Is climate change affecting the population dynamics of the endangered[taliem.ir]

Is climate change affecting the population dynamics of the endangered Pacific loggerhead sea turtle?

The loggerhead sea turtle is an endangered species exposed to many anthropogenic hazards in the Pacific. It is widely held that pelagic longline fisheries pose the major risk for Pacific loggerheads but the effects of other risk factors such as human-induced global climate change have rarely been considered. So we used generalised additive regression modelling and autoregressive-prewhitened cross-correlation analysis to explore whether regional ocean temperatures affect the long-term nesting population dynamics for the 2 Pacific loggerhead genetic stocks (Japan .Australia). We found that both Pacific stocks have been exposed to slowly increasing trends in mean annual sea surface temperature in their respective core regional foraging habitats over the past 50 years. We show that irrespective of whether a population was decreasing or increasing that there was an inverse correlation between nesting abundance and mean annual sea surface temperature in the core foraging region during the year prior to the summer nesting season. Cooler foraging habitat ocean temperatures are presumably associated with increased ocean productivity and prey abundance and consequently increased loggerhead breeding capacity. So warming regional ocean temperatures could lead to long-term decreased food supply and reduced nesting and recruitment unless Pacific loggerheads adapt by shifting their foraging habitat to cooler regions. So the gradual warming of the Pacific Ocean over the past 50 years is a major risk factor that must be considered in any meaningful diagnosis of the long-term declines apparent for some Pacific loggerhead nesting populations.
Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism and its application in[taliem.ir]

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism and its application in plant breeding

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-PCR is a technique, which involves the use of microsatellite sequences as primers in a polymerase chain reaction to generate multilocus markers. It is a simple and quick method that combines most of the advantages of microsatellites (SSRs) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to the universality of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). ISSR markers are highly polymorphic and are useful in studies on genetic diversity, phylogeny, gene tagging, genome mapping and evolutionary biology. This review provides an overview of the details of the technique and its application in genetics and plant breeding in a wide range of crop plants .
Development of DArT markers in olive (Olea europaea L.) and usefulness in[taliem.ir]

Development of DArT markers in olive (Olea europaea L.) and usefulness in variability studies and genome mapping

The present study reports the setting up of Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers in olive (Olea europaea L.). Two genomic representations were generated using the PstI/TaqI combination. A first one was aimed to cover the variability available at the World Olive Germplasm Bank (WOGB) and it was based on DNA from 87 olive cultivars carefully selected from the WOGB to represent the olive variability. The second one was obtained from DNA of the parents of a mapping population, ‘Picual’ and ‘Arbequina’, and was used to increase the number of markers segregating within them. A total of 2031 and 1630 markers were used for diversity and mapping analyses, respectively to test the utility of DArT markers in olive. A set of 62 cultivars was genotyped with olive-specific DArT markers. A dendrogram was constructed confirming the relationships among olive cultivars reported in previous works. Besides, DArT markers permitted the unambiguous discrimination of all 62 genotypes confirming thus their utility for identification studies, an important issue for management of germplasm collections. DArT markers also allowed the construction of a genetic map of olive using the population derived from the cross ‘Picual’ × ‘Arbequina’ and the pseudo-testcross mapping strategy. This map will be used as a framework map to add new markers derived from olive sequencing originating from the project OLEAGEN. In conclusion, olive-specific DArT markers will enhance identification and genetic studies in olive given their high throughput and low cost per data.
A taxonomic revision of the tigers (Panthera tigris).[taliem.ir]

A taxonomic revision of the tigers (Panthera tigris) of Southeast Asia

The taxonomic affinity of Southeast Asian tigers is re-investigated. Specimens of four traditionally recognized subspecies are examined using various craniological methods, including multivariate craniometric and phenetic analysis. Sumatran tigers differ absolutely (100%) from the geographically neighbouring mainland form P.t.corbetti; the Javanese tiger is also 100% distinguishable from the Sumatran. They are therefore regarded as two distinct species (P.sumatrae, P.sondaica) under the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC). The Bali tiger is classified as a subspecies of the Javanese tiger, Panthera sondaica balica .
Newly developed primers for the detection of Mycobacterium[taliem.ir]

Newly developed primers for the detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Recent publications reported the existence of IS900 like sequences in mycobacteria different from Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). The primers used for IS900 detection of Map have amplified these sequences causing false positive results. In this study, we have developed two new PCR assays for the detection of Map. The first assay is based on the IS900 sequence using primers different from the ones previously reported, the second assay on the f57 sequence. The specificity of the tests was checked by analysis of 190 mycobacterial isolates (74 Map and 116 non-Map isolates). All Map strains were positive and all non-Map strains were negative. Serial dilutions of Map bacteria were used to assess the sensitivity of the assays. We achieved a sensitivity of 1 CFU per PCR for both assays. In addition, a PCR- simulating computer programme was used to evaluate the specificity of the new IS900 primers. The combination of the two PCR assays has proven to be useful for the identification of Map but validation on a large range of clinical samples still needs to be done.
Hormone Signaling Pathways in Plants The Role of Jasmonic Acid[taliem.ir]

Hormone Signaling Pathways in Plants: The Role of Jasmonic Acid in Plant Cell Signaling

Plant growth and metabolism are affected by various biotic and abiotic stimuli including microorganisms and insects attack as well as light and environmental stresses. Such a diverse plant response requires a communication system that uses a group of chemical messengers called hormones. Hormones promote, inhibit, or qualitatively modify plant growth and development. This complex process requires a signal transduction that defines a specific information pathway within a cell that translates an intra- or extracellular signal into a specific cellular response. The characterization of mutants in the hormone response pathway provides not only an excellent opportunity to understand hormone action in plant physiology and development, but also helps to dissect the molecular genetics of hormone signaling pathways and to isolate the corresponding genes. This paper will introduce plant hormone signaling and mutants involved in signaling pathways in general, and will review recent progress in the molecular genetics of jasmonic acid signaling.
Enzymes-in-jasmonate-biosynthesis-Structure.[taliem.ir]

Enzymes in jasmonate biosynthesis – Structure, function, regulation

Jasmonates are a growing class of lipid-derived signaling molecules with diverse functions ranging from the initiation of biotic and abiotic stress responses to the regulation of plant growth and development .Jasmonate biosynthesis originates from polyunsaturated fatty acids in chloroplast membranes. In a first lipoxygenase- catalyzed reaction molecular oxygen is introduced to yield their 13-hydroperoxy derivatives. These fatty acid hydroperoxides are converted by allene oxide synthase and allene oxide cyclase to 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) and dinor-OPDA, i.e. the first cyclic intermediates of the pathway. In the subsequent step, the characteristic cyclopentanone ring structure of jasmonates is established by OPDA reductase. Until recently, jasmonic acid has been viewed as the end product of the pathway and as the bioactive hormone. It becomes increasingly clear, however, that biological activity extends to and may even differ between the various jasmonic acid metabolites and conjugates as well as its biosynthetic precursors. It has also become clear that oxygenated fatty acids give rise to a vast variety of bioactive compounds including but not limited to jasmonates. Recent insights into the structure, function, and regulation of the enzymes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis help to explain how this variety is generated while specificity is maintained.
Effect of physical form of forage on performance, feeding[taliem.ir]

Effect of physical form of forage on performance, feeding behavior, and digestibility of Holstein calves

The physical form of forage may influence rumen development and, consequently, the body weight gain ,dry matter (DM) consumption, digestibility, and welfare of dairy calves. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 2 different physical forms of forage on performance, apparent digestibility, and feeding behavior of young calves. Twenty Holstein male calves (46.8 ± 1.2 kg) were randomly assigned at birth to 1 of 2 feeding treatments in which they were exposed to a mixed ration containing (on a DM basis) 90% crumb starter concentrate and either (1) 10% coarsely chopped (3 to 4 cm) grass hay (CRS; n = 10) or (2) 10% finely ground (2 mm) grass hay (FN; n = 10). All calves were offered 8 L/d of milk replacer (MR; 1.2 kg of DM) from birth; the amount of MR was progressively reduced after 5 wk to enable weaning by the end of wk 7. The study finished after wk 8. Consumption of the mixed ration, MR, and water was recorded daily, and calves were weighed twice weekly. Samples of feed and orts were taken in wk 7 and 8 for nutrient content analysis. Behavioral data for each calf were obtained for 2 h/d during wk 6 and 8, for a total observation time per animal of 28 h. Total feces were collected during wk 8 to determine apparent digestibility. Calves fed CRS had greater DM intake than those fed FN (2.70 vs. 2.45 ± 0.11 kg/d, respectively) during the week after weaning (wk 8). Body weight gain was similar between treatments; however, calves fed CRS tended to have a greater gain-to-feed ratio than calves fed FN (0.68 vs. 0.63 ± 0.02 kg of gain/kg of DM intake). No differences were observed in crude protein and acid detergent fiber consumption between treatments; however, calves fed CRS tended to consume more neutral detergent fiber than calves fed FN during the last week of the study (719.2 vs. 610.5 ± 25.84 g/d).
Knowing when to grow[taliem.ir]

Knowing when to grow: signals regulating bud dormancy

Dormancy regulation in vegetative buds is a complex process necessary for plant survival, development and architecture. Our understanding of and ability to manipulate these processes are crucial for increasing the yield and availability of much of the world’s food. In many cases, release of dormancy results in increased cell division and changes in developmental programs. Much can be learned about dormancy regulation by identifying interactions of signals in these crucial processes. Internal signals such as hormones and sugar, and external signals such as light act through specific, overlapping signal transduction pathways to regulate endo-, eco- and paradormancy. Epigenetic-like regulation of endodormancy suggests a possible role for chromatin remodeling similar to that known for the vernalization responses during flowering.
Bedside.Approach.to.Autonomic.Disorders.A.[taliem.ir]

Bedside Approach to Autonomic Disorders

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are often a severe burden to the quality of life of our patients (e.g., orthostatic intolerance, sweating disorders, sexual dysfunction). In some ases, they may be harmful (syncope with falls, heatintolerance, urinary retention) or even life threatening (sudden cardiac death, sympathetic storm, heat shock). Diagnosis of ANS disorders is still underrepresented, despite their common occurrence in clinical practice. This may be attributed at leastin part to a lack of awareness and attention to symptoms of ANS dysfunction. Information on the ANS is rare in many neurological textbooks and often missing during education. This booklet shall help to recognize the presence and distribution of autonomic dysfunctions and provide tips for further management. The clinical investigations of autonomic functions presented here refer to the offce, bedside, or prelaboratory evaluation. It cannot and shall not replace any textbook in this growing, neurological feld.