Spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon ultrastructure of Robphildollfusium fractum (Digenea: Gyliauchenidae), an intestinal parasite of Sarpa salpa (Pisces: Teleostei)

Spermiogenesis in Robphildollfusium fractum begins with the formation of a differentiation zone containing: two centrioles, each bearing striated rootlets, nucleus, several mitochondria and an intercentriolar body constituted by seven electron-dense layers. The two centrioles originate two free flagella growing orthogonally to the median cytoplasmic process. Later, the free flagella rotate and undergo proximodistal fusion with the median cytoplasmic process. Nuclear and mitochondrial migrations occur before this proximodistal fusion. Finally, the young spermatozoon detaches from the residual cytoplasm after the constriction of the ring of arched membranes. The spermatozoon of R. fractum exhibits two axonemes of different length of the 9 +"1" trepaxonematan pattern, nucleus, two mitochondria, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine-like bodies and granules of glycogen. Additionally, a shorter axoneme, which does not reach the nuclear region, the presence of an electron-dense material in the anterior spermatozoon extremity and the morphologies of both spermatozoon extremities characterize the mature sperm of R. fractum.

Spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon ultrastructure of Robphildollfusium fractum (Digenea: Gyliauchenidae), an intestinal parasite of Sarpa salpa (Pisces: Teleostei)

Spermiogenesis in Robphildollfusium fractum begins with the formation of a differentiation zone containing: two centrioles, each bearing striated rootlets, nucleus, several mitochondria and an intercentriolar body constituted by seven electron-dense layers. The two centrioles originate two free flagella growing orthogonally to the median cytoplasmic process. Later, the free flagella rotate and undergo proximodistal fusion with the median cytoplasmic process. Nuclear and mitochondrial migrations occur before this proximodistal fusion. Finally, the young spermatozoon detaches from the residual cytoplasm after the constriction of the ring of arched membranes. The spermatozoon of R. fractum exhibits two axonemes of different length of the 9 +"1" trepaxonematan pattern, nucleus, two mitochondria, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine-like bodies and granules of glycogen. Additionally, a shorter axoneme, which does not reach the nuclear region, the presence of an electron-dense material in the anterior spermatozoon extremity and the morphologies of both spermatozoon extremities characterize the mature sperm of R. fractum.

Fusion weld metal solidification:Continuum from weld interface to centerline

We present a brief résumé of the history of solidification research and key factors affecting the solidification of fusion welds. There is a general agreement of the basic solidification theory, albeit differing - even confusing - nomenclatures do exist, and Cases 2 and 3 (the Chalmers' basic boundary conditions for solidification, categorized by Savage as Cases) are variably emphasized. Model Frame, a tool helping to model the continuum of fusion weld solidification from start to end, is proposed. It incorporates the general solidification models, of which the pertinent ones are selected for the actual modeling. The basic models are the main solidification Cases 1…4. These discrete Cases are joined with Sub-Cases: models of Pfann, Flemings and others, bringing needed Sub-Case variables into the model. Model Frame depicts a grain growing from the weld interface to its centerline. Besides modeling, the Model Frame supports education and academic debate. The new mathematical modeling techniques will extend its use into multi-dimensional modeling, introducing new variables and increasing the modeling accuracy. We propose a model: melting/solidification-model (M/S-model) - predicting the solute profile at the start of the solidification of a fusion weld. This Case 3-based Sub-Case takes into account the melting stage, the solute back-diffusion in the solid, and the growth rate acceleration typical to fusion welds. We propose - based on works of Rutter & Chalmers, David & Vitek and our experimental results on copper - that NEGS-EGS-transition is not associated only with cellular-dendritic-transition. Solidification is studied experimentally on pure and doped copper with welding speed range from 0 to 200 cm/min, with one test at 3000 cm/min. Found were only planar and cellular structures, no dendrites - columnar or equiaxed. Cell sub structures: rows of cubic elements we call "cubelettes", "cell-bands" and "micro-cells", as well as an anomalous crack morphology "crack-eye", were detected, as well as microscopic hot crack nucleus we call "grain-lag cracks", caused by a grain slightly lagging behind its neighbors in arrival to the weld centerline. Varestraint test and R-test revealed a change of crack morphologies from centerline cracks to grainand cell boundary cracks with an increasing welding speed. High speed made the cracks invisible to bare eye and hardly detectable with light microscope, while electron microscope often revealed networks of fine micro-cracks.

EVN+MERLIN observations of microquasar candidates at low galactic latitudes

In an attempt to increase the number of known microquasars, Paredes et al. (2002) have presented a long-term project focused on the search for new objects of this type. They performed a cross-identification between X-ray and radio catalogs under very restrictive selection criteria for sources with |b|<5 degrees, and obtained a sample of 13 radio-emitting X-ray sources. Follow-up observations of 6 of these sources with the VLA provided accurate coordinates, which were used to discover optical counterparts for all of them. We have observed these six sources with the EVN and MERLIN at 5 GHz. Five of the six objects have been detected and imaged, presenting different morphologies: one source has a two-sided jet, three sources have one-sided jets, and one source is compact. With all the presently available information, we conclude that two of the sources are promising microquasar candidates in our Galaxy.

Tracking the ghost of coevolution in specific plant-insect interactions : the case of the pollination system between the globeflower Trollius europaeus and seven european Chiastocheta flies

This study aims at understanding the evolutionary processes at work in specialized species interactions. Prom the macroevolutionary perspective, coevolution among specialized taxa was proposed to be one of the major processes generating biodiversity. We challenge this idea from the theoretical and practical perspective and through a literature review and show that the major hypotheses linking coevolutionary process with macroevolutionary patterns do not necessarily predict lineage co diversification and parallel speciation, limit¬ing the utility of the comparative phylogenenetic approach for investigating coevolution¬ary processes. We also point to the rarity of observed long-term coevolutionary dynamics among lineages and propose that coevolution rather occurs in shorter timescales, followed by ecological fitting. Prom the empirical point, we focus on the nursery pollination interaction between the European globeflower Trollius europaeus (Ranunculaceae) and its associated Chiastocheta flies (Anthomyiidae; Diptera) as a model system of evolution and maintenance of special¬ized interactions. The flies are obligate parasites of the seeds, but also pollinate the plant - it was thus proposed that both species are mutually dependent. Contrasting with the paradigm used for two decades of research on this system, we show that the female fitness component of the plant is similar in the populations with and without Chiastocheta. The plant is thus not exclusively dependent on the flies for reproduction. We discuss this result in the context of the factors responsible for the evolution of mutualistic systems. Understanding the evolution of a biological system requires understanding of its phylo- genetic context. Previous studies showed large mismatch between mtDNA phylogeny and morphological taxonomy in Chiastocheta. By using a large set of RAD-sequencing loci, we delineate the species limits that are congruent with morphology, and show that the discordance is best explained by the scenario of mitochondrial capture among fly species. Finally, we examine this system from a phylogeographic perspective, and identify the lack of congruence in spatial genetic structures of the plant and associated insects across their whole geographic range. The flies show lower numbers of spatial genetic groups than the plant, indicating that not all of the plant réfugia were shared by all the fly species or that the migration dynamics homogenized some of the groups. The incongruence in spatial genetic patterns indicates that fly migrations were largely independent from the genetic background of the plant, following rather a scenario of resource tracking, without the signature of coevolutionary process at this scale. Indeed, while the flies require the plant to survive climatic oscillations, the opposite is not true. Eventually, we show that there is no phylogenetic signal of spatial genetic structures, meaning that neither histories nor life- history traits are shared among closely related species and that species are characterized by unique trajectories of their genes. -- Cette étude vise à comprendre les processus évolutifs à l'oeuvre au sein d'interactions en¬tre espèces spécialisées. Du point de vue macroévolutif, la coévolution entre les taxons spécialisée a été considérée comme l'un des principaux processus générateur de biodiversité. Nous contestons cette idée du point de vue théorique et pratique à travers une revue de la littérature. Nous montrons que les hypothèses majeures reliant les processus coévolutifs avec les patterns de diversité au niveau macroévolutif ne prédisent pas nécessairement la co- diversification des lignées et leur spéciation parallèle, ce qui limite l'utilité de l'approche de phylogénie comparative pour étudier les processus coévolutifs . Nous rappelons également le peu d'exemples de dynamique coévolutive à long terme et proposons que la coévolution se produit plutôt dans des intervalles courts, suivis d'ajustements écologiques. Du point empirique, nous nous concentrons sur l'interaction de pollinisation entre le Trolle d'Europe Trollius europaeus (Ranunculaceae) et ses pollinisateurs associés, du genre Chiastocheta (Anthomyiidae; Diptera) en tant que système-modèle pour étudier l'évolution et le maintien des interactions spécialisées. Les mouches sont des parasites obligatoires des semences, mais pollinisent également la plante. Il a donc été proposé que les deux espèces soient mutuellement dépendantes. Contrastant avec le paradigme utilisé pendant deux décennies de recherche sur ce système, nous montrons, que la composante de fitness femelle de la plante est similaire dans les populations avec et sans Chiastocheta. La plante ne dépend donc pas exclusivement de son interaction avec les mouches pour la reproduction. Nous discutons de ce résultat dans le contexte des facteurs responsables de l'évolution des systèmes mutualistes. Comprendre l'évolution d'un système biologique nécessite la compréhension de son con- texte phylogénétique. Des études antérieures ont montré, chez Chiastocheta, de grandes disparités entre les phylogénies obtenues à partir d'ADN mitochondrial et la taxonomie basée sur les critères morphologiques. En utilisant un grand nombre de loci obtenus par RAD-sequencing, nous traçons les limites des espèces, qui concordent avec les car¬actéristiques morphologies, et montrons que la discordance s'explique en fait par un scénario de capture mitochondriale entre espèces de mouches. Enfin, nous examinons le système d'un point de vue phylogéographique, et identi¬fions les incohérences entre structurations génétiques spatiales de la plante et des insectes associés dans toute leur aire de distribution géographique. Les mouches présentent un nombre de groupes génétiques inférieur à la plante, indiquant que tous les refuges de la plante n'étaient pas partagés par toutes les espèces de mouches ou que les dynamiques migratoires ont homogénéisés certains des groupes chez les mouches. Les différences ob¬servées dans les patrons de structuration génétique spatiale indique que les migrations et dispersions des mouches ont été indépendantes du contexte génétique de la plante, et ces dernières ont été uniquement tributaires de la disponibilité des ressources, sans qu'il n'y ait de signature du processus de coévolution à cette échelle. En effet, tandis que les mouches ont besoin de la plante pour survivre aux oscillations climatiques, le contraire n'est pas exact. Finalement, nous montrons qu'il n'y a pas de signal phylogénétique des structurations génétiques spatiales chez les mouches, ce qui signifie que ni l'histoire, ni les traits d'histoire de vie ne sont partagés entre les espèces phylogénétiquement proches et que les espèces sont caractérisées par des trajectoires uniques de leurs gènes.

Deposition and characterization of lines printed through laser-induced forward transfer

The possibility of printing two-dimensional micropatterns of biomolecule solutions is of great interest in many fields of research in biomedicine, from cell-growth and development studies to the investigation of the mechanisms of communication between cells. Although laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) has been extensively used to print micrometric droplets of biological solutions, the fabrication of complex patterns depends on the feasibility of the technique to print micron-sized lines of aqueous solutions. In this study we investigate such a possibility through the analysis of the influence of droplet spacing of a water and glycerol solution on the morphology of the features printed by LIFT. We prove that it is indeed possible to print long and uniform continuous lines by controlling the overlap between adjacent droplets. We show how, depending on droplet spacing, several printed morphologies are generated, and we offer, in addition, a simple explanation of the observed behavior based on the jetting dynamics characteristic of the LIFT of liquids.

Nanoantenna enhanced emission of lightharvesting complex 2: the role of resonance, polarization, and radiative and non-radiative rates

Nanoantennae show potential for photosynthesis research for two reasons; first by spatially confining light for experiments which require high spatial resolution, and second by enhancing the photon emission of single light-harvesting complexes. For effective use of nanoantennae a detailed understanding of the interaction between the nanoantenna and the light-harvesting complex is required. Here we report how the excitation and emission of multiple purple bacterial LH2s (light-harvesting complex 2) are controlled by single gold nanorod antennae. LH2 complexes were chemically attached to such antennae, and the antenna length was systematically varied to tune the resonance with respect to the LH2 absorption and emission. There are three main findings. (i) The polarization of the LH2 emission is fully controlled by the resonant nanoantenna. (ii) The largest fluorescence enhancement, of 23 times, is reached for excitation with light at λ = 850 nm, polarized along the long antenna-axis of the resonant antenna. The excitation enhancement is found to be 6 times, while the emission efficiency is increased 3.6 times. (iii) The fluorescence lifetime of LH2 depends strongly on the antenna length, with shortest lifetimes of [similar]40 ps for the resonant antenna. The lifetime shortening arises from an 11 times resonant enhancement of the radiative rate, together with a 2–3 times increase of the non-radiative rate, compared to the off-resonant antenna. The observed length dependence of radiative and non-radiative rate enhancement is in good agreement with simulations. Overall this work gives a complete picture of how the excitation and emission of multi-pigment light-harvesting complexes are influenced by a dipole nanoantenna.

Paleontological research on late Triassic radiolarians from Oman and Sicily

Les radiolaires sont des unicellulaires planctoniques qui peuplent nos océans depuis plus de 500 millions d'années. Ces microorganismes développent un squelette en silice ayant des géométries extrêmement diversifiées et sophistiqués qui varient rapidement à l'échelle géologique et permettent de construire des échelles biochronologiques basées sur les différents assemblages qui se succèdent dans le temps. On retrouve ces organismes à l'état fossile dans les roches ma¬rines siliceuse desquelles on peut les extraire avec de l'acide. Des échantillons provenant du sultanat d'Oman et de Sicile ont été étudiés afin de mieux com¬prendre les relations de parenté entre les groupes et de comparer les faunes avec celles du même âge venant de Colombie britannique, du Japon et de Turquie, qui sont représentatives de divers domaines océaniques de l'époque. Certains radiolaires possèdent un anneau autour de leur coque centrale sphérique et ont ainsi été baptisés Saturnalides. Il y a 215 millions d'années, au Norien moyen, ce groupe se diversifie soudainement et donne naissance à une multitude d'espèces qui évoluent rapidement ce qui a permis d'établir des subdivisions temporelles supplémentaires et d'affiner les zonations exis¬tantes. L'étude détaillée de formes intermédiaires entre les espèces a permis d'établir de nouveaux liens de parenté et de considérer le genre Praehexasaturnalis comme l'ancêtre probable de nom¬breuses formes dans le Norien moyen et supérieur. Grâce à l'étude comparative des espèces de Saturnalidae allant du Mésozoïque au Cénozoïque, un certain type d'asymétrie de l'anneau a pu être identifiée comme étant propre à cette famille et plus précisément liée à la disposition de la coque la plus interne (microsphère). Deux nouveaux genres, Blechschmidtia et Tjerkium, s'inscrivent dans une lignée parallèle au Saturnalidae. Cette lignée met en évidence la formation au cours du temps d'un anneau à partir de la fusion de deux épines opposées. -- Late Triassic marine deposits of the Tethyan realm have been investigated in the Sultanate of Oman and in Sicily in order to contribute to the knowledge of radiolarian taxonomy and bio- stratigraphy of this key period preceding the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. In the middle Norian, the saturnalid radiolarians display intense diversification. This blooming of fast evolving spe¬cies has been used to establish a new zonation based on evolutionary successions that refine the existing zonal schemes. One new genus and 16 new species are described. The chronologic distribution of 172 species belonging to 72 genera is established from five sections in the Umar and Al Aridh units of the Hawasina Basin. Many Late Triassic saturnalid species are interpreted to originate from the genus Praehexasaturnalis Kozur & Mostler, which shows strong morpho¬logical diversification patterns. Detailed comparative studies of different types of asymmetric ring morphologies of Mesozoic to Cainozoic saturnalid species permitted to relate the origin of the asymmetry to the disposition of the initial skeletal structure and to gain new insight on the internal and external geometrical transformations of this group trough time and how the emergence of new families is induced by environmental stress. RÉSUMÉ Les formations marines du Trias supérieur du domaine téthysien ont été étudiées dans le Sultanat d'Oman et en Sicile afin de contribuer à la connaissance et au développement de la taxonomie et de la biostratigraphie des radiolaires de cette période clé qui précède la crise de la limite Trias-Jurassique. Au Norien moyen, les radiolaires Saturnalides montrent une intense diversi¬fication. Ce véritable "bloom" d'espèces qui évoluent rapidement a été utilisé pour l'établisse¬ment d'une nouvelle zonation basée sur les successions évolutives de ce groupe qui permettent d'affiner les subdivisions biochronologiques existantes. Un nouveau genre et seize nouvelles espèces sont décrits. La distribution stratigraphique de 172 espèces appartenant à 72 genres est établie pour 5 sections dans les unités d'Umar et d'Al Aridh du bassin de Hawasina. Un essai d'établissement d'une phylogénèse des Saturnalidae du Trias supérieur mène à proposer que le genre Praehexasaturnalis Kozur & Mostler est l'ancêtre de beaucoup d'espèces de Saturnalidae du Trias supérieur. L'étude comparative détaillée des différents types d'asymétrie de l'anneau chez les Saturnali¬dae du Mésozoïque au Cénozoïque a permis de lier l'origine de ce phénomène à la disposition de la structure initiale de leur squelette et par ce fait d'avoir une meilleure compréhension des transformations géométriques internes et externes subies par ce groupe au cours du temps et de concevoir comment l'émergence de nouvelles familles est induite lors de périodes de stress environnemental.

Overexpression of guanylate cyclase activating protein 2 in rod photoreceptors in vivo leads to morphological changes at the synaptic ribbon.

Guanylate cyclase activating proteins are EF-hand containing proteins that confer calcium sensitivity to retinal guanylate cyclase at the outer segment discs of photoreceptor cells. By making the rate of cGMP synthesis dependent on the free intracellular calcium levels set by illumination, GCAPs play a fundamental role in the recovery of the light response and light adaptation. The main isoforms GCAP1 and GCAP2 also localize to the synaptic terminal, where their function is not known. Based on the reported interaction of GCAP2 with Ribeye, the major component of synaptic ribbons, it was proposed that GCAP2 could mediate the synaptic ribbon dynamic changes that happen in response to light. We here present a thorough ultrastructural analysis of rod synaptic terminals in loss-of-function (GCAP1/GCAP2 double knockout) and gain-of-function (transgenic overexpression) mouse models of GCAP2. Rod synaptic ribbons in GCAPs−/− mice did not differ from wildtype ribbons when mice were raised in constant darkness, indicating that GCAPs are not required for ribbon early assembly or maturation. Transgenic overexpression of GCAP2 in rods led to a shortening of synaptic ribbons, and to a higher than normal percentage of club-shaped and spherical ribbon morphologies. Restoration of GCAP2 expression in the GCAPs−/− background (GCAP2 expression in the absence of endogenous GCAP1) had the striking result of shortening ribbon length to a much higher degree than overexpression of GCAP2 in the wildtype background, as well as reducing the thickness of the outer plexiform layer without affecting the number of rod photoreceptor cells. These results indicate that preservation of the GCAP1 to GCAP2 relative levels is relevant for maintaining the integrity of the synaptic terminal. Our demonstration of GCAP2 immunolocalization at synaptic ribbons at the ultrastructural level would support a role of GCAPs at mediating the effect of light on morphological remodeling changes of synaptic ribbons.

Partículas nanométricas de ferritas de ítrio

Nanoparticles of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) were obtained by coprecipitation. The particles were prepared by hydrolysis in acid medium with addition of ammonia or urea, for homogeneous nucleation, at 90ºC. Different compositions and spherical morphologies were achieved by changing reactants concentrations and precipitation agent. X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and electrophoretic mobility were carried out on these particles to investigate the obtained phase, phase transition temperature, morphology, particle size and zeta potential, respectively.

Morfologia e cristalinidade de hidroxicarbonato de zinco obtido via precipitação homogênea: influência dos ânions cloreto e nitrato

The effects of chloride and nitrate anions and their respective concentrations, as well as urea presence, on solid phase morphologies were investigated. Zinc hydroxide carbonate was prepared by aging diluted zinc salt solution in presence of urea at 90ºC. Samples were identified by X-ray powder diffractograms showing the characteristic patterns of hydrozincite. The crystallinity was correlated with the concentrations of reagents. Spherulitic-type aggregates and single acicular particles were obtained from diluted chloride and nitrate solutions while porous aggregates of uniform size were formed from solutions with high chloride and urea concentrations.

Crassostrea patagonica (d'Orbigny, 1842) shell concentrations from the late Miocene Rio Negro province, NE Patagonia, Argentina

The Río Negro Formation (late Miocene-early Pliocene) mainly consists of continental deposits, but it contains a middle member of marine origin. It represents a transgressive-regressive sequence that can be seen at several outcrops along the N Patagonian coast. The taphonomical approach to the El Espigón marine deposits permits the identification of four main layers containing different kinds of skeletal accumulation, which mainly consist of oyster shells [Crassostrea patagonica (D'Orbigny, 1842)]. These concentrations display three different morphologies (pouches, pavements and bouquets) with a different taphonomic signature. These deposits were formed in shallow marine environments influenced by wave activity that produced valve concentrations of different entities. They contain several shell beds that represent event, composite, hiatal to lag skeletal concentrations. Traces of bioturbation in the sediment (Thalassinoides, Teichichnus) and bioerosion on the shells (Entobia, Gastrochaeonolites, Caulostrepsis), and encrusters (cirripeds, bryozoans), are also abundant in the outcrop and consititue common components of these Miocene materials. Layers 1 and 2 of the sequence were deposited in shoreface/foreshore environments at the beginning of a highstand systems tract, while layers 3 and 4 were deposited at the end, or at the beginning of a forced regression, in foreshore environments. A final erosional episode cut the top of the layer 4, which truncated the abundant bioturbaation developed there.

Sexual dimorphism of sonic apparatus and extreme intersexual variation of sounds in Ophidion rochei (Ophidiidae): first evidence of a tight relationship between morphology and sound characteristics in Ophidiidae

Many Ophidiidae are active in dark environments and display complex sonic apparatus morphologies. However, sound recordings are scarce and little is known about acoustic communication in this family. This paper focuses on Ophidion rochei which is known to display an important sexual dimorphism in swimbladder and anterior skeleton. The aims of this study were to compare the sound producing morphology, and the resulting sounds in juveniles, females and males of O. rochei.Results: Males, females, and juveniles possessed different morphotypes. Females and juveniles contrasted with males because they possessed dramatic differences in morphology of their sonic muscles, swimbladder, supraoccipital crest, and first vertebrae and associated ribs. Further, they lacked the ‘rocker bone’ typically found in males. Sounds from each morphotype were highly divergent. Males generally produced non harmonic, multiple-pulsed sounds that lasted for several seconds (3.5 ± 1.3 s) with a pulse period of ca. 100 ms. Juvenile and female sounds were recorded for the first time in ophidiids. Female sounds were harmonic, had shorter pulse period (±3.7 ms), and never exceeded a few dozen milliseconds (18 ± 11 ms). Moreover, unlike male sounds, female sounds did not have alternating long and short pulse periods. Juvenile sounds were weaker but appear to be similar to female sounds.Conclusions: Although it is not possible to distinguish externally male from female in O. rochei, they show a sonic apparatus and sounds that are dramatically different. This difference is likely due to their nocturnal habits that may have favored the evolution of internal secondary sexual characters that help to distinguish males from females and that could facilitate mate choice by females. Moreover, the comparison of different morphotypes in this study shows that these morphological differences result from a peramorphosis that takes place during the development of the gonads

O estado da arte da síntese de semicondutores nanocristalinos coloidais

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots, have attracted great attention since they have interesting size-dependent properties due to the quantum confinement effect. These nanoparticles are highly luminescent and have potential applications in different technological areas, including biological labeling, light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic devices. The synthetic methods of semiconductor nanocrystals have progressed in the last 30 years, and several protocols were developed to synthesize monodisperse nanocrystals with good optical properties, different compositions and morphologies. This review describes the main methods used to synthesize nanocrystals in the II-VI and III-V systems, and the recent approaches in this field of research.

Thermal and structural study of guava (Psidium guajava L) powders obtained by two dehydration methods

Two food products (powders) were obtained by hot-air drying or lyophilisation methods on the whole guava fruits. The powders were characterised by sensory and thermal analyses (TGA-DSC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal, morphological and structural characterisations showed a similar behaviour for the two solids. TGA-DSC and IR showed the presence of pectin as the main constituent of solids. A semi-crystalline profile was evidenced by XRD, and lamellar/spherical morphologies were observed by SEM. Sensory analyses revealed an aroma highly related to guava. These value-added food products are an alternative to process guava and avoid loss during postharvest handling.