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The diversification of ecological roles and related adaptations in closely related species within a lineage is one of the most important processes linking plant evolution and ecology. Plant architecture offers a robust framework to study these processes as it can highlight how plant structure influences plant diversification and ecological strategies. We investigated a case of gradual evolution of branching architecture in spp. (Rubiaceae), forming a monophyletic group in New Caledonia that has diversified rapidly, predominantly in rainforest understory habitats. We used a transdisciplinary approach to depict architectural variations and revealed multiple evolutionary transitions from a branched (Stone's architectural model) to a monocaulous habit (Corner's architectural model), which involved the functional reduction of branches into inflorescences. We propose an integrative functional index that assesses branching incidence on functional traits influencing both assimilation and exploration functions. We showed that architectural transitions correlate with ecologically important functional traits. Variation in ecologically important traits among closely relatives, as supported by the architectural analysis, is suggestive of intense competition that favored divergence among locally coexisting species. We propose that Pleistocene climatic fluctuations causing expansion and contraction of rainforest could also have offered ecological opportunities for colonizers in addition to the process of divergent evolution.

Red clover persistence has been one of the major targets for the most breeding programs worldwide. A phenotypic characterization at above- and belowground level was performed to a set of highly persistent red clover populations. The objective was to identify phenotypic changes occurring after empirical selection for plant survival, which is the consensus criteria of persistence. Eleven red clover populations were established on mesocosms of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes of 11 cm in diameter and 100 cm depth, containing as substrate a mixture (v/v) of sand, vermiculite, soil and perlite. The trial was organized in a randomized complete block design with four replicates, each replicate consisting of five mesocosms per population and one plant per mesocosm. In total, 220 mesocosms were handled. At aboveground level, growth parameters, specific leaf area (SLA) and shoot dry matter (ShootDM) were measured. At belowground level, root morphology (volume, diameter and length) and topology (altitude, external path length [EPL] and dichotomous branching index [DBI]) were measured through image analyses. Analyses of variance were performed implementing a phenotypic linear mixed model using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method. Additionally, variance components were estimated and broad-sense heritability was calculated for each phenotypic trait. Highly persistent cultivars exhibited 30% higher ShootDM and 10% lower leaf size and SLA than the oldest low-persistent cultivar Quiñequeli. At root level, they showed 20, 50 and 50% higher crown diameter, root length density and root volume than Quiñequeli, respectively, but 20% lower DBI. Root traits exhibited medium-low values of genetic control; broad sense heritability ranged between 0.20 and 0.48. In conclusion, highly persistent red clover cultivars and experimental lines bred in Chile modified their phenotypic expression of individual plants at shoot and root levels relative to the oldest low persistent cultivar Quiñequeli. Associations among above- and belowground traits offer opportunities for designing more efficient selection strategies. For instance, the strong relationship between SLA and root traits offers tremendous potential for indirect phenotypic selection.

We report some properties of the reverse degree distance of a connected (molecular) graph, and, in particular, its relationship with the first Zagreb index and Wiener index. We also show that the reverse degree distance satisfies the basic requirement for a branching index.

A quantitative method including peak-fitting for determination of the content of short chain branching (SCB) in ethylene/α-olefin copolymers based on differential scanning calorimetry is described. After stepwise isothermal crystallization, the fractions with similar SCB and lamellar thickness are sorted into groups. The content of each group is determined using the peak-fitting area. The statistical terms, the arithmetic mean SCB content , the weighted mean SCB content and the branching broadness index are calculated. Through comparing with the SCB contents measured by 13 CNMR analysis, the results show that this method can quantitatively characterize the content of SCB in ethylene/α-olefin copolymers with a high degree of accuracy.

Based on the total π-electron energies Eπs of Hückel Molecular Orbital (HMO) method for all the possible isomers of conjugated acyclic polyenes (C2nH2n+2) up to n = 7, the structure–stability relation of the possible isomers was analyzed. It was shown that the mean length of conjugation L can roughly predict the ordering of stability among isomers, while the Z-index, or Hosoya-index, can almost perfectly reproduce their stability. Further, the genealogy of the conjugated acyclic polyene family was obtained by drawing systematic diagrams connecting these isomers of different n, and governed by several simple rules. Namely, the stability change of a given isomer in the genealogy connecting n and n + 1 polyenes can be classified into three different modes of vinyl addition (elongation, inner and outer branching) and horn growing, i.e., substitution of –HC=CH– moiety with –HC(=CH2)–C(=CH2)H–. By using the Z-index, we can extend this type of discussion to polyene radicals and even to “cross-conjugated” cyclic polyenes containing only one odd-membered cycle, such as radialene and fulvene.

Consider a critical Galton-Watson process$Z=\\{Z_n: n=0,1,\\ldots\\}$of index$1+\\alpha$ ,$\\alpha\\in(0,1]$ . Let$S_k(j)$denote the sum of the$Z_{n}$with$n$in the window$[k,\\ldots,k+j)$and let$M_{m}(j)$be the maximum of the$S_{k}(j)$with$k$moving in$[0,m-j]$ . We describe the asymptotic behavior of the expectation${\\bf E} M_m(j)$if the window width$j=j_{m}$is such that$j/m\\to\\eta\\in$$[0,1]$as$m\\uparrow\\infty$ . This will be achieved via establishing the asymptotic behavior of the tail of the distribution of the random variable$M_{\\infty}(j)$ .

This study examines the dynamics of organic carbon contributions from different sources to the sediments of a ~39 m core from Ísafjarðardjúp Fjord, Northwest Iceland, throughout the Holocene. Furthermore, it shows that the variability of terrestrial organic carbon (OCterr) and marine organic carbon (OCmar) is linked to palaeoclimatic change throughout the Holocene. glycerol-dialkyl-glycerol-tetraether (GDGT), alkenone, n-alkane, total OC and total nitrogen analyses were conducted on 326 samples to yield high-resolution branched versus isoprenoid tetraether index (BIT-index), n-alkane/alkenone index and C/N ratio records from ~10,800 to ~300 cal. a BP. These records were used to estimate the OCterr and the OCmar contributions to the sediments. Three different approaches of estimating the OCterr contribution yield different relative amounts, but similar long-term trends. These results indicate that the combination of biomarker records is a good approach to reconstruct OCterr contributions but also highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the individual biomarkers. The OCterr contribution to the total OC inventory continually increases throughout much of the Holocene but does not rise above 30%. It seems to have been driven by changing climate rather than changing sedimentation rates, and during the late Holocene, anthropogenic activity may have been an influence. The reconstructed OCmar contribution to the sediment was used to model changes in palaeoproductivity throughout the Holocene. These changes were likely forced by changes in nutrients supplied both by the catchment area and the Irminger Current.

The branching points of the spectrum of an algebraic extension of a uniform algebra A are algebraically described, and the so-called A-index of branching of such points is introduced and studied. The description of the character of branching in terms of local point derivations on the algebraic extension is obtained.

The inactivation of starch branching IIb (SBEIIb) in rice is traditionally associated with elevated apparent amylose content, increased peak gelatinization temperature, and a decreased proportion of short amylopectin branches. To elucidate further the structural and functional role of this enzyme, the phenotypic effects of down-regulating SBEIIb expression in rice endosperm were characterized by artificial microRNA (amiRNA) and hairpin RNA (hp-RNA) gene silencing. The results showed that RNA silencing of SBEIIb expression in rice grains did not affect the expression of other major isoforms of starch branching enzymes or starch synthases. Structural analyses of debranched starch showed that the doubling of apparent amylose content was not due to an increase in the relative proportion of amylose chains but instead was due to significantly elevated levels of long amylopectin and intermediate chains. Rices altered by the amiRNA technique produced a more extreme starch phenotype than those modified using the hp-RNA technique, with a greater increase in the proportion of long amylopectin and intermediate chains. The more pronounced starch structural modifications produced in the amiRNA lines led to more severe alterations in starch granule morphology and crystallinity as well as digestibility of freshly cooked grains. The potential role of attenuating SBEIIb expression in generating starch with elevated levels of resistant starch and lower glycaemic index is discussed.

Background and aim Several animal studies have shown that Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may prevent acute liver injury, although its effects in humans are as yet undetermined. Thus the purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of intravenous BCAAs infusion on liver profile post-liver surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A randomized study that was applied for post liver surgery patients who were randomly allocated to receive either intravenous BCAA immediately post-operative or placebo. Measurements Follow-up liver profile, Child–Pugh, and SOFA scores during the first week post-surgery. Main results A significant decline of bilirubin and ALT on day three and five in the BCAA group compared to the control group respectively. There was a significant improvement of PT on day seven 12.5 in the BCAA group versus 12.9 in the control group, p -value 0.01. Total bilirubin levels decreased by 75% in the BCAA group, whereas in the control group saw an increase of 6.25% from the baseline which was statistically significant, p-value 0.0376. SOFA score was markedly improved in the BCAA group ( p -value 0.013). In addition to a significantly shorter ICU stay in the BCAA group than in the control group ( p -value 0.018). Conclusion There are beneficial effects of BCAAs infusion post-liver surgery; including improved metabolic profile (liver function tests), and shorter ICU stay. Trial registration (Clinicaltrials.gov registration number:NCT03448848), 28/02/2018.