The Data Portal "Chromosome Numbers of the Flora of Germany": Progress After Five Years, Recent Developments, and Future Strategies.

Chromosome numbers and information on ploidy level are of great importance for better understanding of plant evolution and taxonomy but also for species identification. Technical developments in flow cytometry dramatically improved the measurement of genome size and triggered a renewed interest in chromosome numbers. Web-based portals make these kind of data accessible for a wide audience in both academia and citizen science.

Detection and annotation of plant organs from digitised herbarium scans using deep learning.

As herbarium specimens are increasingly becoming digitised and accessible in online repositories, advanced computer vision techniques are being used to extract information from them. The presence of certain plant organs on herbarium sheets is useful information in various scientific contexts and automatic recognition of these organs will help mobilise such information. In our study, we use deep learning to detect plant organs on digitised herbarium specimens with Faster R-CNN.

Traditional plant use in Burkina Faso (West Africa): a national-scale analysis with focus on traditional medicine.

Background: The West African country of Burkina Faso (BFA) is an example for the enduring importance of traditional plant use today. A large proportion of its 17 million inhabitants lives in rural communities and strongly depends on local plant products for their livelihood. However, literature on traditional plant use is still scarce and a comprehensive analysis for the country is still missing.

No association between two candidate markers of prenatal sex hormones: digit ratios (2D:4D and other) and finger-ridge counts.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), putatively indexing prenatal androgen levels retrospectively, has become increasingly popular as an easily applied measure in research into the prenatal sex-hormonal bases of behavior, health, and disease. However, its validity has not yet been conclusively demonstrated and in fact is currently debated, because validation tests of 2D:4D with other, prenatally established, presumed markers for prenatal sex-hormone action have yielded mixed evidence or still are unavailable. Hence, the associations of 2D:4D with finger-ridge counts, one such further under-researched marker, were examined in this study.

Relationships of toe-length ratios to finger-length ratios, foot preference, and wearing of toe rings.

Sexually differentiated digit ratios of the hand (2D:4D and other) are currently widely studied, owing to their presumed role as a retrospective diagnostic window into prenatal androgen action. This study was only the second one (following McFadden & Shubel, 2002) to examine all 6 possible finger-length ratios (excluding the thumb) and all 10 possible toe-length ratios (including the big toe). Data from a sample of 59 male and 69 female Austrian adults (M age = 27 yr.

Investigating digit ratio (2D:4D) in a highly male-dominated occupation: the case of firefighters.

Second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a widely studied putative marker for masculinization through prenatal androgen exposure, is lower (more masculinized) in athletes than in general population controls, and athletes with lower 2D:4D have higher sporting success. Occupations differ markedly in perceived masculinity and actual maleness (sex ratios), but these givens have not yet been picked up and utilized in 2D:4D research. Accordingly, this study extended existing accounts on 2D:4D in athletes to a novel approach: 2D:4D and possible relationships to a variety of candidate variables (demographic, fertility-related, psychological, and other) were investigated in firefighters, a highly male-dominated occupation.

Brief communication: Familial resemblance in digit ratio (2D:4D).

Familial resemblance in the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a proxy for prenatal androgen action, was studied in 1,260 individuals from 235 Austrian families. In agreement with findings from twin studies of 2D:4D, heritability estimates based on parent-child and full-sib dyad similarity indicated substantial genetic contributions to trait expression (57% for right hand, 48% for left hand 2D:4D). Because twin studies have found nonadditive genetic as well as shared environmental effects on 2D:4D to be negligible or nil, these family-based estimates in all likelihood reflect the narrow-sense (additive genetic) heritability of the trait.

The contributions of Hans-Dieter Rösler: pioneer of digit ratio (2D:4D) research.

Over the past decade, the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal androgens on the human brain, body, and behavior, has received extensive research attention in psychology. This account makes more widely accessible the contributions of the German psychologist, Hans-Dieter Rösler, an early, for a long time unnoticed, predecessor of modern 2D:4D research. In the mid-1950s, Rösler collected a massive sample of hand outline drawings, totalling nearly 7,000 individuals, ranging in age from 1 mo.

Sex differences in directional asymmetry of digit length and its effects on sex differences in digit ratio (2D:4D).

Patterns of directional asymmetry in the length of index and ring finger (2D and 4D) may be sexually differentiated. Martin, Puts, and Breedlove (2008) found leftward bias, i.e.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in Lithuania once and now: testing for sex differences, relations with eye and hair color, and a possible secular change.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic somatic trait and has been proposed as a biomarker for the organizational, i.e., permanent, effects of prenatal testosterone on the human brain.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in twins: heritability estimates and evidence for a masculinized trait expression in women from opposite-sex pairs.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic in humans, such that men on average have a lower 2D:4D than women. This somatic trait has been proposed as a biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal testosterone on the brain and behavior. Over the past few years, an accumulating research program has shown 2D:4D to be related to a multitude of sex-dependent, hormonally influenced psychological and behavioral traits.

Digit ratio (2D:4D), lateral preferences, and performance in fencing.

The second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait (men tend to have lower values than women) and a likely biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal androgens on the human brain and body. Prenatal testosterone, as reflected by 2D:4D, has many extragenital effects, including its relevance for the formation of an efficient cardiovascular system. Previous research, reviewed here, has therefore investigated possible associations of 2D:4D with sport performance.

Repeatability and interobserver error of digit ratio (2D:4D) measurements made by experts.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is sexually differentiated (lower in men than in women), a likely biomarker for organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal testosterone, and a correlate of many sex-dependent, hormonally influenced traits and phenotypes. The extent of 2D:4D measurement repeatability across different research groups is unknown. This study assessed the repeatability and interobserver error of 2D:4D measurements made by 17 experts (researchers who have contributed to the 2D:4D literature).

Evidence for assortative mating on digit ratio (2D:4D), a biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) presents an anatomical sex difference in humans. On average, men tend to have lower 2D:4D compared with women. There is fairly strong evidence for a role of the 2D:4D ratio as a biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal testosterone on the brain and behaviour.

Palynological variation in balsaminoid ericales. I. Marcgraviaceae.

Background And Aims: Marcgraviaceae are a rather small family of seven genera and approx. 130 neotropical species. This study aims to present a detailed palynological survey of the family in order to comment on the intrafamily relationships and possible correlations with pollinators.

Palynological variation in Balsaminoid Ericales. II. Balsaminaceae, Tetrameristaceae, Pellicieraceae and general conclusions.

Background And Aims: The objective of this study is to examine the palynological diversity of Balsaminaceae (two genera/+/-1000 species), Tetrameristaceae (two genera/two species) and Pellicieraceae (one genus/one species). The diversity found will be used to infer the systematic value of pollen features within the balsaminoid clade.

Methods: Pollen morphology and ultrastructure of 29 species, representing all families of the balsaminoid clade except Marcgraviaceae, are investigated by means of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Relationships within balsaminoid Ericales: a wood anatomical approach.

Wood samples of 49 specimens representing 31 species and 11 genera of woody balsaminoids, i.e., Balsaminaceae, Marcgraviaceae, Pellicieraceae, and Tetrameristaceae, were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.