Symptoms and interrelationships of macro and micronutrients available for soybean

Nutrients have differences in their functions as metabolic and structural constituents in plant organs. The specific identification of the symptoms of excess or deficiency of nutrients is essential for the correct management to be carried out in order to avoid production losses. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate the symptoms of deficiency and excess of nutrients in soybean. The experiment was carried out on a bench, with 3-liter containers, in which uniformly germinated seedlings were selected for implantation. Initially, the seedlings were subjected to a complete nutrient solution to allow for a uniform and unrestricted initial development over a period of one week. Then, the plants were subjected to solutions with twice as much nutrient, absence of nutrients, complete solution and nutrient restriction, individual omissions resulted in morphological changes, which translated into visual symptoms characteristic of the nutritional deficiency of the respective nutrient. The solution with twice the nutrient concentration of the complete solution showed an increase in the absorption of N, Mg, K and Fe, for Cu it was twice the absorption and for Zn five times more. There was a decrease in the absorption of Ca and Mn and, with that, it is concluded that the availability of twice as many nutrients did not result in double their absorption.

Development of a molecular marker based on chloroplast gene for specific identification of Korean Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Simbaek’)

Due to the rise in substitution and adulteration of herbal products, as well as the lack of genetic information on Hibiscus plants, more molecular markers are needed to understand the genetic diversity and avoid their misidentification. There are many allelic variants of the functional genes in Hibiscus and other plants, which control their respective phenotypes and other characteristics. Identifying alleles of the desired trait by determining diversification through gene-typing allele-specific markers for authentication is, therefore, a potent strategy. The purpose of this study was to use insertion/deletion (InDel) markers to identify Hibiscus syriacus cultivars. We developed a novel InDel marker for Korean Hibiscus ‘Simbaek’, based on the trnL-F region of the chloroplast gene. Through this InDel site, a modified specific primer pair and a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system were developed for specific identification of the Korean Hibiscus Simbaek cultivar. The molecular markers developed in this study were highly specific and accurately authenticated as Simbaek from the five main cultivars of H. syriacus. Taken together, the described method is a potential tool for the identification and selection of germplasm resource of Simbaek cultivar. Graphical Abstract

Epilogue

This chapter investigates the fates of NPEA staff and pupils after the end of the Third Reich. It begins with an account of how the schools’ former adherents fared under Allied denazification processes, and the ways in which these shaped later exculpatory narratives regarding the Napolas’ exact nature and relationship with the Nazi regime. It then describes the formation of the NPEA old boys’ networks (Traditionsgemeinschaften), and the various stages in the development of Napola memory culture, considering how successful the ‘Napolaner’ may have been in creating a unique strand of collective memory all their own, defined by their own specific identification as a ‘community of experience’. It also analyses former pupils’ reactions to the appearance of books, films, and TV programmes dealing with the NPEA in the post-war and post-Wall media landscape, including the psycho-historical study Das Erbe der Napola (1996), and Dennis Gansel’s film Napola: Elite für den Führer / Napola: Before the Fall (2005). The chapter concludes by siting these findings within the context of relevant literature on Allied denazification policy, veterans’ organizations in the Federal Republic, and post-war German memory.

Specific identification and antibiotic-sensitivity of Acinetobacter strains

80 Acinetobacter strains were studied. Their differentiation according to the specific belonging showed that 55 strains belonged to A. calcoaceticus var. anitratum species and 25 strains to A. calcoaceticus var. lwoffi. It was established that Acinetobacter strains are multi dry resistant. In particular they showed 100% resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, erythromycin, methicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, oleandomycin, streptomycin, rondomycin, linkomycin. According to the obtained data claphoran and phortum are the most effective.

Immunopeptidomics toolkit library (IPTK): a python-based modular toolbox for analyzing immunopeptidomics data

Background The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins play a fundamental role in the adaptive immune system as they present peptides to T cells. Mass-spectrometry-based immunopeptidomics is a promising and powerful tool for characterizing the immunopeptidomic landscape of HLA proteins, that is the peptides presented on HLA proteins. Despite the growing interest in the technology, and the recent rise of immunopeptidomics-specific identification pipelines, there is still a gap in data-analysis and software tools that are specialized in analyzing and visualizing immunopeptidomics data. Results We present the IPTK library which is an open-source Python-based library for analyzing, visualizing, comparing, and integrating different omics layers with the identified peptides for an in-depth characterization of the immunopeptidome. Using different datasets, we illustrate the ability of the library to enrich the result of the identified peptidomes. Also, we demonstrate the utility of the library in developing other software and tools by developing an easy-to-use dashboard that can be used for the interactive analysis of the results. Conclusion IPTK provides a modular and extendable framework for analyzing and integrating immunopeptidomes with different omics layers. The library is deployed into PyPI at https://pypi.org/project/IPTKL/ and into Bioconda at https://anaconda.org/bioconda/iptkl, while the source code of the library and the dashboard, along with the online tutorials are available at https://github.com/ikmb/iptoolkit.

Rapid base-specific calling of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using combined RT-PCR melting curve screening and SIRPH technology

The emergence of novel variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 demands a fast and reliable detection of such variants in local populations. Here we present a cost-efficient and fast workflow combining a pre-screening of SARS-CoV-2 positive samples using RT-PCR melting curve analysis with multiplexed IP-RP-HPLC-based single nucleotide primer extensions (SIRPH). The entire workflow from positive SARS-CoV-2 testing to base-specific identification of variants requires about 24 h. We applied the sensitive method to monitor the local VOC outbreaks in SARS-CoV-2 positive samples collected in a confined region of Germany.

Taxonomic significance of palynomorphological characteristics of selected Centranthus (Caprifoliaceae) species

Pollen morphology of herbarium specimens of four Centranthus species (C. ruber, C. longiflorus, C. kellereri and C. calcitrapae) was studied using LM and SEM. The research aim was to provide data on their pollen characteristics and to evaluate the taxonomic value of these data for species-specific identification. Pollen grains are tricolpate, suboblate to prolate (P/E = 0.81–1.42); medium- or large-sized (P = 49.21–90.44 µm; E = 43.89–93.10 µm). Colpi are long or medium-length, wide at equator, tapered to acute or obtuse ends. Exine sculpture is echinatemicroechinate-nanoechinate; echini (1.00–1.39 µm high) and microechini (0.55–0.98 µm) are conical, with straight or convex sides and acute apices, nanoechini are 0.22–0.46 µm high. Most important characters of taxa diagnostic at species level for the taxonomy are: size of pollen and colpi, exine structure, size of echini and microechini, and pattern of tectum in areas between echini. Pollen grains of C. calcitrapae and C. macrosiphon (sect. Calcitrapa) are generally smaller in size than grains of C. ruber, C. longiflorus and C. kellereri (sect. Centranthus). Pollen of C. kellereri was analysed for the first time in the current study.

Whole-genome sequencing of SARS-COV-2 reveals a substantially lower frequency of the UK variant than previously announced in Libya

A cluster-5 variant was detected in September 2020 in minks and humans in Denmark and currently classified as Alpha or B.1.1.7 strain. This variant presents several mutations in the spike region (S) which could increase the transmissibility of the virus 43-90% over previously circulating variants. The national center for disease control (NCDC) announced on 24th February 2021 the discovery of B.1.1.7 strain in Libya using a reverse-transcriptase PCR assay for S-gene target failure (SGTF) and reported that 25% of the tested samples were UK variant. This assay relies on the specific identification of the H69-V70 deletion in S gene which causes S gene drop out in RT-PCR; characteristic of the UK variant (B.1.1.7). This letter discusses our whole genome sequencing results of positive SARS-COV-2 samples with SGTF collected between 25th February - 4th March 2021 in Libya.