Pale Yellow Research Articles

Chromatic leucism in the flap shell turtle, Lissemys punctata from Bangladesh

The spotted flap shell turtle, Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre, 1789) has a distribution in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. In Bangladesh, this species is widely distributed throughout the freshwater wetlands and the low-lying floodplains, coastal islands, and hill districts. This species is listed in CITES (Appendix II) and protected by Bangladesh Wildlife Conservation & Security Act 2012 (Schedule II), where commercial trade is strictly prohibited. Lissemys punctata has an oval and domed carapace with olive-green colour spotted by dark yellow blotches. The head is also olive green often with yellow blotches, whereas the plastron is whitish or pale yellow. The colour of this species may vary depending on its habitat and defence strategy. Colour aberration in animals may occur due to a lack of melanin. Golden yellow colour aberration (chromatic leucism) is rare in animals, especially in turtles. This might be because of the absence of melanin in the outer dermis. The presence of high xanthophores and yellow pteridine pigments in the skin are also responsible for the golden yellow colour aberration.

A Rat Model of Orthotopic Kidney Transplantation Based on Nonanastomotic Technique

Renal transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage renal disease, which involves pathophysiologic processes such as ischemia-reperfusion injury and immune rejection. The degree of ischemia-reperfusion injury is closely related to the functional state of the transplanted kidney. At present, the allogeneic kidney transplantation model has been widely used in related research. The traditional kidney transplantation model has the disadvantages of complicated vascular anastomosis, difficulty in ureteral reconstruction. The aim of this study was to establish a rat autologous orthotopic kidney transplantation model based on non-anastomotic technique. Inbred Wistar rats weighing 260 to 280 g were selected. The rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injections of 40 mg/kg body weight pentobarbital sodium. We exposed and freed the left kidney after laparotomy and separated the left renal artery and left renal vein, abdominal aorta, and posterior vena cava. A purse-string suture with a diameter of 1 to 2 mm was made through the tunica media of the abdominal aorta. A puncture was made through the center of the purse-string suture. The in-dwelling needle was placed in the renal artery along the blood flow direction, and was infused with constant flow of 4°C heparinized lactated ringer's solution until the kidney became pale yellow. The renal vein was ligated and the renal artery was clamped. The in-dwelling needle was removed, purse-string suture was ligated, and the kidney was stored in a self-made autologous kidney transplant cold storage bag for 4 hours. We then opened the vein and artery, removed the cold storage bag, and rewarmed with 37°C normal saline. The abdomen was then closed layer by layer. Fifty-two orthotopic renal transplantations were performed, which included pre-experimental (40 operations) and experimental stages (12 operations). The success rates of the 2 stages were 75% and 91.7%, respectively. The main causes of failure were intraoperative hemorrhagic shock and postoperative infection. The operation time of orthotopic renal transplantation was 360 ± 30 minutes, including 30 ± 10 minutes for dissociation and management of kidney and blood vessels, 1 ± 0.5 minutes for warm ischemia and 240 ± 10 minutes for cold storage. Rats were sacrificed at 1 day and 7 day respectively. The rats were in good condition after operation. They could eat and drink freely. At 24 hours and 1 week after transplantation, the kidney's blood supply was good, the intestine was light or showed no adhesions, and the abdominal cavity had no ascites or peculiar smell. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining showed that there were no obvious pathologic changes in the sham group. The orthotopic kidney transplantation 1-day group showed pathologic changes of ischemia-reperfusion, such as swelling, necrosis, shedding, and cast formation of renal tubular cells. The orthotopic kidney transplantation 7-day group recovered well, with mild dilation of the renal capsule and mild dilatation of the renal tubules. The new model of autologous kidney transplantation is simple to use, does not require vascular anastomosis and ureteral reconstruction, and has a high success rate.

Boosting the Rate Performance of Li–S Batteries via Highly Dispersed Cobalt Nanoparticles Embedded into Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon

Boosting the Rate Performance of Li–S Batteries via Highly Dispersed Cobalt Nanoparticles Embedded into Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using Garcinia extracts: a review

The demand for nanoparticles has been increasing rapidly in recent years due to their unique properties of interest for a wide range of applications. Several physical, chemical, or microorganisms-based methods can be employed in the synthesis of nanoparticles. However, classical processes are time-consuming, complicated, and raise environmental concerns due to the use of high energy and toxic chemicals. Synthesis using plant extract outweighs some classical methods because it is rapid, simple, and eco-friendly. Therefore, plant extract appears promising to produce nanoparticles. Here we review the use of extracts from various species and plant parts of Garcinia for the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Garcinia gummi-gutta is a tropical species of Garcinia native to Indonesia. Common names include Garcinia cambogia, as well as brindleberry, Malabar tamarind, Goraka, and kudam puli. The fruit looks like a small pumpkin and is green to pale yellow. We present the major metabolites responsible for metal ions reduction and nanoparticles stabilisation, the synthesis mechanism, the types of metal nanoparticles formed, and their potential applications. Advantages and challenges of Garcinia extract utilisation are also discussed.

Rugitermesursulae (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae), a new drywood termite from the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Rugitermesursulaesp. nov. is described from a sample collected inside a dead branch in a tropical dry forest of Colombia’s Caribbean coast using molecular information and external morphological characters of the imago and soldier castes. Rugitermesursulaesp. nov. soldiers and imagoes are the smallest among all described Rugitermes species. The imago’s head capsule coloration is dark castaneous, while the pronotum is contrastingly pale yellow. Our description includes soldier characters, such as subflangular elevation and shape of the antennal sockets, that can help in identification of samples lacking imagoes.

First report of Penicillium olsonii causing postharvest fruit rot on tomato in Serbia.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, L.) is one of the most important vegetable crop in Serbia, with a total production of 111,639 t in 2019 (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia). In July 2020, six tomatoes (cv. Balkan) with symptoms of fruit rot were collected from market in Belgrade, Serbia. The incidence of disease was about 2%, and the symptomatic samples were stored for 10 days after harvest. The initial symptoms on fruits were small circular, slightly sunken and water-soaked spots with white mycelia, that progressively expanded into larger grey lesions following the occurrence of sporulation. Isolations were conducted from one spot/fruit. Small pieces (2 to 3 mm2) from the margins of lesions were surface sterilized for 1 min in 1% NaOCl, washed twice with sterile distilled water, and cultivated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C. The isolation frequency of Penicillium-like colonies was 100%. In total, six monosporic isolates were obtained and two isolates (SZ-20-6 and SZ-20-7) were selected as representative for morphological and molecular identification, and pathogenicity test. Morphological characteristics of both isolates were observed after growth on malt extract agar (MEA) for 7 days at 25ºC. On MEA, mycelia were white and colonies turned greyish-green with abundant sporulation. On the reverse sides colonies were pale yellow. The mean colony diameter on MEA for isolate SZ-20-6 was 25 ± 1.2 mm and 26 ± 1.0 mm for isolate SZ-20-7. The colony texture was velvety, without exudates and pigmentation. The conidiophores of both isolates were terverticillate, unbranched; phialides were flask shaped with a short neck, and conidia were smooth, greenish and subglobose to ellipsoidal. The conidial diameter for isolate SZ-20-6 was 3 to 4 × 2.5 to 3 µm, and for isolate SZ-20-7 was 3.5 to 4 × 2.5 to 3.5 µm (n =50). Based on these characteristics, isolates were identified as Penicillium olsonii (Pitt 1979). To confirm the morphological identification, genomic DNA was extracted from isolates (SZ-20-6 and SZ-20-7), and the rDNA ITS region and partial β-tubulin gene (BenA) were amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and Bt2a/Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995), respectively. All sequences showed 99 to 100% similarity to P. olsonii and were deposited in GenBank (ITS, MW130235 and MW130236; BenA, MW145147 and MW145148). In multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ITS+BenA), isolates from this study clustered together with other P. olsonii sequences with 100% bootstrap support. To complete Koch's postulates, asymptomatic fruits of tomato cv. Balkan (five fruits per isolate) were superficially sterilized with 70% ethanol, wounded with a sterile needle and inoculated with 10 μl of a spore suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml). Five control fruits were inoculated with 10 μl of sterile distilled water. The experiment was repeated twice. After 7 days of incubation in a moisture chamber at 25°C, typical grey lesions developed on inoculated fruits. The control fruits remained symptomless. The isolates recovered from symptomatic fruits showed the same morphological features as the original isolates. P. olsonii was previously reported on tomato fruit only in Canada (Chatterton et al. 2012) and Pakistan (Anjum et al. 2018). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. olsonii causing postharvest fruit rot on tomato in Serbia, and in Europe, as well. Therefore, it is essential to monitor spreading of P. olsonii on tomato and other crops in storages, and develop efficient disease management strategies.

A dual responsive probe based on bromo substituted salicylhydrazone moiety for the colorimetric detection of Cd2+ ions and fluorometric detection of F‒ ions: Applications in live cell imaging

A dual responsive probe based on bromo substituted salicylhydrazone moiety for the colorimetric detection of Cd2+ ions and fluorometric detection of F‒ ions: Applications in live cell imaging

First Report of Leaf Spot on White Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) Caused by Epicoccum sorghinum in Hubei province, China.

White Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), a perennial herb of the Compositae family, is used for traditional medicine. The planting area of white chrysanthemum in Macheng city, Hubei Province is about 3333 ha and the annual output can reach more than 5000 tons. In 2019, leaf spot disease appeared on almost all middle and lower leaves of white chrysanthemum in most fields of Fengshumiao county, Macheng city (N31°29'57″, E115°05'49″). This county has 33 acres white chrysanthemum planting area, and most of the plants in the county were infected with the leaf spot disease. The average incidence of leaf spot disease was 65%, and incidence in some areas was 100%. In our observations, leaf spot disease can occur throughout the whole growth period of white chrysanthemum, and it will become more serious under the high temperature and humidity condition. Usually, the diseased leaves account for 30 to 80% of the total leaves on the plant. Leaf spot initially manifests as necrotic lesions on the edge and tip of the leaf, and then the lesions coalesce and gradually expand to form irregular light-brown to brown-black spots, eventually leading to necrosis and curling of the entire leaf. This disease seriously affects the growth and development of plants, resulting in the decline of yield and quality of white chrysanthemum. Ten symptomatic leaf samples were collected, the surfaces were disinfected with 0.1% mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 3 min, and washed with sterile distilled water three times. Ten tissue samples at the junction of diseased and healthy areas (0.5 × 0.5 cm2) were cut and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium containing 100 µg/ml cefotaxime sodium and incubated in a dark chamber at 28°C. After 2 days, the hyphal tips from the edges of growing colonies were transferred to fresh PDA plates for further purification. Finally, eight isolates were obtained and these isolates were similar in morphology. The color of purified isolates was initially white to pale yellow. After six days of incubation, colonies had a diameter of 8 cm and the cultures were pale gray and starting to secrete scarlet pigment. After 15 days incubation, the colonies were grayish brown, while the backside was reddish-brown. Gray to tan chlamydospores were observed, nearly spherical, with a wart-like surface. Unicellular chlamydospores were 7.91 to 32.23 × 12.03 to 38.42 µm (n=30) and multicellular chlamydospores were 6.32 to 25.10 × 21.75 to 100.05 µm (n=30). The morphological characteristics were similar to Epicoccum sorghinum (Kang et al. 2019). The isolate FDY-5 was chosen for molecular identification. The sequence of rDNA-ITS, TUB, and LSU of the FDY-5 were amplified (GenBank MT800929, MT799852, and MT800935, respectively) (White et al. 1990; Carbone and Kohn 1999; Lumbsch et al. 2000). BLAST results showed that the rDNA-ITS sequences, the TUB gene sequences, and LSU gene sequences of strain FDY-5 shared 99% identity with the sequences of E. sorghinum (syn. Phoma sorghina) in GenBank (MN555348.1, MF987525.1, MK516207.1, respectively). Moreover, a phylogenetic tree of the LSU gene sequence of FDY-5 was constructed based on the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method in MEGA6 software (Tamura et al. 2013) and revealed that strain FDY-5 was closest to E. sorghinum. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, the fungus was identified as E. sorghinum. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on two-month-old white chrysanthemum plants. The upper three leaves of three plants were randomly selected for stab treatment and were inoculated with 5 × 5 mm mycelial discs produced from a fifteen-day-old colony on PDA. The inoculated and control (treated with sterile PDA disks) plants were incubated in a moist chamber (25 ± 2 °C, RH 85%). The first lesions appeared 1 day after inoculation on leaves, and the necrotic lesion area expanded outward and showed typical symptoms 3 days later. To fulfill Koch's postulates, the pathogen was reisolated from nine inoculated leaves by repeating the above isolating operation, and confirmed as E. sorghinum by morphology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. sorghinum causing leaf spot on white chrysanthemum in China. E. sorghinum has a wide host range worldwide and often causes crop yield reduction. This report will facilitate the diagnosis of white chrysanthemum leaf spot of white chrysanthemum allowing control measures to be adopted to manage this disease in a timely manner. References Carbone, I., and Kohn, L. M. 1999. Mycologia 91:553. Kang, Y., et al. 2019. Plant Dis. 103 (7):1787. Lumbsch, H., et al. 2000. Plant Biol. 2:525. Tamura, K., et al. 2013. Mol. Biol. Evol. 30:2725-2729. White, T. J., et al. 1990. Page 315 in:PCR protocols:a guide to methods and applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. Funding Funding was supported by Major Increase and Decrease Projects at the Central Level of China (2060302) and the National Key Research and Development Program (2017FYC1700704).

Development of Interspecific Hybrids (Abelmoschus Esculentus × A. Tetraphyllus) in Okra Using Embryo Rescue Approach

Undomesticated related species are the rich stock of genes providing resistance to various diseases, pests and unfavourable environmental conditions. The sexual incompatibilities are bottleneck in introgression of such genes from wild species to popular varieties. The present study was executed to standardize a protocol of embryo rescue so to obtain the hybrids of Abelmoschus esculentus × A. tetraphyllus IC141017. Crosses were made between four (Arka Anamika, Pusa Makhmali, Parbhani Kranti, Jammu Okra-05) cultivated varieties of okra (A. esculentus) and a wild species (A. tetraphyllus IC141017) in reciprocal manner. Out of the four popular cultivars used in crossing, fruit set was recorded in Arka Anamika, Pusa Makhmali, Parbhani Kranti only when A. tetraphyallus IC141017 was used as a male parent. Fruit showed distal cracking after 25 d of pollination. The seeds appeared healthy for up to 15 d after pollination and later shrivelled and became pale yellow. Cross combinations, viz., Parbhani Kranti × A. tetraphyllus IC141017, Arka Anamika × A. tetraphyllus IC141017 and Pusa Makhmali × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 showed the highest shoot regeneration on MS media containing 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA. Greatest number of shoots per explant (0.92±0.12) as well as the highest frequency of shoot regeneration (86±0.12%) was reported in Parbhani Kranti × A. tetraphyllus IC141017. Arka Anamika × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 (86±0.12%) and Pusa Makhmali × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 (82±0.13%) resulted in high frequency of shoot regeneration on MS media containing 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA. It can be inferred that MS media containing on 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA showed positive results in regeneration of interspecific hybrids of okra.

Critical Evaluation of <i>Melaleuca alternifolia</i> : A Review of the Phytochemical Profile, Pharmacological Attributes and Medicinal Properties in the Botanical, Human and Global Perspectives

Melaleuca (tea tree) oil has become increasingly commonly used in recent decades. The essential oil in Australia for the past 120 years is now available globally as an active component in various products. Historically, Melaleuca oil is known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions. Currently, microwave technology is applied to extract Melaleuca oil, but this extraction technology is not commercially under practice. Traditionally, Melaleuca oil extraction is possible through steam distillation of the Melaleuca alternifolia terminal branches and leaves, and the resultant extract is always either clear or pale yellowish. Melaleuca oil has been promoted as a therapeutic agent because scientific studies indicate that the Rideal-Walker (RW) coefficients of its extract composition include 8 for cymene, 16 for terpineol, 13.5 for tepinen-4-ol and 3.5 for cineole. The mode of action against bacteria is now partially elucidated, and assumptions exist. Hydrocarbons partition into biological membranes to disrupt the vital functions of Melaleuca oil, and also its components behave in the same manner. Therefore, the inhibition of respiration and the leakage of ions or loss of intracellular material and the inability to maintain homeostasis reflect the loss of membrane integrity and lysis in Melaleuca oil products containing lower than usual terpenes concentrations. Melaleuca oil possesses antifungal properties and is known exclusively for the treatment of Candida albicans. This essential oil strongly changes the permeability of Candida albican cells. C. albicans treatment with 0.25% tea tree oil leads to propidium iodide uptake. However, a significant loss of 260-nmlight-absorbing materials after staining with methylene blue occurs after 6 hours. Melaleuca extracts alter the permeability of Candida glabrata that occurs when the membrane is treated with 0.25% Melaleuca oil. Melaleuca oils possess antiviral properties but most findings evidence that this oil fights against both non-enveloped and enveloped viruses, although the range of viruses tested to date is minimal. Melaleuca oil is known for its antiprotozoal activity because it causes a 50% reduction in the growth of protozoa Leishmania major and Trypanosoma brucei at concentrations of 403 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively, based on the studies done (in comparison to controls). An investigation has shown that terpinen-4-ol also contributes significantly to antiprotozoal activity. Tea tree oils at 300 mg/ml killed all cells of Trichomonas vaginalis, and also anecdotal in-vivo studies evidence that Melaleuca oil may be effective in treating infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. This review article summarizes the developments in our understanding of the phytochemistry, bioactivity, metabolism and the economic aspects of Melaleuca alternifolia, and it details how Melaleuca alternifolia species have evolved in the ecosystem.

Deltalumite, a New Natural Modification of Alumina with a Spinel-Type Structure

A new mineral, deltalumite, which is an analogue of the spinel-type synthetic δ-Al2O3, the second natural modification of alumina after corundum, α-Al2O3, has been found in products of two eruptions of the Ploskiy Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. It occurs in the pores of basalt lava and basalt scoria altered by fumarolic gas. The mineral forms roundish segregations up to 0.2 mm across, which consist of blocky coarse prismatic individuals of up to 0.03 mm. Deltalumite is pale yellowish, pale beige, or white, translucent, with a vitreous luster. The mineral is brittle. Dcalc = 3.663 g/cm3. Deltalumite is optically uniaxial, negative, ω = 1.654(2), e = 1.653(2) (λ = 589 nm). The chemical composition (electron microprobe data) is, wt %: 99.74 Al2O3 and 0.04 SiO2; the total is 99.78. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, A(I)(hkl)] are: 2.728(61)(202), 2.424(51)(212), 2.408(49)(213), 2.281(42)(206), 1.993(81)(1.0.11, 220, 221), 1.954(48)(0.0.12), and 1.396(100)(327, 400, 2.1.14). The mineral is tetragonal, with the P-4m2 space group (similar to synthetic δ-Al2O3). The unit-cell dimensions are a = 5.608(1), c = 23.513(7) A, V = 739.4(4) A3, and Z = 16. Deltalumite belongs to the spinel subgroup within the oxy-spinel group; its structural formula can be written as (Al0.67◻0.33)Al2O4, where ◻ is a vacancy. The new mineral can be clearly distinguished from other modifications of alumina using its powder X-ray diffraction pattern or IR spectrum.

MAKING DRY NOODLES MADE FROM CASSAVA FLOUR (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) AND CASSAVA STARCH

This study aimed to determine the best formulation of dry noodle making from cassava flour and cassava starch and to see the physical and chemical properties of dry noodles. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) and LSD test if there was a significant effect. The tests carried out included organoleptic tests, air content analysis, ash content analysis, color analysis and texture analysis. The results showed that the best formulation of dry noodles was a composition of 120 grams of cassava flour and 80 grams of cassava starch (M1) with a moisture content value of 9.81%, an ash content analysis of 8,7%, a color analysis of 22,1% and a texture analysis. 117,27% and had a savory taste, the aroma was not too strong and the color was a bit pale yellow.

Utilization of Pumkin Powder as Valuable Food Ingredient In Wheat Based Cookies

The objectives of the study were to utilize the pumpkin powder in wheat based cookies. The pumpkins were properly dried to form powder. Standard methods were used to measure proximate parameters like Physical and Chemical. Fifteen (15) panelists conducted sensory tests of cookies from five formulations. The T3 sample of pumpkin cookies was founds the most preferred in colour, flavour, Taste, Appearance and overall sensory evaluation properties. Product T3 was predominantly Pale yellowish in colour. The Pumpkin cookies were more appealing and tasty than the plain cookies of control treatment

Lavandulae aetheroleum Oil: A Review on Phytochemical Screening, Medicinal Applications, and Pharmacological Effects

Lavandulae aetheroleum, the oil, was obtained by vapor condensation from the flower of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. or Lavandula intermedia Loisel (Lamiaceae) plant. Other names of Lavandulae aetheroleum oil are Al birri, common or English lavender. The Lavandula angustifolia Mill. or Lavandula intermedia Loisel plant is spreading in the Mediterranean, southern Europe, Bulgaria, Russia, and USA. The Lavandula angustifolia Mill. or Lavandula intermedia Loisel plant, is an odor shrub with 1-2 m in height. The oil is a clear, colorless, or pale yellow. The gas chromatography studies reported the following percentage of the major chemical constituents in the oil: linalyl acetate (25-46%), linalool (20-45%), terpinen-4-ol (1.2-6.0%), lavendulyl acetate (> 1.0%), 1,8-cineole (1,8-cineol, cineol, cineole, eucalyptol) (< 2.5%), 3-octanone (< 2.5%), camphor (< 1.2%), limonene (< 1.0%), and α-terpineol (< 2.0%). Medicinal applications of the oil include the treatment of restlessness, anxiety, cardiovascular disorders, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders, burns, diarrhea, headache, sore throats, and wounds. Pharmacological effects include experimental and clinical pharmacology. Experimental pharmacology includes anesthetic, anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antispasmodic, central nervous system depressant effects. Clinical pharmacology includes anxiolytic, analgesic, and cardiovascular effects. The oil dose by inhalation = 0.06-0.2 ml/ 3 times/day while oil dose internally = 1-4 drops approximately 20-80 mg on a sugar cube per day. In conclusion, Lavandulae aetheroleum oil had an anesthetic, anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antispasmodic, central nervous system depressant, anxiolytic, analgesic, and cardiovascular effects.

Development of Interspecific Hybrids (Abelmoschus Esculentus × A. Tetraphyllus) in Okra Using Embryo Rescue Approach

ABSTRACT: Undomesticated related species are the rich stock of genes providing resistance to various diseases, pests and unfavourable environmental conditions. The sexual incompatibilities are bottleneck in introgression of such genes from wild species to popular varieties. The present study was executed to standardize a protocol of embryo rescue so to obtain the hybrids of Abelmoschus esculentus × A. tetraphyllus IC141017. Crosses were made between four (Arka Anamika, Pusa Makhmali, Parbhani Kranti, Jammu Okra-05) cultivated varieties of okra (A. esculentus) and a wild species (A. tetraphyllus IC141017) in reciprocal manner. Out of the four popular cultivars used in crossing, fruit set was recorded in Arka Anamika, Pusa Makhmali, Parbhani Kranti only when A. tetraphyallus IC141017 was used as a male parent. Fruit showed distal cracking after 25 d of pollination. The seeds appeared healthy for up to 15 d after pollination and later shrivelled and became pale yellow. Cross combinations, viz., Parbhani Kranti × A. tetraphyllus IC141017, Arka Anamika × A. tetraphyllus IC141017 and Pusa Makhmali × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 showed the highest shoot regeneration on MS media containing 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA. Greatest number of shoots per explant (0.92±0.12) as well as the highest frequency of shoot regeneration (86±0.12%) was reported in Parbhani Kranti × A. tetraphyllus IC141017. Arka Anamika × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 (86±0.12%) and Pusa Makhmali × A. tetraphyllus IC 141017 (82±0.13%) resulted in high frequency of shoot regeneration on MS media containing 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA. It can be inferred that MS media containing on 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1.0 mg l-1 IBA showed positive results in regeneration of interspecific hybrids of okra.

Rendement and Characteristics of Wood Vinegar Produced from Ironwood Delinquent Waste through Clay Kiln Charcoaling Furnace

<p>The study aimed to determine the rendement of charcoal and wood vinegar and to identify wood vinegar chemical compounds made from ironwood deliquent waste. The study was carried out by using charcoaling facilities at the charcoaling center in the village of Asam – Asam. The charcoal and wood vinegar rendements were determined after ironwood delinquent waste was heated for 21 days with a temperature of approximately 400 - 600 ºC. The results showed that the rendement of the charcoal and wood vinegar were 14.02% and 0.05%, respectively. The research with wood vinegar characteristic before purification was pungent, however after purification, the results did not sting; color pH before purification was blackish-brown, however after purification it was pale brown yellow; the specific gravity before purification was 1.012 and after purification, it was 0.97; the pH before purification is 3.63 and after purification 3.41; and acid content before purification was 3.73% and after purification it was 3.66%. As a whole, the physics test of wood vinegar is categorized in Japan standard, however, the color only before purification is not standard. There are five chemical compounds identified in wood vinegar both before and after purification.</p>

Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32T, was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana. Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca, family Carnobacteriaceae, order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06-97.34, 96.17-96.31 and 95.93-96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis, J. porci and J. dankookensis, respectively. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca, for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32T (=KCTC 33991T=JCM 33222T).

Geographic Distribution of Camponotus sexguttatus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), a Neotropical Carpenter Ant Spreading in Florida

The Neotropical carpenter ant Camponotus sexguttatus (Fabricius) has widespread records from the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Across its broad native range, C. sexguttatus shows great variation, most notably in color, ranging from almost black to pale yellow. Non-native populations of C. sexguttatus were recorded for the first time in Florida in 1993, and in the Bahamas in 1995. Here, I examine the known native and non-native geographic distribution of C. sexguttatus.I compiled and mapped C. sexguttatus specimen records from >850 sites, including my own records from 583 sites. Camponotus sexguttatus has West Indian range from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands in the Greater Antilles through all major islands of the Lesser Antilles. On at least ten islands of the Lesser Antilles, two distinctly different C. sexguttatus color morphs coexist, the typical dark brown/black form plus a lighter form, suggesting that there are at least two separate lines of C. sexguttatus on these islands. Light forms have been previously described on four of these islands as three different subspecies.Camponotus sexguttatus has a continental range from Mexico, through Central America, to subtropical parts of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Records from the northern parts of this range, however, are very sparse, e.g., just a single record each from Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, and no records from El Salvador. In addition to the typical C. sexguttatus sexguttatus, seven currently valid subspecies have been described from South America. Genetic analyses should examine whether the different subspecific forms in the West Indies and South America should be considered distinct species.In its non-native range in peninsular Florida, C. sexguttatus is now known from 16 counties (Brevard, Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, and St Lucie), where it is often one of the most common and conspicuous arboreal ants. Variation among C. sexguttatus populations in Florida suggest that they descend from introductions from at least two different source populations. In Bahamas, there are just five records of C. sexguttatus, all from New Providence. It is likely that C. sexguttatus will continue to spread in Florida and the Bahamas, possibly impacting both native and non-native arboreal ants.

Studies on Brazilian Amauroderma s.str. reveal a new species from the Atlantic Forest, Amauroderma robledoi sp. nov. (Polyporales, Ganodermataceae)

Amauroderma s.str. is a genus of polypores with neotropical distribution characterized mainly by species with nontruncated double-walled spores with solid columnar to semireticulate endosporic ornamentation. As a continuation of a study on the taxonomy of the genus in Brazil, specimens with dubious delimitation due to uncertain phylogenetic placement in previous works were carefully examined. A new species, Amauroderma robledoi, from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is described based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. It is characterized by the combination of a concentrically zonated reddish brown pilear surface, whitish stipe with grayish transversal bands, and subglobose to broadly ellipsoid ([10.5] 11–12 [12.5] × 9–11 µm), pale yellowish, double-walled basidiospores.

Now I Am The Voice: "a journey of self-discovery through the eyes of a Thalassemic".

Now I Am The Voice: "a journey of self-discovery through the eyes of a Thalassemic".