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We present the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) to date based on seven genetic loci—four protein‐coding genes: arginine kinase (AK), carbamoylphosphate synthase 2 domain of CAD (rudimentary; CAD2), cytochrome oxidase I (CO1), NADH1 dehydrogenase (ND1) and three ribosomal DNAs: 12S, 18S and 28S. Our analyses include 122 species including nine outgroup taxa and 113 phorids (representing 61 genera). Phylogenetic relationships based on the approximately 5.3 kb of sequence data were inferred by maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Results are broadly congruent with recent morphological phylogenies of the group, with some significant exceptions. Our data support the monophyletic Sciadocerinae as sister to the remainder of the family. However, we found Ctenopleuriphora Liu to be sister to Phorinae with low support, and subfamilies Chonocephalinae and Termitoxeniinae are placed deep within Phorinae, and their monophyly is not consistently recovered. Our dating analyses indicate a lower Cretaceous origin of Phoridae at 120.8 Ma (125.4–111.2 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The owlet moths (Noctuoidea; ~43–45K described species) are one of the most ecologically diverse and speciose superfamilies of animals. Moreover, they comprise some of the world's most notorious pests of agriculture and forestry. Despite their contributions to terrestrial biodiversity and impacts on ecosystems and economies, the evolutionary history of Noctuoidea remains unclear because the superfamily lacks a statistically robust phylogenetic and temporal framework. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Noctuoidea using data from 1234 genes (946.4 kb nucleotides) obtained from the genome and transcriptome sequences of 76 species. The relationships among the six families of Noctuoidea were well resolved and consistently recovered based on both concatenation and gene coalescence approaches, supporting the following relationships: Oenosandridae + (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))). A Yule tree prior with three unlinked molecular clocks was identified as the preferred BEAST analysis using marginal‐likelihood estimations. The crown age of Noctuoidea was estimated at 74.5 Ma, with most families originating before the end of the Paleogene (23 Ma). Our study provides the first statistically robust phylogenetic and temporal framework for Noctuoidea, including all families of owlet moths, based on large‐scale genomic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural organic matters (NOM) have been proved to form the hydraulically irreversible membrane fouling, which limit the application of the membrane in water treatment processes. To solve the membrane fouling caused by NOM, a novel one-step chemical cleaning method for the ceramic membrane derived from the base-activated persulfate oxidation process was developed in this study. When the SiC ceramic membranes was used to filtrate practical river water, the permeate flux dropped 65% as ΔTMP reached 30 kPa. After 2 h immersion of the fouled membrane in the cleaning solution (2 mM PMS and 8 mM NaOH), the flux recovery rate nearly reached 100%. Direct backwash of the membrane by the above cleaning solution further reduced the cleaning time to 25 mins, while achieving similar cleaning effect. Then the cleaned membranes were immersed in NaClO solution to release all the residual foulants, but the fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra (EEM) and total organic carbon (TOC) of the solution were found insignificant, which demonstrated the base-activated persulfate strategy had effectively removed the irreversible membrane fouling. Free radical quenching experiments were carried out and·O 2 - was identified as the dominant ROS responsible for the removal of the membrane foulants. The permeate flux and filtration efficiency of the SiC membrane were stable after 5 consecutive fouling-cleaning cycles, and the membrane structure was not damaged. In summary, the base-activated persulfate strategy is an efficient and cleaner method for SiC membrane cleaning, which is potential to be applied in practical membrane water treatment process. [Display omitted] • A novel one-step base-activated persulfate system was applied to the SiC membrane cleaning. • The cleaning process achieved full flux recovery rate in the optimized condition. • The·O 2 - was identified as the dominant ROS responsible for the removal of the membrane foulants. • This membrane cleaning strategy was long-term efficacy and no damage of the membrane structure was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic ozonation process (COP) is an effective and advanced oxidation technology for the treatment of organic wastewater. However, high salinity has a negative impact on catalytic ozonation performance. In this work, tin oxide (SnOx) and manganese oxide (MnOx) doped γ-Al2O3 catalysts (SnOx-MnOx@Al2O3) were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method and characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, XRT, XPS and FT-IR techniques. The SnOx-MnOx@Al2O3 catalyst was applied to the catalytic ozonation of phenol in hypersaline wastewater, and the catalytic performance was evaluated by COD removal efficiency. When the mass ratio of MnOx to SnOx was 1:3, the pH was 7, the catalyst dosage was 40 g/L, the ozone dosage was 6 mg/(L·min), the NaCl concentration was 15 g/L and the COD removal efficiency of hypersaline phenol wastewater reached 93.8% after 240 min of catalytic ozonation treatment. Compared with the single ozonation process (SOP), the introduction of SnOx-MnOx@Al2O3 catalyst improved the COD removal efficiency by 32.3%. Cl− may quench surface •OH species and ozone to form Cl• and Cl2•− with low activity and high selectivity, resulting in the reduction of catalytic ozonation efficiency. The catalytic activity of the SnOx-MnOx@Al2O3 catalyst remained high after eight cycles. In conclusion, the SnOx-MnOx@Al2O3 catalytic ozonation system exhibits efficient and stable mineralization performance and is a promising strategy for the treatment of hypersaline organic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of photocatalytic materials and their application in environmental pollution control and resource recycling have been reported in many literatures. However, most photocatalytic materials contain transition metal ions, and the environmental risks of leaching 1imit the application of catalytic materials. Silicon carbide (SiC), as the representative of the third generation of semiconductor materials, has a good potential application prospect in environmental pollution prevention because of Is characteristics such as no transition metal ions, high temperature and acid-alkali resistance, strong stability and so on. In recent years, some literatures have reported the synthesis, modification and application of SiC as photocatalyst n environment and resource recycling -fields. However, few temperatures have reviewed the application progress of SiC photocatalyst. In view of the above situation, the progress in the -field of SiC photocatalysis application in recent years was reviewed in tins paper, including synthesis method, doping medication and application, and the prospects of the photocatalyst system were also prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracillariidae is the most taxonomically diverse cosmopolitan leaf‐mining moth family, consisting of nearly 2000 named species in 105 described genera, classified into eight extant subfamilies. The majority of gracillariid species are internal plant feeders as larvae, creating mines and galls in plant tissue. Despite their diversity and ecological adaptations, their phylogenetic relationships, especially among subfamilies, remain uncertain. Genomic data (83 taxa, 589 loci) were integrated with Sanger data (130 taxa, 22 loci), to reconstruct a phylogeny of Gracillariidae. Based on analyses of both datasets combined and analyzed separately, monophyly of Gracillariidae and all its subfamilies, monophyly of the clade "LAMPO" (subfamilies: Lithocolletinae, Acrocercopinae, Marmarinae, Phyllocnistinae, and Oecophyllembiinae) and relationships of its subclade "AMO" (subfamilies: Acrocercopinae, Marmarinae, and Oecophyllembiinae) were strongly supported. A sister‐group relationship of Ornixolinae to the remainder of the family, and a monophyletic leaf roller lineage (Callicercops Vári + Parornichinae) + Gracillariinae, as sister to the "LAMPO" clade were supported by the most likely tree. Dating analyses indicate a mid‐Cretaceous (105.3 Ma) origin of the family, followed by a rapid diversification into the nine subfamilies predating the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction. We hypothesize that advanced larval behaviours, such as making keeled or tentiform blotch mines, rolling leaves and galling, allowed gracillariids to better avoid larval parasitoids allowing them to further diversify. Finally, we stabilize the classification by formally re‐establishing the subfamily ranks of Marmarinae stat.rev., Oecophyllembiinae stat.rev. and Parornichinae stat.rev., and erect a new subfamily, Callicercopinae Li, Ohshima and Kawahara to accommodate the enigmatic genus Callicercops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a new, annotated genome assembly of Neomicropteryx cornuta , a species of the so-called mandibulate archaic moths (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae). These moths belong to a lineage that is thought to have split from all other Lepidoptera more than 300 Ma and are consequently vital to understanding the early evolution of superorder Amphiesmenoptera, which contains the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and its sister order Trichoptera (caddisflies). Using PacBio HiFi sequencing reads, we assembled a highly contiguous genome with a contig N50 of nearly 17 Mb. The assembled genome length of 541,115,538 bp is about half the length of the largest published Amphiesmenoptera genome (Limnephilus lunatus , Trichoptera) and double the length of the smallest (Papilio polytes , Lepidoptera). We find high recovery of universal single copy orthologs with 98.1% of BUSCO genes present and provide a genome annotation of 15,643 genes aided by resolved isoforms from PacBio IsoSeq data. This high-quality genome assembly provides an important resource for studying ecological and evolutionary transitions in the early evolution of Amphiesmenoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyliidae is a very species‐rich and widespread family of parasitoid flies with more than 250 genera classified into 17 extant subfamilies. However, little is known about their evolutionary history or how their present‐day diversity was shaped. Transcriptomes of 15 species and anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) sequence captures of 86 species, representing 94 bee fly species and 14 subfamilies, were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of Bombyliidae. We integrated data from transcriptomes across each of the main lineages in our AHE tree to build a data set with more genes (550 loci versus 216 loci) and higher support levels. Our overall results show strong congruence with the current classification of the family, with 11 out of 14 included subfamilies recovered as monophyletic. Heterotropinae and Mythicomyiinae are successive sister groups to the remainder of the family. We examined the evolution of key morphological characters through our phylogenetic hypotheses and show that neither the "sand chamber subfamilies" nor the "Tomophthalmae" are monophyletic in our phylogenomic analyses. Based on our results, we reinstate two tribes at the subfamily level (Phthiriinae stat. rev. and Ecliminae stat. rev.) and we include the genus Sericosoma Macquart (previously incertae sedis) in the subfamily Oniromyiinae, bringing the total number of bee fly subfamilies to 19. Our dating analyses indicate a Jurassic origin of the family (165–194 Ma), with the sand chamber evolving early in bee fly evolution, in the late Jurassic or mid‐Cretaceous (100–165 Ma). We hypothesize that the angiosperm radiation and the hothouse climate established during the late Cretaceous accelerated the diversification of bee flies, by providing an expanded range of resources for the parasitoid larvae and nectarivorous adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin or robber flies (Asilidae) and bee flies (Bombyliidae) are two of the largest and most diverse fly families with over 7400 and 4700 described species worldwide, respectively. Adult assassin flies are predatory, feeding on smaller insects captured on the wing, and larvae predate on soft‐bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood. Adult bee flies feed on nectar and pollen. Almost all bee fly larvae are external or internal parasitoids of other insect larvae, usually in the soil. Although the interaction between bee fly larvae and their hosts has been rarely observed, we recently discovered assassin fly larvae hosting bee fly Lepidanthrax linguatus (Anthracinae: Villini) endoparasitoids in riverine sandy soil in southern NSW, Australia. While bee fly larvae have been known to attack other fly larvae, Asilidae is an uncommon host group. Furthermore, to find bee fly larvae inside the host is even less common because most bee fly larvae are ectoparasitoids. Here we describe and illustrate the host assassin fly (Bathypogon nigrinus: Bathypogoninae) larva and pupa, as well as the first instar bee fly larva (planidium) though careful external examination of the surface of the asilid larva, which is translucent, allowing us to see the internal parasite. This is the first larva and pupa from Bathypogoninae to be described. We also illustrate the bee fly larva in detail based on scanning electron microscopy of a larva in situ, after dissection from the host. Finally, we describe the late instar larval and pupal exuvia of the endoparasitoid. Like other endoparasitoid bombyliid larvae in the Villini, the first instar larva causes the host to produce a breathing tube that surrounds the posterior half of the parasitoid, allowing the parasitoid to maintain contact with atmospheric oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daptolestes Hull, 1962 is a small genus of distinctive, ornate robber flies (Asilidae) endemic to Australia, currently placed in the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae, containing three described species, D. limbipennis, D. nicholsoni and D. sergius. Adults of Daptolestes species (except D. sergius) have patterned wings, brown and yellow integumental colour and a waisted abdomen and could be mistaken for vespid wasps when foraging for insect prey on flowers. Here, we present a phylogeny based on a morphological survey of adult specimens. Based on the phylogenetic results, we provide a description and revised diagnosis for Daptolestes and describe four new species: D. leei Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov.D. bronteflavus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov.D. feminategus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov. and D. illusiolautus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov. We also erect a new genus, Humorolethalis Robinson, Li & Yeates, gen. nov. to accommodate Dasypogon sergius Walker [=Daptolestes sergius (Walker)]. For all species of both genera, we illustrate external features of the adults and male and female terminalia. Key to all Daptolestes species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bombyliinae comprises over 1100 described species in 73 known genera distributed worldwide. It is one of the largest subfamilies of bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae). We present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for this subfamily, based on 157 adult morphological characters scored for 123 species representing 60 genera, including all the tribes of Bombyliinae, and the related subfamilies Lordotinae and Toxophorinae. Four most parsimonious trees were generated from our analysis under equal weighting schemes. The monophyly of Bombyliinae is supported, and Lordotinae is sister to the Bombyliinae. Within Bombyliinae, Conophorini is sister to the remaining tribes. Five previously recognized tribes are revised and four new tribes are erected. We placed almost all genera in our tribal classification, based on our phylogenetic results and available character evidence. The genus Parabombylius is proposed as a synonym of Bombylius. The Gondwanan origin for the major lineages of Bombyliinae is strongly indicated by our biogeographic analysis which reconstructs ancestral areas. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1EC5C827‐34D5‐4A95‐BA78‐4ACF457F6D40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin or robber flies belong to the family Asilidae, one of the most diverse fly families, with over 7400 described species worldwide. Adults are predators on mostly smaller insects which they catch on the wing; larvae are predators on soft bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood, usually beetle (Coleoptera) larvae, often curl or white grubs (Scarabaeidae). Predation by larval and adult Asilidae puts downward pressure on populations of their prey above and below ground. Because asilid larvae are cryptic, the immature stages of few species have been described, thus hampering our ability to identify larvae. We describe and illustrate the late instar larva and pupa of one of Australia's largest and most impressive asilid species, Blepharotes splendidissimus (Wiedemann) (Asilinae: Apocleini). Taxonomically useful variation in asilid larvae so far described occurs in the head and its appendages. We have examined the fine detail of the larval head capsule and mouthparts using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time in Asilidae. The larva and pupa of B. splendidissimus are similar to other Asilidae but larger and more robust. The larva has a broad maxillae and long narrow mandibular hooks with an acute tip armed with a row of recurved spines. Our SEM studies detail the grooves on the inner surface of the mandible that form a feeding channel when the mandibles are appressed. Thus, the mandibular hooks are the insect equivalent of a Swiss army knife, with at least four functions: to pierce the prey, hold the prey, inject venom and extract nutrients from the prey. Asilid pupae have a well‐developed armature on the head, thorax and abdominal tergites, for drilling up out of the soil on adult eclosion. The pupa has distinct anterior and posterior antennal spinous processes and anterior and posterior mesothoracic spinous processes, and the tip of the abdomen has large, dorsally curved dorsal posterolateral processes and very small ventral posterolateral spinous processes. All the dorsal armature on the pupal abdominal segments are articulated spurs, rather than a mixture of fixed spines and spurs, as found in many asilid pupae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of bee fly (Bombyliinae: Bombyliini) is described to place a unique species Paramonovius nightking gen. et sp. nov. The new species is only collected in winter and is only known from a restricted area in Western Australia. Our morphological phylogeny indicates the new genus is sister to Sisyromyia White, 1916 and is similar to the latter in some external characters such as the one‐segmented antennal flagellum with apical stylus, subapex with 3–5 long hairs, open cell r5 and cell br nearly as long as cell bm. However, Paramonovius gen. nov. has dichoptic male eyes, sparse scales on the median abdominal stripe, enlarged claw and pulvillus, as well as a series of autapomorphies in the genitalia. We present a modified key to the Australian genera of Bombyliini to accommodate this new genus. The unusual flight time of this genus may have contributed to its rarity in collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macalpinomyia jiewenaegen. et sp.n. is described from the mid‐Cretaceous (∼99 Ma) amber of Myanmar. Macalpinomyia jiewenae is the first Oriental representative of the enigmatic family Ironomyiidae (Diptera: Phoroidea), currently known from a single extant genus restricted to southeastern Australia, plus a monotypic genus from Canadian amber and three controversial genera based on impression fossils from China, Mongolia and Russia. A phylogenetic analysis of all Phoroidea families, including all ironomyiid extant and extinct genera, corroborates the monophyly of Ironomyiidae, and Macalpinomyiagen.n. is assigned to the subfamily Sinolestinae. Cretonomyiinae subfam.n., is erected to accommodate the basal lineage of Ironomyiidae. Lebambromyia acrai Grimaldi & Cumming, previously placed in Ironomyiidae, is supported as an early branching lineage of Platypezidae. Our topology proposes that Ironomyiidae is sister to the remaining Phoroidea. The phylogenetic results, in combination with the fossil ages and relevant molecular divergence time analysis, suggests that Ironomyiidae probably originated at least in the Berriasian of the Early Cretaceous (∼140 Ma). This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DFFC944‐1350‐418E‐BCDC‐BB87FC013D5D. Ironomyiidae (Diptera: Phoroidea) is described from the mid‐Cretaceous (∼ 99 Ma) amber of Myanmar for the first time with Macalpinomyia jiewenaegen. et sp.n.A phylogenetic analysis of all Phoroidea families, including all ironomyiid genera, supports the monophyly of Ironomyiidae and suggests that Ironomyiidae is sister to the remaining Phoroidea.The relationships within Ironomyiidae are reconstructed, and Cretonomyiinae subfam.n. is erected to accommodate the basal lineage of the Ironomyiidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyliinae, one of the largest subfamilies of Bombyliidae, including 78 genera assigned to four tribes, is distributed on all continents except Antarctica. Their larvae are parasitoids, and adults are important pollinators. The Australian Bombyliinae currently has 17 described genera and 87 described species. The purpose of this study is to establish the phylogeny of the Australian members of the subfamily Bombyliinae, including the boundaries and relationships of the genera, using morphological characters. One maximum parsimony tree was generated from 83 morphological characters scored for 50 species, representing all recognised genera and some unplaced species that we considered may represent new genera. Phylogenetic analysis recovered the relationships between the recognised Australian genera of Bombyliinae and clarified generic limits. The group comprises five main clades, with the genus Pilosia being sister to the remaining Bombyliinae. On the basis of this analysis, four new genera are described: Lambkinomyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov., Dissodesma Bowden & Li, gen. nov., Nigromyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov. and Robertsmyia Li & Yeates, gen. nov. Ten new species are described: Dissodesma immaculata Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Dissodesma flava Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Dissodesma smarti Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia collessi Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia crocea Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia flavimana Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia longistriata Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia pantherina Li & Yeates, sp. nov., Nigromyia parva Li & Yeates, sp. nov. and Nigromyia tomentosa Li & Yeates, sp. nov. Two new junior synonyms are identified: Apiformyia is a junior synonym of Eristalopsis and Brychosoma is a junior synonym of Staurostichus. The following new combinations are proposed: from Apiformyia: Eristalopsis australis (Yeates), comb. nov.; from Bombylius: Dissodesma primogenita (Walker) comb. nov.; from Brychosoma: Staurostichus aureolatus (Walker), comb. nov., Staurostichus hilaris (Walker), comb. nov. and Staurostichus pictipennis (Macquart), comb. nov.; from Laurella: Robertsmyia pallidoventris (Roberts), comb. nov.; from Mandella: Lambkinomyia cinctiventris (Roberts), comb. nov., Lambkinomyia flavovillosa (Roberts), comb. nov., Lambkinomyia pallida (Roberts), comb. nov. and Lambkinomyia rubida (Roberts), comb. nov.; and from Meomyia: Mandella australis (Guérin-Méneville), comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus Phthiraxia gen. nov. (Usiinae: Phthiriini) is described from a remote region of Western Australia based on a male and a female specimen collected 35 years ago. The pair represent a single new species Phthiraxia bowdeni sp. nov. Two important characteristics of this new genus, however, challenge the definition of the subfamily Usiinae: the clypeus does not reach the base of antennae, and the palp is two-segmented. Moreover, Phthiraxia gen. nov. has two other features: the wing vein M2 present, shared by all members of Phthiriini, and flagellum with subapical shallow sulcus containing a style, differentiating it from Phthiriini with a deep apical sulcus, and Usiini with a deep subapical sulcus. Results of a morphological phylogenetic analysis show that the new genus belongs to a lineage that is sister to the remaining members of the subfamily. Therefore, a monotypic new tribe, Phthiraxini tribus nov., is described to accommodate Phthiraxia gen. nov. A key to the Australian genera of Usiinae is provided. We reevaluate the syapomorphies of the Usiinae in light of the new tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide application of surfactants and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in industrial and consumer products lead to the high possibility of their co-presence in natural water environment, making it important to study the effect of surfactants on the environmental behavior and fate of ENMs. In this work, we selected an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO, Tergitol NP-9) to study their effects on the aggregation and sedimentation of a 20 nm ZnO ENM in different water matrices. The adsorption of SDS and NP-9 by ZnO ENM were fitted with Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 43.73 ± 4.62 mg/g and 13.79 ± 1.09 respectively. As the surfactant concentration increased from 0 to 0.030% (m:v), SDS reduced the zeta potential of ZnO ENM from 17.56 ± 2.13 to − 27.96 ± 2.59 mV, whereas NP-9 did not affect the zeta potential. After a 24-h batch reactor experiment, SDS and NP-9 reduced 93.02% and 80.26% of the aggregate size of ZnO ENM (50 mg L − 1 ) in maximum at surfactant concentrations ≥ 0.015%. The ZnO ENM was not stable in natural aqueous matrices, mainly because of the relatively high ionic strength. However, surfactants were found to reduce the aggregation and sedimentation of ZnO ENM in six natural water matrices in different degrees. With the presence of 0.030% SDS in tap water, maximum reduction rates of aggregate size and sedimentation were recorded as 69.54% and 26.69%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the presence of surfactants may alter the behaviors and fate of ENMs in natural water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high likelihood of the coexistence of surfactants and engineered nano-materials (ENMs) in aqueous environments redoubles the need to study the effects of surfactants on the behavior and transport of nano-materials. In this study, we chose anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO, Tergitol NP-9) to study the effect of surfactants on the behaviors of a typical TiO 2 ENM in water environment. An adsorption isotherm and zeta potential study showed that both surfactants could be adsorbed onto the surface of nano-TiO 2 but that only SDS can significantly decrease the zeta potential of TiO 2 . For a better simulation of the dynamic natural water environment, we conducted a 24-h batch experiment to study the aggregation behaviors of nano-TiO 2 in the presence of SDS or NP-9 surfactants and recorded the sedimentation of the aggregates in solutions containing the surfactants over a 24 h-period. SDS and NP-9 both reduced the growth of the TiO 2 aggregates and retarded the aggregate sedimentation at surfactant concentrations ≥ 0.015% (w:v). The aggregation of TiO 2 was far more remarkable in six environmental water matrices from different natural origins than in Milli-Q water, mainly because of the relatively high ionic strength of the former. The introduction of surfactants, however, still retarded the aggregation and sedimentation of TiO 2 in the six environmental water matrices. SDS exerted a stronger reductive effect than NP-9. This study reveals that the presence of surfactants may increase the bioavailability and environmental risk of nanomaterial contaminants by retarding the aggregation and promoting the transport of nanomaterials in natural aqueous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachycera is a clade with over 80,000 described species and originated from the Mesozoic, and its larvae employ comprehensive feeding strategies. The phylogeny of the lower Brachycera has been studied intensively over the past decades. In order to supplement the lack of genetic data in this important group, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Atylotus miser as well as the nearly complete mt genomes of another 11 orthorrhaphous flies. The mt genome of A. miser is 15,858 bp, which is typical of Diptera, with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a 993 bp control region. The rest of the orthorrhaphous mt genomes in our study have the similar structure with A. miser . Additionally, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of 20 mt genomes using Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods in order to reconstruct the evolutionary relationship of Orthorrhapha. The results show that all infraorders of Brachycera are monophyletic, and a relationship of Tabanomorpha + ((Xylophagomorpha + Stratiomyomorpha) + Muscomorpha) has been proposed. Within Xylophagomorpha, Nemestrinoidae forms the sister group of Xylophagidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscoidea is a significant dipteran clade that includes house flies (Family Muscidae), latrine flies (F. Fannidae), dung flies (F. Scathophagidae) and root maggot flies (F. Anthomyiidae). It is comprised of approximately 7000 described species. The monophyly of the Muscoidea and the precise relationships of muscoids to the closest superfamily the Oestroidea (blow flies, flesh flies etc) are both unresolved. Until now mitochondrial (mt) genomes were available for only two of the four muscoid families precluding a thorough test of phylogenetic relationships using this data source. Here we present the first two mt genomes for the families Fanniidae (Euryomma sp.) (family Fanniidae) and Anthomyiidae (Delia platura (Meigen, 1826)). We also conducted phylogenetic analyses containing of these newly sequenced mt genomes plus 15 other species representative of dipteran diversity to address the internal relationship of Muscoidea and its systematic position. Both maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses suggested that Muscoidea was not a monophyletic group with the relationship: (Fanniidae + Muscidae) + ((Anthomyiidae + Scathophagidae) + (Calliphoridae + Sarcophagidae)), supported by the majority of analysed datasets. This also infers that Oestroidea was paraphyletic in the majority of analyses. Divergence time estimation suggested that the earliest split within the Calyptratae, separating (Tachinidae + Oestridae) from the remaining families, occurred in the Early Eocene. The main divergence within the paraphyletic muscoidea grade was between Fanniidae + Muscidae and the lineage ((Anthomyiidae + Scathophagidae) + (Calliphoridae + Sarcophagidae)) which occurred in the Late Eocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsid flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) are important model insects for sexual selection research. In order to develop mitochondrial (mt) genome data for this significant group, we sequenced the first complete mt genome of the sepsid fly Nemopoda mamaevi Ozerov, 1997. The circular 15,878 bp mt genome is typical of Diptera, containing all 37 genes usually present in bilaterian animals. We discovered inaccurate annotations of fly mt genomes previously deposited on GenBank and thus re-annotated all published mt genomes of Cyclorrhapha. These re-annotations were based on comparative analysis of homologous genes, and provide a statistical analysis of start and stop codon positions. We further detected two 18 bp of conserved intergenic sequences from tRNAGlu-tRNAPhe and ND1-tRNASer(UCN) across Cyclorrhapha, which are the mtTERM binding site motifs. Additionally, we compared automated annotation software MITOS with hand annotation method. Phylogenetic trees based on the mt genome data from Cyclorrhapha were inferred by Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods, strongly supported a close relationship between Sepsidae and the Tephritoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel biomolecule (urushiol) grafted Degussa P25 hybrid nanoparticle (UP25) was synthesized, and its structure was characterized. The UP25 hybrid nanoparticle showed high photoactivity under visible light irradiation (λ≥420nm). 4,4′-(propane-2,2-diyl)diphenol (Bisphenol A, BPA) can easily approach to UP25 surface through the hydrophobic channels between alkyl groups in urushiol. BPA degradation rate constants were 1.02×10−3 min−1 and 4.96×10−3 min−1 over P25 and UP25, respectively. Radical quenching experiments proved that the superoxide radical anion (O2 −) mediated oxidation pathways were dominant for degradation of BPA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies, represent the most taxonomically diverse family of Diptera Carnoidea, comprising over 3000 described species worldwide. Previous phylogenetic studies of this family have predominantly relied on morphological characters, with mitochondrial genomes being reported in a few species. This study presents 11 newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes (10 Chloropidae and 1 Milichiidae) and provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes for Chloropidae. Apart from 37 standard genes and the control region, three conserved intergenic sequences across Diptera Cyclorrhapha were identified in all available chloropid mitochondrial genomes. Evolutionary rates within Chloropidae exhibit significant variation across subfamilies, with Chloropinae displaying higher rates than the other three subfamilies. Phylogenetic relationships based on mitochondrial genomes were inferred using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The monophyly of Chloropidae and all four subfamilies is consistently strongly supported, while subfamily relationships within Chloropidae remain poorly resolved, possibly due to rapid evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diaprepes root weevil (DRW), Diaprepes abbreviatus , is a broadly polyphagous invasive pest of agriculture in the southern United States and the Caribbean. Its genome was sequenced, assembled, and annotated to study genomic correlates of specialized plant-feeding and invasiveness and to facilitate the development of new methods for DRW control. The 1.69 Gb D. abbreviatus genome assembly was distributed across 653 contigs, with an N50 of 7.8 Mb and the largest contig of 62 Mb. Most of the genome was comprised of repetitive sequences, with 66.17% in transposable elements, 5.75% in macrosatellites, and 2.06% in microsatellites. Most expected orthologous genes were present and fully assembled, with 99.5% of BUSCO genes present and 1.5% duplicated. One hundred and nine contigs (27.19 Mb) were identified as putative fragments of the X and Y sex chromosomes, and homology assessment with other beetle X chromosomes indicated a possible sex chromosome turnover event. Genome annotation identified 18,412 genes, including 43 putative horizontally transferred (HT) loci. Notably, 258 genes were identified from gene families known to encode plant cell wall degrading enzymes and invertases, including carbohydrate esterases, polysaccharide lyases, and glycoside hydrolases (GH). GH genes were unusually numerous, with 239 putative genes representing 19 GH families. Interestingly, several other beetle species with large numbers of GH genes are (like D. abbreviatus) successful invasive pests of agriculture or forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tensile strength of rocks is affected by loading conditions, specifically direct and Brazilian tension, as well as water saturation. But the fundamental reasons for the differences between direct tensile strength σ td and Brazilian tensile strength σ tb , and their degradation induced by water saturation, are not yet fully understood. Here, we report a series of direct tensile and Brazilian tests performed on marble and granite rocks under both dry and water-saturated conditions. We employed the acoustic emission (AE) technique and further analyzed the recorded AE waveforms using a methodology based on the statistical analysis of dominant frequency to infer the intrinsic failure process of studied rocks under different water and loading conditions. Our results show that water saturation causes substantial reductions in both σ td and σ tb , with the reduction in σ tb being greater. A correspondence between AE waveforms distributed in high and low dominant frequency bands (H-type and L-type waveform) and rock failure types is found, that is, the H-type waveforms correspond to the micro-shear failures, and the L-type waveforms correspond to the micro-tensile failures. Based on this, the generation of abundant micro-shear failures is the cause of enhancement in σ tb in rocks compared to its σ td , and the reductions in σ td and σ tb for saturated rocks result from increasing micro-tensile failures. Furthermore, the friction-weakening effect induced by lubricating water films is responsible for the tensile strength reduction of saturated marble and granite under direct and Brazilian tension. The pronounced friction-weakening effect resulting from the widespread friction condition in the Brazilian test facilitates the σ tb loss. In addition to the friction-weakening effect, stress corrosion could also be a secondary cause of the tensile strength reduction of saturated granite. Highlights: The corresponding relationship between acoustic emission waveform types with micro-failure patterns is built. Reasons for the difference in measured tensile strength under direct and Brazilian tension are proposed. Water-weakening effects on the tensile strength of rocks under direct tension and Brazilian loading are revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, the first complete mitochondrial genome of the family Dixidae is reported. The complete mitochondrial genome ofDixellasp. is a circular molecule of 15,574 bp in length, containing all 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (srRNAandlrRNA), and a long control region. Its gene arrangement is conserved with the ancestral gene order ofDrosophila yakuba, which is considered to exhibit the ground pattern of Hexapoda mitochondrial genome. Most PCGs start with standard ATN codons, whileCOIuses CCG,ND1uses TTG andND5uses GTG as start codons. All PCGs terminate in the common stop codons TAA, except forCOIIandND5which end with a single thymine stop codon. There is a 703 bp of the control region, located betweensrRNAandtRNAlle-tRNAGln-tRNAMet(IQM) cluster, without conserved blocks or long tandem repeats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genomes ofMusca domestica(Muscidae) andScathophaga stercoraria(Scathophagidae) are circular molecules of 16,108 bp and 16,223 bp in length, respectively. The first complete mitochondrial genome of Scathophagidae is reported here. Both genomes contain all 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a large control region, with conserved arrangement pattern reported in all cyclorrhaphan flies. All PCGs start with standard ATN codons except for theCO1which starts with TCG in both species. All PCGs terminate with the common stop codons TAA or TAG, except for theCO2andND5in both species andND4inS. stercorariawhich end with a single T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave propagation is widely used in geologic mining and geotechnical engineering to acquire the structure information of rock masses. As rocks, by their nature, are filled with cracks and pores, wave propagation in rocks shows its clear dependence on stress. To describe the stress dependence of wave propagation, a nonlinear viscoelastic model consisting of a modified Hooke Model and Kelvin Model was proposed based on experimental observations on sandstones under uniaxial loads. With this model, the nonlinear behavior of rocks at the early stage of compression is attributed to the deformation of voids with a variable tangent modulus. Thus, wave velocity and wave attenuation can be altered, which change with the closure of voids and act as a function of stress. The proposed model was validated by comparison with experimental measurements from ultrasonic transmission at varying uniaxial stresses. It is shown that the effects of applied stress on the stress–strain relationship, wave velocity and wave attenuation for P-waves are well describe by the developed viscoelastic model. Changes in wave attenuation are also analyzed in terms of viscosity-like parameter defined by this model, which is found to be negatively proportional to the uniaxial stress. Highlights: The wave propagation in porous sandstones under uniaxial loads was investigated in experimental and analytical ways. A viscoelastic model was proposed to incorporate the nonlinear mechanical and acoustic behaviors observed at the early stage of compression. Both the nonlinear stress-strain relationship and the stress dependence of wave velocity and wave attenuation can be well described by the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) co-modified TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) were prepared by a facile and green strategy based on the electro-deposition technology for detecting H 2 O 2 , O 2 and nitrite. As-prepared Au/r-GO/TNTs electrode was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results clearly demonstrate that the successful attachment of r-GO sheets and narrow-range distribution of Au nanoparticles on TNTs. The reduced grapheme oxide sheet can help to improve the electronic conductive performance of TNTs and prevent the agglomeration of Au nanoparticles. Electrochemical studies reveal that the Au/r-GO/TNTs electrode exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance toward the reduction of H 2 O 2 . Under the optimal experimental condition, the sensor has a quick response to H 2 O 2 at −0.3 V with a high sensitivity (1011.35 mA M −1 cm −2 ), wide linear range (0.01–22.3 mM) and low detection limit (0.006 μM). In addition, the sensor also has good stability and excellent selectivity. Moreover, the established Au/r-GO/TNTs electrode also shows high sensitivities towards dissolved O 2 and nitrite ions, which has great potential for the development of electrochemical sensors, molecular bioelectronics devices and biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The genus Homoneura is the most speciose genus of Lauxaniidae. However, no phylogenetic study of Homoneura has been published using morphological data, despite the high diversity and ecological significance. Therefore, we present the first morphological phylogeny of Homoneura. The monophyly of the genus Homoneura and the subgenus Homoneura is not supported. The monophyly of the subgenera Euhomoneura and Neohomoneura is supported, as well as the sister relationship between the subgenera Chaetohomoneura and Neohomoneura. These results provide a comprehensive framework and information toward future research of this genus. The genus Homoneura comprises over 700 described species in eight known subgenera distributed worldwide and has the highest species richness of Lauxaniidae. Five subgenera and more than 200 species have currently been recorded from China. Despite its high diversity, the monophyly of Homoneura and its subgenera, and the phylogenetic relationships among its subgenera remain to be investigated. One maximum-parsimony tree was generated based on 105 morphological characters scored from 24 species, representing all five subgenera of Homoneura recorded from China. The results did not support the monophyly of the genus Homoneura and subgenus Homoneura. The subgenus Chaetohomoneura is a sister to subgenus Neohomoneura. The monophyly of the subgenera Euhomoneura and Neohomoneura is supported. Much of the current classification of the genus Homoneura needs a revision before taxonomy can reflect natural groupings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As oxygen is one of the essential reactants in the standard SCR reactions, the ability of restoring and releasing oxygen is an important factor to determine the SCR activity of the catalyst. Ceria catalysts present an innate prospect in SCR reaction because of the facilitated redox cycles from Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ . In the present study, zirconium phosphate @ Ce 0.75 Z 0.25 O 2 (ZP/CZ) catalysts were pre-treated by O 2 , N 2 and H 2 to study the effects of lean-oxygen teatment on the structure, NH 3 /NO x adsorption and activity of catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by activity test, H 2 -TPR, XPS, DRIFT, NO x -TPD and kinetics study. The results showed that H 2 treatment led to deeply reduced catalyst surface, resulting in mainly nitrites instead of nitrates adsorbed on catalyst in NO + O 2 reaction and reduced Brønsted acidity of catalyst, which were responsible for the lowered deNO x activity of H 2 treated catalyst. N 2 treatment had only negligible influence on catalyst compared to O 2 treated catalyst. Ammonium nitrate route was consolidated as possible NH 3 -SCR reaction mechanism over ZP/CZ catalyst by kinetics study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work revealed that β-cyclodextrin was attached onto the surface of TiO2 predominately by its secondary ring side, which caused paradoxical functions of β-cyclodextrin in the photodegradation of the four bisphenols. The equilibrium between the guest adsorbed through β-cyclodextrin onto TiO2 and the one locked in β-CD in water could also change the role of β-cyclodextrin in the degradation of a certain guest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Dacus is one of the most economically important tephritid fruit flies. The first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Dacus species - D. longicornis was sequenced by next-generation sequencing in order to develop the mitogenome data for this genus. The circular 16,253 bp mitogenome is the typical set and arrangement of 37 genes present in the ancestral insect. The mitogenome data of D. longicornis was compared to all the published homologous sequences of other tephritid species. We discovered the subgenera Bactrocera, Daculus and Tetradacus differed from the subgenus Zeugodacus, the genera Dacus, Ceratitis and Procecidochares in the possession of TA instead of TAA stop codon for COI gene. There is a possibility that the TA stop codon in COI is the synapomorphy in Bactrocera group in the genus Bactrocera comparing with other Tephritidae species. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitogenome data from Tephritidae were inferred by Bayesian and Maximum-likelihood methods, strongly supported the sister relationship between Zeugodacus and Dacus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A traditionally controversial taxon, the Tipulomorpha has been frequently discussed with respect to both its familial composition and relationships with other Nematocera. The interpretation of internal relationships within the Tipuloidea, which include the Tipulidae sensu stricto, Cylindrotomidae, Pediciidae and Limoniidae, is also problematic. We sequenced the first complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Symplecta hybrida (Meigen, 1804), which belongs to the subfamily Chioneinae of family Limoniidae, and another five nearly complete mt genomes from the Tipuloidea. We did a comparative analysis of these mt genomics and used them, along with some other representatives of the Nematocera to construct phylogenetic trees. Trees inferred by Bayesian methods strongly support a sister-group relationship between Trichoceridae and Tipuloidea. Tipulomorpha are not supported as the earliest branch of the Diptera. Furthermore, phylogenetic trees indicate that the family Limoniidae is a paraphyletic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Plecoptera (stoneflies) is a hemimetabolous order of insects, whose larvae are usually used as indicators for fresh water biomonitoring. Herein, we describe the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of a stonefly species, namely Acroneuria hainana Wu belonging to the family Perlidae. This mt genome contains 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA-coding genes and 2 rRNA-coding genes that are conserved in most insect mt genomes, and it also has the identical gene order with the insect ancestral gene order. However, there are three special initiation codons of ND1 , ND5 and COI in PCGs: TTG, GTG and CGA, coding for L, V and R, respectively. Additionally, the 899-bp control region, with 73.30% A + T content, has two long repeated sequences which are found at the 3′-end closing to the tRNA Ile gene. Both of them can be folded into a stem-loop structure, whose adjacent upstream and downstream sequences can be also folded into stem-loop structures. It is presumed that the four special structures in series could be associated with the D-loop replication. It might be able to adjust the replication speed of two replicate directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]