Anatomical Characterization of Nine Taxa of Genus Acmella Rich. (Toothache Plant) in India

Abstract The present study is aimed for anatomical characterization of nine taxa of Acmella to supplement data specifically for its current sectional classification and species circumscriptions. Anatomical characterization of this genus is little explored. This study focuses on internal structure of leaves, petioles, peduncles, stems, roots and cell inclusions to determine its taxonomic importance. In stem anatomy the number of hypodermal collenchymatous layers and the arrangement of parenchymatous cortex together place an important role in the identification of Acmella. Root anatomy was similar in all the examined taxa except in the arrangement of xylem vessels. In A. tetralobata xylem vessels arranged in pentarch fashion while rest of the species possess tetrarch arrangement. Several cellular inclusions such as calcium oxalate crystals and oil bodies were observed. The petioles were crescent shaped having bifacial surfaces with both surfaces pubescent. Peduncles possess ridges and furrows in its outline. The leaves are dorsi ventral and possess single layered epidermal cells covered with cuticle having anomocytic, anisocytic and diacytic types of stomata in both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. The present study provides a tool for the microscopic identification of the genus.

Morphological, phytochemical and anti-hyperglycemic evaluation of Brachychiton populneus

Abstract Brachychiton populneus (Schott & Endl.) R.Br., Malvaceae, is one of five Brachychiton species cultivated in Egypt. Little information was found concerning the morphological, phytochemical and biological investigations of B. populneus. Morphological investigations of B. populneus were performed on fresh and dried leaves. Air-dried, ground leafy branches were extracted with 70% methanol/water yielding B. populneus extract. Seventeen flavonoids were isolated and identified using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; eleven of them were reported for the first time from this plant. Potential activity of B. populneus extract against alloxan inducing oxidative stress and diabetes in male rats was preliminary investigated (four groups of ten rats /group). B. populneus extract (500 mg/kg bw i.p.) exhibited significant acute anti-hyperglycemic activity with blood glucose levels of 227.3 and 157.6 mg/dl after 4 and 24 h, respectively, compared to alloxan and standard Diamicron (5 mg/kg bw p.o.) groups, as well as to a normoglycemic control group at p < 0.05. The extract reverted the body weight values of the alloxan-induced diabetic rats to that of control animals after 24 h. In addition, B. populneus extract counteracted the effect of the oxidative stress induced by alloxan causing significantly increase in the glutathione content level (2.35 mmol/l) and relative decrease in the malondialdehyde level (21.31 nmol/l) and nitric oxide content (1.98 µmol/l) in serum after 24 h of treatment compared to alloxan-induced diabetic rats (1.01 mmol/l, 118.9 nmol/l, 4.69 µmol/l, respectively) and to normoglycemic control at p < 0.05. These effects appear to be related to the flavonoid principles. The intergeneric relationship of the genus Brachychiton and other related genera assessed well-supported differentiation between them. Furthermore, a significant dissimilarity was observed at interspecific level.

X-ray Microtomography to Quantify Morphological Sandstones Properties

Abstract The sandstones of the Furnas Formation in the State of Paraná, south of Brazil, are located in regions with great importance due to the natural heritage found in the rocky forms and associated flora and fauna. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the internal structure of diverse sandstones of the Furnas Formation. X-ray microtomography allowed 3D characterization of the number, pore size and shape distributions of the sandstones. Images with voxel size of 603 µm3 were utilized to evaluate the sandstone's macroporosity. The main results obtained indicate that higher macroporosities were observed in coarser and some types of silicified sandstones. In general, fine sandstones were characterized by the largest number of pores. As a general conclusion the size and shape distribution of pores seem to have a variable relation with genetic factors as grain size and cement (siliceous and/or ferruginous).

Leaf Morphoanatomy of Diploon Cronquist (Sapotaceae Juss.) / Morfoanatomia Foliar de Diploon Cronquist (Sapotaceae Juss.)

Abstract: Diploon is a monospecific genus represented by Diploon cuspidatum, an arboreal species that has morphological characteristics distinct from those of other Sapotaceae species. In this study, Diploon cuspidatum leaves were characterized morphoanatomically in order to reveal additional diagnostic characters of their external morphology of the genus. The Diploon petiole presents shape and arrangement of the vascular system flat-convex, occasionally with one or two accessory bundles, many laticifers, and many prismatic crystals. The midrib is biconvex with a U-shaped cuticle on the abaxial side, and laticifers are associated with the vascular tissues. Mesophyll is dorsiventral, palisade parenchyma has two cell layers, T- and Y-shaped malpighiaceous trichomes are on the abaxial epidermis with a small stalk cell and long arm. The venation pattern is brochidodromous. Intersecondary veins run parallel to the secondary veins, and quaternary veins branch freely. Higher order veins are not present. Morphoanatomical analysis revealed important characteristics that reveal a set of structures common to Sapotaceae, in addition to characters that are important for the recognition and identification of D. cuspidatum.

Resumo: Diploon é um gênero monoespecífico representado por Diploon cuspidatum, espécie arbórea com características morfológicas peculiares em relação a outros gêneros de Sapotaceae. A espécie teve suas folhas caracterizadas morfoanatomicamente, a fim de fornecer caracteres diagnósticos adicionais à morfologia externa, subsidiar pesquisas no âmbito da anatomia vegetal, dendrologia e filogenia. D. cuspidatum evidenciou pecíolo plano-convexo, com feixe vascular plano-convexo, presença ocasional de até dois feixes acessórios, presença de muitos laticíferos e cristais prismáticos. A nervura central é biconvexa, com cutícula em forma de U no lado abaxial, laticíferos associados aos elementos vasculares. Mesofilo dorsiventral, parênquima paliçádico com duas camadas descontínuas, tricomas malpighiáceos do tipo T e Y na epiderme abaxial com pedúnculo pequeno e braço longo. O padrão de venação é do tipo broquidódroma. Veias intersecundárias paralelas as veias secundárias, veias quaternárias em ramos livres. Ausência de veias de ordem superior. A análise morfoanatômica realizada evidenciou caracteres importantes que retratam um conjunto de estruturas comuns a Sapotaceae e também importantes para reconhecimento e identificação D. cuspidatum.

Application of light microscopy tissue slices and digital slicing in experimental teaching of micromorphology / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Histology teaching requires a combination of theory and experiment for a better understanding of microstructure and related functions of body.On the basis of the comparison and summary of the advantages and limitations of traditional light microscopy tissue slices and the emerging digital slicing,we combined them in the teaching of micromorphology experiments to achieve a better teaching results.Each experimental course (about 3 to 4 hours) was divided into four parts:teaching videos,observation of light microscopy tissue slices and digital slicing,discussion on course content and random quizzes.This teaching method contributed to the improvement of the students' interest and motivation in learning,the teachers' teaching efficiency and the overall teaching quality.

Micromorphology and microhardness of enamel after treatment with home-use bleaching agents containing 10 percent carbamide peroxide and 7.5 percent hydrogen peroxide

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of home-use bleaching agents containing 10 percent carbamide peroxide and 7.5 percent hydrogen peroxide on enamel microhardness and surface micromorphology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Enamel slabs (n=10) received the bleaching agents for 1 h/day and remained in artificial saliva solution for 23 h/day, during a total period of 21 days. Control group was composed of enamel slabs that were not subjected to treatment with the agents and were maintained in artificial saliva solution. Microhardness tests were performed before treatment application, 21 days of treatment and 14 days after the end of treatment. Scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed after 14 days after the end of bleaching treatment by 3 calibrated observers who attributed scores. RESULTS: The Tukey's test (á=0.05) showed no significant differences in microhardness values among bleaching agents, at 21 days of treatment and a significant increase in microhardness for different agents after 14 days from the end of treatment. Fisher's exact test showed differences in micromorphology of enamel between control and experimental groups (p=0.0342). CONCLUSIONS: Bleaching agents containing 10 percent carbamide peroxide and 7.5 percent hydrogen peroxide may change surface micromorphology of enamel, although no changes in microhardness were observed.

Pore system changes of damaged Brazilian oxisols and nitosols induced by wet-dry cycles as seen in 2-D micromorphologic image analysis

Soil pore structure characterization using 2-D image analysis constitutes a simple method to obtain essential information related to soil porosity and pore size distribution (PSD). Such information is important to infer on soil quality, which is related to soil structure and transport processes inside the soil. Most of the time soils are submitted to wetting and drying cycles (W-D), which can cause important changes in soils with damaged structures. This report uses 2-D image analysis to evaluate possible modifications induced by W-D cycles on the structure of damaged soil samples. Samples of three tropical soils (Geric Ferralsol, GF; Eutric Nitosol, EN; and Rhodic Ferralsol, RF) were submitted to three treatments: 0WD, the control treatment in which samples were not submitted to any W-D cycle; 3WD and 9WD with samples submitted to 3 and 9 consecutive W-D cycles, respectively. It was observed that W-D cycles produced significant changes in large irregular pores of the GF and RF soils, and in rounded pores of the EN soil. Nevertheless, important changes in smaller pores (35, 75, and 150 µm) were also observed for all soils. As an overall consideration, it can be said that the use of image analysis helped to explain important changes in soil pore systems (shape, number, and size distribution) as consequence of W-D cycles.

A caracterização da estrutura do solo usando a análise de imagens bidimensionais (2-D) constitui um método simples na obtenção de informações essenciais relacionadas com a porosidade do solo e a distribuição do tamanho de poros. Tal informação é importante para obter dados sobre a qualidade do solo, a qual está diretamente ligada à sua estrutura e aos processos de transporte que ocorrem no seu interior. Na maior parte do tempo os solos são submetidos a vários ciclos de umedecimento ("wetting") e secamento ("drying") (W-D) que podem causar importantes mudanças em solos que possuem estruturas danificadas. Neste estudo foi usada a análise de imagens em 2-D na avaliação de possíveis modificações devido a vários ciclos de W-D na estrutura de amostras de solo danificadas.Três solos diferentes em textura (Latossolo vermelho-amarelo distrófico - LVAd; Nitossolo vermelho eutrófico - NVe, Latossolo vermelho distrófico - LVd) foram submetidos a três diferentes tratamentos: 0WD, amostras controle não submetidas a nenhum ciclo de W-D; 3WD e 9WD, amostras submetidas a 3 e 9 ciclos consecutivos de W-D, respectivamente. Foi observado que os ciclos de W-D produziram mudanças significativas nos poros grandes irregulares dos solos LVAd e LVd e nos poros arredondados do NVe. Importantes mudanças nos poros de 35 até 150 µm foram observadas para todos os solos estudados. A partir dos resultados obtidos pode ser dito que o uso da análise de imagens auxiliou com sucesso na explicação de variações no sistema poroso (formato, número e distribuição de tamanho dos poros) devido aos ciclos de W-D para todos os solos analisados.

Imaging study of interaction between Yersinia pestis and its surface antibody by atomic force microscopy / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To observe and compare the atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of Yersinia pestis EV76 and the changes in the morphology of the bacteria treated with normal serum and F1 antibody from rabbit,and to explore the immunoassay method to detect Yersinia pestis by AFM. Methods The Yersinia pestis were treated with normal serum and F1 antibody from rabbit and control buffer. All the prepared samples were observed and analyzed by AFM. The changes in the cell surface structures were probed and characterized through sectional analysis,especially the changes of Ra and Rq value. Results The normal morphology of Yersinia pestis was oval in shape with a relatively smooth surface, the size dimension of which was about 1.1-1.3 μm in length with a section profile of 0.8-1.0 μm in width and 0.04-0.06 μm in step height. The step height of the bacteria treated with the normal serum and F1 antibody was obviously enlarged. The shape of the bacteria treated with F1 antibody changed irregularly. Furthermore, the surface of the bacteria was more roughened. Conclusion The morphological characters of Yersinia pestis has been acquired through its AFM images. The morphology of Yersinia pestis treated with F1 antibody has changed greatly, and the index of roughness can be regarded as the distinguished index to detect Yersinia pestis by AFM.

Two New Records of Penicillium Associated with Blue Moldy Bulbs of Lily in Korea

Two new records of Penicillium from blue moldy bulbs of lily are reported in Korea. The Korean isolates of P. albocoremium (Frisvad) Frisvad and P. tulipae Overy and Frisvad were phylogenetically identical to the reference species based on DNA sequence of the beta-tubulin gene. P. albocoremium and P. tulipae are described and illustrated.