Epilithic lichens and their morphological adaptations to the conditions of the White and Barents Seas coast (Russian Arctic)

The main aim of our work was to investigate the biodiversity of coastal lichens, conditions of lichen cover formation, and study the structural and functional adaptations of Lecanora intricata (Ach.) Ach. and L. polytropa (Ehrh. ex Hoffm.) Rabenh. The investigation was carried out during 2008-2012 on cliffs both along the Murmansk (the Barents Sea) coast and the southern and western shores of the White Sea. For the evaluation of species composition, and ecotopic coenotical features of epilithic lichen growing on cliffs, the geobotanical methods have been used. In addition, the anatomical, morphological and biochemical studies of Lecanora intricata and L. polytropa have been made. 91 species have been included in the total list of lichens on the White Sea coast. On the Murmask coast of the Barents Sea, 36 lichen species had revealed. On the coastal territory, the epilithic lichens inhabit the upper littoral and supralittoral zone. The lichen cover is formed by two interacting factors: the water factor (sea) and the terrestrial vegetation. Four lichen zones were distinguished in the all studying territories. They differed by the lichen species composition and effect of the sea. The first lichen’s zone is the intrazonal structure in the complex coastal lichen cover. In Lecanora polytropa and L. intricata, structural and functional features of lichens for adaptation to unstable coastal conditions were identified. The crustose biomorphs were better adapted to temperature and degree of hydration of thalli. Formation of the smallest ascospores is reproductive strategy of epilithic lichens in extreme habitats. High content of usnic acid in the studied lichen thalli allows them to exist in the open areas exposed to solar radiation and provides the biotic regulation that affects the structure of lichen cover. Optimal ratio of algal to fungal components in the thalli of these species is necessary to maintain their life in extreme environments

Business French and Translation in the Era of Google Translate: Variations on the Action-based Approach in Language Courses

In this article we outline our practices for the inclusion of electronic translation devices in specialized French language courses and reflect upon the changing landscape of language teaching. We describe how the use of Google Translate can increase students' awareness of linguistic, stylistic, and cultural differences in our culturally and linguistically diverse clasrooms. Although we characterize our didactic approach as action based, we differenciate our use of this approach from its common use in general language courses and point out the usefulness of intellectualizing it based on our use of Google Translate in work-place-oriented courses. Furthermore, we use our experience with action based approaches and translation devices to answer the following questions: why are students still learning languages; what are the language skills that they are interested in; and what is the role of a teacher in this new world of quasi-magic linguistic tools.http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/HEAD/HEAD18Mittler, S.; Sonina, S. (2018). Business French and Translation in the Era of Google Translate: Variations on the Action-based Approach in Language Courses. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD18.2018.8009OC

Structural and functional adaptations of epilithic lichens of Umbilicaria genus in the White Sea coastal conditions

Anatomical and physiological characteristics (width of anatomical layers and the amount of photosynthetic pigments) of two epilithic lichen species Umbilicaria torrefacta (Lightf.) Schrader and U. deusta (L.) have been studied. The study took place on the supralittoral zone on the coast of the White Sea in two points: Kolezhma village and Keret village in 2014 and 2015. Ecological plasticity of mycobiont which contacts the environment and gives a niche to the photobiont have been revealed, based on the analysis of variance in the study of anatomical structures of two different types of habitats and between different samples of the same species. Coastal conditions provide favorable levels of humidity and light for the U. torrefacta and U. deusta species. This allows symbiotic organism to maintain a symbiotrophic balance due to the plasticity of the fungal symbiont which contacts the abiotic environment. At the same time these adaptation mechanisms do not include functional changes, such as photosynthetic apparatus of the autotrophic symbiont, conditions for which are set by the fungal organism. U. deusta and U. torrefacta species only show structural adaptations - the adaptations that follow the path of anatomical structure changes and the relative stability of the physiological parameters. The study shows that anatomical structure of thalli varies more significantly between the two species than within samples of the same species

Effect of caloric restriction on neuroplasticity

Calorie restriction has been shown to have a wide range of beneficial effects on health and longevity, although its effects on brain function are not as well known. This paper reviews the current state of research on the effects of calorie restriction on neuroplasticity, including studies examining the molecular, structural, and behavioral effects of dietary restriction in animal and human models. Overall, the evidence suggests that caloric restriction promotes neuroplasticity. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying these effects and to determine the optimal duration and intensity of caloric restriction. Key words: Caloric restriction, neuroplasticity, diet, cognition, neurogenesis, metabolismBylo prokázáno, že omezení příjmu kalorií má širokou škálu příznivých účinků na zdraví a dlouhověkost, ačkoli jeho účinky na mozkové funkce nejsou tolik známé. Tato práce shrnuje současný stav výzkumu účinků omezení příjmu kalorií na neuroplasticitu, včetně studií zkoumajících molekulární, strukturální a behaviorální účinky omezení stravy na zvířecích a lidských modelech. Celkově důkazy naznačují, že omezení příjmu kalorií podporuje neuroplasticitu. Aby však bylo možné plně porozumět mechanismům, které jsou základem těchto účinků, a určit optimální trvání a intenzitu omezení příjmu kalorií, je potřeba dalších výzkumů. Klíčová slova: Kalorická restrikce, neuroplasticita, dieta, kognice, neurogeneze, metabolismusDepartment of PhysiologyKatedra fyziologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Linguistics in Fashion: Explaining Concepts with Visual Metaphors

[EN] This empirical project, a study of the effect of metaphors and games on the learning process, is related to my research on fashion terminology but focuses on student-professor or student-computer interactions. The project emphasises similarities between fashion and language systems and explores the effect of comparisons between grammar and fashion, as well as associated play activities, on the learning process. This article gives a few examples of visual metaphors used for teaching different aspects of linguistics and explains how they work to facilitate the ––learning process and to capture students’ attention. Applied to linguistics, these empirical findings will hopefully provide inspiring examples and serve as models for exploring visual metaphors in the teaching of other disciplines.Sonina, S. (2015). Linguistics in Fashion: Explaining Concepts with Visual Metaphors. En 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION ADVANCES (HEAD' 15). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 135-141. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd15.2015.450OCS13514

The lichens from the City of Petrozavodsk in the Herbarium of the Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki

A historical lichen collection in the Herbarium of the Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki, collected in the 19th and 20th centuries from the territory of Petrozavodsk (Republic of Karelia, Russia) was examined. A revision of 354 herbarium packets containing 674 specimens resulted in a list of 227 species of lichens and lichenicolous or non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Our historical list added 102 new species to the lichen flora of the city, which now contains 330 species. Xylographa trunciseda is a new lichen record for North-Western Russia. Seven species were registered for Karelia for the first time. 40 species are new to the biogeographic province Karelia olonetsensis and four species – to Karelia onegensis.

The lichens of forest rocky communities of mountain Olovgora (Arkhangelsk Region, Northwest Russia)

The present study reports 223 species and three subspecies of lichens from forest rocky communities of mountain Olovgora, which is the highest point of the Vetreny Poyas ridge (Arkhangelsk Region, NW Russia). A total of 82 species are new for the mainland area of Arkhangelsk Region. The species Bryoria glabra has been reported for the first time for European Russia. Two recorded lichen species, Cladonia bellidiflora and Lobaria pulmonaria, are in the Red Data Book of Arkhangelsk Region. The occurrence of old-growth forests, high heterogeneity of conditions, presence of an altitudinal gradient and the proximity to the sea lead to the rich diversity of lichens in this area.

New and rare lichens and allied fungi from Arkhangelsk Region, North-West Russia. II

Information about 38 species of lichens is presented. In total, 18 species are newly recorded for Arkhangelsk Region, 11 species are new for its mainland area. New localities for 9 rare species are presented. Thalloidima physaroides is new for the territory of Northwest Russia. The species Sclerophora peronella is reported for the second time in the whole territory of Russia, Calicium pinicola – in European Russia and Rhizocarpon simillimum – in Northwest Russia. For Vezdaea rheocarpa and Pilophorus robustus the westernmost localities in Russia are reported. The new localities of 9 species included in the Red Data Book of Arkhangelsk Region are presented. Six species are added to the list of lichens of Vodlozersky National Park

Comparative study of structural and ecophysiological features of lichens of different ecological groups in rocky forest communities of northernmost boreal zone (Karelia, Russia)

The anatomical (thickness of layers of fungal and algal symbionts) and ecophysiological parameters (the content of photosynthetic pigments) of two lichen species (Hypogymnia physodes and Umbilicaria hyperborea) from rocky forest communities of northernmost boreal zone (North-West of Russia) were studied. H. physodes is a lichen with foliose thallus morphology and circumpolar distribution which colonizes almost every substrate. U. hyperborea is strictly epilithic lichen with umbilicate type of thallus morphology and arcto-alpine distribution. Despite the fact that the photobiont in two species are closely related taxa (unicellular green algae of the genus Trebouxia) a high variability of photosynthetic pigments content in H. physodes thalli has been revealed, whereas in U. hyperborea, the mycobiotic showed high structural variability. It can be concluded that both mycobiont and photobiont contribute to their adaptation to environmental factors. In the present study it was obtained that the proportion of variation in anatomical structures and the content of photosynthetic pigments probably less depends on taxonomic position of photobiont and more determined by the plasticity of the individual components of the symbiotrophic organism