Functional gene transfer from the plastid to the nucleus is rare among land plants despite evidence that DNA transfer to the nucleus is relatively frequent. During the course of sequencing plastid genomes from representative species from three rosid genera (Castanea, Prunus, Theobroma) and ongoing projects focusing on the Fagaceae and Passifloraceae, we identified putative losses of rpl22 in th...

We examine the systematics of multiple populations of the Albertine Rift endemic amphibian Hyperolius castaneus, which currently incorporates four subspecies. Standard morphometric data were analyzed with principal components analyses and analyses of covariance. Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (16S, cyt b) and one nuclear (RAG1) genes were analyzed from 41 samples representing three ...

Two new ursane-type triterpenoids, 3β,19α,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-24-al-28-oic acid (1) and 3β,19α,24-trihydroxy-23-norurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), two new pregnane derivatives, 3β,12β-dihydroxy-5α-pregnane-14,16-dien-20-one (9) and 12β-hydroxy-5α-pregnane-14,16-dien-3,20-dione (10), and eight known compounds were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Emmenopterys henryi. The structures of the new...

The sequence of 451 nucleotides of a cherry small circular RNA (csc RNA1) associated with a cherry disease has been determined. Both csc RNA1 and its complementary strand can form hammerhead structures similar to those found previously in other plant and animal small RNAs. In the branched secondary structure of lowest free energy of csc RNA1, the sequences involved in the hammerhead structures,...

Background American chestnut (Castanea dentata) once dominated the forests of the eastern United States until the introduction of a Chinese fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica(causal agent of the chestnut blight) decimated the species. This tree was important not only ecologically, but also played a significant role economically. Restoration programs are implementing a variety of technique...

Castanea is a hardwood forest genus of considerable agro-economic importance for both timber and nut production. Chestnuts are one of the most significant nut crops in the temperate zone. However, this species is threatened by pollution, social factors, economical changes, and two major fungal diseases: ink disease (Phytophthora spp.), and chestnut blight canker (Cryphonectria parasitica). Simi...

Several patterns emerge from a review of historical developments in the electricity industry: (1) conflicts arise from a number of sources; (2) responses to events and perceived crises tend to involve national (and state) legislation; (3) a lack of broad public (and political) consensus regarding the appropriate role of market mechanisms vs. government regulations; (4) absence of significant ch...