ITS phylogeny of Balsamorhiza and Wyethia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae)

Journal ArticleThe relationships among the species of Balsamorhiza and Wyethia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) were examined using data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The ITS sequences were obtained from nine species of Balsamorhiza and 14 species of Wyethia as well as seven outgroup genera

Phylogeny of Balsamorhiza and Wyethia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) using ITS, ETS, and trnK sequence data

Journal ArticleBalsamorhiza and Wyethia together comprise 24 species native to western North America. All species in the two genera are perennial herbs with large taproots and chromosome base numbers of x = 19. The species of Balsamorhiza have exclusively basal leaves while the species of Wyethia have cauline leaves (in addition to basal leaves in some species)

Species Composition of Glass Eels (Anguilla Spp.) Recruiting to the Palu River, Central Sulawesi [Komposisi Spesies Glass Eels (Anguilla Spp.) Yang Beruaya Di Muara Sungai Palu, Sulawesi Tengah]

Demand for tropical eel seed has been increased and many tropical eel populations are under pressure. To conserve eel biodiversity and manage eel populations sustainably, it is necessary to identify eel species and their recruitment patterns at regional and watershed scales. The research objective was to determine the species composition and temporal recruitment patterns of glass eels recruiting to Palu River in Central Sulawesi. Glass eels sampling were conducted in January-April 2009, May-November 2010 and April-December 2011. Identification under anaesthetic (15-17.5 ppm clove oil solution) was based mainly on the number of ano-dorsal vertebrae (ADV). Species composition was dominated by two commercially species, Anguilla marmorata and A. bicolor pacifica with substantial variation and no clear temporal patterns. Specimens of other species that important from conservation and biodiversity aspects were present at each month but cannot be accurately identified using the ADV method. DNA analysis method is required to identify these specimens

Measuring Changes in Phenology of Oklahoma Asteraceae Using Herbarium Specimens

Analyzing shifts in plant flowering times (flowering phenology) in response to changing climate is crucial to understanding the impacts of climate change on plants. Herbaria contain the physical record of reproductive events from past seasons, making them an important source of long-term data for studies of phenology. We measured changes in flowering phenology of four Oklahoma native plants in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family: Grindelia ciliata, Liatris punctata, Ratibida columnifera, and Vernonia baldwinii. These species were selected to represent the morphological and phylogenetic diversity of the Asteraceae in Oklahoma and were represented in the Robert Bebb Herbarium (OKL) with over 100 specimens each. We created novel protocols for scoring the flowering phenology of these species into numeric categories, called phenophases. We looked for correlations between the collection date and both the year of collection and the temperature in that year. There was a significant relationship between collection date and year only in peak flowering specimens of G. ciliata. There was a significant relationship between statewide annual temperature and collection date only in peak flowering specimens of V. baldwinii. There was a significant relationship between the annual temperature of the climate division of the state where the plants were collected and collection date for peak flowering in G. ciliata, R. columnifera, and V. baldwinii, for first flowers in V. baldwinii, and for last flowers in L. punctata. More precise temperature data thus lead to an improvement of the model, but in all cases temperature or year explained relatively little of the total variation in flowering time.The authors thank the MPBIO department at the University of Oklahoma for supporting John Unterschuetz with the George L. and Cleo Cross Endowed Scholarship as an undergraduate student researcher during this investigation.Ye

Pengelolaan Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon Kauderni) Melalui Konsep Ecosystem-based Approach (Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon Kauderni) Management an Ecosystem-based Approach)

The Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) or capungan Banggai (often abbreviated as BCF) is a marine fish endemic to the waters around the Banggai Archipelago, caught in large numbers for the marine aquarium trade. The conservation of this endemic species became an International issue, in 2007 the BCF was proposed for CITES listing by the USA and listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. The CITES proposal was withdrawn, with Indonesia committed to conserve the Banggai Cardinalfish through a sustainable ornamental fishery approach. The multi-stakeholder Banggai Cardinalfish Action Plan (2007-2012) and other initiatives have aimed towards this goal; however the initiative to secure limited protected status in 2011 failed. Studies during 2011-2012 found many positive developments in the BCF fishery, and if the carrying capacity (stocks and ecosystems) was similar to the early 2000\u27s, current official exploitation levels should be sustainable. However a stock assessment analysis using FISAT II revealed a high exploitation level (0.5), indicating catches may have reached or possibly exceeded sustainable limits. Survey/monitoring results indicate the endemic population is not in a steady state, with sharp declines in the past decade. There are strong indications that habitat degradation is the main cause of this decline, including over-exploitation of key BCF micro-habitat (sea urchins and sea anemones). Without an effective solution to protect the supporting ecosystem, P. Kauderni will be increasingly threatened with extinction, with or without fishing pressure. The case of the BCF highlights the importance of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries policy and management

School-based intervention study examining approaches for well-being and mental health literacy of pupils in Year 9 in England: study protocol for a multischool, parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial (AWARE) (vol 12, artne029044corr1, 20022)

The authors would like to notify that the co-authors Sara Evans-Lacko, Bettina Moltrecht, Kirsty Nisbet, Emma Thornton, Aurelie Lange, Paul Stallard, Abigail Thompson were missed including in the authorship list of the paper. The supplementary file has been also updated

KLF9 and JNK3 Interact to Suppress Axon Regeneration in the Adult CNS

Neurons in the adult mammalian CNS decrease in intrinsic axon growth capacity during development in concert with changes in Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLFs). KLFs regulate axon growth in CNS neurons including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Here, we found that knock-down of KLF9, an axon growth suppressor that is normally upregulated 250-fold in RGC development, promotes long-distance optic nerve regeneration in adult rats of both sexes. We identified a novel binding partner, MAPK10/JNK3 kinase, and found that JNK3 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3) is critical for KLF9\u27s axon-growth-suppressive activity. Interfering with a JNK3-binding domain or mutating two newly discovered serine phosphorylation acceptor sites, Ser106 and Ser110, effectively abolished KLF9\u27s neurite growth suppression in vitro and promoted axon regeneration in vivo. These findings demonstrate a novel, physiologic role for the interaction of KLF9 and JNK3 in regenerative failure in the optic nerve and suggest new therapeutic strategies to promote axon regeneration in the adult CNS

The Calcium-Binding Protein EFhd2 Modulates Synapse Formation In Vitro and Is Linked to Human Dementia

This work was funded by a research grant from Alzheimer’s Research UK (Eva Borger, Tara Spires-Jones, Frank Gunn-Moore) and the 600th University of St. Andrews anniversary BRAINS appeal.EFhd2 is a calcium-binding adaptor protein that has been found to be associated with pathologically aggregated tau in the brain in Alzheimer disease and in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia. EFhd2 has cell type–specific functions, including the modulation of intracellular calcium responses, actin dynamics, and microtubule transport. Here we report that EFhd2 protein and mRNA levels are reduced in human frontal cortex tissue affected by different types of dementia with and without tau pathology. We show that EFhd2 is mainly a neuronal protein in the brain and is abundant in the forebrain. Using short hairpin RNA–mediated knockdown of EFhd2 expression in cultured cortical neurons, we demonstrate that loss of EFhd2 affects the number of synapses developed in vitro whereas it does not alter neurite outgrowth per se. Our data suggest that EFhd2 is involved in the control of synapse development and maintenance through means other than affecting neurite development. The changes in expression levels observed in human dementias might, therefore, play a significant role in disease onset and progression of dementia, which is characterized by the loss of synapses.Publisher PDFPublisher PDFPeer reviewe