Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Asuncion de los Rios, Jano Nunez-Zapata, Rudiger Ortiz-Alvarez, Matthias Schultz, Sergio Perez-Ortega
Summary: This study used a comprehensive dataset and genetic analysis to investigate the species boundaries, evolutionary relationships, and geographic distribution of the genus Lichina. The results identified four species in the genus, with L. pygmaea, L. confinis, and the newly described L. canariensis found in the Northern Hemisphere and L. intermedia restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. The genetic diversity of L. intermedia was much higher than the other species, suggesting species-level lineages within this species.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
B. De Bruyne, J. Randon-Furling, S. Redner
Summary: The study introduces a minimalist dynamical model of wealth evolution and sharing to compare altruism and individualism. Results show that altruism leads to more global wealth at early times, but individualists eventually accumulate most wealth and are richer and longer lived than altruists.
JOURNAL OF STATISTICAL MECHANICS-THEORY AND EXPERIMENT
(2021)
Article
Biology
Hafiza Simba Asghar, Saiqa Riaz, Abdul Nasir Khalid
Summary: This study reports two new records for South Asia, Pyrenodesmia albopustulata and P. microstepposa in Pakistan. The specimens were characterized using morpho-anatomical and molecular techniques, and complete descriptions, ecology, distribution, and molecular analysis were provided.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Ananias A. Escalante, Axl S. Cepeda, M. Andreina Pacheco
Summary: This study discusses the species diversity, phenotypic differences, molecular adaptations, and host-parasite biocenosis of malaria parasites in primates. It finds that malaria parasites can be divided into two subgenera, with Laverania containing the species including Plasmodium falciparum, and Plasmodium involving other species in Southeast Asia. Evaluating the origin of molecular traits in primate malaria clades has potential implications for interventions.
Article
Mycology
Min Ai, Li Juan Li, Fiona Ruth Worthy, An Cheng Yin, Qiu Yi Zhong, Shi Qiong Wang, Li Song Wang, Xin Yu Wang
Summary: During the scientific expedition in the Tibetan Plateau, a new species of white terricolous lichenized fungal species of Buellia De Not. was discovered. Through examinations of morphology, chemistry, and phylogeny, this new species, Buellia alpina, was described. Additionally, two other species, Buellia elegans and Buellia epigaea, were reported in China for the first time. It was found that species in the Buellia epigaea-group actually belong to two distinct clades. This research provides detailed descriptions and a key for species identification.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Prashanth Jaikumar, Alexandra Semposki, Madappa Prakash, Constantinos Constantinou
Summary: The study shows that hybrid stars containing quark matter exhibit a larger frequency range in core g-mode oscillations, potentially due to differences in sound speed behavior in the mixed phase of quarks and nucleons. In binary mergers, the resonant energy in hybrid stars may exceed that in normal neutron stars by a factor of 2 to 3, although resonance occurs during the final stages of excitation.
Article
Microbiology
Shun Liu, Jun-Liang Zhou, Jie Song, Yi-Fei Sun, Yu-Cheng Dai, Bao-Kai Cui
Summary: This study proposes two new families, Climacocystaceae and Gloeoporellaceae, within the diverse group of Polyporales based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using DNA sequences of various genes, and the divergence time of Polyporales was estimated using the conserved regions of five DNA fragments. The results reveal the ancestral split of Polyporales and the ages of the families, with Climacocystaceae and Gloeoporellaceae originating at specific time periods.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Hafiza Simab Asghar, Iram Fayyaz, Muhammad Shahid Iqbal, Najam-ul-Sehar Afshan, Abdul Nasir Khalid
Summary: In this study, Diploschistes specimens from different areas of Pakistan were characterized using morpho-anatomical and molecular techniques. The study confirmed two species, Diploschistes gypsaceus and D. neutrophilus, as additions to the lichen biota of Pakistan. The article presents detailed morpho-anatomical descriptions, ecology and distribution, and includes ITS-based molecular analysis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathias L. Heltberg, Sandeep Krishna, Leo P. Kadanoff, Mogens H. Jensen
Summary: The fundamental mechanisms controlling biological organisms exhibit complex dynamics, with oscillators being a common motif that interacts with each other. Understanding the non-linear interactions between oscillations is crucial for predicting the dynamic effects in biological systems.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ronald Pethig
Summary: Standard DEP theory fails to accurately describe the DEP experimental data of different proteins, while a new theory based on molecular dynamics simulations replaces the macroscopic boundary-value problem with calculation of cross-correlation between protein and water dipoles. The empirical and formal theory predicts a positive DEP response for protein molecules at MHz frequencies, which is consistent with electrode-based experiments, but insulator-based experiments report negative DEP responses.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amanda C. Macke, Maria S. Kelly, Rohith Anand Varikoti, Sarah Mullen, Daniel Groves, Clare Forbes, Ruxandra I. Dima
Summary: The oligomeric assembly of severing proteins depends on their binding partners and types. The stability of the oligomer is determined by the interface strength between monomers. The region consisting of the HBD tip and the CT helix is crucial for nucleotide, substrate and intermonomer binding.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Ecology
James P. Gilmour, Kylie L. Cook, Nicole M. Ryan, Marjetta L. Puotinen, Rebecca H. Green, Andrew J. Heyward
Summary: Coral reefs are facing severe threats from chronic local pressures and climate change, particularly rising ocean temperatures and bleaching. By comparing the dynamics of two adjacent reef systems, we find that coral bleaching can have irreversible impacts on coral reefs. The dynamics of reef systems are driven by local environment, exposure to disturbances, and coral life history traits. Applying knowledge of community dynamics at local scales can aid management strategies to slow the degradation of coral reefs.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Jie Tong, Tingting Zhang, Qiang Wang, Xudong Zhao, Xirong Sun, Manji Hu
Summary: To promote balanced development, China phased out the one-child policy in 2016 and introduced the two-child policy, leading to significant changes in family structure. This study examined the differences and predictors of family dynamics and functioning in two-child and one-child families. The findings showed that one-child families had better family atmosphere, personalization, disease concept, overall family dynamics, and family functioning compared to two-child families.
PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Kotoulas
Summary: We study homogeneous potentials V = V(x, y, z) of degree m which are created outside a finite concentration of matter and produce a preassigned two-parametric family of regular orbits. These potentials satisfy three linear PDEs, with two coming from the Inverse Problem of Newtonian Dynamics and the last one being Laplace's equation. By imposing differential conditions on the orbital functions, we can find the potential by quadratures for specific values of m. The obtained values are consistent with familiar gravitational and electrostatic potentials.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
(2023)
Article
Economics
Sasan Bakhtiari
Summary: This paper empirically examines the relationship between the intensity of outsourcing by an entrepreneur and its ability to scale up in size. The study finds that contracting out around 10% of the workforce doubles the odds of scaling up, while outsourcing more than 90% of the workforce increases the odds by 2.5 times. Firms choosing minimal outsourcing show early signs of growth and tend to grow larger, create more jobs, pay higher wages, and engage in export and research activities. On the other hand, firms growing through extreme outsourcing are better at survival. The resource-based view of firms and management capability seem to explain this observed behavior.
Article
Biology
C. Kevin Boyce, Daniel E. Ibarra, Matthew P. Nelsen, Michael P. D'Antonio
Summary: The evolution of high-productivity angiosperms has been considered as a driver for the restructuring of ecosystems during the Mesozoic period. However, the availability of rock-derived nutrients such as phosphorus limits terrestrial productivity, and permanent increases in weathering would violate the mass balance requirements of the long-term carbon cycle. This study provides evidence supporting the potential reality of sustained productivity increases since the Mesozoic through the documentation of a significant increase in the evolution of nitrogen-fixing or nitrogen-scavenging symbioses. The authors also explore how enhanced phosphorus availability could be sustained without violating mass balance requirements using carbon cycle modeling.
Article
Plant Sciences
Abigail R. Meyer, Maria Valentin, Laima Liulevicius, Tami R. McDonald, Matthew P. Nelsen, Jean Pengra, Robert J. Smith, Daniel Stanton
Summary: The long-term potential for acclimation by lichens to changing climates is poorly known. A previous study showed that the mass and physiological function of lichens were severely lost after a 2 degrees C increase in temperature, mainly due to the decrease in activity of their symbiotic partners. This finding is important for understanding the response mechanisms of lichens to climate change.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Todd J. Widhelm, Anusha Rao, Felix Grewe, H. Thorsten Lumbsch
Summary: Accurate species delimitations are crucial for understanding genetic diversity and conducting research in evolutionary and conservation biology. In lichenized fungi, there has been a debate on whether species pairs with similar morphology and chemistry should be classified as one species or two. Recent analysis using RADseq data has found fixed genetic differences between the two morphs, contradicting earlier conclusions based on limited Sanger sequencing data.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Isabel Urena-Vacas, Elena Gonzalez-Burgos, Pradeep Kumar Divakar, Maria Pilar Gomez-Serranillos
Summary: This review discusses the research findings on the biological effects and mechanisms of action of lichen depsides and tridepsides, which are secondary metabolites found in lichens. Various studies have demonstrated antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities of these compounds. However, clinical trials have not been conducted yet, and future research should focus on in vivo studies, clinical trials, and evaluating other activities. Additionally, there are many compounds that have yet to be investigated in terms of their pharmacology.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ram Sharan Dani, Pradeep Kumar Divakar, Chitra Bahadur Baniya
Summary: Studies on species richness patterns along elevation gradients have been conducted to estimate the patterns and determinants of species richness. More than half of the studies found unimodal hump-shaped richness patterns, followed by a monotonic decline, in different plant taxa. Both hemispheres showed similar patterns of species richness. Some taxa showed bimodality or multi-model patterns. The mid-domain effect and elevation range influenced the patterns. More regional research focusing on specific taxa and factors is needed.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Sangsuree Thippawan, Kanisorn Chowtiwuttakorn, Nanthachai Pongpattananurak, Ekaphan Kraichak
Summary: Seedlings are important for understanding plant growth, and their abundance and health can indicate future forest structure changes. This study aims to predict seedling biomass by investigating 205 two-year-old seedlings from different tree species. The results suggest that root collar diameter, shoot height, and wood density can accurately predict seedling biomass.
Letter
Evolutionary Biology
Matthew P. Nelsen, Corrie S. Moreau, C. Kevin Boyce, Richard H. Ree
Summary: The success of various lineages is partly due to changes in vegetation. The evolutionary history of ants is closely associated with the evolution and spread of flowering plants. This study investigates the diversification of ants in relation to flowering plants and biome evolution, focusing on their expansion from forested to non-forested biomes and the relationship between climatic niche evolution and arboreal nesting. The spread of ants into non-forested biomes during the Paleogene-Neogene era was likely driven by the evolution and expansion of arid-adapted angiosperms, providing food for ants. The choice of nesting location in trees is linked to evolutionary innovations in angiosperm physiology and the establishment of everwet tropical rainforests. Differences in climatic optima and climate niche evolution are also associated with nesting location, with arboreal nesters preferring warmer and less seasonal climates and exhibiting slower rates of climatic niche evolution. This research offers new insights into the impact of flowering plant evolution on the ecology and evolution of associated lineages.
Article
Horticulture
Chulalack Sitthichoptham, Narong Wongkantrakorn, Ekaphan Kraichak, Nuttha Sanevas
Summary: Due to habitat modifications and climate change, Sphagnum moss has disappeared from many tropical areas, including Thailand. This study focused on the cultivation of S. cuspidatulum using tissue culture techniques in order to conserve and mass produce the species. The results showed that the 1/6MS treatment produced the highest dry weight, and the addition of 1.5% to 2% glucose to the 1/4MS treatment further increased the dry weight. This study is the first to use MS media for Sphagnum cultivation.
HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nopparat Anantaprayoon, Jason Hollinger, Abigail Robison, Ekaphan Kraichak, Heather Root, Steven D. Leavitt
Summary: Species of lichen-forming fungi exhibit a variety of geographical distribution patterns, with some species having their diversity and biogeographical patterns masked by unrecognized diversity or taxonomic limitations. This study reveals that the widely distributed Lecidea atrobrunnea s. lat. is likely a complex of distinct species-level lineages, with unsettled species boundaries in both phenotype and molecular-based approaches.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mohammad Sohrabi, Steven D. Leavitt, Walter Obermayer, Helmut Mayrhofer
Summary: A new manna lichen species, Circinaria nimisii sp. nov., is described and illustrated in this study. It is the fourth known manna lichen in Europe and was found on Mount Olympus in Greece. The distinct morphological and molecular characteristics differentiate this species from closely related congeners. Additionally, the study proposes Agrestia zerovii to be a new synonym of Circinaria hispida.
Article
Microbiology
Michael Kerr, Steven D. Leavitt
Summary: DNA barcoding approaches provide powerful tools for characterizing fungal diversity, but are limited by poor representation of species-level diversity in fungal sequence databases. This study created a regional ITS database for lichen-forming fungi in the Intermountain West of the United States and found that species-level identification rates were significantly improved using the regional database compared to the widely used UNITE database.
Article
Microbiology
Steven D. Leavitt, Ann DeBolt, Ethan McQuhae, Jessica L. Allen
Summary: The Florida Perforate Cladonia (FPC), a federally endangered species, remains imperiled in isolated populations in the Florida scrub. Reference genomes of threatened and endangered species like FPC provide crucial insights into genomic diversity and adaptations. In this study, the first draft nuclear and mitochondrial genomes were assembled for FPC, and genetic diversity within and among populations in southeastern Florida was assessed. The genomic resources generated here are important for informed conservation efforts for the FPC.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
David Alors, Pradeep Kumar Divakar, Anjuli Calchera, Imke Schmitt, Ana Crespo, Maria Carmen Molina
Summary: Lichens produce bioactive compounds, but their slow growth rate and environmental damage make massive collection impractical. Cultivation of lichens in the lab is an alternative, and our study focused on two lichen species cultured for over 550 days. We found that the mycobiont cultures produced different secondary metabolites than those found in natural lichen thalli, indicating their potential for bioactive compound production.
Article
Biology
Thitipong Panthum, Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Wongsathit Wongloet, Pish Wattanadilokchatkun, Nararat Laopichienpong, Ryan Rasoarahona, Worapong Singchat, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Ekaphan Kraichak, Narongrit Muangmai, Prateep Duengkae, Yusuke Fukuda, Sam Banks, Yosapong Temsiripong, Tariq Ezaz, Kornsorn Srikulnath
Summary: Hybrids between the Siamese crocodile and saltwater crocodile pose a challenge for conservation efforts. This study used DArT sequencing to identify genome-wide SNPs in both species and confirm hybrid scenarios. PCR-based detection of SNP loci successfully distinguished species and hybridization levels.
