Reproductive characteristics that favor invasiveness in Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.

Reproductive systems are life attributes important in defining the demography and genetic constitution of invasive alien species populations. We describe the phenology, floral behavior and floral visitors in Mexican populations of Leonotis nepetifolia considered invasive in America, Asia and Oceania. The mating system was determined through pollination experiments and, with a morphological analysis of flowers (outcrossing index, OCI) and pollen/ovule ratio, the breeding system was evaluated. Germination of 1 and 2-year-old seeds was tested to assess the potential characteristics of germination. Leonotis nepetifolia was reproductive for 7 months (June to December) and tended towards a specific season during autumn. Anthesis lasted 36 hr with protogyny and no hercogamy, with floral visitors of Apodiformes, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera. Pollination experiments indicated a mixed mating system, whereas the OCI and the pollen/ovule ratio pointed towards a facultative xenogamous breeding system. Seed production was high (1,445 ± 132 seeds/plant); the seeds had potential longevity and were neutral photoblastic. One-year-old seeds germinated slightly later ( = 2.6 ± 0.11 days) than 2-year-old seeds ( = 1.9 ± 0.02 days), both synchronously (IS_1yr = 0.88 ± 0.03 and IS_2yr = 0.82 ± 0.02). Germination percentage for 1-year-old seeds was lower (55.33 ± 4.40%) than that of 2-year-old seeds (94.18 ± 0.59%), suggesting a potential longevity of the seeds in an optimal environment. Reproductive characteristics, such as wide reproductive period, mixed breeding system, copious seed production, seeds with potential longevity, and quick and synchronic germination in different light conditions, favor the invasive capacity of Leonotis nepetifolia.     

Discovery and functional interrogation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-host protein interactions

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Accurate method for rapid biomass quantification based on specific absorbance of microalgae species with biofuel importance

The development of microalgae culture technology has been an integral part to produce biomass feedstock to biofuel production. Due to this, numerous attempts have been made to improve some operational parameters of microalgae production. Despite this, specialized research in cell growth monitoring, considered as a fundamental parameter to achieve profitable applications of microalgae for biofuels production, presents some opportunity areas mainly related to the development of specific and accurate methodologies for growth monitoring. In this work, predictive models were developed through statistical tools that correlate a specific micro-algal absorbance with cell density measured by cell count (cells∙per ml), for three species of interest for biofuels production. The results allow the precise prediction of cell density through a logistic model based on spectrophotometry, valid for all the kinetics analysed. The adjusted determination coefficients () for the developed models were 0·993, 0·995 and 0·994 for Dunaliella tertiolecta, Nannochloropsis oculata and Chaetoceros muelleri respectively. The results showed that the equations obtained here can be used with an extremely low error (≤2%) for all the cell growth ranges analysed, with low operational cost and high potential of automation. Finally, a user-friendly software was designed to give practical use to the developed predictive models.     

POTASSIUM ACCUMULATION IN THE PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULES OF THE FROG'S KIDNEY

1. In a manner similar to that of the sartorius muscle, the isolated kidney of the frog can accumulate K against a gradient to upwards of three times its normal concentration. 2. The K-accumulating region is identified as the proximal tubule, which in the isolated tissue immersed over 24 hours in the cold (2–3°C.) amounts to about 90 per cent of the nephron minus the glomerulus. In the fresh tissue it constitutes about 70 per cent. The cells of the proximal tubule are impermeable to Na, but freely permeable to K and Cl. 3. The distal tubule in the isolated kidney does not accumulate K over the external concentration. The cells are permeable to Na which they actively extrude. This extrusion of Na goes parallel with a loss of osmotically associated water amounting to about 15 per cent of the weight of the fresh kidney, but varying somewhat with the conditions. 4. The accumulation of K in the proximal tubules is in accordance with the equations established for the sartorius muscle, and, as theoretically expected, there is no volume increase (but rather a small decrease) with the large accumulations, when the external Na concentration is maintained throughout. 5. With K accumulation in isotonic mixtures large volume changes occur as K is progressively substituted for Na. Over the range of external K concentration of 10 to 100 mM per litre the weight of the whole kidney changes to 2.5 times and the water of the cells of the proximal tubules increases to over four times. Up to an external K value of 90 mM per litre the mean weight of the kidney shows a linear relation when plotted against the reciprocal of the Na concentration plus the small glucose and Ca concentration. This relation is interpreted theoretically. 6. The effect of cyanide in the isotonic mixtures is to prevent the contraction of the distal tubules and to cause swelling of the same. It does not affect the volume, volume changes, or differential permeability of the proximal tubule. At the same time the membranes of the proximal tubule cells lose their characteristic permeability at a lower level of distension in the presence of cyanide. 7. The mean Na ratio for the kidney after 24 hours'' immersion in the cold is 0.26 ± 0.014 (giving standard deviation of mean). The ratio is defined as See PDF for Equation. For the fresh kidney the mean ratio is 0.39 ± 0.006. 8. The mean inulin ratio (28 observed in the cold) is 0.23 ± 0.012 and the same value for 10 observed at room temperature. At room temperature—2 hour immersion—the ratio is increased by cyanide to a mean of 0.32 ± 0.028, but only a slight increase is caused by cyanide in the cold. 9. The mean hemoglobin ratio after 24 hours'' immersion in the cold is 0.17 ± 0.004 and is unaffected by cyanide.