Basal Section Research Articles

Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in a Patient with a Coma with a Hyperosmolar Component in the Manifestation of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Clinical Case

Background. Due to the rarity of the combination of emergence diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1), COVID-19, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome, each reported case represents valuable experience and increases the awareness of medical professionals. Clinical case description. A 7-year-old boy was admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 1, first identified. On day 2, ketoacidotic coma with a hyperosmolar component developed, a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 was obtained, and a picture of subarachnoid hemorrhage was described according to CT scans of the brain. On day 3, macrohematuria, peripheral edema, pasty complexion were noted; the clinical picture and laboratory examination data corresponded to a “cytokine storm” with the development of multiple organ failure. On day 5, tonic-clonic seizures and bloody discharge from the nasopharynx were noted. On day 6, a negative PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 was obtained, on chest X-rays there was a heterogeneous decrease in pneumatization in the basal sections on both sides, and bilateral hydrothorax. On day 9, meningeal symptoms were noted. On day 14, a repeated episode of a convulsive attack was registered, and changes in the brain according to MRI results were regarded as an inflammatory demyelinating lesion against the background of the course of multisystem inflammatory syndrome and DM or as posterior reversible encephalopathy (PRES syndrome). Against the background of the appointment of immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, antibacterial, antiviral therapy, positive dynamics was noted in the child's condition. On day 18, the patient in a stable condition of moderate severity was transferred to the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology for further treatment. After 14 days, the child was discharged from the hospital in a satisfactory condition. Conclusion. This case report may confirm the risk of developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with DM1 and COVID-19, which requires an interdisciplinary approach and the appointment of therapy included in the standards of management of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Microfacies and Paleomire Reconstruction of Coal in the Tanjung Formation, Barito Basin, Kandangan Area, South Kalimantan

Abstract The occurrence of the Tanjung Formation as a coal-bearing formation that has thick coals and is laterally distributed along in Barito Basin causes it to be well-known as one of the biggest coal-producing basins in Indonesia. The genesis of Eocene coal formed in terrestrial depositional environment influenced by freshwater and marine transgression is the uniqueness of this coal and interesting to examine maceral’s characteristic and its microfacies, and the evolution of paleomire seam AGM-B3, AGM-B4, AGM-B5, and AGM-B6 in Kandangan area by organic petrography’s analysis and coal’s chemical analysis. The result of subbituminous coal’s petrography show vitrinite is the most abundant maceral ranging from 56,.6% - 80.36% vol, liptinite (15.27% - 39.45% vol), inertinite (0.55% - 15.18% vol), and mineral matter (0.18% - 4.36% vol) which is dominated by pyrite. Based on maceral’s assemblages, coal’s microfacies divided into four groups are (1) telovitrinite-rich group, (2) detrovitrinite-rich group, (3) telovitrinite-liptinite-rich group, (4) inertinite-rich group. The basal section of seam AGM-B6 is characterized by detrovitrinite-rich group while seam AGM-B3, AGM-B4, and AGM-B5 are characterized by telovitrinite-liptinite-rich group. The middle section only represented the inertinite-rich group in seam AGM-B3, and the top section of the coal seams, except AGM-B6, is typically represented by the telovitrinite-rich group. The vertical profile of paleomire evolution shows a repetition of topogenous mire changing into ombrogenous mire and then back to topogenous mire. The paleomire type developed includes wet forest swamp, forested peatlands, and intermittently dry forested swamp and the environmental conditions are telmatic. The correlation between paleomire’s type and coal maceral’s abundance in the Kandangan area reflects that the type of vegetation from woody plants that underwent high degradation, moderate gelification, and intensive oxidation processes triggered by a short dry season.

Cochlear Implantation: Long-Term Effect of Early Activation on Electrode Impedance.

Objectives: The growing adoption of cochlear implants (CIs) necessitates understanding the factors influencing long-term performance and improved outcomes. This work investigated the long-term effect of early activation of CIs on electrode impedance in a large sample of CI users at different time points. Methods: A retrospective study on 915 ears from CI patients who were implanted between 2015 and 2020. According to their CI audio processor activation time, the patients were categorized into early activation (activated 1 day after surgery, n = 481) and classical activation (activated 4 weeks after surgery, n = 434) groups. Then, the impact of the activation times on the electrode impedance values, along the electrode array contacts, at different time points up to two years was studied and analyzed. Results: The early activation group demonstrated lower impedance values across all the electrode array sections compared to the classical activation at 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years post-implantation. At 1 month, early activation was associated with a reduction of 0.34 kΩ, 0.46 kΩ, and 0.37 kΩ in the apical, middle, and basal sections, respectively. These differences persisted at subsequent intervals. Conclusions: Early activation leads to sustained reductions in the electrode impedance compared to classical activation (CA), suggesting that earlier activation might positively affect long-term CI outcomes.

The Effect of Alkali Pretreatment and Different Parts of Sargassum polycystum Thallus on Alginic Acid Attributes

Alginic acid is an intermediate product in the alginate extraction process. In this study, alginic acid was generated from three separate sections of the thallus. The study aimed to define the influence of alkali solvents for pretreatment and the thallus parts from S. polycystum to produce alginate. Thus, this study identifies the proper utilization of seaweed as a source of alginate. The extraction procedure to obtain alginic acid was performed using Na2CO3 at a 2% concentration. The pretreatment improved the quality before extraction by soaking in KOH as a solvent. The statistical analysis was used to define significant differences in the pretreatment and thallus parts of the S. polycystum using ANOVA and the Tukey test as the post hoc. Alkali pretreatment and thallus sections substantially influence alginic acid yield, viscosity, and gel strength. Yield, ash content, moisture, pH, viscosity, whiteness degree, and gel strength of the best alginic acid chosen (pretreatment with KOH 0.90% from the basal section) were around 21.51 %, 10.34 %, 7.04 %, 2.54, 53.37 cP, 57.91 %, and 58.80 g/cm2, respectively. Except for the ash content parameter, the qualities of the alginic acid generated satisfied the standard. In conclusion, it is a better understanding of the alginate production from different thallus parts, making utilization more effective.

The Ancient Configuration of the Southern Central Andes and Paleogeographic Reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous Foreland Basin at 34°40’S

AbstractThe early stages of Andean construction have been barely recognized due to a long history of tectonic superposition during the growth of the orogen. In this work, we present a multi‐method approach integrating sedimentological, geochronological, structural, and provenance analyses to reconstruct the architecture of the Late Cretaceous foreland basin at 34°40’S. We identified a new depocenter located in an inner position of the Late Cretaceous foreland basin, a strategic location to understand the sedimentation dynamics near the topographic front of the orogen. Two sandstone samples from the basal and upper sections of the Diamante Formation were collected for detrital zircons dating, which yielded maximum depositional ages between 98 Ma and 91 Ma. The provenance analyses based on U‐Pb zircons ages indicated a main source area located to the west, in the incipient orogenic belt, with a complementary contribution from basement rocks, located to the east. Moreover, growth strata documented in these deposits were compared with structural kinematic models, which suggest that some of these deposits are associated with inherited structures, reactivated during the tectonic inversion of the extensional Jurassic Atuel depocenter. Our paleogeographic model comprises an Andean Cordillera flanked by a hinterland basin to the west and a foreland basin to the east, with a deformational front positioned further east compared to previous models.

Fluid geochemistry of the Cerro Galán geothermal system (Southern Puna, Argentina): Implications for the geothermal potential of one of the youngest giant calderas in the Andes

The exploration of novel geothermal systems, particularly those promising for electrical power generation, plays a fundamental role in incorporating new renewable sources into the energy matrix. Geothermal systems associated with volcanic calderas are considered ideal targets for exploration. This study focuses on the geochemical features of fluids from the Cerro Galán hydrothermal system, which is hosted within a major resurgent caldera with >3.5 Myr of magmatic evolution situated on the Southern Puna (Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, NW Argentina). The main aim is constructing the first geochemical conceptual model and provide information on the geothermal potential of this interesting resource. The main hydrothermal reservoir consists of a NaCl aquifer with estimated temperatures up to 187 °C at depth. This reservoir is likely hosted within the fractured pre-caldera basement rocks, mainly including Miocene-Pliocene volcanic rocks and Proterozoic-Cambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks. The confinement of the deep reservoir is attributed to the deposits of the Toconquis Group and Cueva Negra Ignimbrite, along with the basal section of the Cerro Galán Ignimbrite, which exhibit low permeability due to hydrothermal alteration. The presence of a phreatic explosion crater near one of the hot spring-rich areas is likely indicating past over-pressurization of the hydrothermal aquifer, resulting from efficient sealing. Furthermore, the absence of anomalous soil CO2 flux values on the top of the reservoir, except where the thermal spring discharges are located, can be explained by an effective cap-rock layer. Deep circulation of meteoric water, enriched with atmospheric gases, receives inputs of magmatic fluids (∼11% of primordial helium), leading to the development of the hydrothermal NaCl aquifer. However, this deep fluid contribution might be underestimated due to significant crustal assimilation (up to 50%) involved in the magma genesis of the Cerro Galán Volcanic Complex, a process which modifies the He isotopic signature of the magmatic endmember. The hot springs, characterized by high flow rate (up to 459 m3/h) are positioned at the intersection between the caldera margins and the NNE-SSW oriented tectonic structures, suggesting favorable permeability conditions. The preliminary geothermal gradient for the Cerro Galán area is estimated at around 98–101 °C/km. Such a high gradient can be attributed to the considerable heat flux generated by the transcrustal plumbing system of the Cerro Galán caldera, which includes the shallow crystal mush reservoir (<4 km depth). The preliminary geothermal potential of this giant caldera was performed using the volumetric method along with Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicate a probable power production capacity of 2.09 MWe and 10.85 MWe at 90 and 50% confidence level, respectively. The results presented in this work constitute a foundational knowledge base to promote a more advanced exploration phase for the geothermal resource. Additionally to the local energy demand, lithium and other metal mining operations, which are operating independently from the National Interconnected System, could potentially be interested in power generation through binary cycles.

Artificial Nourishment Schemes along the Polish Coast and Lagoon Shores between 1980 and 2020, with a Particular Focus on the Hel Peninsula

This article reviews the literature covering the period from 1965 to 2020 dedicated to the issue of artificial beach nourishment along the Polish coast, with a particular focus on the Hel Peninsula. The primary sources used in this work include 34 reports from unpublished case studies and projects implemented by the Department of Maritime Hydrotechnics, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk, between 1971 and 2020. This paper also presents detailed information about the total fill volume in cubic meters of dredged material deposited along the Polish coast and lagoon shores in 1980–2020. During these 40 years, approximately 40.5 million m3 of sediment was deposited along the Polish coast and lagoon shores. Particular consideration was given to beach fills along the Hel Peninsula, which was at actual risk of breaking in its basal and central sections after intense storms at the turn of 1988 and 1989. The survey materials collected enabled the assessment of the coastal morphodynamics of the peninsula under the Coastal Protection Program through the prism of changes in the fill volume along the coastal sections, which were replenished with material coming from submarine deposits. The peninsula’s stability was also assessed, taking into account the ongoing climate change. Moreover, this article discusses the proposed rules and terms for protecting the Polish coast by way of artificial nourishment.

Optimizing ‘Xinomavro’ (Vitis vinifera L.) Performance by Post-Bloom Basal Leaf Removal Applications

A three-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of two timings—at berry set and at veraison—of post-bloom leaf removal (LR) applications from the basal sections of the shoot on the growth, yield, and berry composition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Xinomavro, the major red winegrape of North Greece. LR at berry set drastically reduced yield by affecting all its components while increasing the ratio of secondary foliage per total leaf area. LR at veraison had a milder effect on growth and yield. Both treatments increased sugar and phenolic compound levels in berries, while early LR increased the contribution of more stable forms of anthocyanins. Additionally, early LR increased the skin-to-pulp ratio, suggesting that it could be an effective viticultural technique for more concentrated red wines. Overall, both LR timings improved most of the berry attributes compared to the non-treated vines; however, the earlier application can be recommended when aiming at the production of deep-colored and richly flavored wines.

Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography brain perfusion in the prediction of acute ischemic stroke taking the findings of MRI as gold standard.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography brain perfusion to predict acute ischemic stroke taking the findings of MRI as gold standard. Study Design: Cross-sectional Validation study. Setting: Department of Radiology Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: 20th May 2022 to 19th November 2022. Material &amp; Methods: A total of 215 individuals, aged between 30 and 70, of both sexes, and exhibiting ischemic stroke symptoms lasting no more than 12 hours, were included. Patients with abnormal renal function tests having renal disease were excluded. The conventional non-contrast CT used in the CT stroke protocol had basal sections that were either 3 mm or 4 mm in thickness and supra tentorial sections that were either 3 mm or 4 mm in thickness. The acquisition parameters were 80kVp and 120mAs. Dynamic CT perfusion was carried out with 4 cm plane coverage. At the seventh day, all patients underwent a follow-up MRI using a 1.5 Tesla Philips MRI scanner. A radiologist examined CTP to look for signs of early ischemic changes. For CT perfusion (CTP), measurements were taken for time to peak (TTP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral blood volume (CBV). Results: Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography brain perfusion in the prediction of acute ischemic stroke taking the findings of MRI as gold standard was 85.37%, 76.09%, 82.68%, 79.55% and 81.40% respectively. Conclusion: This study led to the conclusion that diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography brain perfusion to predict acute ischemic stroke is quite high.

Gene co-expression network analysis in areca floral organ and the potential role of the AcMADS17 and AcMADS23 in transgenic Arabidopsis

Areca catechu L., a monocot belonging to the palm family, is monoecious, with female and male flowers separately distributed on the same inflorescence. To discover the molecular mechanism of flower development in Areca, we sequenced different floral samples to generate tissue-specific transcriptomic profiles. We conducted a comparative analysis of the transcriptomic profiles of apical sections of the inflorescence with male flowers and the basal section of the inflorescence with female flowers. Based on the RNA sequencing dataset, we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify sepal, petal, stamen, stigma and other specific modules as well as hub genes involved in specific floral organ development. The syntenic and expression patterns of AcMADS-box genes were analyzed in detail. Furthermore, we analyzed the open chromatin regions and transcription factor PI binding sites in male and female flowers by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) assay. Heterologous expression revealed the important role of AcMADS17 and AcMADS23 in floral organ development. Our results provide a valuable genomic resource for the functional analysis of floral organ development in Areca.

Enigmatic fossil plants with three-dimensional, arborescent-growth architecture from the earliest Carboniferous of New Brunswick, Canada

The evolution of arborescence in Devonian plants, followed by their architectural radiation in the Carboniferous, is a transition fundamental to Earth-system processes and ecological development. However, this evolutionary transition in trees is based on preserved trunks, of which only a few known specimens possess crowns. We describe Mississippian-aged (Tournaisian) trees with a unique three-dimensional crown morphology from New Brunswick, Canada. The trees were preserved by earthquake-induced, catastrophic burial of lake-margin vegetation. The tree architecture consists of an unbranched, 16-cm-diameter trunk with compound leaves arranged in spirals of ∼13 and compressed into ∼14cm of vertical trunk length. Compound leaves in the upper ∼0.75m of the trunk measure >1.75m in length and preserve alternately arranged secondary laterals beginning at 0.5m from the trunk; the area below the trunk bears only persistent leaf bases. The principal specimen lacks either apical or basal sections, although an apex is preserved in another. Apically, the leaves become less relaxed toward horizontal and are borne straight at an acute angle at the crown. The compact leaf organization and leaf length created a crown volume of >20-30 m3. This growth strategy likely maximized light interception and reduced resource competition from groundcover. From their growth morphology, canopy size, and volume, we propose that these fossils represent the earliest evidence of arborescent subcanopy-tiering. Moreover, although systematically unresolved, this specimen shows that Early Carboniferous vegetation was more complex than realized, signaling that it was a time of experimental, possibly transitional and varied, growth architectures.

Validade de espargos verdes usando revestimento de mistura de mandioca e quitosana

Abstract Polysaccharide coating is a biodegradable alternative to conventional packings used for delaying senescence in vegetables. This work investigated the properties of cassava and chitosan biopolymeric film and its use as edible coatings to preserve the shelf-life (7 °C and 70% relative humidity (RH)) of green asparagus, with previous cold storage (1 °C and 90% RH) for 7 days. Based on a previous assessment of the films obtained from a) cassava (2.5%), b) chitosan (0.5%), and c) a blend of cassava-chitosan (Cassava+) (2.5 + 0.5%), it could be verified that cassava-chitosan blend films showed improved barrier property (water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 38.06 g/(m2.h)) and mechanical properties, with tensile strength of 0.021 MPa, elongation at break of 1.93% and Young’s module of 0.011 MPa. Cassava+ based coating resulted in a lower weight loss and colour L* parameter and minimized textural changes in basal-section of commercial green asparagus spears during a shelf-life of seven days (7 °C and 70% RH), with previous cold storage. All coated spears maintained overall higher carbohydrate levels than the control, except to sucrose which gradually decreased in basal sections and increased in the apical sections of asparagus spears, irrespective of treatment. Edible coating did not affect asparagine concentrations which steadily increased throughout the shelf-life of the spears. The blend (Cassava+) kept for a longer the green asparagus quality. However, spears under a shelf-life of seven days (7 °C and 70% RH), with previous cold storage under 1 °C and 90% RH conditions, developed tip-rot physiological disorder.

Sargassum species as hydrozoans substrates: Key patterns of association or just availability?

The genus Sargassum comprises both benthic and holopelagic species, serving as basibionts for numerous marine organisms, including frequent epibiotic occurrences of hydrozoans (Cnidaria). Several aspects of the epibiotic interaction between hydrozoans and Sargassum species remain insufficiently explored. This includes patterns such as the hydrozoan community’s composition and abundance across sections and structures of Sargassum. To address these gaps, we conducted an investigation aiming to uncover potential differences in the species composition and abundance of hydrozoan epibionts on benthic and holopelagic Sargassum species (BSS and HSS, respectively) from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans of Mexico. Additionally, we sought to characterize hydrozoan epibionts preferences for specific sections and structures of Sargassum. Our analysis identified 18 hydrozoan epibiont species on Sargassum, belonging to Leptothecata (88.9%) and anthoathecate (11.1%), with one new register for Sargassum species. Each Sargassum species harbored a distinct hydrozoan epibiont species with a marked higher mean total coverage. The total percentage coverage of hydrozoans on BSS exhibited less variability than HSS. The basal section of BSS hosted the highest number of species. Concerning Sargassum structures, a greater species richness was found on the axis and the blades. Our study also demonstrates that differences in hydrozoan species primarily depend on the geographical distribution of Sargassum species.

Biochar enhances root development and aloin content of mature leaves in containerized Aloe arborescens Mill.

The leaves of the medicinal plant Aloe arborescens Mill. (Asphodelaceae) contain significant amounts of bioactive metabolites, including aloin (a mixture of the two diastereoisomers, aloin A and aloin B), aloesin, isoaloeresin D, and aloenin A. The presence of these metabolites varies considerably depending on the plant's growth conditions, including the used growing substrate. In recent years, there has been growing interest in using biochar for potted plants cultivation. However, there is currently no available information regarding the suitability of biochar for the containerized cultivation of A. arborescens. A pot experiment was conducted with the hypothesis that biochar could influence the growth and phytochemistry of A. arborescens. The growing medium was supplied with increasing proportions of biochar (1: 100 % commercial substrate; 2: mixed 50 % (v/v) substrate; 3: 100 % conifers wood biochar). Over the course of three years, the plants were closely monitored, and several key growth parameters were measured, including plant height, stem diameter, number and weight of leaves, and the number of suckers. After the first year, the content of selected active metabolites was assessed. This evaluation also involved a comparison of the respective levels in the leaves taken from the apical, median, and basal sections of the stem. The leaves collected from the median section of plants were found to be larger and exhibited the highest percentage of spikes, epidermis, and gel on fresh weight. As a general trend, it was observed that in plants cultivated within the highest amount of biochar, the leaves collected from the intermediate stem portion contained the highest quantity of secondary metabolites.

Associations between endogenous spike cytokinins and grain-number traits in spring wheat genotypes

Genetic variation in grain number has been positively associated with levels of cytokinins in inflorescences in cereals, although studies quantifying endogenous levels in the field are currently lacking. The present study, using a spring wheat association mapping panel (HiBAP II) of 150 lines, quantified associations between spike hormone levels and grain number and associated traits. The HiBAP II panel was grown in the field in NW Mexico under irrigated conditions for one year and a subset of ten genotypes in the glasshouse under well-watered conditions for three years. The spike levels of four cytokinins (trans-zeatin riboside, trans-zeatin, isopentenyladenosine, and isopentenyladenine) were measured by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In the glasshouse experiments, spike hormone levels were measured at booting and anthesis, and in the field experiment at anthesis. In the glasshouse experiments, cytokinin levels were also measured in the basal, central, and apical spikelets separately in addition to at the whole spike level. The spike cytokinin levels did not differ significantly between the basal, central and apical sections of the spike. or show a spike position × genotype interaction. In the glasshouse experiments, significant genetic variation was detected for the expression of the four cytokinins in spikes at booting. At booting, spike trans-zeatin concentration ranged amongst genotypes from 4.5 to 16.0 ng g−1 FW and was positively correlated with grain number per main shoot (r = 0.77, P < 0.05). In the field at anthesis, the spike levels of each of trans-zeatin, trans-zeatin riboside and isopentenyl adenosine were positively correlated with grains per m2 (r = 0.17–0.19, P < 0.05). Our results indicated that selection for high spike cytokinin levels in wheat germplasm offers scope to raise grain number and yield potential in wheat.

The Effect of Topophysis on the In Vitro Development of Handroanthus guayacan and on Its Metabolism of Meta-Topolin Riboside.

An important factor affecting the uniformity of in vitro cultures is the topophysical position of the original explant. We investigated this phenomenon in Handroanthus guayacan, a tropical woody tree species. Shoots from a stock culture were separated into upper, middle and basal sections and transferred to a modified MS medium containing meta-topolin-riboside and indole-butyric acid. After 8 weeks, the middle section produced the most shoots, the longest shoots and the highest number of nodes per plant. Shoots derived from the upper section were elongated, but had the shortest internodes, while those from the basal section formed the largest callus. None of the three types of explants rooted during the proliferation phase. The topophysically dependent spatial distribution of endogenous cytokinins and auxins was determined. The topophysical effect observed could not be explained solely by analyzing the endogenous isoprenoid and auxin. However, the metabolism and distribution of the aromatic cytokinin could provide an explanation. The concentration of the meta hydroxy-substituted topolins was highest in shoots derived from the middle section. Aromatic N- and O-glucosides were much more concentrated in the leaves than in the stems. In conclusion, it is recommended to consider the explant's topophysis when developing a multiplication protocol to avoid heterogeneity in an in vitro culture.

Leaf Spot caused by Alternaria alternata on Macleaya cordata in China.

Macleaya cordata is a perennial herb that belongs to the Papaveraceae and is typically prescribed as a traditional antibacterial medicine in China (Kosina et al. 2010). The extract from M. cordata has been widely used in the manufacturing of natural growth promoters as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in the livestock industry (Liu et al. 2017), and the products are marketed in 70 countries such as Germany, China, etc (Ikezawa et al. 2009). During the summer of 2019, symptoms of leaf spot were observed on M. cordata (cv. HNXN-001) in two commercial fields (approximately 1, 300 m2 and 2, 100 m2) of Xinning county, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, China, where approximately 2 to 3% of the plants were affected. The initial symptoms were irregular black and brown spots on the leaves. The lesions expanded and coalesced, eventually leading to leaf blight. Six symptomatic basal leaf sections from six plants from two fields were surface disinfested in 0.5% NaClO for 1 min, then 75% ethanol for 20 s, rinsed in sterile water three times, air dried, and placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), one dish for samples from a single leaf. Plates were incubated at 26°C in darkness. Nine strains with similar morphological characters were isolated, and one representative isolate ( BLH-YB-08) was used for morphological and molecular characterization. The colonies on PDA were grayish-green with white round margins. Conidia were typically obclavate to obpyriform, brown to dark brown, and 12.0 to 35.0 × 6.0 to 15.0 μm, and with 1 to 5 transverse septa and 0 to 2 longitudinal septa (n=50). Isolates were identified as Alternaria sp. on the basis of mycelial characteristics, color, and conidial morphology. To confirm identity of the pathogen, DNA was extracted from isolate BLH-YB-08 with the DNAsecure Plant Kit (TIANGEN, Biotech, China). The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), actin (ACT), 28S nrDNA (LSU), 18S nuclear ribosomal DNA (SSU), histone 3 (HIS3), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) genes ( Berbee et al. 1999; Carbone and Kohn. 1999; Glass and Donaldson. 1995; White et al. 1990.) were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were deposited into the GenBank database. They were 100% sequence identity of GAPDH (OQ224996) with A. alternata strain AA2-8 (MH65578; 578/578bp), 100% sequence identity of RPB2 (OQ190460) with A. alternata strain SAX-WN-30-2 ( MK605877; 933/933bp), 100% sequence identity of ACT (OQ923292) with A. alternata strain FCBP0352 (OL830257; 939/939 bp), 100% sequence identity of LSU (OQ891167) with A. alternata XL14 (MG839509 ; 908/908 bp), 100% sequence identity of SSU (OQ139544) with A. alternata strain BJ19.4.1(OM736063; 1,067/1,067 bp), 100% sequence identity of HIS3 (MT454856) with A. alternata YJ-CYC-HC2 (OQ116440 ; 442/442 bp), 100% sequence identity of ITS (MT212225) with A. alternata CS-1-3 (OQ947366; 543/543bp), and 100% sequence identity of TEF (OQ190461) with A. alternata strain YZU 221185 (OQ512730; 252/252 bp). To test pathogenicity, the isolate BLH-YB-08 was cultured on PDA for 7 days to prepare conidial suspensions and the spore concentration adjusted to a final concentration of 1×106 spores/ml. The leaves of five potted 45-day-old M. cordata (cv. HNXN-001) plants were sprayed with conidial suspensions, and five control potted plants were wiped with 75% alcohol and washed five times with sterile distilled water. They were then sprayed with sterile distilled water. Plants were placed in a greenhouse at 25 to 30°C with 90% relative humidity. Pathogenicity tests were conducted twice. Fifteen days after inoculation, lesions were found on inoculated leaves, and the symptoms were the same as those in the field, whereas the controls were healthy. A fungus was consistently isolated from the inoculated leaves and identified as A. alternata by DNA sequencing of the GAPDH, ITS, and HIS3 genes, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on M. cordata caused by A. alternata in China. Understanding its etiology may help to control this fungal pathogen, thus reducing economic losses. Funding: Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation General Project (2023JJ30341) Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund (2023JJ40367) Seed Industry Innovation Project of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department Special project for the construction of Chinese herbal medicine industry technology system in Hunan Province "Xiangjiuwei" Industrial Cluster Project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Assessment of cellulose nanofibers from bolaina blanca wood obtained at three shaft heights

This study evaluated cellulose nanofibers from bolaina blanca wood (Guazuma crinita) obtained at different heights of the longitudinal axis of the shaft of trees from a three-and-a-half-year-old plantation. The wood was subjected to pulping, bleaching and subsequent mechanical milling using a Changsha Samy XYQM-2L planetary ball mill to obtain cellulose nanofibers. The product was characterised using analytical techniques: scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Additionally, the degree of polymerisation was determined. The effect of longitudinal position on cellulose nanofibers characteristics was evaluated by comparing means using ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests. The yield of cellulose nanofibers production from the high, middle and basal sections was 32,1 %, 33,6 % and 31 %, respectively. The obtained cellulose nanofibers exhibited a significantly larger diameter for the high zone (84 nm) compared with the middle (75 nm) and basal (69 nm) zones; the length remained above the micrometre range. With respect to degree of polymerisation, a decrease was evidenced with respect to the increase in shaft height; the basal zone exhibited a degree of polymerisation of 300, a significantly higher value than the middle and high zones, which exhibited degree of polymerisation of 249 and 211, respectively. The product showed typical cellulose type I polymorphism and crystallinity indexes of 76 %, 93 % and 96 % for the high, middle and basal sections, respectively. Regarding the thermostability of cellulose nanofibers, the maximum degradation rate of cellulose nanofibers occurred between 335 °C and 341 °C, with cellulose nanofibers from the basal area being the most stable. The adsorption of the methylene blue dye on cellulose nanofibers was evaluated; an efficiency &gt; 60 % was found.

Construction of an Early Cambrian intra-oceanic arc within the West Junggar, NW China: Magmatic records from proto- to mature-arc

The Junggar orogenic collage in Central Asia is characterized by the accretion of multiple Paleozoic intra-oceanic arc terranes developed within the Junggar Ocean, yet magmatic records relating to the construction of these ancient oceanic arcs are largely disrupted. Here, we report new petrological and geochemical data of mafic-ultramafic rocks documented from the Early Cambrian Saleinuohai ophiolitic mélange in southern West Junggar. The mafic rocks include dolerites and basalts, which show geochemical features (e.g., lower TiO2 and Zr relative to MORB, depleted LREE, and high εNd(t)) resembling those of forearc basalts from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc. Thus, they may represent the upper section of newly-accreted oceanic crust formed during subduction initiation, upon which a nascent arc is soon built. In contrast, the ultramafic rocks include dunite, wehrlite, and clinopyroxenite, which display cumulate textures with a crystallization order of olivine-clinopyroxene-plagioclase. Similar cumulate sequences are commonly observed in island-arc environments, presumably crystallized under a relatively hydrous and high-pressure condition. The calculated equilibrium melts for these cumulates further resemble those adakitic rocks previously reported from the Saleinuohai ophiolitic mélange. Thus, they may represent the basal section of mature island arc crust that formed during intracrustal fractionation. Our data, together with previous results, provide a complete magmatic record of the development of an Early Cambrian intra-oceanic arc within the Junggar Ocean.

Molecular assessment of specimens previously assigned to Cirrulicarpus (Kallymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) in Brazil, with the description of Meredithia dichotoma sp. nov.

ABSTRACT Molecular sequence analyses of specimens previously identified as Cirrulicarpus sp. in the southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo coast), indicated that they are more closely related to the genus Meredithia than to the genus Cirrulicarpus. The new species Meredithia dichotoma is herein proposed to accommodate this uncommon and endemic taxon, morphologically characterized by an erect, narrow, strap-shaped thallus, up to 16 cm long, mostly dichotomously branched, with regular constrictions, densely to moderately filamentous medulla, with occasional ganglionic cells, and an expanded medullary region in the basal transverse sections, resembling a midrib in surface view. The species is also supported by the sequence divergence from its congeners: ≥4.3% and 2.2% in the COI-5P and rbcL markers, respectively. Meredithia dichotoma differs from other 11 species of the genus by its dimensions and general habit, never forming expanded blades. This is a new genus record for Brazil and the first species of Meredithia known to occur in the western South Atlantic, increasing the known diversity in the red algal family Kallymeniaceae.