{"title":"Ontogeny and miniaturization of Alvarezsauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda)","authors":"Alexander Averianov, P. Skutschas, A. Lopatin","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.201","url":null,"abstract":"The ontogenetic status of the known specimens of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaurs is revised. We present histological data that the holotype of Parvicursor remotus from the Upper Cretaceous Barungoyot Formation of Mongolia is not an adult individual, as previously thought, but a juvenile less than one year old. The miniaturization took place only in the Late Cretaceous Asiatic Parvicursorinae, whereas the Late Cretaceous South American non-parvicursorine alvarezsaurids were large animals. The miniaturization occurred by shifting ossification to earlier ontogenetic stages, in particular, by the closure of the neurocentral sutures on the presacral vertebrae of juvenile animals. There is no morphological support for the myrmecophagy in the alvarezsaurids and a shift to a myrmecophagous ecological niche does not explain the need for miniaturization.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45492286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An analysis of yield dynamics in Peredovik sunflower variety in the conditions of the North Caucasus Region","authors":"L. Novikova, V. Gavrilova","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.204","url":null,"abstract":"The results of observations for 1971–2002 were used to analyze the long-term trends of yield and the duration of the growing season in the sunflower variety Peredovik. The regression analysis has shown that the growing season duration decreases with the increase in the sum of temperatures above 15 °C. The yield of sunflower was negatively associated with the sums of temperatures and the sums of precipitation in May–August, and positively with the precipitation in April. According to the regression analysis in differences, the main factor influencing the yield variability was the hydrothermal coefficient for the period with temperatures above 20 °C, the second factor was spring precipitation. The possible presence of a non-linear trend in yield dynamics that is not related to weather and climate conditions has been revealed. With the sustained tendency of the last 30 years towards an increase in temperatures and a decrease in precipitation in April, the growing season will keep shortening and the yield decreasing.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46163629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Shaposhnikov, O. Yuzikhin, D. Syrova, D. Karlov, A. Sazanova, T. Azarova, E. Sekste, V. Safronova, A. Belimov
{"title":"Beneficial aluminium immobilizing microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere of pea","authors":"A. Shaposhnikov, O. Yuzikhin, D. Syrova, D. Karlov, A. Sazanova, T. Azarova, E. Sekste, V. Safronova, A. Belimov","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.202","url":null,"abstract":"Acid soils contain elevated concentrations of mobile aluminium (Al) ions which are toxic for plants. Plants form symbioses with the rhizosphere microorganisms stimulating plant growth and affecting Al availability. Here, for the first time the approach based on the ability to immobilize Al in soil was applied for initial selection of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms. Al-Immobilizing yeast Rhodotorula sp. AL1 and 12 bacterial strains assigned to various genera and species were isolated from the rhizosphere of pea cultivated in acid soils. Immobilization of Al was related to the increased pH of the environment and the formation of insoluble Al phosphates in soil. The strains differed in possessing beneficial properties such as modulation of the nutrient element (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P) concentrations in soil, production of phytohormones (auxins, abscisic and gibberellic acids, ethylene), utilization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and organic components typical for root exudates, acetylene reduction and antifungal activities. Eight strains promoted root elongation of radish seedlings by 30÷50 % with a maximal effect exerted by Cupriavidus basilensis strain D39. Taking together, the selected microorganisms are promising models to study the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions in the presence of toxic Al and improving Al tolerance of plants in acid soils.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42635683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Lavrentyeva, T. Banzaraktsaeva, V. Dambaev, L. Buyantueva, E. Valova, V. Ivanov, A. Plotnikov
{"title":"Taxonomic diversity and functional potential of microbial communities in salt lakes Gudzhirganskoe and Nukhe-Nur (Barguzin depression, Baikal Rift Zone)","authors":"E. Lavrentyeva, T. Banzaraktsaeva, V. Dambaev, L. Buyantueva, E. Valova, V. Ivanov, A. Plotnikov","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.203","url":null,"abstract":"On the territory of the Barguzin depression (Baikal Rift Zone) there are salt lakes, which are unique natural formations formed in exceptional natural conditions and experiencing extreme shifts in seasonal environmental conditions. This paper presents the results of the study of the microbial communities in the sulfate Lake Gudzhirganskoe and the soda Lake Nukhe-Nur in winter and summer seasons: from the assessment of the taxonomic composition to potential metabolic pathways. For the first time, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, the diversity of the microbial community of bottom sediments in summer and winter was studied. Environmental conditions such as pH, temperature and mineralization mainly determined the microbial community composition and led to noticeable shifts in the composition of the community at the level of families and genera. The change of the \"summer\" obligate and moderately alkalphilic and halophilic community to the \"winter\" alkali-, halotolerant/halophilic microbial community is observed in the winter period in Lake Gudzhirganskoe. In Lake Nukhe-Nur, a change from mesophilic-thermophilic community in summer to mesophilic-psychrophilic microbial community in winter was revealed. The totality of the obtained results gives an idea about the main trends in the seasonal dynamics of extremophilic microbial communities in the studied lakes in response to fluctuations in environmental parameters. The prediction of the metabolic pathways of prokaryotic communities using the Tax4Fun program made it possible to reveal similarities and differences in the metabolic potential of the microbial communities of the studied lakes. Potential functional genes have been found for all stages of the C, N and S cycles, with the exception of nitrification and aerobic CH4 oxidation.Only small qualitative and quantitative variations in the relative abundance of predicted functional genes were found between the microbial communities of the studied lakes. We predicted metabolic pathways that play an important role in the adaptation of microorganisms to changing environmental conditions. In general, it has been shown that there is a change in the dominant taxa at the level of families and genera in the microbial community in the summer and winter seasons, however, the predicted functional potential of microbial communities differed slightly by season and between the studied lakes.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47549056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Encapsulation of rat brain slices in agar gel solution for long-term and reversible cryopreservation","authors":"A. Mokrushin","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.103","url":null,"abstract":"Earlier there was found activity of glutamatergic ionotropic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPAR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) disturbed after prolonged cryopreservation of brain slices at temperature of -10 оС. To eliminate cryodamage of AMPAR and NMDAR, the slices were encapsulated in the special freezing solution (SFS). SFS consisted of agar at various concentrations (33, 44 and 50 %) and artificial cerebrospinal fluid (67, 56 and 50 %, respectively). This solution was used for long-term cryopreservation of slices (52 days, -10 оС). Alterations in amplitudes of AMPA and NMDA potentials in the slices after rewarming were studied. Recovery of AMPAR and NMDAR after cryopreservation of the slices in SFS was the most optimal when the agar concentration in SFS was 50 %. Cryopreservation of the slices in SFS with different agar concentrations predominantly promoted the development of long-term potentiation in 78 % of the tested slices. Thus, the encapsulation of brain slices in SFS contributes to the preservation of AMPAR and NMDAR activity during long-term and reversible cryopreservation.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41920147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katerina Danko, Lavrentii Danilov, A. Malashicheva, A. Lobov
{"title":"Comparative analysis of methods for batch correction in proteomics — a two-batch case","authors":"Katerina Danko, Lavrentii Danilov, A. Malashicheva, A. Lobov","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.106","url":null,"abstract":"A proper study design is vital for life science. Any effects unrelated to the studied ones (batch effects) should be avoided. Still, it is not always possible to exclude all batch effects in a complicated omics study. Here we discuss an appropriate way for analysis of proteomics data with an enormous technical batch effect. We re-analyzed the published dataset (PXD032212) with two batches of samples analyzed in two different years. Each batch includes control and differentiated cells. Control and differentiated cells form separate clusters with 209 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Nevertheless, the differences between the batches were higher than between the cell types. Therefore, the analysis of only one of the batches gives 276 or 290 DEPs. Then we compared the efficiency of five methods for batch correction. ComBat was the most effective method for batch effect correction, and the analysis of the corrected dataset revealed 406 DEPs.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42702206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatiana Semilet, N. Shvachko, N. Smirnova, Lilia Shipilina, E. Khlestkina
{"title":"Using DNA markers to reconstruct the lifetime morphology of barley grains from carbonized cereal crop remains unearthed at Usvyaty Settlement","authors":"Tatiana Semilet, N. Shvachko, N. Smirnova, Lilia Shipilina, E. Khlestkina","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.101","url":null,"abstract":"Research on taxonomic and genetic diversity of cultivated plants provides valuable data that help to clarify how the flora of cultivated plants was formed in a particular region. Paleogenetics, a discipline that developed at the intersection of molecular biology, archeology and genetics, helps to explore plant origin and changes in plant genotype during evolution. By the 12th century, the economy of medieval Northern Russia was based on a developed farming culture. Tracing the origin of its constituent agricultural traditions is an important fundamental task. The objective of this work was to study and identify the species affiliation of carbonized fossil remains of plants that grew in the Russian Northwest in the 12th century using morphological and molecular genetic methods. The results of the morphological analysis of grain fossils showed that most of the unearthed plant material was barley. Other cereals, such as wheat, rye and oat, were also observed. Molecular genetic studies helped to clarify the species affiliation of partially destroyed grains and reconstruct their lifetime morphology.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44223909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Namyatov, P. Makarevich, I. Tokarev, Ivan Pastuhov
{"title":"Hydrochemical basis of marine waters biological productivity surrounding Svalbard archipelago","authors":"A. Namyatov, P. Makarevich, I. Tokarev, Ivan Pastuhov","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.104","url":null,"abstract":"This study provides a rather new approach to research on a portion of general biological production of marine ecosystems, namely on primary production. The methodology presented consists of two blocks of techniques. The hydrological block provides for an estimate of the amounts of basic water masses, the estimate being based on the salinity and δ18O stable isotope value. The techniques of the ecosystem block provide for a calculation of primary production based on the water mass composition, nutrients concentrations in the cores of the water masses, and changes in nutrients reserves. The rate of the nutrients reserve change is corrected by the non-productive component caused by the inflow or outflow of the nutrient as a result of advection or exchange with underlying layers. Another correction is related to nutrient regeneration going in parallel to photosynthesis. The technique was tested and verified in the waters around the Svalbard archipelago. By using a combination of δ18О isotope parameter (with an intention to add δ2H in the future), salinity, and nutrients composition, the present methodology allows to consider the domain of the marine ecosystem comprising its hydrological, hydrochemical, and hydrobiological (phytoplankton) processes as a single system of their relationships.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44474886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Khamraeva, Mansur Usmonov, R. Bussmann, E. Khalilova, Ulugbek Kodirov
{"title":"New data on the morphological and anatomical structure, chemical composition and distribution area of a rare species Komarovia anisosperma in Uzbekistan","authors":"D. Khamraeva, Mansur Usmonov, R. Bussmann, E. Khalilova, Ulugbek Kodirov","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.102","url":null,"abstract":"For the first time, the morphological and anatomical structure of vegetative and generative organs, the localization of secretory ducts in the underground and aboveground parts of the species plants were studied. New GIS technologies were used to elucidate the spatial structure of the rare endemic species Komarovia anisosperma of the monotypic genus Komarovia Korovin of the Apiaceae family. The performed analysis showed the most significant diagnostic features of the studied organs, such as a deep taproot system, the presence of a multi-branched caudex, underdeveloped stem leaves or stem leaves reduced to sheaths, the central cylinder of the main root showing separate concentric circles of large and small vascular bundles, the presence of numerous secretory ducts in the secondary root cortex, strongly elongated palisade leaf cells etc. As a result of phytochemical study, extracts of Komarovia anisosperma roots and inflorescences were analyzed. According to our data, the main component of underground organs from terpenes was α-muurolene, and for inflorescences it was α-curcumene. Grid mapping showed that the species is mainly concentrated in the Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions, where the most favorable conditions for its growth are found. These areas are the natural area of origin of the species, and the establishment of a protected natural area has led to an increase in the number of natural populations.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42717450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The prospects for Symbiogenetics: emergence of superorganismal genomes and reconstruction of cellular evolution (mini-review)","authors":"N. Provorov, I. Tikhonovich","doi":"10.21638/spbu03.2023.105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu03.2023.105","url":null,"abstract":"The superspecies systems of heredity that arise via coevolution of nonrelated organisms are represented as the subjects of Symbiogenetics, a new research field addressing integration of the heterologous genomes. Evolutionary mechanisms responsible for this integration include: a) interspecies altruism based on the symbionts' refusal from autonomous existence; b) inheritance of symbionts by hosts as of acquired genetic determinants (pangenesis). Under impacts of these factors, endosymbionts may be transformed into the cellular organelles that have lost biological and genetic individuality and sometimes lack their own genomes. The genomically truncated organelles that have retained the abilities for reproduction and metabolism are considered as the models to reconstruct the early stages of cell evolution, including the emergence of its genome.","PeriodicalId":8998,"journal":{"name":"Biological Communications","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45805714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}