Phylogenetic overview of the Boletineae

The generic and sub-generic relationships in the Boletineae (Boletales) were studied using nuclear large subunit (nuc-lsu), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and DNA directed RNA polymerase largest subunit (RPB1). The Boletineae, with the exclusion of Hydnomerulius pinastri, was strongly supported and the status of the families Boletaceae and Paxillaceae is discussed. Members of the genus Boletus are found throughout the phylogeny, with the majority not closely related to the type species, Boletus edulis. Many of the traditional, morphologically defined genera are not supported as monophyletic and additional sampling and taxonomic revisions are needed. The majority of the Boletineae are confirmed or putatively ectomycorrhizal (ECM), but two putatively mycoparasitic lineages (one lineage of Buchwaldoboletus lignicola and Chalciporus piperatus and the second Pseudoboletus parasiticus) are strongly supported.     

Physico-chemical foundations underpinning microarray and next-generation sequencing experiments

Hybridization of nucleic acids on solid surfaces is a key process involved in high-throughput technologies such as microarrays and, in some cases, next-generation sequencing (NGS). A physical understanding of the hybridization process helps to determine the accuracy of these technologies. The goal of a widespread research program is to develop reliable transformations between the raw signals reported by the technologies and individual molecular concentrations from an ensemble of nucleic acids. This research has inputs from many areas, from bioinformatics and biostatistics, to theoretical and experimental biochemistry and biophysics, to computer simulations. A group of leading researchers met in Ploen Germany in 2011 to discuss present knowledge and limitations of our physico-chemical understanding of high-throughput nucleic acid technologies. This meeting inspired us to write this summary, which provides an overview of the state-of-the-art approaches based on physico-chemical foundation to modeling of the nucleic acids hybridization process on solid surfaces. In addition, practical application of current knowledge is emphasized.     

ASW: a gene with conserved avian W-linkage and female specific expression in chick embryonic gonad

Vertebrates exhibit a variety of sex determining mechanisms which fall broadly into two classes: environmental or genetic. In birds and mammals sex is determined by a genetic mechanism. In mammals males are the heterogametic sex (XY) with the Y chromosome acting as a dominant determiner of sex due to the action of the testis-determining factor, SRY. In birds females are the heterogametic sex (ZW); however, it is not known whether the W chromosome carries a dominant ovary-determining gene, or whether Z chromosome dosage determines sex. Using an experimental approach, which assumes only that the sex-determining event in birds is accompanied by sex-specific changes in gene expression, we have identified a novel gene, ASW (Avian Sex-specific W-linked). The putative protein for ASW is related to the HIT (histidine triad) family of proteins. ASW shows female-specific expression in genital ridges and maps to the chicken W chromosome. In addition, we show that, with the exception of ratites, ASW is linked to the W chromosome in each of 17 bird species from nine different families of the class Aves. Received: 18 October 1999 / Accepted: 10 January 2000     

A new genus of Boletaceae from eastern North America

Bothia is described as a new genus in the Boletaceae based on Boletinus castanellus described by C.H. Peck from eastern North America. A widespread, occasionally encountered taxon, Bothia castanella possesses a combination of macro- and microscopic features that has prompted past placement in seven different genera. Yet, as a species it is readily recognizable with its chestnut brown, dry pileus, decurrent, pale brown hymenophore with radially elongated tubes, a short, sometimes eccentric, exannulate stipe, yellow brown spore deposit and constant association with Quercus. Phylogenetic analyses of large subunit rDNA and BLAST searches using the ITS region confirm the placement of B. castanella as a unique generic lineage in the Boletaceae.     

Water near lipid membranes as seen by infrared spectroscopy

The ordering and H-bonding characteristics of the hydration water of the lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) were studied using polarized infrared spectroscopy by varying either the temperature or the relative humidity of the ambient atmosphere of multibilayer samples. The OH-stretching band of lipid-bound water was interpreted by a simplified two-state model of well-structured, low density “network” water and of less-structured dense “multimer” water. The IR-spectroscopic data reflect a rather continuous change of the water properties with increasing distance from the membrane and with changing temperature. Network and multimer water distribute across the whole polar interphase with changing composition and orientation. Upon dehydration the fraction of network water increases from about 30 to 60%, a value which is similar to that in supercooled water at −25°C. The highly ordered gel phase gives rise to an increased fraction of structured network water compared with the liquid crystalline phase. The IR order parameter shows that the water dipoles rearrange from a more parallel towards a more perpendicular orientation with respect to the membrane normal with progressive hydration. Dedicated to Prof. K. Arnold on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Assessing overfishing based on the distance-to-target approach

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Overfishing has been a global challenge for several decades with severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Several approaches for...     

Trends in the reporting of tagging procedures for fish telemetry studies that have used surgical implantation of transmitters: a call for more complete reporting

The intracoelomic surgical implantation of telemetry transmitters in fish is becoming the “standard” tagging approach for most field telemetry studies. Subsequently, efforts must be made to ensure the welfare of the fish are maintained and that fish do not experience significant mortality or sublethal impairments in health, behavior or physiology as a result of surgical procedures. Therefore, it is essential to adequately report information relating to all aspects of the surgical procedure to enable the reader to make an accurate interpretation of study results. We conducted a quantitative literature review aimed at characterizing trends in data reporting by examining a sample of fish telemetry studies published in peer-reviewed outlets during the last 20 years. We used a repeatability score, based on 16 predetermined criteria, to evaluate the reporting of surgical procedures in telemetry studies. The majority of studies failed to report basic information relating to the surgical procedures used. Repeatability scores were highly variable between studies and ranged from 0–93.8%. No single study provided complete information (mean repeatability score = 50.7%) and repeatability showed no trend over time. Some study information was consistently well reported (e.g. tag size and dimensions, the type of anaesthetic used and the location of incision). In contrast, the type of suture knots, duration or level of anaesthesia and precautions taken to minimize infection were consistently left out of the methods section of most telemetry studies. Our review was confounded by the large proportion of studies that cited other sources for their surgical methods, many of which themselves lacked complete information. We recommend that future electronic tagging studies that involve intracoelomic implantation include the minimum reporting standards presented in this paper. Increasing the detail of reporting will improve the quality of data presented, minimize welfare and ethical concerns and allow transparency for study repeatability.     

Examen de personas histoplasmino-positivas del radio de actividad del hospital amazónico „Albert Schweitzer” en el curso medio del rio Ucayali

Resumen 1) Se analizan las historias clínicas de 100 personas histoplasmino-positivas. 61% de ellas son histoplasmino-positivas y tuberculinonegativas, 39% histoplasmino y tuberculino-positivas.2) Se habían sacado radiografías de los pulmones a 38 de los 100 pacientes, encontrándose calcificaciones en 22, sea en un 58% de ellos.3) Se describen 4 casos: 3 de ellos con una historia y con signos radiológicos que hacen evidente que han tenido una histoplasmosis; un caso es consideredo como una histoplasmosis en evolución.4) En todos los casos se trata de formas benignas de histoplasmosis.

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Summary 1) Analysis of the clinical histories of 100 histoplasmin-positive reactors: 61% are histoplasmin-positive and tuberculin-negative, 39% histoplasmin- and tuberculin-positive.2) Lung X-rays have been taken of 38 of the 100 patients. In 22 X-rays (58%) calcifications are present.3) 4 cases are described: 3 of them with a history and with radiological symptoms, that make it evident, that they have had a histoplasmosis; one case is considered as a histoplasmosis in evolution.4) All cases are benign forms of histoplasmosis.

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Zusammenfassung 1) Die Krankengeschichten von 100 histoplasmin-positiven Patienten werden analysiert. 61% davon sind histoplasmin-positiv und tuberkulin-negativ, 39% histoplasmin- und tuberkulin-positiv.2) Von 38 der 100 Patienten wurden Lungenroentgenbilder aufgenommen. In 22 Aufnahmen (58%) fanden sich Verkalkungen.3) 4 Fälle werden beschrieben: bei dreien machen es Krankengeschichte und Roentgenbefund evident, dass sie eine Histoplasmose durchgemacht haben; ein Fall wird als akute Histoplasmose angesehen.4) Bei allen Fällen handelt es sich um eine gutartige Form der Histoplasmose.

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Read in the meeting of the First Congress of the International Society for Tropical Dermatology, Naples, June 8–13, 1964.