Environmental and seasonal impacts on the chemical composition of Satureja horvatii Šilić (Lamiaceae) essential oils

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Satureja horvatii Šilić from two natural habitats (Mt. Orjen and Mt. Lovćen in Montenegro) and from cultivated plants (Belgrade, Serbia) were characterized. For the latter, plants from the locus classicus, i.e., Orjenske Lokve (Mt. Orjen), were transferred to Belgrade and, after three years of cultivation, the chemical composition of their essential oils at different phenological stages was analyzed. The essential oils were obtained from the aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The yields and chemical compositions of the S. horvatii oils showed significant differences between the plants collected in the natural habitats and those from cultivation, as well as between the plants at different phenological stages. In the populations from the natural habitats, growing in Mediterranean conditions, the most abundant oil constituents were the phenols thymol (63.7% in the samples from Mt. Orjen) or carvacrol (68.1% in the samples from Mt. Lovćen), while the oils from the cultivated plants (Belgrade), growing in continental conditions, were dominated by linalool (up to 65.8 and 55.9% in average). The basic characteristics of the essential oil from plants at the early phenological stage (before flowering) were high percentages of linalool (37.4%), thymol (27.3%), and carvacrol (12.2%). At the stage of flowering, the percentage of linalool (56.6–57.5%) increased, while those of thymol (15.5–15.8%) and carvacrol (1.4–1.5%) significantly decreased. The essential oil of plants in the full stage of fruiting was characterized by the domination of linalool (58.4 and 65.8%) and lower percentages of thymol (7.6 and 1.3%) and carvacrol (0.7 and 0.1%). In conclusion, the oil composition of S. horvatii was found to depend on the pedoclimatic conditions of the habitat and the phenological stage of the plants.     

Eogenesis — The origin of animal forms

Zusammenfassung Alle Formen von Leben entstanden aus der primitiven Zelle, betrachtet eher als eine Art denn als ein Individuum, welches die Fähigkeit für ununterbrochene Selbst-Teilung besass. Fortgesetzte Vermehrung der Zellen mag eins von drei verschiedenen Verfahren folgen: 1. Die zwei Zellen von jeder Teilung hervorgehend, mögen sich vollständig von einander trennen; diese Linie der Entwicklung der primitiven Zelle rief die Protozoa hervor. 2. Während die Zellen sich teilen, mögen sie mehr oder weniger unregelmässig zusammen hängen. Diese Linie rief die Porifera (Schwämme) hervor. 3. Die sich teilenden Zellen mögen regelmässig zusammenhängen, eine Blastula und eine Gastrula bildend. Die Gastrula ist fähig eine unbestimmte Anzahl von Variationen hervorzubringen, und durch diese Variationen in der Gastrula entstanden alle Tier-Typen ausser der Protozoa und der Porifera.Diese Linien der Entwicklung von der einzelnen Zelle stellen alle die physischen und geometrischen entfaltungsfähigen Möglichkeiten, denkbar im Falle von Zellen, dar, die die Kraft besitzen sich durch Selbst-Teilung zu vermehren. Da diese entfaltungsfähigen Linien einfach mechanische Antworten auf die geometrischen und physischen Eigentümlichkeiten sind, eigen der Vermehrung der sich selbst teilenden Zellen, so gibt es keine Rechtfertigung für die Annahme einer bestimmten Ordnung in ihrem Vorkommen. Es ist logischer anzunehmen, dass die primitive Zelle gleich nach ihrem Erscheinen sich nach jeder möglichen Richtung gleichzeitig entwickelte, kurz, dass alle die Haupttypen des Tierlebens gleichzeitig erschienen.Es gibt keinen Beweis gegen diese Annahme, welche in Übereinstimmung mit dem geologischen Hintergrund des Lebens ist, wie wir es verstehen; mit der Fossilien-Urkunde, wie illustriert durch Fossilien von genau vergleichbaren Umgebungen; und mit der angenommenen Nötigkeit für ein System von Kontrolle und Ausgleich zwischen den verschiedenen Typen von Leben.

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Résumé Toutes les formes de la vie proviennent d'une cellule primitive unique, considérée comme espèce plutôt que comme individu, possédant le pouvoir de se multiplier par bi-partition répétée. La propagation continue de cellules peut avoir lieu de trois façons différentes: 1. Les deux cellules, après la division, peuvent se séparer complètement l'une de l'autre; cette forme de propagation de la cellule primitive a donné lieu aux Protozoaires. 2. Les cellules, en se divisant, peuvent rester liées plus ou moins irrégulièrement; cette forme de propagation caractérise les Porifères (spongiées). 3. Les cellules, en se divisant, peuvent rester liées selon un arrangement régulier, en formant une blastula et une gastrula; la gastrula peut être formée selon un infinité de modalités, et c'est à ces différences de la formation de la gastrula que sont dues toutes les espèces animales exceptés les Protozoaires et les spongiées.Ces formes de propagation de la cellule unique représentent la somme des possibilités d'arrangement permises par les lois de la géométrie et de la physique. Du moment que ces procédés de propagation sont soumis à un arrangement mécanique gouverné par des lois physiques et géométriques, il n'y a pas lieu d'admettre qu'il y ait, dans leur succession, d'ordre déterminé. Il est plus logique de supposer qu'aussitôt parue la cellule primitive se soit propager simutanément dans toutes les directions concevables, en d'autres mots que toutes les phyla animales se soient différenciées au même moment.Aucune preuve ne démont cette hypothèse qui, d'ailleurs, concorde avec les prémises géologiques de la vie telles que nous les comprenons, avec les vestiges fossilisés de couches géologiques strictément comparable, et avec la théorie qui admet l'établissement de l'équilibre entre les différentes espèces animales au moyen d'un contrôle et de limitations mutuelles.

     

An ultrastructural investigation of Hrabeiella Pizl & Chalupský, 1984 (Annelida). II. The spermatozoon

The mature spermatozoa of the terrestrial non-clitellate annelid Hrabeiella periglandulata Pizl & Chalupsky, 1984 s.l. were examined using light and electron microscopy. They are about 150 mum long, filiform and extremely slender (maximum diameter, 450-475 nm). The acrosome is very elongate (about 25 mum), tapering and conical. Its transverse section is circular apically but shows an evident six-rayed symmetry in its basal region. The nucleus appears convex at both ends; apically, it extends laterally into the acrosome, and basally, it plugs into the centriolar region. The nucleus is about 23 mum long and has a rounded, tri- to pentalobed, slightly helical profile. The midpiece contains one elongate, free (paraxonemal) mitochondrion, 27 accessory tubules, which are slightly larger and more opaque than the axonemal microtubules; and seven electron-dense, non-membrane-bounded rods distributed around the axoneme. The flagellum tapers rapidly posteriorly. None of the observed similarities to the sperm (introsperm) of questids, protodrilids or other polychaetes seems to represent an immediate synapomorphy. None of the spermatozoal autapomorphies of the Euclitellata is shared by Hrabeiella.     

Micromorphological traits and essential oil of Micromeria longipedunculata Bräuchler (Lamiaceae)

Micromeria longipedunculata Bräuchler (syn. M. parviflora (Vis.) Rchb.) is an endemic Illyric-Balkan plant species from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania. We investigated types and distribution of trichomes, pollen morphology, and chemical composition of essential oil (analysed by GC and GC-MS) in M. longipedunculata. Non-glandular trichomes, peltate trichomes, and two types of capitate trichomes (type 1 composed of one basal epidermal cell, and one head cell with subcuticular space; type 2 composed of one basal epidermal cell, two or three stalk cells, and one head cell with subcuticular space) were observed on leaves, bracteoles, the calyx, corolla, and the stem. The pollen grains had six apertures which were set in the equatorial pollen belt and showed medium reticulate ornamentation. A phytochemical analysis of essential oils from four different localities is characterized by similar chemical composition with spathulenol (23.7–39.5%), piperitone oxide (7.7–12.1%) and piperitone (7.3–8.9%) as the major compounds.     

Clonal segmentation – The development of physiological independence within stolons of Glechoma hederacea L. (Lamiaceae)

The youngest parts of clonal plants benefit from substantial physiological support from older parts, but the extent to which this physiological dependence persists through time is poorly understood. The development of autonomy among connected subunits was therefore analysed in the clonal species Glechoma hederacea. The stolons of a series of clonal fragments with differing numbers of primary ramets were severed at a fixed point relative to the four oldest primary ramets. The subsequent growth of both parts of the severed fragments was compared with that of a series of intact fragments.The growth of apical stolon portions that included five or more rooted primary ramets at the time of severing was unaffected by severing. Apical portions with three or fewer rooted ramets at the time of severing produced fewer new primary ramets than equivalent parts of intact fragments, while apical portions with four or fewer rooted ramets produced less above-ground mass than equivalent apical portions of intact clonal fragments. Basal portions of clonal fragments severed when there were one or two rooted ramets in the apical portion produced more secondary ramet mass than equivalent parts of intact fragments. The gain in mass of secondary ramets in the basal portions of severed fragments matched the reduction in mass of secondary ramets in the apical portions. However, severing caused an overall loss of mass when apical portions had three or fewer rooted ramets at the time of severing, because the mass of primary ramets in basal portions did not increase following severing. Severing had little impact on the allometry of the apical portions. The relationship between mass in secondary ramets and mass in primary ramets was similar in the apical portions of severed and intact clonal fragments. None of the severing treatments increased the total mass of secondary ramets, suggesting that apical dominance in this species only affects branches very close to the apex.These observations, combined with existing knowledge of vascular architecture in G. hederacea, demonstrate that, whether or not physical connections persist between ramets, growing stolons rapidly develop into physiologically autonomous segments. This may be a characteristic of species that exploit disturbed, spatially heterogeneous habitats through rapid multiplication of ramets connected by long, aerial runners or stolons.     

The animal origin of SARS-CoV

The first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)in Guangdong province was reported on2Jan2003,whileretrospective survey has datedthe first index case on16Nov2002.In months that followed,pandemic of SARS widelyspread over the world until July2003,infecting8454people and claiming908deathsin39countries andregions global-ly.On16Dec2003,a32years old photographerlivinginsuburban Guangzhou presented withsymptoms of SARSinfec-tion.There were3other ensuing cases betweenthe end of2003and…     

The American genera of Malvaceae—II

The genera of Malvaceae that occur in North, Central, and South America (including the Caribbean) are enumerated, described, and distinguished, using an artificial key. The usual taxonomic information (bibliographic citations, synonyms, type species, etc.) is presented and the generic names are indexed. The literature is reviewed and summarized for each genus, presenting such information (where appropriate) as the etymology of the name, number of species, infrageneric classification, distribution, chromosome numbers, economic importance, distinguishing features, and reference to representative illustrations. Where useful, the taxonomic history of the genus is summarized. A listing of unresolved taxonomic problems in the family is presented to highlight needs for future study. A detailed bibliography is included. One new combination is made:Palaua sandemanii (Sandwith) Fryxell, based on the PeruvianMalvastrum sandemanii Sandwith.

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Resumen  Los géneros de la familia Malvaceae que se encuentran en Norte América, Centroamérica, y Sudamérica (incluyendo Las Antillas) se enumeran, describen, y distinguen por medio de una clave artificial. Se presentan informaciones tales como citas bibliográficas, sinonimías, y especies tipos para cada género, y se presenta un índice de los nombres, genéricos. Para cada género del que existe información, se presentan datos derivados de la literatura sobre su etimología, número de especies, clasificación infragenérica, distribución geográfica, números cromosómicos, importancia económica, características destacables, y referencias de ilustraciones representativas. Cuando se considera necesario, se presenta la historia taxonómica del género. Se presenta un lista de aquellos problemas taxonómicos no resueltos en la familia y se indican los estudios necesarios para el futuro. Se acompanya una bibliografía detallada. Se hace una combinación nueva:Palaua sandemanii (Sandwith) Fryxell, basada enMalvastrum sandemanii Sandwith.

     

Contributions to the mathematical theory of epidemics—II. The problem of endemicity

(1) A mathematical investigation has been made of the prevalence of a disease in a population from which certain individuals are being removed as the result of the disease, whilst fresh individuals are being introduced as the result of birth or immigration. Allowance is made for the effects of the immunity produced as the result of an attack of the disease, but the effect of deaths from other causes is not taken into account, and the action of the disease is supposed to be independent of the age of the individual. (2) As a special case of the above, results have been obtained for a closed population in which no deaths occur and to which no fresh individuals are added, but in which the individuals after being infected acquire immunity, and then may be again infected. A threshold density of population exists analogous to that described in the previous paper, which is such that no disease can exist in a population, the density of which is below the threshold. (3) In other special cases investigated when either immigration or birth is operative in the supply of fresh individuals, as well as in the general case, only one steady state of disease is possible. To reach this state the population must be of a certain density which will be determined by the functions characterizing the infectivity, morbidity, etc., of the disease. (4) Increase of the immigration rate or of the birth-rate results in an increase in the rate of infection of the healthy individuals and also in the percentage rate of infection, the percentage of sick, and in the percentage of mortality from the disease. This result is, of course, a necessary consequence of our assumption that the disease is the only cause of death. (5) More particular results have been obtained by substituting constants in the place of the undetermined functions assumed in the general theory. Further, under these conditions the nature of the steady states has been more fully investigated and it has been shown that in all cases, except one, the steady states are stable ones. In the exception, a disturbance would result in purely periodic oscillations about the steady state.     

Energy and biological evolution—II. The mathematical structure of equilibrium states

We examine certain mathematical structures presented in Part I. The most important of these are the energy structures determined by the couple (ω×E, ψ) the space of causality defined by ψ^-1(0) and the notion of collapsibility, i.e., the descent of a species from a higher to a lower equilibrium configuration as a result of energy loss. This work was supported by an Associateship of The International Centre for Theoretical Physics, P.O. Box 586, Miramare, 34100 Trieste, Italy.     

On the origin of SARS-CoV-2——The blind watchmaker argument

正In the comparison with SARS-CoVof 2003, SARS-CoV-2 is extremely well adapted to the human populations and its adaptive shift from the animal host to humans must have been even more extensive. By the blind watchmaker argument, such an adaptive shift can only happen prior to the onset of the current pandemic and with the aid of step-by-step selection.