The haemoproteids of the Old World avian families Alaudidae (larks), Irenidae (leaf birds), and Motacillidae (wagtails and pipits)

The haemoproteids of the Old World passeriform families Alaudidae, Irenidae and Motacillidae are reviewed. Haemoproteus alaudae Celli and Sanfelice, 1891 of the Alaudidae and H. aegithinae de Mello, 1937 of the Irenidae are re-described and neohapantotypes designated. Haemoproteus anthi de Mello, 1937 from the Motacillidae is re-described and H. motacillae n. sp. is also described from this family.     

The developmental sequence of Argulus foliaceus (Crustacea: Branchiura)

We describe and illustrate the complete development of Argulus foliaceus L. A metanauplius is followed by nine juvenile stages. Eggs were detected in the thorax of the female at the 11th stage. Comparisons are made between the development of A. foliaceus and the other freshwater species of Argulus currently found in the UK.     

A new and enigmatic representative of Leucocythere Kaufmann, 1892 from the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa) (Crustacea,Ostracoda)

Leucocythere helenae sp. nov. is described from a small, semi-permanent dam near Grahamstown (RSA). It belongs to Leucocythere s.s., but is at the same time characterized by a number of aberrant features, especially the shape and size of the large copulatory process on the hemipenis and the relatively short setae on the P(3) of the male. A cladistic analysis is conducted and it appears that within Leucocythere, the African species have the most plesiomorphic character states. The discovery of L. helenae sp. nov. in South Africa furthermore falsifies previous hypotheses on the age and origin of the Leucocytherini in general and Leucocythere s.s. in particular. It should now be accepted that the latter genus is not of Pleistocene age, but much older, although the lack of fossil material prevents more exact dating. Also, when the cladogram is studied in conjunction with the present day distribution map of Leucocythere, the concept of a Palaearctic origin of this genus must be rejected. The most plausible hypothesis to date on the origin of this group appears to be a generalized distribution of a leucocytherid ancestor over Europe, Asia and Africa (at least), with subsequent speciation through vicariance.     

The aberrant and monotypic soft coral genus Malacacanthus Thomson, 1910 (Octocorallia: Alcyoniidae) endemic to southern Africa

The monotypic soft coral genus Malacacanthus has recently been rediscovered by means of scuba and is shown to be locally common and endemic in the shallow sublittoral of South Africa. Malacacanthus capensis (Hickson, 1900) is shown to be the proper taxonomic designation for the species. This species has previously been a problematic one due to the possession of several unusual morphological characteristics, including the total lack of sclerites and possession of a tough horny cuticle covering the stalk. The taxon is here shown to belong in the family Alcyoniidae by the possession of a full complement of mesenterial filaments, and not to the family Xeniidae as assigned by several previous authors. The species is here redescribed and the systematic status is revised. New observations on ecology and natural history from living colonies are also included.     

渗碳体形态对高碳珠光体钢组织及性能的影响

为研究SWRS82B钢不同条件下进行的大过冷工艺所形成的渗碳体形态对珠光体亚结构组织及性能的影响,制定相关热处理工艺:将试样在880℃奥氏体化15 min后,以70,100,200℃/s的冷速过冷到300℃等温3~15s,之后升温至珠光体区等温1min,最后快冷至室温.通过SEM和TEM观察,以及MTS拉伸试验机得到的数据,结果表明,在过冷时间为3s的前提下,随着冷速的增长,渗碳体由完整片层状发生不同程度的碎化.在200℃/s时,渗碳体已经大面积碎化,并发现大量的纳米级渗碳体,抗拉强度表现为先降低后升高,伸长率持续升高.当冷却速度为70℃/s时,随着过冷时间的延长,抗拉强度和伸长率都表现为先降低后增大的特点.纳米渗碳体随着过冷时间的延长开始减少,到达15s时,开始出现了贝氏体组织.     

Bionomics,behaviour and immature stages of Pelecotoma fennica (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae)

Ptilinus fuscus (Anobiidae) was confirmed as the host species of Pelecotoma fennica (Rhipiphoridae, Pelecotominae). Females of Pelecotoma oviposit into the wood infested by the host larvae. First-instar larvae are elongate, unsclerotized, very different from the triungulinid larvae known in other rhipiphorids. They search actively for the host larvae in the wood; no phoresy is involved in the life cycle. The first-instar larvae temporarily paralyse the host larva and enter its body, overwintering (some perhaps more than once) as an endoparasite. In the spring of the year of emergence, the endoparasite engorges enormously (without moulting) and develops a special sclerotized caudal structure which is then used for perforation of the host's integument. The larva undergoes a further four ectoparasitic instars. The fifth (i.e. fourth ectoparasitic) instar differs considerably from the preceding three, and is capable of boring through the wood to prepare the emergence gallery for the adult. Pupation occurs in the wood. The rate of parasitization may locally far exceed 50%. Superparasitization by the first-instar larvae is possible, but usually only 1 larva survives to the ectoparasitic stage. Larval morphology of Pelecotoma is described and illustrated. Additional data on bionomics and larval morphology are also presented for the genus Metoecus (Rhipiphorinae). Comparing the biology and larval morphology of Pelecotoma with other Rhipiphoridae, it is assumed that ancestral rhipiphorids may have been xylophilous Tenebrionoidea with predaceous or omnivorous larvae, and that the ‘triungulinid’ larvae and phoretic habits may not belong to the groundplan of the family Rhipiphoridae. The widespread opinion considering Rhipiphoridae closely related to the family Mordellidae is questioned.     

Phylogenetic analysis of extreme morphologies: deep-sea holasteroid echinoids

Because of their ‘bizarre’ features, some echinoids can be considered laboratories in which to analyse the origin of extreme morphologies. The holasteroid family Urechinidae Duncan, 1889 is such a group. It is composed of 18 previously named living species in three genera: Urechinus A. Agassiz, 1879, Plexechinus A. Agassiz, 1898, and Pilematechinus A. Agassiz, 1904. With Stereopneustes, the most closely related living taxon, and the calymnid-plus-pourtalesiid clade as outgroups, a phylogenetic analysis on 35 binary characters is produced. We focus on two major aspects of morphology: test features (apical system, basicoronals, interambulacrum 5, test shape, ambulacra) and external appendages (pedicellariae, spines, sphaeridia). New data on plate architecture, morphology, and appendages are illustrated, and the position of the fossil, Chelonechinus, is discussed. We show that the Urechinidae is paraphyletic: the genus Plexechinus shares more recent common ancestry with the calymnids and pourtalesiids than with other urechinids. In order to retain the well-circumscribed clade, Pilematechinus A. Agassiz, 1904, the phylogenetic classification also recognizes two additional genera: Cystechinus A. Agassiz, 1879, and Antrechinus new genus. A key to the species is provided. The production of extreme morphologies, such as internal parental care, is explored by mapping test size, the occurrence of fascioles, and periproct position onto the phylogeny. By adding plates early in ontogeny, Pilematechinus develops radically different plate architectures from another genus of large forms, Cystechinus. In contrast, the latter gets large by exaggerating allometric trends seen in other holasteroids. Paedomorphosis and miniaturization have evolved independently in Antrechinus and some Plexechinus, but always by truncation of allometric trajectories.     

Phylogenetic relationships of millipedes in the subclass Penicillata (Diplopoda) with a key to the genera

Bristly millipedes (subclass Penicillata, order Polyxenida) are minute diplopods characterised by uncalcified cuticle and a body covered with unique tufts of bristles. The order is found worldwide and comprises less than 200 described species divided into three families, with many of the species and genera being poorly known. The first evolutionary analysis of the order presented here utilises both molecular (COI, 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and morphological data to examine monophyly of the families and subfamilies and the evolutionary relationships between them. Maximum likelihood analysis was based on molecular data only, whereas parsimony analyses were based on molecular data as well as combined morphological and molecular data. The results of these analyses with two different optimality criteria were incongruent in many aspects. Unlike parsimony, the likelihood result found strong support for a basal position of the family Synxenidae and separation of the order into two monophyletic clades corresponding to the two superfamilies Synxenoidea, containing the family Synxenidae, and Polyxenoidea, containing the families Polyxenidae and Lophoproctidae. Parsimony results did not support the existence of the two superfamilies. Both analyses resolved the family Synxenidae as monophyletic and Polyxenidae as polyphyletic, whereas the family Lophoproctidae was shown to be paraphyletic in likelihood and monophyletic in parsimony analysis. The subfamilies Monographinae and Polyxeninae were found to be monophyletic in the likelihood tree but parsimony suggested paraphyly of both. The results suggest that further revision of the systematics of the Polyxenida may be necessary. However, a much larger molecular data set will be necessary to clarify and provide stronger nodal support for phylogenetic trees and to confirm the relationships, particularly of the families Polyxenidae and Lophoproctidae. Molecular identification is likely to be an important tool for this taxonomically challenging order in future. A simplified key to the genera is provided.     

聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）/聚己内酯（PCL）共混体系的晶体结构和形貌

使用偏光显微镜（POM）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）等测试手段,研究了PVDF/PCL共混体系在不同配比和结晶温度下晶型结构、球晶和片晶形貌的变化规律。结果表明：PVDF在低温下形成α型球晶,在高温下形成γ型球晶;两种不同晶型的球晶尺寸均随着结晶温度的升高而增大;α型PVDF环带球晶的环带间距随着体系内PCL含量的增多而增大。此外,共混体系内γ型PVDF球晶的含量也随着PCL含量的增大而增大。