Pre-germinated conidia of Coniothyrium minitans enhances the foliar biological control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

The relatively slow germination rate of Coniothyrium minitans limits its control efficiency against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Pre-germinated conidia of C. minitans enhanced its efficiency significantly: in foliar experiments with oilseed rape, hyphal extension of S. sclerotiorum was inhibited by 68%, while formation of sclerotia was completely inhibited when pre-germinated conidia were applied.     

Time as a constraint on the distribution of feral goats at high latitudes

We use data on feral goats on the Isle of Rum to explore the hypothesis that time is a major constraint on the latitudinal and altitudinal distribution of this species. Daylength and temperature were the principal factors influencing the main time budget elements (feeding, moving and resting). Because the goats do not feed at night due to low ambient temperatures, they faced particular problems during winter when daylengths were at their shortest. A mean monthly windchill‐adjusted temperature of 5°C appeared to be a critical threshold in terms of the animals’ ability to survive on Rum. We used these data to model the animals’ time budgets at different latitudes and altitudes. We show that winter daylength would be shorter than the required feeding time north of about 60° latitude, with a narrowing altitudinal cone approaching sea level at this latitude. Biogeographic evidence confirms that feral goat populations are not self‐sustaining north of this latitude.     

Design and synthesis of 3,7-diarylimidazopyridines as inhibitors of the VEGF-receptor KDR

3,7-Diarylsubstituted imidazopyridines were designed and developed as a new class of KDR kinase inhibitors. A variety of imidazopyridines were synthesized and potent inhibitors of KDR kinase activity were identified with good aqueous solubility.     

Invasive alien plants in China: role of clonality and geographical origin

Biological invasions have become a significant threat to the global environment. Unfortunately, to date there is no consensus on invasion mechanisms and predictive models. Controversies range from whether we can reliably predict which species may become invasive to which species characteristics (e.g., life history, taxonomic groups, or geographic origin) contribute to the invasion processes. We examined 126 invasive alien plant species in China to understand the role of clonality and geographical origin in their invasion success. These species were categorized into three groups (I, II, III) based on their invasiveness in terms of current spatial occupation and the degree of damage to invaded habitats. Clonal plants consisted of almost half (44%) of the 126 invasive species studied, and consisted of 66% of 32 the most invasive alien plant species (Group I). There was a significant positive relationship between clonality and species invasiveness. A 68% of the 126 species studied originated in the continent of America (North and/or South America). These preliminary findings support that America is the primary geographical origin of invasive alien plant species in China and that clonality of the invasive plant species contributed significantly to the their invasiveness. The results suggest an urgent need at the global scale to investigate the mechanisms whereby plant clonal growth influences plant invasions, and the need for a focus at regional scale to examine factors affecting the exchange of invasive plant species between America and China.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor PJ34 protects against UVA-induced oxidative damage in corneal endothelium

Apoptosis - Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is one of the main causes for corneal endothelial blindness, which is characterized by the progressive decline of corneal endothelial cells....     

Genetic innovations: Transposable element recruitment and de novo formation lead to the birth of orphan genes in the rice genome

Orphan genes are genetic innovations that lack homologs in other lineages. Orphan genes can rapidly originate and become substantially functional, yet the mechanisms underlying their origins are still largely unknown in plants. Here, we investigated the origin of orphan genes in the Oryza sativa ssp. japonica “Nipponbare” genome using genome‐wide comparisons with 10 closely related Oryza species. We identified a total of 37 orphan genes in the Nipponbare genome that show short sequence lengths, elevated GC content, and absence of introns. Interestingly, half of the identified orphan genes originated by way of a distinctive mechanism that involved the generation of new coding sequences through independent and rapid divergence within the inserted transposable element. Our results provide valuable insight into genetic innovations in the model rice genome that formed on a very short timescale.     

Reduced cardiac output is associated with decreased mitochondrial efficiency in the non-ischemic ventricular wall of the acute myocardial-infarcted dog

Cardiogenic shock is the leading cause of death among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (MI).Understanding the mechanisms for acute pump failure is therefore important.The aim of this study is to examine in anacute MI dog model whether mitochondrial bio-energetic function within non-ischemic wall regions are associated withpump failure.Anterior MI was produced in dogs via ligation of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery,thatresulted in an infract size of about 30% of the left ventricular wall.Measurements of hemodynamic status,mitochondrialfunction,free radical production and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) expression were determined over 24h period.Hemodynamic measurements revealed a>50% reduction in cardiac output at 24 h post infarction when com-pared to baseline.Biopsy samples were obtained from the posterior non-ischemic wall during acute infarction.ADP/Oratios for isolated mitochondria from non-ischemic myocardium at 6 h and 24 h were decreased when compared to theADP/O ratios within the same samples with and without palmitic acid (PA).GTP inhibition of (PA)-stimulated state 4respiration in isolated mitochondria from the non-ischemic wall increased by 7% and 33% at 6 h and 24 h post-infarctionrespectively when compared to sham and pre-infarction samples.This would suggest that the mitochondria are uncoupledand this is supported by an associated increase in UCP3 expression observed on western blots from these same biopsysamples.Blood samples from the coronary sinus measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods showedan increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) over baseline at 6 h and 24 h post-infarction.In conclusion,mitochondrialbio-energetic ADP/O ratios as a result of acute infarction are abnormal within the non-ischemic wall.Mitochondria ap-pear to be energetically uncoupled and this is associated with declining pump function.Free radical production may beassociated with the induction of uncoupling proteins in the mitochondria.     

Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by growing cells of Gordonia sp. in batch cultures

A new isolate, identified as Gordonia sp. ZD-7 by 16S rDNA sequence analysis, grew in n-hexadecane containing dibenzothiophene (DBT) which was degraded from 2.8 mM to 0.2 mM within 48 h. Biodesulfurization could be repeatedly performed for more than 190 h, with average desulfurization rates of 5 mmol DBT kg cells (dry wt)⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

Morphology and Phase Behavior of Two-Component Lipid Membranes

The stability and shapes of domains with different bending rigidities in lipid membranes are investigated. These domains can be formed from the inclusion of an impurity in a lipid membrane or from the phase separation within the membrane. We show that, for weak line tensions, surface tensions and finite spontaneous curvatures, an equilibrium phase of protruding circular domains or striped domains may be obtained. We also predict a possible phase transition between the investigated morphologies.     

Ritual behaviors associated with spermatophore transfer in Deuterosminthurus bicinctus (Collembola: Bourletiellidae)

The springtail Deuterosminthurus bicinctus, similarly to other members of Bourletiellidae, use their antennae, legs or heads to monopolize, stimulate, and direct female partners to spermatophores. The mating behavior of this species was examined by analysis of video recordings made on the leaves of its host plant. The characteristic stages of the behavioral sequence leading to sperm transfer were (1) preliminary courtship, highly variable in time and intensity—a male (rarely a female) endeavors to recruit a partner for further courtship, (2) push-and-retreat ritual—a rigid and rhythmical head-to-head dance of both partners, composed of some 180 phases and interspersed by several (3) free turns of a male and ended by (4) spermatophore deposition in front of a female, followed by stimulation of a female by a male to walk over the spermatophore, (5) spermatophore pick-up by a female with her gonopore, or alternately, (6) total spermatophore consumption by a female, as happened in 29% of the observed pairs. The mating ended always with (7) competition by both partners for the consumption of spermatophore residuals, usually won by the female. Comparison of mating elements and morphological features of partners engaged in mating sessions that ended either with spermatophore pick-up or consumption did not reveal any substantial differences. This suggests that changes in female motivation (hunger, state of impregnation) may be crucial for the male success in sperm transfer to a female. A digital video image is available at An erratum to this article can be found at