Disjunct Sea of Cortez–Pacific Ocean Gillichthys mirabilis populations and the evolutionary origin of their Sea of Cortez endemic relative, Gillichthys seta

The shortjaw mudsucker, Gillichthys seta, an intertidal goby endemic to the Sea of Cortez, has been proposed to be the paedomorphic derivative of the longjaw mudsucker, Gillichthys mirabilis. G. mirabilis is a disjunct species, with populations found along the Pacific coast of central California to central Baja California, and with isolated populations found in the northern Sea of Cortez. Previous studies have suggested that the endemic paedomorph form speciated in sympatry with the Sea of Cortez population of G. mirabilis. Alternatively, this speciation event could have occurred before the separation of G. mirabilis populations into two disjunct entities. To test these alternative hypotheses, we collected adult individuals from both species throughout their ranges from December 1997 to November 1998. We amplified and sequenced 142 partial [527 base pairs (bp)] mitochondrial cytochrome b regions and 18 nuclear creatine kinase introns (140 bp). We found that Pacific populations of G. mirabilis separated into two distinct clades, possibly reflecting a phylogeographic break found in other fish species along the Baja California coast at Punta Eugenia. These two Pacific populations were well separated from Sea of Cortez populations. Furthermore, our results indicate that the split between Sea of Cortez and Pacific populations of G. mirabilis occurred well after the speciation event that separated G. mirabilis from its paedomorphic counterpart, G. seta. Received: 30 March 2000 / Accepted: 4 September 2000     

Use of vitrified MSWI bottom ashes for concrete production

Bottom ashes from a north Italian municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) were vitrified at 1450 degrees C without adding any vitrifying agent, then ground and sieved to different granulometry (ranging from 50 microm to 20mm), and used as filler, sand, or aggregate for concrete. Samples were characterized via slump tests (UNI 9418), alkali-silica reactivity (UNI 8520/22 and ASTM C 298), and compression strength tests (UNI 6132, 6132/72, 6686/72), and compared to reference samples obtained without vitrified bottom ashes (VBA). Our results show that vitrified bottom ashes are unsuitable as a sand substitute; however, concrete containing up to 20 wt.% of VBA filler used as a substitute for cement and up to 75 vol.% of VBA as a substitute for natural aggregate retains the same mechanical properties as reference samples. Alkali-silica or other detrimental reactions were not observed in VBA-containing concrete samples after a period of two years. The results of this work demonstrate that vitrified bottom ashes from MSWI can be used instead of natural aggregates in mortar and concrete production.     

Cadmium and lead bioaccumulation in male chickens for high food concentrations

Cadmium and lead bioaccumulation in broilers fed on rations containing high concentrations of Cd and Pb was studied. The degree of bioaccumulation was assessed by using klark of concentration (Kc). It was established that the 100 and 200 fold increase of lead and cadmium in the ration resulted in their increase in the muscles, the bones and the liver, but the degree of bioaccumulation was considerably lower than the increase of both of the heavy elements in the ration indicated by the lower Kc. A conclusion was drawn that the organism possesses adaptation mechanisms for limitation of cadmium and lead bioaccumulation through these mechanisms are not efficient enough for high ration doses of both elements. High ration doses resulted in bioaccumulation exceeding the safe for humans concentrations of lead in the bones and of cadmium in the muscles (for doses 200 fold higher than the highest Bulgarian State standard 13426–77 permissible concentrations /HPC/) and in the liver for doses 100 fold higher than HPC.     

Strategy and management for the recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) in the aircraft industry: a critical review

ABSTRACT

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have attracted attention from the aerospace industry due to their light weight, excellent mechanical properties, and resistance to corrosion. However, CFRP composites are difficult to recycle as their recycling process must be performed under extreme conditions; end-of-life regulations do not directly address the problem with reusing these composites. Thus, the objective of this study is to explore solutions that minimize the use of CFRPs and prolong their useful life in the airline industry. To achieve this goal, this work conducted a review of the state of the art of CFRP fiber recycling, emphasizing the recycling processes, restrictions, and regulations. One solution is to develop a CFRP recycling market that would allow the sequential use of recycled materials among industries in descending order of the required structural performance of the composite.     

An opilioacarid mite in Cretaceous Burmese amber

A fossil opilioacarid mite (Parasitiformes: Opilioacarida) in Burmese amber is described as ?Opilioacarus groehni sp. nov. This ca. 99 Ma record (Upper Cretaceous: Cenomanian) represents only the third fossil example of this putatively basal mite lineage, the others originating from Eocene Baltic amber (ca. 44–49 Ma). Our new record is not only the oldest record of Opilioacarida, but it is also one of the oldest examples of the entire Parasitiformes clade. The presence of Opilioacarida—potentially Opiloacarus—in the Cretaceous of SE Asia suggests that some modern genus groups were formerly more widely distributed across the northern hemisphere, raising questions about previously suggested Gondwanan origins for these mites.     

Brain cortical assessment by MRI in fetuses with left congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Objective

To evaluate fetal brain development using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia).

Methods

52 isolated left CDH and 104 control fetuses were imaged using MRI. Brain morphometry (Biparietal diameter—BPD, brain fronto-occipital diameter—BFOD, third ventricle, posterior ventricles, transcerebellar diameter—TCD, anteroposterior and craniocaudal cerebellar vermis diameter—AP and CC) and cortical structures (bilateral cingulate fissure—CF, insular fissure—IF, insular depth - ID) were compared with controls using Mann–Whitney test.

Results

Median gestational age at MRI (p = 0.95)and the median biparietal diameter (p = 0.737) were comparable. Among morphometric parameters, only the brain fronto-occipital diameter was significantly smaller in CDH (p = 0.001) and the third ventricle was significantly greater in CDH (<0.0001). Among cortical structures, the cingulate and insular fissures were significantly deeper in CDH fetuses (p < 0.0001) as the insular depth ID was smaller in CDH (p < 0.03).

Conclusions

CDH fetuses have a smaller fronto-occipital diameter, reduced insular depth, deeper cingulate and insular fissure, and greater third ventricle width as compared to controls. These findings suggest that left CDH may have an impact on fetal brain development with an overall reduction in brain volume.