Topics Of Life Science Research Articles

Introduction pages, NBHA-CN 50(4), 2022

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 3, Volume 50, 2022 represent new exciting research in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy, and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanism of salinity stress tolerance in plants; Insights into the functional role of tea microbes on tea growth, quality and resistance against pests and diseases; Cloning and function analysis of DlWRKY9 gene in longan (Dimocarpus longan); miRNA expression differentiation induced by polyploidization in newly formed triploids of black poplar; A protocol specialized for microbial DNA extraction from living poplar wood; Global identification and functional prediction of cold-related lncRNAs in eggplant; Effect of pre-harvest application of salicylic acid, potassium silicate, and calcium chloride, on storability and quality attributes of table grape; Efficient micropropagation protocol of three cultivars of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).

Introduction pages, Notulae Scientia Biologicae 14(4), 2022

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 14, 2022: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting research or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Wastewater treatment using chitosan and its derivatives; Phymatotrichopsis root rot and its biological control in the pecan tree in Mexico; The use of plants in the traditional treatment of diabetes patients – survey in southern Morocco; GA3 mediated enhanced transcriptional rate and mRNA stability of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase 1 (NtHMGR1) in Nicotiana tabacum L.; Silicon alleviates PEG-induced osmotic stress in finger millet by regulating membrane damage, osmolytes, and antioxidant defense; UV-mediated enhancement of antibacterial secondary metabolites in endophytic Lasiodiplodia theobromae; Parametric and kinetic modeling, chemical composition, and comparative analyses of Algerian Mentha pulegium L. essential oil extracted from flowers and leaves by hydrodistillation; Introgression progress for phenotypic traits and parent-progeny diversity at advanced segregation population from Oryza barthii and O. glaberrima/O. sativa crosses.

Plastic pollution: the science we need for the planet we want.

Plastics are incredibly versatile materials that can bring diverse societal and environmental benefit, yet current practices of production, use and disposal have negative effects on wildlife, the environment and human health leading to growing concern across public, policy makers and industry. This Special Issue in Emerging Topics in Life Sciences describes recent advances in our understanding of the consequences of plastic pollution. In particular, it examines their potential to act as vectors for chemicals and pathogens in the environment; evaluates the effects of plastic pollution on biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem functioning and highlights the potential for enhanced effects in environments that are already subject to substantive changes in their climate. The impacts plastics pose to terrestrial ecosystems including soil communities are described and evaluated, along with evidence of potential issues for human health. With an increase in the production of plastics labelled as 'biodegradable' their context and ecological impacts are reviewed. Finally, we discuss the need to take an integrative, system approach when developing and evaluating solutions to plastic pollution, to achieve the ambitious yet necessary aims of the UN Plastics Treaty.

Introduction pages, NBHA-CN 50(3), 2022

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 3, Volume 50, 2022 represent new exciting research in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy, and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effects of Alternanthera sissoo and Alternanthera bettzickiana extracts against cancer cells; Cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity of essential oils from lemon, wild orange and petitgrain against MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa cancer cells; Identification of the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) gene family in wheat and its expression profiling analysis under different stress treatments; Rice grain yield and quality improvement via CRISPR/Cas9 system: an updated review; Colletotrichum siamense infection caused transcripts involved plant hormone signal transduction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis varied in strawberry; Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen and phosphorus uptake efficiency and productivity of faba bean crop on contrasting cropping systems; The change of phytochemical profile in beet juice and the influence of different storage conditions during one year; Quality study of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) Greek white wines of the grape variety ‘Debina’; Characterization of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ pomace extracts and evaluation of antifungal potential of Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp.; Anti-ulcer properties, cytokines, and apoptosis regulatory effects of Olea europaea leaves from Hail Province, Saudi Arabia; etc.

Introduction to the special issue on symmetry in the life sciences - symmetry and asymmetry across biological scales.

In this special issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, we present a series of mini-reviews of some of the most exciting research involving the concept of symmetry. This research spans the biological sciences from proteins to ecosystems. The reviews examine protein and floral symmetry, primate brain and behavioral asymmetries, geometric morphometrics, and various fluctuating asymmetries.

Introduction pages

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 2, Volume 50, 2022 represent new exciting research in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy, and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Regulation mechanism of long non-coding RNA in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis; CRISPR/Cas9 applications for improvement of soybeans, current scenarios, and future perspectives; Antioxidant activity of mustard green and Thai rat-tailed radish grown from cold plasma treated seeds and their anticancer efficacy against A549 lung cancer cells; Chemical constituents, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of bee pollen from various floral sources in Taiwan; Antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of seeds and seed by-products from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera); Pot Aloe vera gel – a natural source of antioxidants; In vitro direct organogenesis of the Cretan dittany (Origanum dictamnus L.), an important threatened Greek endemic species; Microscopical characteristics, phytochemical investigation and biological activities of different Lysimachia species growing in Vietnam; Deciphering the stem variations in ginseng plant using RNA-Seq; Biofortification with nanoparticles and zinc nitrate plus chitosan in green beans – effects on yield and mineral content etc.

Introduction pages

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 4, Volume 49, 2021 represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Trehalose induced drought tolerance in plants: physiological and molecular responses; Taxonomy, distribution, epidemiology, disease cycle and management of brown rot disease of peach (Monilinia spp.); Promoter activity analysis and transcriptional profile of Ginkgo biloba 1-Deoxy-D- Xylulose 5-Phosphate reductoisomerase gene (GbDXR) under abiotic stresses; Identifying strawberry DOF family transcription factors and their expressions in response to crown rot; Analysis of codon usage pattern in Lonicera × heckrottii ‘Gold Flame’ based on chloroplast genome; Biofortification with copper nanoparticles (Nps Cu) and its effect on the physical and nutraceutical quality of hydroponic melon fruits; Effect of gibberellin, nano-nutrition with titanium, zinc and iron on yield and some physiological and qualitative traits of white beans; Seasonal variation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ecotone forests of the northern region of Brazilian Amazonia.

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 1, Volume 14, 2022: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Using sumac (Rhus coriaria L.), as a miraculous spice with outstanding pharmacological activities; The role of silicon in plant under normal conditions and stress; Use of biostimulant compounds in agriculture: chitosan as a sustainable option for plant development; Post-monsoon bird assemblages in rural and riverine environments of Northern Howrah, West Bengal, India: A spatio-temporal approach; First report of ectoparasites from black rats (Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758) in oasis regions from Algeria; Traditional fishing gears of Bankura District, WB, India: Some uniqueness in fish catching; Pathogenicity and control of Meloidogyne spp. on some spinach, Swiss chard, and table beet plant cultivars; Effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on growth and yield of Physalis peruviana L. crop under Mediterranean conditions; Chemical composition analysis and biological activities of essential oil from Eucalyptus polybractea (L.), growing in plains of Punjab, Northern India, by two different hydro-distillation methods.

Researcher dynamics in the generation of emerging topics in life sciences and medicine

Researcher dynamics in the generation of emerging topics in life sciences and medicine

Disciplinary emphasis and coherence of integrated science textbooks: a case study from mainland China

ABSTRACT Integrated science is a ubiquitous school subject that is found in primary and middle-school levels around the world. Being a hybrid subject comprising several science disciplines, it poses many challenges to teachers as they are obliged to teach beyond their disciplinary comfort zones. In addition, this subject is prone to a lack of coherence, which helps people see how a small number of key ideas in a discipline can build upon each other to deepen understanding. Using integrated science textbooks from mainland China since 1990 as a case study, their (i) disciplinary emphasis (i.e. which topics & disciplines were emphasised) and, (ii) coherence of topics were therefore examined. The results showed that physical science topics were heavily and consistently emphasised in these textbooks, which likewise corresponded with the high number of buttress topics found in this discipline. Life science topics were the next most emphasised followed by earth science ones, a trend present since the 1990s in this country. We conclude with implications for improving science teacher training/professional development as well as student scientific literacy from this study of disciplinary emphasis and coherence in integrated science textbooks.

Introduction pages

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 4, Volume 49, 2021 represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Cotton versus climate change: the case of Greek cotton production; Agronomic and genetic approaches for enhancing tolerance to heat stress in rice; Insights on solanaceous resistance against tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta), with emphasis on chemical compounds useful in integrated pest management; Role of conventional and molecular techniques in soybean yield and quality improvement - A critical review; Assessment of cold stress tolerance in maize through quantitative trait locus, genome-wide association study and transcriptome analysis; Beneficial microorganisms enhance the growth of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under greenhouse conditions; Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of duplicated flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase gene family in Carthamus tinctorius L.; Comparative analysis of genetic diversity in Norway spruce (Picea abies) clonal seed orchards and seed stands, etc.

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Haemato-biochemical alterations and acute toxicity study of hydro-methanol root extract of Anacardium occidentale in cockerels; Diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Molecular detection of Trypanosoma species and haematological alterations in four trypanosome-infected Nigerian horses; Cryopreservation of aromatic ginger Kaempferia galanga L. by encapsulation-dehydration; Comparative study of some physicochemical and biological properties of effect host species variation on the relationship Saharan parasitic plant Cistanche violaceae (Desf.) Beck.; Comparative leaf anatomy of ten Nepenthes L. species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia; Seed germination response of Indian wild pear (Pyrus pashia) to gibberellic acid treatment and cold storage; Molecular and morphological characterization of Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 from Egypt.

Introduction pages

The papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 3, Volume 49, 2021 represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Recent advancements on use of CRISPR /Cas9 in maize yield and quality improvement; Genome-wide investigation of Hydroxycinnamoyl CoA: Shikimate Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase (HCT) gene family in Carthamus tinctorius L.; Identification of SNPs in rice GPAT genes and in silico analysis of their functional impact on GPAT proteins; Extensive transcriptome changes underlying the fruit skin colour intensity variation in purple eggplant; Physiological variation of irradiated red radish plants and their phylogenic relationship using SCoT and CDDP markers; Alterations in leaf anatomy, quality, and quantity of flavonols and photosynthetic pigments in Nigella sativa L. subjected to drought and salinity stresses; Impact of the foliar application of nanoparticles, sulfate and iron chelate on the growth, yield and nitrogen assimilation in green beans; Phytotoxicity and allelopathic potential of extracts from rhizomes and leaves of Arundo donax, an invasive grass in neotropical savannas; Comparative study of the effect of salt stress, Alternaria alternata attack or combined stress on the Cakile maritima growth and physiological performance, etc. The Impact Factor communicated by ISI Clarivate (June 30, 2021), is IF 2020 = 1.444 (position 157 of 235 journals, Q3 in Plant Sciences). The metrics in Scopus – Elsevier (June 2, 2021): CiteScore 1.7 (#40/86 in Horticulture).

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 3, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Ethnopharmacological utility, traditional knowledge and phytochemistry of Aristolochia species in Assam, India; Pomegranate, fruit of the desert, a functional food, and a healthy diet; Vulvo-vaginal myiasis among rural women in West Bengal, India; Persistence, dissipation and health risk assessment of combi-product profenofos and cypermethrin in/on sapota under sub-tropical agro-climatic conditions in India; Efficacy of different human-elephant conflict prevention and mitigation techniques practiced in West Bengal, India; Diversity and distribution of Asian forest scorpions (Arthropoda, Scorpionidae, Heterometrinae) in Telangana State, India; Moth (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) diversity of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Secondary metabolites of a marine-derived Penicillium ochrochloron etc.

Introduction pages

Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca (NBHA): The papers published in Issue 2, Volume 49, 2021 represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about: Genome-wide identification of WD40 superfamily genes and prediction of WD40 gene of flavonoid-related genes in Ginkgo biloba; Evaluation of mitotic activity in tapetal cells of grapevine (Vitis L.); Light-emitting diode spectra modify nutritional status, physiological response, and secondary metabolites in Ficus hirta and Alpinia oxyphylla; Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria associated to candelilla rhizosphere (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) and its effects on Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings; Agronomical, physiological and molecular evaluation reveals superior salt-tolerance in bread wheat through salt-induced priming approach; Temperature-mediated shifts in chlorophyll biosynthesis in leaves of chlorophyll b-lacking rice (Oryza sativa L.); Basal stem cluster bud induction and efficient regeneration for the Tibetan endemic medicinal plant Swertia conaensis; A proposal for modifying coppicing geometry in order to reduce soil erosion in the forest areas; Exploring mycorrhizal fungi in walnut with a focus on physiological roles; Advance in mechanism of plant leaf colour mutation, etc. The Impact Factor communicated by ISI Clarivate (June 30, 2021), is IF 2020 = 1.444 (position 157 of 235 journals, Q3 in Plant Sciences). The metrics in Scopus – Elsevier (June 2, 2021): CiteScore 1.7 (#40/86 in Horticulture).
 
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 Announcement
 From Volume 49, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca journal uses article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume. This step helps us to maintain a rapid, efficient production process by being able to define pagination as soon as a paper is accepted.
 For papers that use article numbers, the page number of full-text articles will start from 1 to the last page and the citation needs only to list the article number. The journal will continue to appear quarterly, as before, with four annual numbers (see Publication Frequency).

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 2, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Xenobiology: An expanded semantical review; Hog plums: Its importance, potentials and future prospects; Organic waste utilization and urban food waste composting strategies in China; Antimalarial phytochemicals as inhibitors against COVID-19 ACE2 receptor: Computational screening; Acute and sub-acute toxicity profile of methanol extract of Hura crepitans leaf on Wistar rats; Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ain Sekhouna, Saida, Algeria; Anti-proliferating activity of some toxic and medicinal plants used by Wancho tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India; Apomictic development during different flower development stages in Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers., endemic to Turkey; Endophytic fungal isolation from Blumea axillaris: Identification and biological activity of secondary metabolites; Nutrient and metal concentrations in Nepenthes macfarlanei Hemsl. (Nepenthaceae) from a Malaysian montane forest.

Tracking down resistances: a co-design approach for a biomedical educational program on antibiotic resistance

Professional societies and institutes have stressed the importance of a dialogue between scientists and the public over the past decades. Especially the life sciences include many highly relevant research topics pertaining not only to scientific progress but also to decision-making in society. Surprisingly, few educational researchers and biological scientists make interdisciplinary efforts to communicate life science topics to society in an adequate manner. In our project, scientists from evolutionary biology, medicine and biology education worked in an interdisciplinary manner to design an educational program to make scientific research on antibiotic resistance and cystic fibrosis accessible to students (ninth, tenth and eleventh graders). In this article, we explain the communication objectives from the science education researcher’s and the life scientist’s perspectives. We provide a systematic description of the co-design process, a step-by-step procedure and the link to the open-source-materials used in the course. We conclude with a reflection about the implementation in consideration of the two perspectives. In sum, our results highlight that the co-design approach provides an effective method of communicating current biomedical research to school students. Our description of the co-design-process can help future applications of this co-design approach when designing science outreach activities.

Introduction pages

Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca (NBHA): The papers published in Issue 1, Volume 49, 2021 represent new exciting researches in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy and crop science. Among the interesting articles we invite you to find news about:
 Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals gene network regulation of TGase-induced thermotolerance in tomato; Characterization the coding and non-coding RNA components in the transcriptome of invasion weed Alternanthera philoxeroides; Morphometric analysis and sequence related amplified polymorphism determine genetic diversity in Salvia species; Viral diagnosis in cultivars of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.; Influence of fertilizer and salicylic acid treatments on growth, physiological, and antioxidant characteristics in green and red Perilla frutescens varieties; In-vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antiradical potential of successive extracts, semi-purified fractions and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles of Rumex vesicarius; Zoophagous entomofauna and entomopathogenic agents reported on Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) in north-western of Romania; Vegetative propagation and ex-situ conservation of Acantholimon androsaceum and Limonium chersonesum, two promising local endemics of Crete (Greece) available for floricultural and pharmaceutical sustainable exploitation; Quality attributes during maturation of ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Red Delicious’ apples grown in two geographical regions with different environmental conditions, etc.
 The Impact Factor communicated by ISI Clarivate, June 29, 2020, is IF 2019 = 1.168 (position 149 of 234 journals, Q3 in Plant Sciences). The metrics in Scopus – Elsevier (June 22, 2020): CiteScore 1.40 (#43/84 in Horticulture); SJR 0.35 - Q2, #41/90 in Horticulture (SJR Scimago Journal).
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Announcement
 From Volume 49, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca journal will use article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume. This step helps us to maintain a rapid, efficient production process by being able to define pagination as soon as a paper is accepted.
 For papers that use article numbers, the page number of full-text articles will start from 1 to the last page and the citation needs only to list the article number. The journal will continue to appear quarterly, as before, with four annual numbers (see Publication Frequency).

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 1, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Saponaria officinalis L.; The Spanish chamomile (Anacyclus pyrethrum) and pyrethrum (Tanacetum cineraiifolium): organic and natural pesticides and treasure of medicinal herbs; Prophylactic effect of the aqueous extract of Pimpinella anisum on the behavior of Wistar rats exposed to mercury; Anti-ulcer property of methanol fraction of Callichilia subsessilis leaf extract in albino rats; Nesting tree selection by scattered heronry birds of drought prone Northern Bankura, West Bengal, India: preference of Phoenix sylvestris near wetland-associated habitats; Explants selection for in vitro propagation of Pachyrhizus erosus L.; Silene thymifolia Sibth. et Sm. (Caryophyllaceae) – A vulnerable species in Romania: Anatomical aspects of vegetative organs.
 
 Announcement: From Volume 13, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Scientia Biologicae journal will use article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume. This step helps us to maintain a rapid, efficient production process by being able to define pagination as soon as a paper is accepted.
 For papers that use article numbers, the page number of full-text articles will start from 1 to the last page and the citation needs only to list the article number, consequently, instead of the classic style of the journal citation.

A design process for developing agricultural life science‐focused model eliciting activities

AbstractAgricultural life science topics include but are not limited to (1) agriculture and the environment, (2) culture, society, and economy, and (3) energy. These topics have potential to come up during mathematics and science instruction and offer learning opportunities. One way for agricultural life science topics to be part of such instruction is through tasks that encourage problem solving. Model‐eliciting activities (MEAs) are tasks that promote problem solving, draw upon real‐life experiences, and have potential to engage in learning across multiple disciplines. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe a qualitative, exploratory multiple case study. It answers the research question: What are important design features when developing Agricultural Life Science MEAs? Results from this study provide a viable roadmap as an approach to develop MEAs that address Agricultural Life Science issues. This roadmap includes six stages: problem identification, assessing developmental readiness, identifying potential engagement in the MEA, considering pedagogical supports, practitioner reviews, and finally field testing.