Despite having enabled insects to become the most abundant and successful group on Earth, wings have been lost in numerous insect lineages, including Orthoptera. Melanoplinae, a subfamily that includes over 100 genera and more than 800 species in Acrididae, exhibits various wing-types and dispersal abilities. Some species possess extensive flight capabilities with long wings, while many groups that inhabit alpine environments tend to reduce their wings and dispersal ability. In order to infer the evolutionary history of Melanoplinae and their wings, we conducted molecular phylogenetic research. We established the phylogeny using seven mitochondrial (Cox1, Cox2, CytB, Nad2, Nad5, 12S and 16S) and two nuclear genes (H3 and Wg) for 139 taxa. By investigating the wing types in Melanoplinae, we estimated the ancestral state of the wings and traced their evolutionary history. Our results present that loss and recovery of wings occurred multiple times within Melanoplinae, showing distinct histories across inner taxa within the subfamily.
Rhaphidophoridae (Orthoptera: Ensifera), commonly known as cave crickets, are a wingless family and considered the most ancient lineage within Tettigoniidea. However, previous molecular phylogenetic studies and morphological hypotheses have shown inconsistencies. Although their fossils have been found in Baltic amber, their systematic placement remains unrevealed. This study reconstructed a comprehensive phylogeny integrating both extant and fossil lineages. Initially, we revealed relationships within extant lineages through molecular phylogenetics including all extant subfamilies for the first time. Subsequently, using a cladistic approach based on morphology, we confirmed the systematic position of fossil taxa †Protroglophilinae with a report of a new species. Integrating molecular and morphological phylogeney by total evidence tip-dating, we present the comprehensive phylogeny of Rhaphidophoridae considering both extant and fossil groups.
In this study, in order to easily provide functional groups on the surface of carbon nanotubes, dual structural multiwalled carbon nanotubes which have crystalline graphite and turbostratic carbon wall were synthesized by modified vertical thermal decomposition method. Synthesized dual structural MWCNTs were characterized by FE-SEM, TGA, HR-TEM, Raman spectroscopy and BET specific surface area analyzer. The average innermost and outermost diameters of the synthesized nanotubes were around 45 and 75 nm, respectively. The large empty inner space and the presence of graphitic carbons on the surface may open potential applications for gas storage and collection of hazardous materials.
To establish the optimal manufacturing conditions of soybean koji, soybean Koji prepared with Aspergillus oryzae 6-M-1 and Bacillus subtilis 3-B-1 isolated from traditional Korean meju. During 7 days of making Koji, the amount of amino-type nitrogen was getting more increase. The amount of amino-type nitrogen of Koji prepared with A. oryzae 6-M-1 was 686.16 mg% (w/w), that of Koji with B. subtilis 3-B-1 was 643.46 mg% (w/w) at seventh day of making Koji. The α-amylase activity of Koji prepared with A. oryzae 6-M-1 was 1472.54 unit/g, that of Koji with B. subtilis 3-B-1 was 791.00 units/g on the seventh day of the making. The acidic protease activity of Koji prepared with A. oryzae 6-M-1 was 309.00 unit/g, that of Koji with B. subtilis 3-B-1 was 135.88 unit/g at 7th day of making. The amount of amino-type nitrogen and enzyme activities of soybean Koji prepared with A. oryzae 6-M-1 and B. subtilis 3-B-1 were produced more than those of wheat flour Koji made in factory. Sensory evaluation on a commercial doenjang and doenjangs prepared with A. oryzae 6-M-1 and B. subtilis 3-B-1 was not significantly different at p<0.05.