Fusion within and between whorls of floral organs in Galipeinae (Rutaceae): structural features and evolutionary implications

Background and Aims Most genera of the neotropical Galipeinae (tribe Galipeeae, Rutoideae) exhibit several forms and degrees of fusion between the floral organs, including the union of petals into an apparently sympetalous corolla, the joining of the stamens among themselves and to the corolla, and the partial to complete connation of carpels. Though these and others floral traits are currently used in the circumscription of species in Galipeinae, few studies have shown in detail in which way (postgenital or congenital) and to what extent these fusions occur. To elucidate these anatomical conditions, a structural study of the flowers of the Galipeinae species was carried out. Methods Flowers of six species from three genera of Galipeinae were studied in their morphology, anatomy and development with stereomicroscopy, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Key Results The floral tube is formed by synorganization of stamens with petals in all species, and exhibits three main patterns: (1) Conchocarpus heterophyllus and C. minutiflorus have a floral tube formed by marginal coherence/adherence of petals and filaments due to interwining trichomes (postgenital connection); (2) Erythrochiton brasiliensis has a tube formed by congenital fusion of petals and filaments; and (3) Galipea jasminiflora and Conchocarpus macrophyllus have a tube formed distally with the first pattern, and proximally with the second pattern. Although floral tubes seem to be homologous within Galipeinae, this is not true at the level of the family: the floral tube of Correa (from an only distantly related clade of the family) is formed by postgenital union of the petals representing a convergent structure. The gynoecium of the studied species of Galipeinae shows a great variability in the extent of fusion of carpel flanks. Even though different structures for the mature gynoecium were found in each genus, all genera show postgenitally fused carpel apices, which is related to the formation of a compitum, as described earlier for other members of Rutaceae. Conclusions The degree and diversity of fusions of floral organs in Galipeinae is unique within the order Sapindales. A study of the amount of diversification of Galipeinae in South America and comparison with other clades of Rutaceae would be of interes

Floral morphology and anatomy of five species of Galipea Aubl. and its bearing on the evolution of tubular flowers in Neotropical Rutaceae

A maioria dos gêneros da subtribo neotropical Galipeinae (tribo Galipeeae, Rutoideae) tem flores tubulosas, com várias formas e graus de conação e adnação. Galipea e outros gêneros na subtribo apresentam apenas duas anteras férteis mais cinco ou mais estaminódios, o que é intrigante porque na tribo predominam flores pentâmeras isostêmones. Visando elucidar a condição anatômica dessas características e estabelecer estados acurados para caracteres em análises filogenéticas, um estudo morfoanatômico de flores de cinco espécies de Galipea foi realizado, buscando os padrões de vascularização, posição, e união dos segmentos da flor. Destacam-se os resultados: 1) um tubo floral genuíno se forma no terço basal da flor por conação dos filetes e adnação desse tubo estaminal às pétalas; 2) as pétalas são distalmente coerentes umas às outras e aderentes aos filetes por meio de entrelaçamento de tricomas densos - um caso de pseudossimpetalia; 3) dentre as cinco (às vezes seis) estruturas tratadas como estaminódios, apenas as três externas são de fato homólogas a estames esterilizados, as demais surgem como ramificações adaxiais das pétalas; 4) os carpelos são peltados, congenitalmente conatos axial e lateralmente da base do ovário até o nível das placentas, e no estilete e estigma; na zona mediana e superior do ovário eles são unidos apenas posgenitalmente, com a epiderme diferenciada de carpelos contíguos e suturas evidentes na região ventral de cada carpelo; 5) a vascularização do disco sugere origem receptacular. As implicações desses dados para o entendimento da evolução das flores tubulosas em Galipea e grupos relacionados são discutidas.Most genera of the neotropical subtribe Galipeinae (tribe Galipeeae, Rutoideae) have tubular flowers with several forms and degrees of fusion between parts. The fact that Galipea and other genera in the subtribe bear only two fertile anthers plus five or more staminodes is also intriguing, since generally the Galipeeae exhibit isostemony. To elucidate the anatomic condition of these traits, and to establish an accurate coding scheme for characters state in phylogenetic studies, a morphoanatomical study of the flower of five species of Galipea was carried out. Using cross-sections of pickled material, the patterns of vascularization, position, and union of the flower segments were investigated. Noteworthy results are: 1) a true floral tube is formed in the basal third part of the flower through the connation of filaments and the adnation of this staminal tube to the petals; 2) the petals are distally coherent to each other and adherent to the filaments by means of capillinection (close intertwining of trichomes) - a case of pseudosympetaly; 3) from the usually five linear structures referred to as staminodes, only the three external ones are homologous to fully sterilized stamens, while the other ones arise as branches from the petals; 4) carpels are congenitally connate axially and laterally, except for a small area close to the top of the ovary where they are postgenitally united; 5) the vascularization of the disc suggests a receptacular origin. The implications of these data for the evolution of tubular flowers in Galipea and related groups are discussed.CNP

Kafirin structure and functionality

The structural and functional properties of kafirins are reviewed. Three classes of kafirin: the a, ß and ? forms have been identified at the protein level and one, the d, has been identified only at the gene and transcript levels. All forms show high homology with the equivalent zein proteins. By analogy with the zeins it is believed that the a-kafirins probably have an extended hairpin structure in solution, comprising elements of a-helix, ß-sheet and turns folded back on itself. Kafirins are the most hydrophobic of the prolamins as shown by their solubility, and calculated hydration free energies. The proteins exhibit extensive cross-linking by disulphide bonds and on cooking form indigestible aggregates which are not solubilised by reduction of disulphide bonds. In spite of continuing studies, the reasons for the low digestibility of the protein remain uncertain and there may be several factors involved. Other research has shown that kafirins may have non-food uses and may be used to form films

Current limiting and negative differential resistance in indium oxide based ceramics

Indium oxide based ceramics with bismuth oxide addition were sintered in air in the temperature range 800-1300 ºC. Current-voltage characteristics of In2O3-Bi2O3 ceramics sintered at different temperatures are weakly nonlinear. After an additional heat treatment in air at about 200 ºC samples sintered at a temperature within the narrow range of about 1050-1100 ºC exhibit a current-limiting effect accompanied by low-frequency current oscillations. It is shown that the observed electrical properties are controlled by the grain-boundary barriers and the heat treatment in air at 200 ºC leads to the decrease in the barrier height. Electrical measurements, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results suggest that the current-limiting effect observed in In2O3-Bi2O3 may be explained in terms of a modified barrier model; the observed current-limiting effect is the result of an increase of barrier height with increasing electric field, due to additional oxygen absorption. It is found that In2O3-Bi2O3-Co3O4-Cr2O3 ceramic exhibits current-voltage characteristics with negative differential resistance due to Joule micro heating.This study was performed in part in the frames of the project SEP-2003-C02-42821, CONACYT, México. Funding from the Royal Society, United Kingdom (2007R1/R26999) is gratefully acknowledged

Maintenance plasma exchange treatment for muscle specific kinase antibody positive myasthenia gravis patients

Background:Anti‐muscle specific kinase antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK MG) is often characterized by a relatively severe and progressive course, refractoriness to standard myasthenia gravis (MG) medications, and an increased risk of myasthenic crisis. We report here successful management of three MuSK MG patients using maintenance therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) treatment for up to 4.5 years. Materials: The study was a 5‐year retrospective review of all MG patients treated with TPE between 2008 and 2013 at University of Michigan. Inclusion criteria of MuSK MG were positive for anti‐MuSK antibodies and a diagnosis of MuSK MG by staff neurologists. Patient data included age, gender, diagnostic testing results, medications, and the dates and response to TPE treatments. Results: A total of 153 MG patients underwent at least one course of TPE between 2008 and 2013. A total of 12 patients (7.8%) were positive for anti‐MuSK antibodies. Patients were predominantly female (83.3%) and a median age of onset was 46‐years old. Three MuSK MG patients were successfully managed with maintenance TPE. Conclusion: Maintenance TPE may be an effective option for MuSK MG patients. The key of successful maintenance treatment at our institution has been to tailor the TPE frequency for each individual, and to modify the treatment interval in conjunction with medical management. J. Clin. Apheresis 30:314–319, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115915/1/jca21377.pd

Flora da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais: Chrysobalanaceae

The study of the family Chrysobalanaceae is part of the "Flora of the Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil" project. In that area, the family is represented by the following genera, with their respective number of species: Hirtella (3), Couepia (1), and Licania (1). Keys to the genera and species, descriptions and illustrations, as well as comments on the geographic distribution, phenology and variability of the species are presented.O estudo da família Chrysobalanaceae é parte do levantamento da Flora da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Esta família está representada na área pelos seguintes gêneros, com o respectivo número de espécies: Hirtella (3), Couepia (1) e Licania (1). São apresentadas chaves para gêneros e espécies, descrições e ilustrações das mesmas, além de comentários sobre sua distribuição geográfica e variabilidade