caves of the Água Clara system from theSerra do Ramalho karstic area, southwest of Bahia State, north-eastern Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by the com-bination of the following non-exclusive characters: highly reduced skin pigmentation; reduced eyes, externally visible assmall black or reddish-brown spots; long barbels, especially the nasal (86.9–127.1% of head length) and maxillary (98.1–129.3% of head length); and pectoral-fin ray count reaching I, 9. The troglobitic status is suggested by the presence oftroglomorphisms on an advanced degree, especially the reduction of skin pigmentation and the regression of the eyes, be-sides the absence of individuals in superficial drainages of the region. Population densities, recorded on two occasions,were extremely low. Trichomycterus rubbioli occurs in water bodies formed by infiltration in the rock, and, because of this, it must be considered fragile and as a priority in conservation programs of Brazilian karstic areas.

Microgobius urraca (Teleostei: Gobiidae), a new species of goby from the tropical eastern Pacific

A new species of goby in the genus Microgobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiosomatini) is described from the Pacific coastof Panama. It is morphologically similar to M. erectus, but differs from that species in possessing fewer lateral scale rows,lacking a patch of ctenoid scales under the pectoral fin, having unpigmented epaxial myosepta, having a distinct oval-shaped dark blotch on the first dorsal fin, and possessing three blue-white stripes on a dark caudal fin. Differences in boththe number and type of scales, dorsal and anal fin ray counts, the poor development of a fleshy dorsal crest, and overallcolor patterns further distinguish this species from the remaining eastern Pacific congeners. Photographs of all Pacific species of Microgobius and a dichotomous key to the Pacific members of the genus are provided.

Nuclear forensics education at the University of Texas at Austin

Nuclear forensics continues to be an integral part of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration. As with our previous three-year Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program we will continue to offer a comprehensive educational program and closely collaborate with national laboratories to pursue common research. Our research will primarily focus on analysis of radioactive debris following a nuclear or radiological dispersive device event or the investigation of the pedigree of nuclear materials in nonproliferation. This research will include using Compton suppression and gamma coincidence low-level gamma ray counting, investigation of nuclear fuel cycles for nonproliferation, on-site inspection within the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and radioxenon detection physics. We also offer a graduate program in nuclear robotics, an interdisciplinary program in the automation of handling special nuclear materials. To better equip our students who are entering the workforce at the national laboratories and government agencies we are also proposing the development of several new laboratory modules for non-destructive identification of fission products in environmental samples and irradiated uranium specimens at various enrichments and characterizing naturally occurring radioactive material. Collaboration with Florida Memorial University a Historically Black Colleges and Universities will continue for training and collaborative research.

Revision of the genus Parequula (Pisces: Gerreidae) with a new species from southwestern Australia

The genus Parequula, which has long been considered monotypic, is reviewed with a new species described fromsouthwestern Australia on the basis of 21 types and 17 non-type specimens (42–81 mm in standard length); its onlycongener, P. melbournensis (Castelnau), is also redescribed. Parequula elongata n. sp. differs from P. melbournensis inhaving a more slender body, a lower soft anal-fin ray count (14–15, mode 15 vs. 16–18, mode 17), a lower pored lateral-line scale count (34–35, mode 34 vs. 37–40, mode 38), and the dorsal fin with a reddish upper margin when fresh (vs.semi-translucent to bluish with a narrow, parallel, yellowish vertical line on each fin membrane and a yellowish fin marginin P. melbournensis). Furthermore, the head profile of P. elongata n. sp. is nearly straight to slightly convex, whereas P.melbournensis is distinctly concave in outline above the eyes. Nominal species (junior synonyms) of P. melbournensis are discussed and a key to the two species is also provided.

Determining trace amounts of nickel in plant samples by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis of plant samples for trace amounts of nickel has applications in various fields. Landsberger and Robinson (Trans Am Nucl Soc 102:187–188, 2010) found their measurement of the concentrations of nickel for different NIST reference materials to be significantly greater than the certified values when measuring nickel from the 810.8 keV gamma ray that comes from 58Co from the 58Ni(n,p) reaction. They determined that this overestimation was due to a significant interference by the presence of 152Eu at 810.5 keV, and presented a method for correcting this interference. Their method involved a long thermal irradiation and correction of gamma ray counts based on the 1,408 keV belonging to 152Eu. This paper presents an alternative approach, which involves irradiating the samples with epithermal neutrons, which suppressed the 152Eu to the point of being negligible for samples with low levels of europium. Both methods were determined to work well for the identification of nickel concentrations by neutron activation analysis.

Freshwater sculpin dwelling in Lake Chuzenji, Nikko, Kanto District, Japan, is identified as Utsusemikajika, Cottus reinii, unintentionally introduced from Lake Biwa

Freshwater sculpin dwelling in Lake Chuzenji, Nikko, Kanto District, Japan, was identified as the lacustrine type of Cottus reinii, Utsusemikajika, by using a combina- tion of pectoral fin ray counts (15-17, mode 16), mito- chondrial DNA variations and egg size (1.33 ± 0.06 mm). We suppose that C. reinii in Lake Chuzenji was introduced unintentionally from Lake Biwa along with either Oncorhynchus masou subsp. or Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus during the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. This is the first report of an establishment of the lacustrine type of C. reinii outside of Lake Biwa.

A new species of the deepwater clingfish genus Kopua (Gobiesociformes: Gobiesocidae) from the East China Sea—an example of antitropicality?

A new species of deepwater clingfish, Kopua japonica sp. nov., is described from the East China Sea. It is distinguished fromthe other members of the genus by anal and dorsal fin ray counts and a unique arrangement of sensory pores on the head. It isalso the first record of the genus from the Northern Hemisphere and this record may be an important deepwater addition to antitropicality in marine fishes.

Three-dimensional Noninvasive Monitoring Iodine-131 Uptake in the Thyroid Using a Modified Cerenkov Luminescence Tomography Approach

BackgroundCerenkov luminescence tomography (CLT) provides the three-dimensional (3D) radiopharmaceutical biodistribution in small living animals, which is vital to biomedical imaging. However, existing single-spectral and multispectral methods are not very efficient and effective at reconstructing the distribution of the radionuclide tracer. In this paper, we present a semi-quantitative Cerenkov radiation spectral characteristic-based source reconstruction method named the hybrid spectral CLT, to efficiently reconstruct the radionuclide tracer with both encouraging reconstruction results and less acquisition and image reconstruction time.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe constructed the implantation mouse model implanted with a 400 µCi Na131I radioactive source and the physiological mouse model received an intravenous tail injection of 400 µCi radiopharmaceutical Iodine-131 (I-131) to validate the performance of the hybrid spectral CLT and compared the reconstruction results, acquisition, and image reconstruction time with that of single-spectral and multispectral CLT. Furthermore, we performed 3D noninvasive monitoring of I-131 uptake in the thyroid and quantified I-131 uptake in vivo using hybrid spectral CLT. Results showed that the reconstruction based on the hybrid spectral CLT was more accurate in localization and quantification than using single-spectral CLT, and was more efficient in the in vivo experiment compared with multispectral CLT. Additionally, 3D visualization of longitudinal observations suggested that the reconstructed energy of I-131 uptake in the thyroid increased with acquisition time and there was a robust correlation between the reconstructed energy versus the gamma ray counts of I-131 (). The ex vivo biodistribution experiment further confirmed the I-131 uptake in the thyroid for hybrid spectral CLT.Conclusions/SignificanceResults indicated that hybrid spectral CLT could be potentially used for thyroid imaging to evaluate its function and monitor its treatment for thyroid cancer.

Systematic revision of the formerly monotypic genus Tanganikallabes (Siluriformes: Clariidae)

The monotypic genus Tanganikallabes, endemic to Lake Tanganyika, is a poorly known member of the family Clariidae. Examination of 142 specimens housed in museum collections has revealed the presence of at least two additional species in this genus. Tanganikallabes alboperca sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by the length of its pelvic fins, the presence of a depigmented vertical bar on the opercular margin, and a combination of additional morphometric (pectoral spine length, preanal length, body depth at anus) and meristic (dorsal and anal fin ray counts) characters. Tanganikallabes stewarti sp. nov. is distinguished from other Tanganikallabes species by having a relatively shorter, incomplete lateral line, and shallow body depth at the anus, as well as shorter prepelvic and preanal lengths, and a longer anal fin with a higher number of fin rays. Several morphological characters, as well as genetic data from cytochrome b (mitochondrial DNA) and 18S–ITS1–5.8S–ITS2–28S (ribosomal DNA), indicate that Tanganikallabes constitutes a monophyletic group within the Clariidae and support the recognition of additional species diversity. The monophyly of Tanganikallabes, coupled with the geographical isolation of this group to a single lake satisfy the requirements for its classification as a true species flock, the latest to be described from Lake Tanganyika. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 121–142.

Eviota atriventris, a New Goby Previously Misidentified as Eviota pellucida Larson (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

A species commonly identified as Eviota pellucida in the literature has been misidentified and is in fact an undescribedspecies, described here as E. atriventris. Eviota pellucida is known only from the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Ponape,Mariana Islands, and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Eviota atriventris is known from the Ryukyu Islands, Philippine Islands,Palau Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Eviota atriventris differs from E. pellucida in both preserved and live coloration and in pectoral-fin ray counts.

Cosmic ray modulation by different types of solar wind disturbances

Context. Solar wind disturbances such as interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs) cause short-term cosmic ray depressions, generally denoted as Forbush decreases. Aims. We conduct a systematic statistical study of various aspects of Forbush decreases. The analysis provides empirical background for physical interpretations of short-term cosmic ray modulations. Methods. Firstly, we analyzed the effects of different types of solar wind disturbances, and secondly, we focused on the phenomenon of over-recovery (the return of the cosmic ray count to a value higher than the pre-decrease level). The analysis is based on groundbased neutron monitor data and the solar wind data recorded by the Advanced Composition Explorer. The correlations between various cosmic ray depressions and solar wind parameters as well as their statistical significance are analyzed in detail. In addition, we performed a normalized superposed epoch analysis for depressions and magnetic field enhancements. Results. The analysis revealed differences in the relationship between different solar wind disturbances and cosmic ray depression parameters. The amplitude of the depression for ICMEs was found to correlate well with the amplitudes of magnetic field strength and fluctuations, whereas for CIRs we found only the correlation between the amplitude of the depression and the solar wind disturbance dimension proxy vtB. Similar behavior was found for shock and no-shock events, respectively. The CIR/ICME composites show a specific behavior that is a mixture of both ICMEs and CIRs. For all analyzed categories we found that the duration of the depression correlates with the duration of the solar wind disturbance. The analysis of the over-recovery showed that there is no straightforward relationship to either “branching-effect” or geomagnetic effects, therefore we propose a scenario where the “branching-effect” is caused by several factors and is only indirectly related to the over-recovery.

SCALES OF VARIABILITY IN FIN RAY COUNTS OF FLOUNDER, PLATICHTHYS FLESUS L. ON IRISH AND WELSH COASTS

Meristic variation within a fish species can arise due to environmental factors and can aid investigation between fish stocks and closely related juvenile fish species. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial variation in meristic characteristics for juvenile flounder Platichthys flesus from Irish and Welsh coasts. Five meristic fin ray counts were taken from 120 fish from nursery grounds in three regions (west Irish coast, east Irish coast and Welsh coast). Statistical analysis revealed regional variability for two of the meristic counts (dorsal and anal fin rays). A discriminant function analysis revealed a weak separation of the three regions. This separation improved when samples from the east Irish region were eliminated, with 65% of the fish from the Irish west coast and 73% of the fish from Wales correctly classified.

Scales of variability in fin ray counts of flounder <i>Platichthys flesus</i> L. on Irish and Welsh coasts

Scales of variability in fin ray counts of flounder <i>Platichthys flesus</i> L. on Irish and Welsh coasts

Discovery of fossil Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) from the Upper Miocene of Shimane Prefecture, Japan

The Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, comprising three subspecies, is the only species in the genus Plecoglossus in the family Osmeridae. Here, we describe for the first time the discovery of fossil specimens of P. altivelis from the Upper Miocene sediment of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. The fossil individuals are subadult and have comb teeth in the second and third generations. These fossil specimens are clearly similar to the recent P. altivelis, the former’s meristic characters being included in the three recent subspecies. In terms of numbers of pectoral fin rays and vertebrae, the fossil specimens are more similar to the subspecies Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis than the other subspecies, but they also show different dorsal fin shapes and anal fin ray counts. This discovery of fossil P. altivelis indicates the persistence of the species for at least 10 million years, from the Late Miocene to the present.