Population variability of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Turkey according to the needle morphology

In the present study, needle variation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L., Pinaceae) populations in Turkey was investigated. From selected eight populations, a total of 1314 needles belonging to 206 trees were examined. Four morphological needle traits were measured and analyzed to describe the population diversity and differentiation. Analyzed morphological traits showed significant variability. The trees within populations differ significantly in all analyzed needle characteristics, while the differences between populations were significant for the three of four studied characteristics. Present findings revealed that needle length, needle width and the ratio of needle length to needle width showed clinal variation in response to altitudinal gradients. Populations from higher altitudes were characterized with the smaller and wider needles as compared to the populations from lower altitudes. The results of this study could be valuable baseline data for the development of more efficient management plans for this forest tree species.

Genetic Dissection of Growth and Eco-Physiological Traits Associated with Altitudinal Adaptation in Sakhalin Fir (Abies sachalinensis) Based on QTL Mapping

(1) Background: The genetic basis of local adaptation in conifers remains poorly understood because of limited research evidence and the lack of suitable genetic materials. Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis) is an ideal organism for elucidating the genetic basis of local adaptation because its altitudinal adaptation has been demonstrated, and suitable materials for its linkage mapping are available. (2) Method: We constructed P336 and P236 linkage maps based on 486 and 516 single nucleotide polymorphisms, respectively, that were derived from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequences. We measured the growth and eco-physiological traits associated with morphology, phenology, and photosynthesis, which are considered important drivers of altitudinal adaptation. (3) Results: The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for growth traits, phenology, needle morphology, and photosynthetic traits were subsequently detected. Similar to previous studies on conifers, most traits were controlled by multiple QTLs with small or moderate effects. Notably, we detected that one QTL for the crown area might be a type-A response regulator, a nuclear protein responsible for the cytokinin-induced shoot elongation. (4) Conclusion: The QTLs detected in this study include potentially important genomic regions linked to altitudinal adaptation in Sakhalin fir.

Are There Any Traces of Pinus uliginosa in the Stołowe Mountains Outside the Wielkie Torfowisko Batorowskie and Błędne Skały?

Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) and taxa from the P. mugo (mountain pine) complex hybridize in contact zones producing morphologically-intermediate fertile hybrids. However, the hybrid specimens sometimes express only the P. sylvestris phenotype. Such cryptic hybrids were detected among P. sylvestris and P. uliginosa in the western part of Błędne Skały in the Stołowe Mountains, where the pines grow on the tops of sandstone rocks and phenotypically resemble P. sylvestris , P. uliginosa , and P. mugo . Hybrids with the P. sylvestris phenotype could be potentially present in other relic populations of this species in these mountains. During the present study, the hybrids were identified only in the area of Błędne Skały based on chloroplast and mitochondrial markers, morphological differentiation of various needle and cone traits, and phenotype assessments of the trees during sampling. These hybrids included three cryptic hybrids of P. sylvestris × P. mugo with the P. sylvestris phenotype and one displaying the phenotype of P. uliginosa . The other populations analyzed represented Scots pine with no evidence of hybridization with P. uliginosa and/or P. mugo . Biometric data on the cone and needle morphology also suggest possible hybridization within the P. mugo complex on Błędne Skały. The results indicate that hybridization takes place in this population but not in neighboring populations despite the possible connection by pollen-mediated gene flow.

Formulation and Evaluation of Iornoxicam as Dissolving Microneedle Patch

The objective of the study was to develop microneedle (MN) patch, with suitable properties to ensure the delivery of a therapeutic level of lornoxicam (LXM) in a period suitable to replace parenteral administration in patients, especially those who fear needles. The used polymers were cold water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of low molecular weight with PEG 400 as plasticizer and Tween 80 (to enhance the release) using micro molding technique. Patches were studied for needle morphology, drug content, axial fracture force measurement and drug release while the optimized formulas were further subjected to pH measurement, folding endurance, ex vivo permeation study, histopathology study, stability study and compatibility study. The patch with 11:1 ratio of PVA to PVP, 30% solid content, 5% PEG 400 and 3% Tween 80 resulted in axial needle fracture force value of (1.35 N) which is suitable for skin penetration. The release was fast with almost 100% of drug released in 60 minutes. The permeation was enhanced significantly with a steady state flux of about 3.1 times that of the solution. The lag time of MN is shorter in comparison with ordinary patch. Histopathology studies demonstrated the safety of the formulation, both stability studies and compatibility studies showed the suitability of the formulation. The results indicated that LXM microneedle patch could enhance drug permeation while achieving fast and painless administration. Keywords: Microneedle patch, Polyvinyl alcohol, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Fracture force, Lornoxicam.

Leaf Structural Carbohydrate Decreased for Pinus thunbergii along Coast–Inland Gradients

Although photosynthesis (carbohydrate production) decreases under wind load, it is unclear how carbohydrate categories allocation changes. We determined the leaf morphology (specific leaf area (SLA), needle thickness), anatomy (cuticle thickness, epidermal thickness), photosynthesis (effective quantum yield of Photosystem II (Y(II)), carbohydrate (structure carbohydrate (SC) and non-structure carbohydrate (NSC)), and environmental variables in Pinus thunbergii plantations from coast to inland, with wind speed decreasing. As expected, wind, accounting for 19–69% of the total variation, was the most dominant environmental variable determining the leaf traits. Y(II) and NSC increased, while SC and SC/NSC decreased along the coast-inland gradients (p < 0.01). These results confirmed that, although carbohydrate production decreased, SC allocation increased with increasing wind load. SLA and needle thickness decreased, while cuticle thickness and epidermal thickness increased from coast to inland. Needle thickness and cuticle thickness showed strong correlations to SC/NSC. These variations indicated that carbohydrate categories allocation related to variations of needle morphology and anatomy for P. thunbergii under wind, because of more SC allocation in leaf to support tensile strength and hardness of the cell wall under wind. Therefore, allocation between SC and NSC may be helpful for understanding the long-term adaptation of plants to wind load.

High macroscopic neutron capture cross section ceramics based on bauxite and Gd2O3

The effect of the addition of Gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) up to 10 wt.% in bauxite was studied and its thermal behavior compared with pure bauxite. The incorporation of Gd2O3 is of technological interest for the design of smart traceable ceramic proppants used for unconventional gas and oil well stimulation. These high macroscopic neutron capture cross section proppants are used to obtain relevant information, such as the location and height of the created hydraulic fractures, through a neutron based detection technology. The study comprised a set of thermal and sintering behavior analyses up to 1500 ?C of mixtures up to 10 wt.% addition of Gd2O3. The developed texture and microstructure was also assessed. A simple mechanical characterization was performed as well. Fully-dense pore-free microstructures were developed, with alumina and mullite as the main crystalline phases. Gadolinium secondary and ternary alumino-silicate phases were also observed after thermal treatment. These present a needle morphology that might result in reinforcement mechanisms. No important glassy phase was detected; although sintering was enhanced, the Gd2O3 oxide main role was found to be as a sintering aid rather than a strict flux agent. The mechanical behavior remained fragile with the rare oxide addition. In fact, the mechanical resistance increased up to 20 wt.% for the 10 wt.% added sample. The oxide addition together with the bauxite dehydroxilation mass loss resulted in materials with up to 1.5 x 105 (c.u.) macroscopic neutron capture cross section materials. The obtained results permit to define design strategies of high macroscopic neutron capture ceramic materials for wellbore and developed fractures description.

Structural Chemistry of Akdalaite, Al10O14(OH)2, the Isostructural Aluminum Analogue of Ferrihydrite

As part of an effort to characterize clusters and intermediate phases likely to be encountered along solution reaction pathways that produce iron and aluminum oxide-hydroxides from Fe and Al precursors, the complete structure of Al10O14(OH)2 (akdalaite) was determined from a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) data collected at 100 K to define the Al and O positions, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data collected at room temperature (~300 K) to precisely determine the nature of hydrogen in the structure. Two different synthesis routes produced different crystal morphologies. Using an aluminum oxyhydroxide floc made from mixing AlCl3 and 0.48 M NaOH, the product had uniform needle morphology, while using nanocrystalline boehmite (Vista Chemical Company Catapal D alumina) as the starting material produced hexagonal plates. Akdalaite crystallizes in the space group P63mc with lattice parameters of a = 5.6244(3) Å and c = 8.8417(3) Å (SC-XRD) and a = 5.57610(2) Å and c = 8.77247(6) Å (NPD). The crystal structure features Al13O40 Keggin clusters. The structural chemistry of akdalaite is nonideal but broadly conforms to that of ferrihydrite, the nanomineral with which it is isostructural.