Long distance gene flow facilitated by bird-dispersed seeds in wind-pollinated species: A story of hybridization and introgression between Juniperus ashei and J. ovata told by nrDNA and cpDNA

nrDNA and cpDNA were sequenced of J. ashei and J. ovata from populations throughout their ranges. No J. ashei populations were found to be pure in their nrDNA for every tree, however all J. ashei trees in every population contained only the pure J. ashei chloroplast type. Populations of J. ovata in trans-Pecos Texas were almost pure in both nrDNA and cp DNA. Several plants in the J. ashei range contained J. ovata-type nrDNA (White Cliffs, AR, 3/10); Ranger, TX (1/5); Waco, TX (1/12). Every J ashei population contained at least 1 plant with hybrid (heterozygous) nrDNA and 3 J. ovata populations contained putative hybrids (by nrDNA), but one population had only pure J. ovata trees. The presence of ovata germplasm within J. ashei populations seems best explained by long distance bird dispersal of J. ovata seeds (thence seedlings and J. ovata trees and hybrids) in the disjunct J. ashei populations. The reason for the absence of ovata paternal cp, which is distributed by pollen in J. ashei populations is not known. Judged by distribution of cp data, there is very little movement of cp genomes. In contrast, nrDNA polymorphisms indicate there is considerable gene flow between J. ashei and J. ovata, but primarily in the direction of J. ovata to J. ashei which may be explained by a combination of bird migration pattern and recurring and preferential F1-hybrid formation

Partial Characterization of Two Moderately Halophilic Bacteria from a Kansas Salt Marsh

Two bacterial species were isolated from a salt marsh located on privately owned land in Russell County, Kansas. Water samples from the saIt marsh were streaked for isolation on tryptic soy agar supplemented with 12 % NaCI. Visual scanning of the plates revealed two prominent colony types. The two colony types were subcultured repeatedly until axenic cultures were obtained. 80th of these organisms were shown to be moderately halophilic. The organisms were characterized partially by fatty acid methyl ester analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, and scanning electron microscopy. These studies revealed that the bacteria previously were unreported members of genera Marinococcus and Halomonas

Inheritance of single copy nuclear genes (SCNGs) in artificial hybrids of Hesperocyparis arizonica x H. macrocarpa: Potential for utilization in the detection of hybridization in natural populations

Analyses were performed on 18 artificial hybrids from a cross of Hesperocyparis arizonica (male parent) x H. macrocarpa (female parent) using 9 single copy nuclear genes (SCNGs). Three SCNG were found to be informative: myb, 4CL and CnAIB2. Gene myb contained 5 variable sites, of which site 89 was homozygous (CC, TT) as was site 261 (GG, AA) and useful for the detection of hybridization. All 18 hybrids were heterozygous (CT and GA) at these 2 sites as predicted in hybrids. 4CL contained 8 variable sites, of which 1 site (591) was homozygous (TT, CC) and all 18 hybrids were heterozygous (TC) at this site as expected. CnAIP2 had two variable sites: 301 (AA, AC) and 554 (AG, AA). For site 301, 8 hybrids were AA, and 10 were AC as expected. For site 554, 10 hybrids were AA and 8 were AG, so neither would be useful for unequivocally identifying hybrids. The inheritance of variable sites for the three SCNGs followed simple co-occurrence. Examination of myb in the 18 hybrids revealed 2 cases of cross-over in the pollen gametes

Detecting a Currency's Dominance or Dependence using Foreign Exchange Network Trees

In a system containing a large number of interacting stochastic processes, there will typically be many non-zero correlation coefficients. This makes it difficult to either visualize the system's inter-dependencies, or identify its dominant elements. Such a situation arises in Foreign Exchange (FX) which is the world's biggest market. Here we develop a network analysis of these correlations using Minimum Spanning Trees (MSTs). We show that not only do the MSTs provide a meaningful representation of the global FX dynamics, but they also enable one to determine momentarily dominant and dependent currencies. We find that information about a country's geographical ties emerges from the raw exchange-rate data. Most importantly from a trading perspective, we discuss how to infer which currencies are `in play' during a particular period of time

Nuclear and chloroplast DNAs reveal diverse origins and mis-identifications of Juniperus cultivars from Windsor Gardens, UK, Part 3 of 3

Ploidy was determined for 15 plants labeled as Juniperus squamata at the Windsor Gardens, UK and revealed 12 were tetraploids (2n=4x=44) and 3 were diploids (2n=2x=22). nrDNA (ITS) and cp DNA sequencing the tetraploids found: 4 J. squamata (4x); 4 J. tibetica (4x) x J. squamata (4x); 2 J. sabina var. balkanensis (4x) x J. squamata (4x); and one J. chinensis var. sargentii (4x) x J. squamata (4x). Sequencing the 3 diploids revealed: 2 J. pingii (2x) x J. pingii (2x); and 1 J. pingii (2x)? x J. komarovii(2x)? Ploidy analyses of 18 additional cultivars, putatively from Juniperus davurica, J. recurva, J. rushforthiana, J. sabina, and J. virginiana revealed 6 diploids, 5 triploids and 7 tetraploids. Cultivar \u27Musgrave\u27 (4x), by DNA, was identical to J. xpfitzeriana \u27Wilhelm Pfitzer\u27 (4x). The DNA of the 5 triploids were all nearly identical to J. xpfitzeriana \u27Wilhelm Pfitzer\u27 (4x). \u27Tamariscifolia\u27 and \u27Variegata\u27 both had J. sabina var. sabina as their maternal parent, but the first had J. sabina var. balkanensis as the male parent and the second had J. sabina var. sabina as the male parent. Thus, \u27Tamariscifolia\u27 is the first discovery of a J. sabina var. balkanensis x J. s. var. sabina hybrid in cultivation. None of the 3 \u27davurica\u27 cultivars proved to be J. davurica, but rather J. chinensis var. procumbens x J. chinensis var. sargentii. Cultivars J. indica and recurva \u27densa\u27 were shown to be J. indica var. caespitosa. recurva \u27 Embley Park\u27 appears to be J. coxii x J. squamata var. wilsonii. J. wallichiana (=J. indica) 15460 was found to be J. rushforthiana, whereas J. wallichiana (15487) was discovered to be J. indica x J. rushforthiana. Cultivar virginiana \u27cannaertii\u27 was shown to be J. virginiana. Botanic gardens provide a great opportunity for species to hybridize with other species that are not in contact in nature. The species care and suitable habitat provided in a garden setting, as well as vegetative propagation methods have allowed the preservation of those rare hybrids). Identification of juniper hybrids and variants is quite imprecise. DNA barcoding of cultivated plants in botanic gardens would greatly facilitate the recognition, study and utilization of rare hybrids and somatic mutations

Athletic Training and Public Health Summit

To introduce athletic trainers to the benefits of using a population-based approach to injury and illness prevention and to explore opportunities for partnering with public health professionals on these initiatives

ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECT OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN OGTT AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MODEL

Objective: The present study investigates the efficacy of DiaKure, a poly herbal formulation composed of powder of different herbs on blood glucose level of normal and diabetic rats.Methods: The raw materials were collected made it into a powder formulation. Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg was administered as a single i. p. Injection for induction of type 1 diabetes. After one week of streptozotocin injection, animals showing glycosuria (fasting blood sugar level>200 mg/dL) were considered as diabetic. The hypoglycemic activity and glucose tolerance test were studied in normal and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after administration of DiaKure at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Blood glucose was determined by a glucose monitor.Results: At a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg p. o., DiaKure showed a hypoglycemic effect at a varying degree of significance (P<0.05-0.001) in normal rats in comparison with the respective control group. Maximum effect of DiaKure treatment in the glucose tolerance test occurred at 120thminute of glucose administration in normal rats.Conclusion: The results indicate significant hypoglycemic activity of DiaKure in male albino rats.Â

A promiscuous cytochrome P450 aromatic O-demethylase for lignin bioconversion

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOMicrobial aromatic catabolism offers a promising approach to convert lignin, a vast source of renewable carbon, into useful products. Aryl-O-demethylation is an essential biochemical reaction to ultimately catabolize coniferyl and sinapyl lignin-derived a9FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2013/08293-72014/10448-12016/22956-7We acknowledge funding from NSF grants to J.L.D. (MCB-1715176), K.N.H. (CHE-1361104), and E.L.N. (DEB-1556541 and MCB-1615365) and BBSRC grants to J.E.M. (BB/P011918/1, BB/L001926/1 and a studentship to S.J.B.M.). G.T.B., M.M.M., C.W.J., M.F.C., E.L.N.,