Similar Morphology Research Articles

The overlooked first intercostal ligament: Does it help to stabilize the Weberian apparatus?

AbstractThe Weberian apparatus is a novel hearing adaptation that facilitates increased hearing sensitivity in otophysan fishes. The apparatus is a complex system composed of modifications to anterior vertebral elements, the inner ear, and the swim bladder. A critical piece of the system that often receives minor attention are the various ligaments that bridge these three regions. The most famous of the ligaments is the interossicular ligament, which connects the Weberian ossicle chain (scaphium–intercalarium–tripus). Several other ligaments are present, including the suspensor (tripus to parapophysis 4) and the triple ligament (tripus–os suspensorium–tunica externa). Here, by combining diffusible iodine‐based contrast enhancement (DICE) and propagation phase‐contrast synchrotron radiation micro‐computed tomography (PPC‐SRμCT) with classic histological methods, we shine new light on the first intercostal ligament (ICL1) and discuss its potential function in relation to the Weberian apparatus. ICL1 is nearly absent from the cypriniform literature, typically only mentioned in a general discussion together with other intercostal ligaments. This study examines the development and structure of ICL1 comparatively with the other definitive Weberian ligaments in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). We provide a comprehensive view of three‐dimensional shape, development, and composition to generate hypotheses regarding potential functions of ICL1 within the greater Weberian apparatus. Given new detail presented herein regarding the structure of ICL1, modifications to rib 5 and parapophysis 4 for ICL1 attachment, and the alignment of ICL1 with the os suspensorium, we propose a supportive (anchoring) role of ICL1 to aid in minimizing non‐optimal movement of the structures of the fourth vertebra. This addition would focus vibrations anteriorly through the ossicle chain with minimal signal loss in zebrafish and other species with similar Weberian apparatus morphologies. We conclude that ICL1 should be included in future analyses of Weberian apparatus function where ligaments are addressed.

Blepharostoma vietnamicum (Marchantiophyta): A New Taxon from Indochina, the Unique Largest Species in the Genus

Blepharostoma is one of the most ancient extant liverwort genera, within which the genetic diversity is quite high, whereas the morphological diversity, owing to the supposed stasis, is quite low. Unusually large plants of this genus were collected in North Vietnam and are described here as new-to-science species via an integrative approach. The two studied specimens do not reveal variability in the sequenced ITS1-2 nrDNA and trnL-F cpDNA loci, are clearly separated from other species by the level of genetic distances, and maintain a stable position on the reconstructed phylogenetic trees. This species is characterized, in addition to the large overall size of the plants, by larger leaf segment cells and a mixed character of oil bodies (i.e., small homogeneous and larger finely papillose ones within one cell). A description of the new taxon; its diagnostic characteristics; photographs; and discussions regarding its ecology, morphological similarities, and potential distribution are provided.

Systematic characterization of extracellular vesicles from potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Laura) roots and peels: biophysical properties and proteomic profiling

IntroductionExtracellular vesicles (EVs) facilitate inter and intra-species/kingdom communication through biomolecule transfer, including proteins and small RNAs. Plant-derived EVs, a hot topic in the field, hold immense capability both as a potential biomarker to study plant physiology and as a biomaterial that can be mass-produced to be used in various industries ranging from cosmetics and food additives to biological pesticides. However, a systematic characterization of plant EVs is required to establish a foundation for further applications and studies.MethodsIn this study, EVs were enriched from hydroponically cultivated potato plants (Solanum tuberosum, cv. Laura). We isolated EVs from root exudates and the apoplastic wash of potato peels using vacuum infiltration. These EVs were then systematically characterized for their biophysical and chemical properties to compare with standard EV characteristics and to explore their roles in plant physiology.ResultsBiophysical and chemical analyses revealed morphological similarities between potato root and peel-derived EVs. The average diameter of root-derived EVs (164.6 ± 7.3 nm) was significantly larger than that of peel-derived EVs (132.2 ± 2.0 nm, p < 0.004). Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) demonstrated substantial protein enrichment in purified EVs compared to crude samples, with a 42% enrichment for root EVs and 25% for peel EVs. Only 11.8% of the identified proteins were common between root and peel EVs, with just 2% of significantly enriched proteins shared. Enriched pathways in both EV proteomes were associated with responses to biotic and abiotic stress, suggesting a defensive role of EVs in plants.DiscussionWith further experimentation to elucidate the specific methods of communication, these findings increase the details known about plant EVs in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics and their potential functions, aiding in sustainable agricultural waste utilization for large-scale EV production, aligning with the concept of “valorization”.

Drastic variation in mitochondrial genome organization between two congeneric species of bird lice (Philopteridae: Ibidoecus).

The over 4,100 species of bird lice are classified into 214 genera in the parvorders Amblycera and Ischnocera. Congeneric species of bird lice usually share much similarity in morphology and in mitochondrial (mt) genome organization. Two recent studies, however, reported substantial intra-genus variation in mt genome organization in bird lice. Both the ancestral single-chromosome mt genome and a fragmented mt genome with two or three minichromosomes were observed in the genera Austromenopon and Laemobothrion. To better understand intra-genus variation in mt genome organization, we sequenced the complete mt genome of the white spoonbill louse Ibidoecus plataleae and compared it with that of the glossy ibis feather louse Ibidoecus bisignatus reported previously. We found that I. plataleae had a fragmented mt genome with 12 minichromosomes; each minichromosome was 2,798 to 3,628bp in size and had 2 to 6 genes. This is in stark contrast to the mt genome of I. bisignatus, which has all genes on a single chromosome, 14,909bp in size. This is the most drastic intra-genus variation in mt genome organization observed to date in animals, indicating an unprecedented rapid process of mt genome fragmentation in the genus Ibidoecus. The divergence time between I. plataleae and I. bisignatus is currently unknown but is estimated to be less than 23million years. Either many minichromosal split events occurred after I. plataleae diverged from I. bisignatus, or one minichromosome splits into multiple minichromosomes in a single event. Sequencing and comparing more Ibidoecusi species will help understand the unusual mt genome fragmentation in this genus.

First Report in China of Leaf Blight on Spatholobus suberectus Dunn Caused by Diaporthe tulliensis.

Spatholobus suberectus Dunn is an important Chinese medicinal plant, which is the only officially recognized authentic source of the Chinese herbal medicine Spatholobi caulis in the China Pharmacopeia (Qin et al. 2024). In November 2023, a serious leaf disease was observed in the S. suberectus planting base in Nanning city (108.22E, 22.51N), Guangxi, China, with an incidence rate of 80%. Initially the symptoms appeared in the diseased leaves tips and was irregular in shape. The necrosis displayed discoloration of the gray color with a deep brown margin and this gradually expanded through into the lamina. To isolate the causal agent, 10 symptomatic leaves were collected and small segments (5×5 mm) of infected tissues were cut, and then they were surface sterilized (30s in 75% EtOH, 2 min in 2.5% NaOCl, and rinsed three times in sterilized distilled water), placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28℃ for 5 days. The hyphal tips were transferred to PDA to obtain pure cultures. 36 isolates were obtained, 23 of them had similar morphology, which were isolated from all the symptomatic leaves and were considered pathogens, and named YY-3-S. After 7 d, the colonies were white, fluffy, with white aerial mycelium. Sporulation was induced using pine needle medium (Su et al. 2012). After 30 days, the globose pycnidia developed, which were superficial to semi-immersed on the pine needle medium, and they appeared to be orange to black in color, with pale yellow conidial droplets. The alpha conidia spores were 3.53 to 6.85×1.75 to 3.70 μm (n = 50). They were unicellular, hyaline, aseptate and ellipsoidal to fusiform. These morphological features were consistent with Diaporthe sp (Sun et al. 2021). For further molecular identification, isolate YY-3-S underwent sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) sections (Huang et al. 2021). Obtained sequences of ITS, TUB2 and TEF1 (Genebank accessions nos. PP838571, PP865050 and PP865051) displayed a 99% similarity to Diaporthe tulliensis (Genebank accessions nos. OP163562, KR936132, OR662168, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis was based on a combination of ITS, TUB2 and TEF1 sequence data using MEGA 11 software to construct a phylogenetic tree with Neighbor-Joining. In the phylogenetic tree, the combined sequences attributed YY-3-S to D. tulliensis. The pathogenicity test was conducted on 1-year-old S. suberectus seedlings. We sprayed the mixed suspension of spores and mycelia on the unwounded leaves, while control seedlings received sterile water. 3 leaves per plant and 5 plants per treatment were selected for assessment. All seedings were placed in pots in a moist chamber at 28°C and 90% humidity. After 5 d, browning was observed on all the inoculated leaves tips. 14 d after inoculation, necrotic lesions expanded outward and their symptoms like those in the field, while control plants remained healthy. D. tulliensis was reisolated from the inoculated leaves, fulfilling the Koch's postulates. D. tulliensis has been reported to necrotic spots and leaf blight on Rambutan (Serrato-Diaz et al. 2023), leaf spot on bodhi tree (Li et al. 2022), stem canker on Jasmin (Hsu et al. 2023). To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. tulliensis causing leaf blight on S. suberectus in China. It is important to ensure timely management of the newly emerging disease.

Detection of molecular markers of ferroptosis in human Alzheimer's disease brains.

We have previously shown that droplet degeneration (DD) signifies the beginning of neuritic plaque formation during Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. As microglia associated with neuritic plaques exhibited strong ferritin expression and Perl's iron staining showed iron in microglia, droplet spheres and neuritic plaque cores, we hypothesized that DD is a form of ferroptosis. Detection of molecular markers of ferroptosis in AD brains. Immunohistochemical detection of transferrin receptor (TfR) and ferritin as ferroptosis markers in prefrontal cortex of AD brains, investigation of spatial correlation of these with histopathological hallmarks of AD, visualization of ferroptotic marker genes by in situ hybridization, comparison of expression of ferroptosis genes with snRNAseq analyses and comparison of TfR and ferritin expression in different neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) stages. TfR was found on neurons that appeared to be degenerating and exhibited typical features of droplet degeneration. Co-localization with hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) was a rare event. TfR-positive neurons increased with higher NFT stages as did ferritin expression in microglia. mRNA of genes linked to ferroptosis was detected in pretangles and p-tau negative neurons, less in DD. snRNAseq analyses support a link between AD, ferroptosis and TfR as a ferroptosis marker. Increased expression of TfR and ferritin in high NFT stages, demonstration of ferroptotic marker genes in Alzheimer's lesions, as well as snRNAseq analyses strengthen our hypothesis that DD represents ferroptosis. Because of the morphological similarity between TfR-positive structures and DD, TfR might be an early ferroptosis marker expressed transiently during AD pathogenesis.

A molecular assessment of species boundaries and relationships in the Australian brine shrimp Parartemia (Anostraca: Parartemiidae).

Australian salt lakes contain a diverse range of endemic invertebrates. The brine shrimp Parartemia is among the most speciose and salt-tolerant of these invertebrates. The morphotaxonomy of Parartemia is well established but there has only been limited molecular assessment of the phylogenetic relationships and boundaries of the morphospecies. We used multiple genetic markers (nuclear 28S and mitochondrial 16S and COI ) and tree-building methods (Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood) to investigate the phylogeny of Parartemia . We also used species delimitation methods to test the validity of morphological species designations. The data set included all but 2 of the 18 described Parartemia morphospecies, collected from a total of 93 sites from across southern Australia plus some sequences from GenBank. The results identified large amounts of molecular divergence (e.g. COI P- values of up to 25.23%), some groups of closely related species (which also usually shared some morphological similarities) and some distinctive species, although the relationships among divergent lineages were generally not well resolved. The most conservative set of results from the species delimitation analyses suggests that the morphotaxonomy is largely accurate, although many morphospecies comprised divergent genetic lineages separated by COI P- values of up to 17.02%. Two putative new morphospecies, three cryptic species and one synonymy were identified. Our findings improve the knowledge of Parartemia taxonomy and will facilitate the development of future studies and conservation of this taxon.

Aerial litter mimicry: A novel form of floral deception mediated by a monoterpene synthase

Abstract Floral mimics deceive their pollinators by developing visual and olfactory resemblance to various models. We report a flower that exhibits phenotypes like aerial litter and deceives an aerial litter specialist beetle to achieve pollination. We assessed the floral phenology and the effective pollinators of an Australian understorey treelet, Meiogyne heteropetala (Annonaceae). The similarities of morphology, colour and odour between the flowers and co‐occurring aerial litter were investigated. The terpene synthase involved in floral scent emission was identified by expression patterns and product profile. The behavioural responses of the pollinator to various odours were assessed using bioassays. The erotylid beetle Loberus sharpi is the most likely effective pollinator because it was the only pollen‐laden visitor during the pistillate phase. Loberus sharpi was exclusively found in aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The flowers offer an honest shelter reward. The beetle also oviposits there, but most larvae eventually perished as the petals dropped onto the forest floor. The morphology and spectral reflectance of the flowers overlap with aerial litter. The floral scent was dominated by monoterpenes, especially 1,8‐cineole. The cineole synthase MhCINS was the only highly expressed floral terpene synthase and possessed a highly similar product profile to the floral scent composition. The volatile composition of M. heteropetala flowers is distinct from other congeners and highly similar to aerial litter, indicating advergence to aerial litter. Visual and odour resemblance, coupled with low larval survivorship, provides evidence that the beetles were deceived into pollinating the flowers. Behavioural experiments showed that the pollinator was attracted to both aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The beetles were also attracted to 1,8‐cineole and synthetic mixes of floral odour and MhCINS products. The beetles were unable to distinguish floral scent from MhCINS products nor from 1,8‐cineole, suggesting MhCINS alone sufficed to attract the pollinator olfactorily. The beetles, however, preferred aerial litter over flowers. The beetles likely categorised the flower as a general, but not the most preferred, brood substrate. Synthesis. This study reports the first case of floral mimicry of aerial litter and characterises the biochemical process responsible for olfactory mimicry.

Tunable Isometric Donor‐Acceptor Wurster‐Type Covalent Organic Framework Photocathodes

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer remarkable versatility, combining ordered structures, high porosity, and tailorable functionalities in nanoscale reaction spaces. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of isostructural, photoactive Wurster‐type COFs achieved by manipulating the chemical and electronic nature of the Wurster aromatic amine building blocks. A series of donor‐acceptor‐donor (D‐A‐D) Wurster building block molecules was synthesized by incorporating heteroaromatic acceptors with varying strengths between triphenylamine donor groups. These tailored building blocks were integrated into a 2D COF scaffold, resulting in highly crystalline structures and similar morphologies across all COFs. Remarkably, this structural uniformity was also achieved in the synthesis of homogeneous and oriented thin films. Steady‐state photoluminescence revealed a tunable red‐shift in film emission exceeding 100 nm, demonstrating effective manipulation of their optical properties. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting studies exhibited a doubled current density (8.1 μA cm−2 at 0.2 VRHE) for the COF with the strongest acceptor unit. These findings highlight the potential of Wurster D‐A‐D COFs in photoelectrochemical water splitting devices and pave the way for further exploration of chemical functionality‐reactivity‐property relationships in this promising class of photoactive materials.

Characterization of Plant based spray dried powders using oil seed proteins and chokeberry extract from wine byproduct

Spray drying is a standard method for preserving bioactive ingredients and enhancing their storage stability. This study aimed to produce entirely plant-based spray-dried powders by using hemp, canola, and flax seed proteins, combined with maltodextrin, as wall material, while chokeberry extract from wine waste served as core material. We conducted a thorough analysis of the oil-seed proteins, examining their nitrogen solubility index, emulsification, and foaming capacities. The encapsulation process was evaluated based on its yield and efficiency. The spray-dried powders were further assessed through colour analysis, particle morphology and size distribution, hygroscopicity, and storage stability measurements. The encapsulation yield with oil-seed proteins ranged from 75.0 ± 6.2 to 78.5 ± 1.3%, and the efficiency from 58.4 ± 0.8 to 77.5 ± 1.9%. These plant-based spray-dried powders exhibited similar colour parameters, morphology, and stability to those of whey protein powders. The study highlights the significant potential of oil-seed proteins in producing plant-based spray-dried powders.

Catalogue of fungi in China 4: Didymiaceae and Physaraceae (Myxomycetes)

ABSTRACT Myxomycetes play crucial ecological roles, yet their species diversity, distribution, and taxonomic relationships remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined 104 specimens from 19 provinces in China. Through morphological analysis, we identified a group of species with reduced lime formation, a feature typically associated with the Physaraceae, but with key morphological similarities to the Diderma. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis was conducted using three genes (nSSU, EF-1α, and COI), resulting in a dataset of 452 sequences from 116 species. Notably, we identified a distinct clade within Didymiaceae containing species with fewer lime knots, a trait traditionally linked to Physaraceae. This clade, designated as the new genus Neodiderma, was phylogenetically positioned as a sister group to Diderma, potentially representing a transitional group between Didymiaceae and Physaraceae, supported by both morphological and molecular evidence. Eleven new species — N. macrosporum, N. pseudobisporum, N. verrucocapillitium, N. rigidocapillitium, N. rufum, Physarum guangxiense, P. subviride, P. nigritum, P. biyangense, P. neoovoideum, and P. jilinense — were identified from China, and their phylogenetic positions were analysed. Additionally, N. spumarioides (formerly Diderma spumarioides) was recombined. The new and recombined species were formally described and illustrated, and a key to the sections and species of Neodiderma and Physarum was provided.

PRAME Immunostaining in BAP-1-Inactivated Melanocytic Tumors: Unraveling Diagnostic Complexity and Exploring Germline Mutation Associations

Background: Cutaneous melanocytic tumors with BAP-1 inactivation (BIMTs), linked to mutations in the BAP-1 gene, present diagnostic challenges due to their morphological similarities with other melanocytic lesions. The search for reliable diagnostic markers, including PRAME, holds potential to significantly improve the accuracy of differential diagnoses. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 32 BIMTs from 25 patients, collected between 2018 and 2022, involved histologic examination and immunostaining for BAP-1 and PRAME. Results: Positive PRAME expression, defined as diffuse staining in at least 75% of nevic cells, was observed in 19% of cases. Variations in PRAME expression patterns were noted, particularly in biphasic lesions and those associated with germline BAP-1 mutations. Conclusions: The diagnostic complexities of BIMTs necessitate a comprehensive diagnostic strategy. While BAP-1 immunostaining remains pivotal, this study explored PRAME as a potential adjunctive diagnostic tool. PRAME antibody shows highly variable expression in BIMTs, limiting its utility as a supportive tool for the differential diagnosis with melanomas, especially in patients with biphasic lesions and germline mutations in BAP-1.

Mapping membrane biophysical nano-environments

The mammalian plasma membrane is known to contain domains with varying lipid composition and biophysical properties. However, studying these membrane lipid domains presents challenges due to their predicted morphological similarity to the bulk membrane and their scale being below the classical resolution limit of optical microscopy. To address this, we combine the solvatochromic probe di-4-ANEPPDHQ, which reports on its biophysical environment through changes in its fluorescence emission, with spectrally resolved single-molecule localisation microscopy. The resulting data comprises nanometre-precision localisation coordinates and a generalised polarisation value related to the probe’s environment – a marked point pattern. We introduce quantification algorithms based on topological data analysis (PLASMA) to detect and map nano-domains in this marked data, demonstrating their effectiveness in both artificial membranes and live cells. By leveraging environmentally sensitive fluorophores, multi-modal single molecule localisation microscopy, and advanced analysis methods, we achieve nanometre scale mapping of membrane properties and assess changes in response to external perturbation with methyl-β-cyclodextrin. This integrated methodology represents an integrated toolset for investigating marked point pattern data at nanometre spatial scales.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Pogostemon cablin in Guangdong, China.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is a vital source of patchouli oil, utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, cosmetics, and hygiene products(Swamy et al. 2016). In 2022, a leaf spot disease outbreak on patchouli plants occurred nearly 10 acres in Yunfu, Guangdong (21°2' N; 110°3' E), with an average incidence rate of 50%. Infected leaves initially showed circular spots with tan centers and yellow halos. Within five to ten days, these spots expanded, crossed leaf veins, and became polygonal with rough surfaces. As the disease progressed, the spots merged, darkening the veins and eventually causing leaf loss. Five symptomatic leaves were soaked in 75% ethanol for 10 s, and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s, followed by a final rinse in sterile water. These samples were then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates. After 3-5 days of incubation at 28 °C, the mycelial growth was transferred to fresh PDA plates and purified by isolating the hyphal tip three times. Four of the five isolates had similar morphology and caused leaf spot symptoms upon inoculation. During culture on PDA, these isolates formed colonies with downy, gray-brown mycelium and darker centers. Microscopic examination revealed branched, septate mycelium; solitary, erect, unbranched grayish-brown conidiophores; and club-shaped conidia. Conidia were faint brown, segmented, contained 2 to 15 septa(predominant number being 3 to 4), ranged from 32 to 220 μm in length and 8.4 to 22.4 μm in width (n = 30). The morphology of these isolates was identical to that of Corynespora cassiicola (Ellis 1971). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 3-month-old seedlings of P. cablin using the conidium infection method. A suspension of conidia (1 × 106 conidia/ml) was prepared from cultures induced to sporulate by 90-minute near-UV exposure followed by 2-day dark incubation at 28 °C, and 30 ml of this suspension was sprayed onto leaves of each seedling. Inoculated plants were incubated at 28 °C in an incubator. Potted plants treated only with sterile water were used as controls. Each treatment was inoculated into five potted plants. After seven days, all the inoculated leaves displayed symptoms similar to those observed in the fields, whereas the control leaves did not exhibit these symptoms. The pathogenicity test was repeated three times. Following Koch's postulates, the pathogen was re-isolated and identified as C. cassiicola through morphological and ITS sequence each time. To further identify, we selected a representative isolate, LD-TJ, for multi-locus sequence analysis of its ITS, LSU, and TEF1-α genes (GenBank Accession Nos. PQ042036, PQ035023, PQ060235)(Voglmayr et al. 2017). BLASTN analysis of the sequences obtained showed a high similarity of 99 to 100% with the ITS (JAEMHE010000031.1:51214-51777, 481/481 nucleotides), LSU (JAEMHE010000018.1:728464-729373, 910/910 nucleotides), and TEF1-α (JAEMHE010000005.1:656736-657712, 969/970 nucleotides) sequences of C. cassiicola CC01. The phylogenetic tree showed that the LD-TJ strain, C. cassiicola CC01(isolated from rubber trees), and C. cassiicola CC_29(isolated from soybean leaves) clustered into a clade with a 99% bootstrap value. C. cassiicola was identified as the cause of patchouli leaf spot in Hainan(Chen et al. 2010), but it has not yet been reported in Guangdong. Identifying P. cablin leaf spot disease is crucial in Guangdong Province because it is the main growing area for P. cablin in China (Yan et al. 2021).

High-resolution HI mapping of nearby extremely metal-poor blue compact dwarf galaxies

Optical observations of blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) show they typically have high specific star formation rates black (sSFRs) and low metallicites. A subset of these galaxies (those with the lowest gas phase metallicities) display cometary optical morphologies similar to those found at high redshift. Whether this combination of properties predominantly arises from interactions with neighbours or via accretion from the cosmic web, or is indeed due to something else, remains unclear. Our aim is to use high-resolution mapping to gain insights into the processes driving the observed properties of a sample of extremely metal-poor (XMP) BCDs. We present Very Large Array B-- and C--configuration mapping of the four BCDs of our sample. For three of the targeted BCDs, we also detected and mapped the in their nearby companions. In these three cases, there is morphological and kinematic evidence of a recent flyby interaction between the BCD and a nearby companion galaxy. The evidence for recent interactions for these three BCDs is corroborated by our analysis of the tidal forces exerted on the BCDs by companions with available spectroscopic redshifts. In one of these cases, J0204--1009, we obtain sufficient spatial resolution to determine that the BCD is dominated by dark matter black (DM) and estimate its DM halo mass to be in the range of 1.2 times 1011 to 5.2 times 1011 However, it is the most isolated BCD in our small sample, J0301--0052, that shows one of the most asymmetric morphologies . J0301--0052 has a similar cometary morphology to its optical morphology, although the column density maximum is projected at the end of the optical tail. Our observations suggest that J0301--0052 may be undergoing a merger, while the other members of our BCD sample show evidence of a recent tidal interaction with a near neighbour. While our selection criteria favour BCDs with companions, our results are consistent with previous literature showing that most BCDs are associated with either mild tidal interactions or mergers.

First Report of Fusarium proliferatum Causing Pinellia ternata Corm Rot in Henan, China.

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino is a perennial herb of the genus Pinellia in the Araceae family, which is a kind of precious Chinese herbal medicine (Bai et al. 2022). In May 2023, rotting was observed on P. ternata corm in the Tanghe planting base (3.33 ha, 32º46´6˝N, 113º 8´47˝E, 138 m), with an incidence of approximately 10%. To identify the causal agent, five rotten corms were randomly sampled from the Tanghe planting base. Symptomatic corm tissues were cut into small pieces (3 mm3) with asymptomatic tissue margins, disinfected in 75% ethanol for 30s and in 2% sodium hypochlorite for 3 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, and then placed on synthetic nutrient-poor agar (SNA) plates incubated at 20℃ with a 12 h light/dark photoperiod. Hyphal-tips from the growing edge of colonies were transferred to fresh SNA to obtain pure cultures. In total, five pure isolates were obtained with similar colony morphology and white (top view) or grayish white (back view) coloration, with villous surfaces and abundant aerial hyphae. On SNA, the isolates mainly produced microconidia. Microconidia were ellipsoidal to cylindrical, thin-walled, smooth, hyaline and measured 5.40 to 11.98 (av. 7.14) µm long and 1.60 to 5.38 (av. 2.54) µm thick (n=50). Based on these morphological characteristics of colony and conidia, the causal agent was preliminarily identified as Fusarium sp. (Crous et al. 2021). To confirm pathogen identity, the total genomic DNA of 2 isolates (BX-2 and BX-3) was extracted using the 2×T5 Direct PCR kit (Beijing Tsingke Biotech Co., Ltd, Beijing, China). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and β-tubulin (tub2) gene were PCR-amplified using the universal primers ITS1/ITS4, 5f2/7cr, EF-1/EF-2 and BT2F/BT4R (Crous et al. 2021), respectively. Sequences have been deposited in GenBank (PP125560-PP125561 for ITS, PP782474-PP782475 for rpb2, PP782476-PP782477 for tef1, PP171436-PP171437 for tub2). BLAST search showed that all sequences were 99% to 100% homology with the corresponding sequences of Fusarium proliferatum (CBS 182.32). A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the Maximum-Likelihood method in MEGA-X (Kumar et al. 2018) and revealed that the two isolates were closest to F. proliferatum. The pathogenicity tests were conducted with the two isolates (BX-2 and BX-3) as described by Liu et al. (2022) with slight modifications. For each treatment, five healthy P. ternata corms were inoculated with 1ml of conidial suspension (1×107 conidia/ml). Control plants (n=5) were inoculated with sterilized water. All samples were covered with plastic bags and maintained at a relative humidity greater than 90% in a greenhouse at 20℃ with a 12 h light/dark photoperiod. After 15 days, inoculated corms showed similar symptoms to those on the original diseased plants, while control plants remained symptomless. F. proliferatum was successfully reisolated from the inoculated plants and identified based on its morphological characteristics. Thus, Koch's postulates were fulfilled. The experiment was repeated thrice with similar results. Morphological characteristics, sequence alignment and Koch's postulates test confirmed that F. proliferatum was the cause of P. ternata corm rot disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. proliferatum causing P. ternata corm rot in Henan province, China. Our findings are important for informed surveillance of the disease.

Morphological similarity and white matter structural mapping of new daily persistent headache: a structural connectivity and tract-specific study

BackgroundNew daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a rare primary headache disorder characterized by daily and persistent sudden onset headaches. Specific abnormalities in gray matter and white matter structure are associated with pain, but have not been well studied in NDPH. The objective of this work is to explore the fiber tracts and structural connectivity, which can help reveal unique gray and white matter structural abnormalities in NDPH.MethodsThe regional radiomics similarity networks were calculated from T1 weighted (T1w) MRI to depict the gray matter structure. The fiber connectivity matrices weighted by diffusion metrics like fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) were built, meanwhile the fiber tracts were segmented by anatomically-guided superficial fiber segmentation (Anat-SFSeg) method to explore the white matter structure from diffusion MRI. The considerable different neuroimaging features between NDPH and healthy controls (HC) were extracted from the connectivity and tract-based analyses. Finally, decision tree regression was used to predict the clinical scores (i.e. pain intensity) from the above neuroimaging features.ResultsT1w and diffusion MRI data were available in 51 participants after quality control: 22 patients with NDPH and 29 HCs. Significantly decreased morphological similarity was found between the right superior frontal gyrus and right hippocampus. The superficial white matter (SWM) showed significantly decreased FA in fiber tracts including the right superficial-frontal, left superficial-occipital, bilateral superficial-occipital-temporal (Sup-OT) and right superficial-temporal, meanwhile significant increased RD was found in the left Sup-OT. For the fiber connectivity, NDPH showed significantly decreased FA in the bilateral basal ganglion and temporal lobe, increased MD in the right frontal lobe, and increased RD in the right frontal lobe and left temporal-occipital lobe. Clinical scores could be predicted dominantly by the above significantly different neuroimaging features through decision tree regression.ConclusionsOur research indicates the structural abnormalities of SWM and the neural pathways projected between regions like right hippocampus and left caudate nucleus, along with morphological similarity changes between the right superior frontal gyrus and right hippocampus, constitute the pathological features of NDPH. The decision tree regression demonstrates correlations between these structural changes and clinical scores.

Comprehensive genome-wide characterization of the MIKC-type MADS-box family members and the dynamic expression profiling throughout the development of floral buds in Populus tomentosa

Poplar is a major silvicultural tree species for industrial production, with versatile applications in construction, furniture, pulp and biofuel. The phenotypic appearance of male or female floral buds in poplar trees, exhibits a strikingly similar morphology at corresponding developmental stages. However, there are significant differences in internal anatomical structures. The MIKC-type MADS-box transcription factor family plays an indispensable role in regulating the development of floral organs and increasing vegetative biomass, and it is also of great significance in elucidation of the aforementioned morphological differences. This study systematically analyzed the MIKC-type MADS-box transcription factor family in Populus tomentosa. A total of 100 MIKC-type MADS-box genes were identified, which were divided into 14 subfamilies. We examined the physicochemical properties, gene structure, conserved motifs, chromosome distribution, collinearity, promoter cis-acting elements, gene expression profiles, and protein-protein interaction network of these 100 MIKC-type MADS-box members. Excitingly, four clusters of PtMADS members exhibited a high level of abundant expression in the initial and mature floral buds of both male and female, suggesting critical significance in tuning the morphogenesis and development of floral organs, as well as in the modulation of reproductive fitness. The protein-protein interaction network diagram corroborated these findings, substantiating the speculated roles of these genes. Our findings lay a foundational framework for future functional explorations and potential applications of MIKC-type MADS-box genes in this industry tree species.

A new record of Begonia aptera in Southern Mindanao: the second species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum recorded from the Philippines

Begonia aptera was recently found during expeditions in the Matutum and Melibengoy mountains in South Cotabato province, southern Mindanao island, Philippines. The identification of the species was affirmed by the morphological similarities of the samples to specimens from the neighbouring island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Begonia aptera is a member of the Begonia longifolia complex by having berry-like dull green, rhomboidal to spherical fruits with three locules, axillary, dichasial inflorescense, 4-tepaled male and 6-tepaled female flowers. Begonia aptera is distinct by having broadly elliptic leaves with bi-tooothed, serrate margins. This is just the second member of Begonia sect. Platycentrum in the Philippines, the only member of this section being B. halconensis endemic to Mindoro Island, with all other Philippine Begonia falling into sections Petermannia and Baryandra. It is proposed that the species be declared as vulnerable in the Philippines due to the fragmented population observed and potential threats to the observed populations.

Primary vulvar and vaginal adenocarcinomas of intestinal-type are closer to colorectal adenocarcinomas than to carcinomas of Müllerian origin

Primary vulvar and vaginal adenocarcinomas of intestinal-type (VVAIts) are very rare tumors, displaying morphological and immunohistochemical overlap with colorectal adenocarcinomas. However, their immunoprofile and genomics are poorly studied, and their origin is still debated. Herein, we studied a series of 4 vulvar and 4 vaginal adenocarcinomas of intestinal-type using a large panel of immunohistochemistry, and DNA and RNA sequencing with clustering analyses. All tumors shared a similar morphology with colorectal adenocarcinomas and diffuse CK20 and CDX2 expression. SATB2 diffuse positivity was observed in 62.5% of tumors and CK7 in 82.5%, while PAX8, SOX17, p16, estrogen and progesterone receptors were always negative. A p53 mutated-type expression was observed in 75% of tumors. All tumors were MMR proficient. No HPV DNA nor pathogenic transcript fusions were detected. The most frequent molecular alterations were TP53 and KRAS variants in 71.4% and 42.9%, respectively. The transcriptomic analysis highlighted a robust VVAIts cluster distinct from endocervical, ovarian, lung, thyroid, salivary glands, breast, and renal carcinomas, but failed to differentiate vulvar from vaginal intestinal-type tumors. On two different clustering analyses, VVAIts clustered altogether, very close to colorectal adenocarcinomas. Compared to endocervical adenocarcinomas of intestinal-type, VVAIts had a significantly lower expression of SOX17 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes, and a higher MAP-Kinase pathway gene expression. These results suggest that Müllerian structures leading to cervical adenocarcinomas may undergo intestinal-type transdifferentiation via an EMT phenomenon. Conversely, MAP-Kinase pathway activation in VVAIts, which plays a major role in colorectal adenocarcinomas, may indicate a close relationship in the carcinogenesis of these tumors. Our results indicate that adenocarcinomas of intestinal-type, in distal vagina or vestibular vulva, might be a unique and single entity, probably originating from cloacogenic embryonic remnants and/or ectopic colorectal mucosae inclusions. An open question would be to explore the efficacy of systemic drugs prescribed in colorectal cancers, in VVAIts.