Not every drought is bad: quantifying reproductive effort in the harlequin frog Atelopus laetissimus (Anura: Bufonidae)

Atelopus laetissimus is an endemic and threatened harlequin frog from the high mountain forests of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Knowledge of its reproductive biology is essential for understanding the intraspecific interactions that can help the conservation of Atelopus species. We quantified the energy, measured in body weight, invested by males and females of A. laetissimus for reproduction, and how this energetic investment is related to the survival of individuals and rainfall conditions in habitats during two years (2014 and 2015). Our results show plasticity in terms of reproductive phenology linked to rainfall with short- and long-duration breeding strategies. The first year of this study, 2014, had a precipitation level in accordance with the annual averages at the area. During this time frogs exhibit a short breeding period. Contrary to 2014, 2015 was a year with little precipitation, below the annual averages, which probably facilitated the females’ quick spawning in the creeks and a consequent reduction in the duration of amplexus and low breeding efforts by males. This, in turn, was related to a long breeding period that favors the survival and reproduction of males during the entire year. In 2014 we found a decrease of 25% to 30% body weight of potentially reproductive males, which may be attributed to a prolonged duration of amplectant events.     

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.     

High-performance flexural fatigue of carbon nanotube yarns

Carbon nanotube yarns （CNTY） possess good specific strength and specific conductivity. As such, their potential for commercial applications is significant. Fatigue performance is a significant consideration in yarn/wire applications. In this study, the flexural fatigue performance of CNTY spun from super-aligned carbon nanotube arrays was investigated using a reversed bending test. The results showed that CNTY exhibited excellent resistance to pure flexural fatigue, significantly outperforming stainless steel wire; CNTY failed where a combination of flexural fatigue and tension-tension fatigue had special hollow fracture morphology, and CNTY resistance remained fundamentally unchanged in the combination fatigue process.     

高温时H13钢中初生碳氮化物的分解研究

利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜和电子探针研究了H13钢中初生碳氮化物高温分解时的形貌、尺寸、成分变化规律.原始初生碳氮化物主要为10~30μm的长条状(Vx,Mo1-x)(Cy,N1-y)及少量方形的(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y).在1200℃保温2.5 h后碳氮化物边缘变为凹凸不平的锯齿状,然后形成细小的分解颗粒,10 h后碳氮化物平均长度减小为12.9μm,主要为(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y).当经过1250℃ ×5 h保温后87%的碳氮化物发生分解,(Vx,Mo1-x)(Cy,N1-y)溶解消失,碳氮化物长度在20μm以下,当保温时间延长到10 h后碳氮化物长度均在10μm以下,70%为方形并且93%分解形成细小颗粒,未分解的碳氮化物为(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y).电子探针分析(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y)的分解与Fe元素扩散有关,高温时Fe在(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y)中含量逐渐增加而Ti、V减少,优先在边部曲率半径较小部位或缺陷处分解,形成0.1~1μm的细小分解颗粒,并由外向内以区域溶解方式使原始碳氮化物逐渐消失.双亚点阵模型分析两种碳氮化物的平衡溶解温度和组成有关,试样中大部分(Tix,V1-x)(Cy,N1-y)平衡溶解温度在1200~1246℃之间,与实验吻合较好.     

Sonochemical synthesis of nanostructured nickel hydroxide as an electrode material for improved electrochemical energy storage application

A facile and fast approach for the synthesis of a nanostructured nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)_2) via sonochemical technique is reported in the present study. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the synthesized Ni(OH)_2 was oriented in β-phase of hexagonal brucite structure. The nanostructured Ni(OH)_2 electrode exhibited the maximum specific capacitance of 1256 F/g at a current density of 200 mA/g in 1 M KOH_((aq)). Ni(OH)_2 electrodes exhibited the pseudocapacitive behavior due to the presence of redox reaction. It also exhibited long-term cyclic stability of 85% after 2000 cycles, suggesting that the nanostructured Ni(OH)_2 electrode will play a promising role for high performance supercapacitor application.     

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.     

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.     

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.