scholarly journals The first discovery on the sporophytes of a rheophytic moss: Bryocrumia vivicolor (Bryophyta, Hypnaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 265 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN-ZHANG MA ◽  
JAMES R. SHEVOCK ◽  
SI HE
Keyword(s):  
Cell Walls ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Basic Definition ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Time ◽  
Obtuse Apex ◽  
Made In

Based on recent collections made in Yunnan Province, China, the sporophytes of Bryocrumia vivicolor were discovered for the first time for this species. With typical hypnoid peristome teeth, short operculum, and slightly collenchymatous exothecial cell walls, the capsule of B. vivicolor conforms to the basic definition of Hypnaceae, and this monospecific genus is deemed to belong in Hypnoideae according to current circumscription of the subfamily. Although the identity of Bryocrumia seems to be well-supported morphologically by the additional features such as the bluntly obtuse apex of perichaetial leaves and the deciduous annulus consisting of irregular-shaped cells in 1–2 rows, future molecular study could provide useful insights in understanding the distribution of this rarely collected yet geographically widespread species.

Need of Human Rights as a Better Way of Life

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-83
Author(s):  
Tushar Kadian
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Labour Unions ◽  
The People ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Made In

Actually, basic needs postulates securing of the elementary conditions of existence to every human being. Despite of the practical and theoretical importance of the subject the greatest irony is non- availability of any universal preliminary definition of the concept of basic needs. Moreover, this becomes the reason for unpredictability of various political programmes aiming at providing basic needs to the people. The shift is necessary for development of this or any other conception. No labour reforms could be made in history till labours were treated as objects. Its only after they were started being treating as subjects, labour unions were allowed to represent themselves in strategy formulations that labour reforms could become a reality. The present research paper highlights the basic needs of Human Rights in life.

Mosses and lichens of Shokalsky Island (Kara Sea, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area)

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. N. Beldiman ◽  
I. N. Urbanavichene ◽  
V. E. Fedosov ◽  
E. Yu. Kuzmina
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Arctic Tundra ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Lichenicolous Fungi ◽  
South West ◽  
West Part ◽  
First Time ◽  
Nenets Autonomous ◽  
Made In

We studied in detail a moss-lichen component of Shokalsky Island vegetation for the first time and identified 79 species of mosses and 54 species and 2 subspecies of lichens and lichenicolous fungi. All species of mosses and 23 species and 2 subspecies of lichens and lichenicolous fungi are recorded for the first time for the island. The study is based on collections made in South West part of the island, in arctic tundra. We also explored the participation of the mosses and lichens in the main types of plant communities and the species distribution in 10 ecotopes. The paper describes the noteworthy findings (Abrothallus parmeliarum, Aongstroemia longipes, Arthonia peltigerea, Caloplaca caesiorufella, Catillaria stereocaulorum, Ceratodon heterophyllus, Lecanora leptacinella, Sphagnum concinnum, S. olafii) and features of bryo- and lichenoflora of Shokalsky Island.

scholarly journals Diet Diversity in Carnivorous Terebrid Snails Is Tied to the Presence and Absence of a Venom Gland

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Juliette Gorson ◽  
Giulia Fassio ◽  
Emily S. Lau ◽  
Mandë Holford
Keyword(s):  
Venom Gland ◽  
Molecular Study ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Animal Evolution ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
Dietary Breadth ◽  
Venom Composition ◽  
Marine Snails ◽  
Predatory Strategy ◽  
Definition Of

Predator-prey interactions are thought to play a driving role in animal evolution, especially for groups that have developed venom as their predatory strategy. However, how the diet of venomous animals influences the composition of venom arsenals remains uncertain. Two prevailing hypotheses to explain the relationship between diet and venom composition focus on prey preference and the types of compounds in venom, and a positive correlation between dietary breadth and the number of compounds in venom. Here, we examined venom complexity, phylogenetic relationship, collection depth, and biogeography of the Terebridae (auger snails) to determine if repeated innovations in terebrid foregut anatomy and venom composition correspond to diet variation. We performed the first molecular study of the diet of terebrid marine snails by metabarcoding the gut content of 71 terebrid specimens from 17 species. Our results suggest that the presence or absence of a venom gland is strongly correlated with dietary breadth. Specifically, terebrid species without a venom gland displayed greater diversity in their diet. Additionally, we propose a revision of the definition of venom complexity in conoidean snails to more accurately capture the breadth of ecological influences. These findings suggest that prey diet is an important factor in terebrid venom evolution and diversification and further investigations of other understudied organisms, like terebrids, are needed to develop robust hypotheses in this area.

scholarly journals New Challenges for Biobanks: Accreditation to the New ISO 20387:2018 Standard Specific for Biobanks

BioTech ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Pasquale De Blasio ◽  
Ida Biunno
Keyword(s):  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Accreditation Body ◽  
Accreditation Process ◽  
Testing Facility ◽  
Collection Data ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Time ◽  
Operational Aspects

Background: The emergence of “multi-omics” and “multi-parametric” types of analysis based on a high number of biospecimens enforces the use of a great number of high-quality “Biological Materials and Associated Data” (BMaD). To meet the demands of biomedical research, several Biological Resource Centers (BRCs) or Biobanks world-wide have implemented a specific Quality Management System (QMS) certified ISO 9001:2015 or accredited by CAP9 ISO 20387:2018. For the first time, ISO, with the support of several Biobanking experts, issued the ISO 20387:2018 which is the first ISO norm specific for Biobanks. The fundamental difference with present certification/accreditation standards is that the ISO 20387:2018 focuses not only on the operational aspects of the Biobank, but also on the “competence of the Biobank to carry our specific Biobanking tasks”. Methods: The accreditation process for ISO 20387:2018 required the definition of: (1) objectives, goals and organizational structure of the Biobank, including procedures for governance, confidentiality and impartiality policies; (2) standard operating procedures (SOPs) of all activities performed, including acquisition, analysis, collection, data management, distribution, preparation, preservation, testing facility and equipment maintenance, calibration, and monitoring; (3) procedures for control of documents and records, the identification of risks and opportunities, improvements, corrective actions, nonconforming records and evaluation of external providers (4) an internal audit and management reviews, verification of QMS performance, monitoring of quality objectives and personnel qualification and competency in carrying out specific Biobanking tasks. Results: The accreditation process is performed by an independent authorized organization which certifies that all processes are performed according to the QMS, and that the infrastructure is engineered and managed according to the GDP and/or GMP guidelines. Conclusion: Accreditation is given by an accreditation body, which recognizes formally that the Biobank is “competent to carry out specific Biobanking tasks”.

Taxonomic revision of Cylindera Westwood, 1831 subgenus Parmecus Motschulsky, 1864 stat. rest., stat. nov. (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) with the description of one new species from Yunnan Province, China

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4706 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-70
Author(s):  
ANDREY V. MATALIN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Tiger Beetle ◽  
Indian State ◽  
Chinese Province ◽  
First Time ◽  
One New Species

Within the Asiatic tiger beetle fauna, Parmecus Motschulsky, 1864 stat. rest., stat. nov., is reestablished as a subgenus of Cylindera Westwood, 1831 with Cylindera (Parmecus) dromicoides (Chaudoir, 1852), as its type species, and the lectotype and paralectotypes of Cicindela dromicoides Chaudoir, 1852 are designated as well. Two other species are included, Cylindera (Parmecus) armandi (Fairmaire, 1886), from the Himalayan Region, and Cylindera (Parmecus) mosuoa, sp. nov., from Yunnan, China. Cylindera (Parmecus) as a subgenus is characterized, a key to identify its species is provided, and its species composition is discussed. Cylindera (Parmecus) dromicoides (Chaudoir, 1852) is newly recorded from Pakistan and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, while Cylindera (Parmecus) armandi (Fairmaire, 1886) is recorded for the first time from the Chinese province of Sichuan. The records of C. armandi from Bhutan, as well as C. dromicoides from Yunnan Province (China) are rejected due to erroneous identifications. 

Synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy reveals the response of Sphagnum cell wall material to its aqueous chemical environment

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
Ewen Silvester ◽  
Annaleise R. Klein ◽  
Kerry L. Whitworth ◽  
Ljiljana Puskar ◽  
Mark J. Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Chemical Environment ◽  
Wall Material ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Cell Wall Material ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Flowing Liquid ◽  
Infrared Microspectroscopy

Environmental contextSphagnum moss is a widespread species in peatlands globally and responsible for a large fraction of carbon storage in these systems. We used synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy to characterise the acid-base properties of Sphagnum moss and the conditions under which calcium uptake can occur (essential for plant tissue integrity). The work allows a chemical model for Sphagnum distribution in the landscape to be proposed. AbstractSphagnum is one the major moss types responsible for the deposition of organic soils in peatland systems. The cell walls of this moss have a high proportion of carboxylated polysaccharides (polygalacturonic acids), which act as ion exchangers and are likely to be important for the structural integrity of the cell walls. We used synchrotron light source infrared microspectroscopy to characterise the acid-base and calcium complexation properties of the cell walls of Sphagnum cristatum stems, using freshly sectioned tissue confined in a flowing liquid cell with both normal water and D2O media. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of acid and base forms are consistent with those expected for protonated and deprotonated aliphatic carboxylic acids (such as uronic acids). Spectral deconvolution shows that the dominant aliphatic carboxylic groups in this material behave as a monoprotic acid (pKa=4.97–6.04). The cell wall material shows a high affinity for calcium, with a binding constant (K) in the range 103.9–104.7 (1:1 complex). The chemical complexation model developed here allows for the prediction of the chemical environment (e.g. pH, ionic content) under which Ca2+ uptake can occur, and provides an improved understanding for the observed distribution of Sphagnum in the landscape.

scholarly journals The Use of Terms and Definitions in the Study of Be Stars (Review Paper)

1987 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
George W. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Basic Definition ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Incorrect Usage

AbstractIn this paper I shall examine the use and misuse of some astronomical terminology as it is commonly found in the literature. The incorrect usage of common terms, and sometimes the terms themselves, can lead to confusion by the reader and may well indicate misconceptions by the authors. A basic definition of the Be phenomena is suggested and other stellar characteristics whose interpretation may change when used for non-spherical stars, is discussed. Special attention is paid to a number of terms whose semantic nature is misleading when applied to the phenomena they are intended to represent. The use of model-dependent terms is discussed and some comments are offered which are intended to improve the clarity of communication within the subject.

Defining hormesis: the necessary tool to clarify experimentally the low dose–response relationship

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Carelli ◽  
I Iavicoli
Keyword(s):  
Dose Response ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Response Relationship ◽  
Dose Response Relationship ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
Made In

The authors comment on Calabrese and Baldwin's paper ‘Defining Hormesis’, which, to date, is the first attempt to provide a definition of hormesis that goes beyond the different interpretations of this phenomenon reported in the literature. While appreciating the effort made in this study to place hormesis in a general and at the same time specific context, the authors believe some clarifications are needed as regards the quantitative features of this phenomenon. In this connection, they speculate on whether Calabrese and Baldwin think it appropriate to include hormesis assessment criteria in the document, referring in particular to those reported in a previous paper. The authors share Calabrese and Baldwin's conclusion that future experimental models designed to study hormetic phenomena must necessarily include the time factor, which not only guarantees this phenomenon will be detected, but is also able to detect the specific type of hormesis.

Improving the Volumetric Efficiency of the Axial Piston Pump

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Volumetric Efficiency ◽  
Valve Plate ◽  
Piston Pump ◽  
Efficient Design ◽  
Axial Piston Pumps ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Engineering Practices ◽  
First Time ◽  
Axial Piston

The volumetric efficiency is one of the most important aspects of system performance in the design of axial piston pumps. From the standpoint of engineering practices, the geometric complexities of the valve plate (VP) and its multiple interactions with pump dynamics pose difficult obstacles for optimization of the design. This research uses the significant concept of pressure carryover to develop the mathematical relationship between the geometry of the valve plate and the volumetric efficiency of the piston pump. For the first time, the resulting expression presents the theoretical considerations of the fluid operating conditions, the efficiency of axial piston pumps, and the valve plate designs. New terminology, such as discrepancy of pressure carryover (DPC) and carryover cross-porting (CoCp), is introduced to explain the fundamental principles. The important results derived from this study can provide clear recommendations for the definition of the geometries required to achieve an efficient design, especially for the valve plate timings. The theoretical results are validated by simulations and experiments conducted by testing multiple valve plates under various operating conditions.

The construction of units in conversational talk

2000 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARGRET SELTING
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Activity Type ◽  
Seminal Work ◽  
Conversational Context ◽  
Linguistic Unit ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Made In

The notion of Turn-Constructional Unit (TCU) in Conversation Analysis has become unclear for many researchers. The underlying problems inherent in the definition of this notion are here identified, and a possible solution is suggested. This amounts to separating more clearly the notions of TCU and Transition Relevance Place (TRP). In this view, the TCU is defined as the smallest interactionally relevant complete linguistic unit, in a given context, that is constructed with syntactic and prosodic resources within their semantic, pragmatic, activity-type-specific, and sequential conversational context. It ends in a TRP unless particular linguistic and interactional resources are used to project and postpone the TRP to the end of a larger multi-unit turn. This suggestion tries to spell out some of the assumptions that the seminal work in CA made in principle, but never formulated explicitly.

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