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Research on division and improvement involving key body of a human parts by simply including manual measurements.
Both the warming climate and ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) are considered to be notable environmental factors affecting amphibian population decline, with particular effects on tadpole development. However, the phenotypes of tadpoles living at high altitudes may be improved by moderately warming temperatures, reducing or eliminating the negative effects of oxidative damage caused by cool temperatures or strong UVBR at high altitudes. To verify this hypothesis, Rana kukunoris tadpoles, which live at high altitudes, were used to test the effect of the interaction of temperature and UVBR on their development and antioxidant systems in a fully factorial design. The tadpoles were exposed to UVBR and UVBR-free environments at 14 (cool temperature) and 22 °C (warm temperature), respectively. UVBR and a warm temperature had opposite influences on several traits of the tadpoles, including their survival, developmental rate, individual size, preferred body temperature, thermal tolerance temperature, oxidative damage, and enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems. The moderate temperature could compensate for or override the negative effects of UVBR by increasing the tadpoles' preferred body temperature and critical tolerance temperature, thus enhancing the locomotion ability and thermal sensitivity of their antioxidant systems. Furthermore, the dark skin coloration and aggregation behavior of R. kukunoris tadpoles may also be effective strategies for allowing them to resist UVBR and helping them to better adapt to a warming environment with stronger UVBR. Thus, it is possible that a moderate degree of warming may increase the capacity of living organisms to adapt to environmental changes and thus have positive effects on the development of tadpoles living at high altitudes.The theory of the RNA world, especially with the catalytic capability of RNA, provides a reasonable framework explaining the evolution of molecular genetics system before the scenario of the central dogma. However, it remains a challenge to deduce the origin mechanism of rRNAs. Here we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of archaea and bacteria with bootstrap values of most nodes, especially the deep ones, higher than 90%. Based on the well-resolved tree, the full lengths of 16S, 5S, and 23S rRNA sequences of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) were reconstructed for the first time. The potential similarities shared by the three ancestral rRNA sequences were further explored by searching for repeat short fragments in the level of purine-pyrimidine (RY) with certain lengths and arrangements. With the lengths ranging from 2 to 14, functional short fragments could be found in the three RNAs. find more As a representative, a set with a total of 75 short fragments of 11 nucleotides in length can recover all types of the known functional sites of ribosomes in a most concise manner. The 75 short fragments cluster around the functional center of the ribosome, among which 18 of them are highly conserved across five or six kingdoms and still contain all types of known functional sites except one. Alternatively, according to the strategy using the level of AUGC instead of RY, a similar pattern can be recovered. Such results indicate the local similarities shared by 16S, 5S, and 23S rRNAs and thus suggest a possible general mechanism in the formation of the LUCA rRNAs.Salmonella&nbsp;enterica is one of the best adapted bacterial pathogens causing infections in a wide variety of vertebrate species. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella in different reptile species and to evaluate their serological variety and patterns of antimicrobial resistance. In total, 97 samples from 25 wild and domesticated reptile species were investigated in Lithuania. Serological variety, as well as phenotypical and genotypical resistance to antimicrobials, were investigated. Fifty isolates of Salmonella were obtained from the ninety-seven tested samples (51.5%; 95% CI 41.2-61.2). A significantly higher prevalence of Salmonella was detected in domesticated individuals (61.3%; 95% CI 50.0-71.5) compared with wild ones (18.2%; 95% CI 7.3-38.5). All isolates belonged to a single species, Salmonella enterica. Results demonstrated that reptiles carry a large variety of Salmonella serovars. Thirty-four isolates (68%) of Salmonella were resistant to at least one antimicrobial drug. The most frequent resistance of the isolates was to streptomycin (26%), cefoxitin, gentamicin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol (16%). Genes encoding resistance to tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulphonamides and trimethoprim were detected. No integrons that are associated with horizontal gene transfer were found. Data obtained provided knowledge about the adaptation of Salmonella in reptiles. Healthy individuals, irrespective of their origin, often carry Salmonella, including multi-resistant strains. Due to its large serological diversity, zoonotic potential and antimicrobial resistance, Salmonella in reptiles poses a risk to other animals and humans.Grapevine Bois noir (BN) is associated with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'. It has been recorded in vineyards throughout Europe as well as in different countries in Asia, where it now constitutes a threat to Iranian viticulture. BN is strictly dependent on 'Ca. P. solani' strains, wild host plants, and insect vectors. The molecular typing of 'Ca. P. solani', based on the nonribosomal gene tuf and the two hypervariable markers vmp1 and stamp, is valuable for the reconstruction and clarification of the pathways of BN spread. In this study, an RFLP analysis was performed on the vmp1 gene, and a single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis confirmed new vmp types in 'Ca. P. solani'. A stamp gene phylogenetic analysis allowed us to distinguish between the new genotype infections in the grapevines and the 'weeds' Convolvulus arvensis and Erigeron bonariensis in Iranian vineyards, highlighting the close genetic relatedness of the strains of 'Ca. P. solani' found in Iran and Azerbaijan. The most common genotype in the grapevines was tuf b/V24/stamp III, which was associated with C. arvensis. This information contributes toward the identification of further routes of introduction of 'Ca. P. solani' in Iran to sustain the control measures for the management of BN.In aquaculture, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an economically important species with remarkable gender dimorphism in its growth patterns. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon have not been elucidated well. Here, we conducted a whole-transcriptome analysis of the female and male gonads of P. sinensis. Overall, 7833 DE mRNAs, 619 DE lncRNAs, 231 DE circRNAs, and 520 DE miRNAs were identified. Some "star genes" associated with sex differentiation containing dmrt1, sox9, and foxl2 were identified. Additionally, some potential genes linked to sex differentiation, such as bmp2, ran, and sox3, were also isolated in P. sinensis. Functional analysis showed that the DE miRNAs and DE ncRNAs were enriched in the pathways related to sex differentiation, including ovarian steroidogenesis, the hippo signaling pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway. Remarkably, a lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network was constructed, containing the key genes associated with sex differentiation, including fgf9, foxl3, and dmrta2. Collectively, we constructed a gender dimorphism profile of the female and male gonads of P. sinensis, profoundly contributing to the exploration of the major genes and potential ncRNAs involved in the sex differentiation of P. sinensis. More importantly, we highlighted the potential functions of ncRNAs for gene regulation during sex differentiation in P. sinensis as well as in other turtles.Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a crucial role during folliculogenesis, which has been demonstrated by previous research. However, the optimal IGF-1 dosage in the three-dimensional (3D) culture system is unknown. Mouse secondary follicles (140-150 µm) were cultured for 6 days within an alginate bead in a medium supplemented with 0 (G0), 5 ng/mL (G5), 10 ng/mL (G10), or 50 ng/mL IGF-1 (G50). Secretions of 17β-estradiol and progesterone were significantly increased in G10 and G50 (p < 0.05). However, G50 significantly inhibited follicular growth (p < 0.05), while G10 showed a higher oocyte maturation rate. Thus, the 10 ng/mL IGF-1 was used in subsequent experiments. IGF-1 enhanced the function of granulosa cells (GCs) by upregulating expressions of Star, Cyp19a1, Hsd3b1, Fshr, and Lhcgr. Oocyte secretory function was promoted by upregulating expressions of Bmp-15,&nbsp;Gdf-9, and Fgf-8. Addition of IGF-1 showed anti-apoptotic effect. However, G10 did not improve fertilization rate of MII oocytes compared to G0. In an intraperitoneal injection experiment in mice, IGF-1 significantly increased the number of ovulated oocytes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 10 ng/mL IGF-1 can promote the production of mature oocytes in the 3D culture medium and injection of IGF-1 before superovulation increases the number of ovulated oocytes.Prunus mume has been cultivated for more than three millennia with important edible, ornamental, and medicinal value. Due to its sour taste, the Prunus mume fruit (called Meizi in Chinese and Ume in Japanese) is not very popular compared to other fruits. It is, however, a very favorite food for the Bai people living in Eryuan County, Dali of Yunnan, China. The local people are masters of making various local products with plum in different ways. In this research, we conducted field investigations in Eryuan County using ethnobotanical methods from August 2019 to July 2021, focusing on the Prunus mume (for its edible fruits). A total of 76 key informants participated in our semi-structured interviews. The survey recorded 37 species (and varieties) belonging to 11 families related to the Bai people's Meizi-consuming culture. Among them, there are 14 taxa of plum resources, including one original species and 13 varieties. These 37 species are either used as substitutes for plum due to their similar taste or as seasonings to improve the sour taste of plum. The higher Cultural Food Significance Index value implies that Prunus mume, Chaenomeles speciosa, Phyllanthus emblica, Prunus salicina, and Chaenomeles cathayensis have high acceptance and use value in the Bai communities. Among the various local products traditionally made by the Bai people, carved plums, preserved plums, perilla-wrapped plums, and stewed plums are the most famous and popular categories in the traditional markets. Currently, the plum business based on the traditional Meizi-consuming culture of the Bai people is already one of Eryuan's economic pillars. This study showed that plums play an important role in expressing the local cultural diversity, and they also help the local people by improving their livelihood through their edible value. In turn, for the sustainable use of plum resources, the Bai people positively manage local forests through a series of measures to protect the diversity of plum resources and related plant communities.The Altiplano-Puna region is a high-altitude plateau in South America characterized by extreme conditions, including the highest UV incidence on Earth. The Laguna Negra is a hypersaline lake located in the Catamarca Province, northwestern Argentina, where stromatolites and other microbialites are found, and where life is mostly restricted to microbial mats. In this study, a particular microbial mat that covers the shore of the lake was explored, to unravel its layer-by-layer vertical structure in response to the environmental stressors therein. Microbial community composition was assessed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and pigment content analyses, complemented with microscopy tools to characterize its spatial arrangement within the mat. The top layer of the mat has a remarkable UV-tolerance feature, characterized by the presence of Deinococcus-Thermus and deinoxanthin, which might reflect a shielding strategy to cope with high UV radiation. Chloroflexi and Deltaproteobacteria were abundant in the second and third underlying layers, respectively.
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