Hydrothermal carbonization of the wet fraction from mixed municipal solid waste: Hydrochar characteristics and energy balance

Mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) may be pre-treated in a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plant to produce an exiting stream with improved combustible characteristics. The process also produces a second waste stream, which is generally separated on a size basis by industrial sieving equipment. It contains fractions with a high moisture content such as residual food waste, soiled paper and cardboard, and small fragments of other materials. Samples of this stream, collected at an existing plant, were characterized and processed by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at laboratory scale, at various temperatures (180, 200 and 220 °C), reaction times (1, 4 and 8 h) and solid to water ratios (0.15 and 0.07). The primary energy balance, on a hypothetical industrial scale, was performed. In brief, the results confirmed that the produced hydrochar was a brittle, hydrophobic, solid carbonaceous product which gave a better combustion performance as the residence time of the HTC process was increased. Moreover, the dewaterability of the carbonized waste was greatly improved when compared to raw, wet samples. The results of the primary energy balance confirmed that the energy contained in the produced hydrochar was higher than the energy consumption for the process itself, under all the HTC working conditions. The energy consumed in the process was in the range of 40-70 % of the energy content of the produced hydrochar.

An overview on the genus Amiserica Nomura, 1974 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini)

Here we present an overview of the species of the genus Amiserica Nomura, 1974. The taxonomy of the species of eastern Asia (China and adjacent regions) is revised herein, which so far have not been treated yet. Twenty-eight species are discovered new to science: Amiserica basisymmetrica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. belousovi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. carolusholzschuhi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. diaocangshana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. eucurviforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. fengyangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. funiushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. gibbosiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. guanmenshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. guizhouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. gulinqin Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. incisa Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. jiuhuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. jizuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. linzhouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. longxinensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. lucidiflava Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. nahang Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. panghongae Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. pappi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. piaoac Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. pseudoantennalis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. pseudoincisa Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. sacculiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. strnadi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. ventriscalptus Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. venxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species, A. zhongtiaoshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, new species. Furthermore, our investigation resulted in two new combinations: Maladera (Eumaladera) loi (Kobayashi, 1991), new combination and Amiserica antennalis (Nomura, 1974), new combination; the first species is thus excluded from Amiserica. A key to species groups and species within groups is given, habitus and male genitalia are illustrated. The distribution of the species revised herein is shown on maps.

Taxonomic review on the Trioserica Moser, 1922 species of China (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini)

In the present study the taxonomy of the species of the genus Trioserica Moser, 1922 from China is revised. We recorded so far six valid species, of which five resulted to be new to science: Trioserica cangyuanensis Ahrens, Liu Fabrizi, new species, T. daweishana Ahrens, Liu Fabrizi, new species, T. dinghushanica Ahrens, Liu Fabrizi, new species, T. lilongensis Ahrens, Liu Fabrizi, new species, and T. shiyiduiensis Ahrens, Liu Fabrizi, new species. The habitus and male genitalia of the species are illustrated and maps of their known distribution are shown.

A monograph of the genus Maladera Mulsant amp; Rey, 1871 of China (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini)

In the present monograph, the taxonomy of the species of the genus Maladera Mulsant Rey, 1871 from China is revised. We recorded 224 valid species for China, including 152 species new to science: Maladera allonitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. anhuiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. apicalis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. aptera Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baii Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baishaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bansongchana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. baoxingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bawanglingana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bawanglingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. beibengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. beidouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bikouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. breviclava Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. bubengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. businskyorum Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. chenzhouana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. constellata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. crenatotibialis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. crenolatipes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. daanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dadongshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dahongshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dajuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. danfengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. dayaoshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. diaolinensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. emeifengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. enigma Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. erlangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. eshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. excisilabrata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fangana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fangchengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fencli Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fengyangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fereobscurata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. filigraniforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. flavipennis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. fuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guangdongana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guangzhaishanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guanxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guanxiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guomenshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. guomenshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. gusakovi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. haba Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. habashanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hajeki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hansmalickyi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hongyuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. houzhenziensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hsui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. huanianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hubeiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hunanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hunuguensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. hutiaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jaroslavi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jatuai Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jiangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jingdongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jinggangshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jinghongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jiucailingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. jizuana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. juntongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. juxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kalawensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kryschanowskii Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. kubeceki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. laocaiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lianxianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. liaochengensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. liwenzhui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. longruiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. luoxiangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lushanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. lushuiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. maguanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. maoershana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. mupingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nabanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nanlingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. nanpingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. ninglangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. panyuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. parabrunnescens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paradetersa Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paranitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. paraserripes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. parobscurata Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. peregoi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pieli Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pingchuanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoconsularis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoegregia Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudoexima Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudofuscipes Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudonitens Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pseudosenta Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. pui Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. putaodiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. qianqingtangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. queinneci Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. riberai Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. robustula Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rubriventris Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rufonitida Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. rufopaca Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. sanqingshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. serratiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shaluishanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shangraoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shaowuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shenglongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shengqiaoae Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiniushanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiruguanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shiwandashanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. shoumanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. sinobiloba Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. snizeki Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. songi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. taiyangheensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tengchongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiachiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiammushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tiani Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tianzushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. tongzhongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. trifidiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. uncipenis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wandingana Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. weni Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wipfleri Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wulaoshanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wuliangshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. wupingensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xingkei Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xingkeyangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xinqiaoensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. xuezhongi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yakouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yangi Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yibini Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yipinglangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yongrenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. yunnanica Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n., M. zhejiangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi Liu, sp. n. The work also resulted in nine new combinations and 17 new synonyms: Maladera (subgenus Omaladera Reitter, 1896) (= Cephaloserica Brenske, 1900, syn. n.; = Coronoserica Brenske, 1902, syn. n.); Maladera formosae (Brenske, 1898) (= Autoserica castanea Arrow, 1913, syn. n.; = Serica korgei Petrovitz, 1967, syn. n.); Maladera motschulskyi (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica furcillata Brenske, 1897, syn. n.; Serica schoenfeldti Murayama, 1937, syn. n.); Maladera pallida (Burmeister, 1855) comb. n. (= Maladera ludipennis Miyake, Yamaguchi Aoki 2002, syn. n.); Maladera renardi (Ballion, 1870) (= Serica delicta Brenske, 1897, syn. n.); Maladera secreta (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica cruralis Frey, 1972, syn. n.); Maladera verticalis (Fairmaire, 1888) (= Autoserica hiekei Frey, 1972, syn. n.); Maladera futschauana (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica atavana Brenske, 1902, syn. n.; = Autoserica montivaga Moser, 1915, syn. n.); Maladera aureola (Murayama, 1938) (= Maladera liotibia Nomura, 1974, syn. n.); Maladera brunnescens (Frey, 1972) comb. n., Maladera exima (Arrow, 1946) comb. n., Maladera gansuensis (Miyake Yamaya, 2001) comb. n., Maladera nigrobrunnea (Moser, 1926) comb. n., Maladera orientalis (Motschulsky, 1858) (= Serica salebrosa Brenske, 1897, syn. n.; =Autoserica davidis Brenske, 1898, syn. n.; = Serica mirabilis Brenske, 1894, syn. n.), Maladera punctulata (Frey, 1972) comb. n., Maladera rotunda (Arrow, 1946) comb. n., Maladera serripes (Moser, 1915) comb. n., Maladera senta (Brenske, 1897) (= Autoserica subspinosa Brenske, 1898, syn n.); Maladera spissigrada (Brenske, 1897) (= Serica nakayamai Murayama, 1938, syn. n.); Maladera tibialis (Brenske, 1898) comb. n. The lectotypes of the following species were designated: Autoserica furcillata Brenske, 1897, A. cariniceps Moser, 1915, A. diversipes Moser, 1915, A. flammea Brenske, 1898, A. fuscipes Moser, 1915, A. gibbiventris Brenske, 1897, A. hongkongica Brenske, 1898, A. obscurata Moser, 1915, A. piceola Moser, 1915, Serica delicta Brenske, 1897, S. exigua Brenske, 1894, S. nigrobrunnea Moser, 1926, S. orientalis Motschulsky, 1858, S. pallida Burmeister, 1855, S. salebrosa Brenske, 1897, and S. sibirica Brenske, 1897. Keys to the subgenera and species groups of Maladera, as well as a key to the species within each species-group are provided. Furthermore, we provide maps of the species distribution, as well as illustrations of the habitus and male genitalia.

Unexpected diversity of Hyboserica chafers in South African forest remnants: cladistic analysis, new species and the new genus Leoserica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)

A taxonomic revision of Hyboserica uncovers an unexpected diversity of species from Southern African forest remnants. The work results in the description of a new genus, Leoserica gen. nov., a new combination, a new synonymy and 32 new species are described. The lectotypes of Serica capensis and Triodonta caffra are designated. The habitus and male genitalia of all revised species are illustrated. A species distribution map and an identification key to the species are provided. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a deep split into one very diverse eastern clade that is distributed north to Zimbabwe, and one western clade that is restricted to the fynbos of the Cape Region.

A monograph on the genus Tetraserica from the Indochinese region (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

In this monograph on the Indochinese species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004 all species distributed in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and mainland Malaysia are covered as well as those of the Indian province Mizoram. From this revision, the following new combinations result: Tetrasericagressitti (Frey, 1972), comb. n., T.laotica (Frey, 1972), comb. n., T.satura (Brenske, 1898), comb. n., T.sejugata (Brenske, 1898), comb. n., T.siantarensis (Moser, 1922), comb. n., T.spinicrus (Frey, 1972), comb. n., T.vietnamensis (Frey, 1969), comb. n., and T.wapiensis (Frey, 1972), comb. n. Two new synonyms were found: Tetrasericamidoriae Kobayashi, 2017 (syn. n.) = T.laotica (Frey, 1972); T.graciliforceps Liu et al. 2014 (syn. n.) = T.satura (Brenske, 1898). The lectotypes of Tetrasericagestroi (Brenske, 1898), T.miniatula (Moser, 1915), and T.siantarensis (Moser, 1922) are designated. 116 Tetraserica species were recorded from Indochina, among which 88 new species are described: Tetrasericaallochangshouensis sp. n., T.allomengeana sp. n., T.allosejugata sp. n., T.angkorthomensis sp. n., T.angkorwatensis sp. n., T.appendiculata sp. n., T.auriculata sp. n., T.bachmaensis sp. n., T.banhuaipoensis sp. n., T.bansanpakiana sp. n., T.bolavensensis sp. n., T.breviforceps sp. n., T.cattienensis sp. n., T.champassakana sp. n., T.constanti sp. n., T.cucphongensis sp. n., T.curviforceps sp. n., T.desalvazzai sp. n., T.doiphukhaensis sp. n., T.doipuiensis sp. n., T.doisuthepensis sp. n., T.dongnaiensis sp. n., T.falciforceps sp. n., T.falciformis sp. n., T.feresiantarensis sp. n., T.filiforceps sp. n., T.fulleri sp. n., T.phukradungensis sp. n., T.geiserae sp. n., T.giulianae sp. n., T.infida sp. n., T.jakli sp. n., T.khaosoidaoensis sp. n., T.kiriromensis sp. n., T.koi sp. n., T.kollae sp. n., T.konchurangensis sp. n., T.kontumensis sp. n., T.loeiensis sp. n., T.lucai sp. n., T.microfurcata sp. n., T.microspinosa sp. n., T.multiangulata sp. n., T.nahaeoensis sp. n., T.nakaiensis sp. n., T.namnaoensis sp. n., T.neouncinata sp. n., T.nonglomensis sp. n., T.nussi sp. n., T.olegi sp. n., T.pahinngamensis sp. n., T.pailinensis sp. n., T.parasetuliforceps sp. n., T.paratonkinensis sp. n., T.petrpacholatkoi sp. n., T.phatoensis sp. n., T.phoupaneensis sp. n., T.pluriuncinata sp. n., T.pseudoliangheensis sp. n., T.pseudoruiliensis sp. n., T.pseudouncinata sp. n., T.quadriforceps sp. n., T.quadrifurcata sp. n., T.rihai sp. n., T.romae sp. n., T.rubrithorax sp. n., T.sapana sp. n., T.semidamadiensis sp. n., T.semipingjiangensis sp. n., T.semiruiliensis sp. n., T.semishanensis sp. n., T.setuliforceps sp. n., T.shanensis sp. n., T.smetsi sp. n., T.margheritae sp. n., T.soppongana sp. n., T.spanglerorum sp. n., T.spinotibialis sp. n., T.subrotundata sp. n., T.tanahrataensis sp. n., T.thainguyensis sp. n., T.trilobiforceps sp. n., T.ululalatensis sp. n., T.umphangensis sp. n., T.vari sp. n., T.veliformis sp. n., T.vientianeensis sp. n., and T.xiengkhouangensis sp. n. A key to the Indochinese Tetraserica species is given and distributions as well as the habitus and male genitalia of all species are illustrated.

New species and records of Sericini scarab beetles from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

The current paper presents new locality records, including first state records for Mizoram, of 92 species of Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indian subcontinent. Eight new species are described herein: Maladera alloservitritasp. n., M. kolasibensissp. n., M. mizoramensissp. n., Neoserica radhanagariensissp. n., Serica (s. str.) basantapurensis sp. n., S. (s. str.) mahakaliensis sp. n., S. (s. str.) therathumensis sp. n., and S. (s. str.) zianii sp. n.

New species of Nipponoserica and Paraserica from China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

The species of the genera Nipponoserica Nomura, 1973 and Paraserica Reitter, 1896 from China are revised. The following eight new species are described from China: Paraserica camillerii Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., P. mupuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., P. wangi Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., Nipponoserica alloshanghaiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., N. anjiensis Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., N. jiankouensis Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., N. henanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n., and N. sericanioides Ahrens, Fabrizi, & Liu, sp. n. A key to the species of the genera examined here and maps of the species distribution are provided. Habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.

A taxonomic revision of Neoserica (sensu lato): the species groups N. lubrica, N. obscura, and N. silvestris (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

The species of the Neoserica lubrica Brenske, 1898, Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) and Neoserica silvestris Brenske, 1902 species groups are revised. The study resulted in the following new synonymies and combinations: Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) = Microserica roeri Frey, 1972, syn. n., = Maladera chinensis (Arrow, 1946), syn. n.; Neoserica hainana (Brenske, 1898), comb. n., and Neoserica minor (Arrow, 1946), comb. n. The known species are redescribed. The following nine new species are described from China: Neoserica allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica dongjiafenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica fugongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica mantillerii Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica menglunensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica pseudosilvestris Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica sakoliana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica shuyongi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., and Neoserica tahianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. A key to the Sericini genera with multilamellate antenna, species groups of Neoserica of mainland Asia, and species of the species groups examined here are provided. Maps of the species distribution are provided, habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.

A molecular phylogeny of rose chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) reveals a complex and concerted morphological evolution related to their flight mode

Rose chafers (Cetoniinae) are a large group of flower visitors within the pleurostict Scarabaeidae that are characterized by their distinctive flight mode with nearly closed forewings. Despite their popularity, this is the first study to use molecular data to infer their phylogenetic relationships. We used partial gene sequences for 28S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase I (cox1) and 16S rRNA (rrnL) for 299 species, representing most recognized subfamilies of Scarabaeidae, including 125 species of Cetoniinae. Combined analyses using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences recovered Cetoniinae as monophyletic in all analyses, with the sister clade composed of Rutelinae and Dynastinae. Rutelinae was always recovered as paraphyletic with respect to Dynastinae. Trichiini sensu lato (s.l.) was recovered as a polyphyletic clade, while Cetoniini s.l. was recovered as paraphyletic. The inferred topologies were also supported by site bootstrapping of the ML trees. With the exception of Cremastochelini, most tribes of Cetoniinae were poly- or paraphyletic, indicating the critical need for a careful revision of rose chafer classification. Analysis of elytral base structure (including 11 scored characters) in the context of phylogeny, revealed a complex, concerted and rapid transformation of the single trait elements linked to a modified flight mode with closed elytra. This appears to be unlinked to the lateral sinuation of the elytra, which originated independently several times at later stages in the evolution of the group.

Rarity and Incomplete Sampling in DNA-Based Species Delimitation

DNA-based species delimitation may be compromised by limited sampling effort and species rarity, including "singleton" representatives of species, which hampers estimates of intra- versus interspecies evolutionary processes. In a case study of southern African chafers (beetles in the family Scarabaeidae), many species and subclades were poorly represented and 48.5% of species were singletons. Using cox1 sequences from >500 specimens and ∼100 species, the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) analysis as well as various other approaches for DNA-based species delimitation (Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), Poisson tree processes (PTP), Species Identifier, Statistical Parsimony), frequently produced poor results if analyzing a narrow target group only, but the performance improved when several subclades were combined. Hence, low sampling may be compensated for by "clade addition" of lineages outside of the focal group. Similar findings were obtained in reanalysis of published data sets of taxonomically poorly known species assemblages of insects from Madagascar. The low performance of undersampled trees is not due to high proportions of singletons per se, as shown in simulations (with 13%, 40% and 52% singletons). However, the GMYC method was highly sensitive to variable effective population size ([Formula: see text]), which was exacerbated by variable species abundances in the simulations. Hence, low sampling success and rarity of species affect the power of the GMYC method only if they reflect great differences in [Formula: see text] among species. Potential negative effects of skewed species abundances and prevalence of singletons are ultimately an issue about the variation in [Formula: see text] and the degree to which this is correlated with the census population size and sampling success. Clade addition beyond a limited study group can overcome poor sampling for the GMYC method in particular under variable [Formula: see text] This effect was less pronounced for methods of species delimitation not based on coalescent models.

A taxonomic revision of the Neoserica(sensu lato)calva group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

The species of the Neoserica(sensu lato)calva group are revised. Neosericacalva Frey, 1972, comb. n. is redescribed. Thirteen new species are described from China and South Korea: Neosericaailaoshanicasp. n., Neosericaanonymasp. n., Neosericacalvoidessp. n., Neosericagulinqingensissp. n., Neosericakoelkebeckisp. n., Neosericaliangisp. n., Neosericaluxiensissp. n., Neosericamenghaiensissp. n., Neosericamengisp. n., Neosericataipingensissp. n., Neosericazheijangensissp. n., Neosericazhibenshanicasp. n., and Neosericazongyuanisp. n. A key to Sericini genera with multilamellate antenna and species groups of Neoserica of mainland Asia as well as a key to species of the Neosericacalva group are provided. A map of species distribution is given, habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.

A taxonomic review on the species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, of China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

A review on the Chinese species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, is presented. The lectotype of Tetrasericatonkinensis (Moser, 1908), comb. n. is designated. Twenty-nine new Tetraserica species are described from China and adjacent regions: Tetrasericaanhuaensissp. n., Tetrasericachangjiangensissp. n., Tetrasericachangshouensissp. n., Tetrasericadamaidiensissp. n., Tetrasericadaqingshanicasp. n., Tetrasericafikacekisp. n., Tetrasericagraciliforcepssp. n., Tetrasericajinghongensissp. n., Tetrasericaleishanicasp. n., Tetrasericaliangheensissp. n., Tetrasericalinaoshanicasp. n., Tetrasericalongipenissp. n., Tetrasericalongzhouensissp. n., Tetrasericamaoershanensissp. n., Tetrasericamengeanasp. n., Tetrasericamenglongensissp. n., Tetrasericapingjiangensissp. n., Tetrasericaruilianasp. n., Tetrasericaruiliensissp. n., Tetrasericasculptilissp. n., Tetrasericashangsiensissp. n., Tetrasericashunbiensissp. n., Tetrasericasigulianshanicasp. n., Tetrasericatianchiensissp. n., Tetrasericawandingensissp. n., Tetrasericawangtongensissp. n., Tetrasericaxichouensissp. n., Tetrasericayaoanicasp. n., Tetrasericayaoquensissp. n. A key to the Chinese Tetraserica species is given, species distribution as well as the habitus and male genitalia of all species are illustrated.

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

The present paper revises the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group, so far known only with two nominal species. Twenty new species are herein described from Indochina and southern China: N. abnormoidessp. n. (Vietnam, China), N. allolaoticasp. n., N. namthaensissp. n., N. simplicissimasp. n. (Laos), N. thailandensissp. n. (Thailand), N. alloputaoanasp. n., N. kanphantensissp. n., N. natmatoungensissp. n., N. putaoanasp. n., N. taunggyianasp. n. (Myanmar), N. lamellosasp. n., N. tonkineasp. n. (Vietnam), N. bairailingshanicasp. n., N. euyunnanicasp. n., N. huangisp. n., N. jiangxiensissp. n., N. trifidasp. n., N. yaoisp. n., N. yingjiangensissp. n. (China), N. cardamomensissp. n. (Indochina and southern China). One new combination is established: Neoserica ponderosa Arrow, 1946, comb. n. The lectotypes of Neoserica abnormis Moser, 1908 and the taxonomically uncertain N. inclinata Brenske, 1898, which very likely also belongs to this species group, are designated herein. A key to the species and to species groups is given, the genitalia of all species including their habitus are illustrated. Maps of species distribution are included.

A taxonomic revision of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Nine new species of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula Moser, 1915, group are described from China: Neoserica curvipenis sp. n., N. emeishanensis sp. n., N. lincangensis sp. n., N. ludingensis sp. n., N. lushuiana sp. n., N. rangshuiensis sp. n., N. shennongjiaensis sp. n., N. tianeana sp. n., and N. weibaoshanica sp. n. The lectotype of Neoserica pilosula Moser, 1915, is designated. Habitus and male genitalia are illustrated, a key to the species of the group and a map of species distribution are given.

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

In the present paper the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group, that included so far only four known species, are revised. Here we describe eleven new species originating mainly from Indochina and Southern China: N. daweishanicasp. n., N. gaoligongshanicasp. n., N. guangpingensissp. n., N. igorisp. n., N. jiulongensissp. n., N. plurilamellatasp. n., N. weishanicasp. n., N. yanzigouensissp. n. (China) N. sapaensissp. n. (China, Vietnam), N. bansongchanasp. n., N. takakuwaisp. n. (Laos). The lectotypes of Neoserica septemlamellata Brenske, 1898 and N. septemfoliata Moser, 1915 are designated. Keys to the species and species groups are given, the genitalia of all species and their habitus are illustrated and distribution maps are included.

Integrative analysis of DNA phylogeography and morphology of the European rose chafer (Cetonia aurata) to infer species taxonomy and patterns of postglacial colonisation in Europe

Integrative taxonomy has been proposed as a framework to unify new conceptual and methodological developments in quantitative assessment of trait variation used in species delimitation, but empirical studies in this young branch of systematics are rare. Here we use standard phylogenetic and parsimony network analyses on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (Cox1, ITS1) of 230 individuals from 65 European sampling sites in order to deduce population structure of Cetonia beetles from geno- and haplotypes. Statistical measures of population differentiation are inferred on genealogical and geographical scales to test hypotheses about species limits and population history. By combining results of phylogenetic structure with features of morphology, including genital shape morphometrics and discrete external body characters, as well as with measures of population genetics, we attempt to integrate the results as a test of the validity of species limits, in particular of currently recognised subspecies. Despite high Cox1 divergence between some haplotype lineages, even some sympatric lineages (9%, e.g. N2 vs. N4), nDNA and morphology, as well as pattern of geographical and genealogical divergence measured by AMOVA analysis did not support the hypothesis of separate species. Highest divergence in nuclear markers was found among Italian populations of C. aurata pisana and C. a. sicula, and moderately high fixation indices along measurable morphological divergence suggest the correctness of their status as 'subspecies'. Divergence time estimates of the lineages suggest a glacial divergence in different refugia between the major haplogroups, while population differentiation in mtDNA among these was primarily attributable to restricted gene flow caused by geographic isolation.

Local and/or distant recurrences in T1-2/N0-1 non-small cell lung cancer

Data from a series of 181 patients subjected to long-term follow-up after surgical resection for non-small cell stage I and II lung cancer were analyzed to evaluate the statistical incidence and the prognostic factors of recurrence. The recurrence rate/year was particularly high in the first 2 years after surgery: the 2-year recurrence rate was 35.1% in stage I tumors and 51.8% in stage II, whereas the 5- and 7-year recurrence rates were 46.1 and 55.9% and 65.8 and 70.7%, respectively, for the same groups. Recurrences were observed more frequently in non-epidermoid carcinomas with multiple nodules (100% at 5 years) and in carcinomas classified as stage II (70.7% at 5-7 years), particularly when defined as adenocarcinoma (100% at 3 years). In the overall recurrence rate we observed no significant difference dependent on the type of resection even though limited segmental or wedge resection appeared to be related to a higher risk rate (true recurrence rate ratio: 0.6). Over two-thirds of the first observed recurrences were located at a distant site, with a slightly higher incidence of non-epidermoid carcinoma (72.5%). Isolated local recurrence mostly occurred in epidermoid carcinoma (47.6%). The most frequent sites of recurrence were the brain, bone and mediastinum. On multivariate analysis, independently significant adverse prognostic factors regarding the recurrence incidence were: tumor size greater than 3 cm, bronchial or hilar lymph node involvement, tumor histologically defined as adenocarcinoma, and the presence of satellite nodules.

Thymostimulin effect on the immune response in neoplastic patients submitted to surgical treatment

We selected the data from performance status, disease state, skin tests, circulating lymphocytes and relative subsets, serum immunoglobulin classes to evaluate the immune response in 29 neoplastic patients treated with surgery and undergoing Thymostimulin administration during long term follow-up. Moderate drug intolerance was observed in 3 patients. After treatment lymphocyte count increase (41% mean increase) in 61.5% of cases; CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16 respectively 95-74-87-82% of cases; immunoglobulin classes in about 90% of cases. A clear-cut improvement of Karnofsky's index was observed in 34.6% of cases, worsening in 11.5%. A manifest improvement in the delayed hypersensitivity skin test resulted in 36% of cases. Most patients (85%) have shown signs of complete disease remission. Disease progression was observed only in 3 patients. There were no infections during this study.