Integrative taxonomy of root aphid parasitoids from the genus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) with description of new species.

Species from the genus are obligatory endoparasitoids of root aphids in the Palaearctic. It is known that these species are broadly distributed, parasitizing various aphid hosts and showing great biological and ecological diversity. On the other hand, this group of endoparasitoids is understudied and was thought to be represented by a single species in Europe, viz.

Body composition analysis in patients with myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2.

Introduction: To date, there are only several reports on body composition in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and there are no data for myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). The aim was to analyze body composition of patients with DM1 and DM2, and its association with socio-demographic and clinical features of the diseases.

Methods: There were no statistical differences in sociodemographic features between 20 DM1 patients and 12 DM2 patients.

Sexual size and shape dimorphism in two ground beetle taxa, Carabus (Procrustes) coriaceus cerisyi and C. (Morphocarabus) kollari praecellens (Coleoptera: Carabidae) - A geometric morphometric approach.

We investigated morphometric variation in size and shape of the head, pronotum, and abdomen between the taxa and sexes of two ground beetles, Carabus coriaceus cerisyi Dejean, 1826 and C. kollari praecellens Palliardi, 1825. These two taxa differ in overall size, and both of them are characterized by significant sexual size dimorphism.

Revision of the genus Hylopachyiulus Attems, 1904, with a description of a new species from Croatia (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae).

A revision of the julid genus Hylopachyiulus Attems, 1904 is given, and lectotypes and paralectotypes are respectively designated for the species H. corylorum (Verhoeff, 1907) and H. pygmaeus (Attems, 1904).

Multifaceted activity of millipede secretions: Antioxidant, antineurodegenerative, and anti-Fusarium effects of the defensive secretions of Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) (Diplopoda: Julida).

Members of the millipede order Julida rely on dominantly quinonic defensive secretions with several minor, non-quinonic components. The free radical-scavenging activities of ethanol, methanol, hexane, and dichloromethane extracts of defensive secretions emitted by Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L.

Review of the genus Typhloiulus Latzel, 1884 in the Dinaric region, with a description of four new species and the first description of the male of Typhloiulus insularis Strasser, 1938 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae).

A review of the genus Typhloiulus Latzel, 1884 (Julida: Julidae) in the Dinaric region is given. Previously published and new faunistic records are provided for each species, together with notes for some of them. Four new species are described: T.

Seven new taxa of Leptodirini (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae) from the Balkan Peninsula.

Seven new troglobitic leiodid beetle taxa (six new species and one new subspecies) from several caves and pits in the Balkan Peninsula (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia) are described and diagnosed. Three new species belong to the genus Adelopidius Apfelbeck, 1907, two-to the genus Pholeuonopsis Apfelbeck, 1901, one-to the genus Leonhardia Reitter, 1901, while a new subspecies belongs to the genus Apholeuonus Reitter, 1889. All important morphological characteristics of the new taxa have been mentioned and imaged, including the aspects of the male and female genitalia.

First report of aphaenopsoid trechines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini) from Serbia, with descriptions of new taxa.

The trechine ground beetle taxa, Velesaphaenops gen. n., Velesaphaenops tarensis sp.

A new hypogean species of the genus Chaetomargoreicheia Magrini Bulirsch, 2005 (Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) from Croatia.

Chaetomargoreicheia Magrini Bulirsch, 2005 is a recently established genus of scaritine ground beetles (Bulirsch Guéorguiev, 2008) (treated by certain authors as a subgenus of the genus Reicheadella Reitter, 1913) (Magrini Bulirsch, 2005; Balkenohl, 2017) which currently contains two endogean species inhabiting the Balkan Peninsula: Chaetomargoreicheia zoufali (Reitter, 1913) and C. lakotai (Magrini Bulirsch, 2005) (Balkenohl, 2003, 2017; Magrini Bulirsch, 2005; Bulirsch Guéorguiev, 2008). The aforementioned species are montane and inhabit confined geographic areas (Jeannel, 1957; Magrini Bulirsch, 2005).

Two new species of the millipede genus Attems, 1937 from the Balkan Peninsula (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae).

In addition to the eleven previously known species of the Mediterranean genus , two more species are described: , from the Rhodopi Mts. and Bunardzhik Hill in Bulgaria, and ., from the island of Mljet in Croatia.

Biological control of plant pathogens by Bacillus species.

Bacteria from the Bacillus group are microorganisms that inhabit a large number of different habitats. They are well known as producers of a wide array of antagonistic compounds of different structures, having between 5 to 8% of the total genome devoted to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Most important bioactive molecules from the genus Bacillus are non-ribosomally synthesized peptides and lipopeptides, polyketide compounds, bacteriocins and siderophores.

Antioxidative, antifungal, cytotoxic and antineurodegenerative activity of selected Trametes species from Serbia.

In a last few decades mushrooms are increasingly attracting attention as functional food and sources of biologically active compounds. Several Trametes species have been used for centuries in traditional medicine of East Asia cultures, but only T. versicolor was studied sufficiently while there are less substantial data about medicinal properties of other species.

Beneficial Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil on Alloxan-Induced Diabetes and Microbiota Composition in Rats.

The gut microbiota is composed of a diverse population of obligate and facultative anaerobic microorganisms which are shown to influence host metabolism and immune homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of virgin coconut oil on the weekly fasting glycaemia, daily food and water intake and weekly body mass gain over 16 weeks, as well as the changes in composition of gut microbiota in both non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Although the intake of virgin coconut oil did not decrease the diabetes-induced hyperglycemia, it affected the secondary parameters, such as food and water intake and average body mass gain.

Photonic structures improve radiative heat exchange of Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

The insect cuticle serves a multitude of purposes, including: mechanical and thermal protection, water-repelling, acoustic signal absorption and coloration. The influence of cuticular structures on infrared radiation exchange and thermal balance is still largely unexplored. Here we report on the micro- and nanostructured setae covering the elytra of the longicorn beetle Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) that help the insect to survive in hot, summer environments.

The response of chironomid taxonomy- and functional trait-based metrics to fish farm effluent pollution in lotic systems.

The lotic habitats affected by trout farm waste are colonized with a particular invertebrate community of which chironomids are the most abundant group. However, there is little information available regarding how chironomid community structures respond to this type of pollution at the highest taxonomic resolution. Eight fish farms, together with their lotic systems as recipients, were used to test the variability of the chironomid community and its surrogates (taxonomic and functional metrics) across spatially arranged sampling sites to form a gradual decrease in the trout farm influence.

Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in the freshwater gammarid Gammarus dulensis exposed to trout farm outputs.

The current study reports a combined seasonal monitoring of the Crnica River watercourse using physico-chemical parameters and biomarkers measured in Gammarus dulensis with the aim of correlating the effects of pollution with the level of oxidative stress biomarkers in this amphipod. The pollution source is identified as a trout farm in the upper part of the Crnica River (Eastern Serbia). Physico-chemical water parameters and sediment trace element concentrations were measured in the Crnica River during three seasons.

Resolving the taxonomic status of biocontrol agents belonging to the Aphidius eadyi species group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): an integrative approach.

Species that belong to the Aphidius eadyi group have been used as biocontrol agents against Acyrthosiphon pisum worldwide. However, despite their extensive use, there are still gaps in our knowledge about their taxonomy and distribution. In this study, we employed an integrative taxonomic approach by combining genetic analyses (mtDNA COI barcoding) with standard morphological analyses and geometric morphometrics of forewing shape.

Dalmatosomatidae, a new monotypic family, and Dalmatosoma agaricum gen. et sp. nov. (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Craspedosomatidea) from Croatia, Balkan Peninsula.

A new millipede species, Dalmatosoma agaricum gen. et sp. nov.

From the depths: Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., the world's deepest-occurring millipede (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Anthroleucosomatidae) from caves in the western Caucasus.

We describe a new anthroleucosomatid millipede, Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., found in the second and third deepest caves of our planet, Krubera-Voronja and Sarma, in Abkhazia, western Caucasus.

Effects of mine tailing and mixed contamination on metals, trace elements accumulation and histopathology of the chub (Squalius cephalus) tissues: Evidence from three differently contaminated sites in Serbia.

Chub (Squalius cephalus) specimens were collected in Korenita River seven months after spillover from the waste water of antimony mine tailing pond and compared with chub living in Kruščica reservoir (intended for water supply) and Međuvršje reservoir (influenced by intense emission of industrial, urban and rural wastewater). Concentrations of 15 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Sr, Zn) were determined in muscle, liver and gills of chub by inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES) and histopathological alterations in liver and gills were assessed. Chub specimens from Korenita River had higher concentrations of As, Ba and Pb in all three investigated tissues as well as higher total histopathological index values than chub from reservoirs.

The impact of multiple stressors on the biomarkers response in gills and liver of freshwater breams during different seasons.

Biomarkers attract increasing attention in environmental studies, as a tool for detection of exposure and effects of pollution, from both natural and anthropogenic sources. This study aims to assess the impact of multiple stressors during distinctive seasons, covering also extreme hydrological events (extensive flooding in the mid May 2014), on different levels of biological organization in the liver and gills of three closely related freshwater breams. Our previous study on DNA damage in blood cells of these specimens showed increased DNA damage in June 2014, one month after the flooding event.

Integrative taxonomy by molecular species delimitation: multi-locus data corroborate a new species of Balkan Drusinae micro-endemics.

Background: Taxonomy offers precise species identification and delimitation and thus provides basic information for biological research, e.g. through assessment of species richness.

Scattering-enhanced absorption and interference produce a golden wing color of the burnished brass moth, Diachrysia chrysitis.

Here we report how interference and scattering-enhanced absorption act together to produce the golden wing patches of the burnished brass moth. The key mechanism is scattering on rough internal surfaces of the wing scales, accompanied by a large increase of absorption in the UV-blue spectral range. Unscattered light interferes and efficiently reflects from the multilayer composed of the scales and the wing membranes.

In vivo EPR pharmacokinetic evaluation of the redox status and the blood brain barrier permeability in the SOD1 ALS rat model.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting the motor pathways of the central nervous system. Although a number of pathophysiological mechanisms have been described in the disease, post mortem and animal model studies indicate blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and elevated production of reactive oxygen species as major contributors to disease pathology. In this study, the BBB permeability and the brain tissue redox status of the SOD1 ALS rat model in the presymptomatic (preALS) and symptomatic (ALS) stages of the disease were investigated by in vivo EPR spectroscopy using three aminoxyl radicals with different cell membrane and BBB permeabilities, Tempol, 3-carbamoyl proxyl (3CP), and 3-carboxy proxyl (3CxP).