Soil depth shapes plant functional diversity in granite outcrops vegetation of Southwestern Australia

Background: The arid and nutrient-poor Southwestern Australia is one of the global biodiversity hotspots. Embedded in this landscape, granite outcrops are considered terrestrial insular habitats supporting habitat heterogeneity when compared to the more homogenous surrounds. Ecology of plant species and communities on granite outcrops has been addressed in numerous studies. However, functional diversity (FD) in context of the environmental heterogeneity remained unexplored.

Aims: We tested whether mesic deep-soil habitats on granite outcrops can sustain larger FD than dry shallow-soil habitats.

Methods: We calculated FD for dominant species for five single traits (leaf dry matter content, foliar δ¹³C, foliar C:N ratio, plant height and specific leaf area) and their combinations. We employed Generalized Additive Mixed Models to quantify the relationship between selected climate and soil depth variables, and FD.

Results: More benign (deep-soil) habitats supported larger FD for foliar C:N, plant height and for multiple traits than did shallow-soil habitats.

Conclusions: We suggest that: (1) functional diversification, likely aimed at avoiding intra- and interspecific competition for light and nutrients acquisition, might be the important factor in deep-soil habitats; (2) deep-soils patches on and around granite outcrops may serve as ecological microrefugia for biota associated with resource-rich environments.     

International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. 4th edition

The fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN) was prepared by the Steering Committee of the IAVS Working Group for Phytosociological Nomenclature (GPN). The edition consists of 14 Definitions, 7 Principles, 53 Articles, and 7 Appendices. When compared with the previous edition, the main amendments are: (a) the acceptance of electronic publications (Art. 1); (b) the introduction of binding decisions (Definition XIV, Principle II, Articles 1, 2b, 3c, 29b, 40, 42, 44, Appendices 6 and 7); (c) the mandatory use of the English or Latin terminology for syntaxonomic novelties (Definition II, Principle II, Articles 3d and 3i); (d) the introduction of autonyms for the main ranks when the corresponding secondary ranks are created (Articles 13b and 24); (e) the automatic correction of the taxon names (name-giving taxa) used in the names of syntaxa in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (Article 44); (f) the possibility to mutate the name of a syntaxon in using other correct, alternative names for the name-giving taxa (Article 45); (g) the introduction of inadequate names, a new category of rejected names (Definition V, Articles 43 through 45); and (h) the introduction of a conserved type (Definition XIII, Article 53). The fourth edition of ICPN was approved by the GPN on 25 May 2019 and becomes effectively binding on 1 January 2021.     

Three-dimensional reconstruction of alveoli in the rat lung for pressure-volume relationships

To determine alveolar pressure-volume relationships, alveolar three-dimensional reconstructions were prepared from lungs fixed by vascular perfusion at various points on the pressure-volume curve. Lungs from male Sprague-Dawley rats were fixed by perfusion through the pulmonary artery following a pressure-volume maneuver to the desired pressure point on either the inflation or deflation curve. Tissue samples from lungs were serially sectioned for determination of the volume fraction of alveoli and alveolar ducts and reconstruction of alveoli. Alveoli from lungs fixed at 5 cmH2O on the deflation curve (approximating functional residual volume) had a volume of 173 X 10(3) microns3, a surface area of 11,529 microns2, a mouth opening diameter of 72.7 microns, and a mean caliper diameter of 91.8 micron (SE). Alveolar shape changes during deflation from total lung capacity to residual volume was first (30 to 10 cmH2O) associated with little change in the diameter of the alveoli (102.7 +/- 2.4 to 100.3 +/- 3.3 microns). In the range overlapping normal breathing (10 to 0 cmH2O) there was a substantial decrease in diameter (100.3 +/- 3.3 to 43.3 +/- 2.3 microns). These measurements and others made on the relative changes in the dimensions of the alveolus suggest that the elastic network, particularly around the alveolar ducts, are predominant in determining lung behavior near the volume expansion limits of the lung while the elastic and surface tension properties of the alveoli are predominant in the volume range around functional residual capacity.     

Intragenic NF1 deletions in sinonasal mucosal malignant melanoma

Mucosal malignant melanoma (MMM) is a rare and aggressive tumor. Despite effective local therapies, tumor recurrence and metastasis remain frequent. The genetics of MMM remain incompletely understood. This study is aimed to identify actionable genetic alterations by next-generation sequencing. Fifteen MMM samples were analyzed by next-generation and Sanger sequencing. Gene copy number alterations were analyzed by MLPA. Mutation status was correlated with pERK, pAKT, and Ki-67 expression and follow-up data. Inactivating mutations and intragenic deletions in neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) were identified in 3 and 2 cases, respectively, (in total 5/15, 33%) and activating mutations in NRAS and KRAS (3/15, 20%) cases. Other mutated genes included CDKN2A, APC, ATM, MITF, FGFR1, and FGFR2. BRAF and KIT mutations were not observed. Cases with NF1 alterations tended to have worse overall survival. The mutational status was not associated with pERK, pAKT, or Ki-67 immunostaining. MMM carries frequent gene mutations activating the MAPK pathway, similar to cutaneous melanoma. In contrast, NF1 is the most frequently affected gene. Intragenic NF1 deletions have not been described before and may go undetected by sequencing studies. This finding is clinically relevant as NF1-mutated melanomas have worse survival and could benefit from therapy with immune checkpoint and MEK inhibitors.     

Interaction of sertraline with Candida species selectively attenuates fungal virulence in vitro

This study investigated whether the interaction between isolates of Candida albicans (n=7), Candida parapsilosis (n=3), Candida krusei (n=2), Candida dubliniensis (n=1) and sertraline, a typical selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, alters candidal virulence. Sertraline treatment of Candida spp. significantly (P<0.05) affected hyphal elongation, phospholipase activity, production of secreted aspartyl proteinases and fungal viability. In addition, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) treated with sertraline reduced inhibition of blastoconidia germination in comparison to MDMs alone. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the interaction between sertraline and Candida spp. may also diminish the virulence properties of this fungal pathogen in vivo.     

Dendritic Cells Transmit Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 to Monocytes and Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

Previous studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exploits dendritic cells (DC) to replicate and spread among CD4⁺ T cells. To explain the predominance of non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) over syncytium-inducing (SI) strains during the initial viremia of HIV, we investigated the ability of blood monocyte (Mo)-derived DC to transmit HIV-1 to CD4⁺ cells of the monocytoid lineage. First, we demonstrate that in our system, DC are able to transmit NSI strains, but not SI strains, of HIV-1 to fresh blood Mo and to Mo-derived macrophages (MDM). To establish a productive infection, a 10-fold-lower amount of virus was necessary for DC-mediated transmission of HIV-1 to Mo than in case of cell-free infection. Second, immature CD83⁻ DC (imDC) transmit virus to Mo and MDM with higher efficacy compared to mature CD83⁺ DC (maDC); this finding is in contrast to data previously obtained with CD4⁺ T cells. Third, maturation from imDC to maDC efficiently silenced expression of β₂-integrins CD11b, CD11c, and CD18 by maDC. Moreover, monoclonal antibody against CD18 inhibited transmission of HIV-1 from imDC to Mo. We propose that the adhesion molecules of the CD11/CD18 family, involved in cell-cell interactions of DC with the microenvironment, may play a major role in imDC-mediated HIV-1 infection of Mo and MDM.     

Anthriscetum trichospermae im Gebirge Malé Karpaty (Slowakei)

Die synmorphologische, syntaxonomische, synökologische, symphänologische und synchorologisch Charakteristik der AssoziationAnthriscetum trichospermae Hejný etKrippelová inHejný et al. 1979 ist angeführt. Es handelt sich um eine wärmeliebende, nitrophile Therophyten-Gesellschaft auf lehmigen bis lehmig-sandigen Ruderalböden, die warme, lichte oder mässig beschattete Orte, steile Feldraine und Lese-Steinhaufen in Weingärten im südlichen Teil des Gebirges Malé Karpaty (Westslowakei) besiedelt. Das Vorkommen dieser Assoziation ist auch von Ungarn angegeben.     

Die Ruderalvegetation des nördlichen Teils der Donau-Tiefebene 1.Onopordion acanthii-Verband

In der vorgelegten Studie wurden nach der Methode der Zürich-Montpellierschen Schule 6 Gesellschaften desOnopordion acanthii-Verbandes im nordwestlichen Teil der Donau-Tiefebene bearbeitet (Onopordetum acanthii, Potentillo argenteae-Artemisietum absinthii, Cirsietum eriopyori, Lappulo echinatae-Cynoglossetum, Stachyo-Carduetum acanthoidis undSalvio-Marrubietum peregrini)- Synmorphologische, symphänologische, synökologische, syntaxonomische, syndynamische und synchorologische Charakteristiken der Gesellschaften wurden durch Beobachtungen von Dauerflächen und Bodenanalysen ergänzt. Neubeschriebene Syntaxa sindPotentillo-Artemisietum absinthii typicum undSalvio-Marrubietum peregrini. Die Arbeit enthält eine kurze Charakteristik desOnopordion acanthii-Verbandes, der OrdnungOnopordetalia acanthii und der KlasseArtemisietea vulgaris im Hinblick auf das Untersuchungsgebiet.     

Die Ruderalvegetation des nördlichen Teils der Donau-Tiefebene 2. Gesellschaften des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes auf ruderalen Standorten

Die vorliegende Darstellung knüpft thematisch und inhaltlich an die Schilderung der Gesellschaften des Onopordion acanthii-Verbandes im nördlichen Teil der Donau-Tiefebene (Mucina 1981) an. Sie enthält die Bearbeitung subthermophiler Gesellschaften des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes auf ruderalen Standorten, wie: Melilotetum albae-officinalis, Berteroëtum incanae, Dauco-Picridetum, Dauco-Crepidetum rhoeadifoliae und der Erigeron annuus-Gesellschaft. Als neu wurden folgende Syntaxa beschrieben: Berteroëtum incanae typicum typische Variante und die Variante mit Salvia nemorosa, Dauco-Picridetum typicum typische Variante und die Variante mit Atriplex acuminata und Dauco-Picridetum crepidetosum biennidis. Die untersuchte Gesellschaften-Gruppe entspricht standörtlich der Gruppe der gleichfalls in den Rahmen des Dauco-Melilotion-Verbandes eingeordneten Gesellschaften-Gruppe natürlicher Standorte.