New family-level characters for Platygastroidea

Platygastridae (Hymenoptera) is a diverse family of parasitoid wasps for which few studies of internal morphology have been conducted. The monophyly of the group is undisputed based on recently published molecular data, but based on morphology, the family is diagnosable from other platygastroids only by a combination of character reductions. In the present study we explored the mesosoma of Platygastroidea and found two new synapomorphies for Platygastridae: an externally visible anterior mesofurcal pit, which corresponds to an invagination that connects to the anterior portion of the mesofurca, and internally, a posteriorly shifted origin of the first wing flexors. The absence of a mesofurcal bridge and the exclusively mesopectal origin of the fore wing flexors are treated as synapomorphies for Platygastridae+Janzenellidae. Phylogenetic implications and evolutionary hypotheses regarding these traits are discussed.

Impact of Charging and Charging Rate on Thermal Runaway Behaviors of Lithium-Ion Cells

The present work carries out a series of thermal runaway experiments to explore the impact of charging and charging rate on the thermal runaway behaviors of lithium-ion cells, in which five charging rates (0C, 0.5C, 1C, 2C and 4C) and three initial states of charge (SOC), i.e. 25%, 50% and 75% are included. The thermal runaway process of 18650 lithium-ion cells induced by over-heating usually consists of seven stages, and is accompanied with high-temperature, fire and toxicity risks. The internal morphology of cells and the micro features of cell materials are seriously damaged after thermal runaway. Charging aggravates the thermal runaway behavior of cells, which is further exhibited as the earlier occurrence of safety vent opening, gas releasing and thermal runaway. Moreover, the severity deteriorates as the charging rate increases (the larger the charging rate, the earlier and more severe the thermal runway), which may be ascribed to the growth of cell SOC and the decline of cell stability under charging. This phenomenon is especially apparent for the cell with a high initial SOC where a more dramatic-rising α (the advancement ratio of critical times for thermal runaway due to charging) is observed.

New records and notes on the morphology and biology of Chaetochlorops Malloch (Diptera: Chloropidae)

Chaetochlorops Malloch is a small genus endemic to the New World with a peculiar morphology of the male terminalia. The genus is recorded from Brazil–Amazon and Atlantic forests– and Nicaragua for the first time. Detailed images of the external and internal morphology of all species are provided here. Also, an additional host plant for C. inquilinus is given.

Morfologia endodôntica dos segundos molares inferiores

Considering that the second inferior molar is a tooth of large anatomic variation, we have proposed ourselves to anatyse some aspects of the internal and external morphology of its roots. The external morphology, 67,64% was visually evaluea, gathering the teet with differentiated, fused or single roots. The internal morphology was examinea after wear of mesial and distal roots to altow examination in the mesiodistalginge. One hundred and two teeth have been examined. As for the external morphology we found that 75,49% show differentiated roots, 18,62% fused roors and 5188% single roots. As for the internal morphology we found that 5,88% with one root canal 7,84% with two root canals, 67164% with three root canals and 18,62% with four root canals.

Clinical case: second mandibular premolar with three root canals

Successful and predictable endodontic treatment requires knowledge of root canal anatomy and morphology variations. In cases where X-ray images do not help to clarify the anatomy of the root canals, it is recommended to use magnifying devices. The second premolar of the lower jaw is one of the most diffcult teeth for endodontic treatment due to variations in internal morphology, additional root canals, apical deltas, and lateral canals. Diagnostic radiographs in different projections are important for getting an idea of the number of existing root canals. The purpose of root canal treatment is to clean the root canal of pathogenic microbes and infected pulp, prevent the formation of toxic products, and protect the periapical tissue. The presence of root canal variability increases the complexity of endodontic treatment. The complex anatomy of the root canals, the presence of additional channels, unnoticed by the dentist, can cause the failure of endodontic treatment.

Cryoprotectants and X-ray analysis on Passiflora seeds cryopreserved

The study aimed to evaluate the internal morphology of Passiflora eichleriana Mast., Passiflora nitida Kunth. and Passiflora mucronata Lam. seeds cryopreserved with different cryoprotectants. The treatment were control (without cryoprotectant or cryopreservation), seeds cryopreserved without cryoprotectant, 1.73, 2.28, 2.60 or 2.71 M glycerol, 0.37, 0.46, 0.54 or 0.61 M sucrose and 0.37, 0.72, 1.04 or 1.35 M dimethylsulfoxide. The seeds were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (-196 °C) for seven days. The cryopreserved seeds were dipped in water bath (37 °C) for 5 minutes to defrost. The percentage of filled, empty, malformed and damaged seeds was determined. The seeds were analyzed by X-ray to verify damages caused by the cryopreservation or defrost. Our results demonstrate that X-ray is an efficient method to analyses cryopreserved seeds and the cryopreservation technique did not cause mechanical damage of P. eichleriana, P. nitida and P. mucronata seeds.

Easy ultrastructural insight into the internal morphology of biological specimens by Atomic Force Microscopy

As a topographical technique, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) needs to establish direct interactions between a given sample and the measurement probe in order to create imaging information. The elucidation of internal features of organisms, tissues and cells by AFM has therefore been a challenging process in the past. To overcome this hindrance, simple and fast embedding, sectioning and dehydration techniques are presented, allowing the easy access to the internal morphology of virtually any organism, tissue or cell by AFM. The study at hand shows the applicability of the proposed protocol to exemplary biological samples, the resolution currently allowed by the approach as well as advantages and shortcomings compared to classical ultrastructural microscopic techniques like electron microscopy. The presented cheap, facile, fast and non-toxic experimental protocol might introduce AFM as a universal tool for the elucidation of internal ultrastructural detail of virtually any given organism, tissue or cell.