Article
Cell Biology
Barbora Augstenova, Eleonora Pensabene, Lukas Kratochvil, Michail Rovatsos
Summary: Anguimorphan lizards are a group of squamate reptiles with wide geographical distribution and morphological variability. Their karyotypes show significant variation across different lineages, with Anguids exhibiting the most variability. The study documented differentiated sex chromosomes in monitors and helodermatids, as well as in some anguids, and also revealed a rare case of spontaneous triploidy in Varanus primordius.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Kafimola, Maryam Azimi, Reihaneh Saberi-Pirooz, Cetin Ilgaz, Ghasem Mohammadi Kashani, Paschalia Kapli, Faraham Ahmadzadeh
Summary: Mountains play a crucial role in shaping biodiversity by acting as barriers and corridors for gene flow and population migration. The Anatolian and Zagros Mountains have influenced the distribution of animal populations since the late Cenozoic. Apathya is a genus of lacertid lizards found in these mountains, consisting of two species, Apathya cappadocica and Apathya yassujica.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Zoology
Marine Arakelyan, Victor Spangenberg, Varos Petrosyan, Alexey Ryskov, Oksana Kolomiets, Eduard Galoyan
Summary: Recent studies have shown that sexual species of rock lizards avoid interspecific mating with parthenogenetic species. The specific combination of environmental factors during the last glaciation period led to changes in the distribution and sex ratio of ectotherms. At least 7 diploid parthenogenetic species of rock lizards originated through interspecific hybridization in the past.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Pablo Recio, Gonzalo Rodriguez-Ruiz, Pilar Lopez, Jose Martin
Summary: Rock lizards demonstrate the ability to discriminate between quantities of prey, with social experience affecting their foraging behavior. Grouped lizards exhibit greater foraging activity compared to solitary lizards, indicating the influence of previous social experience on foraging decisions.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ana Teresa Alhinho, Miguel Jesus Nunes Ramos, Sofia Alves, Margarida Rocheta, Leonor Morais-Cecilio, Jose Gomes-Laranjo, Romulo Sobral, Maria Manuela Ribeiro Costa
Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of unisexual flowers in sweet chestnut tree, identifying homologous genes to the ABCDE model for floral organ identity. The differential expression of B- and C-class genes in male and female flowers suggests a conserved mechanism in determining sexual organ identity in the predominantly monoecious Fagaceae family.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eric J. Gangloff, Sierra Spears, Laura Kouyoumdjian, Ciara Pettit, Fabien Aubret
Summary: The study examines the challenges faced by high-elevation animals when translocating downslope and the effects of novel oxygen environments on the thermal physiology and performance of high-elevation species. The results indicate that hyperoxia may constrain the performance and migration capacity of high-elevation specialists in new oxygen environments.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Haiyang Zhao, Liangchi Zhang, Zhonghuai Wu, Ang Liu
Summary: This paper presents a systematic investigation on the crack evolution in intact rocks using discrete element-based modeling. It was found that crack initiation and coalescence occur at different stages and are influenced by the local heterogeneity and stress distribution of the sample.
COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Arun Kumar Murali, Khoa M. Tran, Asadul Haque, Ha H. Bui
Summary: The design of rock-socket piles relies on the shaft resistance to support the load at the serviceability state. This study investigated the load-bearing mechanisms of rock-socketed piles using a miniaturised pile-load test setup and numerical modelling. X-ray CT imaging and numerical modelling revealed three different interface mechanisms and validated the observed micro-mechanics in the rock asperities. The results indicated that the height of the rock asperities significantly influenced the failure mode, with the bottom leading edge carrying the majority of the shaft loads.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gonzalo Rodriguez-Ruiz, Jesus Ortega, Pilar Lopez, Alfredo Salvador, Jose Martin
Summary: The study found that male rock lizards with improved nutritional status adopted a more cautious and less costly mating strategy, resulting in siring fewer offspring, but potentially increasing longevity and expected total reproductive success in the future.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Xiao-Wei Yang, Xiao-Ping Zhang, Qi Zhang, Chang-Dong Li, Ding-Jian Wang
Summary: The study found that crack turning in bedded rock involves five types, and not only includes tensile cracks but also a combination of tensile and shear crack segments. In addition, crack turning involves not only the continuous propagation of a single macro-crack but also the coalescence of two macro-cracks.
ENGINEERING FRACTURE MECHANICS
(2021)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Shiyuan Li, Chao Fang, Chaowei Chen, Degui Xiang, Fuyao Li, Hao Huang
Summary: This research focuses on the serious blockage and sticking in build-up sections in deep composite salt formations in West China. By establishing a mechanical model and analyzing creep mechanisms, the study investigates the wellbore stability of directional wells and proposes a method for wellbore stability control. The research provides a theoretical reference for controlling blockage and sticking accidents in directional wells.
Article
Mechanics
He Zhang, Jia-Liang Le, Emmanuel Detournay
Summary: This paper reports the results of scratch tests on three different rocks, showing the existence of three cutting regimes with different fragment shapes and specific energy-depth relationships. It also provides evidence from video recording and fractography to distinguish different failure modes.
ENGINEERING FRACTURE MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Alex Hall, Brad Simser, Ming Cai
Summary: This study identified four factors influencing the deterioration of a 3 m diameter bored raise in a hard rock mine in Sudbury, Canada, and found that these factors often work simultaneously, leading to overbreak beyond the original bored dimension. The findings are important for improving understanding of brittle rock failure and making better engineering decisions for ground support and blasting.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Timothy S. Mitchell, Brian Folt, Joshua M. Hall
Summary: The invasive species Peter's Rock Agama showed a preference for urban habitats in Florida, particularly around dumpsters, building crevices, and electrical units. These anthropogenic structures provide refuge, thermoregulatory opportunities, and abundant prey, making them attractive habitats for the species. It is suggested that the invasion of A. picticauda in Florida may be exploiting vacant niches in urban habitats during the invasion process.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Kristian J. Bell, Tim S. Doherty, Don A. Driscoll
Summary: Foundation species interact strongly with other species, influencing communities by providing food, refuge, and beneficial microclimates. Temperature attenuation by a foundation species can drive niche use by ectothermic animals, impacting the ecosystem balance. Individual variability in microhabitat use among species can also play a role in shaping community dynamics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Rodrigo Petry Correa de Sousa, Carolina Pinheiro Vasconcelos, Nayara Furtado do Rosario, Aldemir Branco De Oliveira-Filho, Edivaldo Herculano Correa de Oliveira, Marcelo de Bello Cioffi, Marcelo Vallinoto, Glaucia Caroline Silva-Oliveira
Summary: By analyzing the karyotype and distribution of repetitive DNA in two Elopiformes species, the study found that microsatellite sequences are primarily associated with heterochromatin and may contribute to chromosome structure, while transposable elements have different distributions in the two species, indicating potential interspecific differences in their function. Comparative genome mapping provides new insights into the structure and organization of repetitive sequences in the Elopiformes genome.
Article
Biology
Fernando H. S. de Souza, Francisco de M. C. Sassi, Pedro H. N. Ferreira, Luiz A. C. Bertollo, Tariq Ezaz, Thomas Liehr, Manolo F. Perez, Marcelo B. Cioffi
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the evolution of multiple sex chromosomes together with allopatry and genetic diversity and speciation in the fish species Erythrinus erythrinus. The presence of multiple sex chromosomes was hypothesized to contribute to genetic differentiation and potentially accelerate speciation. The results showed high genetic differentiation among populations, with long-distance allopatry as the main agent of genetic divergence.
Review
Zoology
Marine Arakelyan, Victor Spangenberg, Varos Petrosyan, Alexey Ryskov, Oksana Kolomiets, Eduard Galoyan
Summary: Recent studies have shown that sexual species of rock lizards avoid interspecific mating with parthenogenetic species. The specific combination of environmental factors during the last glaciation period led to changes in the distribution and sex ratio of ectotherms. At least 7 diploid parthenogenetic species of rock lizards originated through interspecific hybridization in the past.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Milena Paneque, Thomas Liehr, Clara Serra Juhe, Ute Moog, Bela Melegh, Isabel Carreira
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Geize Aparecida Deon, Larissa Glugoski, Francisco de Menezes Cavalcante Sassi, Terumi Hatanaka, Viviane Nogaroto, Luiz Antonio Carlos Bertollo, Thomas Liehr, Ahmed Al-Rikabi, Orlando Moreira-Filho, Marcelo de Bello Cioffi, Marcelo Ricardo Vicari
Summary: This study investigates the differentiation processes and evolutionary history of the rare XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system in Harttia species. By using whole chromosome painting probes, the study reveals the existence of homeologous chromosome blocks and the impact of Robertsonian fusions and fissions on sex chromosome origins. The data also support the presence of unstable genomic sites promoting chromosomal differentiation and remodeling within the genus Harttia.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andre Weber, Thomas Liehr, Ahmed Al-Rikabi, Simal Bilgen, Uwe Heinrich, Jenny Schiller, Markus Stumm
Summary: This study reported a unique, complex, and discontinuous small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) in a patient with multiple diseases.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Gilda Alves, Maria Helena Ornellas, Thomas Liehr
Summary: The CAMTA1 gene plays a central role in the human nervous system and is associated with brain tumors and neurological disorders. Mutations and variants of CAMTA1 are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, while single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with memory problems and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, further research is needed to understand the rearrangements and expression of CAMTA1 in different cases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gustavo A. Toma, Natalia dos Santos, Rodrigo dos Santos, Petr Rab, Rafael Kretschmer, Tariq Ezaz, Luiz A. C. Bertollo, Thomas Liehr, Fabio Porto-Foresti, Terumi Hatanaka, Alongklod Tanomtong, Ricardo Utsunomia, Marcelo B. Cioffi
Summary: The study investigated the karyotypes of different color phenotypes in Scleropages formosus using molecular cytogenetic techniques. The results revealed population genetic structure and microstructure differences in the karyotypes of the color phenotypes, but did not conclusively support the hypothesis of discrete lineages or evolutionary units among them.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dagmar Heydeck, Christoph Ufer, Kumar R. Kakularam, Michael Rothe, Thomas Liehr, Philippe Poulain, Hartmut Kuhn
Summary: The researchers created transgenic mice expressing human ALOX15 under the control of the aP2 promoter, which showed high expression in adipocytes, bone marrow cells, and peritoneal macrophages. The catalytic activity of the transgenic enzyme was confirmed through activity assays and plasma metabolite analysis. The aP2-ALOX15 mice exhibited gender-specific differences in body-weight kinetics compared to the wildtype controls.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jhon A. D. Vidal, Francisco de M. C. Sassi, Renata L. R. de Moraes, Roberto F. Artoni, Thomas Liehr, Marcelo B. Cioffi, Mara C. de Almeida
Summary: In this study, the similarity of X and Y chromosomes in four Omophoita species was examined, and genomic differentiation was compared to better understand the evolutionary process of the giant sex chromosomes. The results showed significant genomic similarity between the sexes and a sex-specific region on the Y chromosome, as well as genomic divergence between species. However, whole chromosome painting experiments revealed high intra- and interspecific similarity of the sex chromosomes in O. octoguttata. Our data support a common origin and canonical evolution of the sex chromosomes in this group, as they have high genomic similarity between them.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Galina Hovhannisyan, Tigran Harutyunyan, Rouben Aroutiounian, Thomas Liehr
Summary: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become a commonly used diagnostic marker in various pathologies, including viral infections like COVID-19, due to its higher sensitivity compared to standard biochemical parameters. This review focuses on the identification, sources, molecular features, and mechanisms of release and clearance of cfDNA. It discusses the general suitability of cfDNA for diagnostic purposes, potential limitations, and future directions, with a special emphasis on coronavirus infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco de Menezes Cavalcante Sassi, Alexandr Sember, Geize Aparecida Deon, Thomas Liehr, Niklas Padutsch, Osvaldo Takeshi Oyakawa, Marcelo Ricardo Vicari, Luiz Antonio Carlos Bertollo, Orlando Moreira-Filho, Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
Summary: The study investigates the chromosomal rearrangements and associated synteny blocks in the origin of a multiple X1X2Y sex chromosome system in the Neotropical catfish genus Harttia. The results suggest that the X1X2Y sex chromosome systems in H. punctata, H. duriventris and H. villasboas represent the same linkage groups which also form the putative XY sex chromosomes of H. rondoni. The study also indicates that the X1X2Y sex chromosome system may have formed through an X chromosome fission rather than a previously proposed Y-autosome fusion.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mariannah Pravatti Barcellos de Oliveira, Rafael Kretschmer, Geize Aparecida Deon, Gustavo Akira Toma, Tariq Ezaz, Caio Augusto Gomes Goes, Fabio Porto-Foresti, Thomas Liehr, Ricardo Utsunomia, Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
Summary: In this study, the dynamics of satellite DNAs (SatDNAs) accumulation and elimination during W chromosome differentiation in Triportheus fish were investigated. The majority of repetitive sequences were eliminated as speciation occurred in five additional Triportheus species. While the W chromosomes continued to degenerate, the Z chromosomes in some species began to accumulate TauSatDNAs. Species-specific SatDNAs were likely amplified in the heterochromatic regions of both Z and W chromosomes in each species. Thus, the W chromosomes of various Triportheus species underwent significant evolutionary changes within a short period of time (15-25 Myr) after divergence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renata Luiza Rosa de Moraes, Francisco de Menezes Cavalcante Sassi, Jhon Alex Dziechciarz Vidal, Caio Augusto Gomes Goes, Rodrigo Zeni dos Santos, Jose Henrique Forte Stornioli, Fabio Porto-Foresti, Thomas Liehr, Ricardo Utsunomia, Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
Summary: Chromosomal rearrangements play a significant role in the evolution of fish genomes, and satellite DNA sequences have potential relevance in both sex and karyotype evolution. This study investigated the association of satDNAs with chromosome-shuffling events and their involvement in the evolution of sex chromosomes in Pyrrhulina fish. In addition, a large collection of satDNAs for both species was characterized for the first time, and their potential involvement in karyotype evolution was demonstrated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)