A molecular protocol for Early Sex Discrimination (ESD) in Actinidia spp

Dioecism and an extended juvenile phase of 3–7 years in kiwifruit hinder the progress in breeding new cultivars. The identification of fruit-bearing females at an early stage of growth is crucial for breeders. Consequently, molecular markers have become a key tool for identifying female and male plants at an early stage of development. Several efforts were made to identify PCR-based sex linked markers in Actinidia; however, those markers are characterized by a highly polymorphic nature affecting the result of the screening reliability, suggesting the need of more suitable, stable markers, characterized by a consistent transferability among genotypes and species. The main goal of this work was to develop a method for the ultimate discrimination of females from male plants at an early stage of growth using sex-linked markers. We developed an Early Sex Discrimination molecular Test (ESD Test) that allows the discrimination of male and female plants using a simple PCR amplification test. We demonstrate that the test could unequivocally identify the gender of an unknown sample both in the most commercially important species A. chinensis and in further 13 Actinidia species tested with the exception of Actinidia latifolia, where markers fail in gender discrimination. Male genotypes could be easily identified and discarded reducing the cost of a breeding program.

Rubbing induced reversible fluorescence switching in thiophene derivate organic semiconductor film by mechanical amorphisation

Here, we applied rubbing on thiophene derivate organic semiconductor thin films to induce a reversible mechanical amorphisation. Amorphisation is associated with fluorescence switching, which is regulated by the polymorphic nature...

Milium effusum (Poaceae: Poeae: Miliinae): species of systematic and cytological interest with notes on polymorphic nature and cytogeography

Present communication records polymorphic and polyploid nature of the forest grass species M. effusum having wide distribution over different continents and countries. Globally the 4 x plants are widely distributed. The West Himalayan plants, collected at 3000 m alt. and more, are also sporting chromosome number of 2n = 28 based on basic number of x = 7. Further meiotic course analysis of Western Himalayan plants follows diploid like behaviour possibly directed by diploidization. This communication also calls the attention to cytogeography of intraspecific cytotypes of M. effusum, where diploid plants (2n = 14) have also been reported, but only 2 times – from the Kola Peninsula, Russia and from the Switzerland mountains. Perhaps these are relict populations, which deserve to be proved, studied and protected.

Pecopterids from the Permian of the Extreme South of the Paraná Basin, Brazil

In this paper we characterize pecopterids found in deposits of the Passa Dois Group (Upper Permian of the Paraná Basin) in a new outcrop, on the side of the BR-153 road, located at the municipality of Aceguá, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Pecopterids are common in the Permian paleophytogeogragic realms, signaling interglacial phases of the Late Paleozoic. Pecopteris are one of the floral elements of the Permian Glossopteris flora and become extinct in the Permo-Triassic boundary. Mudstone strata levels bearing phytofossils with different preservation qualities allowed the recognition of Pecopteris sp. and cf. Scolecopteris sp. floral elements. Taphonomic and depositional processes that conditioned the preservation of phytofossils are suggested accordingly the specimens described. Phytofossil specimen described support and highlight polymorphic nature of Gondwanan pecopterids. These new findings demonstrate potential for further paleobotanical studies in the upper portion of the Passa Dois Group and strength the notion of Permian strata for the Teresina Formation.

The Upanishads and worship of the Maha Mantra in the tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism

The author researches the widely used practice of the so-called maha-mantra (the “great mantra”) while offering short prayers in the tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, It is based on the Upanishads, such as Kali-santarana-Upanishad and Chaitanya-Upanishad. The author evaluates the existing original commentaries. As “classical” may be considered the interpretations those by Brahmayogin Ramachandrendra Sarasvati (XVIII century) and Suhotra Tapovanachari (1950–2007) on the Kali Sandarana Upanishad and those by Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Madhusudana dasa Babaji on the Chaitanya Upanishad. The article provides a translation of both texts from Sanskrit into Russian, supplied with comments and other explanations. The methodology used is based upon V. I. Rudoy concept regarding the polymorphic nature of Sanskrit textual culture.

Accurate Prediction of B-form/A-form DNA Conformation Propensity from Primary Sequence: A Machine Learning and Free energy Handshake

<div> <div> <p>DNA carries the genetic code of life. Different conformations of DNA are associated with various biological functions. Predicting the conformation of DNA from its primary sequence, although desirable, is a challenging problem owing to the polymorphic nature of DNA. Although a few efforts were made in this regard, currently there exists no method that can accurately predict the conformation of right-handed DNA solely from the sequence. In this study, we present a novel approach based on machine learning that predicts A-DNA and B-DNA conformational propensities of a sequence with high accuracy (~<a>93</a>%). In addition, we show that the impact of the dinucleotide steps in determining the conformation agrees qualitatively with the free energy cost for A-DNA formation in water. We are hopeful that our methodology can be employed on segments of the genomic sequence to understand the prospective biological roles played by the A-form of DNA.</p><p> </p><div> <br><div><div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Accurate Prediction of B-form/A-form DNA Conformation Propensity from Primary Sequence: A Machine Learning and Free energy Handshake

<div> <div> <p>DNA carries the genetic code of life. Different conformations of DNA are associated with various biological functions. Predicting the conformation of DNA from its primary sequence, although desirable, is a challenging problem owing to the polymorphic nature of DNA. Although a few efforts were made in this regard, currently there exists no method that can accurately predict the conformation of right-handed DNA solely from the sequence. In this study, we present a novel approach based on machine learning that predicts A-DNA and B-DNA conformational propensities of a sequence with high accuracy (~<a>93</a>%). In addition, we show that the impact of the dinucleotide steps in determining the conformation agrees qualitatively with the free energy cost for A-DNA formation in water. We are hopeful that our methodology can be employed on segments of the genomic sequence to understand the prospective biological roles played by the A-form of DNA.</p><p> </p><div> <br><div><div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Skin Manifestations Associated with COVID-19: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic caused by the “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2), which was isolated for the first time in Wuhan (China) in December 2019. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea and hypogeusia/hyposmia. Among extrapulmonary signs associated with COVID-19, dermatological manifestations have been increasingly reported in the last few months. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> The polymorphic nature of COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations led our group to propose a classification, which distinguishes the following six main clinical patterns: (i) urticarial rash, (ii) confluent erythematous/maculopapular/morbilliform rash, (iii) papulovesicular exanthem, (iv) chilblain-like acral pattern, (v) livedo reticularis/racemosa-like pattern, (vi) purpuric “vasculitic” pattern. This review summarizes the current knowledge on COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations, focusing on clinical features and therapeutic management of each category and attempting to give an overview of the hypothesized pathophysiological mechanisms of these conditions.

Quantification of amyloid fibril polymorphism by nano-morphometry reveals the individuality of filament assembly

Amyloid fibrils are highly polymorphic structures formed by many different proteins. They provide biological function but also abnormally accumulate in numerous human diseases. The physicochemical principles of amyloid polymorphism are not understood due to lack of structural insights at the single-fibril level. To identify and classify different fibril polymorphs and to quantify the level of heterogeneity is essential to decipher the precise links between amyloid structures and their functional and disease associated properties such as toxicity, strains, propagation and spreading. Employing gentle, force-distance curve-based AFM, we produce detailed images, from which the 3D reconstruction of individual filaments in heterogeneous amyloid samples is achieved. Distinctive fibril polymorphs are then classified by hierarchical clustering, and sample heterogeneity is objectively quantified. These data demonstrate the polymorphic nature of fibril populations, provide important information regarding the energy landscape of amyloid self-assembly, and offer quantitative insights into the structural basis of polymorphism in amyloid populations.