Species Profiles Research Articles

The value of twinned pollinator-pollen metabarcoding: bumblebee pollination service is weakly partitioned within a UK grassland community

Predicting ecological impact of declining bumblebee (Bombus) populations requires better understanding of interactions between pollinator partitioning of floral resources and plant partitioning of pollinator resources. Here, we combine Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) barcoding for bumblebee identification and rbcL metabarcoding of pollen carried by bees in three species-rich UK pastures. CO1 barcoding assigned 272 bees to eight species, with 33 individuals belonging to the cryptic Bombus lucorum complex (16 B. lucorum and 17 B. cryptarum). Seasonal bias in capture rates varied by species, with B. pratorum found exclusively in June/July and B. pascuorum more abundant in August. Pollen metabarcoding coupled with PERMANOVA and NMDS analyses revealed all bees carried several local pollen species and evidence of pollen resource partitioning between some species pairings, with Bombus pratorum carrying the most divergent pollen load. There was no evidence of resource partitioning between the two cryptic species present, but significantly divergent capture rates concorded with previous suggestions of separation on the basis of foraging behaviour being shaped by local/temporal differences in climatic conditions. Considering the bee carriage profile of pollen species revealed no significant difference between the nine most widely carried plant species. However, there was a sharp, tipping point change in community pollen carriage across all three sites that occurred during the transition between late July and early August. This transition resulted in a strong divergence in community pollen carriage between the two seasonal periods in both years. We conclude that the combined use of pollen and bee barcoding offers several benefits for further study of plant-pollinator interactions at the landscape scale.

Comparison of nutritional quality of fourteen wild Linum species based on fatty acid composition, lipid health indices, and chemometric approaches unravelling their nutraceutical potential

Fatty acid profiles of 14 Linum species was determined by GC-MS analysis to study the nutritional quality of Linum species based on fatty acid composition, lipid health indices, and chemometric approaches. L. lewisii and L. marginale found to have the highest content of ALA i.e., 65.38 % and 62.79 %, respectively, L. tenuifolium recorded the highest linoleic acid content (69.69 %), while, L. catharticum recorded highest oleic acid (27.03 %). Health indices viz. polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids ratio, n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio, atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, oxidability, oxidative stability, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic fatty acids, and peroxidisability calculated based on the fatty acid composition revealed that all the linseed species except L. aristatum, L. tenuifolium and L. hudsoniodes have healthy fatty acid composition. L. lewisii clearly emerges as a promising species followed by L. bienne with great values across multiple indices, making them as a potential candidate for dietary or nutritional interests. The lipid profile of Linum species could be well distinguished by two principal components by Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

Implications of ZnO Nanoparticles and S-Nitrosoglutathione on Nitric Oxide, Reactive Oxidative Species, Photosynthetic Pigments, and Ionomic Profile in Rice.

Zinc is an important nutrient for several plants and humans. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical that is important to biological processes that mediate the growth and mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The present study investigated the enzymatic and photosynthetic profile and the accumulation of macro- and microelements in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) that received foliar treatments of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), nitric oxide donor (GSNO), and the association of both (GSNO-ZnO NPs). Zinc concentration in rice husks increased by 66% and 68% in plants treated with ZnO NPs and GSNO-ZnO NPs, respectively. The GSNO treatment caused an increase of 25% in the Fe concentration in the rice grains. Only a small disturbance of the antioxidant system was observed, with increases in H2O2, S-NO, and NO2-, mainly in the group treated with GSNO-ZnO NPs; however, the disturbance did not affect the yield, the growth, or vital processes, such as as photosynthetic pigments production. There was an increase in chlorophyll B of 290% and an increase in chlorophyll A of 187% when ZnO NPs was applied. GSNO-ZnO NPs increased chlorophyll B by 345% and chlorophyll A by 345%, indicating that the treatments GSNO, ZnO NPs, and GSNO-ZnO NPs reduced possible oxidative stress and helped as protective treatments.

Experimental and theoretical insights into advanced removal of the refractory cibacron green H3G dye by UV/chlorine innovative oxidation process

The discharge of highly persistent Cibacron Green H3G (CG-H3G) dye by textile factories poses a significant threat to both environmental and human health. In this study, the UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process was successfully used to degrade and mineralize this dye. The synergism resulted from coupling 254 nm irradiation UV and low chlorine dosage was assessed at various solution pH (5–10) and liquid temperature (up to 50 °C) for a range of chlorine dosage (50–200 µM). In only 5 min, 85 and 100 % of CG-H3G (20 mg/L) were eliminated with high synergy indexes of 4.34 and 6.3 for 100 and 200 µM of dissolved chlorine, respectively. Besides, 45 and 72 % of the initial TOC were mineralized after 30 and 60 min of photoirradiation with 100 µM chlorine. The synergistic treatment was more efficient as chlorine dosage increased (in the range 10–200 µM), and solution pH and temperature decreased (pH range: 5–10, temperature range: 20–50 °C). Cl2− and OH/Cl radicals were identified as the key oxidants degrading CG-H3G with contributions of 35 % for {OH + Cl}, 65 % for Cl2− at 100 µM of chlorine, and 25 % for {OH + Cl}, 75 % for Cl2− at 200 µM of chlorine. The contribution of Cl2− increased by 10 % chlorine dosage increase from 100 to 200 µM, whereas the contribution of {OH + Cl} decreased by 10 %. Finally, the different project’s results were analyzed by adopting a simulation approach, where the concentration profiles of the different reactive species generated during chlorine photo-activation (specifically at steady state) was related to the degradation outcomes. This analysis provides an easier understanding of the degradation mechanism that occurs in the UV/chlorine process when applied to treat refractory textile effluents in deionized water.

Temporal profile of ionic species and n-alkanes composition of PM10 in a rural environment of Western Himalaya

The temporal profile of PM10 and its composition comprising water-soluble ionic species and n-alkanes studied over the 14 months was segregated into three seasons: winter, summer, and monsoon. The average PM10 concentration exceeds the prescribed National PM10 limits in summer and winter. The PM10 concentration was highest in summer, followed by winter, and lowest in monsoon. Water-soluble inorganic ionic species— major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and NH4+) and anions (F−, Cl−, NO3− and SO42−) contributed an average 30.7% to PM10. The ionic species displayed significant variation, with the highest concentration in winter and the lowest in the monsoon. The secondary inorganic ions, SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+, contributed 84% to the total ionic mass. The ion balance study revealed a strong correlation between anion and cation charge equivalents, suggesting their main contribution to PM10. The neutralization of NO3− + SO42− with NH4+ suggested, NH4+ being the main neutralizing species. n-alkanes concentration in PM10 was significant and showed seasonal variation, highest in the winters and lowest in monsoon. The source profiling of PM10 components, using statistical correlation, regression, and principal component analysis (PCA), revealed solid-fuel biomass, soil dust, and brick kilns and transported materials as major sources.

Bioactive Properties, Bioavailability Profiles, and Clinical Evidence of the Potential Benefits of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) and Red Pepper (Capsicum annum) against Diverse Metabolic Complications.

The consumption of food-derived products, including the regular intake of pepper, is increasingly evaluated for its potential benefits in protecting against diverse metabolic complications. The current study made use of prominent electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to retrieve clinical evidence linking the intake of black and red pepper with the amelioration of metabolic complications. The findings summarize evidence supporting the beneficial effects of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), including its active ingredient, piperine, in improving blood lipid profiles, including reducing circulating levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides in overweight and obese individuals. The intake of piperine was also linked with enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by increasing serum levels of superoxide dismutase while reducing those of malonaldehyde and C-reactive protein in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Evidence summarized in the current review also indicates that red pepper (Capsicum annum), together with its active ingredient, capsaicin, could promote energy expenditure, including limiting energy intake, which is likely to contribute to reduced fat mass in overweight and obese individuals. Emerging clinical evidence also indicates that pepper may be beneficial in alleviating complications linked with other chronic conditions, including osteoarthritis, oropharyngeal dysphagia, digestion, hemodialysis, and neuromuscular fatigue. Notably, the beneficial effects of pepper or its active ingredients appear to be more pronounced when used in combination with other bioactive compounds. The current review also covers essential information on the metabolism and bioavailability profiles of both pepper species and their main active ingredients, which are all necessary to understand their potential beneficial effects against metabolic diseases.

Untargeted Metabolomic Approach Based on UHPL-ESI-HRMS to Investigate Metabolic Profiles of Different Coffea Species and Terroir

Untargeted Metabolomic Approach Based on UHPL-ESI-HRMS to Investigate Metabolic Profiles of Different Coffea Species and Terroir

Biological Performance of Primary Dental Pulp Stem Cells Treated with Gold Nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are one of the most stable nanoparticles that have been prevalently used as examples for biological and biomedical applications. Herein, we evaluate the effect of AuNPs on the biological processes of dental pulp stem cells derived from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Two different shapes of PEGylated AuNPs, rods (AuNR-PEG) and spheres (AuNS-PEG), were prepared and characterized. SHED cells were treated with different concentrations of AuNR-PEG and AuNS-PEG to determine their effect on the stemness profile of stem cells (SCs), proliferation, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), for cells cultured in media containing-fetal bovine serum (FBS) and serum-free media (SFM). Our results showed that both nanoparticle shapes maintained the expression profile of MSC surface markers. Moreover, AuNS-PEG showed a stimulatory effect on the proliferation rate and lower toxicity on SHED, compared to AuNR-PEG. Higher concentrations of 0.5-0.125 nM of AuNR-PEG have been demonstrated to cause more toxicity in cells. Additionally, cells treated with AuNPs and cultured in FBS showed a higher proliferative rate and lower toxicity when compared to the SFM. For cellular uptake, both AuNS-PEG and AuNR-PEG were uptaken by treated cells efficiently. However, cells cultured in SFM media showed a higher percentage of cellular uptake. For ROS, AuNR-PEG showed a significant reduction in ROS at lower concentrations (<0.03 nM), while AuNS-PEG did not show any significant difference compared to the control untreated cells. Thus, our results give evidence about the optimum concentration and shape of AuNPs that can be used for the differentiation of stem cells into specific cell lineages in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Crabs Eriocheir japonica and Paralithodes camtschaticus Are a Rich Source of Lipid Molecular Species with High Nutritional Value.

Due to their valuable meat and hepatopancreas, the world's most famous delicacies, crabs, have become target species of commercial fisheries and aquaculture. By methods of supercritical fluid and high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry, we analyzed triacylglycerols (TG) and phospholipids (PL)-glycerophosphoethanolamines (PE), glycerophosphocholines (PC), glycerophosphoserines (PS), and glycerophosphoinositols (PI)-in the hepatopancreas and muscles of the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica and the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus inhabiting the Sea of Japan. TGs were the main class of lipids in the crab hepatopancreas, while they were found in trace amounts in muscle. TGs of E. japonica differed from those of P. camtschaticus by a higher content of 16:0, 16:1, 18:2, and 20:4 FA and a lower content of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. The Japanese mitten crab differed from the red king crab by a lower content of molecular species with eicosapentaenoic acid in PC and PI; an increased content of arachidonic acid in PE, PS, and PI; and a lower content of molecular species with docosahexaenoic acid in PE in the hepatopancreas and muscles. The high nutritional value of the crabs E. japonica and P. camtschaticus was confirmed by a high content of molecular species of lipids with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The data of the lipid molecular species profile provide new background information for future studies on biochemistry and aquaculture of crabs.

Volatile Compound Profiling of Seven Tuber Species Using HS-SPME-GC-MS and Classification by a Chemometric Approach.

Edible mushrooms are important providers of nutrients and are well recognized for their particular organoleptic properties. The volatiles that Tuber releases serve purposes beyond simply appealing to our sense of smell. Truffles have different smells and tastes due to the fact that they contain different volatile components; therefore, aroma is essential in defining the organoleptic properties and quality of truffles. In this research, seven Tuber species, namely, Tuber ferrugineum, Tuber nitidum, Tuber excavatum, Tuber rufum, Tuber puberulum, Tuber aestivum, and Tuber borchii were selected. The primary objective of this study was to carry out the first in-depth investigation of the volatile compounds and chemometric analysis of seven truffle species from the Tuber genus that are grown in Turkey. The SPME headspace combined with GC-MS analysis identified 60 volatiles from different classes, with the abundance of terpenes being followed in a decreasing order by alcohols, aldehydes, sulfides, ketones, and other aromatic compounds. According to the chemometric analysis, methional, 3-methyl-4,5-dihydrothiophene, p-(methylthio) benzaldehyde, 3-octene, linalyl acetate, methyl caproate, and β-trans-ocimene could be highlighted as markers for T. borchii grown in Turkey. This investigation was conducted for the first time using T. ferrugineum, T. puberulum, and T. nitidum. The comparison of the volatile profile of these tubers' species displayed branded differences. Thus, the knowledge gained from this research may pave the way to identify the key aroma contributors in the chosen Tuber species.

Comparative analysis of gonadal transcriptomes between turtle and alligator identifies common molecular cues activated during the temperature-sensitive period for sex determination

The mode of sex determination in vertebrates can be categorized as genotypic or environmental. In the case of genotypic sex determination (GSD), the sexual fate of an organism is determined by the chromosome composition with some having dominant genes, named sex-determining genes, that drive the sex phenotypes. By contrast, many reptiles exhibit environmental sex determination (ESD), whereby environmental stimuli drive sex determination, and most notably temperature. To date, temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) has been found in most turtles, some lizards, and all crocodylians, but commonalities in the controlling processes are not well established. Recent innovative sequencing technology has enabled investigations into gonadal transcriptomic profiles during temperature-sensitive periods (TSP) in various TSD species which can help elucidate the controlling mechanisms. In this study, we conducted a time-course analysis of the gonadal transcriptome during the male-producing temperature (26℃) of the Reeve’s turtle (Chinese three-keeled pond turtle) Mauremys reevesii. We then compared the transcriptome profiles for this turtle species during the TSP with that for the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis to identify conserved reptilian TSD-related genes. Our transcriptome-based findings provide an opportunity to retrieve the candidate molecular cues that are activated during TSP and compare these target responses between TSD and GSD turtle species, and between TSD species.

Morphological, phytochemical, and molecular profiling of bamboo species (Bambuseae) growing in various ecosystems of Cagayan Province, Luzon, Philippines

Abstract. Opeña JM, Bumanglag RA, Cabang VMT. 2023. Morphological, phytochemical, and molecular profiling of bamboo species (Bambuseae) growing in various ecosystems of Cagayan Province, Luzon, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 4342-4358. The characterization of bamboo species posed advantages to the bamboo industry’s development in the Philippines. This study aimed to provide baseline information on the environmental and biological profiles of bamboo species in Cagayan Province, Philippines. Study sites were visited for bamboo morphological characterization using character states. Leaves were collected for qualitative phytochemical screening of 10 secondary metabolites and DNA sequencing using the rbcL plastid gene. The 28 accessions of Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Guadua, Melocanna, Phyllostachys, Schizostachyum, and Thyrsostachys were characterized and these bamboos were growing in forests, coastal or sparsely vegetated lands, urban, freshwater, grasslands, and agricultural ecosystems. Bamboo species distinctiveness’ was described through identification keys on growth habit, culm internode, nodal structure, young shoot, and flowering incidence. The bamboos contain coumarins, saponins, steroids, and terpenoids, while quinones are absent. DNA sequencing using rbcL was effective in the identification of Bambusa vulgaris species and unknown bamboo at the species level. Dendrocalamus, Guadua, Melocanna, and Schizostachyum species were successfully identified by rbcL at the genus level. Most of the species were identified as Dendrocalamus species with rbcL. The findings provide valuable information on species identification and certification for asexual propagation, genetic conservation, phytochemical extraction, and utilization for health.

Building the Australian National Species List

The Australian National Species List (AuNSL) is a unified, nationally accepted, taxonomy for the native and naturalised biota of Australia. It is derived from a set of taxon-focussed resources including the Australian Plant Name Index and Australian Plant Census, the Australian Faunal Directory, and similar lists of fungi, lichens and bryophytes. These resources share a common infrastructure, contribute to the single national taxonomy (AuNSL), but retain their independent curation practices and online presentation. The AuNSL is now the core national infrastructure providing names and taxonomy for significant biodiversity data infrastructures including the Atlas of Living Australia, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, the Biodiversity Data Repository, and the Species Profile and Threats Database. As the go-to resource for names and taxonomy for Australia’s unique biodiversity, the AuNSL must be constantly updated to reflect taxonomic and nomenclatural change. For some taxonomic groups, the AuNSL is substantially complete, and the incorporation of new taxa and other novelties occurs with little time lag. For other taxonomic groups the data are patchy and updates sporadic. Like similar projects, the AuNSL would benefit from improvements to taxonomic data publishing and sharing. Such improvements have the potential to enable automated, real-time ingestion for new taxonomic and nomenclatural data, allowing curator time to be re-directed to backfilling the historical data from a dispersed and complex literature. Ideally, the AuNSL will be able to benefit from advances in automated approaches to processing the historical data, including via the sharing of standardised representations of such data. Here we outline the AuNSL data model, editor functionality, and describe our approach to sharing our data via existing and emerging standards such as Darwin Core and Taxon Concept Schema (TCS2). We then describe what we, as consumers of taxonomic data from published works, really need from publishers of new, and reprocessed historical data. In brief, we need structured taxonomic data conforming to an adequate standard.

Species Profiles and Antimicrobial Resistance of Non-aureus Staphylococci Isolated from Healthy Broilers, Farm Environments, and Farm Workers.

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), particularly antimicrobial-resistant NAS, have a substantial impact on human and animal health. In the current study, we investigated (1) the species profiles of NAS isolates collected from healthy broilers, farm environments, and farm workers in Korea, (2) the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant NAS isolates, especially methicillin resistance, and (3) the genetic factors involved in the methicillin and fluoroquinolone resistance. In total, 216 NAS isolates of 16 different species were collected from healthy broilers (n=178), broiler farm environments (n=18), and farm workers (n=20) of 20 different broiler farms. The two most dominant broiler-associated NAS species were Staphylococcus agnetis (23.6%) and Staphylococcus xylosus (22.9%). Six NAS isolates were mecA-positive carrying staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) II (n=1), SCCmec IV (n=1), SCCmec V (n=2), or non-typeable SCCmec element (n=2). While two mecA-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from farm workers had SCCmec II and IV, a mecA-positive S. epidermidis isolate from broiler and a Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolate farm environment carried SCCmec V. The occurrence of multidrug resistance was observed in 48.1% (104/216 isolates) of NAS isolates with high resistance rates to β-lactams (>40%) and fusidic acid (59.7%). Fluoroquinolone resistance was confirmed in 59 NAS isolates (27.3%), and diverse mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE were identified. These findings suggest that NAS in broiler farms may have a potential role in the acquisition, amplification, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance.

Dynamics of Storage Lipids during the Recovery of Partially Bleached Coral &lt;i&gt;Sinularia heterospiculata&lt;/i&gt;

Global warming is causing the loss of coral symbionts and their bleaching. Researches of coral recovery are very important for the conservation of coral reefs. The lipidomic approach can provide detailed information about the processes that take place in the coral during bleaching and recovery. Using supercritical fluid chromatography in combination with mass-spectrometry, the dynamics of the main classes of storage lipids triacylglycerols (TG) and monoalkyldiacylglycerols (MADAG) during the recovery of the octocoral Sinularia heterospiculata after heat stress (32°C). It was shown that MADAG plays an important role in the energy balance of S. heterospiculata after heat stress. Under stress, the coral S. heterospiculata primarily consumed saturated MADAG molecular species. Changes in the profile of TG molecular species occurred only on the 16th day of the experiment. Probable, the stressed octocoral S. heterospiculata changes its energy strategy during recovery; therefore, the qualitative composition of reserve lipids is rearranged during the recovery period.

Accumulation and dietary risks of perfluoroalkyl substances in fish and shellfish: A market-based study in Barcelona

Since the 1940s, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely produced and used in various applications due to their unique properties. Consequently, the principal exposure routes of PFAS have been broadly studied, leading to the conclusion that dietary exposure (more specifically, the consumption of fish and seafood) was one of their main contributors. Thus, developing an analytical method that determines the level of PFAS in fish and seafood has become a relevant subject. In this work, a previous analytical method has been optimized to determine 12 PFAS in fish muscle from salmon, tuna, cod, hake, sardine, anchovy, and sole, as well as in seven different seafood species (i.e., cuttlefish, octopus, squid, shrimp, Norway lobster, prawn, and mussel) by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Subsequently, the PFAS profile of the different species was studied to determine if it was consistent with that previously reviewed in the literature and to know the most relevant contribution of PFAS for each species. Finally, human exposure to PFAS through their consumption was estimated by the daily intake for seven different age/gender groups.PFAS were obtained from 0.014 to 0.818 ng g−1 wet weight in fish samples. Sardines, anchovies, and soles presented the highest PFAS levels. However, cod samples also showed some PFAS traces. Regarding seafood, PFAS levels range from 0.03 to 36.7 ng g−1 dry weight for the studied species. A higher concentration of PFAS has been found in the cephalopods' spleens and the crustaceans' heads. PFOS and PFBS were the predominant compounds in each seafood species, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of mussels, which are the less polluted species of the study, contamination by longer-chained PFAS was also observed.Finally, the total intake of PFAS due to fish and shellfish consumption for the Spanish adult population was estimated at 17.82 ng day−1. Nevertheless, none of the analyzed samples exceeded the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) risk value for the supervised PFAS in any age/gender group reviewed.

Inter- and intraspecific diversity of Salix bark phenolic profiles – A resource for the pharmaceutical industry

Due to their content of phenolic compounds, willow bark preparations are used as an herbal remedy. The large diversity of phenolic secondary metabolites in Salix still provides a resource for the identification of bioactive compounds in particular species, including species not yet in focus from a phytopharmaceutical perspective. The present study describes the bark phenolic profile of 13 Salix species analyzed by HPLC-MS: Salix alba, Salix babylonica, Salix daphnoides, Salix fragilis, Salix hastata, Salix myrsinifolia, Salix pentandra, Salix purpurea, Salix repens (including subspecies S. repens ssp. arenaria and S. repens ssp. repens), Salix rosmarinifolia, Salix sachalinensis, Salix triandra and Salix viminalis. The analyzed profiles comprised the chemical groups of salicylates, flavonoids, procyanidins, phenolic acid derivatives, and some unclassified phenolics. Particular compounds were detected in species where they have not been previously reported. Apart from interspecific diversity, qualitative variability within species was observed as certain components were detected only in some of the analyzed genotypes. The knowledge on specific phenolic profiles of species and genotypes is the basis for the selection of suitable willow bark material with certain desired bioactive properties. Furthermore, the high inter- and intraspecific variability points out the necessity for product standardization of willow bark raw material.

Sugar-based natural deep eutectic solvent ultrasound-assisted extraction for the determination of polyphenolic compounds from various botanical sources

In this study, a novel ultrasound-assisted extraction method utilizing natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was developed for the efficient extraction of 20 polyphenolic compounds from various botanical sources, followed by HPLC–DAD detection. By mixing choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and various sugars, such as arabinose, fructose, galactose, trehalose and raffinose, as well as one sugar alcohol (mannitol), in a range of molar ratios, 21 different DESs were prepared and tested. The important parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were studied and optimized using the one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) method on Picea abies (L.) Karst. needles as a model sample. The optimal conditions were found to be NADES formed by mixing choline chloride and raffinose in a 1:1 M ratio containing 30% water, extraction temperature 25 °C, extraction time 30 min, ultrasound power 60%. The calibration plots were linear from 0.50 to 50 μg mL−1 from standard for the majority of the target analytes, and the instrumental LOD and LOQ values were found to be in the range 0.02–0.19 μg mL−1 and 0.07–0.64 μg mL−1, respectively. The extraction efficiency of the NADES was compared with the efficiency of classical solvents, such as water or methanol, and the NADES revealed a remarkable increase of extraction yield. The newly developed extraction method was successfully applied for the analysis of diverse range of plant materials, encompassing coniferous plants such as Picea abies (L.) Karst, Pinus sylvestris L., and leafy trees Quercus robur L., Ulmus glabra Hudson and Brassica napus L. thereby revealing the polyphenolic profiles of different botanical species.

Australian National Species List: name identifier management and linkages

The Australian National Species List (AuNSL) is the provider of names and taxonomy for significant national biodiversity data infrastructures including the Atlas of Living Australia, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, the Biodiversity Data Repository, and the Species Profile and Threats Database. The AuNSL mints persistent identifiers for names covered by the codes of nomenclature and name-like objects such as phrase names. To ensure sustainability of identifiers, a mapping service is provided to always resolve all AuNSL identifiers including historical and deprecated forms. Names are used as the building blocks for recording taxon name usages and taxon concepts. We provide services for matching, disambiguation and taxonomic resolution of names. The AuNSL does not exist in a vacuum and supports identifier mappings to external resources and related systems such as the International Plant Name Index (IPNI), Zoobank, the Biodiversity Heritage Library. To enable this integration, persistent identifiers from original and/or significant sources are required and this data is currently limited and incomplete within the AuNSL. To address this issue, we need to look backwards for improved ways of matching to existing persistent identifiers and forward to improving capture of taxonomic novelties and name-like objects and their identifiers.

Lactobacilli Profile in Faecal Samples of Tunisian Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Alterations in faecal lactobacilli in autistic children have been reported, but little is known related to age and disorder severity. We used a culture-based method and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing to isolate and identify lactobacilli strains from faeces of Tunisian autistic children (ASD group) and compared them with strains isolated from siblings (SIB) and children from the general population (GP). The ASD group displayed an increased number of different species compared to SIB and GP. Differences in species abundance with age accounted for a significant decrease in the abundance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum/Lactiplantibacillus pentosus isolates in the GP at the age of 8–10 years compared to the age of 4–7 years, and to a significantly lower abundance of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in the ASD group with respect to SIB and the GP at the age of 8–10 years. Simpson’s and Shannon–Wiener indices showed a more pronounced species diversity increase with age in the GP group compared to the ASD and SIB groups. Minor differences were found in lactobacilli prevalence and in species diversity between children with severe and mild-to-moderate ASD. Overall, we found substantial differences in the profile of faecal lactobacilli species in the ASD and GP groups at the age of 8–10 years.