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Four new species of Beltraniella (Amphisphaeriales, Beltraniaceae) revealed by morphology and phylogenetic analyses from China
No full textBeltraniella is a widely-distributed genus on Earth, although its abundance is relatively limited in relation to other dematiaceous hyphomycetes. In the present study, diseased leaves of Myristica fragrans and decaying leaves were collected from Hainan and Sichuan Province. Fungal DNA was amplified and sequenced using two barcodes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU), and phylogenetic analyses were conducted through maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) algorithms. Four new species of Beltraniella, B. dujiangyanensis, B. jianfengensis, B. myristicae, and B. xinglongensis are identified through phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparison during a survey of fungal diversity in Hainan and Sichuan Provinces, China. Detailed descriptions of the morphological characteristics of these four new species are provided and illustrated with figures
The first mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Late Cretaceous amber of North Carolina, USA
No full textNowadays, Baetidae are among the most diverse and widespread mayfly families worldwide. However, fossil records of this family are very scarce, and each newly discovered specimen is of great importance for assessing the evolutionary history of this group. We report a newly discovered Baetidae fossil from the Cretaceous amber of North Carolina (USA), described herein as Petracloeon carolinensis gen. et sp. nov. The analysis of its morphology and a discussion of its possible affinities with already described Baetidae taxa (both fossil and extant) are provided. This represents the first mayfly from the North Carolina amber and the oldest Baetidae from the Americas. This finding also significantly expands the distribution range of Baetidae in the Cretaceous and supports the origin of the family prior to the main continental breakup beginning in the Jurassic
Description of two new species of the genus Pteromalus Swederus (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae, Pteromalinae) from Xinjiang, China
No full textTwo new species of Pteromalus Swederus (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae, Pteromalinae), Pteromalus steppensis Li & Hu, sp. nov. and Pteromalus xiaomoheensis Yan & Li, sp. nov., are described and illustrated for the first time. Pteromalus steppensis Li & Hu, sp. nov. was reared as a primary, solitary ectoparasitoid of the larval and pupal stages of Orchestes steppensis Korotyaev, 2016 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae). Figures of its development and its host damage are also provided
Comparative analysis of immune markers in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis patients with oral disease
No full textIntroduction: A substantial body of research has underscored the intricate nature of diagnosing oral disorders in conjunction with chronic inflammatory diseases. Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic autoimmune diseases, which are usually difficult to distinguish in the early stage of the diseases. The objective of this study was to explore the differences of immune mechanism and diagnostic markers through bioinformatics analysis of the pro-inflammatory cytokine’s markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) to evaluate the role of immunological markers in patients with MS and RA with oral diseases. Materials and methods: This study enrolled 54 patients with oral disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases admitted to our hospital between January 2020 and December 2022, among 587 patients who had MS or RA and 50 healthy controls without oral disorders, with age, sex, and familial and genetic factors matching. Oral disorders were diagnosed and staged according to the method of dental examination. Blood (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) levels were measured using ELISA to detect chronic inflammatory diseases. Results: Important changes were found in RA and MS patients in terms of their age at onset of disease: RA patients exhibited a higher average age of onset (47.29 years) compared to MS patients (30.56 years), with both conditions showing a female predominance. Genetic factors did not differ significantly between the two conditions. Patients with both chronic inflammatory diseases and oral disorders had elevated levels of the studied markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) compared to those without oral disorders, indicating a substantial impact of oral diseases on immunological responses. Conclusions: RA typically affects older individuals, while MS onset occurs at a younger age with a higher female prevalence. Xerostomia was more common in RA, while oral candidiasis was more common in MS. Both active MS and patients with oral disorders exhibit high concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α markers. These outcomes may have inferences for understanding the immune reaction and inflammation in these conditions
Assessing the antimicrobial properties of bioceramic sealers enhanced with herbal extracts against E. faecalis
No full textAim: The objective of the present study was to assess and compare the antibacterial activity of two bioceramic sealers, BioRoot RCS and CeraSeal RCS, against Enterococcus faecalis with and without the addition of two herbal extracts, Psidium guajava and Azadirachta indica. Materials and methods: We formed two experimental groups, group 1 included CeraSeal RCS sealers and group 2 included BioRoot RCS sealers. These groups were further subdivided into subgroup 1A (controls) with CeraSeal RCS sealers, subgroup 1B with CeraSeal RCS sealers plus ethanolic extract of neem, subgroup 1C: CeraSeal RCS + ethanolic extract of guava, subgroup 2A (controls): BioRoot RCS root canal sealers (controls), subgroup 2B: BioRoot RCS root canal sealer plus ethanolic extract of neem, and subgroup 2C including BioRoot RCS root canal sealers plus ethanolic extract of guava. To prepare the subgroups containing ethanolic extract of neem and guava, 20 µL of extract were mixed with the powder and liquid and spatulated well to form a homogenous paste. Direct contact test was performed and the colonies were counted using a digital colony counter and the colony forming units (CFU) per microliter were calculated based on the dilutions used. Results: The mean CFUs in the BioRoot RCS group without extract, with guava and with neem extracts showed significantly lesser values (1.305±0.038; 0.852±0.051; 1.097±0.072) as compared to CeraSeal RCS group without extract, with guava; neem extracts showed significantly lesser values (1.392±0.057, 1.073±0.064; 1.201±0.055). Multiple comparisons between groups revealed that the guava extract demonstrated significantly fewer CFUs as compared to the no-extract and the neem-extract groups, and the difference was statistically significant at p<0.001. Conclusion: Adding herbal extracts increased the antimicrobial activity which can be inferred from the comparison of the mean number of colony forming units after direct contact test and the reduction in mean optical density of both the subgroups to their respective control groups. The ethanolic extract of guava displayed better antimicrobial efficacy than the ethanolic extract of neem
Taxonomic status and phylogenetic analyses based on complete mitochondrial genome and microscopic ossicles: Redescription of a controversial tropical sea cucumber species (Holothuroidea, Holothuria Linnaeus, 1767)
No full textTo explore the taxonomic status of a tropical sea cucumber species with controversy, we conducted an investigation into its morphological characteristics (external form and ossicles) and mitochondrial genome and rearranged the historical materials of the species and its confusing species. The species was first described in the middle of the 18th century but later synonymized with Bohadschia ocellata Jaeger, 1833, Holothuria hamata Pearson, 1913, or Holothuria kurti Ludwig, 1891, by different scholars. The observed ossicles encompassed multiple types, including buttons, C-shaped ossicles, rods, and tables, with a distinct subtype identified as tack-like tables. Ventral and dorsal body walls exhibited similar table and button ossicle shapes. The mitogenome contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, with a sequence length of 15,797 bp. Subsequent construction of a phylogenetic tree using Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods indicated that the species was grouped into a separate branch firstly with Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera Théel, 1886, so suggesting its taxonomic classification under subgenus Theelothuria Deichmann, 1958. Based on the data of this study and previous literature, we suggested that the Latin name for this species should tentatively be “Holothuria ocellata Jaeger, 1833 sensu Théel 1886.” The morphologic and genomic information in the current study could be valuable in further biological studies of this sea cucumber species
Eumachia brevipedunculata (Rubiaceae, Palicoureeae), a new species from Yunnan, China
No full textEumachia brevipedunculata is a newly-identified species of the tribe Palicoureeae of Rubiaceae from Yunnan, China. It is morphologically similar to E. straminea, but differs by its smaller stipules, shorter petioles, smaller leaf blades, reduced inflorescences with shorter peduncles, axes and pedicels, longer calyx lobes, yellow-green flowers with shorter corolla tubes and shorter anthers. This species is widely found in southern Yunnan, but has long been misidentified as Psychotria. We clarify its taxonomic status and provide a description and illustration here
Competitiveness of Bulgarian oilseed production in the world market
No full textThe competitiveness is a significant and crucial concept in the economy and the economic science, seen and explored by numerous definitions and understandings of its scope and content. In general terms, competitiveness can be comprehended in a static aspect as an outcome on one hand or either as conditions and factors (dynamics) determining that outcome or competitive performance. In the current study, the competitiveness is defined as the capability of the agricultural industries and the production of oilseed crops in Bulgaria to sustain and expand their market share and to maintain and increase the added value of their production in terms of national and global scene. In this regard, competitiveness is perceived as the performance of the national industry within world consumption of oilseeds, indicated as a share out of world production, equalized for consumption and production value. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the competitiveness of the oilseeds industry in Bulgaria compared to the outcomes and development of the same industry globally. This evaluation should show, both in time and in a comparative aspect, what is the evolution of the production of oilseed crops in the country compared to the trends in a global context, with competitiveness understanding and envisage as a outcome in production and value prospect. The findings illustrate that the oilseeds industry has levels of competitiveness scored as very high per capita compared to the global indicators. Altogether, the production and the value components of the competitiveness index are at scale throughout the reviewed period (2007-2021), significantly exceeding and surpassing the world average levels, which implies that the competitiveness of this industry is very high revealing a significant market achievements and generated outcome value within national agriculture per capita. In this context, it can be added that the very high and strong competitiveness of the oilseed production in Bulgaria is quite much explicated to the good and successful functioning of the individual producers and farming. It turns out that producers tackled in this production manage to benefit from the significant support that is delivered under the Common Agricultural Policy, both as subsidies and as well investment support. Farmers are in advantage to get free access and partake in the common market and trade of such production, capitalizing on the favorable soil and climatic conditions to make this production in the national land, managing to achieve the reported competitiveness outcomes.
Socio-economic analysis of cage dropping out in calf rearing in Bulgaria
No full textGoal: to evaluate the effects of introducing the ban on cage calf rearing in Bulgaria.Material and methods: In order to gain insight into the complex socio-economic implications of EC initiative to phase out cage farming of farm animals in the EU, a science-based assessment at the calve-rearing at national sectoral level is made. The RCA method is applied to 3 scenarios: baseline status quo scenario; with voluntary introduction of non-cаgе calf rearing and market pressure; mandatory regulation with a transition period of up to 10 years for full implementation. A list of indicators by typology and types is compiled.Results: The scenario with mandatory regulations for the cancellation of cage rearing, with a proposed 10-year transit period, is estimated by the industry to receive an insignificantly lower overall score on the included 25 indicators than the other scenarios.Conclusion: The ban on cage calf farming should not lead to severe and serious adverse effects related to both investment burden and rising production costs, even it can bring some positives, mostly in relation to the labor need, and it will not have, or will have only minor, adverse production effects on the sector
Consumption of berries by population of different ages in the central part of the republic of Moldova
No full textThis article presents the results of a survey of the population of the Republic of Moldova aged under 18 and over 60. The survey obtained information on the consumption of blackcurrants by the population compared to other fruits, and whether people are aware of the benefits and vitamins of blackcurrants. The survey showed that fresh strawberries are consumed the most during the season, followed by raspberries and other berries. Berries are mainly consumed in the afternoon. The most useful berries were blackcurrants and raspberries, followed by blueberries. About two-thirds of the respondents said that blackcurrants contain vitamin C, and only a few were aware of other vitamins. The population knows that eating unwashed berries can introduce ascarid eggs, pinworm eggs, giardia cysts into the body. Respondents identified the benefits of blackcurrants as improving immunity, containing vitamins, improving blood circulation, and being an antioxidant. Blackcurrants are consumed both fresh and processed. Frozen fruits are consumed most by the age group 25-40 years (69.23%) and least by the age group 41-60 years (3.38%). Jams are consumed most by the 25-40 age group (67.30%) and least by the under 18 age group (8.33%). Steeped tea made from dried leaves, twigs and berries is drunk most by respondents between 18 and 24 years of age - 13.20 per cent, and least by people over 60 years of age - 5.55 per cent