Chagas Disease is a zoonosis caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Several high-resolution markers have subdivided T. cruzi taxon into at least seven lineages or Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) (TcI-TcVI and TcBat). Trypanosoma cruzi I is the most diverse and geographically widespread DTU. Recently a TcI genotype related to domestic cycles was proposed and named as TcIDOM. Herein, we combined traditional markers and housekeeping genes and applied a Multispecies Coalescent method to explore intra-TcI relationships, lineage boundaries and genetic diversity in a random set of isolates and DNA sequences retrieved from Genbank from different countries in the Americas. We found further evidence supporting TcIDOM as an independent and emerging genotype of TcI at least in Colombia and Venezuela. We also found evidence of high phylogenetic incongruence between parasite's gene trees (including introgression) and embedded species trees, and a lack of genetic structure among geography and hosts, illustrating the complex dynamics and epidemiology of TcI across the Americas. These findings provide novel insights into T. cruzi systematics and epidemiology and support the need to assess parasite diversity and lineage boundaries through hypothesis testing using different approaches to those traditionally employed, including the Bayesian Multispecies coalescent method.

The Centro de Laseres Pulsados in Salamanca, Spain has recently started operation phase and the first user access period on the 6 J 30 fs 200 TW system (VEGA 2) already started at the beginning of 2018. In this paper we report on two commissioning experiments recently performed on the VEGA 2 system in preparation for the user campaign. VEGA 2 system has been tested in different configurations depending on the focusing optics and targets used. One configuration (long focal length $F=130$  cm) is for underdense laser–matter interaction where VEGA 2 is focused onto a low density gas-jet generating electron beams (via laser wake field acceleration mechanism) with maximum energy up to 500 MeV and an X-ray betatron source with a 10 keV critical energy. A second configuration (short focal length $F=40$  cm) is for overdense laser–matter interaction where VEGA 2 is focused onto a $5~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$ thick Al target generating a proton beam with a maximum energy of 10 MeV and temperature of 2.5 MeV. In this paper we present preliminary experimental results.

Digenea Carus, 1863 represent a highly diverse group of parasitic platyhelminths that infect all major vertebrate groups as definitive hosts. Morphology is the cornerstone of digenean systematics, but molecular markers have been instrumental in searching for a stable classification system of the subclass and in establishing more accurate species limits. The first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic tree of Digenea published in 2003 used two nuclear rRNA genes (ssrDNA = 18S rDNA and lsrDNA = 28S rDNA) and was based on 163 taxa representing 77 nominal families, resulting in a widely accepted phylogenetic classification. The genetic library for the 28S rRNA gene has increased steadily over the last 15 years because this marker possesses a strong phylogenetic signal to resolve sister-group relationships among species and to infer phylogenetic relationships at higher levels of the taxonomic hierarchy. Here, we have updated the database of 18S and 28S rRNA genes until December 2017, we have added newly generated 28S rDNA sequences and we have reassessed phylogenetic relationships to test the current higher-level classification of digeneans (at the subordinal and subfamilial levels). The new dataset consisted of 1077 digenean taxa allocated to 106 nominal families for 28S and 419 taxa in 98 families for 18S. Overall, the results were consistent with previous higher-level classification schemes, and most superfamilies and suborders were recovered as monophyletic assemblages. With the advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, new phylogenetic hypotheses from complete mitochondrial genomes have been proposed, although their power to resolve deep levels of trees remains controversial. Since data from NGS methods are replacing other widely used markers for phylogenetic analyses, it is timely to reassess the phylogenetic relationships of digeneans with conventional nuclear rRNA genes, and to use the new analysis to test the performance of genomic information gathered from NGS, e.g. mitogenomes, to infer higher-level relationships of this group of parasitic platyhelminths.

The family Clinostomidae Lühe, 1901 contains 29 species allocated to seven genera, of which Clinostomum Leidy, 1856 is the most diverse, with c. 14 valid species. The diversity of Clinostomum has been assessed, combining morphological and molecular data. The genetic library for species in this genus has increased steadily, although there is little or no information for the other genera included in the family. Molecular phylogenetic relationships among the genera of clinostomids have not been assessed, and their classification is still based on morphological traits. The monotypic Ithyoclinostomum was described from a fish-eating bird in Brazil, and its metacercariae have been found in several locations in South America, parasitizing erythrinid freshwater fishes. We collected unusually large metacercariae from the body cavity of cichlids in several locations across Middle America. These metacercariae exhibited some resemblance to Ithyoclinostomum, although several differences prevent their inclusion in Ithyoclinostomum dimorphum, casting doubt on their taxonomic identification. The main objective of this paper was to characterize the metacercariae collected in cichlids using both morphology and molecular data from three molecular markers, and to assess the molecular phylogenetic relationships among the genera of Clinostomidae to establish the position of the newly generated sequences. We took a conservative position and tentatively placed the metacercariae as belonging to Ithyoclinostomum.

Members of the genus Drepanocephalus are endoparasites of fish-eating birds of the families Phalacrocoracidae and Sulidae distributed across the Americas. Currently, Drepanocephalus contains three species, i.e. D. spathans (type species), D. olivaceus and D. auritus. Two additional species, D. parvicephalus and D. mexicanus were transferred to the genus Petasiger. In the current study, available DNA sequences of D. spathans, D. auritus and Drepanocephalus sp., were aligned with newly generated sequences of D. spathans and Petasiger mexicanus. Phylogenetic analyses inferred with three nuclear (LSU, SSU and ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and two mitochondrial (cox1, nad1) molecular markers showed that the sequences of D. spathans and D. auritus are nested together in a single clade with very low genetic divergence, with Petasiger mexicanus as its sister species. Additionally, P. mexicanus was not a close relative of other members of the genus Petasiger, showing that P. mexicanus actually belongs to the genus Drepanocephalus, suggesting the need to re-allocate Petasiger mexicanus back into the genus Drepanocephalus, as D. mexicanus. Morphological observations of the newly sampled individuals of D. spathans showed that the position of the testes is variable and testes might be contiguous or widely separated, which is one of the main diagnostic traits for D. auritus. Our results suggest that D. auritus might be considered a synonym of D. spathans and, as a result, the latter represents a species with a wide geographic range across the Americas, parasitizing both the Neotropical and the double-crested cormorant in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, USA and Canada.

Daytime restricted feeding (2 h of food access from 12.00 to 14.00 hours for 3 weeks) is an experimental protocol that modifies the relationship between metabolic networks and the circadian molecular clock. The precise anatomical locus that controls the biochemical and physiological adaptations to optimise nutrient use is unknown. We explored the changes in liver oxidative lipid handling, such as β-oxidation and its regulation, as well as adaptations in the lipoprotein profile. It was found that daytime restricted feeding promoted an elevation of circulating ketone bodies before mealtime, an altered hepatic daily rhythmicity of 14CO2 production from radioactive palmitic acid, and an up-regulation of the fatty acid oxidation activators, the α-subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the deacetylase silent mating type information regulation homolog 1, and the transcriptional factor PPARγ-1α coactivator. An increased localisation of phosphorylated α-subunit of AMPK in the periportal hepatocytes was also observed. Liver hepatic lipase C, important for lipoprotein transformation, showed a change of daily phase with a peak at the time of food access. In serum, there was an increase of LDL, which was responsible for a net elevation of circulating cholesterol. We conclude that our results indicate an enhanced fasting response in the liver during daily synchronisation to food access, which involves altered metabolic and cellular control of fatty acid oxidation as well a significant elevation of serum LDL. These adaptations could be part of the metabolic input that underlies the expression of the food-entrained oscillator.

Two groups of six Haemonchus contortus infected Saint Croix lambs each received different diets for 11 weeks: control group, commercial food, molasses and lucerne hay; and treated group, nutritional pellets (NPs) containing Duddingtonia flagrans at 2 × 106 chlamydospores/kg body weight (BW), sorghum and lucerne hay. Mean BW gain (BWG), body condition score (BCS) and packed cell volume (PCV) and also eggs/g of faeces (EPG) and recovered L3 were compared using a repeated measures across time model. Groups had similar BWG (control 139.7 ± 0.035 g/day and treated 167.7 ± 0.041 g/day), BCS (control 3.6 ± 0.39 and treated 3.4 ± 0.46) and PCV (control 32.5 ± 1.68% and treated 30.0 ± 1.68%). The mean EPG of the control group was 1215 ± 1040 and in the treated group it was 2097.91 ± 2050. No reduction in larval population was observed during weeks 2 and 3. The greatest larval population reduction in the faeces of treated lambs was observed during the first week (70.5%) and from weeks 6 to 11, with a mean value close to 70% (P < 0.05). In general, both experimental groups showed a similar feed conversion. It was concluded that both diets resulted in similar lamb growth, PCV, BCS and H. contortus EPG. However, NP consumption significantly reduced the H. contortus L3 population in lamb faeces.

The European Union Network ANTENA started to work in October 1993. During these last three years, several collaborative projects have been undertaken. ANTENA has offered a very good opportunity for most of the European people doing asteroseismology to work together. The asteroseismological networks STEPHI and STACC have run within the framework of the project, obtaining fairly good results. New instrumentation has also been developed, such as the Four-Channel Stellar Photometer.

In this work we propose a preliminary seismic investigation of δ Scuti stars in the Pleiades cluster, focusing on potential diagnostics of convection and core-overshooting. Taking into account the effect of fast rotation in the modelling, we compare observed frequencies for 4 δ Scuti stars with radial linear instability predictions. A satisfying agreement is reached between the predicted ranges of unstable modes and those derived from observations for “low-mass” stars (∼ 1.55M ⊙). However, a strong disagreement is found for “high-mass” stars (∼ 1.77M ⊙), whatever the mixing length (α) value. These results are compared with previous ones obtained for Praesepe.

Tylodelphys aztecae n. sp. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) is described from adult specimens obtained from the intestine of the pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) and the metacercariae found in the body cavity of freshwater fishes of the families Goodeidae and Cyprinidae in eight localities across central and northern Mexico. The new species is mainly distinguished from the other four described species of Tylodelphys from the Americas (T. adulta, T. americana, T. elongata and T. brevis) by having a forebody slightly concave, a larger ventral sucker, two larger pseudosuckers and by having between 2 and 7 eggs in the uterus. Partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1), and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1+5.8S+ ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA, were generated for both developmental stages and compared with available sequences in GenBank of other congeners. The genetic divergence estimated among Tylodelphys aztecae n. sp. and other congeneric species varied from 12 to 15% for cox1, and from 3 to 11% for ITS. In contrast, the genetic divergence among metacercariae and adults of the new species was very low, ranging between 0 and 1% for cox1 and between 0 and 0.3% for ITS. Phylogenetic analyses inferred with both molecular markers using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference placed the adults and their metacercariae in a single clade, confirming that both stages are conspecific. The morphological evidence and the genetic divergence, in combination with the reciprocal monophyly in both phylogenetic trees, support the hypothesis that the diplostomids found in the intestines of the pied-billed grebe bird and the body cavity from goodeid and cyprinid fishes in central and northern Mexico represent a new species.

Introduction. México is one of the most important producers and exporters of blackberries in the world. During postharvest handling, blackberry fruits are exposed to the attack of phytopathogenic fungi. Materials and methods. To obtain Rhizopus stolonifer isolates, samples of leaves and rhizospheric soils were placed on Petri plates containing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). In addition, fruits were also placed in humidity chambers at 25 °C. To describe the infection process on blackberry fruits by Rhizopus stolonifer, samples were taken at different intervals for a period of 72 h. All fungal isolates obtained were maintained on PDA. The bacterial colonies were isolated and purified by streaking on PDA. The antagonistic activity of the bacteria was assessed against R. stolonifer by dual culture technique on PDA. To detect the production of siderophores, the chrome azurol S assay was carried out. Results. The infection process of R. stolonifer on blackberry fruits was described for the first time in this work. Eighty-six bacterial isolates from different parts of the plant and rhizospheric soil were obtained. Bacterial isolates with antagonistic activity were identified and the production of siderophores was measured. Four isolates showed antagonistic activity against R. stolonifer. Bacillus subtilis obtained from soil was the most effective isolate. Conclusion. In this study we isolated and identified antagonistic bacteria with potential for biocontrol on Rhizopus stolonifer obtained from blackberry fruits. To our knowledge this is the first report regarding this topic.

The effect of thermal annealing on the optical properties of Al2O3 films with different Si content was investigated by the photoluminescence method. Si-rich Al2O3 films were prepared by RF magnetron co-sputtering of the silicon and alumina targets on long quarts glass substrates. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of freshly prepared Si-rich Al2O3 films are characterized by three PL bands with the peak positions at 2.97-3.00, 2.25-2.29 and 1.50 eV. The thermal annealing of the films at 1150 °C during 30 min stimulates the formation of Si nanocrystals (NCs) in the film area with Si content exceeded 60%. After the thermal annealing the PL intensity of all mentioned PL bands decreases and the new PL band appears with the peak position at 1.67 eV. The new PL band is attributed to the photo currier recombination inside of Si NCs. The size of NCs estimated from the PL peak position 1.67 eV of Si NC emission is about ∼-4.5-5.0 nm.

The temperature dependences of PL spectra of Si-rich Al2O3 films have been studied in the range of 10-300K with the aim to reveal the mechanism of recombination transitions for mentioned above PL bands 2.97-3.00, 2.25-2.29 and 1.50 eV in freshly prepared films. The thermal activation of PL intensity and permanent PL peak positions in the temperature range 10-300K permit to assign these PL bands to defect related emission in Al2O3 matrix.

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) films were deposited onto glass substrates by chemical bath deposition (CBD) from a bath containing cadmium acetate, ammonium acetate, thiourea, and ammonium hydroxide. The CdS thin films were annealed in argon (neutral atmosphere) or hydrogen (reducing atmosphere) for 1 h at various temperatures (300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 °C). The changes in optical and electrical properties of annealed treated CdS thin films were analyzed. The results showed that, the band-gap and resistivity depend on the post-deposition annealing atmosphere and temperatures. Thus, it was found that these properties of the films, were found to be affected by various processes with opposite effects, some beneficial and others unfavorable. The energy gap and resistivity for different annealing atmospheres was seen to oscillate by thermal annealing. Recrystallization, oxidation, surface passivation, sublimation and materials evaporation were found the main factors of the heat-treatment process responsible for this oscillating behavior. Annealing over 400 °C was seen to degrade the optical and electrical properties of the film.

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are a technological and economical alternative to conventional p-n junction solar cells. The DSSC is composed of a transparent conducting electrode (SnO2:F) coated by a porous, nanocrystalline film of n-ZnO to which dye molecules are attached, an organic electrolyte containing a reduction-oxidation couple, and finally a counter-electrode (glass/SnO2:F) coated by a thin film of platinum. The most efficient dyes for DSSCs are based on Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, related to the high absorption coefficient in the entire visible range and the efficient injection of electrons into the conduction band of ZnO. However, the ruthenium polypyridyl complex contains a heavy metal of relatively high cost, and synthetic routes are complicated with low yields. Moreover, natural dyes in addition to their availability, are cost-effective, non-toxic and biodegradable materials, and can be extracted by simple procedures. In this paper we report the extraction of natural dyes from the stems of mangrove (D1) and tinto (D2) trees as well as from walnut (D3) shell. First, it was necessary to dehydrate the materials, after which extraction was performed using ethanol, water and sodium hydroxide solution. The dyes were characterized using UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy. The analysis of the infrared spectra shows an intense and broad band related to OH bond stretching vibration at 3393, 3442 and 3390 cm-1 for the mangrove tree, tinto tree and walnut shell, respectively. At 1051, 1123 and 1050 cm-1, there was a very strong absorption due to the stretching vibration of CO group, for the mangrove tree, tinto tree and walnut shell, respectively. These results indicate that the functional group for bonding to the ZnO is -OH for these dyes. The results of the U-Vis spectroscopy show that the strongest absorption in the visible region is provided by dyes of the tinto and mangrove trees. The current - voltage curve of a preliminary ZnO-DSSC sensitized with the natural dye of the mangrove tree bark is presented.

Long duration Gamma Ray Bursts (LGRB) are thought to originate from massive rotating stars and the interaction of their expanding jet will be affected by the structure of their circumburst medium. In this work we use rotating stellar models of massive stars to determine the state of circumbust material in various types of progenitor scenarios and we describe how this external matter can appear in GRB observations.