Small-Sized Nanophosphorus Has a Positive Impact on the Performance of Fenugreek Plants under Soil-Water Deficit Stress: A Case Study under Field Conditions

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient necessary for plant growth, development, and reproduction. Two field experiments were carried out in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 on P-deficient soil to evaluate the impact of foliar fertilization with nanophosphorus (nP) on growth, yield, and physio-biochemical indices, as well as trigonelline content of fenugreek plants under deficient irrigation (dI) stress (a deficit of 20 and 40% of crop evapotranspiration; dI-20 and dI-40). The growth and yield traits, leaf integrity (relative water content and membrane stability index), photosynthetic pigment contents, leaf and seed P contents, and stem and leaf anatomical features significantly decreased under dI-20, with greater reductions recorded under dI-40. In contrast, water-use efficiency, osmoprotective compounds, including free amino acids, soluble sugars, proline, and trigonelline, along with antioxidant contents (ascorbate, glutathione, phenolics, and flavonoids) and their activity increased significantly under both dI-20 and dI-40. However, foliar feeding with nano-P considerably increased plant growth and yield traits, leaf integrity, photosynthetic pigments contents, leaf and seed P contents, and anatomical features. Besides, water-use efficiency, osmoprotectant contents, and antioxidant content and activity were further increased under both dI-20 and dI-40. The positive effects were more pronounced with the smaller nP (25 nm) than the larger nP (50 nm). The results of this study backed up the idea of using foliar nourishment with nP, which can be effective in modulating fenugreek plant growth and seed production.

Gracilaria parva sp. nov. (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) a Diminutive Species from the Tropical Eastern Pacific

DNA sequencing of the plastid encoded rbcL gene supported by morpho-anatomical features reveals Gracilaria parva sp. nov. from Panama and Ecuador in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. In the rbcL phylogram, G. parva occurs in a clade sister to the western Atlantic species G. galatensis. Morphologically and anatomically, G. parva is distinguished from two similar, described tropical eastern Pacific species, G. brevis and G. veleroae by its small size, to 2.5 cm tall with branch widths mostly <2 mm occasionally to 4 mm, and by its two to three cell layered cortex. Gracilaria brevis and G. veleroae are taller, have wider branches, and a one cell layered cortex. DNA sequencing is needed to resolve the many diminutive species in the tropical eastern Pacific, particularly those occurring in turf communities. DNA sequencing of historical type specimens from the 19th and 20th centuries is also needed to correctly apply names in this region.

Gönpa Gang—The First Application of Dendrochronological Dating to Study the Traditional Architecture of Upper Mustang (Nepal)

Gönpa Gang is an example of the traditional Buddhist architecture of Upper Mustang. It is also the first monument in Upper Mustang to be studied using the dendrochronological dating method. The gönpa is a two-story building of imposing size, made from simple elements of Tibetan architecture, namely masonry walls, timber posts, and beams. A total of 14 samples were collected from elements on both the ground and the first floor. The limited number of samples results from the cultural and religious character of the object under study. Only the elements consistent with the structure and the space arrangement, interpreted as original features, were examined. Microscopic observation and the analysis of the anatomical features of all 14 samples resulted in the identification of Himalayan pine (blue pine), Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks. Intra-annual density fluctuation, false rings, and missing rings were detected. From 14 samples collected in Gönpa Gang, 18 series were worked out. Thus, 15 series from 12 samples were synchronized and used for the development of the mean chronology, UMGG_m, with a total length of 160 rings. The chronology covers the period from 1524 to 1683. Examination of the Gang Gönpa wood resulted in the age determination of 13 elements. The results were compared with architectural stratification by Harrison and historical data from written sources. The timber used in the gönpa comes from the Southern Mustang area. The examined wood demonstrates a correlation with the timber used in the Upper Mustang historical buildings further north.

U-Net Modelling-Based Imaging MAP Score for Tl Stage Nephrectomy: An Exploratory Study

We evaluate the stability of the clinical application of the MAP scoring system based on anatomical features of renal tumour images, explore the relevance of this scoring system to the choice of surgical procedure for patients with limited renal tumours, and investigate the effectiveness of automated segmentation and reconstruction 3D models of renal tumour images based on U-net for interpretative cognitive navigation during laparoscopy Tl stage radical renal tumour cancer surgery. A total of 5 000 kidney tumour images containing manual annotations were applied to the training set, and a stable and efficient full CNN algorithm model oriented to clinical needs was constructed to regionalism and multistructure and to finely automate segmentation of kidney tumour images, output modelling information in STL format, and apply a tablet computer to intraoperatively display the Tl stage kidney tumour model for cognitive navigation. Based on a training sample of MR images from 201 patients with stage Tl renal tumour cancer, an adaptation of the classical U-net allows individual segmentation of important structures such as renal tumours and 3D visualisation to visualise the structural relationships and the extent of tumour invasion at key surgical sites. The preoperative CT and clinical data of 225 patients with limited renal tumours treated surgically at our hospital from August 2011 to August 2012 were retrospectively analysed by three imaging physicians using the MAP scoring system for the total score and the variables R (maximum diameter), E (exogenous/endogenous), N (distance from the renal sinus), A (ventral/dorsal), L (relationship along the longitudinal axis of the kidney), and h (whether in contact with the renal hilum). The score for each variable (contact with the renal hilum) was statistically compared with each other for the three observers. Patients were divided into three groups according to the total score—low, medium, and high—and according to the surgical procedure—radical and partial resection. The correlation between the total score and the score of each variable and the choice of surgical procedure was analysed. The agreement rate of the total score and the score of each variable for all three observers was over 90% ( P ≤ 0.001). The map scoring system based on the anatomical features of renal tumour imaging was well stabilized, and the scores were significantly correlated with the surgical approach.

Festuca albomontana (Poaceae), a new chasmophytic fescue from the Western Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Turkey)

A new species of Festuca from the Western Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Turkey) is described here and named F. albomontana. The new species can clearly be distinguished from the other species included in the F. alpina group by its leaf anatomical features. It has a geographically isolated position in the Western Tauruses whereas a closely related species, F. sommieri, is very local in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. It is suggested that it should be in the “critically endangered” threat category according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Observations on the ecology of the population are noted.

Morphological, anatomical and antibacterial characteristics of Persicaria maculosa Gray plants growing in Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, Long An province, Vietnam

This study aimed to understand the adaptation characteristics of species Persicaria maculosa to living conditions and to add data on them as folk medicinal plants of Vietnam. Research methods included analysis of external morphological characteristics and microscopic structure of stems, leaves and roots. The antibacterial activities of ethanol plant extracts on four bacterial strains were also conducted through agar well diffusion method. The results showed that the plants had formed morphological and anatomical features to adapt to waterlogging and shade conditions. The leaf extracts from the concentrations of 600 to 1,000 mg/L had bacteriostatic activities against all four experimental strains with the bacterial inhibition zones from 2.39 to 10.91 mm, in which inhibition of Bacillus cereus was the best.