Description of a new species of the genus Cultellus Schumacher, 1817 (Bivalvia, Pharidae) from the South China Sea, based on integrative taxonomy

The present study describes a new species within the genus Cultellus Schumacher, 1817 collected from the South China Sea. An integrative taxonomic approach incorporating morphological comparisons, geometric morphometrics and genetic analyses was used to identify and differentiate the new species. Cultellus exilis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by its slender, fragile and translucent valves, curved posteroventral margins and relatively large protractor scars. The geometric morphometric analyses, based on outlines data, indicated that samples of Cultellus exilis sp. nov. clustered together and were distinctly separated from other species. Multiple species delimitation results, based on the mitochondrial COI gene, support the separation of Cultellus exilis sp. nov. from its related congeners. Phylogenetic analyses of a nuclear (28S rRNA) and two mitochondrial (COI, 16S rRNA) genes using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods revealed that the species belongs to the genus Cultellus. The superfamily Solenoidea Lamarck, 1809, which includes the families Solenidae Lamarck, 1809 and Pharidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1856, exhibits closer affinity to the family Hiatellidae Gray, 1824 than to Solecurtidae d’Orbigny, 1846. Furthermore, we found that the genus Siliqua was clustered alongside the genera Ensiculus and Phaxas as a sister clade, which contradicts the current systematics of the subfamily within the family Pharidae. This work highlights the utility of integrative taxonomy for species identification, recognition and phylogenetic investigation

A new deep-sea species of Elliptiolucina Cosel & Bouchet, 2008 (Bivalvia, Lucinida, Lucinidae) from cold seep of the South China Sea

The increasing discoveries of new species of the family Lucinidae in the last two decades indicated a surprising diversity of chemosynthetic lucinids in the deep sea, especially in the Indo-West Pacific. However, only a few records have been reported from the South China Sea. A new lucinid species Elliptiolucina subovalis sp. nov. is here reported from a deep-sea cold seep site of the South China Sea. The new species is distinct from its congeners by possessing a strong anterior lateral tooth on the right valve and anterior tapering, subrectangular-oval shells. Sequences of three genes (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and CytB) were used to analyze its relationships with other species in the subfamily Myrteinae and confirm its taxonomic placement. The result supports the monophyly of Myrteinae but also demonstrates the polyphyly of Elliptiolucina. The new species has a close relationship with E. williamsae and Rostrilucina garuda, but is not closely related to congener E. ingens. By comparing morphological characters, we suggest that E. ingens should not belong to the genus Elliptiolucina. The basal two of three deep-sea clades recognized in Myrteinae may indicate the deep-sea origin of this subfamily. Our results add to the known diversity of deep-sea lucinids and molecular information for poorly studied Myrteinae and highlight the necessity of further investigation on deep-sea lucinids of the South China Sea

Effect of Sewage Sludge Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Kaolin-Sewage Sludge Ceramic Bricks

The dramatic increase in sewage sludge production requires researchers to develop and explore more commercially viable ways for alleviating current environmental and socioeconomic challenges connected with its routine management. It has been established that sewage sludge can be processed to fabricate various valuable products or as fuels for electricity generation. In this research, kaolin (calcined from coal gangue) and sewage sludge were successfully used to prepare porous ceramic bricks without any additives. The effect of sewage sludge on the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks was investigated. The results show that the kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks are mainly composed of mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2), sillimanite (Al2SiO5), aluminum phosphate (AlPO4), hematite (Fe2O3) as well as a small amount of quartz (SiO2). The ceramic bricks present a typical porous structure, and the number and size of micropores increases noticeably with the increase of sewage sludge content. The sintering shrinkage rate and porosity of ceramic bricks increased significantly with the increase of sewage sludge content, which is mainly attributed to the increase of liquid phase proportion and high temperature volatilization. Sewage sludge can significantly improve the mechanical properties of kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks. When the sewage sludge content is 30 wt.%, the ceramic bricks present the maximum compressive strength and flexural strength and high porosity (32.74%). The maximum sintering shrinkage rate and porosity are 12.17% and 40.51%, respectively

A novel two degree-of-freedom ultrasonic planar motor driven by single stator

A novel two degree-of-freedom (DOF) ultrasonic planar motor based on traveling wave has been proposed in this paper. The stator is the key component of the planar motor. The proposed stator is in a bar type, consisting of three piezoelectric ceramic cylinders and a metal driving head. The effective elliptical motion of the driving head tip is formed by the second bending mode and the first longitude mode of the stator. The two working vibration modes are analyzed by FEM software, and the dimensions of the stator are optimized and determined via FEA. As a result of the optimization, frequencies of the two working modes are very close to 22 kHz. The major feature of the design is the multi-DOF motion achieved by a single stator

Functional analysis of a novel C-glycosyltransferase in the orchid Dendrobium catenatum

Flavonoids, which are a diverse class of phytonutrients, are used by organisms to respond to nearly all abiotic stresses and are beneficial for human health. Glycosyltransferase, used during the last step of flavonoid biosynthesis, is important in flavonoid enrichment. However, little is known about glycosyltransferase in the orchid Dendrobium catenatum (D. officinale). In this study, we isolated a novel C-glycosyltransferase (designated DcaCGT) from the orchid D. catenatum by identifying and analyzing 82 putative genes in the GT1 family. DcaCGT could specifically catalyze not only di-C-glycosylation but also O-glycosylation. Apart from the normal function of catalyzing 2-hydroxynaringenin and phloretin to the respective di-C-glycosides, DcaCGT also catalyzes apigenin to cosmosiin. Targeted metabolic profiling of the substrates (2-hydroxynaringenin, phloretin, and apigenin) and products (vitexin, isovitexin, vicenin-2, nothofagin, 3',5'-di-C-glucosylphloretin, and cosmosiin) in different tissues showed that vicenin-2 was the most abundant product of this novel enzyme. Cosmosiin was detected in flowers and flower buds. We also established that DcaCGT functions expanded throughout the evolution of D. catenatum. Residual OGT activity may help D. catenatum resist drought stress. Our study illustrates the function, origin, and differentiation of DcaCGT and provides insights into glycosylation and molecular propagation processes, which can be used to improve the production of flavonoids by the cultivated medicinal plant D. catenatum