A measuring system evaluating a Point Spread Function generated in an ultrasonographic image by scanning a spherical target was developed. The target is moved in measuring bath filled by water over scanned volume via 3D computer controlled positioning system. A video signal obtained is converted to digital form and analyzed by original software to derive various objective parameters of the imager as follows: Focal areas in both the azimuth and the elevation directions, Ultrasound scanning lines visualisation, Manufacturer preloaded TGC, Width of the scanning plane, Side lobe levels and Amplification uniformity in the azimuth direction. The method was verified by testing 18 different equipments in 282 measurements. Samples of particular measurement results in form of graphical outputs are included. Medical and physiological impacts of this approach are discussed., L. Doležal, J. Mazura, J. Tesařík, H. Kolářová, D. Korpas, S. Binder, J. Hálek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The PALS laser infrastructure has been serving European laser physicists since September 2000. The author is recalling step by step history of the PALS laboratory since its very beginnings, highlighting the main achievements of its 10 years lasting international collaborative research activities. In conclusion he discusses the PALS future role in view of the European ESFRI projects ELI and HiPER., V září letošního roku uplyne deset let od zahájení prvních mezinárodních experimentů. s pulsním jódovým fotodisociačním laserovým systémem terawattového výkonu umístěným v Badatelském centru PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System). V tomto příspěvku podrobně zmapujeme okolnosti jeho vzniku a dalšího vývoje., Jiří Ullschmied., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Parasitological examination of faeces of 26 snakes kept in Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Watamu, Kenya revealed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 in Telescopus semiannulatus Smith, 1849. Oocysts of Eimeria arabukosokokensis sp. n. are cylindrical 26.8 (25-29) × 15.1 (14-16) µm with smooth, bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts average 9.3 (8.5-10) × 7.1 (6.5-7.5) µm and possess single-layered wall composed of two plates joined by longitudinal suture. Caryospora cf. regentensis Daszak et Ball, 2001 is reported from Dendroaspis angusticeps (Smith, 1849) and two additional forms of Caryospora Léger, 1904 are reported and morphologically characterised from a single specimen of Psammophis orientalis Broadley, 1977. Systematic status of Caryospora spp. in sub-Saharan Psammophis Boie, 1827 is discusses and all species reported by various authors to date are suggested to be treated as species inquirendae until more detailed data on these parasites and their hosts are available.
Pseudorhabdosynochus seabassi sp. n. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gill filaments of Lates calcarifer Bloch, a marine teleost fish held in floating sea cages in Guangdong Province, China, is described based on morphological observations and molecular data. The shapes of the male copulatory organs (MCO) of Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. were the focus of this study. The typical proximal part of the MCO in most species of Pseudorhabdosynochus is reniform, heavily sclerotized, and divided into four chambers. However, the new species from L. calcarifer has a bulbous proximal region with four concentric layers of apparent muscular origin, instead of a reniform structure with four compartments. This organ is also different in Diplectanum grouperi Bu, Leong, Wong, Woo et Foo, 1999, being sclerotized, cup-shaped, wide proximally with four concentric muscular layers and tubular distally. The 3' terminal portion of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrDNA) and the 5' terminal region (domains C1-D2) of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (lsrDNA) were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of P. seabassi and D. grouperi with related taxa utilizing maximum-parsimony and neighbour-joining methods. Phylogenetic analyses unequivocally placed D. grouperi amongst Pseudorhabdosynochus using either ssrDNA or lsrDNA data. All species of Pseudorhabdosynochus (including D. grouperi) used in this study clustered together, inferring monophyly. Based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, we propose that D. grouperi from Epinephelus coioides Hamilton be transferred to Pseudorhabdosynochus as P. grouperi comb. n.
A new nematode species, Rhabdochona (Globochona) rasborae sp. n. (Rhabdochonidae), is described from the intestine of the freshwater cyprinid fish (sidestripe rasbora) Rasbora paviana Tirant in the Bangbaimai Subdistrict, Muang District, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It differs from other representatives of the subgenus Globochona Moravec, 1972 which possess eggs provided with lateral swellings in having a spinose formation at the tail tip of both sexes and in some other morphological features, such as the body length of gravid female (8.6-23.7 mm), presence of two-three swellings on the egg, eight anterior prostomal teeth, length ratio of spicules (1 : 5.3-6.7) and arrangement of male genital papillae. This is the third nominal species of Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 and the second species of the subgenus Globochona reported from fishes in Thailand. The three species of Rhabdochona recently described from fishes in Pakistan, viz. R. annai Kakar, Bilqees et Khan, 2012, R. bifurcatum [sic] Kakar et Bilqees, 2012, and R. pakistanica Kakar, Bilqees et Khan, 2012, are considered to be species inquirendae.
A morphological type of Sarcocystis cysts found in one of two examined great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (Linnaeus) (Laridae), is considered to represent a new species for which the name Sarcocystis lari sp. n. is proposed and its description is provided. The cysts are ribbon-shaped, very long (the largest fragment found was 6 mm long) and relatively narrow (up to 75 μm). Under a light microscope the cyst wall reaches up to 1 μm and seems to be smooth. Using a computerized image analysis system, knolls, which resemble protrusions on the wall surface, are visible. Lancet-shaped cystozoites measure in average 6.9 × 1.4 μm (range 6.3-7.9 μm × 1.2-1.5 μm) in length. Observed using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the cyst wall is wavy and measures up to 1.2 μm in thickness. The parasitophorous vacuolar membrane has regularly arranged small invaginations. Cyst content is divided into large chambers by septa. Sarcocystis lari sp. n. has type-1 tissue cyst wall and is morphologically indistinguishable from other bird Sarcocystis species characterized by the same type of the wall. On the basis of 18S rRNA gene, 28S rRNA gene and ITS-1 region sequences, S. lari is a genetically distinct species, being most closely related to avian Sarcocystis species whose definitive hosts are predatory birds.
Caligus mortis Kensley, 1970 was originally described from females collected from intertidal pools along the coast of Namibia. During surveys at Jeffreys Bay and De Hoop Nature Reserve in South Africa, both females and males of C. mortis were collected from intertidal pool fish hosts. Based on this material a full description of the male is given, and a comparison with the female reveals the sexual dimorphic characteristics.