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1362. A taxonomic monograph of the liphistiid spider genus Heptathela, endemic to Japanese islandsXin Xu, Hirotsugu Ono, Matjaž Kuntner, Fengxiang Liu, Daiqin Li, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Among the eight extant genera of primitively segmented spiders, family Liphistiidae, two are confined to East Asian islands, Heptathela Kishida, 1923 and Ryuthela Haupt, 1983. In this paper, a taxonomic revision of the genus Heptathela (Heptathelinae) from Kyushu and Ryukyu archipelago, Japan is provided. This study follows a multi-tier species delimitation strategy within an integrative taxonomic framework that is presented in a parallel paper, in which diagnosable lineages are considered as valid species. There, the initial hypothesis of species diversity (19) based on classical morphological diagnoses is tested with multiple species delimitation methods aimed at resolving conflict in data. This revision follows those analyses that converge on the species diversity of 20, which includes a pair of cryptic species that would have been undetected with morphology alone. After this revision, eight previously described species remain valid, two junior synonyms are proposed, and 12 new Heptathela species are described based on diagnostic evidence. To ease identification and to hint at putative evolutionary units, Heptathela is divided into three groups. The Kyushu group contains H. higoensis Haupt, 1983, H. kikuyai Ono, 1998, H. kimurai (Kishida, 1920), and H. yakushimaensis Ono, 1998; the Amami group contains H. amamiensis Haupt, 1983, H. kanenoi Ono, 1996, H. kojima sp. nov., H. sumiyo sp. nov., and H. uken sp. nov.; and the Okinawa group contains H. yanbaruensis Haupt, 1983, H. aha sp. nov., H. gayozan sp. nov., H. kubayama sp. nov., H. mae sp. nov., H. otoha sp. nov., H. shuri sp. nov., H. tokashiki sp. nov., H. unten sp. nov., and H. crypta sp. nov. Heptathela helios Tanikawa & Miyashita, 2014 is not assigned to a species group. A combination of diagnostic tools augments the morphological diagnoses that, in isolation, would be prone to error in morphologically challenging groups of organisms. Keywords: Heptathelinae, island endemism, Kyushu, Ryukyu archipelago, species delimitation, trapdoor spiders Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 332; Downloads: 222 Full text (22,17 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1363. Linking farmer and beekeeper preferences with ecological knowledge to improve crop pollinationTom D. Breeze, Virginie Boreux, Lorna J. Cole, Lynn Dicks, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Gesine Pufal, Mario V. Balzan, Danilo Bevk, Laura Bortolotti, Theodora Petanidou, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Pollination by insects is a key input into many crops, with managed honeybees often being hired to support pollination services. Despite substantial research into pollination management, no European studies have yet explored how and why farmers managed pollination services and few have explored why beekeepers use certain crops.
Using paired surveys of beekeepers and farmers in 10 European countries, this study examines beekeeper and farmer perceptions and motivations surrounding crop pollination.
Almost half of the farmers surveyed believed they had pollination service deficits in one or more of their crops.
Less than a third of farmers hired managed pollinators; however, most undertook at least one form of agri-environment management known to benefit pollinators, although few did so to promote pollinators.
Beekeepers were ambivalent towards many mass-flowering crops, with some beekeepers using crops for their honey that other beekeepers avoid because of perceived pesticide risks.
The findings highlight a number of largely overlooked knowledge gaps that will affect knowledge exchange and co-operation between the two groups. Keywords: beekeeping, ecosystem services, pollination services, rural sociology Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 488; Downloads: 358 Full text (871,77 KB) This document has many files! More... |
1364. Influence of isothermal annealing in the 600 to 750 °C range on the degradation of SAF 2205 duplex stainless steelJaka Burja, Borut Žužek, Barbara Šetina, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: We studied the effect of isothermal annealing (600–750 °C, 1 to 1000 min) on the microstructure
and mechanical properties of SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel. Impact toughness was found
to be significantly more affected than hardness by annealing. Annealing at 750 °C for 1000 min
resulted in a more than 90% decrease in impact toughness, while hardness only increased by 25%.
Tensile strength increased up to 100 MPa, but elongation decreased by more than 50% under the
same conditions. Sigma phase formation was minimal at lower temperatures (650 °C and below)
but increased significantly at higher temperatures. At 750 °C and 1000 min of annealing, the ferrite
content dropped from 50% to 16%. These findings suggest that annealing temperature and time need
to be carefully controlled to avoid a reduction in impact toughness and ductility caused by sigma
phase precipitation. The harmful effect of sigma phase precipitation on mechanical properties was
directly shown.
Keywords: duplex stainless steel, sigma phase, precipitation kinetics, mechanical properties, isothermal annealing Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 334; Downloads: 268 Full text (20,91 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1365. Hyaluronic acid conjugates of glycine peptides and L-tryptophanFazilet Gürer, Tamilselvan Mohan, Matej Bračič, Ariana Barlič, Damjan Makuc, Janez Plavec, Karin Stana-Kleinschek, Rupert Kargl, 2024, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 319; Downloads: 296 Full text (5,18 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1366. Tracking a mass mortality outbreak of pen shell Pinna nobilis populations : a collaborative effort of scientists and citizensMiguel Cabanellas-Reboredo, Maite Vázquez-Luis, Baptiste Mourre, Elvira Álvarez, Salud Deudero, Ángel Amores, Piero Addis, Enric Ballesteros, Agustín Barrajón, Stefania Coppa, Borut Mavrič, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: A mass mortality event is devastating the populations of the endemic bivalve Pinna nobilis in the Mediterranean Sea from early autumn 2016. A newly described Haplosporidian endoparasite (Haplosporidium pinnae) is the most probable cause of this ecological catastrophe placing one of the largest bivalves of the world on the brink of extinction. As a pivotal step towards Pinna nobilis conservation, this contribution combines scientists and citizens’ data to address the fast- and vast-dispersion and prevalence outbreaks of the pathogen. Therefore, the potential role of currents on parasite expansion was addressed by means of drift simulations of virtual particles in a high-resolution regional currents model. A generalized additive model was implemented to test if environmental factors could modulate the infection of Pinna nobilis populations. The results strongly suggest that the parasite has probably dispersed regionally by surface currents, and that the disease expression seems to be closely related to temperatures above 13.5 °C and to a salinity range between 36.5–39.7 psu. The most likely spread of the disease along the Mediterranean basin associated with scattered survival spots and very few survivors (potentially resistant individuals), point to a challenging scenario for conservation of the emblematic Pinna nobilis, which will require fast and strategic management measures and should make use of the essential role citizen science projects can play. Keywords: mass mortality, endoparasites Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 288; Downloads: 217 Full text (2,86 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1367. Comparison of different methodologies and cryostat versus paraffin sections for chromogenic immunohistochemistryVashendriya V. V. Hira, Annique Loncq de Jong, Klea Ferro, Mohammed Khurshed, Remco J. Molenaar, Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) specifically localizes proteins in cells and tissues, but methodologies vary widely. Therefore, we performed a methodological IHC optimization and validation study. First, we compared advantages and disadvantages of cryostat sections versus paraffin sections. Second, we compared and optimized antigen retrieval in paraffin sections using citrate buffer and Tris/EDTA buffer. Third, aminoethyl carbazole (AEC) and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) were tested as horseradish peroxidase (HRP) substrates to obtain a water-insoluble coloured end product to visualize antigens. Fourth, secondary antibodies conjugated with either mono-HRP or poly-HRP were compared. The study was performed using serial sections of human tonsil. IHC was performed with primary antibodies against endothelial cell marker CD31, smooth muscle actin (SMA), chemokine stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and its receptor C-X-C receptor type 4 (CXCR4), macrophage marker CD68 and proliferation marker Ki67. DAB rather than AEC, and cryostat sections rather than paraffin sections gave optimum staining at highest primary antibody dilutions, whereas tissue morphology in paraffin sections was superior. Loss of antigenicity in paraffin sections by formaldehyde fixation, heat and/or masking of epitopes was counteracted by antigen retrieval but not for all antigens. Two out of six antigens (CD31 and CD68) could not be retrieved irrespective time and type of retrieval. Tris-EDTA was superior to citrate buffer for antigen retrieval. The use of mono-HRP or poly-HRP depended on the affinity of the primary antibody for its antigen. We conclude that IHC methodology optimization and validation are crucial steps for each antibody and each research question. Keywords: immunohistochemistry, chromogens, aminoethyl carbazole, AEC, 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine, DAB, antigen retrieval, tonsil Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 282; Downloads: 203 Full text (13,71 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1368. Fifty Aureobasidium pullulans genomes reveal a recombining polyextremotolerant generalistCene Gostinčar, Martina Turk, Janja Zajc, Nina Gunde-Cimerman, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: The black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans is a textbook example of a generalistic and ubiquitous fungus thriving in a wide variety of environments. To investigate whether A. pullulans is a true generalist, or alternatively, whether part of its versatility can be attributed to intraspecific specialization masked by cryptic diversification undetectable by traditional phylogenetic analyses, we sequenced and analysed the genomes of 50 strains of A. pullulans from different habitats and geographic locations. No population structure was observed in the sequenced strains. Decay of linkage disequilibrium over shorter physical distances (<100 bp) than in many sexually reproducing fungi indicates a high level of recombination in the species. A homothallic mating locus was found in all of the sequenced genomes. Aureobasidium pullulans appears to have a homogeneous population genetics structure, which is best explained by good dispersal and high levels of recombination. This means that A. pullulans is a true generalist that can inhabit different habitats without substantial specialization to any of these habitats at the genomic level. Furthermore, in the future, the high level of A. pullulans recombination can be exploited for the identification of genomic loci that are involved in the many biotechnologically useful traits of this black yeast. Keywords: black yeast, genome Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 271; Downloads: 183 Full text (1,09 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1369. Phytoplasmas associated with declining of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) in SloveniaNataša Mehle, Nejc Jakoš, Miro Mešl, Jože Miklavc, Boštjan Matko, Mojca Rot, Alenka Ferlež Rus, Robert Brus, Marina Dermastia, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is cultivated on 118 ha and ranks eighth in Slovenian fruit growing production, representing 2.8% of the total area of fruit plantations in the country. However, decline of some of the trees appeared in 2012 in two plantations located in eastern Slovenia. Together these orchards cover 5 ha, with around 1600 trees planted 12 to 15 years ago. By October 2018, ~12% of these trees had died, and an additional 12% showed decay symptoms. The dead and dying trees were scattered throughout both orchards, with no apparent pattern. The most affected cultivar was ‘Istrska dolgoplodna leska’. Using molecular diagnostic methods, we showed infection of symptomatic trees with three unrelated phytoplasmas: ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae’, of the 16SrXII-E phytoplasma subgroup, and phytoplasma of the 16SrV and 16SrIX groups. In 2018, the presence of ‘Ca. P. fragariae’ and/or phytoplasma of 16SrV group were confirmed in decayed hazelnut trees in eastern, north-eastern, central, south-eastern and western Slovenia. ‘Ca. P. fragariae’ has also been detected in a forest in south-western Slovenia, for Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus, Crataegus laevigata, Fraxinus ornus and Quercus petraea. All infected forest trees showed unusual dense proliferation of sprouts from roots and/or trunks. Molecular characterisations of partial 16S rRNA, secY, map and ribosomal protein genetic locus of hazelnut 16SrV phytoplasma isolates show that they are identical to isolates that can cause grapevine flavescence dorée disease. Here, the results of our recent study and the open questions on this burning issue for hazelnut production are presented. Keywords: Corylus avellana, ʼCandidatus Phytoplasma fragariaeʼ, 16SrV phytoplasma group, 16SrIX phytoplasma group, decline Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 304; Downloads: 210 Link to full text This document has many files! More... |
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