The genus Gladiolus L. (Iridaceae) includes about 250–280 species of perennial herbaceous corms, distributed in Africa, Madagascar and Eurasia. The taxonomy of the genus is not simple, since the ...characteristics of the species are quite confusing. Our article presents the results of a comparative palyno-morphological analysis of all 9 species and 2 subspecies of the genus Gladiolus of the Armenian flora. The purpose of the work is to identify diagnostic characteristics of pollen used to distinguish individual taxa. Six morphological characters, namely the length of the polar axis (P), as well as the length of the large and small equatorial diameters (E1 and E2, respectively), exine thickness and the number of echinae and perforations per unit area of the pollen surface were measured using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Literature data, as well as the results of our previous studies, showed that the genus is characterized by stenopalynous anasulcate pollen grains with a two-lane operculum. In the presence of significant uniformity in pollen characteristics, our studies revealed that among the species studied, G. hajastanicus and G. kotschyanus have slightly larger pollen grain sizes, and the pollen of the species G. tenuis is characterized by a minimal number of both echinae and perforations per unit surface area of the pollen grain (using SEM). A certain difference has also been established between the subspecies of the species G. kotschyanus. In particular, the sizes of pollen grains of G. kotschyanus subsp. kotschyanus (based on E1) is slightly larger than in G. kotschyanus subsp. distichus. At the same time, the number of echinae and perforations per unit surface of a pollen grain (at the SEM level) in the subspecies G. kotschyanus subsp. distichus is approximately twice as large as G. kotschyanus subsp. kotschianus.
The Islamic heritage constitutes a very precious treasure in Algeria, especially the places of worship (mosques), which reflect the symbol of this heritage. They are considered important landmarks in ...cities through architectural elements such as the dome and the minaret. Minarets are used by the muezzin to invite people to pray; they were previously built near the mosque or inside it, next to the prayer room. Later, they appeared as angular towers of mausoleums. This research is part of an analytical study of the minarets in Algeria during the medieval period (Bani Hamad, Moravid, Zayyanid, Marinid, and Ottoman) which were selected and then classified according to their various typologies (dimensions, forms, designs, etc.), and evolution over time. The main objectives of this work are to search for the forms that determine the typology of the minarets of each period. It also examines the correlation between dimensions and geometric parameters employed in the design conception of these minarets. The research followed a monographic method that relies on field observation and documentation, while including a thorough reading of history. The results show that the constant form of the vertical section of the minaret, with the same dimensions between the top and bottom, represents two-thirds of the main tower of the minarets. We also conclude that the square shape of the horizontal section of the minaret represents two-thirds of the main tower of the minarets, which expresses the most earthquake-resistant form. These dimensions play a pivotal role in enhancing the minaret's visual allure and architectural equilibrium, in addition to their earthquake resistance virtues.
Dziedzictwo islamskie stanowi bardzo cenny skarb w Algierii, szczególnie miejsca kultu (meczetów), które odzwierciedlają symbol tego dziedzictwa. Są one uważane za ważne punkty orientacyjne w miastach dzięki elementom architektonicznym, takim jak kopuła i minaret. Minarety są używane przez muezzina do wzywania ludzi do modlitwy; pierwotnie były budowane w pobliżu meczetu lub w jego wnętrzu, obok sali modlitewnej. Później pojawiły się jako kątowe wieże mauzoleów. Niniejsze badanie jest częścią analizy minaretów w Algierii w okresie średniowiecza (Bani Hamad, Morawidowie, Zajjanidowie, Marynidzi i Osmanowie), które zostały wybrane, a następnie sklasyfikowane według różnych typologii (wymiary, formy, projekty itp.) oraz ewolucji w czasie. Głównymi celami tej pracy jest poszukiwanie form, które określają typologię minaretów każdego okresu. Zbadano również korelację między wymiarami a parametrami geometrycznymi stosowanymi w koncepcji projektowania tych minaretów. Badanie opierało się na metodzie monograficznej polegającej na obserwacji terenowej i analizie dokumentacji, uwzględniając dokładne czytanie historii. Wyniki pokazują, że stała forma pionowego przekroju minaretu, z tymi samymi wymiarami na górze i na dole, stanowi dwie trzecie głównej wieży minaretów. Wnioskujemy również, że kwadratowy kształt poziomego przekroju minaretu stanowi dwie trzecie głównej wieży minaretów, co stanowi najbardziej odporną formę na trzęsienia ziemi. Te wymiary odgrywają kluczową rolę w zwiększaniu wizualnej atrakcyjności i architektonicznej równowagi minaretu, oprócz ich zalet w zakresie odporności na trzęsienia ziemi.
Pythium amaminum sp. nov. was isolated from river and reservoir water on Amami island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The species can grow at temperatures between 10 °C and 35 °C. At the optimum ...temperature of 25 °C, the radial growth rate is 22.5 mm per day. Pythium amaminum produces filamentous sporangia consisting of branched, lobulate or digitate elements forming large complexes. Zoospores form inside the vesicle, which is discharged through a long tube at least 320 μm. Globose oogonia are ornamented with conical blunt spines. Oospores are aplerotic and globose. Antheridia twine around the oogonia or stick to them. These features having a both of the long discharge tube from sporangium and oogonia with spines are not observed in any other species of the genus Pythium, and thus we conclude that P. amaminum is a new Pythium species.
Phosphorus recovery has attracted increasing interest due to the potential depletion of phosphorus resources. One promising solution is to recover phosphorus via struvite precipitation from ...wastewater or other waste that is in rich of phosphate. However, product quality control during such process is always challenging due to the variation and complexity of wastewater compositions. For example, subcritical wet oxidation (SCWO) effluent is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen but contains a large amount of acetic acid, while its effect on struvite recovery is hardly known. Therefore, central composite design (CCD), considering pH, acetic acid level, Mg level and Ca level, was used to evaluate the effect of acetic acid on struvite purity, phosphorus removal, morphology and reaction kinetics. The experimental data were statistically analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal components analysis (PCA). The results indicate that pH and Mg level have a significant impact on phosphorus removal (pH: p-value < 0.0001, Mg: p-value < 0.0001) and struvite purity (pH: p-value = 0.0410, Mg: p-value < 0.0001), Ca level only affects the struvite purity (p-value = 0.0333). The presence of acetic acid, within the studied range (8.77–34.53 mM), has a negligible effect on struvite morphology, phosphorus removal and reaction kinetics, but a slightly positive effect on struvite purity. Findings of this research would be beneficial to determine the feasibility of acetic acid-rich wastewater as a phosphorus source for struvite recovery.
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•The effect of acetic acid on phosphorus recovery was investigated.•Interactions between process variables and acetic acid were further explored.•Struvite precipitation is unlikely to be significantly affected by acetic acid.
•Beef protein S-nitrosylation level was promoted by GSNO and restrained by l-NAME.•Apoptosis-related morphological changes were retarded by protein S-nitrosylation.•The apoptotic nuclei counts were ...decreased by GSNO and increased by l-NAME.•Protein S-nitrosylation negatively regulated caspase activity and activation.
This study was the first attempt to explore the effect of protein S-nitrosylation on the progress of apoptosis in postmortem beef semimembranosus muscle (SM). Five beef SM were incubated with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, nitric oxide donor), control, or Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). Results suggest that compared to the control, more chromatin condensation, nucleusfragmentation, apoptoticbody formation, and mitochondrialswelling were observed in the l-NAME group while these apoptosis-related morphological changes were retarded in the GSNO group. Notably, there were fewer apoptotic nuclei in the GSNO group and more apoptotic nuclei in the l-NAME group compared to the control (P < 0.05). Additionally, caspase-3 and -9 activities and caspase-3 activation were greatly decreased by GSNO treatment and increased by l-NAME treatment (P < 0.05). The morphological and biochemical results indicate that protein S-nitrosylation could play a negative regulatory role in beef apoptosis during postmortem aging.
•The turning function provides a new method for geometric morphometry and a new perspective for the study of pottery morphology.•This study is the first to publish the results of classifying the ...pottery unearthed at the Gansu-Ganguya site.•The method of obtaining pottery model by photogrammetry is introduced in detail.
Geometric morphometry is a method used to analyse the morphological characteristics of research objects and has many applications in biological analysis. With the development of 3D digital technology, geometric morphometry is widely used on 3D models. The pottery samples were obtained from the Ganguya site (1850 and 1500 BCE) in Gansu Province. Three-dimensional models of the pottery were obtained by photogrammetry, and the outline curves of the pottery were extracted. The outline curves were converted into angles by a turning function, and four characteristic indices were extracted according to the features of the angle function curve. Two principal components were extracted, and the samples were divided into three categories by the K-means clustering algorithm. The characteristics and differences of the three categories were analysed. The turning function provides a new method for generating an outline in geometric morphometry and a new perspective for the study of pottery morphology.
Natural deep eutectic solvents have gained popularity due to their environmentally benign, recyclable, and reusable properties. They can be used many times without losingtheir effectiveness. ...Therefore, natural deep eutectic solvents used as effective reagent for lignocellulosic biomass pre-treatment for lignin removal. In this work, the natural deep eutectic solvents (i.e., Lactic Acid: Choline Chloride) is used to treat the kenaf fibre biomass with a molar ratio of 2:1 and then microcrystalline cellulose was obtained through acid hydrolysis. The analytical analysis of kenaf microcrystalline cellulose was investigated through Infrared fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size distribution analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis result showed that the maximum proportion of lignin and partial hemicellulose from kenaf fibre were removed during natural deep eutectic solvents pre-treatment. Kenaf microcrystalline cellulose X-ray diffraction results revealed higher crystallinity at 78° compared to other peaks. The thermal analysis shows the kenaf microcrystalline cellulose thermal stability , making it suitable material for more desirable application in many areas. We concluded from obtained results that microcrystalline cellulose extracted with natural deep eutectic solvent pre-treated kenaf fibre can be used in various cellulosic material development in the future for the food packaging, tissue culture, paper, automotive, biomedical, and pharmaceutical applications.
•KF-MCC was successfully obtained using the sustainable NADES approach.•Maximum decomposition temperature of all samples occurred at 500.68 °C, 514.83 °C.•KF-MCC's XRD results revealed higher crystallinity at 78° compared to other peaks.
Macroautophagy/autophagy is the process by which cells degrade their cytoplasmic proteins or organelles in vacuoles to maintain cellular homeostasis under severe environmental conditions. In the ...yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, autophagy-related (Atg) proteins essential for autophagosome formation accumulate near the vacuole to form the dot-shaped phagophore assembly site/pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS). The PAS then generates the phagophore/isolation membrane (PG), which expands to become a closed double-membrane autophagosome. Hereinafter, we refer to the PAS, PG, and autophagosome as autophagy-related structures (ARSs). During autophagosome formation, Atg2 is responsible for tethering the ARS to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via ER exit sites (ERESs), and for transferring phospholipids from the ER to ARSs. Therefore, ARS and the ER are spatially close in the presence of Atg2 but are separated in its absence. Because the contact of an ARS with the ER must be established at the earliest stage of autophagosome formation, it is important to know whether the ARS is tethered to the ER. In this study, we developed a rapid and objective method to estimate tethering of the ARS to the ER by measuring the distance between the ARS and ERES under fluorescence microscopy, and found that tethering of the ARS to the ER was lost without Atg1. This method might be useful to predict the tethering activity of Atg2.
Abbreviation: ARS, autophagy-related structure; Dautas, automated measurement of the
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istance between autophagy-related structures and ER exit sites
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nalysis
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ystem; ERES, endoplasmic reticulum exit site; PAS, phagophore assembly site/pre-autophagosomal structure; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PG, phagophore/isolation membrane; prApe1, precursor of vacuolar aminopeptidase I; Qautas,
q
uantitative
aut
ophagy-related structure
a
nalysis
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ystem; SD/CA; synthetic dextrose plus casamino acid medium; WT, wild-type
Traditional breeding programmes have been limited to the selection and introduction of genotypes with promising agronomic characteristics, but studies focused on genetic diversity in the low hills of ...the North West(NW) Himalayas have not been conducted, which is very important for the identification of potential parents for breeding programmes in guava. In the present study, six best performing guava cultivars/hybrids were characterised using morphological descriptors and SCoT markers. Broad phenotypic variability among the guava cultivars/hybrids was detected using morphological descriptors. A set of 36 SCoT markers were used for polymorphism, out of which 31(86.1%) markers showed polymorphism, indicating high genetic variability in the guava cultivars/hybrids. During the analysis, 291 polymorphic amplicons were obtained, ranging from four to 19, with an average of 9.4 amplicons per primer and average polymorphic information content of 0.47.The UPGMA classified hybrids and cultivars into two groups. Based on morphological and molecular performance, L-49(Sardar) was ranked as the most promising cultivar for the low hills of NW Himalayan conditions. Morphological descriptors along with SCoT markers proved efficient in detecting the levels of genetic variability among the collections maintained in the field. These results can be used as an additional source of exploitation in guava breeding programmes.
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