Modeling Impact of Regiodefects on the Electrocaloric Effect in Poly(VDF--TrFE) Copolymers.

Impact of regiodefects in the ferroelectric poly(vinylidene difluoride--trifluoroethylene) copolymer [poly(VDF--TrFE)] on the electrocaloric effect was studied with use of a developed analytical model and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. It was shown earlier that the electrocaloric effect in these polymers is caused by the first-order phase transition from the ferroelectric β phase to the paraelectric conformationally disordered (condis) phase. MD simulations performed in the current work show that the presence of regiodefects in polymer chains makes this phase transition more gradual, the second order.

Validation of taxon names described in Deltocephalinae from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

The purpose of this paper is to validate 4 generic names and 34 specific names previously introduced in the Deltocephalinae from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by Li, Dai & Xing (2011). The names are unavailable in the original publication, because of the missing information on the type specimen repository. The following genera and species are introduced as new in this publication: Bambusananus, Li & Xing; Branchana Li; Cyclevertex Li & Xing; Lineana Li & Xing; Abrus biprocessus Li; Abrus graciaedeagus Li; Bambusana biflaka Li; Bambusana nigrimaculata Li; Bambusananus furcatus Li & Xing; Branchana xanthota Li; Cyclevertex furcatum Li & Xing; Lineana albipunctata Li & Xing; Lineana ductaedeagusa Li & Xing; Protensus nigrifrons Li & Xing; Protensus yanheensis Li & Xing; Paramesodes menghaiensis Xing & Li; Yuanamia producta (Xing & Li, 2011); Hishimonoides brevis Li, 2011; Litura tripunctata Li; Changwhania huajiangensis Xing & Li; Elginus productus Xing & Li; Metalimnus maoershanensis Xing & Li; Nicolaus bihamatus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus bisubulatus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus brevissimus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus spinosus Xing & Li; Scaphoideus annulatus Li; Scaphoideus bannaensis Li; Longicornus longus Xing & Li; Melanetettix mengyangensis Xing & Li; Osbornellus aurantius Xing & Li; Osbornellus suiyangensis Xing & Li; Osbornellus conoideus Xing & Li; Phlogothamnus acutaedeagus Li; Phlogothamnus luteoguttatus Li; Phlogothamnus productus Li & Xing; Phlogothamnus rugosus Li; Phlogotettix fanjingshanensis Li.

Predicting the Impact of OTOF Gene Missense Variants on Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) associated with mutations of the OTOF gene is one of the common types of sensorineural hearing loss of a hereditary nature. Due to its high genetic heterogeneity, ANSD is considered one of the most difficult hearing disorders to diagnose. The dataset from 270 known annotated single amino acid substitutions (SAV) related to ANSD was created.

Tightening the requirements for species diagnoses would help integrate DNA-based descriptions in taxonomic practice.

Modern advances in DNA sequencing hold the promise of facilitating descriptions of new organisms at ever finer precision but have come with challenges as the major Codes of bionomenclature contain poorly defined requirements for species and subspecies diagnoses (henceforth, species diagnoses), which is particularly problematic for DNA-based taxonomy. We, the commissioners of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, advocate a tightening of the definition of "species diagnosis" in future editions of Codes of bionomenclature, for example, through the introduction of requirements for specific information on the character states of differentiating traits in comparison with similar species. Such new provisions would enhance taxonomic standards and ensure that all diagnoses, including DNA-based ones, contain adequate taxonomic context.

Priority and the names of two cicada tribes (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Tacuini and Tettigomyiinae: Anopercalnini).

N/A.

Revision of the genus Homa Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

The leafhopper genus Homa Distant is revised. Four new species, H. osificata Xu, Dietrich Qin sp.

Corrections to the spellings of two tribe names in the leafhopper subfamily Ledrinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

In 2009, Jones and Deitz published a tribe-level taxonomic revision and reclassification of the cryptic, arboreal leafhopper subfamily Ledrinae Kirschbaum, 1868 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), based on cladistic analyses of 235 morphological features for 75 cicadellid species. Their evolutionary reconstructions found strong node support for a monophyletic ingroup comprising five lineages-each morphologically and geographically cohesive-and also identified numerous traditionally placed taxa (sensu Oman et al 1990) that did not belong. In light of the robustness of their results, the authors recognized the five independent ingroup clades as tribes of Ledrinae, and described three of these as new.

Two new empoascine leafhopper genera, Thaioasca and Mjolnirus, from Thailand (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae), with a checklist of Empoascini in Thailand.

Two new microleafhopper genera of Empoascini, Thaioasca Wang, Xu Qin, gen. nov. and Mjolnirus Wang, Xu Qin, gen.

Review of the leafhopper genus Thaia Ghauri and related genera (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini).

The leafhopper genus Thaia Ghauri, 1962 and two related genera, Parathaia Kuoh, 1982 and Pseudothaia Kuoh, 1982, are revised. Nlunga Dworakowska, 1974, previously treated as a subgenus of Thaia, is elevated to the genus level, and Parathaia Kuoh, 1982, previously treated as a synonym of Thaia, is reinstated to valid status. The Oriental species lacking foveae on the pronotum are excluded from Nlunga and transferred to a new genus, Etmaria gen.

Nomenclatural changes in the suborders Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera) and Paleorrhyncha (Palaeohemiptera).

Nomenclatural changes are proposed for numerous taxon names in the Insect orders Hemiptera and Palaeohemiptera. New replacement names are proposed for six genera, three subgenera, 55 species and six subspecies, additionally a homonymous name for a genus and eight homonymous names for species are substituted with the names of junior synonyms; 13 new synonyms are recognized; type species are fixed for four genera; 26 new combinations for species names are established.

Taxonomic study of some Afrotropical erythroneurine leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Six Afrotropical genera of the leafhopper tribe Erythroneurini are redescribed and two new genera, Laminaris gen. nov. and Projecta gen.

New erythroneurine leafhopper species from the Australian realm (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

Generic characteristics of three Australian erythroneurine genera are revised based on three new species: Baya lata, Zinga longa and Pettya tenuis spp. nov. Male genitalia characteristics of genus Pettya Kirkaldy are described for the first time.

Redescription of the Dikraneurini leafhopper Ruppel & DeLong, 1952 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) with a synoptic checklist of leafhoppers on avocado trees in Mexico.

Among leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), only Typhlocybinae are known in Mexico to inhabit avocado, an important horticultural crop. In this paper, a potential avocado pest, Ruppel & DeLong, 1952, is redescribed and illustrated. Additionally, a detailed checklist and a key for all known species of Typhlocybinae associated with avocado trees in Mexico are provided.

Wet collections accession: a workflow based on a large stonefly (Insecta, Plecoptera) donation.

This study details a workflow used to accession a large stonefly (Plecoptera) collection resulting from several donations. The eastern North American material of Kenneth W. Stewart (deceased, University of North Texas), the entire collection of Stanley W.

New species of the leafhopper genera Kusala Dworakowska and Diomma Motschulsky (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini) with description of a new subgenus.

Generic characteristics of the leafhopper genus Kusala Dworakowska are revised, and a new subgenus Scodela is established. A species checklist of the Kusala is provided and three new species are added: Kusala (Kusala) viraktamathi, K. (Scodela) directa and K.

Volumetric wireless coil based on periodically coupled split-loop resonators for clinical wrist imaging.

Purpose: Design and characterization of a new inductively driven wireless coil (WLC) for wrist imaging at 1.5 T with high homogeneity operating due to focusing the B field of a birdcage body coil.

Methods: The WLC design has been proposed based on a volumetric self-resonant periodic structure of inductively coupled split-loop resonators with structural capacitance.

Nomenclatural changes in the family Membracidae (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Membracoidea).

Nomenclatural changes are provided for names in the family Membracidae. The following replacement names are proposed: Gargara (Gargara) discoidea nom.nov.

A new species and a new form of leafhopper from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

A new species Erasmoneura tricuspidata sp.n. and a new morphological variant of Erythridula stolata McAtee are described from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Insect phylogenetics in the digital age.

Insect systematists have long used digital data management tools to facilitate phylogenetic research. Web-based platforms developed over the past several years support creation of comprehensive, openly accessible data repositories and analytical tools that support large-scale collaboration, accelerating efforts to document Earth's biota and reconstruct the Tree of Life. New digital tools have the potential to further enhance insect phylogenetics by providing efficient workflows for capturing and analyzing phylogenetically relevant data.

Three unusual species of Erythroneurini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with description of new genera.

Two new genera of the leafhopper tribe Erythroneurini, Nedotepa gen. n. and Alerrawia gen.

Nomenclatural changes in Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae and Delphacidae (Homoptera).

New replacement names are proposed for seven species of the subfamily Typhlocybinae; one new synonym is recognized in the family Delphacidae. The following changes are proposed: Empoasca (Empoasca) angustata nom.nov.

Surface tension model for surfactant solutions at the critical micelle concentration.

A model for the limiting surface tension of surfactant solutions (surface tension at and above the critical micelle concentration, cmc) was developed. This model takes advantage of the equilibrium between the surfactant molecules on the liquid/vacuum surface and in micelles in the bulk at the cmc. An approximate analytical equation for the surface tension at the cmc was obtained.

Raman scattering of InAs/AlAs quantum dot superlattices grown on (001) and (311)B GaAs surfaces.

We present a comparative analysis of Raman scattering by acoustic and optical phonons in InAs/AlAs quantum dot superlattices grown on (001) and (311)B GaAs surfaces. Doublets of folded longitudinal acoustic phonons up to the fifth order were observed in the Raman spectra of (001)- and (311)B-oriented quantum dot superlattices measured in polarized scattering geometries. The energy positions of the folded acoustic phonons are well described by the elastic continuum model.

Decoding of superimposed traces produced by direct sequencing of heterozygous indels.

Direct Sanger sequencing of a diploid template containing a heterozygous insertion or deletion results in a difficult-to-interpret mixed trace formed by two allelic traces superimposed onto each other. Existing computational methods for deconvolution of such traces require knowledge of a reference sequence or the availability of both direct and reverse mixed sequences of the same template. We describe a simple yet accurate method, which uses dynamic programming optimization to predict superimposed allelic sequences solely from a string of letters representing peaks within an individual mixed trace.