The growth, flowering and chemical composition of leaves of three ecotypes of Allium ursinum L.

The experiment was conducted in the Botanical Garden of UMCS in Lublin. A collection of three ecotypes of Allium ursinum L. from Dukla, Roztocze Region and Bieszczady mountain range, were the subject of our study. The aim of the study was to compare the biometrical features and chemical composition of garlic leaves. There were substantial differences both in growth characteristics and flowering characteristics of the ecotypes of Allium ursinum. The Dukla ecotype formed the longest leaves, whereas the shortest ones were found in the Roztocze ecotype. The Bieszczady ecotype was characterized by the widest leaf blades, the longest leaf stalk and flowering stems as well as the largest diameter of inflorescence. The Roztocze ecotype had the largest number of flowers in an inflorescence, while the Dukla ecotype had the shortest flowering stems and the fewest flowers in an inflorescence. The largest concentration of dry mass in leaves was detected in A. ursinum from Roztocze. The largest concentration of proteins was detected in the leaves of A. ursinum from Bieszczady. The most flavonoids were assayed in the leaves of the Roztocze ecotype of A. ursinum, the fewest in the Dukla one. Phenolic acids were at their highest concentration in the leaves of bear's garlic from Dukla, while the lowest concentration was recorded in the leaves of the ecotype from Bieszczady. The garlic leaves from Dukla had also the highest content of essential oil, while the Roztocze ones had the lowest oil content. The ecotypes of Allium ursinum differed substantially when it comes to the number of components of their essential oils and the amount of selected components

A tip of the iceberg—Pseudotanaidae (Tanaidacea) diversity in the North Atlantic

We appreciate Captain Michael Schneider, the crew of R/V Meteor and Klaus Ricke with his crew of R/V Poseidon, the scientist participating in the IceAGE programs as well as pickers and sorters for their valuable help on and off board. We are thankful to Kelly Merrlin for language editions. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for comments and critiques that helped to improve this article. This study was funded by the National Science Centre of Poland (grant number UMO-2014/13/B/NZ8/04702).During two IceAGE expeditions, a large collection of Tanaidacea was gathered from the shelf down to the slope (213−2750 m) in six areas off Iceland—the Irminger Basin, the Iceland Basin, the Norwegian Sea, the Denmark Strait, the Iceland-Faroe Ridge, and the Norwegian Channel. In this collection, members of the family Pseudotanaidae were most numerous component. We examined 40 samples collected with different gears (e.g., EBS, VVG. GKG), in which 323 pseudotanaid individuals were counted and covered a total depth from 213.9 to 2746.4 m. Morphological identification of the material has revealed the presence of five species: Akanthinotanais cf. longipes, Mystriocentrus biho sp. n. Pseudotanais misericorde sp. n., P. svavarssoni sp. n., and P. sigrunis sp. n. The description of the four new species has been presented in the paper and a rank of the subgenus Akanthinotanais is elevated to a genus rank. A large group of morphologically almost identical specimens, similar with P. svavarssoni sp. n. from a wide depth range and from various areas off Iceland was discriminated to species by applying morphometric methods; one distinct species (P. svavarssoni sp. n.) and complex of presumably cryptic species the species was discovered. Based on current data and literature records, similarity among fauna of Pseudotanaidae was assessed with applying Bray–Curtis formula. As results, potential zoogeographic regions in the North Atlantic have been distinguished.This study was funded by Polish National Science Centre grant (UMO-2014/13/B/NZ8/04702)

2D-Raman correlation spectroscopy as a method to recognize of the interaction at the interface of carbon layer and albumin

In modern nanomaterial production, including those for medical purposes, carbon based materials are important, due to their inert nature and interesting properties. The essential attribute for biomaterials is their biocompatibility, which indicates way of interactions with host cells and body fluids. The aim of our work was to analyze two types of model carbon layers differing primarily in topography, and developing their interactions with blood plasma proteins. The first layer was formed of pyrolytic carbon C (CVD) and the second was constructed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), both set on a Ti support. The performed complex studies of carbon layers demonstrate significant dissimilarities regarding their interaction with chosen blood proteins, and points to the differences related to the origin of a protein: whether it is animal or human. However the basic examinations, such as: wettability test and nano sctatch tests were not sufficient to explain the material properties. In contrast, Raman microspectroscopy thoroughly decodes the phenomena occurring at the carbon structures in contact with the selected blood proteins. The 2D correlation method selects the most intense interaction and points out the different mechanism of interactions of proteins with the nanocarbon surfaces and differentiation due to the nature of the protein and its source: animal or human. The 2D correlation of the Raman spectra of the MWCNT layer+HSA interphase proves an increase in albumin β-conformation. The presented results explain the unique properties of the Clayers (CVD) in contact with human albumin

BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene.

MotivationThe BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community-led open-source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene.Main types of variables includedThe database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, the database contains metadata relating to sampling methodology and contextual information about each record.Spatial location and grainBioTIME is a global database of 547,161 unique sampling locations spanning the marine, freshwater and terrestrial realms. Grain size varies across datasets from 0.0000000158 km2 (158 cm2) to 100 km2 (1,000,000,000,000 cm2).Time period and grainBioTIME records span from 1874 to 2016. The minimal temporal grain across all datasets in BioTIME is a year.Major taxa and level of measurementBioTIME includes data from 44,440 species across the plant and animal kingdoms, ranging from plants, plankton and terrestrial invertebrates to small and large vertebrates.Software format.csv and .SQL

Metal Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Crosstalk between Toxic and Essential Metals

Since hundreds of years ago, metals have been recognized as impacting our body’s physiology. As a result, they have been studied as a potential cure for many ailments as well as a cause of acute or chronic poisoning. However, the link between aberrant metal levels and neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), is a relatively new finding, despite some evident ASD-related consequences of shortage or excess of specific metals. In this review, we will summarize past and current results explaining the pathomechanisms of toxic metals at the cellular and molecular levels that are still not fully understood. While toxic metals may interfere with dozens of physiological processes concurrently, we will focus on ASD-relevant activity such as inflammation/immune activation, mitochondrial malfunction, increased oxidative stress, impairment of axonal myelination, and synapse formation and function. In particular, we will highlight the competition with essential metals that may explain why both the presence of certain toxic metals and the absence of certain essential metals have emerged as risk factors for ASD. Although often investigated separately, through the agonistic and antagonistic effects of metals, a common metal imbalance may result in relation to ASD

Are Obese Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder More Likely to Be Selenium Deficient? Research Findings on Pre- and Post-Pubertal Children

Selenium is involved in many metabolic pathways that are critical for life. Information concerning the metabolic effects of selenium in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obesity is still conflicting and incomplete. The pre- and post-pubertal selenium profiles of patients with ASD and obesity have not yet been investigated. The goal of the study was to examine selenium content before and after puberty in euthyroid children diagnosed with ASD, compared to age-matched neurotypical controls, with respect to overweight or obesity as a co-existing pathology. Serum, toenail, and 24h urine selenium levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 287 prepubertal children (mean age 8.09 years), divided into groups: ASD with overweight/obesity (ASD+/Ob+); ASD without overweight/obesity (ASD+/Ob−); non-ASD with overweight/obesity (ASD−/Ob+); and non-ASD without overweight/obesity (ASD−/Ob−). The assessment was repeated in 258 of the children after puberty (mean age 14.26 years).The lowest serum (p < 0.001), urine (p < 0.001) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium levels before and after puberty were observed in ASD+/Ob+ patients, and the highest in ASD−/Ob−. There were no differences in serum/toenail selenium levels between ASD+/Ob− and ASD−/Ob+ groups. The presence of ASD was associatedwith lower serum (p < 0.001) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium in BMI-matched groups. In neurotypical patients, post-pubertal serum selenium levels were lower (p < 0.001) than pre-pubertal levels. In the multiple linear regression analyses, selenium levels showed inverse relationships with BMI (p < 0.001) and male gender (p < 0.001), irrespective of the sample type. The serum (p = 0.002) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium levels were inversely associated with the presence of ASD. ASD, obesity/overweight, and male gender have independent impacts on selenium levels in children. Puberty may affect selenium content in neurotypical children of both genders, but not in ASD patients

Four new species and two new genera of Metapseudidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha) from Australian coral reefs

Stępień, Anna, Błażewicz-Paszkowycz, Magdalena (2013): Four new species and two new genera of Metapseudidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha) from Australian coral reefs. Zootaxa 3717 (4): 559-592, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.4.

FIGURE 5. Tanzanapseudes levis n in Two new species of the genus Tanzanapseudes Băcescu, 1975 (Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha: Tanzanapseudidae) from mid-west Australia

FIGURE 5. Tanzanapseudes levis n. sp., female, holotype A) antennule; B) cheliped; C) pereopod 1; D) pereopod 2; E) pereopod 3; F) pereopod 6. Scale bars equal 0.1 mm

Malacostracan Crustacea of Admiralty Bay (King George Island) and their role in the ekosystem of this antarctic fiord

Zatoka Admiralicji jest jednym z najlepiej poznanych regionów Oceanu Południowego. Jest ona zatem reprezentatywnym akwenem dla antarktycznych fiordów (zatok). Pancerzowce (Malacostraca), to skorupiaki należące do najbogatszych w gatunki grup zwierząt bezkręgowych występujących w Oceanie Południowym. W Zatoce Admiralicji stwierdzono blisko 300 gatunków pancerzowców. Poszczególne rzędy tych skorupiaków są tam reprezentowane przez następujące liczby gatunków: Amphipoda (obunogi) - 182, Isopoda (równonogi) - 63, Cumacea (pośródki) - 15, Tanaidacea (kleszczugi) - 14, Mysidacea (lasonogi) - 14, Euphausiacea (eufauzje) - 5, Decapoda (Dziesięcionogi) - 2, Leptostraca - 1>. Ze względu na tę różnorodność gatunkową i znaczący udział w biomasie bentosu, hyperbentosu i planktonu Malacostraca pełnią bardzo ważną rolę w morskim ekosystemie Antarktyki. W niniejszym artykule omówiono skład kilku wyróżnionych zgrupowań pancerzowców z różnych zkresów głębokości i z rozmaicie usytuowanych regionów Zatoki pod względem odległości od lodowców.Admiralty Bay is one of the best recognized regions of the Southern Ocean. It is therefore a representative area for Antarctic fiords (bays). Malacostracan Crustacea belong to the most diverse invertebrate groups in the Southern Ocean. In Admiralty Bay nearly 300 malacostracan species of Crustacea were hitherto recorded. Particular orders of this group are represented by the following numbers of species: Amphipoda - 182, Isopoda - 63, Cumacea - 15, Tanaidacea - 14, Mysidacea - 14, Euphausiacea - 5, Decapoda - 2, and Leptostraca - 1. Due to this species diversity and a considerable share in benthos, hyperbenthos and zooplankton biomass Malacostraca play a very important role in the Antarctic marine ecosystem. In the present article we have discussed the composition of several malacostracan assemblages distinguished for different depths of the Bay and for it's regions differently distant from the glaciers