Rounded Crowns Research Articles

Оценка различных форм груши кавказской (P. caucasica Fed.) для селекции на декоративность

Abstract. The article describes the results of studying the morphological features of 93 forms of P. caucasica Fed. collected in various regions of the Caucasus. The research was carried out in the collection gardens score, and samples with lower scores, but having one or more attractive decorative features. The studied samples of the Caucasian pear had valuable decorative qualities to varying degrees: narrow pyramidal crown (index 2.16) – Kasp-69-59; rounded crown (index 0.88) – 67-Chr-249, 67-B-208, Ard-69-18; large flowers – Ter-69-77, 67-Ku-139, 67-BZ-37, B-69-111, 67-BZ-67, B-69-87, Kasp-69-59; abundant flowering – P. caucasica Fed. № 2, P. caucasica Fed. №3, P. caucasica Fed. №6, B-69-88, L-69-98, L-69-101, Shali-69-36; attractive appearance of leaves, absence of fungal diseases – Arg-69-34, 67-B-190, Ur-69-1, 67-Chr-250, B-69- 78; anthocyanin integumentary coloration of fruits – P. caucasica Fed. №4 and №5, B-69-108, Kasp-69-59. Frost resistance of plants was an important feature for the use in ornamental gardening. This property was noted in the samples of P. caucasica Fed. №4, B-69-78, Ard-69-18. Samples B-69-90, B-69-78 had edible sweet fruits. Selected forms of the Caucasian pear retained their decorative properties during the growing season. The forms B69-88, B-69-78, Kasp-69-59, L-69-96, 67-Ku-127 can have the greatest value for breeding in terms of the sum of points and the presence of valuable features. Keywords: the Caucasus, the Caucasian pear, decorativeness, morphology, diversity of features, selection, breeding Financing source: The research was carried out at the expense of a grant from the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution «Maikop State Technological University» «Assessment of various forms of Caucasian pear (P. caucasica Fed.) for breeding for decorative purposes», registration number of the scientific project: NP 8-2024 of the Maikop Experimental Station – a branch of All-Union Research Institute of Plant Breeding (VIR) in 2021-2023s in accordance with modern methods of studying and assessing the decorative properties of research objects. Twenty-two samples were identified, including those with the highest total decorative

New apple variety – Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok

The domestic apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) occupies a leading place among fruit crops, both in terms of area planted and in terms of gross fruit harvest. Currently, apple tree varieties are subject to strict requirements for highly adaptability, winter hardiness, early fruiting, high yield and quality of fruits. The new apple tree variety Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok (breeding number 1-18), meets many of the listed requirements, is the result of breeding work of the Orenburg branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, aimed at improving the assortment and meeting the demand of producers and consumers of agricultural products in the Ural region. A variety of autumn ripening, universal use, obtained from open pollination of Antonovki Obyknovennoj and combines in its genotype such valuable qualities as high winter hardiness, productivity, and resistance to scab. The tree is medium in size, with a rounded crown of medium density. Fruits with an average weight of 152 g, conical, regular in shape. The surface of the fruit is smooth, slightly ribbed, the main color at the time of harvest and consumer ripeness is greenish-yellow. The outer color is present on a smaller part of the fruit and is orange. Subcutaneous dots are small, white, barely noticeable. The fruit pulp is creamy, dense, juicy, fine-grained, with a medium aroma. The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, tasting score 4.4 points, average aroma. The shelf life of fruits is 20-30 days. Chemical composition of the fruit: sugar content 10.8 %, ascorbic acid 19.1 mg/100 g, dry matter 13.4 %; acidity 0.8 %. The Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok variety has average drought and heat resistance, is slightly affected by scab, and begins to bear fruit in the third year after planting. Over a long period of study, the variety showed a high level of economically valuable traits, including yield from 14.8 to 18.8 t/year and stable annual fruiting. The Crystal Shoe variety has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the Ural region since 2022 and is recommended for updating the industrial assortment of the region and cultivation in farms of various categories.

Evaluasi Kenyamanan Termal pada Lanskap Jalan Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, Bali

Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Streetscape, Bali. Vegetation hold an important role in a streetscape, one of which is the amelioration of the microclimate which afffect the user comfort, especially human thermal comfort on the streetscape. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra street has several different parts when viewed from the variation of the shade trees used. This study sought to determine the best fit composition of the shade trees to increase human thermal comfort in Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra street. Six sample of streetscape will be studied in three different composition of shade trees type. On these street, air temperature and humidity will be measured to calculate the level of human thermal comfort using Thermal Humidity Index (THI). The results showed that streetscapes with three rows of shade trees had a lower THI value compared to streetscapes with only one row of shade trees, and the streetscapes planted with spreading crowns shade trees had lower THI values than streetscapes planted with rounded crowns trees. Based on this, it is recommended to plant shade trees on the median and both sides of the road with trees that have dense leaf mass and can give a unique impression if planted in mass.

Breeding evaluation of <i>Juglans mandshurica</i> in the green zone of Krasnoyarsk

The Manchurian walnut is a highly ornamental tree with large pinnate foliage and a beautiful broadly rounded crown. The species is naturally distributed in Russia in the Far East, as well as in Japan, Korea and North China. It grows in the composition of valley broad-leaved forests on deep, fertile, humus-rich and breathable soils. The Ussuri taiga owes much to its splendor and “tropical” appearance to the Manchurian walnut growing in it. In its homeland, the Manchurian walnut forms large trees, up to 27-29 m in height and 60-70, rarely 90-100 cm in trunk diameter. The root system is powerful, with a deep taproot and well-developed, shallow lateral roots. Trees are wind resistant. Stems are straight. The bark on young trunks is smooth, light gray, on old trunks it is dark gray, with deep longitudinal cracks. The crown is sparsely branched, openwork, on some trees - low-planted, spreading, growing in a plantation – more compact, highly raised. Lives up to 250 years or more. It is of particular interest for breeding work, as it deserves wider use as a valuable food, ornamental and medicinal plant. The fruits are of nutritional and technical importance. Manchurian walnut is the most winter-hardy of all walnut relatives. This paper provides a selection assessment of Manchurian walnut trees of different geographical origin, growing in the green zone of the city of Krasnoyarsk. The aim of the work is to analyze the selection evaluation of Manchurian walnut trees growing in the arboretum of the Siberian State University – an ecologically clean area of the city. When studying the variability, we identified a biogroup that is superior to the rest in height, trunk and crown diameter – B436. Biogroup D160 of Ussuri origin is inferior in size to plants of other biogroups. In 2020–2022, fruiting intensity was studied. Manchurian walnut trees bear fruit annually, but the yield is low: 24-78 fruits per tree. Selected specimens characterized by large-fruitedness and the largest mass of fruits: D 160 (1.2), B 316 (1.2). Given the significant variation in traits, specimens are being selected to obtain breeding planting material adapted to given environmental conditions.

Larches of Kuzhanovo Have a Unique Mutation in the atpF–atpH Intergenic Spacer

The larches of Kuzhanovo (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) are protected trees with a round crown growing in the Southern Urals. In 2020 vandals sawed the sapwood of these trees, which exposed the problem of insufficient conservation measures. Their origin and genetic characteristics have been of particular interest to breeders and scientists. The larches of Kuzhanovo were screened for polymorphisms using SSR and ISSR analyses and the sequencing of genetic markers and genes GIGANTEA and mTERF, associated with wider crown shape. A unique mutation was discovered in the atpF-atpH intergenic spacer of all protected trees, but it was absent in some of their descendants and larches with similar crown shape. Mutations were discovered in the rpoC1 and mTERF genes of all samples. Flow cytometry did not reveal any changes in genome size. Our results suggest that the unique phenotype arose from point mutations in L. sibirica, but they are yet to be found in the nuclear genome. The concurrent mutations in the rpoC1 and mTERF genes may indicate that the round crown shape originates from the Southern Urals. The atpF-atpH and rpoC1 genetic markers are not common in studies of Larix sp., but their wider use could help to establish the origin of these endangered plants. The discovery of the unique atpF-atpH mutation also allows for stronger conservation and crime detection efforts.

Morpho-biological and economically valuable traits of a new apple variety Aksyona

The breeders of the Sverdlovsk breeding station of horticulture created a new apple variety Aksyona, which was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation, approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Volga-Vyatka region in 2022. The parents of this variety are the Ural summer variety Serebryanoye Kopyttse and the donor of immunity to scab 22-40-67, created at Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding. Hybridization was carried out in 1993. Studies of the new variety were carried out in 2001 - 2021 on the territory of the Sverdlovsk breeding station of horticulture . The average yield for 4 years of testing the Aksyona variety on the clonal rootstock 62-396 was 226.6 q/ha. This variety is immune to scab (Rvi6 gene), all three QTL FBF7 markers are present in its genotype, which suggests its resistance to fire blight disease. Variety Aksyona is heterozygous for two genes Md-ACO1 and Md-ACS1 and is of interest as an initial form in breeding for a low level of endogenous ethylene biosynthesis, which affects the duration of fruit storage. This variety showed high winter hardiness over the years of testing, has fruits of medium size (110 g), one-dimensional, round, regular shape, with a smooth surface, attractive appearance. The main color is light yellow, the integumentary coloration of the fruit is orange-red, blurry-striped. The skin is dry, matte. The pulp is creamy, medium density, fine-grained, juicy, good sweet and sour taste, with aroma. The ripening period is early summer, the period of consumption is 25 days. The tree is medium-sized, with a rounded crown of medium density, skeletal branches depart from the trunk at an angle close to a right one. The variety is early-growing, comes into fruiting in the fourth year after grafting. Authors of the variety: L.A. Kotov, T.A. Makarova.

Morphological investigations on the wing scales of four species of common Indian butterflies

Wing scales of butterflies exhibit extreme diversity in shape, size, colour, and number of spines. They are sub microscopic with a length of 300 to 600µm and a breadth of 150 to 400µm. A typical scale possessed a flat body with basal pedicel and apical crown which is provided with a varying number of pointed edges called spines. Investigations were carried outon the morphology of wing scales in four species of common butterflies viz., Pachilopta hector (Linnaeus 1758), Troides minos (Cramer 1779), Jamides celeno (Cramer1775) and Eurema andersonii (Linnaeus 1758). Wings of P. hector possessed nine types of scales, the crown of all are with pointed spines of varying numbers, ranging from one to five. The southern birdwing T. minos, possessed nine types of scales. A major portion of wings with black colour is due to black coloured scales but white bands of the forewings are due to transparent and colourless scales. The prominent yellow colour on the hind wings of this butterfly is due to the presence of a single type of scale with a round crown that is devoid of spines and is fully packed with yellow pigment. Jamides celeno possessed twenty different types of scales, most of them are devoid of spines and the ridges within the scales are not clear. Scales on the upper surface of the wing with ashy blue colour and scales of white bands on the lower surface of the wings are identical and are transparent and colourless. The common grass yellow E. andersonii possessed twentyfive different types of scales, of which thirteen are on the black margins of wings and twelve are in the yellow portions of wings. Almost half of the total number of scales in the yellow portions of the wing is transparent and colourless and in coloured scales distribution of pigment is not uniform.This is the first report on the different types of wings scales in the selected butterflies.

TREE CANOPY HEIGHT ESTIMATION AND ACCURACY ANALYSIS BASED ON UAV REMOTE SENSING IMAGES

Abstract. The development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology makes the traditional method of danger tree monitoring more digital and convenient. In order to explore the accuracy of tree height measurement by general consumer UAV, this paper takes a campus of University as the research area. The high-resolution images acquired by UAV were processed and compared the accuracy of extracting tree height based on the digital canopy height model (CHM) and point cloud information, respectively. The experimental results show that the mean absolute error of tree height based on point cloud extraction is 10.28cm, which is better than that based on CHM. The tree height extracted from CHM will be less than the measured height. In addition, the accuracy of extracting the height of round crown is better than that of cone crown. The correlation between the measured and true values of the two methods was 0.987 and 0.994, respectively, which indicates that the method of danger tree monitoring by UAV is feasible.

Life forms of subtropic plants and their modification under conditions of introduction in the Forest Steppe of Ukraine

The taxonomic composition of the collection of subtropical plants of the Khorol Botanical Garden, consisting of 25 species: Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal, Cydonia oblonga Mill., Chaenomeles × californica Clarke ex Weber, Cormus domestica L., Mespilus germanica L., Crataegus azarolus L., Crataegus opaca Hooker & Arn., Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, Prunus armeniaca L., Hovenia dulcis Thunb., Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb., Maclura tricuspidata (Carrière) Bureau, Ficus carica L., Passiflora incarnata L., Punica granatum L., Feijoa sellowiana O. Berg, Pistacia vera L., Citrus trifoliata L., Diospyros virginiana L., Actinidia chinensis Planch. Plants are presented in the collection areas «Garden of subtropical fruit crops», «Paradise Garden» and «Shaped Fruit Garden». The collection fund of the botanical garden was formed for a long time and each culture is at a certain stage of introduction. Subtropical fruit crops of the Khorol Botanical Garden: Asimina triloba L., Punica granatum L., Zizyphus jujuba Mill., Ficus carica L., Amygdalus communis L., Mespilus germanica L., Diospyros virginiana L. are studied as introductory populations. When creating garden compositions from subtropical species, attention was paid to the reaction of introducers to adverse weather conditions. According to the planting scheme, possible artificial forms of the plant crown are taken into account: formation of a plant with a low trunk and the same rounded crowns, in the form of spherical bushes, with main shoots-conductors formed in the form of ascending spirals. The search for the optimal life form for subtropical fruit introducers in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine is carried out. The problematic moments are revealed and the ways of their solution are offered. During the modification of the crown shape, the morphological structure, peculiarities of growth and development of the introducer in new conditions, resistance to adverse weather conditions were taken into account. Asimina triloba, Cydonia oblonga, Chaenomeles × californica, Cormus domestica, Mespilus germanica, Prunus armeniaca, Ziziphus jujuba, Elaeagnus multiflora, Elaeagnus umbellate, Diospyros virginiana began to bear fruit at 6–9 years of age. The fruits have plants of typical and derived life form. This is the practical purpose of their introduction. Ficus carica, Punica have a modified life form. They are covered for the winter. It is established that most of the species composition of the collection of subtropical plants (22 species) have typical and derived life forms. 7 species: Laurus nobilis, Ficus carica, Camellia sinensis, Passiflora incarnate, Feijoa sellowiana, Punica granatum, Olea europaea in terms of introduction to the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine require mandatory modification of life form. Modification of life form is pruning, as well as warming the crown in the cold season.

Evaluation of the aesthetic qualities and adaptability of introduced ornamental apple trees from the genetic collection of the Orenburg Branch of the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery

The study of ornamental and adaptive qualities of Malus Mill. from the genetic collection of ornamental crops of the Orenburg branch of the Research Center of Horticulture was carried out to assess the gene pool of introduced wild apple tree species and forms and identify suitable for the urban landscaping and the breeding process. Such characteristics as habitus, abundance of flowering, color and number of flowers in the inflorescence, color of vegetative organs, flowers and fruits during the season were taken into account; resistance to major diseases and adverse abiotic factors was evaluated. Additionally, the color of buds and flowers was characterized on the basis of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart). As a result of a preliminary survey on the complex of ornamental qualities and the level of adaptability, 5 most promising species were identified, which received the best ratings on the ornamental scale. Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne ex C. K. Schneid. (31 points) was characterized by an attractive habit, the presence of flowers with a diameter of up to 40 mm and subsequently fruits that acquire a yellow-red color. Malus sargentii Rehder (29 points) was notable for its compact rounded crown, a large number of flowers with a diameter of 30 mm, followed by the formation of fruits with a dark red color. Malus floribunda Siebold ex Van Houtte (28 points) was distinguished by a large number of fragrant flowers in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence (5 — 7 pcs) with an average diameter of 30 mm, as well as attractive red-yellow fruits. Malus sieboldii (Regel) Rehder, M. toringo Siebold (28 points) was interesting primarily by the presence of 5 -7 flowers of 20 — 30 mm in the inflorescence and decorative fruits, the color of which varies from yellow to red. Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck (28 points) attracted attention to the rich purple color of all organs due to the presence of a large number of anthocyanins, it was also worth noting the presence of a pleasant aroma during flowering and large flowers with an average diameter of 40 mm. The selected ornamental types of apple trees are favorable for use in landscaping of various scales, they are recommended for breeding work as initial parent forms.

Theoretical Tire Model for Wear Progress of Tires with Tread Pattern Considering Two-Dimensional Contact Patch

ABSTRACT A new theoretical tire model for the wear progress of tires with tread block pattern is developed considering a two-dimensional contact patch. In the model, the wear energy is calculated from the shear force and pressure distribution in a two-dimensional contact patch that are changed with not only shear forces in a contact patch but also with the wear and irregular wear of tires. The fore–aft shear force in a contact patch consists of six mechanisms related to slip ratio, camber, contact between a tire and a road, barrel deformation of a loaded block, rolling resistance, and a rolling tire with rounded crown shape, whereas the lateral shear force consists of three mechanisms related to slip angle/camber, contact of a tire with rounded crown shape, and barrel deformation of a loaded block. The heel and toe irregular wear and the progress of irregular wear under pure slip condition qualitatively agree with the conventional knowledge of tire engineers. The expected wear energy is introduced to predict the wear progress under combined slip condition in the wear course. Using the vehicle dynamics to predict the tire force history, a histogram of external forces is obtained by transforming from it. Calculating wear energies by changing slip angle and slip ratio, the relation between external forces and the wear energy is expressed as the response surface. Multiplying the wear energy by the histogram, the expected wear energy distribution in a block is calculated. Assuming that the worn depth is proportional to the expected wear energy, the wear progress is predicted.

A Phytopharmacological Review on a Medicinal Plant: Cordia africana Lam.

The use of phytoconstituents single or combined with standard medicines has been utilized in cure of different diseases. Many plants of genus Cordia comprise of trees and shrubs are widely distributed in warmer regions and have been utilized in management of various diseases. Cordia africana Lam. (family- Boraginaceae) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, 4 to 15 (30) m high, heavily branched with a spreading, umbrella-shaped or rounded crown. Bole typically curved or crooked. Bark grayish-brown to dark brown, smooth in young trees, but soon becoming rough and longitudinally fissured with age; young branch lets with sparse long. Uses of C. africana: firewood, timber (furniture, beehives, boxes, mortars, church, drums), food (fruit), medicine (bark, roots), fodder (leaves), bee forage, mulch, soil conservation, ornamental, shade. Various phytoconstituents like flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates and protins having different activities were screened and isolated from different parts of Cordia africana. Various important Pharmacological properties including Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, anti-nociceptive, and others have been well documented for this plant. Therefore, we have briefly reviewed the various bioactivities of Cordia africana to improve our knowledge on plant phytochemicals as therapeutic entities. The present review describes the various phytoconstituents and therapeutic potential of Cordia africana that can be followed for future research on this plant for human health benefits.

Селекційно-насінницькі аспекти збереження та відтворення популяцій Pinus cembra L. в Українських Карпатах

Подано результати лісівничо-селекційних досліджень сосни кедрової європейської (Pinus cembra L.) на чотирьох пробних ділянках, площею від 0,6 до 1,0 га, закладених у деревостанах цього деревного виду на гіпсометричних рівнях 1150-1380 м над рівнем моря в Горганах. Визначено критерії відбору кандидатів у плюсові дерева для подальшого розвитку плюсової селекції та плантаційного клонового насінництва. 
 Виявлено домінування в деревостанах дерев з овальними та округлими кронами, яких тут понад 56%. За результатами емпіричних і статистичних досліджень встановлено, що під час відбору й атестації плюсових дерев сосни кедрової європейської доцільно орієнтуватися на біотипи з округлими кронами.
 Виявлено взаємозв’язок між типами та забарвленням ритидома і селекційними категоріями дерев. Дерева вищих селекційних категорій характеризуються лускатоподібним ритидомом (кандидати в плюсові І кат. – 100%, плюсові ІІ кат. – 61%) коричневого кольору (кандидати в плюсові І кат. – 62%, плюсові ІІ кат. – 61%).
 Для збереження і відтворення популяцій сосни кедрової європейської варто провести відбір й атестацію плюсових дерев, здійснити їх вегетативне розмноження, отримати клони для подальшого розвитку насінництва на основі клонових насінних плантацій. Доцільно також запровадити заходи зі збереження й ефективного використання урожаю «горішків» сосни кедрової європейської, вирощування доброякісного садивного матеріалу і створення біотично стійких лісових культур. Деревостанам з ознаками кедрових пралісів доцільно надати статус об’єктів цінного генетичного та природно-заповідного фонду.

Assessing Legacy Effects of Wildfires on the Crown Structure of Fire-Tolerant Eucalypt Trees Using Airborne LiDAR Data

The fire-tolerant eucalypt forests of south eastern Australia are assumed to fully recover from even the most intense fires; however, surprisingly, very few studies have quantitatively assessed that recovery. The accurate assessment of horizontal and vertical attributes of tree crowns after fire is essential to understand the fire’s legacy effects on tree growth and on forest structure. In this study, we quantitatively assessed individual tree crowns 8.5 years after a 2009 wildfire that burnt extensive areas of eucalypt forest in temperate Australia. We used airborne LiDAR data validated with field measurements to estimate multiple metrics that quantified the cover, density, and vertical distribution of individual-tree crowns in 51 plots of 0.05 ha in fire-tolerant eucalypt forest across four wildfire severity types (unburnt, low, moderate, high). Significant differences in the field-assessed mean height of fire scarring as a proportion of tree height and in the proportions of trees with epicormic (stem) resprouts were consistent with the gradation in fire severity. Linear mixed-effects models indicated persistent effects of both moderate and high-severity wildfire on tree crown architecture. Trees at high-severity sites had significantly less crown projection area and live crown width as a proportion of total crown width than those at unburnt and low-severity sites. Significant differences in LiDAR -based metrics (crown cover, evenness, leaf area density profiles) indicated that tree crowns at moderate and high-severity sites were comparatively narrow and more evenly distributed down the tree stem. These conical-shaped crowns contrasted sharply with the rounded crowns of trees at unburnt and low-severity sites and likely influenced both tree productivity and the accuracy of biomass allometric equations for nearly a decade after the fire. Our data provide a clear example of the utility of airborne LiDAR data for quantifying the impacts of disturbances at the scale of individual trees. Quantified effects of contrasting fire severities on the structure of resprouter tree crowns provide a strong basis for interpreting post-fire patterns in forest canopies and vegetation profiles in Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and other remotely-sensed data at larger scales.

Natural and health benefits of Azadirachta Indica

Neem a deep rooted, medium-sized, usually evergreen tree, Azadirachta indica of the family Meliaceae. Normally it attains a height of 15-20 m with a diameter of 60- 80 cm. Generally it branches early, forming a large, fairly dense and rounded crown of bright green foliage with compound glabrous leaves. Though it is usually evergreen, yet it becomes deciduous in drier regions. Flowers are small, sweet and scented. Fruits are small and one seeded. Bark is moderately thick, furrowed, dark grey outside and reddish brown inside. The heartwood is red, hard and durable. Neem is an indigenous tree species of Bangladesh and is found in abundance in the Barind Tracts of the country. It is planted all over the country, more especially in the drier part. It is also the native species of dry forest areas of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Neem is considered as one of the most valuable multi-purpose plant species. The wood is durable and used for house building, furniture and many other purpose eg carts, axles, yokes, helms, oars, boxes, agricultural tools, drums etc. The bark, gum, leaves and flowers are all used in herbal medicine. Scientific interest in Neem is based on its traditional uses for insect pest control.

First record of a Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) in Guatemala

BackgroundGalapagos fur seals, Arctocephalus galapagoensis, inhabit the Galapagos Archipelago. The species is considered to be non-migratory, remaining in the Galapagos year-round. On 9 June 2016, a live fur seal stranded on the Pacific coast of Guatemala.ResultsMorphological characteristics (slightly rounded crown, short pointed muzzle with a lighter colored pelage extending into the face and over the eyes forming a small pale mask, tan ventrum contrasting with grizzled gray-brown fur on the back and sides) were used to identify the pinniped as a Galapagos fur seal, Arctocephalus galapagoensis. Additionally, the fur seal was estimated to be a subadult male based on body size and the presence of testicles. Total body length was estimated to be 140 cm and the weight was estimated to be 90 lb. For comparison, adult males of A. galapagoensis measured to date are slightly larger with an average length and weight equal to 150–160 cm and 132–150 lb., respectively. The species identification and age-class determination were confirmed by pinniped specialists.ConclusionThis is the first record of Galapagos fur seal in the Pacific coast of Guatemala and in the Central America region.

Isolation and Structural Elucidation of 20 Hydroxyecdystone from Vitex doniana Sweet Stem bark (Black plum) Mustapha

Vitex doniana Sweet, a plant commonly known black plum, in English, Prunier noir in French, dinya in Hausa, ucha koro in Igbo, oori-nla in yoruba and ngarmi in Kanuri is a medium-sized deciduous tree, 8-18 m high, with a heavy rounded crown and a clear bole up to 5 m. V. doniana is from Verbenaceae family and abundantly occurring in savannah regions. It can be found throughout tropical Africa. The ethanolic extract of Vitex doniana stem bark (11.9 g) was subjected to a silica gel accelerated column chromatography and eluents fractions (150 ml aliquots) obtained were collected and monitored with thin layer chromatography (TLC). Fractions with similar Rf values from same solvents system were poled together. Phytochemical test of all the fractions were perform. Complete elution yielded 48 fractions (150 ml/fraction) which were pooled to 24 fractions and finally to eight (8) eight fractions and coded. Fraction Vd8-a (56 mg) has gave a single spot a white crystal compound coded V1 on checking with TLC and observed under Ultraviolet lamp. The Rf values was calculated to be 0.433 and melting point was found to be 241-243°C uncorrected. The infrared spectrum of compound V1 shows prominent peaks that corresponds to OHstr (3365 cm-1) and C=0 (1652 cm-1). The 1H NMR (400 MHZ) spectrum of compound V1 in DMSO-d6 displayed five singlet signals. It further showed a broad singlet at δ 5.58 integrated for 1 H is due to an olefinic H-atom adjacent to the carbonyl carbon atom. Three signals at δ 3.10` (d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-22), 3.59 (m, 1H, 2H-a) and 3.72 (m, 1H, 3H-e) each integrating for one proton is due to an oxymethine protons indicating that three oxymethine H-atoms were present in the compound. The 13C-NMR spectrum showed the presence of 27 Carbon atoms, suggesting that may be steroid skeleton and the DEPT-135 spectra showed the presence of five CH3, eight CH2, and seven CH groups, and seven quaternary C-atoms. The Molecular formula was established as C27H44O7 by HRES-MS positive ion mode m/z 481.3179. Based on the spectral analysis, the compound V1 is thus concluded to have ecdysteriod skeleton and conclusively conforms with 2β, 3β 14α, 20R, 22R, 25- hexahydroxy-5 β cholest- 7-ene-6- one, commonly known as 20-hydroxyecdysone. This is the first time this compound was isolated from Vitex doniana sweet.

Szata zdobi władcę, czyli jak ubiór pomaga odgrywać rolę bizantyjskiego basileusa?

The apparel functions in culture in many ways. One of the most popular functions is the manifestation of power. The author analyses this problem discussing the texts concerning the Byzantine Empire written in the 20th century such as (Krzyzowcy i Puszkarz Orbano of Z. Kossak, Srebrne orly of T. Parnicki, Bizantyjska noc of S. Sierecki). The main elements of the apparel of the Emperor such as a round crown, sandals, purple colour and jewels were not only the symbols of the unlimited power of the basileus but also increased his authority and were a tool of creating a myth of power. Finally, the apparel of the basileus took part in making the “theater of power” and was the element of the spectacle which aimed at sustaining the illusion about the role and power of the Byzantine Empire.

Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the methanol extract of Bridelia micrantha (Hochst) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) leaves on alloxan-induced diabetic albino mice

Bridelia micrantha (Hochst) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), commonly known in English as “coast gold leaf” or “ogaofia” (the boss of the bush) in Igbo, is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree up to 20 m tall with a dense rounded crown and tall, and bare stem indigenous to southern part of Nigeria. Its stem bark, which is yellow grey and smooth to slightly rough, has been of interest to researchers because of its use in the treatment of various disease conditions in Nigerian traditional medicine. The present study was targeted at investigating the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the methanol extract of B. micrantha leaves using alloxan-induced diabetic mice in vivo and in vitro. The extract, at the dose of 250, 500, and 1,500 mg/kg, showed a remarkable time-dependent decrease in blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. There was no significant difference between the extract-treated groups and the groups treated with 10 mg/kg distilled water and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg), respectively. Six hours posttreatment, the blood glucose level for the groups treated with 250 mg/kg of B. micrantha and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg), respectively, were lower than the normal blood glucose level respectively for the groups before the induction of diabetes. B. micrantha showed its optimum antioxidant activity in DPPH spectrophotometric assay at the concentration of 400 μg/ml. The ferric reducing antioxidant power showed a significant concentration-dependent increase in the total antioxidant power. These findings demonstrate that B. micrantha has both antidiabetic and antioxidant effects on experimental model of diabetes in mice and validate its use in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Even in its crude form, the effects were comparable to that of glibenclamide, an oral sulfonylurea with proven antidiabetic activity. This finding suggests that the extract could be a potential source of a novel antidiabetic and antioxidant agent for the management of diabetes mellitus.

Geometric morphometric analysis of the early Pleistocene hominin teeth from Jianshi, Hubei Province, China

Although the early Pleistocene hominin fossils found in East Asia continent are widely recognized as the earliest hominins migrated from Africa, debates remain on the morphology and taxonomy of these fossils. In this study, dental crown shape of the three early Pleistocene hominin teeth (P3, M1, and M1) found in Jianshi, Hubei Province of China was analyzed by means of geometric morphometrics. The comparative samples of fossil hominins from Africa, Asia, and Europe as well as those of modern humans (N=257) were used. The results indicate that the contour, asymmetry, and cusp patterns of these three types of teeth differ obviously between the fossil hominins and modern humans. The crown shape of P3 in most fossil hominins including Australopithecus, African early Homo, and Asian Pleistocene hominins are asymmetric with their crown occlusal contours long and curving elliptic-shaped. The occlusal contour of the fossil hominin M1 is symmetric and rectangle-shaped with no marked cusp protrusion. The crown shape of fossil M1 is characterized by asymmetric contour with slightly projected metaconid and hypoconid. On the contrary, in modern Chinese and some European late Pleistocene hominins, the crowns of P3s show symmetric contours with buccal side wider than lingual side; the crown shape of M1 is asymmetric with lingual cusp distal-placed, especially for hypoconid; the M1 has symmetric and round crown contour. Our study reveals that Australopithecus has wide variations in its crown shape, whereas these dental morphospaces of Asian hominins are closely placed. The crown contour, symmetry, and cusp patterns of these three teeth of Jianshi hominin resemble those of Asian early and middle Pleistocene hominins. No marked difference in dental crown shape is shown between the Jianshi hominin and other Chinese Homo erectus, and there is also no evidence in support of the Jianshi hominin’s closeness to Australopithecus and African early Homo members.