Taxonomic results of the Bryotrop expedition to Zaire and Rwanda : 20., Grimmiaceae, Funariaceae, Bartramiaceae (Philonotis), Amblystegiaceae, Plagiotheciaceae

For worldwide monograph see Bremer (1980a, b, 1981). Unfortunately, this treatment is not particularly useful because the author accepted an exceedingly broad species concept and actually very many distinct and easily recognizable exotic species has simply been lumped with S. apocarpum (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. in B., S. & G. In tropical East Africa at least five distinct species have so far been recorded (Kis 1985), but it is very likely that this number will increase with progress in taxonomic study of the genus and floristic exploration of the bryologically undercollected areas

Occurrence of the neotropical moss Dicranella hilariana (Mont.) Mitt. in the Antarctic

Dicranella hilariana (Mont.) Mitt., a pan-neotropical moss species, is reported for the first time from the Antarctic botanical zone. It was found on geothermally heated ground near fumaroles on Visokoi, Candlemas and Bellingshausen Islands in the volcanic archipelago of the South Sandwich Islands. Dicranella recurvata Ochyra, Arts & Lewis-Smith, nom. nud., is reduced to synonymy with D. hilariana. The Antarctic plants of D. hilariana are briefly described and illustrated, including the rhizoidal tubers which have not previously been reported in this species. The global distribution of D. hilariana is briefly reviewed and mapped. It is suggested that the species reached the Antarctic via long-distance dispersal from South America by the prevailing strong westerly winds

Gradsteinia andicola : a remarkable aquatic moss from South America

A new moss genus and species, Gradsteinia andicola, is described from the northern Andes of Colombia. It is an aquatic moss known sterile and characterized by 1) oblong or oblong-ovate, concave, cucullate and recurved-apiculate leaves with a very strong and variable costa that is basically single but commonly repeatedly branched and spurred from the base, giving the leaves a polycostate appearance; 2) thick-walled, porose and irregularly uni- to multistratose lamina cells; 3) bicellular axillary hairs; 4) the presence of incomplete limbidia; 5) the absence of paraphyllia, pseudoparaphyllia, central strand and alar cells. Until the sporophyte of Gradsteinia becomes known, this very distinct genus is tentatively placed in the family Donrichardsiaceae, based primarily upon the presence of variously multistratose leaf laminae and leaf areolation

Families and genera of mosses no longer believed to occur in sub-Saharan Africa

Twelve genera are excluded from the sub-Saharan Africa checklist based on evidence from literature or re-identification. Atractylocarpus, Chorisodontium, Ctenidium, Dicranodontium, Homalia, Isothecium, Lasiodontium, Meesia and Potamium are excluded as the collections belong to other genera, and Camptochaete, Phyllodrepanium and Ptychomnion are excluded because of evidence of mistaken (or no longer existing) localities. As a consequence, the following families no longer are known from Africa: Echinodiaceae, Lembophyllaceae, Phyllodrepaniaceae and Ptychomniaceae. Ectropothecium nishimurii O’Shea & Ochyra, nom. nov. replaces Ectropothecium mauritianum (Broth.) Nishimura, hom. illeg., and Kindbergia kenyae (Dixon ex Tosco & Piovano) O’Shea & Ochyra, comb. nov. replaces Isothecium kenyae Dixon ex Tosco & Piovano. Lasiodontium mieheanum Ochyra in S. Miehe & G. Miehe, nom. nud., is a synonym of Daltonia angustifolia Dozy & Molk. and accordingly Lasiodontium Ochyra in S. Miehe & G. Miehe, nom. nud., must be placed in synonymy with Daltonia Hook. & Taylor

Plagiothecium lucidum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Paris in tropical Africa

Plagiothecium lucidum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Paris is confirmed as a new addition to the bryoflora of tropical Africa on the basis of two collections from the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. The type material of Isopterygium integrifolium Bartr. from Costa Rica in Central America is evaluated and this species is considered to be conspecific with P. lucidum. As a result of this taxonomic conclusion the range of this species is extended to Costa Rica and this is the first recognition of this species in the Central American isthmus. A world distribution map for this species is presented and some details of African plants and the type of I. integrifolium are illustrated

Ізоморфні зображення амальгамованих добутків нескінченних циклічних груп скінченно становими автоморфізмами p-адичного кореневого дерева

Встановлено, що амальгамовані вільні добутки нескінченних циклічних груп, які є резидуально скінченними p-групами, діють точно скінченно становими автоморфізмами p-адичного кореневого дерева Tp, що містяться в p-силовській підгрупі його групи автоморфізмів.It is shown that the amalgamated free products of infinite cyclic groups that are residually finite p-groups admit faithful actions by finite state automorphisms of a p-adic rooted tree Tp contained in the p-Sylow subgroup of its automorphism group

Widespread association between the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae and a leafy liverwort in the maritime and sub-Antarctic

A recent study identified a fungal isolate from the Antarctic leafy liverwort Cephaloziella varians as the ericoid mycorrhizal associate Rhizoscyphus ericae. However, nothing is known about the wider Antarctic distribution of R. ericae in C. varians, and inoculation experiments confirming the ability of the fungus to form coils in the liverwort are lacking. Using direct isolation and baiting with Vaccinium macrocarpon seedlings, fungi were isolated from C. varians sampled from eight sites across a 1875-km transect through sub- and maritime Antarctica. The ability of an isolate to form coils in aseptically grown C. varians was also tested. Fungi with 98–99% sequence identity to R. ericae internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and partial large subunit ribosomal (r)DNA sequences were frequently isolated from C. varians at all sites sampled. The EF4/Fung5 primer set did not amplify small subunit rDNA from three of five R. ericae isolates, probably accounting for the reported absence of the fungus from C. varians in a previous study. Rhizoscyphus ericae was found to colonize aseptically-grown C. varians intracellularly, forming hyphal coils. This study shows that the association between R. ericae and C. varians is apparently widespread in Antarctica, and confirms that R. ericae is at least in part responsible for the formation of the coils observed in rhizoids of field-collected C. varians

Fourteen degrees of latitude and a continent apart: comparison of lichen activity over two years at continental and maritime Antarctic sites

There are marked declines in precipitation, mean temperatures and the number of lichen species with increasing latitude in Antarctica. However, it is not known which factors are the predominant controllers of biodiversity changes. Results are presented from over two years of almost continuous monitoring of both microclimate and activity in lichens at Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, 62°S, and Botany Bay, Ross Sea region, 77°S. Lichen activity was evident over a much longer period at Livingston Island, (3694 versus 897 hours) and could occur in any month whereas it was almost completely confined to the period November–February at Botany Bay. Mean air temperatures were much lower at Botany Bay (-18° compared to -1.5°C at Livingston Island), but the temperatures at which the lichens were active were almost identical at around 2°C at both sites. When the lichens were active incident light at Botany Bay was very much higher. The differences are related to the availability of meltwater which only occurs at times of high light and warm temperatures at Botany Bay. Temperature as a direct effect does not seem to explain the differences in biodiversity between the sites, but an indirect effect through active hours is much more probable. In addition there are negative effects of stresses such as high light and extreme winter cold at Botany Bay

Platelet-rich plasma in dermatology and aesthetic medicine

Introduction and purpose Aesthetic medicine is one of the youngest fields of medicine. Initially, it focused on improving the quality of life of patients by using various treatments aimed at stopping the aging process. Over time, this branch of medicine has developed dynamically, and nowadays the treatments focus not only on improving the appearance of the skin and its defects, but are also used to treat many dermatological problems. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentrate of platelets in a small volume of plasma. having numerous applications in many fields of medicine. The aim of this work is to present the method, focusing on its positive effects in the problems of aesthetic and regenerative medicine, as well as in some dermatological diseases. Material and methods The review was baised on the articles obtained from Pubmed and Google Scholar scientific databases from recent years using the keywords: aesthetic medicine, platelet-rich plasma, dermatology. Results The presence of numerous growth factors and other active ingredients makes the action of PRP comprehensive and based on several mechanisms. Studies show a positive effect, especially in skin rejuvenation and anti-aging prevention, hair reconstruction, wound healing and reconstruction of scars of various etiologies, as well as in pigmentation disorders. Moreover, combining PRP with other methods such as laser therapy or microneedling produces a synergistic effect, improving overall treatment results. Conclusions Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous preparation obtained after centrifugation of blood collected from the patient. The properties of PRP make it widely used in many clinical situations. is used both in aesthetic medicine and in dermatological problems. It should be emphasized that further multi-center studies are needed to standardize treatment protocols and adapt them to specific problems. Keywords: aesthetic medicine, platelet-rich plasma, dermatology.&nbsp

CEUS in diagnosis of renal masses

Introduction and purpose  Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a modern diagnostic method that uses ultrasound waves in combination with intravenous administration of a contrast agent. It enables obtaining high resolution and assessing microcirculation in real time, thanks to which the researcher is able to analyze the enhancement and its features, which may help in diagnosing a specific pathology. Contrast agents, similar to CT and MRI, show specific phases of enhancement after administration - arterial, venous, delayed. Their additional advantage is safety, especially for patients with impaired kidney and thyroid function, and causing fewer allergic reactions. The aim of this review is to present the CEUS examination technique and the latest reports in the field of diagnosis of renal lesions. Material and methods  This review was prepared based on the literature available from recent years in the PubMed and Google Scholar scientific databases using the keywords: ultrasonography, contrast enhanced ultrasonography, kidney, renal masses. Results Studies show that CEUS can be an effective method for imaging both cystic and solid lesions in the kidney. When using a contrast agent, the lesions show characteristic features that can guide the investigator to the diagnosis. Moreover, in comparative analyses, CEUS achieved comparable or better results than other diagnostic imaging methods. Conclusions CEUS is a modern and promising diagnostic method that can successfully compete with CT and MRI. Moreover, the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of contrast agents and their safety mean that CEUS can be used for the diagnosis of unclear pathologies in elderly patients, as well as for the control and supervision of changes that require frequent imaging. Keywords: ultrasonography, contrast enhanced ultrasonography, kidneys, renal masses