Dina lineata (O.F. Müller, 1774) – an interesting species of leech in astatic reservoirs of the city of Olsztyn and its surroundings

The aim of the presently study was to provide information about the occurrence of Dina lineata in selected reservoirs of the city of Olsztyn and its surroundings. The material was collected applying the qualitative method. The leeches were found in the overflows of Olsztyn lakes (Skanda Lake and Redykajny Lake) and small astatic midfield reservoir near Samławki

The architecture for testing central heating control algorithms with feedback from wireless temperature sensors

The energy consumption of buildings is a significant contributor to overall energy con- sumption in developed countries. Therefore, there is great demand for intelligent buildings in which energy consumption is optimized. Online control is a crucial aspect of such optimization. The imple- mentation of modern algorithms that take advantage of developments in information technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, sensors, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is used in this context. In this paper, an architecture for testing central heating control algorithms as well as the control algorithms of the heating system of the building is presented. In particular, evaluation metrics, the method for seamless integration, and the mechanism for real-time performance monitoring and control are put forward. The proposed tools have been successfully tested in a residential building, and the conducted tests confirmed the efficiency of the proposed solution

A new leech species (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae: Erpobdella) from a cave in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran

Cichocka, Joanna M., Bielecki, Aleksander, Kur, Jarosław, Pikuła, Dorota, Kilikowska, Adrianna, Biernacka, Beata (2015): A new leech species (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae: Erpobdella) from a cave in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. Zootaxa 4013 (3): 413-427, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4013.3.

Erpobdella borisi Cichocka & Bielecki, n. sp.

<i>Erpobdella borisi</i> Cichocka & Bielecki n. sp. <p>(Figures 3–5)</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> IRAN, West Azerbaijan, Sahoolan cave (36°39”19’N, 45°57”11’E), entrances at 1780 m a. s. l. (Fig. 1).</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> Specimen collected on March 30th of 2012 from the Sahoolan cave; body length 25.37 mm, maximal width 5.10 mm, deposited at the Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland (catalogue number MIZ 1/2013/3), preserved in ethanol 75 %. (Fig. 3)</p> <p> <b>Paratype.</b> Specimen collected on March 30th of 2012 from the Sahoolan cave; body length 24.80 mm, maximal width 5.00 mm, deposited in the first author’s collection, preserved in ethanol 75%.</p> <p> <b>Other material examined.</b> One specimen, same locality and data of collection, deposited in the first author’s collection, body length 21.10 mm, maximal width 4.70 mm, preserved in ethanol 75%.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The species is dedicated to Professor Boris Sket, former dean of the Biotechnical faculty and rector of the University of Ljubljana, currently, a scientific councilor, researcher of the faunistics of troglobites and speleology in general, author of descriptions of over a hundred new species and genera of invertebrates, mostly crustaceans and leeches. He has greatly contributed to consolidation of specialists dealing with biology and phylogenetics of Hirudinida.</p> <p> <b>External morphology.</b> The values of the body form indices (obtained from mean values of particular parameters for each species) are as follows: L/D2 = 5.86, C1 1/d1 = 1.1, C1 1/D1 = 0.45, R1/M1 = 1.0, C1 1/C1 =1.43, L1/ D1 = 3.0, D1/N1 = 2.18, S1/S2 = 1.0, L2/D2 = 5.36, D2/N2 = 1.75, K1/K2 = 0.33, C1 2/d7 = 0.43, C1 2/D2 = 0.76, R2/M2 = 1.64, C1 2/C2 = 1.14, L2/L1 = 2.38, D2/D1 = 1.59, N2/N1 = 1.24, C1 2/ C1 1 = 2.37 (Table 3). The largest preserved specimen measured 25.37 mm in length and 5.03 mm in width. Both anterior and posterior suckers are transversally elliptical and the posterior sucker is less narrow than the widest part of the body.</p> <p>The colour of living specimens on the dorsal side of the body is light gray with dark, irregular spots. The ventral side is still lighter in colour with fewer spots (Fig. 4 A,B). On the dorsal side, there is also a dark medial smudge with fairly distinct margins. The line is more visible in posterior rather than anterior part of the body. The colour originates from pigment cells that lay beneath the muscles layer.</p> <p>There are no eyes or even trace of eye pigment (Fig. 3 C).</p> <p> In the post-clitellar region there are lateral keels. The complete somite is divided into 5 unequal annuli and it is typical of the <i>‘Dina’</i> species, as: b1, b2, a2, b5, b6 (c11+c12) (Fig. 3 D).</p> <p>The gonopores are separated by three annuli (Fig. 4 A) in 2 specimens and 2.5 annuli (Fig. 4 B) in one specimen. In two specimens the prominent male gonopore is situated in XII b1/b2, whereas in 1 specimen it is situated on annulus XII b2. The inconspicuous female gonopore of two specimens is situated in furrow XII b5/c11, and in one specimen it is situated on the beginning of the annulus c11.</p> <p> <b>Digestive system.</b> The digestive system is constructed typically for erpobdellid leeches. The pharynx reaches the ganglion X and lacks jaws or stylets, but it has pseudognaths. The non-caecate crop is extended to XIX/XX segment where connects with the intestine. The intestine has also no caeca and opens with the anus on the dorsal side just before the caudal sucker.</p> <p> <b>Reproductive system.</b> The testes are globular, numerous and form grape-like structures of testisacs (Fig. 5 A).</p> <p>They begin at ganglion XIX and reach close to the posterior sucker. The vas deferens ends at the ganglion XIX. Each of the sperm duct forms a pre-atrial loop that reaches ganglion XI (Fig. 5 A). The atrium is located at the ganglion XII (Fig. 5 B). The length of the male atrium is approximately 2/3 of a neurosomite. It has relatively wide cornua and a broad insertion in the atrial body. Atrial cornua are a little oblique and curved to the ventral side what is visible in lateral view after isolating the atrium (Fig. 5 C, D). The bursa is as long as the atrial cornua (Fig. 5 D). The ovisacs are paired, elongated convoluted structures, showing anteriorly a 1.5–2.5 somite-large ‘lateral’ loop and then lying medio-ventrally. They have 6.5 ns in length and they are arranged as loops, first they go posteriorly up to ganglion XIX and then turn back anteriorly up to the ganglion XII (Fig. 5 A).</p> <p> <b>Habitat.</b> Specimens of <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> were found in the water part of the Sahoolan cave about 100 m from the entrance. The leeches were collected from the surface of clay sediments. However, abundant specimens of the species were observed in the water of the cave. Most probably, the species is a troglobiont or troglophile.</p> <p> <b>Systematic position.</b> Phenetic analysis based on 19 indices of the model of leech body form shows <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> to be most similar to <i>E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>stschegolewi</i> and <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>lineata</i> (Fig. 6). Phylogenetic analysis based on COI gene sequences (uncorrected p-distance = 0.158) positioned <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> in sister relation to the clade containing <i>E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>japonica</i> (uncorrected p-distance = 11.51%), <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> (uncorrected pdistance = 12.71%) and <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>testacea</i> (uncorrected p-distance = 13.06%) (Fig. 7 A). The same result was obtained in parsimony analysis of combined morphological and molecular data set (length = 758, CI = 0.5435, RI = 0.3651; Fig. 7 B).</p> <p> <b>Remarks</b> As a result of detailed comparisons with related species, <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is explicitly different at the morphometric, morphological and COI gene sequence levels.</p> <p> <i>Morphometry:</i> Considering morphotypes of all the analyzed species and also of other genera, in its body form <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is most similar to <i>E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>stschegolewi</i> and <i>E.</i> [<i>= D.</i>] <i>lineata</i> (Fig. 6). Almost identical characteristic in these species are: C1 1/d1, R1/M1, C1 2/C2,, and very similar characteristics are: C1 1/D1, K1/K2, C1 2/D2, N2/N1. It differs from <i>E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>stschegolewi</i> in following characteristics: L/D2, C1 1/C1, L1/D1, D1/N1, S1/S2, L2/D2, D2/ N2, C1 2/d7, R2/M2, L2/L1, D2/D1, C1 2/C1 1.</p> <p> <i>Morphology:</i> In non-metric characteristics <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is most similar to the following group of species: <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata, E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>japonica</i>, <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>testacea</i>, <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>nigricolllis</i> and <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>monostriata</i>. However, it does not form a sister relationship with any of these five species. This confirms the distinctness of <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> (Fig. 7 B).</p> <p> <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is most similar to <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i>; they have the following characters in common (excluding genus-level characters): spots and lack of paramedian lines in the coloration of dorsal side, male gonopore on annulus and female in furrow, gonopores separated by 2.5 annuli, and short relatively wide atrial cornua.</p> <p> The new species differs from <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> in the following characters: single wide median line on dorsal side (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> lack of median line), lack of eyes (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> there are four pairs of well visible eyes), fifth annulus in mid-body somite longer than other (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> all five annuli in midbody somite are of equal length), ovisacs have 6.5 ns in length (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> ovisacs have about 5 ns in length). The length of the male atrium is approximately 2/3 of a neurosomite (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> the atrium is almost 1 ns long). The atrium in <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is visibly narrower than in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> and atrial cornua have a broad insertion in the atrial body, while in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> this structure is slander. An angle between atrial cornua is slight (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> it is obtuse), thus the atrium of <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> seem to be slim while the atrium of <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> is rather large. The bursa is not big and it is as long as atrial cornua (in <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> the bursa is about two times longer than the atrial cornua).</p> <p> <i>Barcodes</i>: Characteristic attributes generated from the results obtained in these analyses occurred at 26 of 645 nucleotide positions (Table 5). Twenty six diagnostic characters were found for the clade <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> + <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i> + <i>E.</i> [= <i>D.</i>] <i>japonica</i> + <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>testacea</i>. Private characters occur at 8 position only for <i>E. borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> (151, 256, 383, 418, 421, 499, 535, 601). Additionally, at position 181 ‘C’ diagnoses <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> found on <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>testacea</i>, and at position 512 ‘T’ diagnoses <i>Erpobdella borisi</i> <b>n. sp.</b> found on <i>E.</i> [= <i>E.</i>] <i>octoculata</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Cichocka, Joanna M., Bielecki, Aleksander, Kur, Jarosław, Pikuła, Dorota, Kilikowska, Adrianna & Biernacka, Beata, 2015, A new leech species (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae: Erpobdella) from a cave in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran, pp. 413-427 in Zootaxa 4013 (3)</i> on pages 420-422, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4013.3.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/243656">http://zenodo.org/record/243656</a&gt

Erpobdellid leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinida) from Tunisia: New records with the description of a new Trocheta species

Ahmed, Raja Ben, Bielecki, Aleksander, Cichocka, Joanna M., Tekaya, Saïda, Gorzel, Małgorzata, Harrath, Abdul Halim (2013): Erpobdellid leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinida) from Tunisia: New records with the description of a new Trocheta species. Zootaxa 3681 (4): 440-454, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3681.4.

Molecular basis of cellulose biosynthesis disappearance in submerged culture of Acetobacter xylinum

Acetobacter xylinum strains are known as very efficient producers of bacterial cellulose which, due to its unique properties, has great application potential. One of the most important problems faced during cellulose synthesis by these bacteria is generation of cellulose non-producing cells, which can appear under submerged culture conditions. The reasons of this remain unknow. These studies have been undertaken to compare at the molecular level wild-type, cellulose producing (Cel+) A. xylinum strains with Cel- forms of cellulose-negative phenotype. Comparison of protein profiles of both forms of A. xylinum by 2D electrophoresis allowed for the isolation of proteins which were produced exclusively by either Cel+ or Cel- cells. Sequences of peptides derived from these proteins were aligned with those of proteins deposited in databases. This analysis revealed that Cel- cells lacked two enzymes: phosphoglucomutase and glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, which generates UDP-glucose being the substrate for cellulose synthase. DNA was analyzed by ligation-mediated PCR carried out at low denaturation temperature (PCR-MP). Two DNA fragments of different thermal stability (218 and 217 bp) were obtained from the DNA of Cel+ and Cel- forms, respectively. The only difference between these Cel- and Cel+ DNA fragments is deletion of one T residue. Alignment of those two sequences with those deposited in the GenBank database revealed that similar fragments are present in the genomes of some bacterial cellulose producers and are located downstream from open reading frames (ORF) encoding phosphoglucomutase. The meaning of this observation is discussed

Trocheta africana Nesemann and Neubert 1994

Trocheta africana Nesemann and Neubert, 1994 Material examined. 97 specimens collected in: National Parc El Faïja (36 ° 30 ’ 172 ” N, 08° 19 ’081” E), Aïn Soltane, Jendouba (36 ° 31 ’ 261 ” N, 08° 20 ’ 151 ” E), river elFeïja (36 ° 48 ’ 631 ” N, 08° 30 ’ 771 ” E). Description of examined specimens. The length of preserved specimens reaches up to 70 mm and the width is around 6 mm. Both anterior and posterior suckers are transversally elliptical. The caudal sucker of preserved specimens is narrower than the maximum body width. Lateral keels are present. The colour of living specimens is black. Four dark narrow longitudinal stripes are visible in the smooth dorsal surface (Fig. 3 g). The area between the inner paramedian stripes is less pigmented than the dorsal surface. The ventral surface is pale grey (Fig. 3 h). Annulation: somites with eight annuli, the first two of which are short, followed by three longer ones and another three short annuli. Head with four pairs of eyes. The gonopores are separated by two annuli. The male pore is situated in XII b 2 /a 2. Whereas the female one is in furrow XII b 5 /c 11. The male reproductive system consists of numerous globular testes that form voluminous, grape-like testisacs that reach the end of the leech body. The sperm duct has 9.75 ns in length, beginning at XII and ends close to XXII ganglion. The atrium, located at the ganglion XII, is 0.5 ns in length. The bursa is relatively wide and well rounded. The cornua are thick and curved towards the middle (Fig. 4 j, k, l). The female reproductive system consists of a pair of well-developed and convoluted ovisacs showing anteriorly a 1.75 ns long ‘lateral’ loop and then lying medio-ventrally. The ovisacs are 3.33 ns in length, running from a ¼ part of the way between the ganglia XII and XIII until just before the ganglia XVI. From the ovisacs appear two oviducts that run ventrally. Ecology and distribution. Presently, Trocheta africana is the only species of the genus Trocheta that has been reported from North Africa. This species prefers stagnant water or slow running rivers or brooks. It occurs mainly in the higher regions of northern Tunisia (805–868 ASL). The specimens were found attached to the underside of rocks and stones and the dead leaves of Quercus suber (Fig. 1 g). It has been discovered in Tunisia (in a stream near Hammam Bourguiba, a mountain stream between Thibar and Téboursouk, Béja) and in Algeria. Remarks. In the original description of T. africana made by Nesemann and Neubert (1994) the examined specimens are described as small leeches. In fact, the length of preserved specimens ranged from 15 to 28 mm. In this study, the length of examined specimens ranged from 50 to 70 mm. Notwithstanding, there is no detailed description of the ovisacs condition we believe that the specimens studied by Nesemann and Neubert (1994) were juveniles, because they were collected at the end of February. The specimens examined in the present study were collected in December and they were mature, because we could observe oocytes inside the ovisacs.Published as part of Ahmed, Raja Ben, Bielecki, Aleksander, Cichocka, Joanna M., Tekaya, Saïda, Gorzel, Małgorzata & Harrath, Abdul Halim, 2013, Erpobdellid leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinida) from Tunisia: New records with the description of a new Trocheta species, pp. 440-454 in Zootaxa 3681 (4) on pages 444-447, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3681.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/21837

Trocheta tunisiana Ahmed, Bielecki, Cichocka, Tekaya, Gorzel & Harrath, 2013, n. sp.

Trocheta tunisiana n. sp. Holotype north-west Tunisia, spring Zaga in Béja (36 ° 58 ’ 965 ” N, 9 ° 5 ’ 693 ” E), December 2008, body length 50 mm, maximal width 5.2 mm, deposited in Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (catalogue number W 245), preserved in ethanol 70 %. Paratypes the same locality, data, and depository as holotype, two mature specimens, body length 48 mm, maximal width 5 mm, preserved in ethanol 70 %. Other material examined Collected during the period extending from December 2007 to December 2009. Spring Oued El Madin (36 ° 90 ’ 107 ” N, 9 ° 16 ’ 501 ” E); stream Oued el Melih Ouechtéta (36 ° 97 ’ 467 ” N, 09°01’ 214 ” E); spring Aïn Sobh Jendouba (36 ° 57 ’ 173 ” N, 08° 54 ’ 565 ” E); spring Touiaytia, Aïn Draham (36 ° 74 ’ 456 ” N, 08° 58 ’ 686 ” E). Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the name of the country from which the species was described. Description of examined specimens. The largest preserved specimen measured 50 mm in length and 5.2 mm in width. The front of the body is broad and rounded compared to T. africana; both anterior and posterior suckers are longitudinally elliptical and the posterior sucker is as wide as the widest part of the body. The head has four pairs of eyes. In the post-clitellar region, lateral keels are less prominent than in T. africana. The colour of living specimens is light brown. Dorsally, there are four longitudinal stripes (Fig. 5 a, b).The ventral surface is always somewhat lighter than the dorsum. Annulation is typical for the Trocheta species. The complete somite is divided into eight annuli, the first two of which are short, followed by three longer ones and another three short annuli (Fig. 5 c). The gonopores are separated by two annuli, the prominent male pore is situated in XII b 2 /a 2, whereas the inconspicuous female one is in furrow XII b 5 /c 11. The pharynx lacks jaws whereas pseudognaths are present (Fig 6 b).The digestive system is constructed typically for erpobdellid leeches. The testes are globular, numerous and form grape-like structures of testisacs. They begin at 1 / 3 of the distance between XVIII and XIX ganglion and reach close to the posterior sucker. The vas deferens ends at 1 / 3 of the distance between the ganglia XVIII and XIX. The sperm ducts form a loop (Fig. 6 a). The atrium is located at the ganglia XII. The length of the male atrium is approximately 1 / 3 ns. It has relatively narrow cornua and a broad insertion in the atrial body, which is slender and narrow (significantly longer than wide) and slightly expanded. It is a little oblique in relation to the bursa and curves to the ventral side. The bursa is not big (Fig. 4 m, n, o). The ovisacs are paired, elongated convoluted structures, showing anteriorly a 1.5 ns large ‘lateral’ loop and then lying mid-ventrally. They have 4 ns in length and they are arranged as loops, first they go posteriorly up to XVI ganglion and then turn back anteriorly up to the XII ganglion (Fig. 6 a). Within the ovisacs of mature specimens, there are no visible oocytes observed which is probably due to the fact that the specimens were after reproduction. The paper by Sket (1968 fig. 47–48) appeared to be very helpful in our interpretation of the reproductive system of T. tunisiana n. sp. Remarks. The new taxon was assigned to the genus Trocheta based on the number and the subdivision of annuli per somite. In fact, our specimens possess a mid-body somite consisted of eight unequal annuli. Moreover, the ovisacs are long and may take 4 ns, showing a large lateral loop in anterior part of ovisac course. Trocheta tunisiana n. sp. can easily be distinguished from T. africana by its colour and size. The latter species is a relatively large leech that is mostly black in colour whereas T. tunisiana n. sp. is a medium-sized leech that is reddish brown in colour. Anatomically, the atrium in T. tunisiana n. sp. is smaller in size and different in shape than that of T. africana. The relative lengths of the ovisacs and sperm ducts are also different (Table 1). Moreover, the anterior sucker is more elongated in the new species than in T. africana (Fig 6 b). The collection of specimens of T. africana and T. tunisiana n. sp. from the same region of Tunisia (northwest; Fig. 2) and during the same period (December) revealed that, although the specimens of both species were sexually mature, they were in different phases of the life cycle (respectively, before and after breeding). Trocheta tunisiana n. sp. differs from T. subviridis Dutrochet 1817, the type species of the genus, and from T. falkneri (Nesemann and Neubert, 1996) by the distance between its gonopores (six to nine annuli in T. subviridis and four to five in T. falkneri). It also differs from T. cylindrica Örley, 1886 (syn. T. bykowskii Gedroyċ, 1913, see Košel 2004) by the varied colour of the body (grey and flesh coloured with lighter or darker brownish shade). Moreover, the integument of T. cylindrica is very transparent, making the internal structure well visible. Trocheta haskonis Grosser, 2000 is a giant leech compared with the T. tunisiana n. sp. having a body length up to 220 mm. In T. pseudodina Nesemann, 1990 the surface of the body is covered by papillae; similar to some species of the genus Dina in body coloration, there are also dark spots on dorsal side, which are arranged in transverse lines. On the basis of this comparison we conclude that T. tunisiana n. sp. represents a new species. Ecology and distribution. Trocheta tunisiana n. sp. has been collected in smaller brooks and springs occurring in the mid and higher elevations (usually over 350 ASL). It is distributed in the northwest of Tunisia; we suggest that it should, probably, occur also in Algeria.Published as part of Ahmed, Raja Ben, Bielecki, Aleksander, Cichocka, Joanna M., Tekaya, Saïda, Gorzel, Małgorzata & Harrath, Abdul Halim, 2013, Erpobdellid leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinida) from Tunisia: New records with the description of a new Trocheta species, pp. 440-454 in Zootaxa 3681 (4) on pages 447-451, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3681.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/21837