Cladistic analysis of the subfamilies within the Tubificidae (Oligochaeta)

A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships within the family Tubificidae is presented, based on a Wagner analysis of morphological characters in the different subfamilies. Two major lincages are recognized. One, including the subfamilies Tubificinae, Telmatodrilinae and Limnodriloidinae, is supported by a synapomorphic ability to form slender spermatozeugmata in the spermathecae; the other, including Rhyacodrilinae (paraphyletic), Phallodrilinae, and the (present family) Naididae, is supported by two synapomorphics, the possession of modified penial setae and numerous coelomocytes (the latter secondarily lost in the Phallodrilinae). Some implications for the classification of the Tubificidae are discussed.     

Xylanase and β-xylosidase production byAspergillus niger NCIM 1207

Summary Aspergillus niger NCIM 1207 producing significantly high levels of -glucosidase was found to secrete hemicellulolytic enzymes (xylanase and -xylosidase) in the culture medium. High yields of -xylosidase were obtained when it was grown on either xylan (3%) or wheat bran (4%). Cellulose was a poor inducer of -xylosidase. The pH and temperature optima for-xylosidase were 4.5 and 65°C respectively.NCL Communication No. 3751     

Cellulase production by the edible mushroom Volvariella diplasia

Volvariella diplasia produced cellulolytic enzymes (550 U CM-cellulase and 69 U filter-paper cellulase/l) when grown in shake culture at pH 5.4 and 28°C with 0.5% cellulose powder as carbon source. Alkali-treated as well as untreated cellulosic substrates were hydrolysed by both enzymes (sp. act. 2.75 U/mg protein), with cellobiose and glucose as the end products.The author is with NCIM, Division of Biochemical Sciences, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411 008, Maharashtra, IndiaNCL Communication No. 6168.     

Taxonomic Studies of Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) from the Great Barrier Reef and the Comoro Islands with Descriptions of Ten New Species and One New Genus

A taxonomic and morphological account of a collection of Phallodrilinae from coralline sands at Heron Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef is given. Ten new forms are described: Jamiesoniella athecata gen. et sp.n. Phallodrilus rectisetosus heronensis subsp.n. P. geniculatus sp.n. P. filithecatus sp.n. P. clavatus sp.n. (latter three all devoid of an alimentary canal), Bathydrilus superiovasatus sp.n. Coralliodrilus atriobifidus sp.n. C. oviatriatus sp.n. C. parvigenitalis sp.n. and the gutless C. avisceralis sp.n. Morphological notes are given for Phallodrilus albidus Jamieson, 1977 and Bathydrilus rohdei (Jamieson, 1977). The new meiobenthic genus Jamiesoniella is characterized by having simple atria with only one pair of prostate glands, which are attached to ectal parts of atria, and by lacking spermathecae and penial setae, The genus is probably related to Aktedrilus Knöllner and Bacescuella Hrabě. A gutless species, Phallodrilus comorensis sp.n. is described from the Comoro Islands in the Mozambique Channel (W Indian Ocean).     

The Effect of a Quaternary Amine (Aliquat 336) on Growth and Photosynthesis of the Green Alga Chlorella emersonii, and the Effect on Photosynthesis in Isolated Spinach Chloroplasts

A quaternary amine, Aliquat 336, inhibits the growth of the green alga Chlorella emersonii, ¹⁴C-fixation of the alga is also inhibited. The effect and the site of action of the compound was studied by using isolated spinach chloroplasts. The carbon dioxide dependent oxygen evolution of the chloroplasts is inhibited directly upon the addition of the amine and the oxygen evolution is replaced by an oxygen uptake. By investigating some electron transport reactions in the chloroplasts we were able to show that Aliquat 336 affects the electron transport on the level of photophosphorylation. The results from the in vivo and the in vitro experiments thus show that the quaternary amine affects the photosynthetic process. Aliquat 336 is a solvent extractant used in several industrial processes for extraction of metals from aqueous solutions. Aliquat 336 could be considered a presumptive water pollutant as the compound could enter a recipient water body and thus affect photosynthesis.     

Taxonomic Studies on the Marine Genera Aktedrilus Knöllner and Bacescuella Hrabe' (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae), with Descriptions of Seven New Species

The taxonomy and morphology of Aktedrilus Knöllner, 1935 and Bacescuella Hrabe' 1973 (subfamily Phallodrilinae), both common genera of the marine, littoral meiofauna, were studied on the basis of material from various geographical areas. A. monospermathecus Knöllner, 1935 is redescribed from France and Scotland. A. magnus sp.n., A. hrevis sp.n., A. curvipenis sp.n. and A. floridensis sp.n. are described from Italy, Brazil, France and Florida, respectively. Two very closely related forms are described from the Pacific: A. locyi sp.n. (California) and A. parviprostatus sp.n. (Great Barrier Reef). B. mediterranea sp.n. is described from Italy, and new European records are given forB. arclica Erséus, 1978 andfi. parvithecata Erséus, 1978. Both genera are characterized by having two pairs of prostate glands, well developed penes, and unpaired, mid-dorsal spermatheca (if present). The species of Bacescuella transfer their sperm by means of external spermatophores, structures that are not developed in Aktedrilus. The eight species of Aktedrilus are largely distinguished by means of the morphology of the spermatheca, penes and prostates. The four species of Bacescuella differ principally from each other in the length of the vasa deferentia, and in the morphology of the prostates and copulatory organs. Most Bacescuella species lack spermatheca.     

The use of tamarind waste to improve ethanol production from cane molasses

Tamarind wastes such as tamarind husk, pulp, seeds, fruit and the effluent generated during tartaric acid extraction were used as supplements to evaluate their effects on alcohol production from cane molasses using yeast cultures. Small amounts of these additives enhanced the rate of ethanol production in batch fermentations. Tamarind fruit increased ethanol production (9.7%, w/v) from 22.5% reducing sugars of molasses as compared to 6.5% (w/v) in control experiments lacking supplements after 72 h of fermentation. In general, the addition of tamarind supplements to the fermentation medium showed more than 40% improvement in ethanol production using higher cane molasses sugar concentrations. The direct fermentation of aqueous tamarind effluent also yielded 3.25% (w/v) ethanol, suggesting its possible use as a diluent in molasses fermentations. This is the first report, to our knowledge, in which tamarind-based waste products were used in ethanol production. Received 2 April 1998/ Accepted in revised form 13 November 1998     

Suppressing Manganese Dissolution from Lithium Manganese Oxide Spinel Cathodes with Single‐Layer Graphene

Spinel‐structured LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) is a desirable cathode material for Li‐ion batteries due to its low cost, abundance, and high power capability. However, LMO suffers from limited cycle life that is triggered by manganese dissolution into the electrolyte during electrochemical cycling. Here, it is shown that single‐layer graphene coatings suppress manganese dissolution, thus enhancing the performance and lifetime of LMO cathodes. Relative to lithium cells with uncoated LMO cathodes, cells with graphene‐coated LMO cathodes provide improved capacity retention with enhanced cycling stability. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that graphene coatings inhibit manganese depletion from the LMO surface. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that a stable solid electrolyte interphase is formed on graphene, which screens the LMO from direct contact with the electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations provide two mechanisms for the role of graphene in the suppression of manganese dissolution. First, common defects in single‐layer graphene are found to allow the transport of lithium while concurrently acting as barriers for manganese diffusion. Second, graphene can chemically interact with Mn³⁺ at the LMO electrode surface, promoting an oxidation state change to Mn⁴⁺, which suppresses dissolution.     

Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Uptake by Isolated Chloroplasts of Wheat Irradiated with Monochromatic Light, without the Addition of an Oxidant

The oxygen exchange obtained when isolated chloroplasts of wheat are irradiated, without the addition of a Hill oxidant, has been investigated. Depending on the wavelength, two types of oxygen exchange are obtained. In light absorbed by both photosystems an oxygen gush appears directly upon irradiation. This oxygen evolving reaction is soon replaced by an oxygen uptake which is present until the end of the irradiation period. In light absorbed mainly in photosystem I, no oxygen gush can be observed, instead an oxygen uptake appears directly upon irradiation. An oxygen evolving process can also be observed in irradiations performed with photo-system I light, but this process appears after 10–15 seconds of irradiation. The influence of various external factors on the oxygen gush and the oxygen uptake, e.g. different wavelengths, light intensity, length of the dark periods between irradiations, was studied. The results show that the oxygen evolving reaction appearing upon irradiation with light absorbed by photosystem II and I, reflect the reduction of an oxidant, probably plasto-quinone, in the electron transport chain between the two photosystems. The reoxidation of this oxidant can be brought about after irradiating with light absorbed in photosystem I, or by prolonging the dark period between irradiations, or through some unknown process connected to photosystem II. The oxygen uptake which consists of two components, one appearing directly upon irradiation and the other one appearing after about 10 seconds of irradiation, confirms earlier observations that oxygen can be reduced in photosystem I. The electrons for the oxygen uptake appearing directly upon irradiation, are obtained from the reduced intermediates in the electron transport chain between the two photosystems. The electrons for the other oxygen uptake process are obtained from a reductant in the chloroplasts with access to the carrier chain between the photosystems. Whether the two oxygen uptake reactions reflect two sites of interaction of oxygen with the electron transport chain or only one site is discussed.